The Filipino Press: March 24-30, 2023

'water

MANILA -- President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday said the Philippines is facing a water crisis, as he announced the creation of an office of water management to deal with the country's water supply problem.

During the 6th Water Philippines Conference and Exposition in Pasay City, Marcos said the Philippines needs to emulate best practices in water management from other countries to address the water crisis.

"These are the kinds of thinking that we have to apply to the Philippines because of the crisis we are facing and how debilitating it will be to the entire economy, to entire society if our water supply problem continues to get greater,"

Marcos said.

He also lamented that despite the existence of the water supply crisis, it was something that "we have continually postponed."

"We all know the Philippines is not a dry place, and why do we not have enough water?" he also said.

The President noted that through the creation of an office of water management, the government could make a "more cohesive policy" in addressing the water crisis.

Marcos' executive order creating the office of water management will stand until bills seeking to create a Department of Water Management are signed into law.

As of writing, a copy of the said executive order has yet to be made available.

By Peter White/eMS

$3.8 billion in investment scams and $2.6 billion in impersonator scams topped the list. Most money lost through bank transfers and crypto currencies.

Ever get an email about an extended car warranty or a free gift from Home Depot? What about online service to flush out malware from your computer?

It’s hard to avoid these unsolicited offers. Fraudsters send texts, they call you on your phone, and sometimes use AI to mimic a relative’s voice who says they have an emergency and please send money.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says what you don’t know can be expensive. They received 2.4 million complaints last year compared to 2.9 million in 2021 but the total amount lost in 2022 was $2.6 billion more than in 2021.

“The dollar loss reported was staggering. Consumers reported that they lost more than $8.8 billion to fraudsters, the most ever reported,” say Maria Mayo, Associate Director for the Division of Consumer Response and Operations in the Bureau of Consumer Protection at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The FTC maintains a database of consumer fraud reports. Report a scam here.

“We know that fraud affects every community and that scammers are running their scam in the languages that people speak at home. And that’s why the FTC now has information in a dozen languages to help people spot and avoid these scams,” says Cristina Miranda, Consumer

"When they say water is life, it's not just a cliché. It's a truism, and it's something we must always keep in mind," Marcos also said.

He noted the example of Israel, which he said has an "excellent

water management" despite being a desert country.

"I spent some time in Israel and I saw how they treat the water, because water is very scarce, they live in the desert. Nevertheless, they are able

to collect the water during the rainy season, whatever is available, they put fish in it to grow fish. When the summer comes, they take it out, take out the water, harvest the fish, and then that goes to irrigation efforts."

"So in essence, they use water three times. Every bit of fresh water is used always more than once," Marcos said.

He thanked those who organized and attended the water conference

in Pasay City, which he said was "a necessary and urgent step towards achieving our collective aim of attaining water security."

Marcos's pronouncements came after parts of Metro Manila and Cavite dealt with water interruptions due to an increased turbidity of water in the Laguna Lake.

The event also came a day after World Water Day, an annual observance set by the United Nations on March 22 to highlight the importance of fresh water.

The National Water Resource Board (NWRB) earlier said that 11 million Filipino families lack access to clean water.

Marcos wants new tech tapped to improve PH water management President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday emphasized the need to use new and emerging technologies to improve the management of the country's water resources and provide safe and affordable water to all.

Marcos made the statement during the opening of the 6th Edition of the Water Philippines Conference and Exposition at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

“I happened to – have been given the opportunity to walk around a little bit and see some of the exhibitors. And it is very gratifying to note that in fact the technologies that are being used, that are being employed in terms of water treatment, in terms

Education Specialist with the FTC’s Education Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Scammers targeting ethnic

communities

During an March 10 Ethnic Media Services briefing Miranda briefed reporters about how to protect against fraudsters. She said that recent refugees and immigrants are frequent marks for scammers who use their native language to steal their money.

“We have a downloadable publication called Spotting, Avoiding and Reporting Scams: a Fraud Handbook. It helps people learn to spot some of the scams related to looking for a job, going through the immigration process, or just trying to figure out how things work in this country,” she said.

“Scammers are targeting ethnic communities and they speak your language. They target ethnic communities in unique ways,” says Rosario Mendez, an attorney with FTC’s Division of Consumer and Business Education Bureau of Consumer Protection. The Latino community filed a

higher percentage of reports relating to problems with banks and lenders, related to debt collection, auto issues, and also business opportunities.

“And we’ve had several cases related to bogus business opportunities, bogus work at home, specifically targeting Latinos. We know from our data analysis and from also our casework that business opportunity, moneymaking schemes, are also something that is impacting the Latino community.

In terms of the black community, the largest number of reports were about payday loan applications, and also student debt relief programs,” Mendez said.

An October 2021 FTC report, Serving Communities of Color, detailed the extent of fraud affecting ethnic communities and the FTC’s efforts to combat it.

Scams vary widely Mayo said a lot of people fell prey to get-rich-quick schemes last year and the average median loss per consumer

SAN DIEGO, CA -- Alvarado Hospital, a member of Prime Healthcare, was honored to host California Governor Gavin Newsom on Sunday, March 19, 2023, as part of his “State of the State” tour throughout California. The hospital was the fourth stop on the Governor’s four-day, five-location tour. Alvarado Hospital was a natural choice of location for Governor Newsom to delineate his ballot initiative as the hospital is the site of San Diego County’s newest Regional Behavioral Healthcare “Hub.” The regional behavioral healthcare hub concept involves placing multiple layers of behavioral health treatment

services at a single location, which is reflected in plans for Alvarado Hospital. The various treatment services collaborate with each other, as well as with other communitybased behavioral health resources, to treat patients along a continuum of care with the goal of accelerating the transition from behavioral health crisis to sustainable, continuous, chronic care management.

At the press conference held at Alvarado Hospital on March 19, Governor Newsom outlined a 2024 ballot initiative to bolster the state’s behavioral health system and address chronic homelessness among the mentally ill population

in California. Governor Newsom, along with others including Dr. Mark Ghaly, Sec. California Health & Human Services; Senate Pres. Pro Tempore Toni Atkins; San Diego County Supervisor Fourth District Nathan Fletcher; Dr. Luke Bergman, Director, San Diego County Behavioral Health Services; and Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg who authored both Proposition 63 and the Mental Health Services Act, spoke about tackling chronic homelessness and the behavioral health care crisis in California, as the two issues are often intertwined.

Improve Your Home Improvement

By FRANCINE m AIgu E

What a mess. A pinhole leak in one of my bathrooms set off a landslide of home improvement projects. Even in such a short amount of time, I’ve grown familiar with terms I’ve only heard on HGTV, become at home in home improvement store aisles, and, most importantly, caught on to the most common bad habits and most offensive/appalling sales tricks of people in the construction industry.

Consider your project a small business and you its CEO. Anyone you bring on board is your employee with specific responsibilities and a limited, though renewable, contract. My friends, whether you are tackling home repairs or finally pampering yourself with upgrades you’ve always dreamed of, here are my Top 10 Tips to help you through your renovation process with more ease and satisfaction.

1. Know what you want, and prioritize.

Often times, one project affects another. Invest in some quality planning before the dominoes start to fall. Strategize with the members of your household. Consider everyone’s priorities and plan your timeline and budget accordingly. If everyone is on the same page

before work begins, all parties are more likely to be equally motivated, patient, and enthusiastic going into and through the project phase.

2. Research.

Do you know the average cost of what you’re asking for? Do you know how long certain projects should take? Have your neighbors had similar work done? Would your homeowner’s association approve of your style choices? Do you need any special permits? Are those reputable workers? You need to be able to answer these questions with confidence and authority. There are too many sharks out there! Study up, so you can be a smart and savvy customer.

3. It never hurts to ask… …and it never hurts to try. Maybe you’d prefer a garage door in a different color from that which is showcased. Maybe you’re just a couple of days late for a juicy discount. Maybe you really need an earlier delivery date. Though you may be told an initial “no,” be vocal about your preferences. Unless you’ve got money growing on trees and months of time to spare, be willing to bargain, negotiate, and ask “Why?” (or, even better, “Why not?”). Don’t show too much interest in any one option too soon. Give prospective workers a chance to really get your attention. You

can never have too many offers or options. Find companies and individuals that not only want your business, but who will really work for it.

4. Don’t be afraid to walk away or say, “No.”

Your choice is your prerogative. After all, it is your money, time, and home we’re talking about here. Don’t let yourself be bullied into investing in something you don’t absolutely love and/or need. Salespeople will try to scare you into silly (and painfully limited) warranties, tantalize you with unnecessary accessories (you know, the future dust collectors), even woo you with compliments. See through the smoke and mirrors. Keep your feet on the ground when making decisions and purchases. Your common sense will be your best ally. (This also goes for referrals given by friends and family members. You have the right to say, “No thank you,” guilt-free!)

5. Be specific.

This goes for styles, deadlines, materials, measurements, colors... you name it! Neither you nor your workers will appreciate unwelcome surprises. Once you know what you want, state your expectations clearly…which leads me to my next tip…

6. Get it all in writing.

You’d be surprised how much a few little words on paper can impact a project. Don’t be afraid to amend any work summaries or contracts before you sign. Take the time to read through everything carefully. Everything matters, so you’ve got to act as your own lawyer before things get so hairy that you’ll have to actually hire one and head to small claims court. Keep a folder of all paperwork, names, phone numbers, designs, etc., and be ready to refer to it regularly. No detail (even the first and last name and cell phone number of every worker that comes to the site) is too small. Being prepared and organized

Marcos: No reorganization needed for Mindoro oil spill response

MANILA -- President Ferdinand

R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will continue to take the lead role in the government's ongoing operation to contain the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro, dismissing any reorganization efforts to address the issue.

Marcos said there is no need for a reorganization in the government coordination for the oil spill response, noting that the PCG is spearheading the cleanup because it has the assets and is also in charge of coordinating the incoming foreign aid.

“The head of the task force for the oil spill is the Coast Guard. Admiral Abu heads it. So, there’s no need. You see, there’s no need to organize something for everything,” Marcos said in a media interview after attending the 126th Founding Anniversary of the Philippine Army in Taguig City.

“The idea is to have the assets in place so that ‘pag may mangyaring ganyan, may response na tayo (if something like that happens, we are ready to respond). We do not have to organize a special group, a special committee, a special task force. They’re ready already as it is,” he added.

The PCG, Marcos said, is coordinating with the Japanese experts who brought in special equipment such as the remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) and oil spill boom, as well as the United States (US) aid and personnel.

