Philippine News Today

By ALFRED GABOT, Editor-in-Chief

By Claire Morales True, Managing Editor

SAN FRANCISCO Vice President Kamala Harris, various groups and major newspapers in California have endorsed Attorney General Rob Bonta for a full four-year term.

In supporting AG Bonta, the first Filipino American named to the post, VP Harris, herself a former California attorney general, “knows firsthand the importance of protecting our fundamental rights.”

In a Facebook post, Bonta thanked Harris for the big support. “I’m grateful to have a partner in the White House to advance those rights for all Californians,” he said.

Several groups and media entities said they are for a

By Gilda Balan, Correspondent

NEW YORK - What the state of California began by officially moving to put an end to the growing violence against Asians and Asian Americans, New York state has now followed suit.

By Be�ng Laygo Dolor, Editor

As one of the biggest cities in the US, San Francisco has all the problems of any metropolis, and more.

Anyone who runs for any post in the city knows there are high expectations that they are expected to meet.

Rebecca Susan Feng Young is keenly aware of this, and her running for the position of Public Defender was spurred by what she considers the incumbent’s straying from the office’s core mission.

Joseph

Courtesy AJSOCAL

Marcos state visit to US eyed in 2023

By Claire Morales True

WASHINGTON D.C. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. may travel to the United States again, this time to Washington D.C. in June 2023 for a possible state visit.

This was disclosed by Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez who said the visit would be timed around the Summit for Democracy which might be held in June 2023.

Romualdez said the President has committed to attend the summit, so the state visit, which may include a trip to the White House to meet and hold talks with US President Joseph Biden Jr., could be done before that summit or after the summit.

“It is not a goal. It is our view that it is time for a Philippine President to come to Washington DC and, of course, the White House is also looking at it as such. The summit for democracy may be an opportunity for us to schedule it, but it is still up in the air of course,” Romualdez told visiting journalists.

“It will be good for our continuing relationship with the United States,” Romualdez said, adding that bolstering American investments to the country will be Marcos’ key priority.

If the US state visit pushes through, it will be the first for a Philippine leader in 19 years, he said.

Romualdez, a cousin of the President, noted that no Philippine President has visited Washington D.C. for around eight years, adding that the Marcos visit “is al-

The last Philippine leader in Washington was Benigno Aquino III, who went to the White House for an official visit in 2012.

But the last state visit of a Philippine leader took place in 2003 when then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was welcomed by then US President George W. Bush, Romualdez said.

Marcos’ predecessor Rodrigo Duterte did not visit the US following some US officials’ criticism of his drugs campaign that saw many alleged drug suspects killed.

Marcos and President Biden first met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly last September, a meeting hailed by many as warming up with the relationship of the Philippines and the US.

“I think that they are in for a very good working relationship, a renewed working relationship that I think would be on a di erent level now. It would be more on what we both need, things that this country needs from us and what we need from the United States,” he said.

The Philippine envoy said Marcos wants more economic activity between the two countries while maintaining a close security alliance.

Romualdez said Biden was also “very responsive” to Marcos’ invitation for the US leader to visit the Philippines.

“Many of his advisers in the White House have told me that he is really seriously looking at when he can go to Manila at some point in time,” Romualdez said.

ready due.”

New Manila airport GM, appointment of ex-PNP chief to DOH defended

By Jennifer T. Santos

MANILA President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has named lawyer Jose Arturo Tugade, son of former Transportation Secretary Arturo Tugade, as acting head of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).

This as Marcos defended his appointment of retired Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Camilo Cascolan as undersecretary of the Department of Health (D H) and clarified the appointment of filmmaker Paul Soriano as presidential adviser on creative communication for one peso a year.

Cascolan’s appointment as a DOH official earned criticisms, especially from the health sector, pointing out that the former PNP chief is not a doctor and has no medical or health background.

ndersecretary Cheloy Garafil, officer in charge of the ffice of the Press Secretary, confirmed Tugade’s appointment as acting general manager and chief executive officer of MIAA, replacing MIAA’s acting head Cesar Chiong. Tugade will also serve as a member of the MIAA’s Board of Directors.

Marcos explained that Cascolan, serving as health undersecretary for

“special concerns,” will “look at the functions of the DOH.”

“Of course, he (Cascolan) is not a doctor and it’s not health issues that he has to look at, that’s why he doesn’t have to be a doctor. He’s going to look at the

functions of the DOH,” Marcos said.

“We talk about rightsizing. We talk about structural changes. ‘Yun (That’s it). We need somebody to examine what has been going on, ano ‘yung maganda, ano ang hindi maganda, ano ang pwedeng mas maayos (what is good, what is bad, and what needs to be fixed). That will be his function, kaya (as undersecretary for) special concerns,” he added.

Asked if Cascolan is also tasked to trace “possible syndicates in DOH,” Marcos said, “That’s part of his work. Kung may lumabas na ganyan (If there’s a report like that), he’ll have to report it to us, then we’ll have to do something about it. But generally, it is an administrative audit, if you want to call it that.”

Marcos said that Paul Soriano as Presidential Adviser for Creative Communications will help his administration promote the country’s creative industry.

“’ ung kay ( n the appointment of) Paul Soriano, people have misunderstood. He’s not there to be part of the PR machine. He’s there to find ways to promote the creative industry kasi doon siya galing (because he’s part of it),” he said.

Marcos expressed confidence that Soriano could help the government open more opportunities for workers in the creative industry.

“Pinagmamalaki natin, ang gagaling kumanta ng Pilipino, magaling umarte, ang gagaling gumawa ng sine (We are proud of Filipinos who are good at singing, acting, and making films). We have to project that to the rest of the world. ‘Yan ang trabaho ni Paul (That’s is Paul’s job). I hope that clarifies that,” he said.

By Jeanne Michael Penaranda

CAMP CRAME, Quezon City Two ranking police officials are under investigation following the arrest of two police anti-narcotics operatives and seizure of almost a ton of “shabu” worth P6.7 billion in Manila last October 8.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. made the disclosure during a press briefing in Camp Crame, saying the two police generals’ names surfaced over their alleged links to the police sergeant who owns the lending agency where 990 kilos of shabu were seized on Oct. 8.

“They are on oating status. But this is unfair to them because their names are being dragged into this although there are no sufficient pieces of evidence so far,” Azurin said.

“These officers have careers, they worked hard for their careers and that is why we are very careful, we are not men-

tioning any names,” he added.

2 police generals under probe over P6.7-B illegal drugs AFP names new JTF-NCR commander

Meanwhile, two police sergeants assigned with the Drug Enforcement Group of the Philippine National Police (PDEG) allegedly sneaked out some 42 kilos of shabu from the 990 kilos of shabu seized during the Oct. 8 operation.

PDEG chief Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo discovered the incident after a review of the closed circuit television camera (CCTV) footage before and after the raid at the Wealth and Personal Development Lending Inc. in Sta. Cruz, Manila which was owned by Master Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr.

Mayo is an intelligence officer of the PDEG and was arrested after he also yielded at least two kilos of shabu inside his car in a follow-up operation in Quiapo, Manila early morning of Oct.

In the footage, a man was seen going out of the lending agency office and was later seen loading the two bags inside a car.

When one of the police sergeants was

asked to shed light on the incident, the cop admitted that there were 30 kilos of shabu still in their possession and that the car is owned by another PDEG operative.

When the other PDEG operative was asked to appear before the PDEG headquarters, he informed his superior instead that he would just leave the illegal drugs near Camp Crame in Quezon City.

During the inspection, it was found that there were 42 kilos left by the PDEG operative which has an estimated street value of P285.6 million.

“There is an ongoing investigation and as I have said, all those involved, all those whose names would surface in the conduct of the investigation will be held accountable in order to put a stop to the issue of recycling (of illegal drugs),” said Azurin.

After the Oct. 8 operation, the PNP said it would request the proper court for the immediate destruction of the confiscated illegal drugs in order to prevent any recycling attempts.

Makati declared safe place, sees more investors

MAKATI CITY As one of the safest places in the Philippines for tourists according to a travel website, Makati City is looking forward to secure more investments.

The website travelsafe-abroad.com based its study on the low crime index

of Makati City of only out of 100, similar to the cities of Dumaguete and Iloilo in the Visayas.

Mayor Abby Binay also commended the Makati City Fire Station on Monday for being awarded the best-performing city fire station by the Bureau of Fire Pro-

tection - National Capital Region and the Makati City Police for earning 92.78 percent in its performance evaluation by the Southern Police District (SPD).

The SPD recognized the Makati police on ctober 10 for placing first in terms of unit performance evaluation for the month of September.

SPD also covers Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Pateros, Pasay and Taguig.

“Patuloy na dumadagsa ang mga kaibigan natin na gustong magtayo ng negosyo at makipag-partner sa lungsod para sa ating mga proyekto (Our friends continue to visit us to put up a business and create partnerships with the city’s projects),” Binay wrote on her newspaper column.

She said the city government is focused on improving its “ease of doing business” to earn the trust of more investors and its constituents.

Home to 42 foreign embassies, the Makati City government regularly celebrates National Days with foreign diplomats and works with them in pursuing climate action plans and disaster preparedness.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday announced the appointment of Col. Alexei Musñgi as the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region (JTFNCR) commander.

Musngi replaced Brig. Gen. Marceliano Teofilo who assumed command of the Intelligence Service of the AFP last July.

AFP chief Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro presided over the change-of-command ceremony at the AFP Commissioned fficers Club in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

“Col. Musñgi previously served as the commander of the 1002nd Infantry Brigade. He was also the assistant chief-ofsta for operations, G-3, Philippine Army, and commander of the 48th Infantry Battalion,” AFP public a airs office chief Col. Jorry Baclor said in a statement.

Bacarro emphasized the importance of the JTF-NCR and its commander to the overall stability and development of the country.

“Handling this immense responsibility entails expertise in security operations, intelligence, and inter-agency collaboration in order to address multi-faceted security concerns and promptly respond to emergencies,” he added.

Bacarro also expressed confidence that Musñgi is capable of steering the JTFNCR into addressing the complexities of Metro Manila’s security environment.

“His wealth of knowledge in intelligence, operations, and civil-military engagements, training, and personnel management shall enhance JTF-NCR’s capabilities in performing various roles in keeping the security and stability of Metro Manila,” he said. (PNA)

CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City

After 4 storms, Cagayan under state of calamity; PAF fly relief goods

TUGUEGARAO CITY Cagayan province has been placed under a state of calamity due to the extensive damage caused by two consecutive storms that struck the province this month and another two before that.

The province continues to have oods due to constant rains while it has yet to recover from the onslaught of Tropical Depression Maymay and Typhoon Neneng.

The Cagayan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMO) led by Gov. Manuel Mamba recommended the declaration of a state of calamity based on Resolution No. 03 due to the impact of successive weather disturbances.

It was approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in a special session on Oct. 24.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) has deployed its helicopters to assist and deliver relief and other essential supplies to communities in Ilocos Norte and Cagayan severely a ected by recent weather disturbances.

“Two PAF UH-1H helicopters were mobilized to deliver a total of 4,604 lbs. relief goods consisting of food packs, medicines, and fuel to the Municipality of Adams in Ilocos Norte on October 23, 2022,” PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said.

The PAF through the Tactical Operations Group 2, also transported 300 DSWD Family Food Packs from the ffice of Civil Defense 2 for the residents of Calayan, Cagayan in cooperation with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, 22nd Air Force Group Reserve, Cagayan North International Airport Management, and Barangay San Mariano, Lal-lo, Cagayan,” Castillo said.

She said these humanitarian and disaster response missions were in response to Typhoon Neneng which battered the country earlier this month and left thousands of Filipinos in need of help.

She added that this mission was made possible through the e orts of the PAF’s Tactical perations Wing Northern Luzon, Tactical Operations Group 1,

Cagayan priest nabbed, charged for abuse of teener

SOLANA, Cagayan newly ordained priest has been arrested by law enforcers and charged for allegedly abusing a young girl in his parish.

Police identified the priest as Fr. arole Reward Israel.

The Archdiocese of Tuguegarao said it will cooperate with authorities investigating the case of Fr. Israel.

In a statement, the archdiocese said Fr. Israel is currently not allowed to perform his priestly duties.

“Fr. arole Reward Israel of a parish in Solana town was excused’ from his priestly duties as the probe is ongoing. The archdiocese will fully cooperate with the prosecution service towards the conduct of an unbiased pre-

liminary investigation and will also extend its assistance to our priest,” it added.

National Bureau of Investigation agents arrested the priest on Oct. 18, for allegedly abusing a 16-year-old girl.

Charges of sexual harassment, qualified seduction, violence against women and children, violation of antiphoto and video voyeurism law, and child abuse have been filed against Israel before the Tuguegarao City Prosecutor’s ffice.

The archdiocese assured that it will provide assistance to the victim if the accusations have been proven true.

It also asked for prayers for the clergy members.

along with personnel from the 702nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police, and some local government agencies of Ilocos Norte.

Big quake jolts Abra, Northern Luzon, dozens injured, Laoag airport closed

By Jeanne Michael Penaranda

BAGUIO CITY strong earthquake rocked Abra and nearby provinces, including Baguio City, again on October 25, with more than 450 aftershocks, resulting to injuries to at least 100 persons, damaging some properties, including a church belfry, and forcing the closure of the Laoag City international airport.

The earthquake which also forced the evacuation of patients in a hospital was also felt in Metro Manila, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Lawyer Emmanuel Tipon of Honolulu, a columnist of Philippine News Today, who was visiting relatives in Baguio City, was jolted from his sleep in a hotel when the temblor struck.

The magnitude 6.4 quake, which was set o by movement of a local fault, was centered kilometers (5 miles) northwest of Lagayan town in Abra province at a depth of 11 kilometers (7 miles).

The quake was felt across a wide area of northern Luzon region, including Ilocos Norte where some people sustained injuries, according to Governor Matthew Manotoc.

In Abra, Provincial Development fficer Arnel dela Cuesta Valdez said at least 11 or 12 people were wounded --- all minor injuries and are now outpatients.

Valdez said the province was “not ready” for the magnitude 6.4 earthquake as it was still recovering from the previous magnitude earthquake in July.

Abra Governor Dominic Valera has suspended classes in schools, both public and private, and work in all government

offices

Assistant Secretary Ra y Alejandro, spokesperson of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), said the agency is still verifying reports of individuals hurt in the quake.

The NDRRMC said at least two roads were damaged while power was knocked out in parts of Northern Luzon following the tremor.

In its initial report, the NDRRMC noted power interruptions in the town of Allacapan and in villages in the eastern part of Gattaran town, both in Cagayan, due to a cut line and transformer problem.

The NDRRMC also said a national road in Labben and a local road in Centro East, both in Allacapan, were damaged.

The NDRRMC said 436 aftershocks have been recorded, with only a few actually felt. Houses still need to be assessed before people can be allowed to return, it added.

Intensity VI was felt in La Paz, Abra; and intensity V in Bangued, Boliney, Bucay, Bucloc, Daguioman, Danglas, Dolores, Lacub, Lagangilang, Lagayan, Langiden, Licuan-Baay, Luba, Malibcong, Manabo, Peñarrubia, Pidigan, Pilar, Sallapadan, San Isidro, San Juan, San Quintin, Tayum, Tineg, Tubo, and Villaviciosa, Abra; Conner, Apayao; La Trinidad, Benguet; Rizal, Kalinga; Alilem, Banayoyo, Bantay, Burgos, Cabugao, City of Candon, Cervantes, Galimuyod, Gregorio del Pilar, Lidlidda, Magsingal, Nagbukel, Narvacan, Quirino, Salcedo, San Emilio, San Esteban, San Ildefonso, San Juan, San Vicente, Santa, Santa Catalina, Santa Cruz, Santa Lucia, Santa Maria, Santiago, Santo Domingo, Sigay,

Sinait, Sugpon, Suyo, Tagudin, and City of Vigan, Ilocos Sur; Bacnotan, Balaoan, Bauang, and Caba, La Union; Abulug, Allacapan, Amulung, Aparri, Baggao, Claveria, Lal-Lo, Lasam, Peñablanca, Tuao, and Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

Intensity IV was also felt in Flora, Apayao; City of Baguio; Bokod, and Itogon, Benguet; City of San Fernando, and Sudipen, La Union; Enrile, Iguig, and Solana, Cagayan; Intensity III in Laoac, City of Urdaneta, and Villasis, Pangasinan; City of Dagupan; Baler, Aurora; and Intensity II in Labrador, Pangasinan; San Manuel, Isabela.

Phivolcs also logged the following instrumental Intensities:

Intensity V: Gonzaga, Penablanca, Claveria, Cagayan; Pasuquin, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte; Vigan City, Ilocos Sur; Intensity IV: Bangued, Abra;

Intensity III: Baler, Aurora; Ilagan, Isabela;

Intensity II: Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya; Urdaneta, Dagupan City, Pangasinan; Madella, Quirino;

Intensity I: Dinalupihan, Bataan; Bulakan, Calumpit, Malolos City, Plaridel, Bulacan; Pasig City, Navotas City; Cabanatuan City and San Jose, Nueva Ecija; Guagua, Pampanga; Umingan, Sison, Bolinao, Infanta, and Bani, Pangasinan; Polillo, Mauban, and Infanta, Quezon; Tanay and Taytay, Rizal; Ramos, Tarlac; Iba, Zambales

Comelec suspends 2022 activities for barangay, SK polls

MANILA Finally, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) suspended the activities set for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) initially slated for Dec. this year.

