The Filipino Press: August 11-17, 2023

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PBBM assures Filipino athletes of continued support; thanks them for bringing pride to PH

MANILA -- President Ferdinand

R. Marcos Jr. assured Filipino athletes on Wednesday of the administration’s full support as part of the government’s way of paying back their sacrifices and hard work to put the Philippines on a higher pedestal in the world of sports.

“Lagi nating sinasabi ipinagmamalaki namin kayo. Totoo naman, ipinagmamalaki namin kayo,” President Marcos said during the awarding of incentives to athletes who brought home medals from the 32nd Southeast Asia (SEA) Games and the 12th ASEAN Para Games.

President Marcos led the distribution of incentives at the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday.

“Dapat naman susuklian namin ang inyong ginawang sakripisyo, ang inyong dinala na dangal para sa ating mahal na Pilipinas. Kaya’t asahan ninyo na sa administrayon na ito ay gagawin natin ang lahat para masuportahan natin at ipalabas natin ang kagalingan, ang husay ng ating atleta,” the President said.

The chief executive also honored the Filipino athletes for demonstrating the strength of the Filipino spirit, the grace of the Filipino character and the passion of the Filipino heart through their respective sports in the international arena.

President Marcos also assured the Filipino athletes that they are not alone in their journey towards achieving their victory as he emphasized that the government is always behind them.

“I am always a little embarrassed

when I see that we are not supporting our athletes and our coaches and our trainers and all the support groups, even the families. Alam naman natin, hindi kayo naging champion na nagiisa. At maraming tumulong para kayo ay maging champion,” President Marcos said.

“Maraming nag-sakripisyo. Iyon na nga iyong ating mga coach, kung sino ‘yong mga nagpapakain sa inyo, mga magulang ninyo. So it seems that what we in government, considering the honor and the pride that you bring to the Philippines, it seems that it is not commensurate for the great

service that you do for our country and our people,” he added. The President also honored the coaches for their unwavering dedication to hone the skills and talents of their athletes. Under Republic Act No. 10699, or the National Athletes and

Coaches Benefits and Incentives

Act, a gold medalist who win in SEA Games individual games category will receive Php 300,000; silver medalist, Php 150,000; and, bronze medalist, P60,000. On the other hand, Php 150,000 will be given to a gold medalist in the 12th ASEAN

Para Games; Php75,000 for silver medalist; and, Php 30,000 for bronze medalist.

Teams with less than four participants will receive the same cash incentives for individual winners, to be divided equally among the team members present during the competition, while for teams with more than five participants, each member will receive 25 percent of the cash incentives for individual medal winners.

Coaches, on the other hand, will receive the equivalent of 50 percent of the cash incentives awarded to gold, silver, and bronze medalists. In case of more than one coach, the cash incentives shall be divided among the coaches.

Athlete Angel Otom, who was among those who received the incentive, said that she is thankful for the government’s support as she emphasized that all her sacrifices are worth it after being recognized by the President.

“Ngayon sa sinabi po ni Sir Bongbong Marcos, mas magiging maganda po talaga ‘yung aming mga performance, lalo na sa pagte-training kasi kailangan po talaga ng mga atleta ang sapat na nutrisyon, sapat na training para mas maging malakas kami physically and mentally po,” she added.

Otom said that Filipino athletes should not lose their hope and always have their faith in God, their family, in the Philippines and in all those who believe in them. (MNS)

Russian author Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky is known throughout the world for his books that explore the human condition, grapple with moral dilemmas and share the interiority of complex characters’ lives. And now, at the Old Globe, Dostoevsky's book “Crime and Punishment” is being reimagined not as a tragedy or drama but as a comedy.

The book follows the moral dilemmas of the main character, Rodion Raskolnikov, an impoverished student in Saint Petersburg, Russia. While the plot is altered to fit the play format and offer space for laughter, the central messages remain.

“What it does is it retains the issue of morality, what is right and wrong?”

Fil-Am actor Orville Mendoza said. “And especially when you’re put in a position of a rock and a hard place by society, what is moral? Those are the questions that still ring loud and clear in this 90-minute comedy.”

The play adaptation was created by Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen — writers with a track record of exploring how literature can be reimagined for the stage with a comedic twist. Like “Crime and Punishment,” in the past they’ve also reconceptualized Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” and Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”

Mendoza was in Greenberg and Rosen’s reconceptualized “Ebenezer

Scrooge’s BIG San Diego Christmas Show!”

What makes Greenberg and Rosen’s work compelling to

audiences is the seamless transition between comedy to reality.

“They want people to have a good time. And then amid the laughter and stuff, they hit you with the serious themes of the actual book, which I think is brilliant,” Mendoza said.

“You’re going along and you’re enjoying all these jokes and then there’s all of a sudden this real part and meat at the center of what we’re doing. There is more meaning to the show than [what] first meets the eye.”

Stepping onto the stage at the Old Globe, Mendoza plays actor 4 in “Crime and Punishment, A Comedy.”

For Mendoza, being back at The Old Globe is like a homecoming.

“It’s not an exaggeration. I absolutely love working here,” Mendoza said. “Whenever they ask me to come back, in a heartbeat, I usually say yes because I have family out here. My mom and my brother live in Victorville. I have aunts, uncles and cousins who live in the San Diego area and LA area. Whenever I come here, it feels like a family reunion.”

Mendoza has performed in multiple other productions at the Globe including “The Heart of Rock and Roll (World Premiere),” “Ebenezer Scrooge's BIG San Diego Christmas Show,” “The Taming of the Shrew” and multiple other workshops.

Mendoza grew up with an affinity for musical theater and performance that traces back to an LP he borrowed from the Victorville public library of Stephen Sondheim’s musical soundtrack “Pacific Overtures.”

“I would go to the Broadway section and see what new albums had come out,” Mendoza said. “I saw this show called ‘Pacific Overtures.’ I didn’t know what it was. Anyways, I brought that record home and saw all these Asian names in the cast — a lot of names who I would, in the future, work with and become very good friends with.”

Little did Mendoza know he would make his Broadway debut performing in the revival of “Pacific Overtures” as an adult.

Prior to his Broadway debut, Mendoza completed his B.A. in Theatre Arts from Cal-State University San Bernardino. From there, Mendoza became an original cast member on the second national tour (The Engineer Company) of “Miss Saigon” in the role of the “Engineer.”

“Being Filipino, I personally feel like it helped me a lot in this industry,” Mendoza said. “It was also about timing. A lot of Filipinos got their start in ‘Miss Saigon.’ When I

MANILA -- Department of Education Secretary and Vice President Sara Z. Duterte vowed that the current K to 12 Curriculum will be decongested by the MATATAG Curriculum which was officially launched on Thursday at the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City.

In her speech, Duterte cited revisions in the new basic education curriculum which include the reduction in the number of competencies, and more focus on development of foundational skills such as literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional skills to kindergarten to Grade 3 learners. She also cited the intensified formation of learners' values and character development in adherence to the Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) and Values Education Act as well as the articulation to 21st Century Skills. She said among the features of the MATATAG Curriculum are the peace competencies highlighting the promotion of non-violent actions, and development of conflict resolution skills."This curriculum will be integral in DepEd's MATATAG Agenda unveiled in January this year. DepEd's track remains to be fundamentally illuminated by the wisdom of our slogan 'MATATAG: Bansang makabata, batang makabansa', meaning DepEd's programs and reforms are intentionally tailored to produce competent, job-ready, active, responsible, and patriotic citizens," Duterte said.

"MATATAG" stands for "MAke the curriculum relevant to produce job-ready, active, and responsible citizens; TAke steps to accelerate the delivery of basic education services and provision facilities; TAke good care of learners by promoting learner

well-being, inclusiveness learning, and positive learning environment; and Give support for teachers to teach better."

Duterte noted that the review of the K to 12, which was started during the time of former DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones, was an "extensive and painstaking" process that demanded the collaboration of education stakeholders.

"Pursuing these reforms has been marked by foresight and demonstrated DepEd's desire to change the learning landscape of the Philippines for the sake of the future of our learners," she said. In her presentation, DepEd Bureau of Curriculum Development Director Jocelyn Andaya said the review, which took them two years, was able to decongest the curriculum by 70 percent.

Andaya said it includes developing and drafting of Shaping Papers and

Curriculum Guides, which were validated, revised, and went through a public review before being finalized.

