The Filipino Press: February 24 - March 2, 2023

MANILA -- The Philippines

will soon enjoy a wider and better interconnectivity, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Tuesday, as he welcomed the subsea cable system project of Converge ICT Solutions Inc. and Keppel Telecommunications and Transport (T&T) Ltd.

Marcos relayed the good news after his meeting with Converge founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Dennis Anthony Uy and Keppel T&T CEO and executive director Thomas Pang Thieng Hwi at Malacañan Palace in Manila on Tuesday.

Marcos said the partnership between Converge and Keppel T&T will provide the country with a bigger bandwidth and faster internet connection.

"I just finished a meeting with the Converge group who have tied up with the Keppel group to put in a submarine fiber optic cable from the west coast of the United States. It will connect to the Philippines and it will also connect to Singapore and Indonesia," he said, as he recapped his meeting with the telecommunications providers.

"And this will again give us bigger bandwidth. This will give us a better communication system when it comes to all the online services that we are using globally," he added.

Converge, one of the country's fiber internet service provider, entered into a definitive agreement with Keppel T&T in 2001 for its participation in the Bifrost Cable System project, the world's first subsea cable system which aims to connect Singapore to

the west coast of North America.

Marcos was elated that the Philippines would be included in the Bifrost Cable System Project to boost internet services in the country.

"Itong usapan na ito ay naging bunga nung pagpunta ko sa Singapore.

Pinag-usapan namin ito kaya’t ngayon

nabuo na at ilalagay nila, isasama nila ang Pilipinas doon sa kanilang mahabang fiber optic na kable (This has been a result of my visit to Singapore. We talked about it and now, the Philippines will be included in the long fiber optic cable project)," he said.

As of January 2023, the Philippines is ranked 82nd out of 142 countries in terms of mobile internet speed and 41st out of 180 countries in terms of fixed broadband media speed, based on the Ookla Speedtest Global Index data.

The Marcos administration has

so far established a total of 4,757 operational live sites in 75 provinces and Metro Manila through the Department of Information and Communications Technology's (DICT) free BroadBand ng Masa program.

The program covers the

geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) like the provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi (BaSuLTa), and the Pag-asa Island of the Kalayaan Group of Islands in the province of Palawan.

The Broadband ng Masa program has approximately 4 million unique users nationwide.

In 2023, the government is planning to launch over 15,000 free Wi-Fi sites.

The agreement between Converge and Keppel T&T provides for the grant of an indefeasible right of use to the former for one fiber pair on the main trunk of Bifrost Cable System.

Keppel T&T's wholly-owned subsidiary, Keppel Midgard Holdings Pte. Ltd., and Converge will jointly develop a branch on the Bifrost Cable System that will land in Davao.

Expected to be completed in 2024, the 15,000-kilometer subsea cable system project aims to directly connect Singapore to the west coast of North America, passing through Indonesia, the Philippines and Guam.

The project intends to boost the connectivity of the region’s governments and businesses, including cloud operators, telecommunications operators, network providers, overthe-top providers, data centers and consumers for a better digital experience.

The multiple fiber-paired, highperformance Bifrost Cable System will also be the largest high-speed transmission cable across the Pacific Ocean. (MNS)

SAN DIEGO, CA -- San Diego

Foundation announced today the launch of the Community Food Grant Program to provide $4.5 million in grants to support food security and food sovereignty for low-income communities and those with limited access to healthy foods.

“The COVID-19 public health crisis dramatically impacted our food system, exposing inequalities and the need for greater resilience,” said Christiana DeBenedict, Director of Environment Initiatives at SDF. “The vision for the Community Food Grant Program is to build regional capacity for community-based, grassroots organizations by investing in longterm solutions to empower community choice and food sovereignty.”

The Community Food Grant Program, which was approved for funding by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, invites applications for initiatives that focus on efforts to grow, raise and harvest crops, fish, or forage food, process these products and distribute them for human consumption. Examples of the types of projects that fall under this definition include, but are not limited to:

* Community gardens and food forests

* Agriculture in urban settings

* Opportunities for consumers to purchase directly from growers or farmers and fisherfolk

* Infrastructure for food processing and distribution

*Education opportunities around food and farming

The deadline for nonprofits to apply is 5 p.m. PST, Friday, March 3, 2023.

Pre-recorded webinars for grantseekers are available in English and Spanish online. In-person grant application workshops will also be held in English and Spanish on Feb. 10 and 16 at Olivewood Gardens & Learning Center in National City and Coastal Roots Farm in Encinitas. Additionally, grants are expected to range from $5,000 to $250,000 per year. All funding must be expended by December 31, 2024. Grant application information and resources are available online at SDFoundation.org/grantseekers.

Funding for the Community Food Grant Program is made possible through a partnership with County of San Diego. In 2021, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved the framework for the use of American Rescue Plan Act funding, including the framework for this program. The Community Food Grant Program’s grant guidelines are informed by its Advisory Council comprised of local food system leaders and community engagement sessions, surveys and input from residents, nonprofit leaders, business owners and community organizers across the main sectors that

touch the local food system.

The Community Food Grant Program contributes to building resilient communities, a pillar of the SDF Strategic Plan, by addressing equity barriers and creating a more inclusive and accessible food system for all.

About San Diego Foundation San Diego Foundation inspires enduring philanthropy and enables community solutions to improve the quality of life in our region. Our strategic priorities include advancing racial and social justice, fostering equity of opportunity, building resilient communities, and delivering worldclass philanthropy to realize our vision of just, equitable and resilient communities. The Environment Initiative seeks to preserve and protect our resources, build a more sustainable path of economic growth and ensure a higher quality of life for those who call San Diego home. For more than 47 years, SDF and its donors have granted more than $1.4 billion to support nonprofit organizations strengthening our community. Learn more at SDFoundation.org.

SDG&E working with local organizations to help enroll struggling customers in the federal utility assistance program SAN DIEGO, CA -- Under the federally funded Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), about $10 million is available to help San Diego Gas & Electric customers who are past due on their bill payments. About $7 million of that amount was allocated for 2021-2022 and is expected to expire by June 30. 2023.

Individuals and families who qualify for LIHEAP can potentially receive assistance ranging from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars depending on their income, household size and pastdue balance. Over the past year, SDG&E worked with two local nonprofit organizations to help process $5.5 million in LIHEAP payments to offset the overdue balances of about 7,200 customers.

Help with LIHEAP Applications

With the expiration date looming for millions in LIHEAP funding, SDG&E will again host program specialists from a local nonprofit organization called Campesinos Unidos, Inc.

(CUI) at its Escondido branch office (644 West Ave.) in the coming weeks to guide customers through the LIHEAP application process.

To learn about CUI’s future visits to SDG&E branch offices, visit sdge. com/LIHEAP.

CUI’s office in the City of San Diego, located at 885 Gateway Center Way, Ste 103, also processes applications by appointment, 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m., 1-p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Monday-Thursday.

Besides CUI, another local nonprofit called MAAC helps residents in San Diego County with LIHEAP applications. Both CUI and MAAC have a long-standing history of providing social services to individuals and families in need.

Interested residents can also call 211 San Diego for more information about LIHEAP and other utility assistance programs that they may be eligible for, including Neighborto-Neighbor, California Alternative Rates for Energy (CARE) and Family Electric Rates Assistance (FERA).

About LIHEAP

The U.S. Congress appropriated an additional $203 million in LIHEAP funding for California under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 to address the continued impact of COVID-19.

The funding is administered by the California Department of Community Services and Development, which contracts with community-based organizations, like CUI, to manage the application process.

Any legal resident of the United States who meets the income guidelines and is responsible for energy costs in a residence may be eligible for LIHEAP. Applicants

must provide a social security number and may only receive aid once a year from LIHEAP. LIHEAP funds designated for the San Diego region that are not exhausted by June 30, 2023 will be returned to California Department of Community Services & Development.

Other Assistance Programs

While SDG&E does not administer the LIHEAP program, it offers a wide variety of other assistance programs, including bill discounts, debt relief, payment plans, Level Pay to minimize bill spikes, and energy efficiency upgrades that can help lower bills long term. Learn more at sdge.com/ assistance.

Those who qualify for LIHEAP but are not currently enrolled in SDG&E’s bill discount programs such as CARE and FERA are encouraged to take advantage of them.

The Neighbor-to-Neighbor program, funded entirely by SDG&E shareholder dollars (not ratepayer dollars), provides eligible customers with up to $300 to offset their outstanding bills. Learn more at sdge.com/assistance.

SDG&E

INTERNET. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. meets with Converge founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Dennis Anthony Uy and Keppel T&T CEO and executive director Thomas Pang Thieng Hwi at Malacañang

Pampered Pinay: Pre-Diabetic

By FRANCINE m AIguE

It’s incredible what life can throw at us and how quickly we can change, if we really care to—if the rest of our lives depend on it.

“You’re pre-diabetic.” That’s what my doctor told me this week. What I heard in my mind when I got the news was, “You don’t take care of yourself! You’ve been reckless with your body!”

My doctor didn’t give me a guilt trip, but I instantly came down hard on myself.

I believe that when we know better, we do better. I’m a dance champion, an educator—someone who has made a career out of training artist-athletes to propel their bodies high into the air, to build their bodies with remarkable strength… and to care for their bodies, so they can enjoy long, successful careers. I know better…I should do better— live better.

I’m also the aunt and godmother to a Type I Diabetic, my niece, Trinity.

Trinity is 8 years old and was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes. She must prick her finger many times each day to check her blood sugar level. Twice, in the middle of each night, one of us must prick her finger, to check and make sure her blood sugar hasn’t spiked too high or dropped too low. We try not to wake our little angel in the process. If her numbers aren’t within a certain range, though, we have to wake her to eat a snack.

When others may thoughtlessly grab food or candy, Trinity must

first stop and check her blood sugar before putting anything in her mouth. When she is at someone else’s house or at an after-school activity, Trinity must text her parents her numbers and what she plans on eating. Trinity is the first diabetic at her elementary school, so a nurse had to be hired to be on site each day, just in case…

The ritual of preparing the right combination of food and medicine for Trinity’s shots via a kit she must keep with her at all times is serious business. Handling syringes and administering shots carefully and successfully are skills all the adults in our family have had to develop.

One day soon, Trinity will give herself the shots. It’s a ritual she’ll have to complete every day for the rest of her life.

What happens to Trinity’s body all day is scheduled, tested, and measured--every gram of sugar, every milligram of medicine, every drop of blood is accounted for and recorded.

Trinity is the fittest person of any age I know. She is a gymnast. She is a dancer. She is a smart, loving, beautiful, happy little girl. She is so responsible. Her lifestyle didn’t dictate her disease. She didn’t make poor food or exercise choices. But she’ll always be a diabetic.

That’s what hit me when I learned that I was pre-diabetic. This was something I was doing to myself. I was becoming a statistic, the one that says our area and our cultural community’s rates of Type II Diabetes and obesity (two very related conditions) are rising at an

alarming rate.

It’s time to make choices and make changes, my friends.

I share everything with you, and you’ve seen me take all kinds of journeys in my life. You’ve always been supportive, and I couldn’t be more blessed or grateful.

I know I’m not the only one out there getting this kind of news, so I hope we can take a journey to better health together.

In the coming weeks, I’m going to learn all I can about how to reverse the damage I’ve done to my body with poor diet choices. You’ll be the first to know! I’m on a mission to get my life back in balance, and I hope those of you who have loved ones that are going through a similar situation (or if you’re going through it yourself) join me on a journey to healthier habits.

I started writing this column because I watched too many people in our community, especially women, take amazing care of others while sacrificing the quality of their own life and health. Well, my friends, it’s time to pamper ourselves again.

We must make time to exercise.

Burn off the fat! Sweat out the stress!

We must make time to eat properly. Savor the experience instead shoveling in what’s convenient! We must make time for ourselves.

Breathe, love, and enjoy…Make a good life, and take it all in.

Let’s pamper ourselves with good health, my friends. I know I’m not alone in this, and I hope you know you’re not either. Here’s to us!

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.

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!

DBM chief: Better funding for cancer prevention, treatment needed

MANILA -- Budget Secretary

Amenah Pangandaman is pushing for additional funding to finance programs aimed at preventing and controlling cancer in the country.

Pangandaman said while the Marcos administration has made significant strides in public oncology financing through the implementation of Republic Act 11215 or the National Integrated Cancer Control Act (NICCA), much remains to be done to help cancer-ridden Filipinos and raise public awareness about the disease.

“We have established the said sustainable financing mechanism and taken significant steps toward the advancement of the implementation of the NICCA,” Pangandaman said in a speech delivered during the Fourth Philippine National Cancer Summit at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria on Thursday.

“Yet, we have a long way to go and a longer list of things to hope for, such as better funding for better cancer research and development in the country, possibly a national research and development program for cancer control, and more facilities and better technologies for screening, early detection, diagnosis, control and care,” she added.

Pangandaman made the remark, as she noted that for many years, cancer has been one of the leading causes of death in the country.

She lamented that many Filipino families, including those in the upperincome brackets, are “vulnerable to catastrophic health spending” because of high treatment cost and limited coverage of cancer care under the existing public programs.

Citing the 2019 estimates, Pangandaman said around 60 percent of the total public cancer expenditures come from out-of-pocket payments and private insurance.

“As such, we should discuss public oncology financing through the advancement of the implementation of the National Integrated Cancer Control Act or NICCA with sustainability in

mind. Through this, we can provide our fellow Filipinos quality and affordable cancer-related healthcare that would last for many generations,” she said.

‘Cancer-free PH’

Pangandaman expressed optimism that the government’s initiatives would make the Philippines become a “cancer-free” nation.

This, as she touted that the government has already established mechanisms for the implementation of NICCA, including public-private partnerships and tax reforms to sustain public oncology financing.

"We continue to hope that we may one day soon have a future that is cancerfree. And seeing all the initiatives and actions being taken towards this makes me believe that it is possible. Rest assured that the Department of Budget and Management is one with you in realizing our aspirations for a cancerfree Philippines," Pangandaman said.

Pangandaman ensured that the Marcos administration is putting a premium on boosting Filipinos’ health and strengthening the healthcare system’s capacity, noting that it has allocated around PHP327.21billion budget for the health sector, representing a 17-percent increase from last year’s budget.

Under the PHP327.21-billion budget, the national government has earmarked some PHP1.06 billion for the National Integrated Cancer Control Program (NICCP) and PHP500 million for the Cancer Assistance Fund (CAF), Pangandaman said.

“We have allocated PHP1.06 billion for the National Integrated Cancer Control Program to provide funding and support for cancer control activities, increase public awareness about cancer, its causes, and its prevention, and promote healthy lifestyles to reduce the risk of developing cancer,” she said.

“Meanwhile, some PHP500 million is allotted for the Cancer Assistance Fund, which shall complement existing financial support mechanisms like the PhilHealth coverage and Malasakit

funds,” Pangandaman added.

Pangandaman likewise cited the PHP100.2 billion allocation for the National Health Insurance Program; PHP32.63 billion for the Medical Assistance to Indigent and FinanciallyIncapacitated Patients; PHP26.81 billion for the Health Enhancement Facilities Program; and PHP16.95 billion for the implementation of the National Health Workforce Support System.

She also noted that the National Economic and Development Authority Board’s approval of the construction of the PHP6-billion cancer center at the University of the PhilippinesPhilippine General Hospital in Manila will provide a bigger facility with better technologies for cancer patients.

“For this reason, it is imperative that members of different sectors — public, private, academic, and research institutions, non-government organizations, and civil societies engaged in today’s event. Your commitment to the cause and active community participation will be our key to realizing these aspirations,” Pangandaman said.

The Fourth Philippine National Cancer Summit was held, in line with the commemoration of Cancer Awareness Month and the fourth year of the signing of the NICCA.

It gathered various stakeholders from the national and international cancer community to promote and advance multidisciplinary, patientfocused and quality cancer care.

DAR chief assures support services to farmers Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrado Estrella III has vowed to continue to empower agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) by providing them with all the necessary support services needed to ensure their success.

This as he distributed electronic land titles (e-titles) to some 175 farmer beneficiaries in Aklan province.

"Woman leaders must be willing to pay forward any opportunities we have been given and build communal support" - Francine Maigue

PBBM vows full support for Pinoy artists

MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday assured that his administration will provide full support to Filipino artists. He made the assurance, as he acknowledged their vital role in keeping the country's culture and creative industries alive.

During the 15th Ani ng Dangal (Harvest of Honors) awarding ceremony held at Malacañan Palace in Manila, Marcos instructed the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to support Filipino artists who make significant contributions to the development and promotion of Philippine arts and culture.

"Makaaasa kayo na kaisa ninyo ang pamahalaan at administrasyong ito sa pagsusulong at pagpapayaman ng ating sining at kultura (You can expect that this administration is with you in promoting and developing our arts and culture),” Marcos told the Filipino artists.

"Tinatawagan ko rin ang Pambansang Komisyon para sa Kultura at mga Sining na gamitin ang lahat ng mayroon tayo upang suportahan at linangin ang ating mga artista at manlilikha na may malaking potensyal sa larangan ng sining (I am also calling on the National Commission for Culture and the Arts to use all the resources that we have to support and cultivate the skills of our artists who have big potential in the field of arts)," he added.

Ani ng Dangal is the highlight and concluding rites of National Arts

Month celebrated every February.

The event honors natural-born Filipino talents who have earned the highest international awards and accolades in the categories of Architecture, Cinema, Dance, Dramatic Arts, Literary Arts, Music, Visual Arts, Folk Arts and Broadcast Arts for the past year.

Marcos lauded the NCCA for holding the annual awarding rites and leading the preservation, development and promotion of Philippine arts and culture.

He also hailed the creativity and outstanding performance of Filipino artists.

“Sa inyong patuloy na paglikha at pagsulong ng ating orihinal na mga katha, pinapa-unlad ninyo ang ating industriya ng sining at pinakikilala ang ating lahi sa buong mundo.

Tunay na karapat-dapat lamang na pahalagahan ang itinuturing nating kayamanan ng ating lahi at kilalanin ang karangalang dala nito sa ating bayan (As you continue to pursue your original creations, you are promoting the arts industry and introducing the Filipino talent to the world. It is only fitting to honor our Filipino talents and national treasures who bring pride to our country)," Marcos said.

Marcos also urged Filipino artists to continue showcasing the country's rich culture and heritage.

He also emphasized the importance of investing in the arts industry to boost the country's economic growth and improve Filipinos' lives.

"Nagtitiwala ako na kung pauunlarin natin ang industriyang ito, higit tayong makatutulong sa paglago ng ating ekonomiya, at maiangat ang Pilipino saan mang dako ng daigdig (I am confident that when we continue to develop this industry, it will help grow our economy and let Filipinos be

recognized internationally)," he said.

On its 15th year, the Ani ng Dangal has one awardee from Cinema; 10 awardees from Music; four awardees from the Architecture and Allied Arts; four awardees from Dance; three awardees from Visual Arts; and one awardee from Broadcast Arts.

For Cinema, the awardees were Jeric Gonzales (Best Actor); Dolly De Leon (Best Supporting Performer); ‘Di N’yo Ba Naririnig

(Golden Kinabalu Award for Best Documentary): The Flight of Banog (Golden Kinabalu Award for Best Indigenous Language Film); Geraldo B. Jumawan (Best Actor); Black Rainbow (Best Short Film); Joaquin Ditan Domagoso (Best Actor); The HeadHunter’s Daughter (Grand Jury Prize); It’s Raining Frogs Outside (International Award); Days of the New (International Competition Grand Prix); and Leonor Will Never Die (World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award).

The list of awardees under the Music category includes Ryle Custodio, Darwin J. Lomentigar, Rafael Adobas Bayog, Ily Matthew Maniano, Theodore Julius Chua Tan, Adrik Cristobal, Jeanne Rafaella Marquez, Far Eastern University Chorale, Michael Valenciano and Danikka Dy.

The awardees under Architecture and Allied Arts were The Penthouse (Best Residential Interior Apartment); The Galleon Residences Showroom (Best Residential Show Home); Equilateral House (Winner for Innovative Architecture); and Batangas Forest City (Best of the Best for Innovative Architecture.

For Dance, the awardees were Billy Crawford, ELECTRO GROOVERS, Halili-Cruz School of Ballet and Bayanihan.

Albert Reyes, Mariah Zamora, and Froiland Rivera received honors for Visual Arts, while A Thousand Cuts, a film by Ramona Diaz, received the honor as the Outstanding Social Issue Documentary.

DOF’s One-Stop-Shop Center abolished President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the abolition of the Department of Finance’s (DOF) One-Stop-Shop Inter-Agency Tax Credit and Duty Drawback Center (OSS Center), as part of his administration’s policy to rightsize the bureaucracy.

Under Administrative Order (AO)

4 inked by Marcos on Feb. 20, the OSS Center's functions of processing and issuing tax clearance certificates (TCCs) and duty drawbacks will be transferred to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Bureau of Customs (BOC), respectively.

The mandate of the OSS Center, created by virtue of AO 266 signed in 1992, is to ensure the orderly and expeditious processing of tax credits and duty drawbacks under various laws.

"There is a continuing need for institutional strengthening and promotion of the economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of public service across all the executive departments and offices, consistent with the rightsizing of the Administration, including the rationalization of functions and activities carried out by the public sector," the AO read.

"It is the policy of the National Government to rationalize the functional structures of agencies

with complementary mandates and promote coordination efficiency and organization coherence in the bureaucracy," it added.

Within 90 days from the effectivity of the AO 4, the DOF Secretary is directed to oversee the full implementation of the abolition, including the disposition and transfer of the OSS Center's functions, personnel, and assets, as may be necessary.

"Subject to the approval of the DOF, the BIR and the BOC shall prescribe procedures to ensure that necessary control measures are established to safeguard against fraudulent claims in the processing and issuance of tax credits and duty drawbacks," the order read.

All relevant files, documents and records under the custody of the OSS Center will be transferred to the BIR and BOC, according to AO 4.

All other assets and liabilities of the OSS Center will be transferred to the DOF, in accordance with pertinent auditing laws, rules and regulations, except all cash separately held in trust or otherwise by the OSS Center, which will be directly remitted to the National Treasury.

"The OSS Center personnel shall be separated from service and shall be allowed to receive separation benefits under applicable laws, rules and regulations, unless they are appointed to other positions in the government, in accordance with existing civil service rules. All vacant positions in the OSS Center shall be abolished," AO 4 said.

Based on AO 4, the separation pay will be charged against the available funds of the DOF, and other funding sources that the Department of Budget and Management may identify, subject to existing budgeting, accounting and auditing laws, rules and regulations.

It was DOF Secretary Benjamin Diokno who recommended to Marcos the abolition of the OSS Center, saying its officials and employees have been found to have committed a "series of several tax credit scams involving billions of pesos over the years."

Diokno also noted that the OSS Center has not processed and issued any tax credit certificates since 2016.

“It is not practical for the government to provide for its budget every year since it does not perform its functions anymore,” he said. “Second, its abolition and transfer of functions under the BIR and the BOC are in line with the Marcos Jr. administration's push to right size government. This will streamline revenue operations and reduce administrative expenses."

AO 4, which was made public on Wednesday, takes effect immediately upon publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Marcos issues EO revising IRR of scientific career system President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has issued an executive order (EO) revising the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the scientific career system (SCS) under a previous presidential order.

The SCS is a system of recruitment, career progression, recognition and reward of scientists in the public service, as a means of developing a pool of highly qualified

See PBBM on 7

MANILA -- The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) has expressed full support on the proposed measures legalizing divorce in the Philippines, saying the current system that bans divorce puts women at a disadvantage.

Senior Gender and Development Specialist Armando Orcilla Jr. of the PCW Policy Development, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division made the position on Thursday during the first committee hearing on the pending divorce bills in the House of Representatives.

"As to divorce and dissolution of marriage, we fully support these bills filed to free married couples from the tedious process of annulment, be it in a form of divorce or dissolution of marriage," Orcilla told the Committee on Population and Family Relations.

One of the pending bills, authored by Albay Representative Edcel Lagman, provides that the divorce petition will undergo a judicial process where proof of the cause for the divorce is established and that the marriage has completely collapsed without any possibility of reconciliation.

In addition, Lagman's bill allows divorced couples to remarry.

According to Orcilla, studies have shown that women are mostly "at the losing end" when a marriage fails.

"In such cases, women are sometimes solely burdened to financially provide for the children and balance this with their personal struggles of loneliness and social stigma due to cultural stereotypes under the current legal system," he said.

Orcilla said coming up with a divorce law is one of the recommendations made to the Philippines by the United Nations Human Rights Committee on the Elimination of All Discrimination against Women.

"We hope that the bills on divorce will have provisions that will ensure that the divorce process is simplified and reduce the cost of the procedure especially for the indigents," he said.

"These divorce measures will completely give both parties a chance to start anew," Orcilla added.

The PCW also expressed support to pending House Bill 1593, which recognizes the civil effects of church annulment, declaration of nullity, and dissolution of marriages that was authored by Tingog party-list Representative Yedda Romualdez.

"We echo the sentiments raised by Pope Francis that obtaining annulment would cost hundreds and thousands of dollars," Orcilla said.

"We should make annulment cheaper for ordinary and poor women, especially when they are in abusive relationships."

The Family Code provides for annulment or voiding of marriage, but the grounds to avail of such are numerous, including:

the party in whose behalf it is sought to have the marriage annulled was eighteen years of age or over but below twenty-one, and the marriage was solemnized without the consent of the parents, guardian or person having substitute parental authority over the party, in that order, unless after attaining the age of twenty-one, such party freely cohabited with the other and both lived together as husband and wife; either party was of unsound mind, unless such party after coming to

reason, freely cohabited with the other as husband and wife;

the consent of either party was obtained by fraud, unless such party afterwards, with full knowledge of the facts constituting the fraud, freely cohabited with the other as husband and wife;

the consent of either party was obtained by force, intimidation or undue influence, unless the same having disappeared or ceased, such party thereafter freely cohabited with the other as husband and wife;

either party was physically incapable of consummating the marriage with the other, and such incapacity continues and appears to be incurable; and

either party was afflicted with a sexually-transmissible disease found to be serious and appears to be incurable (MNS)

Gov't focused on helping 'poor, vulnerable' amid rising inflation

The Marcos administration is putting a premium on individuals belonging to the poor and vulnerable sectors who are bearing the brunt of increasing prices of basic commodities, one of the country's economic managers said Tuesday.

In a Palace press briefing, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the government is doing its best to help the indigent Filipinos badly affected by the soaring inflation.

"For those naman na talagang affected adversely, lalo na 'yung mga very poor at vulnerable groups, 'yun talaga ang pagbuhusan natin ng assistance (For those who are really affected adversely, especially the very poor and vulnerable groups, they will get the needed assistance from us)," Balisacan said.

He issued the statement, when quizzed if the executive department is considering adopting the move of the Senate to provide one-time PHP50,000 inflation assistance to its 3,000 rankand-file employees.

On Monday, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri announced that the Senate would raise the one-time inflationary allowance to PHP50,000 from PHP12,000 to shield its staff from the rising cost of essential commodities.

Being an "independent body," Congress can decide "on their own spending," Balisacan said.

Balisacan said granting one-time inflationary assistance to employees of the executive branch is "not feasible."

"As you know, our fiscal space is very, very limited," he said.

"Doon sa mga vulnerable talaga tayo naka-focus ngayon kaya dinadalian namin 'yung mga issues constraining 'yung digitalization natin kasi 'yun ang makakatulong sa pagensure na 'yung limited assistance natin ay makakarating talaga sa mga dapat matulungan (We are prioritizing the vulnerable sectors. That's why we are addressing the issues constraining digitalization efforts to ensure the delivery of limited assistance to those in need)," Balisacan added.

Balisacan, nevertheless, noted that the Marcos administration is considering another round of annual salary increases for government employees.

