PNEWS 9.28-10.4,2023 by Philippine News Today

1 September 28-October 4, 2023

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA EDITION

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PHL CUTS CHINA’S FLOATING BARRIERS, AIRS WARNING THE PREMIER FILIPINO-AMERICAN NEWSPAPER IN THE U.S. SINCE 1961

Vol.63 No.7 September 28-October 4, 2023

NEWS AND VIEWS YOU TRUST

US, Japan, PHL ﬁrm up plans for Indo Paciﬁc at UN meeting By ALFRED GABOT, Editor in Chief

MANILA/NEW YORK -Tensions between the Philippines and China heightened anew after the Philippine Coast Guard, on order of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., cut the ﬂoating barriers China had installed at the Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal, part of Zambales province and within the country’s Over 200 rallyists converge in front of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco to commemorate the 51st anexclusive economic zone. Page 9 niversary of mar�al law. (photo by Glen Mercado)

Duterte’s fiscal

Groups protest, urge return of stolen demands deemed Lake County appoints Buenaventura wealth on 51st martial law anniversary excessive public defender

Raymond Buenaventura LAKE COUNTY, California — The Board of Supervisors of Lake County has selected a Bay Area attorney and politician as Lake Coun-

ty’s new chief public defender. The supervisors appointed Raymond A. Buenaventura, who is currently mayor of Daly City and a longtime member of its City Council and an attorney in private practice, as chief public defender. “Our board is truly excited Mr. Buenaventura has chosen to invest his considerable experience and energies toward supporting a stronger and more just future for Lake County,” said Board Chair Jessica Pyska in the statement released by the County Administrative Oﬃce. “We are committed to supporting his important work.” “I am grateful for the board’s conﬁdence in my leadership at this important juncture,” Buenaventura said in the county-issued statement. “This is a great opportunity to build on the considerable Page 6

By Jun Nucum

SAN FRANCISCO - Over 200 protestors from Northern California Filipino organizations and solidarity grassroots organizations held a demonstration in front of the Philippine Consulate to commemorate the 51st anniversary declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines and to call for the return of the stolen wealth from the Marcos’ political dynas-

ty in the wake of President Marcos Jr.’s proposed 2024 National Budget. Protestors took turns in bashing the administration of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. that was allegedly marked by human rights abuses under Martial Law when over 100,000 Filipinos were allegedly tortured, imprisoned, and killed, while $10 billion USD or equivalent to 25% of the Philippines economy were allegedly stolen at the Page 7

By Be�ng Laygo Dolor, Editor

MANILA – What Sara wants Sara gets? This appears to be the case, at least as far as opposition and even administration lawmakers are concerned. Vice President and concurrent Education Secretary Sara Duterte not only received the full budget to Page 6 both her posts last year, but it

CA’s anti-Asian United Against Hate Week convened for hate crimes rise, more impactful participations, actions fall depending on

By Jun Nucum

SAN FRANCISCO - A convening for United Against Hate Week (UAHW) was hosted by the California vs Hate organization in partnership with activists and cities across the state for upcoming November 12-18th weeklong event to learn

about the actions during UAHW and how an individual, groups and organizations can participate to make the event more impactful and successful with involvement of most number of participants both individually and as a group. UAHW is a call for seven days of local civic action by people Page 7

state of economy By Gilda P. Balan, Correspondent

SAN FRANCISCO - Contrary to popular belief, anti-Asian hate did not erupt during the pandemic. Something similar actually happened in the not-too-distant past. Where the spate of anti- Page 6

PHL, US navies set new naval warfare drills Pinoy fatalities in Maui wild ﬁre climb to 29 VIEWS & COMMENTS

SHOWBIZ

Care Home owners may petition Relatives as caregivers

KC Concepcion’s Hollywood movie ‘Asian Persuasion’ wins award at SOHO ﬁlm fest

By A�y. Lozano

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SPORTS

Wushu produces another Asian Games bronze; Alex Eala pulls off huge comeback Page 16

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 NATIONAL NEWS

September 28-October 4, 2023

PHL, US navies to stage new naval warfare drills next week; UK, Canada, Japan, France, others joining MANILA – The Philippine Navy (PN)’s warfare capabilities are expected to get a boost in a two-week drill with its US Navy (USN) counterparts. The drills will also be joined by the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF), Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), and the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) by way of boosting their inter-operability capabilities. Lt. Col. Enrico Gil Ileto, AFP public affairs oﬃce chief, said this year’s “Exercise Samasama” slated from Oct. 2 to 12 would be held at the Naval Forces Southern Luzon area of operations, with the opening rites at the PN headquarters in Naval Station Jose Andrada in Manila. “’Samasama’ is a bilateral exercise between the USN and the PN that aims to further strengthen international defense cooperation and advance a rules-based international order,” he said in a statement. The French Navy and RAN will send personnel to join the SMEEs while the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) and Indonesian Navy would join as observers. Participating personnel for “Exercise Samasama” include 733 from the PN; 632 from the USN; 244 from the RCN; 169 from the JMSDF; 34 from the RN; seven from the French Navy; three from the RAN, two from the Indonesian Navy and one from the RNZN. Ileto said these naval activities are designed to further enhance the PN’s naval warfare capabilities, including the fundamentals

of anti-submarine, anti-surface, anti-air and electronic warfare. These capabilities are now being provided by the two Jose Rizal-class missile frigates, the BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) and BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), which are considered the PN’s most modern warships to date and were delivered in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Interoperability exercises with the USN will focus on warﬁghting serials, he added. “The training will also strive to further improve maritime integration and combined interoperability with the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF), Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), and the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) through subject-matter expert exchanges (SMEEs) and humanitarian assistance and disaster response table-top events,” Ileto said. He said the French Navy and RAN will send personnel to join the SMEEs while the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) and Indonesian Navy would join as observers. Participating personnel for “Exercise Samasama” include 733 from the PN; 632 from the USN; 244 from the RCN; 169 from the JMSDF; 34 from the RN; seven from the French Navy; three from the RAN, two from the Indonesian Navy and one from the RNZN. Meanwhile, participating ships include the BRP Antonio Luna from the PN, the USS Dewey and USNS Wally Schirra of the USN, the RN’s HMS Spey, RCN’s HMCS Vancuver, and the JMSDF’s JS Akebono.

Farmers ask Marcos to fire Diokno, NEDA chief Balisacan QUEZON CITY - More and more groups are asking President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to fire Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno and Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan due to policies reportedly not helping farmers, consumers and the agriculture sector. Senator Ma. Imelda Imee Marcos herself joined protesters in front of the Department of Finance (DOF) building on September 26 calling for the resignation of Diokno and Balisacan amid plans to reduce or remove tariff on imported rice. The Federation of Free Farmers itself

said local farmers stand to lose P88 billion from the tariff reduction plan. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s sister said she only showed support to her “peers” who came all the way from various provinces. A total of 26 agriculture organizations, including the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), have signed a joint statement asking President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to fire Diokno and Balisacan over their proposal to reduce tariffs on imported rice to drive down its cost.

Pinoy fatalities in Maui wild fire climb to 29 HONOLULU - Officials in Hawaii have added 10 more Filipinos to the list of those who died in the tragic wildfires that hit Maui last August 8. The death toll among Filipinos and Filipino-Americans thus climbed to 29. The newly identified victims include seven members of the Quijano family and two members of the Recolizado family, a GMA News report stated. Fatalities of the Quijano family included Adela Quijano Villegas, her husband Joel Villegas, Felimon Quijano, Junmark Geovannie Quijano, Angelic Quijano Baclig, Lydia Coloma and Luz Bernabe. Investigators said were together in a vehicle and trapped by the fire. Two members of the Recolizado fam-

ily who were identified through DNA samples were Maria Victoria Recolizado, 51, and Justine Recolizado, 11. They are related to Eugene Recolizado who also perished in the tragedy. The Recolizado family hails from San Juan, Metro Manila. Reveling Tomboc, 81, mother of another victim Bibiana Tomboc Lutrania who died in the wildfire, was also recognized as a victim. The Tomboc family is originally from Pangasinan. Another Filipino is still unaccounted for, Allen Constantino, son of Leticia Constantino, who also died. At press time, the County of Maui has confirmed that 97 people were killed in the Maui wildfire.

3 September 28-October 4, 2023

 NATIONAL NEWS

6 PHL Navy ships hold naval gunnery exercises off Basilan

MANILA – The Philip- its ships have successfully gun test firing and capability pine Navy (PN) said six of conducted its third quarter demonstration over the weekend. In a social media post, the PN said BRP General Mariano Alvarez (PS-38), BRP Nestor Acero (PG-901), BRP Domingo Deluana (PG-905), BRP Florencio Iñigo (PC393) and the 1st Boat Attack Division’s BA-485 and BA487participated in the drill off Basilan. It added that ships are deployed at its Naval Forces Western Mindanao and that the firing exercise took place at the “vicinity five nautical miles southeast off Dasalan Island, Basilan” on Sept. 23. “Further, the demonstration included live-gunnery exercises, swarming tactics and coordinated maneuvers, all aimed at evaluating the performance of naval weaponry and the overall operational capabilities of the participating vessels,” the PN said. It added that these maneuvers aim to evaluate and ensure the operability, accuracy and effective operation of all naval combat systems, including the skills of the gun crew and fire control operators aboard the PN vessels.

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 METRO NEWS

September 28-October 4, 2023

Makati-Taguig row heats up over transfer of hospital, health facilities MAKATI CITY — The dispute between Makati City and Taguig City continue to heat up as Taguig “unreasonably” rejected Makati City’s proposal for a “smooth transfer” of health facilities and services in barangays affected by the Supreme Court decision on their territorial dispute. In a statement, Makati City administrator Claro Certeza said Taguig denied their proposed memorandums of agreement (MOA), impeding the transfer of Ospital ng Makati (OsMak) and eight barangay health centers and the health data of their patients.

“We have initiated a series of correspondence and MOA proposals to the City of Taguig aimed to facilitate the smooth transfer of Makati-owned health facilities to its jurisdiction,” Certeza said in a CNN Philippines report. “However, these have been rejected outright, without valid reason.” The Makati oﬃcial argued that Taguig is “adamant” about taking control of OsMak and the barangay health centers without respecting Makati’s ownership rights. Certeza cited Makati Mayor Abby Binay’s letter to Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano as evi-

dence that the former suggested an MOA for OsMak and oﬀered to grant a credit line to Taguig in order to ensure that impacted residents could continue to access basic medical services at these institutions. “Makati is even willing to allocate millions in funding for this credit line to Taguig to avoid any disruption in health care services. Yet, Mayor Cayetano refused to even consider the proposal, opting to put oﬀ any discussions regarding OsMak, purportedly in deference to the wishes of the Health Secretary,” Certeza said.

According to Certeza, Cayetano in a letter justiﬁed her rejection of the OsMak proposal, citing Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa as having stated that he would “take the lead in any discussions regarding Ospital ng Makati, and that both cities must defer to his wishes.” He said Taguig also refused Makati’s proposed data sharing agreement which aims to safeguard the information of patients of the health centers in Cembo, Comembo, East Rembo, Pembo, Pitogo, Rizal, South Cembo, and West Rembo.

Divorce bill endorsed by Senate panel By Jeanne Michael Penaranda PASAY CITY – A bill seeking to legalize divorce in the country has hurdled a Senate committee. Senate Bill 2443 authored by Senators Risa Hontiveros, Rafael Tulfo, Robinhood Padilla, Juliana Pilar Pia Cayetano and Maria Imelda Imee Marcos, hurdled the Senate committee on women, children, family relation, and gender equality level. Once enacted into law, it will provide “protections to the parties to the marriage and its common children, amending for this purpose Executive Order No. 209, or the Family Code of the Philippines.” The committee emphasized that although the state recognizes the sanctity of the family, it is also the government’s duty to protect human dignity that guarantees respect for human rights, equality before the law, and the protection of youg people.

The bill was immediately opposed by retired Catholic Bishop Teodoro Bacani Jr. and Sen. Joel Villanuena, saying divorce could cause more harm than it could help families. “Divorce is a big no for me! Yes to making annulment accessible to the poor,” Villanueva said. Bacani Jr. said separation of spouses through divorce could cause greater damage to the Filipino family, instead of the beneﬁts that can be obtained from the proposed measure. “The harm done by divorce to the family is greater than its beneﬁts,” he said in an interview over Church-run Radyo Veritas. The Catholic prelate also stressed that divorce or easier process to make couples to separate due to disagreement is no longer necessary since there is an existing legal separation and nullity of marriage in the Philippines “That’s what the state should always look for. We should ask what is for the common good for the good of the majority,” he said.

5 September 28-October 4, 2023

 PROVINCIAL NEWS

Pampanga solon, DWPH execs charged with graft over multi-million-peso projects SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga third district Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. and Department of Public Works and Highways officials are facing graft charges in connection with multi-million-peso projects allegedly awarded to the lawmaker’s family-owned construction firm. Terence Napao, barangay chairman of Sto. Cristo and president of the Association of Barangay Chairmen in Mexico, Pampanga, filed the complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman for Luzon on Sept. 8, saying Gonzales must be held liable over his unlawful interests in a family-owned construction firm that bagged contracts with the DPWH. Gonzales has not responded to requests for comment on the complaint. Charged with Gonzales were DPWH

Central Luzon oﬃce regional director Roseller Tolentino, bids and awards committee chairman Ignacio Evangelista, BAC secretariat Anna Marie Tayag and BAC vice chairman Arthur Santos. Gonzales’ family members and oﬃcials of A.D. Gonzales Jr. Construction & Trading Co. Inc. were also named respondents. They are ADG president and San Fernando Councilor Aurelio Brenz Gonzales, vice president Aurelio Gonzales III, provincial board member and secretary-treasurer Alyssa Michaela Gonzales and directors Aurelio Michaeline Gonzales and Zenaida Quiambao. The complaint alleged there was partiality in awarding the civil works contracts to A.D. Gonzales Jr. Construction & Trading Co. Inc., a corporation managed and owned by the Gonzales family.

It also said three family members are “currently holding public offices in the specific province where the three projects will be implemented and undertaken.” Napao said Gonzales should be held liable for violating Section 3 (e) of Republic Act (RA) 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits public officials from giving unwarranted benefit, advantage or preference to a private party or from causing any party, including the government, undue injury. The congressman was also accused of violating Section 3 (h) of RA 3019, which prohibits public officials from directly or indirectly having financial or pecuniary interest in any business, contract or transaction with the government. Napao said ADG bagged contracts in connection with the DPWH’S flood con-

trol programs in San Fernando, Bacolor and Mexico worth P611.578 million. “These projects are glaring examples of ‘conﬂict of interest in public service’ and obviously manipulated to favor the familyowned business of Congressman Gonzales,” Napao said. Napao said that based on the ADG’s registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 1993, Gonzales was among the company’s incorporators and owned 77 percent of the shares. He said Gonzales was company president until 2015, and held 25 percent shares. Napao pointed out that while Gonzales no longer had any position with the company at the time of the bidding and awarding of the contracts, the shareholders, oﬃcers and directors of the corporation are his children and immediate family members.

Suspect in ambush of Pangasinan ex-governor falls BINMALEY, Pangasinan – A prime suspect in the foiled ambush of former Pangasinan governor and congressman Amado Espino Jr. and his companions in 2019 was arrested on September 25. Espino and ﬁve others on board two vehicles were ambushed at the intersection of Barangay Magtaking and Barangay Ilang in San Carlos City Sept. 11, 2019. Espino was wounded while his driver and one of his security aides were killed.

The Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPPO) identified the suspect as Arnulfo Cerezo Alipio, who was arrested at his house in Barangay Naguiliyan, this town. PPPO director Col. Jeff Fanged said Alipio was monitored by authorities for five months prior to the arrest. “[We employed] also civilian agents to eventually catch the most wanted person in the province,” he said. Alipio was reportedly a key member of

the infamous Sison Group, a suspected private armed group. The Department of the Interior and Local Government had oﬀered a reward of P355,000 for his capture. “Throughout the operation, the oﬃcers diligently adhered to protocol, using an alternative recording device and ensuring Alipio’s constitutional rights were respected. Presently undergoing necessary documentation and disposition, Mr. Alipio remains se-

curely in custody,” the PPPO said. Fanged said the suspect has multiple warrants of arrest for a range of serious criminal oﬀenses, including two counts of murder, frustrated murder and three counts of attempted murder, all related to the foiled ambush. Fanged said two more suspects in the ambush are still at large.

Mga Pampublikong Pagpupulong ng Lupon ng mga Direktor ng VTA sa 2023 Inaanyayahan ka na dumalo sa mga pampublikong pagpupulong ng Lupon ng mga Direktor ng VTA sa 2023. Ang mga pagpupulong ay sa: Huwebes, Oktubre 5

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 NATIONAL NATIONAL NEWS NEWS

September 28-October 4, 2023

Buenaventura has served on the City felony, and juvenile cases. He also has experi- the Veterans Affairs in January 2018 as a vet(From page 1) Lake... Council for Daly City since April 2011. His ence representing clients in immigration liti- erans disability attorney. strengths of those working hard to ensure every Lake County defendant receives a professional and appropriate defense.” In this new role, Buenaventura will have the opportunity “to apply all he has learned toward establishment of a dynamic County of Lake Public Defender Office,” the County Administrative Office reported. The statement attributed to Buenaventura said, “It is also a chance to bring fresh ideas and renewed energy, and promote the public interest through innovative programs that can truly make a difference. I look forward to deepening my understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities in Lake County’s communities, and building an effective and transformative Public Defender Office.”

current term expires in November 2026, according to his proﬁle in the Daly City website. Buenaventura holds a bachelor’s degree in legal studies through the University of California, Berkeley. He received his Juris Doctor degree from Whittier College School of Law. Buenaventura was admitted to the State Bar in June 1993 and is a certiﬁed criminal law specialist. He also serves as a member of the State Bar of California’s Finance Committee. On the California Bar website, Buenaventura is the founder of the Buenaventura Law Firm in San Francisco. Mr. Buenaventura has 30 years of experience in indigent criminal defense, representing clients in misdemeanor,

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gation, medical practice, and personal injury. He is certified by the State Bar as a criminal law specialist who also has a death penalty qualification. Mr. Buenaventura has served as a pro bono (volunteer) attorney through the San Francisco Bar Association, the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Children, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, Eviction Defense Collaborative, and several homeless shelters. A past member of the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs, he has had long involvement in local and affinity bar associations. In 2013, he received the Filipino Bar Association of Northern California’s Jose Rizal Award for outstanding service. Mr. Buenaventura’s previous service to the State Bar has included serving on the State Bar’s Criminal Law Advisory Committee and the Ad Hoc Commission on the Discipline System. More useful information about his achievements can be found on his LinkedIn page, which shows that he was admitted to the Washington D.C. Bar in 2007 and the New York State Bar in 2017, and was certified by

CA...

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Asian hate crimes of recent times initially targeted the Chinese and Chinese-American community, this soon degenerated into assaults against the AAPI, or Asian American and Paciﬁc Islander community, which includes Filipinos and FilAms. In California, statistics state that anti-Asian hate crimes soared from 89 cases in 2020 to 247 in 2021. In 2022, however, the state’s Department of Justice noted that such crimes decreased to 140. A report written by Naomi Vanderlip which appeared in the KQED website says that “the numbers seem to show progress, however, looking back decades to the start of California’s hate crime tracking reveals a more nuanced story.” Similar progress had occurred before. A longterm pattern persists, says Vanderlip’s report, which says that in the last four decades, “experts point to two events that led to a spike in anti-Asian hate crimes: the murder of Chinese-American Vincent Chin and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.” In June of 1982, the 27-year-old Chin was beaten to death by two white auto workers in Detroit. It should be noted that Japanese car manufacturers like Toyota and Honda were gaining market share in the industry at the expense of US brands like Ford and GM. The US was also mired in an economic recession at that time. As such, relations between the US and Japan had become tense, causing a sense of anxiety in the country, according to Lok Siu, professor of Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies at UC Berkeley. It can be presumed that Chin was mistaken for Japanese, the same way that AAPI’s have been viewed as Chinese who racists accuse of bringing the “Asian virus” to the US. The report in the KQED website says that to account for the decline in hate crimes – from 180 in 1996 to 19 in 2014 – Professor Siu points to “economic growth.” “From the 2000s to 2010s, China was seen as a marketplace for US products and technologies. Stability and growth were abundant, an atmosphere that made racial targeting less likely.” Thus, when times were good, hate crimes sank drastically. But when faced with the possibility of losing jobs, “that’s when people start to point the ﬁngers,” said Siu, who notices similarities between the 1990s and today. She sees similar accusations of unfair trade and economic competition, but the target now is China, not Japan. To the hate mongers, however,

He’s been a licensed private pilot since January 1987, is captain of the Civil Air Patrol, has served as a pro bono attorney for Bay Area homeless shelters and has been an adjunct professor for San Francisco State University since 2019, according to his LinkedIn profile. Buenaventura has been involved with Asian and Filipino American organizations and with politics through the Democratic Party. He’s also bilingual, speaking both English and Tagalog, as well as having some proficiency in Spanish. The county’s hiring announcement said that from 2014 to 2020, Buenaventura — who had been appointed by then-Gov. Edmund G. Brown — contributed policy and strategic direction to the state of California’s Commission on Asian and Pacific Islanders. Deputy County Administrative Officer Matthew Rothstein Rothstein confirmed that Buenaventura was among five applicants the Board of Supervisors interviewed in a process that began on July 18 and extended over seven meetings, one of them a special meeting planned Aug. 3 for the purpose of holding the closed-door interviews. there is the ridiculous claim that “all Asians look alike.” While the writer’s article is not intended to be a scientific dissertation, it points to the sad fact that whenever minorities rise to economic power in the US, there will always be the possibility that the most vulnerable members of that community will be the target of hate crimes, ranging from verbal attacks to outright physical assaults. Anger and envy would be the motivation for the senseless attacks. Other studies may have other conclusions, but the reality of Asian hate remains a fact of life in the US in the foreseeable future. At least until the US regains its once booming economy where jobs will be plentiful and Asians and Asian-Americans will not be blamed for taking work away from other communities. This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to https://www. cavshate.org/.

7 September 28-October 4, 2023 Duterte...

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Group...

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was learned very recently that she demanded – and received – many millions of pesos more over and above what she was entitled to by law. A mere month after assuming the vice presidency in August, last year, she requested for an additional PHP403.46 million in funding “to endure continuous operations” of the Office of the Vice President (OVP). The request to the Department of Budget and Management has signed by Duterte herself. The DBM only approved P221.42 million. Since one of the reasons cited for her request was for P250 million in “confidential funds,” the OVP apparently ran to the Office of the President (OP) for the additional funding. The OP’s release of P125 million for the confidential funds has since been questioned by legal experts as being unconstitutional when it was unearthed earlier this year. Liberal Party (LP) president Rep. Edcel Lagman said the transfer was “flawed” as well as unconstitutional.

time from the Filipino people. The proposed national budget from the current president and son of Ferdinand Marcos Sr., Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr even furthered the allegations of stolen wealth and human rights violations with additional funds towards pork-barrel funds while a massive cut to services like labor and agriculture that have been transferred over to the defense and counter-insurgency budget in the midst of abductions and killings of activists ﬁghting for national liberation and genuine democracy in the Philippines. Opening the celebrations was Glenn Mercado of Malaya Movement SF who spoke on the Marcos’ agenda of historical revisionism in trying to portray the 14 year Martial Law period as a “golden age,’’ pointing out the contradictions of such with reviewing the atrocities of the state under Martial Law, from the social media disinformation campaign that won him the presidency to the current

 NATIONAL NATIONAL NEWS NEWS The charter, Lagman said, “prohibits the transfer of funds except with respect to constitutional officers like the President relative to savings for augmentation of allocation which are deficient in his office, not in any other office.” There was no allocation for confidential funds for the OVP in 2022, Lagman noted. When Malacanang said the release actually came from the OP’s contingent fund, Lagman further pointed out that the OP only had P50 million available to dole out. Thus, the release of the extra P75 million was still illegal. Last week, Rep. Stella Quimbo – a member of the opposition LP but who allies herself with the House supermajority – stunned the public when she revealed that the P125 million intelligence funds Duterte had received had been spent not within 19 days as earlier reported, but in only 11 days. Critics also questioned why an Education secretary needed confidential funds, something which no other Department of Education head had ever received in the past. This meant that Duterte had spent more than P11 million a day, which could not be subject to review

by the Commission on Audit. As one critic put it, she could have placed the entire amount in a foreign bank account and no one could question her. Speaking in a combination of English and the vernacular, Minority Senator Risa Hontiveros said: “P11 million every day?? What can VP Sara show for it? What did she do with the money? The entire country is waiting for a receipt.” This amount was for her post as Education secretary. She receives an additional P500 million as vice president. Her conﬁdential funds as VP also raised eyebrows, since her immediate predecessor Leni Robredo never received any such fund, while the VP before her, Jejomar Binay, only received a fraction of what Duterte is getting. During last week’s budget hearings, Duterte was also scored for her inability to explain what her conﬁdential funds were for, especially as Education head. She usually passed to her various undersecretaries the responsibility of answering questions directed at her. This led to Duterte exchanging words with Senator Hontiveros. This then caused the VP to say she

had “no respect” for the lawmaker, who had told her, “You’re not special.” Earlier, the transfer of P125 million from the Office of the President to the Office of the Vice President in 2022 was questioned as being in defiance of the Constitution, which does not allow inter-agency fund transfers as all departments are supposed to operate on funds based on approved budgets only. Two past Senate presidents – Koko Pimentel and Franklin Drilon – separately said that they believed the transfer from OP to OVP was clearly unconstitutional. The OVP has refused to comment further on the issue, only saying that Duterte could “live without” the confidential intelligence funds. This week, a handful of lawmakers at the House moved to transfer the intelligence funds of Duterte as VP and Education secretary, to the intelligence community, primarily within the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It remains to be seen if Duterte is willing to part with the hundreds of millions of pesos she can dole out without being audited, or fight tooth and nail to retain the funds.

push by the Department of Education (headed by Vice President Sara Duterte) to remove mention of his father’s dictatorship from the Grade 6 curriculum in the Philippines. Highlighting the nature of the ﬁght against historical revisionism. “Our ability to highlight the atrocities of the Marcos-Duterte regime is of incredible importance. The battle for truth is a battle for justice!” Mercado stressed. The ﬁrst U.S. national to have an assassination attempt on his life under the Duterte government Brandon Lee emphasized, “The apple does not fall far from the tree,” referring to alleged recent human rights violations under Marcos Jr. against Indigenous activists in the Cordilleras and also the recent killing of Lumad activist Lala Fanagel by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. But in the sorrow of losing those to state violence, he upheld the victories of the people’s movement that ousted Marcos Sr. in 1986 and the memories of those martyred by the Philippine government. Then Lee’s speech transitioned into a cultural performance by his daughter Jesse Lee, performing

her original song about the harm the Marcos political dynasty has caused the Filipino people and how the people will take back their rights and power at the day. Meg Kalaw from League of Filipino Students at UC Berkeley highlighted the revolutionary role of the youth in opposing Marcos and connected it to the history of Kabataang Makabayan, fighting against the basic problems of U.S. imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucrat capitalism. “Still, despite all of the counterinsurgency, the stolen wealth, and our lost martyrs, we as youth continue to fight back. We refuse to be scared off by terror-tagging or disappearances back home. We wage this just revolutionary fight for all the victims of the fascist father and son. And we will not stop!” Megan Murphy and Bee Burgonio, members of GABRIELA SFSU, revealed how women specifically have been affected by martial law, particularly on the rise of disappearances of women human rights defenders under the US-Marcos II regime, with 15 women being abducted and disappeared in Marcos Jr.’s first year of presidency.

“We will continue to ﬁght alongside the working-class masses and demand an end to the rotten system that forces young women into continued cycles of debt! We demand an end to the abduction and disappearances of young Filipina activists and to surface all desaparecidos!” The program ended with an engaging guerrilla theatre performance starring members from LFS-SFSU, Anakbayan CCSF, and Anakbayan Daly City, showcasing the struggle of the Filipino people across all sectors led by the working-class against Martial Law and ultimately ousting Marcos Sr. from oﬃce in 1986 through the People Power Revolution. The Filipino people continue to commemorate those that have fallen and risked their lives against the old and now current Marcos regimes. The call of this year’s commemoration of Martial Law was, “Ibalik ang mga nakaw na yaman ng mga Marcos!”, as protestors also called to expose and oppose the US-Marcos II regime and will continue the call up to and beyond APEC.

9 September 28-October 4, 2023

PHL-US economic ties must keep pace with defense cooperation: DFA

NEW YORK/MANILA – The Philippines’ economic cooperation with the United States must keep pace with steadily growing defense relations. Thus said Foreign Aﬀairs Secretary Enrique Manalo in a meeting at the Asia Society in New York. Manalo reiterated President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr’s call to ensure that the US-Philippine partnership is relevant and responsive to the current and emerging realities in the region. “We aim to increase two-way trade and in-

vestments, especially in critical infrastructure, as strategic and sensitive sectors,” he said in his speech. Manalo also hoped that the ﬁrst ever US Presidential Trade and Investment Mission visiting the Philippines in 2024 will foster public and private partnerships and generate big ticket projects. On defense, he said the Philippine-US alliance should continue to support Manila’s eﬀorts to enhance its capabilities and build a credible deterrent against challenges to its sovereignty and territory.

He cited four additional Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement sites where both Philippine and US forces have access for the conduct of joint activities, especially training exercises in connection with humanitarian assistance and disaster response. The Philippine-US Mutual Defense Board and Security Engagement Board, led by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the US Indo-Paciﬁc Command, also met in Manila recently to ﬁnalize plans and proposals for various types of maritime domain awareness and intelligence-sharing activities.

Manalo pointed out that the Philippines continues to face challenges with sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea, including recent incidents involving the Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels. “Anxieties on geopolitical tensions should not detract or prevent the region from the pursuit of economic prosperity and development. My region, Southeast Asia, is currently ahead of the global curve in post- pandemic recovery and we are committed to maintain this momentum,” he said.

