The Filipino Press: December 2-8, 2022

MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday expressed readiness to partner with China for possible joint oil exploration in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In a media interview in Quezon City, Marcos broached the idea of exploring other ways to ensure the immediate development of oil and gas resources in the contested waters.

Marcos made the remark, in case the possible government-togovernment partnership fails to proceed.

"We'll have to find a way kasi kailangan na natin eh (we really need it now). We already need, kung mahanap dyan kailangan na talaga ng Pilipinas (whatever resources we could find because the Philippines really need that now)," he said on the sidelines of the Kadiwa ng Pasko Caravan.

"'Yung China maliit na bagay sa kanila 'yun eh. Sa atin malaking bagay 'yan. So, kailangan natin ipaglaban at mapakinabangan kung meron ngang oil talaga (It's a small thing for China. But for us, it's a big help. So, we have to pursue that and we will benefit if there is really oil there)," he added.

Marcos also stressed the importance of addressing the "roadblock" in the joint exploration talks.

of understanding (MOU) with China on joint oil and gas development in WPS.

However, the Philippines, under the Duterte administration, terminated the talks before Marcos assumed presidency on June 30 because of constitutional constraints and issues on the country’s sovereignty.

The Department of Foreign Affairs in September this year said the two countries have so far made "initial and general discussions" on possible joint exploration in WPS but have not yet progressed to "working-level talks."

During their inaugural bilateral meeting in Bangkok, Thailand on Nov. 17, Marcos and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed that the immediate conclusion of negotiations for the final and binding Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea (SCS) will help address the maritime disputes among littoral states.

On July 12, 2016, the Philippines won its petition against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, Netherlands after the court invalidated Beijing’s supposedly historic rights over nearly the entire SCS, including the WPS.

China has repeatedly ignored the 2016 PCA ruling despite the Philippines’ historic win.

This, as he acknowledged the constitutional problems that caused

In November 2018,

in the possible joint

Bukod sa paghanda ng pagkain, paggawa ng listahan ng bibilhin, at pagplano ng paglakbay para sa kapaskuhan, dapat kasama sa listahan ng dapat mong gawin ngayong kapaskuhan ang paggawa ng mga hakbang para mabawasan ang epekto ng COVID sa iyong mga kaibigan, pamilya, at iyong sarili.

Inaasahang tataas ang bilang ng mga kaso ng COVID ngayong taglamig, at walang may gustong maabala ng sakit ang kanilang mga plano para sa kapaskuhan. Ang lahat ay hinihikayat ni Dr. Tiffany Moon, isang anesthesiologist na may dalawang anak, na kumuha ng updated na bakuna, na may nakatuon na proteksyon laban sa Omicron. “Ang pagkuha ng updated na bakuna ay makakatulong na maging ligtas ang iyong mga kaibigan at pamilya habang nagtitipon kayo,” sabi niya sa isang post sa Instagram.

Tulad ni Dr. Moon, patuloy na sinusuportahan ng mga organisasyong pankomunidad sa buong bansa ang We Can Do

This COVID-19 Public Education Campaign ng U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sa pamamagitan ng mga kaganapan at mga klinika ng bakuna, kabilang ang:

• Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO) na mag-aalok ng updated na mga bakuna at flu shot sa Miami sa Sabado, Dis. 3 sa Nanay Health Symposium mula

Habang nagsisimula ang mga paghahanda para sa kapaskuhan, narito ang ilang sagot sa mga karaniwang katanungan tungkol sa COVID at bakuna sa COVID:

Kailangan ko pa ba ng bakuna sa COVID kahit matagal na ang pandemic? Oo. Kahit ilang taon nang may COVID, maaari pa rin itong maging sanhi ng malubhang sakit,

lalo na sa mga hindi nagpabakuna. Ang mga 50 taong gulang at mas matanda at may malalang kondisyon tulad ng diabetes, sakit sa puso, o sakit sa baga ay mas nanganganib sa malubhang sakit kung sila ay magkaCOVID. Kahit maaari pa ring magkaCOVID ang mga nagpabakuna, nagbibigay proteksyon ang bakuna laban sa pinakamalulubhang resulta.

Ano ang dapat kong malaman tungkol sa mga bakuna sa COVID? Ang sinumang 5 taong gulang at mas matanda na nakakumpleto na ng mga pangunahing serye sa bakuna sa COVID at nakakuha na ng huling dosis na hindi bababa sa dalawang buwan ang nakalipas ay dapat nang

By Francine Maigue and SuSan deloS SantoS

SAN DIEGO, CA - In the spirit of the Christmas season, the Filipino Press in cooperation with the Westfield Plaza Bonita and Gerry's Grill and various community partners and organizations will launch a Filipino Holiday Kick Off at Plaza Bonita on December 10, 2022 from 1pm -5pm at the food court area of the mall. This event is free to everyone to attend and aims to showcase some of our Philippine tradition, heritage, culture, food and more. The last time there was a Philippine type Christmas celebration at Plaza Bonita was in December 2015 spearheaded by late Francine Maigue when she was the president of the Fil-Am Chamber of Commerce. Its been long time coming, so we will revive the tradition of Christmas celebration at the mall and we thank Veeya and staff of Westfield Plaza Bonita for creating the opportunity for us to have a Philippine themed christmas celebration. We would like to continue and enhance what Francine has started with this Christmas community project in 2022 moving forward.

So what are the elements of Philippine Christmas celebration?

Parol – Filipino Christmas Lantern It’s time to embrace the spirit of the season! For our Filipino community, this means giving

some strong nods to our culture’s traditions for Pasko (Tagalog for Christmas). This includes creating and displaying parols, Filipino Christmas lanterns.

Meaning of the Parol

Parols are traditional, star-shaped lanterns. They symbolize hope and faith and celebrate both the spirit of the holidays and the spirit of Filipino hospitality.

While some members of our community may be able to fly home to the Philippines this season, many will spend Christmas here in San Diego. For these kababayan,the Filipino Press is working to bring a special Philippine Christmas Celebration right to the heart of our

hometown through Filipino Holiday Kick off at Plaza Bonita . This Filipino commUNITY celebration is presented by the Filipino Press in cooperation with Westfield Plaza Bonita, Gerry's Grill and San Diego County Filipino businesses, non-profits, and schools. Pasko sa Plaza will take place at Westfield Plaza Bonita (Café Terrace-in front of AMC Theatres) on Saturday, Dec. 10th 1-5pm. Filipino Holiday Kick Off will feature special performances, a Filipiniana fashion show, activities for kids, a resource fair, and a beautiful display of parols showcasing different organizations,

delays

exploration between the Philippines and China.

"Kasi kini-claim ng China kanila 'yun, eh atin naman talaga iyan. So, sinasabi ng Pilipinas, basta't 'yung

batas kailangan masundan 'yung sa Pinas. Ang sinasabi naman ng Chinese, hindi, amin iyan eh, kaya't kailangan masundan is Chinese. Kaya 'yun talaga ang roadblock

doon (China is claiming [WPS] as its property, but that is ours. For the Philippines' part, we have to follow the law. But the Chinese are saying that they own that and they

want their own terms to be followed. That's the roadblock there)," Marcos said.

the Philippines signed a memorandum

By Francine Maigue

We’re a couple of weeks away from Christmas, my friends. (No pressure.)

I hope you all have had a chance to take in the glorious sights, sounds, and events of our beloved county as it strives to bring the spirit of the season to life— parades, parties, Sugar Plums, and more. Most importantly, I hope you’ve had the chance to share in the Christmas spirit with all those around you.

This time can be particularly stressful as we work towards presenting the perfect holiday

to encapsulate such a special spirit in one card, one box, or one party, isn’t it?

