Philippine News Today

1 May 6-12, 2021

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA EDITION

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

Vol. 60 No. 39 May 6-12, 2021

NEWS AND VIEWS YOU TRUST

PACQUIAO ‘RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN 2022’

US population soars to 331 M; California most populous state

Earns whip for ‘criticizing’ Duterte

By ALFRED GABOT Editor in Chief

MANILA – Senator and world boxing icon Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao will run for president in the May 9, 2022 national elections.

Reliable sources close to the senator made the disclosure, adding that Pacquiao has already started visiting various places and meeting key leaders in the country “to test the waters” on his plan to seek the top position of the land and succeed his friend, President Rodrigo Duterte. Page 9

Fight to secure freedom to vote heats up in Congress

WASHINGTON - While legislators in 47 states have introduced nearly 400 bills that seek to restrict voting rights, two key initiatives are being considered in Congress to strengthen access to the polls and protect against racial discrimination.

For the People Act, and the John L. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, are initiatives

that seek to prevent foreign interference in elections, limit the influence of money on politics, and modernize infrastructure to President Duterte and Senator Pacquiao increase electoral security. They also establish nonpartisan redistricting commissions, a 15-day early voting period for all federal elections, and expanded access to voting by mail and automatic voter registration, among Page 8

PHL Coast Guard shoos Chinese militia ships out of local waters

WASHINGTON - The resident population of the United States has reached 331,449,281 as of April 1, 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau reported based on the 2020 Census.

The U.S. resident population represents the total number of people living in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The resident population increased by 22,703,743 or 7.4% from 308,745,538 in 2010, the bureau said.

California remained the most populous state with 39,538,223 residents, the bureau said. Page 9

President Biden declares May as Asian-Pacific Heritage Month

By Be�ng Laygo Dolor, Editor

From le� to right: Thomas A. Saenz, President and General Counsel, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educa�onal Fund; John C. Yang, President and Execu�ve Director, Asian Americans Advancing Jus�ce | AAJC; Jacqueline De León, Staff A�orney, Na�ve American Rights Fund; Wendy Weiser, Director of the Democracy Program, Brennan Center for Jus�ce at NYU School of Law; Hilary O. Shelton, Director, Washington Bureau/Senior Vice Preisdent for Advocacy and Policy, NAACP

MANILA – Taking the cue from such Asian neighbors as Vietnam and Indonesia, the crew of a Philippine Coast Guard vessel confronted a Chinese militia ship that had entered Philippine waters, and forced the intruder out.

The PSG released a video of the incident that occurred in Sabina Shoal on Wednesday, May 5.

In the video, a female crew

member is heard addressing the Chinese ship with the words, “This is (the) Philippine Coast Guard. We are BRP Cabra. You are within (the) Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone.”

She then asks the Chinese vessel to provide its name, intention, and last and next port of call.

The Chinese vessel left Philippine waters after Page 8

WASHINGTON/LOS ANGELES - US President Joseph Joe Biden Jr. has issued a proclamation ecognizing the history and achievements of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders across the United States.

The President said the country honors the leadership, resilience, and courage Page 9

PHL expands travel ban over variant threat

P10

Gen. Eleazar named new PNP chief VIEWS & COMMENTS

U.S. Supreme Court gives a second chance for those in deportation

Page 14 By A�y. Lozano

SHOWBIZ

BUSINESS

Nadine Lustre PHL debt featured in NYC Times now over Square billboard P10.7 trillion Page 15

Page 14

P6

PESO-DOLLAR RATE

$1.00= P48.04

as of May 6, 2021 1:30am

Page 8

P3

 NATIONAL NEWS

May 6-12, 2021

2

Duterte gets Sinopharm jab, no side effects; 70% of Pinoys eyed for vaccination this year

By Claire Morales True MANILA – The government is targeting to achieve herd immunity in the National Capital Region (NCR) and nearby provinces by November, National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. reported.

This after President Rodrigo Duterte decided to get inoculated with the Sinopharm jab because the process of giving the Chinese vaccine clearance for emergency use has been “grossly delayed.”

Duterte received a Covid-19 vaccine from Health Secretary Francisco Duque developed by Chinese state-owned pharmaceutical company Sinopharm upon his physician’s advice.

Duterte received his first dose covered by the compassionate use permit issued to the Presidential Security Group (PSG) hospital by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Duterte did not experience any side effects after getting inoculated with Sinopharm.

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo also said he has not experienced any adverse side effects after receiving a Sinopharm vaccine.

A photo from Panelo showed him getting inoculated with Sinopharm vaccine,

the same brand administered to President Duterte on Monday.

“No side effects after the jab, and I’m feeling normal,” Panelo said in a statement sent to Palace reporters.

Galvez noted that the Philippines will need a stable supply of at least 15 million doses per month so it can inoculate about 70 percent of the population before the end of the year.

“We can have the herd immunity in NCR and six provinces around NCR by November. Iyon ang tinitingnan namin (That’s what we are looking at), 180 days,” he said during the Palace press briefing held at Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque City during the Sputnik V rollout.

The government is eyeing herd immunity in strategic areas with a significant number of Covid-19 infections and with the “highest economic and social impact” despite limited supplies.

“Realistically, we will have a shortfall of supply. We need to strategize that we will get the same effect,” Galvez said.

The government should be able to inoculate 120,000 residents daily in the NCR, Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite, and Rizal.

Galvez earlier said they will also bring

VACCINATED. President Duterte gets a Sinopharm vaccine from Health Secretary Francisco Duque as Sen. Christopher Go looks on.

vaccines to strategic areas, like Calabarzon and Central Luzon.

“If we can achieve herd immunity by vaccinating up to 70 percent of the residents in these areas, there is a big chance

that our economy will recover and we can prevent a surge in cases,” he said.

To date, the Philippines has administered some 1,948,080 Covid-19 vaccines for 1,658,539 Filipinos.

Homicide cases up in April as restrictions ease: PNP CAMP CRAME, Quezon City – The nationwide rate of homicide cases has increased by 21.8 percent in April amid the easing of quarantine restrictions in some regions, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported.

PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management director Brig.

Gen. Sterling Raymund Blanco said a total of 95 cases were recorded in April as compared to the 78 cases in March.

Blanco said the increase in homicide cases was noted in Regions 3 (Central Luzon), 5 (Bicol), 7 (Central Visayas),

and 12 (Soccsksargen).

The majority of the cases are shooting and stabbing in residential areas often motivated by heated arguments and personal grudges, he added.

Meantime, about 91 murder cases were recorded in April, lower than the 100 cases reported in March. Rape cases for April also went down to 75 as compared to the 88 reported in March, a reduction of 14.77 percent.

Theft cases also went down by 20.11 percent in April with only 143 incidents recorded compared to the 179 in March.

(New York / US Court of Appeals [9th Cir.] / Philippines)

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3 May 6-12, 2021

 NATIONAL NEWS

Duterte ready to lift quarantine restrictions, assures gov’t doing work to boost nation

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte is willing to lift the quarantine rules once the situation in the country improves, according to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

Duterte, meanwhile, assured Filipinos that his government is doing everything to uplift their condition and vowed to lift the present quarantine restrictions once the situation stabilizes.

“Pag-usapan natin ‘yong ang nasa loob ng Pilipino. One is the hunger. We are trying to do everything we can within the limited resources of government and, of course, ‘yong the opening,” President Duterte said in his weekly public address.

“But let me assure to the people that once things begin to clear, we will lift the

quarantine immediately without delay. Sa mga kasamahan ko, maraming salamat sa pagkinig ninyo and I hope that you’d continue to listen to government.”

It is important, he said, to listen to health experts who provide valuable advice on how the country can navigate out of the pandemic.

This as Health Secretary Francisco Duque III reported the decreasing percentage of people infected by coronavirus in the Philippines.

“Ang atin pong pangunahing mensahe ngayon linggo: Una po, patuloy na bumababa ang mga naitatalang kaso sa buong bansa, kabilang po rito ang National Capital Region,” said Duque.

Duque said the national growth rate is also improving from 11 percent three to four weeks ago to negative 15 percent recently. There’s also a drop in the average daily attack rate.

“Kung ikukumpara po natin ang lagay ng average daily attack rate ng NCR noong nagkaroon po tayo ng pinakamataas na bilang, makikita na malaki na ang ating in-improve mula sa 34 per 100,000 population ay bumaba po ito sa 25 cases per 100,000 population,” he told the President.

As COVID-19 infections decrease, the healthcare utilization rates (HCUR) also improve, Duque said.

Roque made the disclosure a day after Duterte vowed to stop restrictions on public movement if the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) no longer serves as a threat.

Roque said quarantine restrictions would be lifted, on conditions that more Filipinos get inoculated against Covid-19, the num-

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ber of intensive care unit (ICU) beds in the country increases, and the transmission of the coronavirus slows down.

“Ang ibig sabihin po ni Presidente, ‘pag marami-rami na ang nabakunahan at ‘pag napadami na natin iyong ating mga ICU beds lalung-lalo na at napakita natin na napababa na natin iyong pagkalat ng virus ay pupuwede na po talaga tayong magbukas muli ng ating ekonomiya (The President wants to say that if many Filipinos get vaccinated and we are able to get new ICU beds and slow down the transmission of the virus, we can reopen our economy),” he said.

In a taped address to the nation, Duterte admitted that it is not easy to prolong the strict health and quarantine protocols amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Duterte, however, acknowledged that he needs to heed the “proper advice” of medical professionals to curb the spread of the coronavirus in the country.

“Sa katapusan nito, magpasalamat tayo sa mga doctor, the medical people who really give us the proper advice. It is good to listen to people na may alam.

Linya nila ‘yan eh (We should thank the doctors and medical people who really give us the proper advice after its end. It is good to listen to knowledgeable people.

That’s their expertise),” he said.

He, nevertheless, ensured the public that he will order the immediate lifting of quarantine restrictions, “once things begin to clear.”

A more restrictive modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) has been imposed in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Quirino, Abra, Ifugao, and the City of Santiago in Isabela until May 14.

On the other hand, Apayao, Baguio City, Benguet, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Vizcaya, Batangas, Quezon, Tacloban City, Iligan City, Davao City, Lanao del Sur, and Puerto Princesa City are under the more relaxed general community quarantine (GCQ) for the whole month of May. The rest of the country stays under the least restrictive MGCQ until May 31.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has approved the resumption of more businesses in MECQ zones by allowing restaurants, eateries, and other food preparation establishments to resume their indoor dine-in services at an initial 10-percent seating capacity.

Beauty salons, beauty parlors, barbershops, and nail spas are also allowed to operate at an initial 30-percent venue capacity.

 METRO NEWS

May 6-12, 2021

Manila, Makati, Paranaque start rollout of Russia’s Sputnik V

By Jeanne Michael Penaranda

PARANAQUE CITY - The pilot rollout of the initial 15,000 doses of Sputnik V vaccine from Russia started in three of the five cities in the National Capital Region that were identified for the initial rollout, namely, the cities of Manila, Makati, and Parañaque while Taguig and other cities held simulation while awaiting the arrival of the vaccines .

In Parañaque City where the vaccination using Sputnik V was held at the Ayala by the Bay Mall along Macapagal Boulevard, Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque Jr joined National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF) and Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr in witnessing the initial vaccinations using the Sputnik V vaccine.

“Ang pinakamabuting balita ay mayroon na naman po tayong additional brand ng vaccine na nagagamit at ito ay kabahagi ng trial order kasi ito po ay ang kaunaunahang pagkakataon na we had to deal with a vaccine na negative 18 handling requirement,” said Secretary Roque.

The Palace official underscored that the rollout is not yet the official rollout of Sputnik V and stressed that it is only a trial rollout to see how the country can handle the logistical, storage, and tem-

RUSSIAN-MADE. Manila starts the rollout of Sputnik V at the Sta. Ana Hospital where the jabs are stored.Some 79,593 medical front-liners, senior ci�zens, and those with comorbidi�es have been vaccinated by the city government.

perature requirements of the vaccine that requires negative 18 degrees temperature.

The rollout of Sputnik V vaccines began in the city of Manila starting with the healthcare workers.

The Russian jabs were delivered to the Sta. Ana Hospital, where the vaccination led by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III took place.

Manila Vice Mayor Honey LacunaPangan, also a medical doctor, said medical front-liners remained the priority in

accordance with Department of Health (DOH) and the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) guidelines.

In Makati, some 800 front-liners, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities received the highly-anticipated first dose of Sputnik V vaccine.

Makati is among the five cities to receive 3,000 doses of Sputnik V for having the capacity to store the vials with a temperature not exceeding -18 degrees Celsius.

4

Makati to manage mild Covid-19 cases at home

MAKATI CITY – The Makati city government has prioritized a program aimed at ensuring proper treatment for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patients with mild symptoms and asymptomatic cases at home, Makati Mayor Abby Binay said.

The initiative magnifies the urgent need for the city government to put up additional quarantine and isolation facilities that will address increasing Covid-19 patients being treated at the Ospital ng Makati (OsMak).

“Ganito rin ang kalagayan ng iba pang ospital sa ibang panig ng Metro Manila, private man o government hospital (This is also the state of various hospitals in other areas of Metro Manila, whether private or government hospitals),” Binay posted on social media.

“Bunsod nito, binigyang-prayoridad ng lungsod ang pagbuo ng (Because of this, the city has prioritized the) Makati Covid-19 Home Care Program sa ilalim ng paggabay ng (under the guidance of the) Department of Health,” she added.

Under the home care program, Makati will isolate and treat mild cases at their own homes, provided a patient has a separate bedroom, bathroom, and toilet and should not have household members belonging to vulnerable groups, such as senior citizens, persons with comorbidities, individuals.

5 May 6-12, 2021

 PROVINCIAL NEWS

ERC starts probe into Cebu’s high power cost CEBU CITY – The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) has cited the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) intervention in its request for the review of Visayan Electric Co.’s (VECO) power supply agreement (PSA) with its generation company Cebu Private Power Corp. (CPPC) in 2013.

“The Chamber is pleased and grateful that our country’s energy regulatory body -- the ERC, is finally hearing our appeal by initiating a formal investiga-

tion to the CPPC-VECO 2013 PSA. We believe that tual pre-hearing on April 27 on the CCCI’s appeal to the findings of our study indicate substantive grounds look into VECO’s PSA with CPPC. for anti-competitive behavior in the said agreement VECO, the biggest power distributor in Cebu provand that its implementation is contrary to the require- ince, is owned by the Aboitiz Group. ment in the EPIRA (Electric Power Industry Reform Act) that distribution utilities should supply electricity in the least cost,” CCCI president Felix Taguiam said in a statement Taguiam’s statement came following the ERC’s vir-

2 Malaybalay diocese priests die of Covid-19

MAlAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon – Two priests from the Diocese of Malaybalay in the capital city of Bukidnon province died this week due to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) complications.

In a Facebook post, the diocese said Fr. Diomedes Brigoli, 61, succumbed on May 1 while Fr. Pablo Salengua, 67, died on May 4.

Both were confined and passed away at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center in Cagayan de Oro City.

The Diocese of Malaybalay has enjoined everyone to pray for the repose of the souls of the two priests.

Following the health protocols, the bodies were cremated. The dio-

cese added that the details of interment are to follow.

Meanwhile, the bishop’s house compound was placed under temporary lockdown from May 2 to 6.

Services will resume on May 7 or until further notice.

All of the diocese’s personnel were tested for Covid-19 on May 3 and the results turned out negative.

Woman, 98, gets vaccinated with daughter, 61, in CDO CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY--One of this city’s oldest coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccine recipients got inoculated last Tuesday along with her daughter, herself a senior citizen.

Baldomera Udasco, 98, was with her daughter Emercita, 61, when they availed of the city’s vaccination program at the SM Downtown Premier inoculation site here.

Emercita said she and her five sib-

lings also managed to get the vaccine shots, adding it was important to be protected from the severe effects caused by the virus.

“Even today, she still has a sharp memory, and we are thankful we were given a chance to get vaccinated,” she said of her nonagenarian mother, who also urged the public to get vaccinated.

The local government started the inoculation for seniors on April 29, after

inoculating all local medical workers.

Mayor Oscar Moreno, who himself was vaccinated under the senior citizens’ list, told the public to help other seniors to pre-register.

Although there are other ways to pre-register such as the surveys in barangays, the local government preferred online registration because of its convenience and faster response and scheduling.

 NATIONAL NATIONAL NEWS NEWS

May 6-12, 2021

PHL, Australia to boost maritime security partnership amid WPS row

MAKATI CITY – Strengthening partnership in civil maritime security will be a key element to commemorate the 75th diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Australia on May 22, according to Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steven Robinson AO. Robinson said at a briefing that Australia is expanding its engagement on maritime cooperation with the Philippines focusing on governance, systems, processes, interagency coordination, marine natural resources management, environment protection, technical assistance, research, and workshops.

He said there will be cooperation in areas of aviation and border protection.

“Australia supports the adherence to international law particularly (the) United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea and other norms and laws that governs our international waterways,” he added.

With the ongoing situation in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, the envoy said “all countries should subscribe to the rules, the norms, and the laws that govern the free passage through international waters”.

Robinson said the situation should not affect trade activities within the disputed waters.

“And so, therefore, we are concerned if there is any action taken by any country

that seeks to inhibit that free passage and the freedom of navigation, the freedom of overflying. And if we see anything that is unfortunate… then Australia will express its views which we have done in the past and we will continue to do so,” he said.

Australian shipbuilder Austal is looking forward to bagging the contract to provide large patrol vessels for the Philippine Navy.

“We have growing aspirations to increase the level of technology transfer, and we see further projects over the next few months, which we hope we’ll be in a position to provide some updates now.

I’m specifically referring to the offshore patrol vessels program for the Philippine Navy,” Austal regional director Dave Shiner said.

Since 2012, Austal has been operating a design and shipbuilding facility in Balamban, Cebu and has produced 19 vessels to 11 operators in 10 countries.

Its local workforce also expanded to 900 employees from just around 50 staff when it started its operation in the Philippines.

He added Austal is also committed to the development of the country’s sovereign shipbuilding, designing, and building capabilities.

“We are actively looking at in-service support teams and tools to enable the ongoing support, repairing, and maintenance to all the Philippines agencies, be it Navy or Coast Guard,” he said.

