The Filipino Press: May 12-18, 2023

PH, Laos seek enhanced ties on health, education, trade

MANILA -- The Philippines

and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) on Wednesday vowed to work closely to enhance the two countries' relations across several areas such as health, education, trade and people-topeople exchange agreements, Malacañang said on Wednesday.

According to a news update issued by the Presidential Communications Office, strengthening the partnership between the two countries further was among the matters tackled during Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s bilateral meeting with newly appointed Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone at the 42nd ASEAN Summit plenary session in Indonesia.

Marcos said education can be an area that the two countries can promote “now that things are beginning to open up."

Marcos said he was proud of the contributions made by around 2,000 Filipino nationals who are living and working in Lao PDR to its educational sector.

"There’s also an educational aspect and I think that we have the basis in our agreements and we can build upon that regard,” Marcos said.

The two countries, Marcos said, could also boost health cooperation, as he cited the Philippines’ robust healthcare system that was tested during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Aside from tourism, Marcos said the two nations can also boost the professional exchanges in terms of

work.

Long and fruitful relationship

Marcos said the Philippines and Laos “have had a very long and fruitful relationship.”

He said he looks forward to working with the Lao government,

noting that "there’s much potential" now that both countries' economies, as well as those in ASEAN and around region, have begun to "show signs of life after the pandemic."

“We have always felt that this has been a relationship -- that although

this has been a long-standing one that we can further develop. We had a very good working relationship with your predecessor, and we certainly look forward to continuing that during your chairmanship for ASEAN in the next ASEAN

sessions,” the Philippine leader said. Siphadone, meanwhile, relayed an invitation for Marcos for a state visit to Lao PDR.

“I would like to extend an invitation from His Excellency Thongloun Sisoulith, President of

the Laos PDR, to Your Excellency to make a state visit at a time of convenience for you,” Siphadone told Marcos.

In return, Marcos also extended an invitation to the Prime Minister and his President, Thongloun Sisoulith, to visit the Philippines. He added the two nations can start to discuss trade in terms of investment on the possibility of the Lao officials’ state visit to the Philippines.

PH, Lao to work closely to boost cooperation in health, education, trade, people-to-people exchange

The Philippines and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) vowed to work closely together to strengthen cooperation in various fields, including health, education, trade and people-topeople exchange agreements.

Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and newly-appointed Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone both agreed to work also with the leaders of the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) toward the collective benefit of the regional bloc. “We have 2,000 more or less Filipino nationals who are living in Lao and working in Lao PDR and we are very proud of the contributions that they have made, especially in the educational sector,” President Marcos said during the bilateral meeting with the Lao official at the 42nd ASEAN Summit plenary session in Indonesia on Wednesday.

San Diego, CA - The San Diego District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced the local awardees for the 2023 Small Business Week. Among the recipients is Jason Paguio, President and CEO of the Asian Business Association of San Diego, nominated by Daniel Fitzgerald, Regional Director of the San Diego & Imperial Small Business Development Center Network (SBDC).

Each year, the SBA recognizes the hard work and contributions of America's small businesses during National Small Business Week. The

San Diego & Imperial Valley SBDC Network will hold a Small Business Awards Event on May 9, 2023, at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront to honor the local small business owners and advocates.

Paguio is being recognized for his leadership in advocating for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) small business owners in San Diego. Under his leadership, the Asian Business Association of San Diego launched several programs and initiatives that help AAPI small business owners start, grow and thrive. He has also been a tireless advocate for

policies that promote economic equity in the small business community throughout the State of California as Governor Gavin Newsom’s appointee to the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs, California Office of the Small Business Advocate Director Tara Lynn Gray’s appointee to the Entrepreneurship and Economic Mobility Task Force, and regionally as Mayor Todd Gloria’s appointee to the City of San Diego Small Business Advisory Board.

"We are thrilled to honor Jason Paguio for his outstanding contributions to our local small business community," said SBA District Director, Ruben Garcia.

"His dedication and leadership have helped countless AAPI entrepreneurs overcome obstacles and achieve

NATIONAL CITY, CA — California Attorney General Rob Bonta is speaking to Southern California business owners and community organizations about the current business climate in California. Attorney General Bonta will also address the role of the California Department of Justice in tackling the challenges and needs of business owners.

The free event is scheduled for May 16, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. at G&A Marquee Pavilion, at 540 National City Blvd., National City, CA 91950. The event is hosted by Filipino American Chamber of Commerce Greater San Diego (“FACC-GSD”), a non-profit group whose mission is to be a primary resource for growth and collaboration with its members.

San Diego County has a large Asian American Pacific Island (“AAPI”) community with nearly half a million people. It is the among the top 10 largest AAPI communities in the country. The AAPI community makes up more than 14% of San Diego County, according to the most recent census data by the U.S. Census Bureau.

FACC-GSD joins several collaborative partners including Women’s Business Center, California Southern, Olongapo City Bayanihan

Club, Asian Business Association, National LBWA, Pacific Point Properties, MyPoint Credit Union, API Initiative, National City Chamber of Commerce and the Filipino Press to welcome Mr. Bonta.

“We want the AAPI community in Southern California to know that FACC-GSD is here as a resource for them. We are here to help you navigate grow your business and learn about opportunities from other likeminded entrepreneurs.” said Femie Cupit, President of FACC-GSD. “FACC-GSD partners with members in the business, finance, and legal communities to create educational resources so that we can develop our specific industries,” said Valerie Garcia Hong, attorney at Garcia Hong Law.

In 2021, Attorney General Bonta was sworn in as the 34th Attorney General of the State of California, the first person of Filipino descent and the second Asian-American to occupy the position. Prior to serving in the Assembly, Attorney General Bonta worked as a Deputy City Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco, where he represented the City and County and its employees, and fought to protect Californians from exploitation and racial profiling. Asian American and Pacific Islander

Heritage Month is observed in the United States during the month of May, and recognizes the contributions and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States.

The event is free and open to the public. Attendees must register at www. faccgsd.org to attend. Come Network and meet with business community.

Light refreshments will be provided.

For more info, please contact Femie Cupit at (858)220-5487

Jason Paguio

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. joins fellow ASEAN leaders in the opening of the 42nd ASEAN Summit at Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. (MNS photo)

The Pampered Pinay salutes all mothers and mother figures this Mother Day Weekend!

By FRANCINE m AIgu E

Julia Ward Howe, known for creating the lyrics to “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” championed an official day to celebrate mothers along with a campaign for an international Woman’s Peace Congress.

established Hale House Center, a home for orphaned children and children born addicted to drugs.

World-renowned scientist, Marie Curie, was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only woman to win in two fields. Her daughter, Irene, followed in her footsteps winning a Nobel Prize, too.

MOTHER’S DAY FACTS

10

FROM AROUND THE WORLD

A Russian woman, the first of two wives to peasant Feodor Vassilyev, gave birth to 16 pairs of twins, 7 sets of triplets and 4 sets of quadruplets totaling 27 births and a whopping 69 children within a time span of 40 years.

In the United Kingdom, it is customary to celebrate Mother’s Day by baking a Simnel “Mothering” Cake which includes dried fruits and marzipan.

Arab journalist, Mustafa Amin, is considered by many to be the founder of Egypt’s current holiday celebrating mothers.

It is said that Elvis Presley and his mother, Gladys, were so close that they even communicated in baby talk that only the two of them understood.

Anna Jarvis campaigned for the national recognition of mothers in America as an ode to her own mother. Jarvis was disappointed by the immense commercialization of the holiday and re-campaigned to have the day be a time of reflection and prayer.

Lina Medina of Peru is the youngest confirmed mother in medical history. Medina delivered her baby boy by C-Section at the age of only 5 years old.

Chinese writer, Lin Yutang, is quoted as saying, “Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother.”

Clara McBride Hale, known as “Mother,” was an AfricanAmerican humanitarian, who

Check back every week for ways to pamper yourself and those you love. Why? The answer is simple: YOU DESERVE IT!

Wanna join in on fun weekly chats with other Pampered Pinay fans? Your comments could be featured here! Want to access previous issues of the paper? Visit us at www.thefilipinopress.com. Got a business or event that the Filipino Community should know about? Wish to agree or “agree to disagree” ? Want to send us a love note at The Filipino Press ? Email us at filpressads@aol.com

We love to hear from you our dear readers!

“Elvis with his mother, Gladys Presley.”

“Marie Curie with her daughter, Irene.”

“The Pampered Pinay with her mother and inspiration, Oly Maigue.”

Sa lahat ng mga nanay, lola, ninang, at iba pa, we salute you and everything you do! Maraming, maraming salamat po sa iyong pagmamahal.