PHL CUTS...(From page 1)

“So there is already a template in Scarborough (Bajo De Masinloc) so there is no question about that, if they do that in Ayungin we also have to remove the barriers and we do not have to wait for the order of the President to remove that,”t he WestComn chief said. Philippine officials strongly condemned China for installing last week a 300-meter (980-foot) -long barrier through the Chinese coast guard vessels at the entrance to the lagoon of Scarborough Shoal as a violation of international law and the country’s sovereignty. The barrier has prevented a swarm of Filipino boats from entering the rich fishing area, they said. The shoal lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone just west of the main Luzon Island, but has been occupied by China since 2012 as part of a push by Beijing to lay claim to virtually the entire South China Sea. At the United Nations, the Philippines, United States and Japan firmed up their commitment to work for a free and open Indo-Pacific and ensure peaceful resolution of disputes, according US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “Our alliance with Japan and the Philippines is a cornerstone of our Indo-Pacific strategy. Together, we are committed to promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific, ensuring the peaceful resolution of disputes, and upholding international law,” Blinken said at the Second Trilateral Ministerial Meeting on the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York. The meeting, hosted by the US, was participated by the Philippines’ Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Japan Foreign

Minister Yoko Kamikawa. Reports from New York stated that the meeting underscored the shared dedication of the three nations to fostering regional stability, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. It served as an opportunity for high-level discussions on regional cooperation and the pressing challenges facing the region. Kamikawa emphasized the need for cooperation in the face of complex regional dynamics. “The Indo-Pacific region is pivotal to global peace and stability. Our trilateral partnership allows us to address emerging challenges effectively and strengthen our ties,” he said. Manalo echoed these sentiments, highlighting the shared objectives of the three nations. “The Philippines values its strong relationships with both the United States and Japan. Our cooperation extends to a wide range of areas, including security, trade, and development, all aimed at fostering regional prosperity,” Manalo said. The three officials reaffirmed their commitment to promoting peace and stability in the South and East China Seas. They emphasized their shared values of freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights. The trilateral meeting follows a series of high-level interactions, including a September meeting between US Vice President Kamala Harris, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., a July trilateral meeting in Jakarta, and a June meeting in Tokyo. In his address, Blinken said the three countries saw eye-to-eye on the strengthening of

ties in a bid to maintain peace and stability in the region. “I think all three countries believe strongly that our collaboration, not only on a bilateral basis but on a trilateral basis, can produce very positive beneﬁts not only for our countries but also for other countries and partners in the region and beyond,” Blinken said. The Philippine Navy (PN)’s warfare capabilities are expected to get a boost in a twoweek drill with its US Navy (USN) counterparts, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said. Lt. Col. Enrico Gil Ileto, AFP public affairs oﬃce chief, said this year’s “Exercise Samasama” slated from Oct. 2 to 12 would be held at the Naval Forces Southern Luzon area of operations, with the opening rites at the PN headquarters in Naval Station Jose Andrada in Manila. “’Samasama’ is a bilateral exercise between the USN and the PN that aims to further strengthen international defense cooperation and advance a rules-based international order,” he said in a statement. Ileto said these naval activities are designed to further enhance the PN’s naval warfare capabilities, including the fundamentals of antisubmarine, anti-surface, anti-air and electronic warfare. These capabilities are now being provided by the two Jose Rizal-class missile frigates, the BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) and BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), which are considered the PN’s most modern warships to date and were delivered in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

United...

dents to take action against hate, United Against Hate has as its ultimate goal the building of inclusive and equitable communities and encourages seven days of local civic action by people in every community, including hosting events, sharing stories, attending rallies, connecting with local institutions and more. “We encourage our partners to join us in this impactful moment by doing what you can to stand in solidarity. As always, let us know if you have any further questions or concerns around this,” urged Keni Nooner of CA vs Hate organization. Initially, civic leaders created United Against Hate in direct response to the sharp rise in expressions of hate in our communities. We want to empower local residents to take action in their local communities and alter the course of this growing intolerance. “When cities and their residents work together against hate, we can restore respect and civil discourse, embrace the strength of diversity and build inclusive and equitable communities for all,” stresses UAH leaders. UAH believes that nothing is too small not to make a contribution and impact the communities because working united in each community is what will defeat hate in all communities as it urges everyone to start with simply posting signs, then to bigger things as hosting events, sharing stories, attending rallies, and connecting with schools and neighborhood civic institutions. In further informing everyone of other things

that can be done to participate in the UAHW, the United Against Hate listed down the following ideas of action: INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS #1: Hang a UAH Poster/Create a Poster Distribution Center #2: Speak Up/Hold a conversation #3: Make a UAH Banner #4: Gather friends, co-workers, or classmates to practice standing up to bigoted remarks or hate speech, in person or online #5: Post and Promote UAH Week on social media GROUP EVENTS #6: Film Screening & Discussion: Not in Our Town oﬀers free ﬁlms. Sign up to screen one at this form! #7: UAH-themed book list for book clubs, libraries and schools #10: Dedicate a Peace Object #11: Hold a Unity Walk #12: UAH-themeD sports game or 10k ruN #13: Organize a student march/rally #14: Ask local artists to contribute works with a “Stop Hate” or pro-inclusion theme for an exhibit in a public space #15: Host a Poetry Slam #16: Organize a Tribute Concert to raise awareness and possibly funds for UAH or victims of hate crimes. #17: Host a facilitated intervention training to practice speaking up & standing up to hate #18: Organize a “Teach-in” or a panel of community leaders, professors, or subject ex-

perts to discuss the latest hate crime statistics #19: Create a UAH-themed community potluck #20: Convene faith leaders to discuss joint actions to respond to hate Further, UAW underscored the differences between a hate crime and a hate incident stating that hate crime charges may be filed when there is evidence that bias, hatred, or prejudice based on the victim’s real or perceived race/ethnicity, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender, or sexual orientation is a substantial factor in the commission of the offense. This definition is codified in the California penal code sections 422.55 to 422.95 pertaining to hate crime. On the other hand, a hate incident is a noncriminal act that involves bias-motivated hostility in which a victim’s real or perceived race/ ethnicity, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender, or sexual orientation is a substantial motivating factor. Some examples of hate incidents can include: derogatory name calling, bullying, hate mail, and refusing service.

This as the Philippines, the United States and Japan firmed up plans on the sideline of the United Nations meeting in New York to ensure a free and open navigation in Indo Pacific. The Philippines and US, meanwhile, readied for new joint warfare drills off Sorsogon and Catanduanes province alongside their allies, including Japan, United Kingdom, Australia, France, Indonesia and New Zealand which opens next seek with over 2,000 troops. China installed the floating barriers in efforts to blockade fishermen, Filipino vessels and the Philippine Coast Guard. The floating barriers were cut during a special operation by the PCG upon orders of President Marcos to the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea. China immediately chided the Philippines for its action, claiming that it is provoking Beijing. Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro answered back and slammed China’s message to the Philippine government to not “stir up trouble” in the West Philippine Sea. China’s foreign ministry had advised the Philippines to not make provocations in the disputed area, a day after the Philippine Coast Guard removed a floating barrier installed by Beijing in Bajo de Masinloc. The Armed Forces Western Command, meanwhile, said floating barriers near the Ayungin Shoal would also be immediately removed if these are placed there by China.

(From page 1)

in every community to stop the hate and implicit biases that are a dangerous threat to the safety and civility of our neighborhoods, towns and cities. It also emerged from a United Against Hate poster campaign created by Bay Area Cities in response to white supremacist rallies in Berkeley and San Francisco in 2017. The original 13 communities were convened in 2018 by Not In Our Town, a national anti-hate organization and partner in the LA vs Hate campaign, and committed to an annual week of action and awareness. It has now spread to nearly 90 organizations and cities across the country and closely works with Not In Our Town and LA vs Hate to bring an annual week of action and awareness to our neighborhoods, towns, and cities. Also since its inception, United Against Hate Week has spread to over 200+ communities including all of Los Angeles County, faithbased groups, LGBTQ and human rights organizations, and is beginning to takeoﬀ throughout California and in communities across the U.S. “We encourage people to have events leading up to the week, so feel free to plan your event anytime this fall. Find out what you can do as a city, a group, faith leader, student or individual by downloading our Community ToolKit (PDF),” UAHW organizers appealed. A statewide coalition of civic leaders and activists working together to empower local resi-

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

 OPINION

September 28-October 4, 2023

MARILYN B. KING

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Inevitable shutdown?

nless some kind of miracle takes place within the Republican Party, specifically within its membership in the House of Representatives, the federal government will be shut down by this weekend. There will be much finger pointing, but blame will almost certainly fall on the lap of Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who is being held hostage by a tiny minority within the party, but who have become unusually influential because of the numerous promises McCarthy made to the group in order to win the Speakership. Recall that it took an unprecedented 15 rounds of voting to be held earlier this year before McCarthy was able to gain the necessary numbers to take control of the House, and even then just barely. A lot of the horse trading was due to that small faction within the GOP that demanded a number of concessions, including some that were certain to haunt McCarthy somewhere down the line. That time is now, and it appears that the Speaker can either stand his ground and refuse to give in to the demands of that tiny minority within the majority, or cave in and risk an uprising within the more moderate members of the party who know that risking a shutdown can be catastrophic. In all likelihood, there will be a short-term shutdown, within which time a temporary solution will be hammered out. A temporary solution is far from ideal, but it’s better than no solution at all. Or painful as it may be for the Republican Speaker from California, he may have to run to the Democrats for much-needed succor. The Democrats, of course, will be all too willing to give McCarthy a helping hand, if not a life saver, but that too will come at a cost. He will have to offer concessions that many of his peers within his party will find unpalatable. There are those who see the hand of Donald Trump in the troubles facing the House today. In fact, the former president can be deemed as a non-factor. The problem lies solely with McCarthy, who is widely considered as one of the weakest Speakers in modern times, one who was so desperate to assume the high post that he was willing to offer the sun, the moon, and the stars to any and every Republican who would back his speakership bid all those months ago. If, in fact, a shutdown is inevitable, so too is the end in sight for McCarthy’s hold on the House. Sooner or later, the GOP must face the cold reality that a new leader is needed if they are to keep their slim majority in the House. For now, there is no clear leader that most if not all Republicans can gravitate to. But one will have to rise at the shortest time possible if the House is to continue functioning. As the old saying goes, nature abhors a vacuum. So it is when the post of Speaker of the House becomes vacant. Hopefully, a better leader emerges soonest, one who does not have to sacrifice his or her principles in order to get the necessary work done. And who knows how to avert dangerous shutdowns in the years to come.

ven before the last election campaign started, I already told friends, colleagues, family and clan members and anyone I encountered that three candidates for senator are on top of my list. They are bar topnotcher Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr., reelectionist Richard J. Gordon and newcomer actor Robin Padilla. I readily endorsed Teodoro because of his sterling qualifications and impeccable record in government as Tarlac congressman, Kabataang Barangay president, Sangguniang Panlalawigan member and, at 43, Secretary of Defense under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He got his degree in commerce from De La Salle University and then took law from the University of the Philippines where he was ALFRED G. GABOT number one in his class. He then topped the bar exam in 1989 and moved on for a Master of Laws degree from Harvard University and, like my idol and wedding godfather Primitivo de Leon, passed the bar in New York. He also completed his Doctor of Laws at the West Negros University in Bacolod City. I met Secretary Teodoro up close only once – in Washington D.C. when President GMA visited the White House. Broadcaster Rey Langit and journalist-turned police general Cris Maralit were with me in that meeting where I greeted him in Ilocano, the dialect he speaks with ease being from Paniqui, Tarlac, although born in Isabela, eliciting a short repartee in Ilocano. I remember him making a comment when I posted on Facebook our photo together in DC. In 2010, I supported him in the presidential race over his cousin Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino. In contrast with Secretary Teodoro, Senator Gordon is another Ilocano who became a friend as early as when he was a newly minted lawyer, visiting then Mayor Ramon Bagatsing at City Hall after attending court hearings there. Gordon’s City Hall visits would not be complete without passing by the Manila City Hall Press Club office at the groundfloor besides the Taft Avenue gate. There, the already loquacious but still slim Gordon (born in President Ramon Magsaysay’s hometown of Castillejos) would discuss developments of the day, serve us coffee sometimes or join us in the poker table as reporters – Miguel Genovea, Val Abelgas, Atty. Ely Amoroso, Tony Lozano, among others -- wait for news breaks filtered through spokesman Jose Lito Atienza Jr. Even while taking up law at UP, Gordon was elected the youngest member of the 1971 Constitutional Convention. When (Continued on page 20) he became mayor of Olongapo City and later as Chairman/

In My Heart

FRANCIS ESPIRITU

Gibo Teodoro, Gordon and Robinhood of the Philippines

Upside

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CHERIE M. QUEROL MORENO

Martial law 1972

t is 51 years to the day, since Martial Law was declared in the Philippines by the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos. The Philippines’ Daily Expresss, which I had joined on April 1 that year, was barely five months and three weeks old. I remember going to the Daily Express offices on Bonifacio Drive that day, only to find the door padlocked . Martial law had been declared and all media publications shut down. The Daily Express resumed operations the next day and was the only national newspaper for a month or so, until other publications were allowed to reopen. Martial law was a wake-up call for drug pushers, drug users and criminals who ran for cover. It served to instill discipline among Filipinos. The first years of martial law saw a growth in the country’s economy, international recognition for the island country, an abundance of food, infrastructure development and technological superiority min Asia. True, the voices of the opposition had been silenced , but media , whether pro or con the current administration , enjoyed special treatment. Whatever crimes allegedly committed by President Marcos, there is no doubt that he had great foresight, was an eloquent speaker, a charismatic leader who was able to get the best minds of the country to work for him, including the late Blas F. Ople, Leonides Virata, Cesar Virata and Aber Canlas, to name a few. I never got to meet President Marcos, though I had occasion to meet the First Lady, after her return from exile in Hawaii. Reflecting on the Martial Law years, I realize that I was fortunate to have worked for the Daily Express for 14 years until its sequestration by the Cory administration. Though my children prevailed upon me to support Cory Aquino instead of President Marcos, I never lost my admiration for the latter’s brilliance and decision to prevent a bloody revolution and ultimately, to go into exile. The aftermath of Martial Law was marked by the introduction of the multi-party system, the departure of the US forces from the Philippines, the abolition of the six-month period prior to employment system, the privatization of national agencies, the halting of Marcos-initiated projects . One cannot help but wonder whether the Philippines was better before Martial Law or after it. Food for thought.

