The Filipino Press: February 10-16, 2023

MANILA -- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday pledged to provide 600 billion yen (USD4.6 billion) in official development assistance (ODA) and private-sector investment to support the Philippines’ economic development plan to become an upper middle-income country by 2025.

Kishida made the announcement in a joint press conference with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. after witnessing the signing of seven bilateral documents and agreements between the two countries at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo. He said the assistance will be given to the Philippines over two years through March 2024.

The Philippines is currently classified as a lower-middle-income economy by the World Bank.

7 bilateral agreements

Meanwhile, Marcos and Kishida witnessed the signing of several bilateral agreements that cover cooperation in infrastructure development, defense, agriculture, and information and communications technology. These agreements are:

1. Exchange of Notes on Japanese Official Development Project: NorthSouth Commuter Railway Extension (NSCR) Project (II);

2. Exchange of Notes on Japanese Official Development Project: NSCR - Malolos to Tutuban Project (II);

3. Loan Agreement for the NSCR Extension Project (II);

4. Loan Agreement for the NSCRMalolos to Tutuban Project (II);

5. Umbrella Term of Reference (TOR) on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Cooperation

6. Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) between the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Ministry of

Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on Agriculture Cooperation

7. MOC in the Field of Information and Communications Technology

In his speech, Marcos said the signing of agreements “further cemented” both countries’

commitment to their strategic partnership.

“…After our meeting, I can confidently say that our strategic partnership is stronger than ever as we navigate together the rough waters buffeting our region. The future of our

relationship remains full of promise as we continue to deepen and expand our engagements across a wide range of mutually beneficial cooperation,” he said.

Invitation to visit PH

Marcos, likewise, invited Kishida

to the Philippines for a “return visit in the very near future.”

He said he also had the honor of being granted an audience with Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako and also invited them to visit the Philippines as well. Marcos is currently in Japan from Feb. 8 to 12 to forge closer bilateral ties and lure more investments.

He earlier emphasized the need for the Philippines and Japan to “revitalize” business partnerships that were somewhat made “dormant” by the Covid-19 pandemic, saying this would contribute to the growth of both their economies. (MNS)

PBBM to Japanese investors: PH committed to upskilling, reskilling Filipino workers President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. made a commitment to Japanese investors Thursday that the Philippine government will pursue intensified efforts to upskill and reskill Filipino workers so they can remain competitive under the new global economy and technological advances. “We also consider very important the programs that you have elucidated here today about the upskilling and reskilling of our workforce,” President Marcos said during the roundtable discussion with semi-conductor, electronics and wiring harness companies in Japan.

“It’s very clear that we are shifting in the world economy, away from the more traditional, industrial activities to a high technology world,” the chief

By Mark Hedin/eMS

FEMA, the federal Small Business Administration, Cal OES and community organizations are pulling out all the stops to speed aid to victims of California's recent torrential rains.

If you’re a California business or nonprofit owner who could use a couple of million dollars to get back on your feet after this winter’s rainstorms, the federal government may have you covered.

Or if you’ve got up to $41,000 in personal expenses you can’t meet and insurance won’t pay for, FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Administration, might be able to help you out there, too.

At a Jan. 31 press briefing hosted by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), along with Listos California, five speakers detailed how people can get this and other help from federal, state and local governments and community based organizations.

“We’re known for our wildfires and earthquakes,” said Diana

Crofts-Pelayo, of Cal OES. “We hadn’t really thought that we would have a major flooding incident in California.”

But after “nine atmospheric rivers, trillions of gallons of water, many weeks of wind, snow and rain and 21 deaths recorded so far,” she said, the federal government has approved Gov. Newsom’s request for emergency declarations for nine California counties, making them eligible for immediate federal assistance.

Now, FEMA, the federal Small Business Administration, Cal OES and community organizations led by Listos California are pulling out all the stops to speed aid to the people who need it.

Some checks have already been cut.

FEMA has established 10 disaster recovery centers. Additionally, there are seven local assistance centers open under the auspices of Cal OES, with another seven coming soon, Crofts-Pelayo said.

Listos California has compiled a

list of disaster recovery resources, available in simplified Chinese, Spanish, Korean, English, Filipino, Vietnamese.

“We have multiple overlapping disasters,” Robert Troy, also of Cal OES, said, citing ongoing wildfire and earthquake projects dating back to 2020.

“So, every time we go out and repair a damaged road or facility post-disaster, we encourage local communities to also invest in mitigation so we can better withstand future disasters.”

Troy also cited the federally and state funded Public Assistance Program, which, like the federal approval of the hardest-hit counties cited by Gov. Newsom, is operating in Calaveras, Merced, Monterey, Sacramento, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz counties. “We expect more counties to be added,” Troy added.

From “mass care and emergency services, disaster case management, crisis counseling assistance, legal services and disaster unemployment assistance, individual assistance is a pretty sizable subcomponent of FEMA,” said FEMA Region 9 Emergency Management Specialist Brian Bui, stationed in Oakland.

Additionally, through its individual and household programs (IHP), “two main subcomponents include housing assistance and other needs assistance.

“Survivors may be eligible

SCRIPPS RANCH, CA -- Legal experts in the field of immigration and nationality law will share their best practices and tips regarding employment-based and family-based visas, removal, and citizenship.

The free event is scheduled for Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Garcia Hong Law, 10680 Treena Street, Suite 160, San Diego, California. The event is hosted by Pag-asa Law Clinic, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit group founded in 2019.

With over 200,000 Filipinos in San Diego County, Pag-asa Law Clinic is the first Filipino-based Law Clinic serving Filipinos regardless of legal status and the greater community in Southern California.

The clinic provides pro bono (free) or low-cost legal services in the areas of immigration, naturalization, temporary restraining orders, and unlawful detainers.

“We want the Filipino community in San Diego to know that Pag-asa Law Clinic is here as a resource for them. We are here to help you navigate complicated legal problems and get you the access to justice that you deserve.” said Diana Laranang, President of Pag-asa Law Clinic. Pag-asa Law Clinic recognized the challenges for the Filipino community to access lawyers. “It’s not easy asking for help with personal legal issues. Pag-asa Law Clinic wants to make the legal process as easy as possible while providing the help our community needs,” said Valerie Garcia Hong, Director of Pag-asa Law Clinic and Attorney at Garcia Hong Law.

During the panel event, experts in the fields of immigration and nationality law will share their insight on various types of non-immigrant visas and immigrant visas, that are employment-based and family-law based. The experts include Grachielle Tenorio, Law Office of Grachielle Tenorio; Aaron Giron, Law Office of Aaron Giron; and Ian Seruelo, Law Office of Ian Seruelo. The panel will be moderated by Bessie Samson, Attorney at Horton Oberrecht & Kirkpatrick.

According to a 2020 University of California San Diego study, 27.1% of

the City of San Diego’s population is foreign-born. Approximately 67,900 foreign-born persons in the City of San Diego are undocumented. In 2020, 13% of the 344,000 foreignborn population in San Diego were from the Philippines. Pag-asa Law Clinic is run by volunteer attorneys and law student interns. “Pag-asa Law Clinic is ‘of the people, for the people.’ Our volunteers are actual members of the community who understand and relate to the legal issues Filipinos

Francine, Our Dearest Pampered Pinay…

By Theresa maigue- Bendorf Francine, Our Dearest Pampered

Pinay…

It is so hard to believe 2-22-23 is just around the corner. To say that this has been the toughest year of our lives is an understatement.

