80 minute read
Page 14By A� y. Lozano
Nora Aunor, 7 others named National Artists for 2022
MANILA – Finally, multi-awarded actress and singer Nora has been declared a National Artist.
The superstar was named national artist together with seven other prominent personalities in Philippine culture and arts through Proclamation 1390 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte last week.
The issuance of Proclamation 1390 was confi rmed by ational Commission for Culture and the Arts CCA and the ilm Development Council of the hilippines DC in their respective Facebook posts on the night it was signed. ora Aunor, who is ora Cabaltera Villamayor in real life, was hailed as National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts.
Aunor shared the honor with screenwriter Ricardo Lee and the late director Marilou Diaz-Abaya. er contributions to the fi lm and broadcast arts depicted the Filipinos’ “everyday realities and aspirations” in some of the most important Filipino fi lms, such as “ imala , the DC said.
On the other hand, Lee was acknowledged for writing iconic fi lms, such as “The lor Contemplacion Story” and “Sa Kuko ng Agila”, while Diaz-Abaya was recognized for movies such as “Brutal” and “Jose Rizal”.
Lee and Diaz-Abaya’s works formed part of the “Second Golden Age of Cinema .
Actor-director Tony Mabesa was proclaimed National Artist for Theater for his contributions to the “growth and diversity of Philippine theater.”
Choreographer Agnes Locsin was named National Artist for Dance for spurring a “growing interest in neoethnic style among young artists.”
Soprano ides Cuyugan-Asensio was acclaimed as a National Artist for Music for contributing to a “Renaissance of classical musical theater in the country.”
The late couturier Salvacion LimHiggins, who “masterly innovated and transformed the national costume into a world-class silhouette,” was honored as National Artist for Fashion Design.
Literary critic Gemino Abad was declared National Artist for Literature for providing future generations with a “comprehensive view of the landscape of Philippine poetry and fi ction.
The new National Artists is the second batch declared under the leadership of Duterte.
The declaration was made upon the joint recommendation of the CCA and the Cultural Center of the hilippines.
The National Artist Award, created under Proclamation 1001 issued on April 27, 1972, is the highest national recognition given to Filipinos who have made signifi cant and outstanding contributions to the development of Philippine arts.
Each national artist will receive a gold-plated medallion minted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and a citation, according to the guidelines issued by the CCA.
The National Artists will also get a life emolument and material and physical benefi ts comparable in value to those received by the country’s highest offi cers.
Living awardees will be given a minimum cash award of P200,000, net of taxes; a monthly life pension worth P50,000; medical and hospitalization benefi ts not e ceeding 50,000 every year; life insurance coverage; a state funeral; and a place of honor in state functions, national commemoration rites, and other cultural presentations.
A one-time minimum cash award of P150,000, net of taxes, will be granted to the legal heir of the deceased awardees.
Including those newly proclaimed, there are now 86 national artists.
JK Labajo, Maureen Wroblewitz announce breakup
Celebrity couple uan arlos Labajo and Maureen Wroblewitz announced their breakup on June 10 on their separate Instagram accounts.
The two were in a relationship for more than two years.
The “Buwan” singer posted on his Instagram account their photos together with a caption, “Magka-ibigan na ngayo’y matalik na magkaibigan. Lagi mong tandaan na kahit pagbaliktarin mo man ang mundo, kahit saang lupalop man ng kalawakan, ikaw parin ang nagiisa kong buwan. Maraming salamat, mahal kita, at hanggang sa muli.”
The Miss niverse hilippines fi rst runner-up commented on the singer’s post with a heart emoji.
Meanwhile, Wroblewitz, 23, born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and also a Filipino German like Labajo, took to her IG account and posted an art card with a caption, “Some things come to an end and that’s okay. but now it’s time for us to grow on our own.”
Labajo, 21, a Filipino-German actor and singer, penned a heartfelt message to the model-beauty queen that he is “the luckiest person in the world to have spent the past years of my life with you and I wouldn’t choose anybody else to have spend those years with.”
17 June 16-22, 2022
ENTERTAINMENT Sharon, Regine performing with Pilita in ‘Iconic’ concert, show also set in US soon
Sharon Cuneta and Regine Velasquez
Sharon Cuneta and Regine Velasquez excitedly revealed that they are going to be joined by Pilita Corrales on their two-night “Iconic” concert at the Marriot Grand Ballroom in Resorts World on June 17 and 18, 8 p.m.
Speaking at a press conference at Marriot Manila, Sharon the country’s “Megastar” and Regine, known as “Asia’s Songbird, were eff usive with their praise of the “Asia’s Queen of Songs,” as Pilita is known.
“She is one of the most original icons of all time in Philippine music industry,” said Sharon.
“She has paved the way for a lot of us so we feel this is a way of honoring her,” said Regine.
“I’m so happy that she will be part of our concert kasi sa totoo lang, siya talaga yung icon. Part siya ng buhay namin. Ako alam niyo naman, faney. So I’m so happy we’re staging this again kasi noong una nating ginawa sobrang gandang ganda ako sa concert na ito. Lalo na ngayon we’re with Mamita,” Regine said.
Sharon added she learned all of Pilita’s – and Celeste Legaspi’s – songs at a young age, saying they made up the soundtrack of their family’s weekend trips to Baguio. “When I was about 6,7,8 years old, ako lang ata ang bata sa St. Paul’s Pasig na may alam sa ‘May pumukol sa pipit sa sanga ng isang…’ ,” said the megastar, singing a line from Corrales’ ditty “Ang Pipit,” “and then ‘Kapantay ang Langit,’ which later on became one of my covers for my Si Sharon at Si Canseco album, which also became the title of one of my movies,” she continued.
The two also expressed their support for fellow singer-actress Nora Aunor, who was named as National Artist for Film and Broadcast last week.
“Ako gusto ko lang maging National Treasure, ‘yung hinahanap ni Nicolas Cage,” she added.
In “Iconic,” the divas will bring their fans on a nostalgic trip as they perform their most-loved hits.
Sharon and Regine promise a memorable concert as they celebrate truly Filipino hits for their highly anticipated back-to-back “Iconic” concert.
It can be remembered that “Iconic” had a successful Manila sold-out show in 2019 and in that same year, the country’s OPM divas also won Aliw Awards 2019’s Best Collaboration in a Concert.
“As you all know, we did ‘Iconic’ in 2019 and for me, it’s such a dream come true. One of the most fulfi lling concerts I’ve ever done in my entire concerting career because I was with my idol. We had so much fun doing it, we wanted to do it again for everyone and so we have a repeat this year. This time, we added and changed some new songs just for the times,” Velasquez shared during a media conference.
Sharon and Regine also revealed they will bring the “Iconic” show to the US, as was originally planned in 201 , during their concert’s fi rst staging.
Produced by Full House Theater Company, directed by Paolo Valenciano and with musical direction by Louie Ocampo and Raul Mitra, the two-night aff air is set on une 1 and 18, 8 p.m. at the Marriott Grand Ballroom, Resorts World Manila.
For tickets to “Iconic” this June 17 and 18 at the Marriot Ballroom at Resorts World, contact Girah Manaligod (0917 872 8309) , Kenneth Navoa (0917 807 9387) , Archli Enriquez (0917 823 9602) or call Ticketworld (02) 8891-9999, or SM Tickets (02) 8470-2222.
Pilita Corrales
Two new beauty queens crowned
The Philippines has two more beauty queens
M arie Sherry Ann Q uintana Torm es
They are Marie Sherry Ann Quintana Tormes, 28, who was crowned as Miss Global 2022, besting a fi eld of 2 beauties worldwide in a glittering fi nale held at usa Dua Convention Center in Bali, Indonesia on June 12, coinciding with the 12 th hilippine Independence Day celebration and ilipino rench wendolyne olivar ourniol, 21, who was crowned as Miss World Philippines 2022, topping the fi eld of contestants at the pageant held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena a week earlier.
Tormes, or Shane to family and friends, who also won as Miss Talent for a powerful interpretation of Tina Turner’s “ roud Mary, became the fi rst ilipina to win the S-based international pageant that was established in 2011.
Shane will reign alongside Miss Global 2021 essica da Silva, a single mom who represented the nited Arab mirates, winning the title via a series of virtual competitions several weeks ago, and crowned on the same night in Bali.
The pageant allows single women as well as single mothers aged 1 - 5 to qualify for the tilt. amed as runners-up to Shane are Sandra Lim from Malaysia, 1st rooke ankin from Australia, 2nd Sandra oris from Lithuania, rd and atalia urgel from razil, th.
Tormes was crowned by Miss Global Organization’s president an ham. She reprised the victory of Megan oung, the very fi rst and so far, only ilipina Miss orld, in the very same venue in 201 .
A “veteran whose pageant skills were honed by Kagandahang Flores camp, particularly its founder and head trainer odgil lores and senior trainer ess Soriano, Shane has a string of regional and national titles including Miss Camarines Sur, Mutya ng Ibalong Tourism, Miss izal rovince and Miss hilippines ire 2020. She has also joined Binibining Pilipinas twice, in 2018 and 2019, on both occasions winning as Miss Friendship, and Miss Talent in 2018. Fourniol, the new Miss World Philippines 2022, represented her mother’s home province of egros Occidental, although she was born in Lyons, rance, schooled in ngland and moved to the Philippines in 2018. ourniol has been actively involved in DA ducational esearch and Development Assistance oundation, one of the biggest non-government, non-profi t organizations in the country founded by r. ierre Tritz, S in 1 that has helped a million marginalized but deserving ilipinos have access to education.
