Yes Philippines NewsMagazine UK - March 2023

PhotoCredits:Samir Hussein/WireImage

by MARY SOL PIMENTEL

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

IN like a lion, out like a lam b That ?s how an old English proverb describes March It?s perhaps because the weather is usually still cold at the start of the month, and is milder at the end of it But this saying is not a temperature predictor, as March is such a changeable month with calm, sunny weather one day and snowstorms the next, from beginning to end

It?s still winter when March starts, and by the time of the spring equinox (equal length of day and night, 20th March this year) we?re into the season of blooming flora that lifts our spirits, and makes us feel a song in our hearts again (As Gladys Knight and the Pips would croon about)

So, what have we got for you in this issue?

In celebration of International Women?s Day on 8th March and Mothers?Day on 19th March, we have tribute features on the women in our lives, particularly that special person we call mama, mum or nanay, who has brought each of us into the world

March is the month when Ferdinand Magellan found the Philippines We take a glimpse into the events that led to his discovery of our beloved home country

Speaking of our country, we thought it would be a good time to remind ourselves of the basic facts about LasIslasFilipinasand share them with our UK-born children so they can appreciate their Filipino heritage

A cultural tradition our kids may find interesting are the childhood games we played indoors and outdoors back home Find the article in our Filipiniana corner

Our London embassy has recently announced the ?BagongBayani?Awards for 2023 It is a worldwide search for outstanding and exemplary overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) Check it out if you know any kababayan who deserves to be nominated Or, it could be you! Lastly, have a look at our Creatives?Corner and be amazed at the Pinoys in British films and on stage who, with their world-class talents, put our home country on the map So, turn the next page and get started on a most informative and entertaining read

?? have a look at our Creatives?

Corner and be amazed at the Pinoys in British films, and on stage who, with their world-class talents, put our home country on the map.?

Significant Events in MARCH

ByTHEKAHIMYANGPROJECT

FIRST of M a rc h 1888, some na t ive Filipinos a nd mest izos present ed a pet it ion dema nding expulsion of t he f ria rs

On 1st March 1888, some native Filipinos and mestizos marched to the official residence of Jose Centeno and presented a petition demanding the immediate expulsion of the friars of the religious orders, and of the Archbishop, whom they declared unworthy to occupy the Primacy of the Islands

The petition addressed to the Governor-General, further demanded the secularisation of the benefices and the confiscation of the estates of the Augustinians and the Dominicans The demand, said to have been written by Doroteo Cortes, a mestizo lawyer, also accused the friars of compassing the death of Father Burgos, by subornation of justice

There were 810 signatures to the petition, but when the signatories were summoned and examined, most of them declared they did not know what they had signed, and denied that they wished the friars to be expelled

The result of this appeal was that the principal persons who took part in it were banished, or sent to reside at undesirable places within the archipelago

14 M a rc h 1947, t he M ilit a ry Ba ses Agreement wa s signed

On 14 March 1947, the Military Bases Agreement was signed by President Manuel

A Roxas and Paul V McNutt, the United States high commissioner in the Philippines and concurred in by the Philippine Senate on 26 March 1947, and accepted and ratified by the USon 21 January 1948

In the United States, the administration decided to consider the bases pact an executive agreement, thus requiring no Senate approval

The agreement provided principally for the granting by the Philippines to the United States the right to retain the use of the bases in the Philippines

The Agreement was set for a period of 99 years subject to extension thereafter as agreed by the two Governments This agreement would undergo amendments over the years Notably in the 1966 amendment, the agreement was cut down to 25 years of the unexpired portion of the 99 years, expiring in 1991

The 1979 amendments would reaffirm Philippine sovereignty over the bases and provided for a thorough review of the agreement every five years The first review, in 1983, resulted in several further concessions to Philippine demands for increased sovereignty

On 16 September 1991, in a vote of 12-11, the Philippine Senate rejected a negotiated treaty that would allow an extension of the stay of the U S bases in the country

23 M a rc h 1901, Genera l Aguina ldo wa s c a pt ured by t he Americ a ns

On 23 March 1901, General Emilio Aguinaldo was captured by the American forces led by General Frederick Funston with the help of Macabebe Scouts, in Palanan, Isabela

The Macabebes are a certain tribal clan, natives of Macabebe, Pamapanga, who, by reason of long-standing feuds with their more rebellious neighbours, came to be absolutely loyal to the Spanish authorities When the Americans came, they had transferred that loyalty to them and had become a recognised and valuable part of American military force

On the morning of 25 March, Aguinaldo and three of his men were marched to the seashore at Palanan Bay The Americans made two signal fires and hoisted a white flag A little later, a steamer rose on the horizon Within two hours the Vicksburg was anchored near the beach

