Philippine News Today

1 May 28-June 3, 2021

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA EDITION

www.pnewstoday.com

THE PREMIER FILIPINO-AMERICAN NEWSPAPER IN THE U.S. SINCE 1961

Vol. 60 No. 42 May 27-June 2, 2021

NEWS AND VIEWS YOU TRUST

LAWMEN TOLD: ARREST OF COVID-19 PROTOCOL VIOLATORS ‘MANDATORY’ Pinoy seaman dies of India variant as virus cases dip in NCR, others

PHL economy back as Asia’s doormat

By ALFRED GABOT and CLAIRE MORALES TRUE Editor in Chief and Managing Editor

MANILA — Bouyed by reports of dipping cases of new corona virus in the National Capital Region and other areas and the continued arrival of vaccines and stepped up vacci nation, President Rodrigo Duterte warned that arrest of protocol violators is now “mandatory” as they continue to defy the strict quarantine and health rules amid the prevailing coronavirus disPage 7 ease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Move to rename Historic Filipinotown street to Larry Itliong Blvd. pushed

By JO ERLINDA MAUFIT

Larry Itliong

ConGen Ferrer

LOS ANGELES – Proponents have revived a petition to rename a portion of a major thoroughfare in the Historic Filipinotown in Los Angeles to Larry Itliong Boulevard to honor the great Filipino labor leader.

But instead of a portion Temple Avenue being renamed to Larry

Itliong Avenue, they are now seeking the renaming of Beverly Boulevard, from the intersection at Glendale Avenue in the east to Virgil Avenue in the west. Beverly Blvd. and Temple Ave. are the major roads traversing the Historic Filipinotown.

The Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown (RC HiFi) and the Media and Business Club (MBC), both led by Fernandico Q. Gonong Jr. as president, had originally proposed a portion of Temple Avenue for the renaming but when the Historic Filipinotown Gateway Arch, which would welcome visitors to the Historic Filipi- Page 8

By Be�ng Laygo Dolor, Editor

MANILA – The Philippine government has done such a bad job at addressing the coronavirus pandemic that its economy will not be able to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels until the end of next year.

This is the sad conclusion from Moody’s Analytics, which released its latest country report this week.

GOVERNOR NEWSOM highlights new CAL FIRE HAWK helicopters and $2 While not using the Page 8 billion in wildfire and emergency preparedness investments

Governor Newsom unveils firefight aircraft, energy deal MCCLELLAN PARK – At McClellan Air Force Base, Governor Gavin Newsom highlighted the recent addition of six CAL FIRE HAWK helicopters to CAL FIRE’s fleet and discussed his proposed $2 billion investment in combating wildfires and emergency preparedness – the largest in California history.

“Climate change has created a new wildfire reality in California, and we are propos-

ing the single largest investment in wildfire preparedness in our state’s history – $2 billion for emergency preparedness,” said Governor Newsom.

“With new investments in state-of-the-art firefighting technology and equipment and a focus on building resilience through fuel breaks, forest health projects and home hardening to protect our high-risk communities, the state is more Page 26

15 charged in $5-M scheme to defraud elderly Filipinos OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta has charged 15 people with conspiring to defraud mostly elderly victims of Filipino descent out of a combined $5 million even as wider investigation loomed.

The California Department of Justice, it was learned, is seeking out additional victims Page 8

VP Robredo vs Senator Bong Go in 2022 polls?

PAL appeals transfer at LA airport VIEWS & COMMENTS

‘Remembering Rizal in Trump’s now repealed travel ban’

SHOWBIZ

SPORTS

Sharon, Sen. Kiko in spat forcing her to flee to LA?

FilAm Jordan Clarkson wins NBA award

Page 13 By A�y. Liangco

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P2

PESO-DOLLAR RATE

$1.00= P48.07

as of May 27, 2021 1:30am

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P10 P3

 NATIONAL NEWS

May 27-June 2, 2021

2

Philippine Airlines protests transfer of LAX boarding gates

By Jun Nucum LOS ANGELES - The country’s flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is objecting to a decision of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) transferring its boarding gates to a farther location in the expanded Midfield Satellite Concourse (MSC) of the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) by the end of the month.

In a letter to Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) management, PAL expressed deep regrets and deep concern on the decision that was relayed through an email advisory received on May 7, 2021 stating, among others, that the airline is mandated to move to the new MSC by June 1, 2021.

PAL has been flying Filipino-Americans to and from the United States West Coast since 1946, and to and from LAX since 1984 where it operated up to 17 weekly flights before the pandemic.

PAL North America Regional Head Bryan Lim had informed that PAL management already disagreed in talks with LAWA as early as 2018 on a possible move to the MSC as it will affect their passengers, especially the elderly.

According to sources, PAL President Gilbert Sta. Maria reiterated the PAL position in a letter to LAWA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Justin Erbacci on April 19, 2021 stating that PAL is deeply concerned and urgently appeals for reconsideration of the initial plan to relegate PAL to operate from gates at the MSC. n its appeal letter, PAL said forcing it to operate from the MSC “would result in a significantly degraded passenger experience with a disproportionate impact on our senior citizen passengers and our passengers who are persons with disabilities (PWD)” which are disproportionately high in number accounting for the highest usage of wheelchair services among operators at the TBIT. Lim supplied figures stating that PAL’s wheelchair use in 2019 was 18,082 for arriving passengers and 21,766 passengers for departure. Even during the pandemic, 2020 figures on wheelchair use were 8,428 for arriving passengers with 8,072

for departing passengers.

In the letter, PAL estimates that ambulatory passengers will take longer time to travel from PAL’s present checkin counters to the MSC which could, in turn, adversely impact their on-time departure performance and incur additional costs for the PAL, including higher costs for wheelchair services due to additional demand In a walkthrough done with LAWA, PAL claimed that a total of 30 minutes regular walk from the check-in counter to the new gates, an additional 20 minutes from the present ten-minute walk from the check-in to the boarding gates at the main terminal.

Additional inconvenience poised by the planned transfer is that there are only vending machines, a stall with light snacks/drinks and a food delivery service which are the barest food services to cater to the needs of the passengers departing from the MSC. .

The relegation of PAL, the letter continued, would put PAL at a competitive disadvantage, as all their direct competitors -- Korean Air, Asiana, EVA Air, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Japan Airlines and Singapore Airlines, all of whom serve Manila via their respective hubs -- are to be assigned gates at the main TBIT concourse. Other Asian airlines designated to operate out of the MSC do not fly to Manila at present, e.g., Sichuan Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, etc.

In its response letter dated April 26, 2021, LAWA maintained that they strongly value the longstanding relationship they have with Philippine Airlines and the Filipino residents of and visitors to Los Angeles and look forward to providing an outstanding guest experience for Philippine Airlines passengers at LAX for many years to come.

“The new Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) West Gates make up a brand new state-of-the-art concourse that is designed as a seamless extension of the Tom Bradley International Terminal.

Therefore, the operational parameters of airline functions at the TBIT West Gates

are expected to be substantially similar to current practices for airlines operating at TBIT…The innovations and technology at the TBIT West Gates will enhance the overall efficiency and experience for guests and operators,” the letter stated.

On concerns about the elders and PWD passengers, LAWA claimed they are committed to providing for the efficient transit of these guests through facilities mentioning, in particular, the use of a minimum of 12 Terminal Transport Vehicles (TTV) that can transport 4-5 passengers at any given time with necessary partitions for COVID-19 separation and that will ensure that transfer of wheelchair passengers is not unduly delayed.

LAWA also do not expect undue delays with arrivals or bag transfers, as all international passengers are required to clear immigration and customs at the first port of entry, which is LAX and that they also confirmed that the transfer times to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Federal Inspection Station are comparable to the transfer times from some of the current TBIT gates.

Due to development, PAL released an advisory for guidance of their departing and arriving LAX passengers informing of the move, over PAL protest, to the new Midfield Satellite Concourse (MSC) of the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) beginning June 1.

The advisory also asks for passengers’ patience and understanding while alerting them the following: Additional Walk Time to and from Aircraft Gates that asks passengers to allot at least 20 minutes additional time to walk to your departure gates at the MSC; Availability of alternative transporta-

tion or terminal transfer vehicles (similar to golf carts) available for passengers who are unable to walk the full distance also asking to allot extra time in case of limited availability of these transfer vehicles; Limited shops and services that advises passengers to plan on completing their shopping and dining needs at the TBIT main concourse pre-departure area, before proceeding to the MSC for boarding; and .

No Change in Check-in or Arrivals location as all departing and arriving PAL passengers check-in and claim baggage, correspondingly and clear immigrations and customs at the same area in present use at the TBIT. PAL assured that they have appealed urgently to the airport authority to reconsider the decision to move PAL flights from the TBIT to the MSC aside from seeking assistance from city officials.

On mid-May 2021, PAL president Sta. Maria also sent a letter to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to raise PAL’s concern as LAWA is the LA City department that owns and operates LAX. Reports have it that Garcetti sent PAL an email deferring to LAWA claiming that the department has thought of and considered everything that led to the decision. Still, PAL is reaching out to him and is trying to exhaust all means for his reconsideration, Sta. Maria said.

PAL North American Regional Head Lim has written to the President of the Board of Airport Commissioners and Chair of the Trade, Travel and Tourism Committee of Los Angeles appealing to them not to push through with the planned move.

PHL buys 6 Turkish attack helicopters Notary Public & Real Estate Broker

*Commissioned Notary Public and licensed Real Estate Broker (BRE#00635976) in California since 1981. Author, Columnist, and Member, National Notary Association (NNA)

CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – The Philippines has acquired Turkish Aerospace Industries T129B “ATAK” helicopters for its attack helicopter program, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana disclosed.

“We have already ordered six (T129B helicopters),” Lorenzana said..

The budget for the attack helicopter program is placed at around P13.8 billion.

“According to schedule, (deliveries will start in the) third quarter,” Lorenzana said.

The T129 is a twin-engine, tandem seat, multi-role, all-weather attack heli-

copter based on the Agusta A129 Mangusta platform and is designed for advanced attack and reconnaissance missions in hot and high environments and rough geography in both day and night conditions.

The defense chief earlier said the Philippine Air Force (PAF) is more interested in acquiring the T129B for its attack helicopter program.

The PAF is looking to acquire dedicated but affordable attack helicopters to beef up its fleet of lightly-armed helicopters like the MG-520 and AW-109E which are being used for counter-terror and ground support missions.

3 May 27-June 2, 2021

 NATIONAL NEWS

PHL ‘definitely’ getting US-donated Pfizer jabs: envoy WASHINGTON/MANILA – The Philippines will benefit from excess coronavirus vaccines that will be donated by the United States government to the COVAX facility, according to Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez.

“From what I am told by the White House, they are going through the COVAX facility. The United States, the biggest donor, they donated about 4 billion and so we expect them to give us almost the same amount that they gave us before, which is about 2 million doses and another 2 million from Pfizer,” Romualdez said in a television interview on Monday.

Romualdez said the US had already donated 80 million of the promised 4 billion doses to COVAX. “The 80 million is the beginning of the continuing efforts by the United States in giving out to the world,” he said.

The US, he said, is close to achieving herd immunity which it targets to happen

by July 4, the American Independence Day. “When that happens, we expect the US, I guess will be more generous in giving out or at least making it available to the world, the vaccines that they have developed,” he said.

The US-made vaccine donations, he noted, will pass through the World Health Organization and Gavi Allianceled COVAX facility.

“That is the vehicle that they have chosen because it’s very hard for them to give it from one country to the other so through COVAX, which has been able to study which country needs the [number of vaccines], and so on,” he explained.

The Philippines “definitely is a recipient” of the donations, Romualdez said, with some expected to be delivered by the second week of June.

The Philippines, he added, is also

working to get booster shots from pharmaceutical companies Moderna and Pfizer towards the end of the year and until early next year.

“These booster shots can be combined with any other vaccine brands,” he said.

The Philippines and the US are likewise in the “early stages” of negotiations for a co-manufacturing agreement with some Western vaccine brands.

“As far back as October last year, I have already been encouraging Moderna specifically,” said Romualdez. “We’ve been talking since July of last year to look at the Philippines as a place where they could at least start the distribution point, then after that to start developing vaccines here.”

He added the Philippines is also trying to get to work with the Novavax Inc. company.

“We were trying to put them together with (United Laboratories, Inc.) and also

Jose Manuel Romualdez. to be able to manufacture the vaccines,” he said. “I think this is going to be an exciting thing for the country because not only it will be good for our health but also our economy will be able to develop a good place where we can have these vaccines develop here.”

The Philippines will establish the first Virology Science and Technology Institute in New Clark City, Pampanga, part of the vaccine development and manufacturing roadmap.

CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – The Philippines has acquired Turkish Aerospace Industries T129B “ATAK” helicopters for its attack helicopter program, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana disclosed.

“We have already ordered six (T129B helicopters),” Lorenzana said..

The budget for the attack helicopter program is placed at around P13.8 billion.

“According to schedule, (deliveries will start in the) third quarter,” Lorenzana said.

The T129 is a twin-engine, tandem seat, multi-role, all-weather attack he-

licopter based on the Agusta A129 Mangusta platform and is designed for advanced attack and reconnaissance missions in hot and high environments and rough geography in both day and night conditions.

The defense chief earlier said the Philippine Air Force (PAF) is more in-

terested in acquiring the T129B for its attack helicopter program.

The PAF is looking to acquire dedicated but affordable attack helicopters to beef up its fleet of lightly-armed helicopters like the MG-520 and AW-109E which are being used for counter-terror and ground support missions.

Comelec eyes adjusted campaign rules for 2022 polls

Manila readies P10-B schools, housing projects

MANILA – The city government of Manila will pursue several infrastructure projects with another loan, this time P10 billion, from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) to finance six infrastructure projects.

Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and DBP president and CEO Emmanuel Herbosa signed the Omnibus Term Loan Facility at the Tondominium 1 construction site in Vitas, Tondo last week The infrastructure projects are three public schools – the Dr. Alejandro Albert Elementary School in Sampaloc, the Rosauro Almario Elementary School in Tondo, and the Manila Science High School along Taft Avenue – and residential buildings Pedro Gil Residences, San Lazaro Residences, and San Sebastian Residences, aside from other ongoing housing development projects for the underserved sectors of the city.

 METRO NEWS

May 27-June 2, 2021

Manila bans sale of Covid-19 jabs; San Juan warns sellers, orders

NOT FOR SALE. Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan (right) explain Ordinance No. 8740 that prohibits the sale, distribu�on, or administra�on of Covid-19 vaccines for gain, income or profit.

MANILA/SAN JUAN – The city government of Manila has banned the sale of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccines even by companies, institutions, or organizations for gain or profit.

Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, said he signed Ordinance No. 8740 in order to protect the general public from those who intend to profit from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile in San Juan City, Mayor Francis Zamora said no one in the San Juan city government is involved in the alleged selling of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) jab and vaccine slots,

adding the city has an ongoing probe on the alleged sale of vaccines and priority slots.

“Here in San Juan, none of our city hall employees or city health staff are involved in this,” Zamora said in a television interview. “I’m confident with my city hall employees, with our city health office staff, in fact, I’ve coordinated also with our officer. We have spoken thoroughly about this.”

“What we have here in San Juan is a very organized vaccine procedure,” he added, noting that all vaccine recipients undergo processes.

Last week, the conversation between a supposed buyer and seller of Covid-19 jabs and vaccine slots in Mandaluyong and San Juan was shared on social media.

Mayor Domagoso said the new ordinance prohibits “any person, institution, corporation, group, or organization to engage in the sale, distribution, or administration of Covid-19 vaccines for gain, income, or profit, while the country is in a state of public health emergency and without full market authorization issued by the Food and Drug Administration.”

“Bawal magbenta ng bakuna. Bawal kumita sa bakuna whether organisasyon, institusyon, tao o korporasyon. Bawal.

Bawal ikaltas ang sweldo ng tao iyong bakunang pwedeng ibigay ng private sector in Manila (It is forbidden to sell the vaccine. It is forbidden to profit from the vaccine whether it’s an organization, institution, individual, or corporation. It is not allowed. In Manila, the private sector cannot deduct from the salary what can be given for free),” Domagoso said.

Violators shall be penalized P5,000 and imprisoned for not more than six months.

For corporations or other juridical entities, the directors, officers, employees, or other officers responsible for the violation shall be charged and penalized.

4

LRT-2 trip to Antipolo City starts in June ANTIPOLO CITY – Good news to Antipolo City residents and workers.

The Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) extension, consisting of two stations from Marikina City to Masinag in Antipolo City, will start operations in June, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

Tugade inspected the rail line’s two newest stations - Marikina and Antipolo - connecting Metro Manila’s west side, from Recto Station to the east side, Antipolo Station.

“Kasalukuyan po tayong nagsasagawa ng isang inspeksyon sa LRT-2 Antipolo Station, na sa susunod na buwan ay pormal nang bubuksan (We are currently conducting an inspection at the LRT-2 Antipolo Station, which will be officially launched next month),” Tugade said.

Once operational, travel time from Manila to Antipolo, Rizal will only take 40 minutes compared to a three-hour bus or jeepney ride.

The two newest stations would add four kilometers to the existing 11 stations 13.8 kilometers-long, from Santolan in Pasig City to Recto in Manila.

The rail line’s extension was supposed to be inaugurated last April 26 this year but movement restrictions due to Covid-19 caused delays in the construction and testing

5 May 27-June 2, 2021

 PROVINCIAL NEWS

Dagupan City, Samal mayors test positive for COVID-19 DAGUPAN CTY - Two more mayors have tested positive for COVID-19. They are Dagupan City Mayor Brian Lim and Samal island Mayor Al David Uy..

Mayor Lim said he decided to get admitted in a hospital while experiencing mild symptoms.

“With the interest of transparency and full disclosure, ay iaabot ko sa inyo ang balita na nagpositibo ako sa COVID-19 (I am sharing with you that I’ve tested positive for COVID-19,” said Lim in an announcement which local media reported.

He said he had interacted with several people y who later tested positive for the virus so he went on quarantine and took an antigen test, which later showed he

had also acquired COVID. was positive for the virus. He is currently in isolation An RT-PCR test, meanwhile, confirmed that he was while asymptomatic. positive for the virus. Doctors said Lim has mild pneumonia that should be treated immediately.

Lim already got complete shots against COVID-19 and he believes this will help him fend off severe symptoms.

“Ako po ay naniniwala na dahil nabakunahan na ako, very, very mild symptoms lang ang ating nararamdaman,” he said.

Those he had interacted with have been placed under quarantine, it was learned.

