The Filipino Press: September 23-29, 2022

Marcos woos US investors: PH economy ‘robust, resilient’

MANILA -- President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Monday enticed more American businesses to invest in the Philippines, assuring them that the country has a robust and resilient economy.

Speaking before the business leaders from United States (US), Marcos shared that his administration is ramping up its efforts to further open up the Philippine economy and accelerate the country’s recovery from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

“Despite external headwinds, the Philippine economy’s resilience — reinforced by sound policies and decisive leadership — makes us confident about our future,” Marcos, who is currently in the US, said during the New York Stock Exchange Business Forum.

Marcos said he looked forward to more investments from the private sector for the development of various fields such as public infrastructure, energy, and agriculture, as well as for the digitalization of the Philippines.

“Over the past few decades, as the Philippines transformed into one of the most promising emerging markets, the United States has been among our steady partners. For that, we are truly grateful. At the same time, American companies doing business in the Philippines have benefited significantly from our economic successes,” he said.

“I wish to emphasize that the Philippines is keen to continue nurturing the ties that helped produce mutual benefits for both our

economies, our organizations, and our peoples. Let us achieve many more milestones together,” Marcos added.

Marcos made the remarks, as he acknowledged the US and the

Philippines’ “strong and enduring” ties in trade and commerce.

The US is the Philippines’ third largest trading partner and second major source of foreign direct investment applications in 2021.

On his second day in the US, Marcos also rang the closing bell of the NYSE, signaling the end of the day's trading.

‘Mutually beneficial’ investments Marcos guaranteed that the

Philippines has increased the scope for “mutually beneficial” investments aimed at generating more jobs for Filipinos and giving them a “better” life.

“For investors, doing business

in the Philippines is an opportunity to reap the benefits of a vibrant economy,” he said.

Marcos told the American businessmen that the country is offering investment opportunities in areas such as information technology and business process management; medical products and devices; electric vehicles and batteries; agribusiness; and telecommunications infrastructure and services.

He stressed that despite the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic, the Philippines’ economy remains “robust” since 2021 and is slated to achieve its goal of becoming an “upper-middle-income” country in the coming years.

"Bouncing back from the pandemic, the Philippine economy has seen robust growth since last year and has returned to its path toward upper-middle-income country status, achievable within the next few years,” he said.

To be recognized as an uppermiddle-income economy, a country must reach the World Bank’s gross national income (GNI) per capita threshold of USD4,256 to USD13,205.

In 2021, the Philippines’ GNI per capita rose to USD3,640 in 2021 from USD3,430 in 2020 or at the height of the pandemic, according to the World Bank data.

Liberalizing the economy Wooing the US investors, Marcos

By Mark hEdin/EMS

With its June 24 “Dobbs” decision, the U.S. Supreme Court took away the guarantee of a right to abortion it made 50 years earlier under Roe v. Wade. The Dobbs ruling doesn’t make abortion illegal, but it allows individual states to greatly restrict it, and many are.

But in California, and particularly Los Angeles County, legislators are stepping up to protect reproductive rights.

And in November, California voters can add those rights to the state constitution.

In January this year, anticipating the Supreme Court’s hostile ruling, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a “Safe Haven Access to Abortion” pilot program to help anyone, anywhere in California, get the help they need, regardless of immigration status, financial resources, or laws in other states where they may live.

At a Sept. 14 press briefing hosted by the LA County Chief Executive Office and Ethnic Media Services, County Board of Supervisors Chair Holly Mitchell, other government officials and social service providers described some of the many ways California is taking the lead nationwide in protecting health care rights, and abortion services in particular.

“It’s important that L.A. County be a safe haven for women seeking abortion services,” Mitchell said.

“It’s our duty, particularly to those who have been historically underserved in black and brown communities.”

Joining her at the press conference were Chanel Smith, executive director of the county’s Women’s and Girls Initiative program; Susie Baldwin, medical director for the county Department of Public Health’s Office of Women’s Health; Sylvia Castillo, of Essential Health Access; Sasha Nochimow, of Access Reproductive Justice; and Rigoberto Reyes, executive director of the county’s Office of Immigrant Affairs.

“Regardless of ethnicity, country of origin, religion, documentation status or the languages they speak, reproductive health care, including abortion services, are still legal and available in Los Angeles County,”

Smith said.

She noted the need to increase the number of health care workers to meet an expected spike in demand as more states enact new restrictions.

“In some states,” Smith pointed out, treatment for miscarriage is now banned or illegal. So we need to build a pipeline of people in L.A. County who want to do this work.”

She also mentioned a recently formed coalition of pro-bono lawyers to help people meet potential legal challenges now being considered by a number of states as part of a bevy of new restrictions, including possibly charging individuals who cross state lines seeking abortion access.

“The Safe Haven plan is to be

a beacon for reproductive health and rights in this state and in this country,” said Susie Baldwin, medical director of the county’s Office of Women’s Health.

“We have lots of evidence over decades of the harms of denying people abortions when they need them,” she said.

California, she noted, has declared itself a “reproductive freedom’ state.”

“There are other pockets around the country that are also trying to increase accessibility to abortion,” she said, citing Oregon to the north.

“It’s so important that we create these safe places because when you deny access to basic reproductive health care, it has really serious effects on physical health, on mental health, leaving people to live in poverty, and for their children to be in poverty.”

Besides safeguarding abortion access, Safe Haven is intended to help people have safe pregnancies and healthy deliveries and prevent unwanted pregnancies.

Baldwin directed people to a link within the county’s Department of Public Health website, currently viewable in English and Spanish, with another dozen languages to come.

“Nobody will be denied on the basis of cost,” she said, noting that the state has allocated funding to reimburse providers for treating

By Sunita Sohra Bji/EMS

Chinese Americans have a greater rate of cancer than the overall population. Vietnamese Americans have the highest prevalence of Hepatitis B. South Asian Americans suffer staggeringly high rates of heart disease and diabetes.

But such information is largely anecdotal, without data to support empirical findings. Asian Americans are regarded as one large monolith by the US health care system, say health care experts. And currently, there is no attempt to disaggregate data for AAPI sub-ethnicities, leaving out information that is critical to resolving health care disparities.

Moreover, less than 1 percent of National Institutes of Health funding is granted to researchers working on health care issues specific to the AAPI community, leading to further gaps in information. Asian Americans are the fastest-growing population in the US, projected to reach nearly 34 million by 2050.

“We are treated as one giant group, but we are not a monolith,” said Dr. Bryant Lin, a Stanford professor of medicine, who in 2018 co-founded the Center for Asian Health Research and Education with Dr. Latha Palaniappan. The two doctors currently co-direct the Center, based at Stanford, with the aim of driving better health outcomes for Asian Americans.

Systemic racism impedes better data

At an Ethnic Media Services briefing Sept. 16, co-hosted by the

Stanford Medicine Center for Asian Health Research and Education, Lin noted that disaggregating data was not as simple as just adding boxes to the clinic check-in sheet. “We’re having trouble, even at Stanford. There are definitely issues, given the history of systemic racism, that leads to these concerns about self-reporting,” he said.

“The capacity to disaggregate data for AAPIs within the electronic health records is there. But the political will and the leadership across health care systems is still lacking,” said Dr. Winston Wong, a Scholarin-Residence at the UCLA Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Equity.

Epic, the predominant electronic health records system used in the US has a vast capacity to capture trillions of data bits every day, said Wong. But those who manage data collection must have the capacity to ask patients about their sub-ethnicities in a culturally sensitive way, he said.

The critical need for disaggregated data became especially acute during the Covid-19 pandemic. News headlines screamed that the virus was primarily

killing and hospitalizing Black and Latino people.

But in New York, which had the highest rates of infection early on in the pandemic, it was actually Chinese Americans who had the highest rates of hospitalizations, reported Wong. “That was never seen as a news headline,” he said, attributing it to a lack of data.