"After going through the revision process, we have subjected the curriculum to a public review, which I have previously mentioned, is something novel as this is the first time that a national curriculum was subjected to public scrutiny," she said.

"Shaping Papers gained 96 percent public approval rate in a survey with 4,843 respondents which includes students, teachers, public/ private school owners, government agencies, private organizations, and non-government organizations," she added.

The review, Andaya noted, was guided by the curriculum review findings, international large-scale assessments and benchmarks, as well

Fil-Am Actor, Orville Mendoza, Brings a Myriad of Comedic Characters to Life in “Crime and Punishment”

THE PAMPERED PINAY: Lessons, Quality Time

By FRANCINE m AIgu E

Suddenly, life as we’ve known it is on pause.

So you’re all at home…at the same time…all the time…

Friends, too often we crave quality time with our loved ones, pine for an escape from the daily grind, yearn to learn more about one another (and ourselves, for that matter). Well, here’s our chance.

Now is as good of a time as any.

Many folks have reached out. (Hi! Love you all!). Folks are particularly in search of tips for home lessons, given school closures. Learning at home can absolutely be fun and eyeopening, regardless of the ages of the participants/household members.

Here are 7 (one for every day of the coming week) of my favorite activities that are both educational and entertaining. Enjoy learning with and from one another!

1. Math & Science

Get in the kitchen – Cook and bake! As you cut and slice a pizza/ fruit/cake/veggie/casserole, what fraction (or percentage, if more advanced) is left? If an 8 oz. glass of water is added to a pot of soup with 2 cups of chicken broth, what’s the total volume in milliliters?

Why does bread dough rise? What happens when sugar dissolves? The kitchen is teeming with easy lessons that strengthen useful skills…and make for delicious results!

2. Physical Education

Dance – Whether you’re learning choreography on Tik Tok together with your loved ones or trying out a free class via Instagram or Zoom, move as you can! Not only is movement great for your body, it’s also great, of course, for your mind and spirit. Have each member of the household add to the music playlist, and let loose!

3. Life Skills

Clean, Fix and Organize –Doing laundry, getting out stains, ironing, folding, setting aside items to donate, stitching up holes and tears… These are all important skills

and habits to have. Each member of the household can and should pitch in. Build a system and schedule together. Teamwork makes a dream work!

4. Language Practice Tagalog (or another language/dialect) ¬– Start simple, like basic salutations, food or items around the house. This is a great time to engage older generations and friends on Facebook and Instagram. Make it a habit for even just one week to only greet each other and actively refer to and identify items in a Filipino language/dialect. Before you know it, phrases like, “Magandang umaga po,” will roll off of tongues and become beautiful traditions and additions to your household.

5. Art Write an Acrostic Poem – An acrostic is a composition that stems from letters that form a word or name. For example, PINAY = P for Powerful, I for Innovative, N for No-nonsense, A for Achieving, Y for Youthful. This is fun to do about one another and can be done/shared in the household or online. Perhaps you’re a poet and didn’t even know it! ;)

6. Social Studies Practice Bayanihan – Nothing is as sobering as a heightened perspective of needs and challenges beyond our own. As kababayan, we practice bayanihan. More than ever, our community needs to work together (even if from a distance) to ensure that we ALL come out of this situation safely. We all need each other. Caring for each other perpetuates a cycle of success for everyone. Give as you can. Donate online to a food bank. Post something positive on your social media feed. Call a senior to make sure they have all the supplies they need and are safe and healthy in all aspects. A strong sense of commUNITY can still be sustained in times of necessary distance. Show people they are loved and supported.

the characters is what makes them come to life.

7. History Make a Family Tree – Yes, the history of the world is important, but so is the history of YOUR world. Reflecting on our roots helps us understand how our present came to be and gives us the foundation from which we can grow. Your family tree project can be a series of screenshots across Viber or Facebook, a crayon sketch everyone in the household contributes to, a storyboard of how a blended family came to be, a photo album (remember those), a collection of voice memos of elders and youth…Whatever the look, vibe and size of your family tree, it’s a celebration of every member, whether two or forty-two people strong.

Stay safe and healthy, dear friends. Ingat po lagi! Kaya natin ‘to! XOXO, Francine

See? You’re already conquering your de-cluttering challenge like the champ you are. Proud of you!

Proud of us!

Check back every week for ways to pamper yourself and those you love. Why? The answer is simple: YOU DESERVE IT, Hardworking Kababayans....

Do you want to send a love note at The Filipino Press ? Email us at filpressads@aol.com

We love to hear from you our dear readers!

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Ikaapat na Supervisorial na Distrito, Espesyal na Primaryang Eleksyon. Tanging ang mga rehistradong botante lamang na naninirahan sa Ikaapat na Supervisorial na Distrito ang karapat-dapat na lumahok sa eleksyon.

BUKAS ANG MGA VOTE CENTER: Ika-5 ng Agosto hanggang Ika-15 ng Agosto

Kumpletuhin ang inyong balota sa ginhawa ng inyong tahanan. Pirmahan at petsahan ang inyong sobreng pagbabalikan, i-seal ang inyong nakumpletong balota sa loob, at ibalik ito sa pamamagitan ng U.S. Postal Service – hindi na kinakailangan ng selyo! Ibalik ang inyong balota sa alinmang opisyal na mga ballot drop box ng Tagapagrehistro sa buong distrito hanggang sa Araw ng Eleksyon, Martes, Ika-15 ng Agosto.

Iwasan ang mahahabang pila sa pamamagitan ng mabuting paggamit ng benepisyo ng maagang pagboto! Simula Sabado, Ika- 5 ng Agosto, pitong mga vote center ang magbubukas araw-araw mula ika-8 ng umaga hanggang ika-5 ng hapon.

got out of school and started the tour of Miss Saigon, it was like this whole new world opened up to me. I learned a lot on the job. I learned discipline. It was not just a show but it was also a brand.”

According to his website, “Over the course of 5 1/2 years, he performed ‘Miss Saigon’ over 2,000 times in over 50 cities throughout the U.S.” His acting career has spanned Broadway, regional theater and film, but what have been the highlights in his acting journey are working in original roles.

Mendoza has done this for multiple productions including Greenberg and Rosen’s “Ebenezer BIG Christmas Show!” and the New York premiere of Sondheim and John Weidman’s, “Road Show.”

Now, Mendoza does it again in “Crime and Punishment” as he originates multiple zany characters with both laughter-inducing moments and stomach-dropping, tangible struggles with real life scenarios. He said he applies some of his own experiences as he embodies characters like the mother and father.

“It’s kind of a generic answer that all actors say, but there is a little part of me in everyone of the characters, obviously,” Mendoza said. “[With] the mother, I think of my lola and how she was always kind, but there was always a little bit of a backhanded compliment. Also, the father is, strangely, not my lolo but my dad. I think of my dad and his cadence — the way he would talk — and how he also gave tough love to my brother and I growing up. When he’s talking to Rodi [Actor 5] in that dream sequence, he says ‘Tell the truth.’ That’s exactly what my dad would tell my brother and I when he knew we were lying.”

For Mendoza, allowing his personal experiences to help inform

“You have to pull from who you are as a person and your experiences because that’s what makes it rich, and that’s what makes it real,” Mendoza said. “Even though these are quote on quote Russian characters, they are universal. That’s why the themes in the book and the characters in the book have resonated throughout all these years in different countries and different cultures.”

Mendoza has been nominated for multiple prestigious awards such as the Drama Desk Awards and Ovation Awards in previous productions, and he has won a Barrymore Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for his performance as “Tempura” in “Adrift in Macao.” However, he says the most rewarding moments in his career are when he can inspire the future dreamers and performers of theater and film.

“I try not to pay attention to awards and things. They really are the icing on the cake,” Mendoza said.

“This is going to sound corny, but it’s really true: After a show, when a kid, especially an Asian kid, comes up to me and says, ‘Wow, I saw you on the stage and I think I can do that too now.’ Or he sees his face in my face and he’s able to relate to a story because I told it with this Filipino body, with this Filipino face, that is the best reward ever. That is what makes me feel like I’m doing the right thing. It’s all about spreading this art form to the next generation and showing them that storytellers look like us. Filipinos are storytellers and we can tell any story.”