Business Mixer at Gerry's Grill Filipino Restaurant and Bar in Plaza Bonita presented by National City Chamber of Commerce

National City Chamber of Commerce and Gerry's Grill host Business Mixer

NATIONAL CITY --Gerry's Grill Restaurant and Bar at Westfield Plaza Bonita known for its Great Food, Ambiance and Live Entertainment hosted a Business Mixer in cooperation with the staff and business members of the National City Chamber of Commerce recently. About 85 attended the mixer led by Victor Gonzales, chairman of the board for the NC Chamber as well as board members Karen Mcmanus, Ray Bitar, Thelma Sanchez, Nathan Triplett, Alejandra and Elizabeth Mondragon. Light refreshments were served with popular appetizers like lumpia, tokwa't baboy and sizzling grilled squid. Networking amongst the attendees serves as the highlight of the evening as well as opportunity drawing. Mariel Songco, Gerry's Grill supervisor introduced the new dessert selections to the delight of attendees who won it in the opportunity drawing. The popular Filipino restaurant and bar is located at 3030 Plaza Bonita Rd, Unit 2510, National City, Ca 91950 . It is open 7 days a week, 365 days in a year. Current promotions include Military Discounts. Gerry's Grill, largest filipino restaurant in San Diego with capacity of 232 has main dining area, outdoor patio, function room for 50 people, bar area where the live band and accoustics entertainment happen Thursday, Friday,Saturday and Sundays. Visit www.gerrysgill.com to order food to go or party trays by calling (619)464-3779 or emailing sandiego@gerrygrill.com.

(Coverage by Zen Ply)

PBBM returns from successful ASEAN summit in Indonesia

MANILA -- President Ferdinand

R. Marcos Jr. arrived in Manila on Thursday following his participation in the successful 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia.

The plane carrying Marcos and the official Philippine delegation, including First Lady Liza AranetaMarcos, arrived at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City around 5:54 p.m.

During the meeting with ASEAN leaders, Marcos emphasized the importance of upholding the international rules-based system, which has underpinned regional security, peace and order in the region.

Marcos also expressed the Philippines' commitment to the principles of free trade and the multilateral trading system.

He called for enhanced support for nano businesses, as well as micro, small, and medium enterprises, and their integration into the global economy.

"We continue to work towards long-term food and energy security, and to address the impacts of climate change, amongst other things," Marcos said in his arrival speech.

The Philippines, he said, likewise expressed support for the communitybuilding efforts of the regional bloc, including the strengthening of ASEAN's institutions.

Marcos thanked Indonesian President Joko Widodo for the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation.

He described the ASEAN summit as a success, as he expressed hope to see progress on both the economic and political fronts.

"I believe that the summit was a success and that it chartered the new directions that were initiated by the chairman, President Widodo, and with the concurrence of all the member-states. And, many new ideas were ventilated and many of those were adopted. And, we hopefully see some progress on the political front, and certainly on the economic front," he said.

Marcos shared that the ASEAN leaders also discussed regional and international developments, such as the situation in Myanmar, the conflict in Ukraine and the South China Sea dispute.

He called for Myanmar to adhere to the peace plan, known as the FivePoint Consensus and expressed support for Indonesia's enhanced initiatives in its implementation.

"We also came into agreement that we will adjust our approach on the situation in Myanmar and to try to engage Myanmar at every level and to all political factions that are active and are involved in that crisis situation in Myanmar," he said.

Marcos, meanwhile, expressed deep concern regarding the humanitarian crisis and the continued economic impacts of the RussiaUkraine war, which contributes to global food and energy insecurity.

On the South China Sea issue, he reaffirmed the Philippines' commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes and advocated for a rules-based maritime order anchored on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Marcos also called for increased collaboration among concerned nations in the Brunei DarussalamIndonesia-Malaysia-PhilippinesEast ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-

EAGA) for further development of the region.

Marcos participated in the ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with Representatives of ASEANInterparliamentary Assembly (AIPA), and ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with Representatives of ASEAN Youth.

He also attended the ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with Representatives of ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-ABAC), ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Community Post 2025 Vision (HLTF-ACV).

PBBM urges ASEAN to provide support to nano businesses

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday urged the memberstates of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to provide support to nano businesses, noting that this sector could contribute to the region's overall economic growth and narrow the development gap.

In his intervention during the ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with Representatives of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), Marcos said these nano businesses are the various "solopreneurs" and home-based businesses, such as make-up artists, vulcanizers, independent dispatch riders, vendors, repairers and market women and men in the various open markets.

He pointed out that these nano businesses have been impacting lives of people in the region, but they are somehow ignored because of their status as an informal and still unrecognized business category.

He also argued that nano businesses are just as viable as micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“They play a very important but often unrecognized role all across our countries. But by classification, they often do not meet the MSME micro-business criteria, which is the category for the smallest businesses. They are largely unaccounted for, but these informal business settings constitute a large portion of all our economies,” Marcos told the ASEAN-BAC gathering.

ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) Chair Mohammad Arsjad Rasjid Prabu Mangkuningrat, who also chairs the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), backed Marcos’ call to recognize and support nano businesses.

The ASEAN has kept its position as the fifth largest economy in the world in 2021 with USD3.3 trillion of combined gross domestic product (GDP) of the 10 ASEAN member states.

Intra-ASEAN trade continues to hold the largest share of ASEAN total trade contributing 21.3 percent to total merchandise trade in the region in 2021, constituting 21.7 percent and 20.9 percent shares of ASEAN’s total merchandise exports, respectively.

PBBM lauds ASEAN IPA’s support to address shared challenges

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday underscored the importance of inter-parliamentary coordination among the memberstates of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to synergize regional efforts towards tackling shared challenges, such as climate change and transnational threats.

During his intervention in the ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with Representatives from the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), Marcos said the regional bloc should also focus its efforts on upholding a rules-based international order anchored in international law.

“We thank the AIPA for continuing to support our vision for a rules-based, people-oriented, and people-centered ASEAN," he said.

One of the recommendations for ASEAN to achieve shared regional aspiration, Marcos said, is maintaining open communication and effective collaboration between the executive and legislative bodies to harmonize the laws and regulations across the region.

“Through such a partnership, we can realize in the domestic arena agreed strategies for collaboration and identify laws which are needed to harness new opportunities for the region as well as address emerging regional challenges,” he added.

Marcos said ASEAN members share the same concerns regarding the increasing misuse of innovative technological applications to facilitate trafficking in persons, which requires concerted cooperation between the legislative and executive bodies to be resolved.

He said that for this instance, a robust legal framework and an effective enforcement mechanism that complement each other must be created to reinforce national and regional cooperation against trafficking in persons.

Marcos highlighted AIPA’s role as a bridge to connect ASEAN with the people by communicating the importance of a cohesive regional grouping.

He said having a cohesive regional grouping could unify the members with a stronger sense of one ASEAN vision, one ASEAN Community.

Aside from acting as a bridge, Marcos said, AIPA should also amplify the voices of the region’s people through AIPA's collaboration with its foreign partners to advance the aspirations of the people in the region.

AIPA serves as the center of communication and information among Member Parliaments in the ASEAN. It aims to encourage understanding, cooperation, and close relations among Member Parliaments as well as Observer Member Parliaments and other parliamentary organizations.

ASEAN urged to be ‘decisive’ amid geopolitical challenges

The Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) must take a “decisive” and “responsive” approach in the face of geopolitical and geo-economic challenges, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday.

During his intervention at the Southeast Asian leaders’ Interface with the High-Level Task Force on the ASEAN Community’s post-2025 vision (HLTF-ACV), Marcos acknowledged that the regional bloc is currently facing a “complex geopolitical environment” which includes rivalries among great powers, climate change and technological disruptions.

“ASEAN itself is not immune to its own challenges, as we continue to navigate our differences in the region towards a general consensus of action,” he said in a speech delivered

PH on track for 6 to 7 pct GDP growth for 2023 -- Diokno

MANILA -- The Philippines is on track to meet its 6 to 7 percent growth target this year, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said on Thursday, after the gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 6.4 percent in the first quarter despite higher inflation

The first quarter GDP growth, however, is the slowest expansion following 7 quarters of growth of above 7 percent, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed.

“The sustained trajectory of the country’s output is a welcome development as we navigate through an uncertain global outlook,” Diokno said in a statement.

The country's Q1 growth is faster than China's 4.5 percent, Indonesia's 5 percent, Singapore's 0.1 percent and Vietnam's 3.3 percent, Diokno said.

Domestic demand for the period expanded, led by household consumption, investments and government spending, he said.

“As we continue to rely on domestic demand to propel the economy towards the growth target, the government remains unwavering in protecting the purchasing power of Filipino consumers by acting swiftly to implement direct measures against inflation,” Diokno said.