He said the role of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is to assess the damage, identify the areas that need to be cleaned up, and monitor the affected areas.

In terms of support being extended to affected communities whose livelihoods are impacted by the oil spill, Marcos said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is handling the provision of relief assistance.

The national government, through the DSWD has also instituted a cashfor-work program, hiring residents in the area to do an extensive cleanup drive in several provinces affected by the spill.

“So we are even providing food packs. We are providing not only cashfor-work, pero mayroon pa rin tayong mga pantulong para nga doon sa mga mangingisda na hindi makapangisda ngayon (but also assistance for the fisherfolk who cannot fish at the moment),” Marcos said.

The DSWD is currently implementing a 45-day cash-for-work program involving 7,198 families (including off-site), which started last March 6 and extended until May this year. It said the beneficiaries could also avail of Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) and family food packs (FFPs).

To date, the national task force for oil spill management in Mimaropa and Western Visayas said a total of PHP28.3 million worth of humanitarian assistance was provided to the affected families by the national government, local government units (LGUs), nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and other partners.

Likewise, the Department of Labor and Employment has started the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program in the three areas of Caluya namely Sibolo, 152; Semirara, 246 and Tinogboc, 66, through a 30day work program.

TUPAD is a community-based package of assistance that provides emergency employment for displaced

workers, underemployed and seasonal workers, for a minimum of 10 days, but not to exceed a maximum of 30 days, depending on the nature of work to be performed.

As of Monday, the oil spill has affected over 150,000 individuals or 32,000 families in Mimaropa and Western Visayas.

The MT Princess Empress was carrying 800,000 liters of industrial oil when the tanker sank near Naujan, Oriental Mindoro on Feb. 28.

Marcos earlier said the government aims to finish the oil spill cleanup in less than four months.

DND seeks allies’ help in containing Mindoro oil spill Department of National Defense (DND) chief Carlito Galvez Jr. said the government will seek the help of the country's allies and partners to mitigate the adverse effects of the oil spill which was caused by the sinking of the M/T Princess Empress off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

This includes expertise and technical support of other allies and partners, such as France and the United Kingdom, he added in a statement Tuesday night.

Galvez, who is also National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) chair, also stressed that they are on top of the situation.

"The DND, through the NDRRMC, and the local government units (LGUs) in Oriental Mindoro, have stepped up the government's efforts to immediately address the effects of the oil spill from the sunken M/T Princess Empress," he added.

The DND chief also noted that United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin assured him that the Washington D.C. is committed to providing assistance in managing the oil spill.

He also pointed out that a US humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) team is now on its way.

"The Philippine Coast Guard, on the other hand, specifically requested the US for oil spill booms. Pending the approval of the President to accept the equipment, these booms will help contain the oil spill in order to protect the environment and assist in recovery," Galvez said.

Meanwhile, a Japanese dynamic positioning vessel, the Shin Nichi Maru, which is equipped with a remotely operated vehicle or underwater robot, has arrived in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

M/T Princess Empress was loaded with 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil when it sank last February 28.

Galvez further said the provincial government of Oriental Mindoro is also committed to providing daily needs such as meals, medicines and vitamins, to the teams conducting offshore control measures.

US experts arrive in Mindoro to support PH oil spill response

The United States government has dispatched eight experts to Oriental Mindoro province to support the Philippines in its oil spill response efforts, the US Embassy in Manila said Tuesday.

The team arrived in Pola town, Oriental Mindoro on March 21, a day after a briefing with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Japan Disaster Relief Expert Team about mitigation efforts taken so far since the tanker MT Princess Empress capsized

and spilled about 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil off Naujan town last month.

“When vessels are in deep water, as in this case, cleaning up the remaining oil becomes a complicated issue. Through our incident management professionals’ wealth of experience and strong expertise in oil spill response, we will assist the PCG in developing safe and efficient methods to contain and recover the oil and minimize damage to the environment,” said Commander Stacey Crecy, commanding officer of the US Coast Guard’s (USCG) Pacific Strike Team. "The USCG remains deeply committed to our relationship with the PCG."

The US Embassy said the assistance is upon the request of the Philippine government.

Five of the experts are from the US Coast Guard National Strike Force and will assess the affected areas to determine the most effective method and equipment to contain and clean up the slick from the sunken vessel.

Two are from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) who will work closely with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to conduct rapid environmental assessments of affected areas, identify priority areas at risk of environmental damage, and assess needs for ecosystem restoration.

NOAA, meanwhile, has provided the PCG with satellite imagery to boost assessment efforts and the University of the Philippines-Marine Sciences Institute with support for scientific modeling to estimate the trajectory of the spill.

The last member is a Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving who will evaluate the technical parameters required to support the possible deployment of a remotely operated vehicle.

Earlier this month, the US Agency for International Development partnered with the World Food Program to help the Department of Social Welfare and Development transport 20,000 food packs for families affected by the oil spill.

Gov’t continues to extend assistance to Mindoro oil spill victims

The administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. continues to extend assistance to the communities affected by the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro that has so far reached other provinces in the regions of Mimaropa and Western Visayas, Malacañang announced Tuesday.

In a news release, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) listed ongoing programs aimed at assisting the local population affected by the oil spill.

To date, the national task force for oil spill management in Mimaropa and Western Visayas said a total of PHP28.3 million worth of humanitarian assistance was provided to the affected families by the national government, local government units (LGUs), nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and other partners.

Among the agencies involved in the humanitarian operation are the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the local government units in the affected areas. The DSWD is currently implementing a 45-day cash-

Expired Covid-19 vaccines a worldwide problem -- expert

MANILA -- Continuous education and appealing to people’s sense of community could address the country’s low coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination and booster shot turnout, a health expert said Thursday.

“I think that the problem is, siyempre takot na takot lahat noon ang mga tao at the start, ang bilis nung uptake (people were scared at the start, the uptake was quick then),” infectious disease expert Dr. Edsel Salvaña said in a televised public briefing.

“Pero, psychology lang po talaga iyan na kapag hindi naman nila nakikita na clear ang present danger, medyo nagiging ningas-kugon ang mga tao, hindi nila pina-prioritize (But that’s really psychology. If they don’t see the present danger clearly, people do not prioritize vaccination)."

Earlier, Department of Health Officer in Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the total wastage for the entire Covid-19 vaccination program amounted to 44 million doses. She noted that the wasted jabs included those that have expired and were damaged due to fire, temperature excursions, natural disasters, and other incidents.

Health experts say that the problem of expired or wasted vaccines is a worldwide issue.

“Iyong mga ibang bivalent vaccines nga sa US sobra talaga nilang na-stockpile. Kahit noong pumunta ako doon noong October, hindi naman ako US citizen tinurukan pa rin nila ako dahil nag-request ako (The bivalent vaccines in the US are in stockpile. When I went there in October, they gave me a shot even if I’m not a US citizen because I requested it),” Salvaña said.

“I think continuous education is important, and at the same time, very important to appeal to the sense of community ng mga tao na kapag mataas ang ating level of community immunity ay mas napu-protektahan po natin iyong more vulnerable members of society (of individuals that when the level of community immunity is higher, we protect the more vulnerable members of society),” he added.

To date, about 78,443,972 or 100.4 percent of the country’s target population (78,100,578) have been vaccinated against Covid-19 and a total of 23,811,248 individuals have received booster shots.

About 1,002,000 doses of bivalent jabs – donations of the COVAX Facility – are expected to arrive in the third or fourth week of this month. (MNS)

Expert: Treat HIV like a communicable disease

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection must be treated like a communicable disease that can be prevented and tended to, according to infectious disease expert Dr. Edsel Salvaña.

During a televised public briefing Thursday, Salvaña said the stigma and discrimination among people with HIV or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) still persist globally, emphasizing that wrong beliefs on how it is transmitted are one of the factors leading to the rise in cases in the country.

“HIV is a sexually transmitted infection, and it can happen to anyone, hindi lang sa people who have sex

with males, na men who have sex with men, mga ganoon (not only with people who have sex with males, men who have sex with men),” he said.

“Anybody can get HIV, kahit baby nga kung hindi nabigyan ng gamot iyong nanay (even babies born of mothers who weren’t given medications)”.

The Department of Health recently reported that 1,454 more individuals were confirmed to have contracted HIV in January this year, and 86 of them were adolescents and children.

Of the 86 cases, 79 were 10 to 19 years old and seven were children below 9 years old.

Most of the cases were acquired through sexual contact.

Since 1984, a total of 110,736 HIV cases have been recorded with 6,383 reported deaths.

“So, very important to learn about it, so that we can prevent it, and tanggalin po natin iyong stigma dahil wala naman po talaga, hindi naman ito kaparusahan ng Diyos (let us remove the stigma because there is none, it’s not God’s punishment),” Salvaña said.

“The bottom line is we have to see HIV as a biomedical illness and that it has a treatment, it has prevention. And kapag nakagamot din naman, hindi na rin nakakahawa as long as suppressed po iyong virus (And when treated, it could not infect other people as long as the virus is suppressed).

Earlier, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the government provides free testing and treatment for HIV. She said medications such as antivirals could help people living with HIV to have long and quality life.

House grants President power to suspend PhilHealth premium hike

The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on third and final reading a bill giving the President the power to suspend the scheduled increase of premium payments of “direct contributors” to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and adjust the period of implementation during national emergencies or calamities, or when public interest so requires.

Passed on the strength of 273 affirmative votes, three negative votes, and no abstentions, House Bill 6772 seeks to further amend Section 10 of Republic Act 11223, otherwise known as the “Universal Health Care Act.”

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, the bill’s principal author, said the suspension of the increase would result in some savings for millions of government and private sector workers, professionals, self-employed, and other PhilHealth contributors who are still recovering from the pandemic.

He said under the measure, daily wage earners and many employees, who comprise the majority of PhilHealth members, would save at least PHP50 a month or PHP600 a year from their health insurance premium payment if the adjustment were suspended.

Those earning more will naturally save more, he said.

Majority Leader Jose “Mannix”

Dalipe, Senior Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. FerdinandAlexander Marcos, and Representatives Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude

of party-list group Tingog Sinirangan co-authored the bill.

The authors said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself has supported calls to defer this year’s increase in PhilHealth premiums.

RA 11223 defines “direct contributors” as “those who have the capacity to pay premiums, are gainfully employed, and are bound by an employer-employee relationship, or are self-earning, professional practitioners, migrant workers, including their qualified dependents, and lifetime members.”

The term “indirect contributors” refers to “all others not included as direct contributors, as well as their qualified dependents, whose premium shall be subsidized by the national government, including those who are subsidized as a result of special laws.”

The law also states that contributions will increase from 4 percent last year to 4.5 percent this year, or from the minimum monthly premium of PHP400 to PHP450. The rate will further go up to 5 percent starting next year.

Based on PhilHealth’s computation for this year, they said those earning PHP10,000 and below would pay a premium of PHP450, those with an income of more than PHP10,000 up to PHP89,999.99 would contribute PHP450 to PHP4,050, while those making PHP90,000 or more would chip in PHP4,050.

“While PhilHealth only aims to fulfill and remain faithful to its mandate, imposing a higher premium on Filipinos in these current conditions where most of them are grappling with the pandemic will definitely enforce a new round of financial burden to its members,” they said.

Vergeire: No need to fear increase in number of new COVID-19 cases There's no need to fear the 19% increase in the number of new COVID-19 infections recorded the past week, Department of Health officer in charge Dr. Ma. Rosario Vergeire said on Tuesday.

Vergeire made the remark after the country registered from March 13 to March 19 1,171 new coronavirus cases, which was 19% higher than the 983 cases from March 6 to March 12.

She said admissions in all hospitals across the country were “manageable” and the severe and critical COVID-19 cases, and even deaths, had been “kept at that minimum.”

“Hindi po tayo dapat matakot. Hindi po tayo dapat mag-alala. Bagkus, dapat tayo ay constantly aware and dapat mapagmatyag tayo o vigilant,” Vergeire said.

“‘Yun pong pagtaas, pagbaba, pagkakaron ng kaso ng COVID-19 expected po natin ‘yan. Hindi pa naman nawawala ang virus dito sa ating bansa. Ito ay nananatiling kasama natin dito kaya nga tuloy tuloy pa rin ang ating interventions para ma-proteksyunan natin ang ating populasyon,” she added.

Vergeire encouraged the public to keep on wearing their face masks, and get themselves vaccinated.

Based on DOH’s latest data, more than 78 million Filipinos, or 100.44% of the government’s target population, have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The number of boosted individuals is at 23 million. (MNS)

MORE PRACTICE. Motorcycle riders familiarize themselves with their exclusive lane along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City on Tuesday (March 21, 2023). The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority extended the dry run, which was supposed to end March 20, for another week to complete road patch works, after which intrusions into the exclusive lane will result in fines and apprehensions. (MNS photo)

ROAD

USERS.

Motorcycle riders are forced to share with four-wheel vehicles their supposed exclusive lane along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on Monday (March 20, 2023). After the dry run, non-motorcycle riders will be fined PHP500 if they use the exclusive lane, which is the third lane from the sidewalk and runs from Elliptical Road to Doña Carmen Heights. (MNS photo)

PH, China talks on SCS start; talks key to address differences

MANILA -- The Philippines and China kicked off on Thursday highly anticipated talks on the South China Sea and the two nations' overall bilateral relations, the first onsite meetings of their kind since the pandemic struck.

The 23rd Philippine-China Foreign Ministry Consultations (FMC) opened on March 23 and will be followed by the 7th Bilateral Consultations Mechanism (BCM) on the South China Sea on March 24.

The meetings come on the heels of the latest developments in the West Philippine Sea, which saw the Philippines protesting and raising concern over Chinese actions near Ayungin Shoal and most recently, the massing of more than 40 suspected “Chinese maritime militia vessels” off Pagasa Island.

At the opening session of both meetings in Manila on Thursday, China’s Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong reiterated the need for the two states to “follow the important consensus” reached between President Xi Jinping and President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in January and properly deal with differences through talks.

“We need to comprehensively deepen our comprehensive strategic cooperation and enhance cooperation in various practical areas and properly deal with our differences through friendly consultation,” he said. “We need to keep to the general direction of friendly relations between our two countries."

Sun said Manila and Beijing would have an “in-depth” conversation on maritime-related issues during the BCM the next day and expressed hope that the FMC would “lay a favorable atmosphere for tomorrow's discussions.”

“In light of this fast-changing international landscape, China stands ready to work with countries in the neighborhood, including the Philippines, to enhance our solidarity and cooperation, communication and coordination to jointly uphold our shared interests and peace and stability of the region,” he said.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary

Ma. Theresa Lazaro, who is leading the Philippine delegation, said Manila continues to attach importance to the two mechanisms and looks forward to working with the ministry to implement the consensus.

“We hope to translate the outcomes of the state visit into concrete and high-impact engagements that are mutually beneficial for our two peoples or two countries and peoples. I look forward to working with you Mr. Vice Minister, to sustain the growth in our corporations,” she told Sun.

In a previous statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said discussions during the two meetings will cover a range of issues, including economic, people-to-people, maritime, security, and regional matters.

Navy chief visits Pagasa Island, other PH outposts in WPS

Philippine Navy (PN) flag officer in command, Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr., recently visited Pagasa Island and other outposts in the Kalayaan Island Group to reach out to personnel deployed there.

"On March 19, Vice Admiral Adaci Jr. flew to the Kalayaan

Island Group and reached out to the personnel stationed at Pagasa, Parola, and Likas Islands," Naval Forces West public affairs office chief, Navy Lt. Joseph M. Ison, said in a statement late Tuesday. He also visited the Naval Forces West (NFW) and 3rd Marine Brigade headquarters in Puerto Princesa, Palawan on March 17.

"The FOIC (Flag Officer in Command) PN also inspected the naval stations located at Macarascas and Ulugan Bay of the same city on March 18," Ison said.

Adaci also led the ribbon cutting and blessing of the newly constructed administrative and research building at Parola and Likas islands.

"Part of the activities in the island stations are the talk to the troops and handover of emergency kits and foodstuffs," Ison said.

Adaci was accompanied by NFW chief, Navy Commodore Alan M. Javier, on his visits to these island stations.

"The FOIC, PN commended the efforts of our sailors and marines in the different island stations, as well as the Philippine Navy ships and aircraft in the Kalayaan Island Group within the Western Command joint area of operations, in accomplishing their mission and upholding their duties as Defenders of the Western Frontier," Ison added.

Adaci also lauded the Western Command through its commander, Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, for highlighting the PN’s efforts as a multi-capable naval force responsive to the country's defense and development.

Thanking troops

Meanwhile, Navy spokesperson Captain Benjo Negranza, when asked about Adaci's message to naval personnel deployed in these West Philippine Sea outposts, said the PN chief "expressed his gratitude to the troops stationed in the various islands for their unwavering performance of their duties in guarding our island territories."

He also said Adaci's visit was also meant to boost the "morale of our personnel in the frontlines. Also, to see firsthand the situation in the islands."

Negranza also said the visit is not meant to raise tensions in the area.

"The visit is not intended to add to tension. Troop visit is a commander's prerogative to check on his troops and equipment and their readiness to perform their duties," he added.

US, PH defense chiefs ‘condemn’ Chinese gray zone ops in WPS

The United States and the Philippines’ defense chiefs “condemned” on Monday night China’s "gray zone" activities in the West Philippine Sea.

In a telephone conversation, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III and Department of National Defense Officer in Charge Carlito Galvez Jr. said these operations “interfere with the livelihoods of local Philippine communities and the rights of other claimant states that seek to operate lawfully in the South China Sea consistent with the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling.”

The two officials expressed concern over China’s “massing of more than 40 vessels,” including a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy ship within the 12-nautical mile

territorial sea of Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea this month.

“The swarming of vessels falls on the heels of a dangerous incident last month, in which the PRC Coast Guard directed a military-grade laser against a Philippine vessel operating lawfully around Second Thomas Shoal, temporarily blinding some of the crew,” said a US Department of Defense readout.

Experts define gray-zone activities as operations that fall below the threshold of what constitutes aggression to prevent a country from using self-defense.

In the West Philippine Sea, analysts said gray zone tactics could include the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) invoking Beijing’s “rights” under its so-called historical claims over the West Philippine Sea, and the deployment of maritime militia and fishing vessels in the country’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

READ: Expose Chinese activities in SCS to counter ‘harassment’, PH told

In February, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo confirmed before an international security conference that the Philippines had experienced “daily incidents” of harassment within its EEZ.

The following month, the Philippine Coast Guard recorded the presence of at least 42 suspected Chinese maritime militia ships, a CCG, and a PLA Navy vessel anchored off Pag-asa Island, which is the seat of the local government of Kalayaan, Palawan.

Austin, during the phone call, guaranteed Washington DC’s “unwavering alliance commitment” with Manila and reiterated that the Mutual Defense Treaty extends to Philippine armed forces, aircraft, and public vessels, including Coast Guard ships, “anywhere in the South China Sea.”

Both officials also discussed plans to conduct combined maritime activities in the South China Sea and agreed to review the "full range of US-Philippine maritime cooperation" during upcoming foreign and defense ministerial dialogue.

The dialogue, dubbed as 2+2 meetings, is scheduled "sometime in the middle of April," according to Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez.

Austin and Galvez also anticipate the upcoming operational engagements between the US and Philippine Armed Forces, including during the Balikatan 2023 in April, which will be the largest iteration of the joint military drills with more than 17,000 participating troops.

Apart from Philippine-US defense relations, Austin and Galvez discussed the forthcoming US support to contain and mitigate the ecological damage stemming from an oil spill off the coast of Mindoro Oriental.

Austin also offered his condolences to Galvez for the recent murder of former Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and eight other individuals.

The phone call was made hours after the groundbreaking of the USD24 million runway rehabilitation project at Basa Air Base, one of the approved projects under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, on Monday. (MNS)

VP Sara eyes more partnerships for teachers' housing program

MANILA -- Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte said on Tuesday the Department of Education (DepEd) is ready to accept more partnerships with other local government units (LGU) to secure the housing program for public school teachers.

Duterte made the statement as she joined the groundbreaking ceremony and signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the “Programang Pabahay para sa mga Guro at mga taga-Lungsod Quezon” (Housing program for teachers and Quezon City residents).

"We are willing to partner with other local government units, katulad ng ginawa ng Quezon City local government unit. Mayroon silang pabahay at ang partnership nila with the Department of Education is 'yung pag-identify ng beneficiary teachers natin na qualified para sa kanilang pabahay (like what the QC LGU did. They have a housing program and their partnership with the Department of Education is to identify the qualified teachers for the housing program)," she said in an interview.

Vice President Sara Duterte signs a partnership agreement with Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte for the housing program. (Photo courtesy of the Office of the Vice President)

Duterte said such program should not be limited to urban areas.