The Australian Embassy here and Austal are also looking forward to finalizing negotiations in taking over the Hanjin facility in the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

Next Philippine Na�onal Police Chief Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has chosen Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar as the new chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Eleazar immediately expressed his “sincerest gratitude” to President Rodrigo Duterte for choosing him to be the next PNP chief.

“I express my sincerest gratitude to our Commander-In-Chief, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, for choosing me to be among the instruments of his genuine in-

tention of having a well-disciplined and professional police force that could always be banked on in enforcing the law and in serving and protecting the Filipino people,” Eleazar said in a statement.

Eleazar will be the 26th chief of the PNP, who, like outgoing chief Gen. Debold Sinas, belongs to the Philippine Military Academy Hinirang Class of 1987.

“To be appointed as the Chief PNP is a rare opportunity, but come with the challenges of good leadership and meeting the high expectations of the Filipino people. I accept these challenges,” Eleazar said.

Eleazar also thanked Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año for always believing in his capability to lead the more than 220,000-strong PNP. “I am very grateful for the trust and chance given to me by President Rodrigo Duterte and Secretary Año in leading the PNP. Rest assured that we will continue with the initiatives set by Gen. Sinas,” Eleazar said.

Año said he expects Eleazar to lead

the entire PNP organization to greater heights “in serving and protecting our people, implementing quarantine protocols and minimum health standards, and promoting law and order during this challenging period in our nation’s history.”

“We confirm that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has signed the appointment of PLTGEN Guillermo Eleazar as the new chief of the Philippine National Police,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press statement.

Eleazar will replace PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas who will retire on May 8 after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.

Roque wished Eleazar the best as he leads the PNP. Roque said the Palace is confident that Eleazar is capable of leading the police force.

“Gen. Eleazar’s track record of professionalism, dedication, and integrity speaks for itself. We are therefore confident that he will continue the reform initiatives of his predecessors and lead the police organization to greater heights,” he said.

PHL-AUSSIE PARTNERSHIP. Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steven Robinson AO affirms coopera�on and partnership with Manila.

Gen. Eleazar named new PNP chief

6

Metro Manila Covid-19 cases remain on downward trend: OCTA

QUEZON CITY – The enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the National Capital Region (NCR) is bearing fruit after a continuous downward trend of Covid-19 cases has been noted, reflecting a 46 percent decrease compared to its peak.

“Our trend in the NCR is still improving. What we’re seeing is that the average number of cases in the NCR is now around 3,000 per day, 5,500 ‘yung peak (during the peak) and down to 3,000 na tayo and hopefully still decreasing,” OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said.

“Ang nakikita natin ay ‘yung effect ng ECQ and MECQ [modified ECQ] hanggang (What we see now is the effect of ECQ and MECQ until) April 30,” he said.

The NCR has the highest number of coronavirus cases. Latest data from the Department of Health as of May 3 show that the region has 27,647 active cases, followed by Region 4-A (Calabarzon) with 13,570.

Nationwide, David noted that the average number of cases now is less than 8,000 per day compared to 10,000 cases at its peak.

QC registers 91.3% recovery from Covid-19 QUEZON CITY – The Quezon City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (CESU) recorded a 91.3 percent recovery from the dreaded coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

This accounts for 77,231 individuals who have recovered from Covid-19 in the city.

The Quezon City government said in a Facebook post that the city has 6,370 active Covid-19 cases or equivalent to 7.5 percent.

The total number of Covid-19 cases is 84,611 since the pandemic started as validated by the CESU and the city’s district health offices.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, meanwhile, continued to encourage her constituents to still follow the imposed minimum health and safety protocols such as the wearing of face masks, face shields, and the observance of safe physical distancing to mitigate the spread of Covid-19.

“Dumadaan sa validation ng CESU, health center staff at mga opisyal ng barangay ang datos na mula sa DOH para masigurong sila ay residente ng QC (The CESU, health center staff, and barangay officials validates these data from the DOH to check if they are indeed residents of QC),”, the QC government post stated.

However, the number of cases in the city is still subject to change because of the community-based testing approach that the city government is doing.

7 May 6-12, 2021

 NATIONAL NATIONAL NEWS NEWS

74% of ECQ cash aid disbursed; DILG gets over 50,000 complaints

QUEZON CITY – Local government units (LGUs) have so far distributed 74 percent of the P22.9-billion financial aid from the national government for areas placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said P17 billion of the total amount earmarked for the cash aid in the National

Capital Region Plus, which includes Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal, have reached the beneficiaries.

“Out of the PHP22.9 billion na inyo pong inutos na ipamahagi ay nakapagdisburse na po tayo ng P17 billion or equivalent po ito sa 17,037,122 beneficiaries out of the total of 22,915,422 beneficiaries or a total of 74.35 percent. Iyan na po ‘yung napamahagi natin,” Año told

President Rodrigo Duterte during a prerecorded Cabinet meeting on Monday night.

In Metro Manila, 8,632,336 out of 11,172,988, or 77.26 percent beneficiaries, in 17 LGUs have received aid.

Meanwhile, 2,188,380 out of 3,444,488, or 63.53 percent, in Cavite benefited from the government’s cash aid while in Rizal, 66.61 percent or 1,740,338 out of the 2,612,824 families received their “ayuda” (assistance).

In Laguna, 2,307,825 out of 2,718,083, or 84.91 percent of the recipients, while 2,168,243 out of the 2,967,039, or 73.08 percent, in Bulacan got their share.

Año said they received 59,669 complaints on alleged anomalies in the aid distribution, with 24.421 resolved.

The deadline for the distribution of ECQ aid was earlier extended until May 15 to give local officials enough time to ensure that health protocols are being observed during the activity.

“Ang target po natin ay lahat ng complaint na ito ay maresolba at masagot ng ating mga LGUs bago dumating ang May 15, at totally 100 percent po maipa-

mahagi ang lahat ng ayuda (Our target is to resolve all complaints and for LGUs to give all aid, 100 percent, before May 15),” Año said.

He also assured administrative and criminal charges will be filed against local chief executives (LCEs) who fail to prosecute violators of mass gatherings.

He warned that the Philippine National Police (PNP) will strictly enforce the law against mass gatherings and will be ready to make arrests even against noncomplying LCEs. “Nagpalabas ng memo circular ang DILG. Ito ay naka-address sa ating mga local chief executives, sa BARMM minister, sa ating mga regional directors ng DILG, sa chief PNP, upang i-define po ano ang mga roles ng ating local chief executives sa pagpapatupad ng minimum public health standard, lalo na po sa prohibition against public or mass gathering (DILG has issued a memo to local chief executives, regional directors of DILG, and the police defining their roles in carrying out minimum public health standards, especially in the prohibition of mass gatherings),” he said.

PHL allows again entry of foreign nationals MANILA - Foreign nationals, except those coming from India, are again allowed entry to the Philippines starting May 1.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) approved the entry of foreign nationals in a meeting Thursday, April 29, but subject to the certain conditions such as: * They have valid and existing visa at the time of entry, except for those qualified under the Balikbayan program under Republic Act 6768, or the Act Instituting the Balikbayan Program. * With pre-booked accommodation

for at least seven nights in an accredited quarantine hotel/facility. * Subject to Covid-19 testing at the quarantine hotel/facility on the sixth day from date of arrival. * Subject to maximum capacity of inbound passengers at the port and date of entry.

The IATF clarified, however, that travel restrictions imposed under Resolution 112, which was issued on April 27, 2021, will continue to be in force.

“Travel restrictions, however, shall continue to be in effect for those coming from India or those with travel his-

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tory to India,” said Presidential Spokes- migration to formulate the necessary person Harry Roque in a statement. guidelines to ensure the smooth impleThe Philippine government banned mentation of the resolution. the entry of travelers from India and those with travel history to India within the last 14 days preceding arrival for two weeks, from April 29 to May 14, 2021.

The ban was issued due to the increasing number of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in India, Malacañang said.

The restriction also applies to Filipino travelers.

“The foregoing is without prejudice to immigration laws, rules and regulations such that the Commissioner of Immigration shall have the exclusive prerogative to decide on waiver or recall of exclusion order for foreign nationals, including other foreign nationals who have entered the Philippines by virtue of IATF resolutions, subject to regular reporting to the IATF Secretariat at the end of each calendar month,” said the IATF. The task force has ordered the Bureau of Im-

May 6-12, 2021

Fight ...

(From page 1)

other provisions.

“These bills are critical to stopping the scourge of vote suppression that is facing our country today, and to protecting the freedom to vote going forward,” said Wendy Weiser, Vice President of Democracy at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law School, during a press briefing hosted by Ethnic Media Services.

“Voting rights in America are under attack as they haven’t been since the Jim Crow era, and the push to restrict access to voting in state legislatures is unprecedented,” she added.

The Brennan Center has been tracking more than 360 bills that have already been signed into law in states like Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa and Utah and are aggressively moving toward approval in others like Arizona, Texas, Michigan and New Hampshire.

These laws seek to tighten voter identification requirements, make voter registration more difficult, and expand voter list purges – all measures that particularly affect ethnic communities. In most cases, these local initiatives have been justified in “false narratives about supposed voter fraud, without a shred of evidence,” said Thomas Saenz, President and General Counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF).

“When (political) leaders seeking to retain power and knowing they do not have the support of the growing Latino community, they take steps to suppress the vote,” added Saenz. The growth of the Hispanic vote in places like Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and Colorado, was decisive for the Democratic triumph in those states in 2020.

Asian Americans, African Americans, and other minorities also saw an unprecedented rise in voter turnout.

In states like Texas, Latinos already make up 40% of the population. After the census results, the state won two more representatives in the House. If Hispanic turnout at the polls follows the numbers seen in past elections, their

vote could contribute to another blue victory for those new seats.

“In parts of our country, primarily the South, but also including the State of Texas, we must anticipate that if there is a new community reaching critical mass to threaten the (local) powers, there is a need to have in place protections including pre clearance review requirements,” Saenz said.

The section V of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 established that states could not approve changes in voting rules without federal authorization. But that section was overthrown by a 2013 Supreme Court decision, which has allowed discriminatory practices against minorities, the elderly and youth.

Saenz argues that in the case of Latinos, the greatest threat is “intimidation” with measures such as demanding proof of citizenship for new voters and poll watchers who have permission to take cell phone video of voters who are receiving assistance at the polls.

In the case of the African American population, measures such as voter ID restrictions, moving of precincts without adequate notice and limitations to mail-in voting, are serious threats to this right.

According to Hilary Shelton, Senior Vice President for Advocacy and Policy for the National Association for the Advancement of People of Color (NAACP), “seemingly innocuous issues like having to have an official state photo ID means in some places that people that don’t own cars (without a driver’s license), now having to pay an additional expense… if you have to pay extra money to go to the polls and cast your vote, that is a poll tax.”

Shelton also stressed that the United States is one of the few countries that does not automatically register its citizens in the electoral rolls when they turn 18, “but it does register them for the draft.”

Another right to vote that the initiatives in Congress want to restore is that of Americans with criminal records.

“If you’ve made the mistake of committing a felony offense, even after you’ve served the time, even after you’ve come out of jail, in most states today you can’t vote.”

No polling places The situation is more dire

PHL...

8

for Native American voters. According to Jacqueline De León, Staff Attorney for the Native American Rights Fund (NARF), over the past four years her organization has challenged in court North Dakota’s voter ID law, Montana’s ballot collection ban, Alaska’s witness signature requirement to vote during the pandemic, and the refusal to open an in-person polling location on the Blackfeet reservation, that would have forced tribal members to travel up to 120 miles in order to vote.

“We have filed nearly 100 lawsuits, with a success rate of over 90%. These cases have been litigated in front of judges appointed by Republican and Democratic presidents, and the facts are so bad that we nearly always win,” De León said. “But litigation is a blunt and expensive instrument that could have been avoided if the laws that go to Congress had been in effect today.”

Many Native American reservations do not have polling places, and DMVs and post offices can be hundreds of miles away. “Due to ongoing discrimination and government neglect, many Native Americans live in overcrowded homes that do not have an address, do not receive mail, and are located on dirt roads, that can be impassable in wintery November,” De León said.

Another provision that the bills in Congress want to include is assistance at the polls for people with disabilities and access to ballots in different languages.

“Language barriers are one of the biggest impediments to the Asian-American vote with one-third of Asian-Americans being what is called limited English proficient,” said John C. Yang, President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC).

“In every election poll, monitors have observed missing Asian language signage and interpreters, which limits our access to the ballot. Ensuring effective language assistance is paramount to closing that consistent barrier in national and local elections,” he said.

The John L. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act will be presented shortly in the House of Representatives and the For the People Act has already passed in the House and will have a Senate hearing in the next two weeks. Several polls have shown that both bills have bipartisan support.

(From page 1)

the radio challenge, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon told local media.

Two weeks ago, it was learned that seven Chinese ships were anchored in the area. Shortly thereafter, two of the ships left, leaving five which was seen by the BRP Cabra on April 29.

The five ships left after the PCG vessel arrived, the last driven out by the PCG’s presence.

It is believed that the seven ships were remnants of the 240 Chinese vessels discovered to have intruded into the waters of the Julian Felipe Reef last month, and which had been the subject of a series of diplomatic protests filed by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) against China.

China had stated that the ships were forced to find safe haven due to inclement weather, but the DFA noted that they remained in the area long after the weather had cleared.

It is believed that some of the ships were actually Chinese militia disguised as commercial fishing vessels.

The PSG’s driving away of a Chinese vessel from the West Philippine Sea – which China refers to as the South China Sea – is a first and follows the same procedure of other countries in confronting foreign vessels, specifically Chinese ships.

China is seen to be asserting its naval might in the area, which resulted in the

US sending its 7th Fleet to the contested waters. Other countries like the UK, Australia, Japan, Germany and Belgium – all US allies – also sent their ships to patrol the area.

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro ‘Teddyboy’ Locsin apologized to Chinese ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian after he told China to “get the f#ck out” of Philippine waters this week.

He then clarified that his apology was directed only to his “friend” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Locsin said his words were uttered in exasperation at China’s refusal to leave the West Philippine Sea despite a barrage of diplomatic protests.

Malacanang also admonished Locsin to leave the swearing to the president.

Mr. Duterte earlier said there was no reason to be “rude and disrespectful” to China, to whom the Philippines owes a huge debt of gratitude for providing free vaccines against the coronavirus pandemic.

As for the intrusion of Chinese vessels into Philippine waters, the president asked his Chinese counterpart to “kindly” allow Filipino fishermen to ply their trade in Philippine waters as their families were starving.

Filipino fisherfolk had been complaining that their catch was severely affected by the presence of large Chinese vessels in local waters. These ships not only deprived them of their livelihood, but also threatened them with force on some oc-

9 May 6-12, 2021 Pacquiao...

 NATIONAL NEWS (From page 1)

It was learned that Pacquiao is vowing out as an elected senator when his term ends next year and he has no choice to seek “a higher office” in the coming elections which the sources said would be the presidency or vice presidency.

“Takbong takbo na yan (Pacquiao),” a source close to the senator said, adding “tuloy tuloy na nga ang ikot nya sa mga leaders at iba’t ibang lugar.”

Pacquiao, however, remains mum on his election plans, only saying he will focus on helping the people and that he is leaving his “plans” to God. Pacquiao is currently the president of the Duterte administration party PDPLaban and his plan to run for president could divide the ruling party as the plan

Biden... (From page 1) shown by the AANHPI communities, and recommits to the struggle for AANHPI equity.

“From laying railroad tracks, tilling fields, and starting businesses, to caring

US...

(From page 1)

“The American public deserves a big thank you for its overwhelming response to the 2020 Census,” Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said as she led in releasing the results of the 2020 Census.

“Despite many challenges, our nation completed a census for the 24th time.

This act is fundamental to our democracy

runs counter to moves by many leaders and followers of President Duterte to send Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio or Senator Christopher Lawrence Go to Malacanang.

This developed as several personages have been floated as presidential candidates like Senators Richard Gordon, Panfilo Lacson, Grace Poe while the opposition is eyeing Vice President Leni Robredo and retired Associate Justice Antonio Carpio as their candidate.

In public, Mr. Duterte has repeatedly dissuaded her daughter from running for president in 2022, but many believe that this could just be a ploy similar to the 2016 presidential campaign when then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said he was not running for president but eventually ran and won the elections.

Recent surveys indicate that Mayor

Sara remains the top candidate for president despite President Duterte’s pronouncement on her candidacy. Mayor Sara herself said several times that she would not run for president in 2022.

Due to Pacquiao’s perceived plan to run for president, he has been earned the “ire” of Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo in connection with his statement on the controversial West Philippine Sea. Panelo, who considers himself a friend of the President and Pacquiao, advised the senator to stop criticizing President Duterte when he said the Chief Executive’s action on the West Philippine controversy was “lacking.”

During his commentary show “Counterpoint,” Panelo told Pacquiao that finding fault with Duterte would not work to his advantage.

Panelo also gave the advice amid Pacquiao’s supposed plan to run for president in 2022.

“Ang sinasabi, tatakbo siyang presidente (There’s a rumor that he would run for president),” he said. “Ang payo ko sa’yo Senador Manny Pacquio eh huwag ka nang sumali diyan sa mga kasama mong senador na wala nang nakitang maganda kasi bumabanat ka (My advice to you, Senator Manny Pacquiao, do not join other senators who always criticize [Duterte].) I’m saying this because you are criticizing him).”

Pacquiao earlier expressed dismay over Duterte’s alleged weak stance on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue.

Despite this, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said there is no falling out between Pacquiao and Duterte.

for our loved ones and honorably serving our Nation in uniform, AANHPI communities are deeply rooted in the history of the United States,” the proclamation stated.

“We also celebrate and honor the invaluable contributions the AANHPI

communities have made to our Nation’s culture and the arts, law, science and technology, sports and public service — including the courageous AANHPIs who have served on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic as health care providers, first responders, teachers, and other

essential workers,” the statement added.

The White House also recognized Vice President Kamala Harris for her achievements and “for setting an example for young people to follow, including those from the AANHPI communities and AANHPI women.”

and a declaration of our growth and resilience. I also want to thank the team at the U.S. Census Bureau, who overcame unprecedented challenges to collect and produce high-quality data that will inform decision-making for years to come,” Raimondo said.

“We are proud to release these first results from the 2020 Census. These results reflect the tireless commit-

ment from the entire Census Bureau team to produce the highest-quality statistics that will continue to shape the future of our country,” acting Census Bureau Director Ron Jarmin said.