In Northwest Arkansas, the number one group that was getting hospitalized and dying from Covid were the Marshallese people of the Micronesian diaspora, noted Wong. Marshallese people were particularly hard-hit as they worked in poultry-packaging plants and lived in very crowded conditions. And in New Jersey, there was a high rate of hospitalizations among Bangladeshi people.

“This kind of data is only identified at this point by the activists, the community providers, the physicians and nurses who care for that community because they’re providing the culturally competent and linguistically accessible care to these populations,” said Wong, adding that it is not captured at the statewide level, and used as a tool for allocation of resources to hard-hit communities.

“Ourcommunity went underground”

Dr. Thu Quach, president of Asian Health Services, noted another fallout of Covid on the AAPI population: an uptick in hate crimes against the community. “Our Asian American populations were simultaneously blamed for the virus and ignored when it came to services because of the racist narratives that were predominantly put out by the former administration that

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for the Filipino Community

Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. rings the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange after attending an economic forum there. He was with Speaker Martin Romualdez, First Lady Liza Marcos and the rest of the PH delegation. (MNS photo)

Pampered Pinay: Our Cultural “Brand”

By Francine Maigue COACH. Gucci. Chanel. Jo Malone. Apple. Sony. FIAT. Honda. UCLA. Harvard…Labels…Brands.

When I was studying business, we dissected brands from concept to sale—what makes a brand hot… or not, what drives consumers to not only buy a product but also buy into a brand, into a [at times only perceived] way of life.

At our recent Filipino-American Young Leaders Summit in Hawaii, we discussed how our ethnicity, our nationality, our culture are all brands and sub-brands of sorts.

The discussion is one we often revisit because so many members of our Filipino-American community have expressed that there is still much about our culture that others have yet to know and fully understand. Are we one of the largest (and most rapidly growing) ethnic communities in our city, our state, and nation? Yes. Are we still an often underrepresented (and, certainly, often misrepresented) a community? Yes. …Why?

The debate over the possible reasons why is always a colorful [read: heated] one.

“It’s because no one can easily define Filipino! We come from a homeland of over 7,000 islands influenced by colonization and multiple religions with people speaking countless dialects…then our people moved all over the world creating sub-cultures…Of course, people outside our ethnicity will be confused!”

“Filipino-American, even from city to city, state to state, means something different because the cultural climate varies.”

“We group ourselves with other Asian cultures too much, so people think Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, Korean is all the same. The media doesn’t help because they portray us all the same way. They think it’s enough to just stick at least one Asian character into the mix and have an actor deliver stereotypes to portray us. But it’s not…It’s not

enough!”

My fellow panelists and I asked summit attendees to participate in an activity. We asked that they work together with the folks at their respective tables to find and Instagram images of Filipino people, things, or moments that represent our culture in popular media and of which they were proud. (They used the hashtag #proudpinoyFYL.)

The results: A platter of freshly fried lumpia. Lea Salonga at the mic. Adobo. Tinikling dancers.

Manny Pacquiao with a champion belt. Marilyn Monroe wearing a terno…One young Fil-Am leader even took a selfie.

What image comes to your mind?

My friends, in the coming weeks, I’ll continue to explore with you thoughts on identifying and communicating our culture as a brand. How do we build brand recognition and positive brand association? How do we use events, arts, and relationships as tools of effective advocacy and education and raise the level of civic engagement within our community? Why is this important? What’s the urgency in addressing

how our culture has been branded on the local, statewide, national, and international levels? Are we using the opportunities available to us to disseminate aspects of our culture, so that others can recognize, understand, and appreciate what our culture and community has to offer and has offered throughout history? Why is it so important to recognize and join the movement that is raising awareness for the needs of our kababayan near and far? Why is it so important to tell our story?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and making plans with you for the continued empowerment of our remarkable Fil-Am community.

Salamat po! ~Francine

those who can’t otherwise pay for their care.

California is one of just eight states that provides its own funds to supplement its Medicaid program — in California, it’s Medi-Cal — to cover reproductive health costs. The 1976 Hyde Amendment forbids Medicaid from providing such funding for its enrollees, including federal workers and the military.

And whereas many states bar health insurance companies from paying for abortions, California requires them to.

“The reality today,” said Sylvia Castillo of Essential Access Health, “is that since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade earlier this summer, 21 million people have lost access to abortion care.”

Sasha Nochimow described how, for 30 years, Access Reproductive Justice (1-800 376-4636) has helped people meet the costs of abortion care — from the procedures themselves to transportation, lodging, childcare and counseling.

Los Angeles County, with 28% of the state’s population, has always been its priority, but, more than a third of California counties (22 of 58) have no abortion providers, whereas Los Angeles has 56, including some in hospital settings, vital to those experiencing high-risk pregnancies or needing specialized care.

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With new restrictions already in place across the country, or proposed, such as in nearby Arizona, providers are already seeing an increase in demand, and expect it to grow.

Rigoberto Reyes, Director of the Office of Immigrant Affairs, acknowledged that abortion can be difficult for some to even talk about

and offered his office’s readiness to speak with anyone concerned about whether accessing abortion rights would impact immigration status.

“If you make it to California soil, no matter immigration status or anything else, you can get the health care you need in California,” Castillo affirmed.

MISSION

SAN DIEGO, CA -- Filipinos have been in the United States since the 16th century, yet many of their stories remain untold says Positively Filipino’s Editor Mona Lisa Yuchengco. In fact, for the past year Positively Filipino has been running a series on notable Filipino Americans who have made their marks in the United States of America.

But as Yuchengco reiterates there are hundreds, or maybe even thousands more, that need to be added in this narrative. With that in mind, here’s another FilipinoAmerican who certainly deserves to be included in the line-up.

But first…let me digress a bit to let the ink dry.

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) was established on July 1, 1949, as a result of the Hoover Commission. A few key changes have shaped GSA since then; the agency consolidated its administrative functions across the government into one organization in order to avoid senseless duplication, excess cost, and confusion in handling supplies, and providing space. The demand for government services is greater today than it has ever been and GSA is absolutely committed to delivering on its mission to provide the best value in real estate, acquisition and technology services to government and the American people. Every day, GSA helps agencies to buy smarter, reduce their real estate footprint, and create a better, faster government that makes a difference in communities across the country.

Today, GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) conducts more than $50 billion worth in business transactions within the Federal, State and local marketplace. GSA’s Public Buildings Service (PBS) manages buildings for the Federal Government and provides workplace for more than 1.1 million Federal civilian workers, with a portfolio that includes 8,721 owned or leased assets, more than 375 million rentable square feet of workspace, and more than 480 historic buildings either listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

Moving on now with our intended narrative, a GSA employee known for his hard work and helpful nature – The University of Texas at Arlington’s Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree holder Angel

A. Dizon III have 30+ years of global real estate, planning, design, construction, and maintenance expertise in both private and public sectors. He is fully committed to providing public platforms that represent the U.S. Government and have positive economic, environmental, and social impacts in

their respective communities.

In 2014, Dizon was an Architect at the Department of State in Arlington, Virginia. He began working at the Department of State in 2005 with a starting salary of $114,882. Since then, Dizon’s pay has increased to $149, 883 in 2014.

A GS-15 under the general schedule pay scale in 2014, Dizon was among the highest-paid ten percent employees in the Department of State then.

(FYI: Federal employees’ salaries are considered public information under 5 U.S.C. 552 and in the interest of government transparency Federal Pay publishes the salary information of all federal employees who earn more than $100,000 per year or who are in the highest paid 10% of their agency.)

As the present (since June 2022) Great Lakes Regional Commissioner at the General Services Administration’s Public Buildings Service (GSA PBS), Dizon leads 550 professionals committed to optimizing all facets of the life cycle of an asset. He is responsible for providing public platforms for 50,000 federal employees in 1,000 owned/leased assets (35+M square feet). The organization is the single real property manager for all nonmilitary domestic U.S. government facilities; GSA PBS has an inventory

of more than 8,800 assets, maintains more than 370 million square feet of workspace for 1.1 million federal employees, and preserves more than 500 historic properties.