In addition to theater, Mendoza has appeared in a variety of TV shows and films such as “The Blacklist” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” In the current context of the film industry with the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and Writers Guild of America (WGA) on strike, as a SAG-AFTRA member Mendoza is

calling for the film community to come together.

“Ultimately, what people go to the movies for and watch TV for is the human connection. They want to see stories about themselves. They want to see real characters who they can relate to and real complications they experienced themselves. I hope what ultimately ends up happening is that we come together and realize we’re in this same boat together,” Mendoza said. “I don’t think we’re asking for anything extraordinary.

It’s growing pains with all the new artificial intelligence whether it comes to writing software or facial software. We all have to go into this new frontier together, and we have to make it equitable for everyone.”

His encouragement, especially to those within the Filipino community, is to check out the Old Globe and experience the stories they are telling.

“I think there is a misconception that theater is expensive or that theater is elite, and it can be,” Mendoza said. “But, there are affordable tickets out there. The programming at the Old Globe, they’re shifting it to show [and] to really reflect the demographics of San Diego. It’s a theater for everyone. It’s a unique art form that’s been around for centuries, has weathered the most terrible economic conditions and somehow theater still endures because there’s nothing like seeing a live person tell you a story in front of you. You’re sharing a circle of energy that goes back and forth. There’s nothing like it.”

“Crime and Punishment, A Comedy” runs July 15 through Aug. 20 in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre. Mendoza will begin work on a separate creative project, so his last performance in “Crime and Punishment” will be on Aug. 6. To purchase tickets, visit https:// www.theoldglobe.org/pdp/23season/crime-and-punishmenta-comedy/#?startDate=2023-0801&%3FendDate=2023-08-31

Sa Araw ng Eleksyon, Martes, Ika-15 ng Agosto, labing-apat na mga vote center ang magbubukas mula ika-7 ng umaga hanggang ika-8 ng gabi. Hanapin ang ballot drop box o vote center na malapit sa inyo sa sdvote.com

SANDIEGO

"Not all readers are leaders, But ALL Leaders are Readers"

-Harry S. Truman-

Estate tax amnesty extension law seen to benefit 920K families

MANILA -- The new Estate Tax Amnesty Extension Act is expected to benefit around 920,000 Filipino families with unsettled estates, a House of Representatives leader said on Tuesday.

Committee on Ways and Means chair Joey Salceda said the bill extending the period of availment of the estate tax amnesty until June 14, 2025 had lapsed into law as Republic Act (RA) No. 11956.

“Estate Tax Amnesty Extension is now a law, as RA 11956. Palace informed my office this afternoon.

I thank President (Ferdinand R.) Marcos (Jr.) and I congratulate Speaker Romualdez, the leading driver of this measure, for another accomplishment,” Salceda said in a statement on Tuesday.

If the President does not act on a proposed law submitted by Congress, it will lapse into law after 30 days from receipt.

He said the new law is a "perfect fit" with President Marcos’s New Agrarian Emancipation Act (RA No. 11953), noting that it will benefit some 920,000 Filipino families who have unsettled estates, including the 610,054 agrarian reform beneficiaries recently released from debt.

“The amnesty is also consistent with the full estate tax forgiveness envisioned under the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, which was PBBM’s most significant legislative accomplishment on his first year,” Salceda said.

Salceda pointed out that RA 11956 covers the unsettled estates of decedents who died on or before May 31, 2022.

The law also provides for electronic filing of estate tax amnesty applications and limits the number of documents required for filing.

The law shortened the period for issuing the implementing rules and regulations to 30 days from 60 days. Estate tax amnesty applications can also be filed electronically.

“It has many improvements compared to the previous Estate Tax Amnesty, especially as it makes the administrative requirements for filing much easier to comply with," Salceda said.

Aside from the estate tax amnesty extension, he noted that "there is a pipeline of measures" that the House already approved, awaiting Senate approval.

“We will likely see at least two more pro-taxpayer laws enacted this year, including the Ease of Paying Taxes Law and the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. This will create the necessary balance between raising revenues for government programs and making the taxpayer experience less burdensome," he said.

PCA, farmers ink deal to boost local coconut industry

The government through the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and coconut farmers are working together to help improve the country’s coconut sector.

This came as the PCA, the Confederation of Coconut Farmer's Organizations of the Philippines (CCFOP-CONFED) and the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday aimed at pursuing massive planting and replanting and

reinvigorating the coconut industry.

"Under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., and the Bagong Pilipinas brand of governance, we expect to significantly increase coconut productivity, boost diversified production, and engage more of our farmers in higher value-adding activities, which would contribute to economic growth and substantially increase and even double farmers' incomes," PCA administrator Bernie Cruz said on the sidelines of the MOU signing at the PCA office in Quezon City.

The administrator also highlighted the strategies of the PCA to increase coconut productivity through massive planting and replanting; intensify farm diversification; foster coconut processing by small and medium-sized enterprises; and revitalize coconut research and development.

“We started a month ago, the gathering of planting materials nationwide,” he said.

Cruz, CCFOP-CONFED executive director Charles Avila and PRRM president Edicio dela Torre signed the MOU.

The partnership also aims to foster cooperation, strengthen partnerships with coconut farmers' groups and organizations, and expand the reach of support services, in line with PA's goal to reinvigorate the Philippine coconut industry.

Cruz noted the urgency of helping coconut farmers, organizing and strengthening cooperatives and providing support services such as shared facilities and processing centers to capacitate the coconut planting and replanting program.

He added that such interventions should encompass all provinces viable for coconut farming and further enhance best practices of the vibrant coconut industry in provinces such as Camarines Sur and Quezon, as well as in the highest coconutproducing areas in the Davao Region, Zamboanga Peninsula and Northern Mindanao.

There are 68 provinces in the country that are producing coconut.

The Philippine Statistics Authority has reported that among the top agricultural exports of the country by value in US dollars in 2021, coconut oil (USD1.431 billion), desiccated coconut (USD396 million), and copra oil cake (USD67.54 million) ranked first, fourth, and 10th, respectively.

On the other hand, the emerging non-traditional coconut products such as virgin coconut oil (valued at PHP26 billion worth of exports in 2021), coconut concentrates (PHP4.40 billion), and coconut milk (PHP2.44 billion) have also risen rapidly in terms of share to export earnings, thus making increased production and product diversification key priorities of the Authority moving forward for the industry to meet and maximize increasing global demand.

Created on June 30, 1973, under Presidential Decree 232, the PCA is the sole government agency tasked to develop the coconut industry to its full potential in line with the new vision of a united, globally competitive and efficient coconut industry.

It was made an independent

public corporation by PD 961, which first codified the laws dealing with the development of the coconut and other palm oil industry in the country, as subsequently revised by PD 1468, otherwise known as the "Revised Coconut Industry Code," which presently serves as the PCA Charter.

P2.4B worth of key infra projects in Mindanao pushed

Around 76 high-impact infrastructure flagship projects amounting to PHP2.4 billion will be pursued in Mindanao to boost economic development in the region.

During the first Philippine Economic Briefing in Davao City on Wednesday, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said some of the infrastructure projects aim to ease congestion and improve connectivity in Mindanao.

These include Davao Public Transport Modernization Project, Mindanao Railway Project, Davao City Expressway, Samal IslandDavao City Connector Bridge, and Panguil Bay Bridge.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said the 100-kilometer Mindanao Railway Project, with a total project cost of PHP81.67 billion, is currently in the process of design finalization and right-of-way acquisition.

Bautista also noted that the PHP73.9-billion Davao Public Transport Modernization Project will be funded with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank.

On digital infrastructure in Mindanao, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John Uy said over 1,500 free Wi-Fi sites have been deployed and about 1,200 digital transformation centers have been established in villages to assist locals.

‘Bright spots’

Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. Area Vice President for Mindanao Arturo Milan cited several “bright spots” for Mindanao in sectors such as transportation, infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, digitalization and energy.

Milan emphasized that energy security has to be “constantly present.”

“Otherwise, all these bright spots in our economy will not be possible,” he said.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the government has already come up with a budget plan for the priority sectors.

“The sectors he has mentioned, I am happy to note that they are all the same priorities on the expenditure side,” Pangandaman said.

Discussing the priority expenditures in the proposed 2024 national budget, Pangandaman said the government is promoting renewable energy alongside the country’s climate efforts, which will be allocated PHP543.45 billion for next year.