Losing you and the universe gaining an Angel still doesn’t seem fair. Yet that is our reality. A reality that we endure each day.

But you fill our days with many surprises and unique experiences, as you did in life, you continue

from afar. With…

Every old memory that makes us smile.

A gorgeous ray of sunshine that peeks through the clouds.

The angel numbers we spot.

Every penny you drop for us to find in the strangest locations.

A complete rainbow that appears.

The meaningful songs that play on the radio at the most appropriate moment.

Every beautiful multicolored sunset.

A sense of calm we feel after a night of anguish.

The best friend that lifts our spirit when we have self doubt.

We know it’s you communicating and sharing your love.

We miss you, our dear Francine! Our forever Pampered Pinay!

Your Family & Friends

Please share 2-22-23 with us at 2pm at Greenwood Memorial Park for Francine’s 1 year commemoration. Please RSVP Theresa at 619-997-5138 your name and how many guests in your party will be attending so we may plan accordingly.

Francine Antoinette Maigue

Day of Commemoration

February 22, 2023

2pm

Greenwood Memorial Park and Mortuary 4300 Imperial Ave, San Diego, CA 92113

Text Theresa to RSVP 619-997-5138

Your comments could be featured here! Again, just email us at filpressads@aol.com Got a business or event we should know about and that our fil-am community should know about and can benefit from? Do not hesitate to reach out to us.

The Maigue and Bendorf Families during one of their happier moments. We are requesting for community prayers for our very own Francine (9th, l-r), who passed a year ago and healing for her family and loved ones. Dedicated and loving of her family, friends and community, we will be re-printing Francine's article/s which was earlier published, yet remains relevant to the times, filled with valuable insights and life lessons that are timeless.

Missed an issue of our print newspaper? Come and visit us at www.thefilipinopress.com and get access to the digital version of our print edition. Available 24/7days/365 days a year. Check back every week for ways to pamper yourself and those you love. Why? The answer is simple: YOU DESERVE IT!

‘Bayanihan’ among ASEAN leaders urged to ensure quality education

MANILA -- The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday urged leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to embrace the spirit of "bayanihan" (cooperation) to improve the quality of education in the region.

In a statement, the DepEd cited how Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte underscored its urgency given the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic in the education sector.

“Vice President and Secretary of Education Sara Z. Duterte calls for unity and urgency in addressing learning gaps and education equality in her message during the opening of the Southeast Asian Education Ministers for the 52nd SEAMEO Council Conference,” it said.

During the conference, Duterte highlighted how helpful bayanihan can be, especially in addressing issues in accessibility to quality education.

“In the Philippines, the term bayanihan is used to describe the acts of coming together to work for a common goal… I urged everyone to embrace the spirit of bayanihan keeping in mind who is at the heart of the work that we do. Our ASEAN learners and the future leader of our countries. Like the act of the bayanihan, let us continue to value education as a shared duty,” Duterte said.

“We need to act now. We cannot afford to waste more time. As education leaders, we cannot allow ASEAN children to miss out on the beauty and benefits of learning and the wonders of being able to use it to positively impact ASEAN and the world,” she added.

The education chief made the call following assessments of the impacts of the pandemic, including the learning gaps due to the halt in in-person classes.

“Data from UNICEF indicates that more than half of 10-yearolds in low- and middle-income countries were unable to read or comprehend a simple story even before the pandemic. In addition, learning poverty, or the inability to read and comprehend a basic text by the age of 10, has gotten worse because of the disruption in schooling and is currently thought to be close to 70 percent,” she said.

For the part of the Philippines, the DepEd vowed to intensify its efforts to realize its MATATAG (resilient) agenda, which stands for “MAking the curriculum relevant to produce job-ready, active and responsible citizens; TAking steps to accelerate the delivery of basic education facilities and provision of services; TAking good care of learners by promoting learner wellbeing, inclusive education, and a positive learning environment; and Giving support for teachers to teach better.”

“The Philippine government, under the leadership of our President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., has committed to the MATATAG education agenda and has made a national commitment to increase investments in education… The

President has emphasized that we cannot fail our children. We need to help them so that they become great,” Duterte said. The DepEd earlier disclosed priority reforms to be pushed in the education sector during its Basic Education Report (BER) 2023. Included on the key aspects vowed to be addressed are problems on infrastructures, including lack of adequate spaces and disaster-incurred loss; the need for revision in several parts of the curriculum; the need to intensify the protection of children’s rights and welfare; corruption; as well as lack of support to teachers, among others.

Despite these, Duterte said the administration’s initiative puts the country on-track to achieve inclusive and quality education.

'Dream, finish schooling,' Popcom exec tells young girls

The Commission on Population and Development (Popcom) has urged young women to stay focused on their life ambitions to avoid early pregnancy and finish their schooling.

"Mangarap sila. Magkaroon sila ng plano sa buhay nang sa ganoon ay meron silang motibasyon para makapagtapos ng pag-aaral (They should dream. They should create plans for their lives so that they will have the motivation to finish school)," Popcom Deputy Executive Director Lolito Tacardon said during a televised interview aired over One PH on Wednesday evening.

Tacardon also urged young girls “to consult with their parents and adults, and to be critical in absorbing information they get from the Internet.”

He made the call after the release of Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data which showed that between 2016 and 2020, registered births to adolescent mothers aged 10 years to 14 years increased by 11 percent, from 1,903 in 2016 to 2,113, or 0.14 percent of all registered births in 2020.

The worse part of the data, Tacardon said, is the fact that most of the young girls were impregnated by older men aged 20 years and above.

"In such situation nababahala tayo dahil alam naman natin (we are alarmed because we know that) in the first place, yung mga edad na yun ay sa batas natin sexual abuse na yun eh (at those ages, it is considered by our laws as sexual abuse)," he said.

Tacardon said Popcom, together with other concerned agencies, has emphasized in various programs the goal of the government in giving the adolescents the capacity to reach for their ambitions in life.

Relatedly, Senator Sonny Angara has filed Senate Resolution 462 to discuss the alarming data and create new policies that will solve the problem.

"Nakakabahala ang usaping ito at posibleng lumala kung hindi mabibigyan ng kaukulang atensyon (This issue is alarming and could possibly worsen if not properly addressed)," the chair of the Senate Committee on Youth said.

Angara said among the solutions is to strengthen the government's campaign against teenage pregnancy, such as its comprehensive sexuality education and reproductive health and rights services.

Sara Duterte: Reading issues got worse due to COVID-19 school disruption

School closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic have affected the ability of children to read and comprehend, Vice President Sara Duterte said on Wednesday.

Speaking before the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Council, Duterte pointed out the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the country’s education system.

“The recent global health crisis has shown some of our weakest areas of our country’s education system and has worsened education inequality. The younger, vulnerable, and disadvantaged children are among most affected,” Duterte said.

“Learning poverty or inability to read and comprehend basic text by the age of 10 has gotten worse because of the disruption in schooling,” she added.

Duterte said that the problems in education were not just the department’s problems but also a mission for the next generation.

“Like the act of bayanihan, let us continue to value education as a shared duty,” Duterte said.

Duterte also highlighted DepEd’s MATATAG: Bansang Makabata, Batang Makabansa agenda, which was launched during her presentation of the Basic Education Report 2023 on January 30.

This agenda envisions implementing resilient reforms in the curriculum, education services, and provision of facilities, learner well-being, and teacher support programs.

“The DepEd in the Philippines will continue to support the strategic partnership between the ASEAN, education sector, and SEAMEO to address two pressing issues: equitable access to education and post-pandemic recovery,” Duterte said.

She also urged education leaders to act now to solve other problems hounding the education system.

The Philippines, represented by Duterte, will be formally elected as the SEAMEO Council President on Thursday, February 9, during the Plenary Session.

With this, DepEd is expected to lead the Council from 2023 to 2025.

Currently, the SEAMEO Council President is Singapore, while the Philippines is the Vice President.

“As the SEAMEO Council convenes today, I urge everyone to embrace the spirit of bayanihan, keeping in mind who is at the heart of the work that we do —-our ASEAN and learners, and the future leaders of our countries," Duterte said.

"Like the act of bayanihan, let us continue to value education as a shared duty,” she added. (MNS)

Continued from page 1

executive said.

According to President Marcos, it is something that the Philippines must prepare for, expressing confidence that with the proper training and assistance of the Filipino workforce, the Philippines will certainly be able to provide the technical manpower, which is going to be required for the new economy.

The President said his government puts a premium on the operation of Japanese companies in the Philippines being the country’s prime job generator, support provider for sectors critical to industrial development, and value creator through innovation in manufacturing around the world.

The President promised to address the issues raised by bus executives such as value-added tax (VAT) refund issues, logistics,and manpower requirements, among others. Cabinet secretaries accompanying the President also gave specific answers in addressing the issues raised by the Japanese companies.

With his economic agenda pursuing an investment-led export growth strategy, Marcos vowed to respond to their concerns, saying: “And it is why we have taken note of the comments that you have made, specifically in the areas of the VAT exemption, in the problems of logistic and supply chains, and to that end, the infrastructure development in the Philippines has actually been accelerated.”

“We have listened to your concerns and your issues, and we intend to respond to these challenges with a whole-of-government approach. The hope is that our strength in these sectors will beget more strength in the entire Philippine industrial landscape to the benefit of the Philippines and also of our partners and our investors,” the President said.

The Philippines aspires to a become hub of excellence for sectors where it has a natural comparative advantage, President Marcos said, adding the country aims to attain the status as a regional hub for printers, wiring harnesses and other electronic goods.

The Philippine wiring harness exports have been growing on average

by 9 percent every year, over a 20year period, from 2000 to 2021, and is now the 4th largest exporter of wiring harnesses in the world.

The automotive wiring harness market is expected to surpass USD93 billion this year, with global demand for greater fuel efficiency and electric vehicles fueling growth in the coming years.

PH, Japan affirm defense, security cooperation

The Philippines and Japan on Thursday affirmed their commitment to strengthen defense and security cooperation during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s five-day official trip to Tokyo.

In a joint statement, Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said this would be done through “strategic reciprocal port calls and aircraft visits, transfer of more defense equipment and technology, continuous cooperation on previouslytransferred defense equipment and capacity building.”

“In concrete terms, the leaders affirmed to strengthen efforts to complete transfer of air-surveillance radars systems, and for its related personnel training,” the statement read.

Marcos referred to Japan’s useful defense equipment transfer program, and the potential for deepening collaboration, joint work, and interoperability.

Terms of reference

The two leaders also welcomed the signing of the Terms of Reference (TOR) concerning Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Activities of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) in the Republic of the Philippines.

The TOR aims to simplify the procedures for visits to the Philippines by the JSDF, as one of the efforts to enhance and facilitate cooperation on HADR.

“The leaders concurred to continue to consider ways to further advance defense cooperation including through frameworks that will enhance and facilitate education and training exchanges as well as reciprocal visits of defense and military officials,” the statement read.

Aside from defense, other bilateral documents and agreements signed during Marcos’ official trip to Japan

are cooperations in infrastructure development, agriculture, and information and communications technology.

Marcos and Kishida also welcomed the progress of bilateral defense exchanges such as through the Vice Minister's Defense Dialogue in December 2022, Staff Talks in July 2022, Japan-Philippines Military-toMilitary Meeting (MM) in October 2022.

Marcos, likewise, welcomed Japan’s intention to establish a new cooperation framework for the benefit of armed forces and other related organizations of recipient countries for the purpose of deepening security cooperation.

Maritime dialogue

Marcos and Kishida also reaffirmed efforts to reinforce Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) and maritime law enforcement based on international law, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), for the stability in the South China Sea and the Sulu–Celebes Seas, and their surrounding areas.

They affirmed the importance of regular bilateral engagements through the Maritime Dialogue, for maritime policy coordination and the effective pursuit of projects and activities, whose fifth meeting is expected in the first quarter of 2023.

Marcos welcomed Japan’s spport to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) by way of implementing the memorandum of cooperation (MOC) on coast guard affairs in January 2017.

He thanked Kishida for the training and scholarships for PCG personnel and staff-to-staff programs by the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) and the continued dispatch of JICA experts.

The two leaders also committed to strengthening knowledge transfer and sharing Japan’s best practices, including through the “SAPPHIRE” in collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard.

Marcos also expressed satisfaction with concrete projects for the enhancement of maritime law enforcement capabilities, such as the development of a PCG Subic Bay support base, which could serve as the home of Japan-made 97-meter-class patrol vessels, and the installation of a satellite communications system on patrol vessels. (MNS)

ORGANIC AND AFFORDABLE. People choose to buy organic vegetables at the Kadiwa store inside the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards along Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City on Thursday (Feb. 9, 2023). Kadiwa stores are in operation across the country to give Filipinos access to low-priced agricultural products. (MNS photo)

PBBM

2023 VALENTINES DAY SPECIAL: ABOUT PASSPORT BROTHERS CHOOSING TRADITION, OF THE LOVE THAT SAVED A FASCINATING CITY

ON FILIPINAS LOOKING FOR LOVE IN THE FAROES AND SAYING “YES” ” TO ROMANCE

SAN DIEGO, CA -- Valentine’s Day is one of the first times couples can get away to spark or rekindle a romance after the busy winter holiday season. This year signifies that we all need a little more love in our lives, as searches for Valentine’s Day travel plans jumped by 45% compared to 2022, according to Allianz Partner USA’s Top Valentine’s Day Destinations report..

And heaven-sent signs, loving surprises and secret admirers – and of unusual but heartwarming ones –these divine stories show us the many kinds of love on Valentine’s Day.

So folks, make your 2023 Valentines’ Day celebration more meaningful by reading amazing stories of love. No matter what type of Valentine – romantic love, familial love, or the love between two close foreign friends – Valentine’s Day narratives can be a wonderful way to commemorate the day and that captivating thing called love.

Everything about this was foreign. It was just introducing something online that was news to me and somewhat intriguing and interesting at the same time from a feature writer’s point of view.

The #PassportBros has officially divided our internet if I must say it. Evidently, a growing group of thousands of Black men is preaching to more menfolk on social media platforms that women in other countries particularly those from Brazil, Colombia and Southeast Asian nations such as our beloved old homeland – the Philippines – are the best source for a “traditional woman” to settle down with.

If you will just follow the hashtag - you’ll see Black men of all ages describing their experiences with the opposite sex in other countries compared to the women in the United States.