Wow! With great power, comes great responsibility…and that is genuinely a huge impact coming from a “kababayan” of ours…don’t you think so?

Incidentally and I am not quite sure about this as I couldn’t find any information on my searches but I say - Dizon could very well be the very first Filipino American Regional Commissioner at GSA just as his very own first cousin, fairly-recently retired US Air Force Colonel Alex Miravite, Jr. became the very first Presidential Pilot in U.S. history whom I featured in an earlier edition of this newspaper column. And if you – my dear folks will recall, here’s what the good Colonel had to say about his family and friends from childhood: “You all emigrated here together from the Philippines nearly 5 decades or so ago. You bonded together to form networks to support and sustain each other and encourage each other professionally. You raised our generation with the ‘American Dream’ instilling values of hard work and perseverance and to make the most of opportunity. Thanks for the inspirational way in which you excelled in your new country.”

Way to go, “Kababayan!”

What an awesome Filipino American family clan, aren’t they?

Hip-hip-hooray! God bless the USA!!

As I have stated earlier above, too - the Great Lakes district (Region 5) provides work space for more than 50,000 federal employees in 972 federally-owned and leased buildings within six states bordering the Great Lakes including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.

The GSA’s Great Lakes Region designs, constructs and manages a portfolio of federal office buildings, courthouses, land ports of entry (border stations), warehouses and laboratories. They are creating more sustainable buildings through new technologies, including

Marjorie Barretto assures daughter Julia she will protect her

MANILA -- Marjorie Barretto once again expressed her love and support for her daughter, actress Julia Baretto.

Uploading a beautiful photo of Julia on her social media account, Marjorie said she's proud of her daughter and blessed to be her mother.

"Dearest Jul, I LOVE you with the kind of love that you can trust. Love that you can depend on, and the kind that will protect you and never betray you. Maybe you need to hear this today… I am so proud of you, Juli. I am so blessed to be able to call you my child," Marjorie wrote on Instagram.

"Here we go again, back in our family bubble shutting off the noise outside. Only choosing to be grateful for the good things that is in front of us. Remember Jul, God is all knowing," Marjorie added.

Marjorie penned her message for her daughter after her former partner Dennis Padilla reacted over the remarks made by Julia in her interview with Karen Davila.

In a series of Instagram posts that have already been deleted, Padilla said he worked so hard in the past to be able to give his children with Marjorie a better life. Padilla said he was the one who financially helped them when they were moving from one house to another in the past since they had no house of their own.

He took offense when Julia told Davila that she couldn’t run to her own father when things get tough.

“Ako ang dapat takbuhan mo Julia.... I defended you pero nagalit pa kayo sa akin... Sobra kayo... Ano etong mga kwento mo kay Karen??”

In another comment, Padilla said he already apologized for his shortcomings but apparently this isn't enough.

“Ang buong bahay ko... Ang halaga katumbas lang ng isang kotse mo Julia. Ano pang revenge ang gusto niyong gawin?

Lahat ng blessings nasa inyo na... Humingi ako ng apology sa mga pagkukulang ko.. Ano pa gusto nyo?... .. Pati kay Gerard

(Anderson) humingi ako ng apology... Ano pa?”

In the interview, Julia said she and Padilla haven’t spoken in a while as she feels scared of getting hurt again after making amends –which happened to them several years ago.

The actress also said Padilla has tried to reach out to them again.

“I won't lie, I mean, he’s tried. I’m just really not ready. I don’t wanna force myself also. Because if you force yourself, then it’s not genuine, hindi siya totoo. So, I want to get to a point na when we speak, it’s when I’m ready,” she said.

Padilla have three kids with Marjorie: Julia, Claudia, and Leon. (MNS)

energy-efficient lighting, low-flow plumbing fixtures, and computerized monitoring and control of all building systems.

GSA’s Great Lakes Region also offers a full range of reimbursable real estate services and estate services and negotiates leases to federal agencies residing in privately owned space.

Why work at GSA?

Well…GSA is one of the most desired workplaces in the U.S. government. Its employees consistently rate it as one of the top ten Government agencies in factors such as employee satisfaction.

GSA help agencies buy smarter, reduce their real estate footprint, and create a better, faster government. At GSA, its employees can expect to be a part of a team that’s at the forefront of initiatives that shape where and how the government does work.

Innovation is GSA’s primary business driver, and its employees get to have fun doing it!

At GSA, they test-drive their own solutions before bringing them to other federal agencies. From measuring their carbon footprint, electronics stewardship, and innovative building technologies to its electronic vehicle and clean energy programs, its workforce and business are all about making positive changes for the future.

In fact, GSA’s workspaces serve as a model for federal offices in the future, designed with sustainability, openness, collaboration, and wellness in mind. Whether you need to work independent in a quiet setting, or gather to exchange ideas, its offices provide the flexibility you need to get the job done.

For mobile jobs, GSA believe that work is not where it occurs, but what is accomplished with innovative telework policies and a nimble IT environment; You can access IT resources anywhere, anytime! Certainly, collaborating with its teams is seamless, both inside and outside of the office.

For sure, GSA’s employees are provided with a first-class benefit package, including health insurance, life insurance, retirement, 10 paid

holidays per year, vacation time, and more! In addition, they offer training/ career development opportunities, flexible work schedules, and in many locations, on-site fitness centers and health clinics.

In recent years, GSA has done a great deal to improve itself as an organization. By collecting and relying more on data, enhancing reporting structures, and cultivating leaders such as our fellow “kababayan” Dizon, they have empowered people throughout GSA to make better decisions. I say this agency must continue to strive for the highest levels of operational excellence,

GSA’s most important asset is a strong, diverse, and optimized workforce. No doubts about it GSA cannot serve the American people as an agency if they are not using everyone’s diverse talents to the best of their ability if I must say - hence the Filipino American Dizon’s appointment as a Regional Commissioner of Great Lakes Region 5.

GSA is definitely committed to supporting its workforce with the training and development that it needs. Enterprise wide initiatives such as the Competitive Development Plan and GSA Rotational Program afford its employees the opportunity to cross-train within the Agency’s increased collaboration, and provide future and current leaders the skills and development opportunities they require to meet GSA’s evolving needs.

GSA is committed to hiring the highest quality talent to ensure long term success in meeting its mission. To this end, GSA has created the Emerging Leaders Program. This strategy was designed to facilitate the college-to-career transitions for all incoming entry-level talent and to provide a two-year development scheme specializing in the core technical and professional expertise essential to effective leadership. In addition, GSA is implementing staffing plans throughout their services in order to firmly commit to targeting entry-level and mid-level hiring for a sustainable workforce.

GSA is also committed to strengthening performance management to drive outcomes.

Performance management allow them to measure, monitor and communicate how GSA operates against planned targets and goals that lead to better results for their customers and the public. To this

end, GSA uses the Office of Strategy and Performance Management to coordinate and improve the way GSA collects and leverages performance data for their employees, creating a culture throughout the organization focused on goals and measurable outcomes, all while becoming more transparent and data driven.

And in order to build recent consolidations and ensure that cost savings meets efficiency and performance, GSA developed Service Level Agreements to ensure progress. They also created management dashboards which allow senior level managers to track progress real-time.

Finally, GSA continues the quests to ensure that data-driven decisions are at the core of their work. By making resolutions based on facts and information, GSA is providing the American people with the highest level of service.

GSA has signaled a clear commitment to data-driven decisionmaking by joining the ranks of agencies with a clearly-defined Chief Data Officer role and purpose-built teams focused on data migrations and reporting capabilities development. The agency has established avenues through Data to Decisions for crossfunctional collaboration in the data management space, ensuring robustness of perspectives on security, architectural choices, and business needs across offices and levels of the organization. GSA engages with the U.S. Chief Data Scientist and the Office of Science and Technology Policy to leverage the latest trends and promote government-wide collaboration.

