Daly City’s Inaugural Lunar New Year Celebration at City Hall
DALY CITY – The City of Daly City celebrated Lunar New Year on Saturday, February 10th with its Inaugural Event
Bulacan church 2nd floor falls; 1 dead, 52 others are injured
DAVAO CITY /SAN JOSE DEL MONTE
CITY – Deadly landslides triggered by heavy rains and floods killed hit the goldmining town of Maco, Davao de Oro last Tuesday, burying at least 71 people while 51 others are still reportedly missing.
at City Hall. 2024 marks the Year of the Dragon— representing compassion, bravery, strength, and good fortune.
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Congen Badajos, TJ Manotoc rally FilAm journalists in LA
MANILA – Almost all of the country’s senators consider that charter change to be done via a
people’s initiative is all but dead. In fact, the main proponent of the move, an organization
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Buenaventura resigns, leaders express thanks
DALY CITY, Calif. –City Council Member Ray Buenaventura’s resignation February 2 amid his appointment as Chief Public Defender of Lake County surprised longtime allies and saddened mentees, especially Daly City residents (see last week’s issue). Elected in 2011, he was voted mayor four times by his
MANILA – On November 29, 1947, Jews worldwide were listening to their radios as the United Nations member states voted on whether or not to accept a proposed Hebrew state as full-pledged member.
A two-thirds majority was needed, which would result in the splitting of Palestine into two separate states. Jews waited with bated breath as the vote took place that fateful Saturday.
It was, as one non-Jewish student of history said, “the greatest event in 2,000 years,” and something of “great significance for the whole of mankind.”
By Gilda P. Balan, CorrespondentSAN FRANCISCO -This week’s celebration of the Lunar New Year AKA the Chinese New Year of
Daniel Padilla says work, family first before ‘new love’
A state which last existed in biblical times was at the cusp of rejoining the modern world. But only if their representatives in the still-young UN could win the minimum number of votes.
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the Wooden Dragon saw the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community head to city hall to Page 7 Page 10
sador Marykay Loss Carlson in Malaca-
Photos posted by the Presidential Communications Office showed the ambassador conferring as well with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, and Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.
Carlson in January met Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to discuss plans for defense cooperation, which included new joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea.
“Certainly, this coming year, we expect both of our militaries to continue to cooperate and to exercise and to do whatever it takes both bilaterally, multilaterally to ensure the safety of our peoples,” said Carlson.
While the US Ambassador gave no details on discussions of future joint patrols, AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. stated that the joint patrols were necessary to better enforce a rules-based international order.
I have known Rajeev and Monica for many years. I purchased my first home with Rajeev in 2012. He nego�ated a great deal for me and helped me get the closing cost too from the seller.
Monica explained everything very pa�ently that a first �me home buyer should know regarding the process and steps in ge�ng the financing. She helped me in ge�ng a loan that worked
with our down payment. I was extremely happy and sa�sfied with them. Rajeev’s exper�se made my first �me experience of home buying very smooth.
Now in 2018, he helped me sell my home. He prepared the home for lis�ng and his contractors did the flooring, pain�ng and other items to make the home ready for sale. He got our home staged with expert stager. A�er everything was done, my wife and I couldn’t recognize our own home.
Rajeev removed all the stress related to the sale of the home for us. Due to his years of experience, he tells you things you can only look back and appreciate. He is the best realtor and you can trust him completely.
--- Ron & Lollie
QUEZON CITY – Several government offices were gripped in fear on Feb. 12 after receiving bomb threats prompting the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct thorough investigation.
Among the offices are the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) central offices, located beside each other in Visayas Avenue; National Housing Authority (NHA) along Elliptical Road; Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in Diliman, all in Quezon City; and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Bicutan, Taguig City.
PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said investigations were ongoing.
“It’s very unfortunate that in some instances we have to suspend classes because of this kind of threat. I just hope that those persons responsible for this should know the consequences and they are causing so much trouble. We have been tracing and we try to coordinate with other countries because it is not only happening here in the
country. It is also happening in the different agencies of the government and even outside our country,” Acorda said in a press briefing at the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.
The Police Regional Office 3 (Central Luzon), meanwhile, denied reports of bomb threats in the region.
“While we have not yet received any official reports on these incidents, I have instructed all chiefs of police across the region to undertake an investigation and find out the truth behind these incidents,” PRO-3 chief Brig. Gen. Jose Hidalgo Jr. said in a statement. Classes in public and private schools, as well as work in the Schools Division Office of Bataan’s capital town Balanga, were suspended earlier on Monday after it received the bomb threat via e-mail.
The Olongapo City government also followed suit after one of its offices received the same e-mail.In a statement, the DENR confirmed receiving information about a possible explosion at about 10 a.m.
Upon a thorough inspection by the Phil-
ippine National Police, the information was verified to be a hoax.
“The DENR calls for vigilant sobriety and advises everyone to immediately report suspicious activity to local authorities. The department continues to stay alert and committed to the security and well-being of our employees at all times,” it added.
The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said that at around 8:55 am on Monday, its Station 15 and Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams responded to the bomb threat at the DENR, allegedly issued by a Japanese national.
“Upon conducting paneling operations and thorough inspections, the results yielded negative and no signs of any bombs or any improvised explosive device was found thereat,” it said in a statement.
The QCPD said the threat was issued by a Japanese national who was responsible for a similar threat at the Metro Rail Transit-3 Kamuning Station in Quezon City on September 2023, the statement reads.
Meanwhile, the Science Heritage Building, located opposite the DOST central of-
fice, received a bomb threat through email.
“An email was received at around 3:31 a.m., and the PCIEERD (Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development) read it at 8 a.m. It was (referred to the) PNP (Philippine National Police) for further investigation,” DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said.
Aside from PCIEERD, the Science Heritage Building also houses the Science Education Institute and the National Academy of Science and Technology.
Solidum said police officers inspected the building at around 10 a.m. and the employees were advised to return at noon.
He said the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute and the National Research Council of the Philippines received similar email threats in 2023.
Meanwhile, at about 3:26 p.m., the Bureau of Fire Protection-National Capital Region reported the bomb threat at the NHA while CHED employees rushed out of their buildings at around the same time due to a similar false warning.
AQUINO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – Immigration authorities prevented a Belgian national who is a suspected terrorist and his companion from entering the country via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the man, whose name was withheld due to security reasons and his 27-year-old female companion, arrived in the country from Abu Dhabi on Feb. 7.
The Belgian man was refused entry at the NAIA Terminal 3 for being an undesirable alien while his companion was also turned back for accompanying an undesirable alien.
Tansingco said the man was excluded after the BI officer who processed him saw that the passenger prompted a hit in his computer’s International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) derogatory check system.
Verification made with the BI’s Interpol unit revealed that the Belgian is subject of a diffusion notice issued by the Interpol for the alleged offense of involvement in terrorism-related crime.
The Belgian was excluded pursuant to Sec. 29 of the Philippine Immigration Act which forbids the entry of “any alien who believes in, advises, advocates, or teaches the overthrow by force and violence of constituted law authority.”
CAMP CRAME, Quezon City – Eleven police colonels have been promoted to brigadier generals, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.
Promoted to one-star rank were Colonels Christopher Abrahano and Jericho Baldeo from the Office of the Chief PNP; Manuel Abrugena from the Special Action Force; Nestor Babagay Jr. from the Office of the Directorate of Intelli-
gence; Jovencio Badua Jr. from Police Regional Office (PRO) 1 (Ilocos); Dionisio Bartlome Jr., chief of Drug Enforcement Group; Aligre Martinez from PRO 4A (Calabarzon); Eleazar Matta from PRO 13 (Caraga), Noel Sandoval from Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management; Rogelio Simon from Police Security Protection Group; and Noel Vallo from Directorate for Logisitics.
PRINCESA CITY – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Feb. 12 touted the start of the voter registration period for the 2025 midterm polls as a “success”.
In a statement, the poll body said chairperson George Erwin Garcia led the kick-off of voter registration activities at Pag-Asa Island, Kalayaan, Palawan.
“It was such a success. The turn-out of registrants in all our sites was so overwhelming,” Garcia said.
The Comelec chief said the ceremonial kick-off in PagAsa Island shows their desire to reach out to Filipinos for them to exercise their right to suffrage, no matter how far they are.
“Hindi mahalaga kung hindi man kasingdami ang bilang
ng mga botante at mga nagpaparehistro sa Pag-Asa Island gaya ng ibang mga bayan at lungsod - ang pinakamahalaga ay mabigyang buhay ng Comelec ang karapatang bumoto ng bawat Pilipino, saan man siya naroroon, malayo man o malapit, lalo na rito na napakalayo man ay nananatiling buhay at malakas ang soberaniya at kalayaan ng mahal nating Pilipinas,” he added.
Garcia’s visit to the island dubbed “Pambansang Araw ng Botanteng Pilipino” (National Voter’s Day) was made in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine National Police (PNP) and the local government.
MARAWI CITY – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced that its troops have neutralized the alleged mastermind in the December 2023 bombing of the Mindanao State University (MSU) gymnasium in Marawi City.
AFP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said Khadafi Mimbesa alias ‘Engineer’, a reported amir of the Dawlah Islamiyah terror group, was killed in military
operations in Lanao del Sur province last month.