“And in a first for the Census Bureau, we are releasing data quality metrics on the same day we’re making the resident population counts available to the pub-

lic. We are confident that today’s 2020 Census results meet our high data quality standards,” Jarmin said.

According to the bureau, Wyoming is the least populous state with 576,851 residents.

Based on the latest census, Texas had the biggest gain in population with 29,145,505 in 2020 from 3,999,944 in 2010.

 NATIONAL NEWS

May 6-12, 2021

10

After India, travelers from 4 more countries barred in PHL

MANILA – The Philippines has barred the entry of travelers coming from four more countries, all near India from May 7 to May 14 as a measure to help curb the spread of a reported double mutant coronavirus strain found in India.

The four countries are Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, said Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea who added that the four countries after banning travelers coming from India last April 27.

“All passengers coming from or who have been to Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka within 14 days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines shall be prohibited from entering the country effective 0001H of 07 May 2021 Manila time until 2359H 12 May 2021,” Medialdea said in a memorandum.

Meanwhile, all Filipino passengers

coming from or who have been to the four countries within 14 days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines, arriving before May 7 (Manila time) shall not be prohibited from entering the Philippines, but shall be required to undergo an absolute facility-based 14-day quarantine period despite acquiring a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) result.

Filipinos and foreign passengers merely transmitting through India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh shall not be deemed as having come from or having been to such country, provided that they have stayed in the airport the whole time and were not cleared for entry into these countries by their immigration authorities.

Upon arrival in the Philippines, these passengers need not complete a full 14-day

facility-based quarantine but shall comply with existing testing and quarantine protocols of the national government.

All specimens from travelers coming from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh that turn positive upon testing in the Philippines shall undergo whole-genome sequencing.

All close contacts must undergo facility-based quarantine for 14 days and contact tracing shall expand up to the third generation contacts.

Existing prohibitions and procedures on entry generally applicable to arriving passengers, insofar as consistent with said policy, shall continue to be implemented.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) may provide rules and regulations to implement this and related

directives, which may include reasonable exceptions to the entry restrictions and protocols imposed by this office in relation to the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617 variant.

The Indian subcontinent covers India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, and the island nations of Sri Lanka and Maldives.

In March, India announced that a new variant had been identified in samples of saliva taken from people in Maharashtra, Delhi, and Punjab after a month of seeing a surge in cases of Covid-19 across the country.

The variant is known as B.1.617 and has two unusual mutations: E484Q and L425R. As of Tuesday, Covid-19 infections in India surged past 20 million with more hospitals running out of beds and oxygen.

Fishers group files 3 petitions in UN vs Chinese aggression

MANILA — Three petitions urging the United Nations (U.N.) to act on the continuous Chinese usurpation in the West Philippine Sea have been officially filed by the progressive fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA).

The petitions were calling on the UN to declare the controversial China Coast Guard Law null and void, calling for demilitarization of the South China Sea, and look into the impacts of Chinese incursion to the livelihood of Filipino fishers and the domestic food security.

“With the increasing aggression and militarization of China in the West Philippine Sea through the passing of Coast Guard Law, we humbly appeal for your intervention by openly denouncing and declaring the law null and void,” stated in one of the petitions’ letterhead addressed to U.N. Secretary General An-

tónio Guterres.

PAMALAKAYA slammed China for its relentless disregard of the international tribunal that invalidated Beijing’s sweeping claim over almost the entire South China Sea, which includes 80% of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and extended continental shelf.

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11 May 6-12, 2021

 OPINION My mother, my friend Upside

“How come,” I grew up hearing, “you’re so different from your mom?”

I must have been 16 the first time I was compared to my mother, the comment consistently following me through adulthood.

Naturally I’d blurt out a flippant retort, proud to have successfully extricated myself from my mother’s shadow. That was not easy: I share her baptismal name, with Jr. attached to mine until grammar school when a busybody teacher shamed me into dropping it because “only boys are called Junior.”

I’ve followed her journalism career, which she had in common with my father. I notched some academic honors plus CHERIE M. QUEROL MORENO gold medals for declamation but never graduated valedictorian or summa cum laude as she distinguished herself in high school and college. As a child, I was her miniature; I grew up fitting her Pitoy Morenos but soon decided that recycled jeans were more me. I tried on her pearls, dabbed on her Pierre Balmain, only to chuck those for beads, bells, carabao horn and patchouli oil.

Only once did my mother react to my taste. She wasn’t amused that I would proclaim myself a “blabbermouth” across my chest. But force me to toss the T-shirt? Ban my chainsmoking friends? Talk me out of wearing blue at my wedding? Not my Mom. On the surface we were poles apart. She refined and pious, I wild and irreverent. I identified with my Dad, the eloquent, volatile, and therefore, this child of the then-nascent Women’s Lib movement concluded, the strong one. After 30 years, I see the big picture.

I tend to lecture - about privilege and the responsibility that comes with it, of taking pride in my race, on standing against oppression. That’s from my Dad, who was orphaned at 4, consigned to servitude by aunts and uncles, who fought in World War II and challenged the Philippine dictator till the end of his 73 years.

My mother had brighter beginnings. A Spanish-speaking classical pianist, she is the eldest child of a doctor and a nurse. Soft-spoken, she evades the spotlight, and prefers playing support roles. Educated in convent schools before following her father to the University of Santo Tomas where he was dean of the College of Medicine, she starts and ends her day with prayer - some three hours-worth in the morning and the rosary at lights out.

She will be 89 in July and has been silenced by a brain tumor, but the silver-haired woman lying still in the hospital bed is the most courageous human being I’ve ever known. Visitors cannot believe her age, marveling at her smooth skin. Must be the power of prayer, her lifelong trust in the highest love - her faith.

Truth is I cannot remember ever hearing my mother express fear or dread. “Leave it to the Lord,” she often assures herself. Was that what she said when her father was captured for having aided guerrilla fighters, compelling her to find employment to help support the family?

Did she say it when she arrived from a press trip to find her mother had died while she was in Germany? When my Dad received death threats for exposing corrupt government officials?

Perhaps when he was diagnosed with lung cancer?

EDITORIAL

O

How bad can it get?

ne of the best – for want of a better word – things about the global COVID-19 pandemic that we have been led to believe is that no matter how bad the situation gets, it could never match the horrific Spanish Flu pandemic of the post-World War I years.

In that pandemic of more than a century ago, the death toll is estimated to have reached an unbelievable 50 million. This, at a time when the world’s population was only 1.8 billion, a mere fraction of today’s 7.9 billion or so.

Now, with a number of vaccines already available to the general public, it seems as if conquering the coronavirus pandemic is considered a certainty. The US, especially, has been able to have close to two-thirds of its population vaccinated, and herd immunity comes next.

This is the best-case scenario, to be sure. Unfortunately, the other extreme, the worst-case scenario, may now be staring us in the face, and the possibility is downright frightening.

The world must take not of what is happening in India, one of the largest countries in the world in terms of population, and unknown to many is also the world’s largest manufacturer of vaccines.

This includes the US or European-branded vaccines that a good many people prefer over the ones made in China or Russia.

India has now become the center of the global pandemic, with hundreds of thousands being infected every day.

Think about that for a minute. Hundreds of thousands of Indians are being infected to the point that their country has run out of hospital beds where patients can recover.

The worst part is that the number of deaths is also high, proportionately speaking. It has gotten so bad that bodies are now being cremated in parking lots owing to the crematoriums operating beyond capacity.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been blamed for the situation in India, and this may be a valid accusation. He has been accused of politicking instead of addressing the health crisis.

We can at least note that India’s plea for help has been answered by the US, with the Biden administration promising to send much-needed vaccines to the Asian giant as soon as possible.

This is not enough, though. Other countries must also do their part in helping stem the tide. India is such a large country that whatever happens there will have consequences for the rest of the world. Assisting India in its time of need is a matter of survival for all.

While many countries have blocked travel to and from India, even this drastic step is little more than a stop-gap measure. A small number of travelers who are able to enter or exit India could spark a resurgence that could rival the 1918 pandemic.

We do not mean to sound like a modern-day prophet of doom, but the world now faces a worsening of the COVID-19 crisis, when just weeks ago it seemed like its end was at hand.

Drastic measures on a global scale may be the only answer if this plague is to be stopped. The world must treat coronavirus as an enemy that must be crushed completely, otherwise it will return again and again, and yet again.

Of this I’m sure: She uttered those words many times because of me. And yet, my mother always made me feel special, loved. How many moms bothered getting an autographed picture of the Beatles while the Fab Four were in Manila? Or returned from a U.S. trip with the factory-fresh Woodstock soundtrack? She conspired with my father to indulge my caprices.

She herself, however, was selfless. To this day, I have no recollection of my mother coveting (Continued on page 27) anything other than the company of her beloved grandchildren.

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 OPINION

May 6-12, 2021

PerryScope

D

uring the Announcements last Sunday April 11, 2021 at the GOLDEN GATE CHURCH OF CHRIST Auditorium in San Francisco, California, after hearing the powerful message on “HEARTS TO SHARE THE WORD OF GOD” by Evangelist Edwin Bacani, anchor of the global ART GABOT MADLAING Angel Radio, with listeners and viewers around the world, I mentioned that the COVID-19 pandemic is a winwin situation for true Christians.

But who are the true Christians? True Christians are those who heard and responded to the gospel in its purity and simplicity which began on the Day of Pentecost, in Jerusalem through the preaching of Peter and those who heard and responded to the same gospel in succeeding years until today. (read Acts Chapter 2:1-39, NKJV).

It’s unfortunate that millions of the members from different denominations didn’t have the opportunity to hear the gospel, the power of God to salvation. ”I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God to salvation…” (read Romans 1:16, NKJV ). Millions are lost because preachers from various denominations are preaching a different gospel.

“I marvel that you are turning away from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you, than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed,” (read Galatians 1:6-9, NKJV)).

True Christians are those who are added by the Lord himself to His church after hearing and obeying the gospel in baptism for the forgiveness of sins. “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” ( Acts 2:47, NKJV). It’s also very unfortunate that millions are joining religious denominations of their own choices instead of the Lord adding them to His church because they don’t have the opportunity to hear and respond to the gospel in its purity and simplicity (read 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Acts 2:37-38, Romans 6:3-6, NKJV) True Christians are those wearing the name of Christ (spiritual groom) as the bride of Christ because they are spiritually married to Christ. The early disciples were called plain Christians wearing the spiritual family name of Christ. “And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” (Acts 11:26, read also Acts 26:28, 1 Peter 4:16, NKJV). After my wife and I were married last May 5, 1974 at the CHURCH OF CHRIST Auditorium in Samar Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines, officiated by the late Evangelist/Minister Conrado Mapalo, my wife started wearing my family name or surname.

She began using the name Mrs. Virginia J. Madlaing instead of her maiden name Virginia B. Jimenez.

For political expediency, U.S. Vice President Kamara Harris and other lady politicians are still wearing and using their maiden names after they got married. For expediency, millions are also wearing the names of various denominations and their founders instead of wearing the name of Christ.

When I was in high school, I was wearing the name Methodist. I am glad that I am now wearing the plain name Christian to honor and respect my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Now, let’s go back to my comment that the COVID-19 pandemic is a win-win situation for true Christians. This is very true because true Christians, whether they live or die, are real winners. Experiencing many trials, tribulations and persecutions, the Apostle Paul was not afraid or fearful to die because by dying he will go to his reward and eternal home in heaven. He is also happy to be alive because he will have the opportunity to share the gospel in its purity and simplicity to the many lost souls, particularly the Gentiles. In life or in death, Apostle Paul is a real winner.

True Christians today are real winners despite the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Sister Juanita Robertson, retired Professor, City College in San Francisco, California, was given 2-3 weeks to live by her doctor at Kaiser Permanente in South San Francisco, California. It’s already more than four weeks and she is still alive. She is not afraid to die physically. But despite the pain she is suffering from various ailments and lung cancer, she is still want to live so that she can positively influence and share the gospel to her children, grandchildren, and friends through the BOOKS MINISTRY. In life or in death, Sis. Juanita Rob- (Continue on page 27)

(Part Two)

T

“Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad.” – Masque of Pandora by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

reason is madness. It involves betrayal not only of country but many other things like – family, friends, and your humanity. This is one of the reasons why Herman Tiu Laurel and I filed the complaint for treason against President Benigno Simeon Aquino III (hereinafter referred to as PNoy not Balut) and some of his coconspirators like then Senate President Franklin “S. Z. Sakal” HOMOBONO A. ADAZA Drilon and Speaker of the House Representatives Sonny Belmonte with the hope that they be punished for what they did - serving as examples for the rest of the country.

That was six years ago. The Ombudsman dismissed the complaint in seven days from the date of filing. Like one of the many useless and incompetent agencies of government – that office has been doing a Rip Van Winkle sleep on the motion for reconsideration for the past six years. If that is not uselessness and incompetence – I don’t know what is.

Fading hope: As the Ombudsman then was a retired justice of the Supreme Court, I thought there was hope of getting a fare shake from that office but the Ombudman retired without resolving the motion for reconsideration. That notwithstanding, we feel it best to share the case with the public so people will at least know the details – even without having to judge. Now, the Ombudsman is also a former justice of the Supreme Court Based on the treatment of the complaint by his former colleague, and he has been there for quite sometime - not resolving our motion for reconsideration, is a case of fading hope like the lifting of the early morning mist into limbo when the sun rises.

The case: The treason complaint against PNoy was triggered by three major events – the giving of five million (P5,000,000.00) pesos by PNoy to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), through its Chairman, Murad Ibrahim, in Tokyo, Japan while the war between the government forces and those of the MILF was going on; the Mamasapano incident where forty four (44) members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) team were annihilated by the MILF forces while serving an arrest warrant to a foreign terrorist and his co-conspirator, and the passage into law of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

So what if these events took place - Has President B. Aquino the III aka PNoy, idem sonans with the Bisayan word Pangoy (someone with a loose screw in the head) committed treason?

The answer is a resounding – Yes. Has he any co-conspirators?

– Yes, in the passage of the BBL and on his decisions on the Mamasapano incident. What is the law he has violated? – Article 114 of the Revised Penal Code.

Whys and wherefores: Article 114 of the Revised Penal so provides: “Art. 114. Treason. – Any Filipino citizen who levies war against the Republic of the Philippines or adheres to her enemies, given them aid or comfort within the Philippines or elsewhere, shall be punished by reclusion temporal to death and shall pay a fine not to exceed a 100,000 pesos….”

On the reason case against PNoy, the first question arises – Was the MILF waging a war against the Republic of the Philippines at the time the events mentioned in the complaint? The answer of course is an undeniable Yes – based on the facts on the ground showing military forces of both camps fighting and killing each other and the admissions of both the government and the MILF of the existence of a state of war between the contending parties.

The next question comes into view – Does giving money to the MILF by PNoy constitute treason under Article 114 of the Revised Penal Code? Of course, it does as it is giving aid or comfort to the enemy which is the MILF. When Pnoy gave Five Million (P5,000,000.00) Pesos, it gave the MILF money to buy food and medical supplies as well as arms and ammunition. Is that not giving aid and comfort to MILF – the enemy? The answer is as clear as day in a cloudless sky – unless you are blind.

The Mamasamsapano incident is another charge for treason against PNoy. Why? When the arrest warrant was served in the heartland of MILF territory, the PNP SWAT team asked for help as they were trapped by the MILF forces and many of them already died. While the operation was going and the SWAT team (Continue on page 27) was asking for re-enforcement,

Diliman Way

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ittle did 26-year-old Ana Patricia Non realize that by organizing a bamboo makeshift food bank on a street would make her a celebrity and, ironically, at the same time put her in hot water. All she did was bring to life the time-tested Filipino “bayanihan spirit” of helping people in need.

It all began on April 14, PERRY DIAZ 2021 when Ana Patricia Non installed the pantry on Maginhawa St. in Teachers’ Village, Diliman, Quezon City, just a block away from where I lived before coming to the US in 1970. She stocked it with 800 pesos (US$16.50) worth of groceries. She chose to install the community pantry on Maginhawa St. because of what the street name means. It means “comfortable, convenient, full of ease, and full of relief” in Tagalog.

Word of mouth spread quickly, which caused donations such as rice, vegetables, eggs, canned goods, biscuits, drinks, medicines, and other essential items to arrive. Eventually, the organizers were given the free use of a warehouse to be used as the distribution hub for the donated products.

It’s interesting to note that she placed a sign on the tree behind her makeshift pantry, which said, “Magbigay ayon sa kakayahan, kumuha batay sa pangangailangan” “Give what you can, get what you need.” It encouraged others to do the same and the ripple effect reached other parts of the country.

Who is Ana Patricia Non? Patreng as she is called by her friends works as a furniture designer. She graduated from the University of the Philippines’ College of Fine Arts with a major in Visual Communication. She is a member of the UP Artists’ Circle Fraternity and Sorority. She has a gregarious personality with a contagious smile. A natural leader, service to others is her second nature.

The Maginhawa Community Pantry is not the first time Patreng organized a project to help out people affected by the pandemic. Last July, she organized a ”bigas (rice) drive” with her fraternity and sorority. She is charismatic and one of her best qualities is her passion to unite people. She inspires people.

When asked why she founded the community pantry, she said that all she ever wanted was to give the people who have nothing to have at least something to eat to surpass their hunger. It’s natural for her to do so.

Bad news A week after Non started the community pantry, the bad news came. The Quezon City Police Department (QCPD) posted on social media that community pantries were communist propaganda. On the same day, the National Task Force Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) posted that community pantries are being linked to communist groups. It also accused the community pantries of being used to recruit soldiers for the communist New People’s Army.

President Duterte formed NTF-ELCAC in his fight against communists.

Although communism is not illegal in the Philippines, a new anti-terrorism law allows authorities to brand communists as terrorists. Now, you can see the metamorphosis from community pantry to communist party to terrorists.

On April 20, Non was asked during a virtual media meeting by GMA news broadcaster Tina Panganiban-Perez, “Just to set the record straight, so what there would be no doubts about you, do you really have links to a communist group until now, or have you ever had [in the past]? What is the basis for your red-tagging?”

Red-tagging is the malicious blacklisting of individuals or organizations critical or not fully supportive of the actions of a sitting government administration. They are “tagged” as either a communist or terrorist or both. Many progressive civil group leaders are implicated to heinous crimes. Suspects are shot dead by soldiers and the police.

“I don’t have links to the Communist party, and I’m sorry, but that is such a dirty question. Because the last thing I have to explain to people is who I am because my intentions are clear. I want to set up the community pantry so that people can eat,” Non said. But an NTF-ELCAC official declared that there were “no hungry people in the Philippines.” Can anyone believe that? Gee, people are dying (Continue on page 27)

Treason and Presidents

COVID-19 Pandemic a Win-Win Situation Health & Wealth

Bayanihan in the Maginhawa Community Pantry

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13 May 6-12, 2021 A senile captain of a sinking ship Offline

odrigo Duterte did it again. In his weekly taped address to the nation this Monday, he claimed that he never promised anything about the West Philippine Sea when he was campaigning for president.

He either lied intentionally, or has become senile and forgotten his promise to ride a jetski to one of the islets in BETING DOLOR our territory being claimed by China, and plant a Philippine flag there.

Duterte’s jetski promise was one of the highlights of his campaign, one that all media picked up because it seemed like such a newsworthy soundbyte.

So what is it? Was he lying through his teeth, or has his fentanyl-addled mind been so burned out that he no longer recognizes fact from fiction?

His number one apologist has not clarified his lord and master’s statement, but I expect that he will again make a flimsy excuse that Duterte was only joking.

That failed lawyer and piggery farmer suddenly became a billionaire mere months after reassuming the post of presidential spokesman, or at least his wife accomplished the miraculous display of business acumen.

Maybe she really is a financial genius, and maybe the hogs in their piggery can also fly.

But the failed “human rights” lawyer has shown again and again that he will defend the old president’s actions and statements to high heavens as long as he gets to keep his job.

The president no longer makes sense, which is why it has been many months since he last faced Philippine media live, to answer or clarify his unending senseless blabbering on the most important matters of state, About what, specifically? He will say that he was joking about the jetski vow, or about never promising anything about the West Philippine Sea, which China calls the South China Sea. End of story, or so he and his apologist wishes. He is also rewriting history by claiming his predecessor lost Philippine territory to China. Also, he forgets that while the previous administration won the case against China where the waters of the West Philippine Sea are concerned, the decision was handed out when Duterte was already president.

He could have told that international court that his regime was no longer interested in pursuing the case before a final judgement was handed down, but he didn’t.

Incidentally, there have been confirmed reports of grumbling within the military about his regime’s mishandling of China’s ongoing naval invasion of the Philippines, and their establishing numerous beachheads on Philippine territorial waters.

Suffice it to say that while he owns most of the generals with his non-stop bribes to the Armed Forces leadership, he has not done the same with the middle ranking officers, and a handful of still honest and patriotic senior officials.

In the meantime, the exodus from the Duterte regime continues.

A former close ally has not become a distant associate, at best. Senator Ping Lacson has been sniping at the Duterte regime with regularity the past few months, and not only about his pet peeve that is the Health department and its secretary, who are as incompetent as they come.

If he has not made it clear yet, Senator Manny Pacquiao likewise is steadily pulling away from the president with his recent statements that the regime has not done enough to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Pacquiao has also stopped being coy about his plan to run for president next year, and to hell with Sara Duterte or Bong Go who also harbor similar ambitions.

At the same time, Foreign Secretary Teddyboy Locsin did the unthinkable this week when he used the foulest of words in a direct address to China. He said China should “get the f#ck out” of Philippine waters.

And his did the president react to the strong statement?

Like a coward, of course. He pleaded with China to “kindly” allow Filipino fishermen to ply their trade in the country’s waters.

It has always been made clear that Duterte not only has the highest regard for China, but (Continue on page 27)

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Ahead of Mother’s Day, Even the Census Tells Us to Send Flowers

here are many articles out this morning about the low birthrate in the United States. Either reporters need content, or the census results are coming out piecemeal. This should not be new news—the US has had an anemic birthrate for decades and has been able to maintain reasonable population growth through immigration (a point in favor of the Dreamers). Most people will read the headlines and explain this away in their heads as a function of affluence. But I wanted to repeat a point I heard in a Wall Street Journal podcast this morning: it’s hard to be a mom in the States. Those of you who have lived in both the Philippines and the United States know exactly what I mean.

Actually, the podcast was talking mostly about motherhood in Japan. According to worlddata.info, Japan is the most geriatric country in the world measured by average age.

But let’s set that statistic aside and look at a more telling one: the percentage of the population that is under 20 years old.

In Japan, it is 17.1%. In the US, it is 25%. In the Philippines, it is a whopping 40.1%. In fact, over half of the Philippines wasn’t even born when People Power happened. It is truly a land of the young. This cohort, for all countries, will be the ones having kids in 20 or so years and paying into the socialized safety nets that will be funding our old age. Without them, our services will evaporate.

From the Wall Street Journal podcast, I heard another interesting statistic. In Japan (the most geriatric country in the world), 25% of women aged 34-39 are unmarried and have never been married, up from 10% just 20 years ago. Why? Because it’s hard to be a mother and wife in Japan. I have heard that from many Japanese women friends. The podcast discusses how the role of childcare and homecare falls squarely on the wife—the laundry, the cooking, logging the mood changes in your child (shocking, right?), fetching your child from daycare, and dropping them off. One Japanese mom commented that her time waiting for the train was the only time of the day she had to herself. It is a cultural problem that has translated into a societal problem that is now a demographic crisis with massive economic repercussions.

The warning is clear for the United States. Having children is a huge responsibility in the United States that also falls squarely on the shoulders of the mother. Certainly, American husbands participate much more than Japanese husbands, but society places the ultimate responsibility on Mom. From the doctors’ appointments to the school schedule to the required volunteer gigs to the playdates to the wardrobe in need of replenishment and the dinner and lunch and breakfast that make it from grocery to belly and the multiple interim process steps to convert raw food to table fare. (If I left anything out, please excuse my motherly absent mindedness.) Most importantly, if you get anything wrong, if you forget anything, you face the worst part of all: everybody’s judgement from teachers, elders, other relatives, in-laws, and other moms with nothing better to talk about.

In the Philippines, there may be a cook to do the grocery shopping and covert it to dinner. There may be a labandera to clean your kids’ clothes and maids to pick them off the floor.

You may be tasked to keep track of their schoolwork and schedule their lives, but you have time for friends and even a job. You may have extended family who will take them for a weekend and peers who will actually give you constructive advice and judge you a little less because they’ve known you since childhood.

Now that my kids are in their teens and I’ve made it through part of the gauntlet, I have to say, I totally understand why women in Japan are opting to work, opting for singlehood. I am really glad I chose to have a family, but I do not begrudge the hordes of women in America these days who are thinking twice before they jump in. It is really hard and American culture has not yet figured out that mothers may need support more than they need an extra stack of demands and the judgment of lesser minds.

Mother’s Day is this Sunday. Remember to shower her with the love and thanks she deserves.

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What will you do to save our planet?

he Covid-19 pandemic has brought so many deaths, sufferings, and hardships around the world.

It has brought the world to its knees. The people that suffer the most are those living in poor and developing countries.

Our health and immune systems have been exposed.

We need to take better care of ATTY. JOJO LIANGCO ourselves, our diet, and our health so we can fight diseases better. We also need to realize that we should take better care of our planet--- the place where we live, the source of our air, water, and food. *** Pacific island nations and countries like the Philippines are among the most vulnerable when it comes to climate change and global warming. This conclusion was reached during the Pacific Islands Forum some years back. The forum was held in response to climate change and the need to assess the geographic conditions of the Pacific islands.

Low-lying islands are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change because they are the first ones to get hit by the increasing or rising sea level. For the Philippines, it doesn’t help that it also belongs to the list of accident-prone countries in the world where the country ranks fourth after China, India, and Iran.

Climate change and global warming around the world should be on top of the list of every nation leader’s agenda. But what I am really interested to know is whether the countries of the world are really prepared to deal with global warming and climate change. Aside from government readiness and preparedness, are people really conscious about climate change and global warming?

Going back to the Philippines where global warming can hit the hardest because it is a small-island nation, can we say that preparing for a natural calamity or a disaster related to global warming is something that most Filipinos think about?

Although it is obvious that Filipinos worry about natural calamities such as typhoons and massive floods that affect them every year (including breakdown in public utility services such as brown-outs, drought, and shortage of clean water), I don’t think they relate or identify these concerns to El Nino and global warming.

From a practical stand point, with the majority of the population being poor and unemployed, Filipinos worry more about other things like money to support their basic needs, putting food on their table, housing, job security and livelihood, and the troublesome traffic for those who live and work in Metro Manila. *** What can concerned citizens to highlight the growing serious concern about climate change and global warming?

People should start actively pushing the global warming and the climate change issue to the list of the top priorities of their governments and leaders.

In the coming months, people will have their attention focused on the 2020 presidential elections in the Philippines.

As expected, most concerned people and political debates in will be engrossed in so-called “regular and standard issues” such as graft and corruption, failure and mishandling of government programs, foreign policy, and problems related to the economy.

Some may dwell on what lies ahead in the future, perhaps pertaining to campaign promises and political platforms, but not necessarily on how to tackle or respond effectively when emergencies strike--- like the Covid-19 pandemic. Going back to global warming and climate change, it is not too far to imagine that the next pandemic or issue of concern that will bring the world to its knees will be directly caused by global warming and climate change. *** In poor countries like the Philippines, government policy for the next administration must emphasize preparedness for natural and man-made disasters. If Cory Aquino was installed as a president to restore the democratic institutions that were destroyed during Martial Law, and her son, Benigno C. Aquino III, was elected president in 2010 to crusade against and to fight corruption, it will be great for the country and its people if their next president in 2022 (and all presidents thereafter) will prioritize devel(Continue on page 27)

Immigrant’s Story

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 OPINION

 IMMIGRATIONS U.S. Supreme Court gives a second chance for those in deportation, on appeal or already deported

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he U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision on April 29, 2021, in Niz-Chavez v. Garland that could save thousands of immigrants from deportation. The Court held that the charging document for a removal proceeding, the Notice to Appear (NTA), is invalid if it does not specify the date and time of the hearing.

Niz-Chavez Judge Gorsuch’s majority opinion, which was joined by Justices Clarence Thomas, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett, held that “a” Notice to Appear must contain the date and time of the hearing in order to confer jurisdiction of the matter to the Immigration Court. A subsequent notice to the immigrant does not cure this defect.

The majority opinion goes on to state that “if men must turn square corners when they deal with the government, it cannot be too much to expect the government to turn square corners when it deals with them.”

What is the “Stop-Time” Rule?

The immigration law allows certain persons who have resided in the U.S. for 10 years to apply for a green card from an Immigration Judge under a procedure known as Cancellation of Removal. Mr. Niz-Chavez, like Mr. Pereira before him, had lived in the United States for less than 10 years when he was served with an NTA. The service of a valid NTA invokes the “stop-time” rule. This rule prevents a person who has been in the U.S. for less than 10 years when the NTA is served on him to accumulate more time in the U.S. in order to apply for Cancellation of Removal.

However, the NTAs served on Mr. Niz-Chavez and Mr. Pereira were invalid because they failed to state the date and time of their hearings in Immigration Court. The Supreme Court ruled that service of an invalid NTA does not trigger the stop-time rule.

As they have now lived in the U.S. for over 10 years, both of their cases were remanded to an Immigration Judge to allow Mr. Niz-Chavez and Mr. Pereira to apply for Cancellation of Removal.

What is the effect of the Supreme Court decision on those in removal proceedings, or on appeal with the BIA or in Federal Courts and those who were already deported?

The persons who could potentially benefit from the Supreme Court’s decisions are not just those who are eligible for Cancellation of Removal. The following persons may also benefit: It will also benefit persons who have been ordered deported, granted voluntary departure or who have been granted relief, like withholding of removal, which does not lead to permanent resident status. They can now reopen their case or seek a termination of the removal proceedings and file their application for green card with USCIS assuming they have a petitioner who is a U.S. citizen or green card holder.

If you were placed in removal proceedings, and your NTA did not specify the date and time of your initial hearing before an Immigration Judge, you may be able to submit a motion to terminate or reopen the proceedings.

It is very important that you should consult with a knowledgeable immigration attorney to see whether it is in your interest to do so.

If you are already deported and you qualify under this Supreme Court ruling, you may be able to void your deportation and file an adjustment of status if you have a spouse or child over 21 years of age who is a U.S. citizen.

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 6-12, 2021

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PHL debt surpasses P10.7 trillion as of end-March; T-bond rate declines MANILA - The country’s outstanding loans stood at ₱10.774 trillion as of end-March, as the government borrows more funds for its COVID-19 response based on data released by the Bureau of Treasury.

The BTr data showed the latest figure is up by ₱368 billion from the record high ₱10.4 trillion the month prior. EndFebruary’s tally likewise broke the alltime high of ₱10.33 logged in the first month of 2021.

End-March’s total is also higher by ₱2.29 billion from the amount posted the same month in 2020 at ₱8.47 billion, a 27.1% growth.

The treasury bureau mainly attributed the rise in total debt this March to the “net issuance of government securities” which also covered ₱411.79 billion in retail treasury bonds.

Meanwhile, the rate of five-year treasury bonds (T-bond) fell on Tuesday amid strong demand for the debt paper, National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon reported.

The average rate of the debt instrument slipped to 3.295 percent from 3.301 percent during the auction last April 6.

The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) offered the paper for P35 billion, and tenders reached P75.7 billion.

“Good participation with tenders more than twice our offer and rates within secondary level,” de Leon said.

De Leon said investors continue to see normalization of inflation rate in the coming months after posting a fivemonth rise until last February.

The rate of price increases decelerated to 4.5 percent last March from the previous month’s 4.7 percent.

Gov’t allots P2.5-T for economic recovery: NEDA chief MAKATI CITY – The government has allocated P2.5 trillion this year as part of the government’s three-pronged approach for economic recovery, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua said At the Job Summit organized by the Task Group on Economic Recovery-National Employment Recovery Strategy (NERS) on Labor Day, Chua said the total budget for economic recovery this year is equivalent to 14 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

“In fact, the 2021 budget was designed to achieve our economic recovery alongside other complementary measures,” he said.

Chua, who is also the National Economic and Development Authority

(NEDA) director-general, said about P2 trillion, or 11.3 percent of GDP, will come from the 2021 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

On top of this, the government also implements PHP478 billion worth of fiscal measures this year that include the following: -- P317 billion from the Bayanihan to Recover as One (Bayanihan 2); -- P23-billion Social Amelioration Program 2 for the National Capital Region, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal or the NCR Plus; and -- P138 billion tax breaks to all enterprises under the CREATE law Citing a World Bank survey, Chua said 63 percent of businesses were open in November 2020.

PHL faces ‘fragile’ economic recovery, forecast growth down to 4.5% this year MANDALUYONG CITY – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) expects the Philippine economy to recover with a growth of at least 4.5 percent this year and 5.5 percent in 2022, slower than its earlier forecast of 6.5% made by the bank in December.

The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) projections assume a modest fiscal expansion, especially through infrastructure spending and social assistance, coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination advancing in the second half, and a global economic recovery, according to the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2021. “[The growth forecast] does tell us that the economy is on recovery, [but] it’s not as fast as we expected last year, or what we wanted. We would want to see a much faster growth rate,” said Kelly Bird, ADB

Philippines Country Director in a virtual press briefing.

Bird said this year’s growth forecast factored in the reimposition of strict community quarantine in Metro Manila and some neighboring provinces amid rising infections, which delayed the reopening of the economy. “(But) this is not unique to the Philippines. The same huge surges in the spread of the virus (happen) in most other countries,” he said.

The ADB made a 6.5-percent growth forecast for the Philippines last December.

Bird said new estimates range between 4 percent to 6.5 percent, and reflects the heightened uncertainty about how the pandemic will unfold globally and domestically in 2021.

15 May 6-12, 2021

Sunshine Dizon transfers to ABS-CBN

 ENTERTAINMENT

Nadine Lustre featured NYC Time Square billboard

Actress Nadine Lustre has made it to New York’s famous Times Square after she was featured in a digital billboard for Spotify.

Last Friday, the 27-year-old actress shared the news on Instagram with a caption, “we made it to nyc fam @carelessph!”

The billboard promoted Spotify’s series of “EQUAL” playlists, which compiled tracks from female artists all over the world. Nadine is featured on the cover of the Philippines playlist.

Spotify’s “EQUAL Philippines” playlist has Nadine’s single “Wildest Dreams” as the first track and includes songs from artists such as Moira dela Torre, August Wahh, Sarah Geronimo, syd hartha, Clara Benin, ena mori, and other Filipina artists.

Other artists that were shown on the billboard include Thai singersongwriter Bowkylion, Indian artists South Korean singer Wendy from Red In October 20, Nadine released her Shalmali and Sunidhi Chauhan, and Velvet. album Wildest Dreams.

Rufa Mae Quinto to grace cover of a US magazine

Sexy comedienne Rufa Mae Quinto will be gracing a cover of an international magazine!

Rufa, who is now based in Bay Area with Filipino American husband Trevor Magallanes and their baby, announced herself the milestone on Instagram.

In the post, Rufa shared a photo from the magazine shoot, showing her body covered by various flowers and plants, with her sexy figure obviously flaunted.

The actress also shared that her photos were taken by one of San Francisco’s top fashion and editorial photograIt’s official. Award-winning actress Sunshine Dizon is now a Kapamilya!

Last week, the media network welcomed Dizon on its social media pages as it also announced that she will be among the cast members of the upcoming ABSCBN series “Marry Me, Marry You.” Rumors of Dizon’s transfer surfaced earlier this month following reports that the actress was expected to attend a story conference with Janine Gutierrez and Paulo Avelino for an upcoming project.

Dizon, Gutierrez and Avelino will be joined by Cherry Pie Picache, Jake Ejercito, Lito Pimentel, Vina Morales and Edu Manzano, among many others.

“Maraming Salamat @abscbn at sa lahat ng Kapamilya sainyong mainit na pagtanggap,” the 37-year-old actress said in an Instagram post.

Before transferring, Dizon spent 25 years as a GMA artist and starred in many programs.

phers Vincent Gotti.

“Di ko ma explain sa asawa ko na nasa Hollywood cover magazine na ako, Kasi di ako makapaniwala into in Hollywood magazine with the best of the best,” she wrote.

“Natawa ako habang sinasabi ko sa asawa ko na Hollywood nga ito. Salamat sa lahat na miss ko mag pose ng ganito … So proud to be a Filipino!

Hindi na ito joke,” Rufa added in a DZRH report.

In her post, Rufa also wrote: “Pasabog for the week ! I had the pleasure of shooting with one of San Francisco’s Top Photographers @vinniegotti for an upcoming magazine cover in Showbiz

Hollywood @showbizmagazine.”

“It will be released May 11th. All Oscars celebrities ka sabay ko na,” she added.

“Walang impossible. Abangan ninyong lahat at Todo Con Todo na To! Go Go Go !!!!” Rufa said.

“Follow @vinniegotti for more happiness and loveliness,” she also posted.

The magazine will be released on May 11.

Rufa married Trevor Magallanes in November 2016 months after they met while she was on vacation in San Francisco.

In 2017, they welcomed their daughter Athena Alexandria.

 ENTERTAINMENT

May 6-12, 2021

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Angel Locsin on the spotlight again giving cash to man crying in hospital

Actress Angel Locsin is on the spotlight again because of her kind heart and generosity.

This came to light when a netizen posted on Twitter about a 17-second video of the actress-philanthropist approaching and then handing money to a man crying while in a hospital. The video has since trended and became viral.

Shown on the the video was Angel, who is Angelica Locsin Colmenares in real life, handing the money to a man who was said to be crying because he badly needed help for his child.

The uploader of the video said that Angel suddenly

approached the unidentifed man in a hospital and handed money to help him, according to Evelyn Diao in a report on Maharlika TV. Also heard from the video was Angel saying the money she gave has been kept in her wallet for a long time, as she said was a lucky charm for her.

After she handed the money, Angel left with an assistant.

On @dagamiRRT Twitter post(published as is), “Yung bigla siyang lumapit sa tatay ng isang baby kasi naririnig niyang umiiyak.

“At pati kami ay nagulat sa actions ginawa niya.

Myghaaad!

“Sana marami pang katulad niyo!!! Akala ko sa mga news ko lang makikita ganon eksena. Pero literal totoo.

Huhu “Godbless!”

Many netizens praised the actress’ loving kindness.

Angel’s generosity has been proven time and again community pantry where a man died while waiting in particularly during calamities like typhoons, trouble in line in Barangay Laging Handa in Quezon City.

Angel and the Quezon City government vowed asMarawi, and even during this pandemic. She will always sistance to the family of the 67-year-old man. find a way to extend her help in whatever way she can.

Despite the controversy, Angel still reaped praises Recently, Angel, to mark her birthday, mounted a for feeding the needy. (ECD)

Entertainment editor, columnist, host Ricky Lo dead at 75 Veteran entertainment columnist Ricardo Lo, known by many Filipinos as Ricky Lo, passed away on Tuesday, May 4. He was 75.

Lo died past 10 p.m. due to a stroke, according to his sister Susan Lee. He had just celebrated his birthday on April 21.

This was confirmed by the Philippine Star where Lo worked as an associate editor and an entertainment editor for 35 years.

Susan Lee wanted the public to respect the TV host’s death so details will not be revealed for now, it added.

Celebrities and colleagues in journalism like actress and congresswoman Vilma Santos, Ai-ai delas Alas, Richard Yap, Karen Davila and former National Press Club president Alfred Gabot mourned Lo’s untimely passing and offered condolences to his family. n a Facebook post, Philippine Star also paid tribute for Lo.

“You will be remembered, Sir Ricky,” The Philippine Star said in a statement.

“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved Entertainment editor and columnist Ricky Lo on May 4, 2021,” it added.

“Ricky Lo popularized the decadeslong Funfare column in The Philippine STAR, and was a highly respected journalist in showbiz circles,” it said.

He was known for his exclusive interviews and scoops.

Aside from being a journalist, Lo was also a talk show host for a number of entertainment shows for TV networks GMA 7 and ABS-CBN. For a time, he co-hosted ABS-CBN’s “The Buzz,” and GMA-7’s “Startalk.”

Lo’s career in entertainment journalism traces back to the late 1960s, with the old Manila Times, and in the 70s with the Philippines Daily Express. Philippine News Today editor in chief Alfred Gabot

and Ricky Lo were colleagues in the old Daily Express, Evening Express and Expressweek chain for years.

Lo also published a book, “Conversations with Ricky Lo,” which compiled 42 of his exclusive interviews with personalities, in 2001.

He was a much sought after speaker and lecturer in mass communication in universities like the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

Evelyn Diao, another colleague of Ricky Lo in the Daily Express chain, wrote that when the Philippines Daily Express came out in 1972, Ricky was one of its pioneers and handled the entertainment section of its weekly magazine, Expressweek, where he also started writing his column Funfare.

After the EDSA revolution, the Philippines Daily Express was shut down and Ricky moved to The Philippines Star as its entertainment editor since July 1986 until his passing.

In the course of his entertainment writing journey, Ricky came out with a book Star Studded in 1995, a compilation of all his articles about actors and actresses Then in 2001, Ricky released another book, Conversations with Ricky Lo, a compilation of all of his exclusive interviews.

Not only was Ricky a respected entertainment editor/columnist but, he was also a commentator as he became a part of showbiz talk shows.

He was a co-host of ABS CBN’s The Buzz when it started in 1999.

He also joined Melanie Marquez in Showbiz Stripped on QTV 11 in 2005 which was latter change to The Ricky Lo Exclusives in 2007.

In 2008, Ricky was a regular co-host of Startalk until it went off the air on September 12, 2015.

Ricky had received several recognitions and awards because of his credibility as a writer featuring hot showbiz news, scoop items in all those years of his showbiz writing career, which lasted more than five decades.

There was no actor or actress, young and old alike who had not known Ricky Lo. His page is every celebrity wannabe’s wish to be featured in, and lucky enough if his/her face or article landed on it. But he welcomed everybody, even to young PR practitioners, whom he unselfishly provided space.

He was often referred to as the “Dean of Philippine showbiz reporters,” a superstar among the movie press, a pillar in Philippine entertainment journalism who, despite his status, had remained humble and unassuming, just like the rice stalk that bows under the weight of ripe grain.

In all of these, he only responded with a quiet smile.

Ricky’s sister said his remains will be brought to his native Samar, where he will be buried beside his parents in the family’s mausoleum.

19 May 6-12, 2021 JOURNALIST, RICKY LO PASSES AWAY

“Generous” and “kind.”

Such are how our friend, veteran Entertainment journalist and TV host Ricky Lo, who passed away on May 4 night, will be remembered by friends and collegues at The Philippine STAR, where he was an Associate Editor and an Entertainment Editor for 35 years. He was 75.

According to Susan Lee, Ricky’s sister, they wanted the public to respect her brother’s death so they did not reveal details about it at the moment.

He just celebrated his birthday on April 21.

Born Ricardo Lo in Las Navas, Northern Samar on April 21, 1946, Ricky is of Chinese descent. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in English degree from the University of the East.

From 1969 to 1972, he began as Editorial Assistant at Variety magazine, Sunday supplement of The Manila Times, where his “FunFare” column first appeared.

He then joined the Philippine Daily Express as Staff Writer, then as Deskman of The Evening Express and eventually its main broadsheet. He worked as Editorial Assistant for the Sunday magazine Weekend until 1986.

From Entertainment Editor at The Manila Times, Ricky held the same post for The Manila Chronicle before moving to The Philippine Star, where he revived “FunFare” and his regular Sunday feature, “Conversations with Ricky Lo.” Apart from being a journalist, Lo is also the author of books “Star-Studded” and “Conversations with Ricky Lo.” Known for his exclusive interviews and showbiz scoops, Ricky also became a host of showbiz talk shows on television.

For a time, he co-hosted ABS-CBN’s “The Buzz,” and GMA-7’s “Startalk.” He also had his own TV shows such as “The Ricky Lo Exclusives” on QTV 11 and “Showbiz Stripped.”

Ricky has been a longtime family friend. He has helped promote our projects as well as wrote numerous write-ups on our family, most especially my brother Mat Ranillo III. According to my brother Mat, “Ricky was a selfless soul. He went out of his way to help others.

I was one of those who was blessed with his generosity. I knew Ricky as a teenager and would often talk to me and ask how I’m doing. One day, he accompanied me to see Director Lino Brocka in his place and introduced me a Gloria Sevilla’s son. Direct Lino took notice of me and casted me as a leading man for Vilma Santos.

Ricky would often write about me and my daughter Krista and her family especially when there’s a new baby in his column and our life here in the states.

My last communication with him was last April 9 as he told me he was excited with his birthday coming up.”

Thank you Ricky for your friendship and write-ups throughout these years. Rest In Peace Po.

 ENTERTAINMENT

Zsa Zsa Padilla undergoes checkup in US, denies she contracted COVID-19 Don’t look now but singer-actress Zsa Zsa Padilla with architect boyfriend Conrad Onglao in tow are in California.

The couple flew to the United States to have her check-up with Conrad’s sibling who is a doctor in California, it was reported.

It was gathered that Zsa Zsa, 56, who is Esperanza Perez Padilla in real life, had a hard time getting a schedule for an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) checkup in Manila, so they were left with no choice but to fly to the US for the checkup.

Questions were raised on her Instagram post that she maybe infected with corona virus, but she categorically denied in her post on May 1 that she contracted COVID-19, Evelyn Diao reported on Maharlika TV. It was made clear that before she and Conrad left for California, she was negative to COVID 19, which is a requirement to be able to travel to the US. The trip turned out to be Zsa Zsa and Conrad’s extended anniversary celebration after their vacation in Cebu, it was reported. Just last March, Zsa Zsa and Conrad marked their third anniversary as a couple.

The Divine Diva posted a photo of her wearing a hospital gown on Instagram, writing that she flew to United States to get an MRI scan because hospitals in Metro Manila are crowded with COVID-19 cases.

“As some of you might already know, I’m in the US now to continue my check up. So much have been said about my condition, since I tweeted that I was experiencing leg and back pain for 5 days and couldn’t have an MRI in Manila because of the COVID cases in hospitals. I also heard recently that I’ve had COVID. It’s not true,” Zsa Zsa wrote in the caption of the photo.

She shared that her back and leg pain problem started last year and that she was advised to get an MRI but was not able to do it due to her fear of enclosed spaces.

“Last year, I started having problems with the nerves on my legs and some lower back pains. My doctor in Manila advised me to have an MRI but unfortunately, since it was my first time to do this procedure, I had no idea I would cry and

back out due to claustrophobia,” the singer said.

“I didn’t want to risk having my tests back home. My partner, Conrad decided to take me to see his brother, Dr. Art Onglao, in California and he found a specialist for me. I also needed check up with my Ob-Gyn and luckily, my nerve specialist is married to an Ob-Gyn! What were the chances?!

Since we arrived, I have been busy with all my much needed consultation and tests,” Zsa Zsa said, who also shared that she finally underwent MRI scan.

“Today, I had my last test — ironically the MRI I most dread. What a finale, Huh? I’m happy though that Art found a machine for me that is so much less threatening than a regular MRI. And I’ve conditioned myself well enough to be braver and to keep smiling. Let’s continue to take care of our health.

Tomorrow, I will see my nerve specialist so he can give me his diagnosis. I know that everything will be okay. I just thought of sharing so you wouldn’t get fake news. Thanks for joining me. Take care now!” Zsa Zsa said.

Zsa Zsa is one of ASAP Natin To’s resident performers.

She was last seen in the ABS-CBN teleserye Love Thy Woman. (ECD)

 REAL ESTATE

May 6-12, 2021

Ovialand notes house-lot demand, eyes P1-B takeouts with Pag-IBIG Fund

20

New Homebuyers down payment assistance program proposed

Consumers have been closely following President Joe Biden’s proposed first-time homebuyer tax credit, but the latest legislative effort to assist homebuyers differs in several significant ways. The newest draft of a downpayment assistance bill would provide $25,000 to firsttime homebuyers, but only those who are also first-generation homebuyers and economically disadvantaged. Plus MAKATI CITY – Housing dety-five percent of homebuyers are milBiden’s proposal is not actually a homebuyer tax credit, veloper Ovialand, Inc. is slated to lennials who are starting their young but it is money that would be available at closing.

Recently, lawmakers published a draft version of the take out P1 billion in housing loan families and this pandemic has made legislation, the “Down payment Toward Equity Act of with Pag-IBIG Fund this year, as the many realize the need to prioritize a 2021,” ahead of a hearing held by the U.S. House Comdemand for house and lot units conhome investment rather than careless mittee on Financial Services, which Rep. Maxine Waters tinue to increase especially during the spending,” she said. chairs. During the hearing, lawmakers discussed a numpandemic.

Vital also commended the manageber of housing measures on the table in President Biden’s infrastructure package, including funding to shore up public housing.

“We will be completing 600 hous- ment and team behind Pag-IBIG Fund The proposed down payment assistance would be means-tested based on income, and ing units this year across four defor their “heroic service throughout limited to those who have not owned a house for at least three years. To qualify, neither velopments in Laguna and Quezon the pandemic”. of the borrower’s parents may have owned a home. That qualification doesn’t apply if the Province. Seventy percent of these “Pag-IBIG Fund really went above borrowers’ parents lost their home in a foreclosure or short sale, or if the borrower has ever houses and lots are already sold and and beyond the call of duty for the been in foster care, however.

Borrowers who make no more than 120% of the area median income where they live — our homebuyers are waiting for the developers during the pandemic. They or if they live in a high-cost area, 180% — would qualify for a baseline of $20,000. Those turnover of their units,” Ovialand, Inc. were able to quickly shift to maximizrecognized as socially disadvantaged, because they are in a group that has been “subjected president Pammy Vital said in a state- ing the use of technology in verifying to racial or ethnic prejudice,” could receive an additional $5,000. ment. loan applications and conducting unit The grant funding — which is not a tax credit — could be used at closing toward a Vital said many Filipinos are still inspections. We supported them 100 down payment on a residential property with one to four units, including a condominium, cooperative project or manufactured housing unit. searching for their first homes and percent because we understood that The program, which is currently being discussed in the House of Representatives, Ovialand is ready to face a busy 2021 these safeguards in loan processing would dole out funds to states based on population, median area home prices and racial ahead. cannot be sacrificed,” she added. disparities in homeownership rates.

“Pandemic or not, our nation is at Ovialand caters to the emerging The bill would not require that states contract with such groups, however. Last year’s the cusp of a new generation. Seven- middle class Filipino home-buyers.

Paycheck Protection Program drew heat for its over-reliance on large financial institutions to disburse loans, instead of community-based financial institutions, which are used more often by minority-owned businesses.

This would not be the first time the federal government has given first-time homebuyers a boost. A Bush-era program, the first-time homebuyer tax credit, allowed borrowers to claim a credit on their income taxes. The Obama administration continued the program until 2010.

President Biden first intimated he was considering a firsttime homebuyer benefit while he was on the campaign trail.

Unlike the Bush and Obama-era programs, however, under the New Funeral home with Reception Center Flower Shop draft legislation, borrowers would receive down payment assisBeautiful Garden Memorial Park Cremation Services tance upfront.

A White House spokesperson said Chairwoman Maxine We transfer your loved ones to and from the Philippines Waters’ proposal is not part of Biden’s infrastructure package, which includes largely supply-side investments. Other aspects of the legislator’s priorities are in the plan, including public housing capital investments, however.

In order for such a bill to pass, it would have to clear significant hurdles in both houses of Congress. If it were included in a larger infrastructure bill, that process would be slightly abbreviated. Political sources say the draft version is a starting point for discussion.

The bill seeks to narrow the homeownership gap by targeting first-generation homeowners. Multigenerational homeownership is a “quintessential component of why and how people become homeowners,” said David Dworkin, president of the National Housing Conference, and a third-generation homeowner.

Those who do not have family members to guide them through applying for a mortgage are less likely to submit themselves to a process that is “rife with fear and dread,” he said.

But the benefits of multi-generational homeownership can also be more material.

“I got the daddy down-payment loan. My dad was proud to give it to me,” Dworkin said.

TTT BBBBBBBBB NNN FFFFFFF HHHH RRRRRRRRR CCCCCC CCCCCCC LLLL Another concern is the impact a down payment assistance program could have on the housing market, which has already seen a surge in home price appreciation. Any help from the Biden administration to first-time homebuyers could further raise prices, potentially complicating the mission of the legislation.

The targeting of the bill — layered on top of the income means-testing component — would also greatly reduce the share of borrowers eligible for the assistance, said David Stevens, the former president of the Mortgage Bankers’ Association.

Article from Housingwire.com.

Like what it says, its not a game changer but whomever qualifies will be one of the few lucky ones. Every little help counts for many. Good luck.

Thanks for your inquiries and please call Ken Go of 1st Innovative Finance Group 562-508-7048 or write to kennethgo@ verizon.net CADRE 01021223 NMLS 238636

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21 May 6-12, 2021

NEWS  NATIONAL SPORTS NEWS

Ancajas gets huge N military honors

IBF junior bantamweight champion and Philippine Navy reservist Jerwin Ancajas is congratulated by Navy men.

MANILA – The Philippine Navy has lauded reservist Jerwin Ancajas for his latest boxing success.

Ancajas, who has the rank of senior chief petty officer, was awarded the “Gawad sa Kaunlaran” plum, the second highest award the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) can give to civilians and government officials..

Ancajas personally received the award at the Navy headquarters here from Rear Admiral Dorvin Legaspi, the current Naval Reserve Command commander, reported PNA’s Ivan Stewart Saldajeno “I see in this fine navy reservist his dedication and commitment in boxing as he brought honor and pride to the country, the AFP, the Philippine Navy, and the Naval Reserve Command in particular for being a member of the navy reserve force,” Legaspi said in a speech.

Ancajas made a long-awaited return to the ring in style by beating Jonathan Rodriguez to keep the IBF junior bantamweight title at Mohegan Sun

Arena in Connecticut, USA on April 11.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa Panginoon sa binigay na pagkakataon na makapagsilbi sa ating bayan at sa Philippine Navy. Sobrang masaya po ako na mabigyan ng karangalan sa (I thank the Lord for this opportunity to serve the country and the Philippine Navy. I am so happy that I gave honor to the) Philippine Navy,” Ancajas said.