Today, the mission of GSA is more important than ever before. This vision is driving the agency forward and giving them the ability to deliver savings in real estate, acquisition, and technology services that allow agencies to focus on serving the American people to the very best of their ability.

And last but not least, here’s what you may not know about Regional Commissioner Dizon’s GSA Region 5: Its headquarters, the Federal Center, has been featured in several films including “Batman vs Superman,” “Office Christmas Party” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” Four Chicago architectural firms joined together for the commission to build it, with Ludwig Mies von der Rohe serving as the chief designer for the project, GSA declared.

Mama’s Kitchen Calls for Volunteers to Help Continue Feeding Critically Ill San Diegans

Volunteer support needed in kitchen, staging area, drivers and office

SAN DIEGO, CA -- Since 1990, Mama’s Kitchen volunteers have facilitated the delivery of more than 10 million nutritious, medically tailored meals to San Diegans affected by HIV, cancer, congestive heart failure, type 2 diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. As the nonprofit prepares to deliver its 11 millionth meal later this year, it is calling on the community for additional volunteer support to help with critical organization operations, ranging from kitchen and staging to meal delivery and office support.

“We are still feeling the impact of the pandemic in many ways,” says Andrew Picard, chief operations officer, Mama’s Kitchen. “We are still seeing more critically ill community members enrolling in our HomeDelivered Meal Service. We are in need of more volunteer support, especially for delivery drivers to ensure each client has access to this lifeline. We currently need 200-300 additional volunteers to meet the community needs we anticipate for the rest of this year and into 2023.”

Clients of Mama’s Kitchen say that the services the organization provides are a critical part of their overall care. They look forward to seeing the Mama’s Kitchen volunteer delivery drivers as much as they look forward to receiving their free nutritious meals.

“Sometimes after a chemo treatment, I go home feeling so weak

and ill I can’t even get out of bed,” says Jaime, Mama’s Kitchen cancer client. “But knowing that Mama’s Kitchen will provide me with the meals that I need to gain strength is so comforting. I know that I’m never going to go hungry. It’s such a big blessing.”

Nonprofits often see a flood of volunteer interest on holidays, but organizations like Mama’s Kitchen need volunteer support yearround. Mama’s Kitchen requests the community’s help, insisting “no amount of help is too small.”

Volunteer shifts are two to four-hour time blocks to make it convenient for community members to help out.

“At first I thought I would volunteer occasionally to help deliver meals to neighbors in need,” says Richard Moore, a Mama’s Kitchen volunteer delivery driver. “But that has evolved into delivering every Tuesday and Friday afternoon, and those afternoons have become a rewarding part of every week. I have clients I deliver to who are so glad to see me and I know both the food and my visit are making a huge difference in their lives. I’d encourage everyone to volunteer to help others in some way.”

The organization has volunteer openings in the following areas:

Meal Delivery: Volunteers are needed to deliver meals on Tuesdays and Fridays for three-hour afternoon

delivery routes. Delivery drivers are generally assigned to 10-15 client drop-offs during the window. Meal delivery volunteers must be fully COVID-19 vaccinated.

Kitchen and Staging: Volunteers are needed Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Mama’s Kitchen headquarters, located in the Fairmount Park neighborhood of San Diego. Volunteer shifts are two to four hours in length. Kitchen and staging volunteers assist with plating entrees, packing and loading food bags, and other kitchen prep tasks as assigned.

Volunteers in kitchen and staging must be fully COVID-19 vaccinated.

Office Support: Volunteer help in the Mama’s Kitchen office is needed Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Mama’s Kitchen headquarters, located in the Fairmount Park neighborhood of San Diego.

Office support volunteers help with general office tasks, such as filing, organizing, or answering phones.

Office support volunteers must be fully COVID-19 vaccinated.

Mama’s Kitchen offers a variety of shifts to accommodate the schedules of prospective volunteers. Interested community members are encouraged to visit mamaskitchen.org/volunteer and complete the online volunteer application. From there, they can select a 30-minute virtual volunteer orientation to attend. 619-233-6262.

Jesse T. Reyes Filipino Potpourri

Angel A. Dizon III Regional Commissioner - Public Buildings Service at the General Services Administration's Great Lakes Region 5

Welcome to the Great Lakes Regional Commission 5 at the General Services Administration's Public Buildings Service (GSA PBS)

Professional Business

CITY OF OCEANSIDE

SAN DIEGO, CA -- Recently, the City of Oceanside was visited by Supervisors Nathan Fletcher and Jim Desmond, who awarded the City $3,258,021 to help with the construction of its new navigation center for the homeless.

The 50 bed low barrier shelter will be open 24-hours when it opens in December. The San Diego Rescue mission will operate the shelter on behalf of the City of Oceanside and provide trauma-informed healthcare care services, public benefits and connections to permanent supportive housing.

“Oceanside is excited about this generous grant from the County in advancing our efforts to shelter our houseless residents,” remarked Mayor Esther C. Sanchez, “The Oceanside Navigation Center will be a low barrier facility that will move people immediately off the streets into a

safe environment where they will be connected to needed services such as counseling, medical and mental health care, job training programs, and more. We thank San Diego County for its wonderful partnership.”

The money is part of a $10 million County of San Diego grant program Chair Fletcher announced earlier this year during his State of San Diego County Address.

“Tackling homelessness is a regional issue that requires broad support from every community; and it is great the City of Oceanside taking a proactive approach,” said Chair Fletcher. “We are excited to partner with Oceanside to provide these funds to support their efforts to help unsheltered individuals and families.”

Supervisor Desmond, who represents the City of Oceanside, said: “Solving homelessness requires everyone working together to address

the needs of each community. I’m glad to see the City of Oceanside becoming proactive in addressing this crisis. This navigation center will provide much-needed support to those living on the street and will be a major asset in ending the cycle of homelessness.”

In all, three cities received the funding, the other two are:

City of Vista – Awarded $65,000 –Safe Parking Program

A 25 vehicle safe parking lot is scheduled to be opened by January of 2023. It will operate seven days a week and visitors will be provided with case management and housing navigation services along with onsite restrooms (ADA compliant), handwashing stations. It will also be a pet friendly site that focuses on individuals, families and people fleeing domestic violence. The City of Vista has committed $250,000 of its

own funds for 2 years of operations.

City of San Diego – Awarded $1,030,543 – Safe Parking Program

A 60 vehicle safe parking lot in the Rose Canyon area is scheduled to be open by March 2023. This site will have an onsite restroom, showers, laundry, food, access to support services and long-term housing options. The target populations for the site are families. The City of San Diego is leveraging $479,000 of its own funds to operate this site for two years.

A second notice of funding has been sent to the 18 incorporated cities by the County’s Department of Homeless Solutions and Equitable Communities in an attempt to spend down the just over $5 million that remains. Completed application and the supporting documentation are due on October 11, 2022 by 3 p.m. at HSECOHS.HHSA@sdcounty.ca.gov.

$5M+ Left to Help Cities Initiate New and

House to work 'full time' on 2023 budget till next week

MANILA -- A ranking lawmaker on Thursday said the House of Representatives will give its full and undivided attention to the approval of the PHP5.268-trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2023, following the passage of two nonbudget measures deemed as urgent by the chamber's leadership and the Marcos administration.

House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe made the statement following Tuesday's third reading approval of House Bill 4673 which seeks to defer the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections for one year.

On Monday, the chamber also passed House Bill 14, seeking to mandate the registration of all postpaid and prepaid mobile phone subscriber identity module (SIM) cards to lessen mobile phone-enabled criminal activities.

The House also passed on second reading House Bill 4125 or the proposed Ease of Paying Taxes Act, aimed at simplifying the process of tax payments.

Dalipe said the House is committed to finishing the sponsorship and floor debates by Sept. 28 and approving the spending bill on Sept. 30.