They consist of stories of people traveling and living abroad to find inner peace and happiness as a person of color on this earth. Undoubtedly, Black people have suffered through so many forms of prejudice in the United States that they’ve sought other countries to feel like human beings.

The #PassportBros movement could be seen as an annex to the same “state of calm, serenity and tranquility of mind that arise due to having no sufferings or mental disturbances such as worry, anxiety, greed, desire, hatred, ill-will, delusion and/or other defilements” concept. It tells about a group of Black men who don’t feel needed and admired by Black women and for that reason they consequently start looking for love overseas. They travel to different destinations worldwide and find happiness with a partner of the opposite sex in those chosen countries.

On the other side of the coin, Black

WITH FOREIGNERS

women and other women of color in America have gone to their TikToks and social media accounts to speak against the # PassportBros movement passionately. Black women in America already have so much on their shoulders, one account says; for many of them, this developement is the straw that finally broke the camels’ back, so to speak.

Most of their rebuttals are that #PassportBros are “weak” and that Black men don’t know how to court strong Black women. Some of the women believe that the# PassportBros true intentions are to have sex with foreign women and that they are not genuinely searching for true love.

Other women have gone as far as to say they are emulating their “white masters” who have been notoriously known for “colonizing” and going to third-world countries to find submissive wives for decades. Some women stated that they’re getting foreign women at the exchange rate, as foreign women only want those men for the little bit of money they gave them, and they aren’t actually falling in love with them either. Black women who are anti-passport brothers have called these men scum, predator and in some instances pedophiles.

Even more interesting is the feedback from women in other countries which include some of our women “kababayan’s” response.

They are also going to their TikToks in support of the Passport Bros, stating that some women in the Western world simply don’t know how to “treat their men.” Some remark that American women lack femininity, and when these men get to these chosen countries, they treat them like men “should” be treated. They proudly postulated about their traditional values and beliefs even if they aren’t from countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom or even Australia, for that matter.

However, a group of Black men also spoke against the Passport Bros, claiming they’re just a group of guys with “no game.” The “Bros couldn’t land a successful Black woman because they lacked intelligence.”

Or, similar to what the Black women were stating, the Passport Bros are just a group of liars looking to sexually exploit different countries because they were never accepted in social circles where they’re from.

Now, Is it positive for Black men to find love in other countries? Or is this just another excuse to find love without putting in the work while undervaluing Black women?

What say you?

No matter how you slice it, the reality is that the Passport Bros movement seems to continue to grow and prosper. One of their Facebook groups has over 10,000 followers.

Men of all ethnicities and tax brackets are also taking to social media now more than ever and expressing their personal experiences to the rest of the world.

Your thoughts on this subject matter this Valentine’s Day of 2023?

Moving on and starting from “the new seven wonders of the world” there is definitely one Philippine city that is not only magnificent when it comes to its appearance but its narrative and history is one that can also make anyone astounded. And

that city is of course, none other than the City of Vigan on the west coast of Luzon situated in the northern province of Ilocos Sur. It is known for its preserved Spanish colonial and Asian architecture. Calle Crisologo dominates the “Mestizo” district with its cobblestone streets, stonebuilt esplanade along the waterfront, horse-drawn carriages and rustic mansions. Near the white baroque Vigan Cathedral is Plaza Salcedo offering fountain light shows and Plaza Burgos known for its streetfood stalls.

Once you go there, you certainly

Jesse T. Reyes Filipino Potpourri

much of the Philippine capital making Manila the second most devastated Allied capital in the Second World War next only to Warsaw, Poland.

Indeed, Manila which is the capital city and center of trade has taken vast damages. Other provinces also faced the same fate but there is one town that was spared from indiscriminate bombing during the war and that was Vigan.

Inevitably, the question is asked: Why did Vigan survived?

The answer to this puzzle lies at the heart of a new play, “Babae ng Digman”/Woman of War presented at the Meralco Theater back in our beloved old homeland, the Philippines. The story of why Ilocos Sur’s gracious capital still stands intact is truly a magical tale, a narrative worth savoring.

As in all such tales of magic, the circumstances have something to do with matters of the heart. Filipinos are used to stereotypical images of the brutality of Japanese soldiers during the Second World War. What is often lost among such trite depictions are the nuances of the many relationships which arose between the people of Japan and the Philippines. After all, migrants from the Empire of the Sun have been living in the Philippines for a long time. During the war, even as there were instances of cruelty and violence, there were also moments of tenderness and compassion.

in the area. Evidently because of their adoration for their Filipina ladies and for the town they have grown to love too – the Japanese officers decided that their troops should just withdraw to the mountains and go from there thus sparing the town from mass destruction.

And that is why Vigan was fortunately saved and spared from the fate that the capital city of Manila sadly suffered.

It is said that nothing else were ever heard off again from the Japanese officers and their men after they withdrew from the City of Vigan.

One gives thanks that in places like Vigan, the horror of war could still produce a thing of beauty: a tale of how the sense of being human transcends race and prejudice, ambitions and intrigues.

And the rest is history, so to speak.

Meanwhile, on the far side of the Atlantic Ocean, Filipino women are saving the population of the remote Faroe Islands, one marriage at a time.

With its harsh, windswept hills and six-month winter, the remote Faroe Islands are hardly where you would expect a large ethnic minority from tropical Southeast Asia.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has awakened the world from its postCold War stupor. The iron curtain has been lifted and exposed Russia’s Vladimir Putin’s naked ambition to regain the glory of the old USSR. In the process, the ongoing war in Ukraine has destabilized the European region and has the potential to destabilize Southeast Asia as well based on multiple calculations that involve China, Russia’s ally in his madness.

North Korea was identified by U.S. intelligence as reported in the media, of supplying arms to Russia along with China. Such involvement brings the prospect of the war expanding to Southeast Asia. Japan and South Korea have an ongoing dispute with North Korea and China over disputed territories and have been at odds with North Korea’s provocations.

Add to that, China’s saber rattling over Taiwan makes war now a distinct possibility. A U.S. Air Force commander has predicted the imminence of war with China’s possible invasion of Taiwan and

subsequent war could likely follow by 2025. Such invasion will bring to bear the might of the United States military along with allied countries like South Korea and Japan. Both countries have been arming its military for a potential conflict in the region. Having such a backdrop, the Philippines has become a key player in such a scenario with the potential for the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the United States being triggered if such an invasion would occur since it was openly claimed that Taiwan is a national interest for the United States. Ergo, an attack on Taiwan is an attack on the United States. If the MDT is triggered, what can the Philippines possibly contribute to the prosecution of the war since the Philippine military is ill-equipped?

The short answer is nothing. The Philippines cannot even provide a military counterbalance to China’s military incursions in the West Philippine Sea and has to rely on diplomacy to prevent an escalation

will feel the ambiance of the historic past. It is definitely a perfect place to contemplate Filipino-Spanish heritage and history.

Perhaps, you may be asking how the town survive World War II with all its destructions and havoc brought practically all over the Philippine archipelago?

The Battle of Manila during World War II lasted from 3 February to 13 March 1945, and still remains one of the most painful episodes of the country’s history. The battle engulfed

In the case of Vigan, two love affairs blossomed and bore fruits. The first was between Belen Castillo and Major Sakae Narloka. The second involved Adela Tolentino and Captain Fujiro Takahashi. So concerned were the Japanese Army officers for their Filipino wives and families that they would bravely defy their superiors’ orders to burn Vigan. All they asked for their acts of courage was that their loved ones be spared by the citizenry from the sad fate of others who become intimately associated with the departing defeated former conquerors.

