Philippine News today

U.S. DEFENSE OF

TREATY

in first visit

By ALFRED GABOT, Editor-in-Chief

NEW YORK/MANILA – With assurance from United States President Joseph Biden Jr. of an “iron clad” policy to defend the Philippines in case of outside aggression in keeping with 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty of the two countries, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he is looking forward to stepped up partnership with America as well as more investments that will benefit the Filipinos and the country.

PASAY CITY - Twelve Cabinet secretaries and two commissioners have been bypassed by the Commission on Appointments as Congress adjourned.

The 12 Cabinet members would have to be re-appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. so they could continue to function.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, chairman of the CA, a constitutional body composed of members of the Senate and the House

By Jun Nucum

By Be�ng Laygo Dolor, Editor

MANILA – One of the most respected members of the House of Representatives known for his frequently accurate predictions of where the economy is going has some really bad news.

Rep. Joey Salceda said the fall of the peso – which closed at P48.50:$1 at the end of trading last week – can be expected to fall further in the near future, to as low as P65 to P68 to the greenback.

Before turning to politics, Salceda earned a reputation as a wizard of the Philippine stock

market whose advice was much sought after by local and global investors.

As a member of the House, Salceda – an economist -- heads the committee on ways and means.

He gave a bleak assessment of where the peso was headed, after the local currency fell to record lows for four consecutive days last week.

Salceda told local media, “there’s not much we can do.”

He explained that the falling peso would have an ef-

SAN FRANCISCO - Fifty years have passed since Martial Law was declared in 1972 in the Philippines but Filipinos have not really learned much and most do not see much hope for the country under the administration of Pres-

ident “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., son of the one responsible for the September 21, 1972 declaration, President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. .

This is the view of participants in a big rally held

WASHINGTON D.C. - The Republic of the Philippines has officially taken cognizance of the unprovoked acts of physical and verbal violence against the Filipino American community, and has asked the US to take concrete action to end it.

Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel ‘Babe’ Romualdez said Manila has raised the issue of hate crimes being perpetrated against FilAms by sending diplomatic notes to the US State Department.

During his confirmation hearings before the Commission on Appointments’ committee on foreign affairs, Romualdez said that while he recog-

MARCOS-BIDEN MEET. US President Joseph Biden Jr. meets Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York. Biden assured US defense of the Philippines under the Mutual Defense Treaty of the two countries.

Veteran US an�-Marcos personality Rodel Rodis

MA A Retired Supreme ourt chief ustice ucas Bersamin is the new executive secretary in Malacanang, having taken his oath of office before President erdinand Marcos Jr. and immediately attended his first abinet meeting on September .

Bersamin, an locano from Abra, replaced Marcos’ long-time aide lawyer ic Rodriguez following his resignation in connection with the sugar export mess.

Rodriguez resigned from the “little president” post ust weeks after being linked to the sugar importation mess. He will continue serving in the government as the Presidential hief of Staff.

Prior to his new post, Bersamin was the chairman of the overnment Service nsurance System S S having been appointed by former President Rodrigo Duterte, in .

Press Secretary rixie ruz Angeles said Marcos’ primary consideration in choosing Bersamin as his new executive

secretary was trust.

“He is well- ualified to be the executive secretary having put in so many years in the udiciary, he has the necessary legal background and the ability to deal with paperwork,” the Press Secretary said. “He is trusted and well- ualified for this.”

Bersamin obtained his law degree from the University of the ast in . During the same year, he placed th in the Bar examinations.

He served as presiding udge of the uezon ity Regional rial ourt Branch beginning ovember , and was a ourt of Appeals associate ustice prior to being appointed to the high court by President loria Macapagal-Arroyo.

As associate ustice, Bersamin voted in favor of hief Justice Maria ourdes Sereno’s ouster, the late dictator erdinand Marcos Sr.’s burial at the Heroes’ emetery, and the Mindanao martial law declaration and extension, among others.

PASAY CITY – The Commission on Appointments A has confirmed the ad interim appointments of Secretary onrado strella of the Department of Agrarian Reform, Secretary oni oyzaga of the Department of nvironment and atural Resources and Secretary hristina rasco of the Department of ourism D .

Also confirmed by the bipartisan and constitutional body were military officials.

n the A hearing, strella vowed before the A that he will not be an “armchair” executive.

“ shall bring government closer to the people,” he told the A members.

A members acknowledged strella’s role in the one-year moratorium on unpaid land amortization of agrarian reform beneficiaries approved by President erdinand Marcos Jr.

or her part, oyzaga assured the D R will be under an ethical, scienceinformed, and risk-based stewardship and will be “inclusive, consultative, and transparent”.

“ e will pursue these goals very carefully but also expeditiously,” she said.

n the other hand, rasco said she is focused on using tourism as a ma or economic tool to contribute to the economic resurgence.

“ otwithstanding all the difficulties that the country has faced, all of the upheavals that our people have suffered through, none of these have served to dampen the beauty of our natural resources and none of these have served to diminish in any way the strength and spirit of ilipino people which we intend to herald under the helm of the Department of ourism,” the former mayor of iloan, ebu said.

Congress panel okays SIM card registration bill vs scams

This as the conference committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives have reconciled their differences on their versions of the bill on SIM cards and approved its final version for final okay by the plenary of both chambers of Congress.

All senators present in the Senate’s 25th regular session voted to ratify Senate Bill 1310 or the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Card Registration Act, said Senator Grace Poe, chair of the Committee on Public Services.

Poe cited Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III and Senator Pia Cayetano for their relevant amendments.

Senate Bill 1310 aims to curb mobile phone and electronic communicationaided crimes by requiring all mobile phone users to present valid governmentissued identification and documents in registering their SIMs or eSIMs.

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PASAY CITY – Registration of subscriber identity module (SIM) cards for mobile phones will soon be compulsory.

MANILA – A former New People’s Army (NPA) rebel claimed that his best friend, a fellow insurgent named Danny Cordero, was allegedly ordered by Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria “Joma” Sison to lob the grenades on the political gathering in Plaza Miranda, uiapo on the fateful night of Aug. 21, 1971.

The bombing was consistently believed by Philippine security officials to be the handiwork of Sison. t left nine people dead and 95 others wounded.

The bombing happened during a Liberal Party proclamation rally for its eight senatorial and Manila mayoralty and council candidates. As the event was about to begin, two hand grenades were hurled at the stage, ripping the speaker’s platform.

Among those killed instantly by the blast were a five-year-old child and he Manila Times photographer Ben Roxas.

Wounded were then congressman for Palawan Ramon . Mitra Jr., then incumbent Senators Jovito Salonga, ddie Ilarde, Eva Estrada-Kalaw, Liberal Party president erardo Roxas, Sergio sme a Jr., lawyer Martin B. sidro who served as councilor, vice mayor and congressman of the City of Manila, Ambrosio “King” orenzo Jr. who served as the second district councilor of Manila, and Ramon

Bagatsing, the party’s mayoral candidate for Manila. Salonga was among those seriously injured.

Peter Mutuc, also known as “Ka Ramon,” made the revelation in an interview with SM on Sept. and reported by PNA.

“’Kami ni Potro ang nag-itsa ng granada sa Plaza Miranda’ Potro and were the ones who threw the grenade at Plaza Miranda ,” he said, uoting ordero during a conversation with him after the bombing.

He said an outraged and weeping Cordero told him that “Potro” was Cecil Apostol.

Mutuc said Cordero was so conscience-stricken that he wanted to take his own life because he could not accept that no less than Sison ordered the attack.

Mutuc recalled that when he asked ordero why he still complied with Sison’s orders, Cordero told him: “ano naman ang magagawa mo kung ang kausap mo ang panginoon, si Joma. natangan ka ng diyos. (what can you do if your ‘god’ ordered you, it’s Joma. our god ordered you to do something).”

He also added that Cordero was executed shortly after the bombing, after he disclosed to some comrades that he was the one who threw the grenade at Plaza Miranda on Sison’s orders.

Mutuc said Cordero was only around 22 to 24 years old and single at the time of the attack.

Ex-NPA cadre: Joma Sison ordered 1971 Plaza Miranda bombing 24 foreign women rescued from human traffickers in Parañaque

Mutuc narrated that on the morning Cordero was executed, he and some comrades were eating when a group of NPAs pushed him to the ground, tied him up, and led him away to a nearby river.

Cordero’s cries of “Mga kasama hindi ako kaaway, hindi ako kaaway mga kasama (Comrades, I am not your enemy)” and “Mabuhay ang Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas (Long live the Communist Party of the Philippines)” were in vain.

Mutuc said he revealed his side of the story about the Plaza Miranda bombing in an effort to get closure.

“Ito po yung dapat magkaroon ng resolusiyon ito, ang nakikita kong resolusyon dito; pangalawa sa para maintindihan ng mga tao, yung mga kasama ko magsalita (First, I want this to have a resolution. Second, want the people to know the truth),” he said.

PARA A U – Police officers rescued 24 foreign women, mostly Chinese and Vietnamese, who were victims of human trafficking during a raid at a condominium complex in Para a ue ity.

Philippine National Police (PNP) deputy chief for administration and officer-incharge t. en. Jose hi uito Malayo said the operation stemmed from an intelligence report about a group of foreign women being detained in the condominium complex.

Members of the local police, in coordination with the Barangay omen Desk fficer B D and officials of the Department of Social elfare and Development DS D of Barangay ambo launched the rescue operation at the Casiana Residences on Monday.

American caught with P19.6-M cocaine at NAIA

PARANAQUE CITY – Law enforcers have arrested a 75-year-old American man for allegedly trying to slip in illegal drugs at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), in its initial report, identified the suspect as Stephen Joseph Szuhar, a retired casino manager. Szuhar reportedly yielded around 3.7 kg. of white powdery substance suspected to be cocaine worth P19.6 million in an interdiction operation conducted by the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (IADITG).

Szuhar arrived at the ustoms nternational Arrival Area in NAIA Terminal

at around 8 p.m. via Qatar Airways Flight QR 932 from Doha, Qatar.

After screening and conduct of inspection, the cocaine was found in his luggage.

Also seized from the suspect were one black luggage containing assorted clothes, several pieces of carbon paper, and three pieces of improvised pouches made of packaging tape each containing a white powdering substance.

he seized materials were submitted to the PD A aboratory Service for ualitative and quantitative examination.

The American will face charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 otherwise known as “The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002”.

Law enforcers interrogate Stephen Joseph Szuhar, a US ci�zen, at the airport.

Bataan-Cavite bridge eng’g design readied

he Department of Public orks and Highways DP H said it is finalizing the detailed engineering design works for the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge that will connect the provinces by the first uarter of .

DP H Senior Undersecretary mil Sadain said that the marine geophysical surveys and geotechnical investigations in evaluating underground conditions and site characterization over the waters of Manila Bay are ongoing with an overall accomplishment of 55 percent to date.

The inspection report to Secretary Manuel Bonoan said the geological aspects of the site, surface and subsurface, have to be studied in detail before the start of construction activities.

gation survey on the waters of Bataan.

he pro ect includes the construction of two cablestayed navigation bridges on either side of historic Corregidor Island.

MARIVELES, Bataan – The government is completing the full engineering design and feasibility study on the construction of a 32-kilometer bridge and highway over Manila Bay linking Naic in Cavite to Mariveles in Bataan.

When completed, the four-lane permanent bridge and highway will cut travel time from Cavite to Bataan from five hours to ust to minutes, according to DP H.

he feasibility studies of the -kilometer pro ect were started and completed under the Duterte administration.

Sadain, Bataan overnor Jose nri ue arcia , Bataan rd District Rep. Maria Angela arcia, Mariveles Mayor Ace Jello oncepcion, and other DP H officials, aboard deepwater vessel rinity Surveyor, witnessed the actual operations of geotechnical investi-

Cebu diocese’s pioneering exorcist dies

BU – Monsignor rederick riekenbeek, one of the leading exorcists of the Catholic Church in ebu, has died. He was .

His death was announced by the Archdiocese of ebu in a acebook post.

“ e humbly ask all the lay faithful to offer special prayers for his eternal rest,” the archdiocese added.

riekenbeek served many parishes until he founded

the religious sisters, Living the Gospel Community, and religious brothers, Mary’s Little Children Community.

“He was one of the pioneering exorcists in the Archdiocese of Cebu,” it said.

He also served as episcopal vicar of atholic charismatic groups in the Cebu archdiocese for a number of years.

Super typhoon Karding leaves 10 dead, 8 missing, P1.3 B in agri damage

By Jennifer Santos

U – en persons. five of them rescuers from Bulacan, died and eight others went missing in the wake of Super Typhoon Karding which also left over P . billion in agricultural damage before leaving the Philippine area of responsibility.

he deaths rose to as the ational Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) recorded two new fatalities in Baliwag, Bulacan and anay, Rizal, both from drowning.

There were eight people dead in the initial death toll ive rescuers in San Miguel, Bulacan who died from drowning two from ambales, one who died from drowning and another in a motorcycle accident and one in Burdeos in Polillo island in Quezon who was killed in a landslide.

The NDRRMC also reported eight people missing: two from Antipolo, Rizal one from Patnanungan, uezon and five fishermen from Mercedes, amarines Norte.

he typhoon wrecked havoc in the provinces of Aurora, uezon, ueva ci a, Bulacan, Pangasinan, Pampanga, arlac, and ambales where palay nearing harvest were destroyed, livestock lost, among others.

Power were also lost in Aurora, ueva ci a and in Polillo and other islands in uezon which carried the brunt of the strong typhoon.

Agricultural damage in uezon province was estimated P million while damage in Pangasinan was estated at P million, according to Pangasinan overnor Ramon uico .

President erdinand Marcos Jr. conducted an aerial inspection over areas affected after presiding over a situation briefing with top government officials at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management ouncil DRRM headquarters in Quezon City.

Marcos ordered immediate assistance to those affected by the typhoon and the restoration of power.

Due to the extent of damage, ueva ci a overnor Aurelio Umali and the

Sangguniang Panlalawigan declared a state of calamity in the province. n Bulacan, overnor Daniel ernando was planning to declare a state of calamity as some towns remained under water.

n ucena city, ice ov. Anacleto Alcala said the provincial council, acting on a re uest of ov. Angelina an, has declared a state of calamity in the island towns of Polillo, Burdeos, Panukulan, Patnanungan, Jomalig and the municipality of General Nakar.

lasses in all levels of schools were suspended as well as government offices in the affected areas.

Assistant Secretary. Bernardo Rafaelito Ale andro, ivil Defense Deputy Administrator for perations and spokesperson of the ational Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said the eight fatalities include five veteran rescuers killed in a ash ood in San Miguel, Bulacan, two fatalities in ambales and one in uezon province.

In its situational report. the NDRRMC reported the estimated cost of damage to infrastructure at million.

The Department of Agriculture last recorded agricultural damage and losses amounting to . billion.

At least , people or , families were also affected by the typhoon, the NDRRMC added.

A total of , people or , families ed their homes to seek shelter in different evacuation centers at the height of the storm.

The estimated damage to agriculture caused by yphoon arding oru rose to P . billion as of September , according to the Department of AgricultureDisaster Risk Reduction and Management ffice DA-DRRM , adding six regions have been primarily affected as “ arding” traversed uzon.

“Damage and losses have been reported in ordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, and Bicol Region amounting to P . billion affecting , farmers and fisherfolk,” the DA said.

The estimated loss to rice production was P . million, followed by high-

value crops at P . million, and corn production at P . million. ikewise, losses in fisheries and livestock were estimated to be worth P million and P . million, respectively.

urrently, the total volume loss is at , metric tons M , affecting , hectares of agricultural areas, the ma ority of the figure affecting rice production.

