The Filipino Press: April 28 - May 4, 2023

PBBM: Gov’t starting to get things done at DA to ensure food security

MANILA -- President Ferdinand

R. Marcos Jr. on Monday made a renewed commitment to develop the Philippine agriculture sector to boost the economy and ensure food security, saying the sector has been at the forefront of his overall development agenda.

“Bilang inyong Pangulo ay asahan ninyo na laging susuportahan ang agrikultura ng ating administrasyon. Ito po kaya naman po ako ay inappoint ko po ang sarili bilang Kalihim ng Department of Agriculture dahil po lahat ng aming pag-aaral, lahat ng aming pagplano tungkol sa pagbangon ulit ng ating ekonomiya ay nandiyan lagi ang agrikultura,” President Marcos said during the distribution of projects and programs at the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.

“At kung hindi maganda ang produksyon ng agrikultura ay hindi natin mapapaganda ang ekonomiya. Kaya po naging prayoridad ang agrikultura. Ngayon naging sentro po ng aming mga pinaplano.”

The President particularly highlighted the need for the country to develop its capability to produce its own farm machineries like what is being done at the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) in collaboration with foreign partners. PhilMech, he said, has locally manufactured machineries for planting, cultivation, harvesting, as well as those intended for post-

production. These are in addition to other services such as loans and transport services to farmers and consumers.

“Kung nakikita ninyo ‘yung mga makinarya na naka-display doon sa

labas ay para naman tayo ay… [mag] manufacture tayo ng sarili natin nang sa ganun ay hindi na kailangan tayo umasa sa importation,” he said, noting the country’s reliance to imports was felt during the pandemic

lockdowns.

“Ang lahat ay kailangan natin tingnan at pag-aralan para makahanda tayo. Na kung sakali ito’y mauulit ay tayo naman ay may gagawin. Mayroon tayong

nakahanda at masasabi natin kahit hindi na tayo mag-import ay mayroon tayong sapat na supply na pagkain para sa ating mga mamamayan. ‘Yan po ang ating hangarin.”

It is the overall goal not only of the Department of Agriculture, but the entire government, he added.

With the looming El Niño, the President said the government is continuously crafting plans and measures to ensure sufficient supply of water such as redesigning dam construction and solar power use.

The government is also looking at improving research and development (R&D) to increase agricultural productivity, he said.

“‘Yan ang ating mga pinapagaralan nang mabuti upang tayo naman ay makikita namin na gaganda po ang ani… dahil maganda ang R&D natin, maganda ang research and development natin sa mga iba’t ibang varieties,” he said.

“Kung ano ‘yung gagamitin sa dry season, anong gagamitin sa wet season. Hindi lamang para sa palay kung hindi pati na sa lahat ng ibang produkto, ‘yung mga high value products, ‘yung high value agricultural products, kasama na rin po diyan sa ating research and development.”

Central Luzon has been an important region for agricultural production with its 552,105 hectares (ha) of land area devoted to agriculture. More than 80 percent of the region’s land area (463,398 ha) is devoted to rice farming.

Considered the Rice Granary of the Philippines, it has an average annual rice production of 3.66 million metric tons (MMT) for the

SAN DIEGO, CA -- San Diego

County District AttorneySummer

Stephanhonored five brave individuals today with the DA’s Citizens of Courage Award during the 33rd annual event,which is held as part of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.

“These individuals all displayed courage in the face of dangerous and trying circumstances,” DA Stephan said. “By honoring them, we’re also shining a light on the many courageous crime victims our office serves in the pursuit of justice every year, and the importance of supporting victims’ rights – a big part of our mission at the District

Attorney’s Office.” This year, the Citizens of Courage Awards ceremony was held in

person, after a three-year hiatus when the awards were held virtually. The five individuals were honored in front of 300 invited dignitaries, elected officials, community leaders and guests. Below are the 2023 Citizens of Courage recipients and links to videos telling their stories:

LINDA MARTINEZ

She came to the aid of a man who was shot outside her home, providing life-saving medical attention, and calling police.

CARLOS AND ELIZABETH

MUNOZ

After their innocent son became the victim of deadly gang violence, they started an organization where people affected by violence can get support.

TERRI MILLER

Working as a bus driver in North County, she stopped a man who was harassing a teenage girl on the bus, leading to his arrest, conviction and requirement that he register as a sex

SAN DIEGO, CA -- Bro. Bo Sanchez together with the K5 Preachers namely Arun Gogna, Alvin Barcelona, Jon Escoto, Obet Cabrillas, and Adrian Panganiban will have an Evangelical Concert Tour titled “Breakthrough” on May 13th, 2023 at 3 PM at Southwestern College Performing Arts Center.

Eugenio Isabelo Tomas Reyes Sanchez, who is also known as Bo Sanchez, is a Filipino author, entrepreneur, Catholic lay preacher, and motivational speaker. He is known as the "Preacher in Blue Jeans" and the founder of the Light of Jesus Family. As a lay preacher, Bro. Bo has received recognitions including winning the 2006 Ten Outstanding Young Men award and the Serviam Award, the highest award a lay Catholic may receive, from the Catholic Mass Media Awards in 2007. The Light of Jesus Community has branched out into two gatherings. One is the annual Kerygma Conference now known as Feast Conference or Feast Con, which was founded in 2006. The second gathering is a weekly fellowship and worship called "The Feast." It is a place in which members of the LOJF grow as a community, enriching their lives not just spiritually, but in other aspects as well. As an entrepreneur, Bro. Bo founded the Truly Rich Club which is an online private group where members receive techniques and financial advice on how to successfully invest in the Philippine stock market.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bo_

Sanchez) The Light of Jesus Family (LOJF) is a non-profit international organization, and the Breakthrough concert is part of its mission to spread God’s word to everyone and make disciples of all nations. LOJF

further spreads God’s love and light to all people through its Mercy Ministries and organizations. One of the ministries is Anawim, a small facility for poor and abandoned elderly people. Anawim provides physical care, home life, medical care, spiritual nourishment, recreational activities and socialization, social services, endof-life care, and burial services. Grace to be Born is another ministry that provides temporary shelter for unwed pregnant mothers and an orphanage for children. LOJF in addition has The Prison Ministry group that makes visits to the Correctional Institution for Women. This group ministers to the spiritual and basic needs of inmates, like toiletries and food. They also share a compassionate presence with inmates who do not have visitors. These ministries help change the lives of our kababayans back home.

The Feast is a Sunday prayer gathering with Holy Mass, lively worship, and talks on practical

Christian Living. This was first held at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

In 2009, following the Lord's lead, Bro. Bo assigned Feast Builders, wellknown preachers and spiritual book authors, who established new Feasts. Today, there are over 150 Feasts, led by these Feast Builders. Light of Jesus Family has also grown internationally, establishing prayer groups in key areas in Asia, the Middle East, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Oceania, Canada, and the Bahamas which also hold Feasts. (www.feast. ph and www.feast.ph/give)There are about 16 Feasts in various locations in California, including one here in San Diego. The Feast San Diego is held every last Friday of the month in Room 15 of St. Charles Parish at 990 Saturn Blvd. San Diego, CA 92154. For more info on the Feast - San Diego, you can text or call the Feast Builder, Bro. Arthur Garcia at 619-764-2401. Join us and be blessed at the Feast - San Diego!

President Marcos leads the distribution of projects and programs and the inspection locally manufactured machinery and products at the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) manufactures agricultural equipment that aid the country's planting, cultivation, harvesting and post-production projects. (MNS photo)

Summer Workout Playlist

By FRANCINE m AIgu E

My pampered friends, we’ve officially turned the corner from spring to summer. As the weather heats up, we’ll have to shed some clothing…This is the perfect time to turn the heat up on our workouts and shed some unwanted jiggle. Let’s take on summer fashion and activities with nothing but confidence and good health.

I believe a great playlist of music helps motivate people during personal workouts. This week I’m sharing with you some of my current favorite workout tunes. With a mix of tracks fresh off the radio to tunes that never go out of style, I hope you’ll have fun “working it out” while you work out!

Warm-up Your Mind & Body Music

It’s time to free your mind and prepare your body for the challenges of the day. Take a few deep breaths, and applaud yourself for taking the first step towards a more fit, more fabulous, more satisfied you!

1. “Sunshowers” – M.I.A.

2. “Brand New Key” –Katharine McPhee

3. “Beautiful” - Goldfrapp

4. “Addicted to Love” –Florence + The Machine

5. “Rolling in the Deep” - Adele Calorie Burner Music

A daily cardio workout can feel like a daily marathon. Whether you jog it out on a track, hike the hills, or privately work the treadmill at home, these upbeat tracks help

keep the pace going. Envision yourself burning up a dance floor as you burn those calories to these very danceable tunes.

1. “Run the World (Girls)” –Beyonce

2. “Neon Lights” –Natasha Bedingfield

3. “Conga” – Gloria Estefan & The Miami Sound Machine

4. “Blow (Cirkut Remix)” Ke$ha

5. “Papi” – Jennifer Lopez Rep Music You’ll Want on Repeat Crunches, squats, pushups... These exercises may not be everyone’s favorites, but that’s all the more reason to execute them while listening to great music!

1. “Insomnia” – Craig David

2. “Can’t Stop” - Dondria

3. “Hungry Like the Wolf” –Duran Duran

4. “I’ll Make You Dance” –Elliott Yamin

5. “You’ve Got the Love” –Florence + The Machine Uplifting Weightlifting Music

Tone up to these tunes, which are just the right speed for lifting weights. Make sure you also pace your breathing, and exhale on the lift.

1. “I’m into You” – Jennifer Lopez featuring Lil Wayne

2. “Get Together” – Madonna

3. “Put It in A Love Song” –Alicia Keys & Beyonce Knowles

4. “On the Floor” – Jennifer Lopez featuring Pitbull

5. “Forget You” –

Cee Lo Green

Strrrrreeeeetching Out Music

This is the part of the workout that helps alleviate next-day soreness…so don’t skip it! This is also the time in which you get to celebrate all the hard work you’ve put into your workout.

Congratulations on

1. “Stronger than Ever” –Christina Aguilera

2. “Wait Til You See My Smile” – Alicia Keys

3. “Kagandahan (Betty la Fea Theme)” – Bea Alonzo

4. “Appreciate” –Charlotte Perrelli

5. “A Beautiful Day” –india.arie

Enjoy pampering yourself with some exercise and endorphins. Make this summer one in which you confidently strut your stuff!

The sun is ready to shine its light upon your radiant smile, healthy body, and peaceful mind. Check back every week for ways to pamper yourself and those you love. Why? The answer is simple: YOU DESERVE IT!

Wanna join in on fun weekly chats with other Pampered Pinay fans? Your comments could be featured here! Simply check out www.filipinopress.com for archives of articles online!

Got a business or event Filipino Press should know about? Wish

PH extracts 300 more Filipinos from strifetorn Sudan -- DFA

MANILA -- Seven more buses carrying around 300 Filipinos are streaming out of Sudan for Egypt just as fighting punctures a 72-hour cease-fire between warring Sudanese forces.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday said a total of 80 Filipinos have already left the North African state, which includes the first batch of 50 evacuees.

“As of Wednesday morning Sudan time, at least seven more buses are leaving for Egypt with 300 repatriates minimum,” DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said.

Giving assurance to Filipinos already at the border, the official said the Philippine Embassy in Egypt is doing its best to help them cross through.

The Philippine Embassy in Egypt has also made representations with the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate the temporary entry into Egypt of Filipino nationals.

“The problem is the long processing at Egyptian border, taking over a day. Our Embassy is sending teams to try to fix it, including for those three,” De Vega said.

The embassy is eyeing the deployment of assistance-tonationals teams in two locations in Wadi Halfa and Port Sudan to provide further consular assistance to evacuating Filipinos.

Efforts are also continuous to secure more buses for evacuation.

“The Embassy continues to monitor developments in Sudan; continues to coordinate the evacuation and repatriation of Filipinos and is in communication with Filipinos to ensure their safety and well-being,” DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said in a separate statement.

France aids Filipinos

Also on Wednesday, the French Embassy in Manila said Franceled repatriation operations in Sudan were able to evacuate some Filipinos out of the country.

No figures have been provided as of yet but the embassy said France continues to stand “in solidarity on the ground by answering the call of many European and allied partners who reported their nationals in Sudan”.

There are at least 740 Filipino nationals registered in Sudan, 350 of whom wanted to return to the Philippines.

The DFA said a majority of the 740 are professionals, employees in farms or agricultural companies, students and household service workers.

No Filipino fatality has been reported since the armed clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces, loyal to the head of the military government, and the Rapid Support Forces began on April 15 but one was wounded in the hand by a stray bullet.

Daza said the victim was a male and since received treatment. (MNS)

DA AWARD

Continued from page 1

offender.

JUAN FIERRO

After witnessing a DUI that ultimately left the victim in a wheelchair, he followed the hit-andrun driver and then alerted police to his location, leading to his arrest and conviction.

The DA’s Victim Services Division strives to reduce the trauma, fear and pain experienced by victims, witnesses, and family members affected by crime. The Victim Assistance Program provides comprehensive services to all crime victims. Victim Advocates are focused on providing assistance to victims of violent crimes. In 2022, they assisted 10,699 new crime victims. This assistance included 600 crisis interventions and 13,202 resources and referrals.

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OCD chief cites need to harmonize El Niño interventions

MANILA -- There is a need to harmonize interventions planned by the government to address the ill effects of the El Niño phenomenon, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Administrator Ariel Nepomuceno said Monday.

“There are several points that we need to address. We need to prepare for the possible worst case scenario and identify and harmonize short term solutions, medium term, and long term solutions,” he added in a statement.

Earlier, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued a directive calling for a whole-of-government and a wholeof-nation approach to prepare for El Niño's impact, which is expected to affect the country from the last quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024.

In line with this, Nepomuceno, who is also the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director, said the agency had already formed a team that will help address impacts of the phenomenon following an interagency meeting last April 24.

The proposed El Niño team will be led by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) with the OCD as co-chair; Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) as members.

A support team has also been formed composed of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), National Water Resources Board (NWRB), and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) during the meeting reported that the El Niño phenomenon can be felt as early as June to August 2023 with chances of increasing severity towards the first quarter of 2024.

According to the El Niño forecast, provinces including Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Metro Manila, Apayao, Mountain Province, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Ecija, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Laguna, Rizal, Quezon, Albay, and Guimaras may start experiencing below normal rainfall conditions.

The provinces of Ilocos Norte, Bataan and Cavite are now experiencing way below normal rainfall conditions.

The projected impacts of El Niño on other areas including health, energy, environment, and water reservoirs were also tackled in the meeting.

DSWD ready to assist those who will be affected by El Niño

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Tuesday presided over a video call meeting with the different field offices (FOs) to check on the preparedness of the regional directors and other concerned officials for the El Niño phenomenon.

Gatchalian assured the public that the agency has sufficient funds, as well as food and non-food items (FNFIs), that are ready for distribution

to those who will be directly affected by the long dry spell of the looming El Niño.

During the online briefing, Gatchalian ensured that funds and other relief items are properly positioned in all DSWD warehouses, which are readily available for immediate disposal to any local government units (LGUs) in need.

All the regional directors and officers who attended the video conference, which was co-presided by Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Assistant Secretary Diana Rose S. Cajipe, affirmed that their respective FOs are on alert and have adequate standby funds and a stockpile of food boxes for the anticipated impact of the drought.

Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Teams in the different regions are also on standby and continuously coordinating with the LGUs to determine ways on how to assist those who will be affected by El Niño, especially the farmers and farm laborers.

Currently, the DSWD Central Office, the FOs and the National Resource Operations Center have stockpiles and standby funds amounting to more than PHP1.35 billion.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), El Niño will possibly develop in July, August and September and may persist until 2024.

Gatchalian has instructed all field offices to continue monitoring the situation in their respective areas so that appropriate response can be immediately provided, in accordance with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure that there will be no more hungry Filipino families.

Marcos: Gov't studying reverting school vacation back to March

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said the government is studying reverting school vacation back to March.

In a radio interview on Monday, Marcos was asked if the government would bring back the school vacation to March instead of having it from June to July.

To recall, the month of school vacation was adjusted because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Pinag-aaralan natin ng mabuti 'yan dahil nga marami ngang nagsasabi pwede na, tapos na 'yung lockdown. Karamihan na ng eskwela, face-to-face na, kaunti na lang 'yung hindi na," Marcos said.

"'Yung ating ginagawa na sistema na hybrid system na mayroong may pumapasok, mayroong nagzozoom o kung anong klaseng pagpromote na pag-attendance, ay lahat gusto talaga na makapag-attend dahil iba talaga 'yan," Marcos added.

It was Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chair of the Senate committee on basic education, who initially floated the idea of reverting school vacation during the summer season as the hot weather has affected classes across the country.

In Occidental Mindoro, at least

145 students have been hospitalized since March due to extreme heat and the province's energy problems. It was also in March when around a hundred students were hospitalized in Laguna due to dehydration after a school conducted a surprise fire drill.

The Alliance of Concerned

Teachers has voiced its support for reverting back to the pre-pandemic academic calendar, saying it should be done "as soon as possible."

The Department of Education on Monday, meanwhile, set aside proposals to place air conditioners in public schools to address the problem due to financial constraints.

President Marcos also said during the radio interview that the mild rise of COVID-19 cases in some areas should also be considered.

According to Marcos, the World Health Organization is still considering the coronavirus as a health emergency.

Earlier reports said the WHO would meet in May to assess if they would lift or continue to declare COVID-19 as a "public health emergency of international concern."

Efficient farming, food waste prevention pushed as El Niño looms

The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) on Tuesday called on the farmers to practice efficient farming and the public to be wise in food consumption, as it braces for the possible agricultural effects of El Niño.

During the Laging Handa public briefing, BPI spokesperson Jose Diego Roxas assured that the Department of Agriculture (DA) is on top of the situation and the agencies are preparing for the possible effects of drought.

“Huwag pong mag-alala ang ating taumbayan… kami naman po ay nagpaplano nang maayos para ho malutas ang maaaring maging epekto ng El Niño (The public should not worry… we are properly planning to resolve the effects of El Niño),” he said.

Roxas said the DA is yet to specify its concrete steps as the plans are being finalized, but he cited the prepositioned support to farmers considering the possible impacts on vegetable crops.

“Nandiyan din po ang production support na doon po sa lugar na malubhang maaapektuhan po ng El Niño, mayroon pong mga buffer stock po ng seeds para po sa replanting kung kinakailangan (We also have the production support for areas that will be greatly affected by the El Niño, we have a buffer stock of seeds for replanting if needed),” he said.

He added that agricultural areas that are more likely to be less affected by drought will be strengthened to increase production to cover for the possible yield decline in the vulnerable areas.

Roxas also underscored the need for efficient irrigation and farming.

“The bottom line is the efficient use of natural resources like water, fertilizer, chemicals and others. It’s better that our farming will be precise. This means the utilization of resources or input should be just enough, nothing more, nothing less,” he added.

He said farmers may likewise opt to plant climate-smart varieties during El Niño using breeders-developed vegetables, corn and palay that can survive even with less water allocation amid increased heat.

Meanwhile, Roxas also urged the public to take part in the preparation to help farmers and authorities.

“Bilang tulong na lang din po ‘no, tamang consumption po ng ating mga pagkain nang sa ganoon, mabawasan po natin iyong mga sayang dulot po ng labis po na pagkonsumo ng pagkain (To help, we should have proper consumption of food so that we can prevent wastage due to excessive food consumption),” he added. (MNS)

MANILA -- The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Wednesday told those who still have not registered their SIMs to take advantage of the 90-day extension period as this is final and cannot be extended further.

“Magrehistro na po kayo (Please, register). Binigyan na po kayo ng 90 days more to register (You are already given 90 days more to register),” DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy said.

“This is the final extension dahil ang batas natin hindi na kami binibigyan ng kapangyarihan upang mag extend pa ulit (because the law does not gives authority to extend again),” Uy said.

On Tuesday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved the 90-day extension of the SIM registration period or until July 25 from the original deadline of April 26.

A total of 87,442,982 or 52.04% of the total 168,016,400 subscriber base nationwide have registered their SIMs as of April 24, 2023.

Uy reiterated that the government is looking to register 70% of the total subscriber base to capture the “legitimate” SIM users.

“At 70%, we’re looking at 100 million to 110 million legitimate SIM users. We’re now at 82 million registered,” Uy said.

The DICT chief said that telcos have already upgraded their systems so it would not be difficult for the public to register.

He also reminded the public that barangay IDs could be used to register SIM cards as some individuals do not possess any government IDs.

Uy warned that scammers may take advantage of the 90-day SIM registration extension.

With this he said that the DICT will gradually deactivate some SIM services such as access to social media accounts and loss of ability to make outgoing call as the 90-day additional registration period moves forward.

“Hanggat hindi natin nakukumpleto ang deactivation ng mga SIM cards ay talagang gagamitin po ng mga scammer, itong opportunity upang manloko pa rin,” Uy said. SIM card registration extended for 90 days

The registration for the subscriber identity module (SIM) cards will be extended for another 90 days or until July 25, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla announced on Tuesday.

However, after the April 26 deadline, subscribers will have limited access to services until they finally register.

“Most of the services will be cut off with the telcos (telecommunications companies). So, there will be a social media unavailability for those who do not register in the next 90 days,” Remulla said in an interview after attending a Cabinet cluster meeting.

Senator Grace Poe, meanwhile, called for a boost in information dissemination of Republic Act (RA) 11934 or the SIM Registration Act now that the deadline has been extended. Poe, who chairs the Senate

Committee on Public Services, said the extension would help clarify the confusion and concerns of registrants regarding the law.

"It should be emphasized that SIMs will still be available in local retailers and sari-sari stores even past the SIM Registration deadline. Users will simply be required to register first before they can activate their new SIMs," she said in a statement as she welcomed the decision to extend the registration.

"SIM registration was meant to promote the responsible use of SIM and to halt the abuses of scammers and criminals. It is not meant to punish legitimate SIM subscribers, especially those at remote areas."

She recalled that when the bill on SIM registration was under deliberation, lawmakers considered the compliance of the more than 168 million SIM subscribers and had foreseen the need to extend the registration period to accommodate all users.

Poe was the bill's sponsor in the Senate.

As of April 23, National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) data show that about 82,845,397, or 49.31 percent of SIM cards have been registered.

The breakdown is as follows:

DITO: 5,796,175 or 38.73

percent

Globe: 37,099,437 or 42.77

percent

SMART: 39,949,785 or 60.25

percent

Poe reiterated her call to telecom firms to go down to the grassroots to reach out to more subscribers.

"As most telcos have been enjoying vast profits from their services, they have the corresponding obligation and the necessary resources to track down their SIM users and to widen the opportunity for registration," she said.

Poe noted that while several locations have been visited for remote registration, more needs to be covered as key areas, such as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao have yet to be reached, according to data from the NTC.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) should also look into the continuing proliferation of spam messages despite the ongoing SIM registration, she said.

Meanwhile, two days before the SIM card registration deadline, the DICT and its attached agencies met with officials from the country’s three public telecommunication entities (PTEs) – Globe, Smart, and DITO – to discuss concerns on the implementation of RA 11934.

In a statement, the DICT said it exchanged views with the three firms on ways to resolve some issues faced by the registrants, such as barriers in obtaining government-issued IDs and documents, and improvements in the SIM registration process.

Only one of the 17 accepted government-issued IDs and documents is needed to proceed with the registration, the DICT said.

"The possibility of extending the SIM registration period was also discussed during the meeting. We advise everyone to await the

official announcement of the Department on the matter," the statement read.

Filipinos are encouraged to register their SIM cards before the deadline.

"The increasing number of registrants in the past few days is a clear indication that Filipinos share the desire to eradicate online and text scams once and for all," the DICT said.

RA 11934, which was the first measure signed into law by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Oct. 10, 2022, aims to fight scams being made through text and online messages.

On Dec. 27, 2022, the 180-day SIM card registration began and was supposed to end on April 26, 2023.

SIM cards already in use but not registered during the sign-up period will be deactivated while new cards must be registered upon purchase.

Telcos renew call to extend SIM registration deadline Local telecommunications companies on Thursday asked the government anew to extend the deadline for subscriber identity module (SIM) registrations as the deadline on April 26 nears with less than half of all active mobile users in the country registered. In a statement, Smart Communications Inc. and TNT said around 36.5 million or 55.1 percent of its subscribers have been registered and noted that extending the deadline would help the remaining unregistered users to secure documentary requirements such as government identification (ID).

“At present, all 160 million subscribers in the country are given only 121 days to register. Comparatively, in other countries like Indonesia and India, PTEs were given 1 to 2 years of a registration window to better prepare for and promote SIM registration,” PLDT and Smart First VP Cathy Yang said.

To ensure continued registration in remote communities, Smart and TNT vowed to continue working with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), and other government institutions to provide “physical assistance” at several sites all over the country.

“Through this initiative, Smart and TNT aim to help those who may need assistance in registering their SIMs, especially senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and those using non-data phones,” Yang said.

On the other hand, Globe Group president and CEO Ernest Cu urged its users to comply with the SIM registration process, noting that 33.067 million or 38.23 percent of its 86.5 million customers have so far been registered.

“Pending response to our appeal for the government to extend the deadline, we call on all Globe SIM users to comply with the law,” Cu said.

He renewed the call for the extension of the deadline to See

HEAT BUSTER. Tourists are back at Wawa Dam in Rodriguez, Rizal on Sunday (April 23, 2023). The Pamitinan Protected Landscape that includes the man-made dam was closed to the public on April 2 to 8 due to reported clashes between government troops and suspected communist rebels. (MNS photo)

The staff of the country's telecom firms assist the public in registering their SIM cards at the Quezon City Hall grounds on Tuesday (April 25). The initial deadline for registration was April 26 but this was extended for 90 days or until July 25. (MNS photo)

DICT: No more extension after addt’l 90-day extended SIM registration period expires

WHAT’S TRENDING: 106-YEAR-OLD INDIGENOUS FILIPINO TATTOO ARTIST BECOMES VOGUE

PHILIPPINES HISTORICAL COVER MODEL AND RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

“In this issue we honor women, wise and wild shaped and fashioned in their own image, by their own hand, writing their own history.”

- Editor-in-Chief Bea Valdes Vogue Philippines/April 2023 Issue

SAN DIEGO, CA -- Greetings!

Have you picked up the latest edition of Vogue? Yes…Vogue Philippines, to be precise?

If you my dear folks are not aware of it yet, Vogue Philippines has absolutely shattered norms and embraced true beauty by featuring the oldest model ever to grace its cover! Admirably, their April 2023 issue is out now and the magazine revealed that their cover star is Apo WhangOd, a 106-year-old tattoo artist from our beloved old homeland, who now has the distinction of being the oldest person ever to appear on the front page of Vogue.

Yes, indeed…the legendary Apo Whang-Od, an indigenous Kalinga woman and also known as Maria Oggay is the face of the magazine’s beauty issue, showing the depths of Filipino identity and history across generations, receiving recognition from global media outlets and international celebrities.

(FYI: The cover was captured by Filipino fashion and portrait photographer Artu Nepomuceno, who has previously shot covers for Philippine editions of Esquire, Tatler, Town & Country and Southern Living. Host assistant, Sela Gonzales was the only one on the Vogue team who could communicate with Whang-Od in Ilocano, and she was the first of the team to be tattooed on the day of the shoot.)

Whang-Od, from the small mountain village of Buscalan in the Philippines – is considered the country’s oldest “mambabatok” (traditional tattooist). She has become famous for mastering a 1,000-year-old “batok” tattooing technique, which uses a conventional tapping method utilizing charcoal soot and a sharp stick. She began learning the long-established procedure from her father at 16 years old, the magazine reported.

The tattoos represent courage for male warriors and beauty for women. The inking of designs was a symbol not only of identity and kinship but also a spiritual dimension, as the tattoos offer protection from angry spirits and a way to access to the afterlife.

This tattooing tradition was mostly lost as Filipinos were converted to Christianity during the Spanish colonial era. It only survived in more remote areas of the Philippines but also fell out of practice due to modernization and western influence. Today, it is a highly endangered heritage.

“Apo Maria ‘Whang-Od’ Oggay symbolizes the strength

and beauty of the Filipino spirit,”

Vogue Philippines wrote in a tweet. “Heralded as the last ‘mambabatok’ of her generation, she has imprinted the symbols of the Kalinga tribe signifying strength, bravery and beauty -- on the skin of thousands of people who have made the pilgrimage to Buscalan,” Vogue Philippines noted in a post on social media.

According to Vogue, too - her artwork has driven waves of tattoo tourism to the Philippines, where people from all over the world visit her to receive one of her legendary designs.

In fact, thousands have come far and wide to visit the remote mountain village where WhangOd lives, seeking her signature geometric designs.

The isolated village of Buscalan has never been this accessible. Sure you still need to endure the 12-hourbody-numbing drive, from the capital Manila with its city gridlock to the winding roads of the Cordilleras, swerving around landslide debris and oncoming trucks in dangerously foggy conditions.

Traditionally, the art can only be passed down to blood relatives, so Whang-Od has been training her grand-nieces Elyang Wigan and Grace Palicas for several years now in order to keep the practice alive. Whang-Od has certainly passed down her knowledge to her grandnieces, if I must say it.

Her work has also inspired a new generation of “batok” artists in the Philippines and even here in the United States, the magazine reported.

“When visitors come from far away, Whang-Od told Vogue in the Butbut language, “I will give them the ‘tatak’ Buscalan, ‘tatak’ Kalinga for as long as my eyes can see.”

No doubt about it, Whang-Od is the face of Vogue Philippines’ Beauty issue, which “also highlights the female gaze,” according to the magazine.

Vogue Philippines editor-in-chief Bea Valdes said the publication’s staff decided unanimously that Whang-Od should go on the cover.

Choosing Whang-Od was an especially bold statement considering it has been less than a year since Vogue Philippines released its debut issue in 2022. The move sets up the new publication as one that tells important women’s stories and depicts beauty beyond the Hollywood influencer-modelactress archetype.

“We felt she represented our ideals of what is beautiful about our Filipino culture,” commented Valdes. “We believe that the concept of beauty needs to evolve, and include diverse and inclusive faces and forms. What we hope to speak about is the beauty of humanity.”

Despite living in an off the beaten track part of the country, Whang-

Jesse T. Reyes

Filipino Potpourri

every day.

Genuinely trending worldwide - Whang-Od has since been hailed by international media as the oldest Vogue cover star among the magazine’s 27 global editions since it was founded in 1982.

Prior to Whang-Od’s appearance in Vogue Philippines, the record for oldest Vogue cover model was held by Academy Award-winning English actress Judi Dench, who appeared on the front of British Vogue in 2020, at the age of 85.

Whang-Od’s historic cover made a sweeping impression globally.

Just how much the cover resonated with women across the world was unexpected?

“I did not imagine the extent of it and perhaps underestimated its significance. To us, Whang-Od is like a rock star, worthy of being on the cover. She had already been featured extensively over the years, so I didn’t think of it as particularly ground-breaking, just that we were sharing her story with a different audience. Amazingly it has resonated with people all over the world, and especially struck a chord with Filipinos in the diaspora. I think we’re now realizing the extent of what a platform like Vogue can do.” CNN International, Firstpost, Yahoo News, NBC News, CTV News, and The Straits Times are just some of the foreign media brands that covered the release of Vogue Philippines’ groundbreaking story. After all, it’s not every day that one sees such a historical figure and tradition gracing the cover of a popular fashion magazine.

For my two cents, the Vogue cover doesn’t represent the pinnacle of Whang-Od’s notoriety but rather a fresh beginning, if I must add.

I know there’s so much more to Whang-Od’s life story that needs to be uncovered. She has just been resisting colonial or oppressive forces for a long time, so to speak.

Oscar-winning American actress Halle Berry is the latest celebrity to praise the Vogue Philippines cover featuring Apo Whang-Od -“Now THIS is real beauty,” she wrote on Instagram, as she reposted the cover of the magazine’s beauty edition.

fashion stylist best known for his work with Zendaya, Celine Dion, and Anya Taylor-Joy, Lawrence “Law” Roach wrote “Agreed!”

Filipino-American comedian Jo Koy earlier commended the magazine cover, saying “this is the best Vogue cover ever.”

Meanwhile, veteran Filipino actress Cherry Pie Picache left a statement expressing “Pinoy” pride for Whang-Od’s history in the making achievement.

Indian actress, model and the winner of the Miss Universe 1994 pageant Sushmita Sen also took to Instagram to share her joy at the news. “A 106-year-old woman from the Philippines is Vogue’s oldestever cover model. Ah!! Beautiful ☺ Mahal Kita #Philippines”

There is no doubt about it that Whang-Od’s renown and the renewed interest in “batok” has also led our “kababayans” to look more deeply into this practice, the culture and story surrounding it, discovering the ‘wisdom of the ancients.’

A history of Filipino Beauty even from the very beginning and with having gorgeous features and charming face-cuts, women from our beloved old homeland – the Philippines – are truly one of the most beautiful among all womenfolk of the world. They have a personality that can make every man be attracted to them. They are charming, funloving and alluring.

According to American men polled by travel-dating web site MissTravel.com, Filipinas are also among the most attractive and sexiest women in the world.

Widely considered a beauty pageant powerhouse country, they are also in the list of top countries winning international beauty pageants. No wonder we have had four Miss Universe (1969, 1973, 2015 and 2018) - (five actually if you will include the current Miss Universe 2022 USA’s R’Bonney Gabriel who is half-Filipina), one Miss World crown in 2013, six Miss International titles (1964, 1970, 1979, 2005, 2013, and 2016) and four Miss Earth crowns (2008, 2014, 2015, and 2017)

Od is no stranger to the limelight, having appeared in 2007’s Discovery Channel documentary series “Tattoo Hunter.”

American anthropologist, photographer and writer known for his research about tattoo and its

cultural background -Dr. Lars Krutak - spent two weeks in Buscalan filming the Philippine segment of his 10-part TV documentary series. There he met Whang-Od, nearly 90 at the time the broadcast was made, and still working in the rice fields

Konsiyertong Dapat Tandaan: ‘The Champions’

kasama si Joel Sebag Live sa Pechanga Resort

Casino May 21 sa ganap na 6PM

Isang gabing dapat tandaan! Tatlong napapanahong sikat na Pilipinong mang-aawit na tinaguriang ‘The Champions” (Ang mga Kampeonado)

kasama si Joel Sebag, isang batikang mang-aawit at piyanista, ay magtatanggal live sa entablado ng Pechanga Resort Casino sa Mayo 21 alas-6p.m.

Ang Pechanga Resort Casino, matatagpuan sa I-15 Highway sa Temecula Valley, Southern California wine county, ay kilala sa pag-iimbita ng pinakamahusay at matatalinong Pilipinong mangaaliw at tagapagpalabas sa naising makapagbigay ng kakaibang karanasan sa mga espesyal na Filipino-Americans na mga patron.

Markahan ang inyong mga kalendaryo sa isang live na kagalakang pampamilya na magmumula sa mga tanging artista at mang-aawit sa kaganapan nina Klarisse De Guzman, Marcelito Pomoy, Mitoy Yonting, at Sebag. Si Klarisse, komposer, host at judge ng ‘Tawag ng Tanghalan’ na lokal na palabas, ay sumikat at nakilala nang magwagi ito ng unang pwesto sa inisyal na palabas ng kilalang ‘Voice

of the Philippines’ noong 2013 na sa kalaunan ay na koronahang pangatlo sa ‘Your Face Sounds Familiar’ taong 2021. Kilala maging ibang bansa, si Marcelito Pomoy, tanyag din sa angking abilidad nitong kumanta ng tenor at soprano, ang naging grandeng panalo sa ikalawang sesyon ng ‘’Pilipinas Got Talent’— na nagbunsod dito upang makasali sa ‘America’s Got

Talent: The Champions’ sa pagtatapos bilang pang-apat sa kabuuan. Kilala rin sa pangalang ‘Mitoy’, si Michael Yonting ay umukit ng kapalaran sa iba’t ibang larangan gaya ng pagkanta, pagiging komedyante, aktor, at pangunahing bokalista sa kanyang banda, ‘The Draybers’, kung saan pumaimbulog ito sa kasikatan matapos makamit ang unang lugar sa ‘The Voice of the Philippines’ taong

2013. Mula dito mas lalong naming aktibo ang kanyang buhay at nabilang din ito sa ‘Philippine Ballet Theatre’s na dalawang gabing konsiyerto. Inspirado sa ‘pwersa ng Diyos sa mapagpalang pagbabago’ na patuloy na mahihiwatig sa kanyang buhay at mga awiting pang simbahan— si Joel Sebag, isang physical therapist

na nagtapos sa Boston University, ay isang piyanista mula edad na 7 at ang kanyang hilig sa musika ay nagpapatotoo lang ng kanyang pagibig bilang isang tagasunod ng Diyos. Siya’y dumayo sa kalayuan ng Eureka Springs, Arizona at Kimberting, Missouri upang magtanghal ng live kasama ang iba pang mga inspiradong piyanista sa konsiyertong pang banda.

Ano pa ang hinihintay ninyo? Ang pagkakataong ito ay minsan lamang mararanasan! Bumili ng inyong tikets sa Pechanga Box Office, o sa pagtawag sa 888-810-8871, o bumisita sa www. pechanga.com

Ilan sa mga pinagmamalaki ng Pechanga Summit ang 40,000-square feet na lugar para sa mga mangaaliw, konsiyerto, live na kaganapan sa sports, pagttaanghal ng kalakalan, kasalan, o anu pa mang malalaking grupo na magsasagawa. Sa kabuuan, ang Pechanga ngayon ay nag aalok ng 274,500 square feet na panloob/ panlabas na kontemporaryong pagpupulong at espasyo sa mga kagaanapan, na tanging nagpaibayo sa mga amenidad, espasmo at katanyagan ng mga inihahandog na kaganapan ng

Pechanga. Patungkol sa Pechanga Resort

Casino

Ang Pechanga Resort Casino ay nag-aalay ng pinaka malaki at napakalawak na resort/casino na eksperiyensa saan man sa Estados Unidos. May rata na Four Diamond property ng AAA mula 2003, ang Pechanga Resort Casino ay naghahatid ng walang kapantay na libangan, maging anumang araw o kahabaan ng pananatili rito. Ang Pechanga ay nagaalay ng mahigit 5,400 ng pinakamainit na slots, 154 table games, world-class na paraan ng aliwan, 1,100 na mga kwarto sa hotel, kainan, spa at golf sa Journey sa Pechanga. Ang Pechanga Resort Casino ay nag-aalok ng mga destinasyon na tutugon at hihigit pa sa mga pangangailangan ng mga panauhin at komunidad. Ang Pechanga Resort Casino ay pag-aari at nasa ilalim ng pamamalakad ng Pechanga Band of Indians. Sa karagdagang impormasyon, tumawag toll free sa (877) 711-2946 o bumisita sa www. pechanga.com. Sundan ang Pechanga Resort Casino sa Facebook, Instagram at sa Twitter @PechangaCasino.

Top English supermodel Naomi Campbell mentioned with three heart emoji’s, while “Saved by the Bell” star Mario Lopez wrote, “She’s awesome. 106yrs old!”

American TV reality show “Legendary” judge and retired

And with the sprightly centenarian Whang-Od on the prestigious publication Vogue’s cover, it accurately puts the exclamation point to show the emphasis on Filipinas being admittedly the world’s most beautiful women of them all.

Mabuhay!

Apo Whang-Od with grand-niece Grace Palicas who will continue their ancient Filipino tattooing craft.

A 106-year-old indigenous Filipino tattoo artist becomes popular fashion magazine Vogue's oldest ever cover model.

Professional Business Directory

allow their customers to obtain government IDs -- one of the main reasons why many mobile users remain unregistered.

One solution for the problem, he said, is to allow the use of alternative forms of IDs such as school or work IDs.

“SIMs that remain unregistered by the deadline will be deactivated, preventing customers from using Globe’s call, text, and data services. This could severely impact customers who rely on their mobile numbers for authentication in various sensitive transactions, especially banking, and other financial services, and who use mobile phones for day-to-day needs,” he said.

On Wednesday, the DICT said there are no plans “at this point” to extend the deadline for SIM registration beyond April 26.

It noted the importance of SIM registration to promote the responsible use of SIMs and provide law enforcement agencies with the necessary tools to crack down on cybercriminals who take advantage of the unrestricted purchase of prepaid SIMs.

To date, the NTC said a total of 75,564,837 SIM cards have so

far been registered nationwide, making up 44.97 percent of the 168,016,400 active mobile users in the country as of December 2022.

PBBM: Gov't committed to work hand-in-hand with media President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday vowed to continue working "hand-in-hand" with the media to strengthen press freedom, assuring media practitioners of the state's continued commitment to protecting them and their rights in the practice of their profession.

The President made this remark during his attendance at the 50th anniversary of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City.

"This government will remain committed to ensuring transparency and good governance, freedom of expression and of the press, and the protection of media practitioners and their rights in the practice of their profession," Marcos said.

With the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day, the President also committed to "work hard" to "climb our way up" in the global press freedom rankings.

In his speech, the President cited the media's "instrumental role" in informing the citizenry, shaping public opinion, and "even

triggering social mobilization and change."

The chief executive then urged the press to "lead and foster public discussion, truth and credibility, the rule of law, especially in the practice of broadcasting, news reporting and informationdissemination."

Marcos also credited KBP for fully establishing itself as an "institution of national significance" and for being an "efficient instrument of public service in Philippine society."

"Through the years, your brand of public service has been in its advocacy of promoting independence and freedom of broadcast media, responsibility and enhanced public service in broadcasting, and the advancement of innovation and development of Philippine broadcasting," he said.

The KBP, according to the President, has "maintained its social relevance, acting as a uniting and balancing force of broadcast organizations."

"Throughout the years, the KBP has remained a visible, active, and fair advocate of both rights and obligations of its members and of all industry players. You have advocated for freedom, independence, capacity-building within the industry," the President added. (MNS)

Spiritual Life

Dealing with the challenges of mental health

My interest on mental health issues has been re-kindled when a friend recommended me to serve as a Community Liaison of the California Neuropsychopharmacology Research Institute (CNRI). It has been a long time since I dealt with behavioral problems but my interest in this field has never waned. As the former chief of the Philippines’ Dangerous Drugs Board’s preventive education and community information division in the 70’s, my approach towards the problems related to the use of drugs was directed towards helping people in resolving their personal problems, believing that drug abuse is a problem of people not a problem of drugs.

In my work with psychiatrists, I have observed that those coming for consultation for behavioral problems identify themselves as “drug abusers” although most of them have identifiable mental health problems such as bipolar disorders, depression, and schizophrenia.

Actually, these problems can be managed easily by seeking psychiatric help and regular intake of effective psychotropic drugs as prescribed by the physician.

However, most often, family members are embarrassed or ashamed to admit that they or a loved one is suffering from mental illness. The social stigma attached to mental illness is still very strong that it hampers access to modern medical and psychiatric treatment. The individual suffers and the family also suffers in silence denying themselves of the benefit of psychiatric counseling and treatment.

The San Diego County Mental Health Services will spearhead

Aurora S. Cudal-Rivera

My Personal Testimony

the celebration of Mental Health

Month this coming May and the theme of the celebration will focus on erasing the stigma of shame and fear attached to mental illness. There is nothing to fear and nothing to be ashamed of. If a friend or a family member is suffering from depression or exhibits unusual behavior, take him or her to her primary care physician who will make the necessary referrals to available community resources.

One of the “new” approaches to the prevention and management of mental illness is the spiritual approach. Comprehensive research evidence shows that religious and spiritual beliefs and practices (e.g. belonging to a faith tradition and community, ritual practices and other forms of worship, meditation and prayer, sacred music, reading wisdom literature and scripture, selfless, compassionate action, maintaining stable family relationships) help prevent many physical and mental illnesses, reducing both symptom severity and relapse rate. Furthermore, psychiatric patients have consistently identified spiritual needs as an important issue, and spiritual care as contributing to symptom relief

and general well-being. Spiritual awareness can add a powerful and much-needed dimension whenever our human limits are reached. The spiritual approach fosters a positive attitude in the most heart-rending situations. By focusing on both inner and external sources of strength, spiritual awareness encourages calm in the place of anxiety and hope in place of despair.

The Book of Psalms serves as a good resource in dealing with our fears and anxieties, our loneliness and discouragement along with our joy, awe and celebration. It contains songs of praise and prayers of lament. As we read it we share the psalmists’ loneliness, sickness, grief and dread. When we pray the Psalms, we find new dimensions in our relationship with God.