According to the story, the Americans wanted to bomb Vigan because of the large Japanese garrison there. But the attack and destruction were halted and redirected to a place elsewhere. The current priest then at that time had informed the Americans that these occupiers have left and there were no more Japanese soldiers

But since most local young women choose to move abroad, women from the Philippines and Thailand are helping to reverse the population decline of this tight-knit, traditional society. Nestled between Norway and Iceland in the North Atlantic, life on the archipelago of 18 islands is a shock for those from the topics.

Yet this remote community is proving that it’s worth going to the far reaches of the Earth to look for love.

As you should all know by now, there’s a shortage of women in the Faroe Islands, So local men are increasingly seeking wives from further afield – Thailand - and the Philippines in particular. But what’s it like for the brides who swap the tropics for this windswept archipelago?

Originally from the Philippines, Antonette Eghol happily noted that she hasn’t encountered any antiimmigrant sentiment.

“People here are friendly, she explains, “and I’ve never experienced any negative reactions to my being a foreigner. I lived in metro Manila

Foreign Policy Rebalancing for the Philippines

in the South China Sea. It is a foreign policy dilemma for President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. who is trying to position itself in the middle without taking sides.

The problem for the Philippines is that the horse has already left the barn and the wartime scenario in the region has been in motion for quite some time. While President Marcos wants the U.S. to stay away from the maritime dispute with China in the South China Sea, he really does not have a whole lot of choice unless he can slam the brakes pronto and allow the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) to lapse in 2024.

Let’s rewind for a minute to the year 2011 when then U.S. President Barack Obama declared a policy shift to a “Pivot in Asia.” The pivot was a rebalancing after decades of war in the Middle East. Although the thrust at that time was more on economic and diplomacy elements, there was a security aspect to it that required preposition of military assets.

The MDT and the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) were not tailored to allow the United States basing rights in the Philippines.

During the time of President Benigno Aquino III, Philippine confrontation with China over disputed islands in the South China Sea has reached a crescendo. In particular, Aquino’s belligerent decision to

aggressively confront China over its alleged non-compliance with a U.S. brokered deal between the Philippines and China on the Scarborough Shoal in 2012.

A standoff occurred in 2012 between the Philippine Navy and Chinese vessels on Scarborough Shoal, an uninhabited rock in the South China Sea that both countries claim to be theirs. Aquino’s assertion that the brokered agreement was for both country’s vessels to leave the area. The Philippines withdrew its forces, but China didn't, thus the alleged breach.

The problem though is that China denied such agreement. The U.S. diplomat who supposedly brokered the deal and has since retired, could not confirm the agreement. Furthermore, China has effectively retained control of the atoll because of its constant military presence. In 2016, UNCLOS rendered an arbitral ruling that the shoal lies within the Philippine Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ) but the Philippines could not enforce its will following the ruling.

Coincidentally, it was in that same year that President Aquino was convinced by the Americans that his country needed the military backing of the United States for it to be able to get China to cooperate. Thus, the EDCA agreement came into play and paved the road to where we are now today. EDCA allowed American

forces to have rotational presence in five Philippine military bases in strategic locations in the Visayas with close proximity to the West Philippine Sea and Luzon (South China Sea and Taiwan).

It was reported in the media that the United States wanted the additional five other bases stipulated in the agreement. Marcos publicly indicated his desire to review the MDT and that talks on the additional five bases are on hold. His foreign affairs factotums, however, told media outlets in the Philippines that the talks are progressing smoothly.

This is where the rubber hits the road.

Will Marcos act boldly or acquiesce to the American request at the expense of Philippine-Chinese relations? The EDCA was a 10-year agreement when signed in 2014 and set to expire next year. It appears that the sudden impetus to fully implement EDCA by pushing for five more bases is the imminent expiration of the agreement and the fact that renegotiating it will most likely cost the U.S. more and injects a lot more uncertainty given public pronouncements by Marcos to stay neutral.

Allowing the U.S. access to the five remaining bases will pierce such a veneer of neutrality and could be detrimental to the Philippines not only militarily but economically since China is the country’s number one

trading partner. In 2019, bilateral trade between the two countries amounted to $50 billion and is growing at 17% per year according to published Philippine government data.

In addition, the tug-of-war regarding ownership of the Subic Bay naval shipyard vacated by South Korean Hanjin Corporation has been settled in favor of an American business entity, Cerberus Capital Management. A portion of this shipyard has been reoccupied by the Philippine Navy and potentially can be one of the new U.S. Navy sites under EDCA.

President Marcos is clearly in a pickle. He wants to achieve economic prosperity for his country while staying neutral in the ongoing battle for supremacy between the United States and China. China has waited for a long time to get to this point. China’s provocative moves in the South China Sea was clearly in the radar of the United States but did not intervene and actually allowed China unmolested, to achieve its objectives in the Spratly Islands.

We cannot fully discern the longterm plans of the United States in the Indo-Asia-Pacific Region but given the current exigencies in the region, one should be reminded of the Monroe Doctrine that has really driven America’s unwritten foreign policy that dates back to the early 19th century.

AND

THE MEN THAT CHOOSE TO LEAVE: New #PassportBros hashtag causes outrage amongst American women of color

"BABAE NG DIGMAAN"/WOMAN OF WAR: A new Filipino theater play that depicts Vigan as a city of beauty and how it survived World War II

LOOKING FOR LOVE ON THE FAROE ISLANDS: Now the far-flung Danish islands are enjoying a growing influx of women from the Philippines who are highly desired as wives for Faroese men See

Professional Business Directory

PLACE YOUR AD TODAY! CALL: 619.434-1720 •

Continued from page 1

for rental assistance, temporary lodging, repair assistance or replacement assistance and other needs.” The current maximum for each category of help is $41,000 per household, he said, emphasizing that the deadline for registering is March 16.

“This is for expenses or losses not covered by insurance,” Bui added.

Besides the state local assistance centers and joint disaster recovery centers, where staff is ready to help people navigate the application process, including with inlanguage help, people can also call 1-(800) 621-3362 or go to disasterassistance.gov.

Asked about how immigration

status would affect storm victims’ eligibility for aid, Bui said there are three “categories of eligibility”: U.S. citizen, non-national citizen and qualified alien – someone with a green card or an H1B visa.

Luis Santos-Serrano, of the federal Small Business Administration, described his agency’s low-interest (starting at 3.3055%) physical disaster loan program, available up to $2 million, “for businesses of all sizes, most private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters.”

The loans are available to see operations through not just repairing or replacing damaged materials, but also surviving cash-flow constraints caused by the damage, that caused closures or decreased activity.

“SBA disaster loans are the primary source of money to pay for repair or replacement or cost not

fully covered by insurance or other compensation,” he said.

Homeowners can borrow up to $200,000 to repair or replace their primary residence, and more to rehab rental properties or replace personal property.

He encouraged applying for the loans through the disasterassistance. gov website by the March 16 deadline, and said that doing so does not obligate anyone, but would enable applicants to later accept the loan if they ultimately decide to do so.