However, the DA said these figures are still sub ect to validation and may change as the DA-DRRM updates onthe-ground data.

he Agriculture department vowed to provide millions worth of assistance in kind, particularly the distribution of seeds of rice, corn, and high-value crops.

ncluded in the DA’s aid are P . million worth of rice seeds, P . million worth of corn seeds, and P . million worth of assorted vegetable seeds as well as P . million worth of animal heads, drugs, and biologics for livestock and poultry.

he DA has also promised to distribute fingerlings and fishing paraphernalia loanable amounts of up to P ,

he loanable amount will be “payable for three years at zero interest.

Meanwhile, the National Irrigation Administration A said early preparation helped lessen the impact of the super typhoon on irrigation infrastructures.

n a hybrid press briefing, A Administrator Benny Antiporda said their team has closely monitored the in ow and outow of dams in areas hit by “ arding.”

“Based on the outcome, the results of the actions of NIA, wherein all the people have work, shall say hours already in preparation for this Typhoon Karding. That’s the reason, we can say, that the damage to properties and of course, lives, have been lessened,” he said.

Antiporda said among the A’s proactive measures include modification of Magat’s dam protocol in releasing water, and close coordination with the Philippine Atmospheric, eophysical and Astronomical Services Administration PAGASA).

Senate, House agree to reset barangay, SK polls to 2023

MA A – he two chambers of ongress have spoken the forthcoming barangay and sangguniang kabataang barangay elections should be postponed.

Seventeen senators voted to postpone the Barangay and Sangguniang abataan Elections (BSKE) for another year while only Minority eader A uilino Pimentel III and his deputy, Senator Risa Hontiveros, opposed.

Senate Bill proposes to move the Dec. , BS to Dec. ,

to enable ongress to review the existing laws and fix aws.

he House of Representatives already passed on September its version to reset the polls to next year.

Senator Imee Marcos also proposed to extend the term of village and S officials from three years to six and fix their elections every May the year following the presidential elections.

Marcos, chair of the Committee on lectoral Reforms and People’s Partici-

pation, suggested looking into the present S system, citing the feasibility of abolishing the Pederasyon ng Sangguniang abataan at the village level and maintaining it at the city or municipal level.

Pimentel said there is no compelling reason to reschedule the BSKE anew.

“If we proceed with the elections, the incumbent village and S officials would be able to serve a total of four and a half years. ot bad considering that

under the existing policy, the term of office of these officials is three years,” he said, to which Hontiveros agreed.

He said the incumbent officials were not deprived of time to serve their constituents during the pandemic.

“ his election would have been a very good opportunity to conduct a referendum on the performance of the incumbents especially in relation to their handling of the pandemic response,” Pimentel said.

under the Survival and Recovery oan Program, and the activation of the Pmillion Quick Response Fund.

Marcos cites bravery of 5 Bulacan rescuers

“ ur prayers go to the families of eorge Agustin, roy Justin Agustin, Marby Bartolome, arciso alayag Jr., and Jerson Resurreccion. heir courage and bravery will live on in our memory,” he added.

Press Secretary rixie ruz-Angeles also honored the five rescuers for their “heroic” sacrifices and extended sympathy to the families, friends, and colleagues.

Pleyto Sr. filed a resolution expressing the “profound sympathy and sincerest condolences” of the House of Representatives over the death of the five rescuers.

Senators have also paid tribute to the five rescuers in separate resolutions filed by Senators Manuel ito apid, Robinhood Padilla, Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., and Joel illanueva.

MANILA/BULACAN – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. paid tribute to the five rescue workers who died in the line of duty in Bulacan province during the onslaught of yphoon arding oru .

“ am deeply saddened to hear that we lost five good men to yphoon arding yesterday Monday ,” Marcos said in his official acebook account as support from various sectors poured for the families left behind by the five “heroes.”

He also extended prayers to their families and vowed to remember their courage and bravery.

“Hindi matatawaran ang kanilang ipinakitang sakripisyo na kahit sariling buhay nila ay handang ialay para masagip ang ilan nating mga kababayan na nangangailangan ng tulong. Ang buong bansa ay nagbibigaypugay sa kanilang kabayanihan he sacrifice they have shown is priceless, they were ready to risk their own lives to save some of our countrymen who need help. he whole country pays tribute to their heroism ,” she said.

arlier, the provincial government of Bulacan also honored the rescue personnel of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management ffice PDRRM of Bulacan and dubbed them as heroes.

he provincial government has also assured families of the victims of help to defray the costs of the burial as well as the immediate release of their insurance benefits.

arlier, Bulacan th district Representative Salvador

US sends food packs, makeshift shelters to typhoon Karding victims

MA A – he United States has sent four truckloads of food packs and , shelter-grade tarpaulins to help families in entral uzon and alabarzon affected by yphoon arding.

US Ambassador to the Philippines Mary ay arlson said the US mbassy in Manila would continue to coordinate with the Philippine government and its partners to help hard-hit communities on the ground.

“ n response to yphoon arding, we are standing by our friends, partners, and allies the US government, through the US Agency for nternational Aid USA D , is supporting national telecommunications and logistics operations by supplying five trucks to deliver food packs and , shelter tarpaulins to affected families in alabarzon and entral uzon,” the embassy said.

Aside from the US envoy, Japan Ambassador to the Philippines azuhiko oshikawa also sent his thoughts to the families affected by the typhoon.

“My sincerest sympathy to everyone affected by yphoon arding. t is heartbreaking to know its devastating aftermath to many ilipinos’ livelihood the lives lost, especially the death of five rescue workers in

Bulacan. et us hold on together in these tough times,” he said.

Australian Ambassador-designate to the Philippines Hae yong u said anberra also stands ready to support Manila’s recovery efforts.

“Australia sends its heartfelt sympathy to the communities affected by arding. e are saddened by the loss of lives and stand ready to support recovery efforts in the affected areas,” she said.

Peso plunges to new low, nears

Marcos set to respond

By Jeanne Michael Penaranda

MA A - he Philippine peso plunged to its lowest on September at only a centavo away from the P to $1.

he local currency lost centavos to close on September at P . versus last riday’s rate of P . .

ith the development, President erdinand Marcos Jr. is “in constant touch” with the country’s economic managers amid the continued depreciation of the Philippine peso against the US dollar.

“ he President is in constant touch with the economic team and they are closely monitoring this,” said Press Secretary rixie ruz-Angeles in a Palace briefing, when asked if the weakening of the Philippine peso was dis-

cussed during the th abinet meeting presided by Marcos at Malacañan Palace in Manila on September 27.

Peso’s rapid depreciation was not among the issues tackled during Marcos’ meeting with his abinet, ruzAngeles said.

ruz-Angeles, however, assured that Marcos closely monitors the currency movements “on a regular basis.”

“ he President closely monitors on a regular basis and is in close contact with the economic managers on this matter,” she said.

his is the th all-time low of the peso against the greenback so far this month, following previous records on September P . , September P . , September P . , September P . , September P . , September P . , September P , and September . .

ocal authorities said the five rescue workers died after a ash ood swept them while in San Miguel town in Bulacan. Jeanne Michael Penaranda

HEROES. The e rescuers who perished in the line of duty in Bulacan.

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fect on in ation, and the central bank was left with no choice but to follow the steps of the US Federal Reserve, which has been raising interest rates dramatically this year.

“So hang on,” he said, “This is still bound to be quite a ride.”

Sadly, he said, it is the poor who will be heavily hit by the continuing decline of the peso.

Salceda said that “the bottom 30 percent of households in terms of income spend 58.2 percent of their total expenditures on food, and 24.9 percent of total food consumption in the country is imported.”

This means that imports will cost more because more pesos are paid for the same products that cost less a year

Filipinos...

(From page 1)

in front of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, mostly young students, who also held a memorial there.

Northern California Filipino organizations and solidarity grassroots organizations held the rally and vigil to decry President Marcos Jr.’s visit in New York, who, along with his mother Imelda, continue to allegedly circumvent a $353 million contempt judgment by the US court aside from the $10 billion allegedly pocketed during the elder Marcos regime and remain as the beneficiaries of stolen wealth to the detriment of the Filipino people.

In a related development, Luisa Anderson of KGW8 reported that a hundred Filipinos in Oregon shared their experiences 50 years after martial law declaration by hosting a discussion, film screening and prayer vigil in Portland on the day Martial Law was declared 50 years ago in the Philippines.

.

Filipino activists from Portland Bayan and allies shared

ago. Already, the prices of imported goods have taken a noticeable rise in recent weeks, notably the foods usually associated with the Christmas season.

Added Salceda: “A peso depreciation of 25 percent increases their total spending by at least 3.64 percent because of food alone due to first round effects alone. Second round effects, or the effects of increases of imported input costs on domestically produced output, could also pressure household budgets further.”

Unlike the poor, explained Salceda, the rich spend less on food. “The upper 70 percent only spend 39.5 percent of their income on food, so the same depreciation will only hit them by 2.47 percent of expenses.”

Since by definition they are not poor, “they have more space for savings,” he said.

Fuel accounts for some 30 percent of transport and energy costs, on which the poor spend around 15 percent of

their personal experiences living under martial law in the Philippines that brought back trauma and painful memories.

Marcos Jr. met with President Joe Biden face-to-face for the first time on the sidelines of the United ations conference. In a statement, the White House said that the leaders discussed, among others, “the importance of respect for human rights.”

In the San Francisco rally, speakers from across the age group and generation took turns in recounting, blasting the alleged abuses by authorities during Martial Law and even after it was lifted in 1981 through abductions, tortures, incarcerations, illegal detentions, mysterious disappearances, and other human rights abuses, some resulting to salvaging or extra-judicial killings of those who were brave enough to air their voices against the administration.

Amid a makeshift table with two frames of montage of those who suffered during the Marcos regime, the rally participants offered owers as tea light D candles stood in front of a black cloth that served as its backdrop was placed near the doors to the Consulate.

he mostly fiery speeches

12 cabinet...

their income, added Salceda.

“So you’re looking at another 1.13 percent increase in those areas due to a 25 percent peso depreciation, which we are on track to reach year-to-date by the coming weeks,” he said.

Despite the fall of the peso, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said the country’s currency is still stable compared to other currencies which have been taking hits due to the Fed’s aggressive actions.

“The Philippine currency is actually in the middle of the pack,” according to BSP Governor Felipe Medalla, adding that “If one takes a global view, the (Philippine) currency is actually quite stable.”

It is worth noting that the last president who was an economist was the late Benigno Aquino III. At the end of his term, the peso stood at P44 to the dollar.

were interspersed with occasional nationalistic and antiMartial Law chants, noise barrages and a long silence that was punctuated with reading of the names of some victims written in the black cloth that included ean Ale andro, dgar Jopson, iliosa Hilao, Macliing Dulag, orena Barros, mmanuel acaba Silme Domingo, ino Brocka, Bhen Cervantes, Crispin Beltran, Rolando Olalia, Chino Rces, among others.

Among the participants in the crowd was wheelchairbound Brandon ee who was the first US national targeted for and fortunately survived an assassination attempt by the Duterte government. n an interview, he expressed pessimism that he will get justice during the Marcos administration

“There has been no change from the last administration to now. My colleagues in the Philippines are still under attack. They have been abducted, blindfolded, thrown into a van and the harassment has not stopped. They are still being red-tagged and threatened,” Lee shared. “Marcos Jr. is continuing the human rights violations of his father and Duterte and even glorified his father’s Martial aw with no remorse.”

(From page 1)

of Representatives, said among those whose ad interim appointments were bypassed were Press Secretary Trixie ruz-Angeles, nergy Secretary Raphael Perpetuo Lotilla and Finance Secretary Ben amin Diokno.

Also bypassed were Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John nrile Uy, Migrant Workers Secretary Maria Susana Ople, Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan, Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr., Social elfare and Development Secretary rwin ulfo, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual,Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista and ational conomic and Development Authority Director eneral Arsenio Balisacan.

Also bypassed for lack of time were Commission on Audit Chairman Jose Calida and Nelson Java Celis as commissioner of the ommission on lections.

“All the Secretaries, not just Sec. Tulfo and Sec. Bonoan who have not been confi rmed, will have

to seek a reappointment by the President as they would all be considered bypassed,” Zubiri said.

Tulfo and Bonoan’s appointments were supposed to be tackled by the CA on Wednesday but it was deferred due to time constraints.

(From page 1)

Marcos reported on his “productive” first U.S. visit upon his arrival and in other events that followed, including the abinet meeting, pointing out that his meeting with President Biden, United ations Secretary eneral Antonio uterres and some world leaders like Japan Prime Minister umio ishida, and rench President mmanuel Macron as well as American businessmen successfully advanced the country’s interests on the global stage.

n their meeting on the sidelines of the United ations eneral Assembly meeting in ew ork, Biden and Marcos underscored their support for freedom of navigation and over ight and the peaceful resolution of disputes in South hina Sea and est Philippine Sea.

Based on a hite House statement, Biden and Marcos also discussed opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation on a wide range of issues, including energy and food security, climate action, and infrastructure, affirming that Philippine-US remain strong and enduring.

“ e in the Philippine delegation are one in our assessment that the work done in this trip serves as a good start for opportunities identified to be made into programs and pro ects to benefit the Philippines and our countrymen,” Marcos said in Manila later..

Among the highlights of the President’s visit to the US includes attending and addressing the th United ations eneral Assembly and meeting world

leaders and the American business community.

At the U , the President delivered the Philippines’ national statement, articulating the country’s role in working with the global body to build a brighter future and a ust and safer world, underscoring efforts on climate change and global issues such as rising food prices, rapid technological change, the peaceful resolution of international disputes, migrants’ protection, and ending all forms of pre udice, especially what is known as Asian hate that includes ilipinos.

he President also shared the Philippines’ experience in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao BARMM peace process, agricultural re uvenation, and the promotion of human rights through the U Joint Program on Human Rights.

He reiterated the Philippines’ belief in the primacy of the rule of law, as embodied by the U onvention on the aw of the Sea or U S even as he called for peaceful resolution of disputes in the South hina Sea region.

Marcos and U Secretary- eneral Antonio uterres also reaffirmed the partnership between the Philippines and the U .

He also had meetings with a number of business leaders from different US companies, who committed to being a part of the Philippines’ development and economic growth.

“ ogether, we will be working on addressing some of our key economic challenges, particularly once again climate change, food security, energy security, to

name but a few,” he said.

he President also delivered a keynote address at the ew ork Stock xchange and at the Philippine conomic Briefing, which drew institutional investors, senior corporate executives, fund managers and entrepreneurs.

At the same time, his delegation hosted four roundtable discussions dealing with -BPM, digital infrastructure, global brands, particularly in garments and apparel, and industry and infrastructure.

Before to returning to Manila after the week-long working visit, Marcos had a roundtable discussion with a select group of leaders of the US business community on the state of today’s global and regional economy.

hile in the US, the President also met the ilipino community there and thanked them for their work and contributions to the Philippines and the US, acknowledging that percent of remittances by overseas ilipinos come from America. He also cited the ilipino frontliners like doctors and nurses for helping out the United States in times of the D- pandemic.

Marcos expressed his respect and admiration for their commitment to the future and welfare of their families in the Philippines and shared with them the administration’s priorities aimed at improving the lives of ilipinos.

Addressing the Asia Society members, Marcos said the Philippines’ territorial disputes with hina and other littoral states in the South hina Sea S S can be addressed through diplomatic ne-

gotiations.

Marcos emphasized his call for unity and maintained that the Philippines will continue to be a “friend to all and an enemy to none.”

“ n our part, we will continue to work with hina and other claimant states with the end in view of resolving the issues involving the est Philippine Sea through diplomacy and through dialogue,” said Marcos.

hina, the Philippines, and several other littoral states have overlapping claims in the South hina Sea where Beiing claims around percent of the busy waterway.

he Philippines on July , , won its petition filed before the Hague-based Permanent ourt of Arbitration P A after the arbitral tribunal invalidated hina’s claim of supposed historic rights over almost the entire S S.

hina, however, has ignored the P A ruling.

