The Filipino Press: July 14-20, 2023

PBBM hails Japan firm’s support for PH's renewable energy shift

MANILA -- President Ferdinand

R. Marcos Jr. has welcomed the commitment of Japan-based Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (MUFG) to assist his administration in the Philippines’ transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy.

This was after MUFG chairperson Mike Kanetsugu, in a courtesy call at Malacañan Palace in Manila on Tuesday, assured Marcos of the company’s support for the country’s transition to renewable energy.

During the meeting, the President emphasized the importance of prioritizing renewable energy, considering the Philippines’ vulnerability to the effects of climate change.

“We are also very conscious of our situation in the Philippines wherein we are very sensitive to climate change. It is very important that we play also a part to move the balance of renewables and fossil fuels more and more in favor of renewables,” he said, as quoted by the Presidential Communications Office in a news release on Wednesday.

Kanetsugu acknowledged that energy transition is a very important agenda in the Philippines.

He also applauded the country’s tremendous growth over the past 30 years in terms of energy and infrastructure transitions.

“Energy transition is a very, very important agenda I consider for this country. We are providing

with financing, and we work for various transition projects that will contribute to successful transition of energy structure (in the

Philippines),” Kanetsugu said. Development Bank of the Philippines officials led by president and chief executive officer Michael

de Jesus and senior vice president Ronaldo Tepora were also present during the courtesy visit. Officials of the Security Bank

Corp. led by interim chairperson and executive vice president Cirilo Noel and directors Juichi Umeno and Maria Cristina Tingson also

attended the courtesy call.

The MUFG is a Japanese bank holding and financing service company that acquired a 20 percent stake in Security Bank for PHP36.9 billion in 2016.

In its effort to support investment in the Philippines, the MUFG partnered with Security Bank and signed a memorandum of understanding with the Board of Investments in 2018 to connect local Filipino businesses to Japanese investors through business matching activities.

The MUFG has been providing bank guarantee requirements to the Department of Transportation and the Department of Public Works and Highways in support of its infrastructure projects, such as the North-South Commuter Railway Project (NSCRP) and the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP).

The two infrastructure projects are funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

It is also working on trade transactions of government agencies, such as the construction of the 54.6km. Blumentritt-Calamba section of the NSCRP and the 36-km. MMSP.

The MUFG also launched the Interbank Fund Management Service in 2017, which allowed customers to send cost-free remittances, and donated PHP44 million to the

By Lainie aLfaro

SAN DIEGO, CA -- San Diego

Comic Con (SDCC), the world's premier pop culture convention is delighted to announce a historic addition to its2023 programming slate. For the first time in the illustrious history of SDCC, a Filipino TVseries, "Voltes V Legacy," has been invited to hold a panel. This series is a thrilling live-action adaptation of the iconic 1970s anime "Voltes V." originally created by Toel Company.

This groundbreaking event, scheduled for Saturday July 22, 23 from 10am to 11:am, in the Grand 10 Room at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina will feature prominent members of the Voltes V Legacy team. Among the distinguished panelists are Director Mark Reyes, Head of GMA Entertainment, Group Lilybeth Rasonable, Producer Helen Sese, Telesuccess Producer Larson Chan, Vincent Geologo, GMA Post-Production, and actors Miguel Tanfelix (Steve Armstrong), Ysabel Ortega (Jamie Robinson) and Gabby Eigenmann (Commander Robinson).

The panel will be hosted by Dogu Publishing, an innovative, all AsianAmerican owned imprint under the esteemed Dark Horse Comics. In addition to their participation in the panel discussion, these creators and cast members will be part of an exclusive autograph signing session on the convention floor, making this event an unmissable opportunity for "Voltes V Legacy" fans.

Voltes V. Legacy, with its blend of high-octane action, deeply emotional narratives, and

indomitable spirit , has captivated audiences worldwide, making it a cultural phenomenon beyond thePhilippines. The opportunity for "Voltes V Legacy" to have its panel at SDCC underscores the growing influence of the Philippines in the international pop culture arena.

"We're excited to make history by bringing Voltes V Legacy and GMA network to San Diego Comic Con" said Jeremiah Blank, CEO of Dogu Publishing. "We believe in the power of stories to connect and inspire, regardless of their origin.

Bringing this reimagined classic to an international stage like SDCC underscores our commitment to champion stories that resonate

with audiences across cultural boundaries."

Daniel Fuji, President Publisher of Dogu Publishing, added, "The inclusion of Voltes V Legacy and GMANetwork at SDCC serves as a testament to the universality of storytelling. It's not just about bringing diversity into the pop culture space, it's about celebrating it and acknowledging its capacity to bring us together."

Attendees are encouraged to stop by Dogu's booth #4807 an the panel for details on how to participate in the signing. As the signing opportunity is limited, fans are advised to secure their place early to avoid missing out.

SAN DIEGO, CA -- Since its creation in 2019, the Queer APIMEDA Coalition (QAPIMEDA) has aimed to create spaces of community and connection for individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+ and Asian Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern and Desi American (APIMEDA). As part of the San Diego Pride nonprofit organization, their work focuses on planning events such as QTAPI week (Queer Trans Asian Pacific Islander week) and educational programming on topics like Queer API history.

“What we were charged with doing, was making sure folks who lived in that intersection feel like there are spaces for them authentically, that they can be 100% themselves within that space and find people who are like them,” Alex

Villafuerte, executive director of the Pacific Arts Movement, organizer in QAPIMEDA and previously marketing and communications manager for San Diego Pride, said.

According to data from the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency, from 2016 to 2020, the LGBTQ Asian community made up 11.7% of the LGBTQ population in the county.

During the current time where anti-LGBTQ and, specifically, antitrans legislation are being turned into law in many states, and xenophobic hate continues to be an issue faced by this community, the creation of events and programming that celebrate the LGBTQ APIMEDA community are needed, according to Villafuerte.

From the last week of May (Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month) into June (Pride Heritage Month), QTAPI

week was one of the spaces where the Queer APIMEDA Coalition honored and celebrated these experiences of being LGBTQ and APIMEDA.

“That intersection from the last week of May into the first week June, nationally and in San Francisco (where its origins were), folks wanted to call it QTAPI week which is queer, trans API week to highlight that intersection — the specific struggles or challenges that community may face and also create spaces to celebrate that community,” Villafuerte said.

“The LGBTQ community is centered and focused in Hillcrest, but what was great about the QTAPI week was that we were able to enter spaces that were predominantly not in Hillcrest, like in Convoy or Paradise Hills and create LGBTQ spaces that were in

See QUEER APIMEDA on 9

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (right) receives officials of the Japan-based Mitsubishi

THE PAMPERED PINAY –PAPAYA PIES

By FRANCINE m AIgu E

Friends, you’ve requested more recipes, and I am more than happy to oblige! This week, I’m sharing one of my favorite homemade desserts, featuring a versatile fruit that is in season – papaya! I love giving mini pies as gifts. These are easy to make and super satisfying to eat. Papaya pies…Kaya natin ‘to!

PAPAYA PIES

INGREDIENTS

FILLING:

1 Stick Unsalted Butter

1 ½ inch Ginger, peeled and cut into two pieces

4 Cups Papaya, ripe, peeled, seeded, mashed

1 Mango, ripe, peeled, seeded, mashed

1 Banana, ripe, peeled, mashed

3 Tbs Macapuno

1 Lemon, juiced & zested

1/3 Cup White Sugar

1/3 Cup Brown Sugar

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

½ tsp Cinnamon

¼ tsp Nutmeg

Pinch of Salt

6 tsp Cream Cheese

CRUST:

2 Boxes (4 Sheets total)

Puff Pastry, thawed Butter, softened

TOPPING:

1 Egg, beaten

DIRECTIONS:

1. Prepare Filling – In a pot, melt butter, then add ginger, papaya, mango, banana, lemon juice and zest, white sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Simmer, stirring occasionally. Once ingredients are fully incorporated, turn off heat, remove steeped ginger, and stir in macapuno.

F

2. Preheat oven to 425 degrees

3. Prepare Crust – Grease baking sheet(s) with softened butter. Roll out puff pastry sheets

and cut into squares (6 squares each sheet).

4. Assemble Pies – Spoon about 1 Tbs of pie filling in the center of each puff pastry square. Add ½ tsp of cream cheese. Fold each puff pastry square in half, creating a triangle. Using a fork, crimp and seal the edges. Brush the top of each triangle with beaten egg. *Save any leftover pie filling to top vanilla ice cream, add to halo halo or fill pan de sal.

5. Bake Pies – Bake until pies have puffed and are golden brown (about 12-15 minutes - *Cooking times may vary, depending on oven).

Check back every week for ways to pamper yourself and those you love. Why? The answer is simple: YOU DESERVE IT, Hardworking Kababayans.... Do you want to send a love note at The Filipino Press ? Email us at filpressads@aol.com We love to hear from you our dear readers!

Sycuan Casino Resort Donates $25,000 to San Diego Pride

SAN DIEGO, CA -- Sycuan

Casino Resort presented members of the San Diego Pride team with a check for $25,000 in support of the upcoming San Diego Pride Festival and Parade. These funds will be used to support San Diego Pride’s yearround programs.

“We are honored to support and uplift LGBTQ+ voices, advocating for an inclusive environment that welcomes all with open arms,” said Cody J. Martinez, chairman, Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation. “Together, we will continue

to uphold our commitment to promoting a society that embraces unity and acceptance.”

Sycuan’s support for San Diego Pride dates back to 2014 and this will be their seventh year participating in the Parade event, with two of those offering support for their virtual programs due to the pandemic. This year, Sycuan expects 100 team members to march in the upcoming Parade festivities.

“San Diego Pride is thrilled to grow our long-term partnership with Sycuan this year,” said Sarafina

Scapicchio, deputy executive director of San Diego Pride. “Their generous investment will not only support our community's Pride celebration which highlights the vast diversity of the people living in Southern California, but also San Diego Pride's free year-round education and advocacy programs that support our LGBTQIA+ community members 365 days a year.”

For more information on the 2023 San Diego Pride Festival and Parade, visit www.sdpride.org.

GSIS housing borrowers get more time to pay for arrears

MANILA -- The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) announced on Wednesday that it has decided to extend its condonation and restructuring program for its housing accounts until December 2025.

GSIS President and General Manager Wick Veloso explained that they intend not only to let their borrowers become homeowners but also to update their housing accounts and ease the process of their payments.

"Maaring palawigin hanggang sampung taon pa ang pagbabayad, basta hindi aabot sa 70 years old ang buyer o borrower (The payments can continue until 10 years, as long as the buyer or borrower hasn't reach 70 years old)," Veloso said in a statement.

He also vowed to initiate steps on making loans easier but also assuring that the state pension fund is in good shape.

"GSIS continually seeks to enhance our loan products, helping borrowers make responsible payments while maintaining a healthy pension fund," Veloso added. With this, GSIS now offers full payment options for housing loan applicants, including a waiver of all remaining penalties and surcharges, as well as an additional discount on outstanding interest.

Veloso noted that GSIS borrowers can choose payroll deductions, monthly cash or manager's checks, post-dated checks, or through the GSIS Housing Online Payment (GHOP) as payment methods.

GHOP is an online payment portal accessible via a borrower's account with Union Bank of the Philippines that needs the registration of the borrower.

The GSIS housing condonation program is one of three components under the Pabahay para sa Bagong Bayani na Manggagawa ng Pamahalaan (PBBM).

This program also involves constructing and developing midto-high-rise residential buildings in strategic locations to be built on GSIS properties.

The state pension fund recently announced that the first set of highrise condominiums under the PBBM program will rise in Fairview, Quezon City beginning this year which will be available through installments over 30 years with no required down payment.

Under its PBBM initiative, GSIS also leases out available housing units for current occupants under the Lease with Option to Buy (LWOB) program.

Applicants for the LWOB installment sale program should be active GSIS members who have paid at least three years' worth of premiums; have up-to-date premium and loan payments; are not on leave of absence without pay at the time of application; have no pending administrative or criminal cases; and do not have an active housing loan with GSIS.

MMDA inaugurates P300-M 'intelligent' command center

Over 400 high-definition closedcircuit television (CCTV) cameras, an “intelligent” traffic signalization, and other systems will be monitored in the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) newly-launched Communications and Command Center (CCC) in Pasig City.

During its inauguration on Wednesday, MMDA Acting Chair

Don Artes said the PHP300 million new facility will serve as the “nerve center of Metro Manila’s major thoroughfares.”

The agency said a total of 403 CCTVs have been installed across critical and major infrastructure projects — such as pumping stations, bus bays, waterways, and in “adaptive and sensor-based” traffic lights.

These CCTVs will be monitored through an “ergonomic console system,” a video wall that will be expanded to accommodate flood control monitoring and video feed for body cameras worn by MMDA traffic enforcers.

“This is a major step for MMDA to make Metro Manila a safe and smart metropolis by using smart technologies and data analytics to aid the country in its economic development and strengthened security,” Artes said.

The facility also houses the Hytera Radio Smart Dispatch System, which has an in-built global positioning system (GPS) and smart map to locate traffic enforcers in real-time and communicate with other radio users in the field.

Artes said there are plans to build a 45-kilometer fiber optic cable to be able to integrate CCTVs of local government units (LGUs) in the National Capital Region (NCR) to that of MMDA as well as to procure an artificial intelligence program with vehicle classification, car counter, license plate, and facial recognition.

The MMDA has also procured handheld ticketing devices which can issue and reprint traffic citation tickets, request vehicle towing, and accept online payment in support of the agency’s interconnectivity with the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

SC turns down PAO chief’s plea to amend CPRA The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday turned down the Public Attorney's Office's (PAO) plea to amend a part of the updated Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA).

In a statement, the SC en banc said it has "resolved to deny the request of Atty. Persida V. RuedaAcosta, the Chief of the Public Attorney’s Office, in her letter dated April 20, 2023, addressed to Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, to delete Section 22, Canon III of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA), which limits the invocation by the PAO of the rule on conflict of interest."

[The high court reminded the PAO of its primordial mandate to “[extend] free legal assistance to indigent persons in criminal, civil, labor, administrative and other quasi-judicial cases.” To turn away indigent litigants and bar them from availing of the services of all PAO lawyers nationwide due to alleged conflict of interest would be to contravene PAO’s principal duty and leave hundreds of poor litigants unassisted by legal counsel they cannot otherwise afford, it added.

The questioned provision sought to be taken down by PAO states that: “A conflict of interest of any of the lawyers of the Public Attorney’s Office incident to services rendered for the Office shall be imputed only to the said lawyer and the lawyer’s direct supervisor. Such conflict of

interest shall not disqualify the rest of the lawyers from the Public Attorney’s Office from representing the affected client, upon full disclosure to the latter and written informed consent.”

However, the SC said, "to turn away indigent litigants and bar them from availing of the services of all PAO lawyers nationwide due to alleged conflict of interest would be to contravene PAO’s principal duty and leave hundreds of poor litigants unassisted by legal counsel they cannot otherwise afford."

The high tribunal likewise directed Acosta "to show cause why she should not be cited in indirect contempt for her social media posts and newspaper publications which tended, directly or indirectly, to impede, obstruct, or degrade the administration of justice" and characterized her resort to social and print media to air her unfounded grievances against the SC as a threat to the independence of the judiciary.

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said he had misgivings account [on] the PAO's position on the matter.

[["Ako kasi naniniwala na ang PAO is serbisyo. Ito ay hindi law office. Ang conflict of interest frame of mind na pinamamalas ng PAO sa atin ay isang pagtingin sa kanilang opisina bilang isang law office. Hindi po, sila ay legal service ng Republika ng Pilipinas. Dapat naman manatiling ganun yun kaya dapat mailinaw ito ng PAO sa Korte Suprema kasi ang talagang pwedeng magsabi nyan kung ano ang conflict of interest at hindi ay ang Korte Suprema. Sila ang arbiter dito," Remulla said. (MNS)

DFA on ‘Barbie’ map: Nothing more than a fictitious path

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) believes the alleged path drawn on a map featured in the upcoming movie “Barbie” is nothing more than fiction.

In a statement on Wednesday, the DFA confirmed that it provided an advice to the Movie and Television Review and Classifi[[[[cation Board (MTRCB) amid the depiction of what seemed like China’s nine-dash line in the movie -- an inclusion that also prompted Vietnam, a claimant state in the South China Sea, to bar the film.

“Having carefully reviewed the film, the Department is not convinced that the lines shown depict anything more than a fictitious path, in an imaginary world map,” it said.

“To avoid any misinterpretation, the Department has provided advice to the MTRCB. The Department trusts that the MTRCB will do its utmost in the exercise of their mandate,” it added.

The DFA said the MTRCB held a joint screening of the movie "Barbie" where it helped ascertain if the depiction of the imaginary world map is inimical to the national interest in the context of adherence to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 Arbitral Award.

The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 ruled as illegal the so-called nine-dash line, which Beijing uses to illustrate its claims on at least 80 percent of the South China Sea.

The invisible demarcation likewise overlaps with the Philippines’ exclusive economic

OEC digital version of OFW Pass free for all overseas workers

MANILA -- The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has assured that the Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Pass, the digital version of the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), may be accessed for free by all Filipinos working abroad.

In a media briefing on Wednesday, DMW Secretary Susan Ople said aside from the OFW Pass, the agency is also gearing up for the launch of the DMW Mobile App that would also be free to all OFW users. She said this is in compliance with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and is also based on the clamor of OFWs for a more convenient alternative to the OEC that comes in paper form with a PHP100 fee.

“President Marcos made it clear that the OFW Pass should be free in honor of the huge sacrifices being made and contributions of our modern-day heroes to the needs of their respective families and the Philippine economy as a whole,” she said.

Ople said the DMW mobile app is undergoing rigorous testing by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) before its formal launch.

“We acknowledge the help and support being provided by the DICT to make sure that our mobile app will be secure,” she said.

The OFW Pass, which will kick off the agency’s modernization and digitalization program, is set to be launched right after the DICT gives its green light to the DMW.

The DMW mobile app will be available on Google Play and Apple Store.

A memorandum of agreement was also signed by the DMW and the Bureau of Immigration to make sure both agencies are in sync in terms of database management and other relevant processes.

“Our goal is to make the journey of our OFWs much easier. The OFW Pass, in comparison with the decadesold OEC, is convenient, practical, and free of use. In the next phase, we hope to be able to add more features to our mobile app and integrate this with the e-Gov app of the DICT, but for now, we prefer to focus on educating our OFWs on the features of the OFW Pass,” Ople said.

She said Migrant Workers' Offices worldwide, as well as the DMW main office, issue an average of 6,719 OECs to OFWs daily.

Ople said Hongkong, which is considered a high-concentration post, has an average of 600 to 800 line-up for OECs that reaches more than 1,000 during peak seasons starting from the “ber” months leading to Christmas.

[She also cited data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) that indicated a 3.2 percent increase in dollar remittance flows from January to April 2023, which is equivalent to USD10,487,040, compared to USD10,166,678 for the same period last year.

“Foregoing the PHP100 per OEC charge was an easy decision to make given the enormous and consistent contributions of our OFWs to the country’s economic growth and the sustenance of their families,” Ople said. All departing OFWs, whether new hires or Balik Manggagawa, are required to secure an OEC, which serves as exit clearance and as

exemption from the payment of travel tax and airport terminal fee.

PBBM: Address possible challenges in south railway implementation

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday ordered all concerned government agencies to address the potential challenges in the implementation of the South Commuter Railway Project (SCRP).

Marcos gave the directive during the ceremonial signing of the three contract packages under the SCRP at the President’s Hall of Malacañan Palace in Manila.

“I urge all concerned agencies to work together to address the potential challenges concerning the project’s right-of-way, such as the need for land acquisition and the relocation of utility poles installed along the area, so that the affected properties are cleared in time for the commencement of civil works,” he said.

The construction of the contract packages under the SCRP serves as an integral part of the 147-kilometerlong North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) that stretches from Clark, Pampanga to Calamba, Laguna as it traverses Metro Manila.

Marcos said the national and local governments are aware of the issues that might arise once the contract packages are implemented.

He said the country would be able to reap the benefits of the SCRP in the “longer term,” if the government would address the challenges.

“We must also recognize the plight of informal settler families who will be affected by the project, as well as the disturbances that the construction of the NSCR system will cause,” Marcos said.

“We are continuously conscious in the national government and of course the local governments to ensure that those needing assistance are attended to. These are the inevitable consequences of these large projects,” he added.

During the event, Marcos witnessed the signing between the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the winning contractors for contract packages S-01, S-03A and S-03C under the SCRP.

Marcos said the contract signing is a welcome development, as his administration would be a “step closer” to its goal of serving around 800,000 commuters daily by 2029.

He said around 3,000 jobs are expected to be generated once civil works for railway project begins.

“Now, as we hold the signing of Contract Packages S-01, S-03a, and S-03c, we continue to show the commitment to realizing the dream of a more efficient and inclusive public transportation system that every Filipino deserves,” Marcos said. “I urge everyone involved in the project (to) spare no effort to complete this monumental task for the benefit of generations to come.”

With combined costs of over PHP52 billion, the civic contract packages cover a combined length of 14.9 kilometers of elevated and ground-level rail tracks, including six modern train stations that will rise at Blumentritt, Buendia, EDSA, Senate, Bicutan and Sucat.

Some of the stations will be linked to other rail systems to enhance transport inter-connectivity.

This includes the construction of an elevated pedestrian connection to existing railway stations, such as the Blumentritt Station with Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 and EDSA Station with Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 Magallanes Station.

The Senate Station will also be constructed near the Senate Subway Station and the Bicutan Station will share the same platform with the Bicutan Subway Station.

The SCRP aims to decongest Metro Manila’s main thoroughfares, provide comfortable transport alternatives and spur economic activities in the area.

“To our citizens, I also seek all your continued patience and understanding as you encounter interruptions from the constructions that we are undertaking. I know that it is our collective longing to create a society that works for the people and that will open bigger opportunities for our children,” Marcos said.

“So, let us all remain united in this endeavor as we pursue initiatives with the long-term end in mind. We look at these contract packages with great optimism and renewed hope for our country’s future,” he added. (MNS) Gov’t committed to achieving food security, zero hunger -- PBBM President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to attain food security and “zero hunger” in the country.

This, as Marcos witnessed the ceremonial signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the implementation of the Reformation Initiative for Sustainable Environment for Food Security (RISE) Project.

The MOA was signed by the DA’s Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and the DOJ’s Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) in a ceremony at the President’s Hall of Malacañan Palace in Manila. In his keynote speech, Marcos said the partnership is a testament to his administration’s “unyielding” commitment to both food security and rehabilitative justice.

“Allow me to recognize the synergy, the work of the DA, DOJ and their private partners to utilize our natural resources and promote ecology sustainable practices amongst persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) through this RISE project,” Marcos, who also acts as DA secretary, said.

“By investing in these capacitybuilding activities, we are not only helping boost food production but also giving our PDLs opportunities to realize their potential for positive change and for reformation,” he added.

Marcos said the cooperation between the DA-BPI and BuCor would contribute to “much greater” humanitarian causes such as the rehabilitation and reintegration of the PDLs. He said the initiative would ensure hunger prevention, poverty alleviation and better health.

“So, I urge our national government agencies to continue pursuing innovative projects that address the needs that evolve now in this modern age for Filipinos. By making innovation our priority, we can expedite the delivery of programs

TOUGH JOB. Workers are surrounded by steel structures at a building construction site in Timog Avenue, Quezon City on Tuesday (July 11, 2023). The PHP40 minimum wage hike in Metro Manila will take effect on July 16, raising the daily rate of non-agriculture workers from PHP570 to PHP610. .(MNS photo)

SPRUCING UP. A backhoe operator hauls soil near the statue of Lapu-Lapu inside the Rizal Park in Manila, which is currently undergoing facelift, on Wednesday (July 12, 2023). Under Republic Act 11333, otherwise known as the "National Museum of the Philippines Act," the portion of the park where the Relief Map of the Philippines and the statue of Lapu-Lapu are situated, was placed under the supervision of the National Museum. (MNS photo)

THE WRITE STUFF IN ALL OF US

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Greetings!

Whether it’s a writer whose blog posts are always relatable, a public speaker whose workshops are always on-point, or a big name in your industry you’ve always looked up to, we all have people out there that we admire and would like to reach out to just say, “Hey, you’re great!”

Well…putting modesty aside (and because I was also humbled about it all, too) – it did happen to me while my wife Zeny and I were doing some Filipino groceries shopping at the Seafood City outlet right here in Chula Vista. I was trying to get something from the Fish and Meat Department when a smiling, charming attendant asked me if I was that “Jesse Reyes from the Filipino Press” and so I replied almost in a whisper, “Yes, I am.”

She then declared with much enthusiasm - “I am your No.1 fan. I really loved your articles and they truly meant a lot to me as they have much I can relate to. How can you do such a wide range of writing?

Are your an ‘UP’ (University of the Philippines) graduate? I genuinely look forward each week to seeing more of what you write next for your columns.”

Without diving to far down the dark and twisted philosophical rabbit hole of why this might be, what I can say for certain is: “How being a fangirl can make you a better writer?”

Ha-ha-ha-ha!

The familiar advice goes something like this: Just get your butt in the chair; just write something; anything; just take a long walk. Just, just, just. Bet everything else comes easier, doesn’t it? A Netflix binge, a scroll through Instagram, a nap –washing the dishes, even.

Ha-ha-ha-ha!

Despite all our problems –financial worries, family jealousies, anxieties over the future, sadness about a failed venture or a relationship for that matter, fears of illness and death – we also have a passion to shape personally meaningful lives, to understand ourselves and the world around us, and to grow and branch out in positive directions. Despite all of our personal and interpersonal concerns, something within us, perhaps our childhood wonder, still trusts that others can be transformed, too. We try to stay open to new experiences, people, and ideas; we have an emotional connection to our memories; and deep down we feel

we are just a larger version of our childhood selves.

My childhood memories now play an important part in my life as a writer. But this was not always so.

How did I discover their importance?

And why do I continue to write and what makes it worth for me?

What is writing to you? Ask yourself that; what does writing mean to you? Think about it for a minute. What is your relationship with writing? Do you like it? Does it have any benefits that you can see?

Do you prefer to type as opposed to writing? Think about it. What do you use writing for? Is it for work or pleasure? Do you write simply out of necessity? Do you write at all?

There are so many different answers, and each is unique. I’ve sat down to think these things. Well, I sit down to think about them all the time.

Then I write down my thoughts.

I’ve always found writing natural to me. The words kind-of just flowed into being. I continue to write because it’s my time. I write about reality, facts, whatever is appropriate. I write because I can reflect on what I’ve done. So that I can remember to do something. So, I can figure out what I need to think about. Writing has become a mindset. A way to control as part of my day.

We’ve used it to record thoughts for thousands of years. To pass knowledge from one generation to the next. It’s the backbone of how our society can function, being that it’s part of the way we communicate with one another.

Writing can help you grow outside your own head, too. To purge your mind with useless information so that you can pick out what is needed and leave what is not on paper so you can get it later – archive your notes, people; saves time.

This time around, I would like to write about why I continue to write. I really hope something inspires you to jot down a phrase or two. I would like to challenge you to think about your writing relationship and maybe reflect on why it is the way it currently is.

Now, on with the insight.

Life-changing speaker, bestselling author and behavioral science academic Dr. Steve Maraboli, also the author of “Life, the Truth and Being Free,” stated that “Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over instead

food production centers.

of craving control over what you don’t.”

So, I say don’t you think you deserve a little bit of control in a world currently full of chaos?

With riots, wars, plagues and mass extinctions going on, things feel pretty grim. Hopefully, you and your families are safe; I truly hope we can get through this together. As for how you’re doing in all of this, things can feel very stressful. A lot of change is happening and for the better, no one is really able to answer that.

However, to help with that added stress, outside of working out, playing games, getting proper sleep and rest, why not add writing to that list? Personally, writing allows me to digest my thoughts out loud. A little Ying to Yang, right? It gives me the ability to balance my thoughts and world. At Writing allows me to put into the world what’s within my head. Of course, I edit and check what’s there before I submit but that’s still my thoughts recorded and polished to read.

Especially in these difficult times of uncertainty, inaction and faulty communication, finding solace can be tricky. Don’t expect it tomorrow or the next if you don’t have anything joyful right now. It may not come for some time. But be open to the possibilities. Reflect on what you’ve done before and find where you can go with it now. Keep looking for anything you can, the light is there; you just might have to dig or climb for it.

Jesse T. Reyes Filipino Potpourri

that you don’t always have to keep it in your memory.

Writing is a part of my memory. It’s how I track and manage my thoughts. The first draft is what I get done now; unfiltered. That’s where I can capture what I’m doing at what exact moment in time. That’s what I get to reflect on. That’s where the thought really begins.

when my former Navy shipmate challenged me to 100 push-up every day for a month. Having actions that you repeatedly tick off during the day – that you just can’t complete a day without – is important. It’s a way to show yourself and the world that you are ready, willing and able to complete your goals.

and services and build a more robust economy,” Marcos said.

Marcos hoped that the RISE Project would encourage more private-public partnerships and inspire the Filipino people to pursue activities that will leave a “lasting” impact on the country.

He acknowledged that the private partners play a crucial role in the success of his administration’s programs, noting their expertise and technological advancement.

“I likewise express my gratitude to the private sector, our partners in development for your unconditional support and dedication to contribute to the development of Filipino people and of the Filipino nation,” Marcos said.

“The challenges in food security today are multifaceted and complex. Thus, it is crucial for us that we work together and tap into our respective specialties, expertise and strengths so we can formulate more comprehensive, empirical and integrated approaches,” he added.

The joint initiative aims to utilize and rehabilitate arable lands within the BuCor’s prison reservations and penal farms across the country to boost food production.

The Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan will serve as the pilot site of RISE Project since it covers arable land areas spanning around 28,700 hectares of land. The area is divided into four zones or districts, which include the Central Sub-Colony (3,824 hectares), Montible Sub-Colony (6,932 hectares), Inagawan Sub-Colony (11,162.54 hectares), and Sta. Lucia Sub-Colony (6,870 hectares).

The partnership intends to implement agro-industrial projects by transforming land areas and resources into productive agricultural camps or

It aims to enhance the country’s food security, provide PDLs with appropriate training for livelihood preparation and societal reintegration, facilitate rehabilitation through agricultural production training, horticultural therapy, and vocational gardening under the BuCor’s Work and Livelihood Program.

The program also seeks to improve the PDLs and community members' food sufficiency, meal nutrition and dietary quality with a sustainable, year-round harvest of fruits and vegetables.

It initiates the pilot technology of the DA’s National Urban and Periurban Agriculture (NUPAP) and the High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) interventions and management systems that can be replicated in other BuCor facilities nationwide.

The program also responds to the challenges faced by the agricultural sector and the potential impact of El Niño, which threatens food security and sustainability.

PH cited for ‘proactive, integrated’ migration policy

The Philippines has been cited as a "global good practice case" for its proactive and integrated migration policy in a 2023 World Bank report that highlights the urgency to manage migration better.

In the World Development Report 2023: Migrants, Refugees, and Society released in April, the bank emphasized that the aging population of rich and middle-income countries will lead to an increased demand for foreign workers to sustain their economies.

This trend, it said, presents a “unique opportunity” for countries to benefit from development gains that may come from migration.

At the same time, it underscores the need for origin countries to strengthen the match of migrants’ skills with the demand in a destination state.

Absolutely, do find some control. Start with control of yourself, your mind; and your thoughts. That’s when you’ll be able to call out yourself when the negative emotions or thoughts enter. You’ll be able to deflect and reallocate your resources and really make use of your time.

Maybe you’re feeling the same way with the world literally going to hell. Why not just grab a notebook, put some things on paper and see what comes out? If you really don’t like what you put out, burn it if you want to.

Ha-ha-ha-ha!

“In times of great stress or adversity, it’s always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive,” as the American automobile executive and the Chrysler Corporation CEO during the 1980s Lee Iacocca once said. Putting the thoughts on paper makes it real – makes it permanent unless you burn the only copy – and allows you to free your mind of the “clutter.” Writing the first copy that comes into your mind is powerful. You have something that you can grabbed from thin air and place it onto a page to dissect. Analyze what type of thought it is, where it stemmed from or where it was going to. Then modify it if it wasn’t just quite right. A little of Goldilocks and Bears kind of thing, so to speak. Get it just right and what you’re happy with then forget about it. It’s done now. You can iterate it later, use it as a reference, or keep it as a note so

I remember in my English class back in Villamor High School – back on my beloved historical hometown of Sta. Ana in old Manila – my teacher Mrs. Joaquin was going over the, “what did Shakespeare mean by this,” kind of a stuff. That’s what I like to take a do with my own notes once in a while. I flip through old notebooks, one-off notes, even digital notes on my phone. I reflect on who I was at the time of writing that, what I was going through, where I was in, well, life. It’s a lot more fun than you think and can take you down some great memories. I recommend doing this once you have a book or two of notes.

I think it’s important to reflect on the past. It’s our experience that is our very own lessons. That’s how we learn, through trial and error (red-green testing, what what?). Do not dwell on the past, however. Lingering in the past in your mind for too long, can take you too far back and you get lost. Reflect and remember, but stay anchored on the now. Make the most of it.

“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without,” as preached by the one most commonly referred to as ascetic and religious teacher Buddha who founded Buddhism during the 6th or 5th century Siddhartha Gautama.

Building habits are difficult. Breaking them is worse. We all have habits that we like and more that we don’t but think about how they were made. What brought them about? You can build a habit for anything if you have the drive to do so and the will power. Writing can be just like that. It does become a habit, honestly. It’s something that get us through the day some days and others I have to grind through it. No different than

Even when I knew I can do better; I write what I get. I force myself to. It has to be done and no one is going to do it for me. Applying this thought to my writing has gotten me off the ground. Too often I putter around and never finish up and show what I can do. It’s a problem, I must admit. But forcing myself to complete an action builds that habit.

I like it. It couldn’t be simpler than that. Even when I grind to find the passion to start, I always find the words and get lost in the thoughts I bring forward. Find what you like to do and hold onto it with all you’ve got. Muster all your strength, gather all your will and cling for dear life to what gives you joy.

Finally, I’ll look back at my old posts, sigh and laugh. It could’ve been better; it’s never going to be perfect but I did it and I’m proud of it. Building that up took some time and it’s definitely a work in progress but it can only get better the more I practice it. Maybe you feel differently about writing? Why do you write? What gives you the drive to keep writing? Let me know, I’m curious to what gives others the motivation they have.

Thank you for taking the time to read my columns, Rowena. I’m working on telling my life’s writing perspectives from the time I started as the editor-in-chief of our high school newspaper” The Molave” to the present time that I have continued on doing it here in “The Filipino Press.” It’s a bit of everything but mostly just what I’m learning or trying to understand. I hope this inspires you to build up to what you want to do or be. Maybe that’s a writer! Regardless, keep working on it. You’ll get there.

All the best and stay safe… Mabuhay!

“Migration of workers whose skills and attributes are a strong match in destination economies can be a powerful driver of poverty reduction in countries of origin. Some origin countries, such as the Philippines, have managed it as an integral component of their development strategies, with noticeable results,” the report read.

From the 1970s to its current structure, the World Bank said the Philippines’ migration system now encompasses the entire migration cycle from pre-deployment down to eventual return and reintegration.

It acknowledged Manila’s move to enter into bilateral labor agreements with destinations states to provide better conditions for its overseas Filipino workers.

These include labor deals with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, which the World Bank said permitted the establishment of a minimum wage while covering broader reforms to better equip workers with technical skills and knowledge.

It also cited programs put in place to prepare Filipino migrants abroad, including the expansion of education in occupations in high demand globally, such as nursing.

“This approach has positive spillovers for the domestic labor market because some graduates from these programs do not migrate. In parallel, the government provides pre-departure orientation programs to inform migrants about the risks and benefits of migration and labor rights and safety measures, as well as information specific to the destination,” it added.

During the report’s dissemination forum on July 10, World Development Report 2023 co-director Quy-Toan Do said countries can make migration a strategic choice for development.

“This is about being not a bystander and watching migration happening but being active on it and to design a policy framework so that it could be innovative,” he said. (MNS)

Association of the Filipino Students in Japan, along with the Security Bank to support the education of the students affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. (MNS)

PBBM hopes for more renewable energy projects

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday expressed optimism about the implementation of more renewable energy projects in the country to address the challenges hounding the power sector.

During the inauguration of the 24.9-megawatt (MW) Lake Mainit Hydroelectric Power Plant in Jabonga, Agusan del Norte, Marcos expressed hope that the private sector would continue to help his administration in realizing its goal of advancing "affordable, reliable, and clean" energy in the country.

"I continue to be hopeful that we will come up with more projects that will make use of renewable resources and contribute to our ongoing efforts in solving our energy problems," he said in his keynote speech.

"Let this inauguration that we are commemorating today serve as an encouragement to potential investors to invest in the country, especially in the power generation and the renewable energy sector."

The President assured the private partners of the government's commitment to improving bureaucratic processes in the energy sector to make it easier for them to invest in the country.

He made the pledge as he acknowledged that public-private

partnerships are vital in achieving an energy secure future and building a more prosperous Philippines for the present and coming generations.

"This lies at the very core of the eight-point socioeconomic agenda, as well as our commitment to mitigate the impact of climate change and to combat other environmental threats," Marcos said.

He noted that as the country's power demand continues to increase, initiatives and projects, such as the Lake Mainit Hydroelectric Power Plant, are "most welcome" to boost the energy supply and improve the energy mix by prioritizing the use of renewables.

Apart from generating power, he said, the Lake Mainit power plant is also expected to generate socioeconomic opportunities for the people of Agusan del Norte and the rest of Mindanao.

"The development of this hydro(electric) power site is a defining step towards our goal of securing much-needed power for the people of Agusan del Norte and its neighboring areas by taking advantage of its water sources," he said.

With a total capacity of 24.9 MW, the Lake Mainit power plant aims to deliver reliable and accessible electricity to the consumers of the Agusan del Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ANECO) and support the ever-growing demand for energy from both residential and commercial sectors in the Caraga region.

It targets to provide approximately 100,871 MW of clean and affordable energy to about 45,000 households in local communities each year,

supporting the Philippines’ economic and social development through a resilient renewable energy solution.

Lake Mainit is bounded by the provinces of Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Norte and is the deepest lake in the country with an estimated maximum depth of 219 meters.

It is also the fourth largest freshwater lake in the Philippines that serves as a natural water reservoir for the Lake Mainit Hydroelectric Power Plant.

'Reliable partners'

The project is a joint partnership between the Philippines’ Markham Resources Corp. and Japanese firm J-POWER.

Aside from providing dependable and affordable energy solutions, both companies are committed to decreasing the carbon footprint in the hydroelectric power plant’s operations.

Marcos thanked Markham Resources and J-POWER for being "reliable partners."

"This project was made possible because of the shared commitment we have with our reliable partners in the private sector both from the Philippines and Japan," he said.

"This partnership that you have forged for the development and operation of this hydroelectric power project in Agusan del Norte is a clear manifestation of the trust and support that our two nations hold for each other."

Marcos urged the local government of Agusan del Norte to provide all the necessary assistance to ensure the efficiency, safety, and productivity of the Lake Mainit power plant. (MNS)

NO. 1 FAN: The author poses for posterity with Rowena of Seafood City in Chula Vista, California.

Professional Business Directory

zone. This is not the first time a Hollywood film was embroiled in the South China Sea row.

Previously, the Philippine government formally banned the screening of “Uncharted” and “Abominable” over scenes depicting the nine-dash line.

DA monitoring El Niño effects in Central Luzon, Isabela

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Wednesday it is monitoring the effects of the El Niño phenomenon in Central Luzon and the province of Isabela, in which there is high production of crops like rice.

“Meron tayong nakita na ang Region 3 [at] sa Isabela ay makakaranas ng El Niño,” DA Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista said.

Evangelista, however, pointed out that Isabela has long been preparing for such a problem considering that irrigation has always been its concern. She said the National Irrigation Administration is now

fast tracking the irrigation in the province.

The DA official said El Niño may also take its toll in the Mimaropa region.

“Other areas naman po, ang sabi nila as of now, binbangga nila ‘yung outlook… base sa nangyayari on the ground para well guided ang ating magsasaka. We also don’t want to totally discourage farmers to stop planting,” she added.

Evangelista said the Agriculture department has put in place several livelihood programs for the farmers who will be affected by El Niño.

On July 4, state weather bureau PAGASA declared the start of the El Niño — a phenomenon characterized by the abnormal warming of sea surface temperature in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean and below normal rainfall.

While El Niño increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall conditions, PAGASA said abovenormal rainfall conditions during the Southwest Monsoon season or Habagat season may also be expected in some parts of the country.

Public warned vs. water, vectorborne diseases due to El Niño Cases of water-borne and

vector-borne diseases may increase nationwide as the country experiences El Niño, an infectious disease expert said Tuesday.

Philippine College of Physicians president Dr. Rontegene Solante said in a televised Laging Handa public briefing that tropical countries are susceptible to water-borne diseases year-round.

“Pwede pa madagdagan ‘to, tagtuyo, El Niño, nakukuha yan sa contaminated water (The cases may increase during El Niño, and you get that from contaminated water),” Solante said.

Among the common diseases are typhoid fever, which is caused by salmonella bacterial; and shigellosis characterized by belly pain, fever, and watery or bloody diarrhea, caused by the shigella bacteria, both usually caused by not washing hands.

Meantime, drinking contaminated water may cause abdominal pains, fever, diarrhea, hepatitis A, amoebiasis and cholera, Solante said.

He said non-specific viral infections caused by rotavirus and norovirus are also common among young children, both of which cause

diarrhea and vomiting.

Apart from storing clean water properly, he reminded the public to observe handwashing before eating meals.

“Kung bumibili naman ng mga pagkain sa labas, kelangan siguruhin na ‘yung nagluluto at pagluto ay malinis (If you’re buying prepared meals, make sure that the food is cooked and handled in a clean manner),” he said.

Vector-borne diseases, or illnesses carried by mosquitoes, like malaria and dengue, also abound during El Niño season.

Mosquitoes may also initiate dengue, zika infection, and chikugunya.

“Among Asian countries, tayo ‘yung pangatlo na pinakamataas this year at medyo tumataas rin ang mortality (we’re third on the list of countries with highest cases this year, and the mortality rate is also increasing),” he said.

The rise of temperature during El Niño alters the ecology of mosquitoes, making them move or travel places, while increased mobility of the population causes more to be vulnerable to infections.

Spiritual Life

Birthdays: A Time for Thanksgiving

Birthdays are significant milestones in our journey through life. Every year we reach a milestone, we pause, celebrate and say a prayer of thanksgiving to our God Almighty, for the many blessings He has given us. Friends and family members make it an effort to greet us in person or by sending beautiful greeting cards, well-chosen gifts and inspiring messages. My close friends has made it a tradition to organize a dinner party in a local restaurant where we can all have good food, clean fun and great fellowship, with each one dipping into their pocket to pay their fair share of the bill. My children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren come around to surprise me with a bunch of flowers or a birthday cake expressing their love with a kiss or a warm embrace. These gestures of love and caring bring tears in my eyes, and my heart is filled with gratitude to God for the gift of life.

I turned 84 last July 12. I became nostalgic and sentimental. I felt that as one grows older, birthdays become more significant to us personally. No matter how we console ourselves with inspiring clichés like, “age is just a number, you are just as young as you feel”; Or “age is a matter of attitude,

Aurora S. Cudal-Rivera

My Personal Testimony

“if you think you are old, then you are old. If you think you are young, then you are young”; we still have this feeling that we are a step closer to meet our Maker. So we hold on to the promises of God and in total surrender we commit ourselves to God with a prayer that His will be done in our lives.

Before I sat down to write this column, I attended a Bible Study at the Community Room of the Congregational Tower with Pastor Genalyn Pascua Concepcion of the Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ, as our study leader. She focused our attention on 2 Corinthians 4:16, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory

Greetings in the Lord!

that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” These words hold a profound meaning for those of us who are over the hill or who are suffering from degenerative diseases. We see our body wasting away, yet we are being renewed by God inwardly day by day.

God’s love is new every morning and we do not lose heart.

Let us communicate with God through prayer. Listen to what He says, through the reading of the Holy Bible and obeying and doing His commands. Put God first in your life and He will provide all the things you need. The Bible says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Who are you?

Now then, tell my servant

David, "This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over My people Israel. (2 Samuel 7:8)

Have you ever heard someone say, "He is a self-made millionaire"? They are stating that this person accomplished everything through his own efforts. His achievements were a result of his hard work and street smarts.

David was nearing the end of his life. The prophet Nathan was responding to David's idea to build a temple where the Ark of the Covenant would stay. God reminded David of his roots and where He had brought him. God took David from the fields of pasturing sheep to pastoring a nation. God reminded David that He cut off all of David's enemies. (David never lost a battle.)

Have you ever felt tempted to look at your accomplishments with pride as if you were the reason for your success? Have you ever thought your prosperity was due to your ingenuity? Has your material success been a testimony to others that God is the ruler of all aspects of your life, even the

material side?

Joseph's greatest test was not his temptation to be bitter against his brothers. It wasn't the sexual temptation that came inside Potiphar's house. It wasn't even the discouragement of years of imprisonment for being wrongfully accused. It was the temptation of prosperity and ownership. Once he was elevated, he was given choices that he never had before. It was totally up to him as to which choice he would make. Stewardship reveals what we believe about God and ourselves.

Not every man can carry a full cup. Sudden elevation frequently leads to pride and a fall. The most exacting test of all to survive is prosperity. (Oswald Chambers)

Do you have a proper understanding of who you are? Do

(Matthew 6:33, NIV)

you understand that it is God who has given you the ability to work and achieve? He is the source of all good things. Ask God today if your life models this belief. And now may the Lord bless you, and may the Lord keep you, and may the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and may the Lord be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May you walk in the blessed assurance that your steps are being ordered of the Lord and that His angels are going before you to make certain that your life reaches its spiritual destiny. May the prayers that you pray, be reward to you according to your faith, for God is a faithful God, and He will open the windows of heaven and bless you with blessings you cannot contain, in Jesus' name. Amen.

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We are now on the fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The message of the gospel today is so important in the daily lives of the faithful who would like to follow Jesus and eventually share their faith in Him. However, the message of the gospel today can only be fully appreciated within the context of the meaning of discipleship and the cost of being a disciple. These were the messages that last Sunday’s gospel wanted us to consider. Allow me therefore to review the three important elements of discipleship and the cost of being a follower of Jesus. Today St. Matthew speaks about the meaning of true discipleship, faithful following of Jesus, Our Master. “The first of the three is the recognition and acceptance of the high price of being a follower of Jesus so that even the closest of blood relationship in this earthly life should even be considered of lesser value to the love that we must render to Jesus himself…The second element that St. Matthew presents is the centrality of the cross in following Jesus. We are asked to love the way Jesus loves and “ the criterion of this love was ‘love one another as I love you.’ His way of loving until giving His life unconditionally on the cross for the redemption of humanity is the way of the cross for which He wants each of His disciple to do. We are being asked to take

the way Jesus loves as the measure of treating every other person in our lives…. The third element of discipleship which is total self abnegation, or self denial. This is the hardest of all the three, but without going through this stage one can never leave behind loved ones, family relationships, nor bear the cross as demanded by Jesus Himself. “… whoever loses His life will find it.” When one finally gives himself fully to Jesus, one will find life eternal and will find peace and will not have anything to fear in life anymore.

In the context of the three abovementioned fundamental elements can we understand what Jesus means in the gospel today. “I give you praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.”

Following Jesus is so demanding and difficult to not fully understand

MAPAGPAKUMBABA

Ni Salvador S. Idos

Paano nga ba ang magpakumbaba?

Bakit ba ang sagot sa tanong na ito ay napakamahalaga?

Sapagkat ang lahat ng kagandahang loob na ating ginagawa Sa pagpapakumbaba nagsisimula.

Ang pagpapakumbaba ay Katotohanan Tunay na katayuan, walang labis, walang kulang Katotohanan na lahat tayo ay anak ng Diyos

At ang lahat ay pantaypantay, walang mahirap walang mayaman.

Ang taong mapagpakumbaba ay nagpapasalamat tuwi-tuwina Sa lahat ng natanggap niyang biyaya Sa biyaya ng buhay, sa pagmamahal ng Diyos at ng kapwa At pati na sa lahat ng magagandang ala-ala.

Ang pagpapakumbaba ay ang pagtanggap na tayo ay makasalanan Mga tao tayong marupok at mahina lamang Nangangailangan ng tulong, awa at kapatawaran At nagpapatawad sa iba kapag may pagkukulang.

Ang taong mapagpakumbaba ay di nagtatanim ng sama ng loob Siya man ay saktan, insultuhin at lait-laitin Alam niya na ito ay bahagi ng kanyang krus na dapat niyang pasanin Tanging ang kabutihan ng kapwa ang kanyang hangarin. Napakalakas ng tukso upang tayo ay magmayabang at magmalaki Kayamanan at karanyaan, hawak na kapangyarihan, titulong nakamtan pati na ganda ng katawan dala ng kabataan,

Avelino reflects on training for 'Linlang'

MANILA -- Paulo Avelino is reflecting on the transformative journey of his training sessions for the upcoming series "Linlang."

Taking to Instagram, the actor shared his thoughts, describing the experience as a "crazy journey." He also contemplated the profound impact it has had on his physicality.

“Down to my last training session for Linlang, and all I can say is it’s been a crazy journey! I started training a few months ago with specific goals and timelines. From gaining weight while doing our training program that coaches @anton7reales calls preparing for a Zombie Apocalypse to losing the weight I gained while lifting and training my boxing skills for the role,” he said. Acknowledging that boxing is a "different beast of its own," Avelino expressed his dedication by stating that he has been diligently documenting his training sessions to identify further areas for improvement.

“It wasn’t easy, especially when I had to start cutting my weight, waking up extra early to work out, going to work, and repeating this cycle since we started the show. It was frustrating and exhausting at times, but I had to be loyal to the journey of my character, and that was my motivation throughout the show,” he said.

The actor then extended his heartfelt gratitude to his coaches, expressing appreciation for their

but also accept. Only persons who could be childlike can do the three fundamental elements I mentioned because they would not scrutinize nor they rationalize, but only follow with love and devotion. It really takes a lot of humility in order to follow Jesus today as the great disciples and saints in the past have given their lives follow in order to make Him their Master and Lord and bring His message into the world without conditioning it to their convenience and liking, but always faithful to His mission of brining the message of salvation to all men of good will.

What a consolation to hear Jesus say “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Truly being disciples is a joyful response to the call of the Master to love Him and to be with Him who will give rest to our weary souls in this world that is torn by both strife and despair but has only Hope in the call of Jesus to be with Him for

“No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

Let us all follow Jesus so that we would be in communion with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen

Wala sa puso na lahat nito ay pansamantala lamang At paglipas ng panahon, tanging pagmamahal at kagandahang-loob lamang ang maiiwan.

Ang magpakumbaba ay isang gawaing di madali Sapagkat napakadaling gumawa ng mga bagay na makasarili Laging ipagdasal na tayo ay matutong magpakumbaba Nang tayo ay mabuhay ng maligaya at mapayapa

efforts in training him for boxing, creating tailored workout programs, and ensuring that he executes his movements correctly.

To end his post, Avelino thanked his No. 1 and 2 supporters -- their gym dogs Antosha and Gustavo.

“My everyday spectators, I hope you enjoyed the show,” he said.

Aside from Avelino, “Linlang” will also feature Kim Chiu, JM De Guzman and Jake Ejercito.

Joining them are Maricel Soriano, Raymond Bagatsing, Benj Manalo, Kaila Estrada, Anji Salvacion, and Race Matias. The series will be directed by Jojo Saguin and Mannny Palo. (MNS)

Fr. Agustin T. Opalalic

Salvador S. Idos

the neighborhoods where people actually lived. So, those folks got to go somewhere nearby to them and connect with community.”

While moments like these were powerful, the journey has not always been easy. In 2020, experiences of hate and discrimination came to a pinnacle for the LGBTQ APIMEDA community amid COVID-19.

“A lot of people within the community were feeling hate [for] both sides [of their identity] — from their LGBTQ identity as well as their Asian/Pacific islander identity,” Villafuerte said.