He said the government would continue to implement programs under its Medium-Term Fiscal Framework (MTFF).

The MTFF also aims to bring down the country's debt-to-GDP ration to below 60 percent by 2025, and further down to 51.1 percent in 2028, as well as to reduce the budget deficit to 3 percent of GDP by 2028, the Department of Finance said. As of the first quarter of 2023, the country's debt-to-GDP ratio was at 61 percent, down from 63.5 percent in the first quarter of 2022. The global standard is 60 percent.

Meanwhile, National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the Philippine economy must grow by 5.9 percent to 7.2 percent in the next 3 quarters to meet the government target of 6 to 7 percent.

PH economy grows slower at 6.4% in Q1 2023

The Philippine economy grew at a slower pace in the first quarter of the year — its slowest footing since the country exited the pandemicinduced recession in the middle of 2021, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Thursday.

The economy, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP) or the total value of goods and services produced in a specific period, grew by 6.4% during the January to March 2023.

This is slower than the 8% growth rate seen in the first quarter of 2022 and lower than the downwardly revised 7.1% growth recorded in the fourth quarter of 2022.

“Ito din ang pinakamababang paglago matapos ang pitong quarter nang magsimula ang pagbangon ng bansa mula sa pandemiya noong ikalawang quarter ng 2021,” National Statistician Dennis Mapa said at a press briefing.

The economy was pulled out of recession in the second quarter of 2021 with a GDP growth rate of 12%. While the country’s economic growth print in the first quarter was slower year-on-year and quarter-

on-quarter, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)

Secretary Arsenio Balisacan noted that “we need to exercise caution in interpreting this as a slowdown since the previous year’s growth came from a low base.”

“Rather, the economy is normalizing its previous trend,” Balisacan said.

Expecting external headwinds and slowdown in major advanced economies, the Marcos administration’s economic managers trimmed their economic growth projection for 2023 at 6.0% to 7.0% range from its earlier forecast of 6.5% to 8.0%.

Nonetheless, Balisacan described the first quarter performance as “better-thanexpected” and “implies that we are returning to our high-growth trajectory despite the various challenges and headwinds we have faced.”

“However, we have much more work to do to realize our social and economic transformation agenda toward a prosperous, inclusive, and resilient Philippines,” he said.

Food sufficiency vital in attaining human securityMarcos

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) could attain overall human security once it succeeds in being food selfsufficient, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said.

Marcos issued the statement as he called on the ASEAN memberstates to pursue innovative solutions to ensure food self-sufficiency and food security in the region.

During his intervention in the Southeast Asian leaders’ Interface with the Representatives of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-ABAC) in Indonesia, Marcos urged the regional bloc to take advantage of new technologies by using smart agriculture and food systems.

“As such, the Philippines supports ABAC’s proposal on strengthening food security, promoting sustainable production, enhancing information systems, and identifying nutrition-enhancing agriculture mechanisms for sustainable ASEAN food systems,” Marcos said.

“I would like to reiterate the commitment of the Philippine Government to work with the private sector to advance ASEAN’s goals and objectives,” he added.

This, as Marcos stressed that human security is “at the heart of ASEAN’s economic growth, hardearned peace and stability in the region.”

During the 42nd ASEAN Summit Plenary Session, Marcos emphasized the need to ensure that food and energy systems in the region are "resilient” amid the supply and price fluctuations triggered by geopolitical instability and conflict, pandemic, climate change, logistic chain disruptions and fuel shortages.

Marcos ensured that the Philippines is ramping up its efforts to attain food security in the country by using new agricultural technologies, upgrading technical and vocational education and training, and adopting climate- and disaster-resilient technologies.

United together and stronger

Marcos said ASEAN must also keep pace with the rapid digital

regional transformation.

“In a region with citizens who are enthusiastic adopters of digital solutions that are reshaping the way our countries do business, we must capitalize on such assets as e-commerce and digitalization to advance the trade agenda, enhance cross-border trade, and foster economic integration,” he said.

Marcos also echoed the ASEANABAC’s call for the regional bloc to take a leading role in shaping the regional and global economy by staying “united together and stronger” in determining its present and future economic agenda.

He said the Philippines fully recognizes the importance of private sector involvement as the “main engine” of ASEAN’s economic activity, especially in the delicate logistics chain of goods and services across the region.

(MNS)

OFWs must be trained to handle finances, avoid scams

In order to equip overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with enough knowledge to avoid investment and online scams, a lawmaker has filed a measure to provide them with free financial and literacy programs.

In filing Senate Bill No. 2078, or an Act Promoting and Developing Financial Responsibility and Literacy of OFWs, Senator Raffy Tulfo said training programs must be given as pre-departure and postarrival seminars.

“Numerous OFWs are victimized by various investment and online scams. Due to a lack of financial knowledge, a great number of OFWs are exploited and swindled out of their hard-earned money and return home to their families empty-handed,” Tulfo said in his explanatory note released Monday. He said financial education is the key component to equip Filipinos, especially OFWs, with the skills and knowledge to make sound financial choices.

Financial literacy is defined as the ability to effectively apply financial skills for budgeting, investing, and overall management of personal finance through education on financial products, such as stocks, bonds, insurance, and mutual funds.

Tulfo noted that the Covid-19 pandemic made Filipinos realize the importance of financial safety and stability in times of economic depression.

Under his proposal, all OFWs shall undergo mandatory financial literacy training seminars, which shall become an integral part of the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS).

Post-Arrival Training Seminars (PATS) on financial literacy shall likewise be required of OFWs within a reasonable time upon their arrival in a country of destination on their first employment contract or those who transfer from one place of work to another without stopping by the Philippines.

The PDOS and PATS shall be conducted by the Department of Finance as the lead agency, in coordination with the Department of Migrant Workers, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, and accredited PDOS providers across the country, including the embassies or consulates, whichever may be available, in the country of destination. (MNS)

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. joins fellow ASEAN leaders in the opening of the 42nd ASEAN Summit at Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. (MNS photo)

HARD WORK. A worker carefully piles up ornamental stones along C.P. Garcia Avenue in Quezon City on Tuesday (May 9, 2023). Buyers usually use the stones to decorate gardens and landscapes. (MNS photo)

MAKING THE NEWS: ARE THE PHILIPPINES HEADED FOR A BABY BUST?

SAN DIEGO, CA -- People in the United States are having fewer children and later in life, mirroring a trend in many developed nations. The U.S. birthrate is currently less than it was in the 1980s, and this raw data has demographers and sociologist speculating as to why and what it means. Both national and local news outlets have covered the potential reasons behind the decline, and how not having enough people to hold up our current economic model could spell disaster. Or not, it depends on your outlook.

Historically, birthrates reflect economic prosperity, so when money is tight people hold off on having kids. We saw this in the wake of the Great Recession, with a deep decline starting around 2008. When the economy began to recover, however, the birthrate continued to decline, causing demographers to scratch their heads. We, as Americans are now in a 30-year low, despite a period of economic prosperity. Is this so-called “Baby Bust” a cause for concern? Or it’s not that big of a deal?

On the other end of the spectrum (and on the other side of the world, too) the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012, also known as the RH, is a groundbreaking law that guarantees universal and free access to nearly all modern contraceptive for all citizens, including impoverished communities, at government health centers back in our beloved old homeland – the Philippines.

The law also mandates reproductive health education in government schools and recognizes a woman’s right to post-abortion care as part of the right to reproductive health care.

“With universal and free access to modern contraception, millions of Filipino women will finally be able to regain control of their fertility, health, and lives,” said Nancy Northup, president and CEO at the Center for Reproductive Rights. “The Reproductive Health Law is a historic step forward for all women in the Philippines, empowering them to make their own decisions about their health and families and participate more fully and equally in their society.”

The late President Benigno S. Aquino III signed the RH Law in December of 2012, which was immediately challenged in court by various conservative Catholic groups. On March 19 of the following year, the Supreme Court issued a status quo ante order for 120 days that was later extended indefinitely, halting the RH Law from going into effect. Fourteen petitions questioning the constitutionality of the law on the grounds that it violated a range of rights, including freedom of religion and speech, were consolidated for oral

Jesse T. Reyes

Filipino Potpourri

slide becomes a long continuous downward spiral.

Which brings us to the wisdom (or complete and utter lack of it) of the RH Law. As pointed out by the Supreme Court of the Philippines (Imbong vs. Ochoa, GR 204819): “The population of the country kept on galloping at an uncontrollable pace. From a paltry number of just over 27 million Filipinos in 1960, the population of the country reached over 76 million in the year 2000 and over 92 million in 2010. The executive and the legislative, thus, felt that the measures were still not adequate. To rein in the problem, the RH Law was enacted.”