Marcos said the Philippines’ current position is that it has “no territorial conict with hina,” since what hina is claiming “belongs to the Philippines.”

He assured his fellow ilipinos that he would not give up even a s uare inch of the Philippine territory.

he Philippine economy will go beyond its pre-pandemic growth, Marcos told the Asia Society, as he confidently talked about progress amid the coronavirus disease ovid- pandemic.

Marcos said his administration has laid out measures that will help reinvigorate the economy.

QUEZON CITY – The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading the proposed P . trillion national budget for before Congress went into a break.

ith affirmative votes, three negative votes, and no abstention, the hamber passed House Bill , or the eneral Appropriations Bill AB , which will be the first national budget to be enacted under the administration of President erdinand Marcos Jr.

The House passed its version of the

spending measure on the second and third reading on the same day following Marcos’ certification of urgency. arlier, President Marcos called for the swift passage of the proposed budget “in order to address the need to maintain continuous government operations following the end of the current fiscal year, strengthen efforts to respond more effectively to the ovid- pandemic, and support initiatives towards national economic recovery.”

Speaker Martin Romualdez lauded

his colleagues for their valuable contributions in the swift passage of AB and in ensuring that every centavo is spent wisely to implement the programs of the Marcos administration aimed at revitalizing the country’s economy amid the lingering ill-effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

“The expeditious passage of the proposed budget is the product of the collective effort of the entire House, in transparent and open proceedings where the majority accorded ample opportunity for the construc-

PHL...

(From page 1)

Binay poised to transform Makati into pilot resilience hub se s at et fi a rea

MAKATI CITY – Mayor Abby Binay is determined to make Makati City a model for other local governments in formulating disaster risk reduction and climate action plans.

Binay said Makati can become the fi rst resilience hub in the Philippines and Southeast Asia after CityNet, the largest association of urban stakeholders committed to sustainable development in the Asia Pacifi c region, chose Makati City to lead in the next four years.

Makati was previously First Vice President ity since and Second

ice President since .

“Pinalad ang Makati na muling mahalal bilang (Makati is also lucky to have been elected as the ice President ng (of the) CityNet para sa taong for the years - , kasama ang lungsod ng (with the city of) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,” Binay said.

Makati City is likewise the National luster President of ity et in the Philippines.

Binay said Makati City achieved such feats because of its frequent sharing of resilient and sustainable plans in international seminars and fora.

nized that the US has been acting on the hate crimes by deploying undercover agents in several areas in the US where the attacks have become prevalent, “there is still a lot to be done.”

Among others, Romualdez said coordination between Asian communities and the US government should be beefed up. he Philippine lawmakers from the Senate and the House of Representatives had informed the ambassador – a holdover from the previous administration –of their concern for the safety of Filipinos and FilAms who had been victims of attacks, along with other Asians and Asian Americans.

The latest case involved a 74-yearold FilAm woman who was assaulted by a woman in New York, causing injuries

tive inputs of our friends from the minority bloc,” Romualdez said.

He noted that the House-approved budget for remains consistent with the -point socio-economic agenda of the Marcos administration to achieve sustainable growth.

ith the approval of the AB, the House met its self-imposed deadline to terminate the deliberations on the proposed budget before the adjournment of the session from October until ovember , .

that required hospitalization.

Like practically all the victims of hate crimes, the FilAm woman was traumatized by her experience.

She is a long-time resident of New York, one of the two states with the largest FilAm community, the other being California. Americans of Asian descent also reside in both states in large numbers, and have likewise seen their own victimized by hooligans with an axe to grind against people of color.

Attacks against Asian Americans, including FilAms, rose dramatically at the height of the D- pandemic. It is for this reason that California has launched a campaign called Stop Asian Hate, that seeks solutions to end the senseless attacks, usually against women and/or the elderly.

EDITORIAL

A right step by President Marcos

Wecan only agree wholeheartedly with the big step taken by President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. to reject his predecessor’s pivot to China.

His meeting with US President Joe Biden at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly put the icing on the cake. The Philippines and the US, he said, were friends and allies ending once and for all the conjecture that Mr. Marcos might continue with the dangerous policy of Rodrigo Duterte of committing to China as the country’s principal political and economic ally.

Former President Duterte committed plenty of serious mistakes during his sixyears as chief executive of our beloved motherland, but none moreso than his bending over backwards to please every whim of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Duterte was blinded by the promises of Xi, most of which have proven to be empty. The huge loans the Chinese leader promised the Philippines did not come to pass, even as the Chinese military consistently encroached on Philippine waters.

The presence of tens of thousands – some say more than a hundred thousand – of mostly young Chinese men all over Metro Manila almost felt like an invasion, as they looked more like soldiers than the employees of Philippine overseas gaming operators (POGOs) that they turned out to be.

But it was in Philippine waters that China asserted its claim of sovereignty, freuently sending scores of “fishing boats” to territory that had been traditional fishing grounds of Filipino farmers for centuries.

Even Chinese tourists frequently made pests of themselves, treating Filipino workers as second class citizens in their own land. They were uncouth, ill-mannered, and worsts of all, were the ones who brought COVID-19 to Philippine soil.

Under Marcos’s presidency, we can breathe a sigh of relief as the friendship between the US and the Philippines returns to normal.

This is not to say that the Philippines will turn its back on China. Fair trade with Chinese companies, even the state-owned ones, will always be welcome. China is, after all, the world’s biggest manufacturer of all kinds of consumer goods. But the operative word is ‘fair.’ rade with hina must always be on a level playing field, as trade between the US and the Philippines has always been since our homeland won its independence from the US.

We have no doubt that in Marcos’s pivot back to the US, the majority of Filipinos and FilAms are not just relieved, but happy. Even overjoyed. The ties that bind our two countries are truly unbreakable, despite the best efforts of Rodrigo Duterte.

Hopefully, we can expect more positive developments in other areas under the second Marcos presidency.

At the very least, he should be given every chance to do his best. It goes without saying that his announced concentration on correcting the Philippine economy of its many ills indicates that he is steering the ship of state in the right direction.

But we are still the Fourth Estate, which means that we will be keeping our eyes and ears open to the official doings of the Marcos administration. e do not seek to be friends, but rather partners in rebuilding the nation.

Our loyalty is now and has always been to our motherland. Presidents come and presidents go, but there will only ever be one Republic of the Philippines, united and indivisible.

o paraphrase the first words of our Pledge of Allegiance, “ niibig namin ang Pilipinas.”

5 FilAm Mayors, Vice Mayors in Bay Area vie for re-election

Part 1

neighboring California City Council Memberstwo currently voted as Mayor and three as Vice Mayor last year by their fellow Council members - are running for re-election in Daly City, Colma and South Francisco, the three northernmost cities in San Mateo County at the foot of the City and County of San Francisco. How they fare on Nov. will affirm the electability of ilAm candidates and the power of the FilAm vote where Filipinos outnumber said cities’ populations of color.

FIVE

DALY CITY

Mayor Rod Daus-Magbual

Before venturing into politics, Daly City Mayor Rod DausMagbual, EdD, was an adjunct professor. Since his victorious first bid in to be the fourth ilAm on the -person ity Council, he has become a fulltime tenured track Ethnic Studies Professor at Skyline College.

As mayor he proposed a business vacancy tax on empty storefronts that refuse to activate or rent out to potential businesses. he move would “provide revenue streams for our city,” he told Inquirer.net.

He wants his town, the most populous town in San Mateo County, to shift to a “greener economy and infrastructure.” o start, he urges low-income communities to avail themselves of rebates for e-bikes and electric car programs.

Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where his parents immigrated from the Philippines for his mother’s nursing job and where his father worked in the labor sector, Daus-Magbual witnessed the struggle of immigrants as he lives the aspiration of venerated community activists he introduces to his students. He serves through education on and off the San Bruno campus as executive director of Pin y ducational Partnerships, a nonprofit program in tandem with universities to train prospective educators of every level for decolonizing curriculum development, lesson planning and teaching.

“My jobs intersect because it’s grounded in the historical responsibility to serve my communities and planting the seeds for future generations to become leaders,” said the father of two, whose ultimate goal is to continue toppling barriers for his children’s generation and onward “will carry on the historical responsibility to transform our world toward peace, love, and freedom.” His wife Dr. Arlene Daus-Magbual is his collaborator in their uest to foster cultural heritage pride in FilAm youth.

He is wont to quote pioneer FilAm activists like farm worker organizer Philip Vera Cruz and historian Dr. Dawn Mabalon in discussing his views, deliberate in alluding to their example and sacrifice in his own life path.

“I grew up watching FilAm celebrities who denied their cultural identity because of pressures of assimilation or the public perception that being Filipino was not popular. Being a ilipino American Mayor is a historical responsibility that take pride in,” he explains his mission, conscious of his part in the continuum of self-discovery through the watershed moments in FilAm history.

“Being elected is a seat at the table,” he spells the role and privilege to make a difference in the lives of some , of whom percent identify as ilipino.

Vice Mayor RAY BUENAVENTURA f a ilipino American finally is honored in perpetuity as the late leader Alice Bulos whose

on page 24)

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From Chief Justice to Little President, CJ Bersamin ascends to political power

The big news in the Philippines right now is the appointment of former hief Justice ucas Bersamin as the xecutive Secretary vice presidential lawyer ictor Rodriguez who vacated the post amidst controversy.

Breaking Through

J Bersamin was sworn into office by President erdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in Malacanang last uesday.

His rise to the top circle of power may look like rapid but don’t worry guys, J Bersamin goes to the Palace highly prepared for the ob.

President Marcos Jr. could not have made a better choice to replace Rodriguez. n fact, he made a perfect choice.

congratulate whoever nominated him to PBBM for doing a good ob for the president and our nation.

he new xecutive Secretary is a lawyer worth his salt. n short, he’s not an ordinary lawyer.

He was among the op in the Bar examination. He finished aw at the University of the ast in and pre- aw at the University of the Philippines. He had been in the udiciary for a period of years occupying important positions, from regional trial court udge based in uezon ity to ourt of Appeals ustice, then Associate Justice of the Supreme ourt and finally hief Justice.

Before oining the udiciary, J, now S Bersamin started his law career as a private practitioner which he was for years.

ith all these sterling credentials and enviable background, the new xecutive Secretary a.k.a. ‘ ittle President’ is certainly a top asset to PBBM.

o paraphrase a Philippine bank’s slogan he President is in good hands with S Bersamin.

Serving as ‘ ittle President’ or as ‘primus inter pares,’ have no doubt that S Bersamin would command full respect and confidence from all the abinet members.

ith that being the case, it would not be hard for him to unite, galvanize and sync abinet officials in their efforts leading to the success of the the PBBM administration.

n other words, he shall get things done for PBBM and the country.

S Bersamin is a no-nonsense guy. had the privilege to talk to him not a few times before, albeit by phone. He was then a distinguished Associate Justice of the Supreme ourt, before he became hief Justice.

hat was when his brother ongressman uis “ hito” Bersamin Jr. of Abra’s lone district was killed.

he late hito was a good friend of mine. Almost daily while hito’s body was on vigil and during the funeral, called him for statement and updates and he was kind enough to accommodate me.

was then writing for the Philippine Star and my interviews with him either became banner headlines or landed on page one.

He was straightforward and firm, undaunted, spoke clearly and abhorred violence.

knew then that he would make a good hief Justice if given the chance, which he was.

’m also certain now that he would make a good xecutive Secretary.

Funeral and memorial services for my mother

Asbook author, columnist and active vangelist with the D

A HUR H HR S in San rancisco, alifornia, was blessed and fortunate to facilitate the iewing and isitation and uneral Memorial Services of my mother A SAMPA A AB MADA last September - , at the Skylawn uneral Home and Memorial Park in San Mateo, alifornia USA. My mother died at the age of years and seven months.

ART GABOT MADLAING Health & Wealth

he first day of iewing and isitation was hosted by the D A HUR H HR S in San rancisco alifornia last Saturday, September , - pm inside the Pacific hapel located at the Skylawn uneral Home Memorial Park in San Mateo, alifornia.

Benny Joyner, vangelist and Bible lass teacher,gave the pening Prayer. Renato Marcos, cousin of President erdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr., led the acapella singing of favorite gospel songs and heavenly hymns like Blessed Assurance, od’s amily and ictory in Jesus. xpressions and Remembrance of my mother were shared by children, grandchildren, close friends and relatives. John Jeffrey, former elder of UP HUR H HR S in San rancisco, and speaker and interviewer in the “R AD R H MAS R” segment of the global M A RAD San rancisco, led the losing Prayer

he second day of iewing and isitation was hosted by the children and grandchildren last Sunday, September ,inside the Pacific hapel located at the Skylawn uneral Home and Memorial Park in San Mateo, alifornia. elcome and pening Prayer was led by yours truly. athaniel Jimenez uliao, associate minister of the A M R D HUR H HR S in San rancisco, aliforn a led some favorite gospel songs and heavenly hymns like Amazing race, ount our Blessings, Be ot Dismayed hat’er Betide, Angry ords, Blessed Assurance, od’s amily, ictory in Jesus. he siblings and spouses sang two of the favorite songs of my mother namely Manang Biday and araniag a Bulan Shiny Moon .

xpressions and Remembrance of my mother were shared by some children, grandchildren and close friends. losing Prayer was led by Salvador abot Madlaing, youngest son who finished Bachelor of heology at the Philippine Bible ollege in Baguio ity Philippines. Some community leaders attended the second day of iewing and isitation like Romualdo erezo, President of Binalonan Association of orthern alifornia BA and rnesto Abalos, past President of the United Pangasinanes of America, nc. UPA .

he uneral and Memorial Services was held last September , , Monday, am to pm. inside the Pacific hapel located at the Skylawn uneral Home and Memorial Park in San Mateo, alifornia, which coincided with the uneral Services of ueen lizabeth of ngland who died at the age of .. elcome and special instructions were shared by va Bressler, uneral Associate of Skylawn. ours truly was the officiant.

Josefina Madlaing ewis, daughter who graduated at the Harris Memorial ollege in Manila Philippines led the pening Prayer. Darlene Madlaing amble from eithville, ouisiana and ynema Joy Madlaing acusan from lendale, Arizona, granddaughters who both graduated from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, sang “ t s ell ith My Soul” in a duet.

Scripture Reading from the ld estament Job , was done by Brendon acusan Madlaing, great grandson from lendale, Arizona. Scripture Reading from the ew estament John , Revelation - was done by erdinand ewis, grandson from Bethel, sland, alifornia Mercyllena alon Madlaing, granddaughter from San Jose, alifornia who participates regularly in the Acapella Singing segment of the global M A RAD San rancisco, sang “”Hills and alleys” and “Mama” in a solo.

Jeremiah Madlaing acusan, great grandson from lendale, Arizona recited the poem H DASH, authored and written by inda llis. ords from a son was shared by Salvador abot Madlaing, youngest son who finished Bachelor of heology at the Philippine Bible ollege in Baguio ity, Philippines. xpressions of remembrance were shared by siblings, spouses, grandchildren and close friends.

ongregational singing of “Amazing race” was led by athaniel Jimenez uliao, Associate Minister, A M R D HUR H HR S in San rancisco, alifornia. he ulogy was delivered by yours truly.

