Consul General Neil Ferrer con- fi rmed upcoming shipment of million doses of Moderna vaccine to the Philippines. PCG-SF

SM Prime sets P80-billion capex this year

By Jeanne Michael Penaranda

PASIG CITY – SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime) has earmarked P80 billion for capital expenditures this year to boost mainly its mall and residential business segments with due consideration to the challenges brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. “We all know that the Covid-19 pandemic continues to challenge many companies around the globe, including SM Prime, but we remain committed to enhance the value of your company for the benefi t of all our stakeholders,” SM Prime president Jeffrey Lim said in a statement,

This 2021, SM Prime is scheduled to open three new malls in the Philippines provided that quarantine measures are eased and with utmost concern for people’s safety. Lim said two of the three new SM malls are located in Luzon –the SM City Daet in Camarines Norte and the SM City Grand Central in Caloocan City. The third mall located in the Visayas is the SM City Roxas in Capiz.

The company also aims to launch 15,000 to 20,000 residential units with its primary residential business segment, SM Development Corp. (SMDC), sustaining its growth in the previous year amidst the pandemic. Meanwhile, SM Prime will continue assisting the national government in its efforts to combat the spread of Covid-19 in the Philippines, primarily in key areas such as Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, and Laguna where the number of cases are still high. “At the same time, we will continue exploring opportunistic acquisitions and/ or investments that are well within our core competencies and expand further in provincial areas where we can operate,” Lim added.

In the coming weeks, SM Prime will start rolling out its vaccination program among its employees to protect them from Covid-19.

It has committed to donate a portion of the vaccines it procured to the national government to support its program

At 60 do I s� ll want to own a house?

Caller: Hi Ken, I have been following your columns for many years and they are very informative and delightful. I am turning 60 and wanting to buy a home again, I am retiring in a couple more years and would like your opinion on this subject. I sold my house in 2006 because I read your article about cashing out profi ts because the market was getting too hot and a possible melt down in the RE market is inevitable. I am really grateful that I followed my instinct and sold it back then. I have been renting at a very low price since, there are only two of us and our children are all grown already. I am very happy now but been getting a lot of solicitation to buy a house from diff erent people. Please give me your honest opinion. Ken: Thanks so much for the message and I am so happy that at least one person did listen to my advice back then when the entire market was ignoring any signs of a huge bubble. Since both of you are retied and I feel like your retirement income will just eat away any possibility of both of you enjoying your retirement. I am going to suggest that you just continue to rent. Your retirement income is enough for a descent rental apartment but not enough for a descent home mortgage payment, you do have savings for a down payment but I wanted you to keep that deposit as your emergency funds, if you deplete your savings put in into a house and still have to pay more than half of your retirement into a mortgage. I am afraid that it might be too tight for you, what if you have to fi x something and keep up with the maintenance of the house? With a house you will be left with a very little spendable income and almost no emergency funds. I suggest for you to continue to rent, keep the savings and enjoy your full retirement in a couple of years. If my calculations are correct you can enjoy a minimum of one trip back home to the Philippines every year with plenty of pasalubong (gifts) and at least 2-3 small weekend trips locally. The Trump government is coming with a tax break that will benefi t renters to stay as tenants, I will keep an eye and report to you once the law passes. Caller: I have a home in Whittier and there is a lot of equity in the house. I got divorced and I get to keep the house and the mortgage. I am retired and only working part time therefore my total income is less than $1500 a month. I need about $40,000 to keep my property updated and make it livable. Can you THE NUMBER ONE CHOICE FOR FILIPINO FAMILIES The ONLY Place for All Your Arrangements in One Convenient Location help me refi nance my home loan and get me some cash out? Ken: I have been talking to this caller for about 6 months, initially I already requested her to get a line of credit from a Credit Union to fi x her roof and garage because it was so bad that you can actually see the sky thru holes in the New Funeral home with Reception Center Flower Shop Beautiful Garden Memorial Park Cremation Services garage. I had mention to her prior that she will not be able to get descent fi nancing even though she has about $350K equity in the house. Her actual retirement income is not We transfer your loved ones to and from the Philippines enough for her to qualify for any amount. She can’t even qualify for her own existing loan. She did get a $25K line of credit that was good prior but because she was so worried to borrow more money back then, she just opt to get $25K out, now that she realized that she needed more work on the house, she is left with no other option. She does not want to sell because she has been there for over 40 years but now she can’t take any of the equity out because she can’t qualify. This is a very common situation now, where retired homeowners have all their equity invested in their homes but they can’t use the equity. They are struggling check to check and have no other way to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Retired homeowners are also very conservative where they don’t want to keep taking money out, they are old school investors and they still believe in savings and paying off home mortgages. Here is a dash of this new century mentality into that thought. If that was me, I would sell the house and use the proceeds to buy smaller house cash and enjoy the rest of the money slowly. I have to assume I still have a descent retirement income and that money is to basically do longer TTT BTBBBBBBB NTN FBFTFBB HHHT BF RTRTRBBHF CTFBTF BB CCRFTCC LBNF trips and enjoy better thing in life while I can. But of course, for me easier said than done, these homeowners might have a lot of emotional attachments and memories towards this real estate hence, would not like to let go. I seriously understand, but I also see them struggling and settling for a lot less than what they deserve. We all work hard and our eff orts deserve to be compensated regardless of mistakes done or mishaps, hard work is still hard work and can’t be replaced. My advice to more mature homeowners, a house turns into a home when you live in it. You should consider other change to suit your fi nancial needs and change is good. Thanks for your comments and support, please feel free to call Ken Go at 1st Innovative Finance Group at 562-508-7048 or write to kennethgo@verizon. net. BRE 01021223 NMLS 238636

Hidilyn Diaz seals slot for Tokyo Olympics

MANILA/TASHKENT - Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz has qualifi ed for the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympics set this July at the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The 30-year-old becomes the country’s seventh Olympic qualifi er joining boxers Eumir Marcial, Irish Magno, Nesthy Petecio, and Carlo Paalam, world champion gymnast Carlos Yulo, and pole vaulter EJ Obiena.

Diaz lifted a 90kg snatch on her second attempt and that was all she needed to book that ticket to Tokyo, according to reports from Tashkent.

Diaz though missed the podium as she fi nished only 4th overall in the tournament with a 94kg snatch and a 118kg clean and jerk.

The Zamboanguena weightlifter is on a mission to win the Philippines’ fi rst ever gold medal in the Olympics after she became the fi rst Filipina woman to win a silver medal in the Rio Olympics in 2016.

After Hidilyn’s stint, teenage Filipina weightlifting sensation Vanessa Sarno delivered the Philippines’ fi rst two golds in the tournament.

The 17-year-old Sarno lifted a total of 229kgs in the women’s 71kg fi nal to win the gold, followed by Turkmenistan’s Gulnabat Kadyrova (223kgs) and Kazakhstan’s Yekaterina Bykova (213 kgs).