Inclusive development

Citing the importance of a wholeof-nation approach, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Francisco Dakila Jr. discussed opportunities in Islamic banking and finance that have sparked notable market interest from local and foreign investors. (MNS)

President

to

Jobless Pinoys rise to 2.33M in June, but employed up to 48.84M -- PSA

MANILA -- The number of jobless Filipinos rose in June this year while employed individuals also grew amid the increase in those joining the labor force during the period, results of the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) Labor Force Survey on Wednesday showed.

At a press conference, National Statistician and PSA chief Claire Dennis Mapa reported that the number of unemployed persons 15 years old and above rose to 2.33 million in June from 2.17 million in May.

As a percentage to the total 51.17 million persons in the labor force who are actively seeking work, the unemployment stood at 4.5%, higher than the 4.3% joblessness rate in May.

Despite the increase in unemployed persons, employed individuals grew to 48.84 million in June from 48.26 million in May, translating to an employment rate of 95.8% from 95.5% in May.

This is due to the increase in labor force participation to 51.17 million from 50.43 million, the PSA said.

“Not everyone who participated in the labor force was absorbed into employment,” Mapa said.

“There were a variety of reasons. It could be that the skills of workers were not compatible with what firms were looking for. Jobs-skills mismatch could be a reason. Meanwhile, there were others who were just waiting for job recall and were not yet covered during the survey period,” he explained.

However, Mapa said the number of those who were able to land jobs — 581,000 — was higher compared to those who were unable to find work — 159,000 — during the period.

Similarly, underemployed persons — those who expressed desire to have additional work hours in their present job or to have an additional job or to have a new job with longer hours of work — increased to 5.87 million from 5.66 million in May.

This translates to an underemployment rate of 12.6% in June, up from 11.7% in May.

“This is the dynamics we were seeing… when the labor force participation increases, the employed also grows but sometimes, unfortunately, not everyone is absorbed as full-time workers, that’s why there was an increase in underemployment,” Mapa said.

Sectors

The latest LFS results also showed that the services sector remained as the dominant sector in terms of number of employed persons with a share of 58.2%.

The agriculture and industry sectors followed, accounting for 23.8% and 18% share, respectively.

In terms of month-on-month increase in employed persons, the following sub-sectors were the top five:

Construction (488,000)

Agriculture and forestry (469,000)

Administrative and support service activities (308,000)

Public administration and defense; compulsory social security (128,000)

Accommodation and food service activities (104,000)

Relatedly, the top five sub-sectors with the highest drop in employed persons were the following:

Fishing and aquaculture (-233,000)

Manufacturing (-99,000)

Professional, scientific and technical activities (-65,000)

Mining and quarrying (-62,000)

(-45,000)

Breaking down the distribution of employed persons by class of worker, wage and salary workers accounted for the largest share with 61.5% or 30.03 million of the total.

Self-employed persons comprised 27.1% or 13.24 million, while unpaid family workers accounted for 9.5% or 4.62 million of the total employed individuals.

Among wage and salary workers, employed persons in private establishments made up 47.6% of the total employed persons, followed by those employed in government or government-controlled corporations with 9.4%, while workers in private households account for 4.2%.

Meanwhile, the top five major occupations in terms of employment were elementary occupations (13.71 million), service and sales workers (10.69 million), skilled agricultural workers (5.98 million), plant and machine operators and assemblers (3.84 million), and clerical support workers (3.19 million).

On the other hand, the youth employment rate, among 15 to 24 years-old, was estimated at 90.1% or 6.45 million employed youth out of the 7.16 million youth labor force.

This was higher than the recorded estimate of 89.4% reported in May 2023.

Unemployment rate among youth was recorded at 9.9% or 711,000 out of the 7.16 million youth labor force.

In a separate statement, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said that “as the number of young workers continues to expand, the Marcos administration is exerting efforts to focus on training and upskilling to improve their employability for high-quality and high-paying jobs.”

Citing Chapter 4 of the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, the NEDA chief said that the plan outlines recommendations for equipping the young Philippine workforce with the necessary skills to enhance the income-earning potential of Filipino workers.

The plan also indicates that promoting further investments in technical and vocational education and training centers, digitalization, and innovation facilities is crucial for improving the skills and competitiveness of the Philippine workforce.

Balisacan said that this is critical, considering the entry of new and disruptive technologies.

“Modernizing training and vocational education facilities, as well as enhancing educational qualifications, competencies, and skills, are necessary to respond to the emergence of new demands for competencies and skills. These demands are a result of economic and technological transformations brought by emerging technologies in the market, such as artificial intelligence,” he said.

American senator eyes battery manufacturing agreement in PH, cites reliable, long-standing PH-US relations

The Philippines and the United States can collaborate for the production of electronic vehicle batteries to meet the huge demand of the American market, US Senator Tammy Duckworth said on Tuesday. Duckworth, who met President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during a

courtesy call in Malacañan Palace, also shared her conversation with Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga and Department of Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla about the United States’ transition to renewable energy sources as well as its current challenges.

“So, for example, we’ve discussed at length about electronic vehicle batteries and we can’t get enough of them to meet the American market. And I can’t think of a better place to create a new manufacturing ecosystem for the American market than here in the Philippines where we can work together to supply that market so that we can continue to make our switch to renewables as well. And there are many other places where we can work together,” Duckworth told President Marcos.

“And again, I would rather have America’s manufacturing supply chain rest here in a nation that has been a long-time friend and ally, than in a nation that is our adversary or our competitor. And so, I think there are lots of opportunities and we had a really productive meeting.”

The President replied that with the renewable energy sources such as solar and wind that rely on nature and are not constant, this is where batteries become very important.

He said the Philippines has great potential for battery manufacturing considering the presence of mineral deposits that are necessary elements for battery production.

“We have nickel, we have bauxite, we have cobalt. And so, the idea of manufacturing….has shown more and more potential, the more we study it,” Marcos told the American legislator.

“And, so this is what we are hoping to develop here. Not just — we will have a demand locally for these batteries but not just for the local demand but also for sale to other countries and for other markets. That is certainly something that we have been pushing very hard for in terms of developing the capabilities.”

The President also delved on the long-standing ties between the Philippines and the US and the need to strengthen further the relationship.

“I think we must continue to promote and to hopefully make even stronger and deeper and especially with the volatility that we are observing in geopolitics, especially in our region, but not limited to our region but all over the world, is something that we need to find new responses for and to take new positions for,” he said.

Marcos said he is happy to welcome Duckworth in the Philippines having seen her work in previous years supporting Filipinos who now live and work in the United States.

Duckworth (Democrat-Illinois), is a member of the US Senate Armed Services Committee, the Environment & Public Works Committee, the Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee, and the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee.

A meeting with Duckworth presented an opportunity for the Philippines to raise the importance of US legislative support for common security and trade interests, including through enhanced assistance towards the modernization of the Philippines’ defense and civilian law enforcement capabilities, the immediate reauthorization of the GSP program, and the facilitation of other strategic trade and investment opportunities. (MNS)

Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. welcomes Filipino nurse, Ms. Charito Leonardo-Romano in Malacanang. The President had the opportunity

recognize Ms. Romano's exceptional contributions to healthcare during their meeting. Ms. Romano had received the Order of the British Empire Medal in Queen Elizabeth II's 2021 New Year's Honour List. (MNS photo)

A RETIREE REFLECTIONS ONE MONTH

LATER: ALL YOU REALLY NEED IS LOVE!

SAN DIEGO, CA -- My life has been blessed. I have experienced the extraordinary in peoples, places, and situations, my wife Zeny have given birth to three happy, caring sons, our growing family have been glorified with two beautiful daughters-in-law and three adorable grandchildrenand loved from the depth of my soul.

Truly, I found the path to peace and to the beauty of simplicity.

I grew up in a typical Filipino family with a father, mother, grandfather and a brother and three sisters. Our home in the historical district of Sta. Ana in old Manila was supportive, loving, and close. This happy foundation encouraged me to later become an adventuresome risk-taker. One of the qualities I still possess today, which I am grateful for, is an insatiable sense of curiosity that’s seemed to be inherent from birth. It is a fascination that has evolved from the innocence of a child to the understanding of a person attracted to life out of a need to comprehend love and loss.

I needed to know there is justice in the universe!