“Ang isyu ng kawalan ng pabahay ay hindi lang po nakasentro sa mga highly-urbanized na mga lugar sa Metro Manila katulad ng Quezon City o Davao City sa Mindanao (The issue on the lack of housing is not only centered in Metro Manila’s highly-urbanized areas, like Quezon City, or Davao City in Mindanao)," she said.

For its part, the QC government expects the housing program to benefit about 444 individuals, 144 of whom shall come from the teaching and non-teaching personnel of DepEd.

Under the QC housing program, beneficiaries shall be granted a unit in one of its soon-to-be-built QCitizen Homes Republic Residences.

The compound shall consist of eight five-story buildings and one 12-story building.

Qualified beneficiaries may avail of the housing program through the Pag-IBIG Fund (Pagtutulungan sa Kinabukasan: Ikaw, Bangko, Industriya at Gobyerno) or the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) financing.

Besides the housing program, Duterte urged teachers to avail of the Office of the Vice President's newly-launched livelihood program for women and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual, plus (LGBTQIA+) community.

"We encourage that to our teaching personnel in the Department of Education. To date, we're always promoting and offering the Office of the Vice President's entrepreneurship program, the Magnegosyo Ta Day," Duterte said in mixed English and Filipino.

Sara: DepEd to coordinate with Congress on ‘no permit, no exam’ rule

The Department of Education (DepEd) will cooperate with any Congress proceedings in relation

to the prohibition of the “no permit, no exam” policy in all public and private educational institutions, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte said Tuesday.

“Let us wait for the discussions doon sa Congress with regards doon sa mga batas,” Duterte said in an ambush interview when asked to comment on the third and final reading approval of Senate Bill 1359 which prohibits schools from barring students yet to pay their tuition and other fees from taking exams.

“The Department of Education fully commits to participate sa lahat ng mga patawag at mga hearings na ginagawa ng Congress,” she added.

Meanwhile, Duterte said that DepEd plans to hire more new teachers annually in a bid to address the problem on the lack of teaching personnel.

“The plan is...meron talagang i-hire every year, as well as the other track we are pursuing, kasi hindi naman natin ma-hire lahat ng pangangailangan natin, is to amplify the best teachers that we have [using technology],” she said.

DepEd spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa earlier admitted that among the challenges they faced in the current academic year was the lack of teachers, on top of shortage of school infrastructure and furniture.

Thus for School Year 20232024, he said DepEd is planning to hire around 10,000 more teachers.

In 2022, DepEd was able to employ a total of 11,580 teachers.

Duterte also said that DepEd is willing to collaborate with other local government units (LGU) to offer housing projects to teachers. She said DepEd’s role for this initiative is to provide the list of qualified teacher beneficiaries to the LGUs.

The Vice President on Tuesday joined the Quezon City government’s groundbreaking ceremony of the 12-storey residential building project for Quezon City school teachers.

Earlier in the day, Duterte also graced the Quezon City Police District’s National Women’s Month celebration at Camp Karingal.

PBBM: No threat to Teves' life, based on intel

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Wednesday there is no threat to the life of Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. based on the intelligence information the Office of the President has been receiving.

"Ganoon pa rin ang sinasabi niya may banta daw sa buhay niya. Kami naman sa (He still says that there is a threat to his life. We are in) intelligence, the best intelligence we have is that we are not – we don’t know of any threat.

Saan manggagaling ‘yung threat?

(Where does the threat come from),” Marcos told reporters.

The President assured Teves that his administration is willing to provide all kinds of security for him, urging the legislator to come home and face the criminal charges against him.

Teves, who is being linked to

the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, has been out of the country since February and has reportedly refused to come back, citing threats to his life.

“But anyway, if to reassure him, we’ll provide all kinds of security kung anong gusto mo. Mayaman ka naman. May private jet ka naman eh. Mag-landing ka kung saan mo gusto, papaligiran – sa Air Force base. Mag-landing siya sa Basa, papaligiran natin ng sundalo, walang makalapit na isang kilometro. So that – that will guarantee his security (You're rich anyway. You have a private jet. You could land anywhere you want –on the Air Force base in Basa. You will be surrounded with soldiers to ensure your security and no one will get near you),” Marcos said. He said Teves would have more options for his defense if he comes home sooner, warning that the government would have to "move without any discussions with him" if it is too late.

“We have made all of these offers pero syempre hindi pa siya nagde-decide (but he still has not decided yet). But the advice, the only advice I can give to Congressman Arnie is that habang tumatagal ito, mas nagiging mahirap ang sitwasyon mo. So mas maaga kang makauwi, mas marami pang option ang mangyayari (the longer this takes, the trickier the situation becomes. So the earlier you come home, the more options you would have),” he said.

On Tuesday, Speaker Martin Romualdez said the House of Representatives Committee on Ethics and Privileges has reached a decision on Teves' unauthorized absence without official leave.

"I commend the Chairman and the committee members for acting expeditiously on the case, in consonance with the Committee's mandate and in compliance with the Rules of the House to punish its members for disorderly behavior," Romualdez said. "Kinikilala at nirerespeto po natin ang lahat ng karapatan ni Congressman Arnie bilang House member. Kaya naman binigyan natin siya ng pagkakataon para umuwi at linawin ang lahat ng isyung kinakaharap niya ngayon (We recognize and respect all the rights of Congressman Arnie as a House member. That is why we gave him a chance to return and clarify all the issues that he is facing right now)."

Romualdez has reiterated his call for Teves to come home after the expiration of his travel authority on March 9, assuring him that the chamber would exert all possible means to secure his safety.

He said the Ethics Committee is ready to submit its report and recommendation for plenary action.

"The decision on Congressman Arnie's case now lies at the hands of his fellow House members, voting as an institution," he said.

"Rest assured that the House of Representatives will render its decision on this case observing due process and fully cognizant of Congressman Arnie's rights, but with the best interest of the nation in mind." (MNS)

PROTEIN SOURCES. Buyers looking for egg varieties at cheaper prices only have to go to Kadiwa sites, like at the Department of Agriculture-Agribusiness Development Center along Elliptical Road in Diliman, Quezon City on Monday (March 20, 2023). A dozen salted eggs are sold for PHP208 or PHP50 for three pieces; regular large eggs PHP260 for 30 pieces and PHP270 for extra large; and quail eggs PHP50 for 24 pieces. (MNS photo)

FROM PASSIVITY TO ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT: WHAT THE PHILIPPINES HAS AT STAKE IN RESOLVING THE TAIWAN QUESTION

SAN DIEGO, CA -- Taiwan, officially the Republic of China, is a country in East Asia. It is located at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People’s Republic of China to the northwest, Japan to the northeast and the Philippines to the south.

It is a fact that there has been a surge of global interest in Taiwan’s security in recent years. Amidst the noise, it can be easy to lose sight of broader trends that are shaping the environment within which Taiwan operates.

The bilateral foreign connections between the Republic of the Philippines and Republic of China (Taiwan) are a subject of ChinaPhilippines relations. Among other issues between the two are the South China Sea dispute and the political status of Taiwan.

Since 1975, the Philippines have recognized the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate authority of “China” but maintain unofficial relations with Taiwan through the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Manila.

The first time that cross-Straits issues became a concern in the Philippines-U.S. alliance was in March 1996 when China fired several unarmed ballistic missiles that landed not far from Taiwan’s coast.

The United States deployed two carrier battle groups near Taiwan to show Beijing that aggression toward Taipei would not be tolerated.

After the incident, Washington saw the need to improve its security relations with Manila – the United States expected this would increase American access to air and naval infrastructures in Luzon and allow for their rehabilitation – to facilitate the rapid deployment of American forces in case of a crisis in Northeast Asia.

From 1996 to 1998, the two allies negotiated and signed the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), deemed necessary for the revival of the alliance after the withdrawal of American forces from the Philippines in late 1992. Eventually, concern over the stability across the Taiwan Strait, one of the rationales behind the VFA’s negotiation and signing in the late 1990s, was forgotten as the two allies focused on the war on terror and China’s maritime expansion in the West Philippine Sea. However, crossStrait tensions would figure in the association again during the last few months of the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, On March 10, 2022, a couple of months after the Russian

invasion of Ukraine, the Philippine ambassador to Washington, Jose Manuel Romualdez, announced that Duterte was ready to open the country’s military facilities to American forces if Russia’s war against Ukraine intensified and embroiled the United States. In an online briefing with Manila-based journalists, Romualdez revealed that the “president stated that if the (the United States) are asking for the support of the Philippines, it’s obvious that, of course, if push comes to shove, the Philippines will be ready to be part of the effort, especially if this Ukrainian crisis spills over into the Asian region.” He specifically stated that the president indicated that in the event of an emergency,” the Philippines would allow U.S. forces to return to the former naval station at Subic Bay and the nearby Clark Air Base.”

The proposal was seen as an attempt to recalibrate the alliance before Duterte’s term ended in June of 2022. More significantly, it also revealed an underlying fear among many Southeast Asian countries that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would encourage China to follow suit in the Taiwan Strait, with the potential to cause collateral damage throughout the South and East China Seas and the broader region. The Southeast Asian nations realized that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had specific implications for them; given converging Sino-Russian views of challenging the U.S.-led rules based international order. Moreover, the possibility that Beijing might take a page out of Russia’s playbook on applying gray zone operations,

conducting hybrid warfare, and using force to acquire and eventually annex disputed territories disturbed these states.

Accordingly, the Duterte administration expressed its willingness to allow American forces to use the Philippines as a staging ground in a Taiwan contingency. However, there were a few indications that Manila and Washington had discussed this possibility during the Duterte administration before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office in June of 2022.

On February 2, 2023, Philippine and U.S. defense officials announced that the U.S. military will be given new access to four Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) bases nationwide. This move effectively cemented the two allies’ efforts to expand the U.S. strategic footprint in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific region in the face of an aggressive and expansionist China. Negotiated by the two countries during U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s second visit to the Philippines, this new entry agreement increase the number of bases from five to nine. The United States can use these bases for training, setting up equipment, and building runaways and other facilities, as agreed in the 2014 Philippine-U.S. Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

Under the accord, the Philippines allowed a sizeable number of American troops to stay in the country on a rotational basis within AFP military bases. Inside those camps, American forces planned the

Jesse T. Reyes Filipino Potpourri

United States grow, most Southeast Asian countries will anxiously seek to remain neutral. Yet our beloved old homeland – the Philippines –faces more challenging possible course of actions than most. The outcome of its choices will also matter more to the United States and China. At the most basic level a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would have serious and specific implications for the Philippines by dint of geography. The Philippines’ northernmost islands are 190 kilometers from Taiwan, just slightly further than Japan’s nearest isle.

spotlight. A dearth of other viable regional options makes Luzon, the Philippines’ largest island, separated from Taiwan by the Luzon Strait, highly desirable real estate. Notably, some recent war games by US think tanks focused on how a conflict between the United States and China over Taiwan might unfold have assumed that US forces would have military access to bases in the Philippines.