“The efforts of the (Philippine Army) 103rd Brigade, under the leadership of their commander, Brig. Gen. Yegor Rey Barroquillo Jr., resulted in the neutralization of local terrorists and armed members of the Dawlah Islamiyah in Lanao del Sur on Jan. 25-26, 2024, who were identified as perpetrators of the fatal bombing at Mindanao State University (MSU) on December 3, 2023,” Trinidad said.
BACOOR CITY -- The planned demolition in Barangay Talaba II, Bacoor City, Cavite, did not push through as the fishing community placed itself on high alert.
However, members of PAMALAKAYA and the rest of the community have decided to remain vigilant in the coming days.
And in response to the continued threat of displacement, fisherfolk and coastal residents hung banners bearing their collective calls against demolition and reclamation in Manila Bay.
Barangay Talaba II is among the many fishing villages covered by the 420-hectare reclamation project of the Frabelle Fishing Corp. (FFC) in Bacoor City.
The FFC is owned by the family of business tycoon and current Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr.
PAMALAKAYA is set to hold a protest at the Department of Agriculture (DA) this month, to hold the agriculture chief accountable over his “neglect to completely withdraw” his family’s reclamation project in Manila Bay.
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two decades already.
Worst of all, most of the PIRMA leaders have refused to be publicly known, leaving only one to serve as their spokesman.
PIRMA stands for People’s Initiative for Reform and Modernization Action. It funded a controversial TV ad called “Edsa-Pwera,” seen as a historical revision of the Edsa People Power Revolution of 1986 and the 1987 Constitution that was the result.
PIRMA lead convenor Noel Oñate told the Senate committee on electoral reforms and people’s participation on Tuesday, Feb 13 (Manila time) that the P55 million (US$1 million) spent for a recent TV ad blaming the 1987 Constitution for many of the country’s ills were paid for by “donors and volunteers.”
He, however, refused to identify the supposed donors and volunteers, saying, “We just want public discussion.”
Oñate added that the other PIRMA leaders “are concerned about their security and privacy.”
During the Senate hearing, however, it was learned that PIRMA has been deemed null and void since 2004 by no less than the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
SEC records showed that PIRMA’s registration as an organization was revoked as far back as 2004.
Lawyer Katrina Jean Miranda told the Senate body that PIRMA was originally registered on March 12, 1997, but consistently failed to submit annual requirements such as annual reports to the SEC. This resulted in the revocation of its license.
A lawyer for PIRMA, however, said they had applied for reactivation of their registration with the SEC “online.” This was done only this month, said Atty. Alex Avisado.
But the SEC’s Miranda said, “The proper process is to file the petition to lift the order of revocation and not to submit online.”
Avisado pointed to a certain Atty. Red Tuazon as the person who is aware of the overall operation of PIRMA.
The Senate committee told Oñate to submit a list of donors for the controversial ad. But the PIRMA convenor said many volunteers had told him they wanted to get back their contributions due to the controversy.
Oñate said he had returned P28 million to the donors.
Committee chairperson Imee Marcos said the convenor should still submit his donor’s list, along with the official receipt for the TV ad.
Oñate told the Senate body that their goal was to push for a people’s initiative for the Senate and the House to “vote jointly” on charter amendments. He added that he had no idea what would happen to the bicameral Congress after.
All 24 senators had vehemently opposed the proposal, tantamount to Congress convening as a constituent assembly on the grounds that their votes could be swamped by the more than 300 members of the House.
One proposal would have the Senate and House members voting separately, thereby giving the upper chamber an equal vote as their lower chamber counterparts.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has stated that he favors amendments to economic provisions of the 1987 charter.
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reported that dozens had rallied holding signs that said “Stop Asian hate, stop the violence,” and “I want to get home safe, end the violence against Asians.”
Violence against the AAPI community had risen sharply in San Francisco in the last few years beginning at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Asian-targeted hate crimes peaked in 2021,” writes Quintana, “But according to San Francisco police data, they have since declined by more than 80%.”
Surprisingly, the large number of hate crimes could be attributed to a very small number of perpetrators.
The SFPD said the dramatic drop was due to the arrest of one person, who was believed to be responsible for at least 40 hate crimes in 2021.
“That person, through kind of old school policing, surveillance, things of that nature, was found and arrested,” said Sgt. Jamie Hyun of the SFPD.
Yet another hatemonger was arrested last year. That suspect is believed to have committed seven hate crimes against the AAPI community.
During a hearing by the public safety committee of the board of supervisors, representatives from the SFPD and district attorney’s office said a particular challenge in some cases was the reluctance from many in the AAPI community to report that they had been victims. This attitude, however, has been changing.
Diana Olivia of the SFDA’s Office said: “If we didn’t have these reports, even though there wasn’t a suspect that could be arrested at the scene at the time, then the police officers couldn’t put together that series of events that allowed them to put together one large case.”
Quintana’s article said one of the reasons the situation has been changing is because the city has invested in community programs and expanded its community ambassadors program.
“Just seeing them and being able to say, ‘I feel unsafe, can you help me?’ Just even that will really help,” said Supervisor Connie Chan.
She added, however, that many in the community, particularly seniors, still feel unsafe. Thus, there’s still work to be done.
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/.
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In San Jose City, Bulacan, meanwhile, disaster hit a Roman Catholic Church when a second wooden floor balcony of the building fell down, hitting several churchgoers, one fatally while 52 others suffered injuries.
Saint Peter the Apostle Church Parish priest Fr. Romulo Perez said that church officials did not expect the second floor balcony to collapse as they started Lenten rites.
The second floor collapsed as people lined up to mark on their foreheads, said the priest.
San Jose del Monte, Bulacan Mayor Arthur Robles identified the person who died in the incident as 80-year-old Luneta Morales.
Malolos Bishop Dennis Villarojo immediately ordered the inspection of all churches in Bulacan.
In Davao de Oro, hundreds of rescuers reportedly used their bare hands, shovels and heavy earth-moving equipment for nearly a week looking for those buried when last Tuesday’s landslide hit the mountainous village as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr ordered government agencies to help in the search, rescue and assistance operations.
The US government shipped nearly P70 million (US$1.25 million) in humanitarian aid to Davao de Oro and other areas in Mindanao affected by mass floods.
Ambassador MaryKay Carlson of the US Embassy in the Philippines said new funding would provide emergency food, shelter, water, sanitation, and essential hygiene items to support disaster-affected
communities in Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, and Davao City.
Last week, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) partnered with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and the International Organization for Migration to provide emergency shelter for more than 5,000 affected individuals.
President Marcos Jr. has thanked the United States (US) government for extending emergency assistance to communities affected by flooding and landslides in Mindanao.
Marcos relayed his expression of gratitude when US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson paid him a visit at Malacañan Palace in Manila on Tuesday.
“Carlson told President Marcos that Washington is pleased to bring two C-130s from Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), although it is not the cheapest or the easiest way to deliver foreign assistance,” Malacanang said.
During her courtesy call on Marcos at Malacañan, Carlson said the US government has also extended US$1.25 million in emergency support, in addition to the aid delivered by two US C-130s.
Marcos cited the importance of Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites for disaster relief and response and encouraged Carlson to make full use of those facilities.
Two United States Marine Corps (USMC) KC-130J Hercules aircraft will be used to help in the delivery of supplies to the victims of the landslide in Maco, Davao de Oro, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said.
In a statement, the AFP said the two
USMC aircraft are now stationed at Villamor Air Base while the processing, weighing, and loading of supplies for transport.
“The U.S. Marines from the III Marine Expeditionary Force will assist with the ongoing disaster relief mission with troops from the Marine Air Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing delivering essential supplies for distribution,” the AFP said.
In another development, the Department of Social Welfare and Development announced that it has released over P200 million worth of assistance and a total of 282,561 family food packs (FFPs) to families affected by recent disasters in the Davao Region, including the deadly landslide that hit Maco, Davao de Oro last week.
According to the DSWD statement, Davao del Norte received the majority of the assistance: P85 million in aid and 129,168 FFPs.
The Western Command (Wescom) has dispatched a ship loaded with personnel and relief goods to provide humanitarian assistance to families displaced by a series of flash floods in Davao de Oro.
Capt. Ariel Joseph Coloma, spokesperson for Wescom, told reporters that the BRP Davao Del Sur (LD602) initially sailed to Manila to pick up about 40,000 boxes of food from the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) head office before journeying south to the calamity area.
Meanwhile, the Davao City government is set to extend financial assistance to 15 local government units in the Davao and Caraga regions placed under a state of calamity due to the recent occurrences of natural disasters.
Alfredo Baloran, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) head, said they have secured the needed documents and respective declarations of state of calamity from the areas where they will extend financial aid.
On Feb. 6, the Sangguniang Panlungsod approved P6.1 million from the city’s Quick Response Fund to extend financial assistance for two Davao provinces, one city, and 12 municipalities.
In Davao Region, the provinces that are set to receive aid of P1 million each are Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro while P500,000 will be given to Tagum City in Davao del Norte.
The municipalities that will receive P300,000 each include Kapalong, New Corella, Sto. Tomas, Carmen, and Braulio E. Dujali in Davao del Norte; Lupon, Cateel, and Tarragona in Davao Oriental.
In Caraga, the towns that will receive help from this city include Santa Josefa, Veruela, Loreto, and Bunawan in Agusan del Sur.
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Some member nations voted to accept the Jewish state, others did not. Jews were waiting for the minimum number of votes to be cast that would pave the way to their return to their homeland, very literally after two thousand years.
That “magic” number when it became official that Israel would indeed become a UN member state was cast by the Philippines. Other nations would also welcome Israel to the UN, but Jews everywhere erupted with joy at the announcement of the Philippine vote.