11 September 28-October 4, 2023

 OPINION

Health & Wealth

Offline

s accredited and comf the People’s Republic of missioned Notary China were a person, that Public in California person would be a hyposince 1981 and founder of crite and more. He would also Mobile Signing Services be a bully, a thief, and a liar. (MSS), I’m amazed how creI’ve written and spoken ative our old and new clients against the communist nain suggesting idea on how to tion before, and will continue save on gas & mileage fees in to do so until I’m blue in the the signing, notarization and face and hell freezes over, or apostille follow up of docu- ART GABOT MADLAING when China stops insulting ments needed in the Philipmy country with empty talk of BETING DOLOR pines. everlasting friendship where Early this month, Sonny, all disagreements can be rean old client residing in New York, called me and asked assolved through diplomacy. I know I don’t stand alone. In fact, I’m in relatively good sistance and help in the signing, notarization and apostille folcompany with a number of senators airing the same feelings low up of important documents prepared by his lawyer, now urgently needed in the Philippines. and frustrations I have with China. After further conversation, I found out that four copies of Not a week goes by when the country does not take action “ that is the figurative equivalent of a punch to the stomach or a the Deed of Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate with Quitclaim kick to the groin. In the week just passed, we learned that cor- prepared by his lawyer are now needed on the properties in al reefs within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) Pangasinan left by his father, who died in San Jose, Califorhave been destroyed by Chinese vessels. Then we learned that nia. The sets of documents will be signed by him; all his living the damn China Coast Guard have put up a floating barrier in the Bajo de Masinloc area, well within the country’s EEZ. siblings who are residing in Lodi, Milpitas, Stockton and San Where the destruction of the corals is concerned, China Jose, California respectively; and his elderly mother (now 97 naturally lied to its teeth when it said they had nothing to do year old), who is staying with her son in San Jose, California. I explained to Sonny that the sets of documents must be with the environmental disaster. In case the dictator Xi Jinping is unaware of it, corals are signed in my presence, notarized and then be submitted to home to various types of sea life, especially fish. Destroy the the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section, in Sacramento, corals and you destroy their habitat. Soon enough, the rich California for apostille. Sonny suggested that he and his wife will be flying from and fertile fishing grounds will be empty, the equivalent of a New York to San Jose International Airport in San Jose, Calidesert on land where few living things can survive. And yes, I did call their Xi a dictator, and China very re- fornia on weekend and will arrange for all his siblings and his cently said it was unhappy when another country referred to elderly mother to come together on Saturday at the house of their leader as such. I believe it was Germany, which was not his brother in San Jose, California for the signing of the set of afraid to tell the world what it thinks of the Chinese leader documents in my presence. Through the arrangement and coordination of Sonny, I who allowed himself an unprecedented third term as president met Sonny, his wife, his siblings and elderly mother in San just because he could. In fact, Xi is as power mad as they come. He is no differ- Jose, California last September 2, 2023, Saturday, 6:00pm for ent from Ferdinand Edralin Marcos as well as a host of other the signing and notarization of the sets of Deed of Extrajuditinpot dictators so addicted to power that they would declare cial Settlement of Estate with Quitclaim. After some preliminaries and early dinner, Sonny’s wife themselves emperor or king if they could. At least there seems to be one bright spot when the elders brought out the sets of documents. After quick review of the of China’s political leadership reportedly called him out for 6 sets of documents, to include 1 set for Sonny’s file and 1 the actions he has been taking lately that has resulted in China set for my file. Sonny’s elderly mother signed first the doculosing its image as a good nation to have as a friend and trad- ments. Then, she signed my Journal of Notarial Acts and put her right thumb mark. Then Sonny and all his siblings signed ing partner. China’s economy is starting to show signs of not only the 6 sets of documents. Then, they all signed my Journal of slowing down, but of collapsing in several fronts. Its real es- Notarial Acts and put their right thumb marks. My beloved tate industry has overextended itself resulting in tens of thou- wife Virginia Jimenez Madlaing and a cousin signed the 6 sets sands or even hundreds of thousands of housing units without of documents as witnesses to the signatures. After sorting the signed documents with pertinent enclobuyers. Its manufacturing industry is also slowing to a crawl, and sures, my wife and I submitted the notarized documents to the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section in Sacramento, its unemployment rate is rising. The once rosy future that China was facing is disappear- California for apostille, the following week. I subsequently ing fast, and it’s all because of the policies of Xi that seek to sent the apostilled sets of documents by Priority Mail to the enslave poor countries through various steps like entrapping mailing address of Sonny in New York. Sonny, his siblings and his elderly mother were very happy for the prompt, effithem with easy loans at usurious rates. In the case of the Philippines, China was able to brain- cient, unique and complete services with MSS. Here are some wash the previous president whose name I refuse to mention advantages and benefits with MSS: 1. SAVINGS ON GAS AND MILEAGE FEES --because he was a traitor of the first degree, and who not only availed of several of those big loans, but who also surrendered WE encourage old and new clients to come to our home office for savings on gas and mileage fees (($60-$130). For multiple the country’s patrimony. His reason? We cannot afford to wage war with China as signatures of clients residing in different locations, follow the strategy of Sonny in bringing together all signatories to the we are sure to lose. Tell that to the Vietnamese who were not afraid to face the documents in one place and time for big savings on gas and US in a war which they eventually won because they were in mileage fees. With the siblings of Sonny coming from five the right. They simply refused to welcome an invading coun- cities (Lodi, Milpitas, Stockton and San Jose, California and Woodside, New York)), the idea of Sonny bringing together try, no matter how powerful it was. What did Ninoy Aquino say? The Philippines is worth dy- all the siblings in San Jose, California enabled Sonny and his siblings to have big savings on gas and mileage fees (about ing for. And what did his son Noynoy say? The Philippines is $440). 2. DISCOUNTS FO THE ELDERLY AND VETERworth living for. And what does this old editor/columnist say? The Philip- ANS ---We offer special discounts for the elderly and veterans. pines is worth fighting for. 3. AVOID TAKE OFF FROM WORK – You don’t It may be unfortunate, but China’s aggressive actions against the Philippines has resulted in a hidden anger that is need to take off from work and drive to Sacramento just to welling within the majority. Hopefully, this will not result in submit notarized documents to the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section, for apostille. MSS will take care everything hate crimes against Chinese-Filipinos. Perhaps the Social Weather Stations or Pulse Asia can take for you. 4. FLEXIBLE APPOINTMENTS --We offer a survey on how Filipinos feel about China now. And how (Continue on page 20) those feelings affect how they (Continue on page 20) very flexible appointments for old

Larry Itliong: The pride of Pinoys in the farm labor movement

ext week, the month of October, is FilipinoAmerican History month. Actually, it’s American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and as we celebrate it, we honor Larry Itliong, a highly influential leader whose pivotal role in the farm labor movement left a longlasting legacy for all of us. Itliong’s legacy, however, is somehow not remembered and not celebrated by many, just ELPIDIO R. ESTIOKO like how many remember and celebrate labor organizer Cesar Chavez. It was just proper for the government to declare the month of October as Filipino-American month with Larry Itliong at the helm for people to know how he and his group contributed to California’s labor movement and the states of Alaska (cannery) and in sugar plantations across the Hawaiian Islands. While in the US, he made his living working as a farm laborer and in Alaska’s salmon canneries. As a Filipino laborer, Itliong faced poverty and racism but became a charismatic and effective labor organizer and champion for social justice. Itliong, also known as “Seven Fingers,” was a Filipino-American labor organizer whose story is not as well-known as others, but is just as important and significant to our history. It was in Alaska that he lost three fingers in an accident in a cannery, earning him the nickname “Seven Fingers.” We, the proponents of Itliong as the pride of the Asian American community, are rewriting history to uncover his achievements and contributions to society. Efforts are being made by organizations highlighting his contributions to the farm labor movement, so we can recite his achievements, just like any other labor leader/organizer, to as many kababayans the world over. In fact, his son Johnny is making a personal crusade in letting people know his father’s contributions in the California labor movement. It’s been said that Cesar Chavez inspired the world, but not known to many, As I See It, Larry Itliong actually inspired Cesar Chavez, as shown in the Delano Grape Strike in 1965 which was started by Itliong and his Delano Manongs and was later joined by Chavez and his Mexican farm workers. In an era known for civil rights movements, Itliong fought for better working conditions in a country thousands of miles from his homeland of the Philippines, by the time he landed in US soils up to his death. Itliong led the Manongs (a Filipino word is used to address the elders with respect), in their quest for social justice. The Delano Manongs are referred to as the FilAm farm workers in the history of farm labor movement in California who staged the famous Delano Grape Strike in 1965 and worked for fair farm labor practices.

As I See It

China’s hypocrisy

How to save on gas & mileage fees in documents notarization

He was born on October 25, 1913 in San Nicolas, Pangasinan, Philippines as Modesto “Larry” Dulay Itliong and immigrated to the US in 1929 at the age of 15. Regarded as a key figure of the Asian American labor movement, Itliong organized the West Coast agricultural workers starting in the 1930s, and rose to national prominence in 1965, when he, Philip Vera Cruz, Benjamin Gines and Pete Velasco, walked off the farms of area table-grape growers, demanding wages equal to the federal minimum wage, that became known as the Delano Gape Strike of 1965. He has been described as “one of the fathers of the West Coast labor movement.” Recognizing his heroic efforts in 2022, California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation declaring October 25, 2022, as “Larry Itliong Day” in the State of California. The proclamation states: “Today we celebrate the trailblazing Filipino-American labor leader, civil rights champion and California Hall of Fame Inductee Larry Itliong. Born on this day in 1913 in a province of the Philippines, Larry Itliong immigrated to the United States as a youth in 1929, where he trailblazed farm labor movement. While working in the fisheries and canneries of Alaska, Itliong helped found the Alaska Cannery Workers Union, fighting for better working conditions. After serving in World War II, Itliong settled in Stockton, where he continued his organizing efforts. He helped launch the Asparagus Strike of 1948 – the first major agricultural strike after World War II – and in 1956, Itliong founded the Filipino Farm Labor Union in Stockton. Itliong, Philip Vera Cruz and other leaders also helped create the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee. In 1965, Itliong fought alongside grape workers in the Coachella Valley for increased pay. After that victory, the Manongs – respected elder workers in the Filipino-American community – voted in 1965 to organize against exploitative grape growers in Delano. Shortly after, the Manongs joined forces with Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta and the National Farmworkers Association, beginning a nationwide boycott of grapes that led to the first farmworker union contracts. Recognizing his incredible impact on our state and advocacy for those without a voice, I had the honor of inducting Mr. Itliong into the California Hall of Fame dur- (Continue on page 20)

 BUSINESS | IMMIGRATIONS

September 28-October 4, 2023

Care Home owners may petition Relatives as caregivers

any people are asking me if they can petition their relatives as caregiver. The answer is yes. It should be one of your option in uniting family. Relatives are more reliable as workers because of their loyalty to the owner. Aside from helping them to come to the U.S. you have made your business stronger because they can help you outside the box. Your relatives include your children, grandchildren, siblings, uncle, aunt, cousins, niece, nephew. Aside from the position of caregiver, you may be able to petition them as skilled worker in the Care Home like administrator or supervisor. The EB3 (Employment Based 3rd Preference) include skilled and other workers. Caregivers are classified as other workers. Petitioning caregivers is a long and complex process that you should be aware of. You need to know this to save time and money. This is a very challenging time for those Care Home Facility owners because of the shortage of Caregivers. Many caregivers can be petitioned by the facility owners whether they are coming from the Philippines or already in the United States. Our Law Firm can handle the process from start to finish. As of this writing the priority for caregivers is May 1, 2020. However, if you are inside the US you can file an adjustment of status based on approved I-140 petition if your priority date is May 1, 2020. What are the requirements for EB-3 Green Card for Skilled workers, Professionals, or Other Workers? Answer: The EB-3 green card covers a wide range of applicants and has less stringent requirements compared to the two categories above. To qualify as a skilled worker, you must demonstrate that you have at least two years of job experience or training in the job you are applying through. To qualify as a professional, you must have at least a U.S. bachelor’s degree or its foreign degree equivalent in the field you are working in. Other workers are usually unskilled workers who are able to demonstrate the ability to perform unskilled labor that is not seasonal or temporary in nature. Caregivers usually need only three months experience as a caregiver. What is needed to start a caregiver petition? Answer: An EB-3 applicant must have a job offer from a U.S. employer and fulfill the PERM Labor Certification requirements, which will likely mean a longer application timeline than other categories where the PERM can be waived. Note that since some cases require additional paperwork to be filed, it’s best to contact a qualified employment immigration attorney. What is the processing time for employment based green card? Answer: The employment-based green card timeline varies depending on the category you qualify for. Generally, however, here are the steps you need to take if you are working toward getting an employment-based green card: 1. Have a U.S. Employer 2. Complete PERM Labor Certification Process: Average of Six to Nine Months Once you have a qualifying job offer and an employer who is ready to sponsor your green card, the next step is to complete the Program for Electronic Review Management (PERM) Labor certification. This is a process that requires your employer to demonstrate that the foreign worker (you) is not taking a job position away from qualified U.S. workers. What should an employer do to process PERM? Answer: Your employer with the support of an immigration attorney will conduct a recruitment process to ensure that you are not displacing any qualified U.S. workers The PERM can take between six months and a year and a half to obtain depending on whether or not your employer is subjected to an audit. Here is the breakdown of the timeline for PERM Labor processing times: • Prevailing Wage Request: two weeks • Recruitment Process: eight to nine weeks • ETA-9089 Application: 24 weeks After getting approved on the PERM Labor Certification, what is the next step? Answer: Your employer will need to file a Pettion for Alien Worker Form I-140. Once your Form I-140 is approved, and your priority date becomes current, you can file for an Adjustment of Status by submitting an I-485 form. The I-485 is the last stage along the employmentbased green card timeline, DOJ SELLER OR TRAVEL # 2025230-40 but in most cases, it has the (Continue on page 20)

PBBM thumbs down rice tariff reduction; NEDA reverses stand MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. rejected the proposal to temporarily implement rice tariff reduction in a bid to address the surge of rice prices in the market. “We decided with the agriculture and economic managers that … it was not the right time to lower the tariff rates because the projection of world rice prices is that it will go down. So, this is not the right time to lower tariffs. Tariffs are generally lowered when the price is going up,” Marcos said. The President made the remarks after the sectoral meeting in Malacañang, where the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) presented updates on the proposed rice tariff reduction. The updates include inputs from the Department of Finance, Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Budget and Management. Farmer groups earlier said importers are set to gain if rice tariff will be suspended because some businessmen are already undervaluing rice. It is also seen to hurt the prices of palay (unhusked rice). NEDA earlier recommended the reduction of tariff pegged on imported rice to help

lower local rice prices, which will eventually lead to the simultaneous lifting of Executive Order (EO) No. 39 that set a price cap on regular and well-milled rice. However, during the meeting, NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan and Department of Agriculture Undersecretaries Leocadio Sebastian and Mercedita Sombilla agreed that it is not the time yet to lower tariﬀ rates because of the declining prices in the international market. EO 39, which took eﬀect Sept. 5, mandated a P41 per kilo price ceiling for regular milled rice and P45 per kilo for well-milled rice. Asked if the government will lift the implementation of EO 39, Marcos said: “Pagaralan natin mabuti (We will carefully study it).”

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13 September 28-October 4, 2023

 ENTERTAINMENT

Kapamilya online live now available in Europe, Australia and New Zealand

More Filipinos can feel connected to home even if they are across the world as ABS-CBN’s Kapamilya Online Live on YouTube begins its livestreaming in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand with live and on-demand access. Kapamilya Online Live’s Philippine livestream will now stream simultane-

ously in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, giving Kapamilyas anywhere in the world the chance to enjoy their favorite ABS-CBN programs at the same time with their loved ones at home. This comes after Kapamilya Online Live expanded its live and on-demand access to viewers in Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore,

Kuh Ledesma to headline City of Carson Filipino American History Month Celebration

CITY OF CARSON - Philippine singer Kuh Ledesma will headline the City of Carson annual Filipino American History Month Celebration on Sunday, October 8, at the Carson Event Center, from 12 noon to 3 pm. This free event will kick-oﬀ the City’s month-long recognition and celebration of the Filipino American communities’ contributions locally and across the country. The program will be led by two wellknown hosts and performers in the Filipino American community, husband and wife Jojo and Alexis Riguera. The entertainment line-up will appeal to people of

all ages and includes local and overseas talents. This year’s headliner is Filipino singer, actress, and diva Kuh Ledesma. With a career spanning over 40 years, she is recognized as one of Asia’s most successful pop singers. She has performed in over 1,000 concerts globally. Kuh is regarded as one of the best singers in the Philippines. “Carson is proud to recognize the contributions of Filipino Americans nationwide especially in the Carson community. Carson, as one of the most diverse cities in the country, is proud to celebrate Filipino American history as part of American history,” said Carson Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes. Filipino American History Month Celebration is an annual event during the month of October in the City of Carson. For more information about Filipino American History Month Celebration, call the Carson Event Center at (310) 8350212.

and in other parts of Asia earlier this year. Kapamilyas may now feel the action, thrill, drama, and romance all at the same time in ABS-CBN’s primetime programs “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,” “The Iron Heart,” and “Senior High.” The mystery and revenge-driven stories get even more intense in ABS-CBN’s afternoon oﬀerings “Pira-Pirasong Paraiso,” which begins its new chapter with Maricel Soriano, Elisse Joson, Alexa Ilacad, Charlie Dizon, and Loisa Andalio, and “NagAapoy Na Damdamin,” where the lives of JC De Vera, Ria Atayde, Tony Labrusca, and Jane Oineza get entangled as the truth starts to unfold. Non-stop good vibes can also keep viewers company in “It’s Showtime” and “ASAP Natin ‘To,” while Filipinos can still be updated with the important news and relevant issues, locally and internationally, by streaming the all-around coverage of ABS-CBN News programs such as “TV Patrol” and “The World Tonight.” The free oﬀering on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel, which remains the number one channel in the

media and entertainment category in Southeast Asia with over 45 million subscribers, is part of the company’s commitment in bringing entertaining and inspiring content to more Filipinos outside of the Philippines. Kapamilya Online Live also provides binge-worthy entertainment with replays of the best-of-the-best classic ABS-CBN shows such as “Dolce Amore,” “Be My Lady,” “Los Bastardos,” and “Be Careful with My Heart.” Through Kapamilya Online Live, viewers can catch up on the latest episodes of currently airing shows of up to 14 days of non-stop replays. The livestreaming service also allows Kapamilyas to stay connected to Filipinos in diﬀerent parts of the world by interacting in the live chat feature. Enjoy Kapamilya Online Live by subscribing to ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel. For updates, follow @abscbnpr on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, or visit www.abs-cbn. com/newsroom.