During the fi nal question-and-answer round, wen was asked “ ow do we cope with an education defi cit accumulated during the pandemic She replied “As an advocate of education, I do agree that during the pandemic, we have suffered the most, but the children who have a lack of access to education have suff ered the greatest. And working hand in hand with DA oundation who empowered marginalized children, by uniting benefactors and encouraging children and allowing them to go back to school, espe- Gw endolyne Bolivar Fourniolcially during this pandemic, will make the world a better place because education is the greatest weapon against poverty. s an advocate of educati on wen, who also won as est in vening Gown, Beach Beauty and Miss Silka, was sur-
I do agree that during the prised by her mom Sim Fourniol and her brother pandemic e have su ered who fl ew in from London two days ago, making her victory even more meaningful. the most ut the children ho wen will vie for the country’s second Miss orld title after Megan oung at the 1st have a lac of access to Miss orld in London in December. educati on have su ered the DA oundation helped Sim ourniol with her education. Sim obtained her AB Psychology greatest. nd or ing hand in degree from and eventually worked in uhand ith D oundati on rope where she met wen’s rench dad Thierry ourniol, a software engineer. ho empo ered marginali ed The other winners are Alison lack, Miss Supranational hilippines, from Las i as Ingrid children y uniti ng Santamaria, eina ispanoamericana ilipinas, enefactors and encouraging from ara aque Ashley Subijano Montenegro, Miss co hilippines, from Makati eatriz children and allo ing them to McLelland, Miss co Teen hilippines, from go ac to school especially Aklan ustine elizarta, Miss Tourism 1st rincess , from Marikina and Cassandra Chan, Miss during this pandemic ill ma e Charity 2nd rincess , from San uan City. the orld a e er place The pageant was hosted by previous Miss orld hilippines winners alerie eigmann, ecause educati on Laura Lehmann and atarina odriguez. In the panel of judges were actors David Licauco and is the greatest eapon against inwyn Marquez also eina ispanoamericana poverty. 201 and Miss orld fi rst runner-up 1 vangeline Pascual.
19 June 16-22, 2022
ENTERTAINMENT Willie Revillame’s magic remains strong
Television host, singer and composer Willie Revillame slammed naysayers for saying he has lost his magic after his program “Wowowin” is now only available on Facebook and YouTube.
This was reported by columnist Ronnie Carrascoso III in his latest Manila Times column after Willie’s daily show on GMA bade farewell on ebruary 11 when he seized the off er of business tycoon and former Senate President Manny Villar.
Villar had acquired two frequencies formerly owned by ABS-CBN, now named Advanced Media Broadcasting Systems.
Willie had said he did not renew his contract with GMA network due to Villar’s television project.
The 61-year-old host and singer, however, stressed he remains eternally grateful to the Kapuso Network, which was home to his show “Wowowin” for more than seven years.
There are rumors that Willie has been sending feelers particularly to GMA top honcho Atty. Felipe Gozon for a possible comeback but this was quickly debunked by Willie, branding it as “fake news.”
He said, according to the columnist, didn’t actually intend to renew his contract, “Tapos, babalik ako?!”
The actor-singer-host was reported as saying “Wowowin,” despite being watched on social media platforms, hasn’t lost its momentum.
“For the record, it is still being widely followed as it continues not only to bring wholesome entertainment but also respond to the needs of our downtrodden kababayan,” the columnist stated.
He quoted Willie as saying: “Hindi puwedeng sabihing kawawa ako dahil nawala ang ningning ko. We are now in the age of social media. This is the ‘in’ thing now.”
In the meantime, pending the preparations of the Villar television network, Willie was said to be enjoying limitless creative freedom in his program content sans the bosses telling him “bawal ganito, bawal ganyan.” Willie, according to the columnist, stresses the essence of a genuine entertainment for his audience bereft of restrictive policies. Willie, the columnist added, seems unfazed even if the show that has replaced Wowowin on GMA — “Family Feud” hosted by Dingdong Dantes — is reportedly churning out better ratings.
“Kanila na ‘yung ratings,” Willie was reported as saying.
Willie said his doctor has informed him that he’s colon cancer-free based on a test result. Willie was admittedly anxious, if not panicky, days before the test result came out, he had expressed willingness to go under the knife if necessary.
Kuya Kim, Ariel Rivera in front of the cameras again
After his bout with COVID-19, Kim Atienza will start work on a variety game show, “Tik to Clock,” with beauty queen Rabiya Mateo and comedienne Pokwang.
This is the fi rst time the trio will be together in a show.
“Tik to Clock” will be a sing and dance contest and is set to air next month. It is set to replace “Mars Pa More,” which features Kim with Camille Prats and Iya Villania.
Kim is known for knowing a lot of trivia and for delivering the weather report in “TV Patrol” on ABS-CBN.
He embraced a variety of formats when he transferred to GMA.
“Tik To Clock is also the fi rst time abiya and Pokwang will work in a variety game show, too.
Meanwhile, Ariel Rivera is back on TV as part of GMA’s series, “The Fake Life.” He was last seen in a noontime show on TV5.
“The Fake Life” is under the direction of Adolf Alix, Jr. and will premiere on June 5.
Ariel, aside from being an actor, is an accomplished singer and recording artist.
He and wife Gelli de Belen have two sons, who are studying in Canada.
The boys do not seem interested in following in Ariel and Gelli’s footsteps.
California mortgage relief program expands eligibility requirements for homeowners affected by pandemic
SACRAMENTO, CA – The California Mortgage elief rogram has signifi cantly e panded eligibility requirements to off er funding to a greater number of California homeowners who have fallen behind on housing payments due to the impact of the CO ID-1 pandemic. The program has modifi ed the past-due requirement to include homeowners who missed payments in the fi rst half of 2022, e panded the income eligibility and will now cover past-due property ta es for more homeowners.
“Many California homeowners, like many renters, felt the impact of CO ID-1 on their household fi nances, putting them at risk of losing the homes they’ve worked so hard for, said Secretary of the California usiness, Consumer Services and ousing Agency Lourdes Castro am rez in a statement sent to hilippine ews Today. “I’m proud of the partnership with the .S. Treasury providing 1 billion for the California Mortgage elief rogram and I applaud the California ousing inance Agency for removing barriers to participating and providing greater program fl e ibility to assist more California homeowners struggling to stay in their homes, amirez said.
The California Mortgage Relief Program has e panded eligibility to homeowners who missed mortgage payments in 2022. ith this change, homeowners who missed at least two payments before une 0, 2022, and are currently delinquent, may now be eligible for full reimbursement for missed housing payments up to 0,000. reviously, program criteria required homeowners to miss at least two payments prior to program launch on December 2 , 2021.
The program has also adjusted the income threshold for program qualifi cation. omeowners are now eligible for assistance from the program if their household income is at or below 150 of their county’s Area Median Income based on federal limits established by D for the program . The adjustment will make it so more California homeowners who e perienced fi nancial hardships during CO ID-1 can get help. Applicants can fi nd their county’s income limit at CaMortgage elief.org.
In addition, assistance with past-due property ta es will now e tend to mortgage-free homeowners and those whose mortgage payments are current. reviously, property ta es were covered for reverse mortgage holders or as part of a complete reinstatement for homeowners who were also behind on their mortgage. These newly eligible homeowners can now receive up to 20,000 to cover past-due property ta payments if they missed at least one payment prior to May 1, 2022.
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Mortgage Rates sideling to about 6% for a 30 year loan
Mortgage ates going up, gas prices hitting .00 a gallon and infl ation at above . hat are we to think Most people think the current rise in mortgage rates is more than just a blip on the radar, as both homeowners and renters e pect rates to steadily increase over the ne t three years. Industry e perts, on the other hand, aren’t so sure. I believe the market truly cannot speculate on what will happen ne t because this is a time in history that we have never e perience.
Most households e pect the interest rate on a 0-year fi edrate loan to increase to . ne t year and reach .2 by 2025, according to a housing survey released by the ew ork ederal eserve this week. If those e pectations come true, it would be the fi rst time the average 0-year rate crossed since the year 2000.
The e pectation of much higher rates is easy to understand given the current mortgage rate environment. The average rate for a 0-year loan has risen sharply since the beginning of the year, increasing by nearly two percentage points to the current level of 5 . Consumers tend to see these trends and e pect them to continue into the future, notes Lawrence un, chief economist for the ational Association of ealtors.
The swing in rates will cost you an additional 5 .00 on a 00,000.00 loan and if you are a buyer the spread on rates will diminish about 120,000.00 in your buying power. That is a huge swing that will defi nitely have a eff ect on the near future real estate market. e are not seeing it yet, but I am almost sure it will come.
The possibility of rates increasing that high e ists, of course. owever, an interest rate by 2025 is unlikely, but I never thought rates would even get close to 5 and yet here we are close to .
Melissa Cohn, regional vice president at illiam aveis Mortgage, believes the only way rates might go up to would be if the ederal eserve’s current plans to fi ght infl ation have no eff ect, causing the ed to then raise short term rates to levels not seen in years. nder this unlikely circumstance “it is possible that mortgage rates could get to , but at that level, the economy will certainly cool off , she says. “ hen that happens, rates will come back down to aff ordable levels. pert mortgage rate forecasts hile consumers may be preparing for signifi cantly higher rates over the coming years, industry e perts are more tempered in their e pectations. A is forecasting the 0-year rate to average between 5 and 5.5 throughout most of 202 .
“As the ed raises interest rates, the mortgage market will simply yawn, says un, e plaining that the mortgage market has already factored in all the ed rate hikes possible this year.
The ederal eserve doesn’t directly set mortgage rates, but it does infl uence them by establishing monetary policy to control infl ation and keep the job market running smoothly. One of the main tools to do this is the federal funds rate a short term rate banks charge each other. As this rate goes up, so do mortgage rates. ut the central bank has so far taken a cautious approach.
