1 November 4-10, 2021
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA EDITION
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Vol. 61 No. 13 November 4-10, 2021
NEWS AND VIEWS YOU TRUST
PHL PRESIDENTIAL RACE: MARCOS OUT? SARA IN? Big turnout of overseas FilAm voters at registration in SF Consulate hailed
Petition filed to disqualify Bongbong; Bato wants him
By Jun Nucum
SAN FRANCISCO - More than 20,000 overseas Filipinos in California and nearby areas have registered as absentee voters until October 14, the last day of the extended registration. This was disclosed by the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco (PCGSF) headed by ConGen Neil Ferrer which stated that it was satisfied with the results despite many challenges faced mainly due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Page 8
By ALFRED GABOT, Editor in Chief
MANILA – Still smarting from his controversial Oxford University diploma claim, former Senator and presidential hopeful Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is now facing disqualification following the filing of petitions before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) seeking the cancellation his the Certificate of Aspiring President Marcos and Mayor Sara Duterte. Candidacy (COC) for president for in the May 9, 2022 elections. Page 9
DOH: PHL logs Sara for president caravan set, lowest new Disqualify Marcos Jr supporters hopeful she will run Covid-19 cases By Claire Morales True in 8 months bid moves forward By Be�ng Laygo Dolor, Editor
MANILA – Former senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr’s presidential ambitions may go down the drain if the Commission on Elections (Comelec) cancels his certificate of candidacy (COC). This, after a group of civic leaders and human rights groups filed a petition to disqualify the son and namesake of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos on Tuesday, Page 8 November 2.
DAVAO CITY – It aint over until its over. This may yet be the stand of supporters of Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte as they continue hoping that she will run for president through substition which ends on November 15. The presidential daughter filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) for mayor at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) here on October 2, reiterating that she wanted to finish her last term as the local chief
executive of this city. To augment their calls for the presidential daughter to run for president, the convenors of the “Run, Sara, Run” said they will hold a grand caravan in Pasay City from Nov. 13 to 15 to continue urging Mayor Duterte to run for president in the 2022 polls. But Mayor Duterte appealed to her supporters to cancel their planned Cotabato to Manila caravan from November 4 to 15. “I am respectfully appealing toPage 10
MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) logged 1,591 new cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) on Wednesday, November 3, the lowest single-day number of infections in nearly eight months. The government, meanwhile, is eyeing to achieve its targeted average daily vaccination rate of at least 1 million up to 1.5 million doses beginning Nov. 30, according to National Task Page 8
San Jose hosts PHL flag raising, marks FilAm month
Duterte’s satisfaction rating drops further VIEWS & COMMENTS
SHOWBIZ
SPORTS
U.S. Embassy update on visa processing
Cagayan de Oro’s Cindy Obeñita wins Miss Intercontinental crown in Egypt
Yuka Saso to become Japanese citizen
By A�y. Lozano
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NATIONAL NEWS
November 4-10, 2021
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Duterte’s satisfaction rating drops further, lowest since 2018: SWS QUEZON CITY — President Rodrigo Duterte’s net satisfaction rating continued to drop and the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed it is down to the lowest rating since 2018. Duterte scored +52 in the survey conducted from Sept. 12 to 16. The rating is classified as “very good,” yet it is 10 points below his June 2021 score of +62. It was the lowest since his +45 or “good” rating in June 2018. Despite the drop in the President’s satisfaction rating, Malacañang thanked the Filipinos for their confidence in the Chief Executive and vowed to pursue measures aimed at improving their lives. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque claimed that the survey result was “a clear validation that public confidence remains high on the ability and competence of the Chief Executive to lead
the nation amid the current health crisis brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.” “We thank our people for giving the President a consistent ‘very good’ rating, as reflected in the first (May 2021), second (Jun 2021) and third (Sept 2021) quarter 2021 surveys of SWS,” Roque said in a statement. “With our people united behind the President and the administration, (President Duterte), along with the members of his Cabinet, will continue to improve the lives of Filipinos that will be felt beyond 2022, especially as we build back a better, post-COVID-19 economy,” he added. The survey showed 67% of adult Filipinos interviewed in the survey are satisfied with the President’s performance, an 8-point drop from June. About 15% are dissatisfied, which is up by 2 points, while 11% are undecided, which is down by one point.
SWS said the doubledigit drop in the chief executive’s satisfaction rating was due to “decreases in all areas except in Mindanao,” where it barely moved to +76 from +79, which is classified “excellent.” In Metro Manila, Duterte’s rating dropped 15 points to +48, or a downgrade from “very President Biden good” to “good.” Ratings in Balance Luzon and Visayas were by 6 points to +55. also downgraded to “good” - falling 14 SWS said it used face-to-face interpoints to +44 and 9 points to +44, re- views of 1,200 adults across the country spectively. for the survey. The sampling error marUrban net satisfaction was also clas- gins are ±3% for national percentages sified as “good” after the rating dropped and ±6% for Metro Manila, Balance 16 points to +49. Rural net satisfaction Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao. remained “very good,” but was down
UP lone PHL school in top 100 Asian universities list QUEZON CITY -- The University of top 100 Asian universities list by global Symonds (QS) despited dropping to the the Philippines (UP) remains one of the higher education analyst Quacquarelli 77th place from no. 69. The country’s premier state university placed 77th in the 2022 QS Asian University Rankings, down eight spots from its position in the 2021 list. Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University and the University of Santo Tomas (UST) improved their positions, landing at 124, 160 and 177, respectively. In the 2021 edition, Ateneo, La Salle and UST ranked at 135, 166 and 186, respectively, according to QS. Other Philippine universities in the 2022 list include Ateneo de Davao University which is in the 501-550 bracket; Mapua Univeristy (501-550); Siliman Univeristy (501-550); Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology (551-600); Central Luzon State University (601-650); Xavier Univer-
sity (601-650); Adamson University (651+); Cebu Technological University (651+); Central Mindanao University (651+); Central Philippine University (651+) and Lyceum of the Philippines University (651+) Universities from Singapore, Mainland China and Hong Kong dominated the top 10 this year, with the National University of Singapore ranking first. This year’s QS Asia University Rankings featured 687 higher education institutions, ABS-CBN reported. QS used 11 indicators to assess the schools: academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty/student ratio, international research network, citations per paper, papers per faculty, staff with PhD, international faculty, international students, inbound exchange students, and outbound exchange students.
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3 November 4-10, 2021
NATIONAL NEWS
PHL still 7th worst country in prosecuting killers of journalists; Davao newsman slain
MANILA/DAVAO — The Philippines remains the seventh worst country when it comes to prosecuting killers of journalists, according to a report by New York City-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). In its latest Global Impunity Index, the media watchdog noted that the Philippines has 13 unsolved media killings from 11 in 2020. Meanwhile, community journalist Orlando “Don Don” Dinoy, was shot dead Saturday night inside his residence in Bansalan town, Davao del Sur. Dinoy, a Newsline.ph reporter and a former Philippine Daily Inquirer correspondent, was gunned down by an unidentified assailant on Mother Ignacia St.,
Poblacion Uno, past 6 p.m., according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP). The killing raised to 20 the number of journalists killed under the Duterte administration. The gunman entered Dinoy’s makeshift broadcast booth and shot him multiple times at close range, ABS-CBN reported. Newsline.ph and SunStar Super Balita condemned the killing and called for immediate action from authorities. Dinoy was an Energy FM block-time anchor in Digos City and also a former Sunstar Davao correspondent. He worked for SunStar from 2005 to 2021. The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) will look into the killing, said its executive director Joel Sy Egco. “Even if the motive seems to be a personal matter, the Task Force will see to it that justice will be served to those responsible for Dinoy’s death,” he said. Media workers are urged to report to the task force if they “feel threatened in any way,” Egco said. “We are just a phone call away and we will provide you with immediate security and protection if you feel you are in any danger,” he said. Data from CPJ also shows that 85 journalists were murdered in the Philippines between 1992 and 2021. Since 2008, the CPJ annually lists “countries where members of the press are singled out for murder and the perpetrators go free.” The media watchdog reported that from Sept. 1,
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Courtesy: Commi�ee to Protect Journalists 2011, to August 31, 2021, a total of 278 journalists were killed across the world. It recorded complete impunity in 226 cases, or 81%. Still on top of the list are Somalia, Syria, Iraq, and South Sudan “as conflict, political instability, and weak judicial mechanisms perpetuate a cycle of violence against journalists.” CPJ emphasized that the latest data does fully reflect the increased threat that media workers in Afghanistan are facing.
The country ranked fifth again this year. “While the country’s spot on the index did not change, the situation on the ground for reporters deteriorated dramatically in 2021 as the Taliban took control in mid-August amid the withdrawal of U.S. and coalition forces and the flight of President Ashraf Ghani. Hundreds of journalists fled the country because they feared the Taliban’s brutal record on press freedom and what its rule could mean for journalist safety,” it explained.
METRO NEWS
November 4-10, 2021
QC now low-risk for COVID as 1.7-M city folk are vaccinated, 240,000 children next By Claire Morales True QUEZON CITY - Quezon City has fully vaccinated some 1.7 million people or 80 percent of its eligible adult population, according to Mayor Josefina Joy Belmonte. Around 1.9 million adults or 90 percent of the target population have received an initial dose, Belmonte added. The largest city in Metro Manila also aims to inoculate 14,000 children daily as it hopes to administer the jab to 240,000 kids aged 12 to 17 by end of
the month, she said. Belmonte commended her constituents for their cooperation after the OCTA Research Group classified the city as low-risk for Covid-19 infections. “Maraming salamat sa ating mga bayaning frontliners. Pagpupugay rin sa ating QCitizens na patuloy na nakikiisa at sumusunod sa health protocols (Thank you very much to our front-liners. We also salute our our QCitizens who continuously cooperate and follow the health protocols),” Belmonte said in a Facebook post. Belmonte attributed the city’s
achievement to continuous decline in the daily Covid-19 cases and reproduction rate.
to go about their work and business and allow malls to extend operating hours to prevent crowding as the holiday season approaches. Abalos said mall operators in the capital region “agreed” to open from 11 am to 11 pm on weekdays and 10 am to 11 pm on weekends. The target implementation is from Nov. 15 to Jan. 3. Rules on public transportation has
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Manila resumes vaccination, youngsters start to get jabs
In his Twitter post, OCTA Research fellow Prof. Guido David said Quezon City’s seven-day average during the surge of Delta variant from Sept. 11 to 17 hit 1,181 cases. He said the seven-day average in new daily Covid- 19 cases has now de- By Jeanne Michael Penaranda creased to 190 cases for the week from Oct. 26 to Nov. 2. MANILA – The city government of Manila has started general inoculation for “The current reproduction number minors aged 12 to 17 as it resumed vaccination of adults. The pediatric vaccination to include even those without comorbidities is scheduled at the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center, Ospital ng also been eased so vehicles can accom- Tondo, Jose Abad Santos General Hosmodate more passengers, he said pital, Ospital ng Sampaloc, Ospital ng Before the lifting, curfew hours are Maynila, and Sta. Ana Hospital from 7 from midnight to 4 a.m. Before that, a.m. to 4 p.m. curfew hours were 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. As of 6 p.m. on October 29, a total of “Pumayag ang mayors na i-lift ang 3,474 minors with comorbidities have alcurfew starting November 4,” Abalos ready received their first dose of the corosaid in an interview. navirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) jabs. “However, mayroon silang curfew The city government suspended its on minors, iyong iba, ‘yun ay existing mass vaccination from Saturday to Tuespa rin iyon,” he added. day (Oct. 30 to Nov. 2).
Curfew in Metro Manila lifted
MAKATI CITY - Following the slowdown of Covid-19 cases in the National Capital Region, general curfew in Metro Manila has been lifted starting Thursday, Nov. 4. Curfew, however, will remain for the youth, based on ordinances of cities of the metropolis. Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Benjamin Benhur Abalos Jr. the lifting will make people
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5 November 4-10, 2021
PROVINCIAL NEWS
Ill-stricken Cebu City mayor goes on indefinite leave; Rama takes over
CEBU CITY – Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella has gone on indefinite leave which indicates that Acting Mayor Michael Rama will continue to be the city chief executive. This as Labella’s family asked for prayers for his full recovery from “another episode of pneumonia”. “We, the Labella family, appear in front of you all today to discuss the current health situation of my father, Mayor Edgardo C. Labella. In response to the questions from the media and people on social media, we confirm that Mayor Labella is currently admitted in a private hospital in Cebu City…” said a statement from the family read by the mayor’s son, Eugene, in a press conference.
Labella’s wife, Jocelyn Joy, and son, Edgardo Jaypee Labella, who is running for councilor in the city’s north district, attended the conference. They said mayor was admitted to the hospital over the weekend on indications that he was suffering from minor sepsis and spent a day in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). He has since been transferred to a regular private room in the hospital. Due to the mayor’s health condition, the family announced that Labella has taken an indefinite medical leave to seriously focus on his recovery. In July, the mayor was hospitalized for weeks for pneumonia and also spent time in the ICU. He also suffered a mild stroke in August.
Bacolod City’s ‘tallest’ Christmas tree lighted anew BACOLOD CITY - As the season of festivities and merriment draw near, SM City Bacolod started to celebrate early with the annual lighting of its 50 feet Christmas Tree, reputed to be one of the tallest in the country. Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson led the tree lighting over the weekend, accompanied by SM mall manager George Jardiolin and Catherin Ereñeta-Manaloto, represenging food producers who are part of the seasonal bazaar. Lacson, in his speech as Sun Star reported, appealed to everyone to look at the present circumstances from a different perspective. “While we are not allowed our usual revelry, we now have more time to reflect and ponder on the significance
of the occasion and what Christmas means to us,” he said. Assistant mall manager Julia Javellana gave the message in behalf of the mall. At 50 feet tall, SM’s Christmas Tree is inspired by the sugar industry of Negros Island. Adding to the towering centerpiece, a model train adds to the charm of the theme, and sugarcane all around it. The train brings us back to the time of the “iron dinosaurs,” when they chugged all around the province to transport our sweet harvests. The Christmas tree itself is adorned with a thousand decors and lights. It will be a delightful photo backdrop for weeks to come.
NATIONAL NATIONAL NEWS NEWS
November 4-10, 2021
100 public schools in pilot face-to-face classes
PASIG CITY – The Department of Education (DepEd) has completed the 100 public schools that will participate in the pilot implementation of limited faceto-face classes beginning Nov. 15. “Mag-umpisa tayo with 100 public schools, 20 private schools, at iilang mga international schools na may sarili na-
man silang mga patakaran (We will start with 100 public schools, 20 private schools, and a number of international schools which have their own policies),” Education Secretary Leonor Briones said. Briones noted the DepEd is still in the process of completing the list of 20 private schools to implement the limited inperson classes. The selected private schools will open classes on Nov. 22 - a week after the public schools start - since “they are still under evaluation”. In the same public briefing, Education Undersecretary Malcolm Garma said 57 private schools are currently under evaluation. He said the list of the private schools
will be released on Nov. 12. Briones said participating schools must comply with public health standards and must secure consent from their respective local government units and parents of their learners. “Kami naman, for our part sa Department of Education, ini-inspect namin ang mga napipiling eskwelahan na kailangan handa ‘yung ating mga facilities, social distancing, may tubig, may gamot, malapit tayo sa mga health stations (For DepEd’s part, we inspect the selected schools, that their facilities must be ready, social distancing, water supply, medicines, and their proximity to health stations),” she said. She added that the schools have also undergone the risk assessment conducted by the Department of Health, following the instruction of President Rodrigo Duterte to ensure that learners and teachers are safe from infection or transmission during classes.
Covid-19 cases drop in Angeles City ANGELES CITY – The Angeles City government has noted a steady decline in the confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). Dr. Froilan Canlas, chief of Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center (RLMMC), said that hospitals here are no longer overwhelmed with Covid-19 cases, averaging only 10 daily. Canlas said this is an improvement from the double- to triple-digit cases recorded per day since the surge experienced last August 15, hitting the peak of about 90 average daily infections. He said in the case of RLMMC, the city’s Covid center, the improvised tent for Covid-19 patients, has been empty for two weeks.
“Lahat ng pasyente nasa isolation rooms. Maluwag na maluwag kami. Pati mga health workers hindi toxic (All the patients are in the isolation rooms. We are no longer that busy. Even the health workers are not toxic),” he said in an official social media account post. He attributed the decrease of Covid-19 cases to the extensive vaccination drive by the city government. “Definitely Covid vaccines help. Mayor (Carmelo) Lazatin’s chief adviser Irish Calaguas has mobilized all city government units to take part in this extensive endeavor because the goal is to jab as much as we can, as fast as we can. In fact at one point we jabbed almost 10,000 in one day,” he said.
Canlas added that Covid-19 vaccines are very effective against getting the patients from being hospitalized or from dying. Since most of the patients recorded for Covid-19 were already vaccinated, they were just recommended for facility isolation, he said. “With this, hospitals are not overwhelmed anymore. Karamihan ng positive ngayon (Majority of those positive now) are asymptomatic to mild cases only, so they are only in facility isolation,” he added. To date, 255,235 Angeleños got their first dose of vaccines while 177,571 are fully vaccinated.
MANILA – Some 520 cases of the highly transmissible and dominant Delta variant of the coronavirus have been recorded nationwide raising new fears on the spread of the virus in the country. In an online media forum, Department of Health Epidemiology Bureau OICDirector Althea De Guzman said the new Delta variant cases were from a total of 748 samples that have been sequenced, noting that the agency is unsure if the samples were collected recently or in the previous months. Of the samples collected and sequenced, about 520 or 69.52 percent were
Delta variant cases, 83 or 11.10 percent were Beta variant cases, and 64 or 8.56 percent were Alpha variant cases. The new logged variant cases pushed the total Delta variant cases to 5,331; Beta variant cases, 3,562; and Alpha variant cases, 3,106. “The percent of Delta variant detected (in the country) has increased from 4.9 percent in June to 99.8 percent of lineages detected in October,” De Guzman said. She added eight of the 520 new cases of Delta variant are from the National Capital Region. The top three regions with the most
number of new Delta variant cases are Cordillera Administrative Region with 78 infections; Bicol Region, 75; and Cagayan Valley, 61. De Guzman noted that all regions and all cities and municipalities in the National Capital Region (NCR) either have Alpha or Beta variants detected. The Delta variant, initially detected from returning overseas Filipinos, is now detected in all 17 regions and all NCR cities and its lone municipality. Meantime, the P.3 variant, which was initially observed in only one region in the country, is now detected in all regions.
