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PBBM orders completion of water-related projects by April 2024 MANILA, -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday bared that he has directed concerned government agencies to complete water-related projects by April 2024 in preparation for the impact of the El Niño phenomenon. During the inauguration of the Balbalungao Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (BSRIP) in Lupao, Nueva Ecija, Marcos noted the urgency to make sure the country is ready for the possible effects of El Niño, including reduced rainfall and drought. “We must be prepared to counter these effects, which may last until the second quarter of 2024. So, we remind once again the DA (Department of Agriculture) and the NIA (National Irrigation Administration) to immediately complete the construction of irrigation facilities, as well as other supporting structures based on the needs of our farmers,” Marcos said. “Iniisip ko ‘yung mga project na gagawin natin. Meron tayong apat na buwan para tapusin lahat iyan, maging operational lahat iyan dahil ang ginawa kong deadline para sa ating mga departamento, ‘ika ko sa kanila, ang isipin natin, ano ba ang kaya nating matapos by April of next year (I’m thinking about the projects that we will do. We have four months to finish all that, make it all operational because the deadline I made for our departments, I told them, let’s think, what can we finish).” Vital projects, such as the BSRIP, will help address the effects of El Niño, which may cause a shortage of
and the private sector to work together to secure the sustainability of water resources and the ecosystem that surround the reservoir. “That integrated watershed management plan serves as your guide in monitoring, protecting, and conserving the Balbalungao water shed to prolong the land’s service lifestyle,” Marcos said. “Anticipating the success of the BSRIP in transforming the province’s land into a thriving hub of productivity, we remain steadfast in our pursuit of food security, poverty reduction, and economic growth.” The government, he said, is aiming to establish more than 275,000 hectares of new irrigation areas to restore about 80,000 of existing irrigation areas by 2028. “As we envision a more secure, sustainable, and resilient Philippines, let us harmonize our efforts to ensure the continued empowerment of our producers, progress for our industries, and advancement for the entire country,” he said.
PBBM restructures El Niño task force President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leads the turnover of 141 units of wheeled excavators to the field office of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Olongapo City, Zambales on Wednesday (Dec. 13, 2023). (MNS photo) water and power supply, he said. The BSRIP, boasting an expansive 840-hectare service area, is designed to foster sustainable development for the benefit of 562 farmers and their families residing in Balbalungao, San Isidro, Salvacion, Sto. Niño, and Mapampang villages in Lupao town.
Marcos said the construction of the Balbalungao Dam signifies his administration’s commitment to developing modern infrastructure systems that would enhance the agriculture sector. “Once fully operational, this multi-purpose dam will provide irrigation for close to 1,000 hectares
Have a Happy and Sustainable Holiday Season By Gig Conaughton / County of SD Communications Office SAN DIEGO, CA -- The holidayand-gift seasons are back! Giving them and receiving them help put the happy in the holiday season. But remember to consider sustainability this year as you make your gift-giving plans. That is, finding ways to meet our needs and be generous and happy today while still protecting our resources for the generations to come. The gift-giving season—from all the wrapping paper, packages and new items that may never be used— can be tough on sustainability. But there are ways to be jolly and sustainable. Like by using fewer single-use items and consuming less stuff we may never use. The County of San Diego thinks a lot about sustainability. In October
it released its new draft Climate Action Plan for the public to review and comment on and the plan could be brought to County supervisors for consideration in fall 2024. The County is also leading a regional effort to reduce green-house gas emissions beyond its unincorporated area and communities. But we don’t just think about the big things in sustainability, but also the day-to-day ways we all can do our part. So, here are some handy Holiday Season Sustainability tips!
Gifts
Give Experiences Instead of Things: One thing you can do to cut down on the accumulation of unnecessary stuff is to give gifts of “experiences” rather than items that will eventually be tossed out. For example, give someone tickets to a show, free lessons in something they’d enjoy, or a gift card to a local
restaurant! For a list of experiences, you can go to WasteFreeSD’s “resources” page, do a word search for “experiences” and click on their “Gift Ideas—Experiences Instead of Things” webpage. Donations: Another thing you can give, or receive, instead of more physical stuff (do you really need another tie or blouse?) is to ask family and friends to donate to an animal rescue or a cause you’re interested in! Many animal organizations allow you to “sponsor” or “adopt” an animal virtually to rescue it and ensure it is loved and cared for. Like the Kitchen? Bake a Gift! Everyone loves food at the holidays. And you don’t need to be a worldrenowned chef to put a smile on someone’s face. You know, banana bread is really easy to make. Cookies, See HOLIDAY on 3
of agricultural land,” he said. “The dam will generate diversified income opportunities to increase crop use, fish culture, tourism, and watershed management for environmental protection.” Marcos also emphasized that the BSRIP would facilitate hydroelectric power generation and serve as a flood
control mitigation infrastructure for the communities along the river. He directed the DA and the NIA to ensure the timely completion of the other facilities of the BSRIP, such as the hydropower and watershed components. He enjoined all government agencies, local government units,
) -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said the El Niño Task Force has been reorganized, as part of the extensive efforts to ensure food, water, and power security amid the weather phenomenon. “I have created under the Office of the President a Task Force El Niño. There already exists one pero babaguhin natin ang (we will change its) structure,” Marcos said in a See PBBM on 5
Who Are America’s New Ethnic Voters?
By Selen Ozturk/EMS SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- As the U.S. grows more diverse, so do its voters. At a Dec. 8 Ethnic Media Services briefing, experts discussed who these new ethnic voters are, what motivates them, and how their affiliations compare to their white counterparts.
AAPI party preference
“When it comes to candidates, voters’ party identification shapes their opinions on issues more than the other way around,” said Karthick Ramakrishnan, public policy professor at UC Riverside, AAPI Data founder and California 100 co-founder. “For example,” he continued, “no matter your opinions on taxes or environmental protection, your Republican, Democratic or Independent identity will likely shape them over time.” Among AAPI voters, he found that Vietnamese Americans tend to identify as most strongly
Republican, while Japanese and Indian Americans tend to identify as most strongly Democratic. “So it’s interesting that Indian Americans like Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley have risen to such prominence in Republican leadership, far from Indian American voter opinion,” he noted. Karthick Ramakrishnan, Professor of Public Policy, University of California, Riverside and Founder of AAPI Data and CoFounder, California 100, discusses the influence of racial versus party identification when it comes to what motivates voters. Nevertheless, Ramakrishnan added, the 2016 election and the subsequent four years caused a divergence in these trends, with both Indian and Chinese Americans moving toward the Republican party under President Trump.