The final tally was 33 in favor, 13 against, with 10 abstentions. That same day, their eventual first leader – David Ben Gurion –announced that the “Hebrew state” was now a reality. Oddly enough, the name of “Israel” for that Jewish state had not yet been finalized. But this historical footnote did little to lessen the celebrations of that fateful day.
It would not be the first time that the Jews of the world felt a kinship with the Philippines.
Escaping Nazi Germany
Some years before, around 1,300 Jews who were escaping persecution by Nazi Germany but with no place to go found themselves welcomed with open arms by Philippine President Manuel Quezon.
Small numbers of Jews had been making their way to Manila in the months leading to that exodus.
It was not too difficult an option for them as Nazi Germany had cancelled the passports of all German and Polish Jews, effectively turning them into stateless refugees.
Back then, the Philippines was not even an independent country, but was rather a Commonwealth nation with the US. As such, it was one of the few places where entry vi-
sas could be granted.
Essentially, three leaders would serve as their heroes and saviors. Besides Quezon, there was Paul McNutt who served as US High Commissioner in the Philippines. Then there was future US president US Army Colonel Dwight D. Eisenhower.
The three men had formed a tight-knit friendship going beyond their official duties. They frequently socialized and even played poker together. In those evening sessions, they would be joined by the Frieder brothers.
The Jewish siblings had put up a successful cigar import business based in New York City. They had chosen Philippine-made cigars as their product of choice, so had set up a manufacturing company based in Manila.
One of the conditions that the Commonwealth government had set was that the Jews who would enter the Philippines would have to fend for themselves and/or would have skills that would be useful for the economy.
Thus, while a good number of them would be doctors, dentists, engineers, and other professionals, there would also be some who were listed as agriculture “experts” who would then find employment in the tobacco company of the Frieders.
The Filipino Schindler
In many ways, Quezon is viewed by the Jews as a Filipino version of Oscar Schindler, the German businessman who managed to save hundreds of Jews from the Nazi death camps on the pretext that their services were necessary to the German war effort. Most actually worked in Schindler’s manufacturing plant creating kitchenware.
In the case of Quezon, the initial 1,300 Jews he agreed to grant visas to with the approval of McNutt should have been just the beginning. The Philippine president had envisioned bringing in as many as 30,000 Jews to settle in Mindanao.
He even considered an improbable dream of accepting as many as 100,000 Jews, based on some reports.
But the US State Department frowned on the idea, only agreeing to a maximum of 2,000 Jews in that first wave.
World War ll, however, interrupted with Quezon’s plan. The Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec 7, 1941, and then bombed the US bases in the Philippines shortly thereafter.
Not only was the plan to bring in more Jews to the Philippines put on hold, Quezon was also forced to flee the country. He would eventually die in exile in Washington DC on Aug. 1, 1944.
But the Jewish people would always remember the fiery Philippine president, who had fought against the Spaniards in the Philippine War for Independence of the late 1890s.
There is a memorial for Quezon known as the Open Doors Monument in Rishon Lezion, a city south of Tel Aviv. The monument honors the 2nd Philippine president’s compassionate act of saving some 1,300 Jews fleeing the Holocaust.
Quezon not only welcomed the 1,300 Jews under his authority as president, but as private Filipino citizen he also donated 7.3 hectares of land from his own country estate in Marikina that provided shelter for some of the refugees.
When he donated the property, Quezon said: “It is my hope and indeed my expectation, that the people of the Philippines will have in the future every reason to be glad that when the time of need came, their country was willing to extend a hand of welcome.”
The first Jews in the Philippine islands
Going back further in the past, the first Jews had managed to find their way to the Philippines, albeit in small numbers, sometime in 1870 with the Levy brothers becoming permanent residents of the Spanish ter-
ritory.
Even before that, however, an unknown number of Jews are said to have made their way to the Philippine islands, but were described as “marranos” or New Christians. The term is also used to describe Muslims who were converts to Christianity, either by force or by circumstance.
During the Spanish occupation of the Philippines, Christianity – specifically Roman Catholicism – was the de facto official religion. Thus, Jews and Muslims either converted or pretended to convert to Christianity in order to live and do business with the Spanish authorities, especially in the area in and around the Walled City of Intramuros, that served as the seat of political and military power of the Spanish occupiers.
However, Jews from the Iberian peninsula in Spain are said to have settled in the Northern Samar area in the first and second century of the Spanish occupation.
Known as Crypto Jews, they observed their Jewish rites in secret.
Today, only a handful of the Jews whom Quezon saved are still around. They did, however, leave behind descendants, some of whom still live in the Philippines. There is also a small, but vibrant, community of Jews as well as converts to Judaism that live and the work in the country.
As for the Philippines and Israel, diplomatic relations between the two states are as strong as ever, and tens of thousands of Filipinos have found their way to Israel to work, many in the caregiving industry.
Filipinos have also intermarried with Israelis, creating a new generation of Filipino Jews.
(NEXT: Tales of the ‘Manilaners’ and the generation that came after)
FRANCIS ESPIRITU Publisher/President
VAL G. ABELGAS, HOMOBONO A. ADAZA, PERRY DIAZ, JOJO LIANGCO, JO ERLINDA G. NEBRES, ROY C. MABASA, ART G. MADLAING, FR. JOEPEL PADIT, RODEL E. RODIS, LOURDES TANCINCO ESQ, MELANDREW T. VELASCO, DANTES & CYNTHIA VELUZ, CRISTINA OSMENA, LUDY ONGKEKO. COLUMNISTS MARILYN
ELEANOR SMITH
Office
Citizen Donald Trump, erstwhile president currently seeking a second fouryear term at the White House, showed his worst possible side as a lackey of Vladimir Putin.
Over the weekend he basically said that Russia could do anything it wanted to do with any NATO member-state because the US’s most valuable military and economic allies in Europe do not pay enough in the upkeep of the organization.
This means that the likes of France, Germany, and all the North American Treaty Organization members are fair play for Russia, but more specifically the nations it shares borders with.
Students of history must not fail to recall what Hitler did, beginning with his invasion of Poland. As there was no nation powerful enough to put a stop to the Nazi leader’s plans, he just kept on expanding the territory he wanted to conquer.
Donald Trump wants nothing more than to capitulate to Putin’s wishes. It will begin with denying funds and arms to Ukraine. Where it ends nobody knows for sure.
What is certain is that Trump is again seeking the aid of Russia in order to win the US presidency a second time, as it has already been proven that the Russians did help him when he went up against Hilary Clinton.
No one is blind to the fact that Trump will do anything, including sell the US down the drain, in order to win, and this is because he is most likely to end up in the poor house, if not a federal penitentiary if he fails.
Unfortunately for all of us, even the risk of outright civil war in not excluded from his plans.
We do, however, see a light at the end of the tunnel. The latest surveys say President Joe Biden now has the support of half of the electorate, with Trump being six points behind.
This may translate to the popular vote, but not necessarily the more significant electoral college vote. He could, just like in 2016, lose the popular vote – by some 3 million to Clinton – and still end up president.
We can only wish that the men and women who will handle President Biden’s campaign later this year do more to guarantee his victory.
Despite the now booming economy, his age is still being used against the current president, who just happens to be the most senior chief executive in US history.
This is ageism at its worst. The economy would not be doing so well if good, old Joe was not still mentally fit to handle the job.
Let no one forget that Biden is a mere three years older than Trump, and it is the latter who has been showing signs of a fast deteriorating mental capacity.
We only wish Biden himself would be more aggressive in his message that Trump is not now nor has he ever been fit to be the nation’s commander in chief.
Many have said that a second Trump presidency will prove disastrous not only to the US, but to the world. The only persons who will celebrate his return to the Oval Office is Vladimir Putin and the millions of American voters who have fallen under his possibly demonic spell.
And no, we do not think demonic is too strong a word to describe Donald J. Trump. In fact, it perfectly describes him.
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fellow Council Members.
His decision to retire as Council Member of Daly City was based on the current leadership and their readiness, he told author on January 31.
“I believe I am leaving the office in a better position than when I first arrived in 2011. I gave the city all that I have to give, and I have no regrets. I’m honored to have served. I believe that City Manager Tom Piccolotti will continue to do a great job in managing the city under the leadership of Mayor Juslyn Manalo and Vice Mayor Dr. Roderick DausMagbual. I never had a definite timeline to leave the City Council, I just knew that someday I would, when it was my time to go.”
He reflected on how the 13 years changed him.
“Being on the City Council has humbled me. It has taught me that it’s not about great ideas, but about making ideas happen. It’s one thing to have a great idea, but it’s another to see it through implementation. No one can do it alone. Working together and building coalitions is the key to success.”
Buenaventura is also a volunteer command pilot with Angel Flight West, a nonprofit founded in 2013 to transport ailing people for free across hundreds of air miles for medical assistance. He does it, he says, “because it’s good for my soul.”
He added: “As a seaplane pilot, I’ll be able to enjoy flying around the lakes and beautiful scenery of Lake County and the surrounding regions. Flying is my passion and living and working in an area so picturesque makes life even more wonderful.”
He is a captain with the Civil Air Patrol, an auxiliary of the US Air Force. Until September he had a private practice as an attorney and certified criminal law specialist.
In September the Lake County Board of Supervisors appointed him Chief Public Defender and he swore into office the following month, triggering the probability of his departure from City Council.
After the New Year, he informed confidantes that he had come to a decision.