The celebration of Black History Month is mostly confined to the United States. History tells us, however, the need to internationalize such celebrations. In particular, Filipinos ought to connect themselves to such celebration because of their own Black ancestry and the intertwining of the Filipino and African American cultures that was configured against the concept of “blackness” particularly during the American occupation of the Philippines beginning in 1898.

To provide context to the Philippine occupation, the United States became the de facto ruler by virtue of its victory over Spain in Puerto Rico and Cuba. The Philippines was an entirely different matter because it was not at war with the Americans. As a matter of fact, the Americans co-opted the exiled Filipino leaders led by Emilio Aguinaldo to return to their country to help the United States defeat Spain.

The Treaty of Paris in 1898 officially ended the SpanishAmerican War and established independence in Cuba, ceded Puerto Rico and Guam to the U.S. but it

also allowed the purchase of the Philippine Islands for $20 million without the consent of the sovereign Philippine Republic. Consequently, it resulted in the short-lived PhilippineAmerican War that the Filipinos lost.

The American colonial period was not only opposed by Filipinos; it was similarly detested by the American people because it ran counter to American espoused ideals when it was a British colony. Frankly, ratification of the treaty was delayed because of strong opposition to colonial annexation of the Philippines.

Influential publications that catered to a White audience such as the Puck Magazine, and anticolonialist writers and poets like Mark Twain, Waldo Emerson, and Booker T. Washington resisted the racist colonial education and occupation to justify empire and caricatured America’s duplicitous albeit naked ambitions.

The need, however, of the ascendant commercial, industrial and military interests to penetrate the markets and natural resources of Asia as a gateway to China trumped any modesty. The treaty’s ratification

construction of warehouses, living quarters, joint facilities, and stored combat materials – except for nuclear weapons, which are prohibited by the Philippine constitution. However, there was only limited building of EDCA sites during Duterte’s sixyear term. Nevertheless, the United States has allocated $82 million for infrastructure investments at the original five EDCA areas. These underwritings supported economic growth and job creation in local communities. The decision to increase the number of joint locations occurred in October of 2022, when the United States sought to deploy more of its troops and weapons to an additional five Philippine military camps, mainly in the central northern Luzon region, which the 160-mile Luzon Strait separates from the self-governed island of Taiwan.

This development coincided with U.S. and Filipino forces expanding their joint combat and disaster response training in preparation for future contingency operations in the South China Sea, which lies to the Philippines’ west, and the Taiwan Strait, which is north of the country’s Luzon region.

As the U.S. military seeks to distribute (through access arrangements and joint military drills with its Southeast Asian counterparts) its forward-deployed forces along the first island chain stretching from Japan to maritime Southeast Asia, the Philippines’ significance for Washington increased.

However difficult this may be, as tensions between China and the

As the Philippines’ Secretary of Defense recently pointed out, this could expose the archipelagic country to the consequences of a humanitarian disaster, including refugee outflows. Such a scenario has a precedent which is wellremembered in the Philippines. At the end of the Vietnam War tens of thousands of refugees from South Vietnam, as well as ships from the South Vietnamese Navy, evacuated to Subic Bay on the west coast island of Luzon.

Moreover, concerns about the fate of overseas Filipino workers could play a major role in public opinion about responses to any crisis. Some politicians have already called for a contingency plan for the evacuation of the estimated 200,000 overseas Filipino workers in Taiwan.

The Philippine strategic community also recognizes that China gaining control of Taiwan would be a disaster for Manila’s South China Sea interests, which remains the country’s most serious external security challenge. As analysts have noted, the United States has limited munitions, raising the possibility that it would be required to cede the South China Sea in the early stages of a conflict with China. And a successful invasion would increase China’s power projection capabilities and weaken the ability of the United States to support its ally through an air and naval presence in the region.

While the United States could have little hope that other Southeast Asian countries (except perhaps for Singapore) would give practical assistance in the event of strife, the Philippines will be in the

Under much of the previous Duterte administration, such an assumption would have seemed overly optimistic. Rodrigo Duterte, who finished his five year term on June 30, 2022, rocked the foundations of the alliance from shortly after his election in 2016, when he announced the “separation” of the Philippines from the United States. Worse, from February 2020 until July 2021, he threatened to abrogate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) which enables United States military personnel to operate in the Philippines.

Since July 2021, when Duterte finally announced he would not revoke the VFA, US defense officials see the alliance on a “very strong trajectory”. The two sides are finally making progress in implementing the “Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement” (EDCA) which would improve facilities for US troops at agreed locations, enabling them to increase their rotational presence in the Philippines. This access would make it much easier for the United States to support the Philippines through capacity building, including on maritime security and help the US respond quickly in the event of a humanitarian crisis. The United States also hopes that expanding its security presence within the “first island chain” would assist in deterring China from further seeking to erode the status quo on Taiwan or in the South China Sea. This year’s annual “Balikatan” (the Tagalog word “balikatan” means “shoulder-to-shoulder”) exercise, comprising Philippine, American, and Australian forces should be seen in this context. Washington (and US Indo-Pacific Command) likely hopes that the

Black History Month Should be a Universal Celebration, Final

set in motion the Monroe Doctrine (of not allowing another European country to establish colonies in the Americas and beyond the Western Hemisphere).

President McKinley issued the “Benevolent Assimilation” proclamation promising America’s “altruistic” mission sans arbitrary rule in the Philippines. To convince the American people, however, McKinley had to portray Filipinos as savages, Black, and incapable of self-rule. General Arthur MacArthur (Douglas’ father) declared martial law to facilitate the delivery of colonial education and to assimilate them to the American way of life. The assimilation effort turned out to be not so benevolent. Over 500,000 Filipinos perished against 4,200 Americans as casualties of war.

The 1904 world’s largest fair in Missouri dubbed as the “Louisiana Purchase Exposition” included a human zoo that featured a village for over a thousand Filipino native Igorots (black skinned) that were transported from Bontoc, Mountain Province. They were on display to portray an Igorot village and how they lived. They hardly wore any clothes over their tattooed bodies.

They were paid to perform barbaric acts like hunting animals with spears and machetes, slaughtering dogs and eating them. They performed ethnic activities that showed their lack of “civilized” living. The headlines successfully portrayed the Filipinos

as diminutive, Black, unlettered and savages. It scandalized Americans but it also captured their imagination that McKinley was right about the “White Man’s Burden” and that the Filipino “niggers, monkeys” needed to be taught good manners and right conduct.

Over 50,000 U.S. troops and over a thousand teachers were sent and dispersed around the country to pacify the Filipinos. Majority of them were White and only a few were African Americans. Carter G. Woodson was one of the teachers who went on to become the founder of “Journal of Negro History” and pioneered the celebration of “Negro History Week,” the precursor of “Black History Month.”

Woodson’s 4-year stint (19031904) opened his eyes to the irony of why he was there and found it oppressive - to teach Filipinos using a template that was already in use to miseducate African Americans back in his homeland. His observations in the Philippine setting helped solidify his understanding of “The MisEducation of the Negro,” a thesis that Black people of his day were being indoctrinated rather than being taught, in American schools.

“The mere imparting of information is not education,” he wrote. “Above all things, the effort must result in making a man think and do for himself.” Still from Woodson on colonial mentality, “When you control a man’s thinking you do not

have to worry about his actions. You do not have to tell him not to stand or go yonder. He will find his ‘proper place’ and will stay in it.”

“The same educational process which inspires and stimulates the oppressor with the thought that he is everything and has accomplished everything worthwhile, depresses and crushes at the same time the spark genius in the Negro (or the Filipino Indio) by making him feel that his race does not amount to much and never will measure up to the standards of other people.”

Colonial curriculum purposely avoided teaching Philippine history, Filipino languages, and its culture. Instead, it successfully transformed a nation unsure of its identity, ancestry and culture. Those who resisted the regime like the Moros of Mindanao and the indigenous peoples of the north, indeed ended up preserving most of their cultures. Today, Filipino colonial mentality is on autopilot and is still very pervasive.

Woodson, who recognized the irony of such racist service, was not alone. There were also the “Buffalo Soldiers” who were deployed to the Philippines long before Woodson volunteered to join the Thomasites. Regiments of Buffalo Soldiers that were authorized by the U.S. Congress to fight the American Indian Wars, and later the Spanish American War, were deployed to the Philippines for their brutal expertise.

Many of them were Medal of

Honor recipients for their wartime campaign successfully seizing lands from the native American Indians. Ironically, the Buffalo Soldiers joined the U.S. Army to gain their freedom from slavery but in the process, ended up becoming slave masters themselves, denying the natives their freedom.

Such a contradiction was not lost among African American soldiers who deployed to the Philippines to prosecute the bloody American war against Spain but ended up fighting for the “enemy.” The Balangiga Massacre turned a town in Samar into a “howling wilderness.”

Concentration camps where waterboarding and torture of captured “insurrectos” were conducted proved too much for Sergeant David Fagen and seven other Buffalo Soldiers who deserted their units and joined the local resistance movement.

Backlash from White officers caused Privates Edmond DuBose and Lewis Russell to be publicly hanged to serve as examples to others who were contemplating desertion. Fagen was eventually caught, demoted to private, tried, found guilty of treason and sentenced to death by hanging but was dishonorably discharged instead.

This year’s theme of “Black Resistance,” to “highlight how Black Americans have fought against racial inequality” extends to the African American resistance during the colonial period in the Philippines.

Eye on Taiwan, the United States-Philippines set to stage largest-ever war games in clear signal to China

Spiritual Life

The crucial role of parents

I was thumbing through a Christian hymn book and my attention was caught by an item which I found worth sharing to parents, The Parents’ Creed. Parenthood is a gift from God and parents have a sacred responsibility of raising their children and training them in the way they should go. However, with the parents’ desire to give their children a good education and a comfortable life, they work so hard, often times neglecting their responsibilities as parents. When my children were growing up, I was so engrossed in my work, leading my eldest daughter to tell me in a belligerent tone, “Mama, in your search for money, you may lose the things that money cannot buy.”

At the height of the drug abuse epidemic in Manila (1972-1980), I had this poster printed and distributed to parents. “Parent’s take care of your children. Give them love and attention. Keep them away from dangerous drugs.” My daughter (now a graduate of Psychology) asked me, “For who are those posters?” “For parents”, I answered nonchalantly. Her follow-up question hit me hard, hard enough to see my psychiatrist – friend for advice. “Are you not a parent and do we not deserve the love and attention you expect other parents to give to their children?” This shook my world as a parent and as a career woman. I have to re-set my priorities

Aurora S. Cudal-Rivera

My Personal Testimony

and scale down my activities as the Chief of Prevention Education and Community Information Division of the Dangerous Drugs Board. I learned to become a parent. I would like to share the Parents Creed written by Robert H. Schuller

“I believe that my children are a gift of God – the hope of a new tomorrow.

I believe that immeasurable possibilities are slumbering in each son and daughter.

I believe that God has planned a perfect plan for their future, and that His love will always surround them; and so I believe that they shall grow up – first creeping, then toddling, then standing, stretching skyward for a decade and a half until they reach full stature – a man and a woman.

I believe that they can and will be molded and shaped between infancy and adulthood – as a tree is shaped

Greetings in the Lord!

by a gardener, and the clay vessel in the potter’s hand, or the shoreline of the sea under the watery hand of the mighty waves, by home and church; by school and street, through sights and sounds and the touch of my hand on their hand and Christ’s spirit on their heart!

So I believe that they will mature as only people can – through laughter and tears, through trial and error, by reward and punishment, through affection and discipline, until they stretch their wings and leave their nest to fly!

O God – I believe in my children. Help me so to live that they may always believe in me and so in Thee.”

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you, bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart; then you will find favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” Proverbs 3:3-4 (NIV)

Be doers of God's word

I don't know much about satanism or satanists. My only personal contact with an alleged satanic cult came years ago now when I turned a teenaged runaway who claimed to have been exploited by satanists over to the police and human services authorities for investigation - and protection.

Frankly, I've always been a bit skeptical that many people were "true believers" in the cult's claims and antics. Most of the public statements and exhibitions seemed more attention-seeking than serious, more like some rebellious adolescent antic than a sinister escapade. This may be just one more.

A woman, 19, is accused of murdering a man last November that she met on Craigslist, seduced under the pretense of having sex with him, and then killed. She seems to be in real trouble on that one. But her claims of having killed at least 22 others over the past six years is being treated with skepticism. Her version is that she was sexually abused as a child, joined a satanic cult at 13, and killed her first victim as her group's leader assisted her in pulling the trigger. As recently as last Friday, one investigator said that her claims could be "the real deal." In the case for which she has been arrested and charged, she and her husband of three weeks are accused of luring a 42-year-old man with the promise of sex in order to share a thrill killing. Talk about a "bonding experience"!

Here's the part that caught my eye. And here is what makes me

FRANCINE MAIGUE

Continued from page 2

will keep you a powerful force to be reckoned with. (Ladies, that especially goes for you! … Unfortunately, there are still many in the home improvement industry, who will view you as an easy sell and easy target. Show ‘em you’re one step ahead of the game!)

7. Hold people accountable. Your life and comfort (or lack thereof) shouldn’t revolve around fickle workers, sloppy work, or inefficient operations. Express your concerns. YOU are the BOSS. If your questions aren’t being answered or your needs aren’t being taken seriously, go straight to the top of the company’s totem pole.

Demand that you be compensated for any inconveniences you have to endure that go far beyond the expected. A little pressure from

Danny Hernaez

think there might be something in common between some Christians and some satanists. Keep reading, and see what you think. USA Today found a "spokesman" for satanists to respond to those early claims of some really grim evils reported to have been performed by a satanist who takes the devil seriously. His reply was essentially this:

We satanists are just creative people who are experimenting with individuality and self-awareness, but we don't really take all that "evil" stuff seriously.

Well, I happen to know lots of Christians who go at Christianityif you can call it that - with about the same degree of seriousness.

They're "church members" but are shocked that anybody expects them to "walk the talk" of their Christian professions by a distinctive life.

I am sure satanists give lip service to defying authority, taking what they want, doing as they choose, and getting even with anybody who dares get in their way.

Most are probably like the fellow who admitted they're not really such bad apples, that people shouldn't expect them to live out their tough

you via follow up phone calls, questions for clarification, and firm expectations is more than okay. Sometimes workers need to be reminded that you are more than a paycheck—you are a human being…and this place is more than just a jobsite, it is your home.

8. Inspect the work as its being done, not when it’s too late. Oops! Did you not want lime green flooring? Be an active member of this project team you’ve created. If something doesn’t look right, ask questions. Everybody makes mistakes, but keep an eye out for things that may go differently than you planned and paid for. Try to resolve issues as they arise, or be prepared to pay the consequences of extra friction between parties, unforeseen costs, and delayed completion dates.

With that said, renegotiate if you’re not happy with the finished product! Beware of salespeople

We are now in the fifth Sunday in Lent, after this week we will be entering the Holy Week with the celebration of the Passion of the Lord, traditionally known as the Palm Sunday. We are almost at the threshold of the celebration of the Paschal Triduum whereby we seriously consider our own personal disposition for the renewal of our baptismal vows on the Eucharistic celebration during Easter Vigil. In the past four Sundays of Lent we have reflected on the reality that due to the victory of Jesus over the devil after his forty days and nights of prayer and fasting in the desert, we, his disciples can also withstand all kind of trials in that the devil may throw into our path of following Jesus in the world today. His transfiguration at Mt Tabor, revealing his divine nature and the forgiveness that he showed in his encounter with the Samaritan woman should have made us realize the mission of salvation that he offers to each one of each who willingly give ourselves in response to his invitation to follow him. Last Sunday we reflected on the incident of Jesus giving sight to the man born blind, a miracle that manifests the deep desire of Jesus to give us sight, not only vision of the external world but interior vision that would make our faith more profound in order to recognize Him as the only Savior of mankind.

“On the fifth Sunday of Lent, when the Resurrection of Lazarus is proclaimed, we are faced with the ultimate mystery of our existence. ‘I am the resurrection and the life… Do you believe this?’ (Jn 11:25-

MARCOS

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for-work program involving 7,198 families (including off-site), which started last March 6 and extended until May this year. It said the beneficiaries could also avail of Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) and family food packs (FFPs).

Fr. Agustin T. Opalalic

26). For the Christian community, it is the moment to place with sincerity – together with Martha –all our hopes in Jesus of Nazareth: ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into this world’ (Jn 11:27). Communion with Christ in this life prepares us to overcome the barrier of death, so that we may live eternally with him. Faith in the resurrection of the dead and hope in eternal life open our eyes to the ultimate meaning of our existence: God created men and women for resurrection and life, and this truth gives an authentic and definitive meaning to human history, to the personal and social lives of men and women, to culture, to politics and the economy. Without the light of faith, the entire universe finishes shut within the tomb devoid of any future, any hope.” (Benedict XVI)

The themes of the five Sunday readings that revolved around Jesus’ victory over the devil, his divine nature manifested gloriously during his transfiguration on Tabor, His reconciling encounter with the Samaritan woman and his

Galvez: US committed to help in oil spill cleanup Defense chief Carlito Galvez said Tuesday that the United States government has committed to help in the cleanup efforts on the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro.

miraculous healing of the man born blind and the raising of Lazarus from the dead, should have clearly deepened and strengthened our faith in Jesus. I would presume that we are now truly prepared to celebrate the wonders of the mysteries that would be revealed during the celebration of the Paschal Triduum wherein we, his faithful disciples, will reflect and hopefully actively involve ourselves in making alive in our own lives the saving actions that He himself went through during the last days of his life. The remembrance of the institutions of the sacraments of Holy Orders, and the Eucharist on Holy Thursday should make us pray for a more faithful ministry of our ordained ministers as well as a more meaningful celebration of the Eucharist in our own local churches. The reliving of the passion and death of Jesus during the Good Friday’s liturgy of the Word and the Veneration of the Cross, should provide us the opportunity to have compassion with the untold sufferings of so many of our brothers and sisters in the different parts of the world. And finally, the celebration of the Easter Vigil should make us sincerely renew our baptismal vows in committing ourselves to follow Jesus lovingly and faithfully as we promise wholeheartedly to avoid sin, resist the temptation of Satan and conquer him with the grace that Jesus empowers us through his Rising from the dead. Let us pray that after those fruitful celebrations of the Word and the Eucharist during the season of Lent would lead us to a graceful celebration of Easter.

contaminated materials during its offshore response operations for the oil spill.

talk. It's insincere and fake. Just so much hot air. Why, it's just plain old hypocrisy! "We don't even believe in the devil," the cult spokesman said. "Most satanists don't."

If you are a Christian, please join those of who would like to be both factually and functionally different from satanists. Because we confess Christ, it is not unreasonable for people to expect us to take him seriously. To walk our talk.

This much is sure: Claims without actions don't fool anybody. It could even make people wonder if one really believes in Christ at all. So take note of what the Spirit reminds each of us:

Be doers of God's word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves (James 1:22).

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

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who overpromise and underdeliver. You shouldn’t have to be the only one left to face the hard truth of a project gone badly. They can leave the site. You have to live there.

DO NOT PAY MORE TO FIX WHAT THEY MESSED UP. You shouldn’t lose money or sleep over someone else mistakes. Your happiness should be ultimate goal. No smile on your face = No payment (or, at the very least, less payment) for whoever is doing the work.

9. Communicate with all members of your household. Keep everyone involved updated regularly. Make sure that folks are aware of costs, schedules, and sizes of crews. If you have to keep certain details a secret, then maybe your conscience and good sense are trying to tell you something. Make sure that children are

Likewise, the DOLE has started the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program in the three areas of Caluya namely Sibolo, 152; Semirara, 246 and Tinogboc, 66, through a 30day work program.

TUPAD is a community-based package of assistance that provides emergency employment for displaced workers, underemployed and seasonal workers, for a minimum of 10 days, but not to exceed a maximum of 30 days, depending on the nature of work to be performed.

The government has so far identified 20 beneficiaries each from 10 municipalities for a total of 200 beneficiaries in the province of Antique.

Authorities are reconciling the names of TUPAD beneficiaries with the DSWD to avoid overlapping of assistance.

Meanwhile, various government agencies are coordinating with the International Tankers Owners Pollution Federation Limited (ITOPH) on the conduct of a massive cleanup drive, identification of the debris staging area, as well as the dumpsite.