Latino Voters are younger
Latinos are the country’s fastestgrowing racial and ethnic group in our electorate. Against common views of new Latino voters as older
adults newly naturalized, U.S.-bornand-raised Latinos “are the ones truly changing America’s political landscape” with each election, said Claudia Sandoval, assistant professor of political science and international relations at Loyola Marymount University. 22% of Latinos eligible to vote in next year’s presidential election are new voters who have recently become eligible to vote. 38% of the Latino electorate is new to the political sphere since 2016. Compared to the median age of 50 for all eligible U.S. voters, the median age of eligible Latino voters is 39. In this electorate, she continued, gender gaps exist: while Latinos as a whole lean leftward, Latino men are more likely than Latino women to support Republican candidates — diverging respectively as much as 48% and 24% in Nevada. As more young Latinos become eligible to vote, they will have a See VOTERS on 7
2 • December 15, 2023 - December 21, 2023
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HOLIDAY
Continued from page 1
cakes, quick breads—you got this! Green Thumbs? If you have any friends or family who like to garden or grow their own herbs, you can reuse portions of the empty cardboard tubes from paper towels to create planting “pots” for seedlings!
Shopping
Shop Local: Shopping locally, especially at businesses that feature sustainable and handcrafted gifts, can cut back on a lot of the carbon emissions that you’ll emit driving hither and yon to shop, or that are emitted shipping items to the stores you’re visiting. Shop Online, give Yourself Time: If you do shop online, plan ahead and order early so items can be shipped by ground—truck, trains and ships—rather than having to be rush-shipped by air, which leaves a much larger carbon footprint. Look for Gifts Without a Lot of Packaging: Items like candles, soaps, coffee mugs, water bottles, cooking utensils, oils and sauces attractive enough to be given with just a homemade bow or come in containers that can be reused again and again. Give Gift Certificates to Zero Waste stores: There’s a movement in retail to create “zero-waste” stores—retailers that sell mostly in bulk or using compostable
Filipino Press packaging, to customers carrying their own reusable containers.
Wrapping
Ditch the Fancy Wrapping Paper: There are a lot of ways you can wrap holiday gifts without getting the fancy paper wrapping. In fact, a lot of fancy paper wrapping can’t be recycled. Here are some alternatives. If you’re into crafts, you can sew your own bags to wrap gifts in, then reuse them every year! Not into sewing? You can use fabric scraps to wrap gifts. And remember to reuse ribbons and bags again in the future. Another option is to use holiday decorative kitchen towels: Tie them up with a ribbon. They’re reusable and who doesn’t want a new kitchen towel? Recycled Wrapping Paper: If you do use wrapping paper, choose wrapping paper that is made from recycled materials and can be recycled again.
Holiday Cards
Go Digital: Instead of buying and sending paper cards, send ecards, or post on social media like Instagram and Facebook to send holiday greetings to friends and family. Display the Cards You Receive for Year-round Artwork: If you receive paper holiday cards from friends and family, you can display them around your home to keep the holidays and your loved ones in your heart all year around!
Food and Gatherings
Inviting Friends Over for Food? Plan ahead, shop smart and serve just enough to make everyone happy without wasting food. Of course, figuring out how much food to make can be difficult. However, SaveTheFood.com has a “Guestimator” that can help you calculate just how much food you need to prepare, based on how many people you’re serving and how much they typically eat, even during holiday feasts. Invite Your Guests to BOYRFCs (Bring Your Own Reusable Food Container): Yeah, that abbreviation is unlikely to catch on. However, asking guests bring their own reusable “to go” containers is an idea that should catch on. That way if there are leftovers, it’s easy as pie for your guests to bring some home! No waste and no onetime-only food containers. Remember to Compost: And don’t forget to compost leftovers if you do have them. If you don’t have your own compost pile or bin, you can place any remaining food scraps and organic waste into your curbside green bin! (Note: If you have your own compost bin at home, don’t compost meats and bones; they can attract pests.)
The Tree!
Ornaments: A lot of us are familiar with stringing popcorn and cranberry garlands to hang on the Christmas tree, but there are other
alternatives as well. For example, you can cut slices of oranges, let them dry out and hang them from your tree! Craft Ornaments: You can also make your own craft ornaments from paper, pinecones, seashells and other items. LED lights: Of course, using LED tree lights instead of the older traditional bulbs not only uses less energy, but they are more environmentally friendly. Recycle the tree and wreaths: If you’re using a real tree and natural wreaths, remember to recycle them instead of tossing them out where they can end up in landfills to decompose and generate climatechanging methane. Recycled trees and wreaths can be turned into mulch to improve soils at parks, farms, home gardens and landscapes. Check with your waste hauler to find out if they offer curbside pickup. Or go to the County’s recycling and hazardous waste database, WastefreeSD.org, to find Christmas tree drop-off sites near you. It’s easy. So, remember, sustainability is a gift for the earth, your children and their children. And have a Happy Sustainable Holiday Season!
December 15, 2023 - December 21, 2023 • 3
Queer Filipina American Coming-of-Age Play to Debut in San Diego this December
From L to R: Hillary Soriano (Flora), Kyle Blaine Tiglao (Aubrey), Gretchen (Principal Alexander, Cherry, Freya), Kate Nguyen (Jesse), Earl Paus (Director), Lani Gobaleza (Playwright/Frankie), Sasha Foo (Francesca), Anthony Erum Jongco (Andrew/Brûlée), Gingerlily Lowe (Auntie Sam) SAN DIEGO, CA. Spare Pen presents the premiere of “Every Day Vanilla,” the debut play of writer-actor Lani Gobaleza. Performances begin at MOXIE Theatre on Thursday, December 14 through Friday, December 29, 2023. This production is presented separately from MOXIE Theatre's programming.* Sponsorship opportunities and tickets are now available at www.everydayvanilla.com.
Prayer to Saint Expedite May the intercession of the glorious martyr , St Expedite, recommend us, O my God, to Thy goodness, in order that his protection may obtain for us what our own merits are powerless to do.
