The Filipino Press: February 17-23, 2023

MANILA -- Around PHP6.39

billion of the PHP5.268-trillion national budget for 2023 will be used to improve the country's tourism sector, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said Wednesday.

In a statement, the DBM said the multibillion-peso funding is part of the Marcos administration's resolve to promote the Philippines as a tourist hub and attract more foreign investments.

"A total of PHP6.39 billion has been allocated for the tourism sector under the FY (fiscal year) 2023 National Budget to support the Department of Tourism (DOT) in its campaigns for the promotion of the Philippines as a tourist destination and to boost the interest of foreign investors in the Philippine experience," the Budget department said.

The DBM issued the statement, as it joined the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in providing support for the DOT to boost the Philippine tourism.

DBM Secretary Amenah

Pangandaman, in a recent event in Tokyo during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s five-day working visit to Japan, said the administration's priority expenditures, including "Build Better More" infrastructure program, will improve the overall tourism experience in the Philippines.

Pangandaman, the DBM said, acknowledged the "great contribution" of both the Japanese investors and

tourists to the Philippines' economic growth.

“The Japanese [people] love leisure and recreation so we are enticing them to visit the Philippines more," the Budget chief was quoted as saying.

Under the 2023 national budget, the "Build Better More" program is given around PHP1.3 trillion, which is equivalent to 5.5 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

The bulk of the PHP1.3-

trillion budget will go to physical infrastructure, covering the construction and maintenance of road networks (PHP 478.7 billion) and railways (PHP40.1 billion).

Social infrastructure will also

By Peter W Hite/ eMS

be prioritized, allocating around PHP29.2 billion for school buildings and PHP14.4 billion for hospitals and health centers.

Meantime, the DOTr and the DOT signed a memorandum of agreement

to establish better airports and seaports, to improve the overall tourist experience.

The DPWH, through its Tourism Road Infrastructure Program, also allocated some PHP17.69 billion for the construction and improvement of roads and infrastructure facilities in tourist zones.

The DOT is also keen on developing tourist rest areas, establishing tourism assistance call centers for tourist convenience, bringing tourism to the digital age and implementing fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to tourists.

Based on the figures from the DOT, the tourism sector has already recovered over 62 percent of its prepandemic flights and generated nearly USD4 billion (PHP220 billion), contributing to the country's GDP growth.

The DOT is hoping to exceed the current tourism numbers.

Big-ticket transport infra projects to boost PH tourism

Big-ticket infrastructure projects of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) will improve tourism in remote areas and unlock economic potential in the provinces, Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said.

During a general membership meeting of the Philippine International Air Transport Association Agents Travel Association on Wednesday, Bautista said such infrastructure projects will help “cement the

An overwhelming majority of Asian Americans support tougher gun laws and are now in a position to influence the outcome of elections in states across the country

By Henry Lo/eMS

President Joe Biden reasserted during his State of the Union address the urgency to act on gun violence. I know first-hand just what gun violence can do to a community because on January 21, 2023, the city I love and was elected to represent experienced one of the largest mass shootings in California’s history.

Like many other Asian Americans in Los Angeles County and across the country, I was excited to spend Lunar New Year with loved ones. An important holiday for Asian Americans, this Lunar New Year was the first time in a long time many of us were able to celebrate together. It was supposed to be a holiday full of love and light, and looking to the future.

Our lives were interrupted when we learned a gunman had targeted two dance ballrooms and killed 11 innocent people. The Monterey Park community was shocked, heartbroken, and scared. How could this happen here? A safe city that has been previously ranked as one of the country’s best places to live because of our schools, our local businesses, and our opportunities? And just as we began to process what happened, not even 48 hours

later and about 400 miles north of us, another mass shooting unfolded in Half Moon Bay, California.

Unfortunately, shootings like these are not blips. These two incidents are all but just two more examples of a much wider tragedy long plaguing our communities: gun violence.

I came to Washington, D.C. this week to keep the stories of those impacted alive and shed a light on just how gun violence is tearing our communities apart. The issue of gun violence is nothing new to Asian Americans. We are still reeling and have suffered everywhere from California to Georgia to Indiana, from temples to spas to sidewalks. We are often viewed as a model minority, doing relatively well and devoid of problems. The truth is, Asian Americans have an array of our own social problems. Lack of accessibility to culturally competent mental health services,

gender-based violence, and poor labor conditions all contribute to the violence against and within our community. Anti-Asian hate and blame has compounded these problems, and made us walking targets. But we cannot talk seriously about change without talking about what ties it all together: America’s gun laws.

The United States experiences more death and injury from guns than all other comparable countries combined. It is no coincidence; our country’s weak gun laws are the culprit. While my home of California has some of the strongest gun laws in the nation, those wanting to do harm may easily obtain their weaponry from nearby states who have not stood up to the gun lobby.

According to Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote

With tax season here, the message from the IRS is, file your returns sooner rather than later, and do it electronically to see a quicker turnaround.

Barely three weeks after the start of this year’s tax filing season, the IRS had received 19 million tax returns, processed 16.8 million of them, and issued eight million refunds each averaging $1,963.

The message – IRS Deputy Commissioner Kevin Moorehead told reporters on an Ethnic Media Services conference call last week – is file your returns sooner rather than later, and do it electronically. Ask that refunds be wired directly into your bank account. The IRS turn-around time will be a lot faster.

The reason is that the Inflation Reduction Act put $80 billion in the IRS bank account to hire 5,000 more telephone assisters and to add more Taxpayer Assistance Centers around the country where you can go for free help to file your taxes.

“We expect more than 168,000,000 individual tax returns to be filed, with the vast majority of those coming in before April 18, the tax deadline date,” Moorehead said.

Although refunds are expected to be somewhat smaller this year because the COVID economic impact payments have ended, Moorehead advised people to file a 2022 return even if you don’t owe taxes.

“While people with income under a certain amount are not generally required to file a tax return, those who qualify for certain tax credits

or already paid some federal tax by having taxes withheld from their paycheck may qualify for a tax refund, but they must file in order to get one,” he said.

Don’t leave money on the table, agreed Sue Simon, Director of IRS Customer Assistance.

“What we want to do is ensure that anyone who has not filed a 2021 tax return do so.

But in order to collect unpaid benefits, you have to file both a 2021 and a 2022 return. However you fill out these returns, either electronically or by paper, Simon said it is imperative that you put “Zero” as the amount of your adjusted gross income. Then IRS computers can digest that information and by filing for both years, technical errors can be avoided.

The IRS won’t call you but you can call them on toll free phone lines

and get assistance in one of 350 languages. Simon said interpreter services are also available in any of IRS’s 362 taxpayer assistance centers via their telephones.

“There are forms that are commonly used by taxpayers that are available in Spanish, simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese, Haitian, Creole, Vietnamese and Russian,” Simon said.

There are online tools at IRS. gov to help people determine if they are eligible for EITC, a Sales Tax Deduction Calculator to determine how much sales tax is allowed as a deduction in your state. There is the Free File Online Lookup tool that helps taxpayers find the right company to file their tax return under the Free File program. Go to IRS.gov and search the Pick List. There is also a tax withholding

Francine, Our Dearest Pampered Pinay…

DHSUD, TESDA team up to meet high demand for skilled workers

MANILA -- Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary

Jose Rizalino Acuzar on Thursday announced his plan to partner with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in anticipation of high demand for skilled construction workers once the Pambansang Pabahay program goes full blast.

“Isa po sa nakikita naming problema sa ngayon ang kakulangan sa manggagawa kapag nag-full blast na ang ating construction (One of the problems we notice at present is the lack of enough workers when our construction goes full blast). We have a problem with availability of skilled workers,” Acuzar said.

Acuzar said the problem must be addressed while there is still time.

He said the full implementation of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s "Pambansang Pabahay" program is expected to generate nearly 2 million jobs among Filipino skilled workers and laborers.

Acuzar earlier said about

1.7 million jobs -- especially construction workers -- per year would be generated once the Pambansang Pabahay commences its groundwork.

“Significant number of jobs would be created and the situation is seen to contribute in the administration’s post-pandemic recovery efforts and in furtherance of the 8-point economic agenda of the Marcos administration,” he said.

As of Feb. 15, DHSUD has broken ground for 17 housing projects with various local government units and signed 70 memorandums of understanding under the Pambansang Pabahay.

He said he initiated talks with TESDA Director General Danilo Cruz as early as October last year as part of a proactive measure to prepare construction workers for the workforce requirements in housing project development.

“Nakikipag-ugnayan na po kami sa TESDA para sa training… ng mga skilled workers -- karpentero, plumber, electrician at para sa finishing touches ng mga mason.

Kaya kami po ay nakikipag-usap sa TESDA para magkaroon ng training para sa kanila (We’ve been coordinating already with the TESDA for the training…of the skilled workers -- carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and of the mason for the finishing touches,” he said.

Acuzar said TESDA has supported the department’s effort to augment the housing and construction industries’ present workforce as well as improve the workers’ skills.

“Right now, we are looking at all angles and aspects to prepare for the beginning of the actual implementation of the Pambansang Pabahay on the ground. We are fasttracking construction so that we can adjust to the projected increase in cost. We need enough workers to ensure that we build and provide the houses on time for our kababayans,” Acuzar said.

DBM releases P3.4-B fund for scholars in tech-voc institutions

Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary

Amenah F. Pangandaman approved Wednesday a Special Allotment

Release Order (SARO) amounting to PHP3.41 billion to the Department of Labor and Employment - Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (DOLE-TESDA) for the implementation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education (UAQTE) Act.

In a news release, the agency said the SARO and its corresponding Notice of Cash Allocation (NCA) shall be used to cover the cost of tertiary education for all Filipino students enrolled in Technical Vocational Institutions registered under the TESDA.

Pangandaman said the timely release of funds is one of the government’s initiatives to empower Filipinos since the Marcos administration puts a high premium on the education of Filipinos and human capital development.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in his budget message earlier said, “We will upskill and reskill our labor force by implementing measures that support continuing education, digital learning, training and redeployment.”

“The best investment for the youth of our country is education. Malaking tulong po ang Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education sa ating mga mag-aaral (The Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education is a big help to our students). This will ensure that no Filipino student is left behind.”

The amount, which is chargeable against DOLE-TESDA’s regular budget under the 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA), will cover the payment of tuition fees, miscellaneous fees, accident insurance, trainee provision, health/ protective equipment, internet allowance, starter tool kits, national assessment fees and other school fees of beneficiaries for the year.

The DOLE-TESDA has 54,783 target beneficiaries for the UAQTE program in FY 2023 which will be implemented through Diploma Programs nationwide.

DSWD unveils FMS-FYI page in line with PBBM’s digitalization call

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has launched the Finance and Management Service - For Your Information (FMS-FYI) page, a resource site that will serve as the repository of the department’s finance and management-related resources.

DWSD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the move was in response to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to digitalize all government processes.

“I am happy that I got invited to a digital push initiated by the FMS itself. From my understanding, this is a homegrown program developed within the department because we want to comply to the President's directive to digitalize everything. Whenever I hear homegrown, that means you are innovating by yourself,” he said in his keynote speech during the launch on Feb. 14.

Developed by the DSWD’s Information and Communications Technology Management Service, the FMS-FYI can be accessed by various stakeholders to gather information and knowledge resources, such as published news

and press releases, copies of speeches and quote cards, photo and video gallery, announcements, downloadable forms, copies of issuances, and standard operating procedures of the FMS.

“You want to better yourselves, you want to better the improvement in the delivery of services, that is why you made this homegrown FMS system and I'm very, very impressed because the very spirit is the spirit of innovation, the spirit of wanting to be better than what we are,” he said.

The DSWD expressed hope that its staff and other stakeholders would be able to efficiently use the FMS-FYI resource site on all DSWD finance-related concerns.

The FMS Resource Site could be accessed through bit.ly/FMSFYI.

The DSWD’s digitalization response came as it ranked third under the government service category of the “Philippines’ Best Employers 2023,” a survey and research conducted by the Philippine Daily Inquirer in partnership with Statista, a Hamburg-based market research company.

Overall, the DSWD grabbed 54th place among the top 300 best employers in 2023.

The research covered about 100,000 recommendations across 27 industries, such as government services, aerospace and defense, banking and financial services, education, and health care.

The result of the ranking is a culmination of an extensive and comprehensive research project that covered thousands of evaluations, opinions of employees, and scores from other companies.

The result showed the DSWD’s positive relationship with its workforce while maintaining an effective delivery of social protection packages to its clients and stakeholders – the vulnerable, poor, and disadvantaged sectors of society.

DOLE introduces new strategies in inspection of establishments

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will be introducing a new inspection strategy that will improve the quality and depth of their inspections of private establishments in the country.

Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said Thursday the new method will include technical advisory visits (TAV) combined with other interventions as an integral part of the new inspection framework.

“We would like to see DOLE inspectors look more closely at substantive matters such as compliance with rules on working hours and proper payment of benefits,” including a “nonnegotiable” stance on occupational safety and health to follow the spirit of the country’s newly passed occupational safety and health law,” he said in a statement.

The DOLE has just concluded a labor inspection summit held last week at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City following the resumption of its labor inspections and a recalibration of its inspection program.

Laguesma also urged the See WORKERS on 6

MANILA -- The Philippines can be rice self-sufficient in two years if the government succeeds in “reorganizing” the Department of Agriculture (DA) and its attached agencies, President Ferdinand R. Marcos said Wednesday.

During a meeting with officials of the DA and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in Malacañang, Marcos said he was briefed about the state of the country’s irrigation system.

He said it was during the meeting that he and DA and NIA officials agreed on a “timeline” of steps that need to be taken to achieve their goal of self-sufficiency.

“Sa aming calculation, kung magawa natin lahat ng kailangang gawin kasi marami tayong kailangan ayusin, marami tayong ire-reorganize -- pero kung magawa natin lahat ‘yan (Based on our calculations, if we can do everything we need to do, because there’s a lot that needs to be fixed, there's a lot to reorganize -- but if we accomplish them all), we will be close to self-sufficiency for rice in two years,” he said in a video released by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) to reporters.

Marcos said reorganization efforts require cooperation, convergence and coordination with other agencies such as the DA, NIA, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

“There’s a great deal of work to do pero nakikita na namin kung papaano gagawin (but we can see how we’re going to do it). So that’s what we will work on for now,” he added.

Earlier, the PCO Secretary Cheloy Garafil announced that Marcos has sought the implementation of a program that will promote the use of hybrid rice varieties to help increase crop production in the country following his meeting with executives of SL Agritech Corp. (SLAC) and farmer representatives from Central Luzon in Malacañang.

During the meeting, Garafil said the SLAC, led by its chairperson and chief executive officer Henry Lim Bon Liong, proposed the conversion of about 1.9 million hectares of rice farming areas planted with certified seeds (CS) to enable the planting of hybrid seeds in four years.

"President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday agreed to adopt hybrid rice as a better alternative to the inbred variety for increased crop production. President Marcos said he will implement a program to promote the shift by providing subsidies and facilitating loan financing to farmers,” she said.

Garafil said Marcos also pledged to apply the "best" practices being done by Central Luzon farmers to other areas in the country as part of efforts to strengthen support for rice farmers.

Increasing rice production

Currently, the PCO said that the government has been implementing strategies to increase rice production, such as convincing irrigators associations (IA) and farmers to plant hybrid rice seeds, adopting alternate wetting and drying as a watersaving technology for irrigated lands, harvesting in September during the wet season, and ratooning after harvesting during the wet season.

Ratooning is the agricultural practice of harvesting a monocot crop by cutting most of the above-ground

-- PBBM

portion but leaving the roots to allow the plants to recover and produce a fresh crop in the next season.

These strategies are meant to complement the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) program which aims to improve the competitiveness of farmers amid the liberalization of the rice trade policy.

The RCEF program was created under Republic Act 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law.

Likewise, the NIA is implementing several measures to develop the Philippine irrigation infrastructure through public-private partnerships (PPPs) on irrigation infrastructure development, climate-proof infrastructure, flood control management and massive reforestation of NIA-supervised watershed areas.

NIA earlier received a total investment pledge of more than PHP1 trillion from potential private partners, which would allow it to pursue its irrigation projects without the restriction of limited funding.

As of Dec. 31, 2021, only 2.04 million hectares (ha), or 65 percent of the country’s potential irrigable area of 3.13 million hectares, had been developed, benefitting around 1.5 million farmers with irrigation.

However, around 1.09 million ha (35 percent) of the remaining areas still need to be developed.

DA, FAO boost cooperation to raise agri yield

The Department of Agriculture on Wednesday said it will intensify its longstanding collaboration with the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to help the administration achieve its target of increasing local production and providing affordable food prices.

In a statement, the DA said the two parties discussed pressing issues that should be addressed to make the food security target feasible.

“Among the issues discussed were major concerns on transboundary animal diseases affecting the country’s livestock and poultry industries, intensification of the production and supply of rice and corn, production and mobilization of food through the DA–Bureau of Plant Industry and the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita Program, and programs to stabilize the prices of agricultural commodities,” it said.

The UN FAO made the discussion with the department as it welcomed its new representative to the Philippines, Lionel Henri Valentin Dabbadie.

“Senior Undersecretary (Domingo Panganiban) thanked FAO for its ongoing assistance to developing countries in facilitating the development and promoting sustainability to make food security possible,” the DA said.

Alongside DA’s discussion of the country’s current status in the agriculture sector, the two officials also recognized the need for “constant coordination,” especially for more programs in sync with the food security goal.

The DA said it has also included areas of cooperation to hone the sector into resilience and inclusivity.

“Undersecretary Panganiban welcomed the expertise and support of Mr. Dabbadie in these fields and urged the new FAO Philippines head to work closely with the DA on policy and technical support,” it added.

Panganiban referred to the Philippine Country Programming Framework

(CPF), spanning up to 2024, which covers “rice, corn, livestock, poultry, fisheries, aquaculture, and agroindustrialization.”

For its part, the UN FAO invited the DA to maximize opportunities that may further deepen the skill set of Philippine agriculture.

These include the 2023 Stocktaking Moment, the UN General Assembly’s International Day of Millet, The Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum and the 2024 Asia-Pacific Regional Conference, among others.

PBBM eyes program for hybrid rice production to boost crop yield

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has sought the implementation of a program that will promote the use of hybrid rice varieties to help increase crop production in the country, Malacañang announced on Wednesday.

This developed after Marcos met Tuesday with executives of SL Agritech Corp. (SLAC) and farmer representatives from Central Luzon at Malacañan Palace in Manila to address the challenges in the rice industry, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a press statement.

Garafil noted that during the meeting, the SLAC, led by its chairperson and chief executive officer Henry Lim Bon Liong, proposed the conversion of about 1.9 million hectares of rice farming areas planted with certified seeds (CS) to enable the planting of hybrid seeds in four years.

"President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday agreed to adopt hybrid rice as a better alternative to the inbred variety for increased crop production," she said. "President Marcos said he will implement a program to promote the shift by providing subsidies and facilitating loan financing to farmers."

The hybrid technology, if adopted on a two-cropping cycle per year, will give better income to farmers and achieve rice sufficiency in the country, Bon Liong told Marcos.

The SLAC is a private company engaged in the research, development, production, and distribution of hybrid rice seed and premium quality rice.

The production of hybrid rice is one of the solutions seen by SL Agritech to address the food security challenges in the country.

The SLAC has three commercial hybrid rice seeds, which are all proven to be high-yielding varieties that could thrive in both wet and dry seasons. Its hybrid rice seed varieties are being distributed in the Philippines and exported to Vietnam, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and India.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) allows the local production of hybrid rice seeds to improve crop yields in the country.

The hybrid system has given 41 percent better yield than inbred conventional seeds over the past years, according to a joint study by the DA and local government units.

Hybrid farmers have reported harvesting 7 to 15 metric tons (MT) per hectare, higher than the average 3.6 MT/hectare for inbred seeds.

Marcos also discussed with SLAC officials and Central Luzon farmers the other proposals to attain rice selfsufficiency, state-run Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM) said in a

FILIPINO FAVORITES. Amid the restaurants around him, a vendor can still count on his customers to opt for native snacks banana cue and caramelized potato fries at his sidewalk stall along Visayas Avenue, Quezon City on Friday (Feb. 10, 2023). Each stick of three bananas and one serving of potato fries sell for PHP25 each, which he says are usually sold out by 3 p.m. (MNS photo)

HEALTHY CHOICES. A vendor arranges fresh vegetables and other local products at the Kadiwa store in St. Dominic 9 Subdivision, Quezon City on Tuesday morning (Feb. 14, 2023). Some vegetables sold at the stalls are potato (PHP100 per kilo); Baguio beans (PHP85 per kilo); sigarilyas (winged bean) PHP120 per kilo; squash (PHP45 per kilo), cucumber (PHP90 per kilo); radish (PHP70 per kilo) and pepper (PHP120 per kilo). (MNS photo)

DA reorganization key to rice selfsufficiency in 2 years

ON THE PHILIPPINES’ ASSISTANCE TO EMERGENCY EARTHQUAKE RESPONSE EFFORTS IN TURKEY AND OF THE FILIPINO-TURKISH TIES THAT BIND

SAN DIEGO, CA -- With hopes of finding other survivors in the rubble fading fast, the combined death toll in Turkey (and neighboring Syria) from the 7.8 magnitude quake surged above 37,000 and looked set to keep increasing.

In one city, rescuers dug a tunnel to reach a grandmother, mother and daughter from one family who appeared to have survived the February 6 temblor and 7.6 after shock.

A young girl named Miray was recovered live in the southeastern Turkish city of Adiyaman and crews were reportedly close to reaching her sister as well. State broadcaster TRT Haber said a 10-year-old girl was rescued in the province of Kahramanmaras.

At least two other children and three adults were also reported to have been saved.

But others were bracing for the inevitable scaling down of search operations as low temperatures reduced the already slim chances of survival and some Polish rescuers announced they would leave soon. Two of Taiwan’s three rescue teams have already left Turkey.

In the shattered Syrian city of Aleppo, the United Nations aid chief Martin Griffiths said the rescue stage was “coming to a close.”

“Now the humanitarian phase – the urgency of providing shelter, psycho-social care, food, schooling, and a sense of future for these people – that’s our obligation now,” he told reporters.

Meanwhile, the efforts of the 82man Philippine Search and Rescue Group sent to Turkey continues on with their deployment, with several survivors of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake given assistance, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) declared Sunday.

OCD Assistant Secretary Raffy Alejandro said the Philippine contingent has so far helped check nine buildings, found five possible alive victims, and gave medical assistance to 14 outpatients.

“They are in high spirits. Okay naman sila. Wala pong problema so far. Mayroon na silang assignment duon. Gumagawa na sila ng search, ‘yung ating team together with the local authorities duon. May naassign nap po duon sa area o site sa kanila,” he spoked in a Super Radyo DZBB interview. (They are in high spirits. They are okay and have encountered no problems so far. They already have an assignment there; Our team together with the local authorities there are doing a search. An area or site has already been assigned to them.)

The group includes personnel from the Department of Health, Armed Forces of the Philippines,

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and OCD.

They carried devices that could detect survivors of the earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria on February 6, under the rubble as they worked with other international search and rescue teams.

As of Friday, 10 February 2023

two Filipinos were confirmed dead due to the earthquake according to the Philippine Embassy.

Filipino Community in Turkey vice president Weng Timoteo said the body of one of the Filipino fatalities will be repatriated to the Philippines, while the other one will remain in Turkey for now.

One Filipino is also in the intensive care unit (ICU) according to Timoteo.

“Actually, buhay ‘yung nasa ospital ngayon, nasa ICU. Medyo 50/50 ang kalagayan niya. Pero she’s getting better na po. Dalawa ang patay, at isa ang nasa ospital ngayon.” Timoteo noted in a separate interview on Super Radyo DXBB. (Actually, the one in the hospital is alive, but is in the ICU. Her condition is 50/50. But she’s getting better. Two are dead, and another one is in the hospital now.)

“Ang major challenge po natin, Number 1, is yung extreme weather.

Pangalawa po yung language barrier,” PEMAT leader Dr. Alfonso Danac explained at a press conference. (Our major challenge is number 1, the extreme weather. Second is the language barrier.)

According to him, many people in Turkey cannot speak in English. The Office of Civil Defense added that interpreters are present in the area of operations.

OCD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV stated that the PEMAT field hospital has served a total of 55 patients so far.

The Philippine urban search and rescue team conducted operations in 20 collapsed buildings, according to Alejandro.

The Philippine rescue team was on their fourth day of operations and is assessing if their two-week stay will need to be extended according to Alejandro.

Last Friday the Philippine Embassy in Turkey confirmed two Filipinos were killed in the earthquake. The embassy postulated that it is processing the repatriation of the victims’ remains.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives, through the Speaker’s Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Initiative, will provide $100,000 or about 5.4 million pesos in financial aid to victims of the earthquake that damaged Turkey and Syria.

Speaker Ferdinand Marin G. Romualdez will turn over the fund

to Turkish Ambassador to the Philippines Niyazi Evren Akyol.

Mr Romualdez noted that Turkey was one of the very first countries to send aid to Leyte and parts of Eastern Samar in the aftermath of super typhoon Haiyan, known locally as typhoon Yolanda, in 2013, which killed over 6,300 people.

“The assistance extended by Turkey, the United States and our allies and friends abroad helped ease the pain and suffering of our people,” he commented in a statement on Sunday.

No doubt about it because of the ties that bind both countries, Turkey and the Philippines will always remain committed to doing whatever it takes, for as long as it takes to provide necessary assistance to each other when disasters and calamities strike either one.

So, what is it with the Filipino and Turkish ties and connections? How do we best describe the current state of Philippines-Turkey relations?

The Turkish people and Filipinos had relations even before the establishment of the modern nations of Turkey and the Philippines. During the Ottoman Empire era, people (“Lucoes”) (or “Luzones?”) from the island of Luzon in the Philippines were employed by the Turks. The nephew of the Ottoman Viceroy to Egypt, Admiral Heredim Mafamede recruited “Lucoes” (now Filipinos) in the war against the Portuguese in the Indian Ocean since they appointed one “Lucoes” named Safetu Diraja as commander of the Muslim forces over in Aceh, Sumatra – their vassal state in Southeast Asia. The “Lucoes” were a partially “Islamized” people with dual allegiance to Portugal as one was also appointed as administrator in Portuguese-Malaca (named Regimo Diraja) as well as Turkey since some were employed in the Ottoman Caliphate’s armies in the Orient both fighting with and against Muslims. Pigafetta (a Venetian scholar and explorer who joined the expedition to the Spice Islands led by Ferdinand Magellan) notes that one of them was in command of the Brunei fleet in 1521. However, the “Lucoes” shifted their allegiance to Spain (an enemy of the Ottomans) after their homeland (Luzon) was invaded by the Spaniards who had sailed from Latin America. The Spanish together with their Visayan and Latin American soldiers supported the non-Muslim faction in Luzon, Pagan-Hindu Tondo against Muslim-Manila to cement their hold in the archipelago against Muslim interests. Until their eventual war of independence against Spain, the colony of the Philippines was generally hostile to

Turkish interest.

Formal diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on June 13, 1949 on a non-residence basis with the signing of a Treaty of Friendship. Turkey established its resident embassy in Manila in 1990 with Erhan Yigitbasioglu as the first resident ambassador. The Philippines vested its resident embassy in Ankara in October 1991 with Bonifacio Pobre Arribas as the first resident ambassador. Turkey also established an honorary consulate in Cebu in 1992. There were 5,500 Filipinos in Turkey as of 2008, according to estimates by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas and the Philippine Embassy in Ankara. Out of those, most are recorded as maids and “overseas workers” employed in households of diplomatic communities and elite Turkish families. Moreover, ten percent or approximately 500 Filipinos in Turkey are skilled workers and professionals working as engineers, architects, doctors and teachers. Most of the Filipinos reside in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, and Antalya – and the nearby surrounding areas. Incidentally, Filipinos amid Russians and Africans are among the fastest growing minorities in Turkey today due to the country’s improving economic performance.

For years now, the Philippines and Turkey have been on track towards even closer friendship, bolstered by the various levels of engagement between both government and its peoples.

In fact, Philippine-Turkish relations have seen a significant growth in a wide range of areas in recent years, most notably in the fields of defense, trade and investment, development cooperation, and people-to-people linkages in tourism, culture and education. Turkey also continues to support the efforts of the Philippine government in the peace process in Mindanao.

An active Turkish cultural and business community has also emerged in the Philippines. In recent years, these Turkish nationals have been the prime movers of the two countries’ relations, as they have sought to involve a great number of Turkish stakeholders in Philippine society, particularly in the fields of education, religion, culture and the economy.

I say three initiatives are worth noting to understand this dynamic: Firstly, the most significant contribution of Turkish nationals in the Philippines is through education. Although these nationals are foreign to the Filipinos’ educational system, they have not been prevented from implementing their goal of multicultural schools

Jesse T. Reyes

Filipino Potpourri

in which Filipinos, Turks, and other nationalities interact with each other in an environment where tolerance, “love, concerns, and success meet.”

The first Turkish school back in our old homeland inaugurated in 1994 in Zamboanga City and was followed by the opening of sister schools in Santolan and Anapolis, San Juan City, in Metro Manila,.

Former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo acknowledged this effort by encouraging the establishment of more Turkish schools in the country to facilitate the “strengthening of mutual relations” and the bond that “makes people of other faiths accept one another.” In addition, former Governor of Zamboanga City Maria Clara Lobregat acknowledged the successful contribution of Tolerance (High) School by “changing the misconception formed in Filipino minds regarding the unfortunate clashes of Muslims and Christians in the country.”

FYI: Tolerance High School was founded in 1997 in Zamboanga with 87 students. Today, the school has boarding and teaching facilities for over 1,000 students. It practices a policy of equal treatment for Christian and Muslim parents and pupils and is considered “one of the best schools in the region,” producing top students in international competitions. It has also won an award for “practicing peace through education.” Another school located in the Manila area is the Fountain Elementary School, which offers basic educational programs designed to prepare students in the fields of science, math and English.

Another driver promoting ties between the Philippines and Turkey is the establishment of the Turkish Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Inc. (TCCP). In line with TCCP’s grand vision of promoting relations through nonpolitical diplomacy, the Chamber brings Turkish businessmen together with their Filipino counterparts to consult on business and investment opportunities that each country can offer the other. These visits have spearheaded “long-term business networks” especially in the areas of tourism, school and housing project construction, energy, furniture, business process outsourcing and food processing.

TCCP is part of the Confederation of Business and Industrialists of Turkey (TUSKON). It has become the sole and official representative of TUSKON in the Philippines and has organized several TurkeyWorld Bridge programs in Istanbul. The TUSKON chairman believes that the Philippines have a “lot to offer Turkish businessmen” given its huge population, strategic location and impressive economic growth, although he acknowledged the imbalance of trade between the two nations with Turkey exporting far more to the Philippines than vice versa.

The Turkish practice of diplomacy through economic collaborations has won the hearts and minds of many elites in the Philippines. With the Philippine government’s efforts to advance the nation’s economy through attracting foreign investment and diversifying markets for Philippine products, Turkey can take advantage of this opportunity.

With the creation of the Pacific Dialogue Foundation in the Philippines, a peaceful, constructive and productive environment between Turks and Filipinos has begun. The Foundation is tasked with promoting universal values such as tolerance and understanding and coordinating activities between the Philippines and Turkey. It is also active in organizing tours and visits to Turkey for Filipino businessmen, academics, researchers and local and national government officials. Indeed, the Pacific Dialogue Foundation has changed many Filipinos’ perceptions of Muslim countries. In fact, many politicians in the Philippines now want to emulate this kind of approach in promoting understanding. And this is especially true in the southern Philippines where poverty and ethno-driven conflicts dominate the daily life of many residents. The sociocultural and economic engagement between Turkey and the Philippines could prove to be the beginning of even stronger bilateral relations. For many Filipinos, the introduction of Turkish nationals into the country has helped to counter misconceptions and biases regarding Muslims – those in the Philippines and otherwise.

See JESSE REYES on 7

Black History Month Should be a Universal Celebration, Part 1

South, a bigger share of female slaves existed that contributed to an increase of population in the South where children were born Americans.

States which included murder, torture and oppression of African Americans following emancipation. Clearly, such stereotypes still exist today.

Black History Month is celebrated every year in February in the United States. The observance provides an opportunity to honor the contributions and sacrifices of African Americans.

It is also a tribute to their rich cultural heritage, triumphs and adversities that have become an indelible part of the American mosaic. This year’s theme is “Black Resistance,” to “highlight how Black Americans have fought against racial inequality.”

The American celebration is often anchored in 1619, the year that a British privateer ship (slave trafficking) arrived in Jamestown, Virginia with human cargo of 20 some Negroes from Luanda (present day Angola, then a Portuguese colony). That day marked the institution of slavery in America. According to recorded history, however, the arrival of the first African slaves happened in 1526 in Winyah Bay, South Carolina. Their efforts to start a colony there failed and eventually moved to what is now Georgia.

To properly memorialize the celebration of Black History Month,

it would be appropriate to understand the importance of 1619. By marking 1619 as a starting point, it frames the history of African Americans in the context of their negative experiences and struggles in America and erases the link to the ugly history of the global Slave Trade that Europeans pioneered and brought to North America.

America happened to be one of the English Atlantic colonies where African slaves were dispersed. West Indies, Brazil come to mind where the bulk (~70%) of African slaves went. American South’s share was only about 8% given the limited British occupation. By the 18th century when the initial 13 states declared independence, many African slaves in the Caribbean and Brazil started making their way into the United States.

The competitive capitalist economy was one of the main reasons for the migration to North America.

While slaves in Latin America had better access to freedom, the Black population was mostly male because of the labor demands. In the American

By the turn of the century when the Union expanded, the population of Black Americans was reversed in favor of the United States. Such confluence of migration by Latin American Blacks created distinct cultures in North America different from Southern Blacks. Since Latin American Blacks had more “freedom,” if you will from absentee landowners or venture capitalists where they came from; Blacks from the South were directly controlled and managed by their oppressive masters/owners.

This is an important point to make because the Slave Trade created a stereotype that Blacks in general, came from a “big country” called Africa. Well, Africa the continent is home to some 50 plus countries, but the stereotype gave rise to modern day conflated perception that African blackness looks the same and associate the “country” Africa with famine, AIDS, war, political corruption and poverty.

The worst stereotype of Blacks in America is that Blacks were mentally inferior to Whites, savages because of their anatomical appearance and as such were thought to be far less sensitive to pain. Such stereotypes were used to rationalize the harsh treatment of slaves during slavery in the United

Bob Dylan’s 1963 hit “Blowing’ in the Wind” was a well-known anti-war song but it was really a harsh criticism of the treatment of Blacks in the hands of White people in America. “How many roads must a man walk down, before you call him a man?” “How many deaths will take ‘til he knows that too many people have died?”

The beating death of 29-yearold Tyre Nichols in the hands of law enforcement in Memphis, Tennessee is the latest incident that follows a long history of racial inequality and deaths from police brutality in this county. And it won’t be the last African American to sacrifice a life to ultimately achieve Martin Luther’s King’s equality dream because the answer is still “blowing in the wind” and asking the harsh questions.

We saw the video of how Tyre pleaded for his life while the police officers continued their assault on this young man. Tyre Nichols’ ordeal reminded me of a Black woman from ancient Egypt who was persecuted for her beliefs and suffered a much more heinous ordeal towards her death. Although her case happened centuries ago, it provides a window of Black people’s continuing struggle for equality since antiquity. In this regard, the world ought to

celebrate a universal Black History celebration not only to find answers to the harsh questions of today regarding inequality, poverty, violence that keeps us looped in a vicious circle of a neverending saga. A universal celebration will allow us to revisit the grandeur of Black history from where civilization began and bring to life a long buried Ancient Egypt history that Europecentric West wants us to forget.

For that matter, slavery is really not a 16th century invention. It long existed in ancient Egypt and ancient Greece. Back then, they were already called slaves as part of the spoils of war. African slaves served in Greece, the center of Western civilization. Racial prejudice, although contextually not termed that way today, was evident with how these ancient societies treated slaves particularly women, and women of color.

Why is it important for African Americans to look back to ancient civilizations to fully comprehend the richness of their culture? The Cradle of Civilization was Mesopotamia, a historical region situated between two rivers (present day Iraq, home to ancient Sumerians, Babylonians, and Assyrians). Ancient Egypt is the second oldest civilization that is older than Greece.

Ancient Egypt is believed to be the central point of migration in all Africa. These ancient Black civilizations were known for the advancements it made

in the field of astronomy (long before Copernicus, Galileo), mathematics, and literature. The Egyptian civilization in particular had written records and their writing system is known as hieroglyphics. They were polytheistic (many gods) and built massive monuments including pyramids. The Hammurabi Code was written 3,000 before the Old Testament was written. Greeks borrowed their alphabetic numeral system from the Egyptian. Greeks also trained from Egyptians in philosophy, mathematics, and astronomy. Yet, by 16th and 17th centuries, the rise of Eurocentrism as an ideology has relegated Ancient Egyptian or other African culture for that matter, as inferior. Eurocentrism has infected the Western perception of non-Europeans, non-White and gave rise to colonial domination and expansionism, White Supremacy, and slavery on a global scale. Wars, immigration, pandemics, and even in medicine and history books are viewed or written from a Eurocentric perspective. Consequently, the world views the European and Anglo-American way as the “gold standard.”

At the same time, Eurocentrism has also created confusion and double standards. The United States, for example, markets itself as the beacon of hope. Yet, some states do not want slavery talked about in classrooms. (To be continued)

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WORKERS

Continued from page 4

inspectors “to do more” in their duty of making sure that businesses and industries follow labor standards as well as health and safety practices one of the department’s pillars of ensuring social justice for workers.

He said the summit was organized to “refocus inspection priorities toward industries and sectors based on the risks and hazards to which (workers) are exposed and not only on numerical targets.”

He added that regional offices tend to lean towards micro and small establishments in an effort to meet numerical targets.

“Targeting small businesses “is not bad per se, the department’s updated strategic inspection framework calibrates the logic

whether inspection is the most appropriate intervention DOLE can offer to improve the situation of these enterprises and their workers,” the DOLE chief said.

The summit, the first of its kind since 2015, gathered all DOLE regional directors, service office heads, and the department’s 900-strong labor inspectors to formulate more strategic approaches and strengthen the technical and managerial capabilities of its inspection workforce.

Laguesma also lauded the department for its 2022 inspection milestones and for increasing the compliance rate in both labor standards and occupational safety.

Last year, the DOLE has inspected more than 80,000 establishments, achieving an eight percent jump from the previous year benefitting almost 4.5 million workers. (MNS)

TAXES

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estimator tool.

“All of those are available in English as well as those languages that I listed,” she said.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA) provides help and counseling to taxpayers, free of charge, especially about EITC and additional Child Tax credits which can be hard to understand, Simon added.

“During the last two years, we had about 50,000 volunteers throughout the United States doing tax returns. This year, as of today, we have 81,000 volunteers in the United States and Puerto Rico preparing free tax returns for individuals and families.”

Simon said the IRS provides

information in a way that taxpayers can have faith and trust that their tax return is being done correctly, that there is no scam going on, that there is no fraud. A lot of people used VITA. Last year, VITA volunteers prepared 2.2 million tax returns.

“Each one of these volunteers is trained by the IRS. They are certified. They are tested. So, you know you are getting accurate information,” she said.

There is a Taxpayer Assistance Locator tool at IRS.gov to find the local office where you can set up an appointment and talk to someone in person.

This year is going to be “significantly better” than the last few difficult years of tax returns some of which the IRS is still processing, Moorehead predicted. You could get more money in your pocket, he says.

Help Wanted / For Rent / For Sale

KP CORE is hosting the 1st annual Community College CORECon on Feb. 26, 2023

CORECon.

This event is for current community college students who are interested in transferring to a 4-year university. It will be held onSunday Feb 26th from 126:30pm at UCSD. The event will consist of various student panels and workshops that will give attendees a sense of what being a student at UCSD is like and the opportunity to learn of resources available for them on campus.

The goal of this event is to expand knowledge of the academic and career possibilities after community college. As a community college student, the future can seem overwhelming and full of uncertainty. We hope through this event that for each community college student, we are able to "Widen your Horizon."

Mariel Micael & Kaileykielle Hoga Community College Co-Coordinators ucsdkp.ccc@gmail.com

JESSE REYES

Continued from page 5

Many in the Philippine academic, business and political sectors have embraced the effort to promote intercultural conversation between the two countries and such dialogue has not only improved educational exchanges but business interactions as well.

There is doubt that both sides continue to highlight the promise for all the aspect of bilateral ties in spite of the limitations that might still remain.

Amid this, we can only hope that both sides – the Turks and Filipinos

– focus on areas where they can translate this into reality.

To be sure, the key if I must say it will be how all of these strategies can be rendered into specific practical cooperation by both sids, which will absolutely require alignment on areas of focus and following through on implementation. This is an important point to keep in mind since some cooperative endeavors previously floated still have yet to be realized. Nonetheless it is a legitimate reminder of how both countries are keen to capitalize on the growing traction in expanding binding ties as an opportunity to further boost their wider friendship. Mabuhay!