A private contractor for the oil spill clean-up is hiring 100 local workers to help the community.

As of Monday, the oil spill has affected over 150,000 individuals or 32,000 families in Mimaropa and Western Visayas.

The MT Princess Empress was carrying 800,000 liters of industrial oil when the tanker sank near Naujan, Oriental Mindoro on Feb. 28.

Marcos earlier said the government aims to finish the oil spill cleanup in less than four months.

SCAMMERS

Galvez reported to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. that US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin already promised to deploy naval units to assist in the cleanup operation in the area. “I had a phone call last night with Sec. Austin at 7:45 p.m., they are committed to help in coordination with Japan and other countries,” Galvez said. “In fact, as I've recommended, some of the exercise scenarios of the forthcoming ‘Balikatan’ exercises will be ‘real life’ and actual HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response) operations relative to the oil spill,” Galvez said. He added that Austin has assured the Philippine government that their HADR team is "now on their way to help and provide assistance in managing the oil spill.”

Galvez said the Philippine government would also continue to seek the expertise and technical support of other partner countries, such as France and the United Kingdom, in containing the oil spill.

Galvez also reported to the President that personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) had given a briefing on the foreigners who extended assistance to the government in the ongoing cleanup operations in the province.

MT Princess Empress was carrying around 900,000 liters of industrial fuel oil when it sank due to strong waves on February 28. According to the PCG, the motor tanker sank 400 meters into the ocean, which was too deep for divers to reach.

On Tuesday, Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito Dolor announced that MT Princess Empress was found through the survey of the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) from Japan.

The PCG, meanwhile, said it has collected 6,803 liters of oily water mixture and 65 sacks of oil-

consumer’s money had grown. But it was all fake,” Mayo said.

MT Princess Empress owner faces cease and desist orders, fines Maritime regulatory authorities on Thursday confirmed that they had issued cease and desist orders against the company that owns the sunken MT Princess Empress which has caused an oil spill in a critical biodiverse area off Mindoro Island.

In an ambush interview following the meeting of the Oil Spill InterAgency Committee at the Department of Justice (DOJ), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) administrator Hernani Fabia said the agency issued two cease and desist orders against RDC Reield Marine Services – one for its Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) and the other against the continued operations of its remaining three vessels.

The orders will remain in effect until the satisfactory completion of the investigations into the oil spill, he said.

Fabia likewise clarified that based on MARINA’s records, the sunken vessel was classified as "newlyconstructed" to differentiate it from vessels considered "brand new."

“This is not new, it’s newly constructed from scratch," he said.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has earlier said that the tanker was already old and was not built to be a tanker from the beginning.

Meanwhile, during the inter-agency meeting, Environment Undersecretary Ignatius Rodriguez said administrative fines of PHP 471,000 per day from March 1 until the oil spill is resolved may be imposed on the vessel's owners due to “contamination.”

He however said that they are still collecting more samples.

Besides Remulla, Fabia and Rodriguez, also in attendance during the meeting were Committee head Raul Vasquez, Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, Coast Guard Admiral Artemio Abu, and Relly Garcia of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, among others. (MNS)

of Phoenix (UOP) and made them pay.

was $5,000.

Continued from page 1 See

“Consumers reported losing money to investment scams more than any other type of scam, and the amount lost in 2022 more than doubled what was lost in 2021. Consumers reported losing $3.8 billion in investment scams, most of which were lost to crypto currency scams. These scams often started on social media where consumers were enticed to invest in crypto currency in an attempt to make money. Consumers invested, and the scammers were so savvy that they often presented websites that actually showed how the

Con artists have not given up on romance scams, a staple in the field of fraud. These scams are aimed at older Americans who lost $139 million in 2020 up from $84 million in 2019. For the most part, scammers operate with impunity and many of them are based overseas. That makes it hard for them to be prosecuted. But sometimes they get caught.

One case involved an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor who was swindled out of his life savings by a Florida woman, Peaches Stergo. She was arrested January 25, 2023.

The FTC stopped a large-scale fraud of students enrolled at the University

The FTC is sending nearly $50 million in payments to more than 147,000 UOP students who may have been lured by allegedly deceptive advertisements.

The 2019 settlement also required UOP and its parent company, Apollo Education Group, to cancel $141 in student debt.

The FTC alleged UOP falsely touted its relationships and job opportunities with companies such as AT&T, Yahoo!, Microsoft, Twitter, and the American Red Cross. The FTC also alleged that UOP’s advertising gave the false impression that the online school worked with those companies to create job opportunities for its students and tailor its curriculum for such jobs.

Physical Therapists Help People of All Ages.

NATIONAL CITY, CA -- Physical therapists are experts in human movement who are trained to evaluate and treat all kinds of musculoskeletal issues. They are highly trained in prescribing and progressing exercise to help people move and feel better. Because everyone moves and everyone can benefit from exercise, physical therapists can help people through their entire lives.

Some people see a physical therapist shortly after birth. The most common reasons a baby would need to see a PT would be something like torticollis or cerebral palsy. Torticollis is a postural issue that causes babies to hold their heads tipped to one side. Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that causes difficulty with movement and coordination.

As children continue to grow, some have trouble hitting their motor milestones - like rolling, crawling, or walking. Physical therapists can use their expertise to help encourage development of motor skills and coordination to get these children back on track.

Sports injuries become more common in adolescents. Whether it's an ankle sprain, or an ACL surgery, a PT can help. Some adolescents have issues from the rapid growth their bodies go through. Things like growth plate fractures, growing pains, Osgood-Schlatter's disease, and Sever's disease are all common in adolescence.

As adults, a lot of us will have

back pain - studies say up to 80% of us. Physical therapy is one of the first treatments recommended for back pain. Physical therapists also see injured adults. It could be from weekend warrior type sports injuries, overuse, or from an accident at work. Some adults also start to show symptoms of diseases like multiple sclerosis, or myositis which also benefit from physical therapy.

Later in life, people tend to accumulate more health issues that impact their ability to move. Issues like arthritis, joint replacements, strokes, and heart attacks are all things a PT can help with. Physical therapists also help people age better - keeping them moving with exercise programs that help reduce falls, or helping them make adaptations and modifications to keep them in their homes safely. Movement is a constant in life. As

movement experts, PTs can help people of any age. Some specialize in treating pediatric patients, and some specialize in treating geriatric patients, but all PTs have the expertise to help people move better.

About The Private Practice Section of the American Physical Therapy Association Founded in 1956, the Private Practice Section of the American Physical Therapy Association champions the success of physical therapist-owned businesses. Our members are leaders and innovators in the healthcare system. The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) represents more than 85,000 physical therapists, physical therapist assistants and students of physical therapy nationwide. For more information, please visit www.ppsapta.org.

FRANCINE MAIGUE

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aware that there will be unfamiliar faces in and around your property, and take proper security measures to ensure everyone’s safety. You can never be too careful, so keep a watchful eye!

10. Recommend only in good conscience.

Never give referrals that aren’t 100% complete and honest. Be upfront about the habits, cost, capabilities, strengths/weaknesses, and working styles about companies and their crews. Assert the Golden Rule when it comes to giving referrals. Managing a renovation project will demand a lot of you and your household, pampered friends. Keep your final vision in mind,

and put your good leadership skills to work. You can, indeed, be both nice and firm at the same time. Just remember, construction is like a poker game. Keep your cool, and when negotiating, always let the other parties show their cards first. Good luck! Check back every week for ways to pamper yourself and those you love. Why? The answer is simple: YOU DESERVE IT!

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

Klea Pineda comes out as gay

MANILA -- Klea Pineda just came out as gay.

The "AraBella" star opened up on how she felt the need to tell the world who she really is. "I'm proud na sabihin sa lahat ng mga Kapuso natin na I'm gay. I have a rainbow heart," she said.

Klea became emotional as she recalled how she almost backed out of coming out in fear of her life and her career getting affected by it.

"'Yung takot, nandidiyan siya parati pero mas nangingibabaw 'yung excitement. For the longest time nag-be-base ako sa mga tao kung sino talaga ako," she said.

"Ito 'yung masasabi ko na sa akin, na ako 'to, and I'm proud na ito ako," she added.

As for her showbiz work, Klea said she has no problems pairing up with men.

"Kaya ko pa naman makipagkissing scene sa lalaki, hindi ko nililimit 'yung sarili ko when it comes to my work," she said.

Klea, who is also celebrating her 24th birthday, also shared a coming out post on her Instagram account.

"My 24th birthday is extra special since I finally mustered up the courage to come out to the world as my true authentic self," she said.

"I want the world to know that I am a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community."

The Sparkle actress said she knows not everyone will understand her decision to come out, but she hopes to inspire others who are still coming into terms with their sexuality.

"Alam ko mahirap at nakakatakot, but please know na walang mali sa atin at walang kulang sa atin kahit pa magpakatotoo tayo. Marami man ang manghusga, mas marami pa rin ang tatanggap at magmamahal sa’yo

nang buong-buo," she said.

Klea also assured her fans that she is still the same Klea and her sexuality won't stop her from chasing after her dreams.

JESSE REYES

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inclusion of amphibious operations and live-fire training will send a strong signal to China - that the US presence and role in the region is supported by a broad range of regional partners. Drills such as this also play a role in helping sensitize local communities in the Philippines to a US presence. This factor was underscored in 2022 by some local resistance to the exercise driven by concerns that it could anger China and derail economic cooperation.

This opposition (which was voiced by the governor of the strategically significant northern Cagayan province which includes islands in the Luzon Strait) highlights the reality that the US-Philippines defense alliance does not exist in a vacuum. Rather, strategic decisions will also be affected by economic relationships, elite ties, and public perceptions.

Changing economic relativities and China’s growing influence through trade and investment will be factors in the Philippine strategic calculus. Over the past ten years, China (even excluding Hong Kong) has had greater foreign direct investment than any other partner, although accounting for less than 20 per cent of total outlay, it is far from dominant. US companies remain some of the top taxpayers in the Philippines and contribute greatly to local economic development. Yet it was clear from recent comments by Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo during US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit that Manila would value further economic cooperation with the United States.

"From now on, I want to live my life fearlessly. Sana samahan nyo ako sa paggawa ng sarili kong kwento na alam kong tunay na magpapasaya sa akin." (MNS)

Garie Concepcion expecting first child with Michael Pangilinan

highs that made me feel like I was standing on clouds. These things and experiences which sometimes you question must have a purpose in this journey called life. Some of you may be wondering what's been going on with me the past couple of months, I would post a little on my social media accounts, but it still won't give away so much about me and what life has been like lately," Concepcion wrote, tagging Pangilinan in the video.