The Comelec decision comes after the passage of the Republic Act No. 11935, which deferred the BSKE polls

to the last Monday of October 2023.

The suspension, however, is under question by an election lawyer, Romulo Macalintal, before the Supreme Court which set a hearing on the petition.

Among the suspended election activities is the fi ling of the certifi cates of candidacy (COCs) originally set to take place from Oct. 22 to 29 based on

the calendar of activities for the 2022 BSKE.

Other activities and prohibited acts such as the election period, campaign period, the last day of fi ling of the Statement of Contribution and Expenditures, and the period of the gun ban and other prohibited acts were all also held o .

According to Comelec, all of its ac-

tivities will be adjusted approximately within two months before the new date of the BSKE in 2023.

The Supreme Court on Friday heard arguments on election lawyer Romulo Macalintal’s petition challenging the constitutionality of RA No. 11935, with all parties ordered to submit their respective memoranda within 15 days.

US to give $70-M aid for AFP infra improvements

MANILA

The United States (US) is set to provide US$70 million in aid for the infrastructure improvements of the Armed Forces in the Philippines in the next two years.

the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said the monetary assistance is part of their e ort “to look for more ways to expand the Enhanced Defense Cooperation (Agreement or EDCA),” which is one of the ways the mutual defense treaty between the US and the Philippines is operationalized.

National Defense officer in charge Jose Faustino Jr. would be the one to decide which projects to spend the aid on.

the South China Sea.

US Ambassador to the Philippines

MaryKay Carlson

At the Mangrove Forum, US Ambassador to

“These improvements are designed to enhance cooperative defense capacities and support Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Response activities, in ways that best meet the needs of the AFP and the alliance,” she said.

Carlson noted that Department of

While the US encourages the country’s military to identify which projects would ensure civilian and water security and territorial integrity, it “will not give the Philippines a list of what it wants,” she said.

The US has committed more than S 625 million over the past five years to Philippine defense and security enhancements that are largely designed to bolster capacity in Philippine maritime areas in

Foreign A airs Secretary Enrique Manalo said the Philippines counts on US support in upholding its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea or South China Sea, which are based on international law.

“We have to forge ahead with our individual and joint e orts to achieve postpandemic recovery, mitigate and adapt to the e ects of climate change, and navigate and manage geopolitical shifts, among others,” Manalo said.

P Army oins anot er a aii com at e ercise

RIMPAC 2022 helps to gauge and validate the Philippine Navy’s capacity to sustain operations overseas and provides resources and an environment that permits international participants to achieve their individual and collective training objectives.

Twenty-six nations, 38 ships, four submarines, more than 170 aircraft, more than 30 unmanned systems and 25,000 personnel participatd in RIMPAC from June 2 to Aug. 4 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California.

They will train side by side with around 6,000 troops from the S Army’s 25th Infantry Division and 8,400 service members from the S joint components.

The exercise is expected to end by Nov. 16.

”We’re not here to focus on our very di erences but on our similarities that make us a world-class force able to fight and win the Pacific. This exercise will deepen our partnerships, keep those friendships and be more interoperable,” 25th Infantry Division deputy commander Brig Gen. Je rey A. VanAntwerp said in his remarks.

H N L L , Hawaii A 103-strong contingent of the Philippine Army (PA) are in Hawaii participating in the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center (JPMRC) Rotation 23-01 which are held in various locations in the Hawaii.

This came following the participation of the Philippine Navy contingent and the BRP Antonio Luna in a big at-sea military exercise participated by several countries in Hawaii in July and August called the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022 considered the world’s largest military drills.

During the Gunnery Exercise (G NNE ), BRP Antonio Luna tested the accuracy of its main battery T Melara 76 mm Super Rapid gun, 30 mmm Aselsan SMASH, and .50-caliber machine gun aiming at targets deployed by Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Winnipeg (FFH 338) while underway.

During the RIMPAC Naval Surface Fire Support (NSFS) Rodeo exercise, the 76 mm Super Rapid Gun was again tested by targeting 2D virtual land information. The BRP Antonio Luna and other participants conducted a practice run for gunfire corrections before proceeding with the record firing

Philippine Army spokesperson Col. erxes Trinidad said the exercise formally kicked o at ahu, Hawaii on ct. 20.

“The JPMRC, which will be conducted across the Hawaiian islands, envisions a tough, realistic exercise that tests large-scale combat capabilities in live, virtual, and constructed environments. The exercise will level up the capability of the 1st Brigade Reconnaissance Team, 1st Brigade Combat Team in terms of combined arms operations,” he added.

The JPMRC is the nited States Army Pacific’s regional combat training center for units and leaders in the complex operating environment of the Pacific Theater.

Trinidad said doctrine writers and researchers will also capture the best practices and operational aspects of the exercise which will help the PA establish its doctrine related to the Combat Readiness Training Area.

“The Philippine Army’s participation in JPMRC will strengthen its security and defense cooperation with the S and other partners in the Indo-Pacific region,” he added.

The JPMRC 23-01 includes soldiers from Thailand and Indonesia as well as observers from seven other nations.

Former m assy of cer in anila faces ail for illicit se ual acts in P

VIRGINIA/MANILA former United States Department of State officer assigned at the S Embassy in Manila has pleaded guilty to engaging in illicit sexual relations with a minor while in the Philippines for four years.

The former officer, Dean Edward Cheves, 63, pleaded guilty to two counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place in 2020 and 2021 before a S district court in Alexandria, Virginia, according to a statement which reached Manila.

The statement quoted Assistant Attorney General enneth Polite Jr. of the S Justice Department’s Criminal Division and lawyer Jessica Aber of the Eastern District of Virginia.

“Cheves is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 20, 2023 and faces a maximum penalty of up to 30 years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the S sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors,” according to the statement.

It was learned Cheves was serving at the S Embassy in Manila from 2017 to 2021 when he interacted with minors online.

From December 2020 to March 2021, Cheves reportedly communicated online with a then 15 or 16-year-old Filipino, whom he allegedly paid to send him explicit images.

In February 2021, Cheves also allegedly had sex twice with another 16-year-old and reportedly used his government-issued mobile phone to film at least one of the illicit acts.

The child sex abuse video materials were found on devices seized from Cheves’ residence in the Philippines.

“Cheves knew the ages of both minors at the time he engaged in the conduct,” the statement added.

Cheves retired from the Foreign Service in September 2021, shortly after he returned to the .S. in connection with the criminal investigation. He was previously stationed in Brazil.

The S Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service ffice of Special Investigations investigated the case with assistance provided by its Regional Security ffice, Homeland Security Investigations Attach ’s ffice in the Philippines, and the Philippine National Police.

LTILATERAL E ERCISE. A nited States Army Pa i o ial greets members o the Philip pine Army delega�on a er the opening eremony o the oint Pa i l�na�onal Readiness Center P RC Rota�on at the S ho eld Barra s in ah , Hawaii on t. to No . .

The San Francisco Chronicle, for one, stated: “On housing alone, incumbent Rob Bonta has earned our endorsement. Bonta has been aggressive in defending new state laws to increase housing production and density. California cannot tackle its housing crisis without aggressive watchdogging from the Attorney General’s ffice.”

“Meanwhile, with a Supreme Court intent on stripping women’s rights, California needs an attorney general deeply committed to guarding its values from federal incursions. Bonta is the candidate we trust to do so aggressively,” the San Francisco Chronicle stated.

“And, yes, he remains committed to reforming the excesses of the criminal justice system while preserving public safety,” the newspaper added.

Other major newspapers and editorial boards across California which also endorsed AG Bonta for a full four-year term as Attorney General are the Los Angeles Times, Mercury News, and Sacramento Bee.

Also supporting Bonta are the range County Regis-

NY follows...

The two states, one in the West Coast and the other in the East Coast, are home to the largest communities of Asian immigrants, Filipinos included.

New York recently approved funding to help state officials in reporting, and hopefully preventing, the continuously growing discrimination and hate crimes faced by Asian Americans, with some going so far as resorting to physical attacks against senior citizens.

The Bureau of Justice Assistance will provide funds to create grants to help community groups in New York City educate residents about Asian American culture.

The growing culture of hate has been blamed on former President Donald Trump who dubbed C VID-1 as the “China virus.” New York was among the worst hit by the pandemic and NYC was for a time ground zero for the airborne disease, having more cases and deaths than anywhere in the world.

At the forefront of the Asian community’s battle against the hate crimes is alayaan Mendoza, director of mutual protection for the non-government organization Nonviolent Peaceforce.

According to Mendoza, “We haven’t had a chance to pause. We haven’t had a chance to heal. I think we are constantly put into a state of hypervigilance.”

There needs, he said, “dedicated spaces, for us and our communities to be able to recognize the trauma that we’ve experienced.”

If there is one positive thing about the hate crimes aimed at Chinese and Chinese-Americans, it’s that the attackers do not recognize one Asian ethnicity from the other.

For the tiny but dangerous fraction who spew hate against people of a di erent ethnicity than them, all Chinese are Asians and all Asians are Chinese.

This has led the various ethnic groups that form the

ter, Fresno Bee, Modesto Bee, East Bay Times, San Luis Obispo Tribune and the Marin Independent Journal.

“Bonta has shown an ability to honor calls for greater public safety while boosting his office’s e orts in key areas such as hate crimes, environmental justice, civil rights and housing,” according to the Sacramento Bee.

“He has earned another four years,” it added.

“Since Bonta’s historic appointment last year as the first Filipino American to serve as California attorney general, allowing him to serve the remainder of nowHealth and Human Services Secretary avier Becerra’s term, the Democrat has shown attentive leadership on many of the state’s most pressing public safety challenges,” the newspaper stated.

“ He has also worked to put teeth in the state’s housing laws, protect reproductive rights, enforce sensible gun laws and address environmental justice issues that matter to ordinary Californians. He deserves the opportunity to serve a full four-year term,” it added.

broad Asian American community to be united against the hatemongers.

On the state level, Mendoza said he would like to see the problem dealt with as a public health issue, with more resources for developing holistic public safety practices for the Asian American community.

On a federal level, he said Nonviolent Peaceforce seeks to see greater cooperation between local and national advocacy groups, and more dialogue on how to keep people safe.

Until the general public is able to recognize the root causes of racism, not enough changes will take place, said Mendoza.

Last year, Congress passed the C VID-1 Hate Crimes Act to hasten the review of hate crimes and hate crime reports. According to Stop AAPI Hate, more than 11,000 hate crimes have been reported in the last two years, with a notable portion taking place in New York and California.

The Golden State funded the StopAsian Hate campaign which has tapped the support of a broad coalition of stakeholders, including print and broadcast media, Philippine News Today included.

full term for AG Bonta since he has made unprecedented achievements in only a short time that he has occupied the post after his appointment by California Governor Gavin Newsom.

PHL... (From page 1)

In enjoining Fili- pinos to get back to their normal lives before the pandemic hit, Marcos stressed that it is crucial to show the world that the Philippines is slowly getting back on its feet.

Later, Marcos and his Cabinet decided to endorse the plan to ease health protocols, including making the use of facemasks voluntary in certain areas, even as they called on the people to maintain health safeguards.

Marcos and World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met for the first time in Malacanang and discussed several health issues and the Philippine government’s post-pandemic priorities.

The meeting between Marcos and Ghebreyesus was held at Malacañan Palace’s Study Room, Undersecretary Cheloy Garafil, officer-in-charge of the ffice of the Press Secretary (OPS).

Ghebreyesus is in the Philippines to participate in the 73rd World Health Organization Western Pacific Regional Committee Meeting (WPRCM) being held in Manila from Oct. 24 to 28.

Earlier, Ghebreyesus stressed that while the end of Covid-19 pandemic is “in sight,” there is still the risk of “more variants, more deaths, more disruption, and more uncertainty.”

“During their meeting, Marcos emphasized the necessity of finding a balance

between the economy and people’s safety during the meeting, citing the e ectiveness of the government’s Covid-19 vaccine campaign,” she added.

Marcos, Garafil said, also called for a “renewed focus on general public health concerns as cases of other diseases increase.”

In a separate Facebook post, the ffice of the President (OP) said Marcos congratulated Ghebreyesus on his reelection as WHO chief and expressed gratitude for assistance the world body’s assistance to developing nations “during the most difficult phases of the pandemic.”

“It is a good thing to remind people that the pandemic may have been difficult, the pandemic really put us through the wringer. But we are back,” Marcos said in a speech in Bacolod City.

“The pandemic is fading away. We are learning to manage it and now it is time for us to all go back to work, to all go back to our normal lives, to remind ourselves of all the opportunities that were before us before the pandemic…It is time for us to go back to all of those endeavors that we were undertaking before Covid hit,” Marcos added.

Despite the festival being borne out of “a very sad period in the history of Bacolod”, the President said it also symbolizes Filipinos’ “reemergence from a crisis.”

“..That is what we celebrate today and that is what we see that people are feeling and that is the feeling that we want to continue to encourage within our people

because that is what’s going to lead us to success,” he said.

Marcos also congratulated Bacolod City Mayor Albee Benitez and event organizers for a successful holding of the festival.

Marcos said he will not lift the state of calamity, despite his administration’s move not to treat the Covid-19 pandemic “as an emergency.”

To revitalize the Philippine economy, the Marcos administration sought the further easing of travel restrictions in the country.

In a briefing after the Cabinet meeting, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said Marcos will issue an executive order making the wearing of face masks voluntary in indoor settings, except in public transportation, medical transportation and medical facilities.

Frasco said Marcos also agreed to remove reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing as a predeparture requirement and allow travelers to get their eArrival card upon their arrival in the country.

Frasco said Marcos also agreed to remove reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing as a predeparture requirement and allow travelers to get their eArrival card upon their arrival in the country

The Department of Health (DOH), it was gathered, is now able to clearly identify which sectors are vulnerable to COVID-19 as compared when the pandemic just began in 2020 and the world had lit-

tle information on the virus, Marcos said when asked if the government plans to impose health restrictions anew after COVID-19 subvariants were detected in several regions.

“Ngayon ay masasabi natin maliwanag na maliwanag it is those patients with comorbidities that have been our fatalities so we cannot look at it the same way,” the President said.

“We have to get away from the emergency stance of the DOH because we have to open up businesses, we have to make the Philippines more hospitable to travelers both business and tourist,” he said.

“We must treat COVID no longer as an emergency but somethign that we will have to manage forever, it’s like u, like pneumonia,” he added.

While remaining under a state of calamity “does not help”, Marcos said that the Philippines “cannot remove” this status just yet.

“Halimbawa pag tinanggal ko yung state of calamity, hindi makukuha ng ating mga health workers ‘yung kanilang benepisyo na nasa batas, hindi tayo makakapag import ng vaccine, ‘yung sa procurement masyadong mabagal ang magiging procurement, yung indemnification fund na nilagay diyan para pagkanagkaproblema sa paggamit ng vaccine meron tayong pambayad,” he said.

“All of these will disappear pag tinaggal yung state of calamity, pero sa ngayon naghahanap kami ng paraan para ma-normalize na natin,” he said

Marcos to lead Samal-Davao bridge groundbreaking

DAVAO CITY –The Samal Island-Davao City bridge will soon be a reality.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos is set to lead the highly anticipated groundbreaking ceremony of the P23 billion almost four kilometer bridge this week.

Marcos will be accompanied by other national and local officials, according to a press release from Malacañang.

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian is also expected to witness the

groundbreaking ceremony.

Set to be built by engineering company China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), the P23-billion two-way, four-lane bridge is expected to spur tourism and economic progress in Davao.

With a total length of 3. 8 kilometers, the bridge will connect the Samal Circumferential Road in the Island Garden City of Samal to the R. Castillo–Daang Maharlika junction in Davao City.

has a large Chinoy slang for Chinese Pinoy community.

nce completed, it is expected to shorten travel time from Davao City to Samal from around 30 minutes via ferry to merely five minutes.

The bridge will be constructed within five years and is set to be completed and operationalized in 2027.

Last June 13, Huang exchanged with then Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III the signed Framework Agreement and Loan Agreement between the Philippines and Chi-

na for a loan grant worth US$350 million or P18.67 billion for the bridge project.

The Chinese loan will cover 90 percent of the project’s P23.039-billion cost.

Apart groundbreaking rites, Marcos is also scheduled to lead the distribution of various government assistance to individuals in crisis and other people in need.

Marcos will also be visiting the soldiers of the Eastern Mindanao Command to discuss pressing issues involving military services.

“I am running for public defender to bring the office focus back to the core mission that Je Adachi established of vigorous, compassionate, client-centered representation,” she told Philippine News Today.

She served under the late SF Public Defender Adachi, whom oung considers as having set “the gold standard across the country for the delivery of public defense services.”

She was initially hesitant to run even as she noted the “stunning lack of leadership” of the incumbent resulting in widespread demoralization in the office’s ranks.

It was her former colleagues in the San Francisco Public Defender’s ffice who asked her to run in order to provide the leadership the all-important post needs. And deserves.

Young was asked to run several times until at last “I answered the call,” she said.

Her joining the fray excited various sectors of the community, including FilAms.

With her Chinese roots, oung has a soft spot for Filipinos and the Philippines, which

nce elected, she said she will continue to partner with the likes of Rudy Corpuz, nited Playaz, and the S MA Filipino community to make sure that they remain “involved in providing wrap-around services to our FilAm clients.”

Having come from the office that she now seeks to lead, oung knows that her job will not be easy.

For one thing, what should be the queen city of North California “is stuck in entrenched and circular party politics,” she said.

