Many American workers are generationally poor, because of their race, gender, immigration status, or choice of occupation. Better policy can create more equitable wages.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- The Income inequality is at an all time high in the US, but progressive policies that give more leverage to workers could reverse decades of stagnant wage growth, especially for lower-income workers.
“When I think about the American dream, I think about people being able to get ahead, being able to have a house that they can afford, a reasonable vacation in the summer, a secure retirement, being able to send their kids to a decent school,” said Heidi Shierholz, president of the Economic Policy Institute, at an Ethnic Media Services news briefing June 21.
“We absolutely have the money and the ability to make that happen, and it is up to policymakers to do the kinds of things that make that dream possible, to give workers leverage, to make sure we have the safety net that people need to have security. It’s a policy choice, as to whether we do that or not,” she said.
Gig Workers Dr. Michael Reich, Professor of Economics and Chair of the Center on Wage and Employment Dynamics at the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment at the University of California, Berkeley, noted that more than 10 million workers in the US are in the gig economy, driving for ride-share apps or meal delivery services. Such workers, largely immigrants, are misclassified as independent contractors. By Reich’s calculations, they earn less than $7 per hour, despite putting in more than 12-14 hours a day.
CHULA VISTA, CA -- MAAC, a San Diego County-based nonprofit, was proud to announce the launch of its new mobile computer lab, aimed at providing essential computer and IT services to residents at its Seniors on Broadway Affordable Housing Community in Chula Vista. Funded generously by AT&T, this initiative underscores both organizations’ commitment to bridging the digital divide and ensuring digital inclusion for all.
“Our investment in the Mobile Computer Lab at the MAAC Seniors on Broadway Affordable Housing Community reflects our commitment to get more Californians connected and make an impact in the communities we serve,” said Christine Moore, Director, External Affairs, AT&T. “Together, we’re helping to close the digital divide by focusing not only on access to affordable high-speed internet, but also the skills and community resources that encourage safe and successful
adoption.”
A ribbon-cutting ceremony this morning celebrated the grand opening of the mobile computer lab which includes 12 laptops along with four docking stations, complete with monitors and keyboards. Residents may check out laptops for personal use and can log onto the internet and other digital services from Wi-Fi access points across the Seniors on Broadway property.
Additionally, MAAC staff and local high school students will offer technical support, software installations, monthly workshops, along with personalized assistance to empower seniors with the digital skills they need.
"The Seniors on Broadway Mobile Computer Lab represents a significant step forward in our mission to promote self-sufficiency, especially for our senior residents," said Arnulfo Manriquez, MAAC President & CEO.
"Thanks to the generous support from AT&T, we can ensure that every
“Why is the pay so low? How did the companies get away with this? Well, one reason is that many of the drivers, especially the immigrants, do lack the skills or connections to get better jobs. and so they’re kind
of a captive labor force,” said Reich. Minimum Wage “Companies also now use algorithms to determine which drivers will accept lowball pay offers for a ride. That pits the drivers against each other, and it leads to a race to the bottom for wages. It means that the companies have
individualized pay and are giving more of their ride offers to those who are most desperate. That is not what constitutes equal pay for equal work,” he said, advocating for drivers to be classified as employees, with standardized pay and benefits.
Shierholz and Reich have both testified before Congress to raise
resident has access to the technology and resources necessary for everyday living in today's digital age."
The ceremony featured remarks from San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Nora Vargas and Chula Vista Mayor John McCann. Chairwoman Vargas expressed her support for the initiative, stating, “It shouldn’t matter what your age or your zip code is, everyone should have access to technology. Not only because it’s important for healthcare and removing barriers, but because its exactly what we need to move our communities forward and ensure that everybody has access to all the resources and a better quality of life. I commend MAAC and AT&T for their dedication to enhancing the lives of our senior community.”
For more information about MAAC and the Seniors on Broadway Mobile Computer Lab, please contact info@MAACproject.org.
NATIONAL CITY, CA -- Dr. Gil Ungab, Filipino-American, retired cardiologist and serial entrepreneur, was unanimously voted to represent National City on Port of San Diego's seven member Board of Port Commisioners.
Dr. Ungab was born and raised in National City and was a medical graduate of UCSD in 1994. He previously owned Ungab Medical Practice from 2003 to 2022. He retired in 2023.
Dr. Ungab is a board member of the Sharp Chula Vista Foundation as well as the Asian Business Association.
He is the younger brother of the late Fidelis Ungab, who was appointed as a National City council a couple of years back.
In an exclusive interview with the Filipino Press, Dr. Ungab shared the following statement: "I am honored to be appointed to the position of Commission for the port of San Diego, marking a significant milestone as the first Filipino American to hold this role. The Port has been a cornerstone for countless Filipino American immigrant families, including my own. My father, Engracio Ungab, who served in the US Navy, brought our family from Bohol, Philippines, to this land of opportunity. Generations of Filipino families, including mine, have thrived thanks to the recreational, employment and nutritional opportunities
Christine Moore, Executive Director of External Affairs, AT&T; Arnulfo Manriquez, President & CEO, MAAC; Chairwoman Nora Vargas, San Diego County Board of Supervisors; Chris Edwards, Director of Construction & Engineering, AT&T
(Canva image)
The Pampered Pinay Lifestyle: Our Working Families
By Francine Maigue
This week the White House hosted a summit on working families. Elected officials, community leaders, business heads, and more all joined forces in Washington, D.C. to discuss, not just our country’s economic state and current policies, but the impact they have on households across America--multi-generational households, immigrant households, single-parent led households, families who are struggling to afford healthcare, childcare, education, and enough food to put on the table.
Just recently, my parents both retired. I couldn’t be any more proud or grateful. For years, my mom and dad worked and saved and afforded my sister and me most luxuries. They loved what they did, are extremely talented, and proved to be invaluable members of the workforce. (People cried at each of their announcements of retiring.)
My parents made it look easy. But it wasn't.
Dad left every morning, before the sun had the chance to rise. He’d
fight off traffic and would analyze countless figures and projects that impacted our community all day.
On many Fridays, while I was in college, Dad would drive all the way up to LA (braving more traffic), after a long week of work.
He’d help me load up all my things
[read: mounds of laundry] into his truck, and he’d bring me home to San Diego to work, teach, perform, and catch up with family.
Car rides with my Daddy were always been special to me. They were our time to bond, debate, talk shop…when I was able to stay awake, of course. Though I know he was tired himself, Dad was always all too content to have me get some much-needed (and guiltfree) rest, while he drove. Less than 48 hours later, we were back on the road heading back up to UCLA. Arriving home in San Diego, in the wee hours of Monday morning, Daddy would wake up before the sun had a chance to rise to begin his work week all over again. (I would see him again on Friday.)