SAN DIEGO, CA -- The Community College Coordinators of UC San Diego's KP CORE (Kaibigang Pilipin@ Community Outreach to Realize Empowerment). KP CORE is hosting the 1st annualCommunity College

Spiritual Life

Be careful with your heart

February is not only a month of love and for lovers. It is more importantly, National Heart Month, an annual event designed to remind people about health practices to prevent and control heart disease and to maintain a healthy heart.

Heart attack is becoming the number one killer. It can be prevented if we are mindful of living a healthy life style: eating healthy food, keeping physically fit through regular exercise, avoiding stress, having enough rest and sleep. For many people, these practices are easier said than done. In fact, people take better care of their car than their bodies.

They are careful to change the oil, have regular tune-ups, and use the proper gasoline. But when it comes to their bodies, they fuel them with high-fat and high salt meals, they smoke and they don’t exercise routinely.

If we take care of our body in the same way as we take care of our car, we will live a longer and happier life. We will be spending less in health care for as the saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Dr. Denton A. Cooley of the Texas Heart Institute compared the human heart to that of a car engine – both are power units that keep bodies moving. Our heart works as a pump that pushes blood to the organs, tissues, and cells

of our body. The blood pumped by the heart delivers oxygen and nutrients to every cell and removes the carbon dioxide and waste products made by those cells. But if blood flow to the heart is slowed or stopped or the heart beats irregularly our life may be in danger. Like your car engine, how you treat your heart will determine how long and how well it will continue to work for you.

The Holy Book says that our body is the temple of God. We should take good care of it as a wholesome abode of the Holy Spirit.

A friend from the Center of Disease Control and Prevention shared in one of our conversations that the trend in public health education today is to change the attitude and practices of people wholistically, paying attention to the mind, body, and spirit as a

whole. A “sound mind in a sound body” has been an old maxim which has long been taken for granted. It is time to return to the basics. Regular exercise, healthy eating, positive attitude towards life and living, a balance of work and play, rest and recreation, and daily meditation with God, goes a long way in keeping our mind free from worry and our body healthy and strong.

Medical studies show that eating a diet low in fat, salt, and cholesterol; not using any type of tobacco; exercising at least three times a week; maintaining your ideal weight; and decreasing your blood pressure, can reduce your risk of heart disease, as well as other degenerative diseases.

When you say, I love you to your spouse on Valentine’s Day, make a commitment that both of you will be careful with your heart.

Beware of placing too much expectation on others

Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. (2

Timothy 4:9-10)

Adversity molded the apostle Paul into the greatest warrior for Christ the world has ever known. But there were times when adversity and disappointment took its toll on this rugged warrior. We can sense Paul's hurt and discouragement near the end of his second letter to Timothy:

Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica... At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me... Do your best to get here before winter (4:9-11, 14, 16, 21).

Do you hear the pain in those words? Twice he urges Timothy to come to him. Do you feel his anguish when he twice speaks of being deserted by his friends?

In most of his letters, Paul seems to have an invincible spirit. Yet he was a man who suffered, felt betrayed, and was at times very lonely. However, Paul chose

DA

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separate statement posted on its official Facebook page.

The meeting also focused on several programs or projects aimed at strengthening support for rice farmers, including assistance and market expansion to sell their produce and increase their income, RTVM said.

Garafil said Marcos, aside from his commitment to further strengthening financial support to local farmers

Danny Hernaez From Whom All Blessings

to look at life from a heavenly perspective. That's why he could write:

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body (2 Corinthians 4:8-10).

Paul had experienced a level of opposition and suffering that you and I can scarcely imagine. People said they would do things but did not follow through. He could not depend on certain people. Yet he was not crushed, and he refused to give in to despair. He viewed his life as a continual process of dying. His goal was to live in such

through the loan financing program, also pledged to apply the "best" practices being done by Central Luzon farmers to other areas in the country.

“We would like to apply kung ano ‘yung ginagawa ninyo dito sa Central Luzon… so we can apply sa ibang areas (We would like to apply what you are doing in Central Luzon to other areas),” Marcos said, as quoted by the PCO.

From January to November 2022, the National Rice Program has served about 1.06 million rice farmers and 3,528 farmer cooperatives through

On this seventh Sunday in Ordinary time we continue reading the Gospel of Matthew chapter five that is actually a continuation of the discourse of Jesus on the fact that his mission was indeed to fulfill the law and not to abolish it. This fulfillment of the law truly introduces us to the new law that Jesus proposed his disciples to follow. This law of love which he pronounced only in the last days of his ministry he first manifested in the way he related himself with others, through his parables of forgiveness and reconciliation, healing miracles and other miracles that revealed the omnipotence of His Father and the ever present concern that he had for the poor and the helpless. In this long process of his ministry he introduced the real spirit that the law which every Christian disciple should embrace only once he is truly converted.

In today’s gospel however, Jesus directly reversed the law of relationship that governed the usual Jewish society where one was expected to duly respond to the action of the other corresponding to that one has been acted upon such as what the saying goes “an eye for

an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” A disciple of Jesus is rather asked “to offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand over your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you and do not turn your back one wants to borrow.”

Do you think that one who is not been converted to live according to the beatitudes, namely, being meek, patient in suffering, peace-making, enduring insults and persecution in the name of Jesus, could ever follow such new commandment? Certainly only those who have encountered the

commuters.

Lord and freely followed him and his new commandment can embrace such new understanding of the law. Furthermore Jesus has completely made a new order of personal relationship when he reversed the saying “you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy,” asking his disciples to all everybody, “but I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,…” This is a declaration of universal love for all since every person shares in the dignity of being children of God, since Jesus says “that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.” Indeed this confirms what Jesus mentioned in the gospel last Sunday that his disciples should be righteous and this righteousness that we should have must surpass the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees lest we miss entrance into the Kingdom of heaven. Truly Jesus has come not to abolish the law and the prophets, but he fulfilled this law of Sinai by preaching the law of love that has been pronounced in detail in the Sermon on the Mount of the Beatitudes.

Philippines as a prime tourist destination.”

“Improving and modernizing the country’s transportation system will be crucial to ensure tourists enjoy their travel and vacation experience,” Bautista said.

He cited the new passenger terminal building of the Clark International Airport, the ongoing construction of the New Manila International Airport in Bulacan, Sangley Point International Airport in Cavite, improvement works at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, and the Bicol International Airport.

To date, he said the DOTr and the Department of Tourism are working together towards improving the local economy through tourism.

“We are closely coordinating with the Department of Tourism towards boosting tourist arrivals,” he said.

In the maritime sector, the DOTr is working with the Philippine Ports Authority to improve commercial and social tourism ports with the goal of more efficiently moving passengers and goods while lowering costs.

Proposed VAT refund for tourists seen to increase shopping by 29%

The chair of the House Ways and Means Committee on Monday said the proposed value added tax (VAT) refund mechanism for foreign tourists is expected to increase annual tourist expenditures on shopping from PHP59 billion to PHP69.2 billion.