Philippines detects 520 new cases of Delta variant, fears virus spread
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SC junks solon’s suit vs. NBI over pork barrel scam probes MANILA – The Supreme Court (SC) has turned down a petition filed by a lawmaker questioning his indictment before the Ombudsman in connection with anomalies in the disposition of the priority development assistance fund (PDAF) or pork barrel, a discretionary fund under the control of lawmakers. In a resolution dated July 28 and uploaded online by the SC on Oct. 29, its Second Division dismissed the petition filed by Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez. Rodriguez had sued the National Bureau of Investigation under then-director Virgilio Mendez and former Department of Justice Secretary and now senator Leila de Lima for including him in the NBI’s executive summary of complaints dated Aug. 7, 2015. He was being probed on alleged PDAF scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles and for subsequently including him in charges filed before the Ombudsman. The NBI had claimed lawmakers used their PDAF allotments in illegal transactions with Napoles’ non-governmental organizations and profited by as much as 60 percent of amounts from the simulated disbursements and utilization of their PDAF to ghost NGOs. The NBI itself noted that a number of lawmakers, including Rodriguez, requested the Questioned Documents Division (QDD) of the NBI to examine their alleged signatures in the documents used in the release of the PDAF funds to the NGOs. The NBI-QDD found that in several documents, the signatures did not match the lawmaker’s specimen signatures but said the findings are not conclusive and binding upon the results of the investigation. It also said the findings will still be subject to the scrutiny of the Sandiganbayan if the Ombudsman decides to file the criminal case with the anti-graft court. The NBI also said malversation may also be committed through negligence, in which case the signatures of the lawmakers are not necessary to prove that they allowed, through their negligence, the misappropriation and misuse of the public funds entrusted to them. In dismissing Rodriguez’ suit, the SC said “there being no grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part of the NBI in conducting an investigation on the person of the petitioner as to his participation in the Napoles PDAF scam, the court finds no ground to nullify the NBI’s investigation.” “In the same vein, the Court finds no grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part of the NBI and the DOJ in filing the letter-complaints against petitioners (Rodriguez), among others, with the Ombudsman,” it added. The SC said it “finds no merit” in Rodriguez’s claim that the NBI and the DOJ went against its own internal rules by refusing to issue a subpoena and take or require his sworn statements.
7 November 4-10, 2021
NATIONAL NATIONAL NEWS NEWS
Maria Ressa now in US for Harvard program, to visit parents in Florida
tend a month-long Harvard University program and visit her parents in Florida. This after the Court of Appeals allowed her to attend the Harvard University program and visit her parents. The CA Eighth Division, which hears Ressa’s appeal to her cyber libel conviction, allowed her to travel to Boston from Oct. 31 to Dec. 2 to attend a 30-day program. In between, she will be visiting her parents in Florida during Thanksgiving on Nov. 25. Ressa posted a P500,000-bond on court’s order and submitted an updated itinerary. The CA issued the resolution on Oct. MANILA — Rappler CEO Maria Ressa is now in the United States to at- 18, days after Ressa’s historic recognition as the first Nobel laureate from
the Philippines, sharing the award with Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov, for her “efforts to safeguard freedom of expression.” In a 14-page resolution, CA Associate Justice Geraldine Fiel-Macaraig said Ressa was able to prove the necessity and urgency of her travel, citing the invitation letter from the Center for Public Leadership and Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School. The invitation letter from Harvard said the program requires her physical presence for 30 days. The CA also considered humanitarian grounds in allowing her to visit her parents whom she had not seen for two years.
“Certainly, one’s legitimate intention to be reunited with her/his parents cannot be doubted,” it said. In December last year, the same court blocked Ressa’s bid to visit her ailing mother who was due for an operation, saying she failed to prove the necessity and urgency of her travel. Fiel-Macaraig said then that the medical abstract of Ressa’s mother, who had just been diagnosed with breast cancer, lacks indication that Ressa was urgently needed in the US. She also faulted Ressa for not immediately disclosing her mother’s medical condition and for supposedly concealing previous incidental travels.
QUEZON CITY – The passenger capacity for rail lines and selected public utility vehicles (PUVs) operating in Metro Manila and adjacent provinces will be increased from the current 50 percent to 70 percent starting November 4, following a decline in coronavirus cases. This is provided for under the InterAgency Task Force (IATF) Resolution No. 146, series of 2021, dated 28 October 2021, and Memorandum Circular 2021064 issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). The LTFRB o clarified that plastic barriers inside public utility jeepneys are not required nationwide, provided that proper physical distancing is observed, and pas-
lic transportation, Delgra said there is a need to increase passenger capacity in PUVs as quarantine restrictions are beginning to ease and more businesses are reopening. The increase in passenger capacity will help cushion the impact of the pandemic and the recent hike in fuel prices on the livelihood of PUV drivers and operators, he added. “The livelihood of public transport drivers and operators was severely affected with passenger capacity in public transport maintained at 50 percent. Increasing passenger capacity will mean a higher revenue for the public transport sector,” he said. In the railway sector, the LRT 1, LRT-
2, MRT-3, and PNR would implement the increase in passenger capacity from the current 30 percent to 70 percent. Citing studies, DOTr Undersecretary TJ Batan said only 0.2 percent of traceable outbreaks in Germany were linked to transport; only 1.2 percent of Covid-19 clusters are linked to transport (land, air, and sea); and that there is only a 0.01 percent chance of contracting Covid-19 in public transportation, with the probability decreasing to 0.005 percent risk of infection with face covering. Despite the easing of quarantine restrictions and the gradual increase in passenger capacity in public transport, the DOTr reminded the public to observe the minimum health protocols
70% passenger capacity in public transport OKd sengers practice health and safety protocols to prevent the spread of Covid-19. “Hindi ‘ho DOTr ang nag-require na magkaroon ng plastic barrier sa pagitan ng mga pasahero ng pampublikong sasakyan gaya ng jeepney. Ang inilabas na protocol ng DOTr noon ay ang pag-install ng plastic barrier upang ihiwalay ang drayber sa pasahero noong tayo ay nasa GCQ noong nakaraang taon (The DOTr didn’t require plastic barriers between passengers in public utility vehicles such as jeepneys. The DOTr released a protocol to install plastic barriers between drivers and passengers when we were under GCQ last year),” LTFRB chief Martin Delgra said. With the growing demand for pub-
Over 60M Covid-19 jabs administered; Metro Manila is 88% fully vaccinated MANILA – A total of 60,406,424 doses of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine have been administered nationwide since the rollout began in March, according to the Department of Health. Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said the National Capital Region has the highest number of fully vaccinated individuals at 8,616,362 or 88.13 percent of its 13,966,233 population. It is followed by the Cordillera Administrative Region with 502,283 fully vaccinated individuals or 39.37 percent of its 1,822,719 population. Latest data from the National Vaccines Operation Center showed that 32,656,615 jabs were administered as first doses while 27,749,809 vaccines were given as second doses. “We are happy to almost complete our A1, these are the workers at our frontline health services, our first priority population group, 99.75 percent (1,634,820) one dose and 95.39 percent (1,563,363) fully vaccinated,” she said.
“Our senior citizens are slowly since February this year and with a cination was officially launched nainching up but we still need to push, steady supply, more of the eligible tionwide with a target population of we are at 63.4 percent (5,237,969) of population gets vaccinated. 12,722,070, of which about 1,272,207 8,254,531 senior citizens who have first On Wednesday, the pediatric vac- have comorbidities. dose and 57.98 percent (4,785,828), second dose,” she added. The target population of healthcare workers is 1,638,917 and 8,524,531 for senior citizens. For the individuals with comorbidities, about 81.56 percent or 7,358,029 of the target 9,021,220 population are fully-vaccinated. For the frontline personnel in essential sector, about 33.72 percent or Notary Public & Real Estate Broker 9,543,532 of 28,300,410 target individuals have received their second jab. Meantime, 3,083,014 or 23.88 percent of the 12,911,193 indigent population are now fully-vaccinated. “For the rest of the adult population which is a total of 17,012,787, 18 and above, 1,483,315 first dose and 381,969 two doses,” Cabotaje said. The Philippines has over 108 million Covid-19 vaccine doses delivered
*Commissioned Notary Public and licensed Real Estate Broker (BRE#00635976) in California since 1981. Author, Columnist, and Member, National Notary Association (NNA)
NATIONAL NEWS Big...
(From page 1)
The determination and drive of Filipino voters showed as registrants turned up in droves to show their desire and passion to exercise their right to choose the next national leaders of their home country, the Philippines, the office stated. In its post registration assessment report, the SF-PCG listed 10,616 overseas voter registrants for the period 2019-2021 with 10,475 new registrants in the ten states under the Consulate’s jurisdiction -- Northern California, Northern Nevada, Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington State, and Wyoming. At least 141 availed of other registration services such as reactivation as voters after failing to vote in the last two elections; certification that involves a registered voter in the Philippines who will be voting abroad and, thus, will become an overseas voter; correction of entries as a result of change of one’s maiden name to married name, recapture of biometric information; transfer of records from one country to the U.S. and change of address. Aside from the desire of registrants to choose the next President, Vice President, Senators and party-list representatives, the SF-PCG attributed the uptick in registration
Disqualify...
(From page 1)
The basis for the petition was Marcos Jr’s conviction for tax evasion in 1995 after he failed to file his income tax returns for four consecutive years in the previous decade. The petitioners said the presidential bet of the Federal Party had filed a COC which was full of “false material representation” which make him ineligible to run for the highest post in the land. “He is, plainly, a convicted criminal,” the petition said.
November 4-10, 2021
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figures to the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines, the vaccination of Consulate personnel, and the uninterrupted provision of consular services to the public, including the processing of dual citizenship applications. The Consulate’s special Saturday consular services from March to October 2021, and its consular outreach services in states outside California (Denver, Colorado, Juneau , Anchorage, and Fairbanks in Alaska, Seattle in Washington, Salt Lake City in Utah, Portland in Oregon, and Bozeman in Montana) encouraged more Filipinos to register and participate in the electoral process. Two whole special Saturdays of registration were also held towards the end of registration periods -- September 25 and October 9, 2021 – that greatly helped ease the burden on both the registrants and the Consulate staff members. Also, the Consulate made available the spacious Kalayaan Hall of the Consulate to accommodate the expected surge of October 14, 2021 last-day registrants and expedite the process and overseas voter registrations while observing physical distancing at the site. Registered overseas voters with the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco are also reminded to ensure that they have used their current address or the address where they expect to be at the time of voting when they registered. They are encouraged to update
their postal address or residential address by filing an application for change of address until 3 December 2021. Concerned applicants may download and accomplish the Overseas Voter Registration form (https://pcgsanfrancisco.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/PCGSF_OVF_No1. pdf), and submit it to the Consulate along with their proof of Philippine citizenship such as a valid Philippine passport or a Dual Citizenship Identification Certificate. Under Republic Act No. 9189 as amended by Republic Act No. 10590, all citizens of the Philippines or dual Filipino-American citizens, who are not disqualified by law, at least 18 years of age by 09 May 2022 may register as an Overseas Voter and vote for President, Vice-President, Senators, and Party List Representatives in the upcoming 2022 elections. Those have voted in the 2016 and/or 2019 National Elections are still considered registered voters. Failure to vote in two consecutive elections (2016 and 2019 elections), however resulted to Philippine Commission on Elections (COMELEC) having their voter’s registration deactivated and would have to their status activated during the registration period. . The next election is on May 9, 2022 and overseas voters will be able to vote for President, Vice President, Senators and Party List Representatives.
In the days leading to the extended deadline on the registration of voters last October 14, 2021, Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Frank R. Ferrer expressed elation with the increase in the number of overseas voting registrants “The numbers for overseas voting registration at the Consulate steadily rose over the past weeks. This shows an increasing interest among our kababayans not only to choose their leaders in next year’s elections, but also to make their stake in the future of our country,” said Ferrer. Following the decision by the COMELEC to extend the registration period for new overseas voters, the Consulate conducted another special Saturday overseas voting registration on October 9, 2021. “Compared to the first Saturday registration on September 25, which registered 80 overseas voters, last Saturday’s (October 9, 2021) special registration added 170 more overseas voters including 167 new voters and three reactivation requests. We also accepted passport and dual citizenship applications that day, but an overwhelming majority of those who went to the Consulate lined up just to sign up as overseas voters,” Consul General Ferrer added. The public is also encouraged to send an email to ovs@pcgsanfrancisco.org for inquiries on overseas voting at the Consulate.
Marcos Jr’s conviction by a Quezon City court was upheld by the Court of Appeals (CA). His failure to appeal his conviction before the Supreme Court (SC) meant that his conviction had become “final and unappealable,” the petition said. The petitioners also said that Marcos Jr had made false assertions under oath “with the deliberate intent to mislead, misinform, and deceive the electorate.” Among the petitioners were Roman Catholic priest Fr. Christian Buenafe, who serves as co-chairman of Task Force Detainees of the Phils.; Fides Lim of political prisoners’ group Kapatid; Josephine Lascano of Balay Rehabilitation Center; Ma. Edeliza Hernandez of the Medical Action Group; Celia Lagman Sevilla of the Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance;
and Roland Vibal of the Phil. Alliance of Human Rights Advocates. It was actually retired SC associate justice Antonio Carpio who first brought up the possibility of Marcos Jr’s being disqualified from running next year. Writing in his column at the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Carpio said Marcos Jr may have failed to elevate his conviction to the high tribunal because he was waiting for the CA judgement against him to be corrected. The CA decision affirming the QC Court’s conviction of Marcos Jr had erroneously excluded the mandatory imprisonment as required by law. For failing to file his ITR from 1982 to 1985, the QC court had sentenced Marcos Jr to three years in prison plus a fine of P30,000 (about $600). The petition filed with Comelec will not determine Marcos Jr’s fate, aeven if he
is disqualified by the poll body. It will be the SC that decides whether he can continue his presidential bid or not. Carpio said the case against Marcos Jr would likely be one involving moral turpitude. Even if the SC decides with finality that Marcos Jr should be disqualified from running, he still has one escape route. The president can grant him a plenary pardon or amnesty, which would then allow him to proceed with his campaign to succeed Rodrigo Duterte. Ending up in prison is also highly unlikely. As one pundit said, his mother Imelda Marcos “was also convicted with finality and is still not in prison.” The Philippine National Police has refused to arrest Mrs. Marcos on humanitarian grounds, citing her old age. The former first lady is now 92.
DOH...
(From page 1)
Force (NTF) against Covid-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. During the prerecorded Talk to the People of President Rodrigo Duterte, Galvez said the government also targets to administer at least 15 million doses of coronavirus vaccines before the end of this month. To achieve this goal, Galvez said there is a need to activate around 4,000 to 5,000 vaccination sites operating nationwide and can accommodate at least 500 vaccinees daily. If these sites can vaccinate up to 1,000 individuals once operational, then the targeted 5 million doses weekly will be achievable, he added. “So we will be utilizing the [shopping] malls, universities, schools, gyms, military/police camps, and function hall of the different government agencies,” he said. Wednesday’s new cases are slightly higher than the 1,557 infections recorded on February 24 this year. This is also the second consecutive day that daily new Covid-19 cases in the country are below the 3,000-mark since May 23 -- with only 2,303 cases reported on Tuesday.
Another 4,294 new recoveries were also recorded, pushing the total tally to 2,712, 298. Meanwhile, the death toll rose to 43,586 with 186 new deaths. The new infections pushed the active cases to 38,014 with 69.4 percent listed as mild, 5.2 percent as asymptomatic, 3.4 percent as critical, 8.1 percent as severe, and 13.87 percent as moderate. According to DOH data on Nov. 1, about 5.6 percent of 29,489 who were tested turned out positive for Covid-19. “About 349 duplicates were removed from the total case count, and of these, 330 are recoveries and four are deaths. Moreover, 132 cases that were previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as deaths after final validation,” it added. All laboratories were operational on Nov. 1 while seven laboratories were not able to submit their data to the Covid-19 Document Repository System. The DOH noted the seven non-reporting laboratories contribute, on average, 1.3 percent of samples tested, and 3 percent of positive individuals based on data in the last 14 days.
9 November 4-10, 2021 PHL..
NATIONAL NEWS (From page 1)
This developed as Vice President Leonor Leni Robredo, who defeated Marcos in the 2016 vice presidential race, fresh from doing the rounds in Tarlac and other areas, said she was hopeful that her bailiwick, the Bicol region which is composed of Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon and Catanduanes, will give her all-out support following her visit to the region. Reacting to the disqualification case, Sen. Ronald Bato dela Rosa, the presidential candidate of President Rodrigo Duterte’s PDP-Laban party, said he would rather allow Marcos to run since it will be the electorate who will decide his fate. At the same time, dela Rosa said he remains hopeful that Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte will change her mind and will run for president, as her supporters are staging a caravan to show their support and to convince her to be a substitute candidate for president until November 15, the last day set by Comelec for substitution of candidates. “The patriotism is burning in her eyes habang kinakausap ko siya (while I was talking to her). I see some hope,” Dela Rosa said in a television interview after he met Mayor Duterte last week in Davao City. “Wala siyang sinabi sa akin na categorically na yes or no. Pero nakikita ko
sa kanyang mata na may hope pa na posibleng mag-change. Hindi ko na pwedeng sabihin in detail kung meron pang sinabi,” Dela Rosa said. A candidate of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, Marcos, for his part, shrugged off the petition, saying it was a “nuisance” effort to derail his road to the presidency. At the same time, Marcos said that he will not back down and withdraw from the presidential race despite the petition. Marcos also refuted the petitioners’ allegation, saying it was a political ploy. “Hindi ko nga naintindihan kasi sinasabi nila may problema raw sa aking kandidatura. May isang kaso raw na hindi naayos. Hindi ko alam. Sasagutin na lang namin ito pagdating,” the former senator said in a radio interview. As he thanked his supporters, Marcos said: “Pero hindi ako natatakot. Hindi ako aatras. Hindi ako mag-withdraw. Patuloy ang lahat ng aking gagawin. Hindi ako mag-slide down. Patuloy lang ang aking kandidatura. At sa aking mga supporters sa buong Pilipinas, nagpapasalamat ako na hindi nawawala ang inyong tiwala sa akin.” Meanwhile, Duterte’s supporters have scheduled a caravan from Mindanao to the Comelec office in Pasay City from November 4 to 15 urging the lady mayor to run for president. Dela Rosa did not deny that he offered to give way should Mayor Duterte replace him as presidential bet. But the
PDP-Laban faction that nominated him The petitioners said the crimes for said that this was a personal gesture and which Marcos was convicted by final does not reflect the whole party’s senti- judgment were also crimes involving ment. moral turpitude that disqualify Marcos from being a candidate for any office unMayor Duterte has stood firm about der Section 12 of the Omnibus Election her reelection bid in Davao City, but Code. PDP-Laban is still hoping for a possible The Petition to Cancel or Deny Due alliance with her regional party Hugpong Course was filed under Section 78 in ng Pagbabago which will be her vehicle relation to Section 74, Article IX of the for a presidential run. Omnibus Election Code (OEC). In their 57-page petition before the In reaction to the petition, the ComeComelec, Fr. Christian Buenafe, Fi- lec will tackle the petition, Comelec des Lim, Ma. Edeliza Hernandez, Celia spokesperson James Jimenez said a Lagman Sevilla, Roland Vibal, and Jo- hearing will be conducted to determine sephine Lascano claimed that Marcos’ if there is indeed a misrepresentation COC contained multiple false material committed by the former senator. representations. “Well, definitely there will be hear“Specifically, Marcos falsified his ings about that since the point of the Certificate of Candidacy when he cancellation petition, there was a mateclaimed that he was eligible to be a can- rial misrepresentation in COC (certifididate for President of the Philippines in cate of candidacy). This means that there the 2022 national elections when in fact was untruthfulness or wrong informahe is disqualified from doing so,” the pe- tion given to the COC so that needs to be titioners said in a statement. proven,” Jimenez said. It was pointed out by the petitioners Jimenez said he cannot predict how that Marcos was convicted by the Re- long the hearing will last since both pargional Trial Court of Quezon City in a ties are expected to defend themselves. July 27, 1995 decision “for his multiple “There is no time limit. The claims of failures to file income tax returns”. the complainants have to be proven and They also claimed that the Court of the candidate will also have to defend Appeals upheld the decision which was himself. It would take as long as it takes no longer appealed before the Supreme but of course, we want to expedite the Court, “thereby becoming a final and resolution of the case,” he said. unappealable conviction” which, they Asked if the decision will be out beadded, make Marcos disqualified to run fore the campaign period, the Comelec for president. spokesperson said, “We will find out.”