He made it look easy. But it wasn’t.
Mom was a Filipina movie, TV, and radio star. She never had to
work. She wanted to work.
My mother, ever the role model for female empowerment, has always showed my sister and me the value of being able to provide for one’s self—that women should be able to stand independently, in every facet of life…that we should never shy away from establishing, maintaining, and valuing our own worth (in every use of the word).
Mom made her own money, made sound financial choices (which I hope to emulate), and found ways to serve and uplift the community through her work.
I watched as she would go from part-time job #1 to my school to pick me up (making sure I was fed and prepared) to my next activity (and you know I was a busy, ambitious child), to part-time job #2, which was the graveyard shift.
My mom found time to balance the household, attend all of our events, shows, competitions, cook, clean, garden…and nap to sustain her energy.
She made it look easy. But it wasn’t.
My parents’ work ethic, the example they illustrated day after day after day, for my sister and me is something I will always remember, treasure, and be inspired by.
I have never wanted for anything—went to the best schools, always had every resource I needed in order to achieve…But that doesn't mean things came easily.
Everything I've been blessed with in my life is a direct nod to my parents’ hard work and love.
In many ways we’ve lived the “American Dream.” My parents are the embodiment of what hard work and good choices can create.
My parents have never asked for much in return. All they've hoped for was that my sister and I would make use of every opportunity given to us--that we would freely explore our deepest ambitions and achieve milestones along our
The Maigue and Bendorf Families during one of their previous family get togethers. We are requesting for community prayers for our very own Francine (9th, l-r), who passed on and continued healing for her family and loved ones. Dedicated and loving of her family, friends and community, we continue to re-print Francine's article/s which was earlier published, yet remains relevant to the times, filled with valuable insights/ life lessons. See FRANCINE MAIGUE on 7
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of education, lack of access to networks in which high-paying jobs are offered — Holder also believes discrimination plays a huge role.
Effective policies to combat race and gender-based wage gaps have been enacted at the state level, said Holder. Pay transparency laws, which require businesses to post a range of compensation for every job listing, have been effective in limiting discrimination against women and people of color. New York state has a law which makes it illegal for prospective employers to request previous salary histories from job applicants. “Salary histories have been shown to have disparate outcomes for women and people of color in the American workforce,” she said.
Intergenerational Mobility
Intergenerational mobility — the theory that a child will outperform their parents wage-wise by the time they are 35 — is a key driver of the American Dream but has been on the decline for the past several decades, noted Dr. Austin Clemens,
senior fellow at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth. In the 1940s and 50s, 90% of young adults out-earned their parents. But by the 1980s and beyond, that percentage fell to just 50%.
“Most of the growth in income is happening in already high-wage professions. And we see much weaker growth for people working in blue collar jobs,” said Clemens.
Immigrants, surprisingly, are actually more upwardly mobile than native -born citizens of the US, he said, noting that has held true over the past two centuries of migration.
“First-generation parents, because of discrimination, because they’re in a new country, might struggle to earn an income that’s commensurate with their abilities and their talents,” said Clemens. “But their children tend to fare quite well because immigrants tend to pick places where there are good jobs, and good prospects for education. And so that has a very positive effect on second generation immigrants.”
Strong Labor Force
“Any legislation that makes it easier to unionize, that makes it easier
to hold employers accountable, are extremely important for giving us a more equitable distribution of wage growth,” he said, noting also that the US currently has an excellent labor market which should be sacrificed to the specter of inflation.
“This would be a great time for the Federal Reserve to consider cutting interest rates to shore up the job market a little and to keep it running hot. That’s going to be a huge benefit to people at the low end of the wage distribution,” said Clemens.
People’s fears about technology and artificial intelligence stealing good paying jobs are unfounded, said Shierholz, who specializes on the impact of AI in the workforce. “When an employer adopts productivity-enhancing technological change, they can create goods and services more cheaply. When they can create goods and services more cheaply, then people have money left over to make new purchases on goods and services that they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to make, and that generates more jobs,” she said.
Chula Vista to Hold FourthFest, Featuring First Bilingual Broadcast
CHULA VISTA, CA -- The City of Chula Vista’s FourthFest will return again this year, offering the public a free fireworks display at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center on July 4. The event is open to the public and all ages are welcome. Sponsored by Seven Mile Casino, this year’s FourthFest will feature a simultaneous broadcast in English and Spanish through Amor 102.9.
The Elite Athlete Training Center’s gates will open at 7 p.m. and fireworks will begin at 9 p.m.
Spectators are encouraged to bring their own blankets and chairs. Food trucks will be available.
In addition to free parking at the Elite Athlete Training Center, attendees can also park for free at the adjacent New Hope Community Church, located at 2720 Olympic Parkway. Mountain Hawk Park, located at 1475 Lake Crest Drive, will open starting at 7 a.m. and is another great spot to view the fireworks show. Street parking there is available on a
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
first-come basis. All City parks close at 10 p.m. Please see the attached image for a map of the parking areas.
Please be aware of several restrictions at the Elite Athlete Training Center, Mountain Hawk Park, and New Hope Community Church. At the Elite Athlete Training Center, the following items are not allowed: alcohol, tobacco (including e-cigarettes and vapes), drugs, tents and canopies/pop-ups, grills, tailgating, pets and drones. At Mountain Hawk Park, charcoal grills are not allowed (propane grills are OK); enclosed camping tents are not allowed (canopies up to 10 ft. X 10 ft. are OK, with a limit of three per party); kegs, bottles, and other glass containers are not allowed; drones are not allowed. Pets must be on leash, and personal fireworks (including sparklers) are prohibited. New Hope Community Church is available for parking only – no tailgating.
Too many animals go missing
around the Fourth of July. Keep pets indoors and comfortable, as loud fireworks can cause them to panic and jump or even break through fences and escape.
Make sure your pet is properly identified with license and identification tags or on tape on the collar, and also microchipped.
If your pet escapes, check with Chula Vista Animal Services and other local shelters, and search online pet websites such as 24Petconnect and Pawboost.
Neighborhood apps such as Ring and Nextdoor are also useful for posting lost or found pets.
The private use of fireworks in San Diego County is against the law. To report the unauthorized use of fireworks, call the Chula Vista Police Department nonemergency line at (619) 691-5151.
All City offices including libraries and recreation centers will be closed on Thursday, July 4. In addition, trash pick-up in the City of Chula Vista will be delayed one day following the holiday.