Legaspi, on the other hand, said Ancajas is an example of what a soldier should look like.

“The courage and bravery that you have displayed represent the finest values of our military and our country,” Legaspi told Ancajas in his speech.

In response, Ancajas vowed that he will continue to represent the Navy in his upcoming fights.

“Hangad ko na makapagbigay ng karangalan, at dadalhin ko ang pangalan ng Philippine Navy at Marines sa buong mundo (I hope that I could bring honor, and I will bring the name of the Philippine Navy and Marines to the whole world),” he said.

SEAG chef de mission still unsure of training due to Covid-19 situation MANILA – Hanoi Southeast Asian (SEA) Games chef de mission (CDM) Ramon Fernandez said the national team is now on a waiting game on when it can finally begin training for the biennial meet after stricter measures have been placed anew in the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus area following the Covid-19 cases surge.

Although the quarantine classification in Metro Manila and four nearby provinces has been downgraded to more relaxed modified enhanced community quarantine for the rest of April, physical training remains prohibited, putting a dent to the Nationals’ early buildup for the Nov. 21-Dec. 2 event.

“We are really dependent kung paano tayo aatakehin nitong pandemic na ito (on how the pan-

demic will attack us). We can only really speculate on when we can start and all of that,” Fernandez said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.

The national team members in the NCR Plus area were supposed to begin their SEA Games training this month.

One other factor that might kick in, however, is the situation in Hanoi.

“The POC (Philippine Olympic Committee) has not received any communication from the organizers in Vietnam as per Ms. Karen Caballero,” Fernandez said.

The only thing he knows right now is that the Vietnamese Olympic Committee has postponed some SEA Games-related deadlines, although he has no idea what those deadlines are.

Paano natuloy ang Pacquiao-Mayweather I?

Outside Looking In

oong panahong ang tawag para pagsabungin sina Manny Pacquiao, ang Pilipinong may hawak ng korona ng WBO welterweight at ang walang talong si Floyd Mayweather Jr. ay wala nang pagasang matutuloy pa, biglang umeksena ang isang Pilipinong part-time actor cum waiter na nagpresintang kaya niyang mamagitan upang tumulong na matuloy ang sagupaan ng dalawa.

Noong ika-7 ng Enero, 2010 ay nagpahayag si Bob Arum, CEO ng Top Rank Promotions at pangunahing promoter ni Pacquiao na kanse- EDDIE G. ALINEA lado ang lahat ng negosasyon para ang labang pinakahihintay ng mundo ng boksing na sa isipan ng marami ay kumitil na sa pag-asang makita ang dalawang pinakamagaling na mandirigma sa ibabaw ng ring.

Apat na taon ang nakaraan, noong Mayo 2014, limang media outlet – USA Today, Los Angeles Times, The Hollywood Reporter, The Wall Street Journal, and the New York Post – ang nag-ulat ng pagsisumulang muli ng usapan para maisakatuparan ang naunsyaming plano.

At nasa gitna ng lahat ng ito ay si Gabriel Salvador, partime na artista at waiter sa isang tanyag na restaurant sa Hollywood na dahil sa kanyang trabaho ay naging matalik na kaibigan ni CBS Network President Leslie Moonves.

Lumitaw na si Moonves ay isang regular na suki ng Craig’s Restaurant sa West Hollywood kung saan si Salvador ay naglilingkod bilang waiter at malapit sa Wild Card Gym na pag-aari ni Hall of Fame trainer Si Freddie Roqach at ang kanyang estudyanteng si Manny Freddie Roach Pacquiao. (Kuha ni Wendell Alinea/OSMP) na pinaglilingkuran naman ng kanyang anak na si Elijah.

Sinasabing si Salvador at Moonves ay pinag-ugnay ng kanilang pagmamahal sa sport ng boksing. Ang CBS ay mother company ng Showtime Network na may malaking investment sa sports, partikular kay Mayweather na may multi-dollar na kontrata sa kumpanya.

Dahilan para maniwala si Salvador na kung madadala niya si Moonves para makausap si Roach, malaki ang tsansang maituloy ng dalawa ang sagupaan nina Pacquiao at Mayweather.

Naniniwala rin si Salvador na base sa kanyang koneksyon kay Roach at Moonves at sa kanyang marubdob na paniniwalang mapapasok nila ang pulitikang naging malaking hadlang sa pagkakatuloy ng proyekto.

At nangyari nga ang dapat na mangyari. Nagkita si Moonves at Roach noong Mayo 28, 2014 at pumayag kapuwa na ang matagal nang hinihintay na paghaharap ay dapat maisakatuparan alang-alang sa fans ng boksing.

Binigyan ni Roach si Moonvess ng go-ahead signal para simulanan ang mga dapat gawin.

Tinulungan ni Roach si Moonves na makipagdasundo kay Arum at kalimutan ang mga nakaraang alitan. Sa parte naman ni Moonves dinala niya ang mga kinatawan ng dalawang nag-aaway na kampo na magkita sa kanya mismong tahanan sa tulong pa rin ni Salvador.

Hindi rin naging madali ang usapan pero sa madaling sabi, nagkaisa ang dalawang kampo na ang kanilang mga manok ay magsabong sa itinakdang araw ng Mayo 2, 2015.

Samantala, iisa ang napagkasunduan na kung hindi sa pamamagitan ng isang artista at waiter na Pilipino, hanggang sa mga panahong ito, ang mga tagasunod ng sport na sweet science, marahil, ay nakatunganga pa sa paghihintay na kanilang idolo ay magbangasan ng mukha para patunayan kung sino sa kanilang dalawa ang dapat kilalaning hari ng sport na kanilang pinili.

Si Arum mismo na mahirap papaniwalain sa mga pangyayaring nagaganap nang wala siyang pahintulot ay naniniwalang utang na loob na si Pacquiao at Mayweather ay magharap.

Para kay Salvador at sa papel na kanyang ginampanan, siya ay naniniwalang bilang nakatuklas dapat siyang mabayaran ng “finder’s fee,” sa mga oras at pagsiksikap na kanyang ginugol para ma-realize ang laban.

Ang malungkot, sa mga pagtatanong ng reporter na ito, sa ilang taong nakalipas matapos ang laban, lumalabas hindi pa nababayaran si Salvador kapuwa ng CBS o ng grupo ni Manny at Flyod o ng sinumang dapat managot.

Ang laban ay kumita ng mahigit $600 milyon, mahigit $400 million ay napunta sa mga telebisyon networks. Hindi kasama dito ang kinita ng dalawang boksingero.

May 6-12, 2021

22

Q: How can I break my bad financial habits?

A: You’re not the only one. Almost everyone has bad financial habits. Even wealthy people have them.

Sometimes we are our own worst enemy. We have the best of intentions. We know that we should watch our spending. We know that we should be saving money and contributing to our retirement plan, but somehow, we just can’t seem to do it. So what is holding us back?

It could be those little detrimental habits. Often, they don’t seem so bad. They’re just a little thing. You know the one’s I’m talking about.

Minimizing things like: • I only grab that expensive coffee drink every once in a while or when I really need one. It’s not like I have one every day.

• Sure, I used my credit card again. Yeah, I only make the minimum payment, but I’ll pay more on it next month.

• I know I should fill out that form to start contributing to my retirement account, but I’ll do that next year.

Even “little things” can add up over time. That can be a good thing if you’re talking about growing the balance in your retirement account. However, it’s a bad thing when you’re talking about those little expenses or procrastinations that wreak havoc on finances. So how do you break bad financial habits?

Denise Mann wrote an article for WebMD.com entitled “3 Easy Steps to Breaking Bad Habits.” In her article, she discusses three steps for breaking a bad habit.

Step 1: Make It Conscious The first step is to figure out when and why you are engaging in the habit. Identifying the circumstances and feelings associated with the behavior helps you figure out why you are doing it.

Are you grabbing that cup of expensive coffee because you didn’t sleep well or maybe because you didn’t have enough time to make coffee at home? Did you use your credit card because it’s convenient or maybe you were bored, so you went shopping? Is the reason you don’t want to fill out that retirement form because it makes you feel confused?

Step 2: Put It in Writing Writing down the behavior that you want to change can help you analyze what is causing the behavior. Logging the behavior can help you identify the conditions that trigger it and your feelings that initiate the behavior.

Keeping track of the frequency of the behavior is also helpful. Maybe you’ll find that you are buying that expensive coffee almost every day. Maybe you’re pulling out that credit card twice a day, instead of just a couple of times a week. Measuring a behavior makes you more aware of it and makes you more likely to change it.

Step 3: Bait and Switch Eradicating a behavior is very hard to do, especially if it has become a habit. One way to overcome the difficulty is to “replace” that unwanted behavior with another behavior. In her WebMD article, Ms. Mann talks about replacing a behavior like biting your nails with chewing gum instead.

You can use a similar approach with those bad financial habits.

• Use a flavored creamer in your coffee that you made at home instead of buying that expensive espresso drink.

• When you’re bored, instead of going shopping, try calling up a friend, going to the library, or volunteering at a local charity.

• When you feel overwhelmed by those retirement plan forms, try talking with a trusted friend about how they handle their retirement saving or talking with your HR department about what resources or advisors are available to you.

Creativity is your friend when it comes to changing a bad habit. Don’t be afraid to try different things that might work for you.

You can change that bad habit into a good one or at least into a less financially damaging one.

If you have fallen into bad financial habits, take action. Make yourself conscious of the habits, write them down, and replace them, so you can enjoy a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life.

Ang ating lesson, Alamin ang mali at ito ay itama upang ang buhay natin ay maging mapayapa.

If you need help in getting out of debt, call Debt Aid Consulting International. We do not use call centers which keeps your information safe. We have a new program that reconstruct debts for half of what you would pay our competitors. We also provide legal (Continued on page 27)

23 May 6-12, 2021

As California surpasses 30-M vaccines, Newsom doubles down on efforts to vaccinate hard-to-reach communities

By Jo Erlinda Maufit SACRAMENTO – California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a series of initiatives building on the state’s work to vaccinate California’s hard-to-reach communities against COVID-19, address vaccine hesitancy California Governor and drive innovative efforts in the communities Gavin Newsom hardest hit by the pandemic.

New efforts focus on direct appointment assistance; community outreach including neighborhood canvassing, phone banking and text banking; at-home vaccinations and transportation services; and an additional $33 million in funding, bringing the total to $85.7 million, to support community-based organizations, Newsom said in a statement sent to Philippine News Today.

“We’re at a pivotal moment in our COVID-19 vaccine rollout – more than 30 million doses have been administered in California to date, and it’s going to take some new approaches to reach those who haven’t been vaccinated yet,” said Governor Newsom. “These enhanced initiatives build on the community-based approach the state has taken throughout this crisis, in order to ensure vaccines are easily within reach of more people.”

In addition, building on the bipartisan work done during the “Wear A Mask” campaign, California Governors Gavin Newsom, Jerry Brown, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Pete Wilson have come together to encourage all Californians to get vaccinated.

About 60 percent of eligible Californians have received at least one dose and as of April 15, anyone age 16 and up is eligible to receive the vaccine. As the number of unvaccinated Californians narrows, the state’s robust vaccine performance management system has helped determine where to focus efforts.

To bolster vaccine access in hard-to-reach communities, the state is moving away from mass vaccination sites and toward more targeted outreach with small clinics in communities with the highest disease burden.

This move will make it easier for people to access vaccines. Mobile sites will continue to operate in partnership with places of worship throughout the state, as well as in coordination with businesses, school districts and local health departments where vaccination efforts are already underway.

These new initiatives build on the state’s Vaccine Equity Metric (VEM) that started in early March to send double the amount of doses to those communities facing the highest disease burden, defined as those ZIP codes in the lowest quartile in the Healthy Places Index (HPI). Since the VEM went into effect, California has dedicated 40 percent of the state’s supply of doses to the lowest HPI quartile to improve equity in vaccinations.

At press time, an estimated 53 percent of individuals in the lowest quartile still need COVID-19 vaccinations, while just 28 percent of individuals in the highest quartile remain unvaccinated. Since January, California has accelerated its pace of vaccination and now exceeds the national average.

“One of the most important responsibilities of government is to make sure that the most vulnerable receive equal protection, especially during a crisis,” said Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, California Surgeon General. “These enhanced efforts aim to meet people where they are while building upon California’s ongoing commitments to ensure that equity is guiding our overall strategy.”

The Governor announced seven new and enhanced

equity strategies in the state’s vaccine rollout, including: More Transparency on Vaccination Progress – The state’s covid19.ca.gov website now displays data on California’s progress in vaccinating groups and communities with the most urgent need. Dashboards include statewide and county progress by the Vaccine Equity Metric (VEM), race and ethnicity or age. A map displays ZIP-code-level data on vaccination progress within each VEM quartile. These dashboards will be updated weekly, on Wednesdays.

‘Get Out the Vaccine’ Phone Bank and Door-Knocking Campaign – Modeled after successful ground-level campaigns, a new state “Get Out the Vaccine” effort coordinates with 70 community-based organizations to employ callers and door-knockers to help Californians make a plan to get vaccinated. The program is in partnership with Healthy Future California and the UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute’s STOP COVID CA initiative. About 2,000 individuals from targeted communities will be employed to make peer-to-peer appeals and provide support to help overcome barriers to vaccinations. The program, now underway, has already resulted in more than 4,900 appointments scheduled.

Partnering with Philanthropic Organizations to Enhance Support for Community Organizations – Trusted messengers play a vital role in supporting the state’s equitable administration of vaccines. California is expanding its public-private partnerships to support community-based organizations (CBOs), bringing the total amount of funding to $85.7 million and aiding a total of 480 organizations to date. The state is expanding its partnership with the Public Health Institute (PHI) Together Toward Health initiative, created and funded through 18 major philanthropic organizations led

by The California Endowment to stop the spread of COVID-19 and strengthen health and resilience in the state’s most impacted communities. This fund now totals $33.4 million and supports more than 323 organizations. Additional CBOs will be awarded grants on a rolling basis in the months to come. The state is also partnering with Sierra Health Foundation on a new $29 million “Vaccine Equity Campaign” fund that will invest in CBOs and faith-based organizations across the state.

This new funding builds on $23.3 million awarded by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and Labor & Workforce Development Agency (LWDA) to support 157 organizations on multilingual outreach and public health education in communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. A subset of these organizations have helped facilitate approximately 111,000 vaccine appointments and 236,000 referrals to appointment platforms or providers.

FAQs on the statewide network of community-based organizations can be found here.

Grants to Support Vaccination Equity – Building off the previously announced awards for Los Angeles County and Bay Area counties, the state is now making available an additional $34.2 million in funding for underserved and high-risk communities throughout California’s other counties. This funding will be directed by local health jurisdictions to support back-end operations and expand vaccine distribution to enhance targeted outreach in communities and ZIP codes most impacted

by COVID-19. Counties with a population over 1 million will receive $1.5 million for every 1 million people; those with populations between 500,000 and one million will be eligible for $650,000 in grant funding; and counties with populations under 500,000 will be eligible for $350,000 in funding to expand vaccination programs and achieve equity goals. In total, $56.8 million is now being provided to, or at the direction of, local health jurisdictions throughout all of California to support the state’s equity goals.

Localized Plans for Promoting Equity in Vaccination – Along with statewide strategies, leaders of each of California’s 61 local health jurisdictions working in partnership with the state’s third-party administrator, Blue Shield of California, created and submitted plans to the state to promote vaccination equity in their communities. This includes a wide range of approaches, from small mobile vaccine clinics located in remote areas; to engaging micro influencers to impact specific groups or populations; to partnering with schools and faith-based partners for outreach, education and selection of trusted clinic sites.

25 May 6-12, 2021

Umoja health volunteers target vaccine access

By SUNITA SOHRABJI/EMS Contribu�ng Editor SAN LEANDRO, California — As where they were triaged urgently or were rap music joined the whoosh of nearby they left to linger in the emergency deBART trains on a recent Saturday morn- not have the requisite tools or digital lit- we blame them for that rather than blam- partment? Were they discharged repeating, Umoja Health Founder Dr. Kim eracy to make an online vaccine appoint- ing our delivery system,” said Rhoads. edly after coming back but couldn’t get “Our delivery systems need to change admitted?’ These are questions that give Rhoads and her army of volunteer health ment.

The pop-up clinics initially started out if we’re really going to get to equity,” she us a systems level approach to undercare workers delivered shots of COVID-19 vaccines to more than 300 people as testing sites: In East Oakland, there said. standing disparities,” said Rhoads. were high rates of COVID-19 infections, The distribution of confirmed COat a pop-up vaccination clinic.

Kevin Epps, a volunteer with Umoja Brian Carmichael, who came to the but low numbers of tests. “We thought VID-19 cases reveals significant dispari- Health, who is widely known for his pop-up with his sister and his baby, said that it might be related to access to test- ties within California’s overall racial and documentary, “Straight Outta Hunter’s he learned about it by word of mouth, af- ing and how testing was delivered. So ethnic demographics. Recognizing this, Point,” said that hesitancy exists for that’s how we started doing the pop-ups,” California focused on equitable distri- Black people and people of color beter initially going to get tested.

Carmichael, who works in talent ac- said Rhoads, who was studying cancer in bution of the vaccine, especially for the cause of historic injustices. Epps said he quisition, described himself as one of the underserved communities but pivoted to hardest-hit populations. California has himself was skeptical until he spoke to administered more than 28 million vac- Rhoads: now he and his family are all “lucky ones” who had no loss of liveli- COVID-19 as the pandemic began.

“Because we were able to reach such cine doses, including almost 6 million to vaccinated. hood or income due to the pandemic. He a high proportion of African American those who live in the state’s hardest-hit has kept his family safe simply by stay“It’s important for people to realize ing at home, or socially distancing at people who had never been engaged be- communities. that for every person who gets vaccinatThe epidemiologist also challenged ed, we get one step closer to community parks and wearing masks. Now he’s got fore, Alameda County decided to give us an allocation of vaccine,” she said. the myth of “underlying conditions” as immunity, which is the pathway out of the vaccine.

The epidemiologist said she is chalan answer to why so many people of this pandemic,” said Rhoads.

Rhoads, an epidemiologist at the UniISO 12647-7 Digital Control Strip 2009 “the vaccine have or40 died 100 60of California 100and 70 lenging 30 100 60myth 40 40 100color 40 100 40 70 40 40 severely 40 70 40 40 sick 70 40 70 40 3 100 70 30 Francisco, 100 60 100of Black 10 25 50 MyTurn.ca.gov, 75 90 100 70 30 100hesi40 70become versity San Registering on reachher team have thus far organized 20 pop- tancy,” pointing to the numbers of people from COVID-19, noting that equitable ing out to your primary care physician or up clinics in underserved areas of Oak- Umoja Health has vaccinated. “Vaccine care closes the mortality gap. health plan, or contacting a local clinic or “When the California office of State- pharmacy are a few of the several ways land and San Francisco. The team has ad- hesitancy is so racialized. We have large ministered more than 3,000 COVID-19 communities of white people in the Bay wide Health Planning and Development to schedule an appointment to be vacArea30 who releases 100 100 60 100 100 70doses 70 30 30 100 100 10.2 7.4 7.4 25 19 19 50without 40 40 75 66 66 100 100 100 or 80 70 70 100 70 70 30 100absolutely 100 60 100 100 are 70 70against 30 30 vaccina100 40 100 40 40 100 the 10 40 hospitalization 40 20 70 70 70 70 40 data 70 40 40for0 02020, 00 3.1 2.2 2.2 tests and 1,500 of 100 the100 60one-shot cinated.

Those internet email tions, but we never use the term hesitanI’ll be asking, ‘what happened to people access can call the COVID-19 Hotline at J&J vaccine or the two-dose Moderna when they showed up in the emergency 1-833-422-4255, translators are available regimen. The clinics are walk or drive-in, cy with them.”

“And then when we find out that few- department? Did they get oxygen imme- in 250+ languages. requiring no preregistration, and aim to serve low-income Black people who may er black people have gotten vaccinated, diately? Did they get admitted to the ICU 3%

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 COMMUNITY NEWS

May 6-12, 2021

26

Apply now: The PG&E Corporation Foundation awarding $250,000 in STEM Scholarships

SAN FRANCISCO — Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and The PG&E Corporation Foundation (The Foundation) are encouraging qualified students to apply for the Better Together STEM Scholarship Program.

The Foundation will provide funding for a total of $250,000 to students pursuing a degree in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) disciplines. The program will award 20 scholarships of $10,000 each and 20 scholarships of $2,500 each.

“For PG&E, enhancing opportunities and the future for our young people is part of delivering on our triple bottom line of serving people, the planet and California’s prosperity,” said Stephanie Isaacson, Executive Director of The PG&E Corporation Foundation. “Through this scholarship program, we’re helping local students pursue their dreams of becoming the next generation of engineers, in-

novators or environmental scientists who will lead the way into our clean energy future.”

Scholarships will be awarded based on academic achievement, demonstrated participation and leadership in school and community activities, and financial need.

Interested applicants can learn more and apply here. Awards will be announced in August.

“Thank you for your generous donation in funding the Better Together STEM Scholarship. I have had a passion for civil engineering ever since elementary school. Being able to study something I have been passionate about at my dream school is a privilege and a joy,” said 2020 scholarship winner Shan Qing Ou. Eligibility Requirements Applications are open to graduating high school seniors, current college students, U.S. military veterans and adults returning to school who are PG&E cus-

tomers at the time of application.

Applicants must plan to enroll in fulltime undergraduate study for the entire 2021-2022 academic year and be seeking their first undergraduate degree at an accredited four-year institution in California.

Students enrolled in the following majors are eligible: Engineering (electrical, mechanical, industrial, environmental, power and/or energy) Computer Science, Information Systems or Cyber Security Environmental Sciences Supporting Local Scholars Since 2012, the Better Together STEM Scholarship Program has awarded more than $6.5 million to accomplished students based on a combined demonstration of community leadership, personal triumph, financial need and academic achievement.

In addition to the Better Together STEM Scholarship Program, PG&E’s 10 employee resource groups (ERGs) and two engineering networking groups (ENGs) award scholarships to help offset the cost of higher education. The funds are raised totally through employee donations, employee fundraising events and Campaign for the Community, the company’s employee giving program.

Since 1989, more than $5 million ERG scholarships have been received by thousands of recipients.

About PG&E Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California.

For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.

Campaign supporting Asian American community launched SAN FRANCISCO - An unprecedented collective PSA effort from the advertising industry has been launched to support the Asian American community and advocate for Asian representation.

This long-held feeling of exclusion has had its history of ebbing and flowing into the American conscious. Today, it has reentered the conversation on the heels of 15 months of rising violence and attacks on the Asian American community.

With Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in May and given the rise of anti-Asian hate and violence, Omnicom (a global leader in marketing communications that provides brand and advertising services to over 5000 clients in over 100 countries) took action.

In early April, they launched the 3 in 5 Challenge to empower creatives to develop and submit completed PSAs that speak to underrepresentation, while supporting Asian storytelling. The initiative is inspired by the finding from Morning

Consult that 3 in 5 Asian Americans say they are rarely, if ever, represented in advertising content.

ADMERASIA, a full-service multicultural advertising agency that connects brands with people through the prism of culture, is the winner of the 3 in 5 Challenge.

ADMERASIA’s winning full-length short blurb on the video is below: “Invisible” encapsulates the Asian American experience of not being seen or heard through empty vignettes of everyday life. Entertainment, media, and brands’ long history of ignoring Asian American representation has left its mark on the community. But 19 million strong is a force not to be ignored. When brands stand indivisible in their pledge to represent the Asian American experience, then we can become visible.

ADMERASIA’s PSA will be featured in over $1 million worth of donated ad space. They will have their spot run throughout AAPIHM across 35+ national

media partners, including The Washington Post, Verizon Media, Buzzfeed, Meredith, and many more. Nineteen PSAs were submitted, led by the work of 50+ individuals; a total of 16 agencies participated. These agencies include those inside and outside of Omnicom’s umbrella.

Some quotes from those involved in the Challenge below: Jeff Lin, Co-founder, ADMERASIA: Often an agency’s role is to be the creative voice on behalf of someone else.

We were eager to share a perspective that we do not often have the opportunity to – a personal story. ADMERASIA is a 100% Asian American-owned company with employees from all over the globe.

Otherness and a feeling of invisibility is something we’ve all experienced. With the privilege of being a successful agency, we felt that it is not just our responsibility but also our honor to partner on an initiative that encapsulates the 25 years of work we’ve pursued.

Soon Mee Kim, Chief Diversity, Eq-

uity and Inclusion Officer, Omnicom Public Relations Group and 3 in 5 Challenge Advisor: The 3 in 5 Challenge began as an earnest response to the question: What else can we do with our unique talents and skill sets within the marketing services industry to address Asian hate, to see our common humanity? I’m so grateful to everyone who participated in the 3 in 5 Challenge, who set aside boundaries, to come together to make a difference.

My hope is that 3 in 5 is one example of the force-multiplying effect we can have when committed individuals and organizations join together to drive change.

The Challenge comes with a call-toaction for the public at-large to take a pledge to stand against anti-Asian hate, to not be bystanders but be part of the solution and raise awareness and visibility for the community through Asian storytelling. People can take the pledge and learn more at threeinfive.com.

New report sounds alarm on global shortage of 900,000 midwives UNITED NATIONS, New York -- Millions of lives of women and newborns are lost, and millions more experience ill health or injury, because the needs of pregnant women and skills of midwives are not recognized or prioritized.

The world is currently facing a shortage of 900,000 midwives, which represents a third of the required global midwifery workforce. The COVID-19 crisis has only exacerbated these problems, with the health needs of women and newborns being overshadowed, midwifery services being disrupted and midwives being deployed to other health services.

These are some of the key takeaways from the 2021 State of World’s Midwifery report by UNFPA (the UN sexual and re-

productive health agency), WHO (World Health Organization), International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) and partners, which evaluates the midwifery workforce and related health resources in 194 countries.

The acute shortage of midwives is exacting a terrible global toll in the form of preventable deaths. An analysis conducted for this report, published in the Lancet last December, showed that fully resourcing midwife-delivered care by 2035 could avert 67 per cent of maternal deaths, 64 per cent of newborn deaths and 65 per cent of stillbirths. It could save an estimated 4.3 million lives per year.

Despite alarms raised in the last State of the World’s Midwifery report in 2014,

which also provided a roadmap on how to remedy this deficit, progress over the past eight years has been too slow. The analysis in this year’s report shows that, at current rates of progress, the situation will have improved only slightly by 2030.

Gender inequality is an unacknowledged driver in this massive shortage. The continued under-resourcing of the midwifery workforce is a symptom of health systems not prioritizing the sexual and reproductive health needs of women and girls, and not recognizing the role of midwives – most of whom are women – to meet these needs.

Women account for 93 per cent of midwives and 89 per cent of nurses.

Midwives do not just attend births. They also provide antenatal and postnatal care and

a range of sexual and reproductive health services, including family planning, detecting and treating sexually transmitted infections, and sexual and reproductive health services for adolescents, all while ensuring respectful care and upholding women’s rights. As numbers of midwives increase, and they are able to provide care in an enabling environment, women’s and newborns’ health improves as a whole, benefitting all of society.

For midwives to achieve their life-saving and life-changing potential, greater investment is needed in their education and training, midwife-led service delivery, and midwifery leadership. Governments must prioritise funding and support for midwifery and take concrete steps to include midwives in determining health policies.

27 May 6-12, 2021

Upside...

(From Page 11)

While my father disciplined by military mode, my mom is gentle and compassionate, raising neither her voice nor hand to me. She gave refuge from my father’s fury, her warm caress clear affirmation of her love and understanding.

I’m not certain who drew strength from whom, but I finally realized my mother’s fortitude in my father’s terminal illness. He refused to hire a nurse, letting only my mother, my sister and our longtime nanny to attend to him. She devoted herself to him, uplifting everyone around her as she protected Dad’s dignity.

After my father’s death, my mother came to live with my husband and son in Northern California, gifting us the family we craved.

In the winter she’d fly back to Manila and return when the mercury hit the sky. She treasured her independence, traveling alone, until age 84.

One morning we expected her to arrive later that night when the phone rang: It was mom. She had been waiting patiently for us to pick her up and where were we? So she asked a fellow passenger to please call us and let us know she was already here.

Grace under pressure, she had heaps.

We worried how she would cope with loneliness when on top of her daily TV Mass, her novenas, the Chronicle, “I Love Lucy” reruns, needlework, TV Patrol, and her journal, she devoured stacks of novels she would recommend for our next read.

We became pals, sharing Cabernet with dinner, nature-tripping, sharing jewelry, perfume - our wardrobe. We discovered each other.

In December 2006, she joined me in receiving the Philippine Presidential Award for Overseas Filipino Organizations and Individuals conferred on our domestic violence prevention outreach group, of which she was a volunteer. A few months earlier, the UST Thomasians USA named her an outstanding alumna and our family honored her for being a model of virtue, integrity and grace.

I long to see my mother’s eyes open, feel her touch, listen to her play the piano, show her the orchids blooming in the kitchen, take her on our weekly shopping expeditions, and beg her to please please stay with us, but in my heart I know what she would say: Leave it to the Lord.

First published days before R. M. Querol Sr. died April 20, 2008, above is an Upside Mother’s Day tradition. Rosario M. Querol Jr. grew up as Cherie Querol Moreno, Executive Editor of Philippine News Today.

Ben Lou...

(From Page 22)

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Do not fall for marketing gimmicks saying that they have the right program for you. Most marketing companies only have one program and will enroll you in that program whether it fits you or not. So beware!

Ben Lou at your service! I have over 35 years of financial experience. If you would like sound financial advice, call us at Debt Aid Consulting International. We do not use call centers. No one has the right to put your information at risk.

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Offline

(From Page 13)

he is as close as close can get to being beholden to President Xi, for reasons that have never been made clear to the public.

Duterte has gone on record as saying that he would prefer that the Philippines become a province of China, rather than an independent republic.

Duterte has been labelled a traitor by his most vicious opponents, and Locsin very likely does not want to be considered as committing treason by selling out Philippine territory to China.

It remains to be seen if Locsin will remain in the Cabinet until the end of Duterte’s term, as he has also recently praised the regime’s enemies like former president Noynoy Aquino and actress/ philanthropist Angel Locsin.

Like it or not, all of Duterte’s past statements are coming back to haunt him.

I am inclined to believe that senility has now set in, and that he is only being kept in power by a cabal that has everything to lose if Duterte is suddenly removed from the presidency.

But there is little doubt that the Duterte regime is a sinking ship.

With a physically and mentally sick man at the helm, the only way for the Philippines to go is downhill.

Once he leaves office – and this was also said of Ferdinand Marcos – our children and our grandchildren will have to pay for the debts he incurred, a good portion of which was lost to wholesale graft and corruption.

Our motherland is worse than the Greek tragedies of old. The ongoing Philippine tragedy is destroying a land that once took pride in being “the cradle of noble heroes.”

Immigrant’s story...

(From Page 13)

oping the country’s capability and preparedness to deal with pandemics, calamities, and climate change.

It was the late President John F Kennedy who challenged Americans to serve their country by saying “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” In connection with our concerns related to disasters, pandemics, and climate change, we can follow what President Kennedy said and challenge ourselves to love our planet more by telling others, especially our friends, our family, and ourselves this: Ask not what our planet can do for you, ask what you can do to save our planet.

Health & Wealth

(From Page 12)

ertson is a real winner even with the present COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

For the non-Christians, the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown is a lost-lost situation. While alive, they are afraid and fearful because they might get the deadly COVID-19 virus. If they die physically due to COVID-19, they have no assurance of eternal home in heaven. Their destiny is eternal damnation in hell. Apostle Paul wrote this warning, “When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. They shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.”

(2 Thessalonians 1:7-9, NKJV).

I’ve mentioned in my other book “HISTORICITY OF JESUS” subtitled “Facts and Evidences for Agnostics, Atheists, Believers and Christians” that the “REAL TRAGEDY IS NOT THAT WE DIE WITH COVID-19. THE REAL TRAGEDY IS IF WE DIE WITHOUT JESUS BECAUSE WE DIDN’T KNOW, DIDN’T UNDERSTAND AND DIDN’T OBEY THE GOSPEL; AND DIDN’T REMAIN FAITHFUIL UNTIL DEATH.” Revelation 2:10) It’s not too late for you to understand and obey the gospel today for the forgiveness of your sins read Acts 2:37-38, Acts 22:16, NKJV). Just do it today, be baptized and become a true Christian.

Then, in life or in death, during this COVID-19 pandemic lockdown you are a real winner like the Apostle Paul and Sis. Juanita Robertson. If you need help and assistance to obey the gospel in baptism, just write or contact: WE CARE MINISTRY, 701-8th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94118 Tel. (650)438-3531 or (415)584-7095 or email:gmadlaing@hotmail.com.

LIFESTYLE FOR LONGEVITY SPECIAL OFFER: We received numerous pre-publication orders from both Northern California and Southern California readers for the upcoming book “LIFESTYLE FOR LONGEVITY” subtitled “How to be Healthy Emotionally, Financially, Physically, Sexually and Spiritually.” We are extending the pre-publication offer on the five-part 303 pages book to be printed and marketed by Amazon at $25.95 retail price per copy on May 5, 2021. This book is a must reading during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

We are extending the pre-publication offer at a discounted price per autographed copy. Just send your pre-publication order together with $15 (includes postage, mailing and handling) in check or money order on or before May 30, 2021 to: ART G. MADLAING, 730 Madrid Street, San Francisco, CA 94112 After May 30,2021, you can order the book through Amazon at the regular retail price of $25.95 per copy. This pre-publication offer is good only in the United States.

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

PerryScope...

(From Page 12)

from hunger every single day!

Closure Patreng, fearing for her life and her volunteers’ lives, closed the community pantry after three policemen showed up armed with assault rifles. They demanded Patreng’s personal details and asked which organization she belonged to. The harassment had begun.

The shutdown set off a wave of public outrage. The National Police Chief General Debold Sinas lauded the community pantry as “an expression of Bayanihan spirit” while Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said no matter what Non’s political beliefs were, “If she is helping with her heart, we will support it (because) kindness is everyone’s color.”

When Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte found out about the QCPD’s interference, she assured Non that community organizers in her locality would be in safe hands. The QCPD also apologized and has been subjected to a formal investigation. She announced that community pantries did not need permits and offered to send work-

ers to enforce social distancing. She also revealed that in less than a week, 70 community pantries had sprung up in her city.

The show of support encouraged Non to reopen the community pantry after a day. She realized that hungry people needed her pantry and she reopened it in spite of the dangerous situation. But the harassment continued.

Communist front On April 22, Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade, chief of the military’s Southern Luzon Command and who also serves as spokesman of the NTF-ELCAC, said that Non was “deceiving people the way Satan would.”

“Why are these community pantries sprouting all over all of a sudden? Why do they have a single theme?” Parlade said. He then compared Ana Patricia Non to Satan. “Patricia is one person, right?

Same with Satan. Satan gave Eve an apple. That’s how it all started.” The truth is: It started because of the hunger that the Filipino people have experienced. And it took one person to mobilize people to help fight hunger. Is it Satan’s work or is it manna from Heaven?

I believe it’s manna from Heaven. It reminds me of the biblical story of Jesus miraculously feeding the multitude with a boy’s offering of five loaves and two fish, which fed hundreds of people.

This started the speculation that Non is linked and connected with communist groups. Thus began the red-tagging of Non and volunteers of the Maginhawa Community Pantry, which is being spread as a “communist party” front.

But the bad publicity has made Patreng and the Maginhawa Community Pantry organizers heroes whose selfless and humanitarian endeavors have attracted thousands of volunteers across the country to help their fellow kababayans fight hunger and poverty. It also encouraged those who have means to donate to the community pantries. As a matter of fact, Patreng’s bamboo makeshift stand on a sidewalk has grown so much that it moved indoors to the barangay hall a block away.

One day at a time However, Non is pragmatic about the future of community pantries. “Eventually donations will die down. Donors will get tired.

And that’s okay; community pantries are not meant to solve poverty and hunger; it’s just meant to get us through one day at a time.” But she has started something where government relief agencies could step in to take over the task of feeding the hungry. It’s now a movement and it’s expanding from community to community, from town to town, from city to city, and from province to province. And all has the hallmark of Ana Patricia Non, an unpretentious young woman whose only goal was to feed her neighbors around Maginhawa Street. But words spread like lightning and pretty soon it had taken a life of its own.