Already terminated for plenary debates are the budget proposals for the following government agencies: Office of the Ombudsman; Mindanao Development Authority; Anti-Red Tape Authority; Commission on Elections; Commission on Human Rights, including Human Rights Violation Victims’ Memorial Commission; Department of Science and Technology, including Attached Agencies; Department of Justice, including Attached Agencies; Philippine Space Agency; Film Development Council of the Philippines; Optical Media Board; Philippine Racing Commission;

Civil Service Commission, including Career Service Executive Board; Southern Philippines Development Authority; Development Academy of the Philippines; Cultural Center of the Philippines; Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority; Cagayan Economic Zone Authority; Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority; Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan; Climate Change Commission; Philippine Center for Economic Development; Games and Amusement Board; Philippine Sports Commission;

Bases Conversion and Development Authority; Commission on Filipinos Overseas; National Commission for Culture and the Arts; National Historical Commission of the Philippines; National Library of the Philippines; National Archives of the Philippines; Commission on the Filipino Language; Philippine Competition Commission; Commission on Higher Education; State Universities and Colleges (NCR, Regions I to CARAGA Region, CAR, BARMM); and the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.

"The rate of progress in the approval of the budget proposals of each government department has been very satisfactory and is within the timeline set by the House Committee on Rules and without any hitches," the Zamboanga City lawmaker said.

He added that the House is expected to terminate the floor debates and make way for the period of amendments on

Sept. 28.

“We can work until the wee hours if needed. We want to expedite the approval of the NEP so that we can also attend to the other equally important measures. We have other priority bills which we intend to pass during the 19th Congress,” Dalipe said.

P419 million set aside for virology-related projects in 2023

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has earmarked around PHP419.3 million for virologyrelated projects.

In a press statement issued Thursday, the DBM said the funding plan for the research and development projects of the proposed Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines (VIP) has been included in the proposed 2023 National Expenditure Program (NEP) submitted to Congress.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the fund allocation demonstrates the Marcos administration's resolve to promote public health and safety.

"We need to be pro-active and fund for a Virology Institute composed of highly-trained experts who would conduct studies on emerging virus strains as quickly as possible and prepare us in case of health emergencies," Pangandaman said.

Under the 2023 NEP drafted by the DBM, the PHP419.3 million will be used for the ongoing virology-related activities of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)’s Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).

The ITDI and RITM's current undertakings include isolation and purification of Philippine common viruses with medical importance and pandemic potential for antigenantibody studies that would focus on isolating pure cultures of coronaviruses and avian viruses, from civet cats, and chickens.

The proposed budget would also be allotted for the "Combination Therapy: Lytic Bacteriophages and Plant Extracts against Multidrug-resistant Bacteria" project, which aims to isolate and characterize bacteriophages from the environment and screen them for their bactericidal and antibiofilm activities against multidrug-resistant bacteria.

Other projects that will receive funding in 2023 include detection of food and water-borne bacterial pathogens using phage-based diagnostics and the De Novo Synthesis of non-infective Zika Pseudovirus as reference for diagnostics and vaccines development.

The funds will also be used for the development of a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for point of need detection of African Swine Fever virus; PCR-based Detection Kit for Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV) – Philippine Strains; and Antigenic Peptide virus-like particples as potential candidates for Covid-19 vaccine development.

The DBM noted that around PHP250 million will be given to the Department of Public Works and Highways in 2023 for the planned construction of the VIP facility in Capas, Tarlac.

"President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier recognized the crucial role of the VIP in the society. In his budgetary message on the 2023 NEP, the Chief Executive expressed that the P419.3 million allocation for the VIP

mirrored the country’s need for faster identification of, and response to, outbreaks," the DBM said.

In August, Marcos backed the immediate passage of a measure creating the VIP, stressing that it would help "consolidate in a better way all of the disparate research, all the different sources of knowledge, [and] all the different sources of research and new data."

The proposed VIP will serve as the premier research and development institute in the field of virology, encompassing all areas in viruses and viral diseases in humans, plants, and animals.

Rice, meat supply enough for holidays -- DA

The Department of Agriculture (DA) expressed confidence on Wednesday that the country has sufficient supply of rice and meat, a few months before Christmas.

In a statement, the DA said the majority of the rice supply comes from the local production of Filipino farmers.

“A big chunk of the supply comes from the locally produced rice, and production of farmers will be enough to meet the demand towards the end of the year,” the DA said.

On the other hand, adjustments in the prices of rice in the market may be felt due to the effects of drought in China.

“Retail prices, however, might be affected by the ongoing drought in China due to its implications in the cost of palay production, as well as the presence of rice varieties from other countries. Despite this, the DA confirmed that local production is enough,” it added.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the country has recorded a steady increase in rice stocks inventory reaching up to 2,034.57 metric tons (MT) (Household 1,064.25 MT; 809.83 MT; and NFA 160.50 MT) in July from the 1,632.51 metric tons (Household 864.92 MT; Commercial 611.93 MT; and NFA 156.26 MT) recorded last March.

For its part, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has been also doubling its efforts to reach the administration’s goal to increase local production.

In a statement on Tuesday, the NIA said it has secured PHP1 trillion investment pledges from the private partnership.

“In two months, NIA now has a total investment pledge of more than one trillion pesos from potential private partners, which would then allow NIA to pursue its irrigation projects without the restriction of limited funding,” the NIA said.

These prospective investments are expected to speed up irrigation projects through public-private partnerships, it added.

Livestock supply Besides ensuring the sufficiency of rice supply, the DA also assured the public that meat products will also meet the holiday demands.

“The DA livestock group… confirmed the country’s meatsufficiency, especially in terms of local chickens and pigs,” it added.

Based on the department’s supply outlook, the local production of 1.65 million MT actually meets the expected demand of 1.64 million MT, not to mention that the total broiler

PBBM tells UNGA: ‘United effort’ will address climate change

MANILA -- President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday (Manila time) called for a “united effort” among nations to address climate change.

In his debut speech at the 77th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, Marcos said climate change is “the greatest threat affecting our nations and our peoples.”

“There is no other problem so global in nature that it requires a united effort, one led by the United Nations,” he said in a speech that lasted over 20 minutes.

Despite the Philippines being one of the smallest contributors to CO2 emissions, Marcos said that the country remained to be among the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

“The effects of climate change are uneven and reflect an historical injustice: Those who are least responsible suffer the most. The Philippines, for example, is a net carbon sink, we absorb more carbon dioxide than we emit. And yet, we are the 4th most vulnerable country to the effects of climate change,” he said.

Marcos emphasized the need for nations to “correct” injustices by accepting their share of responsibilities.

He also enjoined industrialized countries to fulfill their obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement to “cut their greenhouse gas emissions, provide climate financing and technology transfer for adaptation for the most vulnerable, and developing countries to lead by example.”

“We look forward to concrete outcomes at the Conference of Parties in Egypt later this year,” he said.

Last June, Marcos said he was seriously considering his invitation to attend the UN Climate Change Conference’s 27th session of the Conference of the Parties in Egypt in November this year.

Marcos also vowed that the Philippine government would continue to do its part to avert what he described as a “collective disaster.”

“When future generations look back, let them not ask why we did not take this opportunity to turn the tide, why did we continue in our profligate ways, until it was too late? This threat knows no borders, no social class, nor any geopolitical consideration. How we address it will be the true test of our time,” he said.

In March 2017, the Philippines ratified the Paris climate pact -- a worldwide effort to achieve a below 2-degrees Celsius increase in global temperatures.

The Philippines, which accounts for less than 1 percent of the world’s emissions, has committed to reducing its emissions by 70 percent by 2030.

Just a few days before departing for the US, Marcos spent his 65th birthday in a tree-planting activity in San Mateo, Rizal on Sept. 13 as part of efforts to raise awareness on environmental welfare and protection.

The tree-planting initiative is expected to contribute to the government’s National Greening Program, the country’s most ambitious reforestation program yet.

In his first State of the Nation Address on July 25, Marcos also vowed to increase the Philippines’ use of renewable energy sources such as hydropower, geothermal, solar, and wind to help slow down the effects of

climate change.