SAN DIEGO, CA, -- San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister is reminding property owners that are delinquent in paying their property taxes, that the deadline to pay is next Monday, July 1, 2024. Because the normal June 30th deadline falls on a Sunday, taxpayers get an additional day to pay. After July 1st, unpaid bills will go into default and receive additional penalties of 1.5% each month.
“For delinquent payers, there is one week left to pay your taxes and avoid additional penalties,” said McAllister. “Unpaid bills will go into default and receive an additional $33 redemption fee plus penalties that can add up to 18% a year – that is substantial.”
The total remaining taxes due is $180 million, an increase of $7 million over last year’s late payments due.
“Some delinquent accounts owe large sums, while others owe much less,” continued McAllister. “We are confident we will hit our tax collection goals by year end.”
1,013,632 secured tax bills were sent in early October 2023 and are online to view and pay at sdttc. com. Taxpayers can pay online free using an e-Check (electronic check), and will get an immediate, emailed confirmation.
1, 2024
“Property taxes fund essential county and city services,” said McAllister. “Public health, public schools, and many more critical services are funded by these tax dollars.” Payment options and deadline details: Pay online by e-check
Closure issued for Coronado Shoreline
Advisory issued for Bayside Park in Chula Vista
SAN DIEGO, CA -- The San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ) has issued the following beach management actions for Wednesday, June 26, 2024.
New Beach Management
Actions:
Closure – Coronado Shoreline
The water contact closure previously in place for the Tijuana Slough, Imperial Beach Shoreline, Silver Strand Shoreline, and Avenida Lunar, is being extended to include the Coronado Shoreline. The Tijuana River is flowing and reaching recreational waters.
Beach goers are advised that the ocean water contains sewage and
may cause illness. Ocean waters will remain closed until sampling and field observations confirm these areas are safe for water contact.
Advisory – Bayside Park in Chula Vista
An advisory is issued for Bayside Park in Chula Vista. Beach goers are advised that bacteria levels have exceeded state health standards and may cause illness.
On-going Beach Management
Actions:
Advisory – Ocean Beach –Dog Beach, North Cove Vacation Isle, and La Jolla Children’s Pool
The above beaches remain under advisory. Beach goers are
advised that bacteria levels have exceeded state health standards and may cause illness.
Closure – Tijuana Slough, Imperial Beach, Silver Strand Shoreline
The ocean shoreline from the International Border to north of Avenida Lunar will remain closed until sampling confirms these areas are safe for water contact. The public is advised to avoid water contact as the water is impacted by sewage and may cause illness. For updates on beach advisory and closure information please visit our website at www.sdbeachinfo. com or call the 24-hr. hotline at (619) 338-2073.
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4th OF JULY IS COMING AND FILIPINO PRIDE SHINES WITH ITS SURPRISING CONNECTION WITH MILITARY ACTIVITIES IN THE AMERICAS
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Happy 4th of July!
Three weeks ago, Philippine Independence Day was celebrated globally on June 12, marking the nation’s autonomy and reflects the cultural pride and flourishing of the Filipino Diaspora.
On the other side of the coin, Filipinos celebrate Filipino-American Friendship Day on July 4 every year to mark their historical alliance with the U.S.
The relationship between the two countries started as a hostile one and then, with the intervention of another force, to a friendly one. Filipinos believe the good they enjoyed from America outweighs the bad they suffered from them. They decided to commemorate their friendship with the country. If some of you – my dear folks – are not aware of it yet – America greatly assisted the Philippines to fight the invading Japanese forces during World War II.
Well…now, you know why this friendship is worth celebrating!
The ceremony of Filipino-American Friendship Day follows more than 100 years of shared history between the two nations. The beginning of a good relationship between the two countries could be said to have started in 1946 when the Philippine government gained complete independence from the U.S. To show appreciation for the assistance offered to them when Japan attacked, the Philippines’ government designated July 4 as Independence Day. It is also Filipino-American Friendship Day. The country had previously obtained freedom from Spain many years back.
Subsequently, the Independence Day rite was moved to June 12 by President Diosdado Macapagal and Philippine Republic Day was arranged to be the new July 4th holiday. Rightfully, Republic Day is another name for Filipino-American Friendship Day. And so, we can say that the solemnity of the day officially began at that time. With a charge toward solidifying the relationship between Filipinos and Americans, President Ramon Magsaysay, issued a proclamation establishing the formality of Philippine-American Day in 1955. And in 1984, under the rule of President Ferdinand Marcos, July 4 was designated as a non-working holiday to celebrate Filipino-American Friendship Day under the name it is now known.
The overthrow of President Marcos led to the ascension of the Philippines’ first female executive, President Corazon C. Aquino in 1987. The non-working holiday status of the day was abolished. A list of special and regular holiday was released under the
Administrative Code of 1987 and did not include July. Notwithstanding, the relationship between the Philippines and the U.S. remains surprisingly good.
This “special relations” between Filipinos and Americans is evidenced by the fact that ever since American troops occupied the Philippines in 1898, generations of Filipinos have served in and alongside the U.S. Armed Forces including during World War I, World War II, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam War and the wars in the Gulf/ Middle East, Iraq and Afghanistan. I won’t even doubt it if someone says Filipinos also served in the “Banana Wars” which is a series of conflicts that consisted of military occupation, police action and the intervention by the United States in Central America and the Caribbean between the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898 and the inception of the Good Neighbor Policy in 1934. This particular column is actually an enumeration of military activities of the Philippines and Filipinos in the United States of America and in the Americas, across history.
Mexican War of Independence Against Spain (1810): Ramon Fabie, a Manila-born supporter of the Mexican War of Independence by Miguel Hidalgo, were among 200 Filipinos who were with the first insurgents to militate for Mexican Independence; even though they were already prepared by mixed Christian-Muslims who were expelled from former Bruneian-colonized Manila to America after the Tondo Conspiracy. After the quelling of the first wave of insurgents, two soldiers who were Filipinos born in Mexico, specifically at Guerrero State - Francisco Mongoy and Isidoro Montes de Oca - were commanders of Vicente Guerrero in the continuing independence war against Spain (this is according to researcher Ricardo Pinzon, by the way). These two Filipino warriors – Francisco Mongoy and Isidoro Montes de Oca – were so distinguished in battle that they are regarded as folk heroes in Mexico. FYI: General Vicente Guerrero later became the first president of Mexico with African ancestry.
There are some rumors that sailors from the Philippines were actively present during the U.S. War of Independence but there is no written historical evidence about it – so I will leave it at that - until further research and authentication are done on it.