The present political leadership is simply not working together to resolve what she sees as perhaps the biggest problem they face the humanitarian crisis in the streets of San Francisco.

Young said she and her fellow San Franciscans are facing three issues that need to be addressed soonest, to wit:

Homelessness and cost of rental housing;

Lack of bed space for people suffering from drug addiction and mental health challenges; and

Lack of accountability for police misconduct and abuse.

The homeless who are also addicted to various substances are not hopeless cases in her eyes. Many want to detox, according to oung, “but these poor individuals sit in jail for months and months waiting for a bed.”

With the elections just around the corner, oung is hoping that FilAms give her the same support they gave Adachi, who she said set the tradition of always including the voice of Filipino Americans.

“I would restore that tradition,” she told Philippine News Today.

Growing up, Rebecca oung never had a goal of entering politics or running for public office. But she always had an innate need to

help the needy as well as to fight the power that uses race and poverty to oppress people.

Now she knows who she is, and the person she has become is a strong, experienced, hard-working, visionary woman of color.

AS Public Defender, she can be counted on to lift and inspire the people who will work under her “to provide the best defense money can’t buy.”

She will do her mentor Je Adachi proud.

endy lo hosted the meet and greet o a�y. Rebe a yo ng.

Solving UK’s failing economy and volatile politics

mong the allies of the US, the UK has always been considered as the first among equals.

It is, therefore, quite disturbing that our neighbor across the pond is in the middle of a crisis like no other. For one, its Prime Minister resigned after only 45 days in office.

Liz Truss was forced to quit after London’s economy went into freefall, sparking a political crisis which has been one of the country’s worst in modern times.

Because Truss’ Conservative Party holds a large majority in their Parliament, there will be no need to call for elections to pick a new prime minister.

Such is the way of the parliamentary form of government, where parties vote for their top leader and not the public at large. Then again, the Brits have always found the S and its electoral system as somewhat quaint as there have been a few instances when the popular vote went to one candidate and the electoral college vote to another, as was the case with Hillary Trump and Donald Trump in 2016.

The Conservative Party just chose from a handful of their members as to who will occupy 10 Downing Street in the foreseeable future. And believe it or not, one of the possible bets was none other than Boris Johnson, the PM that Truss succeeded. Johnson has sometimes been referred to as the ’s Donald Trump, but after toying with the idea of a second shot at being PM, he decided it was not a good idea.

Instead of choosing the British Trump, they now have a banker named Rishi Sunak, who is being called the British bama. Sunak is the ’s first PM who is a person of color.

This much is clear: The new PM of our close neighbor has a tough task ahead.

Ever since the voted to leave the European nion six years ago, their economy has been sailing mostly rough waters. As a result, Britain has had five PMs in six years, as no one has yet found the right formula to fix the ship of state.

The first and most important problem to be solved is the economy following Truss’s unfunded tax cuts that resulted in the pound crashing and borrowing costs and mortgage rates skyrocketing.

In ation is now at a 40-year high and the economy has gone into recession, making millions of Britons poorer. Worst of all, the will most likely slash spending on public services, which a large part of the population depend on.

Hopes are high that Sunak will know what to do to lead his country out of the economic mess it has found itself in.

At least his Conservative Party, which remains in chaos, will most certainly remain in power for at least two more years.

At this stage, it remains to be seen if Sunak will be the leader within the party who has the wherewithal to unite the . Even their symbolic ruler, ing Charles, has yet to prove that he can provide the same strength of character as his mother, the late and much respected Queen Elizabeth ll.

But as the old saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention. Because the desperately needs a PM in the mold of a Winston Churchill or a Margaret Thatcher, Sunak may yet be their next great leader.

can only wish him the best of luck.

Think deeply about Joseph Ileto

2

HE story of Joseph Ileto must be told and retold as a cautionary tale for everyone who swears allegiance to the Stars and Stripes and assumes that they are safe because of their blue passports. And especially so when elected officials take advantage of their position to vilify anyone who does not look like them, giving permission to their followers to in ict their disdain for those they consider a threat to their self-assigned superiority.

Joseph Ileto was an upstanding citizen, a dutiful family man and a civil service worker who died in the line of duty because of someone’s misplaced hatred for immigrants and federal employees.

If you think you’re immune from the escalation of race-targeted attacks since the previous president began scapegoating the Chinese for the coronavirus pandemic because you checked o something else on your Census form, don’t hold your breath. Joseph Ileto was living the American Dream 23 years before the coronavirus hit North American shores, but he was shot dead because of his identity.

REALI ATI N

The Iletos themselves previously had the notion that hate crimes happen only in certain areas.

“Before, we would watch TV thinking that hate crimes would never happen to us or, good thing, we don’t live in that area,” Asian Americans Advancing Justice S CAL founding president Stewart woh quotes Deena Ileto, wife of Joseph’s younger brother Ismael in the August article he wrote to commemorate the slaying. “And then it happened to us. It was shocking. ou come to the realization that there is no type of area and no one is safe when hate is all around us. After Joseph’s death, we realized that we needed to do something. We owed it to (Joseph).”

Some would like to believe that this country has learned from the experience of Fermin Tobera, the first known Filipino killed while asleep during the Jan. 1 - 23, 1 30 riots when a band of white men drove into the farm workers’ campsite in Watsonville, California. That was 6 years before a hateful individual lethally blamed his inadequacies on Joseph Ileto.

Three years later today, a Filipino is slashed across the face on a subway train in New ork. A Filipino family celebrating a birthday in Carmel, the upscale town in central California, is stared down by a tech CE who orders them to “go back to their country”ostensibly for conversing in Tagalog. A Filipina is stomped on repeatedly by a burly man at least twice her size on a busy New ork street. Another Filipina in the same city is kicked multiple times by a heavy-set man cussing her out as an Asian b as she was checking her mail in her apartment building.

Catching fresh air was fatal for 84-year-old Vicha Ratanakdee, who was assaulted in front of his house last year in San Francisco. The same year, Pak Ho, 75, died from severe injuries in a similar attack near Lake Merritt in akland.

Just last August, Lili u, a beloved dentist practicing in akland and Castro Valley, was shot dead in akland’s Little Saigon. She had just turned 60. Her partner Nelson Chia and friends don’t believe robbery was a motive. The slaying was race-motivated, they aver.

Hate can a ict anyone, hence people who commit race-related o enses can be as diverse as their targets.

Ismael Ileto summed up his recommended recourse:

“We are pushing for a bill that will put criminals away for all motivations for hate crimes. For discrimination against race, gender, disability, and sexual orientation,” Ismael said. “We want a bill that covers everyone Hate that stems from intolerance or ignorance is unacceptable no matter what form it takes.”

Remember his exhortation at the CLA form to vote for officials who will e ect change to protect Americans from hatemongers The opportunity is less than two weeks away. T BE C NCL DED.

Cherie M. Querol Moreno is Executive Editor of Philippine News Today.

RANILLO

CLAIRE M.

CHERIE M. QUEROL MORENO

Life at the Million Trees eco learning center

Something good is going on at the La Mesa Watershed in Quezon City. The Million Trees Foundation, Inc. (MTFI) in collaboration with San Miguel Corporation (SMC) inaugurated the SMC Multi-Purpose Hall at the MFTI Nursery and Eco-Learning Center inside the watershed compound besides the Quirino highway going to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan and north Caloocan City.

Construction of the MultiPurpose Hall, called Eddie’s Barn as a tribute to the late Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos, was funded by SMC. The multi-purpose hall used to be a greenhouse which was renovated and refurbished to showcase the various green project of SMC and serve as venue for trainings, seminars, and workshops on ecology and environment protection. The air-conditioned center can accommodate 50 persons—bigger than the Eco Learning Center’s Executive Room.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by MTFI officials led by Chairman Emeritus Gen. Reynaldo V. Velasco and President Executive Director Melandrew T. Velasco; MWSS Administrator Engr. Leonor Cleofas; MWSS Board of Trustee Atty. Rogelio Quevedo, Ms. Cristy Ramos, representing the guest of honor former First Lady Amelita M. Ramos; and MGen Edgard Arevalo (Ret.), representing SMC President CEO Ramon S. Ang (RSA).

Also present were members during the Ramos Cabinet and FVR colleagues including former DENR Secretary Victor Ramos, former DILG Tourism Secretary Rafael Alunan III, MGen Jose P. Magno, Jr., former PVAO Administrator Ernesto Carolina and Mr. Mel Bergado. Ms. Annette de campo, MTFI trustee, emceed the event program.

In her opening remarks, MWSS Administrator Cleofas said that the water agency is not only concerned with supplying water and sewerage services for the whole MWSS service area. “We also care for the seven critical watersheds of MWSS,” she said, adding if we do not take care of watersheds, we will not have sustainable potable water.” She emphasized that MWSS together with its three concessionaires Manila Water, Maynilad and Luzon Clean Water Development is supportive of the MTFI.

MTFI President Executive Director Velasco in his short message which preceded an audio-visual presentation tribute to FVR said the occasion was an “act of love, a continuing act of love known as fidelity,” for an idol named Fidel Valdez Ramos . “Fidelity to his legacy,” Velasco added. It was an occasion to demonstrate “fidelity to whatever he has taught us” on the environment, among others. Velasco recalled that the MFTI Nursery and Eco Learning Center is dedicated to the former President for which a marker was unveiled during its inauguration on March 18, 2022, during the FVR’s 4th birthday.

He cited the support extended by Sta. Clara International Corporation in the land development of the MTFI Nursery and Eco Learning Center despite the latter not being a concessionaire of MWSS.

Velasco stressed that the Foundation is committed to grow and nurture 10 million trees by 2030 in support of the nited Nations Decade on Ecosystems Restoration which runs from 2021 to 2030. He acknowledged former DENR Secretary Victor Ramos, an icon on environment protection, who has always been an inspiration and former First Lady Amelita Ramos for her Piso Para sa Pasig initiative to rehabilitate the Pasig River under the Clean and Green Foundation she founded. Incidentally, SMC is currently undertaking the rehabilitation of the Pasig River at no cost to the government.

RSA in a message read by MGen. Edgard Arevalo, said that aside from being blessed with rich natural resources, the country also has “many active and engaging individuals and organizations who do their part for the environment, and yet only a few can claim to have made such an indelible mark as the former President Fidel V. Ramos and the former First Lady Amelita Ramos that is why we are celebrating them today.”

“We at San Miguel can only hope to make as lasting an impact on the environment as the Ramoses and the other notable champions have made,” he added.

For the past years, SMC has embarked on more sustainability challenges from discontinuance of its plastic water business, to recycled plastic roads experiment, commitment to cut by 50 percent its use of utility water across the SMC group, and planting of over seven million trees and mangroves nationwide.

Aside from these, SMC has completed the rehabilitation of the Tullahan River and is now undertaking the rehabilitation of the Pasig River, both ood mitigation initiatives. In the same message, RSA said “to have an enduring positive impact on the environment is also why we have support the million trees initiative all these years. The urgency and importance of protecting our watersheds through reforestation cannot be overstated especially now when the basic needs like food and energy are becoming scarcer and harder to access.”

“We hope our humble contribution of this multi-purpose hall-a tribute to both the former President and First Lady, and to all who continue to carry the torch—will (Continue on page 27)

Can a notary accept an expired ID?

s accredited and commissioned Notary Public in California since 1981, I’ve been asked by old and new clients if they can use expired IDs.

Notaries, like myself, are presented with expired IDs from time to time. The elderly, disabled, impoverished or any person who doesn’t drive regularly, often let their identification documents expire. But they still need notarization from time to time. So a timeless and important question is, Can a notary accept an expired ID?

Know Your State’s Requirements Some states only permit Notaries to accept an expired ID if it was issued within a certain time period. In California, any signer ID allowed under CA law must either be current, or if expired, must have been issued within the past five years. An expired ID that was issued more than five years prior to the date the notarization takes place may not be accepted. This requirement applies to signer ID presented for both acknowledgments and jurats

Florida also permits Notaries to accept IDs from a signer provided the expired ID was issued within the past five years and includes a serial identifying number. This includes driver’s licenses and ID cards issued by US states and territories, Canada or Mexico,; U.S. passports or foreign passports stamped by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); U.S. military IDs; veterans health ID cards issued by the .S. Department of Veterans A airs; inmate IDs issued after January 1, 1991 by the Florida Department of Corrections for inmates in custody; .S. Bureau of Federal Prisons IDs for inmates in custody or ID cards issued by USCIS.

Thirteen states require Notaries to accept a “current” ID. In Pennsylvania, for example, requires an unexpired passport, driver’s license or government issued nondriver identification card, or another form of government identification which is current. Texas, requires an identification card presented by a signer to be current and issued by the federal or state government. One state, Illinois, requires IDs to be valid at the time of the notarial act and Arizona requires IDs to be current and unexpired. Virginia permits individuals who reside in an assisted living facility or nursing home to present an expired nited States Passport Book, expired nited States Passport Card, expired foreign passport, or expired state-issued identification card for identification, provided that the expiration of such documents occurred within five years of the date of use for identification purposes.

So far, this accounts for less than half of U.S. states and jurisdictions. More than half of all states have laws which do not say an ID must be current, valid or unexpired.

If your state’s Notary laws do not specifically spell out what to do in the case of an expired ID, then the NNA (National Notary Associations) recommends that you make it your professional standard practice to accept only unexpired IDs.

If a Notary Cannot Accept An Expired ID –If you are not allowed to accept an expired state-issued ID, there maybe alternatives to identify your signer, but these methods also may vary by state. In most cases, a valid, unexpired U.S. passport would be acceptable. U.S. passports are valid for ten years, typically double that of most driver’s licenses and state IDs. Considering that more than 137 million people, or about half of all U.S. adults, currently holds passports, that is a workable option.

In most states, signers may also be identified through the use of credible witnesses, or two, providing that your state laws allow this, and that the witnesses meet all statutory requirements. In Pennsylvania, for example, a credible witness must personally know both the signer and the Notary. Florida, on the other hand, allows the use of two credible witnesses who do not personally know the Notary. In this case, the credible witnesses must present valid, state approved ID to the Notary, and sign a sworn written statement. (Source: NNA guidelines as excerpted in the article “Can Notary Accept An Expired ID?”)

Mobile Signing Services (MSS) is committed and will continue to help and assist old and new clients in the notarization and apostille follow up of Affidavits, Special Power of Attorney (SPA), DEED OF DONATION, Last Will, Durable Power of Attorney (DPA), Deed of Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate with Waiver, DEED F ABS L TE SALE, Proof of Life, Parental Travel Permit (PTP) and other documents needed in the Philippines and the other member nations of the Hague Apostille Convention.

For immediate help and assistance, just write or contact: MOBILE SIGNING SERVICES, 730

Top Fil-Am lawyer, pride of Filipinos in Milpitas

MILPITAS, California—

DONT LOOK now but Silicon Valley’s top Fil-Am lawyer GARR BARBADILLO is up for election as Milpitas councilman this November.

Atty. Barbadillo had previously served as a member of the Milpitas City Council. This was during the time of Mayor Jose Esteves, an erstwhile source of inspiration and pride of Pinoys in Northern California.

Garry finished Law in the Philippines before migrating to the USA. He had worked at the Superior Court of Santa Clara County, California before deciding to cast his lot with a higher dream, which is to be a member of the California Bar.

He had to quit his court job to focus on Bar review. He passed the Bar and went on to establish his Law firm specializing on Family law and Immigration, among others.

He’s also part of a group of attorneys providing pro bono services to the poor and underprivileged.

Pretty soon, he became well-known and highly regarded for being a no-nonsense and compassionate lawyer.

While riding high in his law practice, he got appointed as Milpitas Planning Commissioner and as Parks and Recreation Commissioner where he proved his capabilities in government and community service.

From there, the people of Milpitas rewarded him when he ran for and got elected as Councilman in 2014.

His top programs when he gets the chance to return to the city council includes public safety, housing, roads, parks and sidewalks improvements, jobs creation, and balancing the budget to “focus on the prioritization of the people’s needs.”

Paging Pinoys in Milpitas to get united and throw all out support for this ‘kababayan’ everyone should be proud of.

On top of this, let’s go out and vote.

ART GABOT MADLAING Health & Wealth

TEDDY P. MOLINA

ALFRED G. GABOT

Like a bad B movie

The killing of popular broadcast journalist

Percy Lapid may well be the single biggest high profile crime against a practicing newsman in decades.

I can’t even think of a similar crime, although there was one in the ‘60s that can compare, except for one thing. Rafael ‘Paeng’ Yabut was also a well-known and respected broadcaster who was incidentally a reservist in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Yabut was in his car when shot, and photos of him bleeding and slumped in his car seat made its way to the papers. It was a di erent era, folks. Such sick images were allowed in even the decent broadsheets.

Unlike Lapid, however, Yabut survived and was even able to resume his radio/TV show after he recovered from a gunshot wound to the face. His manner of speaking, however, was severely a ected, but he soldiered on for as long as he could.

Now comes the case of Percival ‘Percy Lapid’ Mabasa,

In the movies, there are what’s known as tropes which come close to being clichés. This includes characters who are stereotypes, such as good guys being almost saintly and bad guys being evil personified.

Tropes can also cover plot lines, which are used over and over, from the biggest budget movies to independent films made for a song.

One is example is of a crusading journalist who is totally committed to his job, who is ordered killed by a mastermind, who then orders the killer killed so that the big boss can never be identified.