Everything that had been done by the Americans since November, 1899, was explained to Aguinaldo, and he was made to see that the American purposes with regard to his people were not only benevolent but also inflexible Seeing this, Aguinaldo bowed to the inevitable Aguinaldo took the oath of allegiance to the American Government and on 1st April 1901 issued a proclamation recommending abandonment of further resistance

CONTINUED ON PaGe 8

Filipinosoldiers in1899

President Manuel Roxas andUS Ambassador Paul V McNutt (right)signthe MilitaryBases Agreement inMalacañangPalace,surroundedbyonlookers, includingVicePresident ElpidioQuirino(far left)

BAGONG BAYANI AWARDS 2023 NOW OPEN FOR NOMINATION

THE Philippine Em bassy in London inform s t he Filipino com m unit y in t he UK and Ireland t hat t he Bagong Bayani Foundat ion, Inc (BBFI), has announced t hat t he nom inat ion for t he 2023 Bagong Bayani Aw ards is now open

The Bagong Bayani Awards or BBA is a worldwide search for the country?s outstanding and exemplary overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) There are five (5) award categories, namely Bagong Bayani Award for Outstanding Employee, Community and Social Service, Culture and Arts, Capt Gregorio S Oca Achievement Award, and the Blas F Ople Award para sa ?Natatanging Bagong Bayani ?

The deadline for submission is on 30 April 2023

For further inquiries, you may directly contact the BBFI Secretariat through bagong bayani awards@yahoo com, bagong bayani inc@gmail com or their website at http://www bbfi com ph/

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

25 M a rc h 25, 1935, Fla sh Elorde wa s born in Bogo, Cebu

On 25 March 1935, Gabriel "Flash" Elorde, one of the greatest Filipino boxers along with seven-division world champion Manny Pacquiao and flyweight champion in the 1920s Pancho Villa, was born in Bogo, Cebu

Left-handed Elorde won his first world title (lightweight division) in 1960 against Harold Gomes and defended it successfully for seven and a half years He also won other titles in the bantamweight and featherweight categories in the Orient In 1963, he was inaugurated as World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Association (WBA) champion

Elorde retired with a record of 88 wins (33 KOs), 27 losses and two draws

He died on January 2 1985 at the age of 49 29 M a rc h 1870, M a nuel Za mora wa s born in St a Cruz, M a nila

On 29 March 1870 Manuel Zamora popularly known as the discoverer of the "tiki-tiki" , a formula against beri-beri, was born in Sta Cruz, Manila

After finishing his primary education at the Ateneo Municipal, Manuel enrolled in Pharmacy at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) and graduated in 1896 During his student days, he already earned awards for

Gabriel "Flash" Elorde

his research works

His "Estudio Farmacologico dela Areca Cateru y Determinacion deUno o Variosdesus Alkaloides" and "Purificacion de mil Granosdel Acido Sulfurico del Comercio" were presented before his graduation in 1896 and obtained for him the licentiate in pharmacy, sobresaliente

As a student, he apprenticed in the old drugstore of Ocampo y Arevalo known as Botica de Quiapo where he trained to efficiently compound and dispense medicines

In 1908, he established a drugstore and a small laboratory at 928 R Hidalgo Street, where he spent much of his time studying what would become the tiki-tiki

TheTiki-tiki bottlein1909

At one time, he was a member of the Board

of Pharmaceutical Examiners In 1921, the Centro Escolar University (CEU) opened its college of Pharmacy with Zamora as its first dean, a position he held until his death

Along with his long stint at the CEU was his active involvement with scientific organisations like the Colegio Medico Farmaceutico and the Philippine Pharmaceutical Association, which he helped establish in 1920

His most outstanding achievement was the discovery of an effective method of producing a stable "tiki-tiki" extract in 1909 Parke Davis of New York offered him a good sum for this formula, but he refused to sell his rights

Phot o Credit s: THE KAHIMYANG PROJECT

T h e G r eat est O PM Songs C ollect ion w w w.pinoyra diouk.c

CREATIVES?CORNER

ByPINXYCREATIVESUK

Congratulations to our very own Angelo Paragoso who is in the cast of ?Nocebo?

Nocebo is a 2022 Filipino-Irish psychological thriller film directed by Lorcan Finnegan from a screenplay by Garret Shanley The film stars Eva Green, Mark Strong, Chai Fonacier, Billie Gadsdon, Cathy Belton and Anthony Falcon

Source: Wikipedia

The Creative Future Writers?Award 2023 is open! This year we are adding creative non-fiction alongside poetry and fiction

The theme for our 10th Awards is ?X?Your work should respond to the theme, implicitly or explicitly, but we're looking for quality writing first and foremost The theme is a creative prompt, not a requirement Send us your best work!