The earliest that I could connect the Filipinos for bearing arms on behalf of America’s interest was in the War of 1812 (The United States vs The British Empire); overseas Filipinos living in Louisiana at the settlement of Saint Malo served in the Battle of New
“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.” - Nelson Mandela Nelson Mandela’s quote is very powerful and has inspired me because it shows the power of story and the endless possibilities it evokes when the head aligns with the heart.
The quote was simplified down to the precept of a bilingual speaker emphasizing its power over man’s ability to communicate effectively. The actual quote from Mandela, however, is contextually different.
In Mandela’s bestselling autobiography, “Long Walk to Freedom” – a taped conversation with Richard Stengel, Mandela actually said this: “Because when you speak a language, English, well many people understand you, including Afrikaners, but when you speak Afrikaans, you know you go straight to their hearts.” The spirit, the power of mother tongues, is there but the context is wrong.
Mandela was talking about Afrikaans, the language of the (white) oppressors. During the era of apartheid, oppressors forced the black people of South Africa to speak the foreign language over their mother tongues. Afrikaans is not
Orleans during the closing stages of the War of 1812. These Filipinos sided with the United States, against the British Empire. Filipino-Americans residing in the region (referred to as “Manilamen” on the account of Manila being the capital of the Philippines) were recruited by local pirate Jean Lafitte to join his “Baratarians”, a group of privately recruited warriors fighting for the American forces under the command of Andrew Jackson, in the defense of New Orleans. They played a decisive role in securing the American victory, firing barrage after barrage of well-aimed artillery fire.
In the Argentinian War of Independence Against Spain (1815): Hippolyte Bouchard, a fleet admiral
FILIPINOS IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY: President William McKinley signed an executive order in 1901 allowing the Navy to enlist 500 Filipinos as part of the U.S. Insular Force and has since then helped keep the American ships going.
GENERAL DOUGLAS MacARTHUR's SOLDIERS: The U.S. Army's Philippine Scouts who fought America's first battle of World War II - the Philippine Division - was probably the best trained and possibly the best prepared U.S. Army unit at the outset of the war.
for Argentina during its fight for independence against Spain, made use of Filipinos during his naval attacks against several Spanish colonies. Filomeno V. Aguilar in his paper: “Manilamen and Seafaring: Engaging the Maritime World Beyond the Spanish Realm”, stated that Hippolyte Bouchard’s second ship, the Santa Rosa, the other being La Argentina,
which had a multi-ethnic crew, included Filipinos. Mercene, writer of another book titled “Manila Men”, proposes that those Manilamen were recruited in San Blas, an alternative port to Acapulco, Mexico; where several Filipinos had settled during the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade era.
The Filipinos who settled in San Blas were escapees from Spanish slavery
Jesse T. Reyes Filipino Potpourri
in the Manila Galleons, upon meeting Hippolyte Bouchard who worked for the Argentinians that revolted against Spain, the common grievance the Filipinos shared against the Spaniards, which they had with the Argentines caused them to mutiny and join the rebel Argentines.
It is well known to many that during the American Civil War (12 April 1861 – 9 April 1865), Europeans and European immigrants were also participants in the conflict. However, only a few might have known that many Asians fought in that war and that among them were our “kababayans”
– yes, Filipinos! Filipinos, Chinese, Japanese, Indians and other AsianAmericans fought for both the Union and Confederacy in the U.S. Civil War. Many of them served in the Navy as this was the only branch that readily accepted immigrant recruits.
Moving on: President William McKinley lettered an executive order in 1901 allowing the United States Navy to enlist 500 Filipinos as part of the Insular Force. Secretary of the Navy John D. Long signed General Order No. 40, 8 April 1901, promulgating this executive order.
And the rest is history, so to speakas Filipino-Americans have continued to avail, or are presently serving in this particular branch of the U.S. Armed Forces to this very moment in time.
Then of course, there is the famed U.S. Army’s “Philippine Scouts.”
These were Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s Soldiers, who fought America’s first battle of World War II – the Philippine Division – probably the best trained and possibly the best prepared U.S. Army division at the outset of the war.
Some of them were farm boys from California and Kansas and Italian Americans from New Jersey, as depicted in the black and white movies made during and after World War II. However, many of them were professional Filipino soldiers serving in the U.S. Army, commanded by American officers. They were remarkable men in special units, officially designated Philippine Scouts, a term applied both to the Filipino enlisted men and to their American officers. For a young Filipino man, acceptance in the Philippine Scouts was a distinct honor – as service in the
scout units for American officers.
The Imperial Japanese Navy attacked Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941, but Pearl Harbor was only part of a much bigger Japanese operation that day. On Dec. 7, the Japanese not only sank the U.S. Navy’s Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor, they also bombed the U.S. Army’s B-17 bomber base at Clark Field in the Philippines, attacked British Hong Kong, and landed troops on the shores of British Malaya. The four attacks were coordinated to begin at the same moment, but because of weather problems, the U.S. Navy’s battleships were already sinking to the bottom of Pearl Harbor by the time Japanese bombers destroyed the American fighters and bombers on the ground at Clark Field.
The Japanese invasion of the Philippines was the first action of World War II in which units of the U.S. Army faced the enemy on the ground. MacArthur had his entire Army withdraw to the Bataan Peninsula and to Corregidor Island to hold off the enemy until the U.S. Navy could bring reinforcements and supplies. The Philippine Scouts, side-by-side with U.S. National Guard and Philippine Army infantry units, defeated the Japanese Army in numerous actions in the interior and on the coastlines of Bataan. Survivors of the Battle of Bataan, to a man, described the Philippine Scouts as the backbone of the American defense there. President Franklin Roosevelt awarded the U.S. Army’s first three Congressional Medals of Honor of World War II to Philippine Scouts: Sgt. Jose Calugas for action at Culis, Bataan on Jan. 6, 1942; to Lt. Alexander Nininger for action near Abucay, Bataan on Jan. 12; and Lt. Willibald Bianchi for action near Bagac, Bataan on Feb. 3, 1942. By March 1942, the Japanese Army had marched through Southeast Asia and completely overrun every country and island in the Western Pacific with the exception of the Philippines. The Philippines, and MacArthur’s army, were alone. On the Bataan peninsula of Luzon Island, the Philippine Scouts, a few U.S. Army National Guard units, and 10 divisions of poorly equipped, almost untrained Philippine Army soldiers held out for
The mother of all Mother Tongues: Language as part of the Bicolano Identity, Part 1
indigenous to South Africa. It is a creole, a Dutch dialect. Rather than treating it as a dialect, the powers that be made Afrikaans the national language.
According to the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, the principle of linguistic relativity, that “the particular language one speaks influences the way one thinks about reality.”