NATIONAL NEWS
November 4-10, 2021
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Grand Christmas village centerpiece unveiled in Tarlac TARLAC CITY - There seems to be no stopping Filipinos from celebrating Christmas. In Tarlac City alone, it is the most wonderful time of the year, especially at SM City Tarlac! This as the mall ushered in the happiest Christmas season by unveiling its Grand Christmas Village centerpiece with a ceremonial lighting on October
30. “Amidst the challenges we have been facing, we still have a lot to celebrate and to be thankful for,” said Gretna Vicencio, vice chairman of Tarlac City Tourism Council, during the lighting ceremonies. Vicencio commended SM City Tarlac as SunStar reported for keeping the spirit of Christmas alive despite the
struggles that businesses are facing, saying that “Christmas is a reminder that God has always been here for us especially during the most difficult times.” Nigel Cokiangco, administrative assistant and representative of Focal Person for Tourism Arsenio Lugay, also graced the event. SM’s Grand Christmas Village is a
colorful place to enjoy and have an inner sense of Christmas where shoppers can buy goodies, take photos, and selfies with loved ones -- a tradition every family enjoys at all SM Malls.
Sara...
She also urged them to instead use their money to buy food to feed the hungry and the poor and to conduct other activities that would benefit those who have less in life and the underprivileged. “Let us not unnecessarily contribute to global warming. Let us save on fuel. Your overwhelming support and trust in me are not being unnoticed. They are deeply appreciated,” Duterte added. She reiterated that the caravan was unnecessary because a decision had already been made public as early as September 10 that she is not running for President. In a press briefing in Davao City, Barangay Cabantian chairperson Mark Galvez, one of the campaign organizers, said they will leave the city on Nov. 9 and convene at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila in Pasay City until Nov. 15, the deadline for the substitution of candidates. “All members of Mayor Sara parallelgroup all over the country will show sup-
port to her as we are hopeful that she will arrive in Sofitel and file for the presidency. We will wait for her,” he said. Galvez and Barangay 23-C chairman Alimoden Usman, the campaign convenor, said he is optimistic that Duterte will heed their call, especially after the lady mayor recently met with presidential aspirants Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Ronald dela Rosa. Galvez assured authorities that health protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) will be observed during their event. Apart from the big event next month, he also disclosed that a city-wide caravan will also take place in this city on Oct. 28. During the caravan, barangay leaders and members of the private sector from the city’s three districts will convene at Crocodile Park through a motorcade that will traverse major thoroughfares of this city, Galvez added. “This event will soften the heart of May-
or Inday. This is the final moment and we will do our best effort to convince her,” he added. Galvez said they hope to encourage the public to help them convince Duterte to take on the challenge. The convenors asked supporters participating in the caravan to tie green ribbons or wear green T-shirts during the event. “We did not rest, we continued persuading her. Other leaders from various regions signified to join our caravan,” Usman said. “We are solid Davao, we unite and dream to end criminality and insurgency in Mindanao. President Rodrigo Duterte started it already and we want Mayor Sara to continue the programs of her father,” he added. Usman said they will do their best to convince the mayor, adding: “If she will not do it, the Sara All Philippines 2022 will be divided. I am begging you Ma’am, please run for the people and our country.”
(From page 1)
the organizers of Sara All Philippines 2022 to forego the planned Cotabato to Manila caravan from November 4 to 15,” Duterte said in her official Facebook account. The convenors, who were also members of the Sara All Philippines 2022, planned to hold a caravan in Cotabato City, Bukidnon, and Cagayan de Oro City starting November 4. Between November 9 and November 13, supporters will be traveling to Manila. The following day, November 14, they will convene at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila in Pasay City until Nov. 15, the deadline for the substitution of candidates. “In the times of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is extremely unwise to move around the country. I am urging the organizers and the supporters to translate your expression of support into something productive and relevant to society,” the mayor said.
Christmas lights, and unique chandeliers made of Christmas trees all around the mall are sure to delight shoppers, too.
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11 November 4-10, 2021
OPINION Daly City marks DVAM with big proclamation
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EDITORIAL
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Cry, our beloved country
ith apologies to author Alan Paton, this is a time when we Filipinos and FilAms must cry for the beloved country. Our beloved country -- the Republic of the Philippines which has been suffering for the past five years under a regime that has no qualms in killing innocents, surrendering its patrimony to a foreign power, mishandling the worst health crisis in more than a century, and wrecking an already weakened economy with the most corrupt deals imaginable. The billions of pesos lost as a result of the supply contract signed with Chinese company Pharmally Pharmaceuticals rightfully angered the people, taking place as it did in the middle of the pandemic. In fact, it was the COVID-19 pandemic that was used as an excuse to fast-track a deal that was so obviously one-sided that a Senate investigation has concluded that Malacanang was at the center of the crime. Yet humungous as it was, the Pharmally deal pales in comparison to the even bigger Malampaya contract wherein the top crony of President Rodrigo Duterte, ChineseFilipino businessman Dennis Uy, effectively takes control of the country’s sole source of natural gas. Offhand, it appears that Uy simply purchased a 90 percent stake in Malampaya from Chevron and Shell, which owned 45 percent each. A closer look, however, shows that the two companies were left with little choice but to sell their stakes because the Duterte regime had refused to extend the Malampaya’s contract beyond 2024. Industry experts say that what happened smacks of a sweetheart deal, where Uy’s Udenna Group takes control of a productive facility without spending a single cent. The state-owned Philippine National Oil Co. – a member of the Malampaya consortium – had the right of first refusal in case other members wanted to sell their stakes. At the center of the questionable deal is Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, also known as the mastermind behind the takeover of PDP-Laban despite his never having been elected to any position in his life. It gets worse. Barely had the ink in the contract dried when the very same Dennis Uy was able to win the deal to deploy election equipment for the May 2022 polls. Uy-controlled F2 Logistics will thus handle the ballots, ballot boxes, and voting machines for the most important polls in the last few decades. This despite poll watchdogs raising red flags, pointing out that Uy was the biggest campaign donor to Rodrigo Duterte in 2016. What next? Will there be another seven-hour “glitch” as what happened in 2019, after which Duterte-backed bets suddenly won all the Senate seats that were up for grabs? The Comelec has never explained precisely what happened that resulted in that election miracle. With billion peso deals being awarded to friends of the president left and right, we shudder to think what else will happen between now and the time Rodrigo Duterte steps down. Sadly, his regime gives us good reason to believe that the worst is yet to come. Indeed, it now seems that the 2022 elections will be a battle between good and evil, with whoever the current regime backs as representing the dark side. Decent, law-abiding FilAms must do their part to make sure the Duterte regime and its allies including the suspected Manchurian candidates for president are wiped out next year. Totally, completely, and absolutely. Only then can our tears stop falling.
Upside
ITH a heartfelt proclamation, Daly City Mayor Juslyn Manalo closed October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, at the Oct. 25 meeting of the City Council. In her first term as Mayor in 2019, Manalo led Daly City in hosting the first-known education presentation and resource fair on Intimate Partner Violence at the City Council Chambers, sending a message of resolve against the issue. The event was also a first time for the Daly City-based allvolunteer nonprofit ALLICE Alliance for Community Empowerment to educate a city leadership and constituents in CHERIE M. QUEROL MORENO its hall of honor. Manalo re-affirmed commitment to combating the problem this year with a proclamation emphasizing the prevalence of intimate partner violence and the need for concerted effort among private and public sectors to prevent and end it. ALLICE founding president Bettina Santos Yap accepted the proclamation with “gratitude and pride.” She thanked the City Council for assuring survivors that they are not alone and that the city works with resource providers to help them heal. Following is the text of the proclamation signed Oct. 25 by Mayor Manalo, Vice Mayor Rod Daus Magbual and Council Members Raymond Buenaventura, Pamela DiGiovanni and Glenn Sylvester. WHEREAS, Domestic Violence Awareness Month provides an excellent opportunity for citizens to learn more about preventing domestic violence and to show support for the organizations and individuals who provide critical advocacy, services, and assistance to victims; and WHEREAS, on average, 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States which totals 12 million women and men over the course of a year; and WHEREAS, the problem of domestic violence is Daly City Mayor Juslyn Manalo not confined to any group or groups of people, but Photo by CMQM crosses all economic, racial, gender, educational, religious, and societal barriers, and are sustained by societal indifference; and WHEREAS, the crimes of domestic violence violate an individual’s privacy, dignity, security, and humanity due to the systematic use of physical, emotional, sexual, psychological, and economic control and/or abuse; and WHEREAS, oftentimes the victims of domestic violence are children, who can have lifelong repercussions from the emotional or physical trauma of being(Continued on page 27)
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OPINION ID requirements for notarization of documents
“If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too: If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies, Or being hated don’t give way to hating, And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;” - From IF by Rudyard Kipling
s accredited and commissioned Notary Public in California since 1981 and founder of Mobile Signing Services (MSS), I frequently received inquiries from old and new clients on what kind of IDs are needed and required in the notarization of docuART GABOT MADLAING ments. The common IDs we accept for the notarization of documents in California are the following: 1. California Driver’s License issued by the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles); 2. California ID issued by the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles); 3. Valid U.S. Passport; 4. Valid Philippine Passport. All the four IDs mentioned above has the pictures of the clients, signatures of the clients, ID number, place of issue, date of issue and date of expiration. During the actual notarization of documents, we’ll enter the Serial Number and date of expiration of the ID in our Journal of Notarial Acts. We’ll also have our clients sign our Journal of Notarial Acts and put their right thumb marks near their signatures. Valid IDs, signatures and thumbmarks are necessary for the following reasons: 1. For the protection of our clients and the general public; 2. To protect the integrity and honor of professional Notaries; 3. To deter and discourage the temptation of committing fraud. Can We Accept Expired ID? Some states only permit Notaries to accept expired ID if it was issued within a certain time limit. In California, any signer ID allowed under California 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 of the notarization takes place may not be accepted. This requirement applies to signer ID presented for both acknowledgments and jurats. If a Notary Cannot Accept An Expired ID If you are not allowed by Notaries to accept an expired state-issued ID, there may be an alternative to identify you as the signer, but these methods also vary by state. In most cases, a valid unexpired U. S. passport would be acceptable. U.S. passports are valid for 10 years, typically double that of most driver’s license and state IDs issued by the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) in California. Considering that more than 137 million people , or about half of all US adults, currently hold passports, this is a workable option. We at Mobile Signing Services (MSS) are committed and will continue to assist and help old and new clients particularly the elderly, veterans and those physically handicapped , in the notarization and apostille follow up of Affidavits,, DEED OF DONATION, Special Power of Attorney, DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE, Proof of Life, Deed of Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate and other documents needed in the Philippines and the other member nations of the Hague Apostille Convention. Here are some advantages and benefits with MSS: 1.MULTIPLE DOCUMENTS AND MULTIPLE SIGNATURES DISCOUNTS – We offer 10% discounts on multiple documents and multiple signatures for old and new clients. 2. AVOID TAKE OFF FROM WORK - You don’t need to take off from work and drive to Sacramento or Los Angeles to submit notarized documents to the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section, for apostille. MSS will take care everything for you. 3. DISCOUNTS FOR THE ELDERLY AND VETERANS – We offer special discounts for the elderly and veterans. 4. FREE PARKING- When we had our office at the Philippine Center near the Philippine Consulate Office in downtown San Francisco, old clients were complaining for the expensive parking fees. With our home office now, old and new clients can have FREE parking in our driveway and the available street parking spaces nearby. 5. SAVINGS ON GAS AND MILEAGE FEES – We encourage old and new clients to come to our home office in San Francisco, California for savings on gas and mileage fees ($50 to $120). 6. VERY FLEXIBLE APPOINTMENTS – We offer very flexible appointments for old and (Continue on page 27)
Diliman Way
F by Rudyard Kipling is one of my anchor points in life. This is so as it helps develop integrity, character and discipline which are the main components of being a good person and an equally good leader. This is possibly so as this is the kind of poetry that legislates laws or guideposts in your life. After all, as the great poet, William Blake, HOMOBONO A. ADAZA has written – poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world. And I absolutely agree! Developments: With every passing day, as the filing of certificate of candidacy approaches, there are new stirrings in the political scene. Though this really is nothing new but it has been driven into the background when Mayor Sara Duterte of Davao City declared that she is not running for any national office since her father, President Rodrigo Duterte is running for Vice-President – which shows character and a very Filipino trait, a daughter giving way to the wishes of a father. Knowing Mayor Sara through newspapers and television, I believe she is serious – she will not run for President despite the fact that surveys announced that she is leading the pack by a mile among those rumored and declared to be running for President So the possibility is not dead that she may yet run for President eventually. But this is an iffy situation subject to unforeseen developments - if President Digong is ordered arrested by the International Court (ICC) and this is not only a possibility, it is an eminent probability; if President Digong is incapacitated by serious accident or serious illness that he cannot perform the duties of President; if, God forbid, he dies; or, if he is ousted from power and the elections will proceed anyway. If any of these possibilities ensue, I believe Mayor Sara will run for President in the 2022 election. The titillating question is – who would be her Vice-President? Sara-Imee or Bongbong Marcos tandem: Mayor Sara has political savvy, so has Imee. The best possible team mate for Mayor Sara is Senator Imee Marcos. That will make woman the determinative element in the May 2022 election. Many will say – it’s about time after the Cory Aquino and Gloria Arroyo debacles. First, Sara is no Cory or Gloria. Second, she has more character than both. Third, she has more experience in hands own governance than Cory. I should know. As Opposition Provincial Governor and Member of Parliament and as an unrelenting student of politics, I have studied the three of them in words and action. In the case of Cory and Gloria, I have seen them at close range and at a distance. In the case of Mayor Sara, I have seen her only from a distance and from the statements of some of her friends. My judgment on them is based one my readings and studies plus forty-five years of experience as a trial lawyer. Mayor Sara and the Marcos kids come from deeply rooted political families – Sara from the South and Marcos from the Solid North. That’s a very powerful tandem despite the views of some academicians and public relations practitioners that the North-South balance no long counts – it does! They all come from billionaire families. They have fanatics everywhere. Sara has a father who is a current President with control over police, military, teachers and Comelec – the elements in winning Philippine elections, national or local. The Marcos family has many powerful friends in government, in the military and the police as well as many powerful oligarchs. These are no joking matters. To defeat them, you need serious students of Sun Tzu’s Art of War. Invincibility: In politics or war, the word invincible does not exist. No one is unbeatable in war or politics. History is replete with examples - Marcos, Hitler, Mussolini, Khaddafi, Estrada, Trump, among many oth- (Continue on page 27)
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‘Biggest presidential gift to a crony’
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iggest presidential gift to a crony.” “Most incredible crony deal in history.” “Lost opportunity for the government.” “Terrible for the country.” “Bigger anomaly than Pharmally.” “Lutong macau.” “Tubong laway.” These words, among others, were how critics described the acquisition of 90% ownership share of Malampaya oil VAL ABELGAS and gas field in the West Philippine Sea by Udenna Corp., a company wholly owned by known presidential crony Dennis Uy. UC Malampaya, which is wholly owned by Uy’s Udenna, purchased from Chevron Malampaya LLC in November 2019 the entire 45-percent stake of Malampaya, worth $565 million. Shell Philippine Exploration has also agreed to sell its 45-percent stake to Udenna for $450 million, raising Udenna’s share to 90%. Both deals were approved by the Department of Energy, under Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, without a thorough assessment of Udenna’s financial and technical capability. “This is unparalleled. This is the most incredible crony agreement in the entire history… not just in the history of the Philippines. I would say in the history of the world there is nothing that comes close to this,” said lawyer Rodel Rodis, one of three Filipinos residing in the United States who filed graft charges against Cusi, Uy, and several officers of DOE, Philippine National Oil Company’s Exploration Corp (PNOC-EC), Udenna, Chevron and Shell Philippines. The other complainants in the graft complaints filed with the Office of the Ombudsman were Balgamel De Belen Domingo and Loida Nicolas Lewis The three complainants said that monetary losses from the Chevron sale to Udenna is around P21 billion — based on the 45 percent share of Chevron in the years 2018, 2019, and 2020. If this is combined with the 45 percent share of Shell, it may grow to around P42 billion a year. They claimed that despite the knowledge of the PNOCEC board, headed by Cusi as chairman, that it had the right to match Udenna’s purchase offer, PNOC-EC did not do so while knowing the guaranteed good return of investments on the Malampaya field in the years to come. PNOC-EC also would not match the purchase offer of Shell. Cusi and the other DOE and PNOC-EC officials knew that both Chevron and Shell have more than recovered their investments and expenses in Malampaya and know that it would earn much more if their service contracts were extended. They have, in fact, been asking the government to renew their license for gas exploration in the field. When Chevron and Shell realized they wouldn’t get the requested extension, they agreed to sell their stakes and take the sale proceed as pure profit. The Malampaya gas field would have automatically reverted to the PNOC-EC when the licenses of Chevron and Shell expire in 2024, and yet Cusi and the PNOC-EC not only ignored this fact, but allowed Udenna, which has neither the technical or financial capability to operate the gas field, to grab the 90-percent stake. Eduardo Manalac, former president of PNOC, said the government did not have to hire a foreign contractor to run the gas field. He said it is owned by the government and when the service contracts of Chevron and Shell expire in 2024, the gas reserves and the pipelines would revert to the government, and PNOC, which has the technical capability, can run it and gain 100 percent of the profits for the government. “That is what most national oil companies – Petronas (Malaysia), Pertamina (Indonesia), and CNOOC (China National Offshore Oil Corporation) look for. They will take over it, produce it themselves, and get 100 percent benefit, and that is what makes them very big,” Manalac added. Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, who is leading the Senate investigation into the deal, said it was a “lost opportunity” for the government to take over a vital asset for the country’s energy security. Natural gas from the Malampaya project contributed 26.92% of Luzon’s power generation mix in 2020. Its supply to gas-fired power plants serves 17% of the country’s households, Gatchalian said, citing figures from Manila Electric Co. (Continue on page 27)