This is what appears to be happening now with the case of Percy Lapid, who was as hard-hitting as they come. He had nerves of steel to the point that he would travel to and from his studio by himself, not even having a trusty driver to ease his load.

By comparison, I know of another columnist who has a similar reputation, but who travels around with a driver-bodyguard and what I suspect to be a bullet-proof S V.

Perhaps Lapid lived by the saying that if a hired gun wants to kill you, he will find a way. So when your time is up, then your time is up.

This fatalist view is common, especially among newsmen. Some do take precautions, like carrying a licensed, loaded gun. But I know of no newsman who goes so far as to don a Kevlar vest.

By all indications, Lapid was unarmed.

So one evening earlier this month, he was assassinated while on his way to his studio. Two men riding in tandem this has become a popular mode of transport of all sorts of criminals, from petty thieves to hired killers with another two reportedly backing them up in a car, had followed Lapid and struck when the broadcaster least expected it.

When finally the gunman surrendered after a huge bounty was placed on his head, he not only named his accomplices but added that the money they were paid for the crime had come from an inmate at the national penitentiary.

Some suspected that the inmate was the mastermind, but this does not make sense, of course.

Because Lapid had made a lot of enemies, particularly in the Duterte administration, it stands to reckon that he had been silenced because of his constant attacks against the cabal behind the former regime.

And here is where the story takes a turn for the ridiculous.

The gunman had named the inmate who took care of paying them, via bank transfer, or course, when lo and behold, that moneyman suddenly died inside the penitentiary.

Just like that, what should have been a key figure had been silenced permanently by the simple solution of dying unexpectedly, allegedly of natural causes.

Is this tale believable?

I think not. It’s too fishy, but it’s the line that the Department of Justice is sticking with.

This is not to say that the moneyman did not die due to natural causes. He may have had a heart attack due to the stress of knowing that he would be the focus of investigation. But the timing sure as hell sucks balls, doesn’t it?

There is allegedly yet an-

Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr has signed into law an urgent measure to postpone the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections scheduled on Dec. this year.

This was the fourth time since 2016 the elections for the basic political unit in the country were postponed, resetting it to the last Monday of October 2023, with the polls to be held every three years thereafter.

Lawmakers from both houses of Congress said they have to enact the bill to postpone the Barangay and Sangguniang abataan elections (BS E) because the government needed the funds for programs including the coronavirus pandemic response as well as subsidies to poor families.

They also said the government could save money if the elections were reset for next year.

But does the government really need the money earmarked for the local elections for other purposes, like the coronavirus pandemic response? Can the government really save money?

It appears the lawmakers lied and the postponement of the Barangay and Sangguniang abataan elections was done to honor a promise made in the May 2022 national elections to secure the support of local leaders for their own political victory.

The president also promised to barangay leaders to postpone the elections and extend their terms if they will help him win the presidency. Politicians running for seats in the bicameral Congress made the same campaign promise.

It’s like scratching each other’s backs. The postponement was payback time.

The coronavirus pandemic response was a very convenient excuse. It was used by Rodrigo Duterte to borrow billions of dollars from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank but some of the money went to corruption, like the procurement of substandard face masks and personal protection equipment from Pharmally.

The budget for the December elections cannot be touched and realigned for other purposes. It will stay with the Commission on Elections. In fact, it has already started printing ballots and bought election paraphernalia, using the money earmarked for the elections.

Last year, Congress gave the Commission on Elections (Comelec) an P8-billion budget to hold the elections. However, the executive branch cannot tinker with the Comelec’s budget for the elections because it has fiscal autonomy as an independent commission.

Unlike the executive and legislative branches’ annual budget, which will be returned to the national treasury, if the funds were not used, the Comelec could still use the unused 2022 budget next year as part of its continuing appropriations.

Comelec officials argued to lawmakers that postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang abataan elections would be more expensive. The Comelec would need an additional P10 billion to hold the elections next year because there would be more voters, more poll workers, more machines, and more ballots needed.

For instance, there will be about 100 million eligible voters by 2023. From 66 million voters for barangay leaders, four million voters will be added by October 2023.

From 24 million youth voters, there will be 30 million voters for the Sangguniang abataan elections.

The increase in voters will also multiply the number of teachers and other poll workers for the elections. More personnel means a much bigger allowance for election workers.

More ballots and other election materials will be needed. More automated counting machines will also be needed at a time when the Comelec planned to procure newer machines.

However, the election officials’ pleas fell on deaf ears as the executive and legislative officials were hell-bent on fulfilling their campaign promise to extend the terms of office of Barangay and Sangguniang abataan officials for another year.

The elected officials ignored the Comelec’s pleas to push through with the elections in December even if they knew it would jack up the costs and the government had to tighten its belt because of the unfavorable economic conditions.

The Philippine peso is the worst-performing currency in the region and may hit P60 to a dollar, the lowest level in years. In ation is nearing 7% and may continue to quicken until next year.

Foreign direct investments are also down as well as revenue collection, as many businesses closed shop during the pandemic. Unemployment is also rising.

Economists have been calling on the executive and legislative branches to exercise fiscal discipline but they continue to plan more spending for their own personal interests.

For instance, the lawmakers allowed Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio to have P650 million in confidential funds for the ffice of the Vice President and the Department of Education.

She cannot clearly say where these confidential funds will go. The only excuse Sara’s office gave was that the money was for “libreng sakay,” medical and funeral assistance, and national security.

But these are beyond her mandate. She was duplicating the functions of other agencies, like the trans-

Wasting government resources (Continue on page 27)

Ihave been writing professionally for more than 20 years now, but I never knew there is a National Day on Writing until I surfed the net… honestly!

National Day on Writing (Continue

I learned that the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) has designated October 20 as the National Day on Writing. It marks the annual celebration of writing established in 2009 by NCTE. The purpose was to bring awareness to the power of writing in our personal, professional and civic lives. For educators, it’s a day to amplify the exceptional role writing instruction plays in student development at every grade level. For teachers, it marks their day in the classroom writing with their students. For journalists, it’s a day recalling their first assignment, their first interview, and their first manuscript and how to improve their daily reports adhering to the editorial policies. For authors, it is a day to re ect on how to improve their writing and think of the next book to write. For ordinary citizens, in their regular day-to-day life, it is a day to ex their skills in sending their emails, FB postings, personal correspondence, and the like to reach out to others. Summing up, writing bridges the gap in humanity!

This must be a good opportunity to discuss with friends, students and acquaintances about writing, why do we have to write, how to get the facts, how to write, what to write, and how to organize the story.

Writing per se is di erent from a 3-unit subject in journalism class or English writing class, but the mechanics of writing is the same. All you need to do is write, write again and keep writing. These are the 3-Ws in writing (write, write, write). In fact, in my writing and investigative reporting class, I emphasize the three things to know: Know where the facts are, know how to get them, go out and get them! It’s simple yet complex because when we implement the three things, it needs research, organization, planning, evaluation, interviews, analysis, and critical thinking.

So, what are we going to write We just don’t quite know where to begin, right? True, nothing’s quite as scary as staring at a blank page, so they say, but anyone can do it. Writers and authors are one in saying, we need to start slow, one sentence at a time, step by step, and taking your time. Without you knowing it, you have a poem, a journal entry, a story, the first chapter of a novel, or just a really a FB post. You need to unleash your creativity… put it in writing! Knowingly or unknowingly, at the end, you have a perfect piece to submit or send.

The history of national day on writing was actually an initiative of the National Council of Teachers of English built on the premise that writing is critical to literacy but needs greater attention and celebration.

As they see it, people tend to think of writing in terms of “pencil-and-paper assignments,” but no matter who you are, writing is part of your life. It’s part of how you work, how you learn, how you remember, and how you communicate. It gives voice to who you are and enables you to give voice to the things that matter to you. Writing is a part of one’s daily life, whether simple or complex.

Recent NCTE initiatives include: creating the first standards for reading, writing, and literacy assessment; defining 21st century literacy and the skills needed to achieve it; developing in uential position statements on intellectual and academic freedom; and championing diversity in literature and the development of culturally relevant teaching practices.

According to the history of writing, the first written language was developed by the Sumerians of the Akkadian empire based on pressing marks into wet clay using a stylus. Many of these clay tablets survived the times.

In 1865, the first commercially used typewriter was invented by Rasmus Malling-Hansen. Soon, typed correspondence became the standard for every type of writing. Typing became an invaluable skill and a basic standard for communication.

Ray Tomlinson, a computer engineer at MIT, wrote the first email in 1971. He sent an email to a computer sitting right next to him but he didn’t remember exactly what he wrote, the report said.

In 1995 the “Print on-demand “emerged. The tech boom makes it possible to create a high-quality book equal to those produced by traditional publishers.

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IRS Tax Debts may be discharged in Bankruptcy

BREAKING NEWS

Stampless entry at SFO. SJC and OAK ports

E ective ctober 1, 2022, the CBP will adopt the stampless entry on all incoming travelers. If you want a stamp on your passport you should request the CBP offi cer.

New Regulation will make it easier to immigrate

The Biden Administration will release a regulation by December 2022, making it easier to immigrate for people who have taken public benefi ts. The public charge under Trump era will be revised signifi cantly.

N-400 Application for Naturalization

The SCIS is now giving priorities to application for naturalization . The reason is obviously to allow qualifi ed immigrants to vote in the coming midterm and presidential election. There are cases when the waiting time is only six months compared to prior years. Pres. Biden is encouraging all qualifi ed to fi le for naturalization. This is a rare opportunity that all qualifi ed should take advantage of.

DACA reinstated

Pres. Biden reiterated to renew the DACA processing as of August 31, 2022

Arrest and removal of undocumented is now up to the discretion of ICE offi cer S Supreme Court did not allow Pres. Biden to overturn the immigration policy of Trump with regards to priority in arrest and removal. With increasing migrants at the border White House is now requiring ICE to deport more migrants under political pressure. It is now a decision to be made by the ICE offi cer which could include arrest of anyone who is undocumented. It is time to work on your green card now.

IRS Tax Relief in Bankruptcy

As we all know, tax debts can spiral out of control and lead to an IRS tax lien, wage garnishment, or even property seizure. Most people mistakenly believe that taxes are never dischargeable in a bankruptcy. This myth is absolutely wrong Although there are certain criteria that must be met, bankruptcy relief is often the best way to solve a serious tax problem and stop IRS collection activity. The fi ling of a bankruptcy case automatically and immediately stays (stops) IRS bank account levies and wage garnishments, and enables the taxpayer to either obtain a discharge or reorganize his or her tax liabilities.

Remember, the IRS is not just any creditor and has the ultimate power to do things other creditors can only dream of. However, if you hire a lawyer before the situation gets worse, there are options and possible solutions available.

Each type of bankruptcy treats IRS tax debt di erently. The two most common forms of bankruptcies are Chapter 7 and Chapter 13.

Tax Debts in Chapter 7

Some tax debts are dischargeable through Chapter 7 bankruptcy. If taxes are more than three years old and you fi led tax returns related to them more than two years ago, the likely outcome is that you will not have to pay them. Tax obligations that are not dischargeable under Chapter 7 include taxes less than three years old, business taxes, sales taxes, and payroll taxes. In Chapter 7, non-exempt assets are liquidated; any of the leftover IRS tax debts are then discharged unless specifi c IRS specifi cations are still not met. If these criteria are not met, the entire IRS tax debt needs to be repaid in whole after the whole bankruptcy process is done. Recent IRS tax debt, meaning not older than three years is not dischargeable.

Tax Debts in Chapter 13

If you are not qualifi ed to fi le for a Chapter 7 or have decided that Chapter 13 is your best option, non-dischargeable tax debts can be included in your repayment plan. Chapter 13 is the most common of the important tax relief bankruptcy tactics, with some of the IRS tax debt being forgiven. Assets typically don’t need to end up being liquidated; with your income fi nancing the whole payment plan.

In addition, bankruptcy’s automatic stay applies to the IRS as well, meaning all collection e orts pending against you will be stopped. Filing for Chapter 13 will also accomplish two other very important things: Penalties that the IRS has tacked on your tax debt will be discharged, AND, no new penalties or interest will accumulate while you are in Chapter 13. In short, you may pay considerably less money to the IRS by going through bankruptcy than you would if had tried to work out a debt settlement agreement with them on your own.

Note: This is not a legal advice. ou should seek the advice of your attorney about your specifi c case.

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For the month of September 2022, we received approval from SCIS four naturalization applications, two Fianc e visa petition, two removals of condition on residence and two adjustment of status applications.

Note: If you have immigration problems write us a letter and we will reply to you with no initial obligation. The Law ffi ces of Crispin C. Lozano can help you fi nd a solution before your problem gets worse which could lead to deportation and family separation. ou may request a free consultation at one of our offi ces in Hayward or Cerritos, CA, or by phone at 1-877-456- 266. www.crispinlozanolaw.com, email at info ccllaw. net

Hawaii chamber of commerce calls on Marcos

MANILA The officers and members of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii (FCCH) called on President Ferdinand R. Marcos last week in Malacanang as part of their goodwill and trade mission to the Philippines.

During their meeting, Marcos recounted the generosity of Filipinos and the Hawaiian people to his family in 1 86.

“I wouldn’t be here were if not for the compassion and kindness of our kababayans in Hawaii who gave us food and clothes when we arrived because we had nothing,” Marcos said during a courtesy call in Malaca ang Palace.

The Marcos family ed to Hawaii after the EDSA People Power Revolution in 1 86 and remained there until the death of patriarch former President Ferdinand E. Marcos in 1 8 .

In the same meeting, Marcos discussed

with FCCH members his administration’s initiatives to keep the nation’s post-pandemic growth momentum.

The FCCH is considered one of the biggest and oldest Filipino chambers in the nited States, providing support to Filipino entrepreneurs in Hawaii.

The organization also provides regular networking meetings, valuable workshops and outreach trade missions to the Philippines.

“Tinanggap ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos sa Palasyo ang mga opisyal at miyembro ng Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii (FCCH) sa isang courtesy call ngayong araw, ktubre 24 (President Ferdinand R. Marcos received at the Palace the officials and members of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii in a courtesy call today, ctober 24),” the ffice of the Press Secretary said.

Marcos, advisers unveil plans to help boost agri sector, food production

By Jennifer T. Santos

MANILA - With prices of vegetables, other crops and prime commodities while smuggling of agricultural products has not stopped, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. continued his search for solutions as he holds on as Secretary of Agriculture.

The President’s latest move was to meeting again with the agriculture sector lead and members of the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) to help provide solutions and improve the agriculture sector.

During the meeting, they revisited the recommendations of the Council and discussed the programs that would benefit all local farmers and fisherfolk.

The PSAC Agriculture Sector reexamined progress on the interventions during the first 100 days of the Marcos administration which include the digitalization of agriculture through a scaled up government e-cloud, increased internet accessibility and speed, and improving the fisheries sector productivity.

The sector also called for the increase

of Laguna Lake fish production, mobilization of coco levy and sugar appropriation funds through the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), and prioritization of research and cane variety improvements for sugar production.

ther short and long-term recommendations include the tapping of agri-tech platforms, using Brazilian technology to increase sugarcane production, reviewing NFA policies and structure to enable the agency to operate as a logistics hub, accelerating the replanting of coconut trees, and measures to further control African Swine Fever in order to revive the swine industry.

The PSAC recommendations aim to respond to critical issues in agriculture and support President Marcos’ call to accelerate e orts in improving the country’s agricultural sector and help both farmers and fisherfolks.

In the meeting, the President was joined by PSAC convenor and Aboitiz Group CE Sabin Aboitiz along with PSAC Agriculture Sector Lead La Filipina y Gongco Group President and CE Aileen Christel ngkauko.

R HA AII. ers and members o CCH all on President ar os r. in ala anang. Also in photo is Rep. Sandro ar os.

Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez named Regional Development Council chairperson

ORMOC CITY Residents of this progressive city are ecstatic following the appointment of former congresswoman now Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez as chairperson of the Regional Development Council (RDC) in Eastern Visayas for the next three years.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos signed the appointment on October 19, a copy of which was shared with journalists during his visit to Leyte.

Also appointed is private sector representative Leo Christian Lauzon as RDC co-chairperson.

The ffice of the President picked Gomez as RDC chairperson over four other officials nominated by members of the region’s highest policymaking body during its September meeting.

Other nominees were Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla; Maasin City, Southern Leyte Mayor Nacional Mer-

cado; Baybay City, Leyte Mayor Jose Carlos Cari; and Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez.

The President signed the appointment a day before he visited Ormoc City on October 20 for the 75th Charter Day celebration.

On the occasion of the celebration of the rmoc City 75th year, officials led by Mayor Gomez, supported by her husband, Rep. Richard Gomez, vowed that the city will emerge as the organic food basket for the Visayas and rest of the country.

Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez and Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez said Ormoc City has fertile lands suitable to produce agriculture products, including fruits and vegetables.

They said the city government will expand its Ormoc Organic Program to provide marketing, selling, processing, packaging, and value-adding support to

farmers.

The mayor and lawmaker tandem also vowed to continue to support farmers through farm inputs, subsidies, live-

lihood and product development, training and advocacy in organic farming, equipment, and fishery management and licensing services.

QCinema int’l filmfest to screen restored classics ‘In the Mood for Love,’ ‘Itim,’ and ‘Kisapmata’

On its 10th edition, slated this coming November 17 to 26, QCinema International Film Festival celebrates the classics anew. Newly restored versions of unforgettable films by two celebrated directors will be screened in the festival.