This week I share with you some of my favorite quotes for the holiday season with the hope that you relish the opportunity to take pause from your busy day and allow the Christmas spirit to rejuvenate you.

“The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.”

-Burton Hillis

you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough."

-Oprah Winfrey

“I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.”

-Charles Dickens

"A friend is a gift you give yourself."

-Robert Louis Stevenson

“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.”

-Norman Vincent Peale

"My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?"

-Bob Hope

“One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly.”

-Andy Rooney

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart."

-Helen Keller

“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love!”

-Hamilton Wright Mabie

“At Christmas, all roads lead home.”

-Marjorie Holmes "Don’t let the past steal your present. This is the message of Christmas: We are never alone."

-Taylor Caldwell Email us at filpressads@aol.com

“Be

SAN DIEGO, CA -- San Diego

County District Attorney Summer Stephan said recently that her office is conducting new outreach to immigrant and refugee populations in the county with the goal of allaying fears about reporting a crime and encouraging cooperation with law enforcement if someone is a victim or witness to a crime. According to the County’s Health and Human Services Administration, approximately 21.5% of the county's population are immigrants, including refugees.

“My office is committed to keeping every child, adult and senior safe from crime in San Diego County and that includes our large immigrant and refugee communities. It is understandable that if you are a refugee from another country, a documented or an undocumented immigrant, there may be uncertainty about reporting a crime to law enforcement,” said DA Stephan. “We want to ease the fears that people in these communities have and encourage them to contact local law enforcement and cooperate with the DA’s Office if they, a family member, or friend become the victim of a crime. We will not ask their immigration status, which is the law in California, and we have services that can help them.”

So far, the DA’s Office has printed cards in English, Spanish, Farsi and Ukrainian, which encourage refugees and immigrants, whether undocumented or documented, who are victims or witnesses of a crime to report the incident to law enforcement.

Police departments, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and the District Attorney’s Office are only concerned about the details of the crime, not an individual’s immigration status.

The San Diego District Attorney’s Office does not, in accordance with California law, report immigration status and does not tolerate any actions intended to interfere with or retaliate against potential crime witnesses.

San Diego County Supervisor Nora Vargas, who represents District 1, said the outreach is needed as the county’s immigrant population is significant and constantly evolving.

“Regardless of their immigration status, all residents in our county should feel safe about accessing the justice system if they are a victim, witness, or otherwise harmed by a crime — it is their right,” said Vice Chair Nora Vargas, San Diego County Board of Supervisors. “I’m proud to work in collaboration with the District Attorney’s Office and our Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs on this effort to widely distribute information cards to remind refugees and immigrants that they will not be asked about their immigration status when reaching out for assistance to law enforcement.”

Local data provided to the County Refugee Coordinator by local resettlement agency partners shows there were 3,715 refugee arrivals in San Diego County during fiscal year 2021/2022 from 29 countries.

The DA is working in conjunction with the San Diego County Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, which is distributing the printed cards to nonprofit organizations and other groups that provide aid and resources for immigrants.

“It is essential for immigrant and refugee populations to feel safe and supported in their community,” said Lucero Chavez Basilio, Director of the County Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, Department of Homeless Solutions & Equitable Communities. “We will distribute these cards in the community to help ensure all county residents know their rights and understand they have access to resources that can help protect them and their families, without fear of repercussions or unintended consequences and regardless of immigration status. Reiterating this message is an important step in creating a just, sustainable and resilient future

for everyone.”

The DA has also produced videos in English and Spanish which feature DA Stephan and Cardinal Robert McElroy. The videos are being posted on social media and shared by Catholic Charities, through its extensive network, to connect with these vulnerable populations and assure them that their status should not stop them from reporting a crime or seeking victim services. Catholic Charities has programming that works to facilitate an effective and memorable transition experience for refugees through an integrated provision of services: resettlement, employment, acculturation, case management, and health.

“The safety and security of the immigrant and refugee communities is close to the heart of God, and we are blessed that here in San Diego County, a person reporting a crime against themselves or their family or friends will find justice and protection without in any way endangering their immigration status or right to continue to live in this community,” said Cardinal McElroy.

Anyone who has been a victim of a crime and needs assistance can call 619-531-4041. A District Attorney Victim Advocate will speak with you ad determine how we can assist you. Program services are provided free of charge, and there is no legal citizenship requirement to receive assistance.

About the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office

The San Diego County DA’s Office prosecutes all felony crimes in the county and misdemeanor crimes committed outside the City of San Diego. The office files about 40,000 criminal cases a year and balances prosecution with numerous crime prevention programs. District Attorney Summer Stephan leads the office of more than 1,000 dedicated employees who pursue fair and equal justice, and support victims daily across San Diego County.

photos, events, and gifts. It’s hard

thankful for what you have;

PBBM wants WPS oil exploration fast-tracked

MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday expressed readiness to partner with China for possible joint oil exploration in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In a media interview in Quezon City, Marcos broached the idea of exploring other ways to ensure the immediate development of oil and gas resources in the contested waters.

Marcos made the remark, in case the possible government-togovernment partnership fails to proceed.

"We'll have to find a way kasi kailangan na natin eh (we really need it now). We already need, kung mahanap dyan kailangan na talaga ng Pilipinas (whatever resources we could find because the Philippines really need that now)," he said on the sidelines of the Kadiwa ng Pasko Caravan.

"'Yung China maliit na bagay sa kanila 'yun eh. Sa atin malaking bagay 'yan. So, kailangan natin ipaglaban at mapakinabangan kung meron ngang oil talaga (It's a small thing for China. But for us, it's a big help. So, we have to pursue that and we will benefit if there is really oil there)," he added.

Marcos also stressed the importance of addressing the "roadblock" in the joint exploration talks.

This, as he acknowledged the constitutional problems that caused delays in the possible joint exploration between the Philippines and China.

"Kasi kini-claim ng China kanila 'yun, eh atin naman talaga iyan. So, sinasabi ng Pilipinas, basta't 'yung batas kailangan masundan 'yung sa Pinas. Ang sinasabi naman ng Chinese, hindi, amin iyan eh, kaya't kailangan masundan is Chinese.

Kaya 'yun talaga ang roadblock doon (China is claiming [WPS] as its property, but that is ours. For the Philippines' part, we have to follow the law. But the Chinese are saying that they own that and they want their own terms to be followed. That's the roadblock there)," Marcos said.

In November 2018, the Philippines signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with China on joint oil and gas development in WPS.

However, the Philippines, under the Duterte administration, terminated the talks before Marcos assumed presidency on June 30 because of constitutional constraints and issues on the country’s sovereignty.

The Department of Foreign Affairs in September this year said the two countries have so far made "initial and general discussions" on possible joint exploration in WPS but have not yet progressed to "working-level talks."

During their inaugural bilateral meeting in Bangkok, Thailand on Nov. 17, Marcos and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed that the immediate conclusion of negotiations for the final and binding Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea (SCS) will help address the maritime disputes among littoral states.

On July 12, 2016, the Philippines won its petition against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, Netherlands after the court invalidated Beijing’s

supposedly historic rights over nearly the entire SCS, including the WPS.

China has repeatedly ignored the 2016 PCA ruling despite the Philippines’ historic win.

Be 'best version' of yourself like Bonifacio, PBBM urges Pinoys President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday urged Filipinos to honor Andres Bonifacio's heroism by becoming the "best version" of themselves and imbibing the values of selflessness and patriotism for the country's development.

In a speech delivered during the commemoration of Bonifacio's 159th birth anniversary in Caloocan City, Marcos said emulating the revolutionary hero's character would enable all Filipinos to enjoy a "brighter" future.