Meaning that some aspects of language (i.e., mother tongue) influence some aspects of cognition. Thus, one’s worldview can be limited to the words available in a spoken language. When related to learning by a particular culture, verbalization of concepts is often culturally conditioned.
Mandela’s quote reminds me of what happened in the Philippines and the subsequent generational impact the colonialists’ language has had over its citizens. Spanish supplanted the Filipinos’ prevalent pre-colonial language Baybayin. Spanish was the de facto official language in the Philippines for more than 300 years until the Americans replaced it with English. Simon (Crisostomo Ibarra in Rizal’s Noli) was prophetic when he predicted that Spanish will never become the common language in the Philippines.
The Americans clearly read Rizal’s novel and did better –they made English the language of instruction in the public school system that they introduced in the country. In 1973, the new Philippine constitution designated English and Pilipino as official languages, in that order. The order was reversed in the 1935 constitution (Tagalog, English) and subsequently replaced it with Filipino as the primary with English as secondary official language in the 1987 constitution.
Corollary to the constitutional revisions where changes in approaches to the Philippine education programs. During the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the concept of “Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) was institutionalized, but it was during the presidency of Benigno Aquino III that it was fully implemented as part of the K to 12 curriculum. Bro. Armin Luistro led the Department of Education (DepEd) who oversaw its implementation as part of the department’s Basic Enhanced Education Program.
Today, Filipinos grapple with the use of mother tongues in the curriculum and the impact of its removal and eventual disappearance. The genesis of the current brouhaha was the Philippines’ poor showing in the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) challenge. The 2018 PISA
assessment scores for 15-yearold Filipino students showed that the Philippines ranked the lowest out of 79 countries in reading comprehension and scored second to the lowest (#78) in mathematics and in science.
The dismal scores happened during President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration. His Secretary of Education, Leonor Briones, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Briones reacted to this outcome with a realistic mind, but her approaches lacked realism. “We have to shift DepEd focus from access to giving basic quality education,” she said during the launching of DepEd’s “Sulong Edukalidad.”
“Edukalidad” was an education reform campaign aimed at four key areas: K-to-12 review and updating, improvement of learning facilities, teachers and school heads’ upskilling and reskilling through a transformed professional development program, and engagement of all stakeholders for support and collaboration. The scores were alarming but there was also a silver lining given that this was the first year that the Philippines joined this United Nation’s initiative. What would have been surprising was if the Filipino students did well. It was a good baseline.
But first, a little clarification might be in order. The Philippines was given a choice whether to take the assessment in Filipino or in English.
Education officials picked English because they feared that those nonTagalog speakers such as those in the Ilocos, Bicol, Visayas and Mindanao might not do well because Tagalog to some of these regions are secondary dialects. Imagine faceing math worded problems in Filipino or trying grasping a scientific theory in the dialect.
So, students took the English version. To have some context on this poor showing, I visited the PISA website and took the assessments myself in English comprehension, math and science. They are not hard but very challenging that even some Filipino college graduates now might have difficulty scoring high. Remember these were the students who started high school during the Aquino administration. These results therefore reflected a direct assessment of the MTB-MLE – it failed dismally.
DepEd’s focus over the years has been finding a chair for every child even if it means packing the classroom or holding classes under the Acacia tree. It also meant that they were just passing everyone and hoping that there will be selfcorrection later when a child reaches senior high school or college. This approach was precipitated by the fact that the Philippine population has been growing in asymmetric proportion and thus overcrowding public schools.
It also meant that the bar for hiring public school teachers got lower,
and institutions ignored teachers’ needs for continuing education. Briones admitted that teachers did not do well either and having poorly trained teachers equals poorly trained students. More than that, full implementation nationwide required resources that were lacking.
When President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. became president, he appointed Vice President Sara Duterte to be his education secretary. Duterte’s appointment was met with derision (mostly from supporters of the defeated presidential candidate, Leni Robredo) given the political nature of the appointment. She recently resigned her cabinet post. The MATATAG curriculum that was unveiled by VP Duterte last August will see action during the 2024-2025 school year. The new curriculum revises the current one that was developed between 20112017 and implemented in 2012. The old curriculum was introduced to “bring the Philippines in line with global standards and other countries,” it failed.
MATATAG stands for “Make the curriculum relevant to produce job-ready, Active and responsible citizens; TAke steps to accelerate the delivery of basic education services and provision facilities; TAke good care of learners by promoting learner well-being, inclusiveness learning, and positive learning environment; and, Give support for teachers to teach better.” (To be continued)
Help Wanted / For Rent / For Sale
lifelong adventure of realizing what it means to possess infinite potential, not for our sake alone, but for the good of our whole community. …and I know my family’s story is just one of many, my friends. I often reflect on our community— how big everyone dreams, how hard everyone works. As I listened to the
Spiritual Life
Counting our days
As I am about to celebrate my birthday on July 12, I found this article written by Professor Claude Mariottini entitled “Counting our days”, thought-provoking and very enlightening. Hence, I decided to share it with you, my readers.
“Teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart” (Psalm 90:12). There are certain occasions of the year, especially birthdays, that compel us to count our days and realize how fast time passes by, which is in fact, the passing away of our lives. It is at this time of reflection, when we celebrate our birthday, a new year of life, that we realize another year is gone. Each new year of life compels us to number our days and as we do, we realize that the passing away of our days brings us closer to the day we will meet our Maker.
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). We cannot change these two fixed days in our lives, but we surely can influence what happens between the time of birth and the time of death.
This is the reason the psalmist said that we must learn to number our days in such a way that we may gain a wiser heart. If the time between life and death is the time of our education for the future, then we must learn not to waste our precious little time and throw away the opportunities the school of life offers to us. Life is a school, the place where we train daily to face the challenges of the future.
As we count our days, we cannot be indifferent and unaffected by the fact that twelve months more of life have passed away. During the passing of those twelve months, most of us have experienced joys and sorrows that will be part of our memories until the end.
Life is ephemeral. Most of us live for seventy years or so. With good health, some of us will live to eighty or even more (Psalm 90:10).
Aurora S. Cudal-Rivera My Personal Testimony
To us who are limited by time, seventy or eighty years appear to be a vast stretch of time, but to God, a thousand years is scarcely any time at all. For a thousand years in God’s sight are but as yesterday. Time has no relation to God; it does not affect him: “ For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past, or like a watch in the night” (Psalm 90:4). The psalmist said that to God a thousand years is like one day, like a watch of the night, a mere four hours. A thousand years or a day is all the same to God. In God’s time our lives last from morning into evening, the psalmist prayed: “Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, so that we may rejoice and be glad as long as we live” (Psalm 90:14). By learning to rightly count the days of his life, the psalmist was asking God to enable him to take to heart the lessons which the brevity of life should teach him. Since the school of life teaches us that life is ephemeral, we must then learn how to seek that which is eternal. We do not know whether our days will be few or many. So brief is human life that not everyone will enjoy the blessings of old age, because death can come suddenly and our lives be removed in the middle of our blossoming years, before our flower withers.
Our education in the school of life prepares us to recognize that life is a precious gift of God. So, as you celebrate your birthday today, you must remember that the sun is setting and the evening of your life
is fast approaching.
For those who have faith in their Creator, the setting of the sun will not lead them into a dark and fearful night, but into a glorious morning, into another day that will have no end. But in order for them to rightly number their days that they might become wiser, they must remember the one who created them: “Remember your creator while you are young, before the evil days come, and the years approach when you will say, ‘They no longer give me pleasure’” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).
In order to gain a wise heart, we need God’s teaching, for “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). God alone can teach us the real meaning of life and the lasting values that can lead us to abundant living. When we number our days, we realize the brevity of life, that we must give our attention to matters that last, to eternal things. Life is short and since life is short, it should be wisely spent. We do not have enough time to dissipate our precious life in things that do not last nor are we sure that we have enough days in our lives that we may postpone the times of our decision. When we gain wisdom, we discover what are the most important things in life. The Bible teaches us that the wisdom that leads to abundant living comes from God.
Happy Birthday.
Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament Northern Baptist Seminary
The Good Shepherd
I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to My voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. (John 10:16)
A friend of mine told me a story about an experience he had in Israel. They were in the country visiting some of the famous biblical sites when they saw a group of sheepherders. A shepherd brought his flock of sheep into a round pen for the night. Then, a few minutes later, another shepherd brought his flock into the pen. Then, a few minutes later, yet another shepherd brought his sheep into the pen. There were three groups of sheep in the pen with no identifying marks among any of them. My friend wondered how in the world they would separate their sheep the next day.
The next morning, a shepherd came over to the pen and made a comment to his sheep. One by one, the sheep filed out to follow him. Only his sheep followed his voice. My friend said it was an
Greetings in the Lord!
As mentioned in my homilies in the past two Sundays, we are now celebrating the liturgy of the ordinary time of the liturgical year and the readings on these Sundays are taken from the gospel of St. Mark, the shortest but the closest in terms to chronology to the events that happened during the lifetime of Jesus and his mission on earth. Last Sunday’s gospel brought into our attention how Jesus manifested the loving and merciful concern of God when he calmed the sea and brought peace and tranquility to nature. The message we wanted to bring home from that gospel episode is that in times of trouble and difficulties we only have to turn to Jesus who will never ever abandon us. He is always there waiting for us to just call on Him and He is ever ready to come to our rescue. We don’t have to go somewhere else because we have a loving and merciful God who is always concerned for us.
The gospel reading today, also from the gospel of St. Mark goes on further in this revelation of his love and mercy through miraculous healing of the sick and giving back life to a little child who was at the point of death. These two episodes are interrelated in bringing to our consciousness the reality of the omnipotence of God manifested in the healing miracles of Jesus. Sickness and dying are two realities in life that lead people to the awareness of our helplessness which either would break us down or raise us back to the need to seek the assistance of somebody greater than us. Sickness and death are both horrible realities that are both inescapable in life that can either make us strong in our faith or make us believe that life is meaningless.
The important point that the gospel leads us to consider is the attitude of Jairus, the father of the dying girl and the woman who had been ill for many years. Both have something to proclaim for us to always keep in mind in order to develop a certain degree of courage that is based on real faith.
Let us look at Jairus, a man of stature in the Jewish society, being a head of the Sanhedrin. He must have been an arrogant person due to his status in life, but due to his helpless condition, he had to forget his social status and become humble enough to beg for Jesus to at least “lay (his) hand on her that she may get well and live.” There was the announcement of the death of the little girl, but Jesus simply told Jairus, “do not be afraid; just have faith.” And together with his trusted disciples, Peter, James and John and the parents of the little child, Jesus told the little girl, “Little girl I say to you arise!” Notice the presence of the disciples and the parents of the little girl when Jesus did the miracle of healing. But the most important element of all was what Jesus said, “just have faith,” in the presence of the people who ridiculed him and in front of those who did not believe, but only were concerned with
KAPIT SA PATALIM
ating hangarin
weeping and wailing. Then let us look into the spirit of the spirit and attitude of” woman who had been afflicted with hemorrhages for the past twelve years, suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors, and had spent all that she had.” She did not hesitate to touch the cloak of Jesus, “if only I could his clothes, I shall be cured.” Indeed she was cured because of her faith. In fact, in fear and trembling she declared to Jesus the fact that she was cured and Jesus declared to her, “daughter, your faith has saved you, go in peace and be cured of your affliction. Here we see not only a courageous woman, but a woman who truly believe. There are common elements in both miracles. The first element is the courage of both Jairus and the woman afflicted with illness. Second their faith that was deep, true and unwavering. These elements are what every Christian disciple in the world today should have; a faith is that is based on reason and openness to grace that would proclaim the truth about Jesus with fear and trembling in the eyes of the unbelieving orientation, questioning and ridiculing attitude of the world today towards what is true, right and just. We need more Jairuses who would lead their families to go with the disciples of Jesus and healed women who would proclaim that truly Jesus is the healer and the savior who would raise humanity from apparent death and from illness that may be beyond natural solutions but could not be restored in the name of Jesus. Let us pray that we may have the same faith and courage that both Jairus and the healed woman had in the gospel of today. Danny Hernaez From
Whom
amazing scene to see only that shepherd's sheep follow him and the others remain in the pen. What a picture of Jesus' words spoken centuries earlier.
Hearing and responding to Jesus' voice is the key to having a two-way relationship with God. It is the difference between having religion and a relationship. Can you recognize God's voice in your life? Are you listening to the Shepherd's voice? Do you respond when He calls? Ask Jesus to help you increase your ability to hear. Give more time to spending quiet moments in His presence to hear His voice. He wants to be your Good Shepherd.
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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May mga kasabihan tayo na dapat linawin
Mahalaga ito upang malaman kung dapat sundin
Isa na rito ang kasabihang “Kapit sa Patalim” Ito ba ay nakakabuti, ating pag-aralan at suriin.
Kung tayo ay nalalagay sa isang situwasyon na alanganin Nararamdaman ang balisa, di malaman ang gagawin
Sa bandang huli, “Wala akong magagawa” ang sasabihin “Ayos lang ito, kakapit na lang ako sa patalim.”