Departing iew was handled by the Skylawn staff. Recessional and walking to the Skylawn Memorial Park Section Santo ino for internment rites was coordinated and guided by the Skylawn staff. After my brief talk at the gravesite, James uitoriano, Minister of the D A HUR H HR S in San rancisco, alifornia recited once more the special poem H DASH as final memory and remembrance of my mother. led the losing Prayer. After the casket with my mother was lowered down in the grave, the children, grandchildren, extended

Inflation, Trump style

The galloping in ation has been very much in the news because of the very negative effects on almost everybody, especially the ordinary Juan and Maria. n ation has forced the US ed and other central banks to increase their benchmark interest rates, making it more expensive to borrow. he increased interest rate on the US dollar has made the greenback a more attractive investment alternative, causing foreign investors in the Philippines to withdraw their “hot money” and park them in the US in search of better yields. he massive out ow of US dollars is partly being blamed for the weakening of the peso, which has already hit an all-time low of P US .

raditionally, had thought that a weakening of the peso would be advantageous to dollar earners, like s. very dollar they send home would now yield an extra P . to P for their families. Unfortunately, prices of goods and services have also gone up in the Philippines, leaving what would have been incremental income still insufficient for their families back home. A US nurse confesses she now has to send home more dollars ust to catch up with the local price increases.

As this developed, picked up this interesting bit of news from BB . he ew ork Attorney eneral etitia James has accused former US President Donald rump of “in ation,” not the cost-push or demand-pull variety of course.

he Attorney eneral, in a -page complaint, accused rump of “falsely in ating his net worth by billions of dollars to un ustly enrich himself and cheat the system.” rump allegedly “in ated by billions” the value of real estate in order to get loans and pay less tax. his was done over a period of years between and . he scheme allegedly enriched rump and his family by at least US dollars million and the government wants to recover that money.

he complaint stated that “the value of an apartment rump had in rump ower in ew ork was listed at M after its wildly overstated size was tripled and given an ‘unreasonable price per s uare foot. he record sale in the entire tower was . m.

“ he Mar-a- ago club in lorida was valued as high as m by the rump rganization.....when the real value was closer to m and that it generated less than m per year.”

P - to go or not to go o ban or not to ban. hat is the uestion.

Based on published reports, there seems to be a snowballing move to totally ban P operations. hose in favor of the total ban cite the series of kidnapping, bribery, and rise in criminality, especially involving hinese and ilipino- hinese citizens. ot to mention of course the non-payment of taxes by P operators. n a nutshell, the reputational damage and the social costs far outweigh the supposed economic gains from P .

n the other hand, defenders principally ongressman Joey Salceda argu for stricter regulation, not a total ban. et us not kill the goose that lays the golden egg. otally closing down the P s will terminate , direct obs for ilipinos, reduce to nil P . billion in rental income from offices and P billion in housing rent and a possible tax take of P billion. he rise in criminality is an enforcement issue which can be addressed by the police and the local governments.

As far as Justice Secretary Jesus rispin Remulla, any response must be calibrated. Already, Remulla has his hands full trying to deport P workers. At the moment, Remulla is still sorting out with the hinese government the deportation protocols. A total ban would be a logistical problem as this will result in the deportation of an estimated , P workers.

IGNACIO TOTING BUNYE

TEDDY P. MOLINA

Ukraine as Russia’s Vietnam

Ukraine bounces back, students back to school; Russia prepares massive offensive

Russia’s

Vladimir Putin is making the gravest mistake of his presidency and us oldies who lived through the Vietnam War can’t help but compare his actions with the late US President Lyndon B. Johnson.

So why am I discussing something that has very little to do with the Filipino nation or the FilAm community?

Simple. Putin is endangering the entire world, especially with his threat to use nuclear weapons on Ukraine, if necessary.

Conventional wisdom says Putin is not that crazy to use nukes, as the retaliation from the US, NATO and Ukraine’s allies will be horrible beyond words.

But if some reports saying the Russian strongman is ill are true, then who knows what he is capable of?

For now, there is an exodus of Russians who fear being drafted to join Putin’s war. This weekend, some 8,000 Russians reportedly headed across the border to Finland, which also compares with the Americans who left for Canada in order to avoid the draft.

That number is being referred to as an exodus, but it could soon be a tsunami of Russian immigrants leaving their homeland to avoid a reckless leader who is willing to risk World War lll for reasons known only to him.

And just like LBJ’s war in Vietnam, it is not going well for Putin’s armed forces, who in recent weeks have been pushed back by the Ukrainians who are showing no fear of the supposed Russian war machine.

The Russian armed forces have shown themselves to be inferior to their Ukrainian counterparts for one overpowering reason. he Ukrainians are fighting for their homeland.

Like Ho Chi Minh who was a unifying force for the Vietnamese, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has earned the admiration of the world for his staring down Putin, and inspiring his armed forces to not only fight back against the Russian invaders, but to humiliate them to the hilt.

The Ukrainians have, with the help of the US, decimated the Russian forces on the ground, having neutralized – a nice word for killing – scores of senior Russian officers, resulting in a vacuum of leadership where they are most needed.

Recruiting 300,000 Russians that Putin is doing now is almost certain to fail. Those are men and possibly women who have no military experience, no desire to invade a peaceful neighbor, and may very likely either surrender or run away from the battlefield when the going gets tough.

Incidentally, there have also been reports that local government officials have been calling for the resignation of Putin. If their numbers grow into the hundreds, then it will lead to destabilization of the established government.

It will not be unlike the massive protests that took place all over the US when the majority of Americans realized that they were fighting a wrong war. he ietnam ar remains the only war that the US lost, despite the fact that the superior US forces faced a ragtag army from the north, as well as illequipped guerillas known as Vietcong.

This is what Russian forces are facing in Ukraine. The people will not willingly surrender their nation to the invaders, while the same invaders are asking themselves what they are doing there in the first place.

I do recall that as a high school kid, the Vietnam War was raging, and US forces frequently headed for the US bases in the Philippines to recoup, and for some rest and recreation. Yes, I saw some of them in the tourist belt of the City of Manila. I should say the red light district, not just in the capital, but moreso in the fun city of Olongapo.

The Americans were only a little older than me, and they gave the impression that they were not fully supportive of their country’s war effort in the ar ast.

Fast forward a few decades later and I found myself working in Dubai, which was the R&R place for the Americans and their allies who were about to kick Saddam Hussein’s butt. I did get to meet a few of them, and there was a world of a difference between them and their peers of the Vietnam War era.

The American armed forces were happy knowing they had massive global support, and were a more disciplined bunch than their fathers or grandfathers of the earlier era.

Putin’s soldiers are more

When

I started practicing law in San Francisco in the 80’s I also had a full time job writing law books for Bancroft-Whitney Publishing Company on Brannan Street. [This newspaper’s publisher, Francis spiritu, and his lovely wife, hosted me with a delicious eclectic dinner at Delancey Street Restaurant at Brannan and mbarcadero on my most recent visit to San Francisco. Thank you again Francis. It brought back many fond memories of our wonderful life with my beloved wife in San Francisco].

I did not really need to practice law then because my salary was sufficient. also dabbled in real estate sales and management. It was my nephew who suggested that I start a law practice to help the Filipinos, with the advice: “Uncle, you will need a partner and you should get a white one.” I asked why “white”? He said that many Filipinos are racists and believe that a white lawyer is better than a brown lawyer. So I got two, not only one, white lawyers. They were female. One was very attractive. The other was ..... I did all the work because they did not know immigration law. Yet our earnings were split three ways. We ended the partnership years later.

A Filipino said that Filipino lawyers do not have as good an education as white lawyers. Do you know a white lawyer handling immigration cases who went to Yale or Harvard? This writer is a Filipino lawyer and was awarded a Fulbright/ Smith-Mundt scholarship to study at Yale Law School where he obtained a Master of Laws degree.

Another ilipino told me that the immigration officials are white, so they will always favor a white lawyer. [That’s not true. There are other colors among immigration personnel, including brown. I worked for the immigration service.] How do the immigration officials know that the lawyer is white when they are in Laguna Niguel or in other places and the lawyer is not physically present? “By his surname,” the Filipino said. But not all white lawyers are surnamed White, Jones, or Smith. Some are even surnamed Brown and Black. So you are not going to hire a white lawyer named Brown or Black? hat about my surname – ipon mmigration officials cannot tell by my surname alone whether I am white or brown or any other color. There is a family name “Tipton”. It is an nglish name. mmigration officials could think that “ ipon” is an abbreviation of “Tipton” – or that “Tipon” is a misspelling of “Tipton”. In fact I have received communications with the surname “Tipton”.

When I was working part-time in the advertising department of Gannett Newspapers in Rochester, NY, I was asked on the phone what my name was. I answered “Tipon”. The caller asked: “Are you French or German?” I answered: “Have you heard of arlo Ponti, the film director who married Sophia Loren?” “Oh, you are Italian, I am Italian, too,” exclaimed the caller. “I think the name “Ponti” was originally “Tipon,” the caller added.

here you go. could be nglish. r could be talian. hichever, nglish or talian are white. ill those immigration officials ever think am a brown locano without looking at my face?

AB H S. BR

Let us talk about winnability or capacity for winning of a white vs. brown monkey lawyer.

Who is the white lawyer who has successfully saved a Filipino from deportation, even though he was charged with having been convicted of sexual assault for having licked his daughter’s pussy while massaging her? Ilocanos call that “Agdildil”. Immigration authorities charged him with aggravated felony for having committed rape and sexual abuse of a minor.

Who is the white lawyer who has successfully saved a Filipino from deportation, even though he was charged with having been convicted of theft for receiving money from taxi drivers at the airport while he was a security guard which was alleged to be a crime involving moral turpitude?

Who is the white lawyer who has successfully saved a Filipino from deportation, even though she was charged with having been convicted of theft and manslaughter in that she did not turn over in bed her patient, resulting in bed sores, gangrene, and death and received compensation to take care of the patient, which immigration au-

Russian

troops in the war zone didn’t see it coming! They must have been very busy celebrating their victories in occupying some cities previously that they were blinded by Ukraine showing superb military tactics and exhibiting renewed vigor that pushed them back leaving the cities they previously occupied.

This happened as the Russia-Ukraine war is entering its 7th month of hostilities

Ukraine showed superb military aggression in regaining some cities originally controlled by Russia. But, will Russia cave in?

Instead of caving in, Russia seem to be employing the military tactic “One step backward, two steps forward” strategy as Russia’s president ladimir Putin ordered a massive offensive and the possible use of nuclear weapons. US President Joe Biden privately warned Putin not to use nuclear weapons but will Putin heed Biden’s call?

At home, Russian citizens are revolting against Putin’s order drafting all able-bodied Russian citizens to join their army. This must be a sign that the regular Russian army is crumbling and disintegrating. But this did not move Putin… instead, he ordered additional troops to Ukraine and vowed to use nuclear weapons.

So, As I See It, I don’t think the renewed vigor being displayed by Ukraine forces pushing the Russian soldiers backward, is ending the war. Russia is not conceding and in fact trying to regroup and buying their time to strike back… again! Besides, a superpower like Russia won’t easily give up to a small fry like Ukraine, although technically it’s already Russia vs the rest of the world… indirectly.

Bouncing back after a series of defeats, Ukraine came back strong by reclaiming areas that were earlier occupied by Russian military. They have shown better war strategies, stronger will to fight, displaying unified stand, and renewed courage to sustain and ultimately end the war. Russia was not prepared for it, but Putin is not conceding. He is now acting like a wounded animal that becomes more ferocious when hurt and damaged.

Lately, Ukraine soldiers recaptured Izium and bombarded occupied Kherzon, damaging administration buildings sympathetic to Russia. They found mass-burial site with 440 bodies and searching for more. The dead were killed by shelling and airstrikes, according to authorities, but the Ukrainians are not discounting the possibility that torture must have killed some of them because there were signs of torture in Bucha and other previously occupied territories, according to chief police investigator for Kharkiv province Serhiy Bolvinov.

Ukraine have reasons to believe torture was in ected to death to some when President Volodymyr Zelenskiy likened the discovery of dead bodies in Izium to what happened in Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv, in his Thursday night video address. They are gathering evidences and documenting the events, so they can file the case in international courts soon

As the war progresses, Ukrainian children went back to school on hursday, September , . n their first day of school, however, instead of sharing their fun vacations, as we used to do whenever we go back to school, they shared their survival stories they went through with their families, relatives, and friends.

heir stories were of surviving the war so, the first day of school was not normal… it was full of suspense and negative feelings even if the students still had the luxury of playing in campus which they have been missing.

AP stories written by Hanna Arhirov and Yesica Fisch reported that at least 379 children have been killed since the war began, while the whereabouts of 223 others are unknown, according to Ukraine’s eneral Prosecutors office. Another , children were among Ukrainians forcibly transferred to Russia from Russian-occupied areas.

Within the six months of war, there were 2,400 schools across the country that were damaged, including 269 that were completely destroyed, officials said.

Their school, the Chernihiv School #21, was bombed by Russian forces on the 3rd of March, in Chernihiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022, but the children still managed to play outside their classrooms.

Civilian areas and schools continue to be hit, and children keep being killed. But after the

So you think your white lawyer Is better than a brown monkey lawyer, Eh?

BETING DOLOR

ELPIDIO R. ESTIOKO

EMMANUEL SAMONTE TIPON

Problems you may encounter during naturalization

BREAKING NEWS

California to issue State ID to undocumented

The State ID will allow individuals access to banking services, obtain government benefits and ac uire health care.

New Regulation will make it easier to immigrate

The Biden Administration will release a regulation by December 2022, making it easier to immigrate for people who have taken public benefits. he public charge under rump era will be revised significantly.

N-400 Application for Naturalization

The USCIS is now giving priorities to application for naturalization . he reason is obviously to allow ualified immigrants to vote in the coming midterm and presidential election. There are cases when the waiting time is only six months compared to prior years. Pres. Biden is encouraging all ualified to file for naturalization. his is a rare opportunity that all ualified should take advantage of.

DACA reinstated

Pres. Biden reiterated to renew the DACA processing as of August 31, 2022

Petition for Caregivers

The priority date for “Other workers” for Final Action date is May 8, 2019, which is about years waiting for the visa. The priority date for Date of Filing of Adjustment of Status for those in the U.S. is now current. This means that when the petition is approved an adjustment of status can be filed. his process is good for those who need caregivers.

Arrest and removal of undocumented is now up to the discretion of officer

US Supreme Court did not allow Pres. Biden to overturn the immigration policy of Trump with regards to priority in arrest and removal. With increasing migrants at the border White House is now re uiring to deport more migrants under political pressure. t is now a decision to be made by the officer which could include arrest of anyone who is undocumented. It is time to work on your green card now.

Problems you may encounter when applying for Naturalization

When applying for naturalization, there are problems many applicants encountered during the interview process. his is because they look at how you first get your green card and what actions you have made while a green card holder. Listed below are some of them:

1. Proving good faith marriage. You will be surprised that you are applying for naturalization and yet the USCIS is considering you as a green card applicant although your marriage happened ten years ago. If you obtained your green card through marriage, no matter how many years has passed, they always asked uestions and documents about whether your marriage is bona fide and what oint documents support this marriage.

2. Proving family relationship if you were petitioned by your parents, siblings or as derivative of your parents. You should be able to show proof of your relationship through marriage certificate, birth certificate, divorce or death certificate, whichever documents applied to your case.

3. If you were involved is a crime, no matter how minor you think it is, they will always look for documentation if you have been convicted and if you served your sentence.

4. There are crimes that will make you deportable when applying for naturalization. This will include committing two crimes of moral turpitude or an aggravated felony. Theft is a crime involving moral turpitude. There is waiver available, and you should talk to an immigration lawyer.

5. Green card holders who obtained their green card through misrepresentation may also be sent to removal proceedings. These include those who committed marriage fraud or declared as single but actually married. If you have this kind of problem, you need to talk to an immigration attorney to find if you ualify for a waiver of fraud or misrepresentation.

. ailure to file and pay your income tax may also dis ualify you for naturalization. f you have a payment plan agreement with the IRS and you keep paying the monthly payments, you may be able to get approved. Again you need to consult with an immigration lawyer about your situation.

7. Failure to pay child support. You may be d. ed if you fail to pay for child support.

8. If you stayed outside the U.S. for more than 180 days in a single year, you may be denied naturalization.

. f you lack the re uired period of residency, you may also be denied.