"Ang kaniyang (Bonifacio) pangalan ay mananatiling nakaukit sa ating kasaysayan kailanman, hindi lamang dahil sa kaniyang pamumuno sa rebolusyon kundi sa kaniyang ‘di matatawarang tapang at pagmamahal sa bayan (His name will forever be etched in history, not only because he led the revolution but also because of his bravery and patriotism)," he said.

"Kaya naman sikapin natin na maging pinakamahusay na uri ng ating mga sarili, na maging Pilipino na ang katapatan at pagmamahal sa bayan ay kaparis ng ating mga bayani tulad ni Gat Andres (So, let us do our best to become the best version of ourselves, to be a Filipino whose loyalty and love of country would equal those of our national heroes, like Andres Bonifacio)."

Acknowledging Bonifacio's contributions and sacrifices for the benefit of the Filipino people and the nation, the President hailed the fallen hero's gallantry to stand against foreign oppressors and fight for the Philippines' freedom.

He said Filipinos must work together for a common goal, which is to aspire for a "peaceful, free, and abundant" nation.

'Dutiful and law-abiding' citizens Marcos said Filipinos should be "dutiful and law-abiding" citizens for them to have a "brighter and freer" future.

"I call on my fellow Filipinos to honor Bonifacio's life of extraordinary selflessness by becoming dutiful and law-abiding citizens who will contribute towards a brighter and freer future for all Filipinos," he said in his message for Bonifacio's 159th birth anniversary.

While Filipinos are currently enjoying their liberty, they must stay vigilant in protecting the country from "social ills and other elements that threaten our liberties," Marcos said.

"Today, we cherish the freedoms we hold with even greater fervor as we commemorate the birth anniversary of Gat Andres Bonifacio. His spirit lives on in the stories we tell and use to build on his legacy, breathing new life into his words with our sense of duty and patriotism."

He noted that it is through the “bold ideas of the Father of the Philippine Revolution that our heroic ancestors were able to muster the will and the courage to fight their oppressors, thereby paving the way to our motherland's eventual emancipation."

Marcos expressed confidence that with the help of "modern-day

heroes", such as doctors, nurses, state forces, and overseas Filipino workers, the country would continue to thrive.

"Habang patuloy tayong nakikibaka sa mga hamon ng modernong panahon, nawa’y maging halimbawa si Bonifacio at ang ating mga bayani, noon at ngayon, upang mag-tagumpay tayo sa ating mga hangarin (While we continue to face challenges in modern times, may Bonifacio and our past and present heroes inspire us to achieve our goals)," he said.

In celebration of the 159th birth anniversary of Bonifacio, Marcos led the flag-raising and wreath-laying rites at the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City.

This is the first time Marcos attended the commemorative rites as the country's chief executive.

DND: Emulate Bonifacio's courage

The Department of National Defense (DND) also joined the nation in commemorating the birth of Bonifacio, also known as the country's "Great Plebeian".

In his message, DND officer in charge Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr. urged all Filipinos to emulate the example of the hero in meeting the challenges of this generation with bravery and excellence.

"We may no longer be a country that grapples with the struggles we endured during the time of our great heroes, but our time presents new challenges that necessitate the same fervor, integrity, and excellence to defend and protect our nation's peace and stability," he said.

Faustino also called on all Filipinos to continue working for the betterment of the nation.

"Mahalin natin ang ating bayan, gaya ng pagmamahal na isinabuhay ni Gat Andres Bonifacio (Let us love our country like the love shown and demonstrated by Gat Andres Bonifacio)," he said.

The DND chief also honored Bonifacio's grit and dedication to the cause of the country's liberation.

"For him, the height of honor and happiness of a person is to make the ultimate sacrifice for the good and salvation of one's country. More than a century since his death, the daring feats and unmatched patriotism of the Father of Katipunan continue to reverberate in our collective psyche," Faustino said.

He added that Bonifacio's works and his legacy of igniting the Philippine revolution gave succeeding generations of Filipinos the inspiration and ardor to fight for "a nation that is free from the shackles of ages past."

In a statement, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman also joined the entire nation in commemorating Bonifacio’s birth anniversary, saying the occasion is a “timely reminder” of the revolutionary leader’s efforts to liberate the country “from the shackles of poverty and oppression.”

Inspired by Bonifacio, the current administration is committed to improving the Filipinos’ lives, Pangandaman said.

“As the Great Plebeian’s battle against societal ills remains as challenges up to this day, the Philippine government likewise remains steadfast in uplifting the lives of every Filipino,” she said.

CASHLESS TRANSACTIONS.

MARCOS

Continued from page 1

PBBM wants 'Kadiwa' to continue beyond Christmas thru LGU tie-ups

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Thursday he wants the Kadiwa ng Pasko project to become a national program through tie-ups with local government units (LGUs) so it will be implemented even beyond the holiday season.

In his remarks during the Kadiwa ng Pasko caravan in Quezon City, President Marcos praised the city government for pioneering the project, which became a model for other LGUs in Metro Manila.

Through the Kadiwa project, the prices of basic products became cheaper, benefitting the consumers and at the same time providing market to local agricultural producers as well as micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), Marcos said.

The government wants to lower the price per kilo of rice to P25 through the Kadiwa project implementation, President Marcos said, adding this prompted the administration to implement the program throughout the Philippines.

“Hindi lamang sa mga LGU. Magtutulungan na ang Office of the President at ang ating mga LGU para lahat dahan-dahang kumakalat ang dami nito. Kaya’t ‘yan po ang ating dapat ipagpatuloy,” Marcos said.

The President further said: “At masasabi ko na kahit pagkatapos na ng New Year ay hindi naman namin ititigil ‘yung Kadiwa ng Pasko. Patuloy nang patuloy na ‘yan. Hangga’t maaari ay patuloy ang Kadiwa para naging national program, para lahat ng buong Pilipinas ay makikita naman nila at makakatikim naman sila nung savings doon sa kanilang mga binibili.”

FILIPINO

Continued from page 1

businesses, families, and students. You (yes, YOU) and your family and friends can play a special role in this special holiday holiday activity!

How do I participate?

All members of our community are welcome to participate Pasko sa Plaza’s free and fun Parol Gallery. Just follow these easy steps:

REGISTER: Email Filpressads@aol.com to reserve your spot in the Parol Gallery. Include your name, cell phone number, the name of the family/organization your parol represents, and a brief description (about 50 words) of what inspired your parol’s design. (Space is limited, so RSVP asap!)

CREATE: Design and make your very own parol. Be creative! You can use any materials that you like. (I’m making mine from recycled water bottles, BBQ skewers, colored paper, tape, and tinsel.) Your parol must be no larger than 2x2x2 ft. in size and light enough to be hung with simple string or fishing line. Make sure to showcase your family/ organization’s name, logo, and/or photo. Pasko sa Plaza parols need not be lit. Electrical outlets will not be available, and candles are not permitted.

DELIVER: Bring your completed parol to Westfield Plaza Bonita at Gerry's Grill between

The Kadiwa project is the best Christmas gift that the government can extend to the public, Marcos said, adding that “it is the gift that keeps on giving.”

The President said Quezon City LGU has been the government model in the Kadiwa implementation and if a large city like Quezon City can successfully carry it out, other localities could do the same.

“Kaya kung kakayanin nung sistema ninyo ang Quezon City, eh kakayanin ‘yung mas maliliit. Kaya’t we were looking and seeing ano ‘yung mga kung tawagin ay best practices ay tinitingnan namin para maging mas maganda,” Marcos said.

The chief executive said: “Kaya’t nandito po ako para tingnan na maayos naman ang patakbo dito sa Quezon City ‘yung ating Kadiwa ng Pasko, at mukha namang nagiging maayos at may nararamdaman naman na savings ang ating mga kababayan.”