No doubt about it, demographers are now busy trying to understand this sudden shift in population behavior, and hopefully validate what happened as part of an understandable trend. Until the experts are able to decipher what really happened, we dare come up with some reasons for the abrupt change.

First, the Roman Catholic Church’s strong views that are more widely popular in the ‘70s and ‘80s against the use of artificial contraceptives now holds a much diminished sway on its faithful, with “enlightened” Catholics arguing that responsible parenthood must take priority.

The Philippines will celebrate its 125th year since it declared independence from Spain on June 12, 1898. However, such a declaration was overshadowed by supervening events that immediately allowed American forces to occupy the Philippine Islands. The country used to celebrate Independence Day on July 4 to commemorate the United States granting of independence in 1946.

In a real sense, July 4, much like the American Independence Day, should be the correct date since July 4, 1946, was the date when the republic was formally recognized by the world community as “truly” independent. In 1962, however, then President Diosdado Macapagal correctly changed the date to reflect the declaration made by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo as the one that Filipinos truly earned.

This year’s parade celebration will carry the theme “Freedom, Future, History.” In a nutshell, the celebration is about freedom and the days leading to the occasion will be used to raise public awareness regarding the importance of the

arguments that began on July 9, 2013 and that continued through August 2013.

The Philippine Supreme Court struck down a number of provisions in the RH Law. Health care providers will be able to deny reproductive health services to patients based on their personal or religious beliefs in non-emergency situations. Spousal consent for women in non-life threatening circumstances will be required to access reproductive health care. Parental consent will also be required for minors seeking medical attention that have been pregnant or had a miscarriage. Petitioners in this case will now have 15 days to appeal the Supreme Court decision.

“While it’s concerning that certain provisions in the Reproductive Health Law were struck down, the Supreme Court has put women first and now the benefits of this law can finally become a reality for millions of Filipinos,” noted Melissa Upreti, the regional director for Asia at the Center. “Women have waited long enough for the reproductive health services and information they deserve, and the government must now move quickly to implement all the necessary policies and programs without delay.”

As one senior fellow of the Philippine Council for Foreign Relations and a Philippine Judicial Academy law lecturer for constitutional philosophy and jurisprudence gave voice to - one of the biggest lies fostered on humanity was the need for it to impose genocide on itself. That was what the myth of “overpopulation” ultimately decreed: that humans are becoming too many for the planet and thus need to be reduced either before (i.e., through contraceptives or abortion, or destroying the institutions of marriage and the family) or after (euthanasia or assisted suicide) they come into existence.

Unfortunately, that Malthusian mindset was completely wrong. The planet is not heading towards overpopulation! The world, to be precise is just simply too big for us.

And if a general medical journal Lancet Study (“Fertility, mortality, migration, and population scenarios for 195 countries and territories from 2017 to 2100,” July 2020) holds true, the world’s population may even shrink to alarming levels.

Thus, “the global population was projected to peak in 2064 at 9.73 billion (8.84-10.9) people and decline to 8.79 billion (6.83-11.8) in 2100.” Total fertility rates (TFR) for several countries are expected to fall drastically. “By 2050, 151 countries were forecasted to have a TFR lower than the replacement level (TFR <2.1) and 183 were forecasted to have a TFR lower than replacement by 2100. Twenty-three countries in the reference scenario, including Japan, Thailand, and Spain were forecasted to have population declines greater than 50% from 2017 to 2100.”

Even more disconcerting is the expected aging global population: “With 2.37 billion (1.91-2.87) individuals older than 65 years and 1.70 billion (1.11-2.81) individuals younger than 20 years, forecasted globally in 2100.”

China, the supposed upcoming superpower, is seen to have its population halved by 48% by the end of this century, with India (expected 1.09 billion by 2100) and Nigeria (791 million) overtaking China’s predicted 732 million. Because of its deranged one child policy and a preference for boys, China, predicts to become the largest economy by 2035, will gratifyingly see it returning to second place again to the US by 2098.

So, “while the world was expecting a baby boom driven by the COVID-19 pandemic as people locked down in their homes for several months - the

supposition came crashing down. The reality is much soberer and the pandemic has actually led to a baby bust rather than a boom. Research shows that the U.S. is facing the biggest slump in births in a century, France has recorded its lowest birth rate since World War II and China has received 15% fewer registrations for babies.” (“The World is Heading Toward Population Collapse and it’s a Matter of Concern – and Celebration” by Sheta Sengar, India Times, Jan.19, 2022).

Pew Research Center, meanwhile, points out that “other advanced countries have also begun to experience declining birth rates. Italy, Japan, France and Belgium are among the nations that have reported sudden drops in births about nine months after the start of the pandemic, compared with the previous year” (https://www.pewresearch. org/fact-tank/2021/05/07/with-apotential-baby-bust-on-the-horizonkey-facts-about-fertility-in-the-us-before-the- pandemic/). Also, as mentioned in this column above:

“Official figures for England and Wales reported a record 50.1% of women being childless by the age of 30.” Finally, this is complemented by the Lancet Study: “A sustained TFR lower than the replacement level in many countries, including China and India, would have economic, social, environmental, and geopolitical consequences “ (https:// www.thelancet.com/article/S01406736(20)30677-2/fulltext).

And what is the prime cause for the shrinking birth rates? The Lancer Study says this: “Access to contraception will hasten declines in fertility and slow population growth.”

Researchers indicate this because once you introduce into society the idea that having children and the family are burdens, it becomes very difficult to reverse and the population

Wisely, the Supreme Court of the Philippines saw through the deception and lies propagated by RH Law’s supporters: “Despite efforts to push the RH Law as a reproductive health law, the Court sees it as principally a population control measure. The corpus of the RH Law is geared towards the reduction of the country’s populations.”

For my two cents, I hope our “kababayans” will be wise enough to get rid of the RH Law before it causes more damage at taxpayers’ expense.

What say you?

Statistically, it took our beloved old homeland more than half a century to bring down its birth rates to somewhat decent levels, from an average of 6.3 children per woman in 1970 to 2.67 in 2017, and – if we are to be assured that there was no blip on the chart or a fluke happening – to 1.9 last year (2022).

For the world’s population managers, a birthrate of 2.1 is considered ideal for a country to achieve economic growth without fear of not having enough people to fulfill jobs. This assumes also that there will be no major migratory movements or deaths.

The reported 1.9 birthrate last year among Filipino women aged 15 to 49 by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is the country’s sharpest decline over a five-year period, and ranks our “kababayans” today as having the third lowest in Southeast Asia. The decline is a surprise, especially as the country has just emerged from one of the longest lockdowns in the world because of the pandemic. Many had surmised that this had presented the perfect opportunity for families to create more babies.

Apparently, this was not the case, and of the responses by many women who participated in surveys eliciting their concerns during the pandemic, one was the fear of getting pregnant,

Independence Day 2023 Series: We, the sovereign Filipino people

veneer of democratic ideals.

The concept of planning the right number of children depending on a couple’s income and aspirations was first introduced in the Philippines, albeit on a limited scale, by the Presbyterians, congregational, and other Protestant ministers in the 40s.

It was only in the late ‘60s, after the Philippines became a signatory to the United Nations Declaration on Population, which the government formally moved to undertake family planning and population management programs. In 1971, the Commission on Population (“Pop-Com”) was established, and in 1974, claims for tax exemptions on children were reduced to four, reflecting the seriousness by which the government viewed population control.

All these initiatives by the Philippine government were strongly opposed by the Catholic Church during the next two to three decades. Following advances in mass media, mainly through television and radio, in the next decade, debates on birth control pills, including the use of vasectomy or ligation, and condoms allowed more Catholics to make their own decisions, regardless of the Church’s position.

The second possible explanation for the sharp dive in birth rates is the rise of empowered women in the Philippines, where housewives choose to contribute an income to the household earnings, but more importantly, having a stronger say in how the household runs.

The early indicators of this empowerment can be gleaned from the first waves of Filipinas who left their families for overseas jobs, mostly as domestic helpers in countries like Hong Kong or Saudi Arabia, despite criticisms and fears that this kind of migrant work would destroy the fiber and sanctity of the Filipino family.

See JESSE REYES on 8

being the first Republic in Asia.

nation’s history, heroes of the past to allow Filipinos to see and understand their relevance going into the future.

This approach is clearly an extension of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. (PBBM) calls for unity. His presidential campaign called itself the “UniTeam” – a play on words to reflect the need for the country to work together under his leadership. Since he took office in June 2022, PBBM has repeatedly invoked his “unity” mantra which is clearly directed at the more than 15 million Filipinos who voted for then Vice President Leni Robredo.

Hence, it is really a political unity call. PBBM garnered 31.6 million votes, a landslide by Philippine measure. Yet, the president is putting out the olive branch on every important occasion and Philippine holidays. The fact that “unity” was still his theme during his state visit to the United States and United Kingdom means that he is not making much headway.