So that you will not have a problem when applying for naturalization, you should consult with an immigration attorney to avoid possible problem along the way.

Note: This is not a legal advice. You should consult with an immigration attorney about the specifics of your case.

Bankruptcy Basics

Bankruptcy will actually improve your credit within one year because your unsecured debts are discharged. Although the bankruptcy will be in your records for 10 years, not filing bankruptcy will make your credit even worse until most your debts are paid.

If you are being sued by your creditors, most money judgment can be eliminated in bankruptcy.

Collection actions continue and you can be sued if you are in debt settlement.

Chapter 7 will eliminate all unsecured debts. If you are near retirement age, you must eliminate most of your debts.

Employment Law

We can claim unpaid wages for violation of the minimum wage and overtime law. Undocumented immigrants are ualified to file claim .

CAR ACCIDENTS

Our Law Firm successfully settled a car accident for $675.000.

FAMILY LAW

We also handle uncontested DIVORCE.

INCOME TAX PROBLEMS

We can help you if you are under IRS audit, need a representation with IRS, need to reduce your tax liability or need to offer a payment plan to RS, (Continue on page 27)

Fitch Solutions eyes add’l 75 bps hike in BSP rates

MA A – levated domestic in ation, weakening of the peso, and expected additional hikes in the Federal Reserve funds rate are factors expected to push the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) key rates higher to 5 percent by end-2022.

Fitch Solutions, in a report dated Sept. 23, adjusted its forecast for the BSP’s key rates for this year after noting that monetary authorities also need to anchor in ation expectations.

“The Philippine peso has also come under significant pressure as a result of tightening credit conditions globally. With the US Fed (Federal Reserve) likely to hike by a further 75 bps before end2022, this will likely prompt the BSP to hike in tandem to safeguard external stability,” it said in a PNA report.

To date, the BSP’s key rates have been increased by a total of 225 basis points to 4.25 percent as of Sept. 22, with monetary officials saying that continued recovery of the domestic economy will help cushion the impact of the BSP rate hikes.

The rate of domestic price increases decelerated from a five-month climb to 6.3 percent last August after hitting 6.4 percent in the previous month, the highest since October 2018.

he average in ation to date stood at 4.9 percent, way above the central bank’s 2 to 4 percent target band until 2024.

Amidst this background, it said the recovery of the domestic economy, which

it forecasts to grow by 6.6 percent this year, up from 6.1 percent previously, is expected to provide the leeway for the rate hikes.

The peso has weakened to the 58-level against the US dollar, which Fitch Solutions said is the local unit’s weakest for 18 years.

“If the BSP chooses to stand pat in subse uent meetings as the US ed continues to hike, real interest rate differentials could widen in favor of the US and trigger capital out ows, exacerbating downside volatility for the peso,” it added Monthly in ation rate breached the government’s target band last April when it accelerated to 4.9 percent due largely to upticks in global oil prices.

Fitch Solutions forecasts domestic ination rate to average at . percent this year.

It expects the impact of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine con ict to continue impacting food prices, which is also seen to be affected by adverse weather conditions in several food-exporting countries.

It added that while oil prices have declined, “they still remain elevated relative to 2021 levels.”

Fitch Solutions said its Oil and Gas team projects Brent crude oil price to average at US$105 per barrel this year and by US$100 per barrel next year, higher than its US$70.95 per barrel forecast in 2021.

IMF slashes 2022 growth forecast for PHL

MAKATI CITY – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) slashed its 2022 growth forecast for the Philippines from 6.7 percent to 6.5 percent after noting the impact of global economic slowdown.

n a briefing after the debt lender’s annual Article IV Consultation, Mission chief Cheng Hoon Lim said the 2023 growth forecast is at 5 percent, which is the same as the figure last July under the orld conomic Outlook (WEO) update.

“The Philippines is not isolated from the rest of the world. Its leading trading partners are the US and China and if these countries slow down, (the) Philippines will also slow down. And that’s the main reason why we revised our growth projections to 6.5 percent for this year and 5 percent next year,” she said as PNA reported.

Lim said the IMF has revised down its global growth projection for the world economy by 2 percentage points since October last year from 4.9 percent to 3.2 percent for 2022.

She said the revision in the Philippines’ growth forecast is not as drastic as that of the outlook for the global economy “because domestic demand has been very strong.”

Lim said IMF’s growth outlook for the domestic economy “is sub ect to significant downside risks, where policy tradeoffs between output and in ation would become more acute.”

Among the downside risks to growth

are the rise in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections, larger-than-expected changes in monetary policy around the world, deepening global slowdown, elevated in ation rate, and natural disasters.

These are, however, expected to be countered by the impact of the ongoing con ict between Russia and Ukraine, and bids to address the elevated in ation rate elsewhere.

“Looking ahead, sustaining the economic recovery will re uire a focus on policies to address in ationary risks, increase fiscal and financial resilience to adverse shocks, and successful implementation of reforms to mitigate pandemic scarring and raise productivity growth,” she added.

Lim said depreciation of the Philippine peso is in line with those of other currencies as the Federal Reserve continues to hike its key rates to tame the US’ four-decade high in ation rate.

She added no one knows how much interest rates will really increase “but clearly, the peso will be affected by further monetary tightening in the US.”

To date, the peso is trading at the 58-level against the US dollar after starting the year at 51-level.

At the end of the Article IV Consultation, held from Sept. 12 to 26, among the policy recommendations include that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will provide “clear communication about in ation.”

FilAm Donita Rose marries gospel singer in California

By Jennifer True Santos

larama in Sta. Barbara, California but broke up after 12 years together and a son, JP or Joshua Paul.

JP walked her down the aisle during her wedding with Palad, four months after their engagement.

The former MTV Asia VJ married Palad four months following their engagement in May.

Donita herself took to social media to announce that she finally tied the knot with Palad and shared some snaps from their garden wedding ceremony held in a private estate in the city of San Clemente.

Filipino American actress, TV host and former MTV Asia VJ has married gospel singer Felson Palad in ceremony in San Clemente, California.

Born in Utah, the US-based celebrity, 47, whose real name is Donita Rose Ramos Cavett, has been working as a corporate research and development chef at the popular ilipino and Asian supermarket chain sland Pacific Market based in Los Angeles at the time of her wedding.

At the helm of sland Pacific is founder and president ino Jefferson im, husband of former actress rista Ranillo.

Donita, whose father is an American military officer and mother from Pangasinan, first married ric il-

“Surely, your goodness and unfailing love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever,” she wrote in her Instagram post.

The former TV host wore a white short-sleeved wedding dress, while Palad looked dapper in his cream suit.

Palad also shared a photo on Instagram. “It took 37 years,” he wrote.

In the comments section of Rose’s post, celebrities oncepcion, Ana Roces, Alessandra De Rossi, eneva Cruz, Jackie Forster, and Iya Villania-Arellano expressed their best wishes to the couple.

The former actress’s impersonator, Donita Nose, also congratulated the newlyweds.

“Wow! Parang kailan lang ka-video call lang natin siya. Now eto na. (We were just having a video call with

him last time. ow, you’re finally married. ’m so happy for [the] both of you, twinny. Congratulations nang bongga armest congratulations ,” she commented.

Model and actress Ruffa utierrez also shared her happiness for Rose.

“Cheers to second chances! I love you, @dashofdonita. Congratulations to the newlyweds,” she said.

“I’m so happy for you, Dee! The momshies and I can’t wait to meet the man who swept you off your feet,” utierrez added in another story.

Aliw Awards 2022 set for December 5

The 35th Annual Aliw Awards presentation on Aliw Awards Foundation’s 45th year will take place on December 5, 2022 at the prestigious Manila Hotel’s Fiesta Pavilion, after an absence of a

year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This was announced by Founding President Alice H. Reyes , who bared that preparations are in full swing for the event, much-awaited by the entire live entertainment industry.

xecutive ommittee Chairman for the 2022 awards is Irma Meg Ventolina Loyola, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee is Rema Tan Manzano.

Directing the presentation rites is Jose Maria Hilario while the TV coverage will be directed by Joey Nombres, who is also chairman of the Screening Committee.

ominations for the different categories of awards will be accepted by the foundation starting on October 15,2022.

“We hope to rise from the ashes of Covid-19, like the Phoenix, with a spectacular presentation,” Reyes declared.

She added that due to the dearth of live performances during the pandemic, there will be less categories, although one or two new ones will be added.

In the 2020 Aliw awards, held during an Aliw Congress that year, she noted that there were over

50 categories .

To be given their Lifetime Achievement Awards this year are Vic del Rosario, Johnny Manahan, John esaca, anette nventor and Jay nri uez.

Reyes also announced the launching of the Aliw Legacy Awards for individuals who have left their mark in the fields of live entertainment and public service.

Reyes expressed the hope that other Aliw benefactors will oin PA R, reenfield Development orporation and the uezon ity overnment under Mayor Joy Belmonte in supporting this year’ s event which aims to raise funds for the displaced live entertainers during the pandemic.

A limited number of tickets to the dinner-show are available. For information, call 89215135.

FilAm Jessica Sanchez has new single

Don’t look now but Filipino American singing sensation Jessica Sanchez is back in the limelight with a new single.

The single, “Baddie” was penned by her with a friend.

“We were really just having fun with the song and the fi rst lyric that came to mind was ‘You got a baddie’,” she shared.

“The song is all about being confi dent, knowing who you are, what you want and your worth. Of course, there’s a little love dynamic going on, but it’s really about the confi dence you carry,” she said in an interview.

“Anyone can be a baddie, but the main thing to being a baddie is embracing who you are, aws and all, and walking into any situation with that confi dence and sense of worth,” she added.

This after 11 years of international music recognition following her runner-up fi nish in the popular talent show American Idol.”

The Filipino-Mexican American

from San Diego, California whose mother hails from Bataan province said: “American Idol,’ that’s just so crazy to me.”

In an interview with Leah Salterio of ABS-CBN News, the 27-year-old singer added: “It all happened so fast and I was so young then. I feel like I couldn’t really experience it fully, mentally and emotionally.”

“But I believe everything happens for a reason and at God’s timing. I am so grateful for all that I’ve experienced and all that I’ve done since ‘Idol.’ I know I still have much to learn and I’m still growing in my artistry, so I’m just excited to continue this journey,” she said.

Sanchez has established her fan base even in the Philippines which she has visited several times and where she has been constantly wellreceived and adulated.

Even when she was younger, Sanchez’s dreams were always in music. “There was never anything else I wanted to do and I made sure there were no distractions,” she told

ABS-CBN.

Successfully joining “American Idol” was perhaps something that Sanchez importantly ticked on her bucket list more than a decade ago.

Apparently, there are still so much to accomplish for this native of San Diego, California.

The carrier track of Sanchez’s debut album released in 2013, allowed her to record with Ne-Yo. Together, they performed the song in the 12th season of “American Idol.”

More singles and new songs later, Sanchez recently added to her growing music catalog her latest, “Baddie,” which she also penned with a friend.

“We were really just having fun with the song and the fi rst lyric that came to mind was ‘You got a baddie’,” she shared.

“The song is all about being confi dent, knowing who you are, what you want and your worth. Of course, there’s a little love dynamic going on, but it’s really about the confi dence you carry.

“Anyone can be a baddie, but the main thing to being a baddie is embracing who you are, aws and all, and walking into any situation with that confi dence and sense of worth.”

Lea Salonga honored by Time Magazine as TIME100 Impact Awardee in Singapore

Yes, Maria Clara, actress and Filipino Broadway star Lea Solanga has been named by Time Magazine to its TIME100 Impact Awards.

Salonga, 51, whose full name is Maria Lea Carmen Imutan Salonga, was included in the awards for making an impact and moving their industries forward. She was called a “role model for children of color” for playing the singing voices of Disney’s Jasmine and Mulan from the s animated films “Aladdin” and “Mulan.”

Salonga, the first Asian woman Tony awardee, was also described as someone who “prides herself on promoting representation in Hollywood and on Broadway, and showing underrepresented groups that their stories matter.”

“All of a sudden, the people that look like me had a princess,” Salonga remembers thinking at the time she played Mulan. “She brings honor to herself and to her family… and she does it with grace.”

Aside from her work as a singer, Salonga appeared in various stage productions. Her first professional theatri-

cal performance was for a Filipino production of “The King and I,” when she was years old. She was also the first Asian woman to play Eponine in the musical “Les Misérables” on Broadway.

Salonga is notably known for playing the Vietnamese prostitute Kim in the 1989 production of “Miss Saigon,” where she won a Tony Award.

Salonga currently appears as the overbearing mom Elodie in HBO Max’s “Pretty Littler Liars: Original Sin,” the prequel series to the American drama series “Pretty Little Liars.”

The award will be presented to Salonga and other celebrities during the awards ceremony at the National Gallery Singapore in Singapore on Sunday, Oct. 2.

TIME’s other recipients of the TIME100 Impact awards are: Alia Bhatt, actor and producer; Gregory L. Robinson, former James Webb Space Telescope Program director;and Dr. Pardis Sabeti, computational geneticist.

The TIME100 Impact Awards which debuted in spring 2022 in Dubai

recognize leaders who, through sustained effort, have done extraordinary work to shape the future of their industries and the world at large.

After the evening ceremony, the event will be followed by a viewing party for the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix. The event will be held in partnership with Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Singapore Economic Development Board and Singapore Tourism Board to convene our TIME100 community in Singapore for the first time, and we look forward to spotlighting business leaders who are moving our world forward and celebrating the extraordinary achievements of our TIME100 Impact Award honorees,” said TIME’s Vice President of events and editorial director of the TIME100 Dan Macsai.

In an article for TIME entitled “Lea Salonga, Voice of Disney Princesses, Is a Life-Long Role Model for Kids of Color,” the Filipino celebrity was cited for her achievements and for being a role model for kids of color. Here’s the full text of the article written by Sanya Mansoor:

“Lea Salonga remembers hearing the iconic Cinderella song, A Dream is a ish our Heart Makes, for the first time at five years old. “ t etched itself in my mind,” she says. Two decades later, Salonga became the singing voice for two iconic Disney princesses: Jasmine and Mulan. “Now I get to be that for someone else,” she remembers thinking. Her Filipina heritage made playing Mulan especially meaningful. “All of a sudden, the people that look like me had a princess,” Salonga says. “She brings honor to herself and to her family…and she does it with grace.” What’s more, she’s one of the only princesses that doesn’t end the movie with a grand wedding.

“In her four-decade award-winning career as an actress and singer, Salonga has emerged as not only a Disney and Broadway icon but a role model for children of color. Salonga prides herself on promoting representation in Hollywood and on Broadway and showing underrepresented groups that their stories matter.

“Salonga’s first professional theatrical performance was at the age of seven, when she starred in a Filipino production of The King and I. She made her mark on the international stage in 1989 for her Tony Award-winning performance in Miss Saigon. Salonga played Kim, a Vietnamese prostitute who fell in love with an American soldier. The

recognition from that role showed her “it is possible for a kid from a small country in South East Asia to get to do this and to be awarded,” she says. In , she became the first Asian woman to play Eponine in the musical Les Misérables on Broadway.

“In 2017, Salonga released “Bahaghari,” an album of traditional Filipino songs in many of the country’s different languages. And in , she played the protagonist’s aunt in Yellow Rose, which follows a teenage Filipina-American girl in a small Texas town who dreams of becoming a country singer, but puts those dreams on hold after ICE detains her mother.

“Her latest role is as queer mom Elodie Honrada on the HBO MAX show Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, which was just renewed for a second season.

“It’s not easy breaking down racial barriers in historically white spaces and roles, and Salonga says she relies on her sense of humor, which she describes as “sometimes inappropriate and sometimes irreverent” to stay sane. “Back home, we call it cariño brutal,” she says. In one of her favorite roles, as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, Salonga felt she was able to incorporate that darker side of herself and leave behind expectations of sounding classically beautiful. “I just went for her baser instincts, her venal nature,” she says.