The Kadiwa ng Pasko program aims to provide a market to local farmers and fishermen for their produce, and to small business enterprises selling basic necessities.

Organizers expect them to have better income and, at the same time, provide the public access to more affordable, accessible and highquality merchandise.

Support agencies for the project include the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

PBBM earns approval, trust of majority of Pinoys -- poll

The majority of Filipinos have expressed appreciation over the work performance of and have given their trust in President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., according to OCTA Research's latest survey.

OCTA Research, in its Tugon ng

5:30-7:30pm on Monday December 5, 2022

SHOW & SHARE: Bring your family and friends to Filipino Holiday Kick Off on Saturday, Dec. 10 between 1-5pm, where your parol will be proudly displayed. Parols will be returned to their owner immediately following the event (5pm). Parols left unclaimed by their respective owners may be released to the public.

COMPETE AND WIN PRIZES for the PAROL Making Contest which will be given to the most creative and attractive parol. First Place wins $150 Second Place wins $100 and Third Place will be $50. Judging will be on December 10th, on day of the event at 4pm at the Filipino Holiday Kick Off.

It’s that easy, my friends! Join in this fun and free way to connect and share one of our beautiful and most beloved Filipino Christmas traditions.

I know it can be hard to spend the holidays away from our relatives. We hope Filipino Holiday Kick off event and our Parol Gallery and the Parol Making Contest will help bring our community closer to “home” and closer to one another. We are most excited that, through this event, families will be able to create parols together, thus passing on our Filipino Christmas traditions to our children.

I can’t wait to see your creations, my friends! Whatever designs you

Masa poll conducted from October 23 to 27, found that 78 percent of 1,200 adult Filipinos appreciate Marcos, while 86 percent trust the Chief Executive.

Only 5 percent were dissatisfied with Marcos' performance, while 4 percent expressed distrust in him.

Marcos earned the highest approval score in Mindanao, registering 85 percent, followed by Visayas (81 percent), Metro Manila (75 percent), and the Balance of Luzon (74 percent).

He also received a high approval rating from respondents belonging to Classes D or middle class (79 percent), E or the poorest of the poor (77 percent), and ABC or the upper middle class (67 percent).

Marcos' trust rating was also highest in Mindanao (92 percent) and among those from Class E (90 percent).

A high trust rating was also recorded in the Visayas and Class D (both 87 percent), Balance of Luzon (84 percent), Metro Manila (82 percent), and Class ABC (78 percent).

Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio also posted high trust and approval scores at 86 percent and 80 percent, respectively.

The survey found that 100 percent of adult Filipinos are aware of Marcos and Duterte-Carpio.

OCTA Research conducted the October 23-27 survey, using a ±3 percent margin of error.

OCTA Research also released a survey that showed that 85 percent of adult Filipinos believe that the country is on the right track under the Marcos administration, with only 6 percent expressing disagreement.

Marcos, in a media interview on Tuesday, described the poll results as "very encouraging," saying it is vital for government policies and programs to be felt by Filipinos across all socioeconomic classes. (MNS)

create, whatever materials you choose to use, I know your parols will be lovely, inspirational symbols of hope, faith, and our one-of-akind Filipino hospitality. Feel free to email us at filpressads@aol.com with any questions you may have.

Want some tips and ideas on how to design and build your parol? Here are some helpful YouTube tutorials: https://m.youtube.com/ watch?v=4FrKkCtX4vA

https://m.youtube.com/ watch?v=35-8jFvVTYU

https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=x0YTFycf9bI

For details on activities on Filipino Holiday Kick Off, check the ad on this issue of the paper. If you need more info feel free to email us at filpressads@aol.com

Performers featured during this event includes Samahan Philippine Dance Company and Rondalla Musical Ensemble, former karaoke champion of Seafood City Cherilyn Mallari, Maraya Performing Arts Center, Melija Talent Development, Mira Mesa High School Dance Club,Olympian High School Filipino Dance Club, Grand Master Chucky Currie, Educational and Cultural showcase by Filameda/ CTFLC, Filipinana Fashion showcase by Pilipino Women’s Club, Jean Pioso Fashions, PNA and more. Dance to the music by DJ Omar and live entertainment by popular Harana Band. This is a free, fun family friendly event.

GUADALUPE TRAFFIC. Motorists negotiate the traffic build-up along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue on the northbound lanes of the Guadalupe Bridge in Makati City on Thursday (Dec. 1, 2022). The volume of vehicular traffic has dramatically increased since the easing of quarantine restrictions. (MNS photo)

A telecommunications firm employee hangs a QR code in each stall at the Bankerohan Public Market in Davao City on Tuesday (Nov. 22, 2022). The city government of Davao, in partnership with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, is set to launch on Wednesday (Nov. 23, 2022) the PalengQR PH, a program that enjoins establishments to use cashless payment as an additional option for buyers to pay for goods. (MNS photo)

SAN DIEGO, CA -- Mabuhay!

You may think that you’ll never love another grandchild like you love your first one or two. You’re wrong… Ha-ha-ha-ha!

We all know the feeling when our first grandchild comes along. In fact, every new grandparent you talk to appears to be on the same drug: “Why didn’t anybody tell me it would feel like this?” A friend of my wife and I thought the most miraculous moment of her life was when she awoke after laser surgery on her eyes and could see the trees outside their bedroom window. “How wrong I was!” she told us. “Six months later, I became a grandmother for the third time and learned what the word miracle really meant.”

I got my first sight of my wife and I’s very first grandchild Taylor – my wife and I’s one-and-only granddaughter, by the way and who’s turning 22 this Sunday, December 4th - at the Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group near Clairemont Mesa and Linda Vista here in our beloved old hometown of San Diego – “America’s Finest City”, and thought, hmm. She was just a wethaired little scrap of a thing. Any baby born that night up and down the hall of the maternity ward would have done as well.

That changed when my wife and I walked into our daughter-in-law Abigail’s kitchen a few days later, she handed Taylor to me, and I wiped a little drool from the baby’s mouth. The hot rush of feeling for her grew in me until I was once again, as I was with my very own firstborn son, not safe in a world where this child could come to harm.

Taylor, in her cute clothes is so entirely she that it is hard to believe that she was once not here, that only twenty-two years ago there was not a beautiful little personage climbing onto the back seat of our old Nissan Stanza wagon and charming us both so wonderfully memorable. My wife and I liked her so much that we opened an educational account in the form of monthly U.S. savings bonds for her right from the very beginning.

Is there room for two?

But what about the second grandchild, perhaps you might have inquisitively asked? You are already a grandfather. It’s become old hat. And there is the first grandchild, still stealing your heart even as you reach for the warm wrapped bundle that is the newcomer. When our daughterin-law Abigail had her second child, Jacob – my wife and I’s very first grandson – they quickly became a set, Taylor-and-Jacob. I rarely had Jacob alone – Taylor was always there to distract me. I loved Jacob to the moon and back but somehow the first-born still held the spotlight as it were.

The same was true of my own children. Rommel was born 13 months after Ryan, and I think I took far fewer baby pictures of him. I was an experienced dad by then while we were still assigned in Naval Air Station Agana, Guam – and more casual. I didn’t feel as if I had to stay within earshot when he fussed before

going to sleep. His elder brother Ryan notwithstanding held my attention. He still does, in a certain extent -- but honestly - and in a way I can’t quite explain – especially now that Rommel was the one who so promptly, wonderfully, gave my wife and I’s very first two grandkids.

And so I held baby Rommel with one hand, while I laughed at Ryan squirting peas out of his mouth at my wife – his Grandma. But here’s the thing. There comes a moment – perhaps – you have experienced it – when the second-born says or does something, and again you fall, tumbling, irrevocably, in love. The heart catches up, I reckon.

And so the loving saga continues.