Marcos' working visit to the US is from Sept. 18 to 24.

Shortly after his arrival in the US on Monday (Manila time), Marcos met with the Filipino Community in New Jersey, and on Tuesday (Manila time) attended the New York Stock Exchange Economic Forum.

PBBM ‘on point’ on climate change issues: solon

House Committee on Disaster Resilience Chair Alan 1 Ecleo on Wednesday lauded President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for prioritizing the issue of developing countries suffering the most from climate change during the latter’s speech at the 77th United Nations General Assembly.

"Just like how we Filipinos show unity of action and purpose with each typhoon that devastates our country, we want the global community to also show unity in cutting emissions and developing the resilience of the most vulnerable. We are glad that PBBM echoed this in his speech before the United Nations," Ecleo said.

He made the statement after Marcos called on “industrialized countries to cut their greenhouse gas emissions and provide climate financing and technology transfer for adaptation for the most vulnerable and developing countries.”

Ecleo, whose province of Dinagat was leveled by Category 5 Typhoon Odette in December last year, pointed out that "the demands of adaptation to climate change, along with the rehabilitation from climate-related disasters, are mounting and we cannot continue to have developing countries like the Philippines be the ones to pay the price."

“Rich, industrialized countries who have profited much from centuries of emission-fueled development must pay their fair share to vulnerable countries by sharing the cost of adaptation, mitigation, and rehabilitation efforts,” Ecleo said.

Earlier, Ecleo filed House Resolution 289 calling on the Departments of Education (DepEd), and Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to come up with a master design for disaster resilient schools.

During the Disaster Resilience Committee hearing last Sept. 15, he also asked the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and other departments involved in disaster resilience and response to produce where rehabilitation funds for Odette went. (MNS)

PBBM, Guterres meet to discuss PH-UN cooperation, climate action

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. met with United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday (Manila time) to reaffirm cooperation between the Philippines and UN and other global issues.

"The Secretary-General and President Marcos discussed areas of United Nations cooperation and support," according to a readout posted on the UN website.

The two leaders were said to have exchanged views on the international situation and climate action initiatives but gave no further details.

Their meeting took place after Marcos delivered his speech during the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

During his debut speech, Marcos described climate change as “the greatest threat affecting our nations and our peoples.”

“There is no other problem so global in nature that it requires a united effort, one led by the United Nations,” he said.

He also called on industrialized countries to fulfill their obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement to cut their greenhouse gas emissions, provide climate financing and technology transfer for adaptation for the most vulnerable and developing countries to lead by example.

“When future generations look back, let them not ask why we did not take this opportunity to turn the tide, why did we continue in our profligate ways, until it was too late? This threat knows no borders, no social class, nor any geopolitical consideration. How we address it will be the true test of our time,” he said.

Marcos also asked UN memberstates to support the Philippines' candidature to the international body's Security Council for the term 20272028.

He expressed confidence that the Philippines would become a “moderately prosperous” country by 2040 following steady investments made in food security, public health, education, and other social services

He also emphasized the importance of adherence to rules-based international order to settle disputes and renewed his resolve to pursue an independent foreign policy that makes the Philippines a “friend to all and an enemy of none.”

Marcos also sought an end to the "disturbing" incidents of racism, especially among Asians.

Marcos underscores need to invest in food security at UNGA

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday (Manila time) underscored the need for nations to invest in food security, noting that the coronavirus pandemic and Russia-Ukraine conflict have revealed difficulties in accessing food worldwide.

In his debut speech at the 77th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, Marcos emphasized the importance of food as “the very basis of human security.”

“We need to take concrete steps towards modern and resilient agriculture. For food is not just a trade commodity nor is it just a livelihood. It is an existential imperative, and a moral one. It is the very basis of human security,” he said in a speech that lasted over 20 minutes.

Marcos, who concurrently heads the Department of Agriculture, discussed the Philippines' efforts to address problems in the agriculture sector such as providing innovative solutions and financial support to farmers and fisherfolk to adopt new technologies and connect to national and global value supply chains.

He also expressed a desire to forge cooperation with the UN and other partners to boost agricultural productivity and food security.

“As host to 17 UN agencies, program and funds, the Philippines strongly supports reforms to ensure that the UN Development System delivers as one through its UN Country

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets with senior executives from the US-based companies NuScale Power, WasteFuel, and Boeing in New York City to discuss how they could work together to strengthen the aviation and energy sectors in the Philippines. "We are committed to the administration's goal of sustainable development and are hopeful that companies like them can help us achieve our goals for the welfare of our people," Marcos said.

(MNS photo)

STAPLE GRAIN. A vendor waits for customers at his rice stall inside the Sta.Ana Public Market in Manila on Thursday (Sept.15, 2022). President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said his administration is planning to provide rice allowance for government workers, citing the need to ease their daily expenses amid the rising prices of basic goods. (MNS photo)

cited key legislations that would further liberalize the Philippine economy.

The enacted policies, Marcos said, include lowering corporate income tax rates and rationalizing fiscal incentives; reducing the minimum paid-up capital requirements for foreign retailers and startups bringing in advanced technology; and allowing full foreign ownership of companies providing public services.

“To international investors, the Philippines offers high-quality labor, a large consumer market, and a wide range of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives. At the same time, we remain committed to maintaining sound macroeconomic fundamentals providing a clear development roadmap,” Marcos said.

Marcos also ensured that the country’s resilience to crises, noting the improved employment situation, accelerating manufacturing activities, and growing demand from trade partners in the Philippines despite the pandemic.

He said his administration’s top priorities include managing inflation, reducing the scarring effects of the pandemic, and ensuring sound macroeconomic fundamentals.

“And again, the private sector business leaders also are here with us precisely to show and explain to our prospective investors where the Philippines is headed, what changes we have made so that investment will be more profitable and more attractive for foreign investors, especially coming from the United States,” he said.

“So it plays a central role in all that we are planning to do for our economy. It is once again something that we recognize in government we have a part to play,” Marcos added.

PH workforce as ‘greatest asset’ Marcos likewise bragged that the country’s workforce is its “greatest asset” in its economic transformation, saying Filipino workers are competent and contribute to the success of investments in the country.

“They are ready to take up the cudgels, they are ready to work for the country, they are ready to do what needs to be done to bring the country forward,” Marcos said.

BUDGET

supply is expected to be at 1.82 million MT.

However, the total pork supply is projected to be “0.10 million MT” lower than the country’s expected demand of 1.64 million MT.

“The Department is continuously working on maintaining the stability of the price and monitoring supply to help local producers produce enough for the demand,” the DA said.

As of September 20, Metro Manila’s prevailing price of fresh pork kasim is PHP300 per kilo; PHP370 per kilo for fresh pork liempo; and PHP180 per kilo for fully-dressed, whole chicken.

The DA, meanwhile, also met with the Poland Chargé d’affaires on Tuesday to discuss the enhancement of agricultural trade, particularly in poultry products.

Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban sits down in a meeting with Polish Chargé d’affaires Jaroslaw Szczepankiewicz to discuss further agricultural trade (Photo courtesy: Department of Agriculture)

Polish Chargé d’affaires Jaroslaw Szczepankiewicz expressed to Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban Poland’s intention to fortify cooperation.

“During the meeting, the Polish diplomat reiterated the intention of their poultry exporters to be accredited by the Philippines, especially for mechanically deboned meat (MDM) of chicken. He also asked for the immediate deployment of an inspection team in their country,” the DA said.

Restore P560-M budget for special children’s education: solon

Ako Ilokano Ako Partylist Rep. Richelle Singson on Thursday reiterated his call on the House leadership and members to collectively show their concern for the special children, or learners with disabilities (LWDs), by restoring the PHP560 million budget for their education in the proposed 2023 budget of the Department of Education (DepEd).

In making the call Singson said

“So, again we have adjusted many of our ways of doing business at the behest of our friends in the United States and of the Americans businesses that are already in the Philippines,” he added.