Ayos lang ba ang maging TNT, tago ng tago
At ayos lang ba ang magpakasal sa isang taong estrangero
Sa hangaring makarating at manatili sa ibang bansa Mga gawaing ganito kaya ay makapagdudulot ng kaligayahan at katahimikang tinatamasa?
Ang taong kumakapit sa patalim ay nababahala
Desperado at tila nawawalan ng Pagasa Handang gawin anumang paraan Hangaring ninanais ay makamtan.
Upang mapadali ang takbo ng papeles na tila nagigipit
Ayos lang ba ang magbigay ng suhol kasi “Wala tayong magagawa” Kadalasan ang tumanggap ng suhol ay siya lang ang sinisisi Nakakalimutan natin na ang nagbigay ng suhol ay kasangkot rin.
Sa mga sandali na tayo ay makakaranas ng kagipitan Sa alay ng tukso huwag sana tayong malinlan
Ang tukso ay nakabalot sa kabutihan at kagandahan Kung kaya nga’t tayo ay nabubulag sa tamang paraan.
Maaring maganda ang
Subalit ating pagisipan ang paraan upang makamit ang layunin Sapagkat kung tayo ay padalos-dalos at nagkamali Maaring mauwi sa habang buhay na pagsisisi.
Patuloy tayong magsumamo at manalangin
Iwasan ang kumapit sa patalim Ang panghikayat ng Tukso ay labanan at talikuran Gawin ang nararapaat sa maayos at tamang paraan.
Fr. Agustin T. Opalalic
Ni Salvador S. Idos
Salvador S. Idos
four months against the Japanese.
With the U.S. Navy at Pearl Harbor in shambles, and the Japanese Navy blockading the Philippines, there was no way for America to get reinforcements, food or medicines on beleaguered Bataan. Nonetheless, they held out while malaria, dysentery and malnutrition ravaged their ranks, and Japanese attacks drove them further down the Bataan peninsula.
Fresh Japanese troops began a crushing assault on the U.S. forces on Bataan, April 3, 1942. Although the men fought bravely, the Battle of Bataan ended, April 9, 1942, when Gen. Edward King surrendered rather than see any more of his starving, diseased men slaughtered by the advancing Japanese Army. At that point, 75,000 men became prisoners of war – about 12,000 Americans and 63,000 Filipinos. What followed was one of the worst atrocities in modern wartime history – the “Bataan Death March”.
Back in the old homeland, a strong guerrilla movement developed to fight Japanese oppression. Philippine Scout officers and enlisted men, who had escaped from the Japanese, and others who chose to ignore their parole terms, joined these clandestine groups to do what they could to hasten the return of U.S. forces. Contrary to the impression many of us get from our history books, help was not on the way. MacArthur had his forces, such as they were, engaged around the Solomon Islands and New Guinea to protect Australia from Japanese attack. It was not until 1944 that MacArthur, in the south, and Admiral Nimitz, to the east, commenced their two-pronged advance into the Pacific. But during the interim years, the Filipino guerrillas put together a close network to gather intelligence data on Japanese troop movements and shipping, and transmit it to MacArthur’s headquarters using radios smuggled in by submarine. It has been said that their information was so complete, that when MacArthur finally did make it back to the Philippines, “he knew what every Japanese lieutenant ate for breakfast and where he had his hair cut”. As MacArthur’s forces, supported by the guerrillas, rolled into the Philippine Islands, men began to come out of hiding. The Philippine Scouts who were members of the guerrilla forces, some who were not, stepped forward and rejoined the U.S. Army. Other Filipino guerrillas came together with them and the Army set up new
Philippine Scout units. The new scouts actively participated in combat against the Japanese Army in North Luzon, and served as military police to restore order and help locate pockets of escaped Japanese in the south. As planning for the invasion of Japan progressed, the Philippine Scouts were included in the invasion forces and began training for what was expected to be the bloodiest struggle of World War II yet.
No doubts about it, a century of military alliance has certainly shaped the special connection between the two nations.
Now, let me digress for a bit here.
The Gurkha regiments in the British Army are quite simply, the finest infantrymen in the world. Recruited in the kingdom of Nepal since the early nineteenth century, these short, wiry hillmen have served the kings and queens of Britain with such loyalty, tenacity and incredible bravery that often the sound of their battle cry “Ayo Gurkhali!” – roughly translated as “Here come the Gurkhas!” - has caused enemy soldiers to flee.
The Gurkhas fought beside the British in the Indian Mutiny, in France, and Mesopotamia during World War I, and in every theater during World War II. They have fought as well in countless small conflicts – “the savage wars of peace” - including the Northwest Frontier of India, Malaya, Borneo and most recently, the Falkland Islands. Their courage is legendary. Since 1911, when they first became eligible, thirteen Gurkhas has been awarded the Victoria Cross, an unmatched record.
By the same token, this particular column told who our “kababayans” are in America’s military activities across history. Just as the Gurkhas’ narrative are – the “Fighting Filipinos” story is as colorful and as romantic as that of the French Foreign Legion, and yet it has never been fully or adequately told.
Truly, Filipinos have long been dependable U.S. military soldiers, sailors, and servicemembers while receiving modest, belated rewards for their efforts.
Today, the countries’ ties have led to extensive immigration – there are 4.4 million Filipino-Americans in the U.S. – but even for decorated military veterans, entry into mainstream American society has not always been easy.
When Filipinos migrated to the United States in the early 20th century, they faced the same forms of discrimination that most Asian immigrants did: restrictions on housing and education and the professions while being relegated to low-status,
low-paying jobs – and I definitely say it could have been otherwise. There is indeed a series of broken promises.
As I have indicated in an earlier column last week – Our “kababayans” are often mis-understood among the minority groups – definitely underrated/appreciated folks – and certainly, almost always taken for granted by our fellow Americans!
The truth of the matter is that as a group of people, Filipinos have contributed tremendously to what the United States of America is all about - and in all aspect of its national existence, too - to this very day.
The core aspects of the U.S.Philippine military connection are remarkably unchanged from the 20th century to the present.
I believe what has modified is the power of Filipinos themselves. Their economy is substantially different and not tied to the United States as of today. Filipino migrations are global, and the United States is not by any means the largest recipient country. Through that will shift and shape the future U.S.Philippine military relationship.
So, while it is important to know military history, I think it is also vital to regard military history as something more than wars and strategies.