I do have a bone to pick with Lesly Stahl, the longtime TV journalist and 60 Minutes correspondent. In a February/ March issue of ARRP magazine, she wrote a lovely piece about becoming a grandmother, excerpted from her book, Becoming Grandma.

“Throughout my career,” she wrote, “I had worked at suppressing both my opinions and my emotions… Then, wham…my first grandchild.”

The impact took her by surprise, indeed.

“I felt like I was growing a whole new chamber in my heart. I nearly swooned, staring at her like a lover. I’d never seen anything so delicate and beautiful, so sweet, every feature perfect. And it’s not that I didn’t see her three chins.

“I was at a time in my life where I’d assumed I had already had my best day, my tallest high. But now I was overwhelmed with euphoria. Why was she hitting with such a force? What explains this joy, this grandmother elation that is a new kind of love?”

Plenty of people had told her how great it would be to become a grandparent,

“But what I couldn’t get over was the physicality of my feelings,” she noted…”I was infatuated. Dare I say it? It felt like…ardor. Aha! There it was. We grandmas literally, actually, fall in love.”

I was with her all the way – until I read the short Q&A-style sidebar attached to the story, which posed the question, “How do grandmothers and grandfathers differ?”

“When I first held my grandchild, I felt a titanic jolt of emotion,” she replied. “Most of the grandmothers I interviewed had the same elated feeling. With grandfathers, not one of them said they had that first initial jolt. The real attachment comes a little later. But their emotions are very deep.”

I’m glad she acknowledged our deep emotions (although “a little latter”), but her sample of grandfathers was obviously too small.

I certainly felt that jolt with my own three boys. And now, with my wife Zeny and I’s third grandchild who arrived during last week’s Thanksgiving Day celebrations.

For most of us here in the United States, the beginning of November marks the entry into fun – albeit sometimes stressful – season. We have friend and family gatherings to

daughter-in-law Valerie was then, however, the beginning of this season may bring an additional layer of stress. The truth is, most of us, if given the choice, would prefer not to give birth on a major holiday. There’s the typical “FOMO” (the fear of missing out), which affects some more than others (and that’s OK); then there’s the ambivalent feelings about your baby having a holiday (I get it); and there’s also general anxiety over dealing with the unknowns of labor and how it will fall into place with your Thanksgiving Day plans (here’s a key tip: don’t host this year).

At any rate, here’s the bottom line: My youngest son Randy and his wife Valerie had a baby!

A bouncing baby boy - Riker Aiden Reyes, 5 pounds and 14 ounces was born 11:56 AM last Friday, 25 November 2022.

I learned there is no such thing as a ‘quick look’ at a preemie after my initial encounter with Riker - our third grandchild– especially when they happen to be your one-and-only second grandson.

I expected to be pleased to make his acquaintance but since I couldn’t hold him yet, I figured my first sight of him, probably from a six-foot distance, would be no big deal. But I found myself inches from Riker behind my double-masks, his tiny body swaddled with warm, cozy clothing.

It was a feeling that I believe I felt finer than watching the first moonwalk. It was way better…utterly engrossing, so to speak. So fragile, so precious, so beautiful (and much more appropriately I would add so “p-o-g-i” (handsome), so innocent, so peaceful, so pure…and so alive.

Suddenly, I found myself falling down the same deep well shaft, head first into the mystery that I experienced when I held my first son Ryan for the first time more than five decades earlier.

A titanic jolt, if you asked? The Titanic had nothing on this. The Germans have a word for authentic, unfiltered, undiluted experience. Echt. This was echt. It was echt-static.

In the days since, the feeling hasn’t changed. I say I’ve had two great privileges in my life, being the parent of three accomplished sons –I call them “My Three Sons” – after that popular American TV sitcom that aired from 1960s to 1972. – and of course, babysitting together with my wife our precious and adorable little “a-p-o-s” (grandchildren).

There is so much more now to explore together with my growing bunch of grandchildren who are so totally awesome. I do feel my wife and I are so very blessed, as a matter of fact.

Hallelujah!

So, Lesley, with all due respect, it’s quite possible for grandfathers to fall in love with their grandchildren, and I’m not the only one. I think back to Ross Buenaventura, an old shipmate and a great friend of mine in the Navy and with whom I just got re-acquainted anew just recently after our retirement from the naval service – who, when I told him I was a grandfather-to-be once more – for the third time, too - simply said, “Never turn down a babysitting request.” And he had lots of them I am quite sure. I suspect he fell in love, too.

Ha-ha-ha-ha!

Every time my grandchildren call me “Grandpa,” I fall in love all over again. And I’m sure Grandpa Larry, their great-grandfather – and my beloved very own Dad in Heaven already, would heartily agree. Ha-ha-ha-ha!

You undoubtedly meant well, Lesley, but don’t sell grandfathers short. The jolt is equally visceral, and then it deepens.

It genuinely endures forever! Amen!!

“Ay! Ito’y ang Inang Bayang tinubuan, siya’y ina’t tangi na kinamulatan ng kawili-wiling liwanag ng araw na nagbibigay init sa lunong katawan.” Tula ni Andres Bonifacio, “Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa”

The Philippine Catholic Church faces a fork on the road as it reinvents itself in response to the Vatican’s call for synodality. One option is to continue the trodden path that led them away from the poor. The other option is shaking the status quo by accepting its new role as an arbiter and charting a new course towards achieving a synodal Church by redeeming God’s promise to the Filipino people.

Boldly, the Philippine clergy needs to apply the Old Testament (OT) to the plight of the Filipino people. As a literary work, OT has a lot of parallelism to the Filipinos’ journey to the promised land.

Andres Bonifacio’s poem and that of Apolinario Mabini’s prophetic

words that the Philippines “is the only Paradise which God has given thee in this life, the only inheritance of thy ancestors and the only hope of thy posterity," needs to be interpreted biblically in the context of God’s promise to Abraham, Jacob, Moses and to Joshua.

And why not? The Old Testament is about the special relationship between the God of the Old Testament (OT) and his chosen people, Israel; but also includes proselytes (strangers or newcomers to Israel). When the world was created, it included the Philippines, but the OT only focused on Israel’s journey. Filipinos need to claim their spot in the Bible as part of Creation and God’s promise.

The Filipino biblical story has already unfolded and written. What is needed is for the country to Cross the Jordan River as Joshua did to get to the Promised Land. To that end, it would be critical for Philippine clergy to apply a hermeneutics

Discerning the synodality path for Filipinos, Part 7

anchored in Filipino culture and national aspirations, to effect such change in society using the liberating, albeit life-giving texts of the Bible, to speak to the weak and oppressed.

The God in OT is always presented as the only God who exists but did not discount the possibility that other gods existed outside of Israel. Thus, the fact that the Filipino prophets (i.e., Mabini, Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Jose Rizal, etc.) used the word Bathala in the lingua franca could be used as the Bathala who was the only God who exists at the time of their ordeals in the Philippines.

It does not mean that they’re different from the God of the OT because nobody has really seen God, but it is an important claim to make because the Bible that the Westerners brought to the Philippines was used as a tool of oppression and conquest to serve their purposes. Filipinos took it 100%, as gospel truth.

The Israelites were in Egypt, a foreign land, for 430 years (400 as slaves) until Moses’ death and succeeded by Joshua who was told by God to cross the Jordan River to the promised land. Joshua was one of the spies that Moses sent to Canaan (Promised Land) and his exploits are in the Book of Joshua, a classic political and literary book that laid the foundation for federal

republicanism (federalism).

Crossing the Jordan River is a spiritual metaphor for freedom that comes after a long season of adversity and waiting. Filipinos were and still are slaves of foreign masters for over 500 years now. It’s high time to Cross the Jordan River for the promised land. This is the spark Bonifacio was alluding to in his poem, for the sun depicted on the Philippine flag, to finally shine through.