Amen. We supplicate Thee, Lord , to inspire by Thy grace all our thoughts and actions, that thou being their principle, we may, by the intercession of St. Expedite, be conducted with courage, fidelity and promptitude, at the time proper and favorable, and come to a good and happy end, through our Lord, Jesus Christ
Amen St Expedite, honored by the gratitude of those who have invoked thee at the last hour and for pressing cases, we pray thee to obtain from the all powerful goodness of God, by the intercession of Mary Immaculate, (today or such a day) the grace we solicit with all submission to the Divine Will Amen
4 • December 15, 2023 - December 21, 2023
Filipino Press
PBBM calls for ‘conducive, nurturing environment’ for women
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. officiates the oath of office to the newly elected National Executive Board and Regional Presidents of the Lady Local Legislators League of the Philippines, Inc. (Four-L Phil’s) in a ceremony at the President’s Hall in Malacañan Palace on December 12, 2023. (MNS photo) MANILA, -President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday emphasized the importance of capacitating Filipino women, as he acknowledged their indispensable role in the vital task of nationbuilding. During the oath-taking of the newly-elected National Executive Board and Regional Presidents of the Lady Local Legislators League of the Philippines, Inc. (Four-L Phil), Marcos said it is crucial to create a “conducive and nurturing environment” for women. “We can broaden the growth opportunities and enhance the role of women in our society. So, most importantly, create a conducive and nurturing environment for women and for girls to participate freely and equally in our political, social, and economic spheres,” he said in a speech delivered at Malacañan Palace in Manila. The President admitted that much remains to be done when it comes to giving opportunities to women, considering that some of them are being excluded from certain sectors
of the economy and society. He, however, noted that the case in the Philippines is “changing very much” as it is “doing a good job” in recognizing Filipino women as the “supreme asset” of the country. “Moving forward, I hope to see more women in key leadership positions in the country. Be assured that this administration remains steadfast in implementing the Magna Carta of Women at all levels of government,” Marcos said. “Let us aim to eradicate prejudice and discrimination against women in every facet of our society so we can build a Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines) that empowers women to be the best that they can be.” He also called on the Four-L Phil to embrace its commitment to conduct “fair and genderresponsive” programs in their respective localities. He also encouraged the allwomen organization to work with his administration in closing the country’s gender parity to improve the Philippines’ ranking in the Global Gender Gap Index of the
World Economic Forum (WEF) “We have in fact already achieved much in this area,” Marcos said, noting that the Philippines has ranked 16th among 146 countries in the WEF’s 2023 Global Gender Gap Report, with a gender parity score of 79.1 percent. “I have great hopes, as officers and members of the Four-L Philippines, that you will continue to work for the passage of local legislative measures that aim to improve the lives of our people, especially the vulnerable.” The Four-L Phil, an all-women organization, consists of incumbent officials from local government units across the country. The organization aims to promote responsive and effective legislative measures in all localities, anchored in a mutual passion for a just, peaceful, and humane society. It also pushes for policies and programs that benefit communities from all regions, especially focusing on the rights and welfare of women, children, and Filipino families. (MNS)
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Mesa College Professor selected as one of the first faculty to participate in STEMSEAS Community College oceanic expedition San Diego Mesa College professor, Dr. Waverly Ray, has recently returned from a nine-day voyage from Seattle to Honolulu on the R/V Thomas G. Thompson, an oceanographic research vessel, with STEMSEAS. Dr. Ray joined community college faculty from 13 schools and the Office of Naval Research’s Research Facilities Program Manager Robert Sparrock. Dr. Ray was chosen to participate out of hundreds of applicants. STEMSEAS provides shipbased, 6-10-day exploratory experiences for undergraduates from diverse backgrounds aboard National Science Foundationfunded research vessels. The goals of this special expedition were to help community college faculty feel prepared to serve as future STEMSEAS expedition mentors; expose faculty to the STEMSEAS experience so they can authentically encourage their students to take advantage of these opportunities, and provide an exciting, unique
and potentially transformative professional development opportunity for community college faculty. This first-of-its-kind expedition aimed to partner with “one of higher education’s most undervalued resources, community college faculty.” “Sailing across the Pacific Ocean from Seattle to Honolulu for nine days on an oceanographic research vessel was an invigorating experience…I got to be a student again on a wide array of ocean science topics from currents to salinity and plankton to microplastics.” stated Dr. Ray. Dr. Ray also witnessed the deployment of two Argo robots that will collect temperature and salinity data from the middle depths of the ocean, providing vital data for scientists working to develop climate models on ocean warming. “Walking aboard, I didn’t know my muster station from my mess deck or the many intricacies of deploying instruments that measure
the ocean’s salinity, temperature, oxygen isotopes, or seafloor seismic activity,” she shared. “I am in awe of the knowledge and skills of the marine technicians and crew of the R/V Thompson, which is operated by the University of Washington’s School of Oceanography. They welcomed questions and shared their insights on the many different career paths available at sea.” STEAMSEAS hopes to include more community college students in their voyages. “Being a part of a STEMSEAS cruise is a phenomenal opportunity, and I want to encourage any student interested in our water planet to apply,” says Dr. Ray. San Diego Mesa College provides multiple Academic and Career Pathways for students to dive into STEM subjects from Geology to Marine Science. To learn more, explore Mesa’s Academic-Career Pathways in Earth and Environment or Engineering, Math, and Sciences.
OCTA: Filipinos less satisfied with how gov't addresses inflation, poverty MANILA, -- Adult Filipinos were least satisfied with the national government’s performance in managing inflation and reducing poverty in the country, results of a recent non-commissioned survey by the OCTA Research showed. Based on the survey conducted from September 30 to October 4, 2023, only 14% of adult Filipinos were satisfied with how the national government controlled the prices of basic goods or managed inflation. Twenty-nine percent were content with the government’s efforts to reduce poverty, while 34% were okay with its hunger reduction efforts. Filipinos also found the government’s performance fine in fighting graft and corruption in the government (43%); reducing the amount of taxes (45%); controlling population growth (46%); stopping the spread of illegal drugs (47%); and ensuring food security or access to affordable food (48%). On the other hand, 72% of adult Filipinos said they were most satisfied with the national government’s efforts in providing quality primary and secondary education. Both the government’s move to provide quality tertiary and technical
or vocational education, and building public infrastructure also pleased 71% of the respondents. Sixty-nine percent, meanwhile, said they were content with the government’s protection of the overseas Filipino workers’ (OFWs) welfare, and provision of quality and affordable healthcare for those in need. There were 68% who also said they were okay with the government’s proper and effective response to natural disasters, and 64% said they were fine with the government’s efforts to defend the integrity of Philippine territory against foreigners. Broken down, the results of the study showed that lower percentage of adult Filipinos in the National Capital Region (NCR) were satisfied with the national government’s performance In creating more jobs (36%), and in protecting human rights (36%), Fewer adult Filipinos in Balance Luzon were also satisfied with the government’s performance in stopping the destruction and abuse of the environment (49%). The NCR recorded a higher percentage of satisfaction when it comes to the government’s response to natural disasters (82%), and in providing quality
and affordable healthcare (78%). Respondents in the NCR were also satisfied with the government’s programs on helping the poor (41%), creating more jobs (36%), protecting human rights (36%), stopping the spread of illegal drugs in the country (23%), fighting graft and corruption (20%), reducing hunger (16%), controlling the prices of basic goods or managing inflation (5%), and reducing poverty (11%). Eighty-three percent of respondents in the Visayas showed high satisfaction in the public infrastructure projects. Adult Filipinos belonging to class ABC were found satisfied with the government’s performance in reducing poverty (18%), providing quality tertiary and technical/ vocational education (48%), and providing quality primary and secondary education (64%). Meanwhile, respondents belonging to Class E were seen most satisfied with the government's help to give quality and affordable healthcare (77%), and protect the welfare of OFWs (74%). The survey used face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide. It had a ±3% margin of error at a 95% confidence level. (MNS)
LOCAL SYMBOL. The kalesa or karitela (horse-drawn carriage), usually two-wheeled, gets an upgrade as it waits for tourist passengers in Intramuros, Manila on Monday (Dec. 11, 2023). The famous Filipino mode of transportation of yesteryears can also be found near other tourist destinations like the National Museum, Rizal Park, and along Roxas Boulevard. (MNS photo)
Check out this week's featured restaurants, events, places, special offers . Enjoy and keep us posted.