“Still, Salonga is holding out hope for a Filipina Disney princess—perhaps centered around the warrior Urduja, she told Teen Vogue in 2019. And until then, she’ll keep playing the complicated and underrepresented roles she wishes she’d seen as a little girl.”

Latest Comscore U.S. viewership report shows TFC ended first half of the year as most watched multi-cultural network

49 of the period’s Top 50 shows are from TFC

going into the second half of -- showed that TFC was the most watched multi-cultural network.

SAN FRANCISCO - TFC, the home of Filipino stories and agship channel of leading global ilipino media and entertainment company ABSB nternational, shared that omscore’s U.S. viewership highlights for the period of June to July , -- end of the first half of the year and

The report said that , households watched for a combined total of million hours during the referred period. captured percent share of viewership, followed by MA Pinoy with percent, Sony with percent, Aapka with , and PH A with percent.

he study also showed that there are percent more -only viewers compared to the number two network, which means advertising on will already reach percent of MA viewers in the U.S.

he study also revealed that reached more households across all key dayparts than MA.

Another key metric of ’s domination among multi-cultural networks is that of the period’s

op shows are from . n March , ABS- B nternational signed a multi-year agreement which named omscore as ’s first third-party measurement provider. Under the agreement, gets access to omscore’s best-in-class national measurement to plan, transact and evaluate their audiences for programming analysis and in driving ad sales.

POGO expansion boosts demand for office spaces

MAKATI CITY – Expansion moves by Philippine offshore gaming operators P , along with strong client relations, boosted office space development of ton Properties in the second half of the year.

n a statement, the property developer said it inked a deal with one of Southeast Asia’s P firm for the lease of over , s uare meters of office space or two oors of ton’s e estPod building inside the mixed-use development, ton est nd S uare near the Makati entral Business District.

ton Properties executive director yle an said “with the perceived stability and confidence of a new administration and the market starting to normalize, ton Properties gradually felt an increase in the demand for leasing spaces this second half of the year.”

“ hese operators are not ust from hina, but within our neighboring countries in Southeast Asia as well,” he said.

an said ease of business transaction is also a plus for the developer, noting that the company last August signed a three-year contract with a triple A construction company for the lease of more than , s .m. space in ton’s Blakes ower.

“ ton also sees the positive ripple effect of P in our leasing business because some of them are also looking for residential and commercial spaces, which are a good indicator of our overall growth in occupancy rate,” he added.

an said the e estPod is one of the company’s two office pro ects within the mixed-use complex of ton est nd S uare.

He said the building was developed to provide a particular built-to-suit concept that allows the users to design and customize the space according to their needs.

an added the office building has four oors of spacious offices well-suited for multinational companies’ local corporate head uarters or global support servicing and has direct access to the complete range of amenities and close to the modern conveniences of the Makati BD.

t is located near the ma or thoroughfares of Ayala and Buendia Avenues such as the R - train, public buses, eepneys, cabs, and even tricycles.

ton Properties is the real estate brand of the ucio an roup, one of the biggest business conglomerates in the Philippines.

ts foreign counterpart, ton Properties td., is an established real estate brand in Hong ong and mainland hina.

ith an extensive land bank in strategic locations all over the country, ton Properties specializes in office pro ects, commercial centers, and mixed-use township developments, as well as, high-end and midincome high-rise and horizontal residential developments.

Are you living paycheck to paycheck and finding it hard to save money?

If you are struggling every week to wait for the next paycheck to come so you can pay your bills, you should know that now is the time to make some changes to your finances . f you fre uently have to borrow money from friends or relatives, take out payday loans or cash advances, or use your credit cards to cover your expenses until your next payday, then you’re living paycheck to paycheck.

rom my survey and due to the recent “ reat Recession” we all ust went thru - of workers say they live paycheck to paycheck. he number is significantly higher than last year when of workers reported living paycheck to paycheck.

he problem with living paycheck to paycheck is that you’re susceptible to financial damage. t’s too easy to rack up your cards and debts but very difficult to pay down your loans. . Before you know it, you won’t be able to afford your minimum payments and you won’t be able to borrow more money to make ends meet.

How to Stop iving Paycheck to Paycheck

Mostly everyone will tell you to start to budget and keep your spending records in order for you to know where all your money is going, that is easier said than done, if fact have even told people to do budgets but now realized that it’s not enough. An average family of needs to have an income of aboutto live comfortably a month, a retired couple with no kids needs at least . to live comfortably a month, usually without the perks of private schools and lavish yearly vacations, an average person expenses will be at a minimum of . a month net. believe most of you will agree with me on this.

So, believe you have to first change your attitude about money. Set goals for material things that will be resalable in the future in case you need money. nough furniture and clothes that you already have too much of. Be frugal in shopping for your food and daily activities.

ut your expenses. nce you see where money is leaking, you can start plugging the cracks. his process might re uire some lifestyle changes. or example, if you’re used to buying a latte every morning before work a month , you may have to start making coffee at home - a month , or going without coffee completely. ou might have to get rid of the expensive cable package, because if you’re living paycheck to paycheck, you really can’t afford it.

Most importantly ncrease your income. ncreasing your income isn’t always a possibility, but there are options outside getting a raise. f you typically get a tax refund, you may be able to change your tax withholding and get more money in your paycheck each month. f course, that will mean you get a lower refund if you get one at all , but you’ll have more money to use during the month. ou might also consider working part-time or making money on the side with a hobby. Beware making more money won’t always solve your paycheck to paycheck problem.

have spoken to a lot of my readers making six figures a year but still can’t save money, so does that mean they are also living paycheck to paycheck. Sort of, if you don’t have savings, that means you’re

not secured in case of an emergency. hat am trying to preach here is that you have to be able to save for opportunities, this past year when home prices were at its lows. here you able to take advantage and maybe invest in a home or a rental property. hen stock prices where at its all time high, where you able to invest in a retirement account for your future.

strongly suggest that you change your attitude towards money and start to see it as a vehicle for your financial freedom in the future. sure do believe that we cannot rely on the government for our retirement let alone our financial freedom.

hanks for this very interest in uiry from an avid reader. Please call en o of st nnovative inance roup at- or write to kennethgo verizon.net.

A: Let’s go back to the beginning of this story so that I can share it fully with the readers. A client called sometime in August, last year, regarding a summons he received for an unpaid debt. He was working with one of my assistants. My assistant told him to fax over the summons so we can see exactly what the attorneys of his creditor is asking for. The client never faxed it and my assistant kept calling him for the next few days to let him know that there is only days from the receipt of the summons to file an answer in the State of California. The client never responded back and we just went on with our business. I told my assistant that he probably thinks that it will go away on it’s own.

A few months went by, in March of the following year, the client called again. He said he received a judgment in the mail for the same unpaid debt. My assistant told him to fax it over so we can see what the attorneys of your creditor is asking for. Again, he did not fax it and my assistant kept calling him again. One month passed and he called back. He told my assistant that he received a letter from the county that his home now has a lien. This makes the title of the home dirty meaning there is an attachment on the title. he home cannot be sold, refinanced or transferred unless the attachment is paid off.

Some clients are very hardheaded when we explain how things escalate to severity if they do not attend to it. hen finally spoke to him, he was even blaming my assistant that she dropped the ball in August when he first called. t’s ok. He can blame everyone else including me, but at the end of the day, it was not us who was served the summons. t was his responsibility to file an answer within the guidelines of the law. I told him that even if he were to get into a program that we were not out of the woods yet as I also explained to him the consequences. Even if there is a lien on his property, there is no guarantee they will not garnish wages or levy a bank account so it is necessary for him to close all his bank accounts and cannot have one until the case is settled. Life took a turn for the worst.

Ating lesson, Demandang lumala, ikaw ay luluha!

If you need help in getting out of debt, call Debt Aid Consulting International. We do not use call centers which keeps your information safe. We have a new program that reconstruct debts for half of what you would pay our competitors. We also provide legal assistance that keeps collectors away. We take Federal Credit Unions, Payday loans and high interest personal loans in our program too. This is exclusively available for Debt Aid Consulting clients. None of our competitors provide this program. You are well protected.

We only provide Federal Trade Commission compliant programs. Go with Debt Aid Consulting!

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

Ben Lou at your service! have over 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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Tawag na po sa 1-888341-5234 at tutulungan po namin kayo.

Itama po natin ang mali!

Q: I thought my lawsuit for an unpaid debt will eventually go away. Now there is a lien on my house. Can you help me?

California IDs for all OKd - Newsom

Undocumented Californians will be able to obtain a State ID

By Jo Erlinda Mau t

SACRAMENTO – As other states cruelly target migrants and vilify immigration, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the signing of legislation that will support immigrants, advance equity, and expand opportunity.

Under the legislation, undocumented Californians will be able to obtain a State ID, a critical step for inclusion and meaningful participation in our communities and economy, the governor said in a statement sent to Philippine News Today.

Street vendors can more easily get local health permits, supporting better economic inclusion and opportunity with the new measure, he added.

The legislation also means immigrant students will have improved access to in-state tuition at public colleges and universities, and to ESL courses at community colleges. Additionally, immigrant student borrowers will have more options to finance their college educations, Newsom said.

With the state ID, low-income Californians, regardless of their immigration status, will get eligibility for legal assistance in civil matters affecting basic human needs.

The state ID also provides access to community health workers and promotores who can facilitate and provide culturally and linguistically responsive care.

The new legislation also provides:

Cal/OSHA postings will be provided in various languages to protect workers and support safe workplaces.

An alternate plea scheme will be created for defendants charged with drug offenses, which mitigates particular harm for noncitizen Californians.

“California is expanding opportunity for everyone, regardless of immigration status,” said Governor Newsom. “We’re a state of refuge – a majority-minority state, where 27 percent of us are immigrants. That’s why I’m proud to announce the signing of bills to further support our immigrant community, which makes our state stronger every single day.”

A full list of the bills in the package are found in the following:

AB 1232 by Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) – Community colleges: nonresident tuition fees: English as a second language courses.

AB 1766 by Assemblymember Mark Stone (D-Scotts Valley) – Department of Motor Vehicles: driver’s licenses and identification cards.

AB 1777 by Assemblymem-

ber Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) – Migrant education: extended school year program: average daily attendance.

AB 2004 by Assemblymember Cristina Garcia (DBell Gardens) – California DREAM Loan Program.

AB 2068 by Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) – Occupational safety and health: postings: spoken languages.

AB 2193 by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (DEncino) – Civil representation: immigration status.

AB 2195 by Assemblymember Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer, Sr. (D-Los Angeles) – Crimes: nuisance.

AB 2697 by Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) – Medi-Cal: community health worker services.

SB 972 by Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) –California Retail Food Code.

SB 1141 by Senator Moni ue im n DSanta Barbara) – Public postsecondary education: exemption from payment of nonresident tuition.

Last month, Governor Newsom signed SB 836 by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), prohibiting the disclosure of a person’s immigration status in open court in a criminal case by any party unless approved by the judge.

Canepa on $4.2 billion budget: Ending homelessness is top priority

food assistance, rental assistance and basic needs as in ation is having a huge impact on the working poor.

Upside...

(From Page 11)

name proclaimed on a highway marker, Ray Buenaventura thought of it. If 4 FilAms out of 5 comprise the City Council of Daly City, Buenaventura had poured his support for his three colleagues of Filipino descent with his endorsement and physical presence at their campaign sorties.

Buenaventura takes pride in his record of public safety, supporting increased funding for police and firefighters.

irst elected in , the Philippine-born lawyer may not be proficient in Tagalog but is quick to respectfully greet elders putting his forehead on the back of their hand in the customary “mano po.” His quarter-century law practice focuses on indigent criminal defense.

n Buenaventura lost the race for San Mateo ounty Superior Court. He has become the elder statesman among his fellow Council Members, the voice of wisdom and experience.

CITY – San Mateo County Supervisor David J. Canepa made the following statement today after the ounty xecutive’s ffice released a $4.2 billion revised budget for fiscal yearthat focuses on ending homelessness, continuing economic recovery from the pandemic and advancing social justice and equity. The revised budget calls for an increase of $791.2 million over the recommended budget the Board considered in June. The increase is fueled in large part by unanticipated growth in property taxes, par-

ticularly in the commercial sector, and sales taxes, along with the infusion of federal and state funds to assist with COVID-19 recovery.

“

ith a percent increase in homelessness since the pandemic started, this Board has made historic investments to house and support our most vulnerable residents,” Canepa said. “The goal to reach functional zero homelessness is becoming within reach and this budget re ects the Board’s values to make sure that no one is left behind. The budget also includes increased support for

Food prices are up nearly 11 percent and gas prices are up by percent and we are seeing more and more people relying on credit to survive. Many have also had to dip into whatever meager savings they might have to put food on the table. We must be prepared to offer additional relief to some in our community if the impacts of in ation continue.”

***

Press contact: Bill Silverfarb (415) 314-1737.

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TO BE CONTINUED

Vice Mayor Ray Buenaventura Mayor Rod Daus-Magbual

Opening Remarks by Daniel Dae Kim at the Third Public Meeting of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders

The White House September 28, 2022

As delivered ahead of the presentation of recommendations by the Belonging, Inclusion, Anti-Asian Hate, and Anti-Discrimination Subcommittee.

10:04 A.M. EST

DANIEL DAE KIM: Thank you, Kamal. You’re a hard act to follow, and nice to see you all today.

As we meet, current events continue to tell us that the work of our subcommittee remains as important and as vital as ever.

Hate incidents against our community continue unabated. In fact, according to the FBI’s annual Hate Crime Statistics Report, in 2021, crimes against the AA and HP Asian American, ative Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander] community rose 73% from the already sharply elevated figures of . And according to the non-profit organization Stop AAPI Hate, which itself was created in response to the surge in violence against our community, there were 11,467 incidents documented between March 2020 and March of 2022. And these numbers, of course, only represent the reported cases.

Indeed, one doesn’t have to look far to see the long list of incidents that have occurred since our Commission meeting last May.

In April and May 2022, a man and teenager faced hate crime charges for targeting an Asian woman for physical assaults and robberies in Sacramento, California.

On May 12, on the last day our Commission meeting, we learned of a shooting in Dallas, Texas at a Koreanowned hair salon that left three Asian women injured. The gunman has since been indicted on multiple felony charges.

May 13: a man was charged with a hate crime after attacking a Filipino family at a McDonald’s drive-thru in North Hollywood, California.

May 31: a man was charged with [a] hate crime after hurling anti-Asian remarks and slashing an Asian man with a knife on a subway train in Brooklyn.

On June 14, an East Asian PhD student at University of Wisconsin – Madison was beaten by a group of men, who allegedly beat a South Asian victim the very same day.

July 2: a man was charged with “bias crime” in Oregon after physically assaulting a five-year-old Asian girl and her father after making comments about their race.

July 9: a man was arrested in Washington State for suspicion of committing a hate crime against U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal and threatening to kill her.

July 11: a man now faces a hate crime charge after allegedly punching an Asian woman and yelling antiAsian rhetoric in Seattle, Washington.

August 1: a man slashed a 59-year-old Asian woman with a box cutter in Times Square in an unprovoked attack.

August 18: three people of Asian descent were threatened with a knife and attacked with a brick in a suspected anti-Asian hate crime right here in Washington, D.C.

On August 24, a woman hurled racist slurs and attacked a group of South Asian women outside a Plano, Texas restaurant in what is being investigated as a hate crime.

And just earlier this month, two Asian American teenage girls were attacked in separate incidents on the Philadelphia subway without provocation in what authorities are investigating as possible hate crimes.

As you can see, this list seems long, but it’s only one of the thousands of incidents of verbal harassment, shunning, physical assault, and other types of discrimination that have a icted members of our community since the beginning of the pandemic.