“Leaving my position as a member of the Daly City Council was bittersweet. I am both sad and happy to start a new chapter in my life. I enjoyed every minute of my service on the council but always understood that my term was not indefinite,” he said. “That time has now come. I have been given a great opportunity to as the Chief Public Defender of Lake County. I will be creating a new Office of the Public Defender and am excited to build an office from the ground up. It is a challenge I am eager to meet,” he told author on January 31.
On Feb. 2, he informed city of Daly City Clerk Annette Hipona received Buenaventura’s resignation, which made his decision official.
He shared his hopes for his home city to this writer:
“It is my hope that the Doelger Center can be redeveloped into something special for our seniors and children. I know the City Manager and the City Council are working on a plan to develop the site. I can’t wait to see the day the plans are completed.
“I also hope that the city can continue to build more affordable housing. Prices never seem to go down and I’m worried that people are getting priced out of the community. The city council has made affordable housing a priority and I hope they continue to succeed.
“Being on the City Council has humbled me. It has taught me that it’s not about great ideas, but about making ideas happen. It’s one thing to have a great idea, but it’s another to see it through implementation. No one can do it alone. Working together and building coalitions is the key to success.”
Some may see City Council Member Ray Buenaventura in a less than heroic lens but declined to be quoted or identified.
On the contrary Mark Nagales, who with fellow FilAm Flor Nicolas broke the racial barrier to become the first FilAms elected in 2018 to the South San Francisco City Council, said he has “nothing but respect and admiration” for Buenaventura.
“When I first started in politics, he was one of the first people to show me the ropes,” the former congressional aide expressed gratitude. “He really wanted to help Filipinos become involved in politics, help them become leaders in our community. His impact will be felt for generations to come.”
Community advocate and former student activist Charles Ramilo called Buenaventura “inspiring,” having had the opportunity to closely observe the former (Continued on page 19)
There is no question about it. Pride is the worst of the seven capital sins . It was pride that caused Lucifer’s downfall. It is pride that is the root of most ,if not all, conflicts in this world.
When a person refuses to acknowledge that his fellowman is human and therefore prone to error, it is pride that makes him do so.
The proud person believes that only he is in the right and that his feelings should be the priority of others. What is important to him is “I, myself and me.”
The proud person will never stoop to apologize for something said or done. He believes that only his opinions are the right ones.
Pride is what makes nations go to war. It will negare any or all concessions to make peace.
The opposite of pride is humility and there is no greater example of it than Jesus Christ, who became man to save mankind from the effects of original sin.
It is difficult for a proud person to cast out his pride , but it can be done. It is the Christian thing to do.
How proud are you?
As a book author, columnist and licensed Real Estate Broker (DRE 00635976), I’m happy to announce that the updated copies of my best-selling book “REAL ESTATE & YOU” (Eighth Printing) subtitled “Your Basic Guide & Information for Successful Investing in Home, Land and Income Property” is now available at Amazon in hardcover, paperback and E-book.
I’m personally delighted that several of our readers of my weekly column in the PHILIPPINE NEWS TODAY (both in San Francisco/Northern California Edition and Los Angeles/Southern California Edition) responded to my ads and ordered copies at a special discounted price of $15 (includes shipping and handling) per paperback copy.
Foreword of the updated “REAL ESTATE & YOU” was written by Atty. Cesar Fumar, licensed and practicing lawyer both in California and in the Philippines.
The updated Edition includes Glossary on Real Estate & Related Terms, new articles and columns beneficial to individuals and families namely:
“How To Sell Properties Without Going Home to the Philippines,” “Avoid Incompetent Notary Public,” Basic Understanding of Apostilles, “Creative Way of Notarization and Apostille of Documents,” “The Hague Apostille Convention,” “Are International IDs Acceptable for Notarization?” “ID Requirements for Notarization of Documents,”
“Donating Philippine Properties Without Going Home,” “Do You Need Last Will and Durable Power of Attorney?” “Quit Bad Habits Which Can Get You in Debt,” “The Need for Apostille of Documents,” “ Notarization and Apostille of Documents Needed in RP and Other Countries,” Notary Thumbprints and Privacy Issues,”
“Convenience and Savings in Selling Philippine Properties,” “HOW TO PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR SALE” “Proof of Life and Notarization,” “Filing Complaint Without Going Home to the Philippines” Necessity of L:ast Will and Testament,” “Advantages and Benefits of Mobile Signing Services,” Requiring Personal Appearance in Notarization,” The Need of Parental Travel Permit” and others.
Here are some comments and reviews on “REAL ESTATE & YOU” namely: “This book is a must reading for anyone deciding and planning to invest in real estate anywhere in the world,” said HENRY T. BRAVO, Elder, SURREY CHURCH OF CHRIST, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
“Mr. Madlaing is highly qualified to write on his chosen subject. We recommend his work to anyone interested in real estate,” echoed OSCAR L. JORNACION, MBA, CPA, Los Angeles, California USA.
“Very readable and easy to understand, which should be about right for my ability,” wrote BERNICE BOWEN, San Francisco, California USA
“Art Madlaing’s book on real estate is very informative I have to commend him for his pioneering efforts in writing this book, “ affirmed HON. RONALD E. QUIDACHAY, Superior Court Judge San Francisco, California USA
“I salute and commend Art Madlaing for writing this book. Every Christian, couple and family must order copies and read and follow the guideline for financial stability,” echoed FELIX L. OLIDAN, JR, Evangelist and former Minister, WANCHAI CHURCH OF CHRIST, Wanchai, Hong Kong
“Yes, this book is understandable for folks who haven’t spent years studying real estate laws and practices. It can save you money!” said PATRICK ANDERSEN, Editor, Asian Week, San Francisco, California USA
“I personally recommend this very informative book on real estate. For necessary guidance, first-time buyers, sellers and prospective land investors must order copies and read and follow the guide,” echoed ATTY. RIZALDY FERRER, Real Estate Broker, Appraiser, Lawyer & Minister, TANZA CHURCH OF CHRIST, Tanza, Cavite, Philippines
“This book is excellent and must reading for First-Time Buyers and Sellers. I personally recommend it to everyone interested in real estate,” said JOSIE LEWIS, Mother & Grandmother who retired at LAGUNA HONDA HOSPITAL in San Francisco, California USA.
“Art Madlaing’s book is very informative and beneficial to everyone especially for the First-Time buyers, newly-married young couple and sellers,” wrote ATTY. JACK WHITE, who was a star witness during the confirmation hearing of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito in Washington. D.C. USA
“Art Madlaing leads by example. As homeowner and land investor, he shared the concepts he had actually done and practiced. I highly recommend this book to every individual, couple and family, “ confirmed DARRYL DARDEN, Retired U. S. Army Officer and former Elder, HAMPTON CHURCH OF CHRIST in Hampton, Virginia, USA; and WEISBADEN CHURCH OF CHRIST in Weisbaden, Germany
Nowhere is the oft-overused ‘karma’ more apt than the case of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
His crimes against the Filipino people are many, but none were worse than his ordering the police to go on a killing spree against suspected drug dealers and users.
The operative word is suspected. There are strong indications that a good number were little more than poor, young men stereotyped by the Philippine National Police as druggies.
Perhaps they did not dress too well, appeared unkempt, and had an attitude that made them unlikeable. Then there was the fact that they usually lived in low-income neighborhoods.
These were more than enough for Duterte’s goons in the PNP, along with sanctioned vigilantes to kill the suspects by the thousands.
The exact number remains unknown, although government figures cite a figure of around 6,000 while human rights groups say it could be as high as 30,000.
Perhaps the true figure is somewhere in between.
I can only cite my own anecdotal evidence.
In the first few years of the Duterte regime, when I would take taxis nearly on a daily basis to head to work, I made it a habit to chat with the drivers whenever possible. Almost all of them had stories to tell of the ‘tokhang’ – the term used by the Duterte administration to refer to the operations against the drug suspects – that took place where they lived.
Most taxi drivers do not live in exclusive, gated communities. Some live in middle class condos. But mostly they called residential areas within Metro Manila home, although it was not unknown to meet those who lived just outside the National Capital Region.
I had always felt that taxi and jeepney drivers were the pulse of the nation. They could live relatively comfortable lives, but they had to work hard for the money. Twelve to 16 hour work days were not unusual for them, especially those raising families.
They could, if lucky, be part of the middle class that all nations aspire to have as a large percentage of the population.
It is, therefore, in their best interest to have a country and economy that is stable and growing. Most of all, political stability is a must for them. For us all, actually.
At the height of Duterte’s drug war, the drivers I talked to were a frustrated lot. Some initially welcomed the iron fist approach against criminals. They welcomed their neighborhoods being safe, even in the absence of security guards or cops patrolling their streets.
It was when a growing number of possibly innocent victims were becoming known that their frustration turned to anger. Many personally knew tokhang victims, and said they were nothing more than ‘kanto boys’ at worst. Not criminals. Just young men looking for regular jobs without too much success.
I do not know exactly when it happened, but at a certain point during the Duterte regime, the killings had become so widespread that even PNP officials began to reject the kill, kill, kill policy of the president.
Professionals in the police force, in particular, realized that they were no longer existing to serve and to protect. They had become feared by the general public.
By that point, however, the damage had been done.
Only a handful of cops were charged for committing the heinous crime of murder of minors. Their victims were not kanto boys, but ordinary students, enrolled at public schools.