Marcos is set to deliver the Philippine national statement at the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday.

He will be the first leader of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to deliver a statement at this year's high-level General Debate.

Aside from sharing the country's views on various global concerns at the UNGA, Marcos will meet with world leaders and continue to hold dialogues with foreign investors to do business in the Philippines.

PBBM eyes partnership with US investors to boost PH economy

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Thursday (Manila time) sought partnership with investors from United States (US), as the Philippines further reopens its economy amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

In a business dialogue with members of the US-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Business Council and the US Chamber of Commerce, Marcos expressed optimism that the Philippines would be able to forge deals with more American investors and business firms.

"We really have to leverage whatever assets, whatever capabilities, whatever we have so that we can maximize our ability to grow and to pull the economy. Let us find new ways," Marcos said during his meeting with the business leaders in New York City.

"Let us find new ways to partner. Let us find new ways to develop. Let us find new ways to strengthen this relationship between the United States, Asean and the Philippines.

And in that way, the synergies that we will find in that kind of relationship will be to the benefit of us all," he added.

Marcos also discussed his administration's bilateral economic and investment agenda, according to a statement released by staterun Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM) in a Facebook post.

For over three decades, the USAsean Business Council has been serving as the premier advocacy

“it is inconceivable that there is zero budget for LWDs or children with special needs in the proposed FY 2023 DepEd budget” considering the various legal mandates for the budgetary allocations for LWDs and the continuing appropriation in the DepEd budget in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA) since 2019 until 2022.

The legal mandates referred to by the neophyte lawmaker include the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Republic Act (RA) 1053 (Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013), RA 10410 (Early Years Act of 2013).

These legal mandates were reinforced further by RA 11650, also known as “Instituting a Policy of Inclusion and Services for Learners with Disabilities in support of Inclusive Education Act."

Based on the GAA, PHP50 million was allocated for LWDs in 2019, and PHP100 million each for 2020, 2021 and 2022.

During the briefing of the 2023 DepEd budget on Sept. 14, 2022, the DepEd requested PHP560 million for LWDs but there was zero budget for the purpose in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) submitted to Congress.

"Considering these legal mandates, it is inconceivable that there is zero budget for LWDs or children with special needs in the proposed FY 2023 DepEd budget," Singson said.

“To agree to the zero budget would be tantamount to accepting that all the aforesaid compulsory laws, which Congress painstakingly passed, are 'dead letter laws," she said.

The situation prompted Singson to write an impassioned plea Wednesday to Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, House Appropriations Committee Chairperson Elizaldy Co, and other House leaders and members “on behalf of our special children and their parents.”

“I empathize with our special children not only for the sake of being a mother myself, but because, as Representatives of the people, it is our moral and legal duties to help and care for them because they need more attention compared with other children," she said.

organization for US corporations operating within the Asean.

The council also provides a platform for the US private sector to promote mutually beneficial trade and investment relations between the US and Southeast Asia, the leading investment destination of American businesses in the Indo-Pacific.

The US Chamber of Commerce, on the other hand, is an assembly of small businesses and chambers of commerce across the US that support communities, leading industry organizations and international corporations that innovate and provide solutions to global challenges, and the emerging and fast-growing industries.

Since its founding, the organization has advocated for policies that help businesses generate jobs and grow the economy.

'Enlightening' meet with food corporation

Meantime, Marcos also shared in his official Facebook page that he had an "enlightening" meeting with the executives of American global food corporation Cargill on the fourth day of his working visit to the US.

Marcos said he and Cargill executives discussed possible cooperation in the field of agriculture.

"We discussed how to attain food security and self-sufficiency, and explored ways to boost agricultural productivity in the Philippines," he said. Marcos' meeting with top officials of Cargill happened after his participation in the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

During his speech delivered before UN member-states, Marcos emphasized the importance of the agriculture sector and food security in the development of the Philippines.

Operating for over 155 years, Cargill provides agricultural products, and farming services and risk management solutions worldwide.

To date, it has around 155,000 employees serving customers and communities in over 70 countries or regions through safe, responsible and sustainable means.

Apart from Cargill, Marcos also held a series of meeting with other officials of American companies during his working visit in the US. (MNS)

Several lawmakers took up the cudgels for Singson during the plenary deliberations of the DepEd budget.

Camarines Sur 3rd District Rep. Gabriel Bordado suggested “a Congressional initiative to give special education the budgetary allocation” it needed.

Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman said he fully supports “this request, this advocacy.”

“We are hoping that there will be an adequate budget for the education of special children. And I am informed that there is an increasing population of special children in the Philippines and the DepEd is in the process of gathering the data,” he said during his interpolation of the DepEd budget.

But other than congressional initiative, the veteran lawmaker said there is another way of doing it.

“And this is for the DepEd to voluntarily realign its items of expenditure considering that it has PHP74.5-billion increase compared to its current level so that they can produce the amount necessary for the education of the special children,” Lagman said, pointing to the PHP150 million in confidential funds of the Department as a starting point.

The DepEd, meanwhile, assured the lawmakers that the Department continues to do its role and mandate in serving special learners despite the absence of the approval of its proposals in past NEPs, specifically by realigning funds as suggested by Lagman.

“In the past years, DepEd has been doing several realignments based on its internal own sourcing of funds just to be able to deliver the services for special learners. We assure that the DepEd has been doing this yearly. The DepEd family is committed to source out within its organization so that the program will be ensured and supported,” said Davao de Oro 1st District Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora, who sponsored the DepEd budget.

Zamora also assured that “DepEd will soon submit to the Committee on Appropriations their proposal on how they will realign all their other proposals and ensure that special education be given its allocation.” (MNS)

Spiritual Life

Family values on display

I was invited by my niece to her wedding to be held in Fort Myers, Florida.. I felt that this is a “must-attend” event, considering that I haven’t seen her for more than twenty years, besides, her mother was a great influence in my life. Lack of funds did not deter me from planning my trip, since I have a strong faith in God’s goodness. I believe that, God will provide. I also believe in what Jesus said, “Knock and the door shall be opened. Ask and it shall be given to you.” I prayed about my need and sent an e-mail to a sister-in-law whose son (one of my many nephews) is an employee of the United Airlines. With a humble heart, I offered myself to be her traveling companion. I said, “Manang Meng, if you will attend the wedding of Cencia, will you consider me as your traveling companion.” Her response was prompt. “I requested Andrew to arrange your travel itinerary. He will send you the e-ticket.”

I started humming, “How Great Though Art”, the hymn which wells in my heart, every time I feel God’s grace pouring on me. My total dependence on God for His provisions in my life has carried me through my journey through life. God provides. God answers prayers. God will take care of you. The Holy Bible is filled with God’s promises. It is up for us to claim them with deep and abiding faith in His greatness and abundant love. I arrived safely, with my heart full

Aurora S. Cudal-Rivera My Personal Testimony

of thanksgiving.

I was not informed beforehand that I will be an important member of the wedding entourage. But I am prepared for any eventuality and so when I was told that I, together with the bride’s brotherin-law, will walk with the bride down the aisle and give her away in marriage, my heart fluttered. It was an honor and I am glad I brought along appropriate Filipino attire.

The wedding was not a grandiose affair, although the bride and groom could afford the grandest wedding. It was a simple, solemn ecumenical service in a white-orchid decorated aisle and altar with more than a hundred guests composed of close friends and relatives of both the bride and the groom.

I could share so many interesting stories about how the groom, an accomplished medical doctor, a widower for five years, met his bride, a nurse in the royal household of the King of Morocco

for more than thirty years. It was a fairy tale and the groom said “fairy tales do come true.”

I came home with my heart filled with love. My family circle of medical doctors and nurses with well-appointed gated- homes in Fort Myers, welcomed me with so much warmth, reminding me of the love that has been showered to me by their own parents. I was a part of their growing up years, the memories of which were not erased by time and distance.