Mike de Leon’s classic movies “Itim (1976), which is also his debut feature, and “Kisapmata” (1981) will be screened in QCinema’s Digitally Restored Classic Section together with Wong Kar-wai’s romantic drama

“In the Mood for Love” (2000).

The new restoration of “Itim” premiered recently at Cannes Film Festival at the Cannes Classic section wherein a special selection of best restored prints is shown to encourage people to explore the history of cinema around the world.

The film, which was voted the best film of the decade (1970-1979) by Gawad Urian, stars Charo Santos, her first film project, together with Tommy Abuel, Mario Montenegro, and Mona Lisa.

The 107-minute psychological drama follows the story of a young photographer from Manila who returns to his hometown to visit his paralyzed father. During the visit, he documents the local Holy Week rites, and meets Teresa, a mysterious woman who is haunted by her sister’s death.

“Kisapmata”

“Kisapmata,” another Mike de Leon gripping masterpiece, is based on the murder-suicide case of the Cabading family in 1961. It was inspired by Nick Joaquin’s crime report “The House on Zapote Street. Using his pen name Quijano de Manila, Joaquin’s account was published by the Philippine Free Press magazine. De Leon’s film is labeled as one of the most horrifying

films in Philippine cinema history.

The multi-awarded film also stars Charo Santos, with Vic Silayan, Jay Ilagan, and Charito Solis.

Aside from QCinema, the films will also have screenings at Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), which is doing a Mike de Leon retrospective entitled “Mike de Leon, Self-Portrait of a Filipino Filmmaker” the entire month of November. MoMA, in its website, revered Mike de Leon as “one of Filipino cinema’s most fiercely political and dramatic storytellers in his own right.”

Completing the QCinema’s Digitally Restored Classics section is the 4K restored version of 2000 romantic drama “In the Mood for Love” by Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai.

Considered by many as one of the best romantic movies ever made, the film stars Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung, who play two brokenhearted people finding solace in each other’s company. The film is also often listed as one of the greatest films of all time and one of the major works of Asian cinema.

The restored version was first presented in celebration of the 20th anniversary of its release in 2020 and has played to sold-out cinema screenings and festivals around the world.

IRST RDC HEAD R R C. rmo City ayor L y Torres Gomez is the rst may or of Ormoc to lead the Regional Development Council of Eastern Visayas.

Vice Ganda, Coco Martin, Jodi Sta. Maria, Claudine Barretto topbill Metro filmfest entries

tural Values - 10% and Global Appeal - 10%.

The four finished films are the “Deleter” by Viva Communications Inc. directed by Mikhail Red and starring Nadine Lustre, McCoy de Leon, and Louise Delos Reyes); “Family Matters” by Cineko Productions directed by Enrico Roque, Ladylyn de Guzman, and Patrick Meneses and starring Noel Trinidad, Liza Lorena, Agot Isidro, Mylene Dizon, Nonie Buencamino, JC Santos, and Nikki Valdez; “Mamasapano: Now It Can Be Told” by Borracho Film Production directed by Lester Dimaranan and starring Edu Manzano, Aljur Abrenica, Paolo Gumabao, Alan Paule, and Claudine Barretto; and “My Father, Myself” by 3:16 Media Network directed by Joel Lamangan and starring Jake Cuenca, Dimples Romana, Sean de Guzman, and Alan Paule.

are both from Star Cinema, with Vice Ganda and Ivana Alawi, and Coco Martin and Jodi Sta. Maria leading the cast, respectively.

Now in its 48th year, “MMFF” will promote the message “Balik Saya” in light of the festival’s return amid the pandemic, while highlighting the “Filipino cinematic experience” during this Christmas season.

The film fest will run from Dec. 25 to Jan. 7 in cinemas nationwide but observing health protocols. Its prestigious Gabi ng Parangal, where winners of the festival will be named, will be held on Dec. 27.

Prior to the opening will be the Parade of Stars to be hosted by Quezon City.

By Jennifer T. Santos

The biggest, most popular and the widely supported and anticipated 48th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) announced the complete lineup of eight official entries with the selection of the four more finished films from a record high of 22 film submissions.

The members of the MMFF 2022 Selection Committee headed by the multi-awarded and respected leader of the film industry Boots Anson-Rodrigo chose the eight entries based on the following criteria - Artistic Excellence - 40%, Commercial Appeal - 40%, Filipino Cul-

In July, MMFF announced the four initial entries chosen, based on script submissions. The four are: “Partners in Crime” by ABS-CBN Film Productions directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina and starring Vice Ganda and Ivana Alawi; “Labyu with an Accent” by ABS-CBN Film Productions directed by Rodel Nacianceno and starring Coco Martin and Jodi Sta. Maria; “The Teacher” by TEN17P starring Joey de Leon and Toni Gonzaga directed by Paul Soriano; and “Nanahimik ang Gabi” by Rein Entertainment Productions starring Ian Veneracion, Mon Confiado and Heaven Peralejo directed by Shugo Praico.

“Partners In Crime” and “Labyu with an Accent”

Rodrigo said members of the selection committee heavily deliberated on all of the entries, following the rules and judging them as films.

“It is a collegial decision of a deliberative body,” said Rodrigo.

With this year’s message “Balik Saya sa MMFF 2022,” the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and MMFF Concurrent Acting Chairman Engr. Carlo Dimayuga III urged moviegoers to support the festival, which has been part of the Filipinos’ Christmas tradition over the years.

“Let us watch the MMFF in theaters once more. We are happy with the list of entries, which has a wide mix of genres. We are excited and looking forward to MMFF 2022 becoming a success,” said Dimayuga.

Kathryn Bernardo, Daniel Padilla dominate inaugural Jeepney TV awards

Reel and real love birds Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla emerged as ultimate fan favorites in the inaugural Jeepney TV Fan Favorite Awards held over the weekend.

Bernardo and Padilla won as AllTime Favorite Love Team, as well as Fave Lead Actress and Fave Lead Actor, respectively, their home studio ABS-CBN reported.

The couple’s series “La Luna Sangre” was also named by Kapamilya fans as their Fave Fantaserye, while “Got To Believe” got the Fave Teleserye win for the decade covering 2012-2021. The two were also part of the Fave Youth-Oriented Show winner “Growing Up.”

Bernardo also scored the Fave Kapamilya Serye Iconic Line award for her famous “sorry po!” line from “Got To Believe.” The KathNiel love team also earned the Fave Love Triangle award with Enrique Gil for “Princess and I.”

The hit drama series “Mara Clara” was named Fave Teleserye with the 1992 version beating other nomi-

nees in the 1992-1999 category and the 2010 remake triumphant among other series nominated for the 20002011 category.

Meanwhile, the most-talked about “Doctor Foster” Philippine adaptation, “The Broken Marriage Vow,” nabbed the Fave Foreign Drama Adaptation award, while reality show “Pinoy Big Brother” was named Fave Game/Reality Show.

The Fave Kontrabida nod went to Dimples Romana for her role in “Kadenang Ginto,” while “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” stars Angel Aquino and John Arcilla were named Best Supporting Actress and Actor, respectively.

Other winners were Vice Ganda for Fave Talk Show host, Judy Ann Santos for Fave Game/Reality Show host, and Sarah Geronimo for Fave Musical/Variety Show host.

Charo Santos got the Susan Roces Award: Fave Lifetime Achiever for her great contribution to the industry while her longest-running drama anthology “MMK” received the Fave Drama Anthology/ Weekly Drama

recognition.

The Dolphy Award: Best Male Comedian was dedicated to Babalu, while Maricel Soriano was hailed Fave Female Comedian and Vandolph as Fave Child Comedian.

In celebration of its 10th year in the industry, Jeepney TV streamed the JTV Fan Favorite Awards on Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube to give honor to well-loved ABN-CBN shows that aired on the throwback cable channel while also recognizing

Kapamilya stars who made a mark with their performances on screen.

Fans were able to cast their votes for their favorites through JoinNow, Jeepney TV Fans Facebook Group, and TikTok.

Robi Domingo and Kaila Estrada hosted the awards night with a special performance from Alexa Ilacad and KD Estrada of the Fave Teleserye Theme Song winner “Please Be Careful With My Heart” from the series “Be Careful With My Heart.”

Imee’s spooky Halloween treats — aswang and other horror stories

IT’S an extra-spooky Halloween long weekend at Imee Marcos’ official YouTube channel as she gives her loyal online Imeenatics her most spinechilling content to date.

On Oct. 28 (Friday), in a vlog entry titled Pammati ti Ilokano, the Senator sits down with one of her favorite chikahan partners, Juliana ParizcovaSegovia, as they exchange stories on superstitious beliefs during All Saints’ Day.

Senator Imee and Juliana delved into the traditional Pinoy Halloween no-nos which include not wearing red when visiting the cemetery; not combing their hair and cutting their nails, and not stepping on the graves of the dead among many others.

On Oct. 29 (Saturday), Imee will stream her special Fly Aswang tetea-tete with Bessie Badilla where they discussed the inception of the Pinoy animated horror movie that they produced, which preceded the animated Net ix series Trese.

‘Fly Aswang’

Fly Aswang is a Filipino-animated horror feature that showcases di erent kinds of Pinoy aswangs such as the Tikbalang, Impakto, Nuno, and Mumbaki to mention a few.

Imee will then upload a full feature streaming of Fly Aswang on Oct. (Monday) before segueing to a special Halloween greeting on Nov.

Treat yourself to a dose of creepy fun with Imee Marcos and enjoy a good scare in the free viewing of Fly Aswang and subscribe to https://www. youtube.com/c/ImeeMarcosOfficial/ featured.

In-person ‘ASAP Natin ‘To’ concert returns in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS two-year hiatus for the world’s biggest touring Filipino concert is a long time, so sponsors wholeheartedly welcomed its return. And what a comeback it is: “ASAP Natin ‘To” comes to Las Vegas, the Entertainment Capital of the World, on November at the Orleans Arena.

To perform in the concert in alphabetical order includes: AC Bonifacio, Bamboo, Bailrok, Bailey May, Belle Mariano, P-pop groups BGYO and BINI, Cheesa Laureta, Darren, Dee Dee Magno Hall, Dessa, Donny Pangilinan, EZ Mil, Francisco Martin, Gary Valenciano, Inigo Pascual, Janella Salvador, Jane De Leon, Jef Flores, Jessica Sanchez, Jim Brickman, Kiana V, Kim Chiu, Kyle Echarri, KZ Tandingan, Lovi Poe, Martin Nievera, Ogie Alcasid, Rizza Navales, Red Concepcion, Regine Velasquez, Sharon Cuneta, Vaughn Mugol and Zsa Zsa Padilla.

Big Filipino media and entertainment brands ABS-CBN Events, iWantTFC and TFC are co-presenting the musical extravaganza with WorldRemit, a leading global payments company and, along with Sendwave, part of Zepz, a group powering two global remittance brands.

WorldRemit: Better Way to Send Money

WorldRemit disrupted an industry previously dominated by o ine legacy players by taking international money transfers online making them safer, faster, and lower cost. It currently operates in more than 5,000 money transfer corridors worldwide and employs over 1,200 people globally.

As of 2021, WorldRemit continues to grow its volumes to the Philippines significantly, retaining it as one of the company’s largest receive markets, globally. It established a robust payout network of more than 100 banks, leading mobile wallet services, and 25,000 cash pick-up locations in the Philippines, providing customers the exibility to send (from abroad) and receive (for the families of FWs) however they prefer.

Philippine Airlines (PAL): The Heart of the Filipino

“ASAP Natin ‘To Las Vegas” is also brought to the world’s entertainment capital by major sponsors Philippine Airlines (PAL), Tancinco Law ffice and Pomelo.

PAL, the Philippines’ national ag carrier, is the only privately-owned major ag carrier in Southeast Asia. It is the country’s largest international airline that includes a total of 25 domestic destinations and 28 points in Asia, Australia/Oceania, the Middle East, Europe and North America. PAL operates the country’s only direct air links to mainland U.S.A., Hawaii, Canada, New Zealand and Western Europe, Japan and Australia.

Tancinco Law ffices (TLAW): Trusted. Established. Dependable.

TLAW provides exceptional services relating to family-based and employment-based petitions, temporary work visas, fianc visas, removal deportation defense, waivers, U.S. citizenship and naturalization. It

prides itself on providing efficient and dependable legal solutions in all areas of U.S. immigration law not only in the State of California but in all 50 states. Tancinco Law has reputable and wellexperienced attorneys who are licensed members of the State Bar of California, the American Bar Association, and the American Immigration Lawyers Association. In addition, the firm has legal counsels and sta are who are also members of the Philippine Bar.

Pomelo: The Refreshing Way to Send Money with Credit

Pomelo, a truly Las Vegas start-up, o ers its customers a credit card that can be used by friends or family members in other countries, making it easier to move money across borders in a faster and more secure way. Named after the citrus fruit native to Southeast Asia, the company partnered with Mastercard and is currently servicing the Philippines, though it plans to expand to other countries.

These major sponsors made “ASAP Natin’ To Las Vegas” possible together with the support of Remitly, Cherry Salon, Seafood City and media partners US Asian Post and Weekend Balita.

People are ready to watch an elite, top-of-the-line cast perform during this beautiful autumn season when the weather is perfect in Las Vegas.

O’Farrell’s $3 million rental aid program now open

LOS ANGELES - As Los Angeles emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, City Council President Pro Tempore Mitch O’Farrell opened a new program that will provide $3 million in rental aid for eligible residents in Council District 13 (CD13), represented by O’Farrell.

“My rental aid program will help renters in the 13th District stay housed, and that’s my top priority,” said Councilmember O’Farrell. “I’ve been a renter for most of my life and my family repeatedly faced eviction when I was a child, so I know firsthand the burdens faced by some renters. That’s why we’ve worked so hard during the pandemic to provide relief to people a ected by C VID-1 .”

The CD13 Rental Aid Program is now open and will accept applications for two weeks, through November 4, 2022. Eligible tenants and small “mom and pop” landlords can apply online at http://cd13.com/rentalaid. If a tenant or landlord does not have access to a computer, applications can be submitted by calling the CD13 Rental Subsidy Hotline at (855) 490-3481. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. O’Farrell’s District ffice, located at 1722 Sunset Boulevard in Echo Park, is also accepting applicants who prefer to complete their application in person and who need help doing so.

To be eligible, a tenant’s household income for 2021 or 2022 must be at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI), and a tenant must owe their landlord unpaid rent on or after April 1, 2022. For example, a family of two with an annual household income of up to 76,250 would qualify. family of four with a household income of up to $95,300 would also qualify. Both tenants and “mom and pop” landlords can apply, and tenants must live within the boundar-

ies of CD13. Landlords must be a “mom and pop” landlord of a rental property in CD13 with a tenant who qualifies for the program. “mom and pop” landlord may own no more than four rental units plus a single-family home in the City of Los Angeles.

O’Farrell is partnering with several community organizations to assist with outreach and the completion of applications, including the Bresee Foundation and oreatown outh Community Center ( CC), and Armenian Relief Society (ARS). Applicants will be provided assistance in multiple languages including English, Spanish, orean and Armenian.

“The Housing Department shares Councilmember O’Farrell’s commitment to keeping people housed,” said Ann Sewill, General Manager, Los Angeles Housing Department. “The Council District 13 Rental Aid Program is going to go a long way to helping Councilmember O’Farrell’s constituents endure the ongoing challenges of the pandemic.”

Since the beginning of the pandemic, O’Farrell has been a leader in establishing rental assistance programs. His $1 million in initial rental assistance helped 500 CD13 households stay in their homes, and was used as a model for additional citywide relief programs, beginning with the $100 million citywide Emergency Rental Assistance Subsidy, launched in 2020, which provided approximately 4 ,000 applicants (8,73 in CD13) with subsidies of $2,000 each. Then, in 2021, The City launched the $221 million citywide Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which provided approximately 18,000 applicants citywide with an average payment of $12,000 each.

Mortgage Delinquency on the rise

Thenumber of borrowers who are three or more payments past due on their mortgage is up 55% over pre-pandemic levels, according to new data from mortgage technology and data provider Black night. While there were approximately 400,000 serious delinquencies remaining before the pandemic, today there are roughly 640,000, the data shows. Mortgage rates are touching 7% on the 30 year note and 10 year treasury almost tipped over 4.25% highest level since 2008.

The broader housing market is going look much more worst in the first quarter of 2023 as rates continue to rise to hedge in ation.

Though serious delinquencies are up from a few years back, they were very low anyway before the pandemic, data shows. And Black night reports they have fallen between 6-12% in each of the past 14 months. When you get into the nitty gritty of this data, you can see that the serious delinquency rate for FHA loans was nearly five times higher than the serious delinquency rate for conventional loans, according to CoreLogic data. “Homeowners with FHA loans are more likely to be low-to-moderate income workers, and the pandemic had a greater impact on those homeowners as compared to those with conventional loans.” Not to forget that FHA borrowers usually bring in multiple borrowers to help qualify, but does these borrower really help the occupants with the payments? I saw this coming a year ago when I was interviewing a number of FHA borrowers. I have nothing against borrowers getting Co-signers to help them qualify but, they forget to factor in the scenario of one less income to help make payments. Not only that, these buyers tend to buy in area that are low to moderate but with prices that are way o the charts, due to the inventory shortage.

Therefore, my conclusion is that if we get into a housing market decline, these low to moderate areas will lead o with the foreclosures and will take the entire housing market down.