 ENTERTAINMENT

September 28-October 4, 2023

KC Concepcion’s Hollywood movie ‘Asian Persuasion’ wins award at SOHO film fest KC Concepcion is overjoyed after her debut Hollywood movie received an award at the SOHO International Film Festival. On Instagram, KC announced to her followers that their movie “Asian Persuasion” won the Audience Choice Award. “Out of over 100 film entries at the @sohofilmfest, ‘Asian Persuasion’ won the AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD for full-length feature! Ang saya,” she wrote as reported by ABS-CBN. KC then proceeded to congratulate their director, three-time Tony Award winning producer Jhett Tolentino, and the film’s entire production. “Asian Persuasion” follows the story of a downon-his-luck chef, Mickey de Los Santos (Dante Basco), who cooks up a crazy scheme to marry off his ex-wife, Avery Chua (Concepcion), by setting her up with a fake internet dating profile in an attempt to find her a suitor to re-marry in order to avoid his substantial alimony obligations. With the help of his trusted wingman, Mickey gets off to a hot start until he realizes he wants a second chance with Avery. He, however, might be too late. “Asian Persuasion” was shot entirely in New York City in 2022, celebrating some of its most iconic landmarks and highlighting some of its lesserknown, less frequented cultural enclaves. Aside from KC and Basco, the movie features Kebin Krieder and Paolo Montalban. After its world premiere at the SOHO International Film Festival in New York City, it will be theatrically released in the Philippines nationwide on

November 29. “Asian Persuasion” follows the story of a downon-his-luck chef, Mickey de Los Santos (Dante Basco), who cooks up a crazy scheme to marry off his ex-wife, Avery Chua (Concepcion), by setting her up with a fake internet dating profile in an attempt to find her a suitor to re-marry in order to avoid his substantial alimony obligations. With the help of his trusted wingman, Mickey gets off to a hot start until he realizes he wants a second chance with Avery. He, however, might be too late. In Manila, KC admitted that she was initially intimidated by her co-stars. But this quickly changed once they started working. “When I got on set, they made me feel so welcome and so at home to be on an American set and it was the best experience for me. Talagang na-feel ko ‘yung support ng mga artistang Fil-Am and Asian-American na nakatungtong na sa Hollywood. Parang hindi ko na-feel na naiiba ako dahil homegrown ako dito sa atin,” she said. KC said she did not have any second thoughts

about accepting the role of Avery because she found the script really entertaining. “Nung binasa ko ‘yung script, 30 minutes lang tinapos ko na. Na-enjoy ko ‘yung story. Na-enjoy ko ‘yung dialogues. Nakakatawa ‘yung mga dialogue. Nakikita ko na comedy din siya pero may puso talaga, may hugot. American pero Asian and may pusong Pinoy,” she said. Since the movie tackles marriage and divorce, KC shared that her personal experience with what happened to her parents really helped her breathe life into her character. “I think that really helped me sa heart na dinala ko doon sa role ko. Like I said, hindi mo pwedeng i-limit ‘yung sarili mo. Lahat pwede whether good, whether bad, you just do your best to enjoy a ride,” she said. When asked if she would be more active in showbiz again after this project, she playfully hinted, “I think so. Ayaw ako paalisin eh. I think this job chooses you. Siguro talagang para sa akin ‘yung ganito.” She added as quoted by ABS-CBN: “Bata pa lang ako, pinangarap ko na talagang mag-artista kahit dine-deny ko sa mommy ko kasi siyempre gusto niya ako mag-graduate ng college and mag-ibang landas. Pero hilig ko rin talaga. So I am really grateful na bagong experience ito sa akin na yung script English pero yung kwento, Pilipino. Makaka-relate yung 4.6 million na mga Pilipino sa America and mga Pilipino na nandito sa atin.”

City of Carson Jazz Fest CITY OF CARSON - The City of Carson is hosting its annual Jazz Fest on Saturday, October 7, at the Anderson Park. This free event will feature live entertainment, a wide variety of food, crafts and display booths, a children’s play area, and stage activities. This year’s headliner is Grammy Award winning artist, songwriter, and producer Jamison Ross. He is an American jazz drummer and vocalist. He is the winner of the 2012 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Drums Competition. Jamison will be joined by Donald Hayes, Greg Rose, Jordan Busa, DJ Alcatraz, Jazz in Pink, the CSUDH Band, and many more. Limited VIP seating is also available for $100 per person. To make reservations, please call Anderson Park MondayFriday between 3 p.m.-8 p.m.; SaturdaySunday 12 p.m.-4 p.m. The festival will

also feature a wide variety of food, crafts and display booths, a children’s play area, and stage activities. One of the longest running events in Carson, the jazz festival draws a huge crowd from all over the South Bay each year, previous topbilled performers included Barbara Morrison, Kenny Lattimore, Loose Ends, Angela Boﬁll, Ronnie Laws, and many other big names in the jazz music industry. “The City Council continues to support one of Carson’s longest running events in Carson that draw a huge crowd from all over Southern California. I’m so proud that numerous community volunteers participate to ensure its success annually,” said Carson Mayor Lula DavisHolmes. The Jazz Festival is a co-hosted event by the Carson Citizens Cultural Arts Foundation and the City of Carson.

15 September 28-October 4, 2023

 ENTERTAINMENT

Fil-Brit Yassi Pressman denies dating politicians Filipino-British actress Yassi Pressman broke up with non-showbiz Canada-based businessman boyfriend John Semira and soon after that, she was quickly linked to other guys, including Ilocos Norte Congressman Sandro Marcos and Camarines Governor Sur Luigi Villafuerte. “But they are just good friends of mine,” Yassi clariﬁes through columnist Mario Bautista. “Lalo si Luigi na halos ten years ko na yatang kakilala,” Yassi is quoted as saying by the columnist. “Kabe-break lang namin ni Jon, it was a mutual decision, and I won’t just quickly jump into a new relationship lalo na ngayong I’m so busy,” Yassi explains as the columnist reported. “ I have ‘Kurdapya’ with TV5, I’m now busy promoting our new movie ni Ruru Madrid, ‘Video City,’ and I’m also taping for our new series on GMA, ‘Black Rider.’ So sa work muna po tayo mag-concentrate,” she

adds in the column. She says she is elated to be given the chance to work with old friend Ruru Madrid both on the big and the small screen. “I’m optimistic viewers will watch our movie, ‘Video City,’ kasi it provides a nostalgic look into the ‘90s. You’d remember the times when life was much simpler, walang smart phones, walang social media, walang bashers na galit sa mundo. Sa story, nag-rewind ang buhay at panahon for Ruru as Han in 2023 at napabalik siya sa 1990s due to a mysterious rewinder of VHF tapes.” So how is it working again with Ruru? Yassi quickly replied: “Masaya. We ﬁrst got to work together sa GMA exactly ten years ago at ibang-iba pa kami noon, teenagers pa lang kami. Working with him now, I can feel his love for his craft kaya naman napakagaling niyang artista. He’s a real gentleman. And very caring siya.”

Carla Abellana joins new talent firm, ready to mingle, to love again?

Good news to fans of Carla Abellana. In a sign that she is ready to mingle, Carla has signed up with All Access to Stars Talent Management which also manages Marian Rivera and Maine Mendoza, among other.

Kathryn Bernardo wins Outstanding Asian Star award Actress Kathryn Bernardo clinched the prestigious Outstanding Asian Star award at the recent Seoul International Drama Awards (SDA) 2023. In her heartfelt acceptance speech, she paid tribute to healthcare workers and conveyed her deep appreciation for ABS-CBN’s acclaimed series, “2 Good 2 Be True.” “I fell in love with this project because of its unique storyline. It’s always been more than just sharing a love story to our audience, but also spreading awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and educating people about those who struggle with it, and how we can oﬀer them the best support they need. This project made me appreciate our nurses and our healthcare workers so it was really more than just another TV show for me ,” the Kapamilya star said. In the series, Kathryn portrayed the character of Ali, a nurse who cares for an elderly billionaire named Lolo Sir/ Hugo Agcaoili, played by the talented Ronaldo Valdez, who suﬀers from Alzheimer’s. The show garnered commendation for its role in educating viewers on essential health procedures like CPR and the FAST method.

All Access to Stars Talent Management president and CEO Mike Tuviera officially welcomed Carla in a grand press con at Sampaguita Gardens, columnist Mario E. Bautista reported. “I’m overwhelmed,” says Carla as quoted by the columnist following the event. “This is the warmest welcome I’ve been given since I joined showbiz 14 years ago. I didn’t expect it to be this big.” All Access offered a sumptuous buffet dinner and raffled off several cash prizes to the attending press people. Carla was very candid in her replies in the Q&A. Has she forgiven her ex-hubby Tom Rodriguez? Carla has a quick reply: “Matagal na. Definitely, I’ve moved on. I’ve closed that chapter in my life and I am happy where I am now. I’m more at peace and you cannot attain that peace without being able to forgive. I’ve also moved to my new house and I’m happy with my pet dogs.” Is she ready to work with Tom again?

Columnist Mario Bautista quoted her answer: “At this point, huwag na muna. I won’t be comfortable. And we’ve been paired several times before so sana, iba naman. Ang dami ko pang ibang gustong makatrabaho. I’d like to work with Piolo Pascual, whether it’s a movie or a teleserye. I’m now also more brave and adventurous to try new roles, like subukan kong mag-contravida and do other genres like suspense-thriller.” How about a Girls’ Love series? “Why not? As long as it’s well written and tastefully handled,” she says Is she ready to fall in love again? “Sino bang ayaw? Lahat naman, gusto noon. But ayoko munang isipin. Kalilipat ko lang sa All Access and there are so many possibilities na puede kong gawin with them, so dito muna ang focus ko.” Carla has just ﬁnished a new soap for GMA-7, “Stolen Life,” where she’s paired anew with Gabby Concepcion.

 SPORTS

September 28-October 4, 2023

Wushu produces another Asian Games bronze; Alex Eala pulls off huge comeback; skateboarders Didal, Feliciano make medal round HANGZHOU, China – Taolu specialist Jones Inso saved the day for Team Philippines September 25, producing another bronze medal in the 19th Asian Games, as Olympic boxers Eumir Marcial and Carlo Paalam win in their fights. The 26-year-old from La Trinidad, Benguet missed out on a medal in the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games in May but more than made up for it on a bigger stage. Inso scored 9.746 points in the barehand taijiquan form and tallied 9.470 in the swordplay discipline of taijijian for a total of 19.216 in wushu men’s taijiquan-taijijian all-around event. China’s Gao Haonan had 19.666 points to claim the gold while Hong Kong’s Hui Tak Yan compiled 19.494 for the silver. The third-place finish was the second for the country after taekwondo jin Patrick King Perez grabbed a bronze on Sunday in men’s individual poomsae. Agatha Wong was the nation’s female entry in the event but the 2018 Asiad bronze medalist could only manage fourth place overall on Sunday. In boxing, Eumir Marcial came through with a dominant showing in his light heavyweight debut, but Irish Magno bowed out of contention as the two Olympians suffered contrasting fates at the start of the boxing competitions in the 19th Asian Games here. Marcial, 27, scored an overwhelming 5-0 victory over Dalai Gadzorig of Mongolia at the Hangzhou gymnasium to advance to the Round of 16 of the men’s 80 kg class. The Filipino went up in weight from being a middleweight,

where he won a bronze medal in last year’s Tokyo Olympics.I Alex Eala, meanwhile, pulled off one of the biggest comeback wins in tennis history of the Asian Games with a 0-6, 7-5, 6-0 win over Japanese Kyoka Okamura Wednesday that assured Team PH another bronze medal at the Olympic Tennis Centre here. Eala, seeded No. 4, looked like a beginner in the first set as she committed numerous turnovers – some of which were basic mistakes – not to mention Okamora’s solid game from the baseline. She even lost her first serve in the second, giving Okamura a 2-0 lead. Eala found her rhythm and rallied furiously to win the second set which proved enough to beat her Japanese rival.

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Other developments at the Asian Games: 1. Skateboarders Margielyn Didal and Renzo Mark Feliciano barged into the women’s and men’s street event medal round in the 19th Asian Games at Qiantang Roller Sports Centre in Zhejiang Province, China on Tuesday. Didal, the 2018 gold medalist, landed sixth in the preliminary round from 41.53 points in her second and best run and from her first go of 37.86. On the men’s side, 2019 Southeast Asian Games silver medalist Feliciano pulled off 52.73 to take the lead after a 23.10 in the second run. 2. In men’s basketball, Gilas Pilipinas routed Bahrain, 8961, to kick off its campaign at the HOC Olympic Stadium. Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame presided over a secondquarter breakaway that paved the way for the national team to sit on a 51-33 lead at the break. Brownlee finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds in his first stint in the continental meet, while Kouame came through with 15 in the 28-point victory that put Gilas on top of Pool C along with Jordan, a 97-63 winner over Thailand. 3. In boxing, Carlo Paalam defeated Jordan’s Mohammad Jajeh Abu, 5-0, in the men’s 57 kg round of 32 at Hangzhou Gymnasium. 4. In judo, Kiyomi Watanabe and four other Filipinos suffered crushing losses at the Xiaoshan Linpu Gymnasium. Watanabe, a silver medalist in 2018 Jakarta Asiad, fell prey to a Japanese powerhouse in the quarterfinals to bomb out of medal contention in the women’s -63-kilogram class. 5. Amparo Acuña, meanwhile, came close to the Philippine record when she fired a total of 618.8 points in the qualification round of the women’s 10-meter rifle event in the shooting competitions at Fuyang Yinhu Sports Center. Acuña shot rounds of 102.1, 102.9, 105.1, 103.4, 103, 101.5 to almost match the national mark of 622.2 she achieved in the Asian Championships last March. Her effort, however, wasn’t enough to clinch a seat in the final round as she finished 42nd in the 59-shooter field, where only the top eight advanced. 6. Rower Joanie Delgaco fell short of a podium finish after she settled for fifth in the women’s single sculls event of the 19th Asian Games at Fuyang Water Sports Centre here on Monday. Delgaco, the only Southeast Asian in the final round, clocked eight minutes and 5.93 seconds to finish fifth behind Anna Prakaten of Uzbekistan, Liu Ruiqi of China, Shiho Yonekawa of Japan and Huang Yi Ting of Chinese Taipei. In tennis, the third set was a different story as it was Eala who dictated the tempo on the way to posting another win that could go down as one of the highlights of a flourishing career. The victory arranged the 18-year-old Filipina sensation a semis date with top seed Zheng Qinwen of China, who survived a close opening set to beat Park Sohyn of South Korea, 7-6 (4), 6-0.