On Distant Shore
Presidential clashes in 2022 (Part 11)
Health & Wealth
I
November 4-10, 2021
13 November 4-10, 2021 A quote for the would-be presidents Offline
t was almost 30 years ago when Democratic Party strategist James Carville crafted the line, “It’s the economy stupid!” for Bill Clinton. Along with “Where’s the beef?” it has become a classic political line because it struck close to home for most voters. Since then, most US presidential candidates have been trying to come up with lines BETING DOLOR that are just as memorable, with varying degrees of success. The same cannot be said of Philippine presidential bets, who prefer to throw crass insults at their opponents instead of well thought of one liners. This is indicative of the lack of maturity of the country’s political system as a whole. Presidential bets rarely, if ever, discuss issues, even during debates. I’ve referred to the Carville line on several occasions because it is so effective. And I use it now to write about the six serious candidates for president in next year’s polls. Some will have the necessary appreciation of the importance of the economy to all, while others will turn to their handlers to give them an idea of what that damn economics thing is all about. One candidate stands out for no other reason than she is a graduate of economics. Vice President Leni Robredo also happens to be a lawyer, making her that rare breed of politician who is adept at both the law and economics. I can only recall the great nationalist Jose W. Diokno as the only other Filipino leader who was both lawyer and accountant. It’s a good thing he has a son, Chel, who is running for senator. A former dean at De La Salle University, where his old man graduated, Chel Diokno will make an excellent addition to the Senate, which is filled with too many jokers and clowns already. Leni Robredo and her understanding of the economy is best prepared for the very serious problems that the country will be facing after Rodrigo Duterte steps down. For one, the country’s external debt has again ballooned to frightfully high levels. It will take a lot of doing to get the Philippine economy back on its feet. Imagine what would happen if the country had a president who was completely in the dark on what should be done to spur a recovery. That dark scenario could happen if one Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. were to win. The brilliant economist and former NEDA head Solita Monsod had mentioned on a previous occasion or two that she had tried to teach Marcos Jr. the rudiments of economics. It was like talking to a blank wall or a statue of Pennywise the Clown, she said in so many words. The guy simply could not comprehend the basics of economics. For him, the gross domestic product or GDP may as well be the same as PGH or KSP or TNT. To this we can only say, OMG. The Philippines will be in deep doodoo if this 64-year-old boy ever becomes chief executive. I must ask, would any Top 1,000 corporation ever dare to hire him as their CEO? I think not. Yet here he is asking that he be elected President and CEO of Philippines, Inc. I cannot imagine a bigger recipe for disaster. Maybe, just maybe, a President Bato dela Rosa will be worse. But at least the former PNP chief has a college degree. A real one, not a fake Oxford diploma. But then, Dela Rosa has zero chances of winning next year. Then there’s Senator Manny Pacquiao, who may also have an extremely limited understanding of the vagaries of the economy, business and finance. The only good thing that can be said about him is that he has parlayed the billions he earned as a professional prizefighter into both a brand and a business which seems to be doing well. Ping Lacson is a different sort of political animal. If Leni were not running, I would even vote for the former top cop. There are some things about his background that may be questionable, but this is negated by the number of good things I have heard about him. The fact that he never spent the hundreds of millions he was en(Continue on page 27)
PBS Documentary on 20 Years of Asian American Playwriting airs November 9
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arch 2020 hit the Asian American community especially hard in more ways than one. At that time, six Off Broadway plays written by Asian American writers were under production or scheduled to open their curtains. It was a consummation of several decades of a varied spectrum of journeys—all leading to a moment in which never before were so many Asian American playwrights set to show in the city that never sleeps. When PBS approached Ralph Peña, Ma-Yi Theater’s Producing Artistic Director, to create a documentary on Asian American playwrights, he chose to interview several playwrights in honor of a moment of arrival that was sadly truncated by the global pandemic. He had the contact list to do it. After all, five of the playwrights were past participants in the Ma-Yi Theater Company’s Writer’s Lab. The interviewees include such writers as David Henry Hwang, Lloyd Suh, Qui Nguyen, Lauren Yee, Mike Lew, Rehana Lew Mirza, and Chay Yew. “These writers took different paths and followed disparate artistic impulses to get to this point,” said Mr. Peña. Tune in to watch “The First Twenty: 20 Years of Asian American Playwriting” on November 9, 2021 at 8pm Eastern Time on PBS’ All Arts Program. It was filmed over two days and took five months to edit down to a 30-minute documentary thanks to Ralph Peña of the Ma-Yi Theater Company. The Ma-Yi Theater is one of the oldest Asian American theater groups in the United States, founded by Filipinos and named after a thousand year-old term traders used for the Philippines before our homeland became someone else’s colony. The show airs on November 9, 2021 on the following channels: COMCAST: 958/1156 SPECTRUM: 1276 DIGITAL ANTENNA: 21.4 If you miss the 8pm Eastern showing on these cable channels, you can play it on demand by going to allarts.org after November 9. “People of color are used to watching stories about white people and empathizing with them,” said playwright David Henry Hwang in the documentary. “And the reverse has to happen as well.” So true. So true.
‘First things first, please’
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hree years ago, when Rodrigo Duterte was still at the height of his popularity and when many of his fanatic supporters followed and accepted everything that he said without question, there were times when he would even attack and criticize God. Once he was quoted as saying--“Who is this stupid God? ATTY. JOJO LIANGCO Istupido talaga itong p***** i** kung ganun. You created some—something perfect and then you think of an event that would tempt and destroy the quality of your work . . .” There were a few who were alarmed by what he said and reacted negatively about his rant. As expected, Duterte’s apologists, spin makers, and online apple polishers tried their best to put reason and sense to what he said. Duterte’s legal counsel Salvador Panelo claimed that Duterte did not insult God but was “just questioning” Christianity’s theory of creation. Duterte’s spokesperson, Harry Roque, also a lawyer, insisted that Duterte had the right to express his personal views on religion. But to the thinking person, there’s really no sense in trying to find and make sense to what he said. What Duterte said then was not relevant to the task that he was voted for. It disrespects the faith of many people. Again it’s about the nonsense line of his fanatics--- “try to understand Duterte.” It’s again about Duterte and Duterte alone. How about respect for other people and their faith? It is very naïve and simplistic to even believe that it was only the Roman Catholics who were offended by Duterte’s rant. Christians, Muslims, Jews, and many other congregations of faith in the world believe in God and the story of creation as stated in their holy books and teachings. Even one of the elected Filipino senators stated that what Duterte said then manifested the height of his arrogance not only because he disrespected the religious belief of many Filipinos but also because he acted as though he was God himself. What bothered many concerned Filipinos is the fact that Duterte’s language and ramblings were both divisive and unproductive and his irrational ramblings are distracting the nation’s focus from the important problems and urgent issues of the day. Senator Risa Hontiveros said it best: “As a woman of faith myself, I understand the anger of many among us. President Duterte’s latest comment does nothing to bring the Filipino people together. It only divides us even further. However, I appeal to the public to remain vigilant and not lose sight of the important issues that need addressing. Let us not allow President Duterte to distract us with his irrational stream-of-consciousness ramblings.” Senator Hontiveros was right. Dealing with the more important matters and issues that affect the Philippines should be dealt with first before the irrelevant things that Duterte talks about--- like religion and faith. First things first should be the call to action of every Filipino who cares about the Philippines. It is ungodly and un-Christian that thousands have died in the war on drugs. Tens of thousands of Filipinos are suffering from poverty, lack of health care, and joblessness. Every voting Filipino should put the mantra “First things first” in their hearts and minds when they go and vote for their new president in May 2022. First things first, please. Why not strengthen the foundation of the Philippine economy, including agricultural development and sustainability, as well our vital industries? What about the Chinese intrusion in the West Philippine Sea? Former supreme court justice Antonio Carpio continues to warn the Duterte administration that the Philippines is losing its EEZ and fishing grounds to China as China continues to dominate the West Philippine Sea (“WPS”). First things first. Presidents and even dictators come and go. But when a nation loses its focus, the nation is bound to lose more--- including its territory and its sovereignty--- and this will affect the future generation as well. Filipinos should not let this to happen. How about voting wisely this time--- in May 2022?
Immigrant’s Story
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OPINION
IMMIGRATIONS U.S. Embassy update on visa processing
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he U.S. Embassy in Manila issued a update on the immigrant and nonimmigrant visa processing. As of November 3, 2021 the U.S. Consulate issued the following guidelines: “Routine visa services remain suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines continues to operate with reduced staffing.” “As conditions surrounding the COVID-19 situation improve, the Embassy will provide additional services, culminating eventually in a complete resumption of routine visa services. The Embassy cannot predict when the resumption of full visa services or processing of a specific category of visa will occur.” “Immigrant Visa (IV): The Embassy continues to have a significant backlog of all categories of immigrant visas. We are using a tiered approach to triage immigrant visa applications, based on the category of immigrant visa, as we resume and expand processing. While we schedule limited appointments within all four priority tiers every month, the following lists the main categories of immigrant visas in priority order: • Tier One: Immediate relative intercountry adoption visas, age-out cases (cases where the applicant will soon no longer qualify due to their age), and certain Special Immigrant Visas (SQ and SI for Afghan and Iraqi nationals working with the U.S. government) • Tier Two: Immediate relative visas; fiancé(e) visas; and returning resident visas • Tier Three: Family preference immigrant visas and SE Special Immigrant Visas for certain employees of the U.S. government abroad • Tier Four: All other immigrant visas, including employment preference and Diversity Visas Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV): The Embassy continues to prioritize travelers with urgent (i.e. matter of life and death) travel needs, foreign diplomats, and certain mission-critical categories of travelers, such as students and exchange visitors (F-1, M-1, and J-1) and temporary employment visas (H-1B, H-2B, and L nonimmigrant). Visa appointments and processing for B1/B2 (Business/Tourist) have resumed at significantly reduced levels.” What happen to the filing fees of those who are waiting for visa appointment? “We understand that many visa applicants have paid the visa application processing fee and are still waiting to schedule a visa appointment. The Embassy will extend the validity of your payment (known as the MRV fee) until September 30, 2023, to allow all applicants who were unable to schedule a visa appointment as a result of the suspension of routine consular operations an opportunity to schedule a visa appointment with the already-paid fee.” What is the procedure if an expedite is necessary to obtain a nonimmigrant visa? “NIV Expedite Appointment Requests: Expedite requests for emergency travel may be submitted via our website at http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-niv-visaapply.asp. Please note that the applicant will need to book a regular appointment through our appointment system before requesting an expedited appointment through http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-nivexpeditedappointment.asp. How may applicants avail of the interview waiver program for nonimmigrant visa? “NIV Interview Waiver: The interview waiver program has been expanded. Information is available at https://ph.usembassy.gov/visas/visa-updates/. How may visa applicants request to reschedule their visa interview when the regular processing resume? “Visa Scheduling: After we resume visa processing, which will be confirmed on our website at https://ph.usembassy.gov/visas/visa-updates, applicants can reschedule the first available visa interview appointment slot by phone at (+632) 7792-8988 or (+632) 8548-8223, or through our online appointment system at http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/. There is no fee to change an appointment. After routine visa processing resumes, if you have difficulties rescheduling a pending consular appointment, you may send an email to support-philippines@ustraveldocs.com for specific guidance.” What are the protocols for immigrants, nonimmigrant and U.S. citizens travelling to the United States with regards to Covid 19 requirements? “All airline passengers to the United States ages two years and older must provide a negative COVID-19 viral test taken within three calendar days of travel. Alternatively, travelers to the United States may provide documentation from a licensed health care provider of having recovered from COVID-19 in the 90 days preceding travel. Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for additional information and Frequently Asked Questions. “ Note: This is not a legal advice. Success Stories For the month of October 2021, we received approvals from USCIS five naturalization applications, two Fiancée visa petitions, four removals of condition on residence and five adjustment of status applications. Bankruptcy Basics 1. Bankruptcy will actually improve your credit within one year because your unsecured debts are discharged. Although the bankruptcy will be in your records for 10 years, not filing bankruptcy will make your credit even worse until most your debts are paid. 2. If you are being sued by your creditors, most money judgment can be eliminated in bankruptcy. 3. Collection actions continue and you can be sued if you are in debt settlement. 4. Chapter 7 will eliminate all unsecured debts. If you are near retirement age, you must eliminate most of your debts. Philippine Stories 1. This election will determine if the Philippines will keep its independence or we will be taken over by China and become slaves to communist regime. We need to unite in order to defeat the current administration or we will lose our country. There are about 3.6 million Chinese in the Philippines working on POGO. Chinese are registered military personnel of China. Chinese are allowed to enter the Philippines without visa restrictions. (Continue on page 27) Listen to Percy Lapid (or Lapid Fire) and Waldy Carbonell
November 4-10, 2021
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NEDA chief sees sustained GDP expansion in Q3
PASIG CITY – The domestic economy is expected to remain in expansion mode even with the movement restrictions in the third quarter of 2021. In his speech during the Manila Times virtual 123rd anniversary, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua said around 77 percent of the country’s economy remains in heightened quarantine but “people appear to have internalized the pandemic already”. “In other words, they have made it endemic in their lives and therefore people are simply just moving about with their daily routine and just taking care of themselves. So, I do not think that even with the level of quarantine that we saw in the third quarter, the economy would not be growing. I believe it will be growing because of the data and the change in paradigm, mentality and approach that we are seeing in the last quarter,” he said.
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua The government again placed Metro Manila under the strictest movement restriction, enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), from August 6 to 20 and under the modified ECQ (MECQ) until September 15 because of another spike in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections due to the Delta variant.
PHL manufacturing score hits 7-month high in October
MAKATI CITY – The performance of the country’s manufacturing sector continued to recover in October 2021, according to IHS Markit’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI). London-based information and analytics firm IHS Markit reported that Philippine manufacturing PMI last month rose to 51 from 50.9 in September 2021. Scores above 50 show improvement in the sector while below the neutral mark indicate deterioration of manufacturing performance. “October PMI data signalled a slight pick-up in growth across the Philippines manufacturing sector. Some restrictions continued to ease, and the demand environment showed tentative signs of improvement with new orders stabilizing after six months of decline,” IHS Markit
economist Shreeya Patel said. On the other hand, Patel said manufacturing growth is threatened by shortages in raw materials and rising costs as well as delivery delays. “Such pressures are likely to persist over the next few months but a key concern comes from firms only partly able to pass on higher costs given the relatively weak demand environment,” she added. The report said as producers anticipate disruptions in the supply chain, input buying increased for the first time since July this year to secure raw materials. Manufacturing firms continued to shed headcount for 20 straight months, but the decline further eased in October. Both input and output prices increased last month mainly due to material shortages particularly metals, packaging materials, and oil.
MAKATI CITY – The Philippine peso is expected to remain generally firm against the US dollar as the Christmas holiday nears, a season for increased inflows from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). At the end of the trading session last October 29, the local currency finished at 50.415 against the greenback, better than its 50.71 close in the previous day. In a report, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) chief economist Michael Ricafort said the local currency ended last week’s trade to its strongest in more than a month, or since September 23. Aside from optimism on the continued decline in local coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases, Ricafort said improved global market risk appetite also supported the local currency. “(The) peso (is) likewise stronger in anticipation for some increase in OFW
remittance and conversion to pesos ahead of the long holiday weekend as the Christmas season and preparations draw closer into November 2021,” he said. Ricafort forecasts the peso’s major support level between 50.20 to 50.30 this week for a possible trek to the 49.70 to 50.00 in the coming days. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data show that cash inflows from OFWs have historically been high in the last quarter of the year, as well as before the start of the school openings. As of August this year, cash remittances grew by 5.7 percent to US$20.38 billion. Monetary authorities forecast remittances to grow by 4 percent this year, with optimism based on the reports of continued reopening of economies around the globe and continued demand for OFWs, especially those for the medical field.
Peso seen to stay firm as Christmas season nears
ENTERTAINMENT
November 4-10, 2021
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Dennis Trillo and Jennylyn Mercado are engaged, reveal they are having a baby
Kapuso actors Dennis Trillo and Jennylyn Mercado confirmed this Friday, October 29 in the evening that they are getting married. Dennis shared his simple but “heartfelt” marriage proposal to Jennylyn, which was actually held on October 8 at Jen’s house. “Siyempre, gusto ko di masyadong magarbo. Sa panahon ngayon dapat maging praktikal. “Ginawa ko yung pinakasimple, pero at the same time, heartfelt,” Dennis said in a joint interview with Jennylyn on 24 Oras of GMA7. Jennylyn often stays in the bedroom but Dennis asked her to go down to the dining area at the first floor and pretended they would have a video shoot.