Samal Mayor Uy said that his swab test showed he

Kanlaon emits kilometer-high steam plumes BACOLOD CITY – A voluminous emission of white steam-laden plumes that rose one kilometer was observed in Kanlaon Volcano for the past 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.

Phivolcs director Renato Solidum Jr. said the volcanic event just shows that the volcano is at abnormal level (alert level 1).

“Voluminous describes the amount of steam coming out of the crater. But the alert level of the volcano is not only based on steaming. There are multiple parameters, such as earthquakes, ground deformation, gas,” he said.

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission, on the other hand, was measured at an average of 1,030 tonnes/day on May 23.

“It’s not very high. The amount is above the normal

level of around 300 tonnes/day,” Solidum said.

Phivolcs also recorded six volcanic earthquakes in Kanlaon for the past 24 hours. Volcanic quakes are caused by movements or eruptions of magma from the volcano, compared to tectonic quakes which are caused by fault movements.

Those parameters may indicate hydrothermal, tectonic or even deep-seated magmatic processes occurring beneath the edifice.

Entry into the four-kilometer radius permanent danger zone must be strictly prohibited due to possibilities of sudden and hazardous steam-driven or phreatic eruptions.

Phivolcs added that civil aviation authorities must advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit, as ejecta from any sudden phreatic eruption can be hazardous to aircraft.

 NATIONAL NATIONAL NEWS NEWS

May 27-June 2, 2021

Cabinet members eyed as senatorial bets

By Claire Morales True MANILA – Several Cabinet members are in a frenzy preparing for possible senatorial bids in the May 2022 elections.

Supporters of Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles and Mindanao Authority Chairman Emmanuel Pinol, both of Mindanao, have opened their social media posts and are increasing their visits to various places indicating their intension to run for senator.

The latest to disclose possible senatorial bids are Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III, presidential chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo and presidential spokesman Harry Roque as President Rodrigo Duterte has started preparing the administration party’s sen-

atorial, congressional and local slates.

Roque filed his certificate of candidacy for senator in 2019 but withdrew from the race which saw the administration candidates clobber the opposition which failed to win not one senatorial slate.

Bello, who is from Isabela and Davao, said he is contemplating on running in next year’s elections.

“I’m thinking about it because as you know our President (Rodrigo Duterte) wants me to try,” Bello said in a radio interview.

Bello, however, said he is also considering his health condition since he is already 77 years old.

Panelo declared he may run as he cited the importance of having educated voters, noting that they will be responsible for selecting the country’s next

leaders.

In his commentary show “Counterpoint” President Rodrigo Duterte earlier urged Bello to join next year’s senatorial race.

Duterte appointed Bello to head the labor department in 2016, replacing then secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.

Bello already served in a number of positions in the executive branch such as Cabinet Secretary from 2004 to 2010 under former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo; Solicitor General from September 1996 to February 1998 and from June 3 to 30, 1998 and Justice Secretary from July 1991 to February 1992.

He also represented 1 Banat and AHAPO Party-list in the 16th Congress from 2013 to 2016 and served as governor of Isabela from 1986 to 1988.

Skyway Stage 3 Quirino southbound exit opens

MANILA – San Miguel Corporation (SMC), through SMC Infrastructure, opened on May 24 the southbound President Quirino exit of the Skyway Stage 3 elevated expressway to Class-1 vehicles, allowing motorists coming from Balintawak and Quezon Avenue to directly reach Manila within less than 20 minutes from 1.5 hours without traffic.

The opening was led by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar and SMC president Ramon S. Ang. “The full completion of Skyway

Stage 3 will divert at least 75,000 vehicles away from EDSA or C5. This is a realization of President Duterte’s promise to decongest EDSA. Skyway Stage 3 is proof that the private sector and the government can work together towards a unified solution,” Villar said.

Ang said the opening of the Quirino southbound exit will greatly improve accessibility from Quezon City and Manila.

“With more private vehicles diverted to Skyway Stage 3 on their way back from NLEX (North Luzon Expressway),

or coming from Quezon Avenue, to Manila, traffic on our major public roads as well as on streets usually utilized as ‘shortcuts’ or ‘alternate routes’, will be a thing of the past. This will redound to relief from congestion and faster and easier commutes for many of our countrymen on our major thoroughfares. We thank President Duterte and the government team led by Secretary Villar for all their support,” he said.

And said SMC will continue to deliver on its commitment to bring motorists quality infrastructure that addresses congestion and lack of accessibility.

“We remain dedicated to providing convenient and seamless travel for motorists to help decongest Metro Manila and enable growth in all areas that we reach,” he added.

SMC, which fully-funded and built 100 percent of the Skyway Stage 3, said the expressway now has 15 operational ramps.

These include Northbound entry/onramps -- Buendia (Zobel) and Quezon Avenue; Southbound entry/on ramps --Balintawak, Quezon Avenue and Plaza Dilao; Northbound exit/off ramps --Quirino Avenue, Nagtahan, Quezon Avenue, A. Bonifacio, and Balintawak; and Southbound exit/off ramps --Quezon Avenue, E. Rodriguez, Nagtahan, Quirino and Buendia (Zobel).

Immediate repatriation of OFWs affected by Covid-19 vowed MANILA – Distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who lost their jobs and want to return to their homeland will be repatriated, President Rodrigo Duterte said late Wednesday night (May 26).

Duterte reiterated his promise to repatriate all OFWs who lost their jobs, noting that it pained him to see them suffer from the impact of the pandemic.

“Masakit sa akin yung mga Pilipino mag-uwi dahil nga sa pandemic. Ma-

sakit sa akin mawalan sila ng trabaho at medyo ubos ang pera (It pains me to see Filipinos return home because of the pandemic. It pains me to know that they lost their jobs and are losing money)… long way to come home,” he said in a pre-recorded public address.

He said if an OFW wanted to return home, the government would arrange for his or her immediate repatriation.

“So kung sino talaga yung mga Pilipino na gustong umuwi (So, whoever

Filipino wants to return home), we will do everything to expedite the return to the country which is the Philippines.

Mahal ko kayo (I love you all),” he added.

Duterte also assured that the government would provide them with cash assistance as well as jobs and livelihood.

Meanwhile, he also expressed appreciation to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana for helping ensure that OFWs safely return home.

6

OFW remittances grow 5.6% in March MANILA - Personal remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFW) went up by 5.6 percent in March 2021, latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed.

The latest increase in personal remittances amounted to $2.8 billion compared to only $2.65 billion in March 2020.

“This is the second consecutive month that remittances were higher than last year’s levels, reflecting mainly the easing of travel restrictions, reopening of borders to foreign workers and progress in Covid-19 vaccine rollout in many advanced countries,” the BSP said.

Transfers from land-based workers with work contracts of less than one year went up by five percent while such from sea-based and land-based workers with work contracts of one year or more likewise grew y 4.5 percent year-on-year.

On a cumulative basis, personal remittances reached $8.45 billion, representing a 2.9 percent growth from the posted $8.21 billion in the first quarter 2020.

Similarly, cash remittances coursed through banks rose by 4.9 percent to $2.51 billion in March 2021 from just $2.39 billion in the same month year-ago.

“For the first three months, cash remittances amounted to $7.59 billion, an increase of 2.6 percent compared to the $7.4 billion level in the same period last year,” the central bank said.

Bulk or 40.8 percent of the overall remittances came from the United States, followed by Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Qatar, Taiwan and Malaysia.

Ex-SC justice Brion is new Philja chancellor MANILA – Retired associate justice Arturo D. Brion has been named by the Supreme Court as the new chancellor of the Philippine Judicial Academy (Philja), the tribunal’s training school for justices, judges, court personnel, lawyers, and aspirants to judicial posts.

Brion will take over the post upon the expiration of the term of retired SC associate justice Adolfo S. Azcuna as chancellor at the end of the month, SC Clerk of Court Marife M. Lomibao-Cuevas said.

Azcuna held the Philja chancellor position since 2009 upon his retirement as a magistrate of the Supreme Court (SC).

Brion retired from the SC in 2016, eight years after his appointment to the tribunal by former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Philja was created by the SC in 1996 under the leadership of Chief Justice Andres Narvasa through the issuance of Administrative Order 35-96.

Its mandate was established further in 1998 upon the passage of Republic Act 8557 defining its powers and functions and appropriating funds for it.

7 May 27-June 2, 2021

 NATIONAL NATIONAL NEWS NEWS

SC Associate Justice delos Santos retires early

ASSOCIATE JUSTICE Edgardo Delos Santos

MANILA – The Supreme Court (SC) has approved the optional retirement of Associate Justice Edgardo Delos Santos effective by the end of June, or one year ahead of schedule.

In a notice, Clerk of Court Marife Lomibao-Cuevas said the SC en banc on May 12 “approved Delos Santos’ request for optional retirement effective June 30, 2021 for reasons pertaining to his current state of health”.

The Leyte-born Delos Santos, who turns 69 on June 12, was appointed to the SC in December 2019 following the re-

tirement of Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio.

He was the Court of Appeals (CA) executive justice of the Visayas station at that time.

Before his appointment to the SC, he had been with the CA since 2008.

He started in the judiciary as a Court Legal Researcher while completing his studies at the University of San Carlos College of Law. He was also a municipal trial court judge, appointed in 1983, before becoming a regional trial court judge in 1993.

CHED adopts flexible learning as norm, groups air protest

flexible learning in the years to come, “What will happen is a flexible system It would also “jeopardize the qualprompting parents, students and teachers where universities will mix and match ity education that is their right,” Roperos to protest. flexible learning methods appropriate to said in an ABS-CBN report.

Bringing back face-to-face classes their situation,” De Vera said. “The more “Face-to-face classes remain to be the will expose educational stakeholders prepared universities will continue in- most inclusive and accessible option for to the “same risks if another pandemic vesting and moving ahead using online education. If CHED wishes to pursue procomes in,” CHED Chairman Prospero de platforms. Others will be allowing some longed flexible learning, do they at least Vera said last week in a webinar, adding of their students to come back at specific give gadget and connection assistance to it also “would have wasted all the invest- periods and do more synchronous versus those in need?” she said in a statement. ments in technology, in teacher training, asynchronous learning.”

“It has been a month since lockdown, in the retrofitting of our facilities.”

Youth groups slammed the CHED de- and frankly, the bursts of calls for academ“From now on, flexible learning will cision to continue implementing flexible ic breaks and academic ease are taking be the norm. There is no going back to learning in the coming years, saying it place as a reflection of how exhausting and the traditional, full-packed would exacerbate problems that students unsustainable the current set-up in learning face-to-face classrooms. and teachers face under the new setup. is,” she added.

CHED Chairman Prospero de Vera The commission has adNational Union of Students of the PhilThe Kabataan Party-list described the QUEZON CITY - Philippine uniopted a policy that flex- ippines National President Jandeil Rope- new policy as a “gross negligence of duty versities and colleges will no longer re- ible learning will continue in School Year ros said the new policy would worsen the to the education sector.” turn to traditional face-to-face classes as 2021 and thereafter,”de Vera said. financial, mental and emotional hardships “Teachers and students struggle with the Commission on Higher Education The “old paradigm of face-to-face ver- that confront students with flexible learn- lacking internet infrastructure and modu(CHED) adopted a policy to continue sus online will now disappear,” he added. ing. lar learning,” the group said. said. reimpose “stricter” quarantine measures, in the event that (From page 1) In a related development, those found illegally selling Filipinos continue to disregard the protocols.

Duterte’s latest warning came, as he said it is a “crime” Duterte aired the warning and order in his taped public COVID-19 vaccination slots will be dealt with the full address after Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año’s force of the law, according MMDA Chairman Benhur Aba- for a Covid-19 carrier to infect “innocent” Filipinos. report about three “super spreader” events that contributed los as one allegedly involved in the scam has surrendered.

Año, in a meeting in Malacañan Palace, told Duterte to the spike in Covid-19 cases in the country. that two people who were seen swimming at the Ciudad At the same time, Duterte ordered the arrest of local officials, especially the barangay chairmen who fail to en- sa Gubat resort in Valenzuela on May 9 tested positive for force the ban on parties, picnics, and other mass gatherings Covid-19, while 54 others got infected with coronavirus after attending a pool party in Nagkaisang Nayon village in to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the independent OCTA Research called for Quezon City from May 9 to 11.The DILG chief added that the extension of the general community quarantine (GCQ) the government is now tracing people who went on a picnic in NCR Plus until June as it urged that the country should in Norzagaray, Bulacan on May 23.

Duterte lamented that many Filipinos continue to be target to vaccinate 50% of the population in Metro Manila “stubborn” and do not mind catching the coronavirus and and six other areas at high risk for COVID-19 to achieve infecting others. herd containment.

“Huwag niyo akong pilitin na talagang pahirapan ko In a report, the independent team of experts said 50% kayo (Do not force me to put you in a difficult situation),” of the population must be vaccinated in Metro Manila and he said.

“Kapag nagpositive ka, dadamputin ka talaga, banthe cities of Tuguegarao, Santiago, Baguio, Cainta, Cebu, and Imus due to their high COVID-19 attack rates. At press tay kayo (If you tested positive for Covid-19, you will retime, more than four million have been vaccinated in the ally be arrested. Watch out). And I make it mandatory.”

In his briefing, Duterte said barangay chairs would be country, including 80 percent of medical workers. liable for dereliction of duty under the Revised Penal Code As of May 26, a total of 4,495,375 Filipinos have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, 1,029,061 if they failed to prevent the gatherings in their respective of them now fully protected, said Health Undersecretary jurisdictions.

Duterte gave the order to the Philippine National Police and National Vaccination Operations chairperson Myrna and all law enforcement agencies after Interior Secretary Cabotaje.

OCTA Research Group fellow Professor Guido David Eduardo Año reported the recent incidents of mass gathersaid “the numbers are still high” despite a decline in the ings including picnics and parties.

Earlier, a Filipino crew member of MV Athens Bridge average of new Covid-19 cases per day was seen in NCR, who was found carrying the B.1.167 coronavirus variant Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal.

“While we believe we can relax restrictions, we think first detected in India has passed away, Health Undersecrewe should try to retain the GCQ at this time because the tary Maria Rosario Vergeire reported.

The seaman, who was confined in a hospital in Metro cases are still significant. We want to avoid situations Manila, died on May 21 after his bout with severe COVwherein people become very complacent because they feel that the situation has improved significantly, that there are ID-19 infection, she said.

On May 17, Duterte warned that he might be forced to no more cases when in fact there are still cases,” David

Lawmen..

May 27-June 2, 2021

8

produced any income. His office could not immediately say if any of those charged have defense attorneys.

It is important to note that a criminal complaint contains charges that are only allegations against a person. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty, it was stated.

Prosecutors allege that the defendants have lied to potential investors at group sales presentations since late 2015 to encourage their investments.

One 83-year-old invested $230,000, the charges say, while others invested tens of thousands of dollars. An 84-year-old

woman put in $500,000.

The perpetrators falsely said a major, well-known hotel company identified in the AG statement as Wyndham Resorts had committed to manage the resort, prosecutors said. Victims were paid “interest” on their investments that actually came from other victims’ investments and not the resort itself.

Instead of funding the resort, prosecutors say most of the money went to paying two of the defendants at least $10,000 a month. Thousands of dollars also went to commissions for those who brought in additional investors or for other unrelated

marketing schemes, the charges say.

The 98 separate charges filed in Sacramento County Superior Court include grand theft, financial elder abuse, selling unqualified securities, securities fraud and communications containing untrue statements and omissions of material facts.

“Senior citizens were the direct targets of this fraudulent, international investment scheme. Our most vulnerable loved ones should never be deceived and defrauded of their hard-earned retirement money,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Those who take part in the financial abuse of elders must be held accountable for their actions.”

The new lockdown and the quarantines of Metro Manila and four adjoining provinces, which account for about half of the country’s total GDP, caused the economy to again grind to a near halt, like it did last year.

Last year, the Philippine economy fell to an unexpectedly high minus 9.6 percent, an all-time high in the post World War II years.

It should be noted that Moody’s is one of the world’s top three rating agencies, along with S&P Global and the Fitch Group, which global investors turn to in order to determine a country’s attractiveness as an investment site, or lack thereof.

Moody’s called the Philippine economy the “clear laggard” in Asia due to such factors as the slow pace of COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

According to Katrina Ell, Moody’s Analytics Senior Asia Pacific Economist, in tan-

dem with associate economist David Chia, “China, Taiwan, South Korea and Vietnam have returned to previous output levels, while Indonesia and Thailand are on track to return this year. This makes the Philippines the clear laggard in Asia.”

As a result of the latest lockdowns, the average number of daily cases in the Philippines has gone down from its April peak of between 10,000 to 12,000 a day, but still has the second highest number of infections in the region after Indonesia.

The past week has seen the daily average slow down to between 5,000 and 6,000.

The Moody’s report furnished local media said the country’s decentralized health care system was a big factor in the Philippines’ inability to properly handle the pandemic.

Said Moody’s: “As a result, there were not consistent policies and rigorousness around

contact tracing, funding, and quarantine measures for those infected and their close contacts.”

Compounding the Philippines’ problems with vaccines is the widespread hesitancy of Filipinos to be vaccinated.

This may be due to the “misinformation and lasting scars from the 2016 dengue fever vaccine that put children’s health at risk,” said the Moody’s report.

The government is targeting to vaccinate up to 70 million Filipinos by the end of this year, but health experts say the target is unrealistic.

With the new variants of COVID-19 appearing in several places countrywide as well as worldwide, Moody’s raised the possibility of new lockdowns for the Philippines in the near term, further raising the specter of a more serious downward slide of the economy.

sight on Beverly Blvd. on the advice of some signatures of community leaders and stakeCity Council members. holders to be presented tothe City Council and notown, started construction early this year Gonong and officers of the RC HiFi and Los Angeles Mayor Gil Garcetti. over Beverly Blvd., they decided to shift their MBC are now circulating a formal petition for In his letter seeking support for the petition, Gonong said: “We welcomed with great gratitude the designation of an area in Los Angeles as Historic Filipinotown in 2002 in recLAW OFFICE OF ognition of the role that Filipinos played in the history of this great city and a fitting tribute to Filipino-Americans who represent the largest population of Asian Americans in Southern California.”

“However, we feel that it is time that the & ASSOCIATES city also recognized one of the greatest Filipino heroes in the history of the United States, Larry Itliong, who led the Great Delano Grape 3255 Wilshire Blvd. Ste# 1010 Strike in 1965 and who was one of the earliest Los Angeles, CA 90010 labor leaders in this part of the United States.

Tel: (213) 388-9925 Just as his contemporary, Mexican labor leadFax: (213) 388-6080 er Cesar Chavez had his name permanently etched in Los Angeles history with a porocampolawofc@yahoo.com tion of Sunset Avenue named after him, Mr. Itliong, who had a longer and more colorful record as labor leader and civil rights fighter, should be similarly honored,” Gonong added.