It reaches across all Asian demographics, all across the country. It is vitally important that these stories be told. Despite how long this list may be, it is important that these voices be heard.

Clearly, there remains much work to do.

To that end, our subcommittee has met regularly, along with the guest speakers that you heard Kamal speak about, with expertise in their respective fields.

And we’ve focused our work on several areas: prevention of anti-Asian hate; education about AA and NHPI communities; increasing resources for victims; uplifting AA and NHPI youth. We focused on ways to address online harassment and abuse targeting AA and NHPI communities. Preventing gun violence targeting AA and NHPI communities, among many others. They are listed right there on our priority issues areas.

We are continuing to develop fulsome recommendations to address these concerns, and we look forward to presenting them to the full committee. I’ll pass it over to our colleague and friend uisa now to present the first of today’s recommendations. Thank you, take it away Luisa.

END 10:09 A.M. ET

Background on the Commission

In May 2021, President Joe Biden authorized the creation of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, ative Hawaiians, and Pacific slanders through Executive Order 14031 and appointed 25 leaders to serve as commissioners on December 20, 2021. The members were sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris on February 3, 2022.

The Commission is co-chaired by Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai. The Commission advises the President on ways the public, private and non-profit sectors can work together to advance e uity, justice, and opportunity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific slander communities.

During the Commission’s inaugural meeting in February 2022, the members formed six subcommittees to develop detailed recommendations for the President focused on:

Belonging, Inclusion, Anti-Asian Hate, and AntiDiscrimination Data Disaggregation

Language Access Economic Equity Health Equity

Immigration and Citizenship Status

n May , , the ommission held its first inperson meeting and approved recommendations from each of the subcommittees. Approved recommendations were finalized, reviewed, and submitted to the ommission Co-Chairs, and then transmitted to the President on August 24, 2022.

The Commission will hold its third meeting on September 28, 2022 in Washington, D.C.

CLBC congratulates Assemblymember Cooper for historic win as sheriff of Sacramento County

SACRAMENTO The California Legislative Black aucus releases an offi cial statement congratulating colleague Assemblymember Cooper (D-Elk rove on his recent election to serve as the fi rst African American Sheriff of Sacramento ounty in years of the department’s existence.

ooper will be sworn in as Sheriff in January of 2023. Additionally, the CLBC recognizes Assemblymember Cooper for his leadership, serving as a member and executive leader for the CLBC during his 8 years in the legislature.

“I have dedicated my life to my community, protecting victims and keeping the public safe and look forward to continuing this important work as your next Sheriff , while also bringing the change to the Sacramento ounty Sheriff ’s ffi ce that campaigned on,” said Assemblymember Cooper. “My time in the legislature has made me a better leader and I’m confi dent the skillset ’ve developed in the apitol will

serve me well as transition to the Sheriff ’s ffi ce. The relationships I’ve built with my esteemed colleagues in the Black Caucus will surely be missed, but I’m excited to see the current and recent members continue to advocate and fi ght on behalf of Black Californians.”

“As Members of the Black Caucus, we want to thank our fellow Caucus member for his 8 years of exceptional service in the legislature and the CLBC. Diversity in leadership is critical to truly being a California for All. The Assemblyman’s historic win is a testament to our state’s values of diversity and inclusion. Jim holds a wide breadth of institutional knowledge and experience spanning over two decades of service as an offi cer. e have no doubt he will serve with integrity and fairness. The CLBC remains committed to our work on police reform. We look forward to working with Assemblymember Cooper in his capacity as Sheriff in our shared desire to make alifor-

nia safer for everyone.”

Assemblymember Jim Cooper represents California’s 9th Assembly district, which includes the cities of Sacramento, Elk Grove, Galt, and Lodi. Cooper currently serves as Chair of the Public Employment and Retirement Committee and is also a member the Governmental Organization Committee, Insurance Committee, and the Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on State Administration.

Cooper has also served as the Assistant Majority Leader and Assistant Majority Whip under then Speaker of the Assembly, Toni Atkins. Assemblymember Cooper serves as the Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Community and Law Enforcement Relations and Responsibilities.

Before joining the Assembly in 2014, Cooper served as a Captain in the Sacramento County Sheriff ’s Department for years and spent years as Elk Grove’s founding mayor and councilmember.

Offline

(From Page 13)

akin to Vietnam era kids not happy with their lot, which is why victory has always eluded them. As for the reputation of Russia being the second most powerful armed forces in the world, this has been disproven yet again.

Recall that like the US, Russia tried to occupy Afghanistan. It did not go well for them. That sad experiment should have taught them a lesson, that invading any foreign country can never go well for them.

t is difficult to guess what happens next for Putin. He could follow in the footsteps of BJ, and eventually leave office in shame with his forces still occupying parts of Ukraine, and hoping his successor will find an honorable way out.

He will, therefore, need his own version of Richard Nixon.

He may have been a horrible president, but at least Nixon found a way to get US forces out of Vietnam via the Paris Peace Talks. He also led the US when the moon landing took place, so he could claim some credit for that historic event.

Under a worst case scenario, however, Putin will end up as the Russian Adolf Hitler, a megalomaniac who invaded his neighbors and terrified the world, only to meet a fate that he deserved. He lost his war, and either killed himself in a bunker, or headed to South America – Argentina was it? – to live out the remainder of his days in seclusion.

Is there a best case scenario for Putin?

Since he never declared war on Ukraine, he can always say that his military exercise has achieved its purpose, so his soldiers can come home.

He can even declare some kind of moral victory, and remain as president for life if the Russian people let him. But I doubt that his presidency will have a happy ending.

Whats Up Atty

(From Page 12)

thorities alleged were crimes involving moral turpitude?

Who is the white lawyer who has successfully saved a Filipino from deportation even though he was charged with misrepresenting facts twice to U.S. officials – first to consular officials, and second to border patrol officers at the Honolulu airport - by telling them that he had no child even though he had?

Who is the white lawyer who has successfully saved a Filipino from deportation, even though he was charged with having been convicted of two counts of sexual assault of a minor child which immigration officials alleged were aggravated felonies and crimes of child abuse?

Is there a brown lawyer who has successfully done these? You bet.

CHALLENGE

If you know of a white lawyer who has done all of these, I wish to meet the lawyer after reviewing proof that he has done all of these, and give him and you a free roundtrip ticket from San Francisco to Honolulu.

Atty. Emmanuel Samonte Tipon was a Fulbright and Smith-Mundt scholar to Yale Law School where he obtained a Master of Laws degree specializing in Constitutional Law. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, New York, and the Philippines. He practices federal law, with emphasis on immigration law and appellate federal criminal defense. He was the Dean and a Professor of Law of the College of Law, Northwestern University, Philippines. He has written law books and legal articles for the world’s most prestigious legal publisher and writes columns for newspapers. He wrote the best-seller “Winning by Knowing Your Election Laws.” Listen to The Tipon Report which he co-hosts with his son Attorney Emmanuel “Noel” Tipon. They talk about immigration law, criminal law, courtmartial defense, and current events. It is considered the most witty, interesting, and useful radio show in Hawaii. KNDI 1270 AM band every Thursday at 8:00 a.m. Atty. Tipon was born in Laoag City, Philippines. Cell Phone (808) 225-2645. E-Mail: filamlaw@yahoo.com. Website: https://www.tiponlaw.com.

The information provided in this article is not legal advice. Publication of this information is not intended to create, and receipt by you does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.)

Health & Wealth

Gerald Albright to lead Carson’s Jazz Festival on October 1

CITY OF CARSON - Grammy-Award nominee Saxophonist and Bass Player, Gerald Albright, will headline for Carson’s End-of-Summer Jazz Festival scheduled on October 1.

The festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Anderson Park, located at 19101 S. Wilmington Ave. in Carson. The event is open to the public and admission is free.

Limited VIP seating is also available for $50 per person. To make reservations, please call Anderson Park Monday-Friday between 3pm-8pm; Saturday-Sunday 12pm-4pm. The festival will also feature a wide variety of food, crafts and display booths, a children’s play area, and stage activities.

One of the longest running events in Carson, the jazz festival draws a huge crowd from all over the South Bay each year, previous topbilled performers included Bar-

bara Morrison, Kenny Lattimore, Loose Ends, Angela Bofill, Ronnie aws, and many other big names in the jazz music industry.

“The City Council continues to support one of Carson’s longest running events in Carson that draw a huge crowd from all over Southern California. I’m so proud that numerous community volunteers participate to ensure its success annually,” said Carson Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes.

Other performers include Julian Vaughn, Saxophonist Donald Hayes, CSUDH Jazz Band and former lead singer of the Gap Band, Gavyn Rhone.

The Jazz Festival is a co-hosted event by the Carson Citizens Cultural Arts Foundation and the City of Carson.

For more information on the event, call Parks and Recreation at (310) 847-3570.

State public health leaders warn school leaders of new brightly colored ‘rainbow fentanyl’ trend

SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has warned school leaders about a new and concerning “rainbow fentanyl” drug that may interest youth.

In a letter to superintendents and charter school administrators, CDPH Director and State Public Health fficer om s J. Arag n warned that “rainbow fentanyl” is a potentially fatal drug found in pills and powders in a variety of bright colors, shapes and sizes that could attract young people.

As I See It

first months of shock, of schools in Ukraine, despite the risk, reopened to in-person education, with an option to study online if the parents prefer, due to the “Sword of Damocles” hanging above their heads, as Russian troops continue to engage the Ukranian forces.

School administrators and national officials said “safety remains the priority.” At schools that don’t have quick access to shelters or are located close to the borders with Belarus and Russia, or near active military zones, children will only study online.

Stories like these resonated in the school campus. “We were sleeping in the corridor, and there was a corpse of a dead person behind the wall,” Oleksii recalled. His family stayed one more night before eeing town, though they have since returned for the start of the school year.

Oleksii’s classmates shared similar stories about that day and the month-long Russian occupation that followed. “When I’m at school, I think about the person who died in the debris. I feel deeply sorry for her,” 12-year-old Mykola Kravchenko said. heir school is still badly damaged. Debris fills the second oor, and the roof and heating system need to be repaired money the school doesn’t have.

“Rainbow fentanyl can be found in many forms, including pills, powder, and blocks that can resemble sidewalk chalk or candy,” said Dr. Arag n. “Any pill, regardless of its color, shape, or size, that does not come from a health care provider or pharmacist can contain fentanyl and can be deadly,” he said.

In its letter, CDPH points to a recent warning from the United States Drug Enforcement Agency that notes the highly addictive and potentially deadly “rainbow fentanyl” has been found in at least 18 states.

(From Page

as Russia continue to believe that as a super power, it will not bow to smaller country such as Ukraine, the war continues. The thing is, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin will not pull out his troops ust like that. He will continue to fight and bully smaller nations to Russia’s favor. His bloated ego and super power mentality are instilled in his mind that no amount of defeat in the Ukraine-Russia war zone at this time will change his mind. He is committed to destroying Ukraine!

Ukraine will continue to fight with the help of other countries, but Russia will not cave in to the renewed power being staged by Ukraine. Putin is fighting back

(ELPIDIO R. ESTIOKO was a veteran journalist in the Philippines and a multi-awarded journalist here in the US. For feedbacks, comments… please email the author at estiokoelpidio@gmail.com.)

Immigrants Help

SUCCESS STORIES

(From Page 12)

families and friends threw selected owers as their final respect to my mother.

Immediately after the internment, lunch was served for everybody at the ista Dining Hall located at the lower oor of the main building of the Skylawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park.

I would like to thank those who served as pallbearers namely: Ferdinand Lewis, Francis Sison, Rey Talon, Dennis Madlaing, Jemry Madlaing and Dan Casugbo; and the honorary pallbearers namely: Dionisio Madlaing, Salvador Madlaing, Abraham Asuncion, Enrique Madlaing, Agustino Agustin and Alfredo Gabot.

I would like also to express my thanks and appreciation to those who ordered and donated owers namely ew ork ife Santa lara eneral ffice, San Jose, alifornia ioleta . Madlaing, from Ontario, Canada and Enrique Jane Madlaing with Jaycee and Mathilde from Marseilles, France; Mike Mardy Mercedes Hawkins; Subido-Ruar Family (MaryAnne, Loling); CHURCH OF CHRIST Hispanic Congregation in San Francisco, California; Apple (Maintenance Colleagues of Francis Sison).

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

Hit by a missile during the early days of the war, Irpin School Number 17 was rebuilt with the help of UNICEF, the faint smell of fresh paint still lingering as the students walked into their classrooms hand-in-hand.

First grade teacher Olga Malyovana said: “This year is different to the others. We are in a war situation. We were really worried about the children and their safety, but we fixed all the facilities, we have a shelter.”

Schools first order of the day was an evacuation drill, with a fire alarm going off and all the children lining up to head to the basement bomb shelter or designated safe and windowless areas in the corridors. Regular drills were conducted to ensure that the children to ensure their safety.

“Two years of Covid and six months of war, is having disastrous impact on children’s growth and learning and mental health. So, we need to bring that normalcy,” Murat Sahin, UNICEF representative in Ukraine said.

kay, is Ukraine’s counteroffensive turning the tide and changing the dynamics of the war? Russia was pushed back, for now at least and Ukraine’s sudden advance in the northeast was a good morale booster in Ukraine-occupied areas - and in the western capitals supporting Kyiv. This is the two faces of the coin that can be ipped anytime.

As to when it will end? Honestly, I don’t know! For as long

(From Page 14)

For the month of August 2022, we received an approvals from the Immigration Court a waiver of misrepresentation for an immigrant in removal proceeding who entered the U.S as single but actually married. The waiver allows him to stay in the U.S. permanently. We also received approval from USCIS six naturalization applications, two Fiancée visa petition, three removals of condition on residence and three adjustment of status applications.

Note: If you have immigration problems write us a letter and we will reply to you with no initial obligation. he aw ffices of rispin . ozano 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/

WHO and ILO call for new measures to tackle mental health issues at work

New global WHO guidelines on mental health at work are reinforced by prac�cal strategies outlined in a oint WHO ILO policy brief

GENEVA - The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have called for concrete actions to address mental health concerns in the working population

An estimated 12 billion workdays are lost annually due to depression and anxiety costing the global economy nearly US$ 1 trillion. Two new publications which aim to address this issue are published - WHO Guidelines on mental health at work and a derivative WHO/ILO policy brief.

WHO’s global guidelines on mental health at work recommend actions to tackle risks to mental health such as heavy workloads, negative behaviours, and other factors that create distress at work. or the fi rst time WHO recommends manager training, to build their capacity to prevent stressful work environments and respond to workers in distress.

H ’s orld Mental Health Report, published in June 2022, showed that of one billion people living

with a mental disorder in 2019, 15% of working-age adults experienced a mental disorder. Work amplifi es wider societal issues that negatively aff ect mental health, including discrimination and inequality. Bullying and psychological violence (also known as “mobbing” is a key complaint of workplace harassment that has a negative impact on mental health. Yet discussing or disclosing mental health remains a taboo in work settings globally.

The guidelines also recommend better ways to accommodate the needs of workers with mental health conditions, propose interventions that support their return to work and, for those with severe mental health conditions, provide interventions that facilitate entry into paid employment. Importantly, the guidelines call for interventions aimed at the protection of health, humanitarian, and emergency workers.

“It’s time to focus on the detrimental effect work

can have on our mental health,” said Dr edros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “The well-being of the individual is reason enough to act, but poor mental health can also have a debilitating impact on a person’s performance and productivity. These new guidelines can help prevent negative work situations and cultures and offer much-needed mental health protection and support for working people.”

A separate WHO/ILO policy brief explains the WHO guidelines in terms of practical strategies for governments, employers and workers, and their organizations, in the public and private sectors. The aim is to support the prevention of mental health risks, protect and promote mental health at work, and support those with mental health conditions, so they can participate and thrive in the world of work. Investment and leadership will be critical to the implementation of the strategies.