“The ed has shown they are more than willing to let the economy run a little hot rather than raise rates e cessively and risk a recession, says McLaughlin. “As such, I e pect to be near the upper bound of where mortgage rates will settle over the ne t three to fi ve years.
Although the A doesn’t have a forecast out to 2025, un e pects rates to stabilize around 5.5 over the ne t few years.
Other mortgage e perts agree that rates won’t get as high as consumers are anticipating. The Mortgage ankers Association is actually e pecting rates to average . by the end of this year and to steadily decrease to an average of . by 202 .
The forecasted decrease is a result of stabilizing yields on the 10-year Treasury note, which are closely tied to mortgage rates. The M A e pects those yields to steady at around 2. by the end of this year and hold at that rate through 202 , when yields are e pected to fall to 2.5 . There tends to be a 1. percentage point spread between the 10-year Treasury and average mortgage rates. reddie Mac’s also e pects lower rates rather than higher rates in the short term. According to their most recent forecast, the 0year rate will average . during 2022, increasing to average 5 during 202 .
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21 June 16-22, 2022
NATIONAL NEWS SPORTS NEWS Zambo teen wins 2 golds in world weightlifting championship; COVID-19 downs EJ Obiena
MANILA - A 17-year-old lady weightlifter from Zamboanga City brought honor to the Philippines and her city after she won two gold medals and one silver medal in the World Youth Weightlifting Championship 2022 held in Mexico City on June 11.
Reports from Mexico City showed Rose Jean Ramos, of Barangay Mampang, Zamboanga City, won the two golds and one silver in the women’s 45-kilogram category.
A total of 205 athletes from 39 countries competed in the event.
Last year, Ramos won a gold medal in the same tournament held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The promising weightlifter is trained by Allen Diaz who also trained Olympic weightlifting gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz.
Meanwhile, Filipino pole vault pride EJ Obiena will miss the fi rst two of his four scheduled tournaments this month after testing positive for COVID-19.
Obiena revealed in his Instagram story and reported by Philippine media that he is undergoing quarantine in Fornia, Italy, where he has been based for a number of years now for his training.
Due to his COVID-19 diagnosis, the Filipino pole vaulter will skip the Bislett Games on June 16 in Oslo, Norway and the Meeting De Paris on June 18 in Paris, France.
Obiena is also listed to compete in the Täby Stavhoppsgala on June 28 in Taby, Sweden and the BAUHAUS-galan tournament on June 30 in Stockholm, Sweden.
The 26-year-old Olympic pole vaulter successfully defended his Southeast Asian Games title last month and reset the games record after leaping 5.46 meters. He also ruled the European City of Sports event in L’Aquila, Italy on May 31 after clearing 5.85 meters in front of the picturesque Basilica di Santa Maria di Collemaggio.
Atletang Pinoy na bayani rin sa pagtatanggol ng kalayaan
Noong Linggo, ika-12 ng Hunyo, ay ipinagdiwang ng Pilipinas ang ika 124 anibersaryo ng Araw ng Kasarinlan. At gaya ng kinaugalian tuwing sasapit ang araw na ito, ay ginunita din natin ang kabayanihan ng mga matatapang nating kababayang iasinakripisyo ang kanilang buhay sa pagtatangol ng kalayaan.
Lingid sa kaalaman nng marami, kabilang ang pinakamatataas na lider ng sports sa bansa, 52 atletang Pilipino, siyam sa kanila ay Olympian, na bukod sa pagwawagayway ng ating bandila sa iba’t-ibang pang-internasyonal na kompetisyon sa iba’t-ibang panig ng daigdig, ay itinaya rin ang kanilang buhay sa larangan ng digmaan.
Sa kabuuang bilang, 19 sa kanila ang nagdala sa pangalang Pilipinas at sa saliang Pilipino sa iba’t-ibang kompetisyon sa athletics, 10 sa swimming, siyam sa baseball, lima sa basketball, tatlo sa boxing, tig-dalaw sa football at tennis at tig-isa sa wrestling at shooting.
Noong Hulyo 17, 1951, isang plakeng may sukat na 33x24 na pulgada na gawa sa bronze na nagtataglay ng kanilang mga pangalan ang ikinabit sa dingding ng basketball coliseum sa loob ng Rizal Memorial Sports Complex ng ngayon ay wala nang Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation (PAAF) bilang pag-gunita sa kanilang kabayanihan.
Ang seremonya ay pinangunahan ng noon ay pangulo ng PAAF at kinatawaann ng International Olympic Committee sa Pilipinas na si Jorge Vargas. Kabilang sa mga dumalo ay ang mga opisyal at kinatawan ng mahigit 50 sports association, at ang athletic moderator ng Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Rev. Fr..Martin Diez.
Pitumpu at isang taon ang nakalipas mula noon, wala man ni isa sa mga sumunod na liderato ng sports sa bansa ang kahit papaano ay nakalaalaa na kilalanin ang kabayanihang ito ng atletang sundalong Pinoy para makamit ang kalayaaan at kasarinlan.
Sa loob ng maraming taon, wala mang nakapansin sa plakeng nakasabikt sa harapan ng basketball coliseum na ang akala pa ng marami ay isang ordinaryong marking naglalaman ng pangalan ng atkitekto at inhenyerong nagtayo ng gusali.
Hanggang sa mapuna ito ng pamunuan ng Philippine Soorts Commission na noong nakaraang ilang taon ay inilipat ang plake sa maliit na daang patungo sa Ninoy Aquino Stadium. At saka pa lamang napagtanto ng mga dumadaang atleta, opisyal ng sports at bumubisita sa RMSC na ang naturang marker ay naglalaman ng mga pangalan ng ilan sa mga Pilipinong Olympic medalist na kinabibilangan nina swimmer Teofi lo ldefonso, trackster Miguel hite, at pito pang Olympian at 43 pang internationalist na pumanaw noong World War II sa pagtatanggol sa bayan.
Marami sa mga kinilala ay miyembro ng Philippine Scouts, USAFFE o underground guerilla unit. Tatlo ay naparangalan bilang “Most Outstanding Filipino Athletes of Half-A-Century” tulad nina Yldefonso, basketball Olympian Jacinto “Jumping Jack” Ciria Cruz at football star Virgilio Lobregat..
Si Yldefonso. Isang Philippine Scout na tubong Piddig, Ilocos Norte, ay matatandaang kauna-unahang Pilipinong nakapag-uwi ng dalawang Olympic bronze medals sa 200-meter breaststroke, noong 1928 sa Amsterdam at 1932 sa Los Angeles.
Binawian siya ng buhay sa kasumpa-sumpang ‘Death March’ mula Mariveles, Bataan hanggang Capas Concentration Camp sa Tarlac.
Si White ng Legaspi City sa Bicol, ay isa ring bronze medalist sa 400-meter hurdles noong 1936 Olympic Games sa Berlin kung saan si Ciria Cruz, kasama ni basketball Olympian Amador Obordo, ay nakatulong sa Pilipinas na tumapos na panlima na hanggang sa panahong ito ay hindi pa napapantayan ng anumang bansa sa Asya.
Si Ciria Cruz ay pinatay ng mga mananakop na Hapones habang nagsasagawa ng underground works in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya.
Maliban kina Yldefonso, White, Ciria Cruz at Obordo, ang iba pang Pilipino Olympian na naging biktima ng digmaan ay sina Lt. emesio de uzman ng track and fi eld, Lt. Otoniel Gonzaga (shooting), Lt. Simplicio de Castro (boxing) at Lt. Enrique Jurado at Abduraman Ali (swimming).
Si De Guzman ng Philippine Army ay miyembro ng pambansang delegasyon sa IXth Olympiad sa Amsterdam noong 1928, samantalang sina Gonzaga at De Castro ay lumahok sa XIth Games sa Berlin noong 1936. Si Ali ay lumangoy sa XIth Olympiad sa Los Angeles. Sina Yldefonso at White ay dalawa sa 11 Olympic medalist na ginawaran ng “Lifetime Achievement Award” ng Sports Communicators Organization of the Philippines (SCOOP) sa pagdiriwang ng ika-80 anibersaryo ng paglahok ng Pilipinas sa Olimpi- EDDIE G. ALINEA Sala sa Init yada noong 2004.
Maliban kina White at De Guzman, ang iba pang Pilipinong mananakbo, mamumukol at mananalon na naging biktima ng digmaan ay sina Miguel Sugeco, Sgt. Doming Espanol, Lt. Jose Antonio, Mayor Emilio Bucoy, Wenceslao Bansale, Eliseo Razo, Civico Granado, Maximino Pasaporte, Albino angayan, Delfi n Danguilan, Lt. Constantino Alambra, Moises Lucas, Felizardo Casia, Francisco Danao, Bartolome Barabad, Alejo Alvarez at Simon Santos.
Ang mga manlalangoy na sina Rosendo Aguinaldo, Policasrpio Tolentino, Donato Cabading, Miguel Bartolaso, Ulka Mangona, Jakara Angkang, Bernardino Tugbo at Mauricio Guidote ay mga sundalong atleta ring nagsipanaw tulad nina Yldofonso and Ali.
Ang mga manlalaro ng baseball na kumatawan sa bansa ilang kompetisyong internasyonal kabilang ang Far Eastern Olympic Games na kinilalang pinagmulan ngayon ay Asian Games ay sina Sgt. Aquilino Jacob, Cpl. Pablo Chu, Sgt. Gervacio Estorba, Atilano Rivera, Cacimiro Francisco, Ramon Oncinian, Toribio Oncinian, Regino Bertulfo at Cipriano Platon.
Ang iba pang non-Olympic athlete na binawian ng buhan habang nakasuot ng uniporme ng militasr ay sina Carlos Canillas, Albert Murrow at Robert Keesy sa basketball; Francisco Zarcal at Martin Roxas sa boksing, Jose Miranda sa football at Concepcion Santos-Cepeda at Juan Ladaw Jr. sa tennis.
Si Ginang Cepeda na matagal naging kampeon sa tennis, ay kapatid ni Simon Santos na sumakabilang buhay din noong panahon ng giyera habang lumalaban sa kanyang sport.
Q : W hy do credit card companies sue and when you should expect it when you stop paying?
A: The woes of credit card problems. It is not a big problem until you stop paying or start missing payments. Even just the sight of how much you owe can give you a headache, knowing that you are in an endless process of trying to pay it off especially if making minimum payments.
This is what happens when you stop paying your credit cards. • 30 days past due-You mostly get a slap on the wrist with a penalty and a late charge. Some companies do not even report a 30 day late payment. • 60 days past due-When you missed payment for 2 months, the credit card company will raise the interest to the maximum allowed by the agreement and more late fees and penalties will apply. • 90 days past due-When you have missed payment for 3 months, it becomes an impossible task because they have tagged on more late fees, interest are sky high and the principal due will be 3 times. • 120 days past due-At this point you already know that you will not be making payments on this debt and more interests and penalties are accrued. The credit card company may decide to charge off the account or send it to a third party collector.
So when does it get better? Not yet! They may decide to sue you for the balance owed (Statutes of limitation vary from the state or country you are in). This gets worst. If there is a co-signer on the account, they may go after this person. Remember that a co-signer guarantees payment of the loan whether you or they were the ones who used the credit card.
If they decide to sue you, a judgement will mostly carry the principal amount, interests, penalties, court costs and attorney fees. A judgement that can be imposed also vary on the state you are in. A judgement against you can yield into a wage garnishment, a bank levy or a lien on real property.
If there are mitigating factors as to why you have not been making your payments such as job loss, extreme hardship, disability etc., you may bring this up but these does not release you from the liability. The credit card companies will still want their money.
The most common defenses that people have against a credit card lawsuit is denying the statements of the complaint by arguing that they are untrue. These denials are typically a question of whether something is true or not. You should also bring up facts or affi rmative defenses that merits your case i.e. the debt is more that years old.
Whatever the case, I would not ask anyone to go to court unprepared or without counsel. Most people will just not show up and this is the worst thing you can do because you automatically get a judgement. And by not showing, you have given up any control of the outcome of your case.
Ating lesson, Demanda ay iwasan, utang ay bayaran.
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Tawag na po sa 1- - 1-52 at tutulungan po namin kayo.
Itama po natin ang mali!
23 June 16-22, 2022
COMMUNITY NEWS PHL embassy welcomes PYLP youth leaders from Mindanao
PYLP delegates doing their batch pose w ith Deputy Chief of M ission Jaim e Ram on T. Ascalon, Jr. (2nd row, center) and Consul General Iric C. Arribas (2nd row, 3rd from right)
WASHINGTON D.C. – A 24-member student delegation from Mindanao, Philippines visited the Philippine Embassy on June 07, 2022, as part of their educational fi eld trip in ashington D.C.
Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) Jaime Ramon T. Ascalon, Jr. and Consul General Iric C. Arribas welcomed the youth leaders to the Embassy and had a productive exchange on several topics. The delegation likewise performed a lively cultural show for the Embassy personnel. The delegation is currently in the United States under the Philippine Youth Leadership Program (PYLP) of the Northern Illinois University (NIU) and is led by their NIU Program Director Ms. Rhodalyne GalloCrail. They will soon be heading home to the Philippines to hopefully put to practice the knowledge they have learned under the PYLP as aspiring future leaders of the country.
PYLP is a leadership development exchange that off ers hilippine secondary students ages 15-1 years old and adult mentors from Mindanao for a four-week training in the United States. PYLP focuses on responsible citizenship, civic leadership, community development, and project management. This initiative is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Aff airs of the .S. Department of State in partnership with the Northern Illinois University in the U.S. and University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) in Mindanao, Philippines. It is a youth exchange program that aims to empower young people and establish long-lasting ties between the Philippines and the U.S. Since its inception in 2004, PYLP has produced more than 420 Filipino youth alumni.
“Your visit and interactions in the United States will certainly contribute to promoting people-to-people ties between the Philippines and the U.S. I also hope your trip here will inspire you to become dedicated leaders of our country.” said DCM Ascalon in his welcoming remarks.
The discussion that followed focused on overall PH-US relations, the Embassy’s role and initiatives during the CO ID-1 pandemic, and how to start a career in the Philippine foreign service.
DCM Ascalon also encouraged the students to pursue a career in foreign service: “It is a challenging profession, since you will be handling political, economic, and several specialized issues on international law, climate change, etc, but at the same time rewarding because you will be serving the Filipino people.”
ConGen Arribas, in emphasizing the students’ backgrounds as Mindanaons, added that “Being a diplomat actually involves a lot of interpersonal relations so if you choose to become a diplomat, you would be representing your country but you would also be representing yourself as a person… As Filipinos, we are also diverse in terms of culture, in terms of religion, in terms of language… If you will enrich the Philippine foreign service with your religious and cultural backgrounds, then just imagine how powerful the Filipino foreign service could be.”
DCM Ascalon also took the opportunity to ask the young leaders what message they would want to convey to the international community as a Filipino and Mindanaon. They shared that they are proud of both the country’s diversity and of their own individual identity which they believe is an important unifying factor for Filipinos. Furthermore, it was their general sentiment that the global community should know, learn, and understand developments in the Bangsamoro government and Muslim Mindanao.
More information on the PYLP can be found via their website at https://pylp.org/
At Summit of Americas, California, Canada partner to advance bold climate action
LOS ANGELES – Building on California’s global climate leadership and following the partnership established with New Zealand last month, Governor Gavin Newsom and Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau announced a new partnership to advance bold climate action. California and Canada signed a Memorandum of Cooperation MOC fi ghting climate change, reducing pollution, cutting back on plastic waste, advancing zero-emission vehicles, protecting the environment and building climate resilience.
At the California Science Center in Los Angeles during the Summit of the Americas, Governor Newsom and Prime Minister Trudeau, along with their respective delegations, held a bilateral meeting to discuss California and Canada’s shared values, including world-leading climate action, protecting fundamental rights, adopting strong gun safety measures and building a vibrant economy that embraces diversity and inclusivity. The partnership is grounded in respect for Indigenous Peoples, recognizing their essential role in climate action and nature protection. e can’t fi ght the climate crisis on our own we need to work together with partners all across the globe to achieve humanity’s most important task: saving our planet,” said Governor Newsom. “This partnership with Canada is a vital step on California’s path to a cleaner, greener future and is the latest expression of our shared values. Together, we are building a more sustainable and resilient future for millions and lighting the path for other nations and nation-states to follow our lead.”
“Canadians and Californians share a commitment to building a clean, strong future,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “Today, as we launch a new partnership on climate action and nature protection, we’re teaming up to deliver the clean air, healthy environment, and good jobs our citizens deserve. I look forward to everything we can do next to deepen our shared work.”
The MOC furthers climate objectives through sharing information and best practices. Canada and California also agreed to convene other like-minded partners at UN Climate Week in September, to drive shared work on wildfi re and forest resilience.
California’s world-leading climate policies have led the state to exceed its 2020 climate target four years ahead of schedule, and created partnerships across the U.S. and around the world. Governor Newsom has committed $47.1 billion to tackle pollution, build climate-
Governor New som and Prim e M inister Trudeau announce new clim ate partnership at Sum m it of the Am ericas
resilient water supplies, reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfi res, ensure grid reliability and accelerate clean energy solutions, and protect communities from extreme heat.
California’s ZEV market is leading the nation in every category and the state is ending the sale of new gas cars by 2035, reducing demand for oil and spurring partnerships across the nation and around the world. Responding to the Governor’s nature-based solutions executive order, which identifi ed California’s lands as a critical yet underutilized sector in the fi ght against climate change, California released the Pathways to 30×30: Accelerating Conservation of California’s Nature strategy and Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy.
Last month, California signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with New Zealand to tackle the climate crisis. That followed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Japan signed earlier this year to advance cooperation on climate and clean energy priorities, and strengthen trade relations. Governor Newsom also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with China to accelerate ongoing initiatives to protect the environment, reduce carbon and air pollution and promote clean technology development. Last year, Governor Newsom and 24 governors from the bipartisan U.S. Climate Alliance committed to collectively achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions no later than 2050. Governor Newsom and other Under2 Coalition partners announced the transition to become a net zero coalition, raising ambition for member states and regions. California also joined the Beyond Oil & Gas Alliance, which brings together national and subnational governments committed to advancing a just transition away from oil and gas production.
Social Security U pdate FACT SHEETS ADDED TO YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY STATEMENT
Your Social Security Statement (Statement) tells you how much you or your family can expect to receive in disability, survivors, and retirement benefi ts. It also provides a record of your most recent earnings history and other valuable information.
We also give you fact sheets with your online Statement. The fact sheets provide clear and useful information, based on your age group and earnings situation. They can help you better understand Social Security programs and benefi ts.