The full petition reads as follows: FOR COMPETENT & AFFORDABLE LEGAL SERVICES “On August 2, 2002, the area bounded by COMPLIMENTARY/FREE CONSULTATION Hoover Street on the west to Glendale Boulevard on the east, Temple Street on the north US IMMIGRATION LAW and Beverly Boulevard on the south in Echo FAMILY/EMPLOYMENT BASED PETITIONS LABOR CERTIFICATION DACA Park district in Los Angeles was officially desLEGAL REPRESENTATION IN DEPORTATION/REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS ignated as The Historic Filipinotown through FAMILY LAW a resolution filed by then 13th District CounDIVORCE SPOUSAL SUPPORT CHILD CUSTODY/SUPPORT/VISITATION cilmember now Los Angeles Mayor Eric ADOPTION GUARDIANSHIP Garcetti.

PERSONAL INJURY “The “Historic” label was added to recAUTO ACCIDENTS PREMISES LIABILITY SLIP AND FALL CASES ognize the area as a gateway and place where Filipino immigrants settled, created businessLABOR/EMPLOYMENT LAW WRONGFUL TERMINATION WAGE AND HOUR DISPUTES DISCRIMINATION es, and conducted community-based activiWORKERS’ COMPENSATION ties.

“Originally popularly known as Little MaESTATE PLANNING nila, the Historic Filipinotown was one of the PROBATE WILLS TRUSTS ESTATE ADMINISTRATION first areas to be cultivated by Filipino immiTREAT OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM TREAT YOU grants during the early part of the 20th century.

“Historic Filipinotown was created to help

preserve the history of this part of the neighborhood and promote economic, civic, commercial, cultural, industrial and educational interests and common wealth of local residents, business owners and other stakeholders. It was a fitting tribute as Filipino-Americans represent the largest population of AsianAmericans in California and also have one of the oldest communities of Asian-Americans in the United States.

“Historic Filipinotown is home to key Filipino organizations, such as the 76-year-old Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA-Founded 1945), the Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA-Founded 1972),Philipine Womans of Los Angeles (Founded 1961), the Filipino American Service Group Inc. (FASGI-Founded 1981), the Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV), Filipino Early Christian Church (Built 1915, LA Historic-Cultural Monument #651-1998), Lord of Harvest Christian Church and the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC-Formed 1997) to name a few.

“Since historically, the area now known as Historic Filipinotown served as the launching site for Filipino farm workers for jobs at farms throughout the West Coast, we find it appropriate that one of the two major roads traversing the area be named after one of the greatest leaders of the early farm workers unions.

“We propose that a portion of Beverly Boulevard – from the Historic Filipinotown Gateway Arch now being built at the intersection of Glendale Avenue in the east up to Virgil Avenue and Hoover Street in the west – be renamed in honor of Larry Itliong Jr., a Filipino labor leader who led the Great Delano Grape Strike in 1965 and founded, along with the great Cesar Chavez, the United Farm Workers.

“Mr. Itliong was also instrumental in helping organize cannery workers in Alaska, and farm workers in Washington and California.

15...

(From page 1)

who have been defrauded by the scheme and were urged to contact its office at (800) 722-0432.

The 15 were accused of bilking at least 30 victims mostly in the Sacramento and Stockton areas through what Bonta alleged was an international Ponzi scheme framed around the construction of the Pagudpud Sands Resort.

Bonta, the first Filipino-American to be named the state’s attorney general, said the resort in the Philippines has not opened or

PHL...

(From page 1)

old “sick man of Asia” tag that the Philippines was known for in previous decades, Moody’s nonetheless had a grim view of the country’s short-term prospects.

The research arm of Moody’s Investors Service sees the Philippines’ gross domestic product (GDP, or the sum total of the goods and services produced by a country in a given period, less earnings from its overseas workers) to grow by 5.3% in 2021, a sharp decline from the 6.3% it had forecast in March.

It was in March that the country experienced a second wave of COVID-19 infections, forcing the Duterte administration to impose another strict lockdown, which was originally intended to last for only two weeks, but which had to be extended four times in 15day increments.

Move...

(From page 1)

CALIFORNIA LAWYER SINCE 1993

 NATIONAL NEWS

May 27-June 2, 2021

10

Robredo vs Bong Go in 2022 polls?

By Jeanne Michael Penaranda QUEZON CITY – Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo has admitted that the opposition has been “decimated” fuelling speculations that she may not run for president in the May 2022 elections as she has said she finds a local post, believed to be governor of her home province of Camarines Sur, more attractive.

Meantime, President Rodrigo Duterte earlier raised the possibility that Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, his former long-time aide, might run for president next year.

Duterte’s revelation about Go’s potential bid came, as he repeatedly discouraged his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, from listening to the public clamor to succeed his father.

Robredo, who is the chairperson of the opposition Liberal Party and is being considered by the opposition parties and opposition coalition 1Sambayan as their presidential candidate for next year’s elections, earlier expressed openness to a possible presidential bid, or a possible gubernatorial post in Camarines Sur. Robredo said the opposition should only have one presidential candidate to increase its chances of winning against President Rodrigo Duterte’s anointed standard-bearer.

Robredo said fielding many opposition candidates against Duterte’s chosen presidential candidate is not practical, considering that the President is “very popular” among Filipinos.

Political analysts said there is strong probability Robredo will not run for president because she had announced her final political plans in 2022, only five months before the filing of certificates of candidacy this October.

1Sambayan coalition, the group organized by leaders headed by retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Anto-

Vice President Leni Robredo

Senator Bong Go

nio Carpio, meanwhile, said it will unveil its list of nominees for president and vice president on June 12, Independence Day. Lawyer Howard Calleja, one of the coalition convenors, said Robredo, Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso and former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, are among those being considered as their unified standard bearer. Three others were being considered by the group.

Robredo’s statement prompted Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque to taunt the opposition to field a “thousand” candidates in the 2022 national elections.

Roque said in an online press briefing: “May there be a thousand candidates for the opposition.”

A “Duterte Parin Movement” was launched to convince Sara to seek the presidency to continue the legacy of her father.

The group was led by secretary general Bonito Padilla, a former undersecretary of the Presidential Communica-

tions Operations Office.

Roque said the Palace was not behind the movement.

“Unang-una po, dating opisyales po iyan ng PCOO. Ibig sabihin, pribadong indibidwal na po siya. Walang kinalaman diyan ang Malacañang (First and foremost, he’s a former PCOO official. Meaning, he’s now a private citizen. Malacañang is not behind that),” he said.

Roque, nevertheless, said Malacañang understands the persistent calls for Sara to run for president.

“Nirerespeto namin ‘yung paninindigan ng marami nating kababayan na dapat maging susunod na presidente si Mayor Sara Duterte (We respect the stance of many of our countrymen that Mayor Sara Duterte should be the next president),” Roque said.

Sara is the top pick among the preferred presidential candidates in the 2022 national and local elections, according to the February 22 to March 3 pre-election poll conducted by Pulse Asia.

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 OPINION Hidden victims of pandemic Part 2 & Conclusion

D

EDITORIAL

An unacceptable figure

H

ere’s a figure that should both sadden and anger the FilAm community.

The figure is 986,929. That’s the total number of our countrymen back home who have been fully vaccinated as of the start of this week.

That sad figure of less than one million represents less than one percent of the total Philippine population of about 105 million to 110

million.

By comparison, the US with a total population of around 330 million, or three times that of the Philippines, has had 130,014,175 fully vaccinated as of the start of this week, or a little less than 40 percent of the total population of all 50 states.

In Philippine News Today’s home state of California, the percentage of fully vaccinated residents represents 41.28 percent of the population.

The total in our motherland is simply unacceptable. It only confirms what we have been saying all along, that the Duterte regime is one of the most inefficient the country has ever had. Never mind being corrupt. That’s another matter altogether.

But what is clear is that President Duterte has failed to properly address the pandemic.

There have been reports that hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of vaccines already in the hands of the government have been gathering dust in various storage facilities, with a strong chance that they will expire soon.

If not administered soonest, they will go to waste.

Yet there is no sign that the Duterte regime is moving with a much needed sense of urgency. There are a number of so-called czars who are clueless on what they are supposed to do.

In fact, what we are witnessing now is not an invention of the Duterte regime.

Bureaucratic red tape has long been a problem in the Philippines. But the current government has taken this blight to dangerous levels, as countless human lives are at stake.

Worst of all, when a problem is noted by an angry public, the president’s handpicked czars will rarely accept responsibility, instead resorting to finger pointing, or worse, blaming the public for the problem that the czars have failed to solve.

Among Southeast Asian nations, the Philippines is near the very bottom where ability to deliver vaccines to its people is concerned.

So despite the country imposing some of the strictest quarantine protocols in the world, it cannot claim to have succeeded in arresting the spread of COVID-19. No lessons were learned, it seems.

In the past, the Duterte regime blamed such factors as a lack of supply of vaccines from the global market for not being able to inoculate as many Filipinos as desired.

Now, the regime has a new excuse. It says that Filipinos are being too choosy where the vaccines are concerned, that too many prefer Western branded vaccines over the Chinese brands that have been donated or imported in recent weeks.

There is a reason for Filipinos’ preference for the Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca vaccines, instead of the Sinopharm and Sinovac brands. Too many news reports have said that the US or European-made vaccines have much higher efficacy than the Chinese ones.

Whatever the reason, the Duterte regime had better move faster and inoculate more of our countrymen than the current snail’s pace it applies.

We do not want excuses, Mr. Duterte. We demand action.

Upside

OMESTIC violence prevention organizations are looking beyond mainstream models toward addressing the matter.

“Domestic abuse is a societal, cultural issue and not a personal issue,” said California Partnership to End Domestic Violence executive director Rev. Aleese Moore-Orbih.

The issue reflects the layers and generations of trauma experienced by members of society, not just the couples involved, she said. To address the issue effec- CHERIE M. QUEROL MORENO tively, therefore, is to step back and recognize the tension between intimate partners as the consequence of larger, institutional or historical wounds.

“If we accept DV as among the constructs of our American society, then the questions (to be asked) are about dismantling those constructs, changing the culture centered on power and control: How do we get away from that thinking of loving power and control?”

Shift the focus, posed the new head of the Oakland-based nonprofit.

“The domestic violence field is a band-aid on what really needs to happen. We have to get to a place where... patriarchy and hierarchy have no place in our culture.

We can’t have healthy relationships until we as individuals become healthy. Healing is not just about survivors but everyone in the community. Stop encouraging our children to seek power and control in adulthood.”

Healing is not a one-way course, offered Tina Rodriguez, board president of California Coalition Against Sexual Assault and statewide manager of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice.

She cited “cultural accountability” as a “gap in traditional responses to DV for those impacted with the inability to control violent impulses and those who have been victims of domestic violence.”

“We need to stop being co-dependent in more ways than one,” said Rodriguez, a proponent of restorative justice, the alternative to criminal Justice that believes in bringing together parties involved to repair harm and lead to transformation.

Rodriguez berated traditional intervention models and court-ordered battery treatments that don’t take to account the “pressure and trauma and fear of failure” exacerbating violent impulses among men in marginalized populations. Lack of equity is glaring in law enforcement responses to Black and Brown communities, she added.

“Understanding the intersectionality of issues” is key to healing, agreed Jerry Tello, who founded and directs training and capacity building for Compadres Network, a national organization based in Southern California.

Tello related his childhood, where he experienced trauma as witness to his father’s mistreatment of his mother and brothers and civil unrest like the Watts Riots. That exposure taught him to “forget to cry and bottle fears” and disabled him from human connection, a common predicament in his community. Recognizing the ravages of his experience later inspired him to become a psychologist.(Continued on page 27)

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 OPINION

PerryScope

arely a year to election time and presidential candidates are coming out of their cocoons like caterpillars hungry for food.

They would transform into butterflies called metamorphosis. The butterflies would then fly from one plant to the next to feed on the sweet nectar located in the interior of flowers. The same thing with PERRY DIAZ presidential candidates – they go from one political party to another in search of the right party to run under. Hence the term “political butterfly” comes to play.

In Philippine politics, presidential candidates fly from one group to another until they find the right mixes of people and ideas to build their campaign. Meanwhile, they start looking for their running mates, which could be a problem. They have to search for someone who would play second fiddle as vice-presidential candidate. And more than likely all of those vying for president would also like to be chosen as the running mate of a strong presidential candidate. But nobody would talk about being the running mate because that would take them out of the presidential derby right away.

It’s a very complicated process where one has to thread very carefully because one misstep could derail his or her presidential ambition and could also leave him or her out of the vice presidential race as well.

Remember, the Philippines doesn’t have primaries like they do in the U.S. where each political party would have a primary election in each state to elect their presidential and vice presidential tandems. The Philippines doesn’t elect the president and vice president in tandem. They’re elected independent of each other and oftentimes the winning president and vice president come from competing teams. A case in point is the current president and vice president – Rodrigo Duterte and Leni Robredo -- who belong to two opposing parties.

With the next election barely a year away, the question is: Who will run for president and what would the current vice-president, Robredo, run for? Since the president’s term is limited to one six-year term – which means Duterte is not allowed to run for re-election – would vice-president Robredo run for president, which is usually the case in presidential successions?

Since Robredo is in the opposition Liberal Party, Duterte is trying to pre-empt Robredo from running for president, which brings to fore the question: Whom would Duterte support for president? The logical answer would be his daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio, who seems to like the idea but has so far stayed away from it. However, support for her candidacy is growing and President Duterte may already have chosen her for the post.

Conflicting statements But according to President Duterte, Sen. Bong Go wanted to be president; however, Go denied it, saying that Duterte was only joking. However, presidential spokesman Harry Roque was quoted as saying: “If Sara [Duterte] doesn’t run, [and] if Bong Go doesn’t run, because he [Go] will only run for president if the President will run for vice president, the President will have to choose who has the numbers.” And who would that be? One person that comes to mind is Bongbong Marcos, who would be a safe choice for Duterte to keep his family in power if Sara would run as Bongbong’s vice-presidential running mate. And then Sara would follow Bongbong. It would signal the beginning of the Duterte-Marcos political alliance.

But if Go would run for president with Rodrigo Duterte as his vice-president, that would end up with Duterte calling the shots because Go -- Duterte’s most loyal political “lapdog” – would still be controlled by Duterte, just like when Russian president Vladimir Putin turned over the presidency to his second-in-command prime minister Dmitry Medvedev in a power-switching operation to keep Putin in power. After Medvedev’s one-term presidential term, they switched again to their old positions. They had conveniently managed to keep power to themselves by just switching positions. That shows that Philippine politics and Russian politics is a game of survival of the fittest or should I say, survival of the cheatest?

Presidential wannabes And this is where it gets to be (Continue on page 27)

A

Failed formal debate -Duterte vs Carpio

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“I highly recommend LIFESTYLE FOR LONGEVITY for optimum health and balanced life.” Wrote ATTY. JUNAS T. SAGURIT, President, Asian Christian University in Bugallon, Pangasinan, Philippines.

“As a young Christian and professional involved in the health care industry, I fully appreciate the importance of this book for emotional, physical and spiritual health of individuals and families, said GRACE IMPSON ORTIZ, Registered Nurse, Sacramento, California.

“This book can encourage, motivate and help you to be healthy emotionally, financially, physically, sexually and spiritually,” echoed DR. JASON REYNOSO, M.D., Baguio General Hospital, Baguio City, Philippines.

“This book is a good resource for useful tips and advice for people to live by and maintain healthy and balanced lifestyle,” affirmed STEPHANIE PHONG TULIAO, Doctor of Pharmacy, Daly City, California.

“I personally recommend this timely book. It is a must reading for individuals and families desiring to have a balanced emotional, physical and spiritual health,” said FELIX L. OLIDAN, JR. Evangelist/Minister, WANCHAI CHURCH OF CHRIST, Wachai, Hongkong.

“There alarming rise in the number of obese, prediabetics and diabetics in the Hispanic Community. Every Hispanic family must read and follow the admonition in this guidebook,” explained ALBERTO RODRIGUEZ, Evangelist, Hispanic Community, San Francisco, California, USA. “This is a special book which must be read by every Christian to have longer years working in the Lord’s vineyard,” wrote HENRY T. BRAVO, Elder, SURREY CHURCH OF CHRIST, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

“I highly recommend this book to the young people and millennials like me. This is a tremendous book much needed in youth,” BRENT M. SOLIS, Minister, DAGUPAN CITY CHURCH OF CHRIST, Dagupan City, Pangasinan, Philippines.

“For good health and longevity every individual, couple and family should order a copy, read and follow this guidebook,” said ANGELA LEUNG, Chinese-American Entrepreneur, Lafayette, California, USA. LIFESTYLE FOR LONGEVITY is also a perfect and lasting gift for birthdays, wedding anniversaries, graduation days and other special occasions. For Special Lasting GiftGiving arrangement, call (650)438-3531 or (415)584-7095 or email:gmadlaing@hotmail.com To have autographed copy of LIFESTYLE FOR LONGEVITY at a discounted offer of TWO IN ONE ORDER, just send $20 (includes postage, mailing and handling) in check or money order to: ART G. MADLAING, 730 Madrid Street, San Francisco, California 94112. For every order of the new book, you’ll also receive free copy of “Real Estate & You” or “HISTORICITY OF JESUS” subtitled “Facts and Evidences for Agnostics, Atheists, Believers and Christians.” This Special Offer is only good in the United States.

The 303-pages book is sold through (Continue on page 27)

12

I

“Stop, look and listen.”

- A traffic warning “Look before you leap.”

An advice

n his usual peacock swagger, President Duterte challenged former Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio to a formal debate on the issue of the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Since both of them are from Davao City, and his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, is married to a lawyer surnamed Carpio who must be a relative of Justice Carpio, it is rational to assume that Duterte must know Carpio well. How- HOMOBONO A. ADAZA ever, a little later, it seems that the assumption is wrong. Carpio accepted the challenge and Duterte ran away from his own challenge.

Habit: Those who followed Rodrigo Roa Duterte since the 2016 presidential campaign until now would not really be surprised at this turn of events. This is not the first time President Duterte issued a challenge and then ran away from it. In a sense, this is a matter of habit for Duterte. As a friend of mine observed - President Duterte must believe in the saying that he who fights and runs away will live to fight another day. He added that the modified saying, in application to President Duterte is – He who challenges and runs away will live to challenge another day and run away. The better version, I suppose is - He who brags and runs away will live to brag another day, and run away.