The family values engrained in us – respect for elders, love of God, hospitality, mutual cooperation and family harmony – was amply demonstrated by everyone. Memories flooded my mind as I interacted with my nieces and nephews. My trip to Fort Myers turned out to be much more than attending a wedding, it was a nostalgic family reunion which refreshed the family values we hold dear. I remember my father’s advice, “Love one another, for love is of God.”

Let us press on

Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth. (Hosea 6:3)

The Creator of the universe has invited us to know Him. Think about what an incredible privilege that is! God had every right to leave us in our ignorance and spiritual darkness, but because He is love (1 John 4:8), He chose to reveal Himself in the most personal way possible - by sending His Son to be "the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15) and by giving us His word.

We no longer have to guess in the dark about who He is. His portrait is right before our eyes on the pages of Scripture. Therefore, nothing in life could be as important as knowing Him.

But like Israel, as we journey through life, we easily lose the zeal to "press on to know the Lord." In the next verse it says, "Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew

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blamed Asians for causing the virus,” she said.

“Many Asian Americans, including our patients and our own staff who were coming into work, were being attacked both physically and verbally in so many ways. So our community essentially went underground,” said Quach.

“Nearly three quarters of them said they were too afraid to leave their homes. They were hiding from attacks, but also dangerously missing out on critical care, including getting Covid testing and so many other services.”

Quach also noted that fewer Covid resources were devoted to the AAPI community, because the prevailing narrative was that it was hitting hard

Danny Hernaez From Whom All Blessings Flow

that goes early away (Hosea 6:4)." In contrast to God's faithful love, our love is often as substantial and enduring as morning fog.

One day our passion for God is burning brightly, and the next it's a flickering flame or a smoldering wick. But we have this wonderful promise: "A smoldering wick he will not snuff out." (Isaiah 42:3b) As sure as the dawn arrives each morning, God comes to the repentant with His new-day mercies. God's grace to the broken and contrite is as reliable as the rains that water the earth every spring. He will come and bring forth abundant new growth when we turn to Him.

black and brown communities.

“Our community was also impacted. But this was not highlighted in the narrative. So this community continues to suffer in silence,” said Quach.

New recruitment efforts

The lack of disaggregated data may be due to very low levels of research participation among Asian Americans, said Dr. Van Ta Park, a professor at the University of California San Francisco’s School of Nursing, in the Department of Community Health Systems. Park is also the lead researcher of an NIH/NIA R24 grant called, “Collaborative Approach for AAPI Research and Education.”

The goal of CARE is to recruit 10,000 AAPI who are interested in participating in research. CARE is available in six languages.

The CARE registry launched during the COVID pandemic and already has

And now may the Lord bless you, and may the Lord keep you, and may the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and may the Lord be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May you walk in the blessed assurance that your steps are being ordered of the Lord and that His angels are going before you to make certain that your life reaches its spiritual destiny. May the prayers that you pray, be reward to you according to your faith, for God is a faithful God, and He will open the windows of heaven and bless you with blessings you cannot contain, in Jesus' name. Amen.

recruited 9,300 participants who speak Chinese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hindi, Korean, Vietnamese, and Samoan through its online portal.

Thus far, the registry has referred more than 500 individuals to 27 studies, said Park.

Intake workers ask questions about sociodemographic information, health conditions and behaviors, and caregiving experiences to better match participants to research studies.

One of the areas of most concern to Park is Alzheimer’s’ research. One out of every three people in the US will be afflicted by Alzheimer’s, but AAPIs represent only 7 percent of participants in clinical research. CARE has developed the “Asian Cohort on Alzheimer’s Disease,” a US Canada study to study the impact of lifestyle genetic factors on Alzheimer’s disease risk in Asian Americans and Canadians.

Greetings in

Last Sunday our reflections on the gospel reading focused on the virtue of trustworthiness as the fundamental element on which stewardship as the faithful response to the call of discipleship that Jesus initiated during his lifetime. We realized that being trustworthy implies one’s fidelity to the master in every sphere of one’s life. Last week we focused on the gift of faith, the acceptance of God’s existence and his significant role in the world and also in human affairs, particularly in our personal life stories. I presume that you must have been able to answer the questions I posed last Sunday, namely whether we truly know Jesus, accept his teachings, do his commandments and share our faith to others, especially to those closest to us, in the family, in our neighbors, in our work places and communities. I posed the foregoing questions in order to help us evaluate our faith and see whether we really have been faithful to Him and worthy of his trust in order to given the opportunity of being given more responsibilities for each of us to undertake as His stewards.

Our readings today allow us to ponder on another virtue, besides humility, that helps us develop ourselves into trustworthy stewards of God’s gifts in our lives. This is the virtue of poverty that our gospel today presents from the story of the lives lived by the rich man and

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Team,” he said.

Meanwhile, Marcos added that biodiversity must also be protected as part of joint efforts to preserve the planet.

“Water connects our world and sustains our existence, but it is also a finite resource that requires our stewardship. Equally important, our biodiversity must be protected amidst the continuing challenge of climate change. We must enhance our cooperation in these areas,” he said.

He recognized the crafting of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable

Fr. Agustin T. Opalalic

Lazarus, the poor beggar who earthy life was portrayed as one dependent on the excess coming from the table of the rich man of the parable. The emphasis of the story rests on the way life was lived by both protagonists in the parable. On the rich man was so self-contained, selffulfilled and led a life of superfluous and excessive manifestation of self contentment and pleasurable activities. On the other hand Lazarus spent his life on dependence on others, without complaining but contented in what he would receive due to his physical condition of illness. What is more significant, however is the consequent result of the way they led their individual lives: the rich man was led to the netherworld and the poor man to the bosom of Abraham in the heavenly bliss of happiness and joy.

This makes us reflect on the meaning of evangelical poverty that Jesus preached about in the

Development as a platform where societies can build a future that is “resilient” and “inclusive.”

However, he also reminded nations to ensure that their development agenda takes into account the interest of all developing nations, including middle-income countries where the majority of the world’s poor lives.

Marcos said sustainability also meant equipping people with the tools necessary to meet the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

“Investments in education are key, and my administration is prepared to make such investments. The Philippines notes with appreciation the Transforming Education Summit

beatitudes when he said, “blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God.” Some questions come to my mind today which I wish to share with you. Does it mean that those who are materially rich do not have the chance to inherit the kingdom of heaven? Does also mean that those who are materially poor are sure and certain to attain the heavenly bliss that Lazarus is mentioned to enjoy with Abraham? Honestly, these questions are not easy to answer, but I do believe that poverty here is not the absence of material resources in one’s life, but the spirit of dependence on God in one’s life. In a world that proclaims that self-sufficiency, selfrealization and self-fulfillment are the crown of human endeavors, the ability to accept one’s dependence on Somebody greater whose designs and plans one should follow is the true poverty that every disciple is expected to develop in one’s life. Evangelical poverty is not the absence of material wealth, but the disposition of leaving behind anything that would hinder one from obeying the will of God, depending on Him and trusting on his goodness and mercy just like Lazarus of the gospel that we read. Let us pray that we become poor in spirit so that we may be able to develop within us the spirit of dependence on God so that we would make Him our Master and Lord forever and ever.

held earlier this week. At which these subjects were taken up,” he said.

He, likewise, stressed the creativity and innovation of the youth as a great renewable source.

“We understand the value of harnessing our people’s talents by creating a robust and creative economy. We will continue to work with partners in promoting this at the international level,” he added.

Marcos' working visit to the US will be from Sept. 18 to 24.

On Monday, he met with the Filipino community in New Jersey, and attended the New York Stock Exchange Economic Forum on Tuesday. (MNS)

SAVE THE DATE! Week-end Art Retreat and Pop Up Event October 8-10, 2022 hosted by Ruth Gonzales at Art Space 349 in the Palm Springs, CA area with an Opening Cocktail Nite on October 8th starting at 7pm. Suggested donations $20. For details please PM or cll Ruth at Cell# 760-315-7550. She has a few rooms to host you. We hope to see you there.