The Statement fact sheets cover the following top-
By Grace Sam son
Social Security Public Aff airs Specialist in Bay Area be subject to the Windfall Elimination Provision and overnment ension Off set. • Social Security basics for new workers. ow people become eligible for benefi ts for people who have not earned enough work credits). • How additional work can increase your future benefi ts. • Medicare readiness for workers aged 62 and up. e recently released a new fact sheet specifi cally for people with limited earnings. The new fact sheet covers how they and their family members may qualify for benefi ts, including • Supplemental Security Income. Social Security retirement benefi ts.
Children’s benefi ts. • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. • Help with health care costs – including Medicare, Medicare Savings Programs, Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug costs, and Medicaid.
The best way to get access to your Statement and the new fact sheets is by using your personal my Social Security account. If you don’t have a personal my Social Security account, be sure to create one at www.ssa. gov/myaccount. You can even view your full earnings history there.
To learn more, visit our Social Security Statement webpage at www.ssa.gov/myaccount/statement.html. Please share these resources with your friends and family.
25 June 16-22, 2022
COMMUNITY NEWS Comcast RISE Investment Fund provides $16 M in grants to support small businesses hardest hit by COVID-19 pandemic
Small Businesses in Atlanta, Detroit, Pitt sburgh, Philadelphia, and Twin Citi es are now eligible to apply for a $10,000 grant from the Comcast RISE Investment Fund, bringing the total to $16 million in grants since the program’s incepti on just 18 months ago
NEW YORK – Comcast announced a new round of cities will receive grants from the Comcast RISE Investment Fund, providing $5 million additional dollars to hundreds of small businesses owned by people of color, including Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, and Asian American owners, and women, bringing the total to $16 million in grants awarded as part of the Comcast RISE Investment Fund initiative.
Beginning on June 1, and through June 14, eligible businesses in Atlanta, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and the Twin Cities can apply for a $10,000 grant at www.ComcastRISE.com. A total of 100 grants per city, or 500 grants overall, will be announced and awarded in July 2022. The Investment Fund is an extension of Comcast RISE, the multi-year, multi-faceted initiative launched in October 2020 to support small businesses and provide the resources and tools they need today and in the future.
Comcast also announced the latest round of Comcast RISE recipients, which includes 1,317 small businesses owned by people of color and women, that will receive grants in the form of a TV campaign, production of a TV commercial or consulting services from ff ectv or computer equipment, internet, voice or cybersecurity from Comcast Business, as well as access to Ureeka, an online platform for entrepreneurs with a specialized online networking community with educational resources, sources of capital, and vetted experts.
To date, more than 8,000 Comcast RISE awardees have been announced and the program will have provided grants supporting 13,000 small businesses by the end of 2022.
“While we know that no single organization can solve historic and systemic inequities overnight, we are committed to taking tangible actions that can drive long-term impact and change,” said Teresa Ward-Maupin, Senior Vice President, Digital and Customer Experience, Comcast Business. “Comcast RISE and the Comcast RISE Investment Fund offer the opportunity for small businesses owned by people of color and women to help grow their businesses, create jobs, and play a vital role in supporting our communities. This new round of Comcast RISE grants will provide more entrepreneurs with the resources and tools they need to scale their businesses and thrive for years to come.”
The Comcast RISE Investment Fund is focused on small businesses that have been in business for three or more years with 1-25 employees. Businesses must be in the following geographic locations to be eligible in this round: Atlanta (Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett Counties), Detroit (City of Detroit including Hamtramck and Highland Park), Pittsburgh (Allegheny County), Philadelphia (Philadelphia County), and the Twin Cities (Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington Counties).
To help drive awareness about the program and provide additional support, training, and mentorship, Comcast has also awarded support to Operation Hope, Ureeka, U.S. Black Chambers, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Heritage Foundation, National Asian American Chamber of Commerce, National CAPACD, Native Women Lead, National Congress of American Indians, Walker’s Legacy, Women Impacting Public Policy, Blavity.org, and nearly 40 community-based organizations in Atlanta, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and the Twin Cities.
“Ureeka is proud to partner with Comcast RISE to grow small businesses nationwide with coaching and digital services,” said, Melissa Bradley, Co-Founder, Ureeka. “We know there are stark disparities in access to capital and resources for entrepreneurs of color and women entrepreneurs. The additional coaching and digital resources that these businesses receive, in addition to potential monetary funding, will help these businesses gain valuable skills and opportunities that will help them move from survive to thrive.”
In addition to the Investment Fund, Comcast RISE, which stands for “Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment,” provides the opportunity for small businesses owned by people of color and women nationwide to apply for grants for one or more of the following support focus areas with the opportunity to receive one. · Marketing Services Grant: The following services from ff ectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, and its creative agency, Mnemonic, are designed to help recipients with their marketing and media campaigns, including:
o Media: A linear TV media campaign to run over a 90-day period. o Creative Production: Turnkey :30 TV commercial production, plus a media strategy consultation and 90-day media placement schedule. o Consult: Digital audits by Ureeka in the form of Website Repair Reports and SEO Keyword reports to target website mechanics and eff ective organic marketing
· Technology Makeover Grants: The state-of-the-art equipment and technology upgrade from Comcast Business includes computer equipment as well as Internet, Voice, and Cybersecurity services for up to a 12-month period. (Taxes and other fees may still apply for technology makeover services.) · Monetary Grants: In round one, which was announced in April of 2021, the Comcast RISE Investment Fund provided $5 million in grants to 500 small businesses owned by people of color in fi ve cities hiladelphia Chester, ouston, Atlanta, Chicago, and Detroit. In round two, which was announced in September of 2021, the Comcast RISE Investment Fund provided $6 million in grants to 600 small businesses in six cities: Miami, Houston, Oakland, Seattle, the Twin Cities, and Washington, D.C. As noted above, the Comcast RISE Investment Fund will provide an additional $5 million in grants to 500 small businesses owned by people of color and women in fi ve cities Atlanta, Detroit, ittsburgh, Philadelphia, and the Twin Cities.
All eligible applicants will receive a monthly Comcast RISE newsletter with educational content, and all small business owners can visit the Comcast RISE destination on the X1 platform featuring aggregated small business news, tips, insights, and more. Just say “Comcast RISE” into the X1 voice remote.
Comcast RISE is part of Comcast’s ongoing eff orts to advance digital equity and help provide underrepresented small business owners with access to the digital tools and funding they need to thrive. Over the next 10 years, Comcast has committed $1 billion to programs and partnerships that will reach tens of millions of people with the skills, opportunities, and resources they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world.
More information and the applications to apply for either the grant program or marketing and technology services are available at www.ComcastRISE.com.
Abou t Com cast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on connectivity, aggregation, and streaming with 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our fi nity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.
Abou t Com cast Business
Comcast usiness off ers thernet, Internet, Wi-Fi, Voice, TV and Managed Enterprise Solutions to help organizations of all sizes transform their business. Powered by an advanced network, and backed by 2 customer support, Comcast usiness is one of the largest contributors to the growth of Comcast Cable. Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and has emerged as a force in the Enterprise market; recognized over the last two years by leading industry associations as one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. For more information, visit www.business.comcast.com or call 866- 429-3085. Follow on Twitter @ ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http business.comcast. com social.
ff ectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, helps local, regional and national advertisers use the best of digital with the power of TV to grow their business. It provides multi-screen marketing solutions to make advertising campaigns more eff ective and easier to execute. Headquartered in New York with offi ces throughout the country, ffectv has a presence in 66 markets with nearly 35 million owned and represented subscribers. For more information, visit www.eff ectv.com.
NaFFAA celebrates passage, signing of legislation for creation of the First National Asian Pacific American History and Culture Museum
Following Governor Newsom’s call for action, California fast-tracks nation-leading gun safety policies
WASHINGTON D.C. - The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) is celebrating the passage of legislation by unanimous consent in both the House and the Senate seeking for the establishment of the irst ational Asian acifi c American History and Culture Museum.
In a statement, the NaFFAA reported that the legislation has been signed by President Joseph Biden Jr.
“ This historic bill authorizes the creation of the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian acifi c American istory and Culture Act,” NaFFAA declared in a statement.
Brendan Flores, NaFFAA President and Chairman, released the following statement:
“We applaud President Biden’s signing of H.R. 3525, the creation of a commission to study the potential creation of a ational Museum of Asian acifi c American History and Culture Act. The stories that will potentially be told in this museum about Asian acifi c American History would send a powerful signal to our nation that Asian Americans, ative awaiians, and acifi c Islanders are just as much part of America as every other community. In these challenging times of wars and divisions, education about our great American history that includes every Asian Pacific American pioneer who helped build this country will hopefully bring muchneeded understanding to resolve hatred towards our Asian community.”
“The NaFFAA community would also like to thank the bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, as well as those who pushed and supported this bill, especially Congresswoman Meng. This is a critical step towards a more empowered Asian community. We look forward to that day when we travel to the nation’s capital and show our ‘anaks’ and ‘apos’ how their fellow Asians and pioneers played signifi cant roles in the great American history and in making the United States the greatest nation on Earth today. We are excited to tell them these stories and encourage them to be active participants in writing the next chapters of our great American history.”
Since 1997, the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) has been the standard-bearer for promoting the welfare and well-being of the four million Filipinos and Filipino Americans throughout the United States. NaFFAA is the largest non-partisan, non-profi t organization and national affi liation of ilipino American institutions, umbrella organizations, and individuals. Its fourteen-member regions cover the continental United States, Alaska, awaii, and the acifi c Islands.
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom lauded the Judiciary Committees in the Assembly and Senate as they advanced two of the Governor’s sponsored gun safety bills.
The Committees passed legislation creating a private right of action to limit the spread of illegal assault weapons and ghost guns (SB 1327), as well as a bill restricting advertising of fi rearms to minors (AB 2571). The action comes at the urging of the Governor and legislative leaders following the tragic elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas that left 19 children and two teachers dead.