Since this behavior is typical of President Duterte, another friend asked me – Why has President Duterte not learned the traffic warning and advice at the beginning of this column, when they were taught in the elementary school? I replied, “I don’t know.” He answered, “I know based on his own admissions.” I asked, “What admissions?” Again, my friend replied, “Duterte said women are only objects of biology and he brags about using Viagra for his personal pleasure.” I replied with another question, “What has that got to do with his not learning the warning and advice.” My friend answered, “When his class was taught those lessons, he must have been enjoying looking at the breasts and legs of his female classmates and that is why he did not learn them.” Any by way of emphasizing his point, my friend almost died laughing.

Tale of the tape: In the process of issuing the challenge, Duterte even belittled Carpio’s qualifications, saying, “Justice of the Supreme Court? We are both lawyers.” Duterte has entirely missed the point A debate on an issue, one must take into consideration the expertise of the debaters and their respective resume As in boxing, you must take a look at the Tale of the Tape before you make a prediction on who would be the probable winner. In this case, here is the Tale of the Tape: CLASSIFICATION - CARPIO DUTERTE 1. School - UP San Beda Rank in graduation Valedictorian Btorian Honors Cum laude Cum lousy Bar Exams Sixth Placer Passed Positions a. Managing editor, Managing himself UP Phil. Collegian b. Member, Board of Black Board Regents of UP 2. a. Highest Position as a lawyer Justice Supreme Ct. Asst. City Prosecutor b. No. of decisions 836 No decision as he was never a judge of any court 3. Experience in a. Lecturer Denial of US visa International Law b. Consultant, Bullied and terrified Phil. Panel that by corona virus Xi that won the case Jinping on the West Phil.

Sea before the UN Arbitral Tribunal Assessment: It does not need a high school graduate to decide on who is favored by the Tele of the Tape. It is obvious. No wonder, after realizing his error in making the challenge, President Digong ran away to live to challenge another day – and again, run away. Well, President Digong, is not fooling anyone this time except himself, his fanatical followers and, as he says – his police and his military.

Had President Digong not ran away and the formal debate (Continue on page 27) had taken place he would have

Diliman Way

The presidential musical chair game

Health & Wealth

B

May 27-June 2, 2021

13 May 27-June 2, 2021

 OPINION

he latest word coming out of Malacanang is that Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to meet with Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and Benigno Aquino III may no longer push through.

Having all five current and former presidents sit at a table to discuss possible solutions to the many problems facing the BETING DOLOR Philippines could make sense, but only if the man at the head of that table is serious and not just out for a PR stunt, a photo opportunity that would be a waste of everybody’s time.

It is not clear whose idea it was, whether it came from the president himself, or any one of his many advisers, a few of whom are capable of the occasional bright or even brilliant thought.

A photo was released showing all five when they met at the early stages of the Duterte regime. Perhaps Malacanang wanted to show the people and the world that everything is fine and dandy in the Philippines.

Unfortunately for the Palace, the four ex-presidents are a divided lot. Ramos and Aquino are not inclined to meet with Duterte, while Estrada and Macapagal-Arroyo will take any opportunity to head for the presidential palace, have a nice meal with the incumbent, and see themselves in the front pages of the newspapers the next day.

It is worth noting that under Aquino and Ramos, the Philippine economy reached heights it had never attained before.

Under FVR, the country officially attained tiger cub status, meaning it was developing at a fast pace that led to its no longer being referred to as the “sick man of Asia.”

The economy was even better under PNoy. During his sixyear term, the Philippines became the darling of international investors, even becoming the second fastest growing economy in the world at some point.

The Philippines was even predicted to attain First World status if the economic growth had been sustained after PNoy left office.

By comparison, the country was left in a sad state by Erap after he turned out to be a lazy chief executive, who had a midnight Cabinet of cronies who sought favors from him during their regular drinking sessions.

The BW Resources scandal nearly caused the collapse of the Philippine Stock Exchange, and Erap’s role in that insider trader scam became clear when he ordered the GSIS and the SSS to place their funds on the publicly-listed gambling enterprise.

As for GMA, her administration was involved in scandal after scandal, many involving her husband and/or elder son.

The sad thing is that of all the country’s past presidents, she had the highest potential to lead the Philippines to the promised land.

Alas, she was too focused on assuring the financial security of her immediate family. This, despite the fact that her husband was already a very wealthy man before she became president.

As for Duterte, what else is there to say? The Philippines is back to being the sick man of Asia, and he has shown the same serious faults as GMA and Erap combined He is lazy, working only one day a week and sleeping most of the time. He also surrounds himself with men and women of dubious integrity.

Worst of all, he appears bent on insuring that whoever takes over after his term ends next year will continue his antipoor, pro-China policies. If possible, he wants his daughter to be that successor.

In truth, the damage that Duterte has done to the country’s body politic has been enormous, almost to the point of being irreparable.

It will be known after next year’s elections if he has led the country to the road to absolute ruin, of if the country can still find a way to go back to the glory years of Ramos and Aquino.

This is not to say that life was perfect under the two. It was not. Both men had their share of shortcomings, and committed some serious errors in judgement. But for the most part, they were focused on developing the economy, which they saw as the way out of the cycle of poverty the country could not seem to exit properly.

Economists frequently (Continue on page 27)

his week, the Wuhan Lab origin story of Covid-19 was resurrected on the front page of the Wall Street Journal. It appeared on the Monday, May 24, 2021 edition in the lower right-hand corner with the title, “Report on Wuhan Lab Fuels Covid-19 Debate.”

According to said article, there were three researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology who were sufficiently sick in November of 2019 to seek hospital care. The source was a US intelligence report.

Subsequent reports said the researchers had come down with symptoms of Covid-19.

This newspaper was one of the first to opine on the potential Wuhan Lab origin in late January of 2020, fifteen months ago. The title of the piece was “n-Cov produced at China Lab?” and, sadly, cannot be found online today. In January of 2020, the novel coronavirus that had just emerged and did not yet have its official name of Sars-Cov-2 nor was the official disease named Covid-19. Back then, the mysterious spreading virus was called nCov-2019.

I bring this up because of the unusual disregard with which the potential Wuhan origin of the virus was largely dismissed by the mainstream US media. It seemed to be more believable that a bat coming out of a cave transmitted the virus to a human or that someone at the Wuhan wet market ate infected bat meat. When these origin stories (that made Chinese culture culpable instead of the Chinese government) may have led to the animosity towards Asian people that today is being highlighted by the #StopAsianHate campaign. The media not only disregarded the Wuhan lab story but refuted it. Because I wrote about it, I followed it closely and was surprised to see a New York Times news recap for a day in April of 2020 stating that theories that the coronavirus came from a Wuhan lab were unfounded.

Interesting. Last I checked, you can’t prove a negative.

This begs the question: why would the liberal press suppress such a viable story? Since it is news as of this minute that Biden is asking for an investigation into the Wuhan lab origin, I am assuming that it is finally a viable story. Is there some truth to the theory that liberal journalists at the New York Times and Washington Post have to refer to a guidebook on the appropriate narrative? If so, who paid to have the Wuhan lab theory protected from dissemination?

When I wrote about it fifteen months ago, I presented a few facts. First, there was a gene sequencing of a coronavirus that was recorded and uploaded to GenBank (a database for geneticists) in 2015 that exactly matched and early sequencing of the novel coronavirus that we all know too well. I also mentioned that RNA changes when it travels through a population.

That must be obvious to everyone on this planet given the number of variants the virus now has. The fact that there was an exact match of the 2019 version with a 2015 version points to the extremely strong possibility that the virus was sitting in a Petri dish, probably in a refrigerator, in Wuhan, China. (The 2015 sequencing came from a China lab.)

If you read my original article and have watched this story unfold, this should raise your eyebrows.

Someone in the US media was watching China’s back on this one. It not only flies in the face of truthreporting, it has endangered Asian-Americans as well as Asians throughout the world since we as people are taking the blame for something that is most likely the fault of the Chinese Communist Party and the institutions it employs.

T

T

‘Remembering Rizal in Trump’s now repealed travel ban’

T

he Philippines and the Filipino people will commemorate Dr. Jose P. Rizal’s 160th birth anniversary next month. He was born on June 19, 1861. Dr. Rizal made a lot of travels when he was still alive and also experienced racism when he came to the United States visa San Francisco, California. He was held (“quarantined”) aboard his ship for six ATTY. JOJO LIANGCO days before he was allowed to disembark. What Rizal experienced had similarities to what happened during President Donald Trump’s presidency. *** Remember former President Donald Trump’s “anti-Muslim travel ban?” One of President Joe Biden’s first acts as president was to repeal the discriminatory “Muslim ban,” a Trump executive order (“EO”) that is called and referred to by many civil and human rights advocate as an anti-Muslim travel ban. The ban initially worked to prevent citizens of seven countries (Libya, Yemen, Iran, Somalia, Iraq, Syria, and Sudan) from coming and going to the U.S. After a legal challenge, Sudan and Iraq were taken off the list. Then last year, six African and Asian nations were added to the travel ban (including Sudan). Trump justified his executive order as an “anti-terrorism measure.” The ban caused many families to be separated, denying many U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents of their right to be with their loved ones. *** History tells us that Trump was not the first to order a discriminatory exclusion and travel ban to bar certain groups of people from entering the U.S. The U.S. has a history of passing and making exclusionary laws and acts.

Although the United States of America was founded and has emerged as a great nation because of the contributions and hard work of immigrants and refugees from different lands and shores, it has a long history of restricting certain immigrants and aliens from coming and being in the U.S. In the past, many strong anti-immigrant attitudes and sentiments have even manifested and resulted in hate-crimes and xenophobia. *** When Trump signed the executive order (“EO”) “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States” on January 27, 2017, it did not only bring fear among Muslims and refugees but to non-Muslims as well because the order had consequences that affected almost everyone who wanted to enter the U.S. The so-called “port of entries” in the international airports as well as the entry inspection facilities located in our borders became the symbols of America’s closed doors after Trump’s EO--- telling so-called outsiders that they are “unwelcomed.”

I remember the chaos in many U.S. airports after President Trump signed his EO and after the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol started enforcing it. Many travelers were stranded, some were arrested and put-on-hold, and there were those who were rejected outright and were deported. It was clear that the EO also came as a surprise to many airport officials and immigration officers who did not fully understand it, including the sudden changes in the rules and protocol affecting those who were entering the U.S. *** It was good that people reacted quickly to protest Trump’s travel ban EO three years ago, including many immigration lawyers and human rights advocates in the U.S., who rushed to the airports to provide support and assistance to those were affected by the harsh, draconian, and discriminatory Trump EO. This was not the case when Filipino national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, first entered the United States in 1888. Rizal’s diaries and letters to his friends and relatives in Laguna about his travel experience in the U.S. (and being subjected to prejudice and discrimination while trying to enter the U.S. through the port of entry in San Francisco, California) showed that he was a brilliant political analyst.

Rizal was held (“quarantined”) aboard his ship for six days. His observation as to why he and his ship and travel companions were being subjected to quarantine were stated in a letter to his parents on April 29,1888--“Here we are in sight of America since yesterday without being able to disembark, placed in quarantine on account of the 642 Chinese that we have on board coming from Hong (Continue on page 27)

Immigrant’s Story

The true tall tale of the Wuhan Lab

Offline

A senseless meeting

 IMMIGRATIONS What can you do if you lost your Green Card?

Green cards are important especially when traveling abroad. There are certain issues about replacing green card which we will discuss.

1. Lost green card. The person who lost his green card may file to renew their USCIS-issued green card that have expired or replace ones that have been lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, or that contain an error.

The person who lost green card may complete and properly file an Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Form I-90) with USCIS, with appropriate fees (if required), in accordance with the Form I-90 instructions.

What happen if the green card is lost while outside the U.S.?

A Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) who is temporarily outside the United States for less than 1 year and who is not in possession of a valid green card (for example, it was lost, stolen, or destroyed) may properly file an Application for Travel Document (Carrier Documentation) (Form I-131A) to request documentation to demonstrate to an airline or other transportation carrier that he or she is authorized to travel to the United States. This transportation letter does not replace the green card.

LPRs must still complete and properly file Form I-90 to obtain a replacement of the green card upon arrival to the U.S. 2. What happen if the Reentry permit is lost?

If inside the United States, complete and properly file an Application for Travel Document (Form I-131) with USCIS, with appropriate fees.

An LPR who is temporarily outside the United States for less than 2 years and who is not in possession of a valid green card (for example, it was lost, stolen, or destroyed) may properly file an Application for Travel Document (Carrier Documentation) (Form I-131A) to request documentation to demonstrate to an airline or other transportation carrier that he or she is authorized to travel to the United States. The transportation letter does not replace the reentry permit. LPRs must complete and properly file Form I-131 upon reentry into the United States to obtain a replacement reentry permit.

3. What happen if the Advance Parole document is lost?

If inside the United States, complete and properly file an Application for Travel Document (Form I-131) with USCIS, with appropriate fees.

There is no process to seek a replacement of advance parole document, including a combo card (employment and travel authorization documented on a single card), outside the United States. In cases where an advance parole document was lost, stolen, or destroyed while overseas, requestors should contact the closest USCIS international office or U.S. embassy or consulate.

Please note that in general, if a requestor applies for advance parole while in the United States, and departs the United States before the advance parole document is issued, the requestor may be found inadmissible to the United States upon return, or even if admitted, may be found to have abandoned his or her application.

Success Stories During the months of March and April 2021, we received approvals from USCIS four naturalization applications, three adjustment of status and two removal of conditional residence applications.

Note: This is not a legal advice and this article is for information purposes only. You should consult with an immigration attorney about the specifics of your case.

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/

May 27-June 2, 2021

14

$380-M Malampaya deal between Udenna, Shell under DoE probe PASIG CITY – Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi said his office will still review the transaction between a unit of Udenna Corp. and Shell Philippine Exploration B.V. (SPEX) on the Malampaya gas field.

This, as SPEX sold its 45-percent stake in Malampaya to Udenna’s subsidiary, Malampaya Energy XP Pte. Ltd., at US$380 million. “(O)nce the transaction has been completed at the consortium level, it will still be submitted to the DOE for its review and approval in accordance with Presidential Decree No. 87 otherwise known as the Oil Exploration and Development Act of 1972 (PD87),” Cusi said in a statement.

He added the transfer of participating interest in Service Contract No. 38 (SC38) is governed by the joint operating agreement signed by the members of the Malampaya consortium, thus the sale of any or all participating interest should be consented to by the consortium.

“For its part, the DOE will, accordingly and judiciously, evaluate the legal,

financial, and technical aspects of the transaction, and its impact to the obligations of (the) consortium to the Philippine government according to the terms of SC38 and PD87,” Cusi added.

He said the agreement of Udenna and Shell is purely a business transaction, and the DOE “did not partake in the decision of SPEX to sell, the bidding or negotiations that ensued, and its outcome”.

Once this deal succeeds, Udenna will have 90-percent ownership in the Malampaya gas field as it already acquired Chevron’s 45-percent stake in Malampaya.

PNOC Exploration Corp., a subsidiary of state-owned Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC), has a 10-percent interest in the Malampaya gas field.

Udenna earlier said the firm believed that “Malampaya is a high-quality asset for the company.”

Malampaya energizes 30 percent of the country’s power requirement.

However, the country’s main source of natural gas is projected to be nearly depleted by 2027.

Gov’t optimistic about recovery of PHL economy MANILA – Malacañang expressed confidence that the Philippine economy will recover despite the recent stricter quarantine measures in Metro Manila and its nearby provinces due to the spike in the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections.

“Puwede pang maka-recover (We can still recover),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a virtual press conference. “Pero naniniwala naman po tayo na makakahabol tayo (We are confident that we can catch up).”

Roque issued the statement, a day after Moody’s Analytics forecast that the Philippines may return to its pre-pandemic level by end of 2022, making its status as a “regional laggard” amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Moody’s Analytics also slashed its gross domestic product projection to 5.3 percent from its previous forecast of 6.3 percent annual growth for 2021.

Roque acknowledged that there is a slow pace of the country’s economic growth during the most restrictive enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and more relaxed modified ECQ (MECQ) in National Capital Region (NCR) Plus composed of Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal.

“Inaamin nga po natin na nakakalungkot na dahil nga po sa pagpasok ng mga bagong variant eh we had to resort to MECQ na naging dahilan para maging sarado ang 60 percent ng ating ekonomiya dito sa Metro Manila Plus (We admit that is it saddening because we had to resort to MECQ because of the new variants, prompting 60 percent of our economy in Metro Manila Plus to shut down),”

he said.

Roque, however, remained optimistic about the country’s economic revival.

“Sana hindi naman po (I hope that [the forecast] won’t happen),” Roque said, noting that the National Economic and Development Authority has projected that the Philippine economy could grow to 6 to 7 percent this year despite lockdowns.

NCR Plus was placed under ECQ from March 29 to April 11. The quarantine status was later downgraded to MECQ from April 12 to May 14.

To reopen more sectors despite the threat posed by Covid-19, NCR Plus was put under the less restrictive general community quarantine (GCQ) from May 15 to 31 but with “heightened restrictions.”

Due to the imposition of ECQ in NCR Plus and the threat of newer Covid-19 variants, the country’s economic team has downscaled their economic growth target range to 6 to 7 percent from the previous 6.5 to 7.5 percent.

Roque reiterated his call on the public to continue following minimum public health standards to bring down the Covid-19 cases in the country and enable more industries to reopen amid the pandemic.

Complete Marawi rehab by 2022 Meantime, Roque said the rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi City will be completed before President Rodrigo Duterte steps down from office in 2022.

“Lahat po ng public infrastructure projects na in-identify natin ay matatapos po sa termino ni Presidente (All public infrastructure projects we have identified will be done before the President’s term ends),” he said.

15 May 27-June 2, 2021

 ENTERTAINMENT

Ruby Rodriguez now works at Philippine consulate in Los Angeles LOS ANGELES, California - Don’t look now but actress and TV host Ruby Rodriguez, after months of absence in the popular noontime show “Eat Bulaga” over GMA Network, is on the spotlight again, this time as a certified working girl in the United States.

Ruby, 55, herself posted her photo from her “first day at work” at the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, California.

“First day of new normal for moi #workinggirl #subwayislife,” Ruby captioned her Instagram post and reported by GMA News, Manila Bulletin and other local media.

The “Eat Bulaga” co-host since 1991 has yet to share more details about her new job on social media, but already she received lots of well wishes from her fans and fellow Kapusos.

“God bless you on your first day at work, @rodriguezruby ! See you soon!”

GMA Pinoy TV said in the comments.

“This is great?. Congratulations!” said former “Unang Hirit” host Rhea Santos.

Ruby has been posting updates from Los Angeles, California since earlier this month.

Based on her recent Instagram posts,

she was reunited with her daughter Antoinette Nicole in the US just a few days after completing her COVID-19 vaccination in Quezon City.

It was gathered that she was operated on after her sister, Philippine Pediatric Society president Dr. Sally Gatchalian, succumbed to the virus.

In September 2020, Ruby spoke up about her absence in the longest-running noontime program on Philippine television.

A netizen asked Ruby if she would return to “Eat Bulaga.”

Ruby answered: “Sila tanungin mo.”

Rita Daniela, Snooky Serna, Joel Lamangan nominees at 11th International Film Festival Manhattan NEW YORK/QUEZON CITY - Actress, singer and television host Rita Daniela has been nominated for best actress at the 11th International Film Festival Manhattan in New York.

This was reported in Manila by local media, among them Aubrey Carampel on GMA’s “24 Oras.”

According to her mother studio, the Kapuso actress, 25, who is Rita Daniela De Guzman Iringan in real life, earned the nomination for her role in the film “In the Name of the Mother.”

Rita got emotional and expressed how she was feeling after learning of the nomination.

“The fact that they noticed me, they appreciated my work in that film, it makes my heart flutter. That’s why I cried because it’s exciting and it makes me happy,” she said in Filipino.

Rita said in the GMA ninterview their director, Joel Lamangan, was the first one to acknowledge the milestone, so she was very thankful for his guidance.

“He told me, ‘congratulations in advance.

You did great with this movie. Thank you for giving a good work,’” she recalled in a mix of English and Filipino.

“That’s why I remember that when I saw the nomination, I said, ‘okay, so I guess what the director said was true,’” she continued.

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!

PAKINGGAN ANG IYONG BOSES!

APPLY NOW

APPLY NGAYON

 ENTERTAINMENT

May 27-June 2, 2021

16

Piolo Pascual and Judy Ann Santos in new TV series?

Are popular actress Judy Ann Santos and actor Piolo Pascual headed for a new television series together?

Although there has been an official announcement of characters of the much-awaited Pinoy adaptation of “Doctor Foster,” Piolo was blunt in his answer that he would be willing to do TV series if and only if, his partner would be Judy Ann Santos.

In an interview on Cinema One, Bianca Gonzales asked Papa P as

he is fondly called, if he was aware that he was one of the choices to do the role of Simon Foster and also included in supposed list was the name of Judy Ann Santos.

According to the hunk actor, he was following the talks about the new show of ABS-CBN and he ad-

mitted that he already knew all along who would be play the roles of the Filipino version of the popular TV series which first aired in the United Kingdom. https://a4e6f98b0ab3ecfcc9fc07a0182b76a5.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/ html/container.html It would be titled “The Broken Marriage Vow” for its Philippine version.

H o w - ever, Piolo said that had Judy Ann was chosen and accepted the role, and he was offered the role of her husband, he would not think twice to do the series.“Kung tinanggap ni Juday, kung gagawin ni Juday, I’ll do it. I’ll do it in a heartbeat. It’d be nice to work with her again,” Piolo said.

This is despite his word that he wanted to focus on filmmaking than to appear on television and this is the reason why he is often seen on the boobtube.

“I just skip TV because I want to focus on being a probinsyano. My

passion has always been the movies.

I love films. That’s really my priority.

I’m gearing towards doing just movies for now,” the actor stated.

But since he owes a lot to Juday, he is ready to join TV series anytime, for as long as he would be paired to the drama actress.“Juday is Juday,” Piolo added. “I’m always gonna be a fan of Juday. Laki ng utang na loob ko doon. If there’s a chance for us to work again, anytime.”

Despite his confession, he said he is happy about the choices for the lead actors like Jodi Sta. Maria and Zanjoe Marudo who are his friends.

“Could’ve been nice but I’m happy for Jodi and Zanjoe. They are my friends too. And I’m sure kayang kaya nila ‘yon,” he further said.

Piolo is busy in filmmaking where he has a lineup of three projects to be done this 2021. This is apart from the three films which he has done last year.

Expected to be included in his projects is the movie which he did with Alessandra de Rossi.

He also did a movie with Jasmine Curtis directed by Paul Soriano and he is currently waiting for a film he is working with director Brillante Mendoza to finish. (ECD/MTVN)

Amid break-up rumors, Rabiya Mateo bonds with ex-PBB housemate Andre Brouillette in US Miss Universe Philippines Rabiya was spotted having lunch with former Pinoy Big Brother housemate Andre Brouilette in Beverly Hills, California on May 26.

“Lunch with the lovely and beautiful Miss Universe Philippines,” wrote Andre in his caption

on Instagram.

The bonding photo between Rabiya and Andre surfaced following reports that the beauty queen and her long-time boyfriend Neil Salvacion have split.

Some netizens made the speculations after they noticed that the couple pictures of Rabiya and Neil could no longer be seen on Instagram of the nurse-boyfriend.

“Kuya bat deleted napo mga Pics nyo ni ate rabs break Napo ba kayo?

Sana dipa,” a netizen commented.

(Brother, the couple pictures with Ate Rabiya have been deleted. Did you break up with her? I hope not).

Prior to Miss Universe, Rabiya vowed not to leave her boyfriend of six years if she becomes successful.

“We’ve been dating for six years.

He’s my first boyfriend. We’ve been together since college. I can make a man stay!” said the beauty queen from Iloilo in an interview.

17 May 27-June 2, 2021

Sharon laughs off rumors she flew to US after ‘quarrel’ with Kiko

Sharon Cuneta is in Los Angeles and she broke her silence as she immediately addressed alleged malicious rumor regarding her trip to the United States.

Some of her critics claimed that the reason why she went to the US was because her husband Sen. Francis Kiko Pangilinan hit her, reported Maharlika TV’s Evelyn Diao. And the worst is, she is having an affair

California to fulfil her obligation as an immigrant who has to stay in US on certain period so her immigrant status would not be cancelled. There is no confirmation on this report.

Sharon vehemently denied the accusations that Senator Kiko hit her, the reason why she suddenly left the country alone.

She said, “Ang OA naman ng istorya!” referring to an article of

with a younger man.

The megastar flew to Los Angeles, California on May 11, 2021 and on her Instagram posts, she mentioned that she planned to stay there for a while and even expressed her desire to stay there for good as she considers LA next to home.

Others claim that Sharon flew to

Cristy Fermin, which came out in Abante Tonite on May 22.

“Bago pa ako madapuan ng kamay ng kahit sinong lalaki, e, siguradong may nangyari na sa kanya!”

Sharon’s father was the former Pasay City Mayor Pablo Cuneta.

“Mula kay Gabby, awa naman ng Diyos, wala akong nakilalang nanakit

sa akin!”

Gabby Concepcion was Sharon’s first husband and the father of her daughter KC Concepcion.

She also denied that she is having an affair with a younger man.

But she joked that she could fall for a younger man like Korean stars Ji Chang Wook and Cha Eun Woo. Meanwhile, Sharon posted on her Instagram a meaningful message. How she wished her father is still alive because she wanted him to punch the faces of some people who irritate her. She posted a photo of her wearing a face mask and a jacket which reads: “I FEEL LIKE PABLO.” Her caption: “I do feel like Pablo.

Not Kanye, but Pablo Cuneta. Oh Daddy… I miss you so much.”

“Wish you were here to punch some people in the face for me!

Hahaha!”

On the comments section, a netizen noticed why she wears many rings. Sharon answered that she is

wearing two “wedding rings.”

According to her, “Those are my other ‘wedding rings’ for two different wedding anniversaries.

“The one ring on my other hand is my Daddy’s wedding ring.”

Of course, the other one is her wedding ring with Kiko. She is also wearing another big red ring which is her birthstone.

“Oh and that big red ring is my birthstone, the Garnet.

“I always wear it. Someone said it’s supposed to be my ‘power ring.’

Naks.”A curious netizen could not help but asked about her wedding ring from her first husband Gabby: “Ms. Mega I hope you won’t mind my curiosity but did you keep your wedding/engagement ring from Gabby C?” Mega replied: “I gave my wedding ring to KC many years ago.”

Sharon and Gabby were married in 1984 and KC was born on April 7, 1985. They separated after three years.

 ENTERTAINMENT

May 27-June 2, 2021

18

Danica Sotto in focus as husband Marc Pingris retires from PBA time Marc has a game, especially an important one, yung tipong mga do or die games… di mo makakausap yan!”

“He’s quiet and not his usual kulit self. Naka-focus sa talaga sa game.

Minsan ilang araw pa. I give him his space kasi nag-iisip talaga yan ng malalim.”

“But once the game is over… he will always look for me and the kids in the crowd so he can hug us and say he loves us.”

“Pag ganyan na siya sa akin it means mission accomplished na siya.

Nanalo na team nila, para sa family namin o kaya para sa bayan.”

Danica said she will surely miss the times when her husband has a game, but she is prepared for the good things that will happen now the Marc has retired.

“I will definitely miss watching him play but I’m also excited for what lies ahead. I know God has even Actress Danica Sotto is on the greater plans,” she said in Evelyn spotlight.

Diao’s report.

This after her husband, basketball “To everyone who has supported star Marc Pingris, announced he was Marc in his basketball career, Thank retiring from the Philippine Basketball you so much! We are eternally grateful Association (PBA). for all your love and support,” Danica Immediately, Danica, whose parents said. are popular host and actor Vic Sotto “I will be forever proud of what and actress Dina Bonnevie, assured you’ve accomplished @jeanmarc15 March she will always be by his side.

I’ll always be by your side. Love you Marc had a stellar 16 years playing so much! #forevercheerleader #Salafor PBA before he decided to leave matPinoySakuragi #pinoysakuragihis basketball career, Evelyn Diao 15signingoff” reported.

Basketball fans were surprised to Marc, 39, played under the team Fe- read his post about his retirement from dEx, Purefoods, San Miguel, B-Meg, basketball. Through his Instagram, he San Mig Coffee, Star, and the latest for stated that it has been his dream to play Magnolia. in PBA since he was young.

On her Instagram account, the sister However, the time has come when of Oyo Sotto and Pasig City Mayor he has to face a new chapter in his life.

Vico Sotto expressed hours before The following are his posts of Marc announced his decision to retire thanksgiving to all his supporters in from basketball on May 25, “Every

all the 16 years he had played in PBA, wherein he was tagged “Pinoy Sakuragi.” “#pinoysakuragi15signingoff I remember my name being called during the 2004 PBA Draft. Doon nagsimulang matupad ang pangarap ng isang batang palengke. 16 years na din ako sa PBA pero alam ko na ngayon na rin ang tamang panahon para umpisahan ang bagong chapter ng buhay ko.

“I want to thank everyone na naniwala at sumuporta sakin, sa MAMA ko na inspiration ko, sa ATE & KUYA ko na nagdisiplina sakin, at lahat ng relatives ko.

“Thank you to Mayor MORDEN, boss JESSIE CHUA who recruited me.

Thank you sa AIR21 for drafting and trusting me, thank you Boss Bert Lina.

“Salamat sa COACHES na nagguide sakin – coaches coach boyz zamar, Johnny Tam, Leo Austria, Siot

Tanquincen, Ryan Gregorio, Chot Reyes, Jorge Gallent, Jason Webb, & Chito Victolero at asst coaches. To all my TEAMMATES, thank you! Appreciate you all!

“Thank you sa SMC, BOSS DANDING, BOSS RAMON ANG, BOSS ALFRANCIS, BOSS ALEJO, GOV PARDO, BOSS CAP at sa muse ng Purefoods si mam REENA. Thank you sa lahat ng BALL BOYS kay DOC RAFFY, NICK.RC.JOJO. “COACH TIM, it’s because of you that I grew to understand the sport as more than a game. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to become part of history with our 2014 grandslam. I am proud to have played the game we both love with you.

“Thank you tito ED PONCEJA na

tumayong pangalawang ama ko. Salamat sa mga payo.

“GILAS family, thank you!

“PBA FANS, salamat sa suporta nyo. Hindi mabubuo ang PBA kung wala kayo. Mami-miss ko ang games, ang mga sigaw nyo, lalo na sa Manila Clasico!!!

“To all MEDIA, thank you sa pagbuhos ng oras para mahatid ang balitang PBA. “Sa TROPANG PINGRIS, Mahal ko kayo!

“To MIC & CAELA, I love you!

Everything I do is for you.

To my SOTTO family, I love you all!

“To DADDY VIC and MOMMY D, salamat sa suporta , pagmamahal at pagtanggap sa akin. To Papi and Mamita, my PINGRIS fam. Thank you for your love and support.

“To my wife, Danica, thank you for your love. Thank you for all the sacrifices you made for me & our family. Thank you for staying beside me, for pushing me to work harder & never give up. I love you!

“Higit sa lahat, Salamat, Lord God sa paggabay at sa lahat ng blessings.

“It has been a glorious 16 years, #pinoysakuragi15signingoff” As Marc rebound to the next chapter in his life, followers wish him good luck.

19 May 27-June 2, 2021 SHARON OPEN TO DO MOVIE WITH AGA BUT WANTS TO STAY IN US Our friend, actress Sharon Cuneta revealed that she wanted to settle in Los Angeles, California but her husband Sen. Francis Pangilinan will never leave the Philippines.

In her Instagram account, Sharon posted a photo of Los Angeles, saying that the place is back to normal again.

“My gosh. Being here makes it seem like Covid is a lot farther away than it ever was. I love the weather now (it’s cold), and aside from seeing people wearing masks and not being able to watch movies at cinemas, eating at restaurants tables apart, it almost feels like life is normal again...” she wrote.

Sharon said she could live forever in LA but her family will stay someplace else.

“I love being ‘home’ here. Though I lived in Boston for a year++ and love New York, the West Coast has always felt like home to me since I was a little girl. I could live here forever,” Sharon said.

“Kiko would NEVER leave the Philippines no matter what though. I could. In a heartbeat! Sorry na lang life is short. Kakie will continue her studies in New York this year, God-willing. Miel will probably follow in a couple of years. Though these two daughters of mine are just as Nationalistic as their father. My Miguel however, wants to live here with me. KC got her green card long before I did. Patay at iba-iba kami! Ngek,” she added.

Sharon also shared that she received her first dose of Moderna vaccine.

In addition, Sharon showed her appreciation for Aga Muhlach, saying the actor is her favorite leading man.

In her Instagram account, Sharon posted throwback photos of her and Aga. “Always one of my best friends & one of my favorite leading men for 18 years now,” she wrote in the caption Sharon showed her appreciation for Aga Muhlach, saying the actor is her favorite leading man. She also thanked Aga for always being there with her and for making her laugh even if they cannot see each other always.

“Sumbungan ko pa rin! Thank you, Teng, for praying and being there for me, always making me laugh kahit di tayo nagkikita or nakakapag-usap ng madalas! Ikaw lang pa rin ang puede tumawag sakin ng “gaga!” Hahahaha! Tara! Game na!” Sharon said.

By “game na,” is she hinting a possible reunion project with her favorite leading man?

FIL-AM JORDAN CLARKSON WINS 6TH MAN IN NBA Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson was named the 2020-21 NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year on Monday, edging out teammate Joe Ingles and Derrick Rose of the New York Knicks.

The Filipino American player received 65 first-place votes and earned a total of 407 points from a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters. Ingles finished at second with 272 points (34 first-place votes), marking the first time that teammates held the top two spots in voting for the said award. Derrick Rose settled for third place with 77 points (one first-place vote).

The 28-year-old Clarkson averaged a career-high 18.4 points, four rebounds and 2.5 assists in 26.7 minutes in 68 games for the Jazz.

The Sixth Man of the Year award is given annually since the 1982–83 season to the league’s best performing player coming off the bench.

Clarkson helped Utah secure the NBA-best 52-20 record, earning the top seed in the Western Conference and home court advantage in this year’s playoffs.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas commended Clarkson for his incredible feat, stressing that the entire nation is proud of his accomplishment.

“In his short and sweet stint with Gilas Pilipinas, Jordan Clarkson showed us not only his world-class talent but also gave us a glimpse of the hard work and dedication necessary to get to that level. Getting a front-row look at Jordan during the Asian Games made us all believe that he will accomplish great things in the NBA,” SBP president Al Panlilio said in a statement.

“Congratulations on winning the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award, Jordan. The SBP and the entire Philippine basketball community are proud of you. Once a Gilas, always a Gilas,” he added.

Clarkson, who has his Filipino roots from Pampanga through his grandmother, represented the country in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, where he led Gilas Pilipinas to a fifth place finish.

Congratulations!

 ENTERTAINMENT

Angelica Panganiban draws flak after rant vs Red Cross Subic

Actress Angelica Panganiban is in the hotseat after ranting on Twitter about her experience at a swab testing facility of the Red Cross in Subic.

“Hello redcross subic!! Isang oras na kami sa dito sa parking area niyo. Nakaalis na din mga nakasabay namin.

At inuna niyo pa yung ibang bagong dating. Okay lang naman kung palakasan (smiley) tweet ko na lang ( Hello redcross subic!! We have been at your parking lot for an hour. Others who arrived at the same time as us have already left. And you attended to those who just arrived. It’s fine if you want to favor those with connections (smiley) I’ll just tweet about it.), she said.

Netizens took exception to Panganiban’s tweet, saying she should have made an appointment if she wanted to be attended to immediately, CNN Philippines reported.

“Is this a true account? Well if it is, I suggest you go inside & inquire why hindi pa kayo natatawag. Red

Cross Subic is really one of the reliable molecular labs there in Zambales. A lot of us depend on them to give us timely results for our patients. Wag kasi sa socmed dinadaan,” a netizen tweeted.

Another said the celebrity’s allegation of “palakasan” was ironic.

One netizen pointed out that artists were not in the priority list, and senior citizens are made to go first.

Another tweet criticized Panganiban for feeling entitled.

One netizen recounted her experience of booking a schedule but also lining up.

Panganiban later was reported to have clarified her posts.

Panganiban was in Subic with her new boyfriend businessman Gregg Homan and hinted in another post they maybe building a house together.

Homan’s Instagram profile, indicates he is involved in Bay Marine Subic, which designs and leases aluminum boats and landing crafts, as well as Mangrove Resort Hotel, a boutique hotel located in Olongapo, Zambales, Angelica’s mother studio ABS-CBN reported.

Homan is notably Angelica’s first known non-showbiz boyfriend, after her relationships with fellow actors Derek Ramsay, John Lloyd Cruz, and Carlo Aquino.

 REAL ESTATE

May 27-June 2, 2021

Cebu developer retains market leadership in VisMin

20

What Are Rates and Housing Worried About?

In the recent 2 weeks, there’s been big news about inflation and seemingly big news about CEBU CITY – A publicly listed real homes. We intend to continue fulfilling Fed policy. Both are threats to low interest estate developer has retained its market this need in 2021 with 8,000 more units rates. Everything you see prices are rising and leadership in Visayas and Mindanao (Vis- in 15 residential projects in Cebu, Ormoc, they are going up fast.

Min) in 2020, according to a recent market Bacolod, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro and After taking last week’s huge inflation study by property consultant Santos Davao.” numbers in stride the bond market moved on Knight Frank (SKF).

A market study by Leechiu Property to focus on Fed policy this week. The Feds The Cebu-based Cebu Landmasters Consultants corroborated that the VisMin Inc. (CLI) has the largest market share housing backlog would be at 2.85 million is often a source of confusion for consumers from among real estate firms providing houses by 2022, with an average annual when it comes to mortgage rates. The evening condominium projects and subdivisions in demand of 475,000 new housing units. news says things like “the Fed kept rates unthe region.

Of this number, 200,000 mid and ecochanged,” and people assume it has something The study disclosed that CLI account- nomic housing units are needed per year. to do with mortgage rates. ed for 18,683 units or 12 percent of the But only a handful of the current top The Fed Funds Rate (the thing the Fed actually decides to hike, cut, or available 86,126 units in VisMin, pulling 10 VisMin developers in 2020 are likely hold steady) has almost nothing to do with the mortgage market. Mortgage ahead of developers operating nationwide to maximize opportunities provided by rates are infinitely more concerned with the Fed’s bond buying policies. based on third quarter 2020 data. the mid and economic income segment in Movement in the bond market is the foundation of day-to-day mortgage Its closest rivals were Sta. Lucia 2021 and beyond. rate changes.

Bonds can move for a variety of reasons, but the most reliRealty and Development and Camella A number of these developers extended able and most basic reason is “supply and demand.” By acting as a masHomes, at 11,897 units and 11,768 units, project completion and turnover dates due respectively. to the pandemic, the study revealed. sive buyer of bonds (including the bonds that directly underlie mortgages), Franco Soberano, executive vice-presSoberano said that by mid-year 2020, the Fed increases demand relative to supply. Higher demand means higher ident and chief operating officer of CLI, CLI’s housing inventory was similarly at bond prices, and higher bond prices equate to lower rates, all other things on Monday said: “The high sales velocity risk of being overtaken by strong demand. being equal. of our projects even at the height of the But the firm leaned on its strategic reIn other words, Fed bond buying = lower rates, and they’ve been buylockdowns in key cities verify a deeply felt lationships with local stakeholders including more than anyone for a long time. Ideally, the Fed won’t need to do this need especially among VisMin economic ing local government units to minimize forever, but change is scary when it refers to the Fed withdrawing support. and mid-income earners to own their own delays in planning and construction.

It was this sort of change that sparked the taper tantrum in 2013, which accounted for some of the most abrupt rate spikes in decades. Markets are understandably cautious about a repeat performance, and market participants thought they saw hints about tapering in Wednesday’s Fed meeting minutes (a more detailed account of the meeting that took place 3 weeks ago).

But those comments were nothing like the disNew Funeral home with Reception Center Flower Shop cussion surrounding tapering in 2013. Back then, Beautiful Garden Memorial Park Cremation Services multiple Fed members were in agreement, and BerWe transfer your loved ones to and from the Philippines nanke (the Fed Chair at the time) was already on record discussing the conditions for tapering in specific terms.

This time around, the comments relating to tapering simply reiterated those from various Fed speeches in recent weeks. Not only is the Fed far from unanimous on this front, there is also a lot more uncertainty about when they’ll pull the trigger.

Even then, to say the comments were highly conditional would be an understatement. See for yourself: “A number of participants suggested that if the economy continued to make rapid progress toward the Committee’s goals, it might be appropriate at some point in upcoming meetings to begin discussing a plan for adjusting the pace of asset purchases.”

Meaning: the Fed isn’t even talking about tapering yet. There are just 4 Fed members who agree they should talk about it in the future if certain TTT BBBBBBBBB NNN FFFFFFF HHHH RRRRRRRRR CCCCCC CCCCCCC LLLL things happen. Pretty logical, actually... The market reaction ended up being logical as well: spooked at first, but quickly calming down.

In a nutshell, inflation is here to stay. Prices for commodities, oil, housing materials etc are all going higher and that should prevent interest rates to climb to avoid a recession.

While housing market will still carry and imbalance between buyers and sellers. I suspect this to go on for another two years.

Thanks for your inquiries, please call Ken Go of 1st Innovative Finance Group 562-508-7048 or write to kennethgo@verizon.net . CABRE01021223 NMLS 238636

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21 May 27-June 2, 2021

NEWS  NATIONAL SPORTS NEWS

Pacquiao to face Errol Spence Jr. on Aug. 21 in Las Vegas

By EDDIE G. ALINEA and JEANNE MICHAEL PENARANDA

MANILA – World boxing icon and Philippine Senator Emmanuel Manny Pacquiao wlll return to the boxng arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 22 (Philippine time).

Pacquiao, 42, himself announced that he would face American welterweight champion Errol Spence in what is billed as a unification bout for the WBA, WBC and IBF belt. His announcement surprised the boxing world as he was bruited about to be fighting another boxer.

It will be Pacquiao’s first bout since beating Keith Thurman for the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight super title on July 21, 2019.

This will also be Pacquiao’s second straight bout against an unbeaten opponent since Spence holds a perfect 27-0 record with 21 knockouts.

With Spence staking his World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation belts in the bout, the match would have been for the undisputed welterweight championship if not for the decision of the WBA to strip Pacquiao of his belt due to inactivity.

Boxing analysts immediately reacted to the announcement stating that Pacquiao could be taking a difficult a challenge since Spence, 31, is a 2012 U.S. Olympian, with 27-0 record with 21 knockouts, and is one of the world’s elite poundfor-pound fighters The Pacquiao-Spence showdown is a match three years in the making as both pugilists ex-

pressed their desire to fight each other after Spence defeated Mikey Garcia in 2018.

The venue of the bout is yet to be finalized, but sources said it could be the MGM Grand where Pacquiao won by split decision over Thurman in 2019.

Pacquiao announced the fight with an Instagram, Facebook and Twitter posts of a promotional poster for the bout captioned “Pacquiao v Spence, August 21, 2021, Las Vegas, Nevada”.

The Athletic, citing an unnamed source, reported that Pacquiao had signed a deal for a bout to be available on Fox pay-per-view.

Spence, 31, is 27-0 and coming off a dominant December victory over Danny Garcia, his first fight since surviving a near fatal rollover car accident.

Pacquiao, who owns a record of 62-7-2, had been planning a return to the ring for some time, but earlier this month the targeted opponent had appeared to be American Mikey Garcia.

Philippine media had said a July fight against Garcia was on the cards.

Earlier, Top Rank chief Bob Arum told BoxingScene.com that Pacquiao and Terence Crawford had an agreement in place for a June 5 bout in Abu Dhabi, but it had fallen apart because the people putting up the money missed the deadline.

Sean Gibbons, president of MP Promotions, confirmed the Pacquiao-Spence bout in Las Vegas this August.

MANILA/ AMMAN, Jordan - Count Kurt Barbosa in the growing list of Filipino athletes seeing action in the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics which, if plans will not miscarry, will open in the Japanese capital this July.

The Filipino jin on Saturday edged Zaid AlHalawani of host Jordan with a come-from-behind win, 50-49, in the semifinals of men’s -58kg category of the Asian Olympics Qualifiers in Amman, Jordan.

Barbosa let a solid start that saw him leading, 14-11, after Round 1 slip away as a dominant second round from Al-Halawani pushed him ahead, 28-24, entering Round 3.

Al-Halawani looked to pull away as he stretched his lead to 15, 41-26 lead with 1:22 to go.

However, Barbosa slowly came back and cut the lead down to four, 48-44, with 21 seconds left.

Al-Halawani thought he found breathing room after a Barbosa foul put him back up by five, 49-44, with 12 seconds remaining.

But three straight two-point hits pushed Barbosa upfront with only two seconds remaining, and Al-Halawani failed to answer as time expired.

The win makes Barbosa, a former University Athletic Association of the Philippines’ Most Valuable Player and 30th Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, the ninth Filipino to make it to this year’s Summer Games after after EJ Obiena (pole vault), Carlos Yulo (gymnastics), Hidilyn Diaz (weightlifting) and Eumir Marcial, Irish Magno, Carlo Paalam, Nesthy Petecio (boxing) and Cris Nievarez (rowing).

Prior to the semis, Barbosa, 21, dominated Mongolia’s Molom Tumenbayar, 40-33, to move a win away to an Olympic berth since only the gold and silver winners of the qualifiers will catch the last bus heading to Tokyo.

Barbosa is the first jin to punch a ticket to the Tokyo Games after Pauline Lopez and Arven Alcantara bowed out of contention early on in their respective categories.

Barbosa was a gold medalist during the 30th SEA Games which the country hosted in 2019.

Barbosa quickly celebrated after completing the huge comeback.

Meanwhile, Olympic rower Cris Nievarez and his mother Shirley could not help but shed tears of joy after two congressmen extended financial assistance.

Taekwondo jin Kurt Barbosa clinches Tokyo Olympics spot

FilAm Jordan Clarkson wins NBA 6th Man award, Pinoys celebrate MANILA/LOS ANGELES – Filipino-American basketball player Jordan Clarkson has won won the National Basketball Association (NBA) Sixth Man award.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) immediately congratulated Clarkson and his fans in celebrating the Utah Jazz player.

Clarkson bested teammate and Australia international Joe Ingles and New York Knicks’ Derrick Rose for the award given to those who put up impressive numbers for their teams off the bench.

“Congratulations on winning the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award, Jordan. The SBP and the entire Philippine basketball community is proud of you,” SBP president Al Panlilio said.

Clarkson was a member of the Gilas Pilipinas team that competed in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta.

Although it has yet to happen again, seeing Clarkson play in person gives Panlilio optimism about the six-foot-five shooting guard.

“In his short and sweet stint with Gilas Pilipinas, Jordan Clarkson showed us not only his world-class talent but also gave us a glimpse of the hard work and dedication necessary to get to that level. Getting a front-row look at Jordan during Asian Games made us all believers that he will accomplish great things in the NBA,” Panlilio said.

The SBP has remained hopeful that Clarkson would be classified as a local by FIBA especially with the 2023 FIBA World Cup that the Philippines will be hosting alongside Indonesia and Japan.

But no matter what happens to his eligibility, Panlilio said Clarkson will forever be etched in Gilas’ history.

“Once Gilas, always Gilas,” he said.

Rower Cris Nievarez nails Olympic berth, 8th Pinoy bound for Tokyo games MANILA – Rower Cris Nievarez became the eighth Filipino who will see action in this year’s Tokyo Olympics scheduled to open this July.

The Philippine Rowing Association (PRA) confirmed the development.

“We are happy to share that the Philippine Rowing Association received confirmation from World Rowing that we have qualified for the Men’s Single Sculls (M1x) for the Tokyo Olympic Games. Congratulations, Cris!,” the PRA said in a statement.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Butch Ramirez said he is expecting Nievarez to pull it through.

“I know that Cris and the entire rowing team worked hard for this. It is well-deserved,” Ramirez said.

Nievarez finished ninth overall in the Olympic qualifiers recently in Tokyo.

However, with a lot of factors like Japan, which won four regatta events in the qualifiers, also hosting the Olympics, the world rankings, and some universality rules, Nievarez got the nod.

May 27-June 2, 2021

22

Q: Do you have some pointers for first time home buyers?

A: Congratulations if you are looking to buy your first home. There are some pros and cons that you may need to watch out for in doing so. I’d like you to separate the purchase with different brokers, one being the realtor, then the finance company and the last is the escrow. Sometimes you may not have a choice in the escrow company to be used because the seller is the one making it. Stay away from realtors who wants to do it all for you. They have a financial interest in the triple whammy.

Here are some pointers: • Low down payment. If you do not have much for a down payment, you can take advantage of an FHA loan which allows for as low as 3.5% down payment. The things to watch out for is that there is a maximum amount for the house you are to buy. In most cases they do not want to take townhomes and condos as well. So if you are looking for a home in a high priced community you may be out of luck. Remember to always look for the house you can afford. You can work your way up to your dream house as you progress in life.

• Fixed Interest Rates. For first time home buyers this is a good way to start with your home loan. Playing Russian roulette with you interest rate by choosing to go with adjustable rate may be too risky for first time home buyers although there are limitations as to how much it can go up in one year. This is really good when the interest is really low and it can only go up to a maximum.

• Mortgage Insurance. Be ready to get hit with this insurance if you don’t have enough or a big down payment. FHA loans will carry this type of insurance just because of the risks that the bank is taking on your behalf.

Always be on the lookout for people who will try to take advantage of you.

Do your homework so you are never completely in the dark. Read everything before you sign anything. They will want to rush you to sign documents so everyone can get paid. Once they have been paid, there is no recourse but to sue. So save yourself the headache.

Ang ating lesson, Kung ikaw ay baguhan sa isang bagay, ito ay paghandaan para hindi mapasa masamang lagay.

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23 May 27-June 2, 2021

Comcast NBCUniversal unveils ‘We Belong’ initiative in support of Asian American Pacific Islander Month NEW YORK – During the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, Comcast NBCUniversal celebrates the extensive and often unrecognized contributions that the AAPI community has made to American history, culture and everyday life with a cross-portfolio campaign that spotlights how the community is woven into the fabric of this country with the central theme: “We Belong.”

Comcast NBCUniversal has also committed over $10 million of media support to air the campaign across its national and local TV outlets, as well as its digital platforms, showcasing the AAPI community’s influence across every aspect of society and bringing to light to not only the racism the community is currently experiencing, but also to the long history of exclusion and discrimination it has received throughout American history.

“The recent increase in anti-Asian violence – and the seemingly endless acts of social injustice that we continue to see against so many of our communities – have been difficult to witness,” said Craig Robinson, Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer for NBCUniversal.

“It’s not only our responsibility to report on these stories, but also to celebrate the AAPI leaders and changemakers who are doing great work every day.”

Networks across the NBCUniversal portfolio will participate in an on-air roadblock in the 8 p.m. ET hour. The “We Belong” Anthem spot (:60 and :30 versions) will serve as the official launch of NBCU’s Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration. Additionally, social media handles across the portfolio will participate in a roadblock at 12 p.m. ET, flooding consumer feeds with the “We Belong” Anthem spot and hashtag #AAPIxNBCU. Additional creative will be released throughout the month of May on-air and on social platforms.

Comcast NBCUniversal has also committed $2 million in direct support and resources to Asian-led and Asianfocused social justice and nonprofit organizations working to address violence against the AAPI community. These grants will help fund educational outreach and advocacy efforts to deescalate hate crimes and are in addition to the nearly $10 million in existing commitments this year to AAPI organizations through the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation and social impact programs.

Select grant recipients include: Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC – Longterm partnership to combat misinformation and disinformation about the Asian American community focused on education and training to address hate, intolerance and systemic racism.

Asian Pacific Fund – Support for the Solidarity Fund, which will in turn provide grants to organizations working to address persistent anti-Asian sentiment, including supporting the physical and mental health of survivors, ensuring the safety of seniors, and advocating for racial justice across racial lines.

Asian American Federation – A grant to its Hope Against Hate initiative will support its efforts to respond to and stop bias attacks and hate crimes on vulnerable Asian New Yorkers.

Asian/Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship Foundation (National ACE) – Funding for ACE’s AAPISTRONG program, a national campaign designed to help address anti-AAPI racism and violence that is further damaging the AAPI small business community.

“For nearly 30 years, Advancing Justice – AAJC has been advocating for an America in which everyone can benefit equally from, and contribute to, the American dream,” said John C. Yang, President and Executive Director of Advancing Justice – AAJC. “Comcast NBCUniversal’s support for our organization comes at a critical time. It will enable us to continue to speak out against the wave of senseless crimes and hate being perpetrated against members of the AAPI community and call for social justice and civility as we all grapple with the effects of the coronavirus. Now is a time for unity and we will get through this together and create a better future and a better nation for us all.”

In addition, Comcast NBCUniversal will leverage its internal and external platforms to honor Asian culture throughout May. Among the many offerings focused on celebrating the Asian community, X1, Stream and Flex will elevate AAPI stories in collaboration with well-known and respected community organizations, Gold House and the

Bruce Lee Foundation, Comcast Newsmakers will release eight new interview segments, including a special panel discussion titled: “Equality, Identity & Hope: The Asian American Experience,” and women’s empowerment platform Know Your Value will highlight Asian community members and business leaders. Asian influencers, tastemakers and entrepreneurs will be featured across the company’s owned digital channels and Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) will connect with one another and convene virtual sessions related to celebrating Asian Pacific American heritage.

In June 2020 Comcast NBCUniversal accelerated the company’s longstanding commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion with a $100 million commitment over three

years to help drive lasting reform and champion a more connected, equitable and just world. For more information on our commitment, visit Our Impact page.

About NBCUniversal NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a premium ad-supported streaming service. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

 COMMUNITY NEWS

May 27-June 2, 2021

24

U.S. Bank supports Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month

LOS ANGELES - Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month is a recognition of Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage celebrated during the month of May. For the U.S. Bank, it is an opportunity to reflect on “who we are as individuals, as a community, as a country.”

This year, this recognition seems more important than ever. With the rise of xenophobic feelings and racism around the country, the U.S. Bank understands that it goes beyond just making a statement with words. It takes a partnership with the AAPI community and organizations to bring change in the places to help communities grow and achieve the thing most important to them.

By supporting AAPI partners like Ascend and Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), the bank said it hopes to create more dialog and understanding. “Then we can truly have more to celebrate moving forward. At U.S. Bank, we’re committed to positive change. The best way to honor our past and build a brighter future, is by standing up together today,” it added.

U.S. Bank said it is a committed ally to the AAPI community, employees and customers to #StopAsianHate. “With our partnerships through Ascend and CAAM, let’s work together to make a difference,” it said.

Since 1980, CAAM has been dedicated to presenting to the wider community stories and educational resources that convey the richness and diversity of the Asian American experience. From May 13-23, U.S. Bank will be the co-present-

ing sponsor of CAAMFest 2021, a film festival that includes more than 100 live virtual, on-demand, and drive-in storytelling events.

U.S. Bank recommends watching the five-part Asian Americans PBS documentary series, which sheds light on the ongoing role that Asian Americans have played in shaping the nation’s history. This series is a production of CAAM and WETA Washington, D.C. for PBS, in association with the Independent Television Service (ITVS), Flash Cuts and Tajima-Peña productions.