Remember that the premise of their (Spain, United States) colonial rule was to convert the pagans to their brands of Christianity. Before the Spaniards came, the Filipinos then already believed in the Supreme Being (Bathala), a civilized country armed with its own language (Tagalog) and letters (Baybayin).

After 300 some years being told that they were pagans destined to hell, Filipinos believed it. When the Americans came to do the same conversion effort, many Catholics did not buy the idea. Well, that’s what 300 years of subjugation will do to your body and spirit. Today, over 80% of Filipinos are Catholics and the Protestants only command a small percentage. The point is, both colonial powers used the Cross to enslave Filipinos, literally and mentally.

Western Catholics always view

Filipino Catholicism as being based on popular piety, as if it is wrong. The undertone is that there is an incomplete conversion to Catholicism because the belief is not rooted in the Gospel. Well, for over 400 years, Mass was celebrated in Philippine Catholic Churches in Latin. What did they expect? In truth, Filipinos only began to celebrate Mass in English in 1970.

The Filipinos need to interpret the Bible to suit their needs and situation. It sounds subversive and blasphemous, but Catholics and Protestants have subverted the Holy Scriptures to kill people, take away possessions, and stifled their efforts to establish a national identity. The invaders engaged in criminal acts in furtherance of their religious objectives in the name of God and salvation.

Bathala in Joshua 1:7 encourages Filipinos to “obey all the law my servant Moses gave you.” Well, Moses was the Patriarch of the OT and wrote books to guide the people of Israel. In a similar vein, Bonifacio, Mabini, Jacinto, and Manuel L. Quezon wrote Decalogues (patterned before the Ten Commandments) that reflects a belief that “the human person is a social being who has a duty and responsibility of upholding the welfare of the society.”

Following these heroes’ lead, the Katipunan, the Propagandists, Huks, and now the NPA’s struggle for self-rule must be viewed in the context of Joshua 1:1-9 and exact for itself, God’s promise to Joshua. The Filipinos have wandered in the wilderness not only for the past 36 years post EDSA, but long before that. President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., might be the duly elected leader of the land, but he is no Joshua to lead the Filipinos into the promised land.

Philippine clergy can help the president, and they can find inspiration from these passages and from the echoes of the past to reclaim its moral ascendancy. Israel’s covenant with God stood at the core of its identity, why can’t the Filipinos reclaim the centrality of such a covenant with its Bathala using its own language like the Hebrews did?

The God of Israel laid out in Joshua 1:4-6 the boundaries of their inherited territory. Why not hear Bathala say to the Filipinos that, “This is your home, the land of your birth which extends to the Philippine Sea in the east, Kalayaan Island Group in the South China Sea in the west, Celebes Sea in the South, and the Luzon Strait above Batanes in the north. Be strong and courageous and inherit the land I promised your ancestors.” To be continued…

look forward to, traditions to enjoy, and good food to overeat.

If you’re pregnant and due on or near Thanksgiving as my other

Jesse T. Reyes Filipino Potpourri

GRANDPA'S DRINKING BUDDY: The author is seen adoringly bottle feeding his week-old grandson Riker.

MILK. SNUGGLE. NAP. REPEAT.: The new born Riker is seen here with his loving two grandmothers - Grandma Dory (left), Grandma Zeny (center) and Mom Valerie (right).

ALL IN THE FAMILY: Front row (left to right) - My daughter-in-law Valerie, my second son Rommel and my youngest son Randy. Back row (left to right) - My first grandson Jacob, my daughter-in-law Abigail, my one-and-only granddaughter Taylor, my wife Zeny, and yours truly, our great-niece Mila and niece Francesca with her husband William - all happily welcomed Riker's arrival in the family.

GRANDPARENTS (A MOM AND A DAD WITHOUT RULES): Grandma Zeny and Grandpa Jesse falling gloriously in love with grandchild number three named Riker.

Spiritual Life

The Give and Take of Christmas

A Christmas Carol vs. the Christmas Story

I was reading some Christmas materials and my attention were caught by an article entitled “The give and take of Christmas” by Dan Schaeffer. In bold letters was a teaser “We often get caught up in our own giving. But is that what the season is really about? I paused and took a deep breath and asked myself, “Why do I feel miserable if I can’t give my friends and loved ones gifts on Christmas?

Commercials have embedded in our psyche the message that the true spirit of Christmas is about giving to others. It’s not only commercially successful; it seems to work on emotional level as well. It is personified in the spirit of Scrooge, who was transformed when he ends his scrimpy ways and embraces the true spirit of Christmas by becoming generous, and thus a better person. It seems that A Christmas Carol by Dickens has possibly done more to form the collective notion of what the Christmas spirit is than the biblical account of Jesus’ birth in Luke.

Let us ponder on the theme of giving in the Christmas Carol and that of the biblical Christmas Story.

Christmas is the chance for many of us to rescue our selfesteem – to prove the goodness of our character to ourselves as well as others. All the gifts we give at Christmas (whether given freely or under compulsion) convince us that we really are good and even wonderful people. Just look at how generous we are. But it’s worth asking why we often don’t feel the same about demonstrating kindness and helping others in need throughout the rest of the year. Is the real Christmas spirit

Aurora S. Cudal-Rivera

My Personal Testimony

about giving? Is that the primary message of the incarnation?

John 3:16 reminds us that the incarnation was about God’s giving: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son….” (John 3:16 NIV). James reminds us that “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights” (james 1:17 NIV). See, Christmas must be about giving.

But who is doing the giving, and who is doing the receiving? The biblical account of Jesus’ entrance into our world reveals that we are the recipients of an incomparable divine gift – and the giver in the story is God, who emptied himself to come to us and save us. We are the receivers who did nothing to deserve this tremendous gift. It’s obviously a more powerful story than that of Ebenezer Scrooge, but alas, not as easily flattering.

Dicken’s tale simply makes us feel better about ourselves. We are encouraged by the message that we, too, can become better through generosity. A Christmas Carol reminds us that even the worst among us can ultimately redeem themselves through charitable

action.

Yet, as writer William Willimon suggests, “The Christmas Story is not about how blessed it is to be givers, but how essential it is to see ourselves as receivers. This strange story….tells us of an unimaginable gift from a stranger, a God whom we hardly even knew. The first word of the church, a people born out of so odd a nativity, is that we are receivers before we are givers… and its tough to be in the receiving end of love – God’s or anybody else’s. It requires that we see our lives not as our possessions, but as gifts. “Nothing is more repugnant to capable, reasonable people than grace,” wrote John Wesley. This is often the way God loves us: with gifts we thought we didn’t need, which transform us into people we don’t necessarily want to be.”

Of course, Christmas is still an appropriate time to express the love of Christ through special giving and acts of compassion. It isn’t the act we must scrutinize, but the motivation and the goal behind it: is it self-esteem that we want to cultivate this time of year, or gratitude for the grace we’ve been shown? (Adopted from: In Touch, Dec.2009)

There is no fear in love...

A friend is a sky-diving, mountain-climbing, hang-gliding thrill-seeker, but in the cave he felt sheer panic. He was terrified. He tried fighting his fear, but he kept picturing his dead body moldering in the cave. Finally, he told his guide he was about to lose it, and the guide said, "Hey, close your eyes and listen to my voice. I will keep talking, calmly, and guide you through this. We will be okay. I have been here before. I will get you to the other side. But you must listen to my voice. It will not work for you to let your thoughts run wild. Just focus on my voice." He did so. What freed him from panic and fear was not trying hard to quit thinking fearful thoughts. It was listening to another voice.