In my youth and in spite of obvious poverty, most Filipinos seem happy and energetic. They believe in something. Everyone has a little altar in his or her home for daily prayer. They live their spirituality. They love and help each other. Over and over again I witnessed the adoring hospitality of these beautiful people. They may be poor, but they know about love.

I am a person interested in spirituality but still live fully in this world. I have given up nothing; I have added to my life. In fact, I have experienced “inner bliss” and the consciousness of “being” so to speak. I have learned that love is an essential but earned emotion, and a sense of guilt is a waste of time.

“As we sow, so shall we reap.” Would I have done things differently when I look back on the past? Maybe, but it has been a

learning process. And on the path of my life’s journey, I have encountered some of the most enchanting and intriguing personalities. Life gets better every year, too. I may not be getting younger, but my friends are, it seems. Thirty- two years at the San Diego Community College District, three quarters of them spent working at Mesa College has attracted many creative young professionals to my doorstop. They come seeking relief from the constant pressure of their pastpaced lives through chat and banter. Some are college presidents, deans, professors of rock stars status, and then there are the exhausted students trying to juggle jobs, marriages and children. Others have lost their means of support and are full of fear for the future and just wanted a friendly pair of ears to listen as they speak their pieces.

As many of our peers and older friends sell their houses and move into apartments or retirement homes, my wife and I become more resolved to remain where we are. This house at Hofer Drive, if I must say has been visited by such wonderful individualities, who in turn leave uplifting resonances behind. My younger sister Linda who is a pediatrician at San Jose in the Bay Area, in particular expressed, “You can never sell this house, “Kuya.”

The vibrancies here are just so great.”

I tend to agree with her, especially as I have been lucky to have my wife of almost 53 years (come this Christmas) with me. I am experiencing completion of my life’s tasks on several levels. I really believe she (my wife) should write a book about the chronicle of this house and the many wonderful and exciting persons that have entered here.

Yes, God has been good to me. Also, I feel lucky and honored to be an American. Having seen so much of the world while in the Navy, I

GETTING THROUGH LIFE AFTER 56 YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND THE GOVERNMENT: The author poses for posterity while attending a high school friend's 75th birthday celebration at the Bali Hai Restaurant in Shelter Island last month.

Jesse T. Reyes Filipino Potpourri

responsibility to, or to blame things on. But the road always came back to me – the here and now. What I went looking for was there all the time.

I, you – we all - are the paths. We are a part of God, Creation, or whatever you desire to call that force. There can be no separation. All humankind and matter are God-like. God is my friend, my companion –He is always there to hear me. I used to feel stilted in prayer, now it comes from my heart, not my tongue. I have continual conversations with God, my partner, and the creative force within me.

So, this is my belief system, and it seems to work for me. Now fully retired from working, the glamour of activity still attracts me, but now a better balance exists between quiet and action, and I thank both aspects of life. Being more discriminating as to where to spend my energies, I love the “now” and treasure solitude. If a negative mood tries to capture me, I recognize it, analyze it, and most times if not all - throw it off.

I genuinely feel serenity and security I never had except during my childhood. Isn’t this what we are all seeking? Shouldn’t religion help a person get through life with less fear and more understanding?

Living in contentment brings better health; doctors now admit that stress seems to be the root of much sickness, because it breaks down the immune system.

flow of evolution by understanding better the importance of a spiritually based and balanced lifestyle, it will have been worth the effort. I am certainly convinced there is justice in the Universe, but sometimes it requires a lot of “hanging in there.”

As the decades roll by, I also don’t think much about aging and death.

Life continues to flow as a neverending series of new happenings and new opportunities. When death does close my eye, it will be another “beginning” – this time into the unknown- the final frontier, so to speak - which must then be the greatest adventure of all. And so, as the soul seems to go from life to death, from the undisclosed to the manifest, and back to the unmanifest, a circle continues into eternity.

Eternity – a word, which at one point in my life was incomprehensible, and brought a sense of fear. One that I could not fathom. A word that now brings a certain comfort, excitement, and understanding of my life’s path and soul’s journey.

Decidedly, it has been an exciting life, and who knows what lies around the next corner.

Amidst the specter of Vladimir Putin to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine (or elsewhere), the 78th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing brings currency to the folly of nuclear deterrence and reminds us of the horrors of the twin bombing where over 200,000 Japanese, young and old, died from the immediate and after affects of the atomic bomb.

Before America began justifying the stockpiling of nuclear weapons as a deterrence, it first pioneered the use of it by demonstrating its effectiveness as a weapon of mass destruction on the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki whose imperial government refused to surrender unconditionally.

Russia followed thereafter and tested the most powerful bomb in the world – the Tzar Bomba. The race for building the nuclear weapons arsenal began in earnest. Remember the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 when Russia deployed their nuclear missiles to Cuba that brought the world to the brink of annihilation?

Today, according to Statista. com, there are approximately 12,500 nuclear warheads worldwide with Russia leading the count at 5,799 followed by the United States at 5,428. Between these two countries alone accounts for about 90% of the world’s arsenal. China has 410, Francia 290, United Kingdom 225, Pakistan 170, India 164, Israel 90 and North Korea 20.

As a Catholic, I agree with Pope Francis and the late Pope John Paul II, about the immorality of the use of nuclear weapons and that nothing can ever justify using it even to end a war. Despite the drumbeats

of nuclear war getting stronger, however, Catholics around the globe have become complacent to such danger of total annihilation. Should this issue be a concern for me?

Certainly!

In the Philippines, there was nothing in the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines’ (CBCP) or the Archbishop of Caceres website by way of pastoral statements or news regarding the annual commemoration in Japan and what message Filipino Catholics should glean from it. The fact that Sunday, August 6 carried a lot of significance for Catholics being the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, the 30th anniversary of Veritatis Splendor, and the Catholic Church role in the 1945 bombing of the Japanese cities. Going back in time will help us understand the significance of the day. J. Robert Oppenheimer, the man behind project Trinity, unleashed the detonation of nuclear weapon in the Alamogordo’s Test Range in New Mexico. Before the bomb was dropped in Hiroshima, Enola Gay personnel and the bomb itself received blessings from a U.S. Air Force Catholic chaplain, Father George Zabelka. Years later, Fr. Zabelka admitted his egregious mistake of attaching a fraudulent image of Jesus Christ to the endeavor.

In our lives as Catholics, how often do we attach the name of Christ in our own idiocy? Jesus’ Transfiguration reminds us of what we should seek through Jesus’ own prophesy of death and resurrection. As Bicolanos celebrate the annual Peñafrancia Fiesta, we need to find

AFTER ALL THESE YEARS: "Under all circumstances, no matter how difficult, my wife Zeny and I stuck together through thick and thin."

realize what a good karma I must have had in life. It makes me deeply sad, too when some of our citizens trash our flag and debunk our way of life. If we don’t take care of it, one day soon it will be gone. Miracles continue to happen in

my life. It has been more than 57 years since I was introduced to the good, old U.S. of A. and a spiritual path. That trail has made a full circle. It has been a track from right here to right here. I went looking for answers, for an authority to give

By the way, my energy level stays high and my health is good if not excellent.

With each passing year I am more convinced there are two methods of getting through life – the easy way and the hard way. If, by writing this article, I have helped even one person put his or her life into the natural

Gratefulness is said to be one of the most spiritual of words. For this opportunity to share with you my weekly perspectives, I am most grateful. So, please continue to come along with me to a place of serenity. I went out looking for answers, and through my weekly columns it taught me where to find them – and lo and behold, they were within me all the time.

Ha-ha-ha-ha!

As you all – my dear readers –travel your own path through life, may you remember, all you really need is love and faith.

And “Amen” to that!

A Filipino (Bicolano) Catholic view of the Hiroshima Bombing

the transfigured image of Jesus amidst lives’ darkness. We all must bear our own crosses, as Jesus reminded his apostles before his crucifixion.

The thought of nuclear weapons in war is a cross that everybody should carry and speak of its evil. By ignoring the threat we are repeating Fr. Zabelka’s grievous mistake. Earth is a place we call home. It is an important place for us, and for our children and our children’s children. Same thing with the frailty of human lives that inhabits such place that if we don’t protect it, it’s gone forever as the psalmist says. When the wind blows from such powerful detonation, everything it passes vanishes.