Twelve writers in three categories will receive:

* £20,000 worth of cash and development prizes

* be published in our anthology and eBook

* read at our showcase, part of the London Literature Festival 2023

* receive ongoing development support from Creative Future

The link to enter is: bit ly/ CFWA23 "

ht t ps:/ / w w w w hat sonst age com / / com plet e-cast -k lling

Hey friends!

My name is Andrea Gat chalian - I?m a Filipina actor trained at Mountview I run a theatre company called Orange Peel Productions, and we are opening The Wolves at The Space Theatre from March 4-11

A finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, The Wolves, by Sarah DeLappe, is a liberating coming-of-age drama focused on nine adolescent female athletes in a contemporary society Through an unfiltered lens, we experience the teams?brimming humour, vigour, and insight, completely unobstructed by the male gaze

I would love it if you come along and watch if you could make it

ht t ps:/ / space org uk/ event / t hew olves/

Congratulations to our very own Alexzandra Sarm ient o who will be choreographing HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESSWITHOUT REALLYTRYING at the Southwark Playhouse!

Photo credit: Rhoda Hunter

Congratulations to our very own Joaquin Pedro Valdes who will be joining the cast of Killing The Cat at The Riverside Studios!

Photo cred t: Sam Mackay

Photo Credits: Andrea Gatchalian

Photo Credits: playwrightsrealm org

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Relationship Breakdown and Immigration

EPARATION

Por relat ionship breakdow n can happen in various circum st ances

Som et im es it is clearly at t ribut able t o one part y?s conduct , for exam ple w here t here has been dom est ic violence; but for t he m ost part neit her part y is ?at fault ?

Acknowledgement of this was reflected in the change of divorce law in April 2022 Divorce no longer requires one party to blame the other by alleging misconduct

The stress and distress of separation can be made worse where one party?s immigration is dependent on the continuation of the relationship The following examines alternative routes available to applicants who have limited leave to remain in the UK based on their relationship and where that relationship has now broken down

Marriage breakdow n and dom est ic violence

If you are married and you are in the UK with a spouse / partner visa and your relationship breaks down due to domestic violence, can you still stay in the UK?

The answer is YESunder the Domestic Violence Indefinite Leave to Remain (DVILR) route, provided that:

1 Your visa is that of a spouse or unmarried partner or as a same sex partner Those who entered the UK as fiancées / fiancés and have not yet swapped to a spouse or partner visa will not qualify

2 You must be physically present in the UK This is usually not a problem but if you are abroad you cannot apply under the DVILR route because you are not present in the UK

3 You have made a valid application This broadly means that you have provided the

Home Office with the relevant documents to support your application For example, you require a current passport; if you do not have one because it was taken by your estranged partner, your application may still be considered ?valid? In this event, explain why you cannot provide your passport If you have applied for a new passport, send in your receipt as evidence of your application for a new passport Further, for your application to be valid you are required to pay the current fee of £2,404 unless you can get a waiver (see below)

4 You must satisfy the ?suitability requirements?for indefinite leave to remain This generally means that you are of ?good? character If contrary to this, meaning that you have criminal convictions, this may lead to a refusal of your application

5 You were subjected to domestic violence and abuse It is important to note that domestic violence goes beyond physical or sexual violence The general definition of domestic violence is:

Anyincident or pattern of incidentsof controlling, coerciveor threateningbehaviour, violence, or abusebetween those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimatepartnersor familymembersregardlessof gender or sexuality

Behaviour that counts as domestic violence is wider than your partner beating you up Domestic violence can be controlling behaviour or threats of violence So, if you are placed in a state of fear of violence, even if you are not physically assaulted, that can also be regarded as domestic violence

Another important point to note is that the behaviour does not need to come from your partner An example includes if you live with your mother-in-law and she subjects you to domestic violence, this can also be regarded as domestic violence and abuse

As with most immigration cases EVIDENCEis crucial The Home Office has a long list of possible acceptable evidence and their weight A criminal conviction against your partner for their assault on you is ?strong?

evidence according to the Home Office?s list By contrast, a written statement from you is regarded as ?weak?evidence Many victims of

domestic violence face the upheaval of evidencing their claim for various reasons, not least of which is the understandable reluctance for the victim to involve authorities for fear of further reprisals or the knowledge that their current immigration status depends on the relationship If faced with such a case, you should submit alternative and additional evidence such as photographs of your injuries, letter(s) from your GPor statements from friends if they witnessed events It is for you to prove that you were subjected to domestic violence, so it is also for you to submit documents in support of your case

Applicat ion grant ed

If you prove the above, that is: you entered the UK as a partner or spouse, you are of ?good?character and you were the victim of domestic violