The Filipino Press: January 20-26, 2023

MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Wednesday his government has placed infrastructure development under the “Build, Better, More” flagship program, as the pinnacle of its vision for an equitable, prosperous and resilient Philippines by 2040 while recognizing the private sector’s critical role in realizing its goals.

In his opening remarks before the High-Level Dialogue-Investing in Infrastructure for Resilience, President Marcos said with the expected Philippine economy growth rate of at least 7 percent for 2022, his government has been making connectivity a priority in multiple realms such as land, sea, air, digital, as well as meta.

The Philippines’ expected 7 percent growth, the highest in Southeast Asia and one of the highest in the Asia-Pacific region, was supported by strong macroeconomic fundamentals and prudent fiscal policies.

The President told dialogue participants that the Philippines recognizes the importance of mitigating the impact of climate change on economic growth and resilience, compelling the nation to prioritize designing and building climate-resilient infrastructure, programs and projects.

“We have allocated 9 percent of our national budget toward initiatives to support conservation, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. I have committed to work to increase this figure to an average of 15 percent annually,” Marcos

said.

Recognizing the role of the private sector partners, Marcos said the recent amendments to the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Law address concerns regarding the financial viability and bankability of

public-private partnerships as well as issues on potential delays.

The administration, Marcos noted, aims to raise the confidence of investors, especially those that will benefit the social sectors of health, education and agriculture.

By SuSan deloS SantoS

evolution of the new global economy,” the President pointed out.

The Philippine president also mentioned in his remarks the disruptions and breakdowns that had catastrophic implications for global business and how the Philippines

addressed those challenges.

According to the President, his government responded by addressing the administration’s ability to keep the wheels of the economy going amid severe disruption, and its ability to bounce back from adversity.

PBBM bullish on PH economy, sees 6.5% growth in 2023

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday (Manila time) expressed confidence that the Philippine economy would grow by or even beyond 6.5 percent in 2023.

"Well, our projection is 6.5 percent and we're still hoping that it will be able to grow beyond that," Marcos said in a one-on-one dialogue with World Economic Forum (WEF) president Børge Brende.

Marcos said his administration is focused on attaining a higher economic growth rate to ensure the Philippines' fast recovery from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

"The approach that the Philippines has taken is our lessons learned, the hard lessons learned from the lockdown, from the pandemic, from the height of the pandemic where it became very, very clear where the weaknesses were," Marcos said.

"The strategy is to have high growth rates to pull us out of that situation. So we've done everything," he added.

The Marcos administration's projection is that the Philippine economy would expand by around

SAN DIEGO,CA -- Approximately 113,000 San Diego Gas & Electric customers who fell behind in paying their energy bills during the initial years of the COVID-19 pandemic recently received debt relief through the California Arrearage Payment Program (CAPP), which erased a total of $51.3 million in overdue balances they incurred between March 4, 2020 and December 31, 2021. CAPP funds were automatically applied to eligible customers’ accounts over the weekend, according to eligibility rules set by the state. The amount of CAPP credit will be shown on customers’ next bill.

This is the second round of CAPP funding that SDG&E, working in collaboration with local Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) programs, has applied for and secured from the state to assist their mutual customers. The first round of funding was credited to more than 93,000 eligible customers’ accounts in February 2022, eliminating $62.5 million in overdue bills incurred between March 4, 2020, and June 15, 2021.

“In addition to the state’s CAPP debt relief program, I want our customers to know that there many other assistance programs available to them,” said SDG&E Vice President of Customer Services Dana Golan. “We are committed to helping our customers who are experiencing financial hardships due to high winter energy bills.”

To date, CAPP has provided a total of $113.8 million in debt relief to customers served by SDG&E and

local CCAs, including San Diego Community Power and Clean Energy Alliance.

In recent days, SDG&E credited the second round of CAPP funds to customers’ accounts and was able offset 100% of each eligible customer’s outstanding pandemic period arrearages incurred between March 4, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2021.

If an active customer’s outstanding balance was $100, they would have received $100 to offset their outstanding balances. SDG&E is notifying eligible customers via email and letters in the mail, if the CAPP funds credited to their account are more than $10. A message will also be included on eligible customers’ bills to let them know that CAPP funds have been applied to their accounts.

About CAPP

CAPP is intended to help residential utility customers who fell behind on their energy bills because of the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is funded by the state budget and is administered by the California Department of Community Services and Development (CSD). Utilities statewide applied for the funds through CSD on behalf of their customers. Customers do not have to be on a low-income program to be eligible for the CAPP funds. For answers to frequently asked questions about CAPP, please visit: California Arrearage Payment Program (CAPP) | San Diego Gas & Electric (sdge. com)

Customer Assistance

Programs

SDG&E offers a wide variety of customer assistance programs, ranging from bill discounts and payment plans to energy efficiency upgrades that help with long-term bill savings. Recently, SDG&E announced the expansion of its Neighbor-to-Neighbor utility payment assistance program, which is making available $1 million available in shareholder dollars to offset overdue bills for customers who are at least three months or more behind on payment and do not qualify for the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Visit sdge.com/assistance, a one-stop shop for information about assistance programs administered by SDG&E and other entities.

SDG&E is an innovative San Diego-based energy company that provides clean, safe and reliable energy to better the lives of the people it serves in San Diego and southern Orange counties. The 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 non-profit 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.

NATIONAL CITY, CA-- Filipinos love shopping, watching pinoy movies, eating filipino food and care for their health by walking as a form of exercise and where else to safely to do that all, in the one and only Plaza Bonita Mall. The mall is conveniently located in National City which is home to 80 percent of the Filipino own businesses in San Diego. The Plaza Bonita Mall is located at 3030 Plaza Bonita Road, National City, Ca 91950.

Gerry's Grill Restaurant and Bar located in Plaza Bonita Mall is currently the largest filipino owned restaurant in San Diego, and has a 232 capacity. It offers authentic Filipino and Asian cuisines, a private function room for

up to 50 people, provides 4 nights of entertainment from Thursday thru Sunday with accoustics or live band.

Some of the top bands performing at Gerry's Grill include D'Barkads, Harana, U Avenue, AlterWave, Sign Up, No Strings Attached bands. For specific band schedules, visit their website at https://gerrysgrill.com or call (619)464-3779.

Gerry's Grill Restaurant and Bar is the only placed in San Diego filipino business community that offers 4 nights of entertainment that includes Acoustics on Thursdays and Sundays; Full Live Entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays aside from great food.

Recently, Gerry's Grill joined the Fil-Am Chamber of Commerce with

membership highlighted by ribbon cutting ceremony. Business and Community supporters of the event includes UP Alumni Association, FilAm Chamber of Commerce Greater San Diego officers and members, Sweetwater Rotary of San Diego, Pilipino Nurses Association, Filameda, Boogie Arce of OCBC, Zen Ply, singer Cherilyn Mallari, Felma Vargas of Star Lions Club, Lorna, Juvy of juv's Petals, Cheryl Barraza of Sofia Precious Boutique, Omar, Arlene, business leaders Solita Hines, Belle Antioquia, Susan Blake and more.