Every Philippine president elected to office always makes such

a call because by nature, the political democratic exercise called election, is a divisive act that pits voters to choose from among the contenders. Consequently, a unity call is really a form of damage control to heal the nation. The hope is that losing voters will be mature enough to accept defeat, or for the victors to be magnanimous and share the spoils of battle and move on.

In practice, however, the losers use the 6-years lull in between to sharpen their knives for the next battle (or election). They “fiscalize,” a term used to criticize the current dispensation at every turn. Meanwhile, the victors enjoy the spoils by spreading the loot among its adherents. In the words of a Liberal Party stalwart during the administration of President Elpidio Quirino, Jose Avelino, who decried a corruption investigation ordered by the president, “Why are we in power for?” was his infamous declaration. It is truly a vicious cycle.

To break such a cycle of open warfare, a document called “constitution” is put in place to reign in such division. From the charter, the pillars of government are formed, laws are made for the executive to enforce, and for another branch to interpret such laws as to their constitutionality. Thus, a cottage industry is born under the

“We, the sovereign Filipino people,” are the first five words of the Preamble to the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines. The rest of the Preamble contains liberal ideas of what the Framers believed the society ought to be. Thirty-six years later, many of these noble aspirations remain just that – aspirations. Thus, the continuing call for unity. What gives?

When a president calls for unity, what exactly is he or she trying to achieve? What are the political benchmarks and milestones that would give rise to such a veneer of unity at peacetime? It must be worrisome for presidents to see or know that Filipinos flock to air-conditioned malls on National Heroes Day or Philippine Independence Day rather than watch a Rizal impostor being shot at the town plaza.

Clearly, many Filipinos could no longer relate (if they ever did) to the import of the day much less feel the fervor of “patriotism or nationalism.” There isn’t a single silver bullet that can slay such a lack of understanding. In the first place, the Philippine Constitution itself is one of the culprits. From “We, the people” from the U.S. Constitution’s Preamble (where the 1987 version was patterned mostly from), the Pinoy version added two

words, “sovereign Filipino.” Does anybody out there, the non-lawyer type, really grasp what these two plus three words mean?

“We, the people” is already understood to refer to the people of that country who are called the sovereign. In a democracy, the sovereign is the source of governmental powers because the people’s consent is needed through various means. Elections are a good example. The people collectively vote for who they want to lead the country being a democratic and republican form of government. Additionally, they also vote for the senators and honorable congress people to represent them.

Looking at how elections and campaigns are practiced in the Philippines where vote buying, political killing, and outright cheating through “dagdag-bawas”

(vote shaving) or outright calling a COMELEC official to do the bidding for a candidate; do these acts imply true consent from the governed?

How about when honorable representatives or senators act to kowtow with the president through a supermajority, truly representative of a representative democracy where the will of the people reigns supreme?

Of course, they’re not. Yet Filipinos proudly cling to democracy as a badge of honor

Add to that a very powerful lobby from the country’s oligarchs who would want to keep the nationalistic provisions of the Cory “Freedom Constitution” that allow them to accumulate more wealth. Perhaps Muammar Gadaffi’s Third International Theory is spot on as an alternative to capitalism and Marxism-Leninism for Third World countries like the Philippines. Gadaffi’s theory delves on three vital aspects of existence like solving the problem of inequity under a democracy where the rich get richer and the poor, well, poorer. People Power in a democracy is not really exercised by the people but by those elected on their behalf.

Another is solving the problem of the economy. In a democracy, the word socialism is like cancer that rich people don’t want to hear or be associated with. Wage labor is akin to slavery, according to the theory, that has not kept up with the standard of living. Low wages for employees mean small take home pay that prevents them from satisfying their basic needs.

As envisioned by Harold Maslow, an American psychologist, the hierarchy of needs explains human motivation on the pursuit of happiness based on different levels of needs. From food on the table to addressing health concerns, democracy has shown such inequity.

Article 3 of the 1987 Constitution contains the Bill of Rights that echoes the equality of all that is divinely given. (To be continued)

The Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital serves low-income communities in Manila where the rates of teen pregnancy are high. Locals call it the "baby factory" and the maternity ward is typically very busy.

Professional Business Directory

success through culturally responsive technical assistance in our region’s most diverse communities."

Mr. Paguio expressed his gratitude for the recognition, "I am humbled and honored to receive this award. It is a testament to the hard work of the Asian Business Association of San Diego team, our board of directors, and our collective commitment to empowering and uplifting our AAPI small businesses as part of the San Diego and Imperial SBDC Network."

For more information on National Small Business Week and the San Diego & Imperial Valley Small Business Development Center Network's Small Business Awards Event, please visit the SBA website at sba.gov.

We want to share some of the important questions we received from readers. Hope you will find them useful. If you have additional questions regarding the below, or around the topics of Medicare, Medicaid, Affordable Care Act or other senior benefits, there are 3 ways you can reach us. We will answer all your questions in a timely manner.

Call our Senior Assistance Center at: (English) 1-800-336-2722

Email: askNAPCA@napca.org

Mail: NAPCA Senior Assistance Center, 1511 3rd Avenue, Suite 914, Seattle, WA 98101

1. Do I still need to get the COVID-19 vaccine?

COVID is still with us. In late March the US still averaged 19,500 cases per day, 585,000 per month.

For older adults, COVID is still dangerous. The risk of severe cases that require hospitalization is pretty low for people under 18. If you are 65 and over, the risk is 36 times higher and the older the higher. So older adults are strongly recommended to stay up to date with the most current vaccine. If your last shot was before Sep. 2022, you should get an updated bivalent vaccine and then it provides protection against both the original COVID virus and the Omicron

strains that are infecting people right now. The COVID virus changes like the flu virus so it is important to get the most recent updated vaccine to get the best protection.

2. What type of COVID-19 vaccine should I receive? And how many times?

Because the protection provided by the COVID-19 vaccine fades much more quickly for people 65 and older and people who have underlying conditions, CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) updated its COVID-19 vaccine recommendations to allow an additional dose of the updated (bivalent) vaccine for these populations. No matter how old you are, if you have not gotten a shot since September 2022, you definitely need one!

• If you are 65 or older or if you have underlying conditions, it may be a good idea for you to get an extra dose of bivalent vaccine. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to decide whether it makes sense for you.

3. What is Medicaid redetermination (Unwinding of the Medicaid Continuous Enrollment Provision) and how does it affect my Medicaid? Medicaid eligibility is required to be renewed periodically, but during the COVID public health emergency, Medicaid disenrollment

has been paused in every state by federal provision. However, the continuous coverage requirement ends on March 31, 2023. Your state checks whether you still qualify for Medicaid coverage and will be able to resume Medicaid disenrollments starting April 1, 2023. The disenrollments will not occur all at once, as the process will be spread out across most of 2023 and the first part of 2024. To be prepared for Medicaid redetermination, make sure your contact information is updated so that you can receive any communications your state sends you. When you receive a Medicaid packet or letter in the mail, you need to fill out the renewal form and send it (with requested documents if applicable) to the address provided.

If you are ineligible to renew your Medicaid, you will qualify for a special enrollment period to find and enroll in a new health insurance plan in time for your loss of Medicaid coverage.

4. What option do I have if I lose Medicaid after unwinding Medicaid continuous enrollment condition?

There will generally be three options for those who are no longer eligible for Medicaid as the result of the Medicaid unwinding process.

Option 1: You can re-apply for Medicaid to find if you still qualify.

If your income level or medical need changes, you might qualify

for Medicaid in your state. You can apply any time, and there’s no limit to the number of times you can apply.

Option 2: You may be able to get low-cost, quality health coverage through the ACA Marketplace.

Submit a new or updated Marketplace application and provide the proof of the last date of Medicaid between March 31, 2023 and July 31, 2024, then you will be eligible for this temporary Special Enrollment Period (SEP). You will have a 60 days’ window after you submit your application to select a Marketplace plan.

Option 3: You may be able to sign up for Medicare without paying a late enrollment penalty. If you now qualify for Medicare but didn’t sign up for it when you first became eligible, you have a limited time (SEP) to sign up without paying the usual penalty. Your SEP starts the day your state notifies you that your Medicaid coverage is ending and continues for 6 months after your Medicaid coverage ends.

Plus, you can try to apply for Medicare Savings Programs to get assistance for your Medicare copays and/or deductibles.

5. I am eligible for Social Security retirement based on my 40 working credits and eligible for spousal benefits based on my husband’s Social Security credits.