Three of the teens – Kian delos Santos, Carl Arnaiz, and Reynalo de Guzman – became the poster boys of the innocents who were brutally killed in the name of the Duterte drug war.
Part of Kian’s abduction and killing were caught on CCTV. It is a sight that is impossible to forget. The boy was begging for his life, and was saying he had classes to attend the next day.
No parent who has seen the video that went viral can help but feel heartbroken. The crime took place in Aug. 16, 2017.
The murderous cops who ended his life were later charged and convicted of the crime.
But the question remains: What if there were no CCTV to capture the poor boy’s last moments?
As for Duterte, he never addressed the killing of innocents in the name of his drug war. Worst of all, known drug lords were never apprehended, much less charged. One notorious gangster was even seen attending functions at Malacanan Palace. He was even “allowed” to leave the country, and cool his heels in some foreign land where he enjoys the millions of pesos his drug empire earns per day.
To repeat, the drug war is not the only crime committed by Duterte. His regime is peppered with incidents showing he allowed wholesale graft and corruption to take place under his watch.
The Pharmally caper involving his health secretary is but one of many scandals that Duterte tolerated.
Then there is his letting a supposed religious leader accused of multiple serious crimes in the US to receive protection from the government. The man is a rapist, among other things.
(Blurbs: “With a highly competent management team assisting him and adequate resources at his disposal, Tengco is well equipped to push the envelope and pursue other reforms like the privatization of land-based casinos and other assets.”) **
Everything’s coming up roses for the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, the state-run gaming operator and regulator.
Barely a year and a half into office as Pagcor chairman and CEO, lawyer Alejandro H. Tengco appears to be reaping the early benefits of reforms he has instituted at the gaming agency.
Consider these developments:
· Pagcor achieved a record-setting gross gaming revenue (GGR) of P285.27 billion in 2023, or 11.22% more than the previous high of P256.49 billion in 2019, just before the 2020 Covid pandemic that sent the GGR falling steeply to its lowest at P98.79 billion;
· The country’s integrated resorts remained as the biggest contributors to the gaming industry’s revenue with P207.48billion haul in 2023;
· The fast-rising Electronic Games sector (e-casino, ebingo, sports and other specialty games) kicked in P58.16 billion;
· Pagcor-operated casinos under the Casino Filipino brand contributed P19.62 billion.
Tengco, a true-blue Atenean, released these figures midJanuary with a note saying that “the 2023 results exceeded even our most optimistic projections, and it proves beyond doubt that the Philippine gaming industry has fully recovered and is now poised for sustained growth in the medium- to long-term.”
For 2024, the industry’s gross revenue projection of P336.38 billion appears to be more achievable, especially with the scheduled opening of new integrated resorts this year, according to the Pagcor chief.
I’ve been saying all along, without any doubt, that Tengco is the right man for the job despite the criticisms over his handling of reforms early in his tenure.
After raising the minimum gaming fee in the casinos from P200 to P1,000, he is now betting on the e-games sector to spark a renewed boom in the industry, fueled by the muchbruited about “revenge spending” of Asian high-rollers.
The phenomenal growth of this sector is also expected to linger as a result of Tengco-initiated changes in the gaming industry.
At the same time, Tengco may implement other reforms like increasing license fees as additional revenue booster. This way, Pagcor beneficiaries like charity organizations and even local government units can continue to count on Pagcor for much-needed donations.
A risk-taker, Tengco wants to re-brand the controversy-hit POGO and preserve the 70,000 Filipino workers under its employ, a plan that shows not only his business acumen but also his own social consciousness, a genuine concern for the workers’ welfare.
And if Tengco has his way, POGO henceforth will be called “International Gaming Licensees” because its old name just got too controversial that no one will dare to touch like a hot potato. But first, Tengco will have to contend with Congress many of whose members now have turned “POGO-phobic,” and will avoid association with anything offshore gaming.
Tengco has not given up on his bid to make Pagcor the gold standard in Asian gaming. This plan has come out in my previous column late last year. “We certainly know our potentials and capability to become the gold standard in the Asian gaming scene,” I wrote in my column then.
I’ll say it once again: This isn’t an empty boast given Pagcor’s mandate to transform itself into a purely regulator role once its privatization takes full effect by 2025. Pagcor is well positioned to be the regulator since it knows the “ins and outs” of the trade it is regulating, with its over four decades of experience in the gaming business.
With a highly competent management team assisting him and adequate resources at his disposal, Tengco is well equipped to push the envelope and pursue further reforms like the privatization of land-based casinos and other assets.
(Continue on page 20)
TWO BOOKS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE: For your autographed copy of the updated “REAL ESTATE & YOU,” (391 pages with FREE shipping and handling),
About the absolute worst thing that Duterte did in his six years as chief executive was his tweak
(Continue on page 20)
My unsolicited advice: Tengco has to shed some of the excess fat off the burgeoning Pagcor bureaucracy. He has to ensure that all his plans and other (Continue on page 20)
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 June 1, 2020.
What are the requirements for EB-3 Green Card for Skilled Workers, Professionals, or Other Workers?
ing times:
• Prevailing Wage Request: twenty four weeks
• Recruitment Process: eight to nine weeks
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 process-
• 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 employment-based green card timeline, but in most cases, it has the 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 a legal advice and presented for educational purposes only. Our office successfully obtained green card for caregivers.
Bankruptcy Basics
We also process Bankruptcy cases.
1. Bankruptcy will actually improve your credit within one year because your unsecured debts are discharged. Although the bankruptcy will be in your records for 10 years, not filing bankruptcy will make your credit even worse until most your debts are paid.
2. If you are being sued by your creditors, most money judgment can be eliminated in bankruptcy.
3. Collection actions continue and you can be sued if you are in debt settlement.
4. Chapter 7 will eliminate all unsecured debts. If you are near retirement age, you must eliminate most of your debts.
If you have immigration problems the Law Offices of Crispin C. Lozano can help you find a solution before your problem gets worse, which could lead to deportation and family separation.
Chris Caday Lozano, Esq. is an active member of the State Bar of California, the American Immigration Lawyers Association and San Francisco Trial Lawyers. He has practiced immigration law, bankruptcy, personal injury and income tax representation since June 1999. His contact phone is 1-877-456-9266, email: info@CCLlaw.net Website: www.crispinlozanolaw.com/ with offices in Hayward and Cerritos, CA.
PVL President Richard Palou has expressed his enthusiasm with Capital1 and Strong Group joining defending champion Creamline, Akari, Choco Mucho, Cignal, Farm Fresh, Galeries, Nxled, Petro Gazz and PLDT.
“The 12-team field for this season is as strong as ever, and we’re thrilled to witness the extraordinary talent and competition that each team brings to the court,” Palou said during the press conference at the Discovery Suites Ortigas on Wednesday.
Petro Gazz will face Strong Group at 4 p.m. while
Games are scheduled every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, with teams battling it out in a round-robin format throughout the preliminary round from Feb. 20 to April 27. The semifinal has a round-robin format with the top two teams advancing to the best-of-three finals.
Games will be broadcast on free-to-air on One Sports, in HD on One Sports+, and streamed on the league’s official website PVL.ph.
The games will also be available live and on-demand on the Pilipinas Live app, ensuring a wide-reaching coverage for fans both locally and internationally. It will also be aired on the new free-to-air channel – RPTV.
“The PVL is not just a league; it’s a spectacle that will air for every Filipino all over the world. Pilipinas Live will bring unprecedented coverage of the games, providing fans with an immersive experience and showcasing the top talents that the league has to offer. And I’m not just talking about the games – but also all of our additional volleyball content that fans can only get on our app,” said Sienna Olaso, who is first vice president Channel and Content Management at Cignal TV. (Jean Malanum/ PNA)
CAPAS, Tarlac – The 11th Asian Age Group Championships (AAGC) scheduled to be held at the New Clark City Aquatics Center in Capas, Tarlac from Feb. 26 to March 9 will serve as qualifier for the Paris Olympics.
The AAGC organizers, led by Philippine Aquatics, Inc. secretary general Rep. Eric Buhain, made the announcement during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) conference hall inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, PNA’s Jean Malanum reported.
“Just two days ago, it has been declared that the 11th Asian Age Group Championships is an Olympic Qualifying event for Paris,” said Local Organizing Committee president and CEO Joseph “Jojit” Alcazar, who joined COO Dave Carter and Buhain in the weekly session presented by San Miguel Corp., Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, PLDT/ Smart, and ArenaPlus, the leading sports entertainment gateway in the Philippines.
About 1,300 athletes from 31 countries are expected to join the tournament, which features four disciplines: swimming (Feb. 26-29), diving (Feb. 26-March 1), artistic swimming (March 2-6), and water polo (March 3-9).
Competitions are in the 12-14, 15-17, and 18-andabove age categories.
Buhain clarified though that only the swimming event
is the Olympic qualifier.
“World-class swimmers will be coming over and do their best to make the qualifying times for Paris. It’s a big opportunity for us to host and see these swimmers. It is rare that we see this caliber of athletes in the field of aquatics coming to our country,” said Buhain, a former chairman of the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) and the PSC.
The organizers see a possible surge in the number of entries and countries participating leading to the event after the decision to make the event an Olympic qualifier.
“It can even swell because now, there are still people chasing to be included in our event,” Alcazar said.
India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka have a big delegation. The Philippines will be represented by 44 athletes – 22 boys and 22 girls – who were selected based on the World Aquatics qualifying points during the national tryouts at the Teofilo Yldefonso swimming pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in October last year.