HIGHLIGHTS: Gerry's Grill Restaurant and Bar located at

“For this reason, we have taken a proactive approach. We have created a Private Sector Advisory Council, some members are with us and we have formulated many strategies so that we can position the Philippines properly for development and

San Diego’s No. 1 Source of News & Information for the Filipino Community • An Award-Winning Newspaper

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. poses with officials of Glencore, following a meeting with the Swiss multi-national company on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. The President was joined by Speaker Martin Romualdez; Senator Mark Villar; Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual; Special Assistant to the President, Secretary Anton Lagdameo; and Ramon Ang, president and chief executive officer, San Miguel Corporation. (MNS photo)

Noel Arangorin, manager of Gerry's Grill in Plaza Bonita Mall led the ribbon cutting ceremony held recently in cooperation with Fil-am Chamber of Commerce team Femie Cupit, Ellen Sexsion, Ferdinand Agpaoa, Jeni Burgess of Asian Business Association, Barbara Eldridge of Mindmasters (photo ourtesy of Solita Hines)

Pampered Pinay: Team Francine working together to defeat Lung Cancer

By Theresa maigue- Bendorf

Our Pampered Pinay, Francine Maigue wrote about her late stage 4 diagnosis of Lung Cancer in 2019. Being very open about her experience, vocal about advocating for her own healthcare and early cancer screening for all, it was a perfect fit that she led a team during the 2020 Lung Force Walk.

Team Francine was exuberant, hopeful and was over 100 member strong. Including family, friends from near and far, dignitaries who

were all her respected colleagues and numerous furry dog friends.

In Francine's earlier articles, she spoke about how lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., and about every two and a half minutes, someone in this country learns they have the disease. Francine wanted to help The American Lung Association shine a light on lung cancer to help all those impacted and move their vision forward of a world free of lung disease.

This year even though Francine is not here in body, her spirit is leading Team Francine once again! Please join us on Sunday, January 29th at Liberty Station for this years' Lung Force Walk. Your participation and donation will help raise funds for cancer research, advocacy and efforts to raise awareness to improve rates of early detection. Help us continue Francine's fight. Sign up now and let's walk together to defeat lung cancer.

Here's the link to the Team Francine page: http://action.lung.org/goto/ Team_Francine

Your participation and donation of any amount is greatly appreciated!

February 22, 2023 will be Francine's 1st Death Anniversary. A ceremony will be held at Greenwood Memorial Park on Wednesday, 2-22-23 at 2pm. Everyone is welcome to attend. More details to follow and will be published on The Pampered Pinay.

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.

week. The restaurant is located at 3030 Plaza Bonita Rd, Unit 2510, National City, Ca 91950 . It is open 7 days a week, 365 days in a year.

It is the largest filipino restaurant in San Diego with capacity of 232 which includes main dining area, outdoor patio, function room that sits about 50 people and bar area where the live band and acoustics entertainment happen 5 days in a week. You may order food to go or party trays by calling (619)464-3779 tor emailing sandiego@gerrygrill.comThe popular restaurant has 4 branches in the United States to include Union City, Artesia, San Diego and Houston. Aside from US branches, it has also branches in Singapore and Qatar. Gerry's Grill originated in the Philippines, at Tomas Morato in Quezon City on February 14, 1997. Gerry's Grill has over 100 branches internationally and offers top filipino favorite food which includes grilled seafood, favorite appetizers, Filipino and Asian dishes that appeals to discriminating taste of its patrons .

Check Gerry's Grill Restaurant and Bar special deals in this issue of the paper for you and your family, friends and colleagues to enjoy. Don't forget to try Gerry's Grill Tea, you'll love it! Happy hours and party trays too!

Westfield Plaza Bonita Mall offers great food, ambiance and Live Bands and Acoustic entertainment four days a

Francine in 2020 when she led the Lung Force Walk 2020 Top Team Francine, as shown in above pictures.

GERRY'S GRILL

Continued from page

Some of the community organizations who supported Ribbon cutting ceremony at Gerry's Grill are the Pilipino Nurses Association, Filameda/CTFLC and more. Right photo shows the management of Plaza Bonita led by Veeya and Cat during Filipino Holiday kick off that Gerry's Grill sponsored.

Big Tobacco is Exploiting AAPI Youth for Profit. Here’s How.

Author: Dr. Pamela M. Ling, Professor at the School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco

Californians recently stood up to the tobacco industry and voted to end the sale of most flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes and vapes. Voters upheld Senate Bill (SB) 793 by voting “Yes” on Proposition (Prop) 31, which prevents retailers from selling these products, and makes it harder for Big Tobacco to prey on and profit off of kids and other targeted communities.

California’s new flavored tobacco law marks a significant victory for California’s Asian American communities, especially young Asian Americans, as Big Tobacco has a deceptive strategy of making tobacco seem like a normal part of our culture,, and has been effective in getting young Asian Americans to vape.

The tobacco industry has long considered the Asian American population a “potential gold mine” due to high rates of smoking in Asia and the Pacific, thereby labeling this community as being “predisposed toward smoking.”

For decades, Big Tobacco has placed more advertising on billboards and inside stores in neighborhoods where people who predominantly identify as Asian American shop, and often co-opt cultural holidays like Lunar New Year to masquerade their multi-million-dollar

marketing machine as support and celebration of these unique cultures and communal experiences.,, Looking back to what got us to this momentous point, there is no denying that the tobacco industry has reduced their view of the vibrant and diverse Asian Californian communities to only one thing — profits.

The tobacco industry targets Asian teens and young adults by advertising their products with flavors like lychee, guava, and passion fruit, and sponsoring cultural events important to Asian communities. They also design vapes as sleek and high-tech specifically to appeal to tech savvy young people. These tactics work: among Asian youth in California who report currently using flavored vapes, 73% indicated that fruit was the flavor they used most often. The fresh, sweet taste is a trap the tobacco industry uses to get youth hooked on tobacco and once hooked, they can battle that addiction for life.

When it comes to young people and the dangers of vaping, what’s important to know is that vapes can harm the body and mind. Not only are flavors a trap but vapes have been engineered by the tobacco industry to be as addictive as

possible. Nicotine, which is as addictive as heroin, is poison for the developing brain, and rewires it to crave more.

Nicotine can also cause lasting damage to adolescent brains — increasing anxiety, irritability, and mood swings. Vaping may also put young people at higher risk of chronic lung issues such as asthma and bronchitis.

Ending the sale of flavored tobacco brings us significantly closer to creating a California in which all communities and future generations are free from the tobacco industry’s predatory, and deadly, hold. Anyone looking to quit using flavored vapes, can text “KICK TOBACCO” to 66819 or visit KickItCA. org for free support.

● Bio: Dr. Pamela Ling is an internal medicine specialist and primary care doctor. She has a special interest in caring for underserved urban populations. Ling's research investigates the intersection of tobacco use, media and social marketing as relates to young people. Her work focuses on understanding how tobacco marketing encourages youth and young adults to begin using tobacco, and how to apply similar strategies to improve tobacco control programs.

Graft, perjury charges recommended vs.

MANILA -- A Senate panel is recommending graft and perjury charges against some former and current officials of the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Budget and Management Procurement Service (PS-DBM) over the "highly irregular" laptop procurement project in 2021.

In its report released on Thursday, the Senate blue ribbon committee recommended the following charges against the following former and current officials:

*One count of violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against (causing undue injury to the government):

Former DepEd Undersecretary Alain del B. Pascua

DepEd Undersecretary Annalyn M. Sevilla

Former DepEd Assistant Secretary Salvador C. Malana III Director Abram Y.C. Abanil

Former PS-DBM OIC Executive Director Lloyd Christopher Lao

Former PS-DBM OIC Executive Director Jasonmer L.

Uayan Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Chairman Ulysses E. Mora as well as the other members of the Special Bids and Awards Committee I and SBAC technical working group and Secretariat, whether from Deped or PS-DBM.

Engr. Marwan O. Amil

*One count of violation of Section 3(g) of RA 3019 against Pascua, Sevilla, Malana, Lao, Uayan, Mora, and other SBAC officers and secretariat.