While high rates and prices will forcibly push some people out of the market and eventually start putting more noticeable downward pressure on demand, there isn’t much evidence to suggest that we’re going to see a lot of homebuyers suddenly start falling behind or defaulting on their loans in the near future.

Another big issue to all, Americans are borrowing heavily again to keep up with decades-high in ation on essentials such as food, gas and housing. Credit card debt is rising at its fastest clip in more than 20 years, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New ork. verall, Americans owe 887 billion on their credit cards, a 13 percent increase from a year ago.

Now, with the Fed rapidly raising interest rates to contain ination, families are feeling the pinch of higher borrowing costs, too. Average credit card rates, at 18.7 percent, are at their highest level in 30 years and will probably continue rising, according to Bankrate.

The result, for many, is a sense of snowballing despair as debt loads and interest rates spike at the same time.

Credit card debt is risky in itself, and the people who are being pushed to take on more credit card debt as the economy slows are people who don’t have any other good options. This creates a vicious cycle of financial insecurity.

slowdown.

number of worrisome economic wild cards also remain. Widespread job losses, for example, could mean that even borrowers who have so far been able to keep up with monthly payments may quickly fall behind. Experts say that could lead to a spate of personal bankruptcy filings that could depress consumer spending and deepen a recession.

Nearly half of Americans with credit cards have outstanding debt on those cards, with an average balance of 5,270, according to data from CreditCards.com and TransUnion.

There are also signs that people are increasingly falling behind. The share of borrowers who are least 30 days behind on their credit card payments has grown, to 4.8 percent from 4.4 percent a year ago, according to the New York Fed. That is still well below historic levels.

Younger adults and those with the lowest household incomes are most likely to carry credit card debt for necessities such as groceries, child care and utilities, the survey found.

This notion should maybe scare you into buying now and wait and see what happens next year. I think that is a smart move and why jump in now when the water is bloody, wait for things to settle and then go in aggressively.

Thanks for your comments, please call en Go of 1st Innovative Finance Group 562-508-7048 or write to kennethgo verizon. net CABRE 01021223 NMLS 238636.

Carlos Yulo ready for gymnastics world championship in England

self lofty goals for the 41st FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships slated Oct. 29 to Nov. in Liverpool, England.

Yulo said he is already fully healed after injuring two fingers in his right hand two months ago and is ready in the Liverpool tilt where he is expected to face world and Olympic champions including world individual all-around titlist Zhang Boheng of China.

“My goal is to finish in the top six in the individual all-around and hopefully three gold medals in the events I won in the World Championships,” said Yulo after leaving his training camp in Paris, France during an online presser organized by the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines.

Yulo said he was hoping to make good in the oor exercise and vault where he struck gold in Stuttgart, Germany three years ago and vault in Kitakyushu, Japan last year and parallel bars where swooped down on a silver also in Kitakyushu.

“We made upgrades in oor and vault and we will try new elements,” said the quintuple Southeast Asian Games gold winner.

“Wala akong kaba. Di naman ako natakot. Siguro, sa practice lang talaga nagkakatalo (I don’t feel nervous and I’m not afraid. Perhaps ti will really depend on one’s preparations),” Yulo said in the online press conference.

He added that he was fine when he tried training with his bum finger during the oor and vault training, probably a sigh of relief since he won golds in the said routines in the previous editions.

“Sa mga ibang apparatuses nakabalik naman ako agad sa oor and vault ang pinaka nagawa ko (I was able to go back quickly in some apparatuses. I did my oor and vault exercises perfectly),” said ulo, the 201 oor champ and 2021 vault champ.

onships despite confirming a finger injury during the first part of his training camp in Japan.

Yulo said he is ready as he set him-

Yulo vowed to especially focus in redeeming himself from his forgettable fifth-place performance in his pet oor exercise in Kitakyushu where he made one glaring mistake after he fell and stumbled out of the mat that cost him a medal.

However, he admitted that he had a hard time performing his stunts in the horizontal bar and especially the parallel bars, where he won a silver also last year, since he needs to hold to the bars for a long time.

Yulo concluded his training camp in Paris and ew to Liverpool, according to his coach Mune Kugumiya.

Sabrina Richelle Lagman bags her first title in gymnastics at 6

to take up the sport last June.

“I like gymnastics because it’s fun,” said the 6-year-old Lagman, a Grade student at the Assumption College in Makati City, in an interview after the awarding ceremony.

Lagman is the youngest among three children of Sherrill, a former member of the De La Salle pep squad, and Mike, who works at Volvo.

MANILA - Sabrina Richelle Lagman came up with a brilliant performance on October 23 to win the allround title in the 6-years-old and under category of the 2022 Learn and Train Sports Academy Invitational at the MVP Sports Foundation Gymnastics Center in Intramuros, Manila.

Selina Cervantes placed second followed by Victoria Paige Ngosiok, Fille Renee Cayetano, Alessandra Encarnacion and Jillian Cosette Chua.

Lagman was happy to win in her fi rst-ever competition since starting

Meanwhile, Juliana Yupitun topped the 7-years-old and under category. Belicia Magallanes placed second followed by Gillian Alexandra Yu, Raven Allessi Uy, Olive Chan and Sadie Gonzalodo.

In the 8-years-old and under category, Estelle Lucia Co was ranked fi rst followed by Minka Elise Mathay, Erin Alexandra Chu, Siena Isabel Aboitiz, Lucille Anne Dolores Dy and Amanda Beatrice Mayo.

Audrey Kaye Dewar won the 9-yearsold and over category. Bianca Isabel Obial finished second followed by Cian Marie Miguel, Katia Miren Alfonso, Kahlia Crisostomo and Marchesa Jeikka Lee. (Jean Malanum)

CHAMPION: Sabrina Richelle Lagman poses with her medals and trophy during the awarding ceremony of the Learn and Train Sports A ademy In ita�onal at the VP Sports o nda �on Gymnas� s Center.

LIVERPOOL, England The Philippines’ winningest gymnast Carlos Yulo remains confident about his chances in the World Artistic Gymnastics Champi-

Preservation, respect and care for parks given focus in an east bay discussion

As a major location to go to during the pandemic, the oft-forgotten value for parks, native wildlife and habitat were given importance in a recent news briefing co-hosted by Ethnic Media Services and the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) to remind everyone of the need to preservation of this treasure.

Dubbed as Enjoy, Don’t Destroy, Our Public Parks More Visitors Put Native Wildlife and Habitat at Risk, the briefing moderated by Ethnic Media Services Executive Director Sandy Close sought to further reinforce the new appreciation of being in nature that Californians felt more so at a time when there were a lot less safe places to go with the onslaught of the pandemic.

As a result of pandemic restrictions in 2020, EBPRD parks, saw a five-fold increase in 2020 and 2021 that further proved that parks are essential to our mental and physical health that sadly also came with growing risks to the habitat and wildlife that live in these parks.

It was observed that things go astray when people stray o the hiking trails, walk on sensitive vegetation and wildlife habitat, trample the grasslands, inadvertently cause toxin build up in lakes, release turtles, birds and fish often for ceremonial purposes, feed coyotes and feral cats.

Data show a 400-fold increase along some of the more popular trails that crisscross EBRPD’s parks, with visitors frequently venturing o trail to the detriment of nesting birds and other wildlife, including a number of endangered species or violating park regulations on things like drone ying. In one instance, a visitor crashed their drone into the nest of a bald eagle, destroying the nest and likely leading to the demise of the nesting chicks.

In the discussion, speakers composed of Dee Rosario, the first Filipino American and first Asian American EBRPD board member, EBRPD Environmen-

tal Services Manager Becky Tuden and EBRPD Wildlife Program Manager Doug Bell talked on what visitors need to do to balance the human impacts of recreation with the natural environment and what park goers can do to balance the impact of our human recreation with our natural environment.

The largest suburban regional park district in the nation, EBRPD is made up of 125,000 acres and parks.

Rosario reminded everyone that there is a need to understand the history and the sensitivity of these parks to our presence as these are our lands, they belong to everyone and that with ownership comes responsibility.

Rosario revealed that his own affinity for nature followed a college visit to Humboldt in far northern California, where he recalls the “awe” he felt at seeing the redwoods for the first time.

“The in ux of people going to the parks as the only venue of getting out during pandemic. And with bring our cultural heritage and resources and our biases. That is something that our park district, state and national park as well have to learn how to deal on how each culture brings its own interpretation of how it is to enjoy nature,” Rosario believes. “As we bring ourselves to these parks, we need to understand the history, the sense of sensitivity that bring us into this culture and embrace that culture of beauty, nature and how sensitive it is to our intuitions. It is really all about respect for

the land, for ourselves as people/human beings that we seek to impart that sense today.”

Rosario also observed that as years went by, as people of color comes to the parks, they come as families as part of the culture that they bring to the parks making it imperative for park management to recognize the needs of these di erent cultures and at the same time balance the needs of the environment.

According to Rosario, the main message he sees in the discussion is that these are our lands that belong to everyone but with that ownership comes responsibilities to take care of that land.

“We all share these public lands and we all share in taking care as well of these lands. And that goes also with how we treat each other and how we treat the land and our environment. We have to share in the responsibilities on how to take care of these lands, Rosario concluded.

For her part, Tuden claims climate change, along with a prolonged drought and increased fire risk, are among the stressors already taxing local habitats and threatening biodiversity with the steep and sudden increase in the presence of people that can lead to harmful outcomes for what are already fragile ecosystems.

“Biodiversity is really important… and the added pressure of so many people aggravate the system’s incredible biodiversity,” Tuden underscored. “Among some of the more harmful activities that we have seen are increasing amounts of

By G. Samson, So ial Se rity P bli A airs

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. At Social Security, we recognize and appreciate the roles people with disabilities play in the workforce. That’s why we’re celebrating and sharing Matt’s story.

As a job seeker who is deaf and needs accommodations, Matt was reluctant to tell prospective employers about his disability. He worried that employers would not hire him if they knew about his disability.

That’s when Matt connected with our Ticket to Work (Ticket) Program at choosework.ssa.gov. This program supports career

development for people ages 18 to 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits and want to work. Through this free and voluntary program, approved service providers offer supports and services as participants move toward financial independence through work.

Matt found the service providers at choosework.ssa.gov/about/meet-your-employmentteam.

Matt’s service provider told him about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and how it guarantees equal opportunities for people with disabilities and prohibits discrimination in the workplace. It accomplishes these goals through:

Anti-discrimination rules that prevent private employers from discriminating against qualified people with disabilities when they apply for jobs. See choosework. ssa.gov/blog/2018-07-26-the-eeoc-and-discrimination.

Regulations that require employers to provide reasonable accommodations to

the

qualified employees with disabilities.

litter, as well as letting dogs o leash in areas where that is prohibited. What dog owners don’t realize is that “there are 25 million other visitors, half of who own dogs.” The damage done by hundreds and even thousands of our beloved canines romping through sensitive habitat is a major challenge.”

Bell, on the other hand, focused on the plover as one of four critically endangered species and has survived along the California coast for thousands of years that rely on EBRPD’s parklands as important breeding grounds.

“Signs warning visitors to steer clear of areas where plovers are known to congregate are routinely ignored, he explained. That can cause birds to avoid the areas entirely, further eroding what little habitat they have left,” Doug lamented.

“Just the mere act of hiking across the terrain can disturb the wildlife.”

The Western Snowy Plover weighs in at a whopping oz. Yet despite its diminutive stature this slight bird has survived along California’s beaches for thousands of years. Today there are fewer than 3,000 in the wild, with loss of habitat a key driver of their decline.

The other critically endangered species include the ridgeways rail and least tern, as well as the salt-marsh harvest mouse, which can swim for over two hours and can drink water saltier than the ocean, among its other talents.

Area

Matt and his service provider identified accommodations that would allow him to demonstrate his capabilities both during the application process and on the job. They created a plan for him to disclose his disability and request accommodations.

Since Matt also wanted to know how his employment might a ect his benefits, his Benefits Counselor told him about our Work Incentives at choosework.ssa.gov/about/ work-incentives. These rules and programs make it easier for adults with disabilities to enhance their job skills while maintaining access to benefits. Matt reviewed the process at choosework.ssa.gov/library/factsheet-benefits-counseling-and-the-path-toemployment.

Matt also learned about our Medicare-Related Work Incentive at choosework.ssa.gov/ library/fact-sheet-medicare-and-medicaidemployment-supports. This allows him to pursue a career without worrying about health

care coverage. Matt’s Medicare coverage will continue for more than seven years after he begins full-time work, even if his income exceeds the amount to qualify for disability benefits.

And if Matt’s disability interferes with work, he can return to receiving benefits, without having to file a new application, by using our Expedited Reinstatement Work Incentive process at www.ssa.gov/disabilityresearch/wi/exr.htm.

Matt now works full-time as a human resource analyst. Thanks to the ADA, he received accommodations for the interview process and time spent on the job. He also found that the Ticket Program helped him find a path to a better future.

The Ticket Program is here to help no matter where you are on your career journey. You can read Matt’s full story at choosework. ssa.gov/library/matt-success-story. Please share Matt’s experience with your friends and family.

Dee Rosario, the rst ilipino Ameri an and rst Asian Ameri an EBRPD board member

EBRPD En ironmental Ser i es anager Be y T den

EBRPD ildli e Program anager Do g Bell

FilAm slain in apparent road rage, fundraiser set up for family

By Neil Gonzales

SAN L REN , Calif. A newly married Filipino American was shot and killed in an apparent road-rage encounter just moments after he was talking with his wife on the phone.

No arrest had yet been announced in connection with the Sept. 18 killing of Rienheart Asuncion, 30, of San Lorenzo. But Alameda County Sheri ’s ffice spokesperson Lt. Ray Kelly told Philippine News Today, “We are working this case intensely.”

n a GoFundMe page seeking donations to help pay for funeral and other expenses for the victim’s family, Asuncion was described as “sel ess, compassionate and loving.”

Asuncion - who celebrated a birthday in May and got married in June “touched the lives of those around him,” Joshua Cosico, who organized the fundraiser, wrote on the page. “We are all devastated.”

A month after Asuncion’s death, the GoFundMe campaign had received 10,178 from 186 donors toward a $100,000 goal.

Cosico wrote that Asuncion was driving to the grocery store while on a video chat with his wife, who was in the Philippines, when tragedy struck.

Asuncion’s wife, Princess Barros Asuncion, told NBC Bay Area in a video-conference interview that she and her husband were talking when he complained of a car cutting his truck o .

“I heard him (say), ‘What’s the problem with this

man ’” Barros Asuncion said. “That was the start of the arguments. They are yelling and shouting.”

Barros Asuncion told her husband to stay in his vehicle, she said, but he stepped out to confront the other driver. She then heard “the multiple times of gunshots.”

A witness told NBC Bay Area that the truck and car

had engaged in what appeared to be a chase for several blocks. The vehicles then stopped at a red light at Hesperian and Lewelling boulevards before the gunfire erupted with the car speeding o .

A sheri ’s sergeant in the area rushed to aid Asuncion, elly told the Bay Area News Group, but the victim died at the scene.

Asuncion worked as an installer at the Tesla plant in Fremont and was also known as Tiago to his friends and family.

Asuncion’s mother, Anna Tolentino, told NBC Bay Area that her son was trying to get his wife a visa to come to the United States. The two were planning to start a family, the mother added.

In a Facebook post, Asuncion’s wife expressed her deep grief and disbelief.

“No words can explain about my feelings for my husband,” Barros Asuncion wrote. “I can’t believe this is happening to me, to my family. I am in a great sorrow, loss, depressed, trauma, grieving and mourning for you Rienheart Jade Asuncion. ou told me, sabay tayong magreretire at tatanda (we’ll retire and grow old together). We’re too young to experience this tragedy.”

Asuncion’s family and the GoFundMe page organizer could not be reached for further comment.

Anyone with information about the case should call Alameda County Sheri ’s investigators at (510) 6677721.

NBC Bay Area and the Bay Area News Group contributed to this report.

Renewal Begins for Covered California consumers

Before getting to Halloween, Thanksgiving and all the holidays in December, the time has come for Californians to renew their health care coverage for 2023.

Renewal began on Oct. 18 for Covered California’s record million enrollees with Open Enrollment beginning on Nov. Consumers have good news awaiting them, as the In ation Reduction Act signed into law in August, cemented increased subsidies for those getting health care coverage via the A ordable Care Act through 2025.

With more people eligible for financial help than ever before, 90 percent of Covered California’s million enrollees are now receiving federal subsidies and over million consumers can get top-notch, brand-name health care coverage for $10 or less a month.

“We want consumers to know that they have until the end of December to also shop around and find the best plan for themselves and their family for 2023,” Covered California executive director Jessica Altman said. “The increased financial help that made health care coverage a ordable for so many more Californians is still available so log on to CoveredCA.com or work with your agent to find the right plan for you.”

While the average rate change for Covered California enrollees in 2023 is 5.6 percent, consumers can lower their premiums by an average of 6 percent if they shop around and switch to the lowest-cost plan on the same metal tier.

Covered California is also adding Aetna CVS Health for 2023, as it joins Anthem Blue Cross of California, Blue Shield of California, Chinese Community Health Plan, Health Net, aiser Permanente, L.A. Care Health Plan, Molina Healthcare, Oscar Health Plan of California, Sharp Health Plan, Valley Health Plan and Western Health Advantage, depending on where you live.

Aetna CVS Health, which already serves 34 million people across the nation, will

be o ering coverage in El Dorado, Fresno, Kings, Madera, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo counties. Anthem Blue Cross will return to San Diego County and will join Blue Shield of California as the second carrier to o er statewide coverage.