The deadline for the working capital loans is Oct. 16, and interest rates for homeowners can be as low as 2.313%, he said. More information is available at 1-(800) 659-9551. There is multilingual one-on-one help available for completing the application process at the disaster assistance centers.

Dayana Contreras, of Catholic Charities of Diocese of Fresno described how Listos California, partnering with Salvation Army, St. Vincent De Paul and local churches, brought truckloads of emergency supplies — such as fresh drinking water and snacks, bags of food by the hundreds, diapers, pillows and blankets – to people in waterdrenched Merced County and, at a fairgrounds Disaster Relief Center, helped people apply to services such as CalFresh, immigration programs including asylee status, help with rent or utilities despite barriers of language, hearing loss and more.

“We’re working all around the clock as we kick off our new disaster case management program,” she said, including hiring more case managers, and expect to be busy for at least the next two years.

Spiritual Life

Are you a spiritually healthy person?

I was browsing through the internet and my attention was caught by this article entitled “20 Signs

You’re A Spiritually Healthy Person.

I thought that this article would be helpful to my readers and so I decided to share it in this column.

“When you meet someone who is spiritually healthy, you’re immediately drawn to that person. You feel good just being around them. These people are magnets of happiness, freedom, generosity, and have the unique ability to enjoy the present moment. The only way you can achieve spiritual satisfaction is by following your heart’s desires. Here are some clues that you can use to stay on the right path. Here are 20 signs you're spiritually healthy: 1. You stepped out of the victim role and now play the game of designing your destiny. 2. You love your life because you're living your soul's purpose.

3. You feel like you're contributing and serving with generosity. 4. You got off the emotional roller coaster, and your emotions feel like smooth waves on a clear day most of the time. 5. You catch yourself when you judge others and realize that what you're judging is intimately related to your own self-acceptance.

6. You don't fear making the wrong decision, because you're aware that there can always be a spiritual lesson.

7. You understand that freedom and happiness are qualities you cultivate from within, and the more you work on them, the more they grow. 8. You

Aurora S. Cudal-Rivera my personal

Testimony

no longer feel like you need to hide out of fear of judgment; you are the full expression of yourself personally and professionally. 9. You spend time in silence daily and crave it when you miss a day, because you feel like something is "off." 10. You have the courage to let go of relationships that no longer benefit you because you understand that they already served their purpose. 11. Your soul is happy because you find a moment to play and dream every single day. 12. You don't feel lonely or disconnected, and you highly appreciate alone time. 13. You seem to notice details, colors, tastes and beauty with a sensibility that makes you feel like a kid. 14. You express your needs and desires with complete confidence and without confrontation. 15. You don't feel like you have to explain your lifestyle, because you understand how it serves you and might not serve others. 16. You're able to be in the now at least 25% of the time; you're fully present

and in joy. 17. You don't second guess yourself because you trust your intuition and act on it. 18. You trust that life is on your side and problems are always opportunities or lessons to be learned. 19. You are able to fall in love over and over again, with your friends, with your partner, with your work. 20. You start your day with an intention and go to bed in gratitude. “

As I went through these 20 indicators of a spiritually healthy person, it occurred to me that the most important factor that makes a person spiritually healthy is his belief in a power greater than himself. For those of us who were raised in the Christian faith, being spiritually healthy means having a close relationship with God and communicating with Him through prayer, and seeking His Will in our life by daily reading of the Holy Bible. I firmly believe that without God in our lives, we are nothing, and with God, everything is possible.

Is there someone who needs your forgiveness today?

But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. ((Matthew 6:15)

Corrie ten Boom (1892-1983) was born in Amsterdam and raised in the Dutch Reformed Church. When the Nazis came to power in the late 1930s, Corrie and her family hid Jews behind a false wall in Corrie's bedroom. In 1944, Corrie's family was arrested and sent to Ravensbrück, one of the worst concentration camps in Nazi Germany. There, Corrie's entire family died. Corrie herself was scheduled for execution - but she was released shortly before the end of World War II because of a clerical error.

Corrie concluded that God had saved her for a purpose. She committed her life to preaching the good news of Jesus Christ, speaking in churches, tent meetings, and open-air rallies. At one meeting in Germany in 1947, she taught on God's forgiveness. Afterwards, a man came up to her and introduced himself as a former Ravensbrück guard - but Corrie needed no introduction. She remembered him well. He was notorious for his

Danny Hernaez From Whom

cruelty. "I've become a Christian since the war," he said. "I know God has forgiven me for the horrible things I did, but I would like to hear it from you. Could you tell me that you've forgiven me, too?" He put out his hand.

Corrie stood there for what seemed an eternity, unable to think of anything but the horrors this man had committed. Then she remembered the words of Jesus that required her to forgive ANY sin. She silently prayed, "Jesus, help me!" ...then she took the man's hand and cried out, "I forgive you, brother!" She later recalled, "I had never known God's love so intensely as I did then."

That was the defining moment in Corrie's ministry. Over the

In the past Sundays I have shared my reflections on discipleship or following Jesus focusing on the themes of “witnessing” that requires radical conversion that is manifested in the life that is based on the Beatitudes which I termed as the road map towards heaven. The life of the disciples of Jesus lived with conviction flows from the interior of every Christian into his external behavior and conduct which enlightens the world in darkness and gives savor to the tasteless conduct of human affairs. Authentic disciples of Jesus indeed become the “light of the world” and “the salt of this earth,” as pronounced by Jesus in gospel reading of last Sunday’s liturgy. In today’s gospel reading Jesus presents a deeper understanding of this discipleship by looking at the law from a perspective that goes beyond the usual way the Jewish people considered the law. Truly the Mosaic law was for the only way by which one could be saved according to the Jewish mind during the time of Jesus. For this reason the Jews observed the law so meticulously that harbored into strict observance and rigid interpretation and implementation of the law. The strict observation of the law and rigid interpretation of the same, however, led Jesus to show the people how the law should be regarded. Oftentimes the actions of Jesus on this regard were even condemned by the Pharisees

Continued from page 5

and there we worried about traffic and pollution and crime. Here we don’t need to worry about locking the house, and things like healthcare and education are free. At home we have to pay. And here you can just call spontaneously at someone’s house, it’s not formal. For me, it feels like the Philippines in that way.”

Likewise, her husband Regin believes increasing diversity is something that should be welcomed not feared.

“We actually need fresh blood here,” he adds, “I like seeing so many children now who have mixed parentage. Our gene pool is very restricted and it’s got to be a good thing that we welcome outsiders who can have families.”

Fr. Agustin T. Opalalic

and the scribes. This is the context in which Jesus preached about the law in today’s gospel.

Jesus clearly pronounced his intentions saying “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law and prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill them…. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Nevertheless Jesus preached beyond this mere ordinary observance of the law and pronounced that such observance should rather be a manifestation of an interior moral condition that the law abiding should presuppose. That means “right living,” “fairness and justice” in one’s relationship and “purity of heart and intention.”

In this way Jesus proclaimed the need for the law in our lives as disciples but such observance

dream.

You’ll know it too, once you enter the Philippines: from famous Filipino celebrities to the locals you see walking around on a daily basis, the country itself is just a delight to be in. Alluring women, pretty sights to see, friendly locals and delicious food – it’s no wonder Westerners love to visit.

They’re girls are exotic, too and just looking at their pretty faces will never make you bored; Take a look at the number of women who have won Miss Universe as evidence. And they, as Filipinos, are proud of it too.