The charge was also recommended against principals, representatives and/or agents of the Joint Venture consortium partners or other private parties "who may have colluded and/or conspired'' as supported by competent evidence with aforementioned officials.

*Falsification of Public Document by a Public Official under Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code against Sevilla, former Executive Assistant Alec Ladanga;

*One count of violation of Section 3(a) of RA 3019 against Sevilla and Ladanga. The section states that it is "unlawful for any person having family or close personal relation with any public official to capitalize or exploit or take advantage of such family or close personal relation by directly or indirectly requesting or receiving any present, gift or material or pecuniary advantage from any other person."

*Multiple counts of Perjury under Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code against Sevilla, Pascua, Malana, Lao, and Uayan.

In August 2022, the blue ribbon committee launched its investigation into DepEd's purchase of "outdated and pricey" laptops through PSDBM.

The probe focused on the memorandum of agreement (MOA) used for the procurement and the bidding process that the PS-DBM and the DepEd conducted.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian earlier tagged the laptop procurement deal as "defective" after a DepEd official testified that the MOA was signed only after the invitation to bid was posted and the quotation for the

execs over laptop deal

laptops was requested.

In its 2021 annual audit report, the Commission on Audit flagged DepEd for purchasing more expensive laptops than the ones indicated in their budget, which resulted in the procurement of fewer units, depriving over 28,000 teachers of the benefit.

DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa is set to face the media on Thursday afternoon to comment on the blue ribbon's findings.

PNPA alumni back top cops' resignation, internal cleansing Retired and active members of the Philippine National Police Academy Alumni Association, Inc. (PNPAAAI) rallied behind Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr.'s call for the courtesy resignation of ranking police officials and intensified internal cleansing among the ranks.

In a statement Thursday, the group said the move is necessary to eradicate misfits from the police force.

“The PNPAAAI recognizes the need (for) this draconian measure and conveys its confidence to the PNP leadership in the processes it will adopt to weed out only the undesirable police scalawags," it said.

It also expressed hope that these measures would provide a sustainable solution in ending the illegal drug problem and strengthen the PNP as an institution.

“May the hierarchy of the PNP regard the supremacy of our laws, human rights, and the tenets of Service, Honor, and Justice in resolving this latest internal controversy unfolding within the police agency. With this, the PNPAAAI assures that, as our country faces another challenging phase in our fight against criminality and illegal drugs, its members remain committed to our sworn duty to God, Country, and the Filipino people,” it added.

PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., meanwhile, thanked the group for its support.

"The support of the PNPA Alumni Association is a testament to the importance of this internal cleansing effort and the necessity of holding accountable those who have tainted the reputation of the PNP," he said.

Azurin said the PNP remains committed to restoring the public's trust in the institution and will continue to implement measures to ensure that only the most exemplary and trustworthy members would remain in the service.

Boost community service

During his visit to the Police Regional Office in Soccsksargen Region (PRO-12) on Tuesday, Azurin called on police officers to strengthen the delivery of service to communities.

He also stressed that police personnel should remain disciplined and respectful in enforcing the law and delivering public service.

"PNP’s efficiency, competency and proficiency are mirrored through the actions of our personnel. Thus, every member of the PNP should avoid illegal activities that will put a stain on the credibility of the organization," Azurin said.

DOJ urged to go after manipulators of agri prices, supplies

A party-list lawmaker on Wednesday appealed to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to task the National Bureau of Investigation and a panel of prosecutors to go after the economic saboteurs who manipulate the prices and supply of any farm produce.

Bagong Henerasyon Party-list Representative Bernadette Herrera said the DOJ should build solid cases that are "fool-proofed against technicalities and excuses" and send the economic saboteurs to jail because they have "inflicted great suffering" on millions of Filipinos and have adversely impacted the economy.

"We have to go beyond raids on warehouses. We need paper trails, electronic trails, protected witnesses and convictions," Herrera said.

She emphasized the need for tough administrative penalties and stiff fines to at least temporarily shut them down while their cases are pending.

"Some of these heartless saboteurs would try to blame external factors, that other countries are also experiencing the same problems. They would even blame the pandemic," she said.

"But these wild fluctuations in prices and supply of agricultural products have happened time and again despite the many laws meant to curb economic sabotage—situations which have led many to suspect that the economic saboteurs operate outside and within the government agencies that are supposed to thwart the saboteurs," she added.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has sought the assistance of the private sector amid his plan to intensify the fight against rampant smuggling in the country.

Marcos, in a meeting with the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) at Malacañan Palace in Manila last Thursday, lamented that the present system is “not working,” despite efforts to curb smuggling.

“To be brutally frank about it, we have a system but they are not working. The smuggling here in this country is absolutely rampant. So it does not matter to me how many systems we have in place, they do not work,” he told PSAC, as quoted by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO). “So we really have to find something else. We cannot continue to depend on these systems, which have already proven themselves to be quite ineffective.”

Marcos said concerned government agencies must step up and be “more innovative” to address rampant smuggling, according to PCO Secretary Cheloy Garafil in a statement.

Garafil said Marcos emphasized the need to delineate the government’s functions or establish new agencies, if needed, to become effective.

The Chief Executive, she said, particularly wants reform in the bureaucracy to curb smuggling, reduce logistics costs, and ensure ease of doing business as his government works to prop up investments and business activity in the country.

Marcos acknowledged that issues on the ease of doing business and the inefficiency of the country’s airports and seaports are the “major complaints” he is receiving from the business sector, Garafil added. (MNS)

Stolen, lost registered SIM cards can be remade -- DICT

MANILA -- Mobile users who lost or had their subscriber identity module (SIM) card stolen may request to have it reactivated in a new SIM card with their telecommunications (telecom) provider, an official of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said Thursday.

In a Laging Handa briefing, DICT spokesperson and Undersecretary Anna Mae Lamentillo said registered mobile users would need to bring a valid ID and an affidavit of loss of their SIM card to their telecom provider to request a new SIM card.

The process would be similar to a SIM card deactivation and change of ownership request.

“Dahil nga po may batas na po tayo, bago ninyo po iyan ibigay, kailangan po i-inform muna natin iyong mga telco (telecoms company) natin na magkakaroon po ng change of ownership (Because of the new law, before we can give a SIM card away, we need to inform our telco about the change of ownership),” she said.

The new owner of the SIM card will then need to complete their registration and submit requirements with the telco, she added.

She noted that the use of stolen SIM cards is considered a crime and will result in jail time and fines.

Meanwhile, she said the interagency ad hoc committee on SIM registration, made up of several government agencies and telcos, will finalize the guidelines on the rollout of SIM registration in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

As of Wednesday, a total of 21,782,509 SIM cards have so far been registered nationwide, making up about 12.89 percent of all active SIM cards in the country.

Earlier, the DICT announced its intention to seek one-stop shops for National Bureau of Investigation clearance in remote areas to help promote SIM registration.

An NBI clearance may be used by a mobile registrant who has no other government-issued ID.

Senate’s recommendations will ‘definitely’ be considered -- DepEd

The recommendations of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will “definitely” be considered to make sure procurement process is efficient and transparent, the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Thursday.

This, as DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa said they welcomed the Senate panel report on the its inquiry on the alleged overpriced and outdated PHP2.4 billion laptops for teachers in 2021.

In a virtual media interview, Poa said the Blue Ribbon’s committee report is deemed significant to improving the DepEd’s procurement process.

“Ang DepEd naman po (The DepEd) has always said that we remain committed to transparency and accountability. And that applies specifically to the procurement process. So, we appreciate the investigation by the Blue Ribbon Committee,” he said.

The Senate panel included in its recommendations the recovery of the alleged overpriced amount; abolition of the Procurement ServiceDepartment of Budget Management (PS-DBM); for government agencies not to delegate procurement tasks to PS-DBM; and filing of criminal and administrative charges against several incumbent and former DepEd and PSDBM officials, among others.

According to the committee report,

the contract for the supply and delivery of laptop computers for public school teachers was overpriced by at least PHP979 million.

Among the recommended criminal and administrative charges include the violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code or the Falsification of Public document by a Public Official and Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code or Perjury.

Poa said the DepEd has yet to receive a copy of the Senate’s detailed committee report.

He also said no internal executive discussions with Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte about the report have been made so far.

“The recommendations and the findings of the Blue Ribbon Committee will be definitely considered so that we could streamline and put in internal controls to ensure that our procurement process is efficient and of course, transparent,” he said.

He said the DepEd is also serious about improving its procurement process by streamlining processes and avoiding questionable transactions.

“The DepEd led by, of course, no other than the Vice President Sara Duterte, really takes procurement seriously… nailabas ‘yung procurement, gawin talagang isang strand siya. Para mayroong Usec at Asec (the procurement has been separated and made a single strand. So that it will have its own undersecretary and assistant secretary) that are both just focused on the procurements, aside from the BACs (Bids and Committees),” he said.

Poa said the Senate recommendations are beneficial and may be “adapted” to further improve DepEd’s transparency.

“Gusto talaga nating maging (We really want it to be) streamlined and more transparent ang (the) procurement process. That’s why even before the Senate blue ribbon committee report came out, as you can see, ‘pag mayroon po tayong pre-bid conference, talagang naka-livestream na po ‘yan para nakikita ng publiko (if we have a pre-bid conference, it’s live-streamed online so the public can see),” he added.

Poa, meanwhile, said the DepEd earlier sent its request for a fraud audit to the Commission on Audit and is now waiting for its result.

The DepEd’s administrative proceedings on the signing authorities are also ongoing, particularly on the modification of laptop specifications.

PBBM OKs tariff cuts on imported EVs, spare parts, deboned meat

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has approved the temporary modification of tariff rates on imported electric vehicles (EV), parts and components, to boost the EV market in the country.

Marcos on Jan. 13 inked Executive Order (EO) 12 after the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board on Nov. 24, 2022 endorsed the temporary reduction of the Most-Favored Nation (MFN) tariff rates on certain EVs and their parts and components for five years.

Under EO 12, the MFN tariff rates on completely built up units of certain EVs such as passenger cars, buses, minibuses, vans, trucks, motorcycles, tricycles, scooters and bicycles would be temporarily reduced to zero for a five-year period.

The EO, however, does not apply to

hybrid-type EVs.

The tariff rates on certain parts and components of EVs would also be lowered to 1 percent from 5 percent for five years, according to EO 12.

The EO aims to support the transition to emerging technologies and encourage consumers to consider electric vehicles as a cleaner and greener transportation option.

Citing RA 11697 or the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act, EO 12 provides that the State shall ensure the country’s energy security and independence by reducing reliance on imported fuel for the transportation sector.

“The state has the paramount obligation to protect the health and well-being of the people from hazards of pollution and greenhouse gases,” the EO read.

"Under RA No. 11697, the State shall provide an enabling environment that permits the development of electric vehicles, including options for micromobility as an attractive and feasible mode of transportation," it added.

The transportation sector is one of the largest sources of air pollution and energy-related greenhouse gas emissions in the country at 34 percent, with road transportation accounting for 80 percent of those emissions.

EO 12 shall be in full force and effect for a period of five years from the date of effectivity.

Tariff retention on deboned meat

Also on Jan. 13, Marcos signed EO 13 maintaining the temporary modification of import duty rates on mechanically deboned meat (MDM) of chicken and turkey.

EO 13 retains the temporary 5-percent tariff rates on MDM poultry until Dec. 31, 2024 "to ensure the continued supply of essential food products at affordable prices, diversity the country’s market sources and help businesses recover and sustain their operations."

According to the EO, the current global situation brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, as well as other factors affecting the country's traditional sources of MDM of chicken and turkey, "cause uncertainty in the steady supply of said commodities."

"The high inflation prompted by supply constraints, expected shortage in the global supply, and rise in international commodity prices present economic and trade implications to the country and the Filipino people," EO 14 said.

Processed meat products are popular among most low-income households, particularly since mechanically deboned meat is a vital component for the manufacture of hot dogs and canned luncheon meat.

In 2019, former President Rodrigo Duterte issued EO 82 which orders the modification of the MFN tariffs on imported MDM poultry until Dec. 31, 2020. He later signed EO 123 in 2021 to extend the validity of the reduced tariff rates under EO 82 until end of December 2022.

Under EOs 12 and 13, the MFN tariff rates shall be subject to review after one year of implementation of the order and the NEDA is also directed to submit is findings and recommendations to the President, through the Office of the Executive Secretary.

SEND-OFF. A Binondo parish priest blesses thousands of police officers during the send-off ceremony held at Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz in Manila on Wednesday (Jan. 18, 2023). The police personnel will be on security detail for the upcoming Chinese

LUCK FOR SALE. A vendor sells lucky charms on Ongpin Street in Binondo, Manila, Wednesday (Jan. 18, 2023). These trinkets have mushroomed in the area four days before Chinese New Year. (MNS photo)

FiL-AM AUTHOR BRINGS BACK NOSTALGIA AND AN EXTRAORDINARY EXPRESSION OF FILIPINO CULTURE AND INTERGENERATIONAL BONDS IN “WHEN LOLA VISITS”

SAN DIEGO, CA -- Every year, summer really begins “When Lola Visits” (Michelle Sterling/Aaron Paul Asis/Harper Collins/May 18, 2021) bringing with her the scents, tastes and traditions that define a young girl’s summer with her grandmother.

Isn’t that the truth?

In a read review, the unnamed narrator of Michelle Sterling and Aaron Asis’ tale of an intergenerational and international bond, describes a child’s smells, tastes, and feelings of their summertime.

“How do I know summer is here?”

For the child sharing their story, summer is the smell of stone fruit ripening and days with nothing to do. Summer really begins when their “Lola” (grandmother in Tagalog) comes to visit and makes her special mango jam. Together, grandmother and grandchild play at the pool, go to the beach, and watch fireworks. Lola fills their days with the delicious scents and tastes of traditional Filipino food, like cassava cake and “sisig” (a Filipino dish made from parts of a pig’s face and belly, and chicken liver which is usually seasoned with “kalamansi”/lime, onions and chili peppers). Dog days blooms with happy memories of gathering fruit, fishing, cooking, and eating together. When Lola returns home, summer turns to chilly breezes and falling leaves, but Lola has one more surprise.

This is a beautiful, tender expression of family and love that spans generations and great distances. Each moment is described as a smell or taste, which engages all of reader senses. The illustrations add so much life and context to the words, especially for the Filipino dishes. The bright colors and visible brush strokes add warmth and capture the feelings of solstice. The family is Filipino, and all have brown skin, black hair, and black eyes. Lola speaks Tagalog and Ilocano.

When Lola visits, the whole family gathers to cook and eat and share in their happiness of another season spent together.

Growing up in Southern California’s San Gabriel Valley, Michelle Sterling would see jasmine bloom in her neighborhood at the beginning of summer.

In “When Lola Visits,” a new picture book by Sterling about a young Filipina girl being visited by her grandmother from the Philippines, the flower is one of the indicators the main character said would signal summer.

“But then, my editor pointed out, it’s kind of a “sampaguita” reference,” Sterling said in an interview with a newspaper reporter.

The “jasminum sambac”, a jasmine native to tropical Asia, is

the Philippines’ national flower, locally known as the “sampaguita.”

The interweaving of Filipino and American cultures – and the scents, tastes and traditions associated – is consistent throughout “When Lola Visits” particularly the “kalamansi” pie the main character has with her grandmother on the Fourth of July.

Food is a critical element of the book, reflecting Filipino culture and extracting nostalgia from readers.

During the writing process, Sterling consulted the work of Filipino food writers, like “Tikim” by Doreen Gamboa Fernandez, and noted how the writer observed Filipinos would find a way to “Filipinize” ingredients that were imported to the country.

“I wanted to make sure that the dishes in ‘When Lola Visits’ reflected the rich food history in the Philippines and the different ingredients that have made their way into our wonderfully complex cuisine,” Sterling further described.

The food Sterling wrote about was paired with illustrations from Aaron Asis, an artist based in Manila. After going through Asis’ art, Sterling declared that she held back tears.

“This is cheesy.” Sterling commented. “But I’m affected by the story that I read.”

Sterling was not the only grownup moved by the story. Other adults, she said, who have read her story have also cried because it reminded them of their own childhoods.

“Picture books are not just for kids, they’re for all of us,” Sterling imagined.

To pull herself back into the place where she grew up, Sterling watched old home movies and used elements from her childhood as well as her current dynamic with her children to incorporate into the book.

Sterling’s grandmother would also visit from the Philippines like in the book before passing away.

Through the meshing of true stories and illustrations, the author aims for her readers to “sense the experiences so deeply that the story reminds them of their own grandparents or their own family.”

Having a story published about a Filipino American family, according to Sterling, is a great way for the community to be seen and represented. Describing different perspectives as essential in literature, Sterling stated that she felt compelled to write the story encompassing Filipino culture.

“It’s a great way for us to be seen, and for Filipino Americans to see themselves in a book, it’s really powerful for them,” Sterling said. “Because you know, growing up, I never had that.”

Asian Americans have been understudied and unrepresented, according to a study by the American Psychological Association. Asians

"WHEN LOLA VISITS": In an evocative book brimming with the scents, tastes and traditions that define summer for one young Filipino American girl, debut author Michelle Sterling and illustrator Aaron Asis come together to celebrate the gentle bonds of familial love that span oceans and generations.

have also been branded as “third world victims” and Sterling contradicts the stereotype by portraying rich cultures in her new book. However, her target readers are not inclusive to Filipinos. “When Lola Visits” also serve as an introduction to those unfamiliar with Filipino culture to shine a light on the community, according to Sterling. This can be seen through the use of “nicknames” for food items, such as “golden limes” for “kalamansi.”

The book interweaves food and family togetherness, highlighting how the food-making process and meal times become a way to bond.

“I feel like Its so Filipino American,” Sterling noted, referring to “kalamansi” pie. “It’s a coming together of Filipino and American culture.”

The idea of having her work, a Filipino picture book, published by a major publishing company like Harper Collins, propelled her to write the story. It wasn’t until the pitching period before the work was acquired, which took eight months, that left Sterling uncertain and nervous. However, looking back, Sterling realized it was just a matter of trusting the process.

“I believe that everyone has a story in each of them that is special and unique to them,” Sterling commented. “And I hope that one day everyone will share their story with the world….Every single person.”

Precisely the narrative above shows the unique “apostolate” of Filipino grandparents!

And do trust the Filipino to give a foreign word a culturally specific meaning! Ha-ha-ha-ha!!

The word “apostolate,” an Old English term from Latin, refers to a messenger’s mission in the Christian tradition; but in the playful jargon of the “Pinoy” senior citizen, the root word “apostle” is replaced by “apo” (grandchild) even as all the rich references of the biblical usage are retained. Thus, when Filipino grandparents are asked what preoccupies them in retirement, the ready answer they give which requires no further elaboration is that they’re busy with their “apostolate”?

My wife Zeny and I certainly know the feeling. Apart from our daily mundane morning activities, there’s probably nothing that we look forward to with more eagerness than a visit from our grandchildren or vice versa. That unique “apostolate” in the Filipino community has absolutely prolonged the life of the elderly in our society, if I may say so.

In this new familial context, the word shines a good deal of light on the world of the Filipino (or FilipinoAmerican, for that matter) elderly. In a study conducted by the University of the Philippines Population Institute, it was noted that 97 percent of the old

T. Reyes Filipino Potpourri

people surveyed have grandchildren, and 56 percent of them are engaged in their care. Much of this involves baby-sitting (78 percent), feeding (49 percent), playing with the child (45 percent) and bringing/fetching the child from school (19 percent). We can all relate to these findings. Still, one piece of information from the study startled me: Thirty-five percent of the grandparents are “solely in charge of taking care of any of their grandchildren.”

This is full-time apostolate, in my opinion – not the kind of leisurely activity that my wife Zeny and I occasionally engage in when our grandchildren are left in our care for a few hours. The reasons behind the full engagement of the elderly in child care vary. The most common reason given (40 percent) is that the child’s parents are working, either out of town or abroad. Interestingly, 27 percent of those surveyed said the child preferred to be with the grandparents. This preference cannot possibly be one-way. There must be something about the charming practice of Filipino “apostolate” that is equally satisfying to the elderly.

Indeed, the study provides fascinating clues to the mutuality of this arrangement. Compared to those who are not involved in the care of their grandchildren; the elderly who are actively engaged in grand parenting “rarely or never felt depressed, lonely, or sad.” The study notes that the difference between those who take care of their grandchildren and those who don’t is statistically significant. Still, I am inclined to think that the elderly in our society compared to those in the more economically advanced countries are less prone to feelings of isolation because one way or another, they remain integrated in the life of their families and their local communities.

Overseas work and migration, however, are bound to challenge the fundamental elements of this culture in the most unexpected way. I knew some compatriots who had moved here to the United States a few years ago. What began as a short annual visits ripened into extended stays to help take care of their grandchildren while their daughter and her husband were working. He gave up a modest living in the Philippines, hoping to find light part-rime work while his

wife looked after the grandchildren during the day. Unfortunately, his wife fell ill, and having no insurance in the US had to return to the Philippines to seek treatment. He had to remain in America to take care of the “apos” (grandchildren). The man sounded reasonably happy, though; if not resigned, as he told me about his vocation but I could not help asking myself what I would do had I been in his place. An aging population is an inescapable fact of modern society. This is the combined effect of longevity and declining fertility. With only 6.2 million belonging to age 60 and above according to recent statistics – the Philippines is not yet an aging society. But, by 2025 that number will swell to nearly 12 million, which would make the Philippines an aging population by United Nations definition. For my two cents I say a decent society cannot but plan for the well-being of its elderly.

No doubts about it that family is considered to be the foundation of social life for most Filipinos. The nuclear family is the core family unit; however, bonds are often tight knit among extended family members. In reality, people may be encouraged to have a connection with their aunts and uncles that is just as strong as the relationship with their parents.

Close familial relationships often go beyond one’s genetic connections or bloodlines to incorporate distant relatives, close neighbors or friends. For example, it is common to hear people refer to distant relatives or non-relatives with familial terms such as “tita” (aunt), “tito” (uncle), “lola” (grandmother) and “lolo” (grandfather). One instance is when a grandchild refers to their grandparent’s friend or cousin as “lola” or “lolo”, too.

“When Lola Visits” is genuinely an extraordinary expression of Filipino culture and intergenerational familial bonds…a celebration teeming with family, love, and of course, food…Ha-ha-ha-ha!

Truly, a glorious commemoration of the Filipino American experience in America – this book – much like Lola – is something to visit over and over again.

Mabuhay!

What does summer mean to you? What say you?

A perspective on angels and demons, Part 1 of 2

Serpent was inserted as part of God’s experiment to test Adam.

“Our Father, who art in Heaven… Creator of heaven and earth… Thy will be done… he descended into hell … He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father almighty.” From the Lord’s Prayer and Apostles’ Creed

Are angels and demons real? How do we interact with them consciously or unconsciously in our everyday lives? Why are they here? These questions and more are probably questions we’ve entertained before at some point but have overcome, ignored or disproven as true or false over time.

Recent events involving evil men creating havoc to the elements God has created, remind me of the ongoing fight between good and evil. The fact that the likes of Putin could destroy a whole community even in places of worship and kill people wantonly, tells us that evil really lurks in our midst.

We’ve seen the headlines of violence crime, corruption, dishonesty and immorality, killings blamed on human nature. We casually remark

that it’s human nature to possess such a criminal mind, as if it is an inherited trait. How did we get to this point where powerful leaders can incite a cult of followers to do evil things? Charles Bronson forewarned us about “the evil that men do” many years ago.

We’ve been told about climate change and have witnessed severe outcomes from tornadoes, floods, hurricanes (typhoons), fires and others of higher magnitude. They’re natural forces but can nature be influenced by good or by evil spirits?

We accept “human nature” as a benign thing in a neutral way.

The “weeping prophet” Jeremiah believes otherwise, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” So, human nature is inherently evil? Certainly, evil or wicked thoughts were not part of creation. Adam was not violent, rebellious or showed any kind of hostility with his Creator and the creation around him. His rebellious act began after the

Paradise was lost, and God allowed the Serpent to roam earth freely for eternity. Evil spirits apparently predated the Serpent according to the Holy Scriptures and inhabited the planet above and below us long before Adam was created. That gave Satan plenty of opportunity to subvert the subconscious mind, people’s intellect with evil thoughts on the way to becoming a natural. The Church calls these thoughts (sins) as lust, greed, and vanity.

The movie “Exorcist” back in the 70’s seemed to suggest that evil spirits influence human behavior or the mental process and only some form of exorcism can get rid of the evil spirit. Faith healing including exorcism, medical, psychiatric and witch doctors became part of the supposed solution that imply that “demonic possession” can be freed or controlled using other’s will or controlled by certain drugs. In Adam’s case, however, it suggests that humans are given free will that neither God nor the Devil can force one to do certain things, good or evil. Free will and demonic possession seems to be a contradiction.

The line in the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy will be done” is understood and accepted as fate, and everything is left to God – good or bad, as

“God’s will.” We seem to believe that God is involved in retail politics attending to our daily needs. But if humans have free will, then the decision we make is ours regardless of outcome. We pray for guidance, but it is up to us to discern what God’s will is. The good and evil is always at it trying to have the inside track in influencing one’s thought.

Back in the seventies, a particular issue of the “Plain Truth” penned by Herbert W. Armstrong talked about how the devil contributed or caused human’s perversity or misery. In it, Armstrong made a strong case based on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians that “the prince of the power of the air” is the devil whose spirit works on disobedient or rebellious children,” and has and is making use of the airwaves, riding on sound and images.

Armstrong believed that the faint noises, sounds and voices we may hear but could not attribute to any physical source would become discernible if humans tuned in to the right frequency or source as in radio, television, the internet (social media) or other broadcast medium. It’s the devil doing its daily, hourly, and by the minute broadcast without saying the words or showing graphics or live broadcast from a source masquerading as holy or friendly.

For humans receiving such

broadcasts can result in wicked or evil thoughts. Dark impulses emanating from thoughts can titillate or torment depending on who has more sway - the little devil or angel standing on your shoulders whispering what you should do. Schizophrenia comes to mind and people afflicted by this condition relate the influence of radios over them. Armstrong’s concept implies that the same immortal devil that tempted Eve and eventually corrupted Adam’s attitude of rebelling against God, roams around the planet due to its immortal nature. Furthermore, it is the same devil that corrupted biblical kings that God had to send in angels and righteous personalities to kill or dethrone. It is the same devil too that corrupted the King of Judea (Herod) to kill the innocents while actually targeting Jesus.

Certainly, Hitler’s pursuit of genocide can’t be justified the way he did. But what made him do it? Pope Alexander VI gave his imprimatur for the Spanish/ Portuguese invading forces to kill the pagan natives of South America, and King Philip II gave his nod to do a similar act in the Philippines in the name of God. Religious wars in earlier centuries were carried out in pursuit of holy crusades resulting in millions being killed.

Think of Afghanistan’s Taliban,

Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, Kim Jongun of North Korea, Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei, and many others who are viewed by the world as being in the “bad” column. Their evil acts are not even overtly hidden. They revel in what we call satanic acts.

Is the conflict that originated in heaven (Lucifer’s coup) between good and evil rages in perpetuity as prophesied in Revelation 12? Revelation 12-18 talks about the growth of Satan’s kingdom in opposition to the kingdom of God that will eventually end during the Millennium but which Millennium?

Because everything that happened in past and present Millenniums seemed like a repeat performance with different cast of characters.

Mussolini, Hirohito, Pol Pot, Putin, and others including Western countries who authorized or ordered entities to invade countries and kill people at the altar of justified war. But is a justified war a license to engage in unjust acts like killing, raping or torturing women and children? What drives these decisions? In the present predicament, Russia’s president Vladimir Putin, guided by the Patriarch of Moscow bishop Kirill, believes he is carrying out a just war between good (them) and evil with Ukrainians being the “evil” ones.

(To be continued)

Jesse

AARON ASIS: A Filipino artist best known for his use of vivid colors and expressive brushstrokes. Having illustrated a couple of children's books, he also aspires to create his own book one day.

MICHELLE STERLING: A Fil-Am author, photographer and speech language pathologist who lives in Southern California where her summers are filled with reading, homemade ice cream and long, golden hours at the park. "When Lola Visits" is her first picture book.

Ask the DMV – ’Tis the season to utilize the DMV’s most convenient Online Services!

Intro: The DMV knows how busy the holiday season can be. You can renew your vehicle registration, update your address, chat with a DMV virtual assistant, and so much more from the convenience of your phone, computer, or tablet. Check some stress off your list this year by using the DMV’s Online Services to take care of your DMV to-do list while you’re getting your holiday shopping done.

Q1: I saw a DMV kiosk at my local grocery store. Can I use it if I can’t make it to a DMV office before the holidays?

A1: Yes! If you are unable

to make it to the DMV before the holiday season, you can use one of the hundreds of DMV kiosks located throughout the state to help complete your vehicle registration renewal, print registration tags instantly, submit proof of insurance, receive a driver or vehicle record, and more. Some are even open 24/7 and are located throughout communities in local grocery stores, libraries, and other convenient locations. Locate the DMV kiosk nearest to you here.

Q2: I will be moving next year, but I want to get my address updated on my driver’s license before the holidays. Can I change my address online?

A2: Yes, you can update your new address online as long as you

already have a valid California ID and your new residence is in the same state that you currently reside in. Before you begin, make sure you have:

• Both your old and new addresses.

• If changing the address for your vehicle or vessel, you will also need your most recent registration card and the address where your trailer coach or vessel is located (if applicable).

• A MyDMV account which can be created online.

Once you have all those items handy, you can start the application process to update your address at dmv.ca.gov/online.

Q3: What if I have an urgent question regarding DMV services, but I don’t have time to make it into an office before the holidays? Do I have any other options?

A3: Yes, a DMV virtual assistant is available 24/7 to help guide you and answer any questions about DMV services. Just click or tap the “Ask DMV” button in the bottom right corner of your screen. The DMV site also features a virtual field office allowing users to start transactions and upload any required documents, which are then reviewed by a DMV customer service agent before contacting you to finish the process.

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

All DMV offices will be closed on Monday, December 26 –Christmas Day (Observed)*

• Note: DMV offices are closed on weekends.

* When a holiday falls on a Sunday, the holiday is observed on the following Monday.

Spiritual Life

God is Love .....

It is a practice in my church that children attend Sunday school. The main reference and content is based on the Holy Bible. I went through Sunday school since I was a child and I remember that the first verse that I memorized and recited in class was “God is love”. Then as I grew up and started to study the bible in earnest, I found out that this is just a phrase of a longer verse which says, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”(1 John 4:78).

Then another verse says, “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world, we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God, yet hate his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.

S. Cudal-Rivera my personal Testimony

And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. (1 John 15-21).

The most popular verses about love is found in 1 Corinthians 13: “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record

of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

Love by its very nature should serve as the basis of all our actions. What a beautiful world it would be if we practice love the way, God sees it.

Almighty and ever-loving God, we thank you for the love that you have shown us in many ways. May we be able to follow your commandments to love you with all our hearts, with all our minds and with all our soul and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. May we be able to demonstrate our love to others by doing your Will in our lives. Amen

Is the Lord able to bless you today?

You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it. (Joshua 7:13b)

The first battle for the people of Israel traveling from Egypt was at Jericho, once they crossed the Jordan River. God had given them a great victory at Jericho, and Joshua was now ready to move to their next battle at Ai. After they spied out the enemy camp, they determined they needed only a few thousand men to gain victory.

They went up against Ai only to fail miserably. They lost 32 men in a battle that should have been an easy victory, but instead they were forced to retreat. Joshua was devastated. "Ah, Sovereign Lord, why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us?" (Joshua 7:7a) In this case, the people fell short because they failed to uphold the standard God had set for them. God had told them not to take any plunder from their first battle. However, Achan hid some forbidden treasures, and God was now judging the entire nation for one man's sin.

From

Hernaez

Whom

All blessings Flow

Whenever we act without God's complete blessing on our activity, we can expect God to thwart our plans. God's word to Joshua was that he could not stand against his enemies as long as there was disobedience among his troops.

Whenever we launch a business endeavor, we should make sure there are no unclean things in our dealings that would allow us to be vulnerable to a failed effort: unpaid vendors, disgruntled employees who were not treated fairly, lawsuits, dishonesty. Many of these things can hinder God from blessing our enterprises. These things can remove the shield of protection from our workplace, which God wants to bless, but cannot because He is committed to

upholding righteousness. His name is blemished when unrighteousness is allowed to permeate our lives.

Is the Lord able to bless you today? If not, you may need to go back and clean up a few things before He can do so. Take whatever steps are needed to ensure the blessing of God today.

The disciples thought they suffered their greatest defeat when Jesus died on the cross. However, this defeat became the greatest victory on earth. Christ's death gave liberty. Forgiveness came to all men. New life came forth - new strength for the disciples. Resurrection and new life came as a result of a "defeat." <(((><

In the reflections last Sunday that I shared during my homily I focused on the role of Christians in witnessing Jesus in today's world that has been enveloped in the belief of gods and divinities that the world itself offers. These gods and divinities, in an attractive way, have led many of us not to believe in Jesus as our only Savior and His revelations of the reality that He is the only true God. There is a very great demand or call for a courageous and living witness from all believers in Jesus that precedes a call to a sincere conversion and deep faith, which today's Gospel makes us to develop and respond to the call to be disciples of Jesus. To be a living and active witness is the daily calling for every Catholic. However, in order to be a witness and effect, there are two essential requirements that have their root in the Gospel that Jesus himself proclaims when he said: "The Kingdom of God is near, repent and believe in the Gospel" (Mk 1:15).

The reading of our gospel today, taken from St. Matthew, echoes the same message of repentance: "Repent, the Kingdom of heaven is near" according to the Gospel of St. Matthew. It is significant that after making the call to repentance, Matthew guides the narrative to the call of the first disciples in their

PBBM

Continued from page 1

6.5 percent this year because of the expected slowdown of the global economy.

Brende said it was "incredible" that the Philippines is one of the best performing economies among the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states.

"I think now, [the] Philippines is the fastest growing of the ASEAN countries,” Brende said.

Reforming and reshaping the global economy, Marcos said, gave the Philippines an opportunity to come up with appropriate measures to sustain its economic development.

Marcos said putting a premium on micro, small and medium enterprise (MSMEs) is one of the Philippine government's strategies for the country's immediate recovery, given that the particular sector "comprises a large part of the economy."

"The main concern were jobs," he said. "We concentrated on the MSMEs – the micro, small [and] medium enterprises because that comprises such a large part of our economy. It's the same in most ASEAN countries. I think that's where the growth is coming from," he said.

Marcos said the Philippine government is ramping up digitalization efforts to reform the bureaucracy and developing the infrastructure sector by promoting public-private partnerships (PPPs).

He said his administration is also keeping an eye on the country's unemployment rate amid reports of recession last year.

He, nevertheless, expressed high hopes for the continued growth of the Philippine economy, noting that the country's current "demographic sweet spot" will play a "major role" in fueling rapid development.

Marcos said the Philippines' workforce is "well-trained and sophisticated," adding that Filipino workers are also known to be English-speaking and tech-savvy.

"The demographic sweet spot is the period where optimal number of the country's population would be in the working age and have few dependents," he said.

“And the reason that I’m so confident about that is because we have this workforce, we have a very, very good workforce in the Philippines. We have the youngest workforce in Asia. You might be surprised to know, to learn that the

workplaces, namely, fishing because they were fishermen. However, the first disciples were called brothers , Simon and his brother Andrew, and also, John and James who were mending nets in the boat of their father Zebedee. The positive response of four people mentioned in Jesus' call is supposed to be that they were in fact the first disciples to follow Him, to hear Him, were sent on missions during Jesus' lifetime, and subsequently, became the four most important apostles of the Lord who were present at very important events of Jesus' ministry.

This gospel narrative has given us a clear picture of how to become an active witness. It is undoubtedly a part of the whole process of discipleship that begins with the call to repentance, a positive response to the call, an inner change and conversion that

average age of Filipino workers is 23 and a half years old. So that is a huge demographic dividend," Marcos added.

He issued the statement as he acknowledged the possible obstacles in developing key areas, which include infrastructure and education.

The government, Marcos said, is upskilling and reskilling the nation’s workforce.

“So that is where my confidence comes from and that is the confidence that I hope to exude sufficiently to bring that confidence also to all of you and all of our potential partners in the world,” he said.

PBBM eyes collaboration with WEF on food, nutrition security President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday expressed openness to work with the participants of this year's World Economic Forum (WEF) to ensure global food and nutrition security.

During the Panel Session on Moving Towards Nutrition Security at WEF in Davos, Switzerland, Marcos said WEF attendees and other stakeholders should come up with a "holistic and integrated plan covering both food security and nutrition security."

"The work of the WEF's new frontiers of nutrition, a vital component of the equally-vital future of consumption platform is commendable in this regard, in providing us all with a first big leap towards nutrition security through a common paradigm on the purpose of nutrition and the future of food and developing principles and indicators to sustain our efforts while aiming to create economic value for nutrition," Marcos said.