Such is the Catholic morality engendered in Veritatis Splendor. What must we do to inherit the Kingdom of God and have eternal life? The twin bombings in Japan created blankets of darkness that clouded earth. After the radioactive clouds cleared the air, however, mankind has isolated itself from the truth because “man is constantly tempted to turn his gaze away from the living and God in order to direct it towards idols.”

Call it dualism or proportionalism, believing that the stockpiling of nuclear weapons is justifiable for the good it brings using criteria of what makes something good or bad. It reminds me of a line in Netflix’s “Jesus Revolution” - “What if the truth is really just opinions” implies the absence of truth. The horror morality of it, of course, is if Putin actually makes good on his threat. Then the undeniable truth will be revealed as the psalmist have predicted.

Chapter 1 of Veritatis Splendor talks about a rich young man who asked Jesus during one of his public ministries here on earth. “What good must I do to inherit eternal life,” he asked. Such a loaded question really touches on human actions (the

good) that are morally assessable.

Fr. Zabelka’s decision to bless the bombing sortie has the semblance of proportionality – good intentions or good consequences (minimizing death or stopping the war) constitute the elements of a moral conception of “what good should I do” as the young man posed to Jesus.

In other words, how important is “good intentions” if what one does goes against the Commandments or official Church teaching? Veritatis Splendor reminds us of the ageold teaching of conscience as a source of moral knowledge. While the encyclical is meant for bishops who is responsible within his jurisdiction for sound teaching and moral guidance, it also addresses the faithful in a general sense because eventually, it is the person who

makes choices (freedom).

In Chapter 3, Pope John Paul II addresses two important thoughts in relation to freedom and conscience of truth as explained in Chapter 2:

1) that the current state of the world (modernity) undermines about such a view (of life) but imposes for Catholics to live up to the high standards of faithfulness to God’s law which prohibits intrinsically wrong acts even if justifiable by good consequences.

The other thought is that obedience to such prohibitions (i.e., thou shall not kill) can be costly to Christians but is part of faithfulness of the Christian life and is richly empowered and blessed by the generosity of divine grace. The “good” as sought by the young man must unify human freedom and law

in the moral life in pursuit of eternal life.

Finally, two important points Pope Francis’ shared in Lisbon, Portugal during World Youth Day. “How do I pray – like a parrot (just repeating like novena prayers), blah blah blah? Or taking a nap in front of the tabernacle (place of worship) because I don’t know how to talk to the Lord?” His hope was for everyone to regain the prayer of adoration that everyone has lost, including members of the clergy. His other point is for the Gospel to reach everyone. “Homilies can sometimes be torture, he said. “Blah blah blah.” He challenged the clergy to come around to a new idea of homilies that are “brief and with a clear, loving message.” What a great idea!

Professional Business Directory

as the MATATAG Education Agenda.

The Philippines adopted the K to 12 Program by virtue of Republic Act 10533 which aimed to enhance the Philippine Basic Education System by strengthening the curriculum and increasing the number of years of basic education from 10 years to 12 years. Before the implementation of K to 12, the Philippines had been one of the only three remaining countries in the world, the other two being Djibouti and Angola, to have 10 years of basic education.

The phased implementation of K to 12 was adopted starting in School Year (SY) 2011-2012 and was implemented in the succeeding years, where Andaya admitted the DepEd "hit snags."

She also noted that the shifting local and global landscapes created an impact in various sectors, including education.

The review's findings, Andaya said, include congested curriculum content, misplaced prerequisite learning competencies, and cognitive demand imbalance.

The DepEd announced that the MATATAG Curriculum will be implemented in SY 2024-2025 for Kindergarten, Grades 1, 4, and 7.

In SY 2025-2026, Grades 2, 5, and 8 will be under the new curriculum with Grades 3, 6, and 9 in SY 20262027. Grade 10 learners will join them on SY 2027-2028.

PBBM open to planned PH-US deal to improve nursing sector President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is seeking a review of the possible partnership between the Philippines and the United States to strengthen the nursing industry of both countries, Malacañang said Wednesday.

In a statement, Communication Secretary Cheloy Garafil said Marcos is open to the idea of forging an agreement with the US to elevate the nursing profession and address the

problems besetting the sector.

“Let’s look into it... I’m sure if we figure out the details, that probably… sounds like a good idea,” Marcos said, as quoted by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

This developed after US Senator Tammy Duckworth, who paid Marcos a courtesy visit at Malacañan Palace in Manila on Tuesday, raised the possibility of sending American students to nursing schools in the Philippines.

Marcos said he wants to study the proposal before making any decision.

“We do have a problem with our nurses leaving and going abroad and finding good jobs abroad. And we certainly encourage that. We’re not about to hold them back,” Marcos said during his meeting with Duckworth.

“But we need to find these new schemes so that the brain drain is not quite severe as it is now. We have a shortage, I think, at every level in our health care system and much of the reason behind that is the talent leaving

the Philippines to find better positions. But certainly, we should examine that.” While there is no formal agreement yet, Marcos and Duckworth agreed that the proposal would benefit the two countries.

Duckworth noted that Filipino nurses could pass the licensure examinations for nursing in the US.

She also acknowledged that the US has a lack of nursing programs, adding that the country has more nursing students than nursing educators.

“You know, it would be really interesting to see if we could send American students to nursing schools in the Philippines because, obviously, you’re teaching to a standard that they can meet licensure in the US. But we don’t have enough nursing programs in the United States,” Duckworth said.

“We don’t have enough nursing educators in the United States because we just don’t have enough of them, and we have students who want to enter nursing schools but there are not enough space for them.”

Help Wanted / For Rent / For Sale

DENR chief Loyzaga says all 22 Manila Bay reclamation projects suspended

MANILA -- Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Antonia YuloLoyzaga said Thursday that all reclamation projects in Manila Bay are under review.

At a Palace press briefing, Loyzaga said there are a total of 22 reclamation projects in Manila Bay that are under review and thus are deemed suspended.

.President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. earlier this week disclosed that all reclamation projects in Manila Bay except one have been suspended due to problems in their implementation.

Marcos did not specify which projects have been suspended, but he lamented that the sea along Roxas Boulevard could disappear due to the

reclamation projects.

The DENR said it has been conducting cumulative impact assessments on the reclamation projects to demonstrate their effects on Manila Bay.

At least three senators have welcomed Marcos’ decision, including Senate environment and natural resources committee chairperson Cynthia Villar who earlier warned that the reclamation projects in Manila Bay may cause six to eight-meter flooding in Las Piñas and other nearby areas.

During a Senate hearing on Wednesday, Villar claimed that Loyzaga is "afraid" of the influential people who are pushing for the reclamation projects in Manila Bay.

But during Thursday's Palace briefing, Loyzaga said she is not

"easily scared."

At the House of Representatives, meanwhile, ACT-CIS party-list lawmaker and Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo has filed a resolution seeking a probe on the status of the Manila Bay reclamation projects.

Tulfo's House Resolution 1171 wants to find out if there is a "national security risk" in the reclamation projects because of the involvement of Chinese firms.

The resolution also mentions that no less than Speaker Martin Romualdez raised concerns about the projects.

Before Tulfo sought inquiry, the US Embassy in Manila, which is situated by the Manila Bay, already raised concerns on the reclamation projects for the projects' ties with

China Communications Construction Co., a firm cited by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank for engaging in fraudulent business practices.

"We are also concerned that the projects have ties to the China Communications Construction Co., which has been added to the US Department of Commerce’s Entity List for its role in helping the Chinese military construct and militarize artificial islands in the South China Sea," said Embassy spokesperson Kanishka Gangopadhyay last week. In the same resolution, Tulfo noted that while the ongoing land reclamation may offer potential economic benefits and development opportunities, they can also have huge environmental impacts. (MNS)

Spiritual Life

Grandma's Hands

I often receive inspirational messages via the Internet. I read some and keep them to myself. While I forward some to friends and relatives as a means of keeping in touch with them. But there are messages which I am inclined to publish in this column and "Grandma's Hands" sent to me by a niece from the Philippines is one of them. Upon reading it, I looked at my own hands, which I have long taken for granted.

As you read the following story, I know you will rub your hands together, looked at them and perhaps, apply a hand lotion to make them feel smooth.

Some people who shake my hands often comment on how soft and smooth they are but I would prefer those rough and hardened hands who have known the value of hard work but which continue to caress me at the end of the day. Those loving hands, which held me up when I was down. But most of all, I appreciate those hands that can give their all to help others and which translates into action God's compassion and love.

GRANDMA'S HANDS

Grandma, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench. She didn't move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands. When I sat down beside her she didn't acknowledge my presence and the longer I sat I wondered if she was OK.

Finally, not really wanting to disturb her but wanting to check on her at the same time, I asked her if she was OK. She raised her head and looked at me and smiled. "Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking," she said in a clear voice strong.

"I didn't mean to disturb you, grandma, but you were just sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK," I explained to her.

"Have you ever looked at your

Aurora

My Personal Testimony

hands," she asked. "I mean really looked at your hands?"

I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them over, palms up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point she was making. Grandma smiled and related this story:

"Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled, shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life.

"They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor. They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots. They held my husband and wiped my tears when he went off to war.

"They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special. They wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook when I buried my parents and spouse.

"They have held my children and grandchildren, consoled neighbors

and shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand.

"They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw. And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer.

"These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of life.

But more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when he leads me home. And with my hands He will lift me to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ."

I will never look at my hands the same again. But I remember God reached out and took my grandma's hands and led her home.

When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my children and husband I think of grandma. I know she has been stroked and caressed and held by the hands of God.

I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel His hands upon my face.

When you receive this, say a prayer for the person who sent it to you and watch God's answer to prayer work in your life. Let's continue praying for one another.

Greetings in the Lord!

Last Sunday we have started to hear how Jesus revealed himself through a miraculous action of multiplying bread and fishes that fed 5,000 men not counting women and children who followed him to a deserted place and during night time in order to manifest himself as the personification of the mercy and love of God for humanity. This Sunday, we heard him perform another miracle, where Jesus walked on the water witnessed by his terrified disciples. Matthew narrated this incident right after the miraculous feeding of more than 5,000 people.

In the Gospel reading from Matthew 14:22-33. Jesus gives us yet another manifestation of his divinity. Not only is He the Good Shepherd who feeds us, He is likewise the Lord of creation who saves us from destructive forces of nature. He tells us: “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” More will be revealed to us as we meditate on his words.

This miracle took place after the miraculous feeding. Matthew narrates that Jesus dismissed the crowds and made his apostles get into a boat to precede him to the other side. Meanwhile, he stayed the night on the mountain by himself to pray. While at sea, the apostles encountered a very strong wind that buffeted their small boat. And during “the fourth watch of the night” (between 3:00 and 6:00 AM) Jesus approached them “walking on the sea.” His disciples were terrified, thinking he was a ghost. We can understand how they would consider extremely strange and ominous the sight of someone walking calmly on water while they were being tossed about by the wind and the waves.

his divinity. He is God, the Lord of creation.

Elijah’s story in the First Reading (1 Kg. 19:9,11-13) is very similar. Threatened by Jezebel whom God defeated, he fled for his life at Mt. Horeb, where he hid at the cave. He prayed and God ordered him to go outside because He “will be passing by.” After Elijah went outside, he witnessed the wind, the earthquake and the fire, but did not see God. Instead, He spoke in “a tiny whispering sound.” This was prophetic for eventually, God would speak His Word in human flesh, in a tiny and helpless Infant lying on a manger. Jesus is God’s tiny voice at the sea, which comforted the apostles amidst the fury of the strong wind and the buffeting waves. Nature, with all its great force and power to frighten us, bows down to the Lord of all creation.

plan of forming them to participate in his divine work with his divine power. Later on, He would say that they would do “even greater works.” (Jn. 14:12) But, when Peter went to the waters, he lost his focus. The wind and the waves became more real to him than Jesus was, and he started to doubt. As he began to sink, he returned his focus on Jesus and cried out: “Lord, save me!”

Our Lord asked Peter why he doubted. When Jesus told him –“Come.” – he should have taken it as an invitation to trust absolutely. His failure to continue to walk on the waters made Peter realize his weakness. Walking on water is not a human skill. It can only be accomplished with faith that recognizes the divine in Jesus, the God-Man, Who alone can empower one to do such a thing as walking on the waters. Peter could not do it by himself. He needed Jesus and it was necessary that he trust in him absolutely.

Those in the boat did not wonder anymore who Jesus was. He had given them a remarkable testimony of himself. Peter’s experience has taught them that they would not be able to do anything without him. Also, he taught them not to fear any storm, even when he does not immediately calm its turbulence. When our life seems challenging and even dangerous, it takes a strong faith to stay and ride out the crisis. This is not the time to get off the boat as those who do so will sink. He may take his time but Jesus will save us. He, too, is in the boat with us.

Is the Lord able to bless you today?

You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it.

(Joshua 7:13b)

The first battle for the people of Israel traveling from Egypt was at Jericho, once they crossed the Jordan River. God had given them a great victory at Jericho, and Joshua was now ready to move to their next battle at Ai. After they spied out the enemy camp, they determined they needed only a few thousand men to gain victory.

They went up against Ai only to fail miserably. They lost 32 men in a battle that should have been an easy victory, but instead they were forced to retreat. Joshua was devastated. "Ah, Sovereign Lord, why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us?"

(Joshua 7:7a) In this case, the people fell short because they failed to uphold the standard God had set for them. God had told them not to take any plunder from their first battle. However, Achan hid some forbidden treasures, and God was now judging the entire nation for one man's sin.

Hernaez

Whenever we act without God's complete blessing on our activity, we can expect God to thwart our plans. God's word to Joshua was that he could not stand against his enemies as long as there was disobedience among his troops.

Whenever we launch a business endeavor, we should make sure there are no unclean things in our dealings that would allow us to be vulnerable to a failed effort: unpaid vendors, disgruntled employees who were not treated fairly, lawsuits, dishonesty. Many of these things can hinder God from blessing our enterprises. These things can remove the shield of protection from our workplace, which God wants to bless, but cannot because

5pm-9pm Rosary: 6pm

-- Author Unknown

As soon as his disciples cried out in terror, Jesus spoke to them: “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid,” thereby calming their fears. His identification of Himself had enormous significance. This was the same way God revealed Himself to Moses at Mt. Sinai, “I am who am” (Ex. 3: 14), and likewise, through the prophet Isaiah: “I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King. Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters.” (Is. 43:15-16). Here, Jesus again reveals

This is the reason why St. Paul in the Second Reading (Rom. 9:15) felt so bitter over the rejection of Jesus by most of his contemporaries. Their entire history, as God’s chosen people, should have disposed them to receive - and not reject - Jesus. By their rejection, they manifested their failure to see God’s kindness and salvation as prayed in the Psalm (Ps. 85:9ab, 10, 11-12, 13-14). St. Paul felt so devastated by this that he said: “I wish I were accursed for the sake of my own people.” However, still hoping for his kinsmen to accept Jesus, he prayed: “God be blessed forever. Amen.”

Was this an attempt to prove it was really Jesus, or mere curiosity about a spectacular occurrence? Whatever the motivation for Peter's request, Jesus says, “Come.” Jesus here was indicating something deeper that was on his mind: his

The boat is symbolic of the Church. Like the boat, the Church experiences being tossed about by many storms. At times, it even appears to be sinking. But, just as God is portrayed as conquering the raging and chaotic waters which seek to destroy creation (Ps 107:2332), so does Jesus conquer the sea that threatens to destroy his Church for He has promised that no evil shall prevail against it (Mt. 16:18).

Let us pray always that we may be open to the manifestations of Jesus in our lives so that we may see always concerned with us in our every lives. Danny

Pagisip-isipan natin: Ano kaya ang hihigit pa? Sa kaligayahang nadarama ng isang pamilyang Nagkakaisa sa pagmamahal at pananampalataya Buhay ay maayos, punong-puno ng kalinga.

Libo-libong mga Pilipino ang nangingibang bansa Upang doon magtrabaho at kumita Nahihiwalay sa pamilya, nagtitiis, nangungulila Ngunit dahil sa pagmamahal sa pamilya, lahat nito ay kinakaya.

Magkakagulo at makakaranas ng panay-panay na alitan Para bagang bahagya ng impiyerno sa mundo ang nararanasan.

He is committed to upholding righteousness. His name is blemished when unrighteousness is allowed to permeate our lives.

Is the Lord able to bless you today? If not, you may need to go back and clean up a few things before He can do so. Take whatever steps are needed to ensure the blessing of God today.

