20th, members of The California Department of Public Health (CDPH), County of San Diego Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA) alongside members of the San Diego local community gathered at the Fourth District Seniors Resource Center to shed light, share stories and educate attendees on the invasive neurodegenerative condition, Alzheimer’s Disease.
The event is a part of the Take on Alzheimer’s campaign, the first statewide campaign focused on raising awareness on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. “The Take On Alzheimer’s Campaign was developed by the California Department of Health to shift public perception and reduce stigma surrounding Alzheimer’s disease”, says campaign speaker Dr. Wilma J. Wooten, Public Health Officer of the County of San Diego HHSA. Dr. Wooten was celebrating her final day of service for Public Health, serving the San Diego community for 23 years.
In 2022, over 700,000 adults aged 60 plus lived in San Diego County, says Kristen Smith of the County of San Diego HHSA. By 2024, The California Department of Public Health declared that Alzheimer’s is the 2nd leading cause of death in the state. Dr. Wooten emphasizes that “It’s important to understand that the priority risk factor for Alzheimer’s
By GiG ConauGhton/CSDCo
DIEGO,
SAN
CA -- Summer and even the fall months in San Diego County can bring extremely high temperatures that can be dangerous to people and pets.
Excessive heat can spike body temperatures that can cause heatstroke, exhaustion, dizziness, nausea, confusion, headache and even death. Children and the elderly are particularly at risk.
So, here are tips that can help keep you, your friends and loved ones safe.
• The County’s Cool Zones, including the County’s 33 branch libraries, community centers and other locations, offer people safe, airconditioned sanctuaries from the heat. Here is a complete list and map of County Cool Zone sites, their hours and locations. People can also call 2-1-1 to find a location, and—if they cannot get to a Cool Zone site—ask for help with free transportation.
Responding to Signs of Heatstroke or Heat Exhaustion
is age. California is home to more adults aged 65 years, older than any other state in the nation,” going on to address why San Diego residents specifically should draw their
attention to the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease. “As the 2nd largest county in California and home to a growing population of older adults, the San Diego
county region faces a pressing need to address brain health”. Introduced alongside Dr. Wooten was second campaign speaker Jennifer Bransford-Koons,
Director, Aging and Adult Services Public Administrator, Public Guardian, and Service of County of San Diego HHSA Aging & Independence. “This is a campaign
By Viji SunDaram/EmS
In an 8-to-1 ruling, the justices upheld the constitutionality of a federal law that makes it a crime for a person under a restraining order in a domestic violence case from owning firearms.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA --
alcohol and sugary drinks) and don’t wait until you are thirsty.
• Take cool showers.
• After calling 9-1-1, start cooling the person by moving them into the shade, spraying them with cool water and fanning. Place them in a cool shower if they are alert, monitor their body temperatures and continue cooling them.
Tips to Help People Avoid HeatRelated Problems
• Stay in an air-conditioned area during the hottest hours of the day. Even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler. Do not rely on electric fans for cooling if temperatures exceed 90 degrees.
• Wear light, loose-fitting clothing.
• First and foremost, if you find someone who is suffering from symptoms of heatstroke or heat exhaustion—dizziness, nausea, confusion, headache—call 9-1-1 and start cooling them. But DO NOT give them fluids to drink. A person with heatstroke may not be able to swallow. Fluids could run down their tracheas into their lungs and make it hard for them to breathe.
• Drink plenty of water (avoid
• Never leave a child, elderly person, or pet unattended in a car.
• Avoid unnecessary hard work or activities outside during the hottest part of the day.
• Avoid unnecessary sun exposure and wear a wide-brim hat if you need to be in the sun.
• Avoid using the oven to cook.
Tips to Keep Your pets cool in hot weather
• Keep your pets indoors if the temperature is lower inside.
• Exercise pets in early morning hours or early evening to avoid prolonged exposure to the heat. Avoid strenuous runs or hikes.
• Keep your pets’ water supply in a tip-proof container, always topped off, and be sure it stays cool (pets will not drink water that is too hot).
• Consider a misting system to keep the outdoor areas cooler.
• Be sure your pet has shade ALL DAY, if they are outside. Remember, the sun’s position changes during the day.
• Do not take your pets for car trips
In an 8-to-1 ruling, the justices upheld the constitutionality of a federal law that makes it a crime for a person under a restraining order in a domestic violence case from owning firearms. It limits a controversial standard the high court’s conservatives had set down in 2022 that required gun prohibitions to have a connection to historical practices to survive constitutional scrutiny.
“When an individual poses a clear threat of physical violence to another, the threatening individual may be disarmed,” said Chief Justice John Roberts, who wrote for the majority, with only Justice Clarence Thomas dissenting.
In a press release put out by the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (CPEDV), the group noted that the ruling acknowledges that guns must be kept away from people who commit acts of domestic violence, as they have been proven to increase lethality in abusive situations. CPEDV filed a brief supporting the law.
A woman is five times more likely to be killed if the intimate partner abusing her has access to a firearm, according to the CPEDV. Black women are twice as likely to be shot and killed by an intimate partner.
Justice Thomas argued that
instead of encroaching on a person’s Second Amendment right, the better way of dealing with a dangerous person is by prosecuting them for criminal violence.
Earlier this week US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued a first-of-its-kind advisory declaring gun violence a public health crisis.
“I want people to understand the full impact gun violence is having on the United States,” Murthy told the BBC in an interview.
There were some 48,000 firearm-related deaths — or 132 people per day — in the US in 2022, according to provisional data.
SCOTUS’s ruling notwithstanding, abusers with restraining orders can still sneak guns during visitations with their children. A case in point happened in March 2022, when David Mora, a 39-year-old immigrant, fatally shot his three daughters ages 13, 10 and 9 at the time, during a supervised visitation at a church in Sacramento. He then shot the chaperone supervising the visit, before turning the gun on himself. Mora was out on bail after
to inspire action in others. It's a call to action, for all of us to come together, because it takes all of us. This is an all hands on deck issue and it can affect anybody at any time”, on drawing attention to collective efforts such as Take On Alzheimer’s Organization.
The event included networking opportunities, words from supporters and clinical and public health professionals, and concluded with opportunities for the audience to address their questions towards the community leaders and medical professionals on the panel.
The panel addressed a number of varying topics, including the stories of how these community leaders addressed Alzheimers within their loved ones, how the condition disproportionately affects communities of color, women and LGBTQ+ groups, the stigma the of disease, providing support and community for caretakers… but most importantly, thoroughly discussed the measures needed to be taken towards caring for both individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and caretakers of those with Alzheimer’s disease. How are marginalized communities affected by Alzheimer’s?
There is a pressing need to address the racial and ethnic disparities for those living with
being arrested five days earlier on charges of resisting arrest, battery on a police officer and driving under the influence. In response to a court filing for a five-yearrestraining order submitted by his ex-girlfriend and mother of their children, Mora said he had no guns. His ex-girlfriend also said she was not aware of him having guns. Every time domestic violence survivor Anjali Raj called the police on her former partner after he violently abused her, it didn’t take him long to retrieve his guns from the police within days after he was released, she said. Raj, who lives in the Bay Area, said she dropped the charges against him after every arrest, out of fear of what he might do to her and their two children, now 7 and 8, and her elderly parents. And to add to her fears, he would display the weapons on a countertop as a threat, she said. “Why was he allowed to reclaim them when he had a history of abuse?” Raj said. They
I have a love-hate relationship with technology. I appreciate all we can do with all the technological resources now available to us. I don't appreciate that folks have allowed themselves to become unavailable as humans as a result.
Strangers flip through their phones just so they don't have to make eye contact on elevator rides. People step off of the curb and cross the street looking at their cell phones. Parents text their kids when it's time to pull away from the computer and eat dinner, then families alternate bites of food with tweets at the table. Folks say nothing to one another, then rant on social media. People (from kids to grown adults) snap photos of strangers, then scrutinize them online. People pretend to be socially conscious and civically engaged with selfies and #hashtags more because they want to be a included and credited in a movement but, unfortunately, less because they are actually invested in making necessary change.
People have so much to say, so much to ask, so much to feel, so much to ponder, so much to resolve...
In connecting predominantly through technology, I worry that folks aren't connecting enough with the world directly around them. Moments just pass people by. People just pass people by...and
I think that habit is dangerous. Do you know your neighbors' names? If you didn't follow them on Facebook/Instagram/Snapchat, would you know your children's closest friends? Do you use your thumbs to type and voice your thoughts and feelings more than your actual voice? Do you get caught up in capturing moments on your phone that you don't actually experience the moments you're in? In times of conflict, are you more inclined to click "send" or "post" than work to have actual, productive conversations?
Relationships are declining. Health and wellness is declining. Our ability to look each other in the eye, articulate what we think and confidently, honestly and respectfully open our mouths is declining.
Our sense of community is declining, and it's not ok.