What voice do you listen to when you're in the cave and it's dark, when the ceiling is low and you can't back out? The Spirit longs to flow in our minds all the time. One reason why people have found memorizing Scripture helpful is that it helps us listen to the voice of our guide when we are in the cave. We set our minds on those thoughts that equip us for life. God does not want us to live in worry or fear. He wants us to live with bold confidence in his power. "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and selfdiscipline."

Hernaez From Whom

All Blessings Flow

In the Bible, we see a pattern in which God rarely sends people into situations where their comfort level is high. Rather He promises to be with them in their fear. It is God's presence - not comfortable circumstances - that brings people to the best version of themselves.

Paul said that when we live in the flow of the Spirit, he does not make us timid, but instead gives us power and love. This is not the only place in the Bible where we see a close connection between receiving love and living in power. The apostle John makes the same association in one of the most famous statements in the Bible: "There is no fear in love... perfect love casts out fear."

When we live in the flow of the Spirit, we let the perfect love of God wash over us until our fear begins to leave. Modern science has confirmed what John wrote so many centuries ago. Love and fear are literally incompatible in our bodies. God wants to love you

- and in loving you, to cast out your fear.

Jesus was facing adversity when he told his followers that if they had faith, they could command a mountain and it would be cast into the sea. When my focus is on the mountain, I am driven by my fear. When my focus is on God, however, I am made alive by my faith. But if I did not have the mountain, I would not know that faith could be in me.

Use your imagination to picture being shepherded by the Lord in green pastures beside still waters. Is there any room for fear?

God knows that you can stand that trial; He would not give it to you if you could not. It is His trust in you that explains the trials of life, however bitter they may be. God knows our strength, and He measures it to the last inch; and a trial was never given to any man that was greater than that man's strength, through God, to bear it.

Kidnapping/Robbery/Assault Investigation

NATIONAL CITY, CA -- On 11/28/22, at about 8:53 PM, NCPD received a 911 call regarding a possible robbery where the victim was currently in the 1400 block of E. 8th Street. Officers arrived on scene and contacted the 76-year-old female victim. The victim was suffering from trauma to her face and was treated on scene by paramedics. The investigation revealed that the victim had been confronted at gunpoint while inside the International Church of Praise, 1341 E. 8th Street, National City, by two (2) unknown black male suspects.

While inside the church, the victim was pistol-whipped in the face causing injury. The suspects then forced the victim into her personal vehicle which was parked outside.

The suspects demanded the victim’s home address and she was driven to that location in the City of San Diego. The suspects and the victim arrived at that location but nobody exited the vehicle. The suspects then drove the victim back to National City where she was ultimately driven to a strip mall located in the 1400 block of E. 8th Street. The suspects left the victim alone in her vehicle allowing

her to escape and seek help at a nearby business. The suspects were last seen fleeing the area on foot.

NCPD detectives are actively investigating this crime. The motives and events that led up to this violent incident are still being investigated. The National City Police Department is asking and encouraging anyone who may have information related to this investigation to contact the National City Police Department Investigations Division at 619.336.4460.

If you wish to remain anonymous, please call San Diego Crime Stoppers at 888.580.8477.

Greetings in the Lord!

Today is the second Sunday of Advent. As I mentioned in my homily last Sunday the season of advent allows us to personally and communally prepare for the coming of Jesus, his first coming celebrated at Christmas and his second coming when he will come as a Judge. This second coming has been depicted by our readings last Sunday as one that is expected by whose arrival is uncertain like the “thief in the night” and the “Noah’s Ark during the deluge”. The first coming is a joyful remembrance of an event whose saving effects resonate in our lives with fond memories that keep us always expectant of its celebration. The second coming is a glorious victory of Jesus over evil but one that is dreadful for those who are not truly prepared. For this reason the advice of the prophets of the Old Testament, especially the one made by John the Baptist in the gospel reading this Sunday is demanding serious consideration.

What does John the Baptist asks us today? While preaching in the desert of Judea saying “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” people flocked to him not only to listen to his prophetic voice but to acknowledge their sins. This is the same message that John the Baptist reminds us once more that we come to our senses and be repentant in order to be converted. During this

season of advent, when the focus of our celebration begins with preparation of the second coming of Jesus, one way by which we can appropriately prepare for his expected return is being truly being repentant. Repentance is not only expected during the season of Lent, but every day in our lives so that we can always be really prepared. It is a process that involves several steps that I wish to share with you today.

The first step begins with selfexamination. This step focuses on how we have lived our baptismal promises when we made a commitment to love God above all things, follow his commandments of love of neighbor as Jesus has loved us. During the reception of the same sacrament of Baptism we also promised to avoid evil and the seductions of the Evil one. We come to realize, however, that due to our human weaknesses we easily forget

our promises and sometime even intend to break them. At this point of our self-examination, we need to open ourselves to the reality of God’s goodness and mercy whose justice is expressed in his forgiving love. This is the second step in the process of repentance. We accept our sinfulness and realize that in spite of this God still loves us. This leads us contrition where we become remorseful of our guilt and seek for God’s forgiveness, promising his our resolve to change our lives because of his love and mercy. The final step of repentance is the expressed desire for change within ourselves in order to once more conform our lives to the life that the “children of the light” are expected to lead.

During this season of Advent let us prepare for the coming of Jesus into our lives, repentant of our sins, conscious of his love and mercy so that we can meet Jesus with joyful heart. Repentance begins with ourselves but should be manifested in our desire to be reconciled with God, with our neighbors and especially with our immediate families. This season is a joyful season for true reconciliation. Let us pray that we be truly reconciled with ourselves, our families, our neighbors and with God so that we can celebrate the commemoration of His first coming in Christmas time with joy and gladness.

kumuha ng updated ng bakuna. Nagbibigay ng proteksyon ang mga updated na bakuna laban sa orihinal na virus ng COVID at Omicron.

Bakit dapat akong magpabakuna bago ang kapaskuhan? Walang may gustong i-expose sa COVID ang mahihinang miyembro ng kanilang pamilya o hindi makasama ang kanilang pamilya o mga kaibigan dahil sila’y may malubhang sakit sa kapaskuhan. Makakatulong ang mga bakuna para maprotektahan ka, at dahil kailangan ng mga ilang linggo bago gumana ang kompletong proteksyon, magandang ideya ang

magpabakuna at kumuha na kaagad ng updated na bakuna hangga’t maaari. Dapat kang kumuha ng updated na bakuna dalawang buwan pagkatapos ng iyong pinakahuling dosis ng bakuna.

Ano ang dapat kong gawin kung nagpositibo ako sa COVID? Ang mga taong may mga sintomas ng COVID ay dapat manatili sa bahay at magpasuri para sa COVID. Ang mga nagpositibo ay dapat manatili sa bahay nang hindi bababa sa limang araw at makipag-ugnayan sa doktor. Ang mga 50 taong gulang at mas matanda, o may malalang kondisyon tulad ng diabetes, sakit sa puso, o sakit sa baga ay mas nanganganib at dapat makipagugnayan kaagad sa doktor sa mga

unang sintomas pa lang ng COVID para malaman kung kailangan nila ng reseta sa paggamot sa COVID para hindi na sila kailangang maospital. Nagagamot ang COVID gamit ang anti-viral at monoclonal antibody na mga gamot na maaaring ireseta ng mga doktor batay sa kung gaano kataas ang iyong panganib para sa mga komplikasyon. Kapag ininom ang mga gamot na ito ilang araw pagkatapos ng unang mga sintomas ng COVID, mabisa ito upang maiwasan ang pagkakaospital at kamatayan mula sa COVID. Kasalukuyang libre at available ang mga bakuna sa COVID. Para sa karagdagang impormasyon at upang makahanap ng bakuna, bisitahin ang www.vaccines.gov.