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." <(((><

Ibat-ibang mga pamayanan ang bumubuo ng bansa Subalit ang pamayanan ay binubuo ng mga pamilya Kaya kung nais nating maging matatag at malakas ang bansa Ating pagtibayin ang pinkaubod nito: ang ating pamilya.

Ang pamilya ay mahalagang bahagi ng kulturang Pilipino Bago magdesisyon at kumilos ang Pilipino Laman ng isip ay ang kanyang pamilya Tanong sa sarili bago kumilos:” Ang gagawin ko kaya ay ikaliligaya ng aking pamilya?”

Ang pamilyang Pilipino ay nagkakaisa sa isip at diwa Bayanihan ang umiiral at nagtutulungan sila Tagumpay ng isa ay tagumpay ng lahat Pinagtutulong-tulungan na bumangon ang nadapa.

Ang kabutihan ng Diyos sa pamilya ay ating nasusulyapan Sa pamilya ay ang pagkakataon na isulong ang kanyang Kaharian Sa pangaraw-araw na ang mga maganak ay nagmamahalan Kanilang nararanasan ang kaligayahan ng kalangitan.

At kung hindi tayo mag-iingat Ang pamilya ay maari din namang magkawatak-watak

Kaligayahan na ating matatamo sa mundong ito Nagsisimula sa ating pakikipagkapwa sa pamilya Huwag sanang sayangin ang pagkakataong dulot Ang kaligayahan at tagumpay ng isang pamilyang nagmamahalan at nagkakabuklod-buklod.

Corral Canyon Rd. Bonita, CA 91902 Date: Friday Sept 1, 2023

Time: 11:00am (Approx. 1 hr Service) Miramar National Cemetery

Nobel Dr, San Diego, CA 92122

Date: Friday Sept 1, 2023 Time 1:15pm

Family requests donation for funeral arrangements etc during this difficult time. Contact son Chris Baladad at (619)666-9094 for more info

Fr. Agustin T. Opalalic

Salvador

San Diego 2023 Tax Roll Hits Record High $727 Billion

Up 7.12% & Record High $275 Million Tax Savings for San Diegans 11th Straight Year of Record High Growth & Record High Savings

SAN DIEGO, CA -- San Diego

County Assessor, Jordan Z. Marks, certified the 2023 assessed value roll of all taxable property with a record setting high of $727.48 billion, reflecting a 7.12% increase (or $48.3 billion) over last year. The 2023 assessment roll reflected unprecedented property tax savings of over $275 million for San Diego homeowners, disabled veterans, small businesses, and charitable organizations. This is the eleventh straight year the San Diego County Assessor’s Office has delivered record high revenue for key government services and record high property tax savings making San Diego more affordable to live and thrive.

Assessor Jordan Marks noted, “Thanks to Prop 13, no homeowner should lose their home due to unaffordable property taxes from the recent skyrocketing home prices. At the same time, governments will receive record high reliable funding for the eleventh straight year to deliver key services like schools and first responders.” Marks concluded, “The 2023 tax roll shows that San Diego County is the gold standard in fairness, transparency, and putting taxpayers first based on a nearly 100% accuracy rating in our assessment practices from a State of California audit and 98.2% positive customer service rating.”

The roll consisted of 1,013,632 real estate parcels, 55,888 business personal property accounts, 14,476 boats and 1,534 aircraft. The roll’s total net assessed value is $699.5 billion after deducting $26.19 billion

for a record high tax reduction resulting in over $275 million in property tax savings for homeowners, disabled veterans, small businesses, and charitable organizations.

Prop 13 protected 91% or 923,068 San Diego properties by limiting their property taxes to a 2% assessed value increase – in accordance with California’s landmark legislation that limits property taxes on property owners while providing a stable and key source of revenue for local governments. The tax roll will result in approximately $7 billion in property tax revenue or 1% of net assessed value of $699.5 billion, to support key county, city, school, fire, water, and other special district services.

Marks commented, “My extraordinary San Diego Assessor team showed leadership and put taxpayers first by taking on the additional eighteen thousand Prop 8 reductions to deliver nearly 15 million in tax relief to homeowners while meeting our commitment of closing the tax roll on time and complete.” Marks continued, “If we don’t close the tax roll on time then county services will be interrupted, taxpayers impacted, and we would see a cascading effect that would impact revenues for operating schools, libraries, parks, and other key emergency services.”

Highlights From the 2023 Assessment Roll

1. Assessed property values hit a record high of $727 billion (an increase of $48.3 billion or 7.12%).

2. Prop 13 protection applied to

91% or 923,068 properties, limiting their property tax increase to 2%. The 2% increase produced an additional $12,385,120,750 billion in assessed value.

3. Taxpayers received a record high $275 million in property tax savings, including homeowners, disabled veterans, non-profits, and affordable housing and homeless service providers.

4. San Diego County Assessor qualified a record high 15,469 disabled veterans and/ or surviving spouses, totaling a record high $24.4 million in savings for San Diego County veterans and their families.

5. San Diego County Assessor is the #1 office in California for providing property tax relief to disabled veterans and their families.

6. San Diego County Assessor’s office was the leading Assessor’s office in California that proactively applied Prop 8 temporary property tax savings for 18,397 homeowners, saving them $14.1 million in property tax relief from a drop in the housing market.

7. City of Escondido realized the highest assessed value growth rate at 8.87%.

8. City of Del Mar saw the lowest growth rate at 6.20%.

9. City of San Diego had the largest value increase, adding $23.7 billion or 7.29%.

For additional information please visit www.sdarcc.gov or contact the Assessor’s office at (619) 236-3771, They will be happy to serve you.

“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

PECHANGA RESORT CASINO NOMINADO BILANG PINAKA MAGALING NA CASINO SA LABAS NG LAS VEGAS SA PRESTIHIYOSONG PAMBANSANG POLL NG MAMBABASA

Panahon na naman ng botohan. Ngunit hindi para sa mga na ihalal na opisyal o mga bahagdan ng balota. Kailan lang ay tinanong ang mga tagapatnubay ng USA

Today’s 10Best.com sa isang

taunang poll ng mga mambabasa upang pag botohan ang kanilang paboritong casino sa labas ng Las Vegas sa isang nasyunal na kumpetisyon na nagsimula noong

Lunes, Hulyo 31. Isang panel ng mga experiyensado sa casino ang nagtalaga sa Pechanga sa naturang kumpetisyon taun-taon simula 2015.

Tinanong ang mga mambabasang pag botohan ang kanilang mga paborito at maaari nilang gawin ito isang beses kada araw. Ang botohan ay magtatapos sa Lunes, Agosto 28, sa ganap na alas- 9a.m., Pacific Time. Ang mga mambabasa ng USA

Today 10Best Travel Guide polls ay tinanong na bigyan ng rata ang kani-kanyang paboritong casino

na lumabas sa ibat-ibang porma mula 2015. Ang Pechanga ay nagtamo ng pinaka unang pwesto bilang Best Casino sa America ng taong iyon. Sumunod dito, pinag hiwalay ng publikasyon ang poll sa Best in Las Vegas at Best Outside Las Vegas, at nagdagdag ng iba pang kahalintulad na kategorya kagaya ng Best Casino Restaurant. Ang Umi Sushi & Oyster Bar sa Pechanga ay nakatanggap ng pangalawang pwesto sa ginanap na 2018 Best Casino Restaurant poll. Upang maglagak ng boto, bisitahin ang LINK NA ITO.

Pindutin ang “Vote Now” na butones at kayo ay makakatulong sa Pechanga Resort Casino upang mapalapit mismo sa muling pagtanggap ng korona pabalik sa Southern California. Tandaang bumoto araw-araw. 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 2002, ang Pechanga Resort Casino ay naghahatid ng walang kapantay na libangan, maging anumang araw o kahabaan ng pananatili rito. Ang Pechanga ay nag-aalay ng mahigit 5,500 ng pinakamainit na slots, 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 nagmamarali ng mga destinasyon na walang katumbas sa California. 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.

Isang scan ka na lang mula sa pag-send ng pera sa Pilipinas kung paano dapat.

Itutok lang ang camera mo sa QR code para automatic na i-download ang Remitly app. May makikita kang app na nasa Tagalog, nag-o-offer ng nakakagulat na murang fees para sa pag-send ng pera at nagno-notify sa iyo kung nasaan ang pera mo sa bawat hakbang ng proseso.