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Filipino Press
December 15, 2023 - December 21, 2023 • 5
CHRISTMAS IN AMERICA: IS A PHOTOGRAPH ALWAYS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER? Filipino
Jesse T. Reyes
CHRISTMAS 2023: Truly, a picture is worth a thousand words as shown here with the proud author (left) posing for posterity with his three adorable grandchildren (Taylor, Jacob and baby Riker) and lovely wife Zeny (right). “It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” Henry David Thoreau SAN DIEGO, CA. -- Merry Christmas! Just when the air turns frosty and the days shrink into darkness, the Christmas season arrives in America. It begins at Thanksgiving – with families, feasts and football. Then during the next six weeks we shop and decorate, worship and make merry. Our hearts warm in the winter cold. We find compassion for strangers, and we remember there are miracles. Pious or festive
or both, we join together in an extraordinary national festival. As a journalist and an amateur photographer, I say Christmas in America is a family album of this festival. And I have no doubt about it that practically all of us photographs or takes a picture or two during this most joyous occasion for personal remembrances or token “souvenir” shots, so to speak. Scattered across the nation and from Thanksgiving to Epiphany we all try to document how we prepare for, celebrate, survive and clean up after Christmas. Isn’t that, right? Most of us (as I am) stayed close
to home, focusing on their own families and towns. Others went far afield to discover new places and unaccustomed rituals. All together, we will be taking over tens of thousands of pictures, over tens of thousands different moment. The results will be as diverse as the American people, as joyous as the season, and as warm and intimate as a family album should be. Professionals or amateur photographers like myself – we all hope that we took some pictures that truly capture our holiday memories and feelings, some others that surprise and delight us, and still
others that simply make you and I pause. And If I may add my two cents, I say perspective is everything! What we see in these photographs is what we believe is true and actual, but the biggest mistake we’re all guilty of is presuming others see things in the same way we do. I’m told this little quiz is making the rounds in the internet and that it was really given to 6-year- olds. The amazing thing about it is that children can actually “get” this while most adults can’t. Youngsters, do have a natural curiosity that allows them to play with things from a variety of perspectives, which really gives them the advantage over us grownups whose curiosity gene seems to diminish with age. Ha-ha-ha-ha! And we also tend to look for the most complicated ways of psych through issues. The answer, in this case, is simple: Turn the picture upside down. Indeed, an FYI lesson for us: Never let the world destroy your natural curiosity. The answer could be right in front of your nose. Ha-ha-ha-ha! On the other hand, seeing the “bigger picture” is a slang term used to describe widening your perspective to get a clearer view of what really matters and what doesn’t. Because seeing the bigger picture is all about perspective. It’s subjective by nature and less of an exact science. Never-the-less, there are scientific principles that can boost your ability to see the bigger picture, so to speak. In order to fully see the ‘bigger picture’ it’s vital to take onto account as many perspectives as possible in order to get a deeper understanding from all sides of the
Potpourri
truth. Increasing your ability to see the ‘Bigger Picture’ increases self-awareness, can give you more control over your life, more restraint over your emotions, actions, behaviors and with increased awareness comes a sense of calmness which reduces daily anxiety. Certainly, it gets us all to understanding what it means to see the bigger picture in life. So, let’s dive in. There is no doubt about it that Americans are continually reinventing themselves, whether they are inspired by infomercials, makeovers or talk shows or ads for the latest line of clothes – and photographs, for that matter. Whether we consider ourselves “fashion victims” or “trendsetters,” each of us creates and expresses identities through physical appearance and clothing. As jazz saxophonist Joshua Redman says, “I’m attracted to a look that’s a combination of hot and cool, that’s casual and elegant at the same time, something that’s subdued and understated but also intense.” Filipino-Americans – our fellow “kababayans” – are no different when capturing something essential about such a prevailing cultural sensibility. What does your appearance say about you? What is your personal style? How do you create an identity for yourself? Whenever I have to deal with interviewers or photographers, I find myself wondering the same
The Journey towards a synodal Church is at a crossroads, Final Part
As we journey towards a synodal Church, there is a bigger picture we should see to understand why we need to journey with everyone regardless of religious beliefs or affiliations. This way, we will have clarity as to why we need each other, and to live in harmony with our fellow earthlings. The big picture idea I’m talking about is that at the core of each religion, the innermost essence is the same. This is really at the core of Pope Francis’ pursuing a universal church. Perhaps a simpler analogy is this. A house can have many windows for dwellers to view the outside, and for the people outside, to look and wonder what is inside. The foundations, however, remain unchanged regardless of the number of windows architecturally engineered into it. It is for this reason why Pope Francis wanted to go back to the time of the apostles in Acts, when there were no organized religions. Think about this. Buddhists believe that “the human life is one of suffering, and that meditation,
PBBM
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media interview on the sidelines of an event in Lupao, Nueva Ecija. “I think [of] a more serious and a more extensive effort because we really have to get everybody involved to be able to prepare, to make sure we can minimize, alleviate, and adapt to climate change,” he added. The El Niño Task Force was reconstituted in May this year, in response to Marcos’ call for a “whole-of-government” and “wholeof-nation” approach to prepare for the possible impact of El Niño. Marcos said the country may adopt new techniques to ensure water and power security amid the El Niño phenomenon. “Water is the same thing. We
spiritual and physical labor, and good behavior are the ways to achieve enlightenment and nirvana. Enlightenment is the journey in seeking the truth about life. In the process, there is rebirth until nirvana is achieved. Nirvana is a struggle here on earth to achieve a “transformed mind with qualities such as happiness, freedom of negative mental states, peacefulness and non-reactiveness.” Clearly, it is a difficult undertaking here on earth that only monks would even try. So, the lay Buddhist strive instead for a higher existence in the next life. To guide their day-to-day living, they follow their Five Pretexts that sound like an abridged version of the 10 Commandments. “Refrain from taking life (kill), refrain from taking what is not given (steal), refrain from the misuse of the senses and not having too much sensual pleasure (covet thy neighbor’s wife), refrain from wrong speech (false witness), and refrain from intoxicants that cloud the mind (such as drugs, alcohol). The last one involves ego and overindulging
in personal pleasures. What is Shintoism, an ancient Japanese religion? The main beliefs of Shinto are the “importance of purity (cleaning from material or spiritual pollution), harmony, respect for nature (God’s creations), family respect (don’t we all?), and subordination of the individual before the group (love thy neighbor). Shinto has no supreme deity, they worship nature and their ancestors (through “kami,” Shinto gods). Protestants “believe in three essential beliefs: The Bible is the ultimate religious truth and authority. Through a belief in Jesus Christ and the grace of God, human beings can find salvation. And all Christians are viewed as priests (same as Catholics – common priesthood) and can communicate directly with God (as Catholics do). God in faith alone versus faith and good deeds for Catholicism. Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW) believe that Jehovah is the only true God, the creator of all things, and the “Universal Sovereign.” Meaning, no Trinity as Catholics do. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected (well, Catholics and Protestants do too). They believe that the end of the world is coming soon. Well, JWs believe that the end time began in 1914 and that they