“California has led the nation in reforming our laws to protect communities from gun violence,” Newsom said in a statement sent to Philippine News Today. “This year is no diff erent as we take decisive action to fast-track vital gun safety policies, even as recent federal court decisions threaten to make it more diffi cult to protect Californians from gun violence.”
“Since the 1990s, our laws have prevented countless shootings and saved hundreds of lives. California isn’t waiting for Congress to act to protect our kids from needless gun violence,” the governor said.
The Governor said he continues to push the legislature to expedite gun safety measures. The overnor’s Offi ce recently released a fact sheet that details California’s existing gun safety policies and their success in reducing gun deaths.
Upside...
(From Page 11)
It was confusing for my 8-year-old self to comprehend what was going on. Marcos was my Grandpa’s good friend, growing up in Ilocos Norte, in the northern part of the Philippines and he would tell me tales of how he would come to his house and share meals and stories. It was quite diff erent from what I was watching on TV and what I was observing walking to school. The late Philippine national hero Jose Rizal expressed, “To foretell the destiny of a nation, it is necessary to open the book of her past.”
The raising of the Philippines Flag is an entry point to understand the complicated history of the Philippines. On one hand it is about pride, identity, presence, and representation.
On the other hand it is the complicated relationship between America and the Philippines. The colonial relationship, the system of dependency between our two nations, the generational trauma that has instilled a legacy of colonial mentality that puts Filipino vs Filipino, the acceptance of a revisionist history, and for me, as a Filipino American, a historical duty to create new narratives of self-determination, decolonization, and possibility. My good friend and Pinay hip hop artist Ruby Ibarra,expressed, “As a Filipino American it is my responsibility to stay informed about homeland politics.”
Why is this important for me as a Pinoy or Filipino American? It is because I still have family that lives in the Philippines, but it is also important to understand who I am, by understanding my history, the history of why my family left the Philippines, the history of my people, and how it is connected to understanding the history of the nited States. I raise this fl ag in complicated fashion. I raise it with pride, but I also raise it with critique and a sense of hope.
I hope that this symbol will encourage us to learn and take action about the complicated history of the Philippines, the role of America in manifest destiny and continued occupation, to stand in solidarity with the indigenous peoples of the Philippines, land protectors, activists, organizers, journalists that have the courage to tell a story that is contrary to popular narratives and who have put their lives on the line.
It is essential to “Defend the oppressed and fi ght the oppressor to quote Emilio Jacinto, considered the brains of the Katipunan, the revolutionary army that ousted Spain from the Philippines. It is important more than ever, to “Open the book of her past” to remember what happened in 1972, 1986, and for truth and reconciliation to emerge. ***
M ayor D aus –M agbual is professor of Filipino Studies at Skyline C ollege and Executive D irector of Pin@ y Educational Partnerships.
C herie M . Q uerol M oreno is Executive Editor of Philippine N ew s Today. Offl ine
(From Page 13) acts were commonplace during the martial law era of the incoming president’s father.
The new president so admires his late father that no one should be surprised if he takes the self-same political path that will eventually lead to the declaration of martial law.
Think I’m joking?
Take note that in the past several weeks, he has done everything to look, sound, and even dress like his father. Donning that polo barong with the seal of the Offi ce of the resident is just the beginning.
Then he has also been reviving the tunes forcibly made popular during the martial law era. That Ang Bagong Lipunan song being played wherever he goes is truly maddening.
Meanwhile, news has come out that a movie based on the life story of Senator Imee Marcos is in the works. This has led to such cruel jokes and memes about the likes of AiAi delas Alas playing the sister of the incoming president for no other reason than because the comedienne has a prominent body part.
And while no one should fault Marcos Jr. for bringing his wife to an offi cial function hosted by the embassy of the eople’s epublic of China – she is, after all, the incoming First Lady – it seems he is already grooming his eldest son to take his place somewhere down the road.
It sure feels like it’s back to the early 70s to mid-80s, huh? You know. It’s that era that millions of Filipinos have been brainwashed into believing was some sort of Golden Age.
What comes next is the burning of books that reveal the truths about the martial law regime, I suppose.
I’ve been wrong before and I hope I am wrong now. But my crystal ball tells me that for the Republic of the Philippines, the worst is yet to come. Health & Wealth (From Page 12)
Hispanic Ministry in San Francisco Bay Area – Joshua Conner, Kain, Floro Anunciacion, Lillian Navasca, Richard Lee dams
JESUS CHRIST subtitled “Final Days on Earth Before His Return to eaven, drawn by ohn eff rey, book author and regular speaker on “READING FOR THE MASTER Segment of MY ANGEL RADIO SAN FRANCISCO - Nemesio Umblas, Ven Uriarte, Gordon Wong, Diana Montoya Yatco, Lilli Ann Sabiniano
QUARTERLY JOURNAL – published by Christian World Ministry with the theme “Reaching Out to the World,”, drawn by Terry Denis, Evangelist and Publisher – Violeta Umblas, Felicidad Palma, Francis Cayabyab, Marie Antonette Wong, Lourdes Gadong Medios.
REAL ESTATE & YOU ( 277 pages , Paperback Amazon price is $15.95 per ccpy plus shipping and handling) subtitled “Your Basic Guide & Information for Successful Investing in Home,.Land and Income Property,” drawn by Christine Lee, regular English & Chinese speaker, “Sisters Act at Golden Gate Segment of MY ANGEL RADIO SAN FRANCISCO – Sandra Uriarte, Carmelita Bumanglag, Divina Montoya Yatco, Denis Madlaing, Celestino Medios, Silvia Wilson inners of the CC Monthly a e can claim their prizes by calling (650)438-3531 or (415)584-7095 or email”artmadlaing@ gmail.com Winners will be announced also during the Live Broadcast of the MY ANGEL RADIO SAN FRANCISCO every Saturday, 11am to 4pm.
The ne t CC Monthly a e will be held during the regular live broadcast of the global MY ANGEL RADIO SAN FRANCISCO on July 2,2002, between 11am to 4pm. There are several ways you can join the CC Monthly a e namely 1. isit A arber Shop located near the corner of School Street and Mission Street in Daly City and ABE Barber Shop located near the corner of Mission Street and Allison Street in San Francisco and SIGN the RAFFLE REGISTRATION LOG; 2. Visit MY ANGEL RADIO studio located inside the GGCC building, 701-8th Avenue, San Francisco, California during Live Broadcast every Saturday, 11am to 4pm and SIGN the RAFLE REGISTRATION LOG. 3. Join the Bible Class (10am )and Worship Services (11am) every Sunday at the GOLDEN GATE CHURCH OF CHRIST Auditorium, 701 -8th Avenue, San Francisco, California and SIGN the RAFFLE REGISTRATION LOG *ART GABOT MADLAING is accredited and commissioned Notary Public and licensed Real Estate Broker (BRE# 00635976)in California since 1981. He is founder of MOBILE SIGNING SERVICES, FITNESS FR HUMANITY (aka FITNESS FOR CHRIST) and ACAPINOY Art is active Evangelist with the GOLDEN GATE CHURCH OF CHRIST in San Francisco, California
The Outsider (From Page 12)
ter bringing in additional investments into Manila Water to pursue more projects and improve its water and wastewater services.
Udenna Corporation is optimistic about the Razon Group’s entry into the Malampaya project. “We look forward to this opportunity to partner with Prime Infrastructure and OC C, as we e plore more ways to fulfi ll our common vision to make Malampaya sustain its capability to meet the urgent energy security needs of the Philippines,” said Udenna Corporation Chairman and CEO Dennis Uy.
By becoming a strategic investor in Malampaya, Razon has once more become a white knight.
PerryScope... (From Page 12)
to maintain a suffi cient self-defense capabilities. owever, the decision about the nature and quantity of defense services that America will provide to Taiwan is to be determined by the President and Congress. And this is where the US’s policy of “strategic ambiguity” comes in. It is designed to dissuade Taiwan from unilaterally declaring its independence, and to dissuade China from unilaterally unifying Taiwan with China.
With the provisions of the Taiwan Relations Act, China and Taiwan are dissuaded from joining into one government, unless China decides to invade Taiwan or on the other hand, Taiwan unilaterally declared independence. But Taiwan under the terms of the Taiwan Relations Act would not unilaterally declare its independence. Unless, it goes rogue, which is unthinkable. Therefore for war to erupt between China and Taiwan, it’s all up to China. And if China attacks Taiwan, then the US has the prerogative to exercise its policy of “strategic ambiguity.”
Status quo
It would appear then that the status quo would remain in eff ect unless China decides to attack Taiwan, which could lead to World War III. So what is China doing by saber-rattling unless the Chinese leadership is yearning for a fi ght with Taiwan
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin then was right when he blasted China’s “provocative and destabilizing” military activity near Taiwan. China should— nay, must— stop sending its bombers and jet fi ghters across the Taiwan Strait towards Taiwan in an attempt to test Taiwan’s defenses. China has conducted dozens of incursions into Taiwan’s air defense identifi cation zone for over a year now. And each time Chinese warplanes were sent across the strait, Taiwan had to scramble its jet fi ghters to meet the intruders in combat. y then, the Chinese warplanes had turned around and fl ew back to China. It’s an exercise in futility but at the same time it tests Taiwan’s determination to defend itself because nobody knows if and when China would invade Taiwan. (PerryDiaz@gmail.com)
Diliman Way
(From Page 13)
mind. Why? Is it not irrational, if not insane, for anyone to ask people’s support for someone who is unfi t to be resident Second, PR D possibly wants people support for BB M who could be a greater failure than him despite people’s support. That would make PR D expansive and thoroughly happy that his assessment of BB M turns out to be correct Third, he is doing that because his daughter, incoming. Vice President Sara Duterte Carpio, will succeed BB M as President if anything happens to BB M at anytime within the next six years – and that is an undeniable possibility
Fourth, based on his performance as President and especially considering his age and physical condition, he appears not care what happens to the country and our people. This maybe a harsh judgment on PR D but as lawyers like him say –res ipsa loquitor, the thing speaks for itself The words and action speak for the man – PR D.