My prayer: Most loving God, make us mindful of the needs of others. Grant us the wisdom to deal with mental health issues and the compassion to help those who have problems that may impact on their thoughts and behavior. Give us the power to discern the needs of others and enable us to respond to them. Enable us to be an instrument of your love as we care and help others. Amen.

So when someone hurts

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. (Luke 6:35)

"Forget it, I don't want to talk to you anymore!" The text came through abruptly, and Susan blinked as she reread it in disbelief. Had she really been this misunderstood by her friend? Her heart began to beat faster at her ability to conjure up these feelings in another human. On the other hand, Susan was relieved. Was she really finally free of such a difficult relationship?

Today's verse reminds us that in many cases, even though we want to cut ourselves off from a world that doesn't understand us, Jesus tells us that we should love, even - especially - those who are ungrateful and evil. We are made in God's image after all, and He is the very definition of kindness. So regardless of anyone else's belief system or personality or stereotyping, you, as an image bearer of God, are meant to love.

So when someone hurts you, instead of withdrawing, take a

Greetings in the Lord!

The gospel last Sunday spoke of how Jesus manifested himself to the two men who were on their way to Emmaus and only when He broke the bread did they recognize his identity. This holy experience of the two men clearly affirms how important the Eucharist is in the community of disciples and faith in his real presence in the bread and wine that we consecrate at mass is the most concrete way by which we would recognize his abiding presence in our lives as his disciples.

Today the whole Catholic Church celebrates the Sunday of the Good Shepherd. It is noteworthy how this Sunday of the Good Shepherd follows the Sunday in which the reading tells us how important the Eucharist is in recognizing Jesus in our midst. Today’s gospel reading focuses on what Jesus mentioned that he is truly He is the Good Shepherd whom the gate keeper opens for the sheep to enter. “The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them and the sheep follows him because they recognize his voice.” This is how Jesus leads the sheep into pasture, by knowing them and leading them because they follow him, knowing his own voice as the shepherd. The church has been blessed recently canonized

pastors, popes who were recognized as saints: Sts. John XXIII, John Paul II and Paul VI.

They were real good shepherds to brought the Church into a world that needed shepherds who would open the doors of the church for renewal and reform during the Second Vatican Council and who brought the Church to the ends of the world through teachings that responded to the questions that confused humanity ranging from the dignity of man, the value of human life, the fundamental role of Christian families in the world, the Christian response to the social problems engulfing the world from issues of social justice, environment and even political and religious leadership.

One fundamental character that is common in good pastors is their love for the Eucharist. Good pastors are expected to live their ministry that would be sustained by their faith in

presence of Jesus in the Eucharist as the “Bread of Life” that came down from heaven and faith on which was the only way by which the faithful would recognize Jesus and eventually attain eternal life.

This is the reality that the Good Shepherd continues to teach us to love and know. The Eucharist is his gift that relives the paschal mystery and anticipates the heavenly banquet that He promises all who would eat his flesh and drink his blood. Let us pray that our pastors today would continue to imitate the role of the Good Shepherd.

Furthermore good pastors are entrusted with “the task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition,…” (CCC no. 85) The code of canon law provides that pastors as “good shepherds” should know his people and provide all the necessary means for them to attain salvation, namely, communion with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” (CIC cc. 528529) Indeed this Sunday is not only designed for the pastors to know their responsibilities, but also for the people to pray for their pastors so that they would remain faithful in their life, vocation and mission. Let us pray for our pastors, Pope Francis, Bishop Robert and all the bishops and priests in the whole world, especially in our Diocese of San Diego.

MANILA, Apr 26 (Mabuhay)

-- Only spouses of candidates are allowed to substitute for the forthcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Tuesday.

According to Comelec chairperson George Garcia, they will only allow a wife or husband to substitute a candidate seeking position in the village polls.

"The only substitution that we shall allow are the spouses. We won't allow others to become substitute bets," he said in a radio interview. The poll body chief noted that the policy is based on the Supreme Court decision in 2003 (Rulloda vs Comelec; GR 154198).

"The BSKE is apolitical. Therefore, there are no political parties that can make substitutions,"

step back momentarily, allowing everyone some time to breathe. You can show love even if you don't see eye to eye. Don't offer something that will harm you or the other person by spoiling or indulging sin, but instead, show love. In doing so, you will remind the other person that you not only value who they are, you also recognize your own worth and dignity.

Then, ask God for help in showing this person that He has something better for both of you: a reward, as it says in Luke, that will be great!

Dear Lord, thank You for making me in Your image. I know You have equipped me to love others, even

when I am so tempted to strike back at them. Show me when to set boundaries, and when to receive people with open arms. I want to bless others with Your Light. I trust You with all my relationships, even the hard ones. Help me to be bear Your image in all that I do. Amen.

The disciples thought they suffered their greatest defeat when Jesus died on the cross. However, this defeat became the greatest victory on earth. Christ's death gave liberty. Forgiveness came to all men. New life came forth - new strength for the disciples. Resurrection and new life came as a result of a "defeat." <(((><

he added.

To ensure that only rightful substitutes can replace the barangay bets, Garcia said that a candidate has to identify his/her spouse, if any.

"In their Certificates of Candidacy (COCs), we will ask them to identify their spouses," he said. The Comelec chair, however, said that substitution is not allowed among the youth aspirants.

The COC filing period for the 2023 BSKE will be from Aug. 28 to Sept. 2. (MNS) Comelec eyes hi-tech machines for 2025 polls

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is looking to tap machines equipped with high-speed scanning capacity and at least 13-inch screens where voters will be able to verify if their votes have been counted.

According to Comelec

Chairperson George Garcia, they will be looking for the said features in the new automated system they intend to utilize in the 2025 elections to ensure better transparency and faster results.

“We want to use a technology where the machine will transmit to concerned party all at once at the same time. We also want to have a big screen so that the voters will be able to see whole ballot (front and back) on the screen,” he said at the Manila City Hall Reporters’ Association (MACHRA) Balitaan sa Harbor View on Tuesday.

They are also hoping to start the procurement process for the automated system by July.

“Because if the machine is good, if people don't understand it, they won't be able to vote properly. Trust will always begin with voters' education and information," he added. (MNS)

SAN DIEGO, CA -- On Friday, April 21 residents helped close the digital divide for San Diego and communities along the southern border.

The Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation (IVEDC), San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) and the State of California held an event at the San Diego Central Library and invited residents to share their experiences related to lack of internet access, devices or the skills to use them. The internet is now an essential part of everyday life. Yet one out of five Californians lacks access to affordable, reliable broadband service, devices, and the skills to use them.

households, seniors, the disabled, veterans, incarcerated individuals, members of racial and ethnic minority groups, those with language barriers and low levels

of literacy, tribal communities and rural residents.

Broadband for All is the state’s overarching program to close the digital divide and foster digital equity in our communities. The state has invested billions of dollars to achieve Broadband for All and ensure that every resident has access to economical and dependable internet, devices and skills training. However, more needs to be done.

The State Digital Equity team led by the California Department of Technology (CDT), the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), and other state agencies and local partners, will host 20 Broadband for All, Digital Equity, and BEAD Regional Planning Workshops across the state.

At each workshop, community members and local organizations are invited to take part in the development of the State’s Digital

Equity and BEAD Five-Year Action Plans that will determine how future federal dollars are allocated to address digital inequities in each community. Participants are encouraged to share their experiences and address barriers to digital equity in their community through group discussions.