(JWs) have the key to salvation. Islam belief is that “there is only one God and Muhammad is God’s Messenger.” Belief includes obligations of prayers, charity, pilgrimage, and fasting. We get the picture. Each has a different window to view their beliefs and how to do it to achieve salvation, nirvana, or harmony with God’s creations. In essence, they all believe in something powerful, metaphysical, and in orderly living. Different rituals and different names of deities but all strive for something better in life and after. So, there is no impediment to journeying together except for men who insist that their religious or spiritual beliefs are more superior than others. Religion has become a cottage industry for saving souls as if whoever gets the greatest number of converts or adherents gets rewarded as a religious group in a heavenly ceremony with God acknowledging the winners. It’s rubbish as the Brits would say! Let’s take a walk in the forest and see the different kinds of trees, each with their unique fruit, but are all grounded and rooted in the same earth. They are nourished by the same soil and the same source of hydration whether it is from up there (rain) or groundwater. They
all have their share of biodiversity or ecosystems that sustain life and growth. Religions clearly drink from the same wellspring of spiritual truth. Back on earth, there are realities we must confront as citizens of the planet. Poverty, war, corporate greed, starvation, diseases, drought, severe weather, among others. Countries are dealing with them in their own ways but things are getting worse. The journey to synodality is no longer a wakeup call because we’ve been up and about through all these years. Pope Francis’ is a call for action like now and he is willing to suffer the consequences of his actions (from conservative Catholics). But what about us? Laudato sí is a call for emergent action on climate change. Twenty twenty-three is on track to be the hottest year measured in human history. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate (UNFCCC) is meeting in Dubai dubbed COP28, meaning the 28th time that this body has annually met. This group’s task is to drive action on climate change, reducing emissions, and halting global warming. The fact that achieving the goals are painstakingly long because of competing special interests, greatest of which are oil-
have to be very logical and rational [in] the way we distribute the water, to be able to determine which areas really need the water most,” he said. “As we all know, when the water levels in our dams go down, the energy becomes a scarce resource. We have to be more efficient in the distribution of whatever power that we generate.” Around 65 provinces are expected to experience drought, while six provinces may experience dry spell by end of May because of a “strong El Niño, Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum said in a Palace briefing on Tuesday. Marcos met with concerned government agencies on Tuesday to discuss several initiatives to mitigate the impact of El Niño, including the implementation of an action plan to
ensure water security, food security, energy security, health security and public safety amid the phenomenon. Marcos sought to raise public awareness on El Niño and its possible effects in the country. “So, that is one of the few things that we will embark upon in our informational campaign to make people understand what the situation is; what they can do themselves in each household, in the farms, industry; what they can do to help us save water,” he said. During the turnover of 141 units of wheeled excavators to the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) field office in Olongapo City, Zambales, Marcos said the government would exhaust all efforts to ensure the country’s preparedness for El Niño.
Marcos vowed to procure additional excavators and needed equipment to further improve the irrigation system in the country. This, as he acknowledged that the excavators would be instrumental in maintaining the 257 national irrigation systems and 10,144 communal irrigation systems nationwide. “As we receive these units today, I enjoin everyone at NIA to continue your collaboration with all the agencies of government,” Marcos said. “I call on you to work closely with the DBM (Department of Budget and Management) to secure the funding for the acquisition of the needed additional machinery.” He said his administration’s first priority is to make sure there is sufficient food, water and power
supply, in case a possible drought hits the country. “I call on the Department of Agriculture, the NIA to assess the farmers’ needs to accelerate the construction of irrigation facilities from existing water sources. We must be prepared to address the effects of El Niño,” Marcos said. “We have instructed, included in this effort, the Department of National Defense, the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) and the Department of Agriculture para pagaralan lahat ng ating kayang gawin upang mapaghandaan ang magiging hamon pagdating nga ng tagtuyot (to study everything we can do to prepare for the challenge when there is drought),” he added. (MNS)
thing. Do they know who I am? Do they know what my life and works are truly about? I imagine any editor-in-chief who sends them out, the one who tells them, “A Filipino-American, he writes about his Navy life, the historical district of Sta. Ana in old Manila and OPM records. See if you can get him to do something interesting.” It’s that word “interesting” that makes me nervous. They all seem to have it in their eyes. Say something provocative. Do something different, something Filipino. What is it you imagine that to be? I want to ask. And always, “What do you think I am?” Taking my cue from my generation’s John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s 1967 hit song “Penny Lane,” in which “the pretty nurse is selling poppies from a tray/and though she feels as if she’s in a play/she is anyway.” We sometimes lose our conventional distinctions between image and identity, art and deception, reality and role-playing, high culture and mass media. A case in point – any high school senior who’s had a yearbook picture taken has encountered a common dilemma. The photographer or studio presents you with perhaps a dozen proofs, only one of which you are expected to select for the record. How do you choose? Do you select the photograph that makes See REYES on
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rich producing countries who want to keep their petro dollars. Laudato si’s message is clear: Let’s care for our common home and stop the war against creation. To do that, we must acknowledge the urgency of our environmental challenges and to join him into this journey for a new direction forward because the old trodden path has led us into this dire predicament. He identified consumerism, irresponsible development, and environmental degradation and global warming as the impetus for a “swift and unified global action.” The pope’s perspective on poverty is that “those with power who are far removed from the poor, who never meet them and experience their concerns,” need to be held accountable here on earth. He is encouraging everyone to hear the cry of the poor, the most vulnerable and rediscover creation as a gift of love from God and abstain from “ecological sins.” Pope Francis has called on the leaders at the COP28 summit “to listen to science and institute a rapid and equitable transition to end the era of fossil fuel.” Finally, we ask the same question every day. “Why am I here?” This is the question that drives us to seek for the ultimate truth which is God. Psalm 148 offers us a reminder that nature is powerful and dangerous. It operates according to the laws that God has established for it and humans must respect those laws.