As analysts Gregory Winger and Julio Amador recently wrote, the USPhilippines alliance faces significant political challenges if it is to remain

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since the day we found out about you. You came to us at the most unexpected time but you were the greatest gift that mommy and daddy can ever receive. We are not perfect but we will try our hardest to be the best parents that we can be for you. We pray that you grow up to be a person who is happy and deeply rooted in faith. Always remember, you are already loved even before you are born," she said.

relevant; neither side can afford complacency. Winger and Amador point out those recent instances where the United States omitted or overlooked the Philippines have rankled. The reverse is also true: high-level engagement over the past year has been essential in rebooting the alliance. Whether these efforts can be sustained and deliver real gains in terms of US presence in the Philippines will be an essential litmus test of the Biden administration’s Indo-Pacific strategy.

Surely confronting the inevitable, the Philippines adopted a rigid and legalistic “One-China” policy regarding Taiwan’s diplomatic status as a self-ruled island. However, the new Marcos administration found it necessary to improve the Philippines’ security relations with the United States as it openly expressed the need to cooperate with Washington in a possible strategic exigency in Taiwan, its closest neighbor. Manila is aware that if an armed conflict between Beijing and Taipei erupts and intensifies over the Taiwan Strait, there is little chance the country will escape the adverse consequences in terms of massive refugee flows, the rapid return of Filipino overseas workers based in Taiwan, and the actual spread of the clash to the Luzon Straits and even maybe northern Luzon. Romualdez, now Marcos’ ambassador to the United States admitted that the Philippines would cooperate with the United States militarily to deter any escalation of tensions between China and Taiwan – not only because of the treaty alliance but to help prevent a major conflict. Moreover, he added that the Philippines would let U.S. forces use its military bases in the event of a Taiwan conflict only “if it is important for us, for our security.”

Marcos Jr. has not explicitly stated that his country would assist the United States in any armed

showing how it is able to promote the sustainable use of clean water for various purposes despite having limited water supply.

contingency in Taiwan. This stems from his concern that a conflict between the United States and China over Taiwan will likely drag the Philippines into a major armed conflict. In an interview, he said, “I learned an African saying: When elephant’s fight, the only one that loses is the grass. We are the grass in this situation. We don’t want to get trampled.”

Nevertheless, his decision to speed up the implementation of EDCA, expand the number of joint locations from five to nine, and resume joint Philippine Navy-U.S. Navy patrols in the South China Sea reflect his changing thinking on this matter. Implying that his country would assist any U.S. effort to defend Taiwan against Chinese aggression, he said in a more recent interview: “When we look at the situation in the area, especially the tensions in the Taiwan Strait, we can see that just by our geographical location, should there, in fact, be conflict in that area…it’s very hard to imagine a scenario where the Philippines will not somehow get involved.”

The election of the Philippines’ new president in May 2022 has proven exceptionally significant for Washington’s security alliances in the Indo-Pacific region. The son of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos has prioritized the maintenance of healthy ties to the United States just as his father did during the Cold War. No doubt about it, our beloved old homeland – the Philippines – is now America’s new star ally in Asia!

Indeed, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., has a tough task ahead of him but also a worthy national project, if I must say it. That is more than the Biden administration could have hoped for in its wildest dreams.

Honestly, the Filipinos’ journey ahead cannot be all smooth sailing. Mabuhay!

past,” he said.

MANILA -- Garie Concepcion is expecting her first child with OPM singer Michael Pangilinan. The daughter of screen veteran Gabby Concepcion with former wife Grace Ibuna shared the good news though a video titled "Life Lately" which she uploaded on Instagram.

"I have had my fair share of highs and lows these past years. Those that made me feel like my feet were constantly sinking through sand and

"The struggle has been real but I hang on to the thought that God is somehow redirecting my life for the better. He is preparing me for the biggest role of my life. I am about to embark on a life journey that is very new to me, an adventure I know will change me and my life forever. Out of all the surprises that life has thrown at me, this by far is the best one yet," she added.

Concepcion, who has entered her third and last trimester, also shared her message to her baby, whom she described as a "miracle."

"You have been such a blessing

"We can not wait to meet you, hold you in our arms, and watch you grow up to be the person that you truly want to be. Thank you for choosing us to be your parents. But most of all, thank you Lord Jesus for blessing us with our little one. See you in a few months baby bean. Coming soon this May 2023," Concepcion added.

Pangilinan admitted his relationship with Concepcion in 2016.

Pangilinan, known for his hit "Pare Mahal Mo Raw Ako," also has a son with actress Erin Ocampo.

(MNS)

Saab Magalona seeks to inspire by being authentic

MANILA -- Sharing her everyday life in her podcast "Wake Up With Jim & Saab," Saab Magalona strives to uplift and spark inspiration through her stories and unfiltered self.

As she shares the ups and downs of her life with husband Jim Baccaro, and children Pancho and Vito, Magalona acknowledges the imperfections of her relationships with her family, and believes that these are part of being authentic.

“I feel like that’s the magic of it, being our authentic selves. ‘Cause we’re not perfect parents, we’re not perfect in our relationship, and it’s showing that it’s okay,” she said.

All throughout her journey as a content creator, Magalona has put importance on her relationship with Jim, and the support he was able to provide since her traumatic birth experience in 2018.

“Although we do have our own things which is very important, I think in a relationship, we do really see each other as partners,” she said. She shared that both of them lean on each other for a lot of things, highlighting what her

ninang said at their wedding, “You’re (both) fighting for the same things, right? Because you wouldn’t have chosen each other if you don’t share the same values.”

Recalling her previous blogs before, Magalona describes her content back in 2003 as “cringey.” Yet she does not regret any of it as it led up to who she is today.

She also said that she aspires to “bring value” in everything she puts out even just to make people laugh or giggle.

Despite this, Magalona said she keeps a big part of her life private, especially when it comes to her relationship with her kids.

“I wouldn’t share anything that would be a cause (of) trouble in our relationship in the future, and I just want to share parts of our lives that

are going to help inspire people. That’s always at the top of our heads,” she said.

Magalona also admitted that she felt a lot of grief when she found out that her eldest Pancho is a child with special needs.

“It’s very challenging to have a child with special needs,” she said.

Nevertheless, she was able to overcome this challenge by being honest with her feelings. (MNS)

of water management are wellknown technologies,” Marcos said. “And so, I am very optimistic that the solutions that we need to formulate are out there, the technologies are out there. What has continued to change in the light of climate change is the management, the stratagems on how we manage our water,” he added. Marcos particularly pointed out that flood control projects have evolved through the years along with the changing times, noting that these are no longer just exclusively used for that.

“We take the water and we use it for irrigation, we use it for drinking water if we have a treatment plant,” Marcos said, adding that water can be used to produce power with small hydroelectric plants. He also cited Israel's experience

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The Governor’s plan works with the CARE (Community, Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment) Court act which the Governor signed into legislation last year. The CARE Court act allows for civil courts to compel residents to accept treatment for substance abuse or behavioral health disorders. The Governor’s proposed bond-funded initiative provides for specialized and supervised housing.

Before the press conference, Alvarado Hospital CEO Kenneth McFarland gave a tour of the hospital to Governor Newsom and other dignitaries. The Alvarado regional behavioral health hub will consist of two new inpatient behavioral health Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) units (62 beds in total), a crisis stabilization unit (CSU), and an emergency psychiatric department. The Governor visited a model inpatient behavioral health patient room and visited the hospital’s Geriatric Behavioral Health Unit. The press conference itself was held in the future location of Alvarado Hospital’s Psychiatric Emergency & Crisis Stabilization Unit.

“I’d spent some time in Israel and I saw how they treat the water because water is very scarce. They live in the desert. Nevertheless, they are able to collect the water during the rainy season, whatever is available, they put fish in it to grow fish. When the summer comes, they take it out, take out the water, harvest the fish, and then that goes to irrigation and so forth,” Marcos said. He said the Philippines could learn from Israel and apply this approach to achieve water security.

“These are the kinds of thinking that we have to apply to the Philippines because of the crisis that we are facing and how debilitating it will be to the entire economy, to the entire society if our water supply problem continues to get greater, continues to become more dependent on what we have been doing in the

“We are experiencing a behavioral health crisis in San Diego,” explains McFarland. “Both the state of California, and our San Diego Health & Human Services Agency, have committed tremendous resources and thoughtful planning into strengthening our behavioral health safety-net, and Alvarado Hospital is proud to be a part of that effort. By answering this need for our county, we are reinforcing our commitment to being a true community hospital.”

The new Psychiatric Emergency & Crisis Stabilization Unit will be located in the hospital’s original emergency department, which was subsequently replaced by a state-of the-art 20-bed emergency department that opened in December 2019. The second and fourth floors in the hospital’s West Tower will be the home of the new inpatient adult behavioral health units. This new construction will be in addition to the existing 30-bed geriatric behavioral health unit located on the third floor of the hospital’s West Tower.

The county’s regional hubs are designed to relieve the strain on local emergency rooms and hospitals, where behavioral health patients are often treated. “We are seeing more and more behavioral

Marcos also highlighted the creation of the Water Resource Management Office (WRMO) to manage the country’s water resources and respond to the current environmental challenges.

“And so when they say water is life, it’s not just a cliché, it’s a truism. And it is something that we must always keep in mind especially now.

And that’s why, we in the government – I just signed an executive order wherein we have created the Office of Water Management,” he said.

The WRMO, which will be under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, will be a transitory body pending the creation of the Department of Water Resources. Its main functions include formulating and ensuring the implementation of the Integrated Water Management Plan, which will integrate various plans of different agencies. (MNS)

health patients with higher levels of acuity,” continued McFarland.

“These patients require a specific form of care; consequently, when you have a rush of these patients into a general-care facility, it can create a volatile mix that may contribute to delays in delivering needed care to diagnoses and treatments. The regional behavioral health hub at Alvarado Hospital is a thoughtful way to treat a vulnerable, and oftentimes marginalized, patient population. The regional hub represents a more dignified and compassionate approach to restoring one’s health and wellness.” The combined and coordinated efforts of the cities, counties, and the state government show that the people of California have a shared dedication to solving our most pressing healthcare problems. Alvarado Hospital is proud to join in this effort, and to continue our dedication of providing the best, most needed care for our communities. Alvarado Hospital is a certified STEMI Severe Heart Attack Receiving Center and a certified Advanced Primary Stroke Center, and a holder of the Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award for nine consecutive years (2015-2023).