It was Sarno’s golden fi nish in the clean and jerk cat-

egory that made her top the total lifts, after comfortably clearing the 120, 124, and 128kg lifts in all her three attempts. Kadyrova edged Sarno by just a kilogram, 102-101, in the snatch event as the Boholana weightlifter took home the silver medal in that category. Sarno aced the 93, 97, and 101kg lifts in her three snatch attempts. With Sarno’s victory, the Philippines now won a total of two golds, six silvers, and one bronze in the Asian weightlifting tournament that will last until April 25. Elreen Ando bagged two silvers and one bronze in the women’s 64kg fi nal on Tuesday, while Mary Flor Diaz notched three silvers in the women 45kg division fi nal last Sunday. Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas President Monico Puentevella lauded Sarno’s feat, but emphasized that she has to wait for the fi nal world rankings to determine whether she can make the cut in the Tokyo Olympics. Sarno won two golds and two silvers in the 2019 Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships. Last year, she plucked three golds in the International Weightlifting Online World Youth Championship. Diaz immediately thanked the government and private sectors for providing her the needed help to keep her Tokyo Olympic bid alive especially amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. “Sobrang thankful ako sa private sectors na tumulong sa akin like last year na akala namin hindi namin ma-survive ang stay namin sa (I am so thankful to the private sectors who helped me like last year, we fi rst thought we would not survive our stay in) Malaysia,” Diaz said in an interview with Noel Ferrer on Instagram on Sunday night, right after she formally clinched a spot in the Olympics by participating in the Asian Weightlifting Championship in Tashkent, PNA reported. Diaz decided to hold her training camp in Kuala Lumpur, but her stay in the Malaysian capital has been prolonged by the pandemic. She thanked the MVP Sports Foundation, which according to her has remained steadfast in providing for her needs. Kai Sotto inks 2-year deal with Aussie team; Kobe Paras goes to US

MANILA – The Philippine Sports Commission’s (PSC) went on a 10-workday lockdown starting April 13 after 63 persons tested positive in its latest round of testing.

Both the administrative offi ces at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila and the Philsports Complex in Pasig City will be under confi nement to give way to thorough disinfection and cleansing.

Lawyer Guillermo Iroy Jr., PSC Executive Director, has been meeting the management committee of the PSC through the holiday and weekends to ensure that the agency’s health safety protocols are revisited and fortifi ed.

Iroy said they have reiterated the observance of all safety protocols in place and shall have more stringent measures and sanctions for those discovered not following these rules.

“It is for their and everyone’s safety. We all have a family to protect,” he said.

The PSC’s offi ce operations shall shift to work-fromhome arrangements on those lockdown dates to ensure that delivery of service remains unhampered.

“We hope to break the transmission during those days, to arrest the spread of Covid-19 among our employees,” Chief of Staff Marc Velasco said.

Velasco stressed that heads of offi ces have already been given instructions on the work-from-home set-up and expectations.

“We are still waiting for some test results and we are hoping that we do not add any more positives,“ Velasco said, adding that there were only 41 positive cases when the request was submitted to the Offi ce of the President last Friday.

Pacquiao-Mayweather: Usapan bingong muli

Sa bisa ng pag-agaw ng korona ng WBO welterweight noong 2009 kay Miguel Cotto ng Puerto Rico at ng matagumpay na ipagtanggol ito laban kay Joshua Clottey ng Ghana, pinangalanan ang idolo ng bayan na si Manny Pacquao ng Boxing Writers Association of America “Fighter of the Decade” ng dekada 2000-2010. Ito ay bukod sa karangalang pangatlong beses na EDDIE G. ALINEA iginawad sa kanya ng prestihiyosong samahan bilang ‘Sugar Ray Robinson Fighter of the Year’ na naunang ipinarangal sa kanya noong mga taong 2006 at 2008.

Ang dakilang heavyweight sa daigdig na si ‘Smokin’ Joe Frazier ang nag-abot kay Manny ng tropeo sa isang seremonyang ginanap sa Roosevelt Hotel sa New York noong ika-4 ng Hunyo, 2010.

Sa laban ding ito muling nabuhay ang usapan tungkol Ang dapat sana’y poster sa labang Pacquiao-sa planong Maywearther noong 2010. (Eddie G. Alinea) pagharapin ang bagong kampeong Pilipino at wala pang talong si Floyd Mayweather Jr. matapos ipahayag ni Bob Arum, ang promoter ni Pacquiao, na siya ay pumirma na ng kasunduan noong Mayo 13 nang nasabi ring taon para sa laban ng kanyang bata kay Mayweather na aniya’y nakatakda na sa Nobiyembre 13. Pero gaya ng naunang usapan, ang di pagkakasundo ng dalawang kampo sa sistema ng drug testing na gagamitin ang naging malaking balakid para matuloy ng tinaguriang “Super Fight.”

Walong araw lamang ang nakalipas, noong Hunyo 12, 2010, si Oscar De La Hoya, pangulo ng Golden Boy Promotions, ang nagdeklara, sa isang panayam sa Spanish Network, na ang nabanggit na kasunduan, bagamat mahirap matupad ay maaring malapit nang maidaos. Pahayag na pinagtibay ni Arum na pinatunayan pa ng lahat ng di pagkakaunawaan ay na-resolba na at ang pirma na lamang ni ‘Money Man’ ang hinihintay bago ito maging opisyal.

Katunayan, anang CEO ng Top Rank, nagkasundo na rin ang dalawang kampo sa $40 milyong premyong paghahatian ni Pacquiao at Mayweather.

“Kasinungalingan,” bintang naman ni Leonard Ellerbe, isa sa mga pinakamalapit na tagapayo ni Mayweather, na nagsabing wala namang negosasyong nangyayari. Noong Hulyo 26, 2010, nakihalo si Ross Greenburg sa debate sa pagtatapat na siya ang nagsisilbing nasa gitna ng usapan sa pagitan ng kampo ni Pacquiao at Mayweather at ang mga grupo ay wala pang positibong napagkakasunduan, taliwas sa sinasabi ni Arum at ng kampo ng Pilipino.

Pagkaraang ang pangalawang negosasyon ay nai-deklarang kanselado, ipinagtapat ni Mayweather sa Associated Press na katatapos lamang niyang lumaban animnapung araw ang nakalilipas at wala siyang interes na madaliin ang susunod niyang pakikipagsayaw sa ibabaw ng ring.

Sa gitna ng mga kaguluhang ito at sa nangyayaring hilahan sa lubid sa pagitan ng dalawang nag-aalitang kampo, nagpahayag si Arum na naitakda na niya na lalaban si Pacquiao kay Antonio Margarito sa Nobiyembre 13, 2010 para sa bakanteng titulo ng WBC light-middleweight o super-welterweight.

At kung magwawagi si Pacman, siya ang tatanghaling kaisa-isang nilalang sa kasaysayan ng boksing na maghahari sa walong dibisyon.

Outside Looking In

Q: After clicking on a link from an email, my computer froze and it told me to call a number who was asking me for money to unfreeze my computer. What can I do?

A: I am assuming there is no presence of an anti virus installed in your computer. Also, I am assuming you have not backed up your data or do not even back up your data. So the question now is to pay or not to pay? What do you do when your information has been kidnapped by an unknown perpetrator? This crime is called Ransomware.

The U.S. Government has been going after these cyber criminals but they are working in diff erent countries using the internet as a way to hack into your computer. Hackers are able to hold your computers hostage by getting into your data through the internet and encrypting your data. After doing so, you will need a key to decrypt the data so you can use them again. The catch is that you have to buy this key from them in order to unlock your fi les and this will cost you.

The best defense is to always have an updated anti virus installed on your computer. Also, don’t be too quick on clicking on links and pop ups that show up when you are visiting unknown sites. Stay away from unverifi ed websites.

As a second defense in case they get through your anti virus, back up your data every two days just so you can preserve your information. Sometimes these criminals become very creative and get through your defenses. This way you can always format your hard drive and reinstall your whole system with very little loss rather than losing all your data to a hacker.

Ang ating lesson, Laging maging handa sa magnanakaw, dahil iba iba ang anyo nito sa ibabaw.

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 fi ts you or not. So beware!

Ben Lou at your service! I have over 35 years of fi nancial experience. If you would like sound fi nancial 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.

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McDonald’s and BTS partner to offer the supergroup’s favorite order

The BTS meal will hit participating U.S. restaurants sStarting May 26

CHICAGO – Get ready, because the Golden Arches are about to shine even brighter thanks to a new collab with 21st century global pop icons, BTS.