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Are you looking to sell your products or market your services to the Filipino Community? This space is REYES Continued from page 5 reserved for you.. Call for special you look most attractive even if it’s not a good likeness? Do you choose rate and the ones that most resembles you, not really caring about that pimple learn about next to your nose? Or do you prefer a picture that looks slightly unusual, our effective one that makes you seem different from the way you imagine yourself marketing to appear – maybe one that makes you look like someone else? program And if you turn to friends and relatives for help in making the Call /text: selection, what do you do when five different people prefer five unlike 619-755-0755. shots? When you finally settle on one photograph, what reasons ****** would you give for your choice? What larger decision have you Looking for made about your self-image or your personal identity? Testimonials ? Most of us really don’t reflect so deeply on these matters and Check at www. probably wouldn’t fully articulate the reasons behind our appointment thefilipinopress. of one particular photo over the rest (“I think this one just looks best” com might be our answer if pressed). Yet the way we finally decide We are here to on a certain yearbook photograph or Christmas picture for that matter serve you! - offers some important insights into the complicated relationship between what we sometimes call
info@thefilipinopress.com our “real” or “true” self-versus an artificial or fabricated image. Not only do these tangled connections play a large role in our daily lives – we may, for example, see ourselves as constantly struggling to express an authentic personality instead of comfortably playing an ordinary role – but they also exert an enormous significance in the world of art and literature, where authors and self-artists selfconsciously explore the ways, we fashion our image and identity. The results of these creative exploration can then fold back into our actual lives – so to speak – whether we are aware of the art or not – and may stimulate new modes of self-perception. In other words, we may come to see our struggle to establish a genuine self as another “role” we simply are playing. To whatever extent we portray ourselves and others – whether in interviews or photography, prose or poetry, performance or publicity – the medium we use plays a key role in shaping the message we send. For the most part, we look at pictures of people in the same way we look at everything else that surrounds us and we therefore forget that the photographs are images and not the actual people they chemically or digitally depict. Would this self-portrait still
represent you? Again…just imagine a high school yearbook in which every senior photo was the result of a staged self-portrait – how and understood your individual classmates? How would these photos compare to the conventional pictures with their “cheesy” smiles? As it were, I still worry about what people think. That is why I have so much trouble standing still for the camera’s lens or choosing what to wear before walking across a stage or sometimes even biting my lips before answering the questions put to me. Who I think I should be and who I am are still not quite the same, though, I try to behave as if that is not so. I show up wherever I can with my father’s grin – strong and stubborn at times, a smile that, to anyone who knows me, clearly said, “No one is ever going to get a picture of me like that.” “Stand over there, Son,” Pa (my father) used to say, “so I can get the Rizal Monument behind you.” What did you expect? Ha-ha-ha-ha!! Anyway, and most of all, I hope that you and your family will have a picture-perfect 2023 Christmas. Happy Holidays to All!
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significant impact on America’s elections and political landscape, says Claudia Sandoval, Assistant Professor, Political Science and International Relations, Loyola Marymount University. These numbers, however, don’t necessarily mark a rightward exodus: over 35% of Latinos voted Republican in 2000, while 40% did in 2004 — much due, Sandoval suggested, to “George W. Bush’s bipartisan positions on immigration reform. And while former President Donald Trump isn’t seen as a supporter of progressive immigration reform, voters do tend to see him as an independent from the Republican Party, which is quite partisan now.” “These numbers show us the complicated nature of Latino political preferences, attitudes, and political identification,” she added. “While only 4% of young Latino voters now believe that the Democratic Party is hostile to the Latino community, 37% of those voters believe that the Democratic Party doesn’t necessarily care about the Latino community. While 22% believe that the Republican Party is hostile to the Latino community, a third of young Latino voters believe the Republican Party cares a great deal about Latinos.”
Black voter participation
Party affiliation likewise motivates the question of Black voter participation, said Jamil Scott, assistant professor of government at Georgetown University: “In 2024, I think we’re facing less of a question of whether Black voters will change their partisanship, and more of a question of how many Black voters will show up on Election Day at all.” “There’s an excitement issue here,” she continued: “What has Biden done? He hasn’t kept his promises to Black voters on issues like student loan forgiveness and voting rights. And although he’s created record low unemployment among black Americans; new opportunities for small businesses; appointed many Black judges including Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Jackson, many of these things which are visible are not necessarily tangible.” Conversations about promises will feature heavily in the upcoming presidential election, says Jamil Scott, Assistant Professor of Government at Georgetown University, and it will be important for Biden to be able to point to the commitments he’s kept. Black voters “can’t hang their hat on legislation like they can on loan burdens and rising costs of goods due to inflation,” Scott continued. “People are pocketbook voters. While Black people are largely not going to change their partisanship,
many may wonder whether to show for their party at all if the state of their pocketbooks is not giving them a compelling reason to, especially given challenges to voting like longer wait times in communities of color.” For Black voters — particularly those younger and more liberalleaning — “there’s dissatisfaction more broadly with the Democratic Party’s ‘hold-your-nose-and-vote’ offerings. The question for Black voters in 2024 is not how differently they vote but whether they see it as a moment in which they need to show up for democracy, or whether they’re tired of showing up again and again, and not seeing the policy benefits that they want to see,” she said.
Gen Z voters of color
45% of the 40 million members of Gen Z eligible to vote in 2024 will be people of color, including 8.8 million Latinos, 5.7 million Black youth, 1.7 million Asian Americans and 1.8 million multiracial youth. As a more racially and ethnically diverse generation than any other before, this voting bloc is nevertheless “characterized by our left-leaning political unity,” said Jessica Siles, deputy press secretary of the Gen Z political advocacy nonprofit Voters of Tomorrow. “We’ve been marching in the streets for change, and our political activity owes to our shared experiences growing up — especially when it
comes to gun violence and climate change.” Jessica Siles, Deputy Press Secretary, Voters of Tomorrow, shares demographic information on Gen Z voters and discusses the issues that motivate them. In 2022, for instance, youth voted Democrat for the House of Representatives by a 28-point margin over Republican voters. “Many people like to point to low youth voter turnout. However, although you may see a low percentage of Gen Z voting, it’s on the rise. In 2022, the first midterm election where this generation comprised the entire 18 to 22 age cohort, Gen Z voted at 28.4% — a higher rate than Millennials, Gen X and Boomers did” in their respective generations’ first midterm elections, Siles explained, the next-highest rate being the 23.5% of Gen Xers who voted in 1990. Gen Z is emblematic of America’s new ethnic voters wholly in that “it’s not that young people are just very loyal to the Democratic Party,” she added. “It’s that we continue to vote on the behalf of a few core issues we most care about, number one being the economy. As voters, we’re workers and taxpayers concerned about our ability to find a good job or pay for a house. The future of these voting blocs depends on who can best engage them on these issues.”
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Spiritual Life Sharing my thoughts on Christmas I am sharing with my readers, my Christmas letter to friends and relatives, because I feel that my readers are a part of my life. I’ve met many of them as I go out to shop, to attend parties or to attend church and even at the Open Arms Adult Health Care. Indeed, I am thankful for your patronage of the Filipino Press in general, and my column in particular. As residents of the Congregational Tower in Chula Vista, where we see the beautiful panoramic view of San Diego, we remember friends and loved ones, hoping that they can visit and enjoy the holidays with us. But since this is not a possibility for most of the people we love, we decided to write this brief letter as a means of greeting you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We praise and thank God for His mercy endure forever! We have felt God’s love and mercy everyday as we avail of the resources for seniors in San Diego County. We have been a participant of the Open Arms Adult Day Health Care Center, an organization that provides health care and structured activities for seniors to prevent hospitalization or institutionalization. We attend the program three times a week, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 9:00-2:00pm. We are served nutritious food, with special attention given to Peter due to his visual impairment. Peter also attend exercise sessions while I participate in recreation activities. We are indeed very fortunate to be participants of this program which is paid for by MediCal.