In April, U.S. Bank announced $60,000 in additional support to Asian American and Asian Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities to combat biases and acts of violence. The U.S. Bank Foundation grants were distributed to AAPI organizations in Southern and Northern California, Atlanta, Seattle and the Twin Cities.

“Violence and xenophobia against Asian American and Asian Pacific Islander individuals cannot be tolerated,” said Greg Cunningham, Chief Diversity Officer for U.S. Bank. “In continued support to the AAPI community, we are investing in organizations across the country to combat these biases and acts of violence. We stand with our AAPI employees, customers and communities.”

In California, U.S Bank provided grants to: · Asian Pacific Heritage Foundation (San Francisco, CA) to support continued awareness of diverse Asian Pacific American cultural heritage and to provide a forum for community collaborations. · Pacific Arts Coalition (San Diego, CA) for ongoing support of the Coalition, which formed in 2020 in response to increased racism and xenophobia stemming from the spread of COVID-19. The Coalition consists of more than 30 local AAPI-serving organizations and works together to provide communication, collaboration and advocacy on behalf of the broader AAPI community. · Asian Youth Center (San Gabriel, CA) to support additional research and survey work with Asian residents in the San Gabriel valley to help guide future policy work and community programs.

In addition to the grants, U.S. Bank delivered 3,000 safety kits packed with whistles, safety lights and bi-lingual identification cards to U.S. Bank branches and community groups in neighborhoods across the Bay Area and Sacramento with predominantly AAPI populations.

The safety kits were made available to customers at se-

lect U.S. Bank branches in San Francisco, San Bruno, San Jose and Sacramento. In addition, hundreds of safety kits were provided to community groups serving the AAPI population, including San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, Yu-Ai Kai Community Senior Center, Silicon Valley Pride, Asian Americans for Community Involvement, Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, and Oakland Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce in the Bay Area and My Sister’s House in Sacramento.

“We are supporting the AAPI community by investing in local organizations and local Asian leaders doing essential work fighting racism,” said Reba Dominski, head of Corporate Social Responsibility at U.S. Bank. “Our work and support of AAPI communities is critically important and will continue.”

In March, U.S. Bank pledged to do its part to #StopAsianHate and announced an increase in its support of Ascend. The funding to Ascend went toward programming that educates professionals on bias, including the “model minority” myth.

U.S. Bank had previously joined Ascend (#AscendTogether) with their partners including: Catalyst, Executive Leadership Council (ELC), Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR), National Organization on Disability (NOD) and Out & Equal, as a Supporting Company on a five-point COVID-19 response Action Agenda to promote inclusion, raise awareness, denounce bias, support communities and give donations.

For more information about efforts to #StopAsianHate, visit usbank.com/aapiheritage.

About U.S. Bank U.S. Bancorp, with nearly 70,000 employees and $553 billion in assets as of March 31, 2021, is the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association, the fifth-largest commercial bank in the United States. The Minneapolis-based bank blends its relationship teams, branches and ATM network with digital tools that allow customers to bank when, where and how they prefer. U.S. Bank is committed to serving its millions of retail, business, wealth management, payment, commercial, corporate, and investment customers across the country and around the world as a trusted and responsible financial partner. This commitment continues to earn a spot on the Ethisphere Institute’s World’s Most Ethical Companies list and puts U.S. Bank in the top 5% of global companies assessed on the CDP A List for climate change action. Visit usbank.com for more.

SAN MATEO, California – The San Mateo County Event Center announced their summer concert series – highlighted by performances from legendary music artists Coolio, Young MC, and C+C Music Factory – as part of the 2021 San Mateo County Fair to be held June 5 through June 13, 2021.

This year, all concerts will be held on the main outdoor stage at 7:30 pm. Performances will be free to fairgoers who purchase a general admission ticket and will ensure social distancing. Fair tickets can be purchased online through the fair’s website at www.sanmateocountyfair.com.

Legendary musicians Coolio, Young MC and C+C Music Factory will kick off the County Fair with the first concert on the evening of June 5.

Coolio is best known for his 1995 Grammy Awardwinning hit single “Gangsta’s Paradise,” as well as top singles “Fantastic Voyage,” “1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New), and “C U When U Get There.”

Young MC gained worldwide fame from his hit single “Bust A Move,” which reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance in 1989.

That same year, he collaborated with Tone Loc on the hit songs “Wild Thing” and “Funky Cold Medina.” In 1990, Young MC was nominated for Best Rap Video at the MTV Video Music Awards for his single “Principal’s Office.”

With top hits including “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)” and “Things That Make You Go Hmmm,” C+C Music Factory have earned a total of 35 music awards worldwide, including five Billboard Music Awards, five American Music Awards, and two MTV Video Music Awards, and in 2016 Billboard Magazine ranked them as the 44th most successful dance artist of

all time.

Following the trio of award-winning acts, will be a series of top cover bands, including Queen Nation on June 6; Journey Revisited on June 9; Petty Fever on June 10; and Creedence Revelation on June 11.

In addition, the Fair will host musical acts for Family Pride Day on June 6; Pacific Islands Day on June 12; and Dia de La Feria on June 13.

“We are so excited that the San Mateo County Fair is in person this year and that means celebrating with live music for all ages,” said Dana Stoehr, CEO of the San Mateo Event Center. “While the Fair needs to be a little different this year and we must take all the proper precautions to ensure safety of fairgoers, we are certain it will be the go-to event for the Peninsula in June.”

ABOUT THE SAN MATEO EVENT CENTER: For the past year, the San Mateo Event Center has been unable to host most events, but instead played a vital role in protecting our health care workers and most vulnerable populations by serving as a COVID-19 testing site, operations hub and supply center, 250-bed temporary overflow hospital, and vaccine distribution center for the San Francisco Bay Area. To date, the Event Center has administered 250,000 COVID-19 tests and vaccinated more than 90,000 individuals.

ABOUT THE SAN MATEO COUNTY FAIR: The award-winning San Mateo County Fair is the Peninsula’s premier community event for family fun and entertainment. The San Mateo County Fair strives to provide a diverse experience through education, inspiration, and entertainment. The annual Fair represents a celebration of our community’s talent, interests, innovations, and rich agricultural and artistic heritage.

Concert lineup announced for 2021 San Mateo County Fair

 COMMUNITY NEWS

May 27-June 2, 2021

26

COVID-19 vaccine availability gives hope for Asian American and Pacific Islander May Heritage Month CDC continues to provide guidelines on safely gathering, traveling for fully vaccinated people

By Staff May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, a celebration of AAPI achievements and a time for the country to recognize our community’s contributions throughout U.S. history.

This year, in the face of anti-Asian hate incidents and our community’s continued economic and social challenges, AAPI Heritage Month takes on a new meaning: Hope. As of this month, anyone aged 12 and older is eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine. States are also seeing increases in the availability of vaccine appointments, a shift from previously hard-to-get appointments.

As of May 17, the CDC reported 157 million Americans have made the choice to be vaccinated. Among this number, at least 5.9% of Asians (non-Hispanic) and 0.3% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander groups have had at least one vaccination—that’s approximately 5.44 million loved ones! Moreover, since the start of vaccine distributions, more than 84.5% of older Americans (65-Plus adults) have been vaccinated—a dramatic shift in numbers that shows the wider community is doing their part to protect our elders and others by getting vaccinated.

This means that 5.44 million AAPI community members are on their way to resuming the activities that they miss— seeing family and friends near and far,

gathering with the older generation, and traveling. And, vaccines are preventing nearly 100% of hospitalizations and deaths from COVID. This is proof that the vaccines are effective.

In a recent AARP panel, Dr. Adelaida M. Rosario shared about the unique challenges of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities in receiving information about the vaccine.

“The AANHPI community is extremely diverse and therefore, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach with communications,” said Rosario. “The Department of Health and Human Services has been working on a number of print materials and virtual materials in the relevant languages so we can reach the community in their native tongue.” Rosario was referring to a new national campaign that includes outreach and advertising to more than 15 AAPI communities, called

We Can Do This.

“In addition to this pandemic, there’s this heightened negative attention right now, focused on the Asian American community because of all the stereotypes and it’s terribly unfor- Dr. Adelaida Rosario tunate,” Rosario added. “It becomes a ‘double pandemic’ essentially for all of our older Asian American community members because they’re dealing with all of this awful discrimination in addition to, layered with, this health crisis.”

Rosario acknowledged that there are side effects for some people but said that it is “small numbers” and “rare occurrences” of illnesses compared to the millions who are fully vaccinated and have experienced minor side effects but are otherwise “doing fine.”

“The benefits so far outweigh these small risks. The same kind of risks that any parents taking their small child to get their series of shots, you’re up against the same numbers,” Rosario said. “These rare occurrences are happening, but we’re really celebrating the successes that we’re seeing with the numbers of infections dropping and the successful inoculations at a population level that’s currently oc-

curring not only in the United States but across the world.”

Before any vaccination, if you have questions, talk to your local healthcare provider or physician. If looking for additional resources, turn to your trusted local leaders. If you have access to the Internet and are able to search for information online, visit trusted sources like the CDC and visit vaccines.gov to find vaccines near you.

Ultimately, one more person who has received the shot is one more step toward returning to life as it was before the pandemic. Encourage those around you to get vaccinated—from your college student to your grandparents, from your friends to your colleagues. With the country inching closer to 65% vaccinations this summer, there is tremendous progress that we are making together and next year should have a different outlook. By AAPI Heritage Month in 2022, the entire country can be vaccinated—we can do this!

Appreciate nurses: We can all do our part to help end the pandemic

By Raynald Samoa, M.D., Endocrinologist

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, I have been inspired by the strength and resilience of California’s nurses, many of whom are Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). This May and every day, I urge everyone to express appreciation to nurses by helping to end the pandemic.

As we celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and Nurses Month this May, let’s pause to honor California’s nurses, who have never wavered in their dedication to us during the pandemic. In fact, some of them paid with their very lives. We can never repay the nurses who lost their lives on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, but we can help honor them and thank the nurses who are still hard at work in hospitals and health clinics across California.

I urge all Californians to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and to continue following public health guidance so that we can help end the pandemic. People must continue hand-washing and social distancing, as well as wearing well-fitting masks when appropriate. Simply put, we all need to do our part for our nurses.

According to a 2016 Healthforce survey

by UCSF, more than one-fourth of California Registered Nurses are AAPI, with

Filipinos at 17.6% and Asians who are not Filipino at 8.8%. The survey also showed that non-Filipino Asians and Pacific Islanders account for more than 11 percent of nurses under 45 years old. Additionally, news reports from Propublica and LAist have chronicled the devastating effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on Filipino health workers.

We have read the stories about the death rate among AAPI nurses and recognize that some nurses also face fear amid increases in anti-Asian hate incidents during the pandemic. This May is the best time for us to come together in honoring nurses through our actions: wear our snug-fitting masks, wash our hands, get vaccinated. This is how we show our nurses we appreciate them, we care, and we want this pandemic to end.

Visit https://myturn.ca.gov to find a vaccine site nearby and to register for a convenient appointment time. Or call the state’s COVID-19 hotline 1-833-422-4255, where translators are available in 250+ languages.

(Editor’s Note: The writer is with the City of Hope and Clinical Lead for the National Pacific Islander Covid-19 Response Team (NPICRT) , City of Hope and Clinical Lead for the National Pacific Islander Covid-19 Response Team (NPICRT)

Gov. Newsom...

prepared than ever to face wildfire season,” Newsom said.

Meanwhile, Governor Newsom, together with Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy and Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Dr. Colin Kahl, announced an agreement that opens up the West Coast for offshore wind development for the first time in the state’s history.

The agreement was described as a

(From page 1)

promising development that could help achieve the state’s clean energy goals, bolster renewable energy sources and create new jobs and investments in California.

“Developing offshore wind to produce clean, renewable energy could be a game changer to achieving California’s clean energy goals and addressing climate change – all while bolstering the economy and creating new jobs,” said Governor Newsom.

27 May 27-June 2, 2021

Upside...

(From Page 11)

Today he works with younger folks to stop the intergenerational cycle of violence.

“We can’t talk about domestic violence without talking about oppression, racism, internalized oppression and generational trauma” as a start to overcome the impact Tello said.

He touted as “most significant” the power of prayer that he said saved and transformed him; “Spirituality, sense of hope, of vision that sees you as sacred even with your wounds.” *** Cherie Querol Moreno is Executive Editor of Philippine News Today.

Offline

(From Page 13)

refer to a boom and bust cycle that had been plaguing the Philippines since the post-World War II era. I fear that the current economic bust will be permanent if the wrong leader is elected next year.

It is becoming clear that the current second quarter of 2021 will again see the country’s gross domestic product decline, making it six consecutive quarters of negative growth.

I’ve said it before and I say it again: the Philippines is not only in a deep recession, it is actually in the middle of a dangerous depression.

The refusal of Aquino and Ramos to meet with Duterte and his allies Estrada and Macapagal-Arroyo, and the subsequent cancellation of that meeting, sends a strong signal to the business community, in particular.

Next year will mark a big turning point. What is unknown is what direction the country will take.

The greatest disaster will be if the people make a wrong choice, or will see the wrong leader rammed down their throats via massive cheating.

Either way, the country will be in deep doodoo.

In my book, there are only three leaders who have the wherewithal to lead the Philippines out of the mess it’s in now. And just for the record, I am in no way, shape or form connected with any of them.

But the only rational choice to fix the sinking ship that is the Republic of the Philippines are, 1) Vice President Leni Robredo, 2) retired Supreme Court associate justice Antonio Carpio, and maybe, just maybe, 3) former senator Antonio Trillanes.

Anyone else will only turn the country back to the banana republic it used to be in the not-too-distant past.

Immigrant’s story...

(From Page 13)

Kong where they say smallpox prevails. But the true reason is that, as America is against Chinese immigration and now they are campaigning for the elections, the government, in order to get the vote of the people, must appear to be strict with the Chinese, and we suffer. On board there is not one sick person…”

The prejudice and restriction against the Chinese people during Rizal’s time is the same prejudice and restriction that Muslims and refugees are facing today. The contagious disease (small fox) is today’s “terrorism,” and we suffer because everyone is affected or impacted by this prejudice.

Rizal’s sharp mind helps to explain partly how Trump won in 2016--- restrictions against immigration and blaming immigrants and the powerless. The way the nation was divided and how America’s race relations suffered a setback during Trump’s presidency is glaring proof. The new administration hopefully will put us back on the right track.

Health & Wealth

(From Page 12)

Amazon in Paperback or E-Book. The paperback retail price is $25.95 per copy, plus shipping and handling.

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

PerryScope...

(From Page 12)

interesting. At this point, the presidential candidates -- including those who would run for vice-president if they failed to gain traction in their run for the presidency – would be fighting each other in a free-for-all (labo-labo) contest with the candidates forming their own coalitions or political parties. By the time the slates are finalized, the leading presiden-

tial candidates would choose their running mates, who some of them were their former rivals. There would probably be five or six pairings left that would slug it out until Election Day on May 9, 2022. Since the president and vice-president are elected separately, the two winning candidates could come from different political parties, which happened quite often.

Various personalities have directly and indirectly hinted on the possibility of running for president or vice president.

Polls taken in April show the following in order of popularity: Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte (27%), former Senator Bongbong Marcos (13%), Senator Grace Poe (12%), Manila Mayor Isko Moreno (12%), Senator Manny Pacquiao (11%), Vice-President Leni Robredo (7%), and Sen. Bong Go (5%).

Others who are mentioned are: Sen. Bato dela Rosa, former Sen. Allan Peter Cayetano, Sen. Sonny Angara, Sen. Richard Gordon, and former Senator Mar Roxas.

It’s interesting to note that in the past three presidential elections, the front-running presidential candidates eventually lost in the election. In 2016, the early favorite for president was Vice-President Jejomar Binay who came out fourth after Rodrigo Duterte (the winner), Mar Roxas, and Grace Poe. In 2010, Senator Benigno Aquino III and Senator Manny Villar were statistically tied in the Pulse Asia poll at 38% for Aquino and 37% for Villar. But the final tally showed Aquino winning over former president Joseph Estrada and Villar, who came in second place and third place, respectively.

In 2004, the late action hero Fernando Poe Jr. was the front-runner ahead of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who came from behind to beat Poe in the election with a margin of just over one million votes, the closest margin in Philippine election history. Ping Lacson came in third place.

Does that mean that Sara Duterte would also slip and fall short of winning the presidency a year from now? There is still a lot of water that will flow under the bridge, so to speak.

A great deal of what Papa Digong’s performance in the last year of his presidency would affect Inday Sara’s future presidential candidacy. With all the controversies that he got himself into and the dire economic situation the country is in right now, it could drag her down the political sewer. First of all, Sara doesn’t have national experience in governance. She’ll be pitted against sitting senators, the current vice-president, and the popular current mayor of Manila.

What is interesting – and intriguing – is the candidacy of Bong Go. Why would he run for president against Sara, the president’s daughter? But Duterte himself doesn’t approve of Sara running for president. “My daughter is not running,” he said. “It’s not for a woman.” “My only sin is the extrajudicial killings. The job would ‘make her crazy’ if she won the office,” he said. But the extrajudicial killings are not just a sin, it’s a crime against humanity. Besides, it could all be part of “strategic denial,” which is the popular ploy early in the game.

As a matter fact there is a move in Congress to amend the constitution to allow the president to run for re-election, which I think is not going to happen. They had been trying to extend the president’s term since the time of former president Fidel Ramos but had never gained national or congressional support. It reminded people of the Marcos years when he extended his rule by declaring martial law. Never again would the people allow another dictator rule over them.

Quo vadis, Leni Robredo?

And this brings to mind Vice-President Leni Robredo’s own political future. She revealed recently that her lack of resources was affecting her decision to run for a possible presidential run in 2022. While she is still considering running in 2022, speculation is rife that she has been preparing to run for governor of Camarines Sur, her home province. However, her spokesperson said there is no ”truth” to rumors that she is running for governor.

So there you go, the presidential musical chair game of elimination has started. There would be a lot of speculation, rumors, claims, and denials as the presidential hopefuls parade themselves in a circle hoping to remain in the game until there is just a person left who would then become the presidential candidate of their party.

And then there is the scramble for the vice-presidential spot. Indeed, the presidential musical chair game is bloodless but only the fittest or cheatest wins.

(PerryDiaz@gmail.com)

Diliman way

(From Page 12)

witnessed his own humiliation and the dishonor of his office because Justice Carpio would have torn him to pieces and make mince meat out of him.

So hurling a challenge to Justice Carpio for a formal debate on the issue of the West Philippine Sea is a horrendous mistake.