This one-of-a-kind menu “tour” offi cially kicks off on May 26 in the U.S., when customers can enjoy the BTS Meal at participating restaurants nationwide. The superstar band’s signature order includes a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets®, medium World Famous Fries®, medium Coke®, and for the fi rst time ever in the U.S., Sweet Chili and Cajun dipping sauces inspired by popular recipes from McDonald’s South Korea (cue even more ecstatic celebrating!).

“The band has great memories with McDonald’s. We’re excited about this collaboration and can’t wait to share the BTS Meal with the world,” says BIGHIT MUSIC, label of BTS.

Since 2013, BTS has topped charts and brought people together from all over the world through their music and positive messages. Following the successful launch of McDonald’s celebrity signature orders program last year, BTS is the latest icon to have their signature menu items featured at participating restaurants. However, they’ll be the fi rst celebs to share their order with customers worldwide. That’s right… for the fi rst time since McDonald’s launched celebrity signature orders, the BTS Meal will be available globally in nearly 50 countries.

Over the next few months, customers everywhere will fi nd themselves that much closer to their favorite artists. You can fi nd a full list of participating countries as well as dates for meal availability below.

“BTS truly lights up the world stage, uniting people across the globe through their music,” said Morgan Flatley, Chief Marketing Offi cer, McDonald’s USA. “We’re excited to bring customers even closer to their beloved band in a way only McDonald’s can – through our delicious food – when we introduce the BTS signature order on our menu next month.”

U.S. customers will be able to order the BTS Meal in-restaurant, through contactless mobile order and pay in the McDonald’s App, at the Drive Thru or via McDelivery. So mark your calendars for May 26, and be sure to keep an eye out on McDonald’s social channels (@mcdonalds) for regular updates on the collab, including even more surprises in the coming weeks!

About McDonald’s USA

McDonald’s USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to nearly 25 million customers every day. Ninety-fi ve percent of McDonald’s 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by businessmen and women. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonalds and Facebook www.facebook.com/mcdonalds.

How do the approved vaccine options compare?

The three current COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in the U.S. are Pfizer-BioNtech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.

How effective are they?

All three vaccines more than meet the 50 percent e ectiveness threshold required by the FDA.

How many shots?

Potential side eff ects

Pfizer-BioNTech Moderna

Two shots are required, 21 days apart. Two shots are required, 28 days apart.

Pain at injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, chills and fever Pain at injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, joint pain and chills Pain at injection site, headache, fatigue and muscle pain

Johnson & Johnson

One shot required.

AARP is ghting to protect the health of Asian Americans & Paci c Islanders 50+ and their families by providing trusted information and resources surrounding COVID-19.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccination at aarp.org/vaccineinfo

It’s All About Timing: How California Residents Can Use Cleaner Energy to Keep California Golden

Over the past two decades, California has undergone a transformation focused on increasing the state’s consumption of electricity generated by renewable energy resources. These eff orts are tied in part to the state’s goal to become a zero-carbon electricity state by 2045. Now’s the time to think about energy and harness the power of California’ abundant wind and solar energy.

WHEN YOU USE ENERGY MATTERS

The state’s electric grid is increasingly powered by clean, renewable sources of energy; when the sun is out and the wind is blowing. Most Californians have the option to use cleaner energy through their current electricity providers. The B challenge is in the late afternoon and evening, when demand for energy peaks. At this time, electricity is more likely to be produced by traditional energy sources, which emits greenhouse gases.

Community-based organization, Acterra, has partnered with Energy Upgrade California, a program of the California Public Utilities Commission, to encourage residents to use energy more effi ciently to keep California golden. The program also aims to ensure residents are educated about the importance of using cleaner energy and understand how to do so.

“The state is not asking Californians to not use energy, change their lifestyles or turn their schedules upside down,” says Lauren Weston, Executive Director, Acterra. “Instead, it is encouraging Californians to effi ciently use power between the hours of 4:00 to 9:00 p.m.* and shift use to parts of the day when electricity from renewable resources (such as solar and wind) is more readily available.”

HOW TO USE CLEANER ENERGY

By making a few small changes to your routine you can help create a big change for California. It’s as simple as shifting when you use energy. Acterra alongside Energy Upgrade California is encouraging residents to use less energy from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.* for a cleaner California. You can optimize your clean energy use by: ● Charging your devices overnight. When you remember to plug your phone in before you fall asleep, you can charge your devices overnight with the power of wind instead of on peak hours. ● Setting your slow cooker. Flip on your slow cooker before you leave for the day so that you can come home to the smell of ready to eat meals made with cleaner energy. ● Preloading the dishwasher. Load your dishwasher after dinner, but turn it on in the morning — your dirty dishes will be clean by dinnertime and made spotless with cleaner energy. ● Powering Down. Turn off , turn down and unplug your devices from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. to ensure you’re using cleaner energy.

TIME IS MONEY, EVEN WHEN IT COMES TO ENERGY

Beginning in April 2021, Northern California residents will transition to an electricity time-of-use (TOU) rate plan. Under the new TOU plans, residents will be encouraged to conserve power between the hours of 4:00 and 9:00 p.m.* The availability of cleaner energy during the day creates an opportunity for Californians to think about not only how, but also when electricity is used to power their daily lives.

Join Californians from all over the state in rallying together to combat climate change and preserve and protect the environment for future generations. For more information, visit https://www. energyupgradeca.org/time-of-use. *Peak times may vary by rate and/or energy provider.

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ISO 12647-7 Digital Control Strip 2009 3%

DO LAUNDRY BEFORE 4PM OR AFTER 9PM, WHEN MORE CLEAN ENERGY IS AVAILABLE. From 4-9PM, demand is at its highest and less clean energy is available. Shift your energy use to keep polluti on down and California shining bright. Learn more at PowerDown4to9.org

PG&E contributes $500,000 to restaurant resilience fund to strengthen businesses for the long-term

Restaurants in 6 coun� es can apply for pandemic relief through new grant program

SAN FRANCISCO, California — Eff ective immediately, restaurants in six Northern and Central California counties can apply for a $3,500 grant to help them rebound from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The California Restaurant Foundation’s (CRF) Restaurants Care Resilience Fund is accepting applications April 11-18, 2021.

Pacifi c Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) contributed $500,000 to the fund to assist small restaurants struggling in the wake of stay-at-home orders and other pandemic restrictions that have aff ected their businesses. Grants are available to California resident-owned restaurants with 50 or fewer employees in these Northern and Central California counties: Alameda, Fresno, Kern, Sacramento, San Francisco, and San Joaquin.

The Restaurants Care Resilience Fund is focused on long-term resilience for small restaurants that have struggled the most during the pandemic. Special consideration will be given to minority- and women-owned businesses. In addition to the $3,500 grant, restaurants will receive one year of small business support services.

“What’s really unique about our Resilience Fund is that it supports the business as well as individual restaurant workers,” said Alycia Harshfi eld, Executive Director of the California Restaurant Foundation. “A portion of the funds raised will provide grants for cooks, servers, dishwashers and more who face unforeseen hardship and have nowhere else to turn. So yes, we’re helping restaurants keep their crew on payroll, while also off ering a safety net for when things get tough.”

To qualify, restaurants must be currently open and have had a revenue loss of more than 20% from 2019 to 2020. Funding is intended to be used on payroll and related expenses such as increasing hours and bringing on new hires.

“Many local restaurants are cornerstones of their towns and communities, and they have suff ered tremendously during the COVID-19 pandemic. These small businesses provide jobs, help families celebrate important milestones, and fuel local economies. PG&E is supporting the Restaurants Care Resilience Fund to help restaurants keep their doors open, and we’re continuing to help these and our other business customers recover from the fi nancial eff ects of the pandemic,” said PG&E Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Offi cer Marlene Santos.