Aurora S. Cudal-Rivera
My Personal Testimony
Starting January 1, we will be under the care of PACE, (Program All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly). This a medical, social, and home care program exclusively for seniors. Their brochure claim that “St. Paul’s PACE participants receive tailored medical care from the finest professionals who specialize in aging and chronic conditions. Our medical team works with therapists, dieticians, social workers, and home care nurses to create a customized care plan for each St. Paul’s PACE participant to ensure optimal health, safety, and well-being.” We are surely looking forward to a new routine come January 1, 2020. We can still attend the program at Open Arms but we will lose the services of our faithful caregivers paid for by the In-Home Support Services. We were assured though, that there will be caregivers to take care of our needs at home. We are also thankful to all our children and grandchildren who are always available for us. We feel very secure in their love and
support and to our many friends who enrich our lives and enable us to attend social activities. It goes without saying, that we are thankful to the Filipino Press for giving us invaluable space to express our views and share our experiences about life and living under the column, “My Personal Testimony”. We are truly blest! We count all these care for seniors and attention of our friends and loved ones as God’s blessings. We feel that it is Christmas everyday in our lives. As we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ we wish you and your families the blessings of love, peace and hope. We pray that you will enjoy all the gifts that this Season brings into our lives – the blessings of family, the blessings of friends, and the blessings of community. As a popular hymn says, “ May there be peace on earth and may it begin with me.” Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Danny Hernaez
From Whom All Blessings Flow mast off its base and nearly sank the ship. As the waves crashed over the ship, Wesley huddled in terror, knowing he didn't have peace with God. He survived the storm, and continued to struggle in his relationship with God for several more years. Finally, back in London, he attended a meeting on Aldersgate Street, where he heard a preacher say that salvation comes by faith in Christ alone. At that point, he said, "I felt my heart strangely warmed." Soon after that, Wesley began preaching the gospel. His fiftytwo-year preaching ministry
Greetings in the Lord! Today is the third Sunday of Advent and is called "Gaudete" (a Sunday of rejoicing). The Gospel reading (John 1:6-8, 19-28) explains the reason for rejoicing during this penitential season. And this week, we will also begin the Novena (popularly known in Mexico as Posadas in preparation for Christmas, which will extend "Domingo Gaudete" and increase our feeling of anticipation. In the Gospel reading, John the Baptist comes into sharper focus after his appearance in last Sunday's Gospel (Mk. 1:1-8). Apart from calling the people to repentance, he now had to answer questions about himself. At that time, the expectation of the coming of the Messiah was red hot. No wonder, then, that the religious leaders asked point-blank, "Who are you?" they wondered if he was their long-awaited Messiah. He said to them, "I am not the Christ." Then, he was asked if he was Elijah, since it was well known among the Jews at that time that Elijah was going to make the final preparations for the coming of the Messiah (Sir. 48:1; Mal. 4:5). He replied, "I'm not." When finally asked if he was "the Prophet" (in reference to the Mosaic figure foretold in Deut. 18:15-19), his answer was "No," because Jesus himself would fulfill this function as the new Moses (Jn 4:20-26; 6:14; 7:40). To clear up the riddle for them, he quoted one of Isaiah's prophecies: "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord.'" Theirs was a work of preparation for the Messiah. He assured them that the "One who comes after me" would be the one they were looking for, the One who, ironically, was already among them, but "whom he does not recognize." John knew that even though he himself was sent by God, he could not compare to the One whom the Jews sought, the One
Fr. Agustin T. Opalalic "his sandal strap" was "not worthy to loosen." Against this backdrop, we return to the opening verses of this reading where we find a twist in John the Baptist's mission: "to bear witness to the light." The Messiah is also presented in a new perspective clearly, not as a figure of prophetic fulfillment, but as "the light," typical of St. John's theology. So essential is this idea that the Nicene Creed used it in defining Jesus' dogma of faith." Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten, not created, consubstantial with the Father" Jesus, whom John the Baptist proclaimed as the Messiah is one and the same God, the Emmanuel (God with us). This must have been elaborated from the creation story (Genesis 1:1-26), in which God first revealed Himself through the creation of light. In this context, light is synonymous with God. Jesus is the reason for rejoicing. He is the incarnation of God, who fulfills the promise we heard in the first reading (Isaiah 61:1-2, 1011). Everything changed with his coming; Light came into the world. His light stays with us after his resurrection through the Eucharist (his real presence) and through the Church (in which he identifies himself with us, his Mystical Body). Darkness can never overcome this light no matter how dark it becomes. For now, we hope that this Light will
grow in its fullness when He comes again in His glorious reign. And that's what they revalidate when we light the Advent candles. Every week, the light gets brighter and brighter. When Christmas comes, the Advent wreath would be a full circle of light, just as when the darkness returns it will be completely dispelled. Even when circumstances and difficulties hit upon us, creating a blanket of darkness, we now know that Jesus, our light, can never be extinguished. This is why we light the pink candle, even though our Advent work of waiting and preparation is not yet over. We rejoice in what has already happened and all that lies ahead. How appropriate it is to pray the Magnificat, Our Lady's own song of rejoicing in the responsory: "My soul shall rejoice in my God." "As the Gospel gives us reason to rejoice, it also calls us to be witnesses, as John the Baptist, bearing witness to St. Paul points out in the second reading (1 Thess. 5:1624) that the counterpart of rejoicing is to cling to what is good and to abstain from all kinds of evils. This kind of testimony assures us that God can make us perfect in holiness, kept blameless in body, soul, and spirit. He will do this because he is faithful, as St. Paul assures us. Witnessing is a great Advent challenge; it is urgently needed in our time. I read in a recent article how a survey of 2,000 families in the UK found that around a third of children no longer link Jesus with Christmas. What a marked picture presents: children so young are already in a crisis of faith. They need witnesses to dispel the darkness. St. Pope Paul VI reminds us: "Contemporary man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if they listen to those who teach, it is because they bear witness" (Evangelii Nuntiandi, December 8, 1975).