However, talks about the planned salary hike are "still premature," he said.

He said the government is also

optimistic that inflation will ease "in the coming months."

"Tayo ay naapektuhan differently doon sa inflation (We are affected differently by inflation). On one hand, we're trying to work out na 'yung inflation na iyan ay bababa in the coming months," Balisacan said.

"We're hoping that we see a plateau already of that inflation."

The country's headline inflation rate in January 2023 ticked up to 8.7 percent from 8.1 percent in December 2022, according to the recent Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) report.

Based on the PSA report, the January 2023 inflation was mainly driven by increases in housing rentals, electricity and water rates, as well as in the prices of vegetables, milk, eggs, fruits and nuts.

On Feb. 7, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. hoped that the drop in the prices of fuel and imported agricultural products would help tame inflation. Balisacan earlier said the government has identified measures to keep food price movements, consistent with the government’s inflation and food security objectives, with higher agricultural productivity, food supply augmentation and energy security seen as priorities to temper upward price pressures. (MNS)

Domestic tourism driving hotel occupancy: group Occupancy rates in some hotels are exceeding pre-pandemic levels due to pent-up demand as well as “strong domestic tourism” in the country, a hotel sales and marketing group said.

In an interview this week, Hotel Sales and Management Association (HSMA) president Loleth So said occupancy has already reached 80 percent in January 2023, up from 60 to 70 percent in the same period prior to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid) pandemic.

“Based on our January numbers, we've already gone over pre-pandemic levels so that's how positive it's looking at the moment,” she told reporters, referring to hotel occupancy, average daily rate, and revenues.

With numerous flights suspended during the pandemic, So said hotels and travel agents had to look at different ways to generate revenue and turned to domestic tourism.

“Domestic tourism is very strong right now. Although inbound, I would say is starting to come in, but it's not as strong as pre-pandemic levels but we're hopeful,” she said.

“So really, the opportunity right now is domestic tourism,” she added.

She also attributed the growth to the increased use of online booking platforms during the pandemic.

“It evolved so much that I think that's the good side of the pandemic because people started to look at other ways in terms of booking channels,” she said.

‘Attracting more visitors’

For the Department of Tourism’s part, Secretary Christina Frasco said the government would continue supporting the hospitality sector and other stakeholders by implementing measures to attract key markets to return to the Philippines.

Among these initiatives are the possible issuance of electronic visa (e-visa) to China and India as well as the proposed value-added tax (VAT)

OF LENT. An elder of the Kamuning First United Methodist Church marks the forehead of a police officer with a cross, along Kamuning Road in Quezon City on Wednesday (Feb. 22, 2023). Ash Wednesday ushers in the Lenten season.(MNS photo)

OFFICIALLY TIED. Newly wed couples proudly show their wedding ring during the Kasalan ng Bayan (mass wedding) held at the Fernwood Gardens in Sanville Drive, Barangay Culiat, Quezon City on Wednesday (Feb. 22, 2023). A total of 232 indigent couples tied the knot, which was sponsored by 6th District Representative Marivic CoPilar and Councilor Banjo Pilar (not in photo). (MNS photo)

PH Commission on Women backs divorce bills, says current system disadvantageous to women

PHILIPPINES: THE COUNTRY THAT FEELS THE MOST LOVE IN THE WORLD

SAN DIEGO, CA -- I know Valentine’s Day is over but when I ponder about it, I inevitably think of February 15. That’s the day that people come in to work or meet friends for coffee and talk about the events of the preceding evening. Some excerpts I’ve heard in previous years include: “We went to the beach and opened a gift basket filled with cookies and champagne.” “I wasn’t too disappointed that we didn’t celebrate but I guess I just wanted an excuse to do something special together.” “She totally forgot what day it was. We watched TV and ordered take out instead.”

The narratives range from romantic to uneventful, from freewheeling to kind of forced. When we muse about it, the pressure we put on a single day of the year to commemorate all our feelings of love for another person (particularly through things like flowers and chocolate) seems a little silly. We are pretty much setting ourselves up for disappointment. Whether it’s an enjoyable excuse to go out, an anticipated opportunity to do something over the top or really, truly just another twenty-four hours…

Valentine’s Day should be what each of us makes of it and nothing more. So whether you’re a hopeless romantic or just-not-a-candy-heartkind-of-a-person – I reckon there’s another story that evidently make the most of February 14…or any day for that matter.

I say, too that if special occasions, holidays, and vacations tell us one thing, it’s that we should be taking more time in our daily lives to enjoy each other. Routines are so easy to slip into. They make us feel sort of safe and secure, but they also bore us…Ha-ha-ha-ha!

So…where is the love? The Philippines, apparently!

In 2014, in honor of Valentine’s Day, the Philippine government sponsored mass-wedding ceremonies for hundreds of couples. It seemed fitting for a country that marked Valentine’s Day a decade earlier ago by setting a world record for the number of couples simultaneously kissing for 10 seconds (the final tally: 5,122). And it’s also appropriate for a nation where a whopping 93 percent of people report feeling loved.

The last stat comes from what the economist Justin Wolfers has described as “the most comprehensive global index of love ever constructed.” In 2006 and 2007, Gallup asked people in 136 countries whether they had experienced love the previous day. The researchers found that on a typical day, roughly 70 percent of the world’s population reports feeling love. The world leader in love turned out to be none other than our beloved old homeland, the Philippines, where more than 90 percent said they had experienced love, and the world’s laggard Armenia, where only 29 percent of respondents did. In the United States, 81 percent replied in the affirmative.

In fact, the world map showing

percent of people who experience love on a daily basis offers some broad lessons. Love appears to be flourishing in the Americas, achieving mixed results in Africa, and languishing in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. But Wolfers cautions against reading too much into the data. “Differences between countries may be due to how cultures define ‘love’ and not in actual dayto-day experiences,” he writes. “For example, in some countries, the idea of ‘love’ is restricted to a romantic partner, while in others it extends to one’s family members and friends.”

Wolfers and his wife, the economist Betsey Stevenson, crunched the global data and arrived at some fascinating conclusions, including that feeling loved peaks when people are in their mid-30s or mid-40s, and that unmarried couples who live together report getting more love than married spouses. But perhaps their most interesting findings involved the complex relationship between money and love: ”What’s perhaps more striking is how little money matters on a global level. True, the populations of richer countries are, on average, slightly more likely to feel loved than those of poorer countries. But love is still abundant in the poorer countries: People in Rwanda and the Philippines enjoyed the highest love ratios, with more than in 10 people providing positive responses. Armenia, Uzbekistan, Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan, with economic output per person in the middle of the range, all have love ratios of less than 4 in 10.”

`Still, the truly remarkable stage of the research came when a commenter looked at their effort to plot the love data against GDP per capita to see whether there was a relationship between feeling loved and economic development. The reader pointed out that the data points clustered together to form a heart shape.

Isn’t that incredible?

OK, so it’s a bit of a stretch. But a year later after that, Wolfers was still marveling at the Valentine’s Day miracle.

Wondering how your country performed?

The full results of Gallup’s poll are as follows: Ranked number one with 93% feeling love was our Philippines followed by number 2 Rwanda with 92%. Number 3 was Puerto Rico with 90%, number 4 was Hungary with 89% , number 5 was Cyprus with 88%, number 6 was Trinidad and Tobago with 88%, number 7 Paraguay with 87%, number 8 Lebanon with 86%, number 9 Costa Rica with 85%, number 10 Cambodia with 85%, number 11 Nigeria with 84%, number 12 Guyana with 83%, number 13 Spain with 83%, number 14 Mexico with 82%, number 15 Tanzania with 82%, number 16 Ecuador with 82%, number 17 Jamaica with 82%, number 18 Venezuela with 82%, number 19 Cuba with 82%, number 20 Brazil with 82%, number 21 Laos with 81%, number 22 Argentina with 81%, number 23 Belgium with 81%, number 24 Canada with 81%, number 25 Greece with 81%, number 26 United States with 81%, number 27 Denmark with 80%, number 28 Portugal with 80%, number 29 Netherlands with 80%, number 30 Vietnam with 79%, number 31 New Zealand with 79%, number 32 Italy with 79%, number 33 Colombia with 79%, number 34 Madagascar with 78%, number 35 Uruguay with 78%, number 36 Turkey with 78%, number 37 Dominican Republic with 78%, number 38 United Arab Emirates with 77%, number 39 Saudi Arabia with 77%, number 40 Chile with 76%, number 41 Malawi with 76 %, number 42 Ghana with 76%, number 43 South Africa with 76%, number 44 Australia with 76%, number 45 Panama with 75%, number 46 Zambia with 74%, number 47 Kenya with 74% , number 48 Namibia with 74%, number 49 Nicaragua with 74% and at number

Jesse T. Reyes

Filipino Potpourri

109 Bulgaria at 59%, number 110

Slovakia at 58%, number 111

Singapore with 58%, number 112

Czech Republic with 58%, number

113 Mauritania at 57%, number

114 Benin with 56%, number 115

South Korea at 56%, number 116

Myanmar at 55%, number 117

Latvia with 54%, number 118 Togo at 54%, number 119 Estonia with 53%, number 120 Lithuania at 50%, number 121 Russia at 50%, number

122 Chad with 49%, number 123

50 Germany with 74%.

Continuing on with the rankingsNumber 51 Ireland at 74%, number 52 Sweden with 74%, number 53 United Kingdom with 74%, number 54 Switzerland at 74%, number 55 Montenegro at 74%, number 56 Austria at 73%, number 57 France with 73%, number 58 Kuwait at 73%, number 59 Finland with 73%, number 60 El Salvador at 73%, number 61 Pakistan at 73%, number 62 Zimbabwe at 72%, number 63 Honduras at 72%, number 64 Peru with 72%, number 65 Egypt at 72%, number 66 Serbia with 72%, number 67 Bosnia and Herzegovina at 72%, number 68 Sierra Leone at 71%, number 69 India at 71%, number 70 Taiwan with 71%, number 71 Bangladesh at 70%, number 72 Belize with 70%, number 73 Croatia at 69%, number 74 Macedonia with 69%, number 75 Mozambique at 69%, number 76 Bolivia at 69%, number 76 Bolivia with 69%, number 77 Liberia at 68%, number 78 Iran at 68%, number 79 China with 68%, number 80 Slovenia at 68%, number 81 Haiti at 68%, number 82 Norway with 67%, number 83 Sri Lanka at 67%, number 86 Guatemala at 67%, number 86 Uganda with 66%, number 87 Sudan at 66%, number 88 Israel at 66%, number 89 Kosovo with 65%, number 90 Thailand at 65%, number 91 Jordan at 65%, number 92 Albania at 64%, number 93 Guinea at 62%, number 94 Botswana with 62%, number 95 Angola at 62%, number 96 Burkina Faso with 62%, number 97 Malaysia at 61%, number 98 Mali with 61%, number 99 Niger at 61% and rounding up at the 100th spot

Palestinian Territories at 61%. Romania was at the 101 mark with 61%, followed by number 102 Senegal at 61%, number 103 Indonesia with 61%, number 104 Afghanistan at 60%, number 105 Hong Kong with 60%, number 106 Cameroon at 59%, number 107 Japan at 59%, number 108 Nepal with 59%, number 108 Nepal at 59%, number

No Tolerance for Intolerance: Law Enforcement Vets Explore Strategies to Combat Hate Crimes

The ACT Against Hate Alliance brought together some heavy hitters from law enforcement to discuss strategies for combatting the recent rise in hate crimes.

By Mark Hedin/eMS

As the United States experiences an escalating wave of hate crimes, particularly victimizing Asian Americans, ACT Against Hate Alliance brought together some heavy hitters from law enforcement to discuss strategies for combatting this alarming trend.

“The core mission of the ACT Against Hate Alliance is to identify the root causes behind hate crimes, and propose solutions to stop them,” co-host Bob Huff, former California state senate minority leader, said in introducing the Feb. 8 panel, the sixth in a monthly series the organization is hosting while also opening chapters on campuses throughout the state. “We’re all stakeholders,” said Domingo Herraiz, of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. “When an incident or hate crime occurs, it truly rocks the community and the credibility of government and policing

agencies. The sense of safety for all in the community is badly damaged.

“If the investigation falls apart, if there’s no prosecution, no charges, we have long-term, long-lasting effects and devastation to the community.

“We need to speak up, because we are the majority and we cannot tolerate this. We weren’t raised this way. Very, very few people were.”

Inflammatory political, online rhetoric

Jim McDonnell, whose decades in law enforcement included stints as Long Beach police chief after almost 30 years with LAPD, and as LA County sheriff from 2014-18, overseeing 18,000 employees and a $3.3 billion budget, attributed some of the near-doubling of hate crime reports in the past decade to inflammatory leaders and unchecked social media that “encourages people who can hide in the dark” to anonymously spew hate encouraging and rewarding like-

minded others for “something very hurtful to our community.”

“That lack of accountability, I think, separates where we are today from where we were 20 years ago, as it relates to hate crimes in particular, but other crimes and aberrant behavior as well,” he said.

He cited improvements in data collection thanks to a new “NIBR” (National Incident Based Reporting) system that will improve coordination between various law enforcement agencies and jurisdictions. Besides leading to a more complete picture of what is widely believed to be an underreported crime phenomenon, he said, NIBR is expected to make it easier to identify trends and capture specifics about individual crimes.

“We have a relatively small number of people in our society who would engage in this type of behavior,” he said. “So, it’s important that those in law enforcement be aware of who

Yemen at 48%, number 124 Ukraine with 48%, number 125 Ethiopia at 48%, number 126 Azerbaijan with 47%, number 127 Tajikistan at 47%, number 128 Moldova at 46%, number 129 Kazakhstan with 45%, number 130 Morocco at 43%, number 131 Belarus with 43%, number 132 Georgia at 43%, number

133 Kyrgyzstan with 34%, number

134 Mongolia at 32%, number 135

Uzbekistan with 32% and finishing up at the bottom was 136th Armenia with only 29% of its people feeling love..

For my two cents, if you are exploring your options when it comes to marriage, one thing you will want to discover for yourself is why Filipinas make the best wives in the world. You are considering among several other Asian women, perhaps a Filipina for a wife and you want to be sure with your choice as there is no more turning back once you have made a decision. Marriage for you is a lifetime commitment, after all.

Please check out “Philippines: The Wife Capital of the World” https://youtu.be/4jZAwue_Wgc which tells the story of a Black man from the United States married to a beautiful Filipino woman, living in the Philippines and the U.S. and proving an interesting insight for expats and other men who are seriously considering marrying or dating a Filipina.

Why have a Filipina for a wife?

Well, for one thing, Filipinas know how to speak English. Some of them may not be fluent speakers of English but they can manage to bring their message across, breaking down communication barriers. Communication is very important in any relationship but most especially in cross-cultural connections. Marriage itself is a crisis situation and you would not want to make your adjustment more difficult than it already is. You’d certainly be glad to have the communication problem off your back, and with a Filipina wife, you might just be able to keep it off, first and foremost.

Aside from the fact that Filipino women can speak English (and do it

pretty well, carrying a conversation with them can both be fun and inspiring) - Filipino women are easy to talk to and get along with. A Filipina can make you feel at ease - it’s as if you’ve known each other for years and this is very crucial in marriage. As you all know, life isn’t always a bed of roses, and you’ll definitely want someone you can share your troubles with, someone who can pull you back to earth when you are going out of reality, someone who can dream with you and help you reach your dreams, someone who will stand by you for better and for worse. So, besides the spark and the passion, you have to work on being comfortable with each other, to be friends with each other, so to speak, in order to make your relationship work and your marriage last a lifetime.

Generally, Filipino women are known to be hospitable, too, which can mean several things, such as that they have a loving nature and a caring quality. It’s precisely because of these attributes that Filipino women are hailed in their home country and abroad. With a Filipina caring for you, you will not go hungry. With love, she will prepare your morning coffee and breakfast, tend to your home, and your children while you are at work. Filipino women make good household managers. They have the ability to organize stuff and their time so as to be able to get as many things done as possible. If you are looking for someone who can love you “till death do you part” and who can take care of you even in your old age, set your sights on a Filipino woman because that someone can only come from our beloved old homeland, the Philippines…the “Pearl of the Orient Seas.”

Physically, Filipino women are fairly attractive. There are plenty of beautiful Filipino women around the world. In fact, the country has won several titles at major beauty competitions. The Filipinas have the Miss World crown, four crowns of Miss Universe (actually five if you will include the current Miss Universe who is half Filipino), six crowns of Miss International and three crowns of Miss Earth. Their beauty differs from others, believe it or not. They are blessed with appealing “chinita” Asian girl almond eyes and tanned complexion that the White folks are so envious of and men scampering to justify why indeed Filipinas make the best wives. There is no doubt about it that the Philippines is truly the “Wife Capital of the World”… Ha-ha-ha-ha! Mabuhay!!

those individuals are, what groups they’re affiliated with, and how they operate.”

“We dedicate a ton of resources to hate crimes,” said FBI Special Agent Brian Gilhooly, who oversees criminal investigations across seven southern California counties, dealing with gangs, narcotics, violent crime, hate crime, public corruption, crimes against children and fraud.

“It’s not only an attack on a victim. It has a huge impact on the entire community, which is why it’s a priority for the FBI.”

Reporting hate crimes

“It’ll take a team to really make an impact on this threat,” the former Navy SEAL officer in the Middle East and Pacific regions said, “and here in Los Angeles, we are one of the only field offices that has an entire squad dedicated to investigating hate crimes.”

There is “is a button for tips and leads” on the FBI website, Gilhooly

said. “We can use that information to better prepare our law enforcement or intelligence analysts, our victim specialists or our language specialists to address these important issues.”

“Most people set the bar relatively high for reaching out to law enforcement,” Gilhooly added, “thinking that they might need to actually have some physical violence.” But, to enable better understanding of community dynamics and to target investigations on the worst offenders, he said, “Harassment and other forms should also be reported to law enforcement.”

And perhaps “not commonly known,” he said, are other resources

available, primarily to victims, that include community outreach specialists “who speak all manners of foreign languages.

For cultural understanding, he said, “being able to communicate in someone’s first language makes it a little bit easier to talk about some difficult problems.”

More accountability for perpetrators of hate crimes Walt Allen, Covina mayor pro-tem and a 46-year law enforcement veteran, who helps oversee police training for police recruits throughout southern California, also described a need to do

A couple take a selfie as they attend a mass wedding ceremony in celebration of Valentine's Day in Manila, the Philippines.

Professional Business Directory

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Continued from page 2

In a press release on Thursday, Estrella said providing farmers with the necessary support services will make the country attain food selfsufficiency.

Emelda Zonio, an ARB from Guadalupe, Libacao town committed to continuously cultivating the land that she now owns, making it more productive.

“Ang isang pirasong papel na ito ay nagpapa-alaala sa akin ng aking mga magulang na dati nang nagbubungkal sa lupaing ito. Ang patunay ng pagmamay-ari na ito ay magbibigay ng maraming oportunidad para sa aming pamilya (This piece of paper reminded me of my parents who were previously tilling this land. This proof of ownership will provide many

opportunities for our family,” Zonio said. Estrella distributed 183 e-titles comprising a total of 304.9723 hectares of agricultural lands in Aklan under the DAR’s Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) Project.

DAR Western Visayas Regional Director Sheila Enciso said the e-titles distributed on Feb. 16 are located in the towns of Altavas, Buruanga, Ibajay, Libacao, Madalag, and Malay.

“The ARBs' long wait will be paid off as they can soon fully enjoy the fruits of their hard work by making their lands productive,” Enciso said.

Meanwhile, aside from the distribution of land titles, the DAR also turned over a PHP8.4 million doublelane modular steel bridge under the Tulay ng Pangulo para sa Kaunlarang Pang-Agraryo (TPKP) project.

Farm machinery and equipment (FME) worth PHP275,850 were also

given to selected ARB organizations (ARBOs) in the second district of Aklan. The groundbreaking of the PHP50 million farm-to-market roads benefiting around 20,000 farmers in the province was also held.

Canada to hire more Filipino healthcare workers

Manitoba Minister of Labour and Immigration Jon Reyes has expressed interest in hiring more skilled Filipino health professionals under a new program that would financially support Filipino nurses. Said program would include the provision of airfare, accommodation, and training, among others.

In a courtesy call to Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan "Toots" Ople on Wednesday, the two officials agreed on furthering labor cooperation between the Philippines and the Canadian province, especially in the recruitment of Filipino nurses

and other healthcare professionals.

The proposed scholarship fund for Filipino nursing students who wish to work in Canada was also discussed during the meeting.

The Philippine Embassy in Canada said that as of April 2018, there are around 901,218 Filipinos working and staying in Canada which comprises almost 2.6 percent of its national population.

The embassy added that the Philippines continues to be the top source of immigrants to Canada, followed by India, China, and Iran.

Canadian provinces with the most number of Filipinos include Ontario, Alberta, and Manitoba while Toronto remained the Canadian metropolitan area with the most number of Filipinos, followed by Vancouver and Winnipeg.

Meanwhile, Ople conveyed her appreciation to the Canadian government for their hospitality and

firm commitment to upholding the rights and welfare of Filipino migrant workers, and for recognizing the professionalism of Filipino nurses.

“It’s very natural to our Filipino nurses, to our healthcare professionals

to see every patient as a member of the family or a friend. Being warm, hospitable, caring, and hopeful are some of the qualities of our Filipino nurses that makes us proud,” Ople said. (MNS)

DBM CHIEF

Help Wanted / For Rent / For Sale

and productive scientific personnel.

Under EO 17, signed by Marcos on Feb. 20, he underscored the need to update the IRR to effectively respond “to the evolving needs of the country’s science and technology human resources in government service.”

The EO states that the SCS will be characterized by “the entrance to and a career progression or advancement based on qualifications, merit and scientific productivity, career path to scientists, as well as incentives and rewards to ensure attraction and retention of highly qualified personnel in the science and technology sector.”

It will apply to scientific personnel with master’s and doctorate degrees in sciences who are directly involved in research and development, covering biological sciences, engineering and technology, mathematical and physical sciences, health and agricultural sciences, as well as all scientific disciplines determined by the Scientific Career Council (SCC).

The SCS’s administration system will be composed of the chairperson of the CSC as ex-officio chairperson, the secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as ex-officio co-chairperson and other ex-officio members.

A Technical Working Group and Special Technical Committees (STCs) will be established by the

SCC to serve as an advisory body and screening committee.

STCs in different fields of specialization will be created with each technical committee composed of at least five members recognized by authorities in their respective fields and who will serve for two years.

EO 17 states that the appointments of scientists under SCS will be based on rank, from Scientist 1 to Scientist 5, who will be admitted to the system to the extent that they meet the minimum qualifications. Their pay will be based on a compensation plan, which will include fringe benefits and reasonable allowances comparable to those of the Career Executive Service (CES).

Based on the compensation plan, Scientist 1 will have a salary grade 26, Scientist 2 will have a salary grade 27, Scientist 3 will have a salary grade 28, Scientist 4 will have a salary grade 29 and Scientist 5 will have a salary grade 30.

EO 17 also calls for the provision of a continuing training program for all active scientists.

The SCS secretariat will be funded by the General Appropriations Act, while scientists from national government agencies, state universities and colleges will be compensated through their respective appropriations.

Scientists from governmentowned or controlled corporations (GOCCs) will be compensated through their respective corporate operating budgets, while for those

from local government units, their salaries will be charged against their respective local funds in accordance with RA No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991.

EO No. 901, which provides for the IRR of the SCS, declares it a policy of the government "to support and encourage the development of science and technology, attract scientific experts into public service, and provide a system for the recognition and reward of technological and scientific productivity in government.”

The 1987 Constitution provides that the state must give priority to research and development, invention, innovation and their utilization, and to science and technology education, training and services. (MNS)

company is committed to creating a sustainable future by providing its electricity from renewable sources; modernizing natural gas pipelines; accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles; supporting numerous nonprofit partners; and, investing in innovative technologies to ensure the reliable operation of the region’s infrastructure for generations to come. SDG&E is a subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE). For more information, visit SDGEnews.com or connect with SDG&E on Twitter (@SDGE), Instagram (@SDGE) and Facebook.

more to hold people accountable for their actions, something he felt has diminished in recent years.

“If people are not held accountable, you’re going to have continuous behavior. We need to set an example for those people who do wrong and hold them to the letter of the law.”

He described a new emphasis in police training on investigating hate crimes and dealing empathetically with its victims, and said he has high hopes for the recently enacted CARE act, state Senate Bill 1338, that begins to address the needs of people

diagnosed as severely mentally ill.

“Severe mental health issues are a driving force behind violent crime in California,” he stated.

“If you tolerate it, you encourage it,” said Denton Carlson, police chief in the northern California city of San Ramon, whose department was able to rapidly respond to and defuse some incidents over the holidays late last year.

“If you don’t take actions to stop it, it’s just going to keep occurring and flourish.”

“You often hear people say that ‘hey, somebody should do something about that,” Herraiz said. “Well, we’re all somebody who can step up and play a role in our own way in affecting what happens in the future.”

The Season of Lent: a time

for

We are in the Season of Lent, a time for spiritual renewal and to do major spring cleaning in our lives. We are all sinners and we have fallen short in the glory of God. We are guilty of so many wrong doings and we have bottled them up inside our being. We have pretended that we are in right relationship with God.

Many of us are missing on the beauty of life and relationships because we often wear blinders. We tend to see the ugliness of what is before us. We destroy our relationship with people through jealousy, pride, hatred, anger, and pettiness. The Season of Lent is a significant time to re-examine our relationship with others and with God by meditating on the suffering, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said to his followers, “Whoever wishes to be my follower must deny his very self, take up his cross each day, and follow in my steps. (Luke 9:23)

In his book, Imitation of Christ, Thomas de Kempis wrote, “The whole life of Christ was a cross and a martyrdom, and would you seek rest and joy? If you carry the cross unwillingly, it would be a burden to you. If you fling away one cross, without doubt you shall

spiritual

renewal

Aurora S. Cudal-Rivera

My Personal Testimony

find another, perhaps a heavier one”

Here are some actions you could take during this Lenten season. Let’s do some fasting and feasting on those things that will make us better persons and worthy of being a child of God.

Fast from judging others. Feast on Christ dwelling in them

Fast from apparent darkness. Feast on the reality of light.

Fast from pessimism. Feast on optimism.

Fast from thoughts of illness.

Feast on the healing power of God.

Fast from words that pollute.

Feast on phrases that purify. .

Fast from anger. Feast on patience.

Fast from worry. Feast on Divine Providence.

Spiritual Life Blessing on my knees

Fast from unrelenting pressure. Feast on unceasing prayer.

Fast from complaining. Feast on appreciation and gratitude

Fast from bitterness. Feast on forgiveness.

Fast on anxiety. Feast on hope.

Fast on hatred. Feast on love.

My prayer: Almighty God, you know what is in my heart. I feel I am not worthy in your sight. I have fallen short in Your glory. I confess my sins and I pray that you will cleanse my heart from all unrighteousness. As I enter the path of repentance, please guide my steps so that in dying to self, I might rise to new life. Heal my body and soul, cure the sickness in my spirit that I may grow in faith and spiritual maturity through your constant and abiding love. Amen.

Greetings in the Lord!

We entered into the joyful celebration of the season of Lent four days ago with the liturgical celebration of Ash Wednesday.

This season is a joyful forty days preparation for the celebration of the Paschal Triduum, or three day holy days the make us remember the saving mystery of the Passover of Our Lord Jesus Christ. In this season there are six Sundays that the Church has provided us to reflect on the word of God besides the celebration of the Eucharist so that we can seriously and thoroughly prepares ourselves, both as individuals and members of a community, for the renewal of our baptismal vows in the liturgical celebration at Easter Vigil.

Just like what we did in the past Lenten season, we are supposed to do three very significant activities in this joyful preparation. These are deep personal and communal prayers, sincere and generous charitable expression of our love for our neighbor, especially those who are in real need, and finally, compassionate and voluntary self-sacrifice through fasting and abstinence. This period of Lent, celebrated with joyfully will lead us to a very meaningful celebration of Easter which is “the most joyous and solemn feast of the entire liturgical year.”

“The First Sunday of the Lenten journey reveals our condition as

human beings here on earth. The victorious battle against temptation, the starting point of Jesus’ mission, is an invitation to become aware of our own fragility in order to accept the Grace that frees us from sin and infuses new strength in Christ – the way, the truth and the life. It is a powerful reminder that Christian faith implies, following the example of Jesus and in union with him, a battle ‘against ruling forces who are maters of the darkness in this world’ (Eph. 6:12), in which the devil is at work and never tires – even today –of tempting whoever wishes to draw close to the Lord: Christ emerges victorious to open also our hearts to hope and guide us in overcoming the seductions of evil.” (Benedict XVI)

Indeed the readings of today’s liturgy make us really conscious and aware that in the world today the temptations for riches, power and glory are real, forceful and

pervasive. We are living in a world where often the gospel message that the “Sermon on the Mount,” or the beatitudes is truly put into test. There really exist strong and seductive allurements of the world from its sincere accomplishment in our personal and communal lives as disciples of Jesus. There are times that we fail in our Christian living of the gospel message of perfection, yet the triumph that Jesus has manifested in the desert should strengthen us and make us confident that although we cannot surmount the temptation of the devil by our own personal strength, the devil was overcome by Christ and can be overcome by us with the power that Christ has shared with us through baptism.

The first Sunday of Lent is a reminder that life in the world for every Christian is a constant battle between us and the Evil one. It is also an assurance that the Evil One has been conquered totally by Jesus Christ Himself. However, this conquest can also happen in our own personal a communal battle with the banner of Jesus as our guide and constant reminder of his triumph and victory. Let us, therefore, open our hearts and minds to Jesus during this holy season of Lent so that we may persevere in valley of tears until we finally come in communion with Him forever and ever.

A friend had quadruple bypass surgery and his first hospital stay. Instead of parking in the ministers' reserved area and visiting the sick, he lay in an airy hospital gown and received visitors. Later, his sweet wife listed the kindnesses extended from hospital staff, family, and friends because many rallied to "bless" this godly couple. Their helpers bowed their knees to them, not in worship but in service.

When God called Abram, one of the promises he made was to "bless" him. The primary root for "bless" means "to kneel" or "to bow the knee":

[God said to Abram,] "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you" (Genesis 12:2-3).

The idea of blessing may come from several factors including that of bending the knees to give or to receive. Both elements of giving and receiving are present in God's call to Abram.

First, God bowed his knees and served Abram so Abram could accomplish God's will for his life. Eventually through Abram's lineage, God gifted the entire earth with Jesus Christ. Abram believed God's promises, used God's provisions, and bowed his knee in service to his family and foreigners.

I easily imagine Abram bowing his knee to serve God and his contemporaries. However, I have difficulty when I picture God on his knees, serving Abram, not in worship but through the keeping of his promises to bless Abram.

While the picture of God kneeling to serve might be difficult to visualize, testimonies of God's gracious service appear all through scripture. From the earliest days, God has served his creation and expressed his all-out love through provisions and justice. The Creator seeded the earth and set up an atmosphere to support plant life and humans. He didn't let Cain get away with murder. For thousands of years, God has nurtured humanity, yet we as humans have continued to

Danny Hernaez From Whom

ignore or bite the hand that feeds us. In addition, God planned a complete demonstration of his love through Jesus Christ - a demonstration of love that would impact us like nothing before or since.

Ultimately, God let us view his servant heart through his Son Jesus, and his three year ministry held countless revelations of God's truth and grace (John 1:14-18). On the evening before his crucifixion, Jesus assured his disciples, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).

Earlier that night, Jesus had demonstrated God-as-servant, showing his disciples the "full extent of his love" (John 13:1). When the Master Teacher had gathered to dine with his disciples in the upper room, street grime had come along on their feet. That's when the God of Abram, "found in appearance as a man" (Philippians 2:8), got up from the meal, took off his outer garment, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After pouring water into a basin, the God of Abram knelt, and one at a time he would lift and clean 24 dirty feet. Wash and dry. Wash and dry. Wash and dry. Thomas.

John. Thaddeus. Andrew. James.

Bartholomew. Peter. Judas.

The cleansing wasn't brief: The meal stopped. It took time. Minutes and more minutes ticked by as Jesus, found in appearance as a man, made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant (Philippians 2:6-8). Servant God knelt. Moved from man to man, foot to foot, and physically touched each disciple. Dipping water from a basin, scrubbing toes, toweling ankles, Jesus humbled himself one more time before he "became obedient unto death-even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:8). When Jesus reached the reluctant Peter, we find these words in John's

story of Jesus: He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me" (John 13:6-8). Later ... the disciples comprehended. They remembered the night Jesus made himself of no reputation and took upon the form of a servant - the night he declared most of them were clean and set in motion a perpetual cleansing. They learned from God "found in appearance as a man" that protocol couldn't hinder lavish love.

When Abram received his call, Servant God eventually furnished everything Abram needed to carry out the divine path for his life. Abram believed God and his belief equaled righteousness in God's court (Genesis 15:6).

I find it easy to picture looking up into the heavens and praying to God. I can even clearly picture God at my side walking in a garden as we talk about life. However, the image blurs when I look down into the eyes of the God of Abram fashioned as a man washing my feet.

I am ready for a new portrait. I am praying that God will place in my mind and heart the knowledge of a towel-draped Savior at my feet who will equip me to bless - bow my knees to others.

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

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refund program for foreign tourists.

Frasco said the DOT is working closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Immigration to be able to start issuing soon e-visa to both nations as one of the top tourism markets of the Philippines.

Frasco was the guest speaker at the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) 1st General Membership Meeting 2023 and Induction of the new Board of Trustees last Feb. 16. Meanwhile, So agreed on the importance of collaboration and

participation of all the tourism stakeholders to speed up the industry’s recovery.

This year, So said the HSMA would focus on growth, education and community buildings to provide more avenues for success for its memberhotels and resorts, particularly in the domestic market.

"What's most important is driving revenues toward our hotels and resorts, all the while building on the sense of community and comradeship among our members that we've cultivated and fostered since our group's founding in 1974," So said.

On March 28-29, the Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) and HSMA will be

holding the Travel Exchange as their first revenue-generating activity where over 150 properties will engage in tabletop business with more than 100 of PHILTOA's members to boost domestic travel through their destinations and services.

Travelers can also look forward to the September Online Sale (SOS) which was initially established as a response to the impact of the pandemic on travel and tourism in 2020.

"This year, SOS will be bigger, because we are opening that up to tour operators and airlines," So said.

The HSMA has over 150 members and is the premier organization of hotel sales and marketing leaders in the Philippines. (MNS)

Fr. Agustin T. Opalalic

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.

City of San Diego Offers Grant Funding for Artists to Help Increase Awareness of Regional Issues

PROGRAM FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR ARTISTS AND CULTURAL PRACTITIONERS THROUGHOUT SAN DIEGO AND IMPERIAL COUNTIES

SAN DIEGO – The City of San Diego and its regional partners have released a new grant opportunity for artists and cultural practitioners to inspire change within their communities. Through the Far South/Border North program, grant award recipients will develop artistic content and carry out public campaigns that increase regional awareness of issues impacting San Diego and Imperial counties, including public health, energy and water conservation, climate mitigation, civic engagement and social justice matters.

"The Far South/Border North

program offers artists and cultural practitioners in our region an extraordinary opportunity," said Jonathon Glus, Executive Director of the City's Commission for Arts and Culture. "We know artists and cultural practitioners bring an important engagement perspective to intersectional work in environmental, civic and community health, and we appreciate the California Arts Council's investment in San Diego and Imperial counties' most disproportionately impacted communities."

Spearheaded by the City of San Diego, Far South/Border North is

a California Creative Corps arts program implemented through a bicounty regional collaborative and partnership with the Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties, San Diego Regional Arts and Culture Coalition and San Diego Foundation.

The program provides funding to artists and cultural practitioners to help support the health and wellbeing of communities in the lowest quartile of the California Healthy Places Index in San Diego and Imperial counties while continuing to enrich their creative, artistic and cultural practices.

"We are pleased to partner in this

work that will shine a light on and grow public and private funding for artists and cultural practitioners," said Megan Thomas, President & CEO of Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties. "We are excited about this opportunity to artistically and creatively elevate the dialogue about equitable resources for health, environmental, and other social justice issues across San Diego and Imperial counties."

"Implementing the Far South/ Border North program is vital to building a stronger regional creative sector," said San Diego Regional Arts and Culture Coalition

Executive Director Felicia Shaw.

"Collectively, we will help support San Diego and Imperial artists and cultural practitioners while bringing awareness to the importance of the arts and health equity within our communities."

Far South/Border North is funded through a $4.75 million California Creative Corps grant from the California Arts Council.

Grant guidelines and information sessions to assist potential applicants are available at farsouthbordernorth. com. Applications will be accepted through 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. A second round of

grant applications for organizations to regrant to artists and cultural practitioners will be released in the spring.

The City of San Diego advances and drives an equitable and inclusive creative economy and cultural ecosystem by investing in the work of artists and creatives and the institutions and systems that amplify creative work and experiences. To learn more, visit sandiego.gov/artsculture.

Pacific Arts Movement Welcomes Executive

Director Alex Villafuerte

Villafuerte brings years of community advocacy work to the San Diego Asian Film Festival

SAN DIEGO, CA -- Pacific Arts

Movement (Pac Arts), presenters of the San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF), announces Alex Villafuerte as the organization’s new Executive Director. As a local community leader, and longtime supporter of the organization, Villafuerte comes to Pac Arts with almost a decade of experience as an advocate for LGBTQ and Asian American and Pacific Islander voices and stories.

“I’m honored to join the Pacific Arts Movement family as their Executive Director,” said Pacific Arts Movement Executive Director Alex Villafuerte. “I hope the San Diego community will join us in April as we kick off the Spring Showcase and continue amplifying the stories of our Asian and Pacific Islander community.”

Villafuerte brings years of experience in event and community organizing for San Diego's largest civic event, the San Diego Pride parade where he formerly served as San Diego Pride’s Director of Marketing and Communications. He led the charge to found the San Diego Queer APIMEDA Coalition in 2018 while generating over $3 million in ticket sales. Through his efforts, he expanded San Diego Pride’s yearround programming while elevating LGBTQ arts and culture.

“It has been the honor of a lifetime to work alongside Alex Villafuerte over the last 7 years. The depth of his expertise, passion for intersectional justice, and unstoppable drive to serve the community were instrumental in the historic growth of San Diego Pride and the founding of multiple programs and organizations including the San Diego API Coalition,” says Fernando Z. Lopez, Executive Director of San Diego Pride. “Unquestionably our organization and our region have been made better by his care. I am thrilled to see how he leads PacArts into the future.”

Building upon that work in 2020, Villafuerte organized a joint statement with over 70+ APIserving organizations denouncing xenophobia, racism, and the increasing acts of violence targeting Asian and

Pacific Islander communities. From that response and collaboration, Pac Arts and other organizations worked together during the pandemic to found the San Diego API Coalition where Villafuerte currently serves as the cochair of the coalition.

“Our city has been a beneficiary of Alex’s leadership in key community organizations including San Diego Pride, Asian Business Association San Diego, and the San Diego API Coalition. I’m looking forward to seeing Alex elevate arts and culture in our region as the new Executive Director of the Pacific Arts Movement,” shares Todd Gloria, Mayor of San Diego.

Villafuerte is excited to continue his work uplifting underrepresented voices through Pac Art’s mission to present unique, culturally-enriching programs that would otherwise be inaccessible to the public through the annual San Diego Asian Film Festival and the upcoming SDAFF Spring Showcase slated for April 20-27, 2023.

“As the founder of Pac Arts, I am genuinely excited for Alex to lead the organization into its next chapter. His creativity, work ethic, knowledge of San Diego, and ability to organize large scale events are invaluable,” says Pac Arts Founder and former Executive Director, Lee Ann Kim. “ Most of all, his deep understanding and passion

for the power of storytelling are the exact reason why I started the film festival to begin with. I admire Alex's courage and determination to take on this leadership role, and I support him 100%”.

California State Assemblymember

Evan Low:

“Congratulations to the Pacific Arts Movement’s Executive Director Alex Villafuerte. Alex has been a champion for AAPI and LGBTQ rights including serving on the San Diego County Human Relations Commission, as a co-founder of the San Diego Asian Pacific Islander Coalition, and amplifying our community’s voices through San Diego Pride and the Asian

Business Association San Diego.”

San Diego City Councilmember

Kent Lee:

“After years of working together through co-founding the San Diego API Coalition and in advocating for our communities, I couldn’t be more excited for Pac Arts’ future with Alex as its new Executive Director. Alex’s community and coalition building experience has been instrumental in uplifting Asian American and Pacific Islander voices — especially at a time where community advocacy has never been more critical.

I look forward to working with Alex and the entire Pac Arts team through the Council District 6 office in the years to come.”

KathNiel, Zanjoe, Joshua excited for international tour

and kapag may shows kasi medyo busy ang schedule. But now we're really happy kasi nag-swak ang schedule naming apat at naisip nila na gawan ng show sa mga bansa na espesyal pa sa aming lahat. So we are really looking forward seeing our Kapamilyas abroad and sana mabigyan sila ng magandang show na magpapasaya sa kanila," Bernardo said.

For Marudo, the tour is the Kapamilya way of saying thank you to all the Filipinos abroad.

'Ito ang way nang pasasalamat natin sa mga Kapamilya na sumuporta pa rin kahit na ang daming pinagdaanan nitong nakaraang taon, nandiyan pa rin sila. Inihanda talaga namin ang sarili namin para makapagpasalamat sa kanila ng harap-harapan," Marudo said.

Aside from meeting fellow Filipinos abroad, Garcia is looking forward to all the activities that he will enjoy together with his friends.

'Freelancer' Ruffa Gutierrez says new ABS-CBN project starting soon

MANILA -- Ruffa Gutierrez is open to returning to ABS-CBN following the temporary halt of her morning talk show on another TV network, the actress-host said.

"I'm a freelancer. Anytime! Hi, Tita Cory!" Gutierrez said, laughing, in an interview on the sidelines of the launch of her latest movie, "Martyr or Murderer."

Gutierrez was referring to the Kapamilya network's head of broadcast Cory Vidanes.

Without revealing details, she said a project with ABS-CBN is actually in the works.

"I am naman talaga," she said of being a freelancer. "I'm in a pause. I just have a contract with AllTV in terms of talk, so I can do a teleserye. As a matter of fact, I'm starting a project with ABS-CBN soon." Gutierrez was last seen on ABS-

CBN as one of the regular judges of a pageant segment of "It's Showtime" in late 2022. Gutierrez also addressed reactions to her playing former first lady

Imelda Marcos for a second time in "Martyr or Murderer," stressing she

is merely doing her job as an actress.

"Maraming nagmamahal sa kanya. Marami ring may ayaw sa kanya. So there are two sides talaga. Para sa akin, just don't get involved in the fray. Ang importante, I'm just doing my role," she said.

Addressing "bashers" or those who have been critical of her taking part in the movie about the political family, Gutierrez added:

"Wala, hindi na iniintindi 'yun. I'm just grateful na kahit wala akong ginagawa, nagkakaroon ng bashers. 'Yung iba naman, ang dami nang ginagawa, naghuhubad, hindi pa rin pinapansin."

"Huwag sila masyadong seryoso," she went on. "I know that there's always going to be political sides — may mga gusto, merong may ayaw. Pero like I said, wala na tayo doon. Basta ako, characterization!" (MNS)

MANILA -- Popular love team Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla along with Zanjoe Marudo and Joshua Garcia are looking forward to their international tour next month.

The four Kapamilya stars are set to hold shows in Barcelona, Spain, Milan, Italy, and Abu Dhabi, UAE as part of ABS-CBN Global’s efforts to entertain Filipinos based abroad.

"It's been a while since nagkaroon kami ng show abroad, especially kami ni Kathryn after '2 Good.' Ito na 'yung shows namin abroad tapos makakasama pa namin 'yung barkada namin. So we are very excited. Kasi

siyempre iba-iba ang timpla, iba-iba ang chemistry naming lahat, lalo na kasama mo ang mga kaibigan mo doing a show. Parang natural na lang lahat. Natural na lang ang kasiyahan namin doon, biruan namin doon, natural na lang," said Padilla, adding that he, Bernardo and Garcia are excited to return to Spain where they shot their 2016 film "Barcelona: A Love Untold."

"Parang bonus na nga lang 'yung trabaho dito kasi ang ganda ng mga bansang pupuntahan namin. For two years hindi kami nakakasama every time mag-a-'ASAP' abroad

"Excited ako sa food, excited ako sa mga activities na pwede naming gawin doon na magbarkada. Tulad ng sabi ni Daniel excited akong bumalik sa Barcelona kasi may mga naging kaibigan kami roon nung nag-shoot kami roon," Garcia said.

Co-presented by TFC and Star Magic, the shows will be hosted by comedian Eric Nicolas.

ABS-CBN Global’s Europe and Middle East events follow numerous overseas presentations of Kapamilya stars, like Star Magic’s 30th anniversary tour in the US, and the Las Vegas show of “ASAP Natin ‘To” in the latter half of 2022. (MNS)

Ellen Adarna launches own business

wanted to guarantee that everything we’ll bring to you will be the best. So here it is… welcome to @e11ven. life. The first ‘life brand’ in the Philippines,” she said. It remains to be seen what other products Adarna would come up with under her brand in the coming weeks.

This is the first time that Adarna is venturing into a business since she decided to stay away from showbiz in 2018.

The actress has also been consistent in saying that she has no plans of resuming her acting career, stating that she enjoys playing the role of a mom.

own business and launch her own brand.

Adarna shared her enthusiasm for launching her own brand on Instagram, revealing that her initial offerings will be glutathione and glowberry products.

“Took us a while because we

"My son is my priority," said Adarna, who shares a co-parenting relationship with John Lloyd Cruz, Elias’ father. She added that motherhood is a tiring job but the happiness every time she nurtures and takes care of Elias is priceless. She also admits there are good and bad days, but she knows she has a responsibility to do.

(MNS)

Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla

MANILA -- Ellen Adarna hails from a family of entrepreneurs in Cebu so it comes as no surprise that she has finally decided to venture into her