Assisting Small and Medium Businesses

PG&E remains committed to serving its Small and Medium Business customers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the pandemic began, PG&E has:

Implemented a moratorium on service disconnections for non-payment for all business and residential customers.

Off ered fl exible payment plans to support customers.

Suspended all collection activities including notices and calls. Customers who are currently on payment plans will continue to receive courtesy reminders.

Launched Time-of-Use rate plan outreach, contacting customers who would benefi t from the new rate plan and save money.

Provided resource information to all business customers, including PG&E resources and external support for businesses including the U.S. Small Business Paycheck Protection Program and California state support programs.

Provided newsletters and direct mail information on COVID-19 resources.

Conducted outreach to eligible customers to enroll in a discounted rate for businesses struggling to stay open. For more information on PG&E Small and Medium Business customer support, visit pge.com/smbsupport.

Supporting Nonprofi ts Battling COVID-19 PG&E’s $500,000 contribution is part of the $1.25 million it is contributing in 2021 to nonprofi t organizations assisting vulnerable individuals, families and communities, as well as small businesses, as they cope with the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Contributions are focused on nonprofi ts addressing food insecurity, minority- and women-owned small businesses, general community relief, utility bill assistance and youth programming.

PG&E’s continuing support for the customers and communities it serves builds on the $1 million in funding provided to nonprofi ts supporting COVID-19 relief in 2020 from PG&E and The PG&E Corporation Foundation. These charitable contributions are shareholder-funded, not funded by PG&E customers.

About PG&E

Pacifi c Gas and Electric Company, 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.

H Mart San Francisco holds grand opening

SAN FRANCISCO, California – The much anticipated opening of H Mart store at its new 48,200 square-foot location in San Francisco, located at 3995 Alemany Boulevard, Ocean view Village Shopping Center, fi nally happened on April 21.

This is the fi rst H Mart store in San Francisco.

H Mart features a variety of fresh produce groceries, meats, seafood, health and beauty products, frozen foods, and quality services, supporting and contributing to the local community. Supplied directly from its California warehouse and local farms, H Mart brings fresh goods and produce to the local neighborhood in San Francisco. H Mart’s one-stop-shopping experience highlights unique food selection and welcoming experience for the entire family and local foodies. The new store will feature an in-store food hall off ering various cuisines, as well as Paris Baguette, a popular Korean bakery.

Food Hall Highlights

In addition to grocery shopping, customers will be able to grab a bite to eat from its mega food hall called “Ktown Food Hall”. The store’s food hall will feature authentic and fusion Korean food, and Chinese cuisine: * DA PAN: Asian Fusion * Hong Kong Ban Jeom: Korean Style Chinese Cusine * DA S.F.C: Korean Casual Food * DAEHO: Korean Authentic Cusine * Left Wing: Korean style Fried Chicken * Paris Baguette bakery (coming soon): Bakery serving coff ee/beverages, breads & pastries, sandwich and salads, cakes and desserts

“We’re happy to welcome H Mart to San Francisco,” said San Francisco Mayor London N. Breed. “The community has been asking for a grocery store for a long time, and we are glad to see this space fi nally being fi lled. This new store will provide local jobs, and makes it easier for the neighborhood to access quality food, and help support our economic recovery as we emerge from this pandemic.”

H Mart President, Brian Kwon said, “As the community waits for H Mart San Francisco to open, we will prepare hard every day to serve customers and go beyond any expectations. We assure that H Mart San Francisco will be a destination where customers can truly enjoy “Good food for all,” and added, “We are confi dent that people in San Francisco and the surrounding communities will be very pleased with H Mart’s opening.”

This store is anticipated to hire a total of 150 part-time and full-time employees and has participated in San Francisco’s First Source Hiring Program in partnership with the Offi ce of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD). Together with community partners including Inner-City Youth, Young Community Developers, and Self-help for the Elderly they hosted three job fairs, interviewed 317 applicants and hired for 91 positions to date. OEWD and community organizations will continue to work with H Mart to fi ll open positions. Interested jobseekers may apply at west.hr@hmart.com or call 562-551-2376.

The Ocean view site has been vacant since 2013, at which time OEWD, along with community stakeholders including the Merced Extension Triangle Neighborhood Association, worked to attract a grocery store to the location. In 2018, H Mart signed a lease with Ocean view Village and has invested over $8.5 million in Capital Improvements.

“It is a distinct privilege to welcome H Mart into our neighborhood. May their success be the success for the greater region, as we look forward to a state of the art supermarket for the community,” said Marc Christensen, Merced Extension Triangle Neighborhood Association President.

H Mart operates more than 90 stores nationwide including 12 locations in California.

H Mart Savings Card

H Mart Smart Savings Card is a free loyalty membership program that allows customers to redeem a $10 gift card every 1,000 points ($1=1point). Smart Card members are provided with special deals and exclusive benefi ts. Customers can sign up for a new Smart Savings Card through the H Mart mobile app, available on Apple Store and Google Play, featuring smart shopping tools and easy access to weekly sales.

About H Mart

H Mart, a leading Asian American supermarket chain with more than 90 stores in the U.S.

H Mart started with the fi rst store in Woodside, NY back in 1982. H Mart off ers essential grocery goods and entertainment in more than 14 states in the U.S. It serves both traditional Asian and American groceries, with fresh produce, meat, poultry, fi shery, and RTC (ReadyTo-Cook) items.

H Mart is recognized as one of the fastestgrowing retailers in the National Retail Federation’s HOT 100 RETAILERS (#13 H Mart). Moreover, Supermarket News has listed H Mart as one of the Top 50 Small Chains and Independents in the United States & Canada.

Information about events, special promotions, and sales are available on the H Mart’s website (www.hmart.com), H Mart App, Facebook and Instagram page (@hmartoffi cial), KakaoTalk (ID:hmart_north_ca), and WeChat (ID: hmartoffi cial).

Store Address: 3995 Alemany Blvd.,

San Francisco, CA 94132

Offl ine

(From Page 13)

rumors fl oating around that a growing section of the Armed Forces of the Philippines had gotten fed up with the cowardly stand taken by the Duterte regime vis-à-vis the virtual invasion of China which sent some 240 “fi shing” vessels to Philippine waters. The AFP knows that some of those ships are military in nature.

The best the regime could do was to claim that Duterte was in secret talks with Xi to settle the thorny issue.

The Duterte Resign petition said it was time for the president to go due to his lack of leadership in this time of crisis. They specifi cally mentioned the regime’s failed response to the coronavirus pandemic. But they also mentioned Duterte’s subservient attitude towards China, which paved the way for the naval invasion of the Philippines.

If not stopped, China may soon take control of Philippine skies, followed by an actual invasion by land. There is strong suspicion that tens of thousands of Chinese troops are already in the country, under the guise of being workers for construction projects or off shore gaming companies.

Again, the president is not likely to resign. But that does not mean that the Duterte Resign petition is doomed to fail. What it’s doing is sending a strong signal to the people that the time has come for them to stand their ground, and refuse to be cowed by this regime.

By rejecting a Duterte puppet or clone next year, the Philippines may have another shot at being a functioning democracy, led by a duly elected president who is both competent and honest.

She will, of course, need our full support. Immigrant’s story... (From Page 13)

courage to do what is good for our community and for our country.

Whether we are in the United States or in the Philippines, we have the right to expect moral leadership and the commitment of sacrifi ce from those who aspire to lead us and from those who court our votes. But let us not forget that in order to have and to deserve a good government with good leaders--- we have to do our part as well.

The Outsider (From Page 12)

need to work together, we all have a role to play.

“Let’s keep doing what works – staying at home, wearing masks, hand washing and physical distancing. We will get through this together.”

Well said, RSA.

PerryScope... (From Page 12) largest weapons sale in recent history.

Chinese Dream

But the Taiwan question is just the tip of the iceberg. China has always been jealous of American superiority. When Xi Jinping came to power in 2012, he envisioned the “Chinese Dream” as the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” It is described as achieving the material goal of China becoming a “moderately well-off society” by 2021, and the modernization goal of China becoming fully developed nation by 2049, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic. So far China is on track.

The rapid deterioration in US-China relations has taken many by surprise. US-China rivalry has always been moderated by the need to work together on economic, fi nancial, and geopolitical issues. But their relationship has gone awry due to recriminations over the coronavirus pandemic, which has exposed the depth of their mutual mistrust.

China thinks the US is bent on containing China to prolong the declining power of the US while denying China her rightful place in the sun. Meanwhile, the US has increasingly believed that China is threatening US security interests; thus, undermining her prosperity, interfering in her democracy, and challenging her values. Didn’t we go through this same exercise during the US-Soviet Union rivalry?

World dominion

But world dominion, which has always been communist China’s global ambition, is hampered by the existence of the US, which China is trying to replace as the sole superpower. But the US is hard to replace. Its democratic foundation is solidly unshakable, whereas, China’s ruling body has to impose a communist and totalitarian rule over her 1.3 billion people. Simply put, democratization of the Chinese society is hard – if not impossible – to accomplish because of the corrupt and godless ruling class. Eventually, China would fi nd herself in the same situation as the Soviet Union, which has brought her own downfall by incessant internal power struggle.

Another factor that has detrimental eff ect on Chinese military power is that China’s navy – although far more warships than the US – is inferior to the US simply because the US has more experience in actual naval warfare than China. Besides, American naval weaponry is far better in technology.

A few years ago, Rear Admiral Luo Yuan, a supporter of communist orthodoxy and rabidly nationalist, anti-American, and anti-Western, said that the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is the weakest link in the Chinese armed forces. But what surprised – and shocked -- his audience was his statement, “Although my country’s military strength has improved signifi cantly in recent years, there is still a clear gap between China and the United States and Russia. Although our country is recognized by all countries in the world in terms of the army, our country is far inferior to the United States and Russia in terms of the navy.”

US-China naval confrontation

Last April 9, the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group and the USS Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit – ready for action -- sailed to the South China Sea to lend support to the beleaguered Philippine Navy, which was sent by the Philippine government to monitor the 220 Chinese vessels that were parked off the Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef, which is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

By the time the combined US Navy and Marine Corps team reached the vicinity of Julian Felipe Reef, only 10 of the Chinese vessels remained. Apparently, the Chinese militia force ran off to avoid confrontation with the Americans.

Rear Adm. Doug Verissimo, commander of Carrier Strike Group Nine, said in a statement, “The combined Navy and Marine Corps team has been a stabilizing force in this region for more than a century and will continue to support all who share in the collective vision of peace, stability, and freedom of the seas.” Touché!

Late last month, Secretary of State Blinken affi rmed the U.S. commitment to defending the Philippines if she was attacked. He issued a statement, saying, “The United States stands with our ally, the Philippines, in the face of the [People’s Republic of China]’s maritime militia amassing at [Whitsun Reef]. We will always stand by our allies and stand up for the rules-based international order.”

Many geopolitical experts believe that the South China Sea is where the next global confl ict is going to be. For as long as China claims the South China Sea as her territory, there would always be territorial disputes among the six claimants – the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, and China. And with the US affi rming her commitment to defend the Philippines if attacked, the region could spark a shooting war.

Are we seeing the start of a Biden Doctrine, which is: To contain Chinese geopolitical expansion? With that, it would seem that a Second Cold War looms ahead. Health & Wealth (From Page 12)

“As a young Christian and professional involved in the health care industry, I fully appreciate the importance of this book for the emotional, physical and spiritual health of individuals and families,” explained Grace Impson Ortiz, Registered Nurse, Sacramento, California, USA.

Make sure to order autographed copies of LIFESTYLE FOR LONGEVITY and the two other books HISTORICITY OF JESUS and JESUS CHRIST for special volume discount as lasting gifts for yourself and lasting gifts for your FRANC (Friends, Relatives, Acquaintances, Neighbors, Co-Workers). Just send $25 (includes postage, mailing and handling) in check or money order to: ART G. MADLAING, 730 Madrid Street, San Francisco, CA 94112 Tel. (650)438-3531 or (415)584-7095 or email:agmadlaing@hotmail.com This Special Off er is good only in the United States. (ART GABOT MADLAING is accredited and commissioned Notary Public and licensed Real Estate Broker (DRE #00635976) in California since 1981. He is founder of MOBILE SIGNING SERVICES, FITNESS FOR HUMANITY (aka FITNESS FOR CHRIST )and ACAPINOY. Art is active Evangelist with the GOLDEN GATE CHURCH OF CHRIST in San Francisco, California )

Upside...

(From Page 11)

“coordinated eff ort with phone calls and emails” would defi nitely grab the attention of the lawmaker.

“The people I worked for always responded to everyone. They felt it was important to do so,” said Speier’s former Constituent Services Director.

Form letters are equally eff ective, said the ex-political staff er.

These “can be very useful as it help to track how many constituents are contacting the offi ce about a specifi c issue. When we see a large number of form letter we know the issue is taking a center stage.”

For Congress offi cials, the Washington DC staff takes charge of responses to constituent correspondence, he added.

ENGAGEMENT

News of the trans-Pacifi c campaign encouraged FilAms, especially those who have relatives in the Philippines, to engage their representatives in public offi ce.

“Contacting our elected offi cials is a good gesture to make them aware that we are deeply concerned with the safety of all our kababayan,” Colma, California, resident Aurea Ocampo Cruz said upon hearing of the upcoming webinar and the collaboration between FilAm and Philippine offi cials.

“Having served in the public sector, I know the value of hearing directly from our constituents,” said Cruz, who retired recently after dedicating 12 years as a Commissioner with the San Mateo County Commission on Aging.

“I plan to write US Senators Feinstein and Padilla, my US Representative Jackie Speier and California Assembly Member Phil Ting to prod shipment of the vaccine before the virus claims more lives of our loved ones,” said Cruz, who has children residing in the Philippines and Australia. - Adapted from original reprinted with permission from Inquirer.net.

Los Angeles County set to meet thresholds for Red Tier as 70 new Covid deaths reported

By Jo Erlinda Yabut, Correspondent

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confi rmed 70 new deaths and 1,337 new cases of COVID-19.

At press time, the Department of Public Health identifi ed 1,205,276 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 22,099 deaths. There are 1,119 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 30% of these people are in the ICU, the department said in a statement sent to Philippine News Today. Testing results are available for nearly 5,905,000 individuals with 19% of people testing positive and the latest daily test positivity rate is 2.2%. Of the 70 new deaths reported, 24 people that passed away were over the age of 80, 29 people who died were between the ages of 65 and 79, 12 people who died were between the ages of 50 and 64, and fi ve people who died were between the ages of 30 and 49.

According to the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, Los Angeles County has begun to meet the metric thresholds for the red tier that allows for additional re-openings, including on-site learning for grades 7 through 12.