If you are part of an organization, share how you help your community get online by completing the DEEM Tool. Attend a workshop near you All events are free and open to the public. Register for a workshop, bring a friend, and make your voice heard! Your input to the State Digital Equity Plan can determine how federal funding will be allocated to address digital inequity in your community.

Find more information and get updates on upcoming events on the Broadband for All Portal.

you ...

Fr. Agustin T. Opalalic

Comelec: Only spouses can substitute bets for village polls

San Diego residents invited to help close the digital divide

2020-2022 period.

The region was also the number one producer of onions in the country at 131,547.77 MT in 2022, devoting 7,866 hectares of its land area for onion cultivation.

The province also has 13,945 commercial livestock and poultry raisers with 36,907 heads of livestock animals, 10.02 million heads of poultry animals, and 33,912 heads of swine.

Meanwhile, there are 203,434 backyard raisers with 124,468 heads of livestock animals; 750,284 heads of poultry animals; and 43,384 heads of swine. (MNS)

Gov’t seeks lower food prices with cost-efficient supply chain President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday said supply chain efficiency is continuously being improved to ensure the availability of affordable food and other commodities not just through Kadiwa ng Pangulo centers but in markets nationwide.

In an interview with broadcaster and former Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo, Marcos said the aim is for lower prices of commodities, such as price of rice at around PHP20 per kilo, thus, the government

has strengthened measures aimed at ensuring the availability of affordable goods, especially in the provinces.

He said while they target to further increase the number of Kadiwa ng Pangulo centers around the country, there is a need to boost domestic supply and not rely on imported products, which sometimes have higher prices.

"Hindi pa tapos ‘yung pag-aayos natin ng Department of Agriculture. Ngunit, dahan-dahan alam na namin ‘yung kailangan natin gawin. Alam na natin kung saan ‘yung matibay ang sistema, kung saan ‘yung medyo mahinang sistema, kung saan puwede talagang... kailangan talagang tulungan, ‘yun ang aming mga tinitingnan ngayon. (We’re not done yet in addressing issues in the Department of Agriculture. However, we’re slowly learning what to do. We’ve figured out what part of the system is strong, what part is a bit weak, and what areas need to be helped. That’s where we are now),” he said Kadiwa is DA’s market linkage facilitation program designed to provide the poor with an affordable supply of rice, fish, poultry and livestock, fruit and vegetables and other basic commodities.

Initially launched as Kadiwa

ng Pasko in December 2022, the program was rebranded as Kadiwa ng Pangulo, with the first outlet launched in Cebu City last Feb. 27. It now has more than 300 outlets nationwide.

Marcos aims to bring down the price of rice, a staple food in the country, to PHP20 a kilo.

To date, price of rice in Kadiwa centers is around PHP22 per kilo and Marcos is optimistic of eventually hitting his goal.

He, however, stressed that what is more important is not to just bring down prices of commodities but make supply available in more areas to help not only the consumers but the farmers as well.

"Kaya’t ‘yun, dahan-dahan ay pinapaganda natin at sana... darating [ang] oras na hindi lang tayo sa Kadiwa nakakaramdam ng mababang presyo kung hindi sa lahat na ng mga palengke, dahil marami na tayong supply, marami na tayong produksyon. Hindi na tayo umaasa sa importation lamang. (That’s why we’re slowly improving the system with the hope that there will come a time wherein we can buy cheaper priced goods not only from Kadiwa but in other markets also, because we have enough supply and production. We will not solely rely on importation),” he said. (MNS)

ATTACHED/DETACHED -- By Salvador S. Idos

We are Sinners but Good Friday reminds us that we are Redeemed Sinners. To remain in a state of Grace we need to be constantly on guard against the snares of the Devil. Our Church teaches us that we have fallen into this trap if our heart is Attached to the daily pursuit of WEALTH, POWER, HONOR and SENSUAL PLEASURE. These worldly attractions will never satisfy because we will keep on asking for more until it becomes an addiction. The challenge for us then is to remain Detached from these temptations. It is only when our heart is Attached to the Lord will we find Rest which comes with the blessings of His Joy and His Peace.

“There is a mistaken notion among some that to own a paper is to have a license to clobber one’s enemies and attack people we don’t like. A newspaper is an information tool to reach a large number of people at a given time. A newspaper should inform, educate, entertain and provide viewpoints that could give us the means to make intelligent decisions for ourselves and others.” — Ernie Flores Jr., founding editor and publisher

Derrick Monasterio, Elle Villanueva talk about their 'no label' relationship

"Pero kung sasagutin ko siya, kung boyfriend ko na, ayaw kong madaliin ang sarili ko," she said. "We're taking it slow, para hindi siya kumplikado."

"Parang we are exclusively dating," she added. "I like kung nasaan man kami ngayon."

Derrick, for his part, said he and Elle are clear with how they stand with each other.

"Ever since na nagkaroon na kami ng exclusivity, malalim na kaagad ang pinagsamahan namin. Malalim na kaagad 'yung intindihan," he said.

Nadine

kanya [Elle], warm siya," said Derrick.

"Kasi, siguro ay nakikita naman niya 'yung growth ko nung nakakasama ko siya. Nakita niya na nagbabago ako, nagma-mature," he said.

Earlier, he also shared that what made him fall for Elle was that she was concerned for his growth.

Meanwhile, the actress said she bonded with Derrick's mom over dinner and wine in Bonifacio Global City.

"I find Tita so fun. Very fun mom siya," said Elle.

MANILA -- Nadine Lustre admitted that there was a point in her career when fame got to her head.

Speaking with Bea Alonzo, Lustre said this happened during the peak of her love team with former boyfriend James Reid.

Reid was being pitted against those of Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, and Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil.

MANILA -- Derrick Monasterio and Elle Villanueva opened up on their "no label" relationship.

The "Return to Paradise" stars said they are not succumbing to pressure from society that labels are necessary.

"Ang status namin, wala kaming mga label," Derrick said about the real score between him and Elle.

"'Yung importante sa amin, 'yung ipinapakita namin sa isa't isa. 'Yung love namin for each other," he added. "Hindi sa amin importante 'yung labels."

Elle, who previously said that Derrick is courting her, said she is OK with their current setup.

"Ang importante naman ay genuine sa akin 'yung tao, and honest siya. We have an open communication," she said. "So, 'yung labels, it's actually just labels. That's for me, ha?"

Elle said she does not want to rush the relationship.

Meanwhile, Derrick has already introduced Elle to his mom, Tina.

"First time na ganun ka-warm si Mama sa... sa mga past ko kasi before, hindi siya ganun ka-warm. Pero sa

Previously, the pair spent Valentine's Day working out together on a gym date. They also went for brunch and posed for photos together that made netizens kilig. (MNS)

“Yes, [fame got to my head] of course especially the money. Parang nung time kasi na sobrang booming 'yung love team, parang doon ko nafeel na hindi nauubos 'yung pera. So, I was spending on so much,” she said. Eventually, Lustre realized that she needs to start saving for the future. While on the topic of love teams, Lustre was also asked about how she felt in the past when her team-up with

“I didn’t like that there was a competing aspect to it. Parang sa akin back then, hindi ko siya nage-gets bakit may ganoon. So, I was more of just doing what I have to do. Nafi-feel ko lang talaga na pinagko-compete kami ng mga tao pero hindi ko siya inisip,” she said.

“I am competitive pero ayaw ko [ng competition among us]. Parang I was really just doing my own thing. Hindi ko din gets bakit kailangan may competition. Even until now, nakikita ko siya sa ibang love teams,” she added.

Lustre agreed with Alonzo in saying they prefer an environment where everyone empowers their colleagues in whatever projects they are doing.

(MNS)

Lustre confesses fame once got to her head