Jennylyn said, “Wala akong kaidea kasi di ako masyado bumababa ng first floor ng bahay. Pero nung time na yun, sinabi sa akin ni Dennis na kailangan ko daw bumaba dahil may isu-shoot daw kami na future message sa aming future selves. “Nagkaroon ako ng kutob kasi seryoso siya magsalita, tapos seryoso niya akong kinakausap. Tapos lumuhod, tapos nagulat na ako bumukas yung pinto.” Jennylyn is nine weeks pregnant. Following the announcement of their engagement, Dennis and Jennylyn revealed that they are having a baby.. Dennis stated, “Nangyari yung proposal dito lang sa bahay dahil maraming factors na naging dahilan
kaya dito na lang ginawa. “Unang-una, mahirap lumabas ngayon, tapos sa kondisyon ni Jen ngayon. Hindi na masyado makalabas ng bahay kasi medyo maselan ang pinagdadaanan…” “Positive ako!” the Kapuso actress laughed. According to Dennis, Jennylyn is nine months pregnant. They learned that Jen is conceiving during the taping of GMA-7 prime-time series Love. Die.Repeat where she is paired with Xian Lim. “Ito, nangyari two months ago. Dun ko na-feel na medyo iba ako, e. Medyo emotional ako. Medyo iba yung pakiramdam ko,” Jennylyn explained. The couple is so happy because they have wanted for so long to have a baby. “Sa tamang oras, pagkakataon, na ready ka na siguro, saka ibibigay sa ‘yo,” Jennylyn said. The are hoping they will have a baby girl because they already have sons—Alex Jazz who is Jen’s son with Patrick Garcia, and Calix who is Dennis’ son with his former girlfriend Carlene Aguilar. The story about Dennis’ proposal to Jennylyn was aired on YouTube. Dennis prepared a heartfelt message which made Jennylyn cry. You could feel the Dennis’ sincerity in his voice and his seriousness as he delivered every word to his girlfriend. Dennis opened: “Ito yung araw sa buhay natin na magbabago na talaga… Gusto ko lang mag-thank you kasi pinili mo ako na samahan sa journey na ito.”Jennylyn quipped, “Siyempre naman.” Dennis continued, “Inisiip mo siguro kung bakit ngayon lang nangyari. Hindi pa kasi ako ready
noon. Pero siniguro ko muna talaga kapag nangyari iyon, ito na yung best version ko. “Gusto ko mag-thank you sa ‘yo kasi tinulungan mo ako na maging ganun. Akala ko dati okay na ako, pero ang dami ko pa lang improvements, sobra.” At this point, both Dennis and Jennylyn shed tears. The actor’s lines were only disrupted when Jennylyn asked for tissue. As he came back, Dennis expressed how he appreciates the love given by Jennylyn. “Salamat talaga at dumating ka ulit sa buhay ko,” the actor said. “Hindi ko alam kung makakahanap pa ako ng pagmamahal na katulad ng binigay mo sa akin kasi talagang sagad, e, at ramdam na ramdam ko yun. “Ikaw lang ang gusto kong makasama. Ikaw at yung bagong addition sa pamilya natin. Isa yun sa mga pangarap ko.” As Dennis knelt in front of Jennylyn, the sliding door opened and showed balloons set-up of the word “MARRY ME?” for his proposal. As Dennis placed the ring on Jennylyn’s finger, they were in their joyful mood while Dennis was still talking and Jennylyn suddenly blurted out, “Hindi pa ako sumasagot…” That’s when Dennis asked “Will you marry me? Pakakasalan mo ba ako?”Jennylyn laughed and was quick to reply “Oo naman!” Dennis was obviously carried away having fulfilled his proposal to Jennylyn. It could be surmised it was his happiest moment. The couple sealed their engagement with a tight embrace and a kiss, uhh, kisses.(ECD)
Ex-bf Paulo Avelino reaches out to LJ Reyes in the US but no efforts from Paolo Contis It was such a nice gesture of LJ Reyes’ ex-boyfriend Paulo Avelino to reach out to the actress while in the US where she and her two children Aki and Summer are temporarily based, but her former live-in partner Paolo Contis remains silent and unmindful. Paulo Avelino is the father of Aki, his 11-year-old love child with LJ. Summer is Paolo Contis’ daughter with the 33-year old actress. LJ related her communication with Paulo during Boy Abunda’s exclu-
sive interview with her when the TV host visited New York on the first week of October 2021.“We’re not friends, friends na parang every day nag-uusap, but he’s been there for Aki naman. “He’s been in touch, especially… siya yung nag-message sa akin. Siya ang nag-send sa akin ng message. Nagsabi lang siya na, parang, ‘I know you’re going through a very difficult time.’ “At siyempre, ang iniisip niya rin is
si Aki, and if anything daw that I need when it comes to Aki, I can always tell him,” LJ narrated about her exchange of messages with Paulo. LJ and Paulo were in a relationship for four years before they broke up in 2013. The TV host asked LJ if Paolo has done something to talk to her. LJ quipped, “No, Tito Boy, no efforts.” The actress related lengthily when she talked about forgiveness towards Paolo whom she loved for the past six
years. “It’s a work in progress. Ipinagdadasal ko na mapatawad ko siya because I know that if I don’t forgive him, this very dark emotion will just eat me up and I won’t be able to move on with my kids, move forward with my kids nang maayos.“Yung walang galit o walang… siyempre may pain. I mean, hindi pa mawawala yun. But for me to make… at least, decent decisions or decisions that will benefit my kids.
17 November 4-10, 2021
ENTERTAINMENT
Elisse Joson and McCoy de Leon reveal they have a baby girl It was to everybody’s surprise when Kapamilya actors McCoy de Leon and Elisse Joson admitted to the public that they already have a baby girl. The revelation happened on the eve of Halloween, October 31 on the program Pinoy Big Brother: Kumunity Season 10 when they asked “Kuya” if he could stand as their daughter Felize McKenzie’s godfather. Suddenly, the netizens asked if this could help in the promotion of their respective movies? McCoy is one of the lead actors in Yorme The Movie, while Elisse plays the role of K Brosas’s daughter in Will You Marry? On Monday, November 1, Elisse posted on her Instagram and Facebook accounts two cropped pictures of her baby girl. She wrote on her caption: “Our little angel (angel emoji) ready to say hello to the world. “Dearest Felize, “Life was uncertain before you came. I didn’t know which path to take, the choices to make. I didn’t know what to be, what I want to be.. Now, nothing is clearer to me than to be the best me, to be the best mommy, for you. “I am lucky to have your daddy in my life and we are very lucky to have you, our greatest bless-
ing, in our lives.” Baby Felize takes the lead on Elisse’s YouTube channel vlog “ADIML” (A Day In My Life).” Meanwhile, the 26-year-old dad McCoy also posted on his Instagram and Facebook with their photo of Elisse and Baby Felize. McCoy stated, “Binigay ka ng Diyos hindi lang isang regalo, binigay ka rin niya dahil binigyan mo kami ng pag-asa ng nanay mo. “Nagtuloy-tuloy ang pagsasamahan namin dahil sayo, kasi alam naming ikaw ang magiging dahilan kaya kami nabubuhay sa mundong ito.“Walang hanggang kasiyahan ang binibigay mo sa amin, simula nu’ng nakita namin hanggang
ngayon. Bawat ngiti mo nawawala lahat ng pangangamba namin. Aaminin ko, natatakot ako sa minsang magulong mundong ito, pero kahit anong mangyari poprotektahan kita hanggat buhay ako. “Mamahalin kita nang higit pa sa sarili ko. At ngayon masayang-masaya kami ng nanay mo na ipagmalaki ka sa buong mundo. “Para naman sa ina ng anak ko, maaring marami tayong pinagdaanan simula noon hanggang nandito pa rin tayo. Nagmamahalan ng lubos, sumusugal sa lahat ng maaring mangyari at tinanggap ang bawat isa lalo na ako… kaya salamat, Elisse ko. “At sa aking mag ina, Hindi man ako perpekto bilang ama o asawa pero gagawin kong perpekto ang pagmamahal ko para sa inyo. “Pinangako ko sa Diyos ito at mangangako hanggang sa huli. Mahal na mahal na mahal ko kayo Elisse at Felize.” In an interview with pep.ph sometime in June when he had a courtesy call with Mayor Isko Moreno for the promo of their movie Yorme: The Movie which also includes Xian Lim, he was asked if he and Elisse were okay, especially with the actress’ mom. McCoy flashed a happy smile when he said that their relationship was going smooth and got even deeper.
PABATID NG PAMPUBLIKONG PAGDINIG
Upang tumanggap ng mga pahayag tungkol sa pagsasaalang-alang at maaaring pagtanggap ng mga tagapamahalang distritong hangganan ng San Mateo County matapos ang 2020 Census.
Nobyembre 9 at 16 ika-9:30 nang umaga Para sa mas detalyadong kaalaman tungkol sa pagdinig na ito sa harap ng Lupon ng mga Tagapamahala, tumungo sa https://sanmateocounty.legistar.com.
ENTERTAINMENT
November 4-10, 2021
18
Cagayan de Oro’s Cindy Obeñita wins Miss Intercontinental crown in Egypt
The Philippines has a new international beauty queen. She is Cagayan de Oro City’s Cindy Obeñita who won the Miss Intercontinental 2021 crown in Egypt on October 30. The 25-year-old senior tourism officer from Cagayan de Oro, a newcomer in the pageant scene, won over 70 candidates in the competition. With her win, she became the country’s second Miss Intercontinental titleholder, after Karen Gallman in 2018/19. A day after Obenita’s victory, Philippine bet Emmanuelle Vera finished third runner-up at the Reina Hispanoamericana 2021 pageant held in Bolivia which was won by Mexico’s Andrea Bazarte. It was in 2017 when the Philippines first joined Reina Hispanoamericana, a Latina-dominated pageant. The country’s representative that year, actress Wynwyn Marquez, bagged the crown. During the question and answer portion as ABSCBN reported, Obeñita was asked if speaking English is important for Miss Intercontinental. “As an ambassador, I don’t think that speaking a spe-
cific language is very important here in Miss Intercontinental or any pageant at all. As long as that woman is a woman of power and grace, commitment, and intelligence,” Obeñita said. She went on to stress that a Miss Intercontinental winner should possess a power of substance to give hope and inspiration. “No matter what language she speaks, and that woman is actually a woman of style and substance, then she can win any pageant or any endeavor she is into. Also, it’s very important, I have learned actually here in Miss Intercontinental, that a woman should possess power of substance,” she said. “And I believe I am that woman because that is the essence of a modern-day Miss Intercontinental -- that we are living in a world that’s very hard to survive. And as a Miss Intercontinental, I would like to be that source of hope, that source of inspiration on the true power of beauty and that is felt on the kindness of our hearts and definitely on the sincerity of our loving actions,” she added. The Miss Intercontinental 2021 runners-up are: Mexico (1st runner-up), England (2nd runner-up), Seychelles (3rd runner-up), Canada (4th runner-up) and Colombia (5th runner-up), ABS-CBN reported. Aside from the crown, the Filipina beauty queen was also named Miss Intercontinental-Asia Oceania. Binibining Pilipinas immediately sent its warmest greetings to the newlycrowned queen. “From wildcard to Miss Intercontinental 2021! Your Cinderella story is truly inspiring. Thank you for raising our flag, Cindy!
Good morning, Pilipinas from our new Miss Intercontinental,” the organization said on Instagram. Obeñita, according to ABS-CBN report, became a local trending topic on Twitter last July after impressing the viewers of the Binibining Pilipinas pageant during the question-and-answer round. Asked about the importance of luxury items for a woman amid a struggling economy triggered by the pandemic, Obeñita said she would rather be a woman “who understands the problems of the Philippines” and be the one to “comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.” The beauty queen graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Mass Communication from Liceo de Cagayan University. She said she has been “academically multidecorated” since her elementary years. Aside from working in the provincial government of Misamis Oriental, she is also an events host, model, and brand endorser. Obeñita, who considers Mother Teresa and Kobe Bryant as her role models, is an advocate for cervical cancer awareness and prevention, as well as press freedom. In Bolivia, during the question and answer segment, ABS-CBN reported Vera was asked what she would do with her life now after the pandemic has given many people a second chance. “I stand before you here today receiving my second chance. The pandemic rendered me jobless and hopeless. But through faith and perseverance, I rose again. But I realized that many Filipinos, countless Filipinos did not have the same opportunity as I did,” she said. “Throughout the pandemic, I had the privilege of volunteering, raising funds and serving the less fortunate in my country,” added the singer-turned-beauty queen. “I witnessed their situation and I realized that I will never be the same. Now, because of the pandemic, I choose to see people through the lens of empathy to give them kindness and to act in genuine selfless love, and to live a life that serves a purpose that is bigger than myself and is of service of my fellowmen.” After winning the Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas 2021 title during the Miss World Philippines competition last Oct. 3, Vera had a little time to prepare before flying to Bolivia for the coronation night.
19 November 4-10, 2021
ENTERTAINMENT
CARLA ABELLANA: TOM IS AN ANSWERED PRAYER
T
he daughter of my good friend PJ Abellana, actress Carla Abellana completed the Simbang Gabi in hopes of meeting the man who will love her “unconditionally” and “take very, very good care” of her. But unbeknown to her then, she had actually already met that man. In fact, they even played husband and wife in a soap opera. “I prayed for you … But the thing is, back then, I didn’t even know it was you I was praying for,” Carla said in her wedding vows to her husband, Tom Rodriguez. After seven years of dating and a yearlong engagement, the two actors finally tied the knot at the San Juan Nepomuceno Parish in Batangas last Oct. 23. The ceremony—clips of which have just been uploaded to Carla’s YouTube vlog—was officiated by Novaliches Bishop Emeritus Teodoro Bacani Jr. “I seriously never thought that the man I had been praying for was already so close to me and that we had already crossed paths months prior,” said Carla, who worked together in the 2013 GMA 7 series “My Husband’s Lover.” “I didn’t even have to pray anymore, because God had already answered my prayer in advance.” “What a plot twist!” quipped the 35-year-old Kapuso star. “God was constantly knocking on my head, saying, ‘Ano ka ba, dasal ka nang dasal ’di ka naman nakikinig sa ’kin!’ But soon enough, it hit me. It truly felt that my soul found yours, and went, ‘Oh, there you are. I have been looking all over for you!’”
Meanwhile, Tom, 34, said he can’t imagine life without Carla, who served as his guiding light when he “lost” his “way” after his father William Mott’s death in 2017. “You have enriched my life in more ways than I can readily express. And when dad passed, I have to admit, I lost my faith. I lost my way. But your boundless capacity for love was the road that led me back into his arms. I know dad is with Him now, but he would have loved to have been here,” he said. Tom, who wore a black Francis Libiran suit, waxed poetic, comparing Carla to an angel who had descended from heaven. “So, here we are in front of
all our loved ones and, truth be told, I need them all here because I need to know that none of this is just a dream,” he said. “But this angel standing here before me really is mine. And somehow, she loves me deeply and completely,” he added. “Heaven must have never been the same the day you came down and graced my life.” Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the wedding was kept intimate with just family, close friends and GMA 7 bosses in attendance. Carla’s parents Rey “PJ” Abellana and Aurea Reyes accompanied the actress in her bridal march. Near the altar, waiting, stood Tom with his mother, Teresita Abinguna-Mott. The groomsmen included Rafael Rosell, JC
Tiuseco and Sid Lucero. Iya Villania was one of the bridesmaids. Others present were Janice de Belen, Rocco Nacino and Jasmine Curtis-Smith. The black and whitethemed reception was held at El Jardin de Zaida. Tom can’t wait to grow old with Carla. “I will be there to raise our children and grandchildren, both humans and furbabies. I often imagine what you would look like as a lola … sigurado magandang-maganda. And I can’t wait to find out for myself,” he said. “Now that I have gotten your sweet [I do], it’s now official: Ako si Mister at ikaw si Madam Mott!” he joked. Carla vowed to keep the promise she made to Tom’s father during his last moments. “I will take good care of you, so that he’d never have to worry,” she said. “You returned to the Philippines with practically nothing but the hope of having a new life and career,” Carla said of Tom who spent his teenage years in the States, before trying his luck here in 2009 via the reality show “Pinoy Big Brother.” “But little did you know that you came back carrying the most valuable treasure someone here in the Philippines has been waiting for—your heart,” she said. Congratulations guys!
REAL ESTATE
November 4-10, 2021
20
Batangas seen as next luxurious watering place Manuel V. Pangilinan (MVP) is not your conventional business leader. As Chairman of the infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) and other Manuel V. Pangilinan (MVP) numerous companies that provide essential services, MVP stays on top of the company’s COVID-19 response in support of the government efforts. At the same time, he jumpstarts the preparedness of the Philippine economy to bounce back from the global health crisis with his vision for tourism in Batangas. MVP leads his team to have courage in facing the future with bright prospects through the uncertainties. He does all these while he visits the pristine beauty of the Landco’s latest Leisure Tourism Estates (LTE) – the 15-hectare Calatagan South Beach, better known as CaSoBē. “Through Landco Pacific Corp.’s latest beachside projects, CaSoBē and Club Laiya, I take pride in promoting Batangas as one of the country’s top tourist destinations. These properties are responsibly
developed to preserve the cultural and natural features of the place; provide employment for locals; and give Filipinos an opportunity to recover from these unprecedented times by not just building their dream beach homes but opting to create Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that cater to the tourism market,” MVP stated. These masterplanned estates are the newest projects of upscale real estate developer Landco, a subsidiary of MPIC. These developments under Landco Beach Towns are close to MVP’s heart as he foresees these lively leisure and tourism destinations in Batangas as the next big thing. The country’s answer to some of the world’s most vibrant beach side destinations: Ibiza, Spain; Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Capri, Italy. Through Landco Pacific Corp.’s latest beachside projects, CaSoBē and Club For more than three decades, Laiya, MVP takes pride in promo�ng Batangas as one of the country’s top Landco made its mark in develtourist des�na�ons. oping exclusive and luxurious properties around the country. One of its leading projects is Peninsula de Punta Fuego, a premiere luxury seaside residential community situated on the 88-hectare of pristine coastline in Nasugbu, Batangas. Leveraging on tourism as one of the key drivers for the country’s growth when it emerges from these challenging times, Landco with the leadership of New Funeral home with Reception Center Flower Shop MVP, envisions a revolutionary and innovative new concept. Beautiful Garden Memorial Park Cremation Services Landco CEO Erickson Manzano supports MVP’s We transfer your loved ones to and from the Philippines vision to position the LTE as thriving and inclusive seaside communities in the travel and leisure destination of Batangas, inspiring entrepreneurship and work-life harmony. “It’s a gamechanger approach. Instead of making it exclusive, it’s open to the tourism market but remains aspirational and premium,” said Manzano. “It presents an opportunity for budding Filipino entrepreneurs or those who would like to work closer with nature. Eventually, the place will not just be a hotspot for local tourists but for in-bound travelers from abroad,” he added. CaSoBē offers a mix of seaside residential homes, and beachside retail and commercial establishments. There’s a Retail Row, a Harbour Walk, and an Activity Block – with lot sizes ranging from 356 square meters to 890 square meters. All these lots are near the beach and paved with pedestrian streets. There’s a common area estate WIFI, 24/7 security with CCTV, FFFFFFF HHHH RRRRRRRRR CCCCCC CCCCCCC LLLL a beach promenade and a hotel-inspired property management service. It’s is a haven for those who prefer more privacy and a laidback and intimate lifestyle. It is near Cape Santiago lighthouse, a golf course, Little Boracay sandbar, Star fish island and the underwater pyramid. Located on the other side of the Batangas coastline, the 24-hectare Club Laiya features a combination of residential and commercial-ready lots in the tourist spot of San-Juan Laiya Road. It’s a choice destination for the stylish and chic leisure seekers who love to work on their tan, get into water sports and hangout in the hottest party scenes. A row of diverse resorts, restaurants and bars already dots its shores.
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21 November 4-10, 2021
NEWS NATIONAL SPORTS NEWS
3 Tokyo Olympics boxing medalists get P12 M reward from San Miguel’s Ramon Ang By Jeanne Michael Penaranda MANDALUYONG CITY – San Miguel Corporation (SMC) president Ramon S. Ang wished Tokyo Olympic medalists Eumir Marcial, Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio the best as they gun for the Philippines’ first Olympic gold in boxing in the Paris Olympics three years from now, which also marks the country’s 100th year of participation in the quadrennial meet. This as Ang personally handed his P2 million incentive to Marcial for his bronze medal feat while Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio received P5 million each for winning silver medals. Aside from the cash incentives, Ang said San Miguel Corporation (SMC) will provide the three boxers with any SMC business of their choice that they can put up in their home provinces. All three boxers are from Mindanao. Marcial is from Zamboanga City while Paalam and Petecio hail from Cagayan de Oro and Davao del Sur, respectively. “At a time when our country is see-
ing the initial signs of hope to recover from the pandemic, our Olympic medalists continue to inspire us to do our best and rise above all difficulties. As we wish them further success in boxing in the coming Olympics and in Eumir’s case, his next professional bout, we also taking steps to further secure their future with the San Miguel businesses of their choice,” Ang said. Ang said the country’s first Olympic gold, courtesy of weightlifter Hidllyn Diaz in the Tokyo Olympics would serve to inspire the three Olympic boxers to vie for the gold in one of the Filipinos’ favorite sport, where Anthony Villanueva and Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco went as far as a silver finish in 1964 in Tokyo and 1996 in Atlanta, respectively. Earlier, Ang also gave P10 million incentive to weightlifter Diaz, who won the gold in the Tokyo Olympics. Ang said he sees middleweight Marcial, who turned pro last year, as one of the brightest spots in Philippine boxing as he beat American Andrew Whitfield in his professional debut last December before becoming the first Filipino pro boxer
to compete and win a medal in the Olympics. “Eumir’s first bout is impressive, considering that he turned pro and fought his first pro bout following a long layoff due to the pandemic. I see him reaching the greater heights like great boxers Flash Elorde and Manny Pacquiao, who have long been associated with San Miguel during and even after their professional careers,” Ang said. “If he becomes a champion in his division in the coming years and also wins a gold medal in the Paris Olympics in 2024, then he will have the unique distinction of being the first one to do so,” he added. He also congratulated Marcial who got married to longtime girlfriend Princess Jenniel Cabradilla Galarpe, an amateur boxing national champion from Cagayan de Oro City last Oct. 28. San Miguel, a longtime supporter of Philippine sports, backed the Philippine team that won 149 gold medals, 117 sil-
vers, and 121 bronzes in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. During the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, SMC also supported the Philippine team that also won the overall championship with 112 golds, 85 silvers, and 93 bronzes. SMC also owns a three professional basketball teams, namely San Miguel Beer, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, and Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Yuka Saso to become Japanese citizen
TNT claims PBA PH Cup against Magnolia MANILA — Filipino golf star Yuka Saso — who represented the Philippines in past major tournaments — has decided to become a Japanese citizen. This was confirmed by National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) secretary-general Bones Floro as CNN Philippines reported. Saso, the reigning US Women’s Open champion, was born in San Ildefonso, Bulacan to a Japanese father and a Filipino mother. Under Japan’s law, those with dual citizenships shall choose between the nationalities before he or she reaches the
age of 22. Saso will turn 22 in 2023. It remains unclear if Saso will still be able to don the Philippine colors in future competitions and the next Olympics in Paris, CNN Philippines stated. The golfer has yet to issue a statement on the matter. Saso made history in June after clinching the US Women’s Open crown in San Francisco, California— becoming the first Filipino to win in any of the LPGA Tour’s major championships. She had also tied the record with South Korea’s Inbee Park as the youngest champion of the event at age 19.
BACOLOR, Pampanga – TNT claimed the PBA Philippine Cup championship after finishing off Magnolia with a 94-79 Game 5 win on October 31 at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga. From a 10-12 deficit, the Tropang Giga launched an 11-0 run that gave them a 21-12 advantage and never looked back to clinch the season-opening conference, 4-1. The Tropang Giga stretched their lead to as much as 25 points, 88-63, early in the fourth quarter. Finals Most Valuable Player Mikey Williams led TNT, which won its first PBA title in six years, with 24 points,
four rebounds, four assists, and one steal while RR Pogoy added 19 points, three rebounds, two assists, and three steals. Ian Sangalang put up 18 points, nine rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and one steal for Magnolia. The scores : TNT 94 – M. Williams 24, Pogoy 19, Castro 10, Rosario 9, Reyes 9, Khobuntin 8, Montalbo 7, Erram 7, K. Williams 1, Heruela 0, Exciminiano 0, Alejandro 0. MAGNOLIA 79 – Sangalang 18, Abueva 14, Ahanmisi 11, Barroca 10, Lee 7, Dela Rosa 5, Dionisio 5, Reavis 4, Pascual 4, Jalalon 1, Corpuz 0, Melton 0, Brill 0. Quarters: 21-14, 47-33, 72-53, 94-79
November 4-10, 2021
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Q: Is it a crime to willfully defraud banks using credit cards? A: While identity theft is a crime in itself, can someone who owns the credit cards be guilty of fraud if they make charges or uses the credit cards knowing they have no way to pay it? While it is hard to prove intention of having no intent to pay your overuse of your credit cards, I will share with you a story and I will leave you with the choice if this person should be prosecuted or not. A client called me one day and he was asking for me to help him make up his mind in making a decision of whether to file bankruptcy or to go into a debt settlement program. This young man who recently lost his job, went to vacation in India and on his last few days there decided to buy a gold chain. When he tried to pay for it with his credit card, the card was declined. So he pulled out another one and it was declined as well. He pulled one after the next and they were all declined. I never found out if he ever paid for the gold chain though. When he came back to the States, he was surprised to see that there were numerous charges on his credit cards that amounted to Seventy thousand U.S. dollars. He immediately called the bank and told them he did not make those charges. After a month of investigation, the banks all decided that it was he who used the credit cards for all those charges. Based on what evidence, I do not know. What is unusual to me is that this person would pull credit card after credit card. If that was me, my first instinct would be to call my bank and ask why my credit card is being declined rather than pull one card after the next. Based on some information, some people have been found to cash out their credit cards in exchange for discounted money in order to rip off banks. So came decision time, the caller owned a house so he would likely fall into a chapter 13 bankruptcy where he would still pay most of his debts. He did not want to do debt settlement because he did not want to deal with paying them anymore. So I told him, that he already made up his mind, so why ask me. Ating lesson, Kung ayaw mong gawin ito sayo, ay huwag mo ring gawin sa iba! If you need help in getting out of debt, call Debt Aid Consulting International. We do not use call centers which keeps your information safe. We have a new program that reconstruct debts for half of what you would pay our competitors. We also provide legal assistance that keeps collectors away. We take Federal Credit Unions, Payday loans and high interest personal loans in our program too. This is exclusively available for Debt Aid Consulting clients. None of our competitors provide this program. You are well protected. We only provide Federal Trade Commission compliant programs. Go with Debt Aid Consulting! Do not fall for marketing gimmicks saying that they have the right program for you. Most marketing companies only have one program and will enroll you in that program whether it fits you or not. So beware! Ben Lou at your service! I have over 35 years of financial experience. If you would like sound financial advice, call us at Debt Aid Consulting International. We do not use call centers. No one has the right to put your information at risk. Debt Aid Consulting is the first and only Filipino debt mediation company incorporated in the US and Canada, Caribbean Islands, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines! Your Global Debt Solutions Company! Tawag na po sa 1-888341-5234 at tutulungan po namin kayo. Itama po natin ang mali!
23 November 4-10, 2021
COMMUNITY NEWS
As Cold Weather Months Approach, Protect Yourself from Odorless, Colorless Danger and Stay Safe from Carbon Monoxide
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — With winter months approaching, there are important steps customers can take to protect themselves against the dangers of carbon monoxide, including using only safe, approved methods for home heating and ensuring that carbon monoxide detectors are installed in their homes and working properly. According to the Center for Disease Control, every year in the U.S. at least 430 people die from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning and approximately 50,000 people will be sent to the hospital. Carbon monoxide is especially dangerous because it is odorless and can’t be seen, and all California homes are required to have carbon monoxide detectors. Customers can take these steps to protect
their homes and their families: Carbon monoxide can be emitted from improperly functioning gas appliances, particularly those used for heating and cooking. To protect your family against potential exposure, carbon monoxide detectors should be installed on every floor, near sleeping areas and common areas. These devices should be tested twice a year, and batteries replaced if necessary. Check the date that the detector was manufactured. The sensors in most carbon monoxide detectors have a useful life of five to 10 years. Most detectors have an audible signal, usually a series of chirps, which differs from the alarm to indicate low battery, malfunction, or device end of life. Refer
to the owner’s manual or the instructions on the back of the detector for more information. Gas Safety Tips Never use products inside the home that generate dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, such as generators, outdoor grills, or propane heaters. Never use cooking devices such as ovens or stoves for home heating purposes. Never cover the bottom tray inside an oven with foil or an aftermarket liner. When using the fireplace to stay warm, make sure the flue is open so venting can occur safely through the chimney. Make sure water heaters and other natural gas appliances have proper ventilation. If you suspect carbon monoxide in
your home, or if you smell the distinctive “rotten egg” odor of natural gas in or around their home or business, you should immediately evacuate and then call 911 and PG&E at 1-800-743-5000. Click here for more gas safety tips. For more information about preparedness resources, visit PG&E’s Safety Action Center.
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has provided the framework for lifting masking requirements at events and indoor establishments. For outdoor mega events involving more than 10,000 people, Public Health outlined that before masking requirements are lifted, all of the following criteria need to be met: L.A. County case rates must demonstrate three consecutive weeks at or below moderate transmission
as defined by the CDC – that is, less than 50 new weekly cases per 100,000 residents; hospitalizations remain low and stable at or below 600 daily COVID hospitalizations for three consecutive weeks; 80% or more of county residents 12 and older are fully vaccinated; and there are no emerging reports of significantly circulating new variants of concern that threaten vaccine effectiveness. For masking requirements to be lifted at indoor events or establishments involv-
ing fewer than 1,000 people, including indoor offices and worksites, sites must have a vaccination verification process in place, and all employees and customers must be fully vaccinated, accommodating with additional requirements those employees with approved exemptions. Additionally, L.A. County metrics must meet all of the same standards as for lifting masking requirements at outdoor mega events. Indoor masking will remain manda-
tory due to federal and state requirements on public transit and transportation hubs (federal), and at TK-12 schools, childcare, and youth settings; healthcare settings; correctional facilities; homeless and emergency shelters and cooling centers; and indoor mega events involving more than 1,000 people (state). In L.A. County, 900,000 children between the ages of 5 and 11 will likely become newly eligible for vaccination this week.
About PG&E PG&E, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge. com and pge.com/news.
LA Public Health provides framework for lifting masking requirements
COMMUNITY NEWS
November 4-10, 2021
24
“CAPITAL OF SILICON VALLEY” HOSTS PH FLAG RAISING, CITY HALL LIGHTING FOR FIL-AM HISTORY MONTH
The City Hall of San Jose, California was lit in blue, red, and yellow colors of the Philippine flag for the very first �me, during the city’s celebra�on of Filipino American History Month on 28 October 2021. (San Francisco PCG photo) SAN JOSE, USA – The “Capital of Silicon Valley” capped off the celebration of Filipino American History Month on 28 October 2021 with a Philippine flag raising ceremony and city hall lighting with the national colors of the Philippines. The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, led by Consul General Neil Frank R. Ferrer, joined the occasion at the San Jose City Hall, which marks the very first time the city’s main government center was illuminated with the Philippine national colors. In his remarks, Consul General Ferrer noted that this year’s Filipino American History Month commemoration coincides with the
75th anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic ties between the Philippines and the United States. “I am confident that our relations with the United States will endure even in the next 75 years because of our strong people-to-people ties that are based upon our shared history and aspirations. And it is you, our four million Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the United States, who are the nut and bolt in this special relationship,” Consul General Ferrer said. The Philippine Consul General also hailed the San Jose City Government for its recognition of the contributions of Filipinos and Filipino the city’s “vibrant and diverse
Americans to community.” “Earlier this year, the San Jose City Council unanimously approved the renaming of a public space in East San Jose as the Delano Manongs Park, to pay homage to the Filipino farmworkers movement of the 1960s,” Consul General Ferrer said, in reference to the grape workers’ strike led by Filipino American labor leaders Larry Itliong and Philip Vera Cruz in Delano, California. San Jose Councilmember Magdalena Carrasco, who represents the district where most Filipinos and Filipino Americans live in
Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Frank R. Ferrer gives a speech during the commemora�on of Filipino American History Month at the City Hall of San Jose, California on 28 October 2021. (San Francisco PCG photo)
Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Frank R. Ferrer and San Jose City Councilmember Magdalena Carrasco lead the raising of the Philippine na�onal flag at the San Jose City Hall grounds, during the city’s celebra�on of Filipino American History Month on 28 October 2021. (San Francisco PCG photo) the city, recognized the impact of the Filipino American community in the history and progress of San Jose, and the contributions of Filipino and Filipino American essential workers over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’re bonded by our history and faith, by our dedication to our families and to our community… Truly, your contributions have allowed San Jose, the 10th largest city in
the U.S., to have a platform that we can be very proud of. It’s because of you that also California is among the largest economic powerhouses in the world,” Councilmember Carrasco said. Consul General Ferrer and Councilmember Carrasco then led the raising of the Philippine national flag at the San Jose City Hall grounds. For one day, the Philippine flag flew proudly in San Jose alongside the flags of the U.S. and California. This year’s Filipino American History Month celebration in San Jose was organized by the Office of City Councilmember Carrasco and Leadership, Education, Activism and Dialogue (L.E.A.D.) Filipino, an organization of young Filipino Americans that advocates for cultural education, civic participation and community empowerment among Filipino Americans in San Jose and the greater Santa Clara County.
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We have exciting news to share: we’ve redesigned your Social Security Statement (Statement) to make it easier to find the information you need. Who gets a Statement? You will get a Statement if you are an adult who does not receive benefits. Your unique Statement gives estimates of future Social Security benefits that you and your family may receive each month along with a basic overview of the Social Security program. It also provides a record of your earnings history and other valuable information. Your future benefits are based on your earnings record, so it’s important to tell us when you see an error, so you can get it corrected and ensure you get all the benefits you earned. Your Statement explains how to report an error. What’s New in the Statement? The redesigned Statement is streamlined and written in plain language to make it easy to read, use, and understand. We’ve divided the information into sections, like different types of benefits, so you can easily find what you need. The new Statement provides a bar chart with your personalized retirement benefit estimates for up to nine different ages, depending on when you may want your
benefits to start. This key information can help you make educated decisions about your financial future. F a c t sheets tailored to your age group and earnings situation accompany your online Statement. The fact sheets can help you better understand Social Security programs, benefits, and how they fit your situation. For example, for younger workers, we provide more information about how you can save for your future; for older workers, we explain how benefits may be taxed and how to avoid a Medicare penalty. We include links in the fact sheets for easier reference and additional information. Our Social Security Statement web page at www.ssa.gov/myaccount/statement has samples of the Statement, as well as copies of the new fact sheets (in English and Spanish). Please share these resources with your friends and family.
25 November 4-10, 2021
PHL ConGen: FilAms, others urged to enlist with US Army, Nat’l Guard
CONSUL GENERAL Neil Frank R. Ferrer meets Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the U.S. Army Mark Benton and Major Donald Le Lipscomb of the California Army Na�onal Guard. With them are Deputy Consul General Raquel R. Solano and Consul Vanessa G. Bago-Llona. SAN FRANCISCO - Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Frank R. Ferrer received Civilian Aide to the U.S. Secretary of the Army (CASA) Mr. Mark Benton at the Consulate General on Sutter Street where they discussed the Army’s objective to recruit more eligible people of various ethnicities and racial backgrounds. Mr. Benton, who served with the Army Corps of Engineers, the Military Police Corps and the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department, encouraged Filipino Americans to join the Army or the Army National Guard, or the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).
“The Secretary of the Army wishes to see more diversity and inclusion, especially in the officer corps,” Mr. Benton said, adding that full college tuition in various California state colleges and universities, board and lodging, healthcare, and other benefits await would-be recruits. Consul General Ferrer thanked Mr. Benton for the visit and welcomed his advocacy to invite potential applicants of diverse backgrounds to enlist in the Army, the Army National Guard, or the ROTC. “The information you have shared with us would be helpful for our Filipino American community and we will share these to them,” Consul General Ferrer said, adding that the advocacy is meaningful as Filipino American History Month was celebrated in October in the U.S. The Consul General first met Mr. Benton in a Filipino American History Month celebration at the USS Hornet on 3 October 2021, through an exhibition called, “120 Years of Loyal and Faithful Service by Filipinos in the U.S. Navy.” The exhibition, which was spearheaded by the Bataan Legacy Historical Society and the USS Telesforo Trinidad Campaign, highlighted the contributions of the Filipinos in the U.S. Navy and the ongoing efforts of the Filipino American community to name a U.S. Navy ship after Filipino sailor Telesforo Trinidad who received the Medal of Honor in 1915 for his heroic deeds onboard the USS San Diego. Mr. Benton visited the Consulate with Major Donald Le Lipscomb from the California Army National Guard, and they discussed the benefits and requirements for en-
California launches robust vaccination program for 5-11 age group, ready to vaccinate newly eligible Californians SACRAMENTO – Following the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup’s review of the federal process and conclusion that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is safe and effective for children 5 years of age and up, the state is rolling out a robust vaccination program with the resources to vaccinate every newly eligible Californian. “Vaccines are how we end this pandemic, and they’re how we keep our kids safe – it’s time to get our children the protection they need from this deadly virus, especially as we head into the winter season,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “California is leading the nation in vaccinations with 54 million administered and 87 percent of the eligible population with at least one dose, and we’re moving swiftly to implement a robust and equitable vaccination program that will cover this newly eligible age group.” California will begin vaccinating children ages 5-11 immediately, with 500 organizations across the state receiving their first shipments. The state was allocated 1.2 million pediatric doses from the federal government, with adequate supply to vaccinate all newly eligible Californians becoming available in the coming weeks. The state has more than 4,000 locations ready to vaccinate children ages 5-11 as supply increases, and is leveraging existing infrastructure and partnerships used to administer vaccines to teens and young adults. This includes working closely with medical providers, local health departments, schools, community partners and others to administer vaccines safely and equitably
through mobile clinics and vaccine pop-ups in the hardest-hit communities across the state. For example, California has brokered partnerships with after-school programs – including the Sierra Health Foundation and the Alliance for Boys & Girls – to set up 84 pop-up clinics statewide. Already, there have been over 3,100 school-located clinics covering over 2 million students, with another 800 planned for November and December, covering 450,000 students. The state has mobilized an unprecedented multi-pronged paid media campaign to get all Californians vaccinated, including our children. In November alone, this campaign will make 800 million impressions across multiple platforms to emphasize the importance of getting vaccinated. The campaign will continue to focus on our hardesthit communities with an in-language approach and an emphasis on equity. To date, California has administered 54 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine, with 87 percent of the eligible population having received at least one dose. California has taken nation-leading actions to protect the youngest Californians during the pandemic by implementing bold school safety and public health measures. California was the first to require masks in K-12 settings, vaccine verification or weekly testing for school staff, and has added the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of required vaccinations for students. These public health measures have resulted in California keeping more children out of the hospital and keeping more schools open than other states.
PHL CONSULATE GUESTS. Major Donald Le Lipscomb of the California Army Na�onal Guard, Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the U.S. Army Mark Benton, Consul General Neil Frank R. Ferrer, Deputy Consul General Raquel R. Solano and Consul Vanessa G. Bago-Llona. listment. Major Le Lipscomb, who at 18 years old moved to the U.S. from his native Vietnam and who stayed at the Philippine Refugee Processing Center in Bataan prior to his migration to the U.S., encouraged fellow immigrant families to make the most of the Army, Army National Guard and ROTC enlistment, and avail themselves of free college education while serving in the military. More details are available on: nationalguard.com/ca. Deputy Consul General Raquel R. Solano and Consul Vanessa G. Bago-Llona also joined the meeting.
COMMUNITY NEWS
November 4-10, 2021
26
COVID 19 vaccine - To boost or not to boost By SUNITA SOHRABJI/EMS Contribu�ng Editor As of Oct. 22, both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup recommended expanding the use of a booster dose of the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines for eligible populations. The CDC and Western States Workgroup had previously approved the administration of a third dose to boost immunity for vulnerable and immunocompromised groups. The emergency use authorizations were amended to allow a booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for certain vulnerable populations, six months after completion of their initial vaccination series. Approval also was given for the use of a single booster dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine for individuals 18 and over, two months after their single dose. Further, the two organizations cleared the way for the use of a “mix and match” of COVID-19 vaccines which would not require individuals to use the same dose as their initial series. These approvals follow the FDA’s previous authorization of third dose booster doses for individuals who received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine six months after completing their initial series. In this FAQ, Dr. Dali Fan, a UC Davis Health Science Clinical Professor who also serves as a volunteer vaccinator at California Northstate University in Elk Grove, California, answers some of the most commonly asked questions about boosters. 1) What are the benefits of getting a booster? FAN: COVID-19 boosters are meant to boost immunity that may have waned overtime and are the same dose of vaccine that were given as part of the primary series. Booster doses of vaccines are very common. They are part of most childhood and adult vaccine series to ensure a person maintains optimal immunity against infection from a disease. 2) What is the difference between an additional dose and a booster dose? FAN: An additional dose is administered to people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems. This additional dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine is intended to improve immunocompromised people’s response to their initial vaccine series At this time, CDC does not have a recommendation for immunocompromised people to receive both a booster dose and an additional dose. The current recommendation is for immunocompromised people to receive
an additional dose 28-days after completing an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine series. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/immuno.html https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html As you can see, an additional dose is specifically meant for those who are “immunocompromised.” Others do NOT need an additional dose (28 days after the initial series), but they may be eligible for a booster twoto-six months after the initial series depending on the type of vaccine. 3) Are the boosters different than the original vaccination series? FAN: The boosters are the exact vaccine as the original series for these vaccines. 4) Does the fact that boosters are recommended mean that the vaccines are not effective? FAN: No. COVID-19 vaccines are working well to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death, even against the widely circulating Delta variant. However, public health experts are starting to see reduced protection, especially among certain at-risk populations, against mild and moderate cases of COVID-19. Vaccine boosters are common, as most of us have had them throughout childhood and adulthood. Whether it is measles, Hepatitis A/B or COVID-19 – boosters are great tools in our arsenals to fight disease. 5) Who is eligible to get a booster dose now? FAN: A Pfizer or Moderna booster dose is recommended if you: Received your second dose at least six months ago, and Are 65 or older, or Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings, or Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions, or Age 18+ who are at increased risk due to social inequity, or Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings A Johnson & Johnson booster dose is recommended if you: Received your first dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least 2 months ago, and Are 18 or older If you fall within the categories above, you can get your booster by going to your healthcare provider, clinics and neighborhood pharmacies. You can visit MyTurn.ca.gov or call 833-422-4255 to make an appointment or find a nearby vaccine clinic.
5) The CDC has recommended additional does for those over 65, people living in group homes, and the immunocompromised. How do we define who is immunocompromised and needs an additional dose? FAN: Currently, the CDC is recommending that moderately to severely immunocompromised people receive an additional dose. This includes people who have: Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome) Advanced or untreated HIV infection Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response People should talk to their healthcare provider about their medical condition, and whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for them. 7) The CDC has also recommended that essential workers might consider getting boosters. Is that your recommendation as well? What types of workers are particularly high-risk? FAN: Yes, it is my recommendation as well. Examples of workers who may get Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna boosters: First responders (e.g., healthcare workers, firefighters, police, congregate care staff) Education staff (e.g., teachers, support staff, daycare workers) Food and agriculture workers Manufacturing workers Corrections workers U.S. Postal Service workers Public transit workers Grocery store workers This list could be updated in the future. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/clinicalconsiderations/essential-workers-boosters.html 8) Where can we get boosters? And are boosters free? FAN: Visit the state’s websites at VaccinateAll58. com or Myturn.ca.gov to learn more about where boosters are being offered near you. Your healthcare provider or local pharmacists can also help connect you to resources. The booster is free of charge to all; no insurance or documentation is required.
LA Board of Supervisors declares local emergency to expand resources for Dominguez Channel response LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has proclaimed a local emergency to enable additional resources under state disaster legislation to respond to the Dominguez Channel Odor Incident. The persistent issue began with reports of foul odors in the area on Oct. 4. The proclamation, based on a Nov. 2 motion by Second District Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, provides the incident’s multi-agency response team with swift, efficient access to the technical support and financial resources needed to deliver equitable relief to residents and remediate the odor issue. It does not change the nature of the incident, which remains a “public nuisance” that must be abated, as directed by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. The odor is attributed to the low-oxygen decay of organic material in the channel. Microorganisms breaking
down the organic matter are producing high levels of hydrogen sulfide gas, which smells like “rotten eggs,” in a process called anaerobic digestion. The hydrogen sulfide detected in the air fluctuates but remains at levels that are not expected to pose long-term health problems and does not pose an imminent danger to people who have reported experiencing the odor in areas of Carson, West Carson, and portions of Gardena, Torrance, Redondo Beach, Wilmington, Long Beach and neighboring unincorporated communities. A multi-agency response team, consisting of Los Angeles County Public Works, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles County Fire Health HazMat and South Coast AQMD, in consultation with state and federal advisers, regularly reassesses the situation and community mitigation recommendations. That team is working around the clock to monitor and eliminate the odors from the channel and bring much-
needed relief to affected communities. The pungent odor event has persisted for nearly four consecutive weeks; however, air quality monitoring by South Coast AQMD and County Fire Health HazMat indicate a downward trend in detectable hydrogen sulfide levels, both within the channel and in surrounding communities. More information on current air monitoring efforts can be found on the South Coast AQMD webpage. Residents may call the County Helpline at 2-1-1 for more information about the incident, assistance options and reimbursement programs. Online forms are available at: L.A. County Emergency Response (lacounty. gov). There are also community information centers at the Carson Community Center at 801. E. Carson St., in Carson, from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., daily, and at the Wilmington Senior Center, 1371 Eubank Ave., in Wilmington, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., daily.
27 November 4-10, 2021 On Distant Shore
ALLICE founding president Be�na Santos Yap exposed to domestic violence; and WHEREAS, domestic violence survivors and their advocates have rallied to the cause of victim justice. Philippine News Today Executive Editor Cherie M. Querol Moreno founded and directs ALLICE. Visit www. allicekumares.com.
Offline
(From Page 13)
titled to as pork barrel allotment speaks volumes of the man. Then there is Isko Moreno, who also has a lot going for him. He took his studies seriously, which is one reason he has gone far in life. But everyone must be reminded that just a couple of years ago, he said he had no interest in the presidency, and that being as good a mayor of the Philippine capital was his only goal in life. A few surveys have shown the Manila mayor as being in contention for the presidency, which is widely accepted as a one-on-one battle between Robredo and Marcos Jr. by most political analysts. I would have to say that he is the likely third placer in next year’s race. I am hoping that Filipino voters understand what’s at stake in 2022. It’s all about the economy, and it would be stupid to elect someone whose only claim to fame is being his father’s son. His accomplishments in the economic field are nil. The best example is his home province of Ilocos Norte, where he previously served as governor. To this day, Ilocos Norte remains a third class province, with an underdeveloped economy still woefully dependent on tobacco as its principal crop. In case Marcos Jr and his family who have had a stranglehold on the province for decades do not know it, the tobacco industry is dying. This was known for the longest time, yet they have done nothing to wean their farmers away from the useless crop. Under Marcos Jr, the Philippines is sure to deteriorate from its current status as the returning Sick Man of Asia, to the Beggar of Asia. Like his father before him, only his cronies will control what little wealth the country has. Under Robredo, however, the Philippines may yet recover to what it was during the time of FVR and be a Tiger Cub economy, or better yet, during the time of PNoy when the Philippines was a Developing Tiger Economy. The choice seems obvious, doesn’t it?
Health & Wealth
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Gatchalian said DOE ignored telltale signs of Udenna’s financial incapability to purchase the shares and operate the gas field, noting that Uy’s company was P120.81 billion in debt as of 2019. It was also learned during the hearing that Uy did not spend a single centavo for the acquisition. Rozzano D. Briguez, president and chief executive officer of state-led PNOC Exploration Corp. (PNOC-EC), said that the approved sale of the first 45% in the Malampaya project was largely financed by loans. He said $375 [million] of the $565 [million] sale was done through loans from three major banks that executed their confirmed commitment to provide facility for the sale of Chevron-UC38. Of the remaining amount, $157 million was sourced through the gas field’s “net entitlements” while $33 million “probably” came from the buyer’s stock issuance, he said. It was not clear which banks provided the loans, but critics have always suspected that Udenna would borrow money from Chinese banks as it had done in previous transactions, and hire Chinese contractors to operate the gas field, thus leaving a critical asset of the country’s energy security in the hands of foreigners. Retired Justice Antonio Carpio agreed with Rodis’ assessment and called Uy’s seamless takeover of Malampaya “the biggest presidential gift to a crony,” especially if the Duterte administration, through Cusi, extends the Malampaya oil and gas project under Service Contract 38 beyond its expiration in 2024. Is the President so beholden to his friend Dennis Uy, who reportedly contributed P30 million to his 2016 campaign, that he would give him a P4.5-billion gift on a silver platter less than a year before his term ends? That Cusi and company approved the purchase and did not even try to match the offer speak volumes and are good reasons to believe that the service contract would be extended before Duterte steps down on July 1, 2022. What’s with Dennis Uy that, just like Pharmally, he is getting all these sweet deals from the Philippine government? In November 2018, Uy’s Udenna Corp, through its subsidiary Dito Holdings and in partnership with China’s state-run China Telecommunciations, were awarded a %.4-billion deal to operate the country’s third telco license. And on Monday, Uy’s F-2 Logistics, signed a P536-million to distribute ballots, counting machines and other supplies for the May 9, 2022 elections. Duterte has been boasting that he has brought down the country’s oligarchy, citing the ABS-CBN as an example. But we all know that the media giant was closed because it was critical of him, and that he is simply propping up his own cronies and building his own oligarchy. The worst part is that the oligarchy he has been trying to build in the last five and a half years all have ties to China, the country that has trampled our sovereignty and now wants to also control our valuable mineral resources, critical public utilities and now even our elections. Is the country headed to becoming a province of China, as President Duterte once said it could be?
Diliman Way...
(From Page 12)
ers. As they say, if there’s a will, there’s a way. Sara is afflicted by the record of the administration of her father, President Digong – of mindless murders, constitutional violations, human rights violations, giving away the West Philippine Sea to Communist China; inability to solve the problems of graft and corruption, illegal drugs; failure to deliver promises like giving Filipinos better life; calling the Christian God stupid and denouncing the Pope; asking everyone to kill and rob Catholic bishops; calling Christian saints idiots and denouncing Catholic Church ceremonies; belittling women by calling them mere biology and saying women are unfit to be President; and many more deranged observations. These are indefensible. Even the best lawyers cannot defend these words and actions. To free herself from the despicable and scandalous words and actions of her father, she should renounce and denounce them. She probably should make this edited version of what President Manuel Luis Quezon once said – “My loyalty to my father ends where my loyalty to our country and our people begins.” If she cannot do it, she might as well not run for President and kiss the presidency goodbye for now, considering she is still young. The same holds true with the Marcos kids. The violations of the Constitution; the murders, rapes, tortures, disappearance, human rights violations, graft and corruption and electoral manipulations - which all happened during the Ferdinand Marcos presidency are also indefensible. Considering the behavior of the Marcos kids, I have my serious doubts that they can renounce and denounce the record of their father’s administration. They are equally doomed. And this may bring closure to the continuing presence of the Marcos family in the political scene. Pacquiao-Honasan tandem: This pairing is something new but these are not new names. Gregorio Honasan is a familiar name. He headed the Reform Armed Forces Movement, popularly known as the RAM during the tail-end of the Marcos years. During those years, his lord and master was Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile fondly known as Johnny and I suspect Enrile is still his lord and master
Honasan: Colonel Gregorio “Greg or Gringo” Honasan is a charismatic military officer, handsome, erect, macho, attractive and at one look has all the qualities that any girl can dream of, though in the whispering and gossiping circles, his being macho is resoundingly disputed just like that of his classmate in the military academy, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson He is an instrumentalist just like his lord and master – meaning, you could find him in almost every administration, from Marcos to Duterte. In my assessment of Honasan, he has never stood seriously for anything by way of a vision or principle or ideal. Just like any traditional politician or military officer whose main concerns are career, drink, women and family – he has a genius for making motherhood statements which the crowd view to be believable like those of President Duterte. And the intelligent ones who once believed in him find him repulsive. It is unfortunate to happen to asomeone so gifted as Secretary and former Senator Honasan .But that’s life – you define yourself for what you do and what you say. There is an incident in Honasan’s life which shows defects of character, integrity and discipline. During the failed coup d’etat of 1989, Honasan was one of three military officers who were members of the seven-man National Governing Council (NGC) which was to govern the country in the event the coup would be successful. Each military officer chose their respective civilian component – Maj. General Jose Maria “Jimmy” Zumel chose Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, Colonel Gregorio Honasan had Former Defense Minister Juan “Johnny” Ponce Ernile and this writer representing Brigadier General Edgatdo “Abe or Ed” Abenina who chose his lawyer, this writer, as his nominee. Since General Abenina was the Chairman of the coup group and the NGC, I recommended to him Vice-President Salvador “Doy” Laurel as the seventh member for two reasons – since he was Vice-President it would be easy to gain recognition from the international community for the new government and in the Council voting there always will be no tie. Danding, Doy and Enrile had no personal presence in the military planning.. It was unanimously agreed by the coup leaders that the coup be pulled .on December 7, 1989. It was also agreed that if the military staff felt the schedule be changed - there must be seventy-two hours notice to the NGC Chairman and the other military component members of the NGC Honasan, without observing the seventy-two hours notice, pulled the coup on December 1, 1989 leading to disaster and consequent failure. Why did he do it? He has a number of excuses that do not jell. One or two suspect that he pulled the coup earlier in violation of previous agreements for only two reasons – Honasan wanted to install Enrile as President of the country and he feared that he and Enrile would always be outvoted in the NGC of seven considering that Danding and the rest of us will not go along with the Honasan and Enrile’s agenda, whatever it was. Pacquiao: I once wrote a glowing article once on this fabulous eight division boxing champion – Manny Pacquiao. But the way he has been behaving after he declared he was running for President leaves so much to be desired. He has not sufficiently explained why he is running for President. Like any traditional politician he has been spouting motherhood statements. He has not informed the public what he abhors about Duterte and his administration. Having been a Duterte loyalist in the Senate with canine devotion to his master, why did he part ways with President Duterte? He has no vision of what the Philippines should be if he becomes President. Unsolicited advice: Pacquiao is still young and so unprepared to become President. He should read more books about how to be a good President and while learning, he should run for governor of Saranggani and maybe in some future time when he is prepared, make an attempt to run for President His running mate Honasan should stop ambitioning to run for higher office for the moment. Honasan, with his qualities, has potential. He should devote time to self-examination and self-criticism, learn and adopt the right values and principles, read more books on leadership and the humanities. Not until then should he attempt to run for high public office. He, the rest of the pack, our leaders, the voters and the rest of us can learn from these lines of one of the greatest unacknowledged legislators of the world, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, in his A Psalm of Life: “Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, Is our destined end or way; But to act, that each to-morrow Find us farther than to-day. In the world’s broad field of battle, In the bivouac of Life, Be not like dumb, driven cattle! Be a hero in the strife! Trust no Future, howe’er pleasant! Let the dead Past bury its dead! Act,- act in the living Present! Heart within, and God o’erhead! “
Immigrants Help
(From Page 14)
on You Tube and Facebook for details and more corruption in the government. If you have immigration problems the Law Offices of Crispin C. Lozano can help you find a solution before your problem gets worse which could lead to deportation and family separation. Chris Caday Lozano, Esq. is an active member of the State Bar of California, the American Immigration Lawyers Association and San Francisco Trial Lawyers. He practices immigration law, bankruptcy and income tax preparation since June 1999. His contact phone is 1-877-456-9266, email: info@ CCLlaw.net Website: www.crispinlozanolaw.com/
HEALTH NEWS
November 4-10, 2021
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Covid-19 cases start to rise again globally, says WHO GENEVA – After months of decline, global Covid-19 case and death numbers had risen slightly weekon-week, with more than 2.9 million infections and over 49,000 fatalities. The number of weekly Covid cases rose by 4 percent, while deaths climbed by 5 percent, said the World Health Organization (WHO) in its weekly update. It noted that the European region had reported its fourth consecutive week of increase in new Covid-19 cases, with an 18 percent rise compared to the previous week, while other regions reported a decline. In a virtual speech to the East Asia Summit meeting, WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said the pandemic had demonstrated the vital importance of multilateralism and solidarity to confront global health threats. “However, despite these multilateral efforts, the inequitable distribution of vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics, and medical oxygen has left billions of
people vulnerable to this deadly virus,” Tedros said. In high-income countries, almost two-thirds of the population have been vaccinated with at least one dose, while less than 5 percent of people in low-income countries have received a vaccine, he added. WHO said the most significant decrease in new weekly coronavirus cases was reported from the Africa region, falling by 21 percent, followed by the Western Pacific Region, down 17 percent. Compared to the previous week, cases in the European region rose by 14 percent and the Southeast Asia region by 13 percent. The most significant decline in new weekly deaths was reported from the Western Pacific region, showing a 13 percent fall compared to the previous week. As of Oct. 24, the WHO reported more than 243 million confirmed Covid-19 cases and over 4.9 million deaths since the pandemic’s start since it was first known in the world at the beginning of 2020. Meanwhile, just five African countries, less than
10% of Africa’s 54 nations, are projected to hit the year-end target of fully vaccinating 40% of their people, unless efforts to accelerate the pace take off. This comes as the Region grapples to meet rising demand for essential vaccination commodities, such as syringes. Three African countries, Seychelles, Mauritius and Morocco, have already met the goal that was set in May by the World Health Assembly, the world’s highest health policy-setting body. At the current pace just two more countries, Tunisia and Cabo Verde, will also hit the target. In addition, limited access to crucial commodities such as syringes may slow the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in Africa. UNICEF has reported an imminent shortfall of up to 2.2 billion auto-disable syringes for COVID-19 vaccination and routine immunization in 2022. This includes 0.3ml auto-disposable syringes for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination.
Info capsules Heart of Hope
In general, yes, after full recovery, which is usually after a period of two to 3 months, depending on the severity of illness, the extent of surgery, and the individual stamina or tolerance. The aim of open heart surgery is to bring the person back to the normal PHILIP S. CHUA stream of life, as much as possible. The recommendation is for the patient be the passive partner (flat on their back) during the lovemaking, minimizing heavy exertion. Some may even be benefited by taking a nitroglycerine pill under the tongue before the act. It is most prudent for the person who had surgery, whether of the heart or of other organs, to consult with the attending physician or surgeon for advice on this, and other related, matters, including the indication, safety, and risk in the use of Viagra as an aid for male erectile dysfunction. Those on any form of nitroglycerine pills MUST NOT take Viagra, because the combination of these two drugs could lead to fatal consequences.
Why is improperly cooked pork dangerous? Poorly cooked or insufficiently barbequed pork (or any meat, for that matter) is dangerous to health, because of the infection, or infestation with parasites, that they can cause. Improperly cooked pork, for instance, can lead to a parasitic disease known as Trichinosis, caused by a round worm called Trichinella spiralis. The larvae are killed by high temperature. If the pork is undercooked, the larvae survive, and when ingested, the digestive juices dissolve the cyst capsule and liberate the larvae in the intestine where they grow to maturity, ready to travel and invade the muscles of the eyelids, the heart, and other muscles in the body. This causes pain, fever, profuse sweating, chills, swelling of tissues, hemorrhages in the retina of the eyes, extreme photophobia (sensitivity to light). All these happen after an incubation period of 7 to 14 days, from the time of ingestion. Mortality is less than 5%. Most patients recover fully with treatment. This disease is 100% preventable, so we do not have any excuse to catch it at all. How can we live longer? While waiting for the discovery of the fountain of youth, here are some tips on healthy activities that could add years to your life: abstinence from smoking adds 1.3 years; vegetarian diet (fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grain), 2.4 years; eating nuts five times a week, 2.9 years; healthy weight, 1.5 years, vigorous exercise 3 times a week, 2.1 years. All these good habits alone can add up to more than 10 years to your life, according to the studies conducted by health experts at Loma Linda University in California. This is one of the many scientific investigations that support the same conclusions. Noteworthy too is the fact that persons with high blood pressure and/or diabetes mellitus AND normal total cholesterol level (not higher than 150) do a lot better and have lesser hardening of the arteries, compared to those individuals with high blood pressure and/or diabetes whose total cholesterol is high. Staying away from red meat and concentrating on fish, vegetables, fruits, a high-fiber diet, and following the other tips listed above, do, indeed, pay great dividends in terms of health and longevity.
Is it safe to warm breast milk in a microwave oven? No, it is not safe to warm breast milk in a microwave oven. Collected breast milk should never be warmed in a microwave oven, because it destroys many important natural protective elements in breast milk that is beneficial to the infant. As a matter of fact, even milk formulas in cans or bottle should never be warmed in a microwave oven. In both instances, the milk, and the bottle itself, can be too hot for the baby and could result in burns, and the bottles can also explode. Many times, the bottle may feel cool but the milk inside can be too hot for the baby. The best way to warm or take the chill out of milk is by soaking the bottle of milk (formula or breast milk) in warm (NOT BOILING) water. Swirl the bottled breast milk a few times to mix it well. Before feeding the baby, let a few drops of milk land on your wrist to check the temperature. If it not too hot for your skin, then it is probably just right for the infant. It is always better to err on the cooler side. Some babies may even prefer milk at How can we beat a hangover? room-temperature or cool (not cold) milk. And they will Taking a couple of spoonfuls of honey, before usually let you know, in not so many words. or after drinking, may aid in preventing a hangover, ac-
cording to a research from the U.S. National Headache Foundation. Headache experts say that the fructose in honey speeds up alcohol metabolism and its effects on our body dissipate more rapidly. Tomato juice also has a lot of fructose in it, the reason why Bloody Mary (the virgin type) is considered a treatment for hangover the morning after. Is Oregano an antibiotic? Technically, no, oregano, our friendly spice on the kitchen shelf, is not an antibiotic. Not on the drugstore shelf yet anyway. It has recently been found to be a very potent antioxidant, more powerful than many fruits and vegetables. But oregano oil has also been found to kill dangerous, and some drug-resistant, bacteria, including staphylococcus. Researchers from the Georgetown University discovered that a minute amount of oregano oil diluted with olive oil prevented bacterial growth, just like some potent and expensive antibiotics. Can a nearly frozen person be revived? According to studies at the University of Pittsburgh, physicians may soon be able to bring people back to life after they have been nearly frozen. Investigators found that by rapidly flushing the blood vessels of experimental animals with ice cold salt solution, they can lower the body temperature of the animals to a nearly frozen state (50 degrees F), stop the heart from beating, and then revive the animals after two hours of suspended animation or hibernation. One immediate application of this in the near future is the ability to freeze severely injured accident victims at the scene, to suspend the progress of injuries, bleeding, swelling, etc., stabilizing the patient’s condition, and allowing for a safer transport of the patient to a medical center for proper resuscitation and definitive treatment. When the technique is perfected for a safe extended frozen animation, it may be possible for us to freeze a person ill with a disease with no known cure at the present (cancer, etc…), and revive them for treatment when the cure for the disease is available in the future, say 50 years, or longer, down the line. 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 and antigraft foundation in the United States. Visit our websites: philipSchua.com, FUN8888.com, and Today.SPSAtoday.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com
29 November 4-10, 2021
NEWS NATIONAL VIEWS & COMMENTS
THROUGH THE YEARS
W
By TIM PEDROSA
hen you touch someone with your spirit, in turn they touch your soul with their heart. Time passes, memories fade, feelings change, people come and go but hearts never forget. Here’s a beautiful article inspired by the writings of Henrylito D. Tacio. Two years ago, I attended a golden wedding anniversary. Since I had nothing to do at that time, I decided to go. I sat down at the church and met some of my friend’s families, relatives, and friends. When the ceremony started, everyone was silent. Some family members were in tears. In the middle of the ceremony, one grandson stood up, went to the podium, and sang the haunting Kenny Rogers song. “I can’t remember when you weren’t there, when I didn’t care for anyone but you. I swear, we’ve been through everything there is. Can’t imagine anything we’ve missed, can’t imagine anything the two of us can’t do.” Then, he belted out: “Through the years, you’ve never let me down. You turned my life around, the sweetest days I’ve found, I’ve found with you. Through the years, I’ve never been afraid. I’ve loved the life we’ve made. And I’m so glad I’ve stayed, right here with you through the years.” This particular scenario came flashing into my mind as I read the story forwarded to me by a friend. Read it and ponder: During the renovation of a house in Japan, someone breaks open the walls. (For the information of the uninformed, Japanese houses normally have a hollow space between the wooden walls.) Upon tearing down the walls, he found a lizard stuck there because a nail from outside was hammered into one of its feet! He sees this, feels pity, and at the same time curious, because it was nailed 10 years ago when the house was first built! The lizard has survived in such position in a dark wall partition for 10 years without moving! Indeed, it is impossible and mind-boggling! He keeps wondering how this lizard survived for 10 years without moving a single step, since its foot was nailed! He stopped his work momentarily and observed the lizard, what it has been doing, and what and how it has been eating! Later, out from nowhere appears another lizard, with food in its mouth, suddenly feeding the stuck lizard. He was deeply touched and stunned at such a scene! Imagine? The other lizard has been doing that untiringly for 10 long years, without giving up hope! Pause for a moment and think: Will you do that to your partner? If lizards can do it, why can’t human beings do? Being married to the person you love is the best thing that ever happen to you. You belong to that person and that person belongs to you. Marriage should be forever. Find the right partner for you. Women should not marry a guy because he is handsome, rich, nor because her parents tell her to marry him. The same is true with men. He should search for the right woman for him. Marry the person whom you will love even when you wake up in the morning and find him/her not good looking enough. “Happy marriages,” said Tom Mullen, “begin when we marry the ones we love, and they blossom when we love the ones we marry.” Once you’re married to the person whom you thought is the right one for
you, accept him/her, including the bad traits and habits. Josh McDowell reminds, “What you are as a single person, you will be as a married person, only to a greater degree. Any negative character trait will be intensified in a marriage relationship, because you will feel free to let your guard down - that person has committed himself/herself to you and you no longer have to worry about scaring him/her off.” Marriage is not always a bed of roses. Two people from different backgrounds usually clash but that’s alright. Opposite attracts each other, right? “Men marry women with the hope they will never change,” commented Albert Einstein. “Women marry men with the hope they will change. Invariably they are both disappointed.” Ogden Nash tells: “Marriage is the alliance of two people, one of whom never remembers birthdays and the other who never forgets.” However, he offers some advice: “To keep your marriage brimming, with love in the loving cup, whenever you’re wrong admit it; whenever you’re right shut up.” Yes, there are marriages made in heaven - because from the beginning, God is in the midst of the union. Marriage, someone once said, is always a triangle: man, woman, and God. With that, marriage is bound to be forever. And husband and wife will live happily ever after. The Kenny Rogers song said it well: “I can’t remember what I used to do. Who I trusted whom, I listened to before. I swear you’ve taught me everything I know. Can’t imagine needing someone so but through the years it seems to me I need you more and more.”Do you want to stay married to your partner forever? Learn wisdom from the words of Bon Jovi’s spouse: “My wife tells me that if I ever decide to leave, she is coming with me.”
I
God is grieved
n the book of Genesis there is this passage that God is said to be grieved. When a person is grieved, it means deeply hurt or greatly offended. When we say God is grieved, we appropriate what we, human beings, would feel when we are in the REV. JOSE PELAGIO A. PADIT, SThD same situation. Yet, God is not a human being, and in being God, there is actually nothing that can affect Him, for nothing is lacking with Him. But because of His great love for humanity, we can say He is grieved, yet our human language cannot actually capture what and how God would feel. The passage says: When the Lord saw how great the wickedness of human beings was on earth, and how every desire that their heart conceived was always nothing but evil, the Lord regretted making human beings on the earth, and his heart was grieved (Gen. 6:5-6). We can understand God is grieved, because He is greatly offended by how evil and how wicked human beings have become. He loves humanity so much; that if, in a human way, it would be painful to see the loved-one wandered so far away from Him. Moreover, He is grieved because humanity is His creature; they must be good, however they have not lived according to their good nature. But have chosen the bad and the sinful. Liken to parents, a loving mother or loving father, would be in so much pain morally and or literally to see their child destroying himself in vices or lost in crimes. It is profound pain and hurt for one to say, “I am grieving,” or say, “what you did grieved me.” We are endowed with emotions and feelings in order that we can empathize or that we can be joyful or sorrowful depending on the circumstance we are in. God knows our emotions and feelings. He is not alien to our sufferings in Jesus Christ. He knows and understands our emotions infinitely more than we do. Reading this passage mentioned, “His heart was grieved,” What thoughts come to your mind, dear reader? Can you feel the same grief? Grief depends on the love the person has; the greater the love the greater the pain and grief. Surely, God’s love for us cannot be measured also His grief; we may imagine how but still would be insufficient. We reflect on this topic to shame ourselves in our sinfulness; so that, we can be resolved to fight bravely against sin and sinfulness. Think, dear reader, you and I falling into the same sin over and over, would this not grieve God or ourselves? Speaking in our contemporary context, it is important to mention this topic so that we may not fall into being callused in conscience. Humanity has gone far from God that in many people’s lives and choices He is popularized; meaning He is made to be like an ordinary person or idea that He is made subservient to our human opposing mentalities and caprices, and subject to our self-centered manipulations. Furthermore, as we think of God to be just like us, we think more of ourselves as more than Him. We humanized God too much that we deify ourselves; this is the shameful truth in the mentality of peoples today; we are all guilty of it in one-way or the other. We want God to give in to all our wants and just concede to all our moral and spiritual idiosyncrasies. All sins and sinfulness grieve God: The scandals that happen in His Church, the broken marriages and broken homes, the plague of abortion, violence, war and terrorism, the sin of pornography and lewd conduct, et cetera. However, there are also those bad things that we may think not sinful but will also deeply grieve God: The people doubting in His love and providence, the failure to trust Him completely, the believers in Him failing to defend His truths and holiness, or for many who are not making efforts to respond to His call of repentance, conversion and change of lives, or for being too proud of oneself or being self-righteous as to say “I have no sin,” making God a liar (1 Jn. 1:10). We lack time and space to list all that can grieve God, but the truth is clear; hence, we fight the good fight of the faith in order to never fall into grieving God with our sins. As we are ending our Liturgical Calendar; let us make a resolution to pursue righteousness and renewal of our daily lives. By God’s grace we are enabled to defeat sin; so, let us be victors against sin; and thus, please God all the time. Amen.
Aflame The Heart
INSPIRATIONAL ARTICLE FOR THE WEEK
31 November 4-10, 2021 NATIONAL NEWS
FOOD & TRAVELS
Recipe of the Week Bopis with Pineapple Bopis with Pineapple. Most Pinoy knows what is bopis but majority would probably stay away with the dish. The traditional bopis is cooked with annatto or achuete, a natural red coloring ingredient used in Pinoy cooking. The reason for adding a bright red color to the dish is to make it more appealing. Ingredients: 1 kilo pork bopis set, (lungs, spleen and heart) 1/2 head garlic, crushed, chopped 1 large size onion, chopped 1 tsp. cracked peppercorns 1 large red bell pepper, diced 1-2 tbsp. chili flakes 2 small cans pineapple tidbits, reserve syrup 1/2 cup vinegar 1/3 cup fish sauce 1/4 cup soy sauce 2-3 pieces bayleaf spring onion for garnish salt cooking oil For pre boiling the bopis set 1/2 head garlic, crushed 2 thumb size ginger, crushed 2-3 pieces bayleaf Cooking procedure: Wash bopis set thoroughly and drain. Put the whole bopis set in big casserole and add enough water to cover, about 2” above. Add in the boiling ingredients, bring to a boil and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from casserole and drain, let it cool down. Finely dice or chop the bopis set and keep aside. In a sauce pan sauté garlic and onion until fragrant. Add in the chopped bopis and stir cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until it start to sizzle. Add in the fish sauce, soy sauce, bay leaf, cracked peppercorns and chili flakes and continue to stir cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add in vinegar and cook for 2 to 3 minutes without stirring, now add 2 to 3 cups of water and the reserved pineapple syrup, bring to a boil and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until most of the liquid has evaporated, Correct saltiness if required. Add in the pineapple tidbits and bell pepper and continue to stir cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until almost dry. Serve hot with a lot of rice.
FOOD & TRAVELS
Hundred Islands readies for high tourist arrivals
ALAMINOS CITY, Pangasinan – Hundred Islands, the biggest tourist attractiion in Pangasinan, is ready to accept more tourists. This following the shift to the relaxed modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) since November 1. The City Tourism Office headed by City Tourism Officer Miguel Sison said the tourist arrivals at the famous Hundred Islands National Park (HINP) here are averaging at 100 to 200 visitors daily during the third and fourth week of October. “Mostly are local tourists since we were under general community quarantine with heightened restrictions from September 8 to October 30 banning tourists from areas under enhanced community quarantine and modified enhanced community quarantine,” he said. The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) announced earlier that Pangasinan will revert to MGCQ starting November 1. Sison said with this new development, tourist travel from other provinces even those under higher quarantine classification will be allowed subject to compliance to requirements. “All tourists from outside Pangasinan have to register to tarana.ph and S-pass (Safe, Swift, and Secure passage) travel management system. For those from alert level 3 areas, we will require a negative reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test or rapid antigen test taken 72 hours before traveling as a requirement or their vaccination card in lieu of the RT-PCR test,” he said.
For residents of Pangasinan, they just need to present a valid identification card or proof of residence, he added. Sison said overnight in the guest houses in the HINP is also available now while the “No Movement Day” every Sunday in the city was already lifted. The island has four available guest houses as some were under renovation; three are at the Quezon Island and one at the Mayor’s Island. Among the newest attraction at the
Beef Spareribs Adobo with Oyster Sauce
HINP is the view deck located at Ramos Island where one can enjoy the entire view of the tourist spot. Sison assured that most of the workers at the HINP and the tourism office of the city were already vaccinated. “It is for the protection of the workers and the tourists as well,” he added.
November 4-10, 2021
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