It’s amazing how a good deed could inspire others to do the same. Patreng, whose simple act of kindness sparked a nationwide movement, has unwittingly become a legend. And now we have community pantries as far as Cagayan de Oro City in Mindanao, and Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte in the north. Donations came from other countries as well. The German Ambassador to the Philippines Anke Reiffenstuel went to the Maginhawa Community Pantry to contribute. Also, Gerald Anderson, a Filipino-American actor, was recently seen leading a “floating community pantry” organized by the Philippine Coast Guard.

But like all good deeds, there are those who are evil-minded and would try to discredit the do-gooders. But as someone once said, “Evil prevails when good men do nothing.” Patreng has brought out the good – nay the best -- in the Filipino people. I salute Ana Patricia Non for starting the Maginhawa Community Pantry that has ignited the Filipinos’ desire to work together in the spirit of Bayanihan. Now, if we can get her to open a vaccination center, which would be another good service project for Patreng.

(PerryDiaz@gmail.com)

Diliman way

(From Page 12)

PNoy was in Zamboanga City monitoring the operation and was informed about the cry for help and support by the SWAT team. Instead of ordering the military and police teams who were within spitting from the beleaguered unit, PNoy, and this a matter of record, told PNP and military command to stand down – meaning, not to give support and re-enforcement to the SWAT officers and men. As a result of lack of support and re-enforcement, forty-four (44) courageous officers and men of the SWAT team were totally annihilated.

Why? The incompetent and mentally disturbed PNoy issued the stand down order to please the MILF, the enemy, so as not to derail the peace negotiations with the MILF, so PNoy reasoned to defend his irrational, incompetent, none defensible and treason loaded decision. This is a similar decision of President Digong, PNoy’s Siamese twin, in allowing Communist China and his friend, corona virus President Xi Jin Ping, to invade and occupy the West Philippine Sea. The passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law is the third charge for treason against PNoy together with then Senate President Franklin “S.Z. Sakal” Drilon and House Speaker Sonny Belmonte who orchestrated in both chambers the passage of the BBL. Why? The law is unconstitutional as it violated constitutional provisions – on national territory under Article I, on equal protection clause under section 1 of Article III, on sovereignty under section 1 of Article II, on the oath of the President under section 5 of Article VII, section 4 of Article on social equality, section 10 of Article II since it will lead to social imbalance, section 12 of Article II on the sanctity of the family, section 20 of Article II which promotes an economy controlled

by Filipinos.

 HEALTH NEWS

May 6-12, 2021

28

WHO, Germany launch new global hub for pandemic and epidemic intelligence GENEVA/BERLIN -- The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Federal Republic of Germany will establish a new global hub for pandemic and epidemic intelligence, data, surveillance and analytics innovation.

The Hub, based in Berlin and working with partners around the world, will lead innovations in data analytics across the largest network of global data to predict, prevent, detect prepare for and respond to pandemic and epidemic risks worldwide.

H.E. German Federal Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel said: “The current Covid-19 pandemic has taught us that we can only fight pandemics and epidemics together. The new WHO Hub will be a global platform for pandemic prevention, bringing together various governmental, academic and private sector institutions. I am delighted that WHO chose Berlin as its location and invite partners from all around the world to contribute to the WHO hub.”

The WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence is part of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme

and will be a new collaboration of countries and partners worldwide, driving innovations to increase availability and linkage of diverse data; develop tools and predictive models for risk analysis; and to monitor disease control measures, community acceptance and infodemics. Critically, the WHO Hub will support the work of public health experts and policy-makers in all countries with insights so they can take rapid decisions to prevent and respond to future public health emergencies.

“We need to identify pandemic and epidemic risks as quickly as possible, wherever they occur in the world. For that aim, we need to strengthen the global early warning surveillance system with improved collection of healthrelated data and inter-disciplinary risk analysis,” said Jens Spahn, German Minister of Health. “Germany has consistently been committed to support WHO’s work in preparing for and responding to health emergencies, and the WHO Hub is a concrete initiative that will make the world safer.”

Working with partners globally, the WHO Hub will drive a scale-up in innovation for existing forecasting and early warning capacities in WHO and Member States. At the same time, the WHO Hub will accelerate global collaborations across public and private sector organizations, academia, and international partner networks. It will help them to collaborate and co-create the necessary tools for managing and analyzing data for early warning surveillance. It will also promote greater access to data and information.

“One of the lessons of COVID-19 is that world needs a significant leap forward in data analysis to help leaders make informed public health decisions,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This requires harnessing the potential of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, combining diverse data sources, and collaborating across multiple disciplines.

Better data and better analytics will lead to better decisions.”

Pandemic and suicide Heart of Hope

The COVID-19 pandemic has understandably increased the incidence of depression around the world, greater among the poor. Depression is a most significant risk factor in suicide. Complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic in today’s busy, impatient, materialistic, political, and PHILIP S. CHUA fast-paced society, people are subjected to aggravated stressors in life every day.

Encumbered by their personal circumstance, especially the past year in this pandemic, some are unable to adjust and cope, and develop depression. Suicide is a senseless option. It is a preventable alternative.

What is depression?

Depression is a state of emotion where the individual has some or all of the following senses, feelings, or moods: downhearted, unhappy, anxious, irritable, unable to concentrate, socially withdrawn, empty inside, has inordinate fatigue and reduced interest in activities which used to be fun, hopelessness, indecision, impaired sleep, misery, helplessness, confusion, monosyllabic speech or abnormally quiet.

What is the prevalence of depression?

In the United States, about 9 percent, or 28 million American adults “have feelings of hopelessness, despondency, and/or guilt that generate a diagnosis of depression,” according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Three percent or 9.6 million of adults have major depression, a chronic and severe form of depression. In the Philippines, the rate is about 5.3 percent. Worldwide, the rate is between 2.6 percent to 29.5 percent, a pandemic, actually, according to an international study conducted by the World Health organization. In general, women are 70 percent more prone to develop depression, in part due to hormonal changes, especially during menstruation, after pregnancy, and menopause. In the past 50 years, the rate has catapulted from 3.33 percent to 7.06 percent, from 1991 to 2002.

The rate for the various types of depression in the United States are: Postpartum – 10 to 15 percent; SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) – 4 to 6 percent; Bipolar – 2.6 percent; Dysthymia (minor depression that lasts 2 years or longer) – 1.5 percent; Psychotic depression (most severe form) – 5 percent.

administer preliminary tests such as the BDI (Beck Depression Inventory), or the HRS (Hamilton Rating Scale), which is composed of 20 questions to screen the patient. Today, computerized phone interviews are gaining effectivity as a screening tool. These tests are only a small part of the evaluation process, because the specialists have the symptoms of the patient and other criteria to aid them make the correct diagnosis.

What foods relieve depression?

Foods that are high in tryptophan, an amino acid involve in serotonin production, provide relief to some people with depression. Niacin (Vitamin B3), which is essential in the production of tryptophan, can be found in dried peas, beans, whole grains, dried fortified cereals, and especially in oily fishes like salmon and mackerel. It is reported that Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in fish oil may actually reduce depression. PMS Escape, a high carbohydrate drink, was claimed to increase tryptophan level and would control the depression related to pre-menopausal syndrome has been found to have impurities by the FDA and subsequently withdrawn from the market. Calcium supplements and Vitamin B-12 have been reported to reduce pre-menstrual depression. Also, some studies showed that among depressed people who drink caffeinated beverages have a lower incidence of suicide, which seems to suggest that coffee or tea reduces depression.

How about exercises?

Believe it or not, physical exercises may be as effective as psychotherapy in the management of mild to moderate depression. Prolonged aerobic workouts lead to higher levels of serotonin, adrenalin, endorphins and dopamine in the brain (producing the popular term “runner’s high”). Physical exercises, brisk walking, ballroom dancing, yoga, tae-bo, etc. lead to better emotional health. As an extra bonus from physical exercises, weight loss and improved muscle tone lead to the sense of well-being and higher self-esteem. Those individuals with strong spiritual faiths have a relatively lower predisposition to depression. These people might benefit from meditation, yoga, and other techniques for obtaining spiritual security, inner peace and happiness. Severe depression need medical treatment.

Does depression play a role in suicides?

Yes, very significantly. Depression is present in about 90 percent of the more than 40,000 suicides that take place in the United States annually, and for every two homicides, there are 3 suicides. Suicide is the 10th Are there screening tests for depression? leading cause of death in the United States overall and Yes, there are. Mental health specialists can the second leading cause of death in the age group 10

to 34. According to CDC, 1.3 million adults attempted suicide in 2014. About 78 percent of them are men, more than 4 times the rate for women. Depression lowers the mental threshold for self-destruction.

Did COVID-19 increase suicide rate?

Amazingly the pandemic did not, in spite of fake news in the media. Between 2019 and 2020, suicide deaths in the USA were 5.6 percent lower (from 47,511 down to 44,834). This was the third year of consecutive decline. Ideation of suicide was higher during the pandemic but the actual execution is reduced. Everybody around the world is busy trying to stay safe and alive.

Indeed, life is precious.

Do you have depression?

If you do, it is most prudent to seek medical help, not necessarily psychotherapy. The first thing to do it to consult your family physician, who can help guide you. With early proper medication and/or advice, depression in most cases can be managed effectively and eliminated faster than one can imagine. Physicians today have invaluable tools in their armamentarium for the diagnosis and treatment of depression. Many individuals with depression, who have sought medical care, are so “cured” with simple oral medications that they look, behave, function and live as normally and happily as anybody else, lost in the sea of anonymity.

To save a life, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). Both services are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The deaf and hard of hearing can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-799-4889. All calls are confidential.

The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health.

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 6-12, 2021

NEWS  NATIONAL VIEWS & COMMENTS

MOTHER’S JOURNEY

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By TIM PEDROSA

or those lucky to still be blessed with your mom, this is beautiful; for those who aren’t, this is even more beautiful; for those who are moms, you’ll love this. As the story goes, the young mother set her foot on the path of life. “Is this the long way?” she asked. And the guide said: “Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning.” But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way, and bathed them in the clear streams; and the sun shone on them, and the young mother cried, “Nothing will ever be lovelier than this.” Then the night came, and the storm, and the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle, and the children said, “Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come.” And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary. But at all times she said to the children,” A little patience and we are there.” So the children climbed, and when they reached the top they said, “Mother, we would not have done it without you.” And the mother, when she lay down at night looked up at the stars and said, “This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness. Yesterday I gave them courage. Today, I have given them strength.”

And the next day came strange clouds which darkened the earth, clouds of war and hate and evil, and the children groped and stumbled, and the mother said: “Look up. Lift your eyes to the light! And the children looked and saw above the clouds an everlasting glory, and it guided them beyond the darkness. And that night the mother said, “This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God.” And the days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old and she was little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And when the way was rough, they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather; and at last they came to a hill, and beyond they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And mother said: “I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them.” And the children said, “You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates.” And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said: “We cannot see her, but she is with us still. A mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence.” Your mother is always with you. She’s the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street; she’s the smell of bleach in your freshly laundered socks; she’s the cool hand on our brow when you’re not well. Your mother lives inside your laughter. And she’s crystallized in every tear drop. She’s the place you came from, your first home; and she’s the map you follow with every step you take. She’s your first love and your first heartbreak, and nothing on earth can separate you. Not time, not space not even death!

All mothers are rich when they love their children.

There are no poor mothers, no ugly ones, no old ones.

Their love is always the most beautiful of joys. – Maurice Maeterlinck (18621949). HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!

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Risen Christ and Eucharist

he holy eucharist is very important to us Catholic Christians. We believe, as in the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life. The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ Himself, our Pasch (ccc 1324).” And it continues saying: “… the Eucharist is the sum and summary of our faith: ‘Our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in turn confirms our way of thinking (ccc 1327).” In other words, as a Church and as individual believers, without the Eucharist we can starve to death, we will lose our identity, and it would be a meaningless Church – the assembly of REV. JOSE PELAGIO A. PADIT, SThD God’s people called to celebrate God’s love and presence. Can we speak of the living and real presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, in our midst without the Holy Eucharist? No. We emphasize this great importance of the Eucharist; because it is no other than Christ Himself, the Risen the Lord.

Among a number of fundamental truths of the Holy Eucharist are the following: First, Christ’s real presence; second, the reality of His Body and Blood; third, the timelessness of the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

These mentioned truths cannot be understood unless we believe in the bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus; as He said in Luke: “Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have (Lk 24:39).” We cannot speak of real presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist if He has not risen. For how can we claim His real presence if He is dead? If He remained dead, He would not be what He claimed He is; that He is God. He is really present because He is alive, only a living person can be present.

Moreover, it is essential that He is risen and with His own body; that same body that was brutally tortured, crucified and killed on the Cross. Having risen gives truth to His words: “My flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink (Jn. 6:55).” In the context of the resurrection the term “transubstantiation” makes sense; that the substance of the bread and wine is changed into the substance of the Holy Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus, through the Holy Spirit that acts during the Consecration. Unless He is risen, the transubstantiation cannot happen; for the fact, that He is still dead. There is the living and real sacred body and blood of the Lord Jesus in Holy Communion, because He is risen, He is alive.

Lastly, the sacrifice of the Lord of Himself is timeless; for as the Risen Christ, He can no longer die (Romans 6:9). He is the priest and victim, and both the Person offering and the Victim offered are timeless; so also, the sacrifice done once for all has become timeless. If He has not risen, neither what He has done on calvary has value nor the offering of the Mass has meaning and merit at all, and we would still be with original sin. That is why St. Paul said, “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins (1 Cor. 15:17).” The Mass perpetuates the one sacrifice of Christ; it is not another sacrifice, but the same sacrifice in an unbloody manner.

As we continue in this Easter Season, treasure with devotion the gift of the Holy Eucharist. Let us not take the Holy Mass for granted.

Just think of it, where were we last year during this time? We were in lockdown and people cannot access the Holy Mass except via internet or television. Now that we can once again celebrate and receive the Risen Lord, our Bread of Life, in Holy Communion at Mass, let us not lose Him again. Seek a personal intimacy with the Risen Jesus in Holy Eucharist; adore Him reserved in the Tabernacle; visit Him often during the day or during week if it is impossible for you to attend Mass daily. May our faith ever grow in the Eucharist as we are the people of the Resurrection. Amen. You can also find this article in my website, faithexpressions.org, view us too in YouTube, Faith Expressions, for other faith formation videos.

Aflame The Heart

INSPIRATIONAL ARTICLE FOR THE WEEK

31 May 6-12, 2021  NATIONAL NEWS

 FOOD & TRAVELS

 FOOD & TRAVELS

Recipe of the Week Mais at Patola, Sweet Corn and Luffa Vegetable Soup Ingredients: 4 young corn in a cob 2 medium size patola, peeled, cut crosswise 2 medium size eggplant, sliced into strips 1/4 kilo pre-boiled pork, cut into strips 1 cup small shrimp, shelled 2-3 long green chili 1/4 head garlic, chopped 1 small size onion, chopped 1 medium size tomato, chopped 1/4 cup fish sauce salt to taste cooking oil Cooking procedure: Using a knife cut of the corn kernels of the cob, keep aside, discard cobs.

In a sauce pan suttee garlic, onion and tomato until lump. Add in the pork and shrimp, stir cook for a minute.

Add in fish sauce and stir cook for another minute. Add 3 to 4 cups of water bring to a boil and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes. Add in the corn and continue to simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, add more water as necessary.

Add in the vegetables and simmer for 3 to 5 minutes, correct saltines if required. Now add in the green chili and cook for another half a minute. Serve with steaming hot rice.

Cebu plans to open up for foreign tourists CEBU CITY - If plans will not miscarry, Cebu, one of the country’s favorite tourist destinations, will soon open up for foreign tourists.

This as Governor Gwendolyn Garcia supports Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan’s effort to boost tourism by allowing foreign tourists who had been vaccinated against Covid-19 to enter the city.

“I am one with Mayor Ahong Chan because his tourism sector is really severely affected,” Garcia said.

“I am willing to sit down with him. With this, I am insisting on that section 105 (of the Local Government Code). This now allows us to consider the possibility of accepting foreign tourists,” she added.

In a letter to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Chan asked that his city be allowed to accept foreign tourists to revive Lapu-Lapu City’s economy.

The mayor cited the need to strike a balance between economy, on one side, and health and safety on the other.

Duque has yet to respond to Chan’s letter.

Chan’s plan to accept inoculated foreign tourists into Lapu-Lapu City is a step ahead of the recently announced Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Resolution 113, which reopened the country’s borders to certain foreign nationals starting May 1, 2021 as part of easing travel restrictions.

Under IATF Resolution 113, foreigners who are qualified to enter the country must also take coronavirus testing at the quarantine hotel/facility on the sixth day from their date of arrival.

Chan said that foreign tourists can come to Lapu-Lapu City as long as they have been fully vaccinated and have tested negative in an RT-PCR test at least 72 hours before their flight.

He said if the vaccinated foreign national has not undergone a Covid test prior to his arrival at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), the guest will be tested here.

“That’s our stand for Lapu-Lapu,” said Chan adding that the tourists must also adhere to minimum health protocols.

Chan also shares the Governor’s stand on testing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) upon arrival at the MCIA and not on the sixth day upon arrival as insisted by health advisers of the IATF for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease.

“Same with Gov. Gwen (Garcia) those Filipino workers living abroad who want to go home, visit their families and have their vacation here, once tested negative they can go home,” the mayor said.

Tourism has been the main source of revenues for Lapu-Lapu City being one of the country’s top tourist destination.

“The people are hungry and we need to give them food,” said Chan as many people in the city lost their jobs to the pandemic.

Garcia said she is considering establishing a “tourism bubble” where foreign tourists are allowed to enter the province subject to certain health protocols.

“If we are able to test OFWs or returning Filipinos upon arrival and then let them go transient before the results come out, so why can’t we do the same for other countries that have also been able to manage their Covid cases? (Those) that have an established Covid management system,” asked Garcia.

Garcia said it is time for the people to acquire a different mindset as Covid-19 cases may increase yet gradually decrease.

She said people should worry if hospital beds for Covid cases will no longer be available and if the medical workforce becomes insufficient.

Garcia said Cebu Province has enough isolation facilities and has set in place home quarantine protocols and contact tracing mechanisms.

Beef Spareribs Adobo with Oyster Sauce