Here my challenge to you all, my friends. At least once this week, set your phones down and experience the world around you...then don't post about it. Experience it just to experience it...not because it would make for a good post or picture. I hope you'll find that it makes you savor, appreciate and observe the moment on a far deeper level...that you really LIVE in the moment. Have a good chat (not iChat) with someone. What color are their eyes? What does their voice sound like? What do they think? How are they feeling? What's
going on in their life? Here's the thing...There's an important level of respect and selflessness that is a necessary component to true human connection, productivity, progress. To listen, we must not speak. To have a conversation, we must exchange our thoughts and take turns. To make eye contact, we must give someone our focus and allow them to look at us. With today's habits, that might be harder than it seems. Humanness should be a good habit. I treasure you all and hope you have a wonderful, connected week. Let's take good care of each other, Community.
Love, Francine
ATTENTION BUSINESS OWNERS!!!
or
THE FILIPINO IN THE AMERICAN MOSAIC
SAN DIEGO, CA -- Greetings!
All too often we lack the means of knowing the thoughts and feelings of the people around us. We and they are inarticulate, having lost the power of expression not through lack of will or ability but through disuse.
How much more difficult it is then to recapture the ideas and emotions of strangers separated from us by time or place. Men and women of wealth or education make themselves known in words on paper through written records left behind. Those not accustomed to the pen or typewriter (or a personal computer, for that matter) remain vague figures in the distance, whom we can only dimly perceive, whom we cannot recognize. Yet face to face peasants, workers, and housewives are often expressive. The worth of what they had to say early on persuaded scholars, travelers, and other observers to set down the words of such people through oral interviews or in some other permanent form. The tape recorder simply provided a more efficient means of doing so for it creates an immediate record and spares the reporter the need for taking down and transcribing notes. Like all methods of knowing others, oral history is subject to abuse, but it can also add to knowledge about the past and present.
The very nature of the immigrant experience in America erects barriers to the understanding. In moving, people create cultural and linguistic gaps. Their own habits and phrases are the products of one place; arriving in another they confront mannerisms and expressions no more comprehensible to them than theirs are to the strangers about them. The gap is wide between Kentuckians in Chicago or Georgians in Harlem. It is far wider for newcomers from Eastern Europe or Asia. In addition, most immigrants by social origins were people unaccustomed to contacts with the unfamiliar. Now and then a merchant or politician or priest was an exception. But the great majority were workers or
farmers, attached to their villages and towns and easily bruised in the process of migration. Their records are particularly valuable.
In Joan Morrison and Charlotte Fox Zabusky’s book “American Mosaic” which tells about 140 first generation Americans talk about why they came to this country, what they endured, the dreams they cherished and the realities they found -- men and women from every part of the world think back upon the meaning of their arrival in the United States. The reader will recognize a few famous names; but the voices are mostly those of unknowns – a homesteader, a garment worker, a barber, a migrant worker, or one of the boat people. Some migrated between 1905, when the gates were still open, and 1930, when they slammed shut. A second group in the next decades were refugees from dictatorship and war. A third, the most recent, came in the aftermath of the liberalization of American immigration laws that restored the country’s traditional welcome. The motives that impelled these people varied, as did experiences within the United States of America. The interviewers have garnered a comprehensive sampling of that immense variety.
The interviews are not records of what actually happened in the course of migration, but retrospective accounts of a deep human experience, as recalled by those who lived through it. Remembered images of the Old-World countryside provide a vivid contrast with recollections of New York’s East Side, of a Dakota farm, and of an iron mine in the Mesabi range. Though each story is unique, a common sense of realism informs them all. The difficulties encountered and the success achieved mingle in these memories, as in the appraisal of one childhood – “happy though poor.” The words of the artless people assembled here say a good deal about the meaning of America.
Well…the book is indeed
The MATATAG curriculum, if properly implemented, will make a huge difference on how well students are globally integrated. Global integration, in this context, would mean individuals having the capacity to communicate in a universal language such as English to be competitive economically and politically. Globalization is here to stay and will continue to drive how governments present a labor force that is easily integrated as moving pieces in trade agreements.
The new curriculum addresses reforms needed to prepare students for such global integration with learning competencies that relies on the English language to unlock career pathways. These English subject competencies focus on communication, information utilization, critical thinking and creative thinking, among other life skills from kindergarten through 10th grade. Life skills (thinking, personal, and interpersonal) are critical components for success.
Mother Tongue as a subject has been removed and replaced with a generic “Language” subject and it is only for Grade 1. Previously, mother tongue as the Language of
U.S. PASSPORT Continued from page 4
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powerful, dramatic and fascinating… the voices and the testimonies have the density of fiction, sustained over hundreds of pages. You have the feeling as you read across the breath of time, nationality, and experience represented here that you are getting a grip on the real America: thrilling, depressing, frightening, gentle, cross, confusing, endearing, vulgar and idealistic. In short, as diverse as the millions who have experienced and enriched it.
As evaluated in The New Times Book Review – it is a triumph… consistently fascinating and uniformly rich in significant details about the great and complex story of immigration to the United States and adaptation to American life.
Well…it’s all fine and dandy at this point -- until they forgot about our fellow “kababayans” -- Yes, about us – Filipinos (and FilipinoAmericans, for that matter) – not a single word or what-so-over
mentioned about the Philippines –zero, zip, zilch, nada! They reported practically all the nationalities of the world and their immigrant experience in America – in the words of those who lived it – but not an account or even a pipsqueak from a single Filipino or Filipino-American – in this supposedly “American Mosaic.”
And this I believe further conclusively affirms in my belief that Filipinos and Filipino-Americans are the most mis-understood among all the minority groups – definitely under-represented, under-rated/ appreciated folks in our good, old U.S. of A. – and certainly, almost always taken for granted by our fellow Americans!
What say you, my dear folks?
I admit it would have been nice – actually, a better phrase to use –it is right and proper- if they could have included in the narrative at least anyone of our “kababayan” brothers
Jesse T. Reyes
Filipino Potpourri
and sisters - who did come and had the imagination to dream of a better life, the ingenuity and perseverance to make the journey, and the strength to endure harsh conditions, to survive and adapt, most often than not to flourish in glory.
After all, and as I keep saying it time and time again – the truth of the matter is that us – Filipinos and Filipino-Americans – have contributed immensely to what The United States of America is all about today!
In the book “American Mosaic”
it is noted that from the floodtide of East European immigration more than a century ago to the fairlyrecent Vietnamese boat people of today, this extraordinary work of oral history captures the immense drama and full dimensions of the American immigrant experience. The men and women who tell their stories include such famous names as Alistair Cooke, W. Michael Blumenthal, Edward Teller, and Lynn Redgrave.
But they share these pages with 136 other people – of practically all nationalities – whose stories are equally compelling: a Jewish former sweatshop worker and union organizer, a Scandinavian homesteader, a Polish coal miner, an anti-Nazi refugee, a Japanese war bride, a Mexican migrant worker, a Cuban exile, a South African interracial couple, a Soviet dissident, and many more – and of course – as I have said earlier not a mention of any Filipino immigrant experience at all! The notable book reveals the mingled joy and pain, hardship and triumph that were and are part of the glowing dream and fearful gamble of a new life in a new land. They offer a unique understanding not only of the
makeup (albeit no mention at all of the Filipinos who were already here in America some 33 years before the Mayflower Pilgrims landed) but of the meaning of America.
From my personal point of view, it became apparent to me as all who have worked on these kinds of histories that the same aspirations and stresses that drove our forefathers to emigrate still operate today –poverty, religious and political oppression, the desire for education and a better life, sometimes simply a sense of adventure – as in my case I reckon.
But, of course, there is no typical immigrant. The variations in country of origin, time of coming, age, sex, health, and class are almost infinite. In addition, there is the character of the immigrant himself and the mysterious workings of chance. As I have implied, each individual narrative is unique.
Together, they make up the mosaic that is America – including Filipinos and Filipino-Americans in the mix, if I must add – for that matter!
Through the eyes of these adventurous men and women –our “kababayans” included, if I must once more insist – we see ourselves anew. Now they are us… each becoming a working part of the outrageous experiment that is America and thanks be to this book for reminding us all of that.
I reiterate again – this Filipino and Filipino-American recognition is long past the right time…now is the opportune moment…indeed, it’s about time, my fellow “kababayans”! Rise up!
Mabuhay!!
God bless the U.S. of A.!!!
The mother of all Mother Tongues: Language as part of the Bicolano Identity, Part 2
countries particularly in the fields of science, math, law, and poetry.
Instruction (LOI) was mandated from K-3. The recent release of PISA scores showing Filipino students still languishing near the bottom proved that MTB-MLE did not improve children’s literacy in English and Filipino.
The debate about the utility of teaching the mother tongue in the kindergarten or college level will continue to rage between academics – purists, liberals, nationalists, and modernists. Of course, each will make a strong case for why it should or shouldn’t be. They’re not wrong but neither are they all correct. Their disagreements boil down to perceptions of reality, of what is important to them. The Philippines is a multilingual state having roughly 175 spoken languages/dialects.
With over 7,000 islands, Filipinos naturally need a unifying language for practical purposes.
The nationalists who put together the 1987 Philippine Constitution mandated the use of Filipino as a language of instruction in the educational system throughout the nation alongside English. English was clearly included because in practice, many institutions use borrowed books from foreign
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Hence, Filipino (which is mostly Tagalog and part Spanish, among others) became the mother of all mother tongues. English officially became the second language. Dialects become the third language.
The Bicol Region (Bicolandia) alone has 12 dialects – 12 mother tongues or native languages, yet Bicol Naga is what many consider as the region’s mother tongue. The notion of a disappearing native language (i.e., Bicol) is romanticizing it.
Ethnic languages are spoken at home (and the community) but not necessarily part of the school curriculum beyond grade 1 for practical reasons moving up to high school and college. Primary education is meant to prepare the student for secondary education. Having kids speak Bicol as their third language from Kindergarten through Grade 3 was not really value added for the majority of students for those who already speak the Central Bicol dialect.
It doesn’t necessarily follow that being well-versed in Bicol would help a student perform better in math, sciences and certainly, help in critical thinking or analogy. Translating concepts into the dialect runs the risk of missing a translation because the teacher might only be doing it from memory, as is the usual practice. Learning the dialect at
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home and in first grade is enough of an icebreaker to get kids to come to a comfort zone within the community. Beyond that is not desirable for practical reasons. Learning Filipino as a second language for Bicolanos is practical for cultural and general communication.
Language controversy is really nothing new and can be traced back to the beginning of the human race. Mind you and up to this day, it is unsettled as to the language spoken in the Garden of Eden. Christians claim that it was Adamic (Adam’s verbal cue to Eve not to eat the apple), but the Jews claim it was Hebrew (Adam called Eve by a Hebrew name – Isha & Chava).
The Italian poet Dante of the Divine Comedy fame, however, believed that “divine language” spoken in the Garden that got Adam talking was just influenced by it –and therefore by extension, Hebrew is then a byproduct of Adam’s invention. Meaning, the thunderous warning from heaven “don’t eat the apple!” takes precedence.
In the beginning experiment, there was only Adam, Eve, and the Devil. The instruction to Adam in God’s language was clear – “you can eat everything in Paradise, except the fruit of wisdom.” The Devil’s spoken language, however, must have been more powerful or enticing since Eve and Adam did the unthinkable. Paradise was lost with
the original sin and the Confusion of Tongues continues with the constitutional provisions. Frankly, it was a good thing because by his disobedience, Adam paved the way for the thinking Filipino.
When the Philippine Supreme Court declared in 2018 the constitutionality of the K-12 education program, it also declared that the teaching of the Filipino language and Panitikan (Philippine Literature) can be optional in college. The “controversial” ruling was met with great dismay by many including the then senate’s knight in shining armor, Sen. Vic Sotto declaring among other things that the ruling was “unconstitutional.”
Sotto’s beef was that by making the teaching of Filipino and learning the Panitikan optional in college would doom the Filipino race. This is the same hypocritical guy who wanted to tinker with the lines of Lupang Hinirang. The rest of the inhabitants of the 7,000 plus island met the Supreme Court decision with a ho-hum yawn and rightfully so.
First, compulsory teaching the Filipino language and Panitikan in the primary and secondary level makes good sense. That is practically twelve years of trying to learn everything there is to learn about the Filipino language. Not to mention the year round learning from watching your favorite
sitcoms: “Ang Probinsyano” or “Eat Bulaga” not to mention the side conversations during a Pacquiao fight or a Miss Universe Pageant. The problem with Sotto is that he just cherry-picked a portion of the Constitutional provision to make his point but failed to see the big picture. Yes, the 1987 Constitution declares Filipino as the national language but also included English as the second official language “for purposes of communication and instruction” and included the regional languages as “the auxiliary official languages in the regions.”
In practice, the Philippines has many languages and dialects. The dominant languages spoken every day are Filipino, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Iluko, Bicol, and English. According to a Social Weather Survey back in 2000, over 85% of Filipinos can read and understand Filipino. The number of course is higher in Luzon (over 90%) given the proximity to the Katagalogan, and lower in Mindanao (~60%) where the dominant language is Cebuano. This is a good thing because the statistics show that the Filipino language is effectively used for communication. There will always be a debate regarding the nuances between Tagalog and Filipino but that is more for the purists to tackle. For the rest of us, we’re fine. (To be continued)
HIGH COURT
Continued from page 1
shared custody of their children. She said that because she has been unable to hire a good attorney she has never been able to get justice from the court. According to a new report from California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office, the number of protective orders issued in California to limit access to firearms for people deemed dangerous increased by 20% between 2020 and 2023.
Last week’s high court ruling stemmed from a case involving a Texas man named Zackey Rahimi, with a history of armed violence against girlfriends and shootings in public places. While under a protective order, prosecutors said he shot his gun at least six times in public, once at his former partner and mother of his child and once allegedly at another woman while in a parking lot. The June 21 ruling keeps in tact a California law that mandates that guns should be removed from those with restraining orders against them, Colon said.
In a related issue, San Francisco and San Diego are trying to increase the utilization of red flag laws, also known as Gun Violence Restraining Orders, to help keep guns out of dangerous situations. In 2016, California became one of the first states to enact a GVRO, after a mass shooting in Isla Vista that killed seven people. The law allows law enforcement, household members, family teachers, employers and co-workers to request that a judge temporarily remove access to another person’s firearm if they pose a significant threat.
"THE FILIPINO PRIDE TREE: AMERICAN GROWN WITH PHILIPPINE ROOTS"
Spiritual Life
Enjoying my bonus years
When I celebrated my 70th birthday some years ago, a male friend told me how disappointed he was to know that I am already a septuagenarian. He said, all the while I thought you were much younger and here you are telling the whole world that you are 70! Why do you have to mention your age? Why should you not cover it up and deny your actual age as other women do?
Of course, I took these remarks as a compliment and told him, age is just a number, what really matters is your attitude towards life and living. I don’t have to hide my age. I am proud of the bonus years God has given me. Every time the month of July comes around, I feel that the grace of God comes in a bucket filled with blessings pouring on my whole being. I am so blest to have family and friends who makes me proud of the life I’ve lived and who assures me that I’ve made a difference in their lives. The greetings of “Happy Birthday” has filled my Facebook page. Indeed, the greetings of loved ones and friends from all over the world has made me truly happy.
I am often in the company of much younger friends who seem to enjoy my company as much as I enjoy being with them. They take me out to lunch or dinner, even to late night coffee hour just listening to good music or take me out for a walk along Coronado Beach. I’m glad my husband,
Aurora
S. Cudal-Rivera
My Personal Testimony
Winlove who prefers to stay home and view sports on TV or listen to C-Span endlessly, has accepted my outgoing lifestyle. We still go out together to be with our children on family occasions and to attend Sunday worship services during week-ends, an arrangement which seem to enrich our bonus years.
I am still actively engaged with my favorite service organizations and still help people who seek my help with their problems, personal or otherwise. I am still involved in program development, fund raising activities, and community event organizing. I support and advocate progressive causes although I am in the company of friends whose political views differ from mine. Difference in opinion brings out healthy and intelligent discussions which serves as good mental exercise. This wards off dementia and the vain of old age, senility. I visit my primary care physician regularly, who is mindful of my health and well-being. He has changed my attitude of non-
compliance to medications and he insists that I monitor the rate of my blood pressure and take my medicines regularly. He always reminds me that I am no longer a spring chicken and I should be more mindful of the nutritional quality of the food I eat and the activities I indulged in. He reminds me that prevention is better than cure. I often smile because my primary care physician doesn’t know that I am a health educator at heart and my professional life has been spent in “promoting health, preventing disease and prolonging life through organized community effort.” But I think, he knows that often, those who preach health do not practice it, hence I greatly appreciate the reminders for annual check-ups and compliance to doctor’s prescriptions. I am truly happy as I count my blessings and as I celebrate another bonus year. July 12 - This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it! Thanks be to God.
In the past two Sundays we have heard from the Gospel of St. Mark how Jesus revealed his identity as a loving, merciful and very powerful God through the healing miracles of the daughter of Jairus and the woman who suffered from hemorrhages for twelve years, as well as his authority over nature that even the winds and the sea obeyed his command. These powerful acts, however, only happened because of the faith of the people concerned, namely Jairus, the sick woman and to strengthen the faith of his own disciples who had little faith. How important indeed is the virtue of faith so that the presence of Jesus in the lives of men and women would be felt and encountered. The gospel in today’s mass presents a different picture of the men and women who knew Jesus even from his childhood, but could not witness any miracle in his own native place. “So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few people … He was amazed at their lack of faith.”
Once more we are confronted with faith as a necessary requirement in being able to encounter Jesus. What is faith? The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines faith as “first of all a personal adherence of man to God. At the same time, and inseparably, it is the free assent to the whole truth that God has revealed.” As Christians, “believing
in God cannot be separated from believing in the One he sent, his “beloved So,” in whom the Father is “well pleased”; God tells us to listen to him. Faith, therefore, has certain fundamental elements: first it is a grace from God and second it is a human act. As a gift from God, one should be open to God to move and assist him; “he must have the interior helps of the Holy Spirit, who moves the heart and converts it to God, who opens the eyes of the mind and ‘makes it easy for all the accept and believe the truth.’”
As a human act faith demands the cooperation of both the will and the intellect with the divine grace poured from above.
My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus, in the gospel today we heard how his own kinsmen and townspeople rejected Jesus. The rejection of Jesus continues to happen even in the world and the men of women of today. Besides
lacking faith in the existence of God, man has began to replace the reality of a transcendent powerful being with the power of the self and the human aspirations to satisfy oneself with what is pleasing, transitory and material. Today the characteristics of what we believe to be true that are derived from what is real and objective are no longer accepted as necessary in order to affirm what should regular human relations in every aspect of human life as a social being: in politics, social and economic activities as well as cultural orientations. This is happening not only in the secular world but even among those who still claim to be religious and even members of the Catholic Church. As a people of faith, we are being challenged to examine more closely where we stand today and the demands to deepen and strengthen our faith in Jesus are more urgent and relevant. Let us study our faith more seriously. For reason, besides the faith formation that we have formally in school for children, catechism in our parish is also being offered to children, the youth and adults. Let us pray for the grace of God more devout in our religious activities. Let us live our faith more courageously so that the presence of Jesus, who is truly a loving and merciful God, would be encountered and appreciated by the secular world and our own people.
Batid natin na bawa’t tao ay may sariling kuro-kuro Kung kaya’t kung minsan ay may pagtatalo Saan ba hahantung ang pagtatalo Ito ba ay nakakabuti o nauuwi lang sa gulo.
Ang pagtatalo ay isang gawaing mahirap iwasan Kadalasan nangyayari sapagkat kinakailangan May mga hangarin o problema na dapat malutasan Sa anong paraan, iyan ang pinagtatalunan.
Sapagkat nagkakaiba ang isip ng mga tao Kung kaya’t ayos lang na kung minsan hindi nagkakasundo Kung paano hindi magkakasamaan ng loob Iyan ang magandang hangarin na dapat nating alamin.
Ibahin natin ang kapwa sa kanyang sinasabi Kung siya ay nagbitiw ng mga salitang nakakasakit
Kasuklaman ang kanyang binitiwang kataga Subalit patuloy pa rin nating mahalin ang kapwa.
Tayo ay nabubuhay sa isang demokrasya na may Kalayaan Ang pagtatalo ay kinakailangan upang magkaliwangan Malaman ang katotohanan at pinakamabisang paraan Para sa ikabubuti at ikauunlad ng buong sambayanan.
Walang nangyayaring mabuti kung ang pagtatalo ay personalan Sa paksa lamang at hindi sa tao nakatutok ang pinagtatalunan Mas mahalaga na manatili ang magandang Samahan Kaysa magkaroon ng patuloy na salungatan na magtatapos sa alitan.
Iwasan ang makipagtalo sa social media Ito ay isang gawaing walang mabuting kahihinatnan Kadalasan nakakasira sa karangalan
Gamitin ang social media bilang kasangkapan upang magkaisa Hindi upang sirain ang magandang pagsasama.
Kung sakaling ang dalawang panig ay di magkasundo Mahalaga na ating kapwa ay bigyan ng respeto Bigyan diin ang mga bagay kung saan nagkakasundo Kaysa sa mga paksang nagdudulot ng walang katapusang pagtatalo.
Come Visit Sofia's Boutique at 4th Annual Fil-Am Friendship Festival Free Event , July 13, 2024, 11am-6pm NTC Park at Liberty Station , 2455 Cushing Road San Diego, CA
Fr. Agustin T. Opalalic
PAGTATALO
Ni Salvador S. Idos
Salvador S. Idos
Alzheimer’s and related dementia.
According to Dr. Wooten, “By 2040, the number of people living with Alzheimer’s is expected to more than triple for Latino and African American Black Californians, and more than double for Asian American and Pacific Islanders Californians. Additionally, Alzheimer’s disproportionately affects women and the LQBTQ+ communities… Women make up nearly 2/3rd of those diagnosed”. With San Diego’s rich and diverse community, residents must stay wary of the contributing factors that can affect brain health.
It has been found that negative experiences surrounding race, socioeconomic status, persistent low wages factor into its effects on the brain. Smith herself has observed how experiences in all types of racism (structural, personal, institutional) are proven to be associated with lower memory scores and worse cognition in mid-life and old age in African American Black adults. What are the signs and symptoms in identifying early onset Alzheimer’s in ourselves and our loved ones?
Alzheimer’s is typically found in individuals aged 70 years and older, Dr. Douglas Galasko, MD, Neurologist, UC San Diego affirms that the condition begins with memory problems beyond the typical loss of train of thought. Forgetting details of a conversation, appointments, times, not managing their medications, are some of the earliest typical symptoms. “When you notice somebody is having a repeated pattern of some of these
memory lapses, take it seriously.” These fits of forgetfulness can be best identified when familiar routines or simple tasks become problematic, for example, where a long time office worker forgets what a copy machine is for. In many unfortunate instances, most people do not take action until they are in crisis or find themselves in situations that are out of control. Galasko notes that contributing factors also include vascular change. Managing and treating conditions impacting blood pressure and diabetes could help reduce some of the disparities that come with an Alzhiemer’s diagnosis.
What preventative measures can be taken to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease?
“What’s good for the body is good for the mind.” emphasizes Smith, her baseline measures to best prevent the overall progress of the condition simply lies in remaining attentive to overall physical and mental health. This includes staying physically active, eating healthy, managing chronic conditions and staying socially engaged as you age. This even includes staying attentive towards how hearing loss with age can affect one’s mental health. “We need to interact with people to keep our brain working well, addressing any hearing loss is really important… when we lose our hearing, we tend to disengage and not talk as much to others, and we get more isolated” which in turn, brings a decline to one’s brain health.
Ron Lewis, PhD, Board Member, Alzheimer’s Association San Diego Imperial Chapter, also encourages building relationships and cultivating conversations with
your primary care doctor, if the condition is a possible concern with age. With the diagnosis of his mother, he himself emphasized the need to monitor the progress of his own brain health, in order to monitor the possibility of Alzheimer’s and dementia conditions in his future.
But the most effective method to reduce the progress of Alzheimer’s, is to encourage conversation and education around the disease, bring awareness to the signs and build a community of support towards taking on Alzheimer’s.
Faiza Warsame, Community Engagement Specialist, and of United Women of East Africa San Diego, knows best in how these seemingly scary conversations are absolutely necessary, because not everyone is willing to understand the complexities of the disease, let alone know about the condition at all. While Alzheimer’s is an unpredictable and progressive disease, education, conversation and community can encourage San Diegans to find support and treatment accordingly.
With Alzheimer’s being a condition surrounded by fear, stigma, and mystery by society, all panelists had come to a united consensus that when it comes to taking on the condition, knowledge is power. As Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness month comes to a close, we must remain committed to ending the progress of Alzheimer’s disease and continue to educate the San Diego Community.
To access more information and resources surrounding Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementia conditions, visit TakeOnAlz. com, Alz.org/sandiego , or Call Alzheimer’s Association’s 24/7 Helpline at 1(800) 272- 3900.
Sue Ramirez feels blessed to be welcomed by theater community
MANILA -- Sue Ramirez never thought that she would get the chance to cross over to theater at the age of 27.
The film and TV actress is set to make her stage debut via The Sandbox Collective's "Little Shop of Horrors," which will run from July 6 to 28 at the Globe Auditorium of the Maybank Performing Arts Theater in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
She plays the lead role of Audrey, alternating with singer, theater actress, and "It's Showtime" host Karylle.
"It's my first time ever to do anything for theater and I'm so blessed that the doors of theater have opened to TV actors. With open arms, they've accepted me. I'm very happy," Ramirez said..
"This was the first audition that I did for theater... And I'm very, very happy na pinayagan nila ako to audition," she added.
In "Little Shop of Horrors," Ramirez finally gets to showcase her
singing skills on the theater stage.
The actress revealed that she initially planned on entering showbiz as a singer, but ended up getting more roles in TV and film.
"Not a lot of people are aware that I can sing. Actually, I auditioned for show business in 2010 as a singer, but I wasn't really given songs to sing -I was given TV and movie projects.
So now that I'm 27, hindi ko naman in-expect na may pintuang ganito na magbubukas pa para sa akin," she shared.
Ramirez also admitted having selfdoubt as she ventures into new territory, and has nothing but gratitude to the cast and crew of "Little Shop of Horrors" for their guidance and support.
"Everybody's so willing to help me.
Especially Reb, he has been guiding me through it all," she said, referring to her co-star, theater veteran Reb Atadero, who was also interviewed via Zoom on "Headstart."
"I have self-doubts, of course, to be surrounded by all this talent and professional theater actors," she went on, acknowledging that she did not have any formal training as a singer. "Si Reb talaga 'yung