Spiritual Life

Nurses: Advocating, Leading, Caring

National Nurses Week is celebrated annually from May 6 through May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. Every time the celebration comes around I pause to remember my many friends and loved ones who have devoted their lives in caring for others, serving as God’s hands in alleviating pain, in providing comfort and in inspiring hope. I remember my own mother, one of the first nurses who graduated from a Christian mission nursing school. She devoted her life to public health nursing - caring for mothers and children, preventing diseases through immunization, conducting home visits and giving health education, and providing prenatal, natal and postnatal care to mothers and their new-born babies, and other services beyond nursing care.

To her, Nursing is a true religion as she devoted her Sundays not in church services instead she visited the poor and infirmed, widows and orphans believing that faith without works is dead.

I grew up with high hopes that someday I would become a nurse, but when I was in the process of selecting a career, my mother discouraged me to follow her footsteps, saying that it is a difficult career and I don’t have the patience or the temperament to be a good nurse. I did not agree with her observation, but I was too young to argue and to chart my own career path. I ended up becoming a teacher with health education as my major field of study.

My mother’s passion for nursing must have influenced two of my daughters to become nurses.

Aurora S. Cudal-Rivera

My Personal Testimony

My daughter, Gia, needed no encouragement. After graduating from high school, she took the entrance exams at the Mary Johnston College of Nursing, Philippine Christian University without my knowledge. She was single-minded in pursuing Nursing as her lifetime career. On the other hand, Sharon Rose, my youngest daughter, who was deeply involved in the Campus for Christ Ministry, wanted to be a missionary. I advised her to take up Nursing so that she will have the knowledge, skills and competence in caring for others and to be an effective missionary. It took me sometime to convince her to take the entrance test at her sister’s alma mater. She finally acceded after some forceful cajoling.

A month ago, I read notes of congratulations on Sharon’s Facebook wall. Her co-workers at the Trauma Unit of Scripps Mercy Hospital at Hillcrest voted for her as their Unit’s “Nurse of the Year”. Apparently, Sharon found her mission field. Her reaction to this honor was one of humility and grace. Her close relationship with God, nurtured by her involvement

in the ministries of the International Christian Center (ICC) and deepened by her faithful service as a member of ICC’s Praise and Worship Team spills over at her workplace and as she takes care of her patients.

Congratulations not only to Sharon, but to all the nurses in my family – Gia, Angela (my eldest grand daughter) and Mary Ivy, (my daughter in-law.) and to all the nurses in the world who are making a difference in the lives of others and in the community as a wholeadvocating, leading and caring.

My prayer. Almighty and everloving God, I pray for all the nurses in our community, in the hospitals and clinics, in schools and in nursing homes. Bless them with patience and compassion. Make them aware that they are Your hands as they care for others, and they are Your heart as they allay the fears and anxieties of those suffering from illness and infirmity. Grant them good health and continue to inspire them in their work and in their being. Fill their hearts with love so that they will reflect Your love in their service to others. Amen.

Beware of placing too much expectation on others

Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. (2

Timothy 4:9-10)

Adversity molded the apostle Paul into the greatest warrior for Christ the world has ever known. But there were times when adversity and disappointment took its toll on this rugged warrior. We can sense Paul's hurt and discouragement near the end of his second letter to Timothy:

Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica... At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me... Do your best to get here before winter (4:9-11, 14, 16, 21).

Do you hear the pain in those words? Twice he urges Timothy to come to him. Do you feel his anguish when he twice speaks of being deserted by his friends?

In most of his letters, Paul seems to have an invincible spirit. Yet he was a man who suffered, felt betrayed, and was at times very lonely. However, Paul chose

JESSE REYES

Continued from page 5

A wave of development work followed solely focused on organizing and mobilizing women to take a more active economic role, not only in family life, but also in the community.

Not only are Filipino women more at ease now at forming their own decisions, but they also have realized that they can solve problems through cooperative work.

In fact, since 2006 when the World Economic Forum started tracking gender equality, the Philippines figured in the top rankings as Filipino women were given ample opportunities and rights to participate in economic activities, to attain a decent education, and to participate in political movements.

Another reason for the abrupt decline in country’s birthrate would be

Greetings in the Lord!

In the gospel reading of the past Sunday Jesus spoke about two very important things in our Christian faith. First, he spoke about the reality of the existence of heaven, where we hope to go after our life here on earth is over. Second Jesus affirmed that indeed He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is the only way in order to be in communion with the Trinity. He is truly the embodiment of the life in God: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father… I am in the Father and the Father is in me… I do not speak on my own.” (Jn. 14:11)

Today’s gospel reading is a continuation of Jesus’ teaching concerning His desire for us to be with Him and His Father. This desire of Jesus is contained in his proclamation that our response in love for Him is conditioned on our keeping his commandment, “if you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (Jn. 14:15) This proclamation leads us to his promise of the Father sending to his disciples “another Advocate to be with you always.” This message already foretells he descent of the Holy Spirit, “whom the world cannot accept because it neither sees and

knows him.

Although Jesus is not yet speaking of the Trinitarian nature of God, he already points, in this gospel that the indwelling of God, One and Triune depends so much on the fact that “whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father and I will love him and reveal myself to him.

This gospel’s pericope introduces us to the New Commandment of Jesus which is the subject matter of the Gospel of John chapter 15, 9-7. This will be gospel reading of the liturgy next Sunday. What an integrated presentation of core of the mission of Jesus. He was sent to the world and to humanity by the

Father out of love, in order to lead mankind to realize this love and can only be responded by true love which has been shown by Jesus, the Good Shepherd who gave his life for his sheep whose final goal is to be with Him in heaven, the abode of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These chapters are taken from the gospel of St. John are part of the several chapters in his gospel considered by exegetes as his “Farewell Address,”. Chapters 14 to 17 are identified so because it shows how he is preparing his disciples for his death. These words of exhortation to his disciples are intended to be passed on to his followers since they contain prophecies and words of caution about the future, about God’s plan and his advice on how to attain the purpose of the Will of His Father.

What a beautiful way for us to consider when we pray and thank the Lord for our mothers, both living and those who passed away. I believe that every mother must have taught us how to love the way Jesus did and brought us to know the love that Jesus taught His disciples. May I, therefore, greet you all the mothers a “Happy Mothers’ Day!”

Danny Hernaez

PH, LAOS

Continued from page 1

to look at life from a heavenly perspective. That's why he could write: We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body (2 Corinthians 4:8-10).

Paul had experienced a level of opposition and suffering that you and I can scarcely imagine. People said they would do things but did not follow through. He could not depend on certain people. Yet he was not crushed, and he refused to give in to despair. He viewed his life as a continual process of

the availability of safer contraceptive pills and devices, making it easier for women to embrace family planning methods that work without fail, and prevent unwanted pregnancies.

Contraceptives are also more widely available in “barangay”

(Historically referred to as barrio is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines, and is the native Filipino term for a village, district or ward) health centers, and its distribution has been removed of earlier stigmas. Drugstores also carry a wider range of products, while medical practitioners are well versed in recommending brands.

With more women taking on jobs and wanting to keep them, the choice of having a child is usually deferred.

Part of the reason is the desire to be able to raise a child under the best conditions, which often means that careers may have to take the back seat. On the periphery, some women

dying. His goal was to live in such a way that the life of Jesus would be revealed in his response to adversity.

Beware of placing too much expectation on others. Realize that people will let you down from time to time, but do not let that impact your faith. Trust God to work even through these disappointments.

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

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simply feel that having a child exacerbates the overpopulation problem of the world, which has just crossed the eight billionth marks, if you – my dear folks – are not aware of it yet. Others simply think they can’t afford a child or to be held responsible for a life.

The Philippines is definitely going to be an interesting case study, with questions about the possibility of it already entering a baby bust cycle, a period where there will be fewer babies born to keep population numbers at the ideal size. That’s a bit far into the future, but our old country’s economic planners should be prepared for it.

For now, though, the bigger task at hand is how the government can ensure that the huge youth segment of population, born during a still baby boom era from 1993 through 2017, will be amply prepared to become productive citizens of the future. Press On!

The President also cited the Philippines’ robust healthcare system that was tested during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“But also there’s much more to that; there’s also an educational aspect and I think that we have the basis in our agreements and we can build upon that regard,” Marcos said, saying education can also be an area that the two countries can promote “now that things are beginning to open up.”

Aside from tourism, the President also pointed out the two nations can boost the professional exchanges in terms of work, saying the similarities between the Philippines and Lao “have been well noted and are to the advantage of” by both countries.

Siphandone also relayed an invitation for President Marcos for a state visit to Lao PDR.

“I would like to extend an invitation from His Excellency Thongloun Sisoulith, President of the Laos PDR, to Your Excellency to make a state visit at a time of convenience for you,” Siphandone told President Marcos.