Obviously, President Digong did not stop, look and listen nor did he look before he leapt. Now, he is left with nothing but

irretrievable embarrassment.

Sideshow: President Digong vented his ire on Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto del Rosario for blaming him on the current problem at the West Philippine Sea. Duterte said that it is Del Rosario who is to blame for allowing Philippine ships protecting the Scarboroigh Shoal to leave the area during the stand off with Communist Chinese vessels during his term as the top foreign affairs honcho. So, President Digong said it is Del Rosario who should be charged with treason and, if he continues to hold power, he would hang Del Rosario for being a traitor.

Del Rosaro countered he had nothing to do with the withdrawal. To begin with, he was not Commander of the Navy who was in control of his ships neither was he the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who is the superior authority of the Navy Commander nor was he the President of the Philippines who Commands those two officers.

Moreover, Del Rosario said further that the withdrawal of the Philippines ships was due to an agreement with Communist China, brokered by America, that both countries shall withdraw their ships from the area to lessen tension in the region. Our country complied with the agreement but corona virus Xi Jing’s country did not - Communist China’s ship stayed.

Who is to blame – the one who complied with the agreement or the one who did not? In effect, Del Rosario was saying that President Digong does not know what he is talking about.

Reading between the lines – Del Rosaro was really saying that President Digong lost his marbles. Did he? What do you think?

Enters the rookie: So the formal debate is off! President Duterte is sending Harry, the Rookie, as his representative to debate with Carpio. Why should Carpio debate with the running dog of the President? Does he belong to the same gender classification as Harry – the Rookie – and he would like a show?

Netizens are suggesting that Carpio should engage the services of Vice Ganda – the Horse. – represent him in the debate, with full media coverage That would really be a great show! It would be the greatest entertainment for the entire season of the Xi Jinping corona virus. It should be held either at the Philippine Arena or Araneta Coliseum, observing the required health protocols with tickets sold and huge donations welcome to finance the community pantries which are cropping up all over the place – showing the best in the Filipino.

President Duterte and Justice Carpio should both grace the occasion and give moral support to their representative. After the debate, the audience should be required to vote on who should be declared winner. Judging their performances on stage – I predict Vice Ganda will be the runaway winner.

Why? Harry will be scared for finally meeting his match. Harry really has more bark than bite. Vice Ganda is a sharp raconteur with a lot of sound bites which will throw Harry into oblivion which he certainly deserves.

 HEALTH NEWS

May 27-June 2, 2021

28

WHO, Switzerland launch global BioHub for pathogen storage, sharing and analysis GENEVA – The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Swiss Confederation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch the first WHO BioHub Facility as part of the WHO BioHub System, which was announced in November 2020. The facility will enhance the rapid sharing of viruses and other pathogens between laboratories and partners globally.

Based in Spiez, Switzerland, the facility will serve as a centre for the safe receipt, sequencing, storage and preparation of biological materials for distribution to other laboratories, in order to inform risk assessments, and sustain global preparedness against these pathogens.

“Close international collaboration to ensure the timely sharing of epidemiological and clinical data as well as biological materials is of utmost importance.

Switzerland supports the WHO BioHub initiative in its initial phase by providing the necessary infrastructure

of a Swiss biosafety laboratory in Spiez. With this, we hope to contribute to the establishment of an international exchange system for SARS-CoV-2 and other emerging pathogens,” said Swiss Federal Councillor Alain Berset.

Currently, most pathogen sharing is done bilaterally between countries and on an ad hoc basis, which can be slow, and leave some countries without access to the benefits and tools. The BioHub will enable Member States to share biological materials with and via the BioHub under pre-agreed conditions, including biosafety, biosecurity, and other applicable regulations. This will ensure timeliness and predictability in response activities.

“The COVID-19 pandemic and other outbreaks and epidemics have underscored the importance of rapidly sharing pathogens to help the global scientific community assess the risk and develop countermeasures

such as diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO DirectorGeneral. “The BioHub System is an important step towards facilitating this flow of information. We thank the Swiss Government for its support in establishing the first BioHub Facility.”

In parallel, WHO will broaden its BioHub System for the use of biological materials by qualified entities – such as manufacturers – for the development of medical by-products for fair allocation to countries. WHO is currently running a pilot phase, using SARS-COV-2 and its variants, to test the feasibility and operational arrangements for sharing such materials with the facilities of the BioHub System.

Following results from the pilot project, the BioHub will expand from SARS-COV-2 and its variants, to other pathogens, and connect partners with other repositories and laboratory networks in 2022.

Cheers, To health!

Heart of Hope

Without water, there would be no life on Planet Earth. The normal lean adult body is made up of about 70% water (50% intracellular; 15% interstitial; and, 5% in the blood plasma) and only 30% solid mass. This is an amazing fact which many of us don’t realize.

PHILIP S. CHUA Drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day benefits us in more ways than one. Adequate water intake helps us look and feel better by maintaining our blood in perfect liquid form to carry oxygen and nutrients to the cells, regulating our body temperature, assisting our kidneys eliminate harmful wastes and elements, lubricating our joints, revitalizing our dull skin and keeping our weight in check, to list some of its numerous major functions.

Our daily normal physiologic fluid loss (without exercise, illness, etc.) is as follows: Infants (2-10 kg): 300-800cc; Child (10-40 kg): 840 -1500 cc; and Adult (60 kg): 1800-2100 cc. The minimum 8-glasses-a-day (250cc per glass) recommendation for an adult barely equals the daily fluid loss. On the average, therefore, the replacement should actually be about 10% more than the daily fluid loss.

Since the human thirst mechanism is not very reliable (most often thirst is mistaken by our brain for hunger), drinking at least 8 glasses a day is a good rule to follow, whether one feels thirsty or not. In most instances, dehydration has already taken place before the person feels thirsty. Don’t wait for dryness of the mouth, nasal passages, eyes, and any of those symptoms listed above before drinking water. It is best to pre-empt thirst.

If we don’t drink enough water, a host of problems, in varying proportional degrees, can occur, like fatigue, headaches, irritability, mental dullness, sagging skin, retention of toxic wastes in our body, weight gain, kidney stone formation and urinary tract infection. If dehydration is severe, shock and death could ensue.

The best fluid to satisfy our thirst is properly filtered water. Not cola drinks, coffee or alcoholic beverages, all of which cause us to urinate and further lose more fluids, not to mention their adverse side-effects on the heart, kidneys and liver. Nothing is better than the old fashioned clean, fresh, sparkling water.

Beyond 8 glasses There are many situations where the 8-glassesa-day recommendation will not be enough. These include the following: 1. Exercising: where one loses a lot of fluids

through breathing, perspiration and urination. The rule of thumb is to replace every pound lost with 2 glasses, or four glasses for every 1000 calories burned off.

2. Dieting: water suppresses the appetite (by filling the stomach and “fooling” the brain) and also speeds up body fat metabolism and water elimination through the urine, leading to weight loss.

3. Traveling: the atmosphere on board airplanes is very dry, causing dehydration, hence more fluid intake is recommended. A glass of water for every hour of flight is the minimum replacement recommended.

4. High altitudes: the very low humidity and the natural body adaptation (deeper, heavier and more frequent breathing) among mountain climbers, hikers, skiers, etc. lead to more body fluid losses, and require more than 8 glasses a day to replace.

5. Pregnancy: the blood volume of a pregnant woman increases, so she needs more water to maintain the proper fluidity for blood to circulate normally and with ease. For an individualized advice, please discuss this with your obstetrician.

6. Nursing: At least four more glasses of water a day, on top of the 8, is needed by nursing mothers to help ensure adequate milk supply.

7. Illness: Any ailment, like infection or diarrhea, etc., speeds up body water depletion, and so added water intake is needed.

8. Age: Older people, and infants and babies, are at a higher and easier risk of dehydration, from almost any cause, so they require more water intake than normal adults.

More on water Here are some interesting and helpful information about water: 1. Seventy-five percent of Americans are chronically dehydrated. We don’t have statistics for the Philippines, but I suspect the incidence could be the same.

2. In 37%, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger. This leads to overeating and weight gain. Drinking a tall of glass of water before each meal will help one lose weight.

3. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one’s metabolism as much as 3%. Male potency and female lubrication are reduced by dehydration.

4. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters reported in a University of Washington study.

5. Lack of water is the number one trigger of daytime fatigue.

6. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

7. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or a printed page.

8. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

A toxic beverage Do you know soft drinks are unhealthy and increase the risk for metabolic syndrome?

1. In many parts of the United States the highway patrol carries two gallons of cola drinks in the truck to remove blood from the highway after a car accident.

2. You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of cola beverage and it will be gone in a few weeks.

3. To clean a toilet: Pour a can of cola drink into the toilet bowl and let it sit for one hour, then flush clean.

The phosphoric and citric acid in it removes stains from vitreous China.

4. To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub the bumper with a rumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil dipped in cola drink.

5. Pour a can of cola beverage over car battery terminals to bubble away the corrosion.

6. To loosen a rusted bolt: Applying a cloth soaked in cola beverage to the rusted bolt for several minutes.

7. Empty a can of cola into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run through a regular cycle.

This will help loosen grease stains. It will also clean road haze from your windshield.

8. The active ingredient in colas is phosphoric acid. Its pH is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about 4 days.

Phosphoric acid also leaches calcium from bones and is a major contributor to the rising increase in osteoporosis.

9. To carry cola syrup (the concentrate) the commercial truck must use the hazardous material place cards reserved for highly corrosive materials.

10. The cola soft drinks have been using it to clean engines of cars and trucks for decades!

Stay away from soft drinks; they are toxic.

Clean filtered water is the healthiest drink.

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

29 May 27-June 2, 2021

NEWS  NATIONAL VIEWS & COMMENTS

LOOKING BACK WITH GRATITUDE OR REGRET

By TIM PEDROSA

Many of us feel deep regret after we quit going after our goals because it is only after we have thrown in the towel that we realized that success was actually so close, only if we have persevered.

We learned a lot of important opportunities when we don’t give up like: we have more experience; we develop our sense of optimism, discover who we truly are and where our strengths lie; we store up happy memories as we strive for success; we become a positive role model for others who wish to achieve their goals as well and we achieve the success we are striving form. I have learned not to give up before the miracle happen; that there is no failure except in no longer trying; and that we never give up, even when many indications show, we should. Things are not always easy, but we just have to keep going and don’t let the small stuff bog us down. Life does not allow us to go back and fix what we have done wrong in the past but it does allow us to live each day better than our last. I do not usually listen to what anybody says except the people who encourage me. I keep on going and try to concentrate on what I want to do. It does not matter how slowly I go as long as I do not stop. The choice to keep going in spite of so many odds is an incredible trait that we human beings have. I’d rather have a life full of mistakes than a heart full of regret. Sometimes the wrong choices bring us to the right place.

When we decide to do something that is life changing, we are giving our time; we are spending a portion of our life that we can never get back. So let us make sure that we spend our time on something we will not regret. Nothing in the world can replace perseverance, talent does not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent, genius does not; unrewarded genius is almost legendary, education does not. The world is full of useless educated people. Perseverance and determination alone are omnipotent. Usually when one door closes in our life, we tend to stay there and we stare at this closed door full of regrets and sorrow. We do not realize that at the very moment this door closed, another door opened for us. I have learned that good days give us happiness, bad days give experience, worse days give lesson, and best days give memories. Let us not cry over the past, it is gone; let us not stress about the future, it has not arrived yet; but live in the present and make it beautiful. At the end of the day, let us be thankful that our blessings are bigger than our problems. Don’t regret knowing the people who came into your life. Good people give you happiness, bad people give you experience. The worst people give you lessons and the best people give you memories.

Erosion and Deposition We all are familiar with soil erosion; a movement where a piece of land with the action of water from the rain on it and other elements in nature little by little dissipates or disperses itself, or depletes itself, or that it slides away. An erosion process is not a positive thing; this is opposite to deposition, which is a process of building up, it is banking, one deposits in order to let grow some savings. Deposition is for gaining, erosion is for losing; deposition is edification, erosion is destruction. In our REV. JOSE PELAGIO A. PADIT, SThD life with God, moral and spiritual erosion must be avoided. But deposition should be what we rather must seek for, a building up or development in virtues from good habits or the good qualities that become our character.

I believe you will agree with me, dear reader, that there has been some moral and spiritual erosion happening: Fifty years ago, or even from recent past, people were more inclined to go to Church; at present, going to Church is a relative thing. Few decades ago, going to Church was considered to spend a quality time with God; thus, people would dress up their best – the Sunday’s best; now, “dress as you like, after all it is better you are there in Church than not going to Church at all.”

Fifty or so years ago, children would not yell back at their parents. It would be a big deal of malice for a child to respond disrespectfully his parents. In our time, I have seen children yelling back at their parents, children having more command over their parents, than the parents over them. We all know that parents always want the best for their children; and so, disciplining them is an important task of parenthood. Nowadays, parenting and parenthood is even put into question what it is about.

The fundamental values and truths about parenting and parenthood are replaced with pragmatic principles which can be incoherent with Christ’s teachings. Some decades ago, people are inclined to be silent when in Church, inclined to pray before Mass as they come punctually.

Nowadays, people tend to be noisy in Church as the Church is treated more like a social space; talking or texting or playing with cell phone even while Mass or other liturgical celebration is going on. Tardiness is a challenge to many since I can remember, and has worsen with the justification: “Well it is better late than never coming at all.” These are realities of erosion in our moral and spiritual life, individually or communally.

The list can go on and on, especially with the experience of the pandemic as it ushered the sort of new normal to our existence. Did God change as to be highly respected and honored that in our time we will no longer mind to serve Him best each day? No, He did not change; but we change. And our change is unfortunately of deterioration. Did respect and honoring of parents, of elders, change? No, but the trying to exert more effort by parents in instilling into the children the values and good moral character has declined. Or even if the parents did try, the children are influenced by their current environment. The fact is, we have been and continuing to experience the erosion of our moral and spiritual values; and many times we are not aware of it.

Think of yourself, dear reader, your own experience of faith personally, have you noticed negative changes, erosions of the faith, relativizing of moral principles, adulteration of Christ’s teachings? What were the good things you used to do, and now you are no longer doing them? Can you see the good lessons and values you learned from your own childhood in the children of today? The first step to solving a problem is by accepting and knowing there is one; denying it will only give it chance to worsen it. We have to stop this moral and spiritual erosion beginning in our own lives. The Holy Spirit dwelling in us is building us up, all we have to do is cooperate. We must give constant and consistent effort to develop our good qualities to become our character. We must persevere in our good habits to make them virtues, and our virtues should grow that we are identified with them. Increase not decrease, forward not backward, deposition not erosion, are what our journey of faith and spiritual life must be. May the Blessed Mother Mary, the Help of Christians, inspire and continually intercede for us in our daily moral and spiritual endeavor. Amen. You can still read this article in my website, faithexpressions.org, or view us in YouTube, Faith Expressions, for other reflections.

Aflame The Heart

INSPIRATIONAL ARTICLE FOR THE WEEK

31 May 27-June 2, 2021  NATIONAL NEWS

 FOOD & TRAVELS

 FOOD & TRAVELS

Recipe of the Week Ground Pork Adobo with Quail Eggs Here is the recipe of my Ground Pork Adobo with Quail Eggs.

Ingredients: 1 kilo ground pork 1 can boiled quail eggs, drained 3 medium sized potato, skinned, cut into cubes 1 small onion, peeled, chopped 1 head garlic, peeled, crushed, chopped 2 tsp. crushed peppercorns 3-4 pieces bay leaf 1/2 cup vinegar salt cooking oil Cooking procedure: In a wok heat generous amount of oil and stir fry the potatoes for 3 to 5 minutes or until the edges start to turn brown. Remove from wok and keep aside. Using the same wok sauté the garlic and onion until fragrant, then add in the ground pork, crushed peppercorns and bay leaf and stir cook for about 3 to 5 minutes. Add in the vinegar and about 1 to 1 1/2 cup of water let cook for about 2 to 3 minutes without stirring. Season with salt to taste. Now add in the potatoes and continue to simmer for 5 to 8 minutes or until most of the liquid has evaporated and has turn in to an oily sauce. Now add in the quail egg and continue to stir cook for a couple of minutes. Serve hot with a lot of rice.

Sunflower farm reopens in Ilocos Norte LAOAG CITY – The coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is taking a toll on everyone’s lives but nature has its own way of lifting one’s spirit.

In a quaint village of Maruaya in Piddig, Ilocos Norte, thousands of sunflowers are again in full bloom, ready to mesmerize visitors, reported PNA’s Leilanie Adriano.

Adding more vibrant colors of exotic flowers this year, the local government-initiated agro-tourism site here has reopened this month to ward off the impact of Covid-19 pandemic.

For visitor Quirino Agustin, the Piddig sunflower farm has its “own unique beauty that relieves stress” from continuous lockdowns and containment due to Covid-19.

Located about 25 kilometers or less than an hour’s drive from this city, the Piddig Organic Farmer’s Association started to develop a two-hectare flower farm and food garden as a show window of the town’s best practices in sustainable agriculture.

At the height of Covid-19 outbreaks in various parts of the province, farmer-cooperators here continued to improve the sunflower maze which has now grown into four patterns.

Barely two years in operation, the Piddig sunflower farm has added more features and amenities this year. Aside from its flower heart and blue ternatea tunnels at the main entrance with improved parking area and clean toilets, this enchanting haven for Instagram-able sites now features a lagoon with center island gazebo, a hobbit house or reading nook, a petting zoo of farm animals, a fish pond where visitors can catch and grill at the cottages for rent.

In-season fruits and vegetables are also available for “pick and pay”. There is also an actual demonstration of Piddig’s traditional extraction of sugarcane juice with the help of a carabao (water buffalo) which is made available by schedule only.

Maruaya resident Lourie De Leon said, “I love my place more than ever as it has become a word of mouth of visitors who have been here. This has also provided us additional income as we generate more livelihood and employment here.”

Due to the pandemic, the management said they have reduced the entrance fee from PHP100 to PHP50 per person. Children aged 12 years old and below are free of charge. They are open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily even during holidays.

According to town mayor Eduardo “Eddie” Guillen who serves as adviser of the farmer’s organization that runs the agri-tourism site, the town of Piddig is thankful for the generous support of various government agencies for assisting and empowering local farmers as producers and entrepreneurs at the same time.

Deviating from the old norm where individual farmers do it on their own, the local government of Piddig has pioneered in consolidating farmers so that they can easily tap resources of various national government agencies for support.

The establishment of Piddig’s agro-tourism site is just among the numerous undertakings in the municipality, making it a worthy example of good governance and sustainable and inclusive development.

Beef Spareribs Adobo with Oyster Sauce