In order to move into the less restrictive red tier, L.A. County’s daily case rate must be at or below 7 new cases per 100,000 people and the County’s test positivity rate must be at or below 8% for two consecutive weeks. L.A. County’s adjusted case rate dropped from 7.2 new cases per 100,000 people to 5.2 new cases per 100,000 people, according to the department. The test positivity rate dropped from 3.5% to 2.5%. Should the cases and test positivity rates remain at or below the red tier metrics next week, the County would move to the red tier on March 17, the department said. The state also updated the Blueprint framework to include vaccine equity. Once 2 million vaccine doses have

WHO admits global shortage of innovative antibiotics

GENEVA - The world is still failing to develop desperately needed antibacterial treatments, despite growing awareness of the urgent threat of antibiotic resistance, according to a report by the World Health Organization.

WHO revealed that none of the 43 antibiotics that are currently in clinical development suffi ciently address the problem of drug resistance in the world’s most dangerous bacteria.

“The persistent failure to develop, manufacture, and distribute eff ective new antibiotics is further fueling the impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and threatens our ability to successfully treat bacterial infections,” says Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Assistant Director General on AMR.

Almost all the new antibiotics that have been brought to market in recent decades are variations of antibiotic drugs classes that had been discovered by the 1980s.

The impact of AMR is most severe in resourceconstrained settings and among vulnerable groups such as new-borns and young children. Bacterial pneumonia and bloodstream infections are among the major causes of childhood mortality under the age of 5. Approximately 30% of neonates with sepsis die due to bacterial infections resistant to multiple fi rst-line antibiotics.

Report fi ndings

WHO’s annual Antibacterial Pipeline Report, reviews antibiotics that are in the clinical stages of testing as well as those in early product development. The aim is to assess progress and identify gaps in relation to urgent threats of drug resistance, and to encourage action to fi ll those gaps.

The report evaluates the potential of the candidates to address the most threatening drug-resistant bacteria outlined in the WHO Bacterial Priority Pathogens List (WHO PPL). This list, which includes 13 priority drug-resistant bacteria, has informed and guided priority areas for research and development since its fi rst publication in 2017.

The 2020 report reveals a near static pipeline with only few antibiotics being approved by regulatory agencies in recent years. Most of these agents in development off er limited clinical benefi t over existing treatments, with 82% of the recently approved antibiotics being derivatives of existing antibiotic classes with well-established drug-resistance. Therefore, rapid emergence of drug-resistance to these new agents is expected.

The review concludes that “overall, the clinical pipeline and recently approved antibiotics are insuffi cient to tackle the challenge of increasing emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance”.

Novel solutions outside the traditional development pathway

The lack of progress on antibiotic development highlights the need to explore innovative approaches to treat bacterial infections. The 2020 WHO pipeline report for the first time includes a comprehensive overview of non-traditional antibacterial medicines. It highlights 27 non-traditional antibacterial agents in the pipeline ranging from antibodies to bacteriophages and therapies that support the patient’s immune response and weaken the effect of the bacteria.

Post-Vax COVID-19

PHILIP S. CHUA

Heart of Hope

More than 5,800 individuals who have been fully vaccinated against SARS-CoV2 (corona) virus were infected with COVID-19 anyway (“breakthrough infections”), according to US-CDC. Of those, 396 who got infected after their vaccination required hospitalization and 74 of them died. The eff ectiveness of the Pfi zer-BioNT (95 percent), the Moderna vaccines (91 percent), and the Johnson and Johnson (72 percent) still leaving the fi rst two with about 5-9 percent residual risk of potential infection, and the J&J about 28 percent. This means people who have been vaccinated do not have 100 percent protection or immunity from the SARS-CoV2 virus. This is the reality. And the other unknown at this time is when, after the vaccination, will the vaccine provide immunity, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, two months, and how much immunity after those intervals, and when the 95, 91, and 72 percent protection are achieved? As for eff ective duration, Pfi zer-BioNT vaccine “remains highly eff ective after six months.” How long after this is also not known since this vaccine is new and will need forward clinical observation to fi nd out if the shots will be eff ective for a year or longer. The same is true with all other COVID-19 vaccines. In the United States, about 87 million (around 26 percent of the 332.5 million total population) have been fully vaccinated and more than 40 percent had received one shot. According to CDC “breakthrough infections” are expected since the vaccines are not 100 percent effective, so more fully vaccinated people getting infected anyway will happen…Overall, this percentage (a fraction of 1 percent) of “breakthroughs is small.” The CDC and major medical centers are studying and looking for clues (demographics, geographic, vaccine types, viral strain, health issues, etc.) among those fully vaccinated who still got infected, those more prone to breakthrough infection. As we have advocated in this column since the vaccination started, those who have been vaccinated should still take the precaution of wearing facemasks, doing social distancing, frequent handwashing, and avoiding crowds, like those who have not gotten the shots yet, because this virus and its variants are new and the vaccines are also new, with so many unknowns about them. Obviously, those “breakthroughs” occurred because those more than 5,800 fully vaccinated individuals let their guards down and were careless, thinking they had 100 percent immunity to SARS-CoV2 virus from the vaccine. Getting as many people vaccinated in the country (in the world, for that matter) and not abandoning the original COVID-19 preventive guidelines until we achieve herd immunity (even when fully vaccinated) are the two best strategies to end this pandemic sooner. We must stick to medical science and not politics when dealing with a disease.

Medical pearls

Does aspirin protect us against cancer?

Yes, according to clinical studies conducted on patients taking daily aspirin (Acetylsalicylic Acid) for conditions like arthritis, etc., or among heart patients taking aspirin to thin their blood to prevent blood clots and blockages in the coronary (heart) arteries. The fi ndings show that those taking daily dose of aspirin (as low as 81 mg a day) have almost 43% lesser risk in developing pancreatic cancer, compared to those who do not take aspirin daily. More investigation is underway to fi nd out the explanation for this apparent link, and also if aspirin similarly protects us against colon cancer, other malignancies and against other conditions. Indeed, our longtime household friend, aspirin, for the usual headaches and pains, is truly an amazing wonder drug. Consult your physician before taking any medications.

How does wine protect our heart?

Wine, more especially the red variety, contains a chemical called Resveratrol, which has been found to be cardio-protective, among other benefi ts of moderate and disciplined drinking. The recommended “dose” is one to two glasses of red wine with dinner. Exactly what mechanism is at play to protect the heart when Resveratrol enters our circulation is not totally clear, but clinical investigations have shown that red wine is good for our health. The one particular red wine that is supposed to contain the highest level of Resveratrol is Pinot Noir (Oregon), followed by Cabernet Sauvignon. The caveat is, of course, moderation and discipline.

What is the cause of stomach ulcers?

In the past, the medical community thought that stomach ulcers were caused by hyperacidity (high acid content in the stomach), by eating spicy food, alcohol ingestion, or even by prolonged hunger. Today, we know better. The cause of majority of stomach ulcers is an infection, caused by H. pylori bug. When the researcher who discovered this initially presented his theory and fi ndings to the world medical community, he was scorned and literally laughed at…until various independent and extensive laboratory and clinical studies proved him right. He became a hero who had revolutionized the treatment of gastric ulcers, transforming this disease entity from a surgical illness to a medical condition manageable by pills, instead of by a knife in the operating room.

Why is the viagra and nitrates combo fatal?

Viagra (Sildenafi l citrate) is the very eff ective and safe “anti-impotent” pill prescribed for male erectile dysfunction, whose chemical action allows the veins in the penis to dilate and fi ll with more blood to cause engorgement and erection, enabling the individual to successful penetration and intercourse. Nitrates are heart medications that also dilate blood vessels (arteries and veins in the heart and all over the body). When the blood vessels in the body are dilated “too much” (as the combination of Viagra and nitrates will do), the blood pressure of the person drops, uncontrollably leads to shock, and death in some patients.

Do we really need sleep?