Four men and women are entered in diving while two foreign-based Filipinos will compete in artistic swimming.
World Aquatics president Husain Al-Musallam and other officials of Asia Aquatics have signified their intentions to visit and watch the event. (PNA)
Economy gets healthier but a lot of things remain to be done as many are still struggling
With the effects of the 2020 pandemic still felt four years after it first plague the world, consumers in the US remain reeling from the more than two years of record level gas and grocery prices while the costs housing - both for renters and buyershave been unstable, with rising mortgage rates that peaked at almost 8% last fall.
Better news continues to come and a White House report pointed to “an economy characterized by robust growth driven by strong consumer spending backed by robust and steady job growth, growing real wages, and historic gains for women and Black workers.
Also, data show that the historic public investments that make up the administration’s economic agenda in critical sectors for future growth, resiliency, and security are beginning to come to fruition.
The report was quick to say though that there is more work to do to lower costs for American families and ensure Americans feel the benefit of continued real wage growth, a strong labor market, and declining inflation.
To have a clearer view of the current economic situation, Ethnic Media services conducted a national briefing titled Are We In a Healthy Economy? Why Are So Many Falling Off the Cliff? where speakers discussed what’s ahead for 2024, and how an unstable economy impacts its most vulnerable resident.
Among the experts across the financial spectrum — from housing to oil to small business — who discussed how our current economy is impacting some of its most vulnerable members, and suggested what’s ahead for 2024 were President and CEO at National Asian & Pacific Islander and American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship (National ACE) Chiling Tong, Senior Research Associate of Apartment List Rob Warnock, Founder of Community Seva Nathan Ganeshan and Chief Oil Analyst, Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) Denton Cinquegrana.
Ganeshan started with the very serious problem on hous-
ing and homelessness that is prevalent even in the wealthiest regions of the Bay Area like Silicon Valley — the fifth-largest economy in the world -- the struggle to find housing is communitywide.
“Though California has 12% of the U.S. population, it has 28% of its homeless population,” sadly reported by Ganeshan whose Community Seva has helped about 320,000 of these individuals since 2013 by serving hot meals, blankets, sleeping bags, grocery gift cards, hygiene products, temporary housing, advocacy and more. “We shouldn’t forget how entwined the struggle for basic needs like food and hygiene is with the struggle to find housing. However much the economy is improving, it’s riskier for those on the edge if the cost of basic needs is also rising.”
Having California’s third-most expensive housing market and having those in the high-paying tech world, Santa Clara County alone has 10,000 people homeless, over a quarter of all people are food-insecure — and these risks extend well beyond those who are unhoused.
Warnock echoed that home prices have drastically outpaced income nationwide because “the pandemic brought drastic changes to supply and demand.
“Many people took their homes off the market while many others decided to buy — and skyrocketing prices didn’t slow until the middle of 2022, when the Federal Reserve started to raise interest rates — but homes are still 45% more expensive now than they were before the pandemic.”
“In contrast, rents fell during the pandemic because there were many more vacant apartments for rent than houses for sale. As the economy emerged from the pandemic in 2021, rising rents worsened an affordability crisis which peaked in 2022, when over half of all U.S. renters were cost burdened, i.e. spending over 30% of their income on rent,” Warnock added.
He explained that since then, rents have declined 4% as the U.S. has begun a massive construction boom and last year nearly 500,000 new apartments entered the market with about a million more in the next year or two.
“Home sale prices should continue to rise,” Warnock warned. “The Federal Reserve said they won’t raise interest rates further, and for more homes on the market, there will also be more interested buyers. However, we expect new rentals to grow strong for the next 12 to 24 months, with new apartments curbing rent costs … It’s a lesson we can all learn from: if you want affordable housing, build more of it.”
Cinquegrana brought the good news that oil prices are stabilizing from pandemic peaks with the national average for gas in 2023 pegged at $3.52 a gallon — down nearly 11% from $3.95 in 2022, when Russia attacked Ukraine and there was a concern that markets would lose seven to eight million barrels a day of oil from Russia.
“But as the year went on, oil exports continued to non-sanctioning countries like China and India,” he continued. “Though tensions are rising in the Middle East now, the situation looks similar — oil production hasn’t shut, and the only cost added is from the extra time it takes to avoid the area and ship oil around the Cape of Good Hope instead.”
In the year ahead, Cinquegrana said “prices will probably fall five to 15 cents less than 2023 — likely around $3.45 to $3.50.”
Although the nationwide electrification of cars is further increasing the supply and lowering the cost of oil, “this process is very slow,” he added. “It takes about 10 to 12 years to turn over the fleet” of over 280 million cars registered in the U.S. A stronger dampening of prices may owe to the fact that “the cars we drive now are much more fuel-efficient than they were a decade or two ago, and the fact that since the pandemic, many drivers still work from home.”
Tong talked about Asian American and Pacific Islander being the fastest-growing minority community in the U.S., contributing over $1 trillion in economic output in 2021 alone and making up nearly 10% of all entrepreneurs nationwide — with 2.9 million AAPI businessowners employing 5.1 million people.
“As AAPI business owners continue to recover from the pandemic, the top challenge they face is access to capital,” Tong admitted. “Nearly 30% of respondents to our most recent survey have very low confidence that they could fund an emergency $5,000 business expense.”
Tong rued that what aid is available, specifically the COVID-era Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, AAPI entrepreneurs are more often unaware of, most often due to language barriers
“In 2021, AAPI small business owners had a 66% funding rate through the Paycheck Protection Program compared to 75% for whites,” Tong stated. “Despite these challenges, 2023 saw an unprecedented 5.5 million new business applications filed, making it the strongest year of new business applications on record; in total, the U.S. has over 33 million small businesses.”
In short, expectations for the year ahead are mixed: While 61% of owners have a positive outlook for their own business in 2024, 71% hold a bleak view of the economy itself.
In another year of celebration, the Friends of the Filipino American Community - Political Action Group (FFAC PAC) gathered last February 10, 2024 at the Tribu Grill in Union City. The event was in recognition of the Pinay Visionaries and Pinoy Warriors of 2024 under the theme of “From Roots to Wings” - A celebration of ALice Pena Bolus Legacy.
Under the leadership of its dynamic President in the person of Evelyn Javier Centeno, the Friends of the Filipino American Community express their love and gratitude to all Pinay Visionaries and Pinoy Warriors, elected public offi cials, school board members, policymakers, and commissioners and create an evening of fun and etched great memories of the establishment.
The master of ceremonies was Audrey Asistio, a popular and well known fi gure in the community. She is the weekday anchor for NBC Bay Area News. The guest of honor was our fellow Filipino American and current Attorney General in the State of California Honorable Rob Bonta. He was introduced as the keynote speaker by Honorable Rozanna Verder-Aliga, who was incidentally endorsed by FFACPAC for California State Senate District 3 for the upcoming election.
The Filipino American Press Club
By Don
Los Angeles deputy public defender at meetings in the South San Francisco home of Alice Bulos, Ramilo’s grandmother, and at events to where Buenaventura drove and escorted the “godmother of Filipino American empowerment.”
“I know Mommy Alice was glad to see some of Ray’s contributions in the legal field, being involved in city council, and (as) a loving family member,” said Ramilo, a constant participant at community events in San Mateo and San Francisco. “It is also great to see that the younger generations have been inspired by his success and how he has mentored FilAms to join him in public service, dedicating their time in helping address the needs and advance ideas from the community.”
Buenaventura’s professional and political star rose rapidly upon his residence in Daly City, drawing the attention of community organizers throughout the Bay Area.
Across the Bay, Alameda County-based progressive leader Cynthia Bonta, board
(From Page 10)
member of the Central Valley Center for Empowerment whose work goes back to the campaign for unionization of farm workers, said Buenaventura’s “presence of wisdom and stability in the Daly City Council will be missed, but his absence will only create space for someone else to take up that role.”
“His practice has been clear and strong enough to show the way for others to step into that role,” she bared optimism in urging political aspirants to build on Buenaventura’s success and carry on. “The community should be more so engaged to actively support their voice in deliberations and the city council members who represent their views and situation.” – Adapted from original reprinted with permission from INQUIRER.NETUSA
Cherie M. Querol Moreno is Executive Editor of Philippines Today and correspondent for Inquirer.netUSA and Positively Filipino.of California was invited to grace the occasion and also for collaborations. FAPCCA was represented by its President Lissa Pacheco Chow and FVP Don Orozco. They were also there to honor AG Bonta and FFAC-PAC President Centeno.
The following were the 2024 awardees and they are Rosalinda Canlas for Education; former Union City Pat Gacoscos for Community Building; Marjan Philhour for Business and Community Advocacy; and Norma Placido for Community Leadership are for Pinay Visionaries. For Pinoy Warriors they are Atanacio Bayudan for Community Building; Rob Chua also for Community Building; Bradley Roxas for Servant Leadership; and Renato Satorre also for Servant Leadership.
The members of the Board of FFACPAC are as follows: Evelyn Javier Centeno; Chairwoman & President, Michael Pangilinan; Vice President, Atty Cesar Fumar; Treasurer, Raymond Garcia; Secretary, Fel Amistad, Political Director, Irene Balajadia, Education Director, Rose Pavone, Membership Director with Jim Navarro and Rozanna Verde-Aliga as Advisor.
FFAC-PAC is an organization that is committed to promoting the interests and welfare of the community through active political engagement.