Danny

Fr. Agustin T. Opalalic

LOS ANGELES, CA-- The

DMV wants to make sure that you are prepared for busy airports so you can catch your flight with ease. Your travels will be easier when you take advantage of DMV online services to get your REAL ID.

Question: I am planning to fly home to visit my family this holiday season. Do I need a REAL ID to board domestic flights?

Answer: While you will not need a REAL ID to board domestic flights or to enter federal facilities this holiday season, you will next year. The enforcement date is May 3, 2023. We highly encourage all Californians to give themselves the gift of a REAL ID this holiday season! REAL ID appointments are available, and you can also check DMV Office wait times online if you do not have an appointment before you go, complete your REAL ID application online and simply finish the transaction in person at a DMV Office.

Question: I lost my driver’s license and need to replace it before flying home for Thanksgiving. Can I request

a replacement online?

Answer: Yes, if your driver’s license (DL) has been lost, stolen, damaged or mutilated, a replacement DL can be requested online by following these steps: Create an online account (if you haven’t previously). If you’ve submitted a Change of Address (COA) confirm that the change has been processed and wait 14 days before requesting a replacement DL. (Confirmation can be done in the COA system.)

Be prepared to pay a fee for your replacement driver’s license. You should receive your new DL card in the mail within two to four weeks. If you have not received your DL card after 60 days, call 1-800-7770133 to check the status.

Question: My car registration is out of date, and I don’t have time to visit the DMV before the holidays. Can I renew my registration online?

Answer: Yes! Skip the line this holiday season and renew your vehicle registration online. The DMV offers a variety of online services that make

completing your DMV business easy and efficient, from renewing vehicle registration to changing your address, or driver’s license renewal – and much more! You can find a list of online services at dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmvonline/. In addition to online services, the DMV offers other methods for completing select transactions to help reduce your trips to the DMV and save you time this holiday season, including DMV kiosks and Business Partner Automation (BPA) locations: DMV kiosks are freestanding self-service touchscreen devices that guide you through various DMV transactions, from registration renewal and payment to submitting proof of insurance. You can find a list of DMV kiosk locations at https://www.dmv. ca.gov/portal/locations/kiosks/.Our Business Partner Automation (BPA) program authorizes qualified partners to process vehicle related transactions, including vehicle registration and titling, from their remote locations.

For more information or answers to questions not listed here, please visit www.dmv.ca.gov.

“For its part, the DBM (Department of Budget and Management) strictly adheres to the Marcos Jr. administration’s eight-point socioeconomic agenda, wherein programs dedicated to food security, improved transportation, affordable and clean energy, health care, social services, education, bureaucratic efficiency, and sound fiscal management are given

priorities so no Filipino will be left behind.”

This year's celebration carries the theme, "Bonifacio 2022: Kabayanihan at Pagtindig sa Makabagong Panahon".

Bonifacio, dubbed the “Father of the Philippine Revolution”, was born in Tondo, Manila on Nov. 30, 1863. Unlike other national heroes, Bonifacio is remembered on his birthday rather than the date of his death as he was killed by his fellow Filipinos and not by Spanish colonizers.

Bonifacio was one of the founders of the “Kataas-taasang, Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan” or “Katipunan”, a secret revolutionary movement that fought for the Philippines’ independence from Spain.

He became “Supremo” (Supreme leader) of the Katipunan in 1895 but was forcefully replaced by Emilio Aguinaldo in 1897.

He was executed by his fellow Katipuneros on May 10, 1897, after Aguinaldo accused him of treason. (MNS)

By Mark Hedin/eMS

LOS ANGELES, CA -- For 25 years, California’s Contractor Development and Bonding Program has been working to expand and diversify the state’s contracting industry.

It’s a win-win.

Taxpayers save money on public projects when a larger pool of qualified bidders compete for government contracts, which go to whichever one offers the lowest price.

And the ability to do those jobs provides security for people who may not have college educations, financing or anything more than their skills — whether as painters, landscapers, electricians and so on — and a willingness to work hard.

Even in times of economic ups and downs, contracting work persists, often planned years before, for completion years later.

But small local, minority, and woman-owned contractors nonetheless have to overcome many challenges as they develop their businesses.

To help them succeed and grow, CDABP has an array of programs available at no charge, that can take them all the way from completing their contracting license to submitting winning bids for government contracts and partnering with other businesses.

The insurance brokerage Merriwether & Williams, itself a women and minority-owned business, oversees CDABP, forming relationships with clients that can continue for years as their work progresses and business grows.

“Right now, we have a shortage of an adequate number of contracting firms for the level of work being done and being contemplated over the next few years,” Ingrid Merriwether said in an interview with Ethnic Media Services.

“Whenever you have a supply and demand imbalance, it’s going to cost the taxpayers, because contractors can charge higher prices because

there’s just an inadequate number of them in a position to compete.”

“For smaller contractors, minority contractors who haven’t been participating at an adequate level or an equity level, this is an opportunity to address that. The need is there,” she said.

Kathryn Barger, District 5 County Supervisor, recently pointed out, for instance, that Los Angeles has $120 billion worth of projects in the pipeline, such as for the 2028 Olympics and LA Metro transit expansion, funded by Measure M, from 2016.

CDABP can help clients access other policies intended to encourage small and minority business participation in government contracts, too, along with training on estimating jobs, successful contract bidding, obtaining insurance — including by arranging collateral pledges — partnering with other contractors and navigating the diverse requirements of different government agencies.

Government contracting opportunities extend far beyond heavy industrial work such as

repaving roads or extending subway lines.

The Department of Public Works website, for instance, lists thousands of open contracts for needs as varied as graffiti removal, tree-trimming, waste-hauling and advertising signage.

And among hundreds of county listings are contracts for working with bloodhounds on investigations, transporting bodies from hospitals to crematories and for a vendor to supply 150,000 legal folders.

A key challenge in securing government contracts that CDABP can help with is state and federal laws that bidders be “bonded” — have insurance to protect taxpayers if the contractor can’t finish the work.

“In a commercial or private marketplace, it’s just optional for the owner, but in public construction, it’s not optional, because these are taxpayer dollars,” Merriwether explained.

“When a public agency hires a contractor to build something, there’s a risk.

“If the contractor, let’s say,

halfway through the contract, he’s like, ‘forget this, I’m not going to make any money on this job, I’m going to just walk,’ well, now the taxpayers are left hanging and they need some remedies.

“So a bond coming from a bonding company then gets triggered, and the bonding company shows up and says, ‘OK, we bonded this job, we’re now responsible.’

“So the bonding company will bring in a new contractor and complete the work at their expense. If you’re a subcontractor, the bonding company is going to make sure that if you have a legitimate invoice, you’re paid for the work that you did.”

But over the years the CDABP has been running, Merriwether said, “out of 1,100 bond transactions covering $331 million of public construction work, we’ve only had two contractors ever fail to complete their projects.

“That’s where that term came from, that my word is my bond.”

Networking events and training programs, such as a recent one on

meeting OSHA requirements, can lead to subcontractor relationships with the bigger companies sometimes conducting them.

Merriwether also provides clients with weekly updates on state bidding opportunities.

Workshops on how to successfully submit bids are followed up with document reviews as bids are made, and help getting audits by accounting firms when required.

CDABP can offer start-up contractors all these services for free in part because the state has a mandate to ensure that companies working for the government are reflective of their communities.

“We are advocates for small businesses. It’s our job to make sure you can do business with us,” Keith Compton, director of diversity and economic opportunity for LA Metro said at the event Barger hosted.

“We’re very serious about this.”

Those interested in joining CDABP can contact Merriwether & Williams at mwisinfo@imwis.com or by calling (213) 258-3000.