Many times, we hear people (young and old) claiming that they do not need sleep, or that an hour or two was enough sleep for them. It is unhealthy not to have adequate sleep. While there is no magic number, having at least 8 hours of a restful sleep is considered good for the body. This brief “hibernation” gives our body time to recharge and repair itself, including our immune system. With inadequate sleep, our body functions less than optimal, our brain and other organs less effi cient, and our disposition a bit cloudy and irritable. Those who have enough restful sleep also feel and look better, and are more pleasant, positive and productive. On the other hand, sleeping more than 10 hours daily (except for babies and young children) does not confer extra benefi ts, and might even make one lazier and more sluggish. Lack of sleep increases the risk for accidents, heart attack, strokes, Alzheimer’s, and even cancer.

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 Public Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian and anti-graft foundation in the United States. Visit our websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888. com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

INSPIRATIONAL ARTICLE FOR THE WEEK

The Risen Good Shepherd

A GRANDSON’S EULOGY TO HIS GRANDMOTHER

By TIM PEDROSA

Here’s a moving eulogy delivered by Mark during his grandmother interment on April 12, 2021 at the Holy Seputchre Cemetery Plaza in Hayward, California. Lola (Grandma) Myr was one of the strongest and most loving people to have infl uenced my life and it is so hard for me to comprehend that she is really gone. It feels like just yesterday that I felt her embrace and kiss...It feels like just yesterday that I saw her beautiful smile...And it feels like just yesterday that I said I love you as I waved goodbye. Lola Myr was unlike any other Lola, besides loving and caring for my cousins and I, she actually understood who we were as a person. One of my fondest memories with her was almost 3 years ago when my parents made me stay at her and Lolo’s house for the weekend because I was making them go crazy at home. I mean fi rst off , do you know how mad you have to make your parents sent to your grandparents? However this experience was something that I will cherish forever. While staying over at their house, I remember Lola Myr sitting me down to talk about how blessed and privileged I am to have such a family like mine. She played a big role in making the idea of privilege and appreciation very transparent for me to see. I remember her saying: “You and your cousins are so fortunate to have parents who provide you guys with such a privileged life”. Although I took what she said with a grain of salt during that time, I now realize it more than ever. For a long time, I believed that when she said I live a privileged life, it only correlated to monetary terms but what I have realized now is that it has very little to do with money but the values that are present in my life. The family that Lola Myr and Lolo Deo, as well as Lolo Tim, built holds the strong values of love and support and that is why I am so proud to be a part of it. I have not only wonderful parents but also amazing Aunts and Uncles whom I can always ask questions and seek advice from whenever I please. To me, this is the biggest blessing that Lola Myr has given me and my cousins. Family is so important to me now that I truly do not think that I would be able to function without you guys. When Lola Myr was admitted into the hospital, I personally did not think much of it even though it was a very serious matter because I believed and kept telling myself: “You know what, she will pull through, and she will be fi ne”. Isa, my cousin, mentioned to me that she felt the same way because she viewed Lola as a fi ghter and she really was. But when Ninang (God mother) Ann called my dad and the rest of the families, updating us that Lola just had an unexpected heart attack and only had a 2% chance of surviving, I honestly did not know how to think or feel because to me this whole situation was so very unreal. The time that the severity of Lola Myr’s illness became a reality for me was when I saw my dad crying in his offi ce looking so helpless because there was nothing that he could nor could anyone do to realistically save her anymore. From that point, I could not help myself but collapse on my bedroom fl oor in tears as all of my memories with her came fl ooding in. Every time now when I am studying, she always pops up in my head and even when I am looking in the mirror, I see her face in mine.

As I refl ected back on my experiences with Lola Myr, I realized that what I admired about her the most was not her unconditional love and compassion or her generosity but it was how much she valued my education and ambition. You can really see this through her children who have all accomplished so much and are true inspiration to me that I can only dream to achieve what they have. Every time that I saw her, she would talk to me privately making sure that I was doing well in school and she would also talk to me about what I wanted to achieve. When I was little, I would respond to this question prematurely by saying that I wanted to be rich and as I grew up I started to fi gure out my priorities and the big things that I desired to accomplish and I would always let her know what they were when she asked and I could tell that she was so happy for me. I remember that when I was staying with her for the weekend, she talked to me about my future, college, and her expectations for me. At the time I was just about to start high school and she asked me where I wanted to go to college and I was hesitant with my answer because at the time I was not very confi dent in abilities and in myself in general and I just said any UC or good state school will do. She looked at me and said no you go and aim for Berkeley, that response not only shocked me since I knew how competitive that school was but it revealed to me that she believed in me. She believed that I could be great and could achieve big things and that installed a great amount of confi dence in me. She told me that not just me, but all my cousins have the potential to be great just like Lolo Deo, my dad, my Ninang Ann, and Tito (uncle) Edwin. What hurt me the most is the fact that I can no longer show her what I could accomplish nor can I show her that I could achieve my goals. I know that she is watching from above but it is not the same, I would give the world to see her with a proud face congratulating me during my graduation day or when I get accepted into a college. Those are the days that I look forward to sharing with her the most but now they are gone. I am now more motivated than ever to accomplish big things in school not only for myself but for my loved ones to show that I can be great just like how Lola Myr believed I could.

I truly hope that all my cousins take this in and realize that Lola Myr believed in every single one of you and thought but nothing the best for us. Although there is a possibility that I may not end up at Berkeley like she hoped, I hope I can make her proud regardless of where I attend. My relationship with Lola Myr only grew stronger as I got older and she meant so much to me. I will forever cherish the memories that I had with her and although I sometimes grew impatient with her, I will miss every second of it. I am honestly so fortunate and grateful to have had that relationship with her. Every Christmas, every birthday, every family gathering will never be the same; she will always hold a very special place in my heart. Lola Myr, I know that you are listening right now and I just want to let you know that having you in my life has been one the biggest gifts that god has ever given me. I promise that I will do whatever it takes to achieve my goals and make you proud one day. And please do not worry about Lolo Tim and Tita Flor and Tita Ly, I will always be there for them especially when they need me the most. I am so happy that you will fi nally get to reunite with Lolo Deo and I ask you to always watch over your family and continue to send your blessings from above. I love you so much and I thank you for all that you have done for me.