(From Page 11)
reforms are carried out before Pagcor morphs into a singular role. As a regulator, Tengco and Pagcor should adopt better safeguards and impose stricter controls to address the social ills that unintentionally go with gaming operations.
An idiomatic expression -- let the chips fall where they may -- sounds appropriate to this case.
(The author is a writer and publisher of coffee-table books. He is also the president and executive director of the Million Trees Foundation Inc, a non-government outfit advocating tree planting and watershed protection.)
(From Page 11)
just send $15 in check or money order to: ART G.MADLAING, 730 Madrid Street, San Francisco, CA 94112. For every order of the updated “REAL ESTATE & YOU,” you’ll also receive autographed copy of the original “HISTORICITY OF JESUS” subtitled “Facts and Evidences for Agnostics, Atheists and Believers.” These two books are excellent addition to your Personal Library or Family Library.
You can also order extra copies as lasting gifts to your FRANC (Friends, Relatives, Acquaintances, Neighbors, Co-Workers). This Special Offer is only good in the United States until August 18, 2024 to commemorate my 78th Birthday.
(ART GABOT MADLAING is accredited and commissioned Notary Public and licensed Real Estate Broker (DRE #00635976) in California since 1981. He is the founder of MOBILE SIGNING SERVICES, FITNESS FOR HUMANITY (aka FITNESS FOR CHRIST) and ACAPINOY. He is active Evangelist with the GOLDEN GATE CHURCH OF CHRIST in San Francisco, California USA. He can be reached at (650) 438-3531 or (415) 584-7095 or email: artmadlaing@hotmail.com)
(From Page 11)
towards China at the expense of the Philippines’ longstanding close ties with the US. He even acted as Xi Jinping’s lapdog in his many visits to China, all for the promise of mega loans for various projects, none of which panned out.
Last week, the Great Wall that protects Duterte from facing his crimes in a court of law appeared to crumble. Finally.
Everyone wondered why he had suddenly gone on the offensive against Bongbong Marcos, calling the incumbent president a drug addict and a son of a bitch. He then followed this up with a threat to have Mindanao secede from the republic.
Meanwhile, his son Baste – mayor of Davao City – called on Marcos to resign, no doubt with the tacit approval of the former president.
The reason for the sudden change became clear when his former spokesman said Duterte had received reports that his arrest by the International Criminal Court was imminent.
This may or may not be true. But his recent actions are clearly of a man living in fear.
Not too long ago, it was learned that Duterte had purchased no less than 300 firearms. Why anyone would need that many is mind boggling. It’s more than enough to arm a large private army.
Assault weapons were part of that armory, by the way.
Digong Duterte may be preparing for war with the government. If so, it will be a war that he cannot win. No soldier or cop in his or her right mind would join his lost cause.
Desperate Digong Duterte’s days are clearly numbered. The only thing left is for him to choose to either face the music and die like a man. Or run and hide like the cowardly, sniveling rat that he is.
In celebration of consumer protection week, Federal Trade Commission
It is no wonder that scammers speak your language, whether you speak a language from Arabic to Vietnamese, or the language of college students or veterans to older adults — scammers know it fluently.
It is in time then for the National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) right around the corner (March 3-9, 2024) that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provides help for people in your community speak up and speak out in your language.
Every NCPW, government agencies, consumer protection groups, and people like you work together to share information about consumer rights and to help people learn to spot, avoid, and report scams.
For this year, the FTC is ready to offer materials and reporting in many languages to help you bring NCPW 2024 to your family, friends, neighbors, and community members in whatever language they speak. Here are some ways to help you (and them) get involved:
Order and share free FTC materials. Find free online materials in a dozen languages at ftc.gov/languages. And, at ftc. gov/bulkorder, order free publications in multiple languages.
Encourage reporting to the FTC. Through language lines (open 9am-5pm ET), the FTC now takes reports in all languages, as well as online in English and Spanish.
Report in English: ReportFraud.ftc.gov or IdentityTheft. gov
Report in Spanish: ReporteFraude.ftc.gov or RobodeIdentidad.gov
Report scams in other languages: call (877) 382-4357 and press 3 to speak to an interpreter in your language
Report identity theft in other languages: call (877) 4384338 and press 3 to speak to an interpreter in your language
Attend a free FTC webinar: National Consumer Protection Week: Outreach and Program Ideas.
Share FTC resources for every community. Find consumer protection basics for college students, a dedicated website for the military community, a campaign for older adults, and more.
Earlier, the FTC has declared January 29-February 2 2024 as Identity Theft Awareness Week and urge everyone to learn how to spot, avoid, and report identity theft, an instance when
someone uses your personal or financial information without your permission to commit fraud. It can happen to anyone, in any community.
In celebration of Identity Theft Awareness Week, FTC came out with the new publication, How to Spot, Avoid, and Report Identity Theft in Your Language at ftc.gov/languages.
This is in the FTC’s efforts to teach everyone what identity theft is, how to spot it, what you can do to protect your identity, and where to report it and get help.
To order free copies in English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Korean, or Vietnamese to share with others, visit ftc. gov/bulkorder.
You can make a difference in your community by sharing this information with people who need to know how to protect their information — and what to do if they suspect identity theft.
And now it’s easier than ever to report identity theft to the FTC in your preferred language. When you tell your story, you also get help on what to do next. To report in English, go to IdentityTheft.gov. In Spanish, visit RobodeIdentidad.gov. If you’d like to report identity theft in other languages, call (877) 438-4338 between 9am-5pm Eastern Time. Press 3 to choose your language and connect with an interpreter who’ll take your report.
Research shows that people put more trust in information they get from people they trust. The FTC exhorts everyone to share what you know with family and friends in your communities.
Among the other languages that you can view this Consumer Alert with are:
Amharic, Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), French, Hmong, Korean, Russian, Somali, Tagalog, Ukrainian and Vietnamese
Now is the perfect time to protect yourself from scams that can damage your finances and reputation. We can work together to keep your personal information safe!
Stay informed of the latest scam trends
Fraudsters continue to change their tactics. Make sure you understand the latest scam trends at www.ssa.gov/scam. Stay informed by:
• Following reliable news sources.
• Subscribing to scam alert newsletters.
• Staying connected with your local law enforcement agencies.
The more you know, the better prepared you’ll be to identify and avoid scams.
Think carefully before sharing personal information
Phishing is one of the main ways that scammers attempt to trick people into providing personal information. Pay close attention to emails or messages asking for your username, password, or other personal information.
Scammers pretend to be from familiar organizations to gain your trust. Stay alert when receiving calls that you did not request claiming to be from banks, government agencies, or other well-known companies.
When in doubt, contact the organization directly through official channels to verify that the request is real before sharing any personal information or making payment.
Use strong passwords
Create strong, unique passwords like a phrase with upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Don’t use passwords that are easy to guess like birthdays or names.
Consider using a password manager to generate unique
passwords and securely store them for each of your online accounts.
Be savvy with QR codes
QR codes are increasing in popularity. They’re in restaurants, on parking meters, in emails, and on social media.
Scammers have noticed! They are physically placing fake QR codes on top of official ones or creating fake QR codes on social media advertisements to get access to your personal information.
Never scan random QR codes. If the QR code looks odd or altered, do not scan it.
Protect your social media profiles
Take a moment to review the privacy settings on your social media platforms and limit the amount of personal information you share publicly.
Fraudsters may use your social media posts to personalize scams or get access to your accounts without your permission. Regularly check your friends list and remove any unfamiliar or suspicious accounts.
This month, let’s make protecting ourselves against scams a top priority. We can significantly reduce the risk of being scammed by staying informed, being alert and careful, and safeguarding our accounts.
We invite you to watch our video at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=cyaUWTFLw3c to learn how to identify the red flags. Please share this information with those who may need it – and post it on social media.
Daly City’s... (From page 1)
“With almost 60% of Daly City’s population of Asian descent, it is important that the City host an array of cultural events for its community members to celebrate,” said Mayor Juslyn C. Manalo. “As a welcoming City, inclusion is top of mind. Daly City prides itself on its rich diversity, and events such as this allow us to share the many cultures that make up the fabric of our diverse community with one another. It brings me great joy to have had the honor of hosting this important celebration with so many of our community members on the first day of Lunar New Year.”
Daly City’s very own West Coast Lion Dance Troupe kicked off the festivities with a spectacular Dragon Dance, followed by a graceful performance from Flying Angels Chinese Dance Academy and a finale from Silver Dragon Kung Fu that included a martial arts demon-
stration and concluded with their baby lion dancers and baby dragon. The Daly City Arts & Culture Commission hosted a special Lunar New Year Gallery Showcase with artist Lillian M. Wu.
The event included sponsors Air Lollipops, Holistic Palliative Care, Ling Nam, SF Hep B Free & Quest Diagnostics, and Simmer Huang, as well as partner organizations Bay Area Community Health Advisory Council (BACHAC), Cam Edu., Chinese Hospital, Daly City Chinese Youth Committee (DCCYC), Daly City Colma Chamber of Commerce, North East Medical Services (NEMS), and Rising Sun Center for Opportunity. Staff from Daly City Public Library, Department of Water & Wastewater Resources, Economic & Community Development, North County Fire Authority, and Police provided resource tables.
“This event could not have been a success without
the many staff, sponsors, partner organizations, performers and artist that participated!” exclaimed Mayor Juslyn C. Manalo. “A special thank you to the Daly City Colma Chamber of Commerce and Daly City Chinese Youth Committee (DCCYC) for their coordination efforts with City staff, as well as local restaurants Simmer Huang and Ling Nam for providing an abundance of dim sum and food samplings and Holistic Palliative Care for donating beverages.”