If the great comedian, DOLPHY, were still alive and hearing this urging of PR D to support incoming President BB M, he would have exclaimed with his favorite punch line – Dassa lot of nonsense! ust reminding If I were M and Sara, but I will never be them nor will they be me not if we live a million lifetimes, I will ask PR D to retract his statement about BB M being a weak leader, a cocaine user and a spoiled brat. By doing that, he makes his appeal to our people more credible and capable of being followed? How will he retract? There is a simple way of doing it – he will just say he was joking like he was joking when he seriously and repeatedly told our people he would ride on a jetski to plant the ilipino fl ag at the Scarborough Shoal in defi ance of the Chinese military forces. And the people believed him – that’s why sixteen million voters voted him into offi ce.
Lately, PR D said that those who believed him about the jetski ride to the Scarborough Shoal must be stupid because he was only joking. So sixteen million stupid voters elected him President – but none among the stupid voters reacted to this PR D insult. Instead, they accepted the insult, enjoyed it and they almost died laughing, very happy that they were insulted.
What kind of voters? What kind of people? No wonder we are in a rut as we have voters and people who are impervious to insults. These are the types who should join the fi shes in the Mindanao Deep in Surigao for the good of the country.
But will President Duterte retract? I have my serious doubts? Why doubts? Duterte did not retract his statements – that the Christian God is stupid, his insults against the Pope and President Obama, his saying that women are only a matter of biology. Why do it just to placate BB M? After all, the thirty one million voters who elected BB M President - according to COMELEC, SMARTMATIC, survey groups like SWS and PULSE ASIA – did not believe PR D because they voted BB M President. If they believed Rodrigo Duterte about M not being fi t for resident, M would have lost the election.
There is more to come in the succeeding articles. But for now, I have this consolation from the fi rst stanza of Invictus, a poem by William Ernest Henley –
“Out of the night that covers me
Black as the pit from pole to pole
I thank whatever gods maybe
For my unconquerable soul”
WHO warns of ‘real’ monkeypox risk, Covid-19 pandemic ‘not over’
A There is a “real risk of monkeypo becoming established in non-endemic countries, the orld ealth Organization warned, while also reiterating that the Covid-1 pandemic “is not over.
“More than 1,000 confi rmed cases of monkeypo have now been reported to O from 2 countries that are not endemic for the disease, said O chief Tedros hebreyesus.
He said no deaths have been reported in the outbreaks, adding that the health agency “does not recommend mass vaccination against monkeypo .
“Cases have been reported mainly, but not only, among men who have se with men. Some countries are now beginning to report cases of apparent community transmission, including some cases in women, said Tedros.
He said the spread of the disease to several non-endemic countries “suggests that there might have been undetected transmission for some time.
“The risk of monkeypox becoming established in non-endemic countries is real, he emphasized.
He pointed out that the “virus has been circulating and killing in Africa for decades, with more than 1, 00 suspected cases and deaths across the continent just this year.
“It’s an unfortunate refl ection of the world we live in that the international community is only now paying attention to monkeypox because it has appeared in high-income countries, he added.
Tedros said the perception that the Covid-1 pandemic is over is “misguided as the virus claimed more than ,000 lives last week.
“The pandemic is not over, and we will keep saying it’s not over until it is, he asserted. hile cases and deaths decline globally, the O continues to urge caution as there is “not enough testing and not enough vaccination worldwide, he e plained.
On average, some 5 percent of health workers and people over 60 globally have been vaccinated, according to the O chief.
The rates, however, are “much lower in low-income countries, said the O chief, adding that “ countries have still not achieved 0 percent coverage.
“ accine supply is now suffi cient, but demand in many countries with the lowest vaccination rates is lacking, said Tedros.
He warned that a “new and even more dangerous variant could emerge at any time.
The O is also monitoring reports of une plained hepatitis in children around the world, according to Tedros.
“More than 700 probable cases of hepatitis of unknown cause in children have now been reported to O from countries, and a further 112 cases are under investigation, he said.
“At least of these children have needed liver transplants, and 10 have died. e said the agency is working with countries to investigate the cause, but the fi ve viruses that commonly cause hepatitis have not been detected in any of these cases.
“ O receives reports of une plained hepatitis in children every year, but a few countries have indicated that the rates they are seeing are above what is expected, said Tedros
Doctor jailed
PHILIP S. CHUA
Heart of Hope
The Washington Post reported the following shameful news: “A California doctor, Jennings Ryan Staley, MD, who prescribed hydroxychloroquine as part of a ‘covid treatment kit’ that he guaranteed would cure the disease was sentenced last week to 30 days in prison and a year-long home con-
fi nement.
Added info from the US Department of Justice: “This physician previously pled guilty to one count of importation contrary to law, admitting he attempted to smuggle hydro ychloroquine into the .S. by working with a Chinese supplier that would mislabel 26 pounds of hydroxychloroquine as yam e tract’.
How he was caught: “After people alerted the FBI to promotional emails from Staley’s Skinny Beach Med Spa, an undercover agent posing as a customer asked about the treatment kit and was assured by Staley that hydroxychloroquine was a ‘magic bullet’ and ‘amazing cure.’ Dr. Staley added that CO ID-1 literally disappears in hours’ after taking the drug. o ethical physicians would use the word “guarantee when it comes to any treatment, even if they knew it would work well.
That was certainly a fraud, misrepresentation, deception, and malpractice goaded by fi nancial greed and a grave breach of our sworn ippocratic Oath. rimum non-nocere (First, do no harm) is the principal precept of bioethics our medical profession is based upon. is deviation from the standard of medical care (hydroxychloroquine is not approved for the treatment of CO ID-1 and marketing of his “guaranteed cure, which are false and unethical, endanger unsuspecting people, who might fall victims to his deceptive advertisement and forego the proper treatment for this deadly killer virus, putting their lives in jeopardy, just to enrich himself.
As a physician, I fi nd this embarrassing and a blemish on the medical profession. Although his license was suspended, was the 30-day jail term too lenient for the multiple crimes he had committed?
CO D
Chronic Obstructive ulmonary Disease is a common lung condition, especially among long-term cigarette smokers. The to ic smoke burns the lung tissues, causing ballooning out of the air sacs (emphysema), rendering them ineffi cient in o ygen absorption and transfer mi ture with blood, the reason why persons with CO D are short of breath most of the time. The blood is not o ygenated well enough for the body.
CO D could also be caused by other harmful agents, like toxic chemicals in the environment like in industrial chemical plants or laboratories, or from the normal hydrochloric acid, the natural gastric juice in our own stomach that aids in digestion.
In persons with gastro-esophageal refl u , where the sphincter in the junction between the esophagus and the stomach is not competent (too loose), acidic gastric acid juices or acid fumes back up and are inhaled into the lungs, especially when lying down, resulting in the burning of the lung tissues. ropping the head part of the bed helps the patient breathe a little better and also prevents gastric acid refl u by gravity.
CO D starts with bronchitis the bronchus, or breathing pipe, becomes infl amed and later emphysema damaged, thinned-out air sacs of the lungs . There could be e acerbations or fl are-ups now and then, where the patient could become seriously ill. Consultation with a ulmonologist, preferably at the earliest stage of bronchitis, off ers great benefi ts and comfort to these individuals through the formulation of an action plan.
Putin’s cancer ladimir utin, resident of ussia, whose unprovoked attack on Ukraine, killing countless soldiers, and civilians, including children, an act labeled a genocide, has been reported by ewsweek in April as undergoing “treatment for an undisclosed type of advanced cancer.
CO ID-1 pdate
As of Tuesday, une , 2022, 00 AM ST , CO ID-1 orldwide - 5 ,051, 1 ,
Deaths - , 21, SA - , , , Deaths - 1,0 , 0 The hilippines - , 1, 2, Deaths - 0, 5 . The pandemic is still amidst us, gradually becoming endemic.
The new A.2
The new Omicron subvariant, A.2, which is becoming the dominant CO ID-1 virus in the nited States, is more highly contagious, causes milder infection than Delta and earlier variants, and has symptoms for about two days fewer than those with Delta. ith more than 100 million (33 percent) unvaccinated people in the United States, who are more prone to get infected, and harbor the virus in their bodies, more and newer strains and substrains of the virus are e pected to develop. Masking and social distancing still help, since even those with second boosters could still get infected by the new and yet unidentifi ed strains still under the radar.
Diabetes-CO ID
Long CO ID, or ost-CO ID infection, or Long aul CO ID refers to symptoms of CO ID-1 infection that persist for more than 12 weeks une plained by other causes), like joint pains, extreme tiredness, shortness of breath, chest pains or tightness, “brain fog memory and concentration problems , according to S.
More than 5.1 illion with a doses of the CO ID-1 vaccines have been administered around the world . percent of the global population and around percent of people in the United States are fully vaccinated, proving the CO ID-1 vaccines are safe and eff ective. Those unvaccinated are more prone to get CO ID-1 infection and also have a greater risk for Long CO ID, compared to those who are vaccinated.
A review of 7 studies showed that those with Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 who had CO ID-1 infection were associated with more than times higher chance of developing Long CO ID, according to essica L. arding, h.D., of mory niversity School of Medicine in Atlanta, in her presentation at the American Diabetes Association annual meeting.