"Friends and partners, I look forward to productive and insightful outcomes from these discussions today. I'm confident we will be able to arouse high impact, actionable and collective ideas to stir us all forward on our common goal of nutrition security not only in health and food but especially in the quality of that food," he added.

Marcos made the remark, as he stressed that food security remains at the forefront of his administration's national agenda, anchored on the vision for a "prosperous, resilient and secure Philippines" by 2040.

He said the Philippine government's overarching goals are to build an inclusive society "where no one is hungry, where Filipinos live long and healthy lives, where they are provided with an environment built upon trust and security, and

results from standing by the side of the Master himself, being sent on a mission, and becoming an authentic witness to Jesus' ministry. No one can become an authentic disciple and be an effective witness to Jesus in today's very indifferent and even anti-Christian world. Bearing witness to Jesus could truly require a knowledge of the truth that Jesus has proclaimed, the change of lifestyle that the Gospel demands and that Jesus wants us to give ourselves, and courageously, preserve ourselves in the faith we profess regardless of the consequences in our own life today.

The call of the first disciples in their workplace, and the fact that today's Gospel shows us their blood ties, further than that, convinces me to believe that witnessing Jesus goes beyond the walls of places of worship and requires us to enter the temporal world of business. In addition, this context leads us to have knowledge of how important it is at the family level to respond to the call of Jesus and make it truly present in the midst of our lives. Indeed, the family has always been a central point in Jesus' plan for the mission of making the Gospel known, for time immemorial. Today, let us pray that we may become authentic witnesses of Jesus in the world.

where they can be innovative and remains smart and responsive to the problems of the day."

"Underscoring all these lofty goals is ensuring that each and everyone is provided with quality and ample nutrition," Marcos said.

Citing a 2021 Global Food Security Index which ranked the Philippines at 64th out of 113 nations in terms of four dimensions on food security, Marcos emphasized that despite significant gains in the past few years, much remains to be done to attain Sustainable Development Goal 2 on Zero Hunger.

In a bid to help nations attain nutrition security, Marcos made several suggestions, which include boosting agricultural and fishery productivity, improving logistics systems and changing people's lifestyles.

Marcos also recommended the use of climate-resilient technologies and the promotion of urban and vertical farming to increase food production.

"We must invest in facilities, logistics and systems that bring nutritious food to our people, much like a grander scale of farm-to-table and increase the capacity of our institutions to enforce regulations that enhance food quality," he said.

"We must also cooperate to develop technologies that increase the nutritional value of our food and content and prolong their shelf life," Marcos added.

Marcos said governments must also incentivize a nutritious lifestyle; promote active and health-seeking behaviors across different ages and income levels; and create an ecosystem based on the concept of a green and circular economy.

This, as he stressed the need to pursue key interventions that are those geared toward making food "available, affordable and accessible" amid the looming global food and energy shortage.

The Panel Session on Moving Towards Nutrition Security at WEF aims to provide an overview of the growing global nutrition crisis, identify the key tenets of change needed towards driving positive nutrition and health outcomes, and share strategies and solutions that can increase the availability, access and adoption of nutritious and healthy food choices at scale.

The event also seeks to raise awareness in the critical role of nutrition security in increasing individual and society resilience.

(MNS)

Danny

Aurora

Fr. Agustin T. Opalalic

SIM CARDS

the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act allows the President, in the interest of general welfare and national security and upon the NEDA's recommendation, to increase, reduce, or remove existing rates of import duty.

EO 12, a copy of which was released by Malacañang on Thursday, takes effect 30 days after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Meanwhile, EO 13 takes effect immediately after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

PH committed to peace amid SCS territorial disputes -- PBBM

The Philippines continues to show its commitment to peace, despite the still unresolved territorial disputes in the South China Sea (SCS), President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Thursday (Manila time).

Marcos issued the statement, even as he admitted that the SCS issue preyed on his mind.

"It (SCS issue) keeps you up at night, it keeps you up in the day, it keeps you up most of the time," he said in a one-on-one dialogue with World Economic Forum (WEF) president Børge Brende in Davos, Switzerland.

"It's very dynamic. It's constantly in flux. So, you have to pay attention to it and to make sure that you are at least aware of the present situation so that you're able to respond properly," Marcos added.

Marcos said during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in China earlier this month, he raised the Philippines' long-standing dispute with China in the SCS, as he regarded it as an "important" issue that could not be avoided.

He said it would appear that he is not doing his job, if he fails to bring up the issue with Xi.

"There's no way to avoid it. We described it in diplomatic language as one part of our relationship. But it is an important and unavoidable issue that we have to ventilate. And we cannot sweep it under the rag and pretend it's not happening because there are effects

not only in the diplomatic sense, not only in the security sense but even in the livelihood of our citizens," Marcos said.

Marcos, however, maintained that the only way to settle the maritime row is to pursue peaceful negotiations.

He said the Philippines could not afford to go to war with Beijing, noting that Manila was merely watching as a "bystander" whenever there are tensions between China and the United States vessels crossing the busy waterway.

This, as he said the Philippines is "at the very frontline" in cross-trade tensions between China and the US.

"We are watching as bystanders. And if something goes wrong here, we are going to suffer. That's why when asked, 'What is your foreign policy? How would you describe it?' I say it's a commitment to peace and guided very, very closely by our national interest," Marcos said.

"Some people say, even within the Philippines, we should do more. I said, 'What do you want to do? Go to war?' Nobody wants to go to war. China

doesn't. The United States doesn't. Just having the tensions increase in the region already has an effect on trade, on all of the exchanges that we have within ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), within the region, with China, with the United States," he added.

In an interview with Bloomberg on the sidelines of WEF on Tuesday, Marcos said the Philippines will not give up its territorial claims in the SCS.

China, the Philippines and several other littoral states have overlapping claims in the SCS where Beijing claims around 80 percent of the busy waterway.

The Philippines on July 12, 2016, won its petition filed before the Haguebased Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) after the arbitral tribunal invalidated China's claim of supposed historic rights over almost the entire SCS.

China, however, has ignored the PCA ruling. (MNS)

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Maja Salvador, Hidilyn Diaz among 2023 honorees of Eastwood's Walk of Fame

MANILA -- TV star Maja Salvador and Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz are among the latest inductees of the 2023 Eastwood City Walk of Fame, organizers announced on Tuesday.

The “Wildflower” actress and the weightlifting champion were named alongside nine others as recipients of the five-point brass star, to be unveiled on January 18 at the Central Plaza of the Eastwood City complex in Quezon City.

Aside from Salvador and Diaz, set to be honored at the ceremony are National Artist Ricky Lee for his contribution in film; ABS-CBN News journalist Mario Dumaual, news and public affairs; singer Janet Basco, music; broadcaster Gerry Baja, radio; and dancers Ranz Kyle and Niana Guerrero,

Tony Mabesa, who passed away in October 2019, will be given posthumous recognition as an inductee of the Walk of Fame.

Patterned after the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Eastwood attraction was established in 2005 by the late starmaker German Moreno, whose son Federico Moreno took the helm after his passing.

The German Moreno Walk of Fame Foundation has since inducted over 300 personalities from different fields, including TV, film, music, sports, and news.

The forthcoming ceremony will be the first to be held in three years. The last was in January 2020 — where the likes of Edu Manzano, Catriona Gray, and Jo Koy were honored — two months before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. (MNS)

social media. National Artist for Theater

Maja Salvador Award Winning Actress & TV Star