The recent campaign to name a U.S. Navy warship after Fireman 2nd Class Telesforo Trinidad, the only American national of Asian and Filipino descent to have received a Congressional Navy Medal of Honor is a step in the right direction. “I think in some ways, there’s no better tribute to the century of work that Filipino sailors did to keep the ship going than to name one of our ships after one of the most heroic Filipino sailors that we know”, says Historian Christopher Capozzola and author of the new book, “Bound by War: How the United States and the Philippines Built America’s First Pacific Century.”
I honestly do believe that to comprehend 20th-century America, you need to understand the U.S. military…Not only as a fighting force, although of course that’s what it was designed for, but also as a generative power that can transform social relationships, immigration patterns, ideas about race and culture.
And to bring to the center of the story that Filipinos (and FilipinoAmericans, for that matter) have indeed contributed immensely to what the United States of America is all about today – and that they should be fully recognized as such – resolutely, staunch Americans - once and for all.
I say “Amen” to that.
Mabuhay!
God bless the U.S. of A.!!
Six Tips to Preserve and Protect the Outdoors This Summer
Summer is here, and many Californians are headed out to enjoy the warmer weather and wonders of the outdoors with friends and family. Before recreating outside, be sure to think about your impact and do your part to keep public lands clean to protect the natural ecosystems.
Caltrans, Clean California, and California State Parks recommend a few simple tips to help keep public spaces and communities safe and free from litter and debris:
• Pack it in, pack it out. Leave no trace by bringing a trash bag, especially if visiting a remote area. Put food waste, napkins, singleuse food wrappers, and other waste in the bags until it can be properly disposed of. For human waste, the use of waste alleviation gel (WAG) bags or other portable toilet options is recommended. WAG bags can be safely disposed of in regular trash receptacles.
• Choose reusable over singleuse items. Reusable containers keep harmful toxins out of our water and community recreation areas and are more cost-efficient in the long run. If you do use cans or plastic bottles, be sure to properly recycle them to help mitigate their impact.
• Pick up small, littered items to make a big impact. Keep an eye out for bottle caps, food wrappers, cigarette butts, and other small items and be sure to properly dispose of them.
• Properly dispose of large items, such as pop-up canopies, beach chairs, and coolers. Leaving these items on the beach or in a park or near a trash receptacle may be considered illegal dumping. Please haul back broken items and dispose of them properly at a local garbage site.
• Secure your load. Whether you live nearby or are traveling to reach
your destination, be sure to properly tarp and tie down items in truck beds, trailers, and boats to ensure items make it to your destination and do not fly out during the trip.
• Prevent wildfires and toxic pollution. The hotter and drier climate in the summer makes for optimal conditions for wildfires. Litter adds to this problem, especially cigarette butts, as they can start and fuel the spread of wildfire. Litter, when burned, can also release toxins into the environment, harming wildlife and nearby communities. Do your part to properly dispose of all items.
More tips are available online at CleanCA.com. Before heading outside, do a little research on your destination to scope out trails, reserve picnic areas and campsites, and pack belongings accordingly. To find a state park close to you, visit Parks.ca.gov.
ERASERHEADS, DADALHIN ANG ICONIC
TEMECULA, CA -- Pagkatapos ng isang matagumpay ng konsyerto noong isang taon, ang Filipino rock legends na Eraserheads ay magbabalik sa Pechanga Resort Casino sa Biyernes, July 19, 2024, alas-otso ng gabi. Hindi ito dapat palampasin dahil mag-hahandog sa gabing iyon ang Eraserheads ng
kanilang pinakamalalaking hits at kilalang OPM classics. Kasunod ito ng kanilang sold-out na pagtatanghal noong nakaraang taon sa Pechanga na talaga namang hinanap-hanap ng kanilang mga tagahanga. Bilang parte ng kanilang kapanapanabik na Huling El Bimbo World Tour 2024, ang Eraserheads ay
magtatanghal ng kanilang greatest hits kasama na ang “Huling El Bimbo” na nanalo ng International Viewer's Choice Award for MTV Asia noong 1997 at ng "Awit (Song) Award" para sa most downloaded song.
Isa sa pinakama-impluwensya at matagupay na banda sa Pilipinas ang Eraserheads. Sila ay nanguna sa pagpapasikat ng iconic Manila rock invasion noong dekada ’90. Pinangungunahan ni Ely Buendia sa vocals/guitar, kasama sina Raymund Marasigan sa drums, Buddy Zabala sa bass at Marcus Adoro sa guitar, ang bandang ito ay may kakaibang tunog ng magkahalong rock at pop. Madali nilang nakuha ang puso ng kanilang mga tagahanga sa iba’t -ibang parte ng mundo, dahilan na rin sa kanilang energetic live performances.
Nabuo ang bandang Eraserheads noong 1989 sa University of the Philippines at madaling nagkaraoon ng mga tagahanga dahil sa kanilang mahusay na pagususlat ng mga awitin at kakaibang istilo. Ang kanilang breakout 1993 album na Ultraelectromagneticpop! ay naglalaman ng mga hits na katulad
ng "Tindahan ni Aling Nating" at naging daan para makilala sila ng masa. Naging multi-platinum naman ang 1994 album nilang Cutterpillow, na nakabenta ng 400,000 units sa Pilipinas at nananatili bilang panglima sa biggest-selling albums sa buong kasaysayan ng OPM. Ngayon, magkakasamang muli ang Eraserheads para magtanghal ng kanilang mga iconic songs. Huwag palampasin ang pagkakataon na ito para makasama ang musical legend na Eraserheads sa kanilang pagtatanghal sa Pechanga Resort Casino's Summit Events Center. Mabibili na ngayon ang tiket para sa Eraserheads at ito ay may presyong $98. Pumunta lang sa Pechanga.com, sa Pechanga Box Office o tumawag sa 888-810-8871.
Ilan sa mga pinagmamalaki ng Pechanga Summit ang 40,000-square feet na lugar para sa mga mangaaliw, konsiyerto, live na kaganapan sa sports, pagttaanghal ng kalakalan, kasalan, o anu pa mang malalaking grupo na magsasagawa. Sa kabuuan, ang Pechanga ngayon ay nag aalok ng 274,500 square feet na panloob/ panlabas na kontemporaryong pagpupulong at espasyo sa mga kagaanapan, na tanging nagpaibayo sa mga amenidad, espasmo at katanyagan ng mga inihahandog na kaganapan ng Pechanga.
RED CROSS CRITICAL DONOR NEED: Be a force of nature and give blood now Red Cross, in partnership with Universal Pictures’ new film, TWISTERS, encourages the public to give blood and support disaster relief this July
Dare to be a force of nature this summer. Give blood or make a financial donation to the Red Cross by visiting RedCross.org.
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with
parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements. Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their predonation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/ RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.