By Mark Sa-

pugay

One of the iconic images of the Lord Jesus Christ is being the Good Shepherd. He said, “I am the good shepherd… (Jn. 10:11).” And we know about what the good shepherd does from the Psalm 23, “The Lord is my Shepherd…” This image of the good shepherd in relation to Jesus Christ makes more sense or can be understood and appreciated better now in the context of Easter Season for the fact that He has risen after having laid down His life for His sheep; that by doing so, He led them to eternal green pastures and abundant life. In my journey as a believer and as a priest, I am amazed and deeply grateful of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. In a personal way, I think of Him as my Good Shepherd who thinks of my interest all the time, even to the extent of losing His own life for me. Do you love this image of the Lord Jesus as the Good Shepherd? What sort of Afl ame The Heart loving thoughts come to your mind? REV. JOSE PELAGIO A. PADIT, SThD Imagine in your mind and heart, dear reader, the popular image of the Lord as the Good Shepherd carrying on His shoulders a sheep, and that sheep is you. As I imagine myself this scene, I feel at peace; I feel troubles in life fade away and my heart is fi lled with deep joy; I feel I am a new person in Him; I feel I am deeply connected to Him. I feel I am at home on the shoulders or in the arms of the Good Shepherd. What emotions you yourself, dear reader, have? Do not be afraid to refl ect and meditate on this identity and image of the Lord as Our Good Shepherd. The holy thoughts that will come out of such personal and prayerful refl ection can breed enthusiasm to follow the Lord closer, and can empower our determination to grow in virtues and good habits to sustain our spiritual life. I would like us to be lost in wonder and yet with conviction of the great love of God for us in His very image as The Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd image give us courage in the midst of many fears in life; for we are and will never be alone. By dying and rising for us, “death has no power over him (Rom. 6:9).” So, if we walk with Christ, there is nothing to fear. Also, with the Good Shepherd, we are assured of blessings upon blessings, because from His own heart fl ows into us everything that can build us up for eternal life. However, two things I want us to consider personally in imitation of the Good Shepherd; fi rst, let us learn the lesson of sacrifi cial love. Like Christ, we have to live practicing selfl essness, not selfi shness. Our love must be overfl owing; that even if it hurts, we still continue to love like the way God loves. True love knows no bounds; even if, there are sacrifi ces. Sacrifi ce becomes the proof of the love given. Second, let us imitate the Lord in being shepherds to each other; which means, we are to lead each other to the Lord Jesus. We are to lead each other by good examples toward the green pastures of virtues and good habits. We are to guide each other to the fountain of mercy, by being example to each other to go to regular confession; in as much as, we have to encourage each other to fi ght sin and all its form in our lives and around us. We can be good shepherd to each other by protecting each other from the evil one by praying for each other; praying for deeper conversion, praying for greater fortitude in our struggle for daily sanctifi cation. Imagine, if we all would take seriously this endeavor of the imitation of the Good Shepherd what could we be like? We would be allowing the world around us to encounter Christ in and through us. And what the world could be like? We would have indeed a wonderful world; not just in a song, but in reality. To end, let us pray to the Lord Jesus, that we may be fi rm in our steps in following Him as His sheep; that we may never be lost or drift away from Him out of negligence or complacency in the spiritual life; that we may be in love of Him and be fond of Him, just as He is fond and divinely in love with us; and that we For more info, please call: may one day arrive at our eternal destiny with Him in the heavenly homeland. Amen. You can Mr. J.R.: (650) 952-823 also fi nd this article in my website, faithexpressions.org, view us too in YouTube, Faith Expressions, for other faith formation videos.

Recipe of the Week

Beef Meatballs Kaldereta

Ingredients:

1/2 kilo regular beef meatballs 6 small size egg, hard boiled 6 medium side baby potato, peeled 1 large size carrot, cut crosswise into 6 parts, peeled 200 grams large size button mushroom 1/2 cup pitted green olives 3-4 small size Spanish chorizo, cut diagonally 4 to 6 small size sweet pickled jerkins, cut diagonally 4 to 6 small size sweet pickled jerkins, fi nely diced 1/2 cup syrup from the sweet pickled jerkins 2 small can liver spread 1/2 head garlic, chopped 2 large size onion, chopped 1 tsp. dried parsley fl akes 1 large size bell pepper, dice into large square 1 tsp. peppercorns 1 cup tomato sauce 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 2 tbsp. soy sauce 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese 2-3 pieces bay leaf 2-3 pieces green/red chilli, sliced salt to taste cooking oil

Cooking procedure:

In a frying pan fry the beef meatballs on all side until seared, keep aside. In a large sauce pan sutee garlic and onion add in the Spanish chorizo and stir cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add in the potatoes, carrot, tomato sauce, soy sauce, peppercorns, bay leaf, and dried parsley stir cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Add in 2 to 2 1/2 cups of water bring to a boil and simmer for 5 to 8 minutes. Add in the meatballs, liver spread, diced pickled jerkins, pickled jerkins syrup, Worcestershire sauce, chili and continue to simmer for 8 to 10 minutes. Add in the boiled eggs, button mushrooms, olives, cut jerkins and continue to simmer for another 5 to 8 minutes or until the liquid has reduce to a thick consistency. Correct saltiness if required. Add in the cheese and bell pepper and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes or until the cheese has melted. Serve.

 FOOD & TRAVELS 33 more Philippine hotels get ‘safe travels’ stamp

MAKATI CITY – A total of 40 hotels in the Philippines have secured the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Safe Travels Stamp, indicating an increase in tourism establishments that have adopted global health standardized protocols.

This week, the Department of Tourism awarded the stamp to 33 hotels and resorts from six regions, 16 of which are in Cebu and Bohol, nine in Palawan, three in Boracay, three in Zamboanga, one in Baguio City, and one in Davao City.

“Total number of recipients is now at 40 including the seven accommodation establishments given the Safe Travels Stamp earlier this year,” the DOT said.

The WTTC Safe Travels Stamp is the world’s fi rst safety and hygiene stamp for travelers to recognize governments and businesses that implement global health and safety guidelines amid the pandemic.

In September 2020, the Philippines received the stamp for putting in place health and safety guidelines aligned with the WTTC’s core requirements.

“In March, we received more than 100 applications coming from the diff erent regions, which also include Mabuhay accommodation establishments and destinations. This surge of interest is refl ective of their readiness to adapt to the new normal and desire to be globally recognized as a fun and ‘safe travels’ facility,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said during the awarding ceremony.

Of the 33 new hotels to receive the stamp, fi ve are star hotels while 28 have regular accreditation.

“Now that the country’s vaccination program is in full swing, we anticipate that parallel initiatives across the globe will hasten the resumption of international travel. As early as now, we need to prepare our facilities and destinations to be visitor-ready, with health and safety as key concerns,” Romulo-Puyat said.

“The WTTC Safe Travels Stamp, on top of our accreditation, will hope to restore travelers’ confi dence in the Philippines as a ‘safe and fun’ destination,” she added.

In a press conference, Romulo-Puyat clarifi ed that the stamp is not a requirement for hotels to operate under the new normal, but getting one comes with the opportunity to get global exposure through the vast network of WTTC member organizations.

“All we are requiring is a DOT accreditation but of course I am encouraging everybody to apply for this because this is like a stamp of approval that you are not only DOT accredited but worldwide pumasa ‘yong standard mo (your standard passed),” she said. Beef Spareribs Adobo with Oyster Sauce

The latest hotels to secure the stamp are: -- Aruga by Rockwell -- Grand Hyatt Manila -- Joy Nostalg Hotels & Suites Manila -- Solaire Resort -- The Peninsula Manila -- Baguio Country Club -- The Forest Lodge at Camp John Hay -- The Manor at Camp John Hay -- Balai Adlao (El Nido, Palawan) -- Casa Kalaw (El Nido, Palawan) -- Club Paradise (Coron, Palawan) -- El Nido Resorts – Apulit Island Resort -- El Nido Resorts – Lagen Island Resort -- El Nido Resorts – Miniloc Island Resort -- El Nido Resorts – Pangulasian Island Resort -- Hotel Covo (El Nido, Palawan) -- Huni Lio (El Nido, Palawan) -- Amarela Resort (Panglao, Bohol) -- Amun Ini Resort and Spa (Anda, Bohol) -- Bai Hotel (Mandaue City, Cebu) -- Best Western Plus The Ivywall Resort (Panglao, Bohol) -- Bohol Beach Club (Panglao, Bohol) -- Cebu White Sands Resort and Spa (Mactan) -- C Suites at 8 Newtown (Lapu-Lapu City) -- Jpark Island Resort and Waterpark (Lapu-Lapu City) -- Modala Beach Resort (Panglao, Bohol) -- Mithi Resort and Spa (Dauis, Bohol) -- Plantation Bay Resort and Spa (Lapu-Lapu City) -- Tambuli Seaside Resort and Spa (Lapu-lapu City) -- The Bellevue Resort (Panglao, Bohol) -- The Hotel Elizabeth (Cebu) -- Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino -- Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino -- Grand Astoria Hotel (Zamboanga City) -- Hotel Camila 2 (Dipolog City) -- Mibang Hotel (Dipolog City) -- Seda Abreeza Hotel (Davao City)