As a result, with 12 carriers providing coverage across the state in 2023, all Californians will have two or more choices, percent will be able to choose from three carriers or more, helping keep health care as a ordable as possible.

“Covered California’s marketplace requires carriers to compete on price and quality, which increases a ordability and allows Californians to choose the option that best fits their needs,” Altman said. “2023 will bring increased competition, and every Californian will have at least two carries to choose from, with most having four or five choices.”

Rienheart Asuncion celebrates his 30th birthday in May. (Photo courtesy of GoFundMe page)

Stop Vampire Appliances from Taking a Bite Out of Your Budget

Identify Energy Vampires Sucking Up Energy to Reduce Usage and Save Money

OAKLAND, Calif.— Vampire appliances have a voracious appetite for sucking energy out of electrical outlets and money out of your wallet, even when they are turned o . These appliances and devices still use energy while powered down and they are potentially all over your home.

While these devices may have sleep or standby modes, they can still continuously use electricity to perform updates, connect to remote servers, and record data.

The connectivity of modern devices is one reason why wasted energy and money from idle gadgets has increased in recent years. The associated energy draw may account for more than 10% of home energy use. Home electronics like televisions, cable boxes, modems, video game consoles, and even DVD players are typically the largest energy vampires.

Other common vampires include any device that’s programmable or has a re-

mote control, light, or clock.

Ways to Stop Vampire Appliances se Energy Star certified appliances. Energy Star appliances are more efficient than their counterparts. While you may pay more up-front, the savings in energy costs over the life of the product often makes up the di erence.

Plug into power strips. It’s unrealistic to unplug each device after use. Power strips are easily accessible and can shut o power to a variety of devices at the same time.

Unplug when charged. When devices like cell phones and tablets are charged, unplug the chargers.

Let the Computer Sleep. Adjust your computer setting to go to sleep after 30 minutes or less. Disable screensavers and set the monitor to turn o after 10-15 minutes.

Utilize PG&E’s Home Energy Checkup. This online tool allows you to share

basic data then provides customized energy savings recommendations tailed to your specific household.

Tap into the Halloween spirit by spooking energy vampires into giving your utility bill a treat! For even more ways to reduce energy use, check out our energy-saving tips.

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

Governor Newsom unveils partnership with Mexico to advance new port of entry at San Diego-Tijuana border

SACRAMENT Governor Gavin Newsom announced a historic agreement that strengthens California’s partnership with Mexico and advances key border projects and initiatives.

In Mexico City, state representatives and a delegation of regional leaders joined the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) to sign the new Toll Revenue Sharing Agreement with Mexico which supports the construction of the Otay Mesa East Port of Entry at the San Diego-Tijuana border.

The new state-of-the-art border crossing facility will reduce wait times, curb greenhouse gas emissions, power economic growth and bolster binational trade along the busiest border region in the Western Hemisphere.

“Mexico is one of California’s most

important international partners and we share a deep bond that stretches back generations,” said Governor Newsom. “Our state is a national leader when it comes to international cooperation and smart, clean infrastructure investments that are critical to the U.S. supply chain. At a time when states are using the border as a wedge issue to divide people, California and Mexico are showing how cross-border agreements can strengthen our communities while growing our economy and bringing a host of shared benefi ts.”

Congressmember Scott Peters, California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis and Assemblymembers David Alvarez and Chris Ward witnessed the signing of the Toll Revenue Sharing Agreement, which comes on the heels

of the Otay Mesa East Port of Entry Project receiving a 150 million INFRA grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the largest award nationally, which will go toward the construction of the new border crossing facility and related transportation infrastructure. The new port of entry is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024.

“This new agreement, which I signed as a witness today, will bring economic prosperity to our cross-border region,” said Lt. Governor ounalakis. “The Otay Mesa East Port of Entry is a vital link in our nation’s supply chain and in creating thousands of jobs. This historic revenue sharing agreement solidifi es the joint commitment of California and the Government of Mexico to boosting

trade and creating jobs.”

U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar noted the signifi cance of the signing on “California Day” with a local reception to recognize Caltrans, SANDAG, and local partners who have built the necessary supporting transportation infrastructure and have planned and developed the Otay Mesa East priority project over the last several decades.

“California and Mexico share just 140 of the 2,000 miles of our border, but Cali-Baja punches far above its weight in terms of its contributions to our binational economy and family,” said Ambassador Salazar. “The tay Mesa East Port of Entry is proof of the dynamism and creativity of our relationship and a symbol of the 21st-century border we want to create.”

SPSA celebrates golden in Vegas

The Society of Philippine Surgeons in America, including their members in Canada, is commemorating its half a century of service to healthcare in North America and its humanitarian endeavors to aid the poor in the Philippines.

SPSA Fellows, surgeons from around the United States and Canada, are coming to Las Vegas for this historic golden celebration at the Casear’s Palace, October 19-21, 2022, according to SPSA President Honorio M. Cruz, MD, FACS.

This renowned exclusive society of Filipino surgeons of various sub-specialties was established in San Francisco in 1972, with Hernan M. Reyes as Founding President. number of them are in aca-

demia, Professors, Chiefs of Surgery, and medical sta presidents in various medical centers around the United States and Canada.

A 450-page SPSA Golden earbook, a historic account of the association and compendium of the contributions, achievements, and legacy of its members, is to be presented to each SPSA Fellow during its Golden Gala Dinner-Ball on Friday, October 21st, together with its 84page supplement, the SPSA Golden Souvenir Journal.

These two highly treasured books are given free, one per each SPSA Fellow. Those interested to obtain a second or more copies may order them by sending

a donation of 75 per additional copy (net cost of printing, handling, and postage, which could be tax-deductible expenses) to Dr. Danny C. Fabito, at 6781 Ivory Sage Street, Las Vegas, NV 8 148. These are both limited edition books and are available only while they last.

Among the 14 news SPSA Fellows inducted to the Society during the Gala was a Nun surgeon, Sister Eva Fidel Maamo, MSLP, MD, of Paranque, Metro Manila, Philippines, reported Ed Gamboa, MD, FACS, Membership Chairman of Membership.

Dr. Daniel C. Fabito, MD, FACS, FPCS, Past President and now Executive Director, said the complimentary

Welcome Dinner at the NoyPitz Bar and Grill on South Las Vegas, was very well attended.

“Las Vegas is a fantastic city. The Golden Gala Dinner-Dance at the Caesar’s Emperor’s Ballroom was a great success and a wonderful historical epilogue, a grand legacy of the SPSA as it embarks into its next chapter, its new voyage, SPSA 2.0,” states SPSA Golden Convention Chairman Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS.

For SPSA contacts, please send email to any one of these addresses: hmcruzmd@gmail.com, danielfab@cox.net, and scalpelpen@gmail.com

Offline

other inmate who knows something about the sensational case. That man has been practically quarantined, supposedly to make sure that he does not su er the same fate as the poor moneyman.

My dirty mind tells me that he may be in the process of being trained what to say to the public, so that his tale becomes somewhat believable, especially to the gullible.

Percy Lapid is gone now. He had a long wake and received a fitting funeral. He has been praised for the obvious his bravery.

We working newsmen are well aware that ours is a most dangerous profession. The Philippines remains on the list of one of the deadliest places to practice our profession.

People in power especially do not like being called out for their shortcomings. They would prefer to silence their critics in one of two ways, either threaten them with bodily harm and silence them for good if they refuse to play ball. r pay them o .

Percy Lapid belonged to the former. He just called a spade a spade, and to hell with anyone who would threaten to end his earthly existence.

He has been called a hero by some, and this is a good a description as any.

At the very least, the government owes it to his family, friends, and followers to find the true mastermind. There are not too many suspects who have the means and the motive to silence this crusading newsman. Alas, naming the likely mastermind is one thing, and building a solid case against him or her will not be easy. Impossible almost.

I can’t help but compare the killing of Lapid to a similar case involving a friend and former co-worker. He was killed along with his brother in his SUV when they were nearing his home. That crime has not been solved, by the way. And it looks like it never will be.

The big di erence is that my friend had long retired from journalism and had put up a successful PR practice. Sadly, he concentrated on crisis PR, which I am 100 percent sure was the reason he was killed.

Were he still a journalist, I’m sure the government would have taken greater steps to look after his killer or killers.

Incidentally, he was doing PR work for a Cabinet secretary, among other big accounts. But even that high-ranking government official could not do anything to help solve the case.

The saddest thing is that Percy Lapid will not be the last newsman to be silenced for doing his job. The Philippines has too many onion-skinned people in government whose sins must never be exposed, or else.

In the Trenches

portation sector and the social welfare and development and national defense departments.

It would be better if Sara’s office was allocated modest confidential funds of less than P10 million because the enormous amount of P650 million could go to education, health and safety net programs of the other departments.

Like the confidential funds, the additional P10 billion for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections was a waste of government resources at a time when the country faces bleak economic conditions:

It is very insensitive for our national leaders to spend unwisely government resources for their own selfish political interests when millions su er.

An election lawyer has petitioned the Supreme Court to declare the postponement of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections as unconstitutional, saying legislators cannot arbitrarily extend the terms of barangay officials.

They should be elected into offices under the Constitution. There is real danger that executive and legislative offices would in the future be given extensions if elections were postponed through legislation, depriving every Filipino of their right to choose their own leaders.

The Comelec has made assurances it can hold the elections if the Supreme Court declares the law postponing the elections illegal and unconstitutional.

The Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections had been pushed back four times. There is no more valid reason for another postponement. The government can save money if the elections are held as planned in December, not in October next year.

Enough with the lies, enough with selfish political interests. Think about the country’s best interests.

(Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Manny Mogato originally wrote this column for PressOne.Ph Editor)

Health & Wealth

In My Heart

inspire and help many others to get involved in protecting, saving, and improving our environment for the benefit of many future generations.”

For her part, Ms. Cristy Ramos, speaking on behalf of her mother, former First Lady Amelita Ramos recalled how their parents instilled on the young Ramoses the discipline to care for the environment from “picking your own trash and putting it in the proper place to consolidating trips to save on energy. She said during the energy crisis in the 70s, FVR would always say “enercon”, which meant energy conservation. Reduce, reuse, recycle also became normal words in their daily vocabulary. She spoke about the initiatives of her parents to protect the environment and advocated for early education of children on the environment.

The Million Trees Foundation is a non-stock, non-profit organization and the partner non-government organization of MWSS in the continued implementation of the Annual Million Tree Challenge. It operates the Million Trees Nursery and Eco Learning Center.

Congratulations to the primemovers of this project.

As I See It

Authors are now able to upload a manuscript, choose a format and a cover, and print as needed. This eliminates the cost of storing unsold copies.

In the process, we always aim for good writing? Good writing comes in all shapes and sizes from comic books to The Great Gatsby. Unless it’s a personal journal of some kind, your readers will ultimately decide what you are talking about or want to convey in writing.

So, how do I begin to write? Writing proponents would say start small, make it a habit, write every day, don’t stop, don’t edit yourself, just keep writing. The idea is don’t procrastinate! Do it now!

But the question is: How do I start a story? Well, there are many ways to start a story. Some ideas include: starting with action or dialogue; asking a question; describing the setting; or introducing yourself to readers in a surprising way. It may involve getting the information through dialogues or interviews.

One needs to read between the lines too to understand what to right! Look for the hidden points in reading a story or an article. I remember, in one of my investigative reporting class, I told my students to read between the lines to get what the author is trying to tell the readers. Immediately, one of my students stood up and said: “But sir, there are no words between the lines!”

So, in writing, you need to be investigative, inquisitive, analytic, equipped with a multitude of vocabularies, and must be a wide reader too! This way, you can communicate what you really need to say in writing!

Activities during the national writing day include the following: Keep track of all the writing you do. Text message? Birthday card? Tweet eep track of them all, and find out how much you really write! Share your numbers with friends and see who writes most.

Another thing is to play some language games. This will hasten our skills, both in reading and in writing. If not for our writing prowess, we couldn’t participate in spelling bees, scrabble, Scattergories, Taboo, Mad Libs, Hangman, and many others. Celebrate your word power with a round of your favorite word game. Then, write something outside your comfort zone. Venture into an unfamiliar territory, writing-wise, and let those creative juices ow. ou may surprise yourself, you were able to write a prose, a story, and even a book.

On this day, the National Day on Writing, we need to be aware that writing is our way of life, from simple to complex life, personal to professional activities, and even in our commercial activities. We need to write and keep on writing… its our way of life!

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

ICYMI: California poised to become world’s 4th biggest eEconomy

SACRAMENTO According to Bloomberg, California is poised to overtake Germany as the world’s 4th largest economy, continuing to outperform the nation and other countries in GDP growth, companies’ market value, renewable energy and more.

“While critics often say California’s best days are behind us, reality proves otherwise our economic growth and job gains continue to fuel the nation’s economy,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “California’s values and entrepreneurial spirit have powered this ascent to becoming the 4th biggest economy in the world, and we’ll continue doubling down on industries of the future, like renewables and clean energy. I feel tremendous pride in California’s resilience, leadership, and our formula for success.”

Here are some of the top takeaways from Bloomberg’s data:

“California outperforms the US and the rest of the world across many industries. That’s especially relevant with renewable energy, the fastest-growing business in California”

“California’s trajectory is most transparent in the growing divergence between its 379 companies with a market value of at least $1 billion”

“California technology hardware, media and software saw sales increase 63%, 95% and 115% the past three years, boosting market valuations by 184%, 54% and 58%”

“Job creation is a particularly strong area, with unemployment falling to 3.9% in July, the lowest since data was compiled in 1976 California’s joblessness dipped below Texas”

Governor Newsom has implemented a 52 billion financial assistance package to help Californians with rising in ation and costs. The most robust and comprehensive stimulus program in the nation, it provides $26 billion in direct payments, $15 billion in tax relief and grants for businesses, and more.

As noted by Bloomberg, renewable energy has become California’s fastest-growing business. Governor Newsom has doubled down on clean energy and zero-emission vehicles, implementing a $10 billion package to make it more affordable for Californians to buy ZEVs while building out the state’s charging infrastructure. California now has six times more clean energy jobs than fossil fuel jobs, and ZEVs have become one of the state’s top exports.

(From Page 12)

Madrid Street, San Francisco, CA 94112. Tel. (650)438-3531 or (415)584-7095 or email:artmadlaing@gmail.com

*ART GABOT MADLAING is accredited and commissioned Notary Public and licensed Real Estate Broker (DRE#00635976) in California since 1981. He is founder of MOBILE SIGNING SERVICES, FITNESS FOR HUMANITY (aka FITNESS FOR CHRIST) and ACAPINY. Art is active Evangelist with the GOLDEN GATE CHURCH OF CHRIST in San Francisco, California USA.

Too many still question safety, efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines

(First of parts)

By Be�ng Laygo Dolor, Editor Gilda Pasion Balan, Correspondent

From Manila to Milan, from San Francisco to Bonn, to just about any major city in nearly every country of the world, there remain millions of people who have yet to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

This, despite uncontestable proof that the vaccines created by such multinational drug companies as Pfizer, Moderna, and Astra eneca, among others are not only e ective, but are also safe.

Multiple studies have tried to explain why so many remain hesitant about getting vaccinated even of the shots are widely available most anywhere.

In some cases, culture and ethnicity may be a factor. Thus, Filipinos who migrate to the US still carry with them the beliefs that have been ingrained in them practically since birth.

Independent health reform advocate Dr. Anthony C. Leachon, a past president of the Philippine College of Physicians, told Philippine News Today that “misinformation, disinformation, and fake news” plays a large part in the continued refusal of countless Filipinos and FilAms to avail of the free shots.

There is, he said, “a strong movement of anti-vaxxers and people sowing fear on the adverse e ects of vaccines.”

The best way to counter the negative beliefs on the efficacy and safety of vaccines needs a coordinate e ort between the government and the private sector “to educate the public on the huge benefits of vaccines and boosters,” said Leachon.

While there are no available figures on the number of Filipinos and FilAms who have refused to be vaccinated, figures back in their homeland reveal that anti-vax beliefs may be more widespread than believed.

There is even a belief that one shot provides enough protection instead of the recommended two shots.

With a population of more than 110 million, as of ct. 1 , this year, less than 71 million have received the first shot, ac-

cording to a paper published by Statista Research.

The total of those who have received booster shots is worse. Less than 21 million Filipinos have received booster shots as of the same date.

Dr. Leachon points out that other Asian countries have been more successful than the Philippines in their vaccination programs because of their “disciplined cultures, good leadership and governance.” He cited such states as Singapore, South Korea, and Japan as having highly successful vaccination programs.

clinical psychologist who requested anonymity said she believed the fatalistic attitude common among Filipinos is one factor for a refusal to be vaccinated.

Dante D, 58, for example, said, “I’ve lived this long without ever being vaccinated, and I’m still alive and well.”

He claimed he and his siblings had never been vaccinated against polio, measles, or mumps, and they all made it to adulthood only passing through the same common illnesses such as bouts with the u, coughs and colds.

Growing up in a province just outside Metro Manila, he said his mother would usually take him to an “albularyo” or herbalist for treatment whenever he and his siblings got sick.

That a close relative died last year after showing signs of coronavirus infection was brushed aside by a common saying that “his time was up” and there was nothing anyone could do to stop or even delay the inevitable.