The handmade couplets and door signs created by one of the founding members of the Daly City Chinese Youth Committee, Charlotte, did not go unnoticed by the estimated 200 guests in attendance and were intended to wish everyone prosperity, fortune, good health, and peace in the coming year.
Happy Lunar New Year!
Smoking kills. It is that plain and simple. There is no more doubt today that tobacco (cigarette smoking) is the predominant cause of lung cancer, besides other malignancies and cardiovascular diseases that maim, kill men and women and hurt our society, especially our children. In the United States alone, almost half a million die each year from smoking-related illnesses. These are preventable deaths! Demographic studies have shown that smokers are about 10 times more prone to die premature deaths than nonsmokers. This unnecessary loss of lives is at an immense direct cost for non-smokers in terms of increased health risks from passive smoking, in higher health insurance premiums and taxes, not to mention personal and family tragedies in all shapes and forms.
As we have alluded to in a past column, secondhand smoke is even more dangerous. Innocent bystanders are forced to inhale cigarette smoke at their workplaces or in public places, thus increasing their health risk. The Environmental Protection Agency engineers have shown that even the best available ventilation and airmoving equipment were unable to reduce carcinogenic (cancer-causing) air contamination to a safe level for a non-smoker sharing work space with a habitual smoker. Physical isolation of the tobacco addict is most essential as shown by these scientific studies.
Tobacco use leads to four times as many excess deaths annually compared to all other drugs and alcohol abuse combined, ten times more than all automobile fatalities per year, twelve times more than deaths from AIDS, and much more than all the American military casualties (in all wars) in this century put together. That’s how dangerous and damaging tobacco is to the human body and to society as a whole.
Lung cancer then
At the beginning of the past century, lung cancer was almost an insignificant health problem for the world. It became a minor problem in the 1930s (death rate of 5 per 10,000). Today, it has become the main killer among men and women. Since women started “really” smoking in the 1950s, “because it was glamorized in ads by actresses and models as a sophisticated and fashionable habit,” lung cancer in females has increased at least six-fold, an alarming rate, with death rate comparable to that in males. Women also have added risks: osteoporosis, thrombophlebitis (vein inflammation and blood clot formation), arthritis, infertility, cervical cancer, and menstrual irregularities. Pregnant smokers face miscarriages, stillbirths, low-birth weight and SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) babies. Almost 30,000 female lives are snuffed out every year as a result of smoking.
Of the 8 million cigarette-related deaths in the world each year, about 1.2 are second hand smoke and about half are women. It is now the top killer among women. Today, one woman dies from cigarette-related illness every three minutes! Indeed, “you’ve come a long way Baby!” (as a cigarette ad once proudly proclaimed).
In Marlboro Country where tombstones abound or in Salem, it is a Lucky Strike if a smoker does not develop lung cancer or deadly cardiovascular diseases. Millions of smokers afflicted with blockages in their leg arteries couldn’t walk even for less than a mile for a Camel, and now Philip Morris, Virginia Slims, Benson and Hedges have all conceded now that tobacco, including Low Tar and Milk Seven, are addicting and hazardous to health. Smoking is indeed not Kool at all, and even Lord Chesterfield, the Viceroy, and Winston in the Parliament, Kent (can’t) argue with the fact that smoking is selfabuse, a subtle form of suicide. There is a real Advantage in kicking the habit even before it starts. I Hope the future generation will be smarter than ours.
But what is puzzling and bothersome to me is the great dichotomy with which our society (and most especially the government!) deals with the cigarette-health risk issue. On one hand, they are most vocal and vigilant against the so called illegal drugs and other substances that pose a moderate public health dilemma, promulgating most aggressive laws and heavy criminal sanctions against their production, distribution and use. On the other hand, society and the government have long subsidized with tax monies the production and distribution of tobacco, which is by far the country’s most serious and deadly substance. Yes, our government and society are peddling drugs, not the moderately dangerous ones but the most deadly one, tobacco. The one that makes lives miserable. The one that kills the bread winner or the mother in the family, victimizing the children and their future. The one that separates loved ones. The one that destroys hopes and dreams.
When I immigrated to the United States, I thought economics was the reason why the government was quite tolerant of the tobacco industry, from whom it was getting so much revenues in taxes, etc. making it acceptable and even essential for its survival. I later learned that the amount of money the government gets from the tobacco industry is no where near the billions of dollars it spends yearly in research, hospitalization/disability/work loss and treatment of cigarette-related diseases. So, it is not economics. With the cigarette industry’s mighty lobbying dollars, the majority of our legislators are obviously scared to stop and eradicate the killing fields. It seems money blinds many of them.
But the tide appears to be changing, at least in the United States. The courts in North America have eventually scratched the surface in bringing about some justice, albeit delayed, in the tobacco death arena. Dying or dead smokers have successfully won handsome awards
from some giant tobacco companies, who, finally, after more than seven decades, have officially admitted that tobacco is an addictive drug, carcinogenic, and can kill in more ways than one, and that they had known this fact for decades but had lied about it.
Having said that, I strongly feel that people who wish to smoke (or to jump off a cliff or off a tall building to hurt or kill themselves) have the right to do it. That is their constitutional right, and while I am against tobacco as an individual and as a cardiac surgeon, I shall defend the right of the cigarette addicts to smoke in places where smoking is not prohibited by law. The only exception/limitation to that right, or any other right under our constitution, is when its exercise adversely affects or conflicts with, harms, or curtails, the rights of others. The smoker has the right to smoke and enjoy it, but he does not have the right to force or expose his loved ones, his friends, or strangers, to the more dangerous and more carcinogenic fumes coming from his cigarettes. This is where the line has to be drawn morally, socially, and legally.
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 and other leaders and educators (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888.com, Today. SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com
Pinoy Black Paella, Arroz Negra
Ingredients:
1 cup fragrant rice
1 cup malagkit rice
1/2 kilo medium size shrimp, shelled blanched
3 pcs. big size squid, blanched, cut into rings
3 ink sacks from the squid, diluted in 1/2 cup water
4 pcs. small size crabs, cooked, cut in half
1/2 kilo clams and/or mussels, boiled
1 pc. chorizo, sliced diagonally
1 red bell pepper, cut into strip
1/2 head garlic, chopped
1 medium size onion, chopped
1 pc. roasted bell pepper, chopped
1 cup tomato sauce
1/2 cup green peas, boiled cooking oil
salt and pepper
kalamansi
3 pcs. hard boiled eggs, cut into wedges
Cooking procedure:
In a big pot fry chorizo until it start to sizzle, set aside. Sauté garlic and onion, add in tomato and roasted bell pepper stir cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of water, continue to stir cook until most of the liquid has evaporated and turn
into an oily thick sauce. Add in chorizo, squid ink, fragrant rice and malagkit stir until rice is coated and infused with the sauce and tinted with the black ink. Add 4 to 6 cups of water and cook rice stirring occasionally add more water as necessary. When done stir in green peas and arrange seafood on top. Cover and leaving the rice to finish cooking in the steam for 20 to 30 minutes. Transfer black paella in a platter, arrange seafood on top, drizzle with kalamansi juice and garnish with wedges of hard boiled eggs.
PASIG CITY -- Important bridges that will connect island provinces in the Visayas and Cavite province with Bataan province may yet be undertaken by the government soon.
This as the National Economic and Development Authority Board’s Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CabCom) recommended 12 projects amounting to P557.44 billion for approval by the NEDA Board which is chaired by President Rodrigo Duterte.
The major bridges projects approved by the NEDA ICC-CabCom were the 28-kilometer Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge Project; the fourth Cebu-Mactan Bridge and Coastal Road Construction Project (New Mactan Bridge Construction Project); Davao City Coastal Bypass Road including Bucana Bridge Project; and the 19-kilometer bridges that will connect Panay island with Guimaras island and the Negros Island.
The 28-kilometer Cavite-Bataan bridge will link Naic to the historic island fortress Corregidor in Cavite and the export processing town of Mariveles in Bataan.
Bataan Governor Albert Raymond S. Garcia hailed the ambitious project estimated to cost $2 billion designed to boost the economy and tourism in the historic provinces of Bataan and Cavite.
Proposed originally under the Public-Private Partnership program of government, the Cavite-Bataan bridge is expected to further transform Central Luzon into a progressively mega region and the historical peninsula as an effective and efficient system route to prosperity of the entire Luzon Island.
“The approval of these projects is a pivotal step in fulfilling our thrust of fostering growth centers in the regions and expanding access to development opportunities throughout the country,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said.
Pernia said these are in line with the National Spatial Strategy to make cities like Metro Manila efficient and to improve connectivity between areas.
The projects endorsed also include three new projects of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), seven infrastructure projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and two projects of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).
The DOTr-implemented projects include the MRT 4 Project from San Juan City to Taytay, Rizal, EDSA Greenways Project, and the Maritime Safety Enhancement Program (MSEP).
The ICC-CabCom also green lighted the changes in scope and cost of the ongoing Davao City Bypass Construction Project, which is assisted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency; and the extension of the loan validity and implementation period, and increase in cost of the Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project implemented with loan financing from the Korean Export-Import Bank – Economic Development Cooperation Facility.
It also approved the unsolicited proposals for the Davao International Airport and for the Laguindingan Airport of the CAAP.