Secondly, they are naturally loyal! I say this is due to the Catholic upbringing of Filipinos. Marriage is sacred to them, and it should be valued as such.

of the law should go beyond the surface level but should externalize a sincere conversion of the disciple.

Hence, he said “unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Then he enumerated four common legal precepts of the day: the law about life, the law about purity, the law on marriage and the law on oath taking. He did not abolish such laws against murder, adultery, divorce and making vows. He rather clarified how a disciple should observe them in a manner that really comes from true conversion. Imagine Jesus tells us now that it is not only wrong to kill a person, but even to hate one is the source of such evil act. It is not only wrong to commit adultery physically, but even to look at a woman or man with lust, one already commits adultery in his heart, his teaching about divorce clearly shows us that marriage is intended to be indissoluble until the death of one of the spouses. This view of the law is one that transforms our understanding the law itself as a way in gaining eternal salvation.

My dear brothers and sisters in world governed by laws, let us pray that we able to observe them sincerely and with the intention to follow them because they are just and reasonable and will lead us to be in communion with God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit now and forever.

having a bad day?

That’s just it and it isn’t a joke. Ha-ha-ha-ha!

In fact our “kababayans” back in the old homeland are rarely sad or depressed. They are still upbeat no matter what and are genuinely known to be positive thinkers.

If your day has gone to hell, whether it’s because of work stress or because of a flat tire, your Filipina partner will instantly cheer you up with kisses, corny jokes and a relaxing foot massage. Full-blown intimacy may be an option too. She is a guarantee of getting rid of your stress. You could even say that she’s your instant happy spill. Ha-ha-ha-ha!

years that followed, she took the Christian gospel to more than sixty countries around the world and changed hundreds of thousands of lives through her speaking, writing, and the motion picture The Hiding Place, based on her autobiography.

If we want to be used in a great way by God, we must be willing to forgive those who may be a great source a pain in our lives.

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."

<(((><

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

He acknowledges that he’s had occasional ribbing from some male friends who jokingly ask if he pressed “enter” on his computer to order a wife. But he denies he and Antonette have encountered any serious prejudice as a result of their relationship.

About 50 thousand people live on the Faroe Islands. But too many of them are men. Faroese women go abroad to study and for greener pastures, so to speak. Many don’t return. The men stay behind to live off the sea. Now the islands are enjoying a growing influx of these wonderful women from the Philippines.

And believe It or not, Filipinas and Faroe Islanders often share the very same values; family, faith and tradition are important in both cultures.

So, for the $64,000 question on this Valentine’s Day 2023 – Why are foreigners dating and marrying Filipinas?

It’s indeed a well-known fact that Western men adore Filipinas! They are ideal marriage candidates, and if you don’t give credence to that, several other menfolk who are married to them will have you believe it. To be honest, there are many reasons why foreigners in the Philippines (or elsewhere abroad, for that matter) date beautiful Filipino women. It also has a lot to do with how many Western women are being compared to them. The majority of the Filipino women you’ll meet were raised to be well-mannered and polite. There’s a slim chance you’ll find one who isn’t friendly.

The fact of the matter is that if you were very keen on finding a woman that is perfect for marriage, and then look no further than Filipino Women.

Why these ladies in particular?

Here’s my two cents on why:

First and foremost, Filipino girls are very attractive! Women in the Philippines, we kid you not, are extremely gorgeous and everyone from around the world knows of this. It’s not a bluff because it’s already a known fact that Asia is home to plenty of exotic women, a foreign man’s real

You won’t be cheated on; instead, you’ll get a lady who will devote her life to you. Of course, this implies that she expects the same from you. Marriage is, after all, a two-way street.

The two in a holy union are meant to communicate, love, and be true to each other. Getting divorced from your Filipina wife is unlikely compared to getting divorced from a Western woman. Instead of giving up on the relationship, she would most likely sit down and talk about the issues to get through them.

Thirdly, they are nurturers! Nearly every single Filipina in the country is like this. One of the many attributes of Filipino women is their strong attachment to their families. It is in their nature for them to want to look after their own.

Filipino women value their families above all else, even more than themselves. It is a source of fulfillment for them to look after the family and ensure that they are well cared for. If you marry one, you can expect a comfortable and wellloved life for you and your children.

Congratulations if she just happens to be gorgeous, which they often are.

Ha-ha-ha-ha!

Fourthly, they are never greedy!

Yes, there are stereotypes that Asian girls marry solely for financial gain, but it’s hardly the truth. There are plenty of Filipino women who are desperate for a change of scenery but there are also a great deal of girls who marry because they really care for you.

Once they’ve found love, these ladies barely demand anything for it. Simple gestures, such as a candlelit dinner in an apartment or a beautiful flower, will make them smile so brightly that it will light up your world. And that isn’t an exaggeration.

Filipino girls have the most beautiful smiles. Fortunately for you, they aren’t selfish when giving these smiles away.

The fifth reason is that they tend to be funny and heartwarming! A Filipina is known for having a bright and bubbly personality. Have you ever heard the joke about how Filipinos still seem to smile in front of the camera, even though they’re

And last but not least, Filipinas are strong and independent! There’s just something about a femme fatale that gets us going. Your Filipina wife will cook you all the delicious food in the world and yet will also verbally kick someone’s ass while doing so. They are the best nurturers but are also one of the fieriest types of women out there in the world.

Since she loves you so much, a Filipina would protect your honor to the best of her abilities. Just because she’s putty in your hands at home doesn’t mean she’ll keel over if her loved ones are disrespected. So you’ve got a lover and a protector on your hands; gosh, even Filipino men tremble in awe sometimes.

And if that wasn’t enough, Filipinas are often recognized for being outstanding housewives. Their mothers teach them not only to take care of themselves but also how to get around the house from a young age. In today’s world, some women are career-driven ladies. She could make up for her lack of financial capabilities not only as a housewife, but also as a working woman. After all, what good is a wife if she isn’t even capable of being self-sufficient?

Finally, there is no doubt about it that Filipinas are interested in foreigners, too! You see, this isn’t just an unrequited thing. Filipinas are also trying to broaden their horizons in the dating or marrying scene by looking for better partners outside of their own homeland. I say a lot of time they do this because they are starting to get sick of the immature men that are their age and aren’t mature enough for their tastes.

So I say why not use this as a boost to your confidence…if you’re focused in dating (or marrying a Filipina, for that matter) know then that they are also interested in dating or marrying you…Ha-ha-ha-ha!

Is this the secret of happiness?

You betcha!

I say it’s not really a secret in some places such as the Philippines. It’s just a way of life…concentrate on family and marriage and love…and you’ll find the happiness that you’ve been missing and could’nt find elsewhere in things, in money or in vanity.

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! Mabuhay!!

JESSE REYES

Physical Therapists Help People of All Ages.

NATIONAL CITY, CA -- Physical therapists are experts in human movement who are trained to evaluate and treat all kinds of musculoskeletal issues. They are highly trained in prescribing and progressing exercise to help people move and feel better. Because everyone moves and everyone can benefit from exercise, physical therapists can help people through their entire lives.

Some people see a physical therapist shortly after birth. The most common reasons a baby would need to see a PT would be something like torticollis or cerebral palsy. Torticollis is a postural issue that causes babies to hold their heads tipped to one side. Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that causes difficulty with movement and coordination.