In return, the President also extended an invitation to the Prime Minister and his President to visit the Philippines.

President Marcos likewise said he looks forward to working with the Lao government, noting that the Philippines and Lao “have had a very long and fruitful relationship.”

“We have always felt that this has been a relationship — that although this has been a long-standing one that we can further develop. We had a very good working relationship with your predecessor, and we

certainly look forward to continuing that during your chairmanship for ASEAN in the next ASEAN sessions,” the Philippine leader said.

“The Philippines and Lao PDR, as I said, have had a very long relationship but it is something that — there’s much potential, now that our economies, especially here in ASEAN and around the region have begun to show signs of life after the pandemic,” Marcos said.

He added the two nations can start to discuss trade in terms of investment on the possibility of the Lao officials’ state visit to the Philippines.

PBBM lauds ASEAN IPA’s support to address shared challenges

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday underscored the importance of inter-parliamentary coordination among the memberstates of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to synergize regional efforts towards tackling shared challenges, such as climate change and transnational threats.

During his intervention in the ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with Representatives from the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), Marcos said the regional bloc should also focus its efforts on upholding a rules-based international order anchored in international law.

“We thank the AIPA for continuing to support our vision for a rules-based, people-oriented, and people-centered ASEAN," he said.

One of the recommendations for ASEAN to achieve shared regional aspiration, Marcos said, is maintaining open communication and effective collaboration between the executive and legislative bodies to harmonize the laws and

regulations across the region.

“Through such a partnership, we can realize in the domestic arena agreed strategies for collaboration and identify laws which are needed to harness new opportunities for the region as well as address emerging regional challenges,” he added.

Marcos said ASEAN members share the same concerns regarding the increasing misuse of innovative technological applications to facilitate trafficking in persons, which requires concerted cooperation between the legislative and executive bodies to be resolved.

He said that for this instance, a robust legal framework and an effective enforcement mechanism that complement each other must be created to reinforce national and regional cooperation against trafficking in persons.

Marcos highlighted AIPA’s role as a bridge to connect ASEAN with the people by communicating the importance of a cohesive regional grouping.

He said having a cohesive regional grouping could unify the members with a stronger sense of one ASEAN vision, one ASEAN Community.

Aside from acting as a bridge, Marcos said, AIPA should also amplify the voices of the region’s people through AIPA's collaboration with its foreign partners to advance the aspirations of the people in the region.

AIPA serves as the center of communication and information among Member Parliaments in the ASEAN. It aims to encourage understanding, cooperation, and close relations among Member Parliaments as well as Observer Member Parliaments and other parliamentary organizations. (MNS)

Fr. Agustin T. Opalalic

at the Meruorah Convention Center in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia.

“The work of the High-Level Task Force requires sober deliberation of the potentials and the possibilities of the evolving regional and global architecture. It is imperative that we be decisive, it is imperative that we be responsive,” he added.

Marcos said the Southeast Asian region must show the world that it can “respond effectively to geopolitical and geo-economic challenges as a cohesive (force).”

He stressed that the regional bloc would only succeed in addressing issues on geo-politics and geoeconomics, if it becomes a “master of its future.”

“The ASEAN of today must be better than the ASEAN of yesterday.

For ASEAN to succeed, ASEAN must be the master of its future,” Marcos said.

Marcos said ASEAN must be agile as it adapts to the diverse meaningful interventions needed for the “complex challenges of the times.”

Southeast Asian leaders, Marcos said, must exert efforts to advance the welfare of the region.

“Regionalism should mirror our collective interests, for our strength relies on our united voice,” Marcos said, as he emphasized the need to balance agility with stability and inclusivity.

Marcos said the Philippines continues to underscore the need to strengthen the region’s institutions, enhance existing ASEAN mechanisms such as the East Asia Summit, and streamline processes to achieve concrete results.

PBBM recognizes AIPA’s role in tackling climate change, transnational threats

Recognizing the importance of inter-parliamentary cooperation in synergizing regional efforts towards tackling shared challenges, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. made several recommendations to allow the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to achieve shared regional aspiration.

“Inter-parliamentary cooperation will synergize regional efforts towards tackling shared challenges such as climate change, transnational threats, and upholding a rules-based international order anchored in international law,” President Marcos said during his intervention in the ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with Representatives from the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA).

“We thank the AIPA for continuing to support our vision for a rulesbased, people-oriented, and peoplecentered ASEAN.”

In his intervention, the President recommended maintaining an open communication and effective collaboration between the executive and legislative bodies to harmonize the laws and regulations across the region.

“Through such a partnership, we can realize in the domestic arena agreed strategies for collaboration and identify laws which are needed to harness new opportunities for the region as well as address emerging regional challenges,” he pointed out.

For instance, Marcos said ASEAN members share the same concerns regarding the increasing misuse of innovative technological applications to facilitate trafficking in persons, a multidimensional issue that needs concerted cooperation between the legislative and executive bodies in order to be resolved.

Creating a robust legal framework and an effective enforcement mechanism that mutually supports each other to reinforce national and regional cooperation against trafficking in persons are needed to address those issues, he said.

President Marcos also raised AIPA’s role as a bridge to connect ASEAN with the people by communicating the importance of a cohesive regional grouping, thereby unifying its members with a stronger sense of one ASEAN vision, one ASEAN Community.

This is necessary because although ASEAN contributed to the remarkable regional socio-economic growth and development since its inception, the peoples’ awareness of ASEAN’s contributions to their own lives might not be well understood.

And against the backdrop of a more volatile and fragmented world, the President encouraged AIPA to enhance the primacy of the voices of the region’s people in

AIPA’s collaboration with its foreign partners to advance the aspirations of the people in the region.

AIPA serves as the center of communication and information among Member Parliaments in the ASEAN. It aims to encourage understanding, cooperation, and close relations among Member Parliaments as well as Observer Member Parliaments and other parliamentary organizations.

AIPA also plays and instrumental role in familiarizing the peoples of Southeast Asia with policies aimed at accelerating the realization of an ASEAN Community in 2025. (MNS)

PBBM brings focus on ageing population, renewable energy to ASEAN

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expressed his concerns over the ageing population in the Southeast Asian region, the first time a regional leader brought out the issue before the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Marcos made mention of the region’s ageing population during the 42nd ASEAN Summit Plenary Session on Wednesday, stressing it must be addressed.

“Decades of sustained economic growth and prosperity has resulted in longer lifespans in ASEAN. According to the Asian Development Bank, one out of four people in the Asia Pacific will be over the age of 60 by the year 2050,” Marcos said.

“I think therefore it is time that ASEAN should start discussing the concerns of an ageing population, consistent with the ASEAN tradition of valuing our elders,” said.

Marcos said these issues must viewed as an opportunity and as a challenge, “especially in terms of adequate social benefits on the one hand and social empowerment on the other. ASEAN goals and work plans should ensure health for our elders, a safe and dignified, and productive life.” The President also brought up the need for the regional grouping to transition to renewable and alternative energy technologies, stressing the Philippines is doing its part in that regard.

The President also called for unity among ASEAN members as he urged developed countries to fulfill their longstanding commitments to the Paris Agreement.

“Although developing countries such as the Philippines only account for less than one percent of global emissions, our countries bear the brunt of the devastating impacts of climate change,” Marcos pointed out. He said the Philippines will take bold steps to transition to renewable and alternative energy technologies in a secure and sustainable manner. The country is rich in critical metals like aluminum, nickel and chromite, which are energy efficient to produce.

“Recognizing that a cleaner energy future is anchored on the supply of critical minerals, ASEAN should now start enhancing regional cooperation towards boosting the region’s strategic industrial metals and minerals value chain,” Marcos said.

“Developed countries have a moral obligation to support adaptation and mitigation efforts of the most vulnerable countries through technology transfer, capacity building, and climate financing, this to address loss and damage, and to achieve necessary breakthroughs for climate action at a global scale,” he said.

Marcos said the Philippines recognizes biodiversity can complement and synergize with ASEAN’s initiatives in climate change, contributing to our efforts towards a more sustainable and resilient future.

The conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity is an intergenerational responsibility that the Philippines is proud to support through the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity, he said.

International law and free trade Marcos also called on the ASEAN to focus on upholding international law and the international rulesbased system and committing to the principles of free trade and to the multilateral trading system.

*Upholding international law* and the rules-based system has underpinned the peace, security, stability, and prosperity of the region, Marcos said, as he welcomed Indonesia’s ASEAN Chairmanship priority of strengthening regional cooperation to address cross-border crimes, particularly Trafficking in Persons.

In terms of trade and commerce, the President announced the

Philippines has deposited its Instrument of Ratification for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement.

“We are optimistic that RCEP will serve as an engine of growth that will help build more resilient supply chains and support the integration of our micro, medium, and smallscale establishments into the global economy,” Marcos told the plenary.

“ASEAN must strengthen cross-border connectivity and the interoperability of digital frameworks. We must forge a vibrant digital economy and ensure that our people are equipped with the digital skills of the future so that no one is left behind in the midst of our world’s digital transformation.”

ASEAN members must ensure that food and energy systems are resilient in the face of the supply and price fluctuations triggered by geopolitical instability and conflict, pandemics, climate change, logistics chain disruptions, and fuel shortages.

The Philippines, Marcos said, aims to strengthen food security and production efficiency via the use of new agricultural technologies, upgrading Technical and Vocational Education and Training, and adopting climate- and disaster-resilient technologies.

Also during his intervention, President Marcos rallied for a wholeof-community support to TimorLeste for its journey towards full ASEAN membership.

The Philippine leader said TimorLeste would strengthen the ASEAN Community as it expands the reach of the regional bloc’s united front to face the challenges of the 21st century. (MNS)

PBBM: Goal to make PH economy 'strong' within reach

The current administration is on the right track to sustain the Philippines' strong economy, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Thursday.

Marcos made the remark as he welcomed the Philippine Statistics Authority's (PSA) report that the Philippines' gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 6.4 percent in the first quarter of 2023.

He said the government's resolve to bring more job and investment opportunities is already within reach.

"Layunin natin ay isang matibay na ekonomiya na nagreresulta sa dagdag trabaho at oportunidad para sa negosyo at pamumuhunan (Our goal is to have a robust economy that will lead to the creation of more jobs and more opportunities for businesses and investments)," Marcos said on a Facebook post.

"Unti-unti na natin itong naaabot habang patuloy ang pagtaas ng ating GDP growth rate na ngayon ay nasa 6.4 percent sa unang quarter ng taon (It is already within our reach, given the continued increase in our GDP growth rate which now stands at 6.4 percent in the first quarter of 2023)," he added.

Marcos also expressed elation that the Philippines even surpassed the growth rate posted by Indonesia, China and Vietnam in the same period.

Marcos' economic team, citing the first quarter 2023 real GDP growth rates of major emerging economies in Asia, noted that the Philippines "grew the fastest," followed by Indonesia (5 percent), China (4.5 percent) and Vietnam (3.3 percent).

The country's economic growth rate is also more rapid than the projected growth rates for Malaysia (4.9 percent), India (4.6 percent), Thailand (2.8 percent), Korea (0.8 percent), and Singapore (0.1 percent), and Taiwan (-3 percent).

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the Philippines' latest economic performance is "outstanding," adding that that the 6.5 to 8 percent growth projection for 2024 to 2028 is attainable.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) director general Arsenio Balicasan said the economic outlook for the Philippines in the near and medium term "remains solid."

Balisacan said the full implementation of the strategies in the Development Plan 2023-2028 is vital to ensure that the country will go back to its high-growth path.

"The strategies call for developing and protecting the capabilities of Filipinos and transforming our production sectors to generate more quality jobs and competitive

I am 62 soon and trying to claim spousal retirement which is higher than my worker’s benefit. How much would it be and how do I apply for it?

You could apply for spousal retirement benefit once you reach the age of 62 if your husband already started receiving his retirement. The rule is that depending on your age upon claiming, spousal benefit can range from 32.5% to 50% of your husband’s primary insurance amount (PIA), which is the monthly benefit the retiree is entitled to at full retirement age (FRA). When you apply for spousal benefit at 62, you

will receive 32.5% of the husband’s PIA permanently. The longer you wait to claim the spousal benefit until your FRA, the bigger the monthly amount grows. The maximum amount you can receive is up to 50% of his PIA. If your husband took his retirement earlier than his FRA, your spousal benefit in turn will be counted based on his reduced amount.

When you apply for spousal benefit, you must apply for both your worker’s benefit and spousal benefit

at the same time. Social Security pays worker’s benefit first, then adds enough of the spousal benefit to make up the difference and match the higher amount.

National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of AANHPI older adults and their families. We operate a NAPCA Senior Assistance Center for Older Adults and Caregivers and is available in 5 different languages.

“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

Friend or Foe - The Dawn of the AI Revolution

By Peter White/eMS

“I wasn’t around then,” says Hector Palacios, “but back in the day people would say, ‘I’m going to buy an engine.’” After a while, nobody was thinking about engines, Palacios says. Engines powered machinery “to become many specialized things in many contexts.”

AI has been evolving for decades, but the recent unveiling of chatbots that write scientific papers, legal briefs, and news stories has many fearing that a robot will someday replace them. Still, others point to AI’s potential to revolutionize fields like education, journalism, and science.

FTC chair Lina Khan recently summed up the contradictions inherent in this burgeoning technology when she said that AI can deliver critical innovation, but also “turbocharge fraud and automate discrimination.”

Vice-President Kamala Harris waded into the debate when she met last week with chief executives of four Big Tech firms to discuss artificial intelligence.

In a statement after the three-hour meeting, the administration said there had been “frank and constructive discussion” about companies being more open about their products and the importance that those products be kept away from bad actors.

Ramping up misinformation

“It used to be the case that we saw some text quickly, and said, ‘Oh, yes, that was fully written by a human’. But this is not true anymore,” Palacios says.

For example, the Republican National Committee released a 30-second spot last week in response to President Biden’s announcement that he was running for reelection. The ad showed fake visuals of China invading Taiwan and 80,000 immigrants overwhelming the Southern border, all of it interspersed with disturbing footage of civic unrest.

A barely noticeable disclaimer along the upper left-hand corner of the screen read: “Built entirely with AI imagery.”

“Artificial intelligence is software,” Palacios told reporters during a news briefing last week, noting the technology is based on math, which

can do complex computing that algorithms take one step further with large language models (LLMs).

Generative AI uses computers and LLMs to create new content from large sets of data. LLMs are designed specifically to generate text-based content.

Dr. Christopher Dede is a senior research fellow at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education and Associate Director of Research for the National AI Institute for Adult Learning and Online Education. When he reads a student essay that is just too good to believe, Dede doesn’t worry about it too much. Plagiarism has been around a lot longer than LLMs.

“So, at the start of the spring semester in my online course at Harvard, I spent 5 minutes talking to

students about generative AI and I said, ‘You can use generative AI, and if you’re smart about it, we’re not going to be able to tell.’”

But when they go out for a job interview and are asked to produce a marketing plan in half an hour, he warns them, “If your marketing plan isn’t a lot better than what comes out of the AI, you’re not going to get hired.”

Seeing AI as a partner Dede tells his students to think about AI as a partner, not as a substitute, an insight he came to as a young graduate student who loved Star Trek.

“In Star Trek, the Next Generation, where you have Captain Picard, the wise human starship captain, and then you have Data who looks like a person, but is actually an android, a machine.”

“Data is capable of absorbing

enormous amounts of data in a matter of a seconds, and doing what’s called reckoning, which is calculative prediction. Captain Pickard has sort of judgment-applied wisdom, and so he’s the one that’s in charge of the starship, and he uses Data’s calculative predictions to help him make good decisions.”

Dede says Data augmented Picard’s human experience and the two partners did things together neither could do by themselves.

“To illustrate this in a less fantastic way, there are cancer specialists, oncologists now who have AI partners. The AI can do something that no cancer specialist can do.

It can scan every morning 1,500 medical journals online and see if there’s something new about the

treatment of a particular patient. It can scan medical records worldwide of similar patients undergoing a variety of treatments and get advice about what’s working and what’s not working,” he says.

But you would never want the AI making the decisions because the doctor knows things the AI doesn’t know. The doctor knows about pain and death. The doctor understands that cultures have different points of view about death, its effects on family as well as an individual, and so on.

“AI does not understand any of those things. It’s an alien kind of intelligence,” Dede says. And sometimes it really blows it.

Tracking AI bloopers

Sean McGregor got his PhD in machine learning. He was the lead technical consultant for the IBM Watson AIXPRIZE and founded the Responsible AI Collaborative. He is

developing an AI Incident Database to index AI performance in the real world. Basically, McGregor scours the world for AI bloopers.

One woman in China was publicly shamed for jaywalking when AI picked up her image on the side of a bus. In 2021, a man in Bath, England was cited for driving in a bus lane after AI captured a photo of a woman wearing a shirt that said “KNI9TER.” It looked a lot like the man’s license plate.

“What the database does is it collects each of these incidents that happen in the world and puts a number to them.” The goal, says McGregor, is to “make the whole AI industry safer.”

In the meantime, Palacios says the existential tenor of discussions around AI’s potential applications and impacts misses a finer point. “Many things are going to happen with the AI revolution and probably the biggest surprises are going to come in the small details.”