BA.4.6, BF.7 are here!

Heart of Hope

PHILIP S. CHUA

we lower our guards against COVID-19 because cases are decreasing, unvaccinated individuals, the prime target of the coronavirus, are becoming incubators (where the virus replicates, mutates) and carriers/spreaders churning out new Omicron subvariants. As a consequence, we now have BA.4.6 and BG.7, as the predominant BA.5 decreases. In the United States, more than 106 million are unvaccinated, in the Philippines, about 37 million are not vaccinated.

BA.4.6 was responsible for nearly 12 percent of the cases last week and is now the most predominant strain behind BA. . Ba. , an “offshoot” of BA. , accounts for 2 percent of the COVBID-19 cases.

While the cases are coming down, the data show that, as of last Tuesday, September 26, 2022, the daily average cases are still high, about 52,539 a day, with 417 deaths each day, 29,443 hospitalized. In the Philippines, about 66.4 percent (72.7 million) have full vaccination; 68 percent of the people in the United States (224,113,439) are fully vaccinated, and only percent (108,806,974) got a booster shot. The vaccination rate for the new bivalent booster is very low, as people start having a false sense of security and becoming bolder and casual.

The question now is whether the new reformulated bivalent boosters, which were redesigned primarily for BA. and BA. , would be effective against these two new sub-variants of Omicron. Only time can tell as clinical pictures evolve. In the meantime, we urge everyone to be fully vaccinated, including the new PfizerBioNT or Moderna bivalent vaccines, which could be interchanged. Both are equally good. When it comes to virus infection, nothing beats the value effectiveness of vaccines.

COVID-19 impacts brain

US researchers reported last Thursday that “people who had COVID-19 are at higher risk for a host of brain injuries a year later compared with people who were never infected by the coronavirus, a finding that could affect millions of Americans.”

The most common symptoms are memory impairments, labelled as brain fog, which 77 percent of those who had COVID-19 infection are prone to have.

AsFifty percent of them are also likely to have ischemic stroke, which is caused by blood clots, compared to those who never got infected. Those who were infected also have 80 percent higher risk to have seizures, 43 percent more likely to have mental health issues, like anxiety and depression, and 35 percent likely to have headaches and percent higher risk to suffer movement problems, like tremors, compared to non-infected individuals.

This is a vital reason why everyone has to be careful to avoid getting COVID-19 infection, even if the symptoms from the Omicron sub-variants are usually milder, because the potential future “side-effects” could be devastating.

Exercise in a pill

The old-fashioned, time-tested, physical exercise is universally known to confer great health benefits, not only for the muscles and bones, but also for the cardiovascular system and the body as a whole, including the person’s mental health. Brisk-walking for those still able to do it, no matter how old the person is, is highly recommended more than jogging. The long-term side effect of jogging is trauma to the spine, the hip joints, knee joints, and the ankles, which show up in the later years.

Scientists reported last week they found a drug that “apparently mimics the effects of vigorous exercise” in the laboratory mice. he “exercise in a pill” is called locamidazole (LAMZ). While it did reinvigorates the muscles and bones, as does physical exercise, they are not sure if the benefits would be the same as conferred by actual physical exercise. If adequate studies show that it is applicable to humans down to the molecular level, it might be relegated to those where physical exercise is no longer safe or practical. For all others, we would continue to do our routine standard exercise.

Tea and diabetes

Scientists investigated the effects of drinking various types of tea (black, gree, oolong) on diabetic risk, and found that drinking 1-3 cups of tea decreased the risk for diabetes type 2 somewhat but drinking 4 or more cups a day was associated with 17 percent lower risk. There are around 422 million people around the world with diabetes mellitus type 2. This study was a meta-analysis of 19 cohort studies from eight countries presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes Annual Meeting in Stockholm, Sweden. More extensive studies on a global scale are needed to confirm these findings.

Cardio-nuclear scan

To increase the value of stress test, Thallium-201 or technetium-99m sestamibi (Cardiolite) are two radio-

active ingredients given intravenously (nuclear perfusion scan) is added during the stress test at the point of maximum exercise. This combo then becomes are more useful heart test for evaluation of coronary artery disease. t shows the blood ow in the coronary arteries and looks for blockages in the arteries and the affected region of the heart.

Stress test alone could show false negative result among individuals whose tolerance to exercise are high, in spite of possible blockage in the coronary artery. With this perfusion scan, the accurate condition of the coronary artery ow is revealed even if the plain stress test comes out normal. Hence, stress test nuclear scan perfusion are done together as a standard procedure in cardiology today.

Chronotype

Chronotype tells us what time of the day individuals tend to be more active. Those who wake up early and active in the morning are “early birds,” and those who stay up late and take longer time to start in the morning are “night owls.” Recent studies revealed that night owls may have greater risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease than early birds. Sleeping more than 8 hours a day also have the same risk as night owls.

Flu or COVID shots?

Since the u season is here and D- is expected to rise again in the fall and winter, the question is which vaccine to get first xperts say the u vaccine and the COVID-19 booster may be received at the same time (one in each arm) or taken separately. What is important, especially for seniors, is that people able to receive the shots get them in a timely fashion, which is now.

Contact Lenses

A clinical study shows that reusable contact lenses may increase the risk of contracting a rare, serious, preventable eye infection called Acanthamoeba keratitis. This infection could lead to blindness. Around n85 percent of this uncommon infection is seen among those who use reusable contact lenses and rarely among those who use disposable lenses. Making sure that hands touching the lenses are clean is vital to avoiding infections.

Philip Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 manitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

IMPACT OF PEOPLE AROUND US INSPIRATIONAL ARTICLE FOR THE WEEK

By TIM PEDROSA

If you take a piece of rotten fruit and place it beside perfectly good fruit, what happens? The mold from the rotten fruit spreads over to the good fruit and both end up in bad condition. So what happens when you surround yourself with people who don’t build you up? Well, you become just like them.

The people with whom we surround ourselves have an enormous impact on our life. In many ways, they shape life. The only people who deserve to be in our life are the ones who treat us with love, kindness and respect. Many people always remember our mistakes but, few remember the good things we have done to them. Sometimes removing some people out of our life makes room for better people.

Life is surrounded by people who judge us day in and day out. They talk about us when we succeed and laugh at us when we fail. They can make us or break us. But the secret is to live a humble life that pleases God, not people. Let us not worry about what people say behind our back. hey are the people who are finding faults in our life instead of fixing their own. n life, we experience ups and downs, highs and lows. In such challenging times, it is always useful to be surrounded by people who can lend us a helping hand, contribute in some positive ways and add value to our life.

I have learned that we should stop complaining about our relationship with others once we have done our very best. It might be between couple, parents children, siblings, relatives, friends, etc. Some people expect the other party to initiate the connection all the time. They feel proud and important. However, sometimes the best way to get someone’s attention is to stop giving ours.

A broken relationship is like a broken glass. It is better to leave it broken when it gets expensive and keeps on hurting us trying to fix it. t is time to let go. Believe me; I have learned that sometimes God gives us the wrong person before giving us the right one, so that when the right one comes, we know how to appreciate the gift.

I have also learned that we should never take for granted anyone, for the person we took for granted today may turn out to be the person we need tomorrow. Let us be careful how we treat other people. So when people hurt us over and over, let us try to avoid them and think of them as sandpaper. They may scratch and hurt a bit, but in the end, we end up polished and they end up useless.

Understanding Worship

Heart

REV. JOSE PELAGIO A. PADIT, SThD

Weinterchange in our use of the words worship and adoration; while we distinctly do not use the word worship as praise; in fact, the expression used is “praise and worship.” Basically, we understand prayer as lifting up of our mind and heart to God, or a loving conversation with the Lord. Or prayer is relationship, prayer is contemplation of God in silence, and other ways to describe or define it however, worship will always be presupposed in prayer. For we cannot pray, or even conceive of prayer, without acknowledging that The Being we worship while at prayer is worth of our time and efforts worth of our whole being to be directed to Him. Worship is acknowledgment and recognition of God’s sovereignty on us.

Three things I would like us to think about when we worship: irst, worship is our wholehearted expression of what is of utmost importance or that which is of great worth in our life. od is of infinite importance in our life: Worship is worth-ship; He is more than worth it of whatever we got to offer them all up to Him. e must have the conviction that God is of great worth, our precious treasure, we hold in our whole being for in Him through our ord Jesus hrist, “we live, we move, and have our being Acts .” Having this conviction will hinder us having other things besides God to be worshiped. Unfortunately, nowadays, we use worship and adoration with many things “ worship him her” to mean of great admiration to that person. Being accustomed to use “worship” in many banal ways created in people the idea that od is ust like all these other things and elements in our life. Know always, dear reader, that only God is to be worshiped; if we worship other beings or things; then, we are making them equal to God.

Second, worship is sacrifice. Sense of sacrifice is at the heart of worship. he human effort that we have in our worship is the sacrifice that modifies or adds to what our worship means. irst of all, we cannot forget the action of Jesus hrist in the offering of Himself to the ather on the Cross. All our acts of prayer, all forms of prayer, all that we do have merits before God; because of what our Lord Jesus has done. Without the idea of participation and sharing with what Jesus did, all our good actions, all our praying, all our adoration and worship, and other forms of prayer, will have no meaning and value or merit before God. We are able to pray, adore or worship God; because of Jesus Christ and the action of the Holy Spirit in us. The gift of the Holy Spirit was sent and given to us; because of the work of Jesus Christ. So, our worship cannot be separated from what Jesus Christ did; this means, worship cannot be without the sense of sacrifice as Jesus hrist offered Himself as Sacrifice, perfect and pleasing to God. The Eucharist is the highest form of worship; because precisely of the infinite value of the sacrifice of our ord Jesus. Hence, if we think of worship, we cannot forget the idea of sacrifice in hrist for our worship only has meaning, value and merit, with and in relation to hrist’s sacrifice to the ather. onse uently, it will always be lacking or would be mainly human action when worship is without the sense of sacrifice. ur very efforts in reciting formulae of prayers, or our kneeling or standing or bowing, our singing and active participation in worship, are forms of sacrifice that accompany our worship. So, with sense of sacrifice our worship becomes pleasing to God.

Third, worship is to be our action and disposition of dying to ourselves so as to live for God fully. Worship is our act of denying ourselves selfhonor and glory in order to give all honor and glory to od. n the first point above, the emphasis was on God as worthy of worship; here, the point is on us, the worshiper. In us worshipers, it must be like putting into action what John the Baptist said “He must increase must decrease John .” hat is why, mostly the act that portray adoration and worship is bowing down, or kneeling down, or prostrate on the ground, and other similar acts; for they signify the forgetting of oneself in order to exalt the Sovereignty and ordship of od. May we not be lazy in doing our acts of worship. May we not succumb to the complacent ways of treating God like an equal to us, and not give Him what is due and most proper to Him. Lord God, we worship and adore You, in Christ Jesus, Your Son, through the Holy Spirit in us. Amen.

Seafood Chopsuey Recipe of the Week

Ingredients:

150 grams medium size shrimp, shelled

150 grams squid, cut into rings

150 grams mussels par-boiled shell discarded grams white fish fillet cut into strips

100 grams green beans, sliced diagonally

12 young corn, cut diagonally

1 medium size carrot, sliced thinly

1 medium size sayote, sliced thinly small size cauli ower, cut into oweret small size brocolli, cut into oweret

1/2 small size cabbage, cut into wedges

1/2 small size pechay baguio, cut into wedges

1 large size red bell pepper, cut into wedges

1 stalk celery, separate leaves, stem sliced thinly

2 small size onion, chopped

1/2 head garlic, chopped

1/3 cup cornstarch cup fish sauce

2 tbsp. soy sauce

2 tbsp. oyster sauce

2 tbsp. hoisin sauce

1 tbsp. sugar ground pepper salt

cooking oil

Cooking procedure

In a wok, Sauté garlic and onion, add in the seafood and stir cook for 1 to 2 minutes Add in fish sauce, soy sauce and a few dash of ground pepper, stir cook for about half a minute. Add 2 to cups water, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce and sugar bring to a boil then add the young corn, sayote, carrots, green beans, celery stalks and stir cook another minute.

Add in cauli ower, brocolli, cabbage, pechay baguio, bell pepper, celery leaves and for another 1 to 2 minutes or until vegetables are just half cooked. Correct saltiness if required. Thicken sauce with the cornstarch diluted in 1/3 cup of water cook for another minute or until sauce thickens. Serve immediately.

Clark airport’s modern terminal launched, eyed as Asia’s next premier gateway

By Claire Morales True

CLARK FREEPORT – The new passenger terminal building of the modern Clark International Airport’s (CRK) is officially open.

This as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led its unveiling and grand opening, saying the event is a “strong signal” to the world that the Philippines is open for business.

Marcos said he is optimistic about the state of the art facility serving as a “building block” to the government’s goal of turning the Philippines into the “logistics center of Asia” and envisioned to be Asia’s next premier gateway.

Built under the Private Partnership Program (PPP) of the government started by the previous administration, the CRK’s 10,000 square-meter passenger terminal building can accommodate around eight million passengers, and aims to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila.

Joining the President during the event were First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, B DA chairperson Delfin orenzana, Luzon International Premier Airport Development (LIPAD) chairperson Frederick o, and other PAD officials.

Pampanga Governor Dennis Uy and Vice Governor Lilia Pineda and other local officials also witnessed the inauguration.

In January 2021, the Department of Transportation and the Bases Coversion Development Authority (BCDA) turned over the new airport terminal to LIPAD Corporation, its operations, and maintenance partner.

“...This facility is essentially a very strong signal that yes, indeed, we are open for business. We just opened a new terminal. It is state-of-the-art and this is one of the things that we will continue to do in the future to bring you all to come and be partners with the Philippines to help the lives of our people to help the Philippine economy and para pagandahin ang buhay ng Pilipino, para pagandahin naman natin ang Pilipinas (and to improve the lives of Filipinos, make the country more beautiful),” Marcos said in his speech.

He expressed confidence that the CRK’s new passenger terminal building and other public-private partnership (PPP) projects encourage investors to do business in the Philippines.

He also renewed his commitment to ensuring that the government would do everything so that partnerships are to the advantage of both the public sector, the private sector, and the people.

“...This is a perfect example of what government and the private sector can do. And makikita mo kung private sector lang ang gumawa nito, hindi nila kinaya. Kung gobyerno lang ang gumawa, hindi rin kinaya ito (And you can see that if it’s only the private sector, they wouldn’t be able to accomplish this. If it’s only the government, they wouldn’t be able to do it either). And that is why this is a perfect example of that. And I think it will serve to encourage other people to enter into this kind of arrangements,” he added.

Citing his working visit to the US last week, Marcos recalled how he invited American investors to take part in the Philippines’ economic resurgence.

“This is also the kind of activity that we were actively endorsing when we were in New York and talking to possible investors, in companies who are already in the Philippines but would like to increase their investment. And this is exactly the kind of partnership that we need to encourage,” he said.

“The general idea that [Tourism] Secretary Christina [Garcia-Frasco] and the Cabinet and I have come to is that habang hindi pa natin naaayos ang airport sa Maynila, habang hindi pa naitatayo at nag-operate ‘yung airport sa Bulacan, hindi pa nag-operate ‘yung airport sa Sangley ito ‘yung mga proposal ngayon eh ay kailangan natin buksan ang mga airports sa regional (while we have not yet improved our airport in Manila, while we have not yet started operations in our airport in Bulacan and Sangley, our proposal is to open our regional airports),” he said.

He also emphasized the importance of terminal building operations in providing opportunities in the areas of employment, investment, and tourism.

NEW PASSENGER TERMINAL. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. le and First Lady Liza AranetaMarcos right un eil the building marker of the Clark Interna�onal Airport s new passenger terminal building.