During the committee hearing, Albay Representative Joey Salceda said that based on a simulated model, tourist spending on shopping, accounting for increased tourist arrivals as a result of the refund system, will increase to PHP76.58 billion, or a total increase of around PHP17.6 billion in tourist sales, representing a growth by 29.8 percent.

competitiveness among its peer and neighbor countries,” Salceda said. He said the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended, does not yet provide a legal basis for such a system, which foregoes gross valueadded in the tourism sector.

He said high VAT rates on tourists have significant negative effects on consumption volume for hotels and restaurants, adding that the reduction in tourist consumption in these areas is 1.5 percent for every 1 percent in unrefunded VAT.

“The credibility of the VAT refund system appears to affect the destination choices of shoppingfocused tourists. This is particularly the case for Australia, where a credible VAT refund system has created a tourist shopping industry," he said.

He also suggested that the Bureau of Internal Revenue adopt best practices in international VAT refund mechanisms.

a way that the life of Jesus would be revealed in his response to adversity.

Beware of placing too much expectation on others. Realize that people will let you down from time to time, but do not let that impact your faith. Trust God to work even through these disappointments.

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."

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the provision of hybrid and inbred or certified seeds, production-related and post-harvest machinery, small-scale irrigation, as well as extension and training activities.

The program has also established Hybrid Rice Model farms. Under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Program, the Landbank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines granted PHP3.37 billion in zero-interest and noncollateral loans to 10,643 rice farmers and 197 borrower organizations and cooperatives. (MNS)

Railway projects are in full swing such as the North-South Commuter Railway project, the Metro Manila Subway project, the Common Station, the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT7), the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT1) Cavite Extension, the Philippine National Railway North and South Long-Haul project, the Subic-Clark Railway, and the Mindanao Railway.

In Metro Manila, he said the EDSA Busway has improved the mobility of

He noted that the Palace has already approved for piloting, following a proposal, to institute a VAT refund system for tourist purchases from the Private Sector Advisory Council.

“The Philippines remains one of the few major Asia-Pacific tourist destinations without a working VAT tourist refund mechanism. Only India and Cambodia are the other countries in the top 15 tourist destinations in Asia-Pacific with this gap in procedure. This reduces the country’s

“For example, most revenue authorities allow a full rebate, but charge a service fee paid to the collecting and refunding agent. Revenue authorities also typically employ an agent, who collects a service fee between 0.8-6 percent of the total sale. Most revenue authorities also require a minimum purchase value to process a refund application," he said.

Salceda is also filing a counterpart measure in the House “to expand the discussion on the proposal.” (MNS)

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.

GUN LAWS

Continued from page 1

(APIAVote)’s Asian American Voter Survey, 77 percent of Asian American voters believe our country needs stronger gun laws. And now, we are in a position to play a key role in strengthening our gun laws.

Over the past few years, Asian Americans have emerged to become the margin of victory in key elections. This is not only true in California, but everywhere from Pennsylvania, to Georgia, to Arizona. In 2020, Asian Americans saw a 47 percent increase in voter turnout from 2016 – the highest

increase of any racial group! We are determining elections, and our power will only grow.

Consequently, there has been increased talk about how to “win the Asian American vote.” I’ll tell you: engaging with us and making sure our communities feel safe, protected, and secure – that includes implementing stricter, common sense gun laws.

As an elected official in a majority Asian city, I understand first-hand the importance of public safety. Asian Americans are not a monolith, and we often do not agree on the issues, but I can tell you with full confidence that this is an issue that unites us. And at a time where 85% of Asian American

voters list “crime/public safety” as an important issue to them when voting, this is an issue that is not fading away anytime soon.

The City of Monterey Park’s motto is: “Pride in Our Past, Faith in the Future.” We will not let recent tragedy define us, and we have faith we can plot a better path forward – one devoid of gun violence, and one that prioritizes the lives of our family, friends, and neighbors, not firearms. As elected officials, we have the power to make this a reality. But we cannot wait ten years, we cannot wait ten months. We must act today, or be held accountable by a community who refuses to accept this violence any longer.

“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

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SOUTH CHINA SEA U.S. Navy Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Cassie Calderon, from Spring Valley, Calif., prepares to paint a space aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz is in U.S. 7th Fleet conducting routine operations. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forwarddeployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with Allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Caylen McCutcheon)

Rotary Club of El Cajon Sunset received a donation of two new wheelchairs from Rotary Club of San Diego Southbay led by preseident Marissa de Luna and her team members. The wheelchairs are to be delivered to needy beneficiaries in Kenya.

Rolling out the Red Carpet once again at the 17th STARBlazers and TOP HAT Intl GIBBEY Awards Gala

(Silver Pearl Rm) 1380 Harbor Island Dr. · San Diego, CA 92101 3:00 P.M.

SAN DIEGO, CA -- Philippine American Business Improvement and Development (otherwise known as“Phil Am BID”), an 18-year-old business-community organization, welcomes its STARBlazer recipient, the Honorable Patricia Guerrero. Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero took office last January 2nd, 2023 as the 29th Chief Justice of California. She is the first Latina to hold office in the state’s history. And here’s some additional great news!

CA Attorney General Rob Bonta, STARBlazer 2014, Pillar and Pioneer Honoree will be in attendance.

Former CA Chief Justice Tani Cantil Sakauye, Phil Am BID’s STARBlazer recipient in 2011, has moved on as President and CEO of the

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Public Policy Institute of California. The 2022 TOP HATs Intl GIBBEY honorees are Stephanie Brown of Rosie Network, Eleonor Castillo, Ph.D., Joji Ramirez Castro, San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott, Shonee Alzona Henry, City of Chula Vista Mayor John McCann, Patti McKelvey, Ralph Nieders, Justice Victoria Paredes, Josefina Ferriols Pavico, and former National City Councilmember Mona Rios. High Achieving Teams (HATS) are Filipino American Lawyers San Diego, The House of the Philippines at Balboa Park, and the Philippine

Nurses Association of San Diego represented by its current President Perlita Aguinaldo, PNASD PresidentElect Emeline Yabut, and Board Chairwoman Filipinas Reyes. According to Edna Consing Concepcion, President and cofounder of Phil Am BID,“The award is a testament to the honorees'status as dynamic leaders in their own chosen field, and more importantly, to their kindness and compassionate hearts toward their fellowmen. In recognition of their admirable traits, they are recipients of the GIBBEY Award

as they personify“Giving Back and Beyond” in their lives. It is success redefined!”

Also to be honored are “Founders and Builders”: Cynthia Arnaldo Bonta, Susan Delos Santos, the late Ernie Flores, Ofelia Dirige, Ph.D. Connie Leyva, and the late Anita Pascua.

Rising Stars are Franchesca Bondoc, Kendis Barangan Farol, and Robert Moreno.

and Retirement Planning, Inc., and PTE HOPE are sponsors Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero CA Attorney General Rob Bonta

of STAR Scholars: Callia Consing,

Lee,

Michael

AnneOden.