Villafuerte said the combination of xenophobic hate, homophobic hate and transphobic hate took a toll, causing burnout and mental strains for many individuals who identify with this intersectionality.

“That mental strain and that ability to organize was lost a little bit because a lot of folks needed to focus on their own mental health and make sure they were safe rather than organize within the community,” Villafuerte said. “It took a lot of emotional work to organize within a community that is constantly under attack regardless of what side they’re hearing the attacks come from.”

During this time, the Stop the Hate initiative stepped up their advocacy to recognize the ways in

which xenophobic hate was actively harming the APIMEDA community. For groups like the QAPIMEDA Coalition it was vital to recognize the intersectionality of experiences for LGBTQ APIMEDA individuals.

“The rise in xenophobic hate and the rise in homophobic and transphobic hate comes from the same place and if we can organize together it can help many communities,” Villafuerte said. Stop the Hate initiative took action with San Diego Pride primarily through support for the youth program, according to Villafuerte.

“Stop the Hate was giving the tools for youth to be their own advocates in their own spaces, allowing them to understand how they can advocate for LGBTQ clubs within their schools [and] how they can identify when they aren’t being treated correctly or fairly within the scope of the law,” Villafuerte said.

As the Stop the Hate program grows, Villafuerte said they’re planning to branch out within San Diego Pride to support the QAPIMEDA Coalition. With Stop the Hate’s support, new opportunities for more robust programming or a speaker series could be on the horizon.

At the present, the QAPIMEDA Coalition is preparing to make their presence known at the San Diego Pride Parade and Festival on July 15 and July 16.

“Our community at times can

be very invisible and not seen, but the Queer APIMEDA Coalition is going to march in the parade, and we’re inviting our allies and friends to march with us and be seen as our full selves in the parade,” Villafuerte said. “Additionally, we’re going to march right into the festival where San Diego Pride worked with the QAPIMEDA [Coalition] to build an intentional space that is ours.”

The Pan Asian Market will be happening within the Pride Festival July 15-16. In the market there will be food vendors as well as performances. LGBTQ APIMEDA performers will also be featured in the festival on the Stonewall Mainstage. Jake Zyrus will be performing at 4 p.m. on July 15, and David Archuleta will be performing at 5 p.m. on July 16.

“There’s no other feeling out there than being at a Pride event because everyone is happy,” Villafuerte said. “Everyone is celebrating who they are and there’s just very apparent love in the air of support. Just lean into it. Make new friends. Connect with people. And if you’re not a part of the community, come and learn.”

The Pride Parade will begin on July 15 at 10 a.m., starting at the Hillcrest Pride flag at University Avenue and Normal Street. This is a free event. Box office ticket sales for the Pride Festival are available online. To learn more about the parade or buy festival tickets, visit sdpride.org

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

Port of San Diego Celebrates its 22 Parks with a Proclamation for Parks and Recreation Month

SAN DIEGO, CA -- On July 11,

the Board of Port Commissioners authorized a resolution proclaiming its support of Parks and Recreation Month. The Port of San Diego’s Parks and Recreation department manages public access to 22 beautiful parks as well as public boat launches, fishing piers, event facilities, and a diverse collection of public artworks for the

benefit of public recreation, passive enjoyment, community gatherings, and special events.

Celebrated since 1985, Park and Recreation Month raises public awareness about the role of open public space and recreation in communities and people’s lives. It encourages individuals and organizations to participate in outdoor recreational

activities and allows governments and businesses to show their commitment to planning and maintaining green spaces in urban settings.

“As a port of communities, the Port of San Diego prides itself in offering community members and visitors 22 parks along the waterfront, giving the public access to some of the most precious views in San Diego to all,” said Chairman Rafael Castellanos, Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners. “As we reflect on what a true treasure our waterfront parks are, we would like to also recognize the many women and men working at the Port of San Diego that maintain and manage our parks so we can all enjoy them.”

The Port provides opportunities for community events and several other activations through its event sponsorship initiatives called the Tidelands Activation Programs (TAP). TAP was recently amended by the Port’s Board to increase event sponsorship opportunities and to provide a better balance of public access and support for public events at Port parks and venues. Some free TAP events the public has grown to love include the Big Bay Boom, San Diego Bay Parade of Lights, South Bay Pride, Symphony by the Sea, and more.

The Port of San Diego will soon go from 22 parks to 23 following construction of Sweetwater Park which is anticipated to open in 2024, giving members of the community and visitors to the region yet another waterfront park to enjoy. A 24TH park, Freedom Park at Navy Pier, is anticipated to open in 2029.

Prayer to Saint Expedite

May the intercession of the glorious martyr , St Expedite, recommend us, O my God, to Thy goodness, in order that his protection may obtain for us what our own merits are powerless to do.

Amen.

We supplicate Thee, Lord , to inspire by Thy grace all our thoughts and actions, that thou being their principle, we may, by the intercession of St. Expedite, be conducted with courage, fidelity and promptitude, at the time proper and favorable, and come to a good and happy end, through our Lord, Jesus Christ

Amen

St Expedite, honored by the gratitude of those who have invoked thee at the last hour and for pressing cases, we pray thee to obtain from the all powerful goodness of God, by the intercession of Mary Immaculate, (today or such a day) the grace we solicit with all submission to the Divine Will Amen

Delightful Dolls of So CA 45th Annual Show and Sale

Delightful Dolls of Southern California is having a doll show & sale with everything from teddy bears and Barbies to vintage doll clothing to beautiful antique dolls to unique artists’ dolls. Bring your children to see the dolls that you had as a child, and the dolls their Grandmothers played with. Doll stringing is available. We will have many dealers with their amazing finds to offer you. One of the most eclectic shows in Southern California. August 26, 2023 ~ San Diego, CA 10-

2:00 P.M.

Delightful Dolls of So CA 45th Annual Show and Sale

Handlery Hotel 950 Hotel Circle North San Diego 92108

Admission $6.00– Under 12 free with adult. Admission proceeds go to children’s charities https://www.facebook.com/ DelightfulDolls/ https://www. facebook.com/DelightfulDolls/ For information and table reservations, call: Gloria Osborne 619 298-2447 globob31@gmail.com

Missed a copy of Filipino Press visit www.thefilipinopress.com

Kumpletuhin ang inyong balota sa ginhawa ng inyong tahanan. Pirmahan at petsahan ang inyong sobreng pagbabalikan, i-seal ang inyong nakumpletong balota sa loob, at ibalik ito sa pamamagitan ng U.S. Postal Service – hindi na kinakailangan ng selyo!

Ibalik ang inyong balota sa alinmang mga lokasyon ng opisyal na ballot drop box ng Tagapagrehistro sa loob ng distrito simula Martes, Ika-18 ng Hulyo hanggang sa Araw ng Eleksyon, Martes, Ika-15 ng Agosto. Iwasan ang mahahabang pila sa pamamagitan ng mabuting paggamit ng benepisyo ng maagang pagboto! Simula Sabado, Ika- 5 ng Agosto, pitong mga vote center ang magbubukas araw-araw mula ika-8 ng umaga hanggang ika-5 ng hapon. Sa Araw ng Eleksyon, Martes, Ika-15 ng Agosto, labing-apat na mga vote center ang magbubukas mula ika-7 ng umaga hanggang ika-8 ng gabi. Hanapin ang ballot drop box o vote center na malapit sa inyo sa sdvote.com

COUNTY NG SANDIEGO

Ikaapat

na

Supervisorial na Distrito,

Espesyal

na Primaryang Eleksyon. Bumoto bago ang Ika-15 ng Agosto, 2023.