Dogs detect CO ID Our most loyal pet, following specialty training, is able to sniff out CO ID-1 infection, even before symptoms occur, “more accurately than rapid antigen testing. or decades, trained dogs have been known to diagnose epileptic seizures shortly before they happen, Malaria, Prostate Cancer, hyperglycemia (when the blood sugar level of a diabetic person goes up dangerously high , etc. to name a few. More popularly, trained dogs can trace escaped convicts, dead bodies buried underground, and hidden illegal drugs. Dogs are indeed smart, patient, forgiving, and faithful animals, much better than some people on earth. If we were all like our pet dogs in attitude, behavior, and virtues, this world would be a better place than what it is now, with no hatred, anger, or killings, and, instead, be fi lled with love, joy, and peace on earth.
Philip S. C hua, M D , FAC S, FPC S, a C ardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in N orthw est Indiana and Las Vegas, N evada, is an international medical lecturer/author, H ealth Advocate, new spaper columnist, and C hairman of the Filipino U nited N etw ork-U SA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the U nited States. W ebsites: FU N 8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com
INSPIRATIONAL ARTICLE FOR THE WEEK
TRY HIM ONCE MORE
By TIM PEDROSA
Some years ago in a manufacturing town of Scotland a young lady applied to the superintendent of a Sunday school for a class. At his suggestion she gathered a class of poor boys. The superintendent told them to come to his house during the week and he would give them each a new suit of clothes. They came, and each was nicely fi tted out. The worst and most unpromising boy in the class was a lad named Bob. After two or three Sundays he was missing and the teacher went out to hunt him up. She found that his new clothes were torn and dirty, but she invited him back to school, and he came. The superintendent gave him a second new suit, but after attending once or twice, Bob was again absent. Once again she sought him out, only to fi nd that the second suit had gone the way of the fi rst. “I am utterly discouraged with Bob,” she said, when she reported the case to the superintendent, “and I must give him up.” “Please don’t do that,” the superintendent replied. “I can’t but hope there is something good in Bob. Try him once more. I’ll give him a third suit if he’ll promise to attend regularly.”
Bob did promise, and received his third new suit. He attended regularly after that, and became interested in the school. He became an earnest and persevering seeker after Jesus, and found Him. He joined the church. He was made a teacher. He studied for the ministry. The end of the story is that this discouraging boy -- forlorn, rugged, runaway Bob -- became Robert Morrison, the great missionary to China who translated the Bible into the Chinese language, and by so doing, opened the kingdom of heaven to the teeming millions of that vast country.
Unplugged for God
God is a Great God but also a Simple One. He is The Wonderful and The Awesome but also The Humble and The Hidden. He can tell us His message in a loud way, like through lightning and thunder, but He speaks more to us in silence. It is mostly in the innocuous, in the secret, or in the silence that He talks with eloquence. Can you listen to God in the midst of noise ven ourselves, we fi nd it very diffi cult to communicate, to listen to the other talking and us replying, in the midst of noise. So, we have to give our attention and focus if ever we have to communicate with someone. Our time is characterized by technological and scientifi c progress yet, just as we have advanced ourselves in these areas we are also impoverishing in other areas of our e istence. e have computers and smart phones to connect us however, more and more we realize we are becoming islands to each other. We are separated neither maybe by space, because the other might just be in front of us nor separated by time, because technology is so fast that the other of hundreds of miles away sems to be just there beside or before us. Like od, e is present in us but we treat im as if e is absent. e know e can see us but we consider im as if He is blind. Let us take some images to illustrate the point: The boyfriend texts his girlfriend: “Hey, let’s get together at our usual restaurant after work.” Indeed, they would do, but while together each one has their phone on hand and both are browsing or updating their Facebooks and commenting on whatever is posted with other friends, and so on. They maybe there physically but are actually absent to each other. Also, a son or daughter texted their mom and dad, “I miss you mom and dad, I’m coming home this summer to visit you.” Indeed, the daughter or son went home however, while at home he or she is still minding much his/her phone or computer, doing some work or checking emails, or talking to their friends or colleagues, to be interrupted only by some small chats with mom and dad’s: “Hi – hello” and “how was work or how is studies and other superfi cial conversations. The son or daughter is home but actually still far away from being home. They miss their mom and dad but they could not sit down for long with them, and they can’t wait to get back to work or be out the soonest. Many of us fi nd our world around us so noisy already, we want to have some silence, but when we have the time to rest, the time to be silent, we cannot wait to get out of it. We keep looking at our watch, we are uneasy, we feel actually scared being silent. We would like to have some desired vacation, but when we fi nally have it, we are still hooked into our gadgets and could not even stand for an hour without calling somebody or being called by someone. e are so much plugged in to our worldly aff airs that we are living and spending our life away in ways that we would not even notice how we have lived each day. We could even miss how the best friend look like or how the husband or wife get his or her wrinkles, or how the children have grown. And worse in morals and spiritual life, a person may not even notice if he or she ever believed there is od if ever it is necessary to have a relationship with God.
We need to learn to unplug ourselves from the world in order to be plugged in to God’s world. We have to willingly unplug ourselves from the noise around, so as to plug ourselves into silence the silence that connects us to our inner self the silence that can make us converse with God. We cannot concern ourselves with the heavenly things, if we cannot unplug ourselves from our attachments to our worldly aff airs. e should work, we should pursue a career, but we cannot let them hinder our journey to our eternal homeland. We have to discipline ourselves with the use of our gadgets and other earthly things in order, that we can attune ourselves to the things that are essential – to prayer, to our Church life, to growing in virtues, to a lifestyle pleasing to God, to making faith alive in the family, etc. By unplugging ourselves from what matter to us we have the opportunity to plug ourselves into God. We have to remember always, God and what matter to Him are the essentials in our life all the rest are secondary. Amen. Afl ame The Heart REV. JOSE PELAGIO A. PADIT, SThD
Recipe of the Week
Pork Estofado
Pork Estofado, The Pinoy version of pork estofado is similar to adobo. It is pork stewed in soy sauce, vinegar and sugar. During the fi nal cooking stage plantain banana is added
Ingredients:
1/2 kilo pork cut into large serving pieces 3 pcs. saba , plantain banana, sliced diagonally 1 medium size carrot, sliced diagonally 1 small bundle spring onion, chopped 1/2 head garlic, crushed 2 tbsp. sugar 1/2 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup vinegar 1 tsp. peppercorns 2-3 pcs. bay leaf cooking oil salt
Cook ing p rocedure:
In a sauce pan brown lightly pork on all sides and keep aside. In same pan stir cook garlic until fragrant. Add in pork and pour in soy sauce, vinegar and 3-4 cups of water now add in sugar, peppercorns and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, do not stir and simmer in medium heat for 20-30 minutes or until pork are almost tender, add more water as necessary. Add in carrot and banana and cook for 5-10 minutes or until carrot and banana are just cooked and the liquid has reduce to almost dry and oily. Correct saltiness if required and garnish with spring onion. Serve hot.
AESTHETIC LIGHTS. The lighted San Juanico Bridge during a test run.
San Juanico Bridge lighting project nears completion, more tourists expected
TACLOBAN CITY – The two-kilometer San Juanico Bridge will soon be a big tourist attraction again, especially at night.
This as the bridge’s aesthetic lighting project is almost complete with the contractor just fi nalizing the light sequence programming, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT).
DOT Eastern Visayas Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes said the project is now 95 to 98 percent complete and the schedule of the lights-up ceremony will be announced soon.
“The sound component is just a temporary set up since it was supposed to be located at the boardwalk. The boardwalk’s construction was deferred since the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) diverted its fund for pandemic response last 2020. This project is still a go. TIEZA has committed to prioritize this when they resume their infrastructure project implementation,” Tiopes said.
The offi cial said the bridge is being lighted regularly, but it’s “not the fi nal rendition yet since diff erent light show programs are still being uploaded.”
“So, if on some nights the light show isn’t on or if some light display glitches are observed, please bear with us. The contractor is simply making sure that when the offi cial lights-up ceremony is done, the show will be spectacular,” she added in Sarwell Meniano’s PNA report.
The P80-million San Juanico Aesthetic Lighting project was approved in 2018, with bidding that started in 2019, and groundworks that began in the same year.
It was initially targeted for completion in the second quarter of 2020 but was affected by the restriction due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, pushing the revised completion date to December last year.
However, during the test run, it was found that the power supply from a substation supplying electricity to the bridge was unstable.
Major issues were addressed, and offi cials revised the full completion date to Aug. 11, 2021 in time for the 180th Samar Day celebration.
In August 2021, offi cials announced that the rehabilitation of the San Juanico Bridge has further delayed its muchawaited lighting project when workers unintentionally removed some of the bulbs and its fi ber optics in their attempt to replace bridge bolts and install scaffoldings.
Under initial plans, the lighting will be in the default position for 45 minutes per hour in white and strobe lights. There will be a 10-minute light show six times nightly.
The colors may also depend on the occasion, such as red for Valentine’s, red and green for Christmas, and violet for Lent.
Offi cials assured that lights will not distract traffi c fl ow at the bridge that forms part of the country’s longest highway that links Luzon to Mindanao.
Aesthetic lights are not visible to motorists passing the bridge, according to the contractor.
The bridge’s transformation would be a new attraction under the Spark Samar, a branding campaign of the local government that was launched in 2015.
The San Juanico Bridge, which spans 2.162 kilometers, was built as part of the Pan-Philippine Highway now called the Maharlika Highway, a network of roads, bridges, and sea routes that connect the islands of Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao.