As children continue to grow, some have trouble hitting their motor milestones - like rolling, crawling, or walking. Physical therapists can use their expertise to help encourage development of motor skills and coordination to get these children back on track. Sports injuries become more common in adolescents. Whether it's an ankle sprain, or an ACL surgery, a PT can help. Some adolescents have issues from the rapid growth their bodies go through. Things like growth plate fractures, growing pains, Osgood-Schlatter's disease, and Sever's disease are all common in adolescence. As adults, a lot of us will have

back pain - studies say up to 80% of us. Physical therapy is one of the first treatments recommended for back pain. Physical therapists also see injured adults. It could be from weekend warrior type sports injuries, overuse, or from an accident at work. Some adults also start to show symptoms of diseases like multiple sclerosis, or myositis which also benefit from physical therapy. Later in life, people tend to accumulate more health issues that impact their ability to move. Issues like arthritis, joint replacements, strokes, and heart attacks are all things a PT can help with. Physical therapists also help people age better - keeping them moving with exercise programs that help reduce falls, or helping them make adaptations and modifications to keep them in their homes safely. Movement is a constant in life. As

movement experts, PTs can help people of any age. Some specialize in treating pediatric patients, and some specialize in treating geriatric patients, but all PTs have the expertise to help people move better.

About The Private Practice Section of the American Physical Therapy Association Founded in 1956, the Private Practice Section of the American Physical Therapy Association champions the success of physical therapist-owned businesses. Our members are leaders and innovators in the healthcare system. The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) represents more than 85,000 physical therapists, physical therapist assistants and students of physical therapy nationwide. For more information, please visit www.ppsapta.org.

SONGBIRD REGINE VELASQUEZ

MULING MAGTATANGHAL LIVE SA

KONSIYERTO SA PECHANGA RESORT CASINO SA MARSO 19

Upang paunlakan muli ang mga kahilingan, ang Pilipinong Megastar na si Sharon Cuneta at ang Asia’s Songbird na si Regine VelasquezAlcasid ay muling magtatambal live sa konsiyertong tinaguriang ‘Iconic,’ sa Marso 19 alas 6p.m. sa Pechanga Resort Casino. Kahalintulad na umani ng tagumpay ang ‘Iconic’ na pagtatanghal ang isinagawa sa Maynila noong 2019 at sa nakalipas na taon sa ibat-ibang estado sa Amerika. At ang konsiyerto sa Pechanga ay parte sa mga turnong konsiyerto sa U.S ngayong 2023. Ang Pechanga Resort Casino ay kilala sa pag-iimbita ng pinakamahusay at matatalinong Pilipinong mangaaliw at tagapagpalabas sa naising makapagbigay ng kakaibang karanasan sa mga espesyal na Filipino-Americans na mga patron.

Si Cuneta ay di lamang sikat bilang premyadong aktres gayundin, ang kanyang talento ay humihigit pa sa pagkanta kung saan karaniwan sa mga ballad na awiting kinanta nito ay sadyang sumikat sa buong industriya ng pelikula at kantahang Pilipino.

Sa Kabilang banda, si Velasquez naman ay isang premyadong magtatanghal, at nakagawa ng sarili nitong mundo upang makilala hanggang sa Estados Unidos ng mga kababayan sa ibang bansa.Ang kanyang kakaibang angking galing sa pag-awit ay naging halimbawang inspirasyon sa mga lokal na mangaawit.

Magkasama, ang napapanahong mga icons sa larangan ng pag kanta sina Sharon at Regine, ay mulig magtatambal upang maghatid ng natatanging awitin sa Pechanga Resort Casino sa Marso 19, 2023. Ang music tour sa North America ay nasasa ilalim ng produksiyon nina Louie Ocampo at Raul Mitra.

Talagang ito’y isa na namang pagkikita! Huwag imintis ang kakaibang hangganan habang si Sharon at Regine sa Iconic II Concert ay magdu duet upang ihandog ang natatanging mga sentimental na awiting puno ng alaala na sa ilang dekada ay nangunguna sa listahan ng mga kanta.

Patungkol sa Pechanga Resort

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Eastlake Food To Go and Eastlake Hub members and supporters celebrate their monthly get together at Hampton Inn in Eastlake Chula Vista recently. Founder Katia Callahan, (6th from left, wearing a pink sash) shared marketing tips, congratulate members of the group for their business successes and welcomed new members and guests. Katia's 50th birthday celebration was also held that night, with attendees enjoying the sumptuous assortment of mexican, american , filipino and italian dishes etc. Desserts are so good to look at and so deliciously to eat.

WYYERD FIBER LAUNCHES SERVICE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Bringing 100% Fiber Internet to Residents, Businesses, and Not-for-Profit Partners

SAN DIEGO, CA – Wyyerd Fiber, a fiber-to-the-premise Internet Services Provider (ISP), has launched service in two anchor communities in Southern California, Chula Vista and National City. Wyyerd offers a full suite of services for residences, businesses, enterprises, carriers, and non-profit partners, including government and education entities.

Wyyerd is committed to establishing a local presence and forging partnerships within the communities it serves. The opening of its new regional headquarters in National City has created jobs for over 200 residents of the San Diego region, including over 100 direct employees of Wyyerd in fields such as construction, customer service, sales, and management.

“At Wyyerd, we believe it’s critical to be accessible and accountable to our communities,” said California President/General Manager Dennis Kyle. “Our team is staffed locally and we offer a high-value product with no data caps, installation fees, or any other gimmicks. Our goal is to provide our customers with the best fiber internet available on the market today and to do so in a manner that they’d gladly refer us to their friends and family.”

Wyyerd held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its new headquarters in National City in partnership with National City officials on January 26th at 401 Mile of Cars Way.

National City Mayor Ron Morrison commented “We are thrilled to have a local, high-speed fiber internet company move into National City and Chula Vista. The love of competition is the root of all progress, and that is what we are seeing here. Wyyerd Fiber is contributing to jobs in the local community and provides local customer service at their regional headquarters, right in our backyard. We are excited about Wyyerd coming into our community, this is a great initiative for South County as a whole.”

Wyyerd was presented with a Certificate of Recognition by Tommy

Lawton, District Representative from State Senator Steve Padilla’s office, for its “steadfast commitment to improving the quality of life for all families in our community, regardless of their circumstances,” and its “tireless efforts to ensure equitable access to reliable broadband infrastructure in San Diego County.”

More than 100 people attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony, including District Representative from the Office of State Senator Stephen C. Padilla Tommy Lawton; National City Mayor Ron Morrison; Executive Assistant to the Mayor Josie Flores Clark; Vice Mayor of National City Luz Molina; National City

Councilmember Jose Rodriguez; National City Councilmember Ditas Yamane; National City Economic Development Manager Pedro Garcia; National City Senior Construction Inspector James Slade; National City Chamber Chairman and CE Brian Clapper; Chula Vista Chamber General Manager Marcy Weaver; and President and CEO of South County Economic Development Council Jim O’Callaghan. Community leaders, business leaders, and residents are encouraged to inquire about service in their areas, by visiting wyyerd.com, calling 619-7326100, or stopping by our store at 401 Mile of Cars Way.

President/General Manager Dennis Kyle holding the giant scissor assisted by National City Mayor Morrison and members of business community during the recent grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony. (Photo by Zen Ply)