PASKO
Ni Salvador S. Idos
Adversity is often God's manure for spiritual callings Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. (Acts 9:8-9) It's hard to find anyone in Christian history who became a great leader without earning an advanced degree in adversity. To look at John Wesley (17031791), you wouldn't have thought of him as a great Christian leader. He was just over five feet tall and skeletally thin. In his early years, he suffered greatly from feelings of guilt, inadequacy, and a morbid fear of death. Though he didn't understand the Christian gospel, he devoted himself to doing good works for the poor in an effort to earn his way to heaven. While in his early thirties, he sailed to America to do missionary work among the American Indians. While crossing the Atlantic, Wesley's ship passed through a violent storm that broke the main
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became the foundation of the modern evangelical movement. But it never would have happened if John Wesley had not been tossed on the stormy seas of adversity. 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." <(((><
Wala na sigurong hihigit pa, sa kaligayahang nadarama Sa tuwing sasapit ang Pasko; at bakit hindi? Ang Pasko ay ang kaarawan ng Diyos na nagkatawang tao Upang sa ating mundo Siya ay makipaghalubilo. Panginoong Diyos na lumikha ng buong sanlibutan Nagpakumbaba, ipinanganak sa isang hamak na sabsaban Para tayo gabayan, tubusin sa ating mga kasalanan Matuto tayong mabuhay ayon sa kanyang kalooban Ng balang araw ay makasama natin Siya sa kanyang Kaharian. Ating unawain, na ang sanggol sa Belen ay isang sagisag Na makapagbibigay ng pag-asa sa ating lahat na makasalanan
Makapagdudulot ng tulong, aliw at tibay ng loob sa mga nagdurusa Siya ang tanglaw na ating susundan, upang ang mga problemang hinaharap ay malunasan. Ang diwa ng Pasko ay pagmamahalan ang pagbibigayan Ipinapamahagi ang sariling kayamanan, oras at kakayahan Mas mabuti ang magbigay kaysa tumanggap; maniwala sana ng lubusan Nang tayo ay pagkalooban ng biyayang kaligayahan at kapayapaan. Tuwing Pasko isang mahalagang tradisyon ang nagaganap Nagtitipon-tipon ang mga magkakaibigan at magkakamaganak Sama-samang nagdiriwang at damhin ang galak Pinagtitibay ang relasyon, iwasan
ang pagkawatak-watak. Ating dalangin na sana ang Kaligayahan at Kapayapaan na dulot ng Pasko ay mapasaatin Hindi lang sa araw ng Pasko kundi sa mga araw pang darating Kung ang pagmamahal at pagbibigayan ay ating uugaliin Parang Pasko lagi ang mararamdaman natin.
Salvador S. Idos
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December 15, 2023 - December 21, 2023 • 9
ABS-CBN names Jun Del Rosario as new Global COO MANILA, -- ABS-CBN, a content producer and distributor in the Philippines, has announced the appointment of Rolando "Jun" Del Rosario, Jr. as the new COO of ABS-CBN’s global group effective January 1, 2024. He steps into the new role starting next year following the early retirement of current ABSCBN Global COO Aldrin M. Cerrado which takes effect on December 31, 2023. Del Rosario's new post will be concurrent to his role as the Managing Director of ABS-CBN International (North and Latin America).
As the new global group COO, Del Rosario will oversee all of ABSCBN's international subsidiaries and manage its global flagship brand, The Filipino Channel (TFC). He will lead ABS-CBN’s global group in achieving its objective to deliver meaningful and inspiring stories and to showcase world-class Filipino talent across multiple platforms and through events for both Filipino and international audiences. Del Rosario is bringing to his new post over 30 years of experience
in the media industry. Starting as an entrepreneur who built his own cable company in the Philippines, Del Rosario moved to holding senior management positions in the ABS-CBN group of companies. He joined ABS-CBN International in 2004 as Product Manager and became the Director for the Cable and Satellite business in 2005. From 2010-2018, he became North America Regional Head of Marketing, then concurrent Global Head of Carriage and Country
Manager for Canada. Later in 2018, he became the Managing Director of North and Latin America, leading strategy executions, business operations and profitability for the region. Del Rosario earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the distinguished Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines and took up his Executive MBA Course at the Asian Institute of Management.
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Founding Editor and Publisher ERNIE FLORES JR. Editor-In-Chief SUSAN DELOS SANTOS Marketing and Sales info@thefilipinopress.com Graphics and Design A2 Studio Graphics Filipino graphics
Contributing writers joe garbanzos Adam Behar ALICIA deleon-torres Fr. Agustin T. Opalalic Cartoonist jesse t. reyes Community Outreach Rose San Pedro Lorna Delos Santos Christina Rutter
Columnists AURORA S. CUDAL Danny hernaez francine maigue GREG B. MACABENTA JESSE T. REYES al villamora Photographer Zeny PLY Circulation Rudy Avenido
The Filipino Press is published every Saturday. We welcome news, features, editorials, opinions and photos. Please e-mail them to: editor@ filipinopress.com. Photos must be accompanied by self-addressed, postage-paid envelope to be returned. We reserve the right to edit materials. Views and opinions by our writers, contributors does not necessarily reflect those of the publisher, management and staff of the Filipino Press. © 2011 Filipino Press
10 • December 15, 2023 - December 21, 2023
Filipino Press
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Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over This Holiday Season National Enforcement Campaign Through New Year’s National City, Calif. – The National City Police Department encourages everyone attending holiday parties and gatherings where alcohol may be involved to use a designated sober driver. This holiday season, from Dec. 13 to New Year’s, The National City Police Department will have more officers on patrol specifically looking for drivers suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. In addition, The National City Police Department will hold a DUI/Driver’s License checkpoint during this
National Enforcement Campaign at an undisclosed location in the city. The National City Police Department reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Prescription medications, over-thecounter drugs, and marijuana can also impair; especially in combination with alcohol and other drugs. So if you are hosting a holiday party, offer non-alcoholic drinks for designated
sober drivers and monitor how people are getting home. If someone has been drinking and tries to leave, offer to have them stay the night or take ride-share home. Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. MEDIA NOTES: To schedule an interview regarding the National City Police Department Traffic
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ift. y! G ect Toda f r e s A P icket tT e G
Experience the Mystique and Beauty of China Before Communism “Exquisitely beautiful. An extraordinary experience for us and the children.” —Cate Blanchett, Academy Award-winning Actress
“ I’ve reviewed about 4,000 shows. None can compare to what I saw tonight.” —Richard Connema, Broadway critic
“Magnificent. Very enlightening, absolutely beautiful. I highly recommend it to anyone.” —Tony Robbins, world-renowned author & speaker
THROUGHOUT HISTORY, artists looked to the divine for inspiration. Art was meant to uplift, bringing joy to those who created and experienced it. Shen Yun Performing Arts, a nonprofit organization based in New York, pays homage to this tradition, weaving the wisdom and virtues of Chinese civilization onto the stage, revealing a China untainted by communist rule. Shen Yun cannot be seen in China today. Shen Yun means “the beauty of divine beings dancing.” Be prepared to traverse time and space and be mesmerized by the action, humor, and beauty of five millennia. It’s an experience that will uplift your spirit and touch your heart.
SEE IT AT LEAST ONCE IN YOUR LIFETIME! JAN 16–18 (Tue-Thu)
JAN 19–21 (Fri-Sun)
1/16 Tue 7:30pm, 1/17 Wed 7:30pm, 1/18 Thu 2pm
1/19 Fri 7:30pm, 1/20 Sat 2pm & 7:30pm, 1/21 Sun 2pm
California Center for the Arts, Escondido
San Diego Civic Theatre
A Perfect Holiday Gift! Get Tickets Today at Shen Yun’s Official Site ShenYun.com/SD or call 1.888.973.7469 Ticket Price $85–$205. Group tickets available.
December 15, 2023 - December 21, 2023 • 11
12 • December 15, 2023 - December 21, 2023
Filipino Press
www.thefilipinopress.com