And while Filipino priests often say “pray to God, but trust in your doctor,” such advice seems to fall on deaf ears in the predominantly Roman Catholic Philippines.

ne year after C VID-1 first appeared in the country in March of 2020, a stunning percent of all Filipinos were still hesitant to be vaccinated.

Most cited safety issues as their reason, according to a survey conducted by Pulse Asia at that time.

New COVID surge

It was only the tough sanctions imposed by the then administration of President Rodrigo Duterte that forced millions of Filipinos to take the shots, albeit grudgingly.

An incredible 84 percent of Filipinos said they would refuse to be immunized or were not certain if they would receive the free shots or not, according to the Pulse Asia survey.

This seeming rejection of vaccines cut across all regions and socio-economic classes.

While not exactly under any physical threat by the government, the Duterte administration through the local government units made it tough, practically impossible, for those who chose not to get vaccinated to leave their homes, thereby forcing them to stop working.

Getting vaccinate, therefore, became a matter of survival.

According to the Pulse Asia survey, most of those who initially rejected the free shots “point to uncertainty about COVID-19 vaccines as the primary reason to explain their disinclination to be given such vaccines.”

Now acting Health secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire who was undersecretary during the Duterte administration pointed to another reason why some Filipinos refused to get vaccinated: their belief that the first doses made available to the general public were the Chinese-made Sinovac.

Thus, when the national government started what was supposed to be a nationwide vaccination program in early 2021, vast numbers still preferred to wait for the availability of “superior” US or European-made vaccines like the aforementioned Pfizer, Moderna, and Astra eneca.

Among the Health department officials, Dr. Vergeire has been at the forefront of trying to cajole and convince Filipinos to get vaccinated, only to face indi erence at best, and a blank wall, at worst.

(Next week: Part 2 Proof of safety and efficacy still not enough to convince anti-vaxxers.)

Heart of Hope

Brace yourself. new surge in COVID-19 is expected this fall and winter as the new Omicron sub-variants, BQ.1, BQ.1.1 and BF.7, evolving as the dominant strains infecting people in the United States (and around the world), just after BA.4 and BA.5.

groups have received the new bivalent booster. Almost 13 Billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccines have been administered around the world, proving their safety and e ectiveness. Why some people do not take advantage of this chance to be more fully protected is mind-boggling. It defies logical reasoning and wisdom.

It is too premature to declare victory over COVID-19; the war still rages on and people still die. In the United States, we sadly have almost 38,000 cases and more than 360 deaths a day on average the past few weeks.

pected mortality is about 52,580 deaths in 2022.

The cases of this cancer have dropped a lot since the 1980s because people have been living a healthier lifestyle and having screening tests early.

regular medical check-up with your family physician or specialist is vital in preventing or early detection of diseases, especially cancer of any organ.

Menopause relief

PHILIP S. CHUA

In December 2021, the Omicron followed the Delta strain, which was a greater and faster killer. But the Omicron also killed people, albeit to a great lesser degree.

Hopefully, these new viruses are also milder. But as we have seen in the recent past, milder did not mean mild. As late as last Monday, October 24, 2022, the daily average cases the past few weeks were still around 38,000, with about 360 deaths, per day, and greater than 26,500 in the hospital for COVID-19.

The pandemic is not over. Not by a long shot, in spite of what the general public seems to think and the way people behave, putting their guards down completely. The predicted surge before Christmas could still happen with high probability, because we still have only 68 percent of the US population fully vaccinated, people are no longer masking and distancing, and are refusing to get the new reformulated bivalent booster (shot number 5), which is aimed against Omicron and its subvariants, the present dominant viruses. The rejection of the vaccines, the false sense of security, and the politically-correct attitude and behavior most people have shown the past couple of months are responsible for the significant number of cases and deaths we are now seeing.

The 32 percent unvaccinated (which translates to more than 100 million) and those not fully vaccinated with booster #2 (new bivalent vaccines) in the United States are the individuals who are at the highest risk, besides the immunocompromised, to get infected with the current strains. And deaths due to these new viruses are still significant as the statistics above show. Sub-variant BQ.1.1 might even elude (resistant to) Monoclonal Antibody treatment.

The bivalent booster is safe and e ective, and has a wider range of protection, including the newest strains. Only about 20 percent of seniors and less than 20 percent of other age

COVID-19 statistic updates from Coronavirus Tracker: As of 8:00 AM (CST), Tuesday, October 25, 2022: Worldwide: 633,367,061 cases, 6,584,526 deaths. In the SA, 99,123,438 cases, 1,093,153 deaths, and almost 1.5 million active cases. In the Philippines, almost 4 million cases and nearly 64,000 deaths; 1,500 cases and 37 deaths two days before.

The World Health organization is tracking more than 300 sub lineages of Omicron. The COVID-19 viruses are not done with us yet. Unwittingly, with arrogance and carelessness, many of us are helping the viruses spread and kill even more, allowing the viruses to replicate and mutate and evolve, and extend the pandemic. Sadly, the new surge will infect and kill at least hundreds of thousands more. That’s what millions of us, humans, are doing, aiding and abetting our deadly invisible enemy. Unfortunately, there is no vaccine against this irrational and reckless behavior.

Colonoscopy or FIT?

Colonoscopy has been the standard screening procedure for colorectal cancer. People, in general, are intimidated by the thought of a tube going into their anus for the examination, even considering the fact that the caliber of the softer exible scope is now only about half an inch or smaller, compared to 1-inch caliber (hard metal) in the past.

good news: New studies have provided a non-invasive test for screening for cancer of the colo-rectum, a great “no-scope” alternative: The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) and multitarget stool DNA (mt-sDNA), now most preferred and commonly used non-invasive screening for colorectal cancer. FIT is suggested to be more cost-e ective than the mt-sDNA but both show good and same patient outcomes.

In the United States, there are 106,180 new cases of colon cancer and 44,850 cases of rectal cancer for 2022. Ex-

New clinical research found that low-fat, plant-based diet rich in soy products (like hormones) may reduce hot ashes and promote weight loss also among menopausal women. This is a bonus benefit. This is, of course, a great news because this condition could result in su ering, physical and mental, for women and their spouses and children. Reduction in alcohol, ca eine, and sugar consumption is part of this “diet” strategy. This natural diet remedy, together with advice from Gynecologists, could make life happier for these women.

Mega-dose danger

With aggressive marketing in various media, especially on television, some unsuspecting, uninformed people have taken mega doses of vitamin-mineral and other supplements. Those taking one-a-day multivitamin and mineral pills should not self-treat and take other supplements. Ingesting mega-dose of supplements may not render a person sick right away, but the cumulative damages to organs might start to show after years of this kind of abuse. By then, it could be too late to bring the damage organs back to normal. The immune system, the DNA, of these individuals are also hurt by the mega-dose supplements. Anything in excess is dangerous, even water or food. Consult your physician before taking any supplements or medications, even “plain and simple” aspirin. We have but one life, which didn’t come with a spare. Let’s handle it with love and care.

Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, a Health Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: FUN8888.com and philipSchua.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

By TIM PEDROSA

et’s realize things before it’s too late. Have lots of friends before we are alone. Accept things rather than deny them. Love people before we lose them. Life comes just once. Love it while we live it. Life’s too short to argue and fight. Count your blessings, value your friends and move with your head held high and smile for everyone. ne day a woman’s husband died, and on that clear, cold morning, in the warmth of their bedroom, the wife was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn’t “anymore”. No more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate together, no more phone calls just to chat, no more “just one minute.” Sometimes, what we care about the most gets all used up and goes away, never to return before we can say good-bye, say “I love you.” So while we have it, it’s best we love it, care for it, fix it when it’s broken and heal it when it’s sick. This is true for marriage and old cars and children with bad report cards, and dogs with bad hips, and aging parents and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it. Some things we keep like a best friend who moved away or a sister-in-law after divorce. There are just some things that make us happy, no matter what. I will greet this day with love in my heart. For this is the greatest secret of success in all ventures. Muscles can split a split a shield and even destroy life itself but only the unseen power of love can open the hearts of man. And until I master this act I will remain no more than a peddler in the market place. I will make love my greatest weapon and none of whom I call can defend upon its force. My love will melt all hearts liken to the sun whose rays soften the coldest day. Life is important, like people we know who are special.. And so, we keep them close Someone who thought I was a keeper’ shared this message with me. Then I shared it to the people I think of in the same way. Suppose one morning you never wake up, do all your friends know you love them I was thinking, I could die today, tomorrow or next week, and I wondered if I had any wounds needing to be healed, friendships that needed rekindling or three words needing to be said. Let every one of your friends know you love them. Even if you think they don’t love you back, you would be amazed at what those three little words and a smile can do. And just in case I’m gone tomorrow. I love ya Live today to the fullest because tomorrow is not promised.

Appreciating Silent Prayer

ur entire life is about God and relationship with Him. In a way, we are always at prayer; since we are always tuning in to God. It is our calling to make our life become indeed a prayer. But there are moments that we are truly in those moments of prayer: We meditate the Scriptures, we pray devotional prayers, we pray the rosary, and many other concrete ways of prayer. Basically, prayer is relationship and so; we cannot stop prayer, since we cannot be without God. Consequently, we cannot stop learning about prayer.

ame The Heart

For this re ection; I want us to learn more about silent prayer or prayer in and with intentional silence to accompany it. Silence is essential in Prayer. Silence means physically and spiritually; to the former, we are quieting ourselves and letting our heart and mind be focused singly on the awareness of God’s presence and our presence before Him. We close ourselves from external elements to only be with God, to be in a loving presence with Him. To the latter, silence in prayer means disposing ourselves to the action of God’s Holy Spirit. We are allowing ourselves to talk to God with our deepest groanings and deepest sentiments, we are lifting up to God our whole being in the sense of total submission of the will and the senses to Him. Thus, it is in this way that we can listen to God. We can tune in more to His inspiration. It is in this kind of silence that we make ourselves like the young Samuel say to the Lord God: “Speak, Lord, for our servant is listening (1 Sam. 3: -10).”

God speaks and can be listened to best in silence. Hence, let us intentionally seek some moments of silence during our day and commune with God in silent prayer. Let us will to be silent physically and spiritually to be able to listen attentively. Most often, what happens in our journey of life, we are so tuned in to our careers and daily life’s struggles that we forget that God is present and very much involved in our existence. We notice that time ies fast and we too have advanced in years; however, we notice also, unfortunately, that we have not grown with all honesty in our love of prayer, or that we have remained superficial in our relationship with God. When our faith is superficial; then, our prayer will be superficial. And whatever we can call changes in our life may also be superficial; we change but changes that are not lasting and substantial. We must build our prayer life with our love for silence, silent prayer. Being able to silence oneself leads us to discover and know better who we are as well; for, God’s Holy Spirit will show us what are our strength and weaknesses, our good qualities and bad attitudes. In e ect, we can say that silent prayer is listening prayer and a discovering prayer too. If you, dear reader, are already practicing this way of prayer, be encouraged to persevere in it and even grow more with it.

So, silent prayer is also a discovering prayer or a prayer where we can know more, we can uncover or discover more who we are. In silence prayer, being conscious of God’s presence, we look inwardly into ourself and find the truth about us currently; that, “I am troubled now,” or “I am happy now,” or “I have this problem falling into the same sin,” or “I have something good to do but I just putting it aside and procrastinating on it” or “I have this addiction,” or “I cheated a friend and I cannot open up to tell the truth,” and so on and so forth. In this moment of prayer; therefore, we are finding what is broken and or what is best in ourself. With silent prayer, God’s grace itself is at work, and it is also God’s grace that will prompt us to respond appropriately and will urge us to make concrete changes in our life; so that, what is broken is fixed and what is best is made to thrive. Prayer is no longer a talking engagement with God or simply a silent quality time with Him; but more with the sense of an active exchange or engagement with God’s presence and divine life: We are in God’s spiritual realm. Having silent prayer and loving prayerful silence will lead us to concrete action; making our inspiration received in prayer be translated into practice. Silent prayer becomes a discovering prayer; and then, becomes transformative prayer. ur prayer over ows into our existence to create change, transformation and renewal in a profound way in our life. May the Blessed Mother Mary, our model of silent prayer, help and inspire us continually to cultivate and grow in silent prayer. Amen.

REV. JOSE PELAGIO A. PADIT, SThD

Recipe of the Week

Beef Spareribs Adobo with Oyster Sauce

Ingredients:

kilo beef spareribs, cut into serving pieces

1/2 head garlic, crushed

1/2 tbsp. peppercorns

thumb size ginger, sliced 2-3 bay leaf

stalk lemongrass trimmed, crushed 1/3 cup white vinegar

1/4 cup soy sauce

2-3 tbsp. oyster sauce tbsp. brown sugar salt to taste

Cooking procedure:

In a thick sauce pan put all ingredients add enough water to cover meat and bring to a boil. Set heat to medium low and simmer for 45 to 90 minutes or until beef are tender and the meat start to separate from the bones. Remove all scum that rises, add more water if necessary. Correct saltiness and sweetness according to taste, set heat to low and continue to simmer until liquid is reduced to almost dry Serve with a lot of rice.

Nagtipunan, Quirinoboasts scenic views,blend of culture

By Hilda A stria

NAGTIPUNAN, Quirino (PNA) 360-degree view of the mountains, including the majestic Sierra Madre, the corn plantation on the hills, the tributaries of Cagayan River, and several waterfalls are the boast of the town of Nagtipunan, but the place is more than just a sight to see as immersing in the di erent cultures of the tribes here is also a higher level of experience.

Situated in the mountainous Quirino province, Nagtipunan is a first-class municipality with over 25,000 population count in its barangays and covers almost half of the province.

The town’s weather is cool and breezy at dawn and at dusk while it could also be warm and humid, especially in the summertime.

One of the most visited tourist spots here is the Landingan Viewpoint, which is managed by the Bugkalot Tribe.

The Landingan Viewpoint showcases a variety of colorful owers and plants on top of a hill that is perfect for Instagram or Facebook posts.

The spot also has a historical value as the area was believed to be where the Christian missionaries landed their plane and what started the spread of Christianity in Nagtipunan, hence its name.

The viewpoint o ers a picturesque view of almost the entire Nagtipunan where one can take a peek at the mountains, including the Sierra Madre and the Cagayan River’s tributaries.

stairway carved out of the hill leads to the top to get a more stunning view and picture but for those who do not wish to climb the stairs, a view from the top is still possible with another route that could be accessed via a car or motorcycle.

The fees collected in the area are used to maintain the tourist spot as it also serves as a livelihood for some of the members of the Bugkalot Tribes.

Just a few kilometers away from Landingan is the Gawagan Nature Park. Its façade is still under construction but as one goes deeper into the area, the more fascinating it gets.

The ow of the Gawagan River with huge rocks and rock formations on it make it resemble a small waterfall.

The inner area, surrounded by centuryold tall trees, vines, and plants gives an enchanting vibe with its cold climate and the gush of the water in the river from the mountains.

The adventurous may still explore deeper into the forested area to get into the bigger waterfalls with the challenge of a mild rockclimbing or hopping venture.

The Gawagan Nature Park also o ers a pick and pay of fresh vegetables and herbs.

Some to 20 minutes away from the nature park is Barangay San Pugo where residents of a part of the village abandoned their houses due to a crack in the area that might have been caused by soil erosion due to high water pressure from its nearby waterfalls.

Before getting to Gawagan, an apparitionlike white carving on the side of a mountain could be seen along the way.

“We called it the Praying Priest as it resembles a priest from a long time ago. It used to be popular here in Nagtipunan. It looks exactly as it was before,” said Ivan Jethro Alejandro, a resident here.

The town also features a view of the sea of clouds or fog at the mountaintop.

From the mountaintop to the Siitan Nature Park, tourists could go camping, all terrain vehicle (ATV) riding, water tubing, cli diving, or just cruising and enjoying the Bimmapor Rock Formation which is similar to a ship.

Siitan River is known as one of the cleanest rivers in the country.

Nagtipunan also showcases the Koronang Bato in Barangay Sangbay which requires a 10-minute hike to the top of the rock formation resembling a crown, hence its name. It o ers an aerial view of the town.

Among the waterfalls in Nagtipunan are Mactol Falls, Junuan Falls, Victoria Falls, and Masug Falls.

“The swimming area at the foot of the Masug waterfalls is deep. Brave visitors would usually climb the nearby rocks and dive straight toward the water basin. At the foot of the waterfalls lies the swimming lagoons filled with fresh water coming from the falls,” Nagtipunan Tourism ffice said.

It added that the area is maintained by the Agta community.

Mayor Noel Lim said the Nagtipunan Nature Park is also underway as the Dipantan picnic area will have more amenities, such as the Bugkalot-Igorot-Ifugao-Agta houses, tourism-grade restrooms, water sports activities, camping site, and many more.

Tribal communities

Nagtipunan is not only worth the tick on one’s bucket list for its tourist spots that are truly spectacular but also because the culture of its people is distinct.

Tribal communities, such as the Bugkalot, Igorot, Ifugao, Agta, and Ilocano whose traditions and cultures are still alive and practiced, except for those that are no longer beneficial to the times, are adapting to the present pace of life.

“One of the unique cultures of the Bugkalot Tribe is in the role of the husband and wife. The wife in their culture is the breadwinner. ou will see them doing the field work while the husband stays at home,” a resident said.

SCENIC. Bede ed with owers, the Landingan Viewpoint in Nag�p nan town o ers a degree iew o mo ntains in l ding the Sierra adre and the trib taries o Cagayan Ri er. Photo by Hilda A stria