11 September 28-October 4, 2023

 OPINION

Health & Wealth

Offline

Larry Itliong: The pride of Pinoys in the farm labor movement

As I See It

China’s hypocrisy

How to save on gas & mileage fees in documents notarization

 BUSINESS | IMMIGRATIONS

September 28-October 4, 2023

Care Home owners may petition Relatives as caregivers

(510) 964-7067

13 September 28-October 4, 2023

 ENTERTAINMENT

Kapamilya online live now available in Europe, Australia and New Zealand

Kuh Ledesma to headline City of Carson Filipino American History Month Celebration

 ENTERTAINMENT

September 28-October 4, 2023

KC Concepcion is one stunning Dalagang Filipina on the streets of Manhattan, New York

The actress and host donned a dark purple modern Filipiniana with fringed hems by Cheetah Rivera. KC also wore pieces from her jewelry brand, Avec Moi by Kristina. In her caption, KC said that it is her way to pay tribute to Filipino traditions, “as I make my way through the streets of New York for my first American film[.]” KC’s showbiz comeback and first international film “Asian Persuasion” premiered on September 16 at the SOHO International Film Festival. A huge crowd attended the event. “Asian Persuasion” is Jhett Tolentino’s feature directorial debut, and also stars Dante Basco, Paolo Montalban, and Kevin Kreider. It is about an underachiever who comes up with an outlandish plan to avoid alimony obligations to his fashion executive ex-wife. Filming wrapped in 2022.

City of Carson Jazz Fest

CITY OF CARSON - The City of Carson is hosting its annual Jazz Fest on Saturday, October 7, at the Anderson Park. This free event will feature live entertainment, a wide variety of food, crafts and display booths, a children’s play area, and stage activities. This year’s headliner is Grammy Award winning artist, songwriter, and producer Jamison Ross. He is an American jazz drummer and vocalist. He is the winner of the 2012 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Drums Competition. Jamison will be joined by Donald Hayes, Greg Rose, Jordan Busa, DJ Alcatraz, Jazz in Pink, the

CSUDH Band, and many more. Limited VIP seating is also available for $100 per person. To make reservations, please call Anderson Park Monday-Friday between 3 p.m.-8 p.m.; SaturdaySunday 12 p.m.-4 p.m. The festival will also feature a wide variety of food, crafts and display booths, a children’s play area, and stage activities. One of the longest running events in Carson, the jazz festival draws a huge crowd from all over the South Bay each year, previous topbilled performers included Barbara Morrison, Kenny Lattimore, Loose Ends, Angela

Boﬁll, Ronnie Laws, and many other big names in the jazz music industry. “The City Council continues to support one of Carson’s longest running events in Carson that draw a huge crowd from all over Southern California. I’m so proud that numerous community volunteers participate to ensure its success annually,” said Carson Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes. The Jazz Festival is a co-hosted event by the Carson Citizens Cultural Arts Foundation and the City of Carson.

15 September 28-October 4, 2023

 ENTERTAINMENT

Bea Alonzo at ease with Dennis Trillo in GMA series Popular actress Bea Alonzo loves doing her second series with GMA-7, “Love Before Sunrise,” opposite Dennis Trillo. “Mataas na agad ang level of trust namin kasi sabay kaming ni-launch 21 years ago sa Star Circle in the show ‘KTBU’ then he moved to GMA,” she relates as reported by Mario Bautista in his Malaya column. “I’ve seen his growth as an actor thru the years and I’m happy for him. Pero somehow, nailang pa rin kami kasi ﬁrst taping day namin kasi ﬁrst scene namin, we are in a relationship na. So medyo mahirap kasi kailangan makilala nyo munang mabuti ang isa’t isa. But as professional actors, we got over that easily as we have to make the scene work,” Mario Bautista also quoted Bea as saying. Bea came to admire Dennis more after working with him, the respected columnist added. “I saw his discipline when it comes to his craft as an actor. Sa set, tahimik lang siya. There’s an air of mystery

in him, but you can expect him to deliver once he faces the camera. He studies his role well at bawat eksenang gagawin niya.” Bea says GMA oﬀered them several projects to choose from and they chose the story of “Love Before Sunrise.” “He felt ito ang material na bagay, tamang-tama para sa ﬁrst series namin and I agree with him. I think it’s one reason why he’s successful. He knows how to choose the right projects.” In the story, Bea plays Stella and Dennis plays Atom. They fell in love years ago but broke up as they realized it was not the right time for them. They meet other people along the way but, years later, their paths will cross again and they discover they still have feelings for each other. Director Mark de la Cruz says Bea and Dennis have an electrifying chemistry on screen. They not only look good but they also act well together.

Vanessa Hudgens doing ‘everything’ to prove she’s proud to be Filipino Despite being raised in an “extremely American” environment, Vanessa Hudgens maintained that she’s “doing everything” to let people know that she’s “proud to be a Filipino.” Hudgens was met with criticism after she was appointed by the Marcos government as the global tourism ambassador of the Philippines last March, with some noting that other personalities like Hawaii-based inﬂuencer Bretman Rock should’ve been given the title. Months after her visit in the Philippines, the singer-actress addressed critics in an interview with American women’s magazine Allure last Sept. 14, where she pointed out that “doing everything I can to let people know I’m Filipino because I am proud.”

Cong Arjo Atayde nominated @ Asian Contents Awards

Quezon City Congressman and actor Arjo Atayde has been, once again, recenly nominated by an international award-giving body. Arjo, who recently married his ﬁancee Maine Mendoza, has been nominated for Best Lead Actor in the 2023 Asia Contents Awards and Global OTT Awards. The actor/politician is nominated for his superb performance as Anton dela Rosa in the drama/suspense series “Cattleya Killer” on Amazon Prime Video. Other nominees were:Fan Wei of “The Long Season”, Nat Kitcharit of “Delete”, Ryu Seung Ryong of “Moving”, Satoh Takeru of “First Love”, and Yagira Yuya of “Gannibal”. The Asia Contents Awards (ACA) in Busan, Korea is an annual event that reecognizes excellent contents made for TV, OTT, and online streaming across Asia. Recently, ACA has collaborated with the International OTT Festival, which is co-hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and Busan Metropolitan City, expanding its coverage from Asia to the world and embracing changes in the growing content industry.

“Yes, I had rice with every meal, but I didn’t necessarily feel like I was super separated from the other kids in school, just because my upbringing was so extremely American,” she said, adding that her mother “hadn’t returned to the Philippines” until a family member died in 2019. Hudgens also recalled a time where she was “automatically assumed” to be Latina, due to her role as Gabriella Montez in the hit ﬁlm series “High School Musical.” “Everyone automatically assumed that I was Latina, and most people still do. And when I tell them I’m Filipino, they’re like, ‘What?!’ You haven’t met my mother,” she said. “I think that I’m quite ambiguous so people don’t really know. But I am doing

everything that I can to let people know because I am proud.” During the interview, the “Beastly” star said her stay in the Philippines was a “beautiful experience” as it helped her to get in touch with her heritage. “I feel like I didn’t meet a single person that felt like they were having a bad day, everyone was just like, so happy… it felt so empowering to know where you’re from, and be able to represent your heritage,” she said. Hudgens also expressed her delight over the increase of Filipino representation in the U.S., while citing Broadway star Lea Salonga and singer Olivia Rodrigo.

 SPORTS

September 28-October 4, 2023

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17 September 28-October 4, 2023

 COMMUNITY NEWS

September 28-October 4, 2023

Governor Newsom strengthens California’s gun safety laws

SACRAMENTO – In the wake of shootings across the country that have left at least 104 people dead over the past 72 hours — and following Friday’s decision by U.S. District Court Judge Benitez blocking California’s large-capacity magazine ban — Governor Gavin Newsom strengthened California’s nation-leading gun safety laws. Joined by Attorney General Rob Bonta, lawmakers, and gun safety advocates and survivors, the Governor signed multiple new measures into law, including SB 2 (Portantino) strengthening the state’s public carry regulations; SB 452 (Blakespear) requiring microstamping on handgun cartridges to help trace guns used in crimes; AB 28 (Gabriel) enacting a first-in-the-nation effort to generate $160 million annually on the sale of bullets to improve school safety and gun violence intervention programs; AB 455 (Quirk-Silva and Papan) keeping guns out of the hands of potentially dangerous individuals; AB 725 (Lowenthal) updating the definition of a firearm to include ghost gun parts; and AB 732 (Mike Fong) strengthening the process for removing firearms from people who are prohibited from owning them. “While radical judges continue to strip away our ability to keep people safe, California will keep fighting — because gun safety laws work. The data proves they save lives: California’s gun death rate is 43% lower than the rest of the nation. These new laws will make our communities and families safer,” Newsom said. Governor Newsom signs legislation with lawmakers, Attorney General Bonta, and gun safety advocates “Addressing gun violence is critical to protecting public safety; we cannot pretend that they are distinct problems,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “In California, we won’t settle for inaction when it comes to saving lives. Senate Bill 2 will help prevent violence by ensuring that dangerous individuals may

not carry concealed guns in public and prohibiting the carry of dangerous weapons in sensitive places where our children gather. With this law, we are boldly advancing California’s successful, data-driven strategy to prevent gun violence and save lives. I sponsored Senate Bill 2 to provide stronger protections for our communities, and am grateful for the partnership demonstrated by author Senator Portantino and our Governor as together we enact this law to better protect California residents.” “I am grateful for Governor Newsom’s bold leadership on gun safety and thank him for signing SB 2,” said Senator Anthony Portantino (D-Burbank). “I was proud to partner with the Governor, Attorney General Bonta and amazing grassroots activists across California on this needed effort to strengthen our existing concealed permit laws and to ensure that Californians are made safer from gun violence. SB 2 is constitutional and consistent with the Supreme Court’s guidance in the Bruen decision. When SB 2 is implemented, it will certainly increase public safety and I believe save lives.” “I thank Gov. Newsom for co-sponsoring and signing SB 452, which is another big step forward in our efforts to reduce gun violence, protect the public, and catch criminals,” said Senator. Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas). “SB 452 will put to use readily available technology to help law enforcement identify the guns used illegally and the people behind them. I applaud Gov. Newsom for his leadership on this issue.” “It’s shameful that gun manufacturers are reaping record profits at the same time that gun violence has become the leading cause of death for kids in the United States,” said Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino). “AB 28 will fund critical violence prevention and school safety programs that will save lives and protect communities across the State of California. I am deeply grateful to Governor Newsom for signing AB 28

and for his outstanding national leadership in addressing gun violence.” SB 2 by Senator Portantino (D-Burbank) strengthens California’s restrictions regarding public carry laws by enhancing the existing licensing system – ensuring those permitted to carry firearms in public are responsible and law-abiding individuals — setting a minimum age requirement of 21 years of age, ensuring stronger firearm training requirements, and identifying certain sensitive public places. SB 452 by Senator Blakespear (D-Encinitas) requires all semiautomatic pistols sold in California to use microstamping technology. The law — using microstamping technology — will require guns sold or transferred in the state by 2028 to etch unique identifiers on expended cartridges, providing law enforcement with valuable information to help identify suspects in crime-linked shootings. AB 28 by Assemblymember Gabriel (D-Encino) imposes an 11 percent excise tax on firearms and ammunition sold by gun manufacturers and dealers. AB 28 is estimated to generate $160 million annually to fund school safety and violence prevention programs, including initiatives to prevent school shootings, bolster firearm investigations, reduce retaliatory violence, and remove guns from domestic abusers. AB 455 by Assemblymembers Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton) and Diane Papan (D-San Mateo) creates a process by which a court can prohibit a person participating in a mental health diversion program from purchasing or possessing firearms. AB 725 by Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) amends the definition of a firearm to include the frame or receiver of the weapon, including a firearm precursor part, for purposes of having to report a lost or stolen firearm.

19 September 28-October 4, 2023

 COMMUNITY NEWS

United Against Hate Week convened for more impactful participations and actions By Jun Nucum SAN FRANCISCO - A convening for United Against Hate Week (UAHW) was hosted by the California vs Hate organization in partnership with activists and cities across the state for upcoming November 12-18th weeklong event to learn about the actions during UAHW and how an individual, groups and organizations can participate to make the event more impactful and successful with involvement of most number of participants both individually and as a group. Hide original message UAHW is a call for seven days of local civic action by people in every community to stop the hate and implicit biases that are a dangerous threat to the safety and civility of our neighborhoods, towns and cities. It also emerged from a United Against Hate poster campaign created by Bay Area Cities in response to white supremacist rallies in Berkeley and San Francisco in 2017. The original 13 communities were convened in 2018 by Not In Our Town, a national anti-hate organization and partner in the LA vs Hate campaign, and committed to an annual week of action and awareness.

It has now spread to nearly 90 organizations and cities across the country and closely works with Not In Our Town and LA vs Hate to bring an annual week of action and awareness to our neighborhoods, towns, and cities. Also since its inception, United Against Hate Week has spread to over 200+ communities including all of Los Angeles County, faith-based groups, LGBTQ and human rights organizations, and is beginning to takeoﬀ throughout California and in communities across the U.S. “We encourage people to have events leading up to the week, so feel free to plan your event anytime this fall. Find out what you can do as a city, a group, faith leader, student or individual by downloading our Community ToolKit (PDF),” UAHW organizers appealed. A statewide coalition of civic leaders and activists working together to empower local residents to take action against hate, United Against Hate has as its ultimate goal the building of inclusive and equitable communities and encourages seven days of local civic action by people in every community, including hosting events, sharing stories, attending rallies, connecting with local institutions and more. “We encourage our partners to join us in

this impactful moment by doing what you can to stand in solidarity. As always, let us know if you have any further questions or concerns around this,” urged Keni Nooner of CA vs Hate organization. Initially, civic leaders created United Against Hate in direct response to the sharp rise in expressions of hate in our communities. We want to empower local residents to take action in their local communities and alter the course of this growing intolerance. “When cities and their residents work together against hate, we can restore respect and civil discourse, embrace the strength of diversity and build inclusive and equitable communities for all,” stresses UAH leaders. UAH believes that nothing is too small not to make a contribution and impact the communities because working united in each community is what will defeat hate in all communities as it urges everyone to start with simply posting signs, then to bigger things as hosting events, sharing stories, attending rallies, and connecting with schools and neighborhood civic institutions. In further informing everyone of other things that can be done to participate in the UAHW, the United Against Hate listed down

the following ideas of action: INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS #1: Hang a UAH Poster/Create a Poster Distribution Center #2: Speak Up/Hold a conversation #3: Make a UAH Banner #4: Gather friends, co-workers, or classmates to practice standing up to bigoted remarks or hate speech, in person or online #5: Post and Promote UAH Week on social media GROUP EVENTS #6: Film Screening & Discussion: Not in Our Town oﬀers free ﬁlms. Sign up to screen one at this form! #7: UAH-themed book list for book clubs, libraries and schools #10: Dedicate a Peace Object #11: Hold a Unity Walk #12: UAH-themeD sports game or 10k ruN #13: Organize a student march/rally #14: Ask local artists to contribute works with a “Stop Hate” or pro-inclusion theme for an exhibit in a public space #15: Host a Poetry Slam #16: Organize a Tribute Concert to raise awareness and possibly funds for UAH or victims of hate crimes.

Why are mortgage rates going higher up?

here are multiple factors that cause mortgage rates to go up. Some of these factors are under your control that will help you avoid higher mortgage rates are as such: • You have a strong FICO credit score • You take out a shorter-term loan, like a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage • You make a larger down payment • Your monthly debts are low Some factors that cause mortgage rates to go up are, however, out of your control— such as how the US economy is performing. Inflation is one of the significant factors that impact mortgage rates. Usually, inflation leads to higher mortgage rates since it decreases the value of the US dollar. Inflation also decreases the demand that investors have for mortgage-backed bonds. When demand drops, the costs of mortgage-backed securities drops. This results in increased interest rates for all types of mortgages. When inflation is higher, mortgage rates also tend to increase. This means that getting a mortgage can become more expensive as higher interest rates translate into higher monthly mortgage payments. In the next section, let’s look at how inflation plays a factor on why mortgage rates are going up. Why mortgage rates are going up: How inflation plays a factor The mortgage rates are indirectly tied to 10 Year Treasury Bonds and the goal of the Federal Reserve is to limit unemployment and inflation rates through monetary policy. While it does not directly set interest rates on mortgages, the Federal Reserve does control the federal funds rate. These are the interest rates that lenders charge one another for overnight loans in order to meet reserve requirements. The interest rate on other loans—like those attached to home loans—typically follows the direction of the federal funds rate. Since 2022, mortgage lenders tended to raise their rates when the Federal Reserve raised its rate.

The Fed raised its federal funds rate by 0.25% in March 2022. It also said it would keep raising this rate in increments of between 0.25% and 0.5% until inflation drops. 7 reasons why mortgage rates are going up When speaking about mortgage rates, most people will bring up inflation—especially in recent years. While this has become a more prevalent trend in recent years, there are numerous reasons why mortgage rates are going up, including: Let’s take a closer look at each to give you a better understanding of why mortgage rates are going up: 1. Economic crisis Mortgage rates typically drop at the beginning of a recession and then rise as the economy stabilizes. For instance, if you took out an adjustablerate mortgage during a recession, the mortgage rate will likely rise when the economic downturn reaches its end. Indicators of economic growth—as well as economic crisis—often include gross domestic products (GDP) and employment numbers. 2. The Federal Reserve As mentioned, by increasing or decreasing the target for the federal funds rate, the Federal Reserve impacts short-term interest rates. The Fed makes its decisions based on the US economy, essentially to balance economic growth while limiting inflation. When the Federal Reserve chooses to tighten the money supply, it also raises interest rates on consumer borrowing—which includes mortgage rates. Then, when the Fed increases its target range for the federal funds rate, it ends up paying more to borrow funds from one another. The result is the lender passes the high costs onto the customers. 3. World events Major world events can have a significant impact on why mortgage rates are going up. In recent years, COVID-19 and the Russian conflict in Ukraine have impacted mortgage rates globally. Historically, mortgage rates were impacted by World War II, the oil embargo in the 1970s and 1980s, the 2007 housing market crash, and Brexit. 4. Bond prices As bond prices go up, mortgage rates go down. And if bond prices go down, mortgage rates will increase. Ten-year Treasury rates also impact lenders’ interest rate, with mortgage rates rising or falling depending on demand. Generally, when Americans are feeling spooked by the economy, they invest more in bonds. Because yields are considered safer assets, yields will go down. If Americans are feeling more positive, they will invest more money in stocks. While stocks tend to offer a higher rate of return, they also pose a greater risk of loss.

5. Inflation As mentioned, mortgage rates and inflation are connected, however indirectly. When inflation rises, mortgage rates rise to keep up with the value of the US dollar. When inflation drops, mortgage rates follow suit. Another reason inflation is such a significant factor when it comes to mortgage rates is the cost

of borrowing is more expensive as inﬂation rates increase. In that case, most people are likely to hold on to their money than spend it. Thanks for your inquiries, please call Ken Go of 1st Innovative Finance 562-508-7048 or write to kennethgo@verizon.net CABRE 01021223 NMLS 238636

September 28-October 4, 2023

Oﬄine...

(From Page 11)

perceive the countless Chinoys in our midst. Besides a number of senators, Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro also referred to China as “insincere and hypocritical.” But I do wish that all the angry words aimed at China can be backed up with more concrete actions. Enough of appeasing China whenever we are the aggrieved party. But Bongbong Marcos had better scrap his “friend to all, enemy to none” foreign policy. In plain and simple words that even a college dropout of a president can understand, China is not our friend. It is our neighbor, yes, but it is no longer our friend. That friendship ended when Xi began to believe himself a bigger leader than Chairman Mao. For all his many, many faults, Mao did unify China. The dictator Xi may be the country’s undoing. My proposal is simple. With every aggressive action taken by China against the Philippines, we should move further and further away from them diplomatically. As those actions are not likely to stop, also veer away economically. Raise taxes on all goods imported from China, bar none. Turn to the likes of India and Taiwan as our preferred trading partner. Downgrade the Philippine embassy in Beijing if worse comes to worst. When old age or death results in Xi’s permanent exit from this mortal plane, adopt a wait-and-see attitude towards the new leadership, hoping and praying that their next leader will not be a hypocrite, a bully, a thief, and a liar. For now, and I hope I am dead wrong, expect progressively worse tactics by China where the West Philippine Sea is concerned. It can be expected based on the language of its foreign ministry, which has started to make fun of our leadership. This growing mockery can be traced to the insipid “friend to all, enemy to none” policy of the administration. It is a wishy-washy policy that’s neither here nor there, sir. Dictator Xi is no longer laughing at you behind your back, Bongbong Marcos. He is doing it to your face. So what are you going to do about it? File another useless diplomatic protest? Lame, sir, just lame.

As I See It

(From Page 11)

ing Filipino-American Heritage Month last year. Today, on the 109th anniversary of his birth, we honor the great contributions of Larry Itliong and the Manongs whose hard-fought battles helped advance farmworkers’ rights and social justice. Let us remember their message of “Isang Bagsak!” – we are all connected together in our fight for justice, and we rise and fall together.” Itliong became a U.S citizen following his service in the U.S. Army during World War II, and in 1954 moved to Stockton’s Little Manila, where he organized the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC). He was so good at recruiting new members that union leaders asked him to move to Delano to organize Filipino grape workers. It was there that he helped change the history of farm labor. He led, on Sept. 8, 1965 AWOC members in a strike to demand wages equal to federal minimum wage and better working conditions. But Itliong knew that for the strike to succeed, they needed members of the National Farm Workers Association to join. He approached NFWA’s leader, César Chávez, with the proposal. On Sept. 16, the AWOC and NFWA joined forces beginning the Delano Grape Strike and Boycott. It lasted five years and was one of the most important social justice and labor movements in American history, ending with victory for the farmworkers. In the meantime, the AWOC and NFWA merged in 1966 to become the United Farm Workers (UFW), with Chávez as director and Itliong as assistant director. Itliong left the UFW in 1971, but continued to work for Filipino Americans until his death in 1977 at age 63. One of his major successes was securing funding for the construction of the Paulo Agbayani Retirement Village in Delano, which has provided housing and support for retired Filipino farmworkers since 1974. Itliong spent his life standing up for his belief that “everyone has equal rights and justice, but you have to make that come about.” He died on Feb. 8, 1977, leaving a legacy of activism that inspires us all. In October 2013: Assembly Bill 123, authored by Assemblyman Rob Bonta, CA District 18, sought the inclusion of Filipino American farmworker history into k-12. California Gov. Jerry Brown signed Bonta’s Filipino Farm Worker Bill, AB 123 on October 2, 2013. On April 9, 2015, the California State Assembly unanimously passed a bill designating October 25th as “Larry Itliong Day. Slowly, the efforts of Itliong was being recognized and put in the forefront for people to know.

In 2013, a documentary entitled, The Delano Manongs: Forgotten Heroes of the UFW, highlighted the role of Filipinos in the farm labor movement led Larry Itliong. That same year, the New Haven Uniﬁed School District in Union City, California, renamed Alvarado Middle School to Itliong-Vera Cruz Middle School in honor of Itliong and labor partner, Philip Vera Cruz, the ﬁrst school in the United States to be named after Filipino Americans. In 2018, a children’s book, Journey for Justice: The Life of Larry Itliong, was published. The Larry Itliong Papers are housed at the Walter Reuther Library at Wayne State University in Detroit. The State of California has recognized his birthday, October 25, as Larry Itliong Day. He deserves the best, just like any other! Let’s remember Itliong and the Manongs together with their contributions in farm labor movement! (Elpidio R. Estioko was a veteran journalist in the Philippines and an award-winning journalist here in the US. He just published his book Unlocking the Chain of Poverty: In Pursuit of the American Dream which is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Xlibris Publishing. For feedbacks, comments… please email author at estiokoelpidio@gmail.com).

Health & Wealth...

(From Page 11)

and new clients during regular office hours, after office hours and weekends except on Sundays. 5. FREE PARKING --- When we had our office at the Philippine Center near the Philippine Consulate Office, our old clients were complaining for the expensive parking fees. With our home office in San Francisco, old and new clients can have free parking in our driveway and the available street parking spaces nearby. 6. FLEXIBLE LOCATIONS FOR SIGNING AND NOTARIZATION – For those who can’t come to our home office in San Francisco, California, we can do the signing and notarization of documents in the privacy of your homes, offices, hospitals, schools, restaurants, BART lobby, Post Office station lobby and other locations. 7. MULTIPLE DOCUMENTS AND MULTIPLE SIGNATURES DISCOUNTS --- We offer 5% to 10% discounts on multiple documents and multiple signatures for old and new clients. 8. DOCUMENTS PREPARATION DISCOUNTS - With 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 the efficient, complete and unique services at MSS, you can have total convenience and peace of mind. Most of the time, it is more convenient and economical for you to avail yourself with the professional, prompt and complete services at MSS. For immediate assistance and help in the notarization and apostille follow up of Affidavits, Special Power of Attorney, DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE, Proof of Life and other documents needed in the Philippines and the other member nations of the Hague Apostille Convention, just write or contact: MOBILE SIGNING SERVICES, 730 Madrid Street, San Francisco, CA 94112 Tel. (650) 438-3531 or (415) 584-7095 or 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, 16 Corning Avenue, Milpitas, CA 9535 Tel. (408) 854-4274. (ART GABOT MADLAING is accredited and commissioned Notary Public and licensed Real Estate Broker (DRE# 00636976) in California since 1981. He is founder of MOBILE SIGNING SERVICES, FITNESS FOR HUMANITY (aka FITNESS FOR CHRIST) and ACAPINOY. Art is active Evangelist with the GOLDEN GATE CHURCH OF CHRIST in San Francisco, California USA.)

In My Heart...

(From Page 10)

Administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, he made sure to invite his media friends to the city where I relish a photo with him in their ancestral house. Almost all those I approached for support to Teodoro and Gordon were receptive or said yes readily. But when it came to the actor Robin Padilla, many raised their eyebrows. Why campaign for Robin, the “Bad Boy” of Philippine movies who was imprisoned at the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa for illegal possession of ﬁrearms but earned amnesty from President Fidel V. Ramos for good behaviour? Not many know it, not even Robin himself knows it, but my friend Ramon Gutierrez and I helped his former actordirector father, Casimero B. Padilla Sr., more popularly known as Roy Padilla, when he was a labor union leader (president of the National Mines and Allied Workers Union, Commissioner of the Social Security System, and a dele-

gate to the International Labor Organization of the United Nations in Geneva) and until he became Assemblyman in 1984 to 1986 and Governor of Camarines Norte thereafter until he was assassinated in 1988. I supported Robin also because his mother, former actress Lolita Eva Carino, was Ilocano-Igorota from the fabled Baguio City where Robin studied and stayed for few years. Another reason for campaigning for him was the fact that his father’s brother, actor Amado Cortez, Arsenio Padilla in real life, came all-out when, as president of the National Press Club, I launched the NPC Chapter in San Francisco while he was Philippine Consul General. Despite his scanty experience in government, Robin caught the fancy of millions of Filipinos because he was articulate and a serious campaigner, banking on his advocacy for federalism, and platform that included renewed fight against crimes, illegal drugs, opposition to tax incentives for foreign investors, increase wages of Filipino workers, while courting also fellow Muslims. He went on to top the senatorial election with unprecedented 27 million votes. After assuming as Philippine Senator, his peers elected him as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes although he is not a lawyer and the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs. Appearing in the Senate in early sessions in colourful Muslim garbs, Senator Robin appeared very serious in his lawmaking job filing scores of major bills in only his first months in office. He also joined actively in deliberations on various issues in hearings as well as the plenary sessions. The neophyte senator, indeed, is making waves and has not disappointed so far his legions of voters as he wants to be known officially as Sen. Robinhood Padilla, Robin being just his nickname. Congratulations and goodluck, the Robinhood of the Philippines.

Immigrant’s Help

(From Page 12)

longest waiting period. However, you will be issued a work authorization document after submitting Form I-485 in about five months. Note: This is not legal advice and presented for educational purposes only. Our office successfully obtained a green card for caregivers. IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT 1. PETITION FOR CAREGIVERS Our Law Firm entered into agreement with Care Home Facilities in the U.S. to process applicants for Caregivers in the US You may qualify if you six months experience as Caregivers Applicants Inside the United States or in the Philippines or other countries may qualify. Bankruptcy Basics We also process Bankruptcy cases. 1. Bankruptcy will actually improve your credit within one year because your unsecured debts are discharged. Although the bankruptcy will be in your records for 10 years, not filing bankruptcy will make your credit even worse until most of your debts are paid. If you have immigration problems the Law Offices of Crispin C. Lozano can help you find a solution before your problem gets worse, which could lead to deportation and family separation. Chris Caday Lozano, Esq. is an active member of the State Bar of California, the American Immigration Lawyers Association and San Francisco Trial Lawyers. He has practiced immigration law, bankruptcy, and income tax representation since June 1999. His contact phone is 1-877-456-9266, email: info@CCLlaw.net Website: www.crispinlozanolaw. com/ with offices in Hayward and Cerritos, CA.

19 September 29-October 5, 2023

 COMMUNITY NEWS

PG&E Helps Small Businesses Save Money with PG&E’s Energy Advisors Recent Outreach Campaign Saves Businesses $4.5 Million by Changing Rate Plans

OAKLAND, Calif.— Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) knows how important it is for small and medium business customers manage expenses. Business adjustments, such as changes to staffing, hours of operation and equipment updates, can significantly impact energy usage and bills. Business-owners are urged to review electric rate plan options annually or when a significant operational change happens. Changing your rate plan can lower a customer’s PG&E bill as soon as the next month. PG&E is the only utility in California with a small business team offering energy advisor services. Recently, PG&E’s Energy Advisors connected with over 4,500 customers to discuss rate plan options that fit their business needs, self-service tools available to them in their PG&E online account, and additional resources available for small business customers, such as Automatic Payments and Budget Billing. In that time, they helped each business save an average of $1,000, for a total of over $4.5 million, just by changing rate plans. “Our mission is to help our small business customers find a better energy future so that they can rebuild, recover, and sustain our communities. Our teams work closely with businesses to set up new service, improve energy efficiency and find ways to save,” said Alicia Romer, Senior Manager with PG&E’s Small Business Engagement team. All customers can compare rate plan options with PG&E’s Rate Comparison Tool as part of their online account. This tool provides personalized recommendations and enables online rate plan changes.

Business customers are encouraged to review PG&E’s energy-saving programs and tools and contact PG&E if they would like to connect with an energy advisor about their PG&E account. Additional Business Programs PG&E helps customers reduce costs and improve energy eﬃciency and resiliency with various programs and tools. In the past ﬁve years, these programs have helped small and medium business customers save 166 kWh of electricity – a savings of $33 million.

NetOne Program offers businesses custom energy efficiency solutions, cost savings and post-installation support via our energy efficiency implementation partner, Ecology Action. Agriculture Energy Savings Action Plan Program offers energy efficiency measures with comprehensive support including technical assistance, flexible incentives, multiple financing options, and analytics. This PG&E program is implemented by TRC Companies. Energy Management Support and Incentives: Small Business Opportunities Program offers free on-site audits and coaching to help most vulnerable businesses recover quickly after the long-lasting impact of COVID-19. This program is managed and implemented by PG&E’s contracted partner, Willdan. PG&E’s Demand Response Programs can help businesses earn financial rewards, lower peak energy use, and maintain grid reliability for their communities. PG&E’s Business Energy Action Guide provides easy access to energy efficiency programs tailored to your industry Energy Savings Programs: and unique needs. PG&E’s Energy Efficiency Financing Program offers 0% About PG&E loans for replacing old and worn-out equipment with more Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E energy-efficient models. Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and Simplified Savings Program supports PG&E’s smallest electric utility serving more than 16 million people across business customer with no-cost energy solutions that may 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For provide immediate bill savings. This newly launched PG&E more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news. program is implemented by Resource Innovations.

Why are mortgage rates going higher up?

September 28-October 4, 2023

Oﬄine...

(From Page 11)

As I See It

(From Page 11)

Health & Wealth...

(From Page 11)

In My Heart...

(From Page 10)

Immigrant’s Help

(From Page 12)

21 September 28-October 4, 2023

 COMMUNITY NEWS

Flu season is coming, and newly updated COVID-19 vaccine came out following last year. We want to share some information about COVID-19 vaccinations in this month’s column. If you have additional questions on Medicare, Medicaid, Aﬀordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace, Social Security Retirement Beneﬁt, Supplemental Security Income, or COVID/Flu vaccination, there are 3 ways you can reach us today: Call our Senior Assistance Center at: (English) 1-800-336-2722, (Korean) 1-800-582-4259, (Chinese Mandarin) 1-800-683-7427, (Cantonese) 1-800-582-4218, (Vietnamese) 1-800582-4336 Email: askNAPCA@napca.org Mail: NAPCA Senior Assistance Center, 1511 3rd Avenue, Suite 914, Seattle, WA 98101 <Q1> I have already received the Updated Bivalent COVID-19 vaccine when it came out last year. Do I still need to get vaccinated for COVID-19? Like Flu virus, the virus that causes COVID-19 has changed over time. The bivalent vaccine which was available since September 2022 isn’t well matched to the currently circulating strains of COVID. A new vaccine has been developed and was approved by the FDA on Sep 11, 2023. The new vaccine pro-

vides better protection against the currently prevalent COVID-19 variant and is available for administration starting from late September, 2023. <Q2> Does everyone need to get the new COVID-19 vaccine? CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against the potentially serious outcomes of COVID-19 illness this fall and winter. Getting vaccinated every year is the best

way to prevent serious illness requiring hospitalization. The people most at risk for getting very sick from COVID-19 are over age 65 or have health conditions like asthma, diabetes, or heart and lung disease. The risk of hospitalization is pretty low for those under 18-yearolds. But if you are 65-74 that risk is 36 times higher. The older you are, the higher your risk is. So, if you are over age 65 or have underlying condition, it is especially important to get the most updated vaccine. Note that young people should be considered to get vaccinated not only for themselves but also to protect the older adults who live with them. <Q3> If I already had COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need to get a COVID-19 vaccine? COVID-19 vaccine after you recover from COVID-19 infection provides added protection against COVID-19. You may consider delaying your vaccine by at least 3 months from when your symptoms started or, if you had no symptoms, when you recovered a positive test. People who already had COVID-19 and don’t get vaccinated after their recovery are more likely to get COVID-19 again than those who get vaccinated after their recovery. <Q4> Do I need to wait after getting a Flu vaccine or another vaccine before getting a COVID-19 vaccine? There is no recommendation waiting period between getting a COVID-19 vaccine

and other vaccines. You can get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines, including a Flu vaccine, at the same visit. Possible side effects after getting vaccinated are generally the same when given alone or with other vaccines. Talk to your healthcare provider about getting vaccines. <Q5> Does my health insurance cover the Flu and COVID-19 vaccines? What if I don’t have health insurance? Yes, Medicare Part B and most state Medicaid cover Flu and COVID-19 vaccines at no cost. All Health Insurance Marketplace plans and most other private insurance plans cover these vaccines without charging out-of-pocket cost when provided by an in-network provider. People who don’t have health insurance or with health plans that do not cover the cost can get a free vaccine from their local health centers; state, local, tribal, or territorial health department; and pharmacies participating in the CDC’s Bridge Access Program. Your state health department can tell you where to go for free and low-cost vaccines, including community centers, schools, and religious centers. National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of AANHPI older adults and their families. We operate a NAPCA Senior Assistance Center for Older Adults and Caregivers and is available in 5 different languages.

Medical gems Heart of Hope

SIBO Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a not-too-well-known disease entity that is becoming more evident and more popular. The symptoms are gastrointestinal in nature: sense of epigastric distress, some anorexia, bloating, diarrhea, and weakness. If left PHILIP S. CHUA undiagnosed or untreated, it could result in serious complications, dehydration, nutritional deficiencies, and malnutrition. For SIBO, the following should be avoided: lactose dairy, milk, Splenda (sucralose), mannitol sorbitol, corn syrup, soy milk, and many other sweetened food items. Early medical consultation, diagnosis, and treatment are vital, when these symptoms occur at any age. Physician, RN shortage As of May 2022, there were 1,073,616 physicians in active practice in the United States, a large number (117,987) in California, followed by New York (98,341) and then Texas (69,123). The Association of American Medical Colleges estimates the country will have a shortfall of nearly 140,000 physicians by 2033. The projected growth jumps up to 45 percent for advance practice nurses, like nurse practitioners and nurse anesthetists. This is reminiscent of the late 50s and early 60s when my wife and I came to Chicago on December 31,1963 under the US Exchange Visitors Program for our medical internship and residency training, a program designed by the United States to fill in the vacuum (physician shortage) as thousands of American physicians were drafted in the military. A similar program might be in the offing for both physicians and nurses, because roughly 96 million Americans now live in a designated Health Professional Shortage area (HPSA). Physical activity Physical activity, physical exercise, as tolerated, has been well-known to be good to the body, for man and his pets, and other animals. Exercise reduces the risk for chronic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic illnesses, and for Alzheimer’s and cancer. New studies now show that “moderate-to-vigorous physical activity benefits people with a genetic predisposition to type 2 diabetes.”

The most active people lowered their risk by a whopping 74 percent, compared to the least active subjects in this 6.8 year-study of 59,325 participants, 40-69 years old (2006 - 2010, and 2013 -2015) and the more activity, the better, even among those with genetic predisposition to Type 2 diabetes. - British Journal of Sports Medicine. Warning – Lectins! Lectins, also known as anti-nutrient, is a protein that binds to some carbohydrates, like sugar and soft drinks, which I call “poisonous” in themselves. Lectins cannot be digested by our gut. Some lectins are considered deadly poisons, like Castor beans, which contains a potent lectin called “ricin.” Some lectins bind with the walls of the digestive system and cause gastrointestinal problems. It could aggravate leaky gut syndrome. One particular lectin called phytohemagglutinin can lead to diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pains. Ten common food items that contain a significant amount of lectins are (white bread made from wheat), raw kidney beans, eggplants, potato, barley, soybeans, wheat in general, tomato, peanuts, lima and navy beans. Lectin also interferes with the digestion, absorption, and utilization of essential minerals like calcium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc from food we eat. When enough lectins pass into the blood stream, they activate the immune system, and have been linked to a major cause of autoimmune diseases. Washing these food items and boiling them reduce the lectin level. The amount of lectin we usually consume is lower than the toxic level. By individual resistance or tolerance differs from person to person, so it behooves us to be conscious of this warning and minimize our “lectin intake” by avoiding food items that contain lectin. Pre- and probiotics The role our complex personal microbiome (living gastrointestinal tract), teeming with over 100 trillion microbial cells (1000 species of bacteria), plays in our health and well-being and disease development, is mind-boggling. The good beneficial and harmful bacteria in our gut must be balanced to maintain good stable health. Disruption to the gut microbiota has been associated with inflammatory bowel syndrome, obesity, and other illnesses. While eating health and abstaining from tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs and not abusing antibiotics are essential in maintaining a healthy microbiome, the use of both prebiotic and probiotic supplement every day (not only one or the other) is most beneficial to our gut.

Fish from China There are concerns about seafoods imported from China, because some sources use anti-fungal agents, antibiotics, and other chemicals, to keep their seafoods thriving, for export. Some of the other alarming ingredients found in imported seafoods include malachite green, fluoroquinolone, and nitrofuran, which the FDA stated “may increase antibiotic resistance to this critically important class of antibiotics.” We have a lot of sources of seafoods in the United States. Pompano fish, for one, is safely grown in aquaculture in Florida. This buttery-tasty and expensive fish may be cheaper coming from China, but Pompano-lovers prefer ones farmed in the USA. A standard serving of 28 grams of Pompano contains 5.2 grams of protein, 1 gram of fish oil saturated fats, and 46 calories only. It also provides vitamin D3, vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, C, E, K, folic acid, calcium, potassium, iron, and a lot of amino acids. A healthy food item. Be well-informed always. Diabetes T2: reversible? Diabetes T2 had the lone reputation of being an incurable metabolic disease, but recent clinical studies and experiences among some health-conscious diabetics have shown that with a healthy style, strict diet discipline, and effective weight control, diabetes could be ”reversed.” With that strategy, even among those taking insulin who are overweight, could “cure” themselves to a point of no longer needing insulin, following a weight loss of 50 pounds or more, to maintain a normal weight, within a year. This strategy should be adopted under medical supervision. This is, of course, a great source of hope for the 37.3 million (10 percent) of people in the United States with DMT2. Let’s take full advantage of the great progress in medical science and technology to attain our potential maximal health and longevity. Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He was a decorated recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995, conferred by then Indiana Governor, later Senator, and then presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry Truman, President George HW Bush, Muhammad Ali, Astronaut Gus Grissom (Wikipedia). Related websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

23 September 28-October 4, 2023

 COMMUNITY NEWS

Recipe of the Week Baked Biko Sapin Sapin Style Baked Biko Sapin Sapin Style. Traditionally the Pinoy Christmas, native rice delicacies are the food center piece in the old days, especially in the countryside or in the provinces. Most households would cook their especial cooking method of rice with coconut like the Biko, Suman, Puto, Rice Cake, Bibingka and the lists goes on. Ingredients. White biko: 1/2 kilo malagkit, glutinous rice 1/4 kilo regular rice Red biko: 1/2 kilo malagkit, glutinous rice 1/4 kilo brown or red rice Purple biko: 1/2 kilo malagkit, glutinous rice 1/4 kilo pirurutong, purple rice 6 cups coconut milk 1/2 kilo white sugar 3 tbsp. grated lemon rind, 2 lemons 3 tsp. grated ginger 1 tbsp. salt banana leaves Toppings: 1 200small can condensed milk 1 1/2 cups coconut milk 1/2 cup all-purpose ﬂour Cooking procedure: Separately cook the rice of the white biko, red biko and purple biko. Wash the rice mixture, put in a rice cooker, add a pinch of salt, grated ginger and add water as per rice cooker instructions. Cook until the cook switch has automatically switched oﬀ, remove rice cooker from the mains and keep aside. Cook the coconut sugar syrup for the white biko, red biko and purple biko then divide in 3 parts. In a large wok put 3 to 4 cups of water, 6 cups of

coconut milk, white sugar and grated lemon rind. Bring to a boil and simmer at medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes. Keep on stirring until the mixture is reduce to about half. Remove from wok and divide into 3 parts. Separately cook the white biko, red biko and pur-

ple biko. Using the same wok add in 1/3 of the coconut sugar syrup and let it boil. Stir in the cooked biko rice mixture, mix and blend thoroughly, stir cook for another 15 to 20 minutes at medium to low heat until the biko start to render coconut oil, keep aside to cool down. Line some banana leaf at the bottom and sides of a baking tray, put in the cooked biko and platen in 3 layers, bottom layer the pruple biko, middle layer the red or brown biko and the top layer the white biko. Make sure that there is still space for the milk and coconut toppings, keep aside. To cook the milk and coconut toppings, in a small sauce pan mix all the topping ingredients until thoroughly blended. Heat the mixture at low heat till it start to boil, while continuously stirring to prevent from burning, keep aside to cool down.

University of the Philippines Alumni Association of San Francisco Celebrates 50 Years of Service and Legacy Building

SAN FRANCISCO, SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 – The University of the Philippines Alumni Association of San Francisco (UPAASF) is thrilled to announce its upcoming milestone event, “UPAASF at 50 - 50 Years of Service, Building a Legacy.” Alumni, friends, and supporters are cordially invited to join the celebration on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at Embassy Suites San Francisco Airport Waterfront in Burlingame, CA as UPAASF marks five decades of unwavering commitment to service and community development in the San Francisco Bay Area. Registration starts at 5:00 P.M. Special guest of the evening is University of the Philippines President Angelo A. Jimenez who will deliver a keynote address. UP President Jimenez’s contributions to education, leadership, and community empowerment have made a profound impact on countless lives. He will be joined by distinguished UP alumni, dignitaries, and corporate partners of UPAASF. In recognition of exceptional dedication to community building, UPAASF will present a special award to Cynthia A. Bonta, an esteemed alumna who has tirelessly worked to uplift the community. Bonta’s commitment to creating positive change exemplifies the spirit of the UP community. The proceeds generated from this remarkable fundraising event will play a crucial role in the much-needed upgrade of the university’s beloved Kalayaan Residence Hall. As the first co-ed dormitory in UP, Kalayaan Residence has been a cornerstone of education and camaraderie for incoming freshmen from diverse provinces. Over the years, it has nurtured numerous “iskolars ng bayan,” who have gone on to become influential figures in various industries, community advocates, and even global leaders.

Kalayaan Residence not only oﬀers shelter but also fosters an environment of camaraderie, enabling the development of lasting relationships among future community leaders and advocates. However, the residence is currently in need of urgent upgrades to continue providing an enriching living experience to students. Join us in commemorating half a century of UPAASF’s dedication to education, community, and service. Your presence and support will contribute to the legacy of excellence and empowerment that the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of San Francisco has upheld for 50 remarkable years. For further information, ticket purchases, and event registration, please visit the ofﬁcial UPAASF website at www.upaasf.org. You may also register direct at https://bit.ly/ upaasf50. Follow us on Facebook or on Instagram for updates on future events and activities.

Free COVID test kits are back Starting September 25, you can order four free test kits per household through COVIDtests.gov. The tests will detect the currently circulating COVID-19 variants and are intended for use through the end of 2023. The kits will include instructions on how to verify extended expiration dates. Many kits have had their expiration dates extended beyond what may be printed on the packaging. You don’t have to pay for shipping, and you’ll never be asked for a credit card or bank account number. You only need to give a name and shipping address. If you’d like an email confirmation and delivery updates from the U.S. Postal Service, you

can submit your email address. Anyone who asks for more information than that is a scammer. So, remember: Only go to COVIDtests.gov to order your free test kits from the federal government. When you click to order, you’ll be redirected to special.usps.com/testkits. If you’re following a link from a news story, double-check the URL that shows in your browser’s address bar. No one will call, text, or email you from the federal government to ask for your information to “help” you order free kits. Don’t give out your credit card, bank account, or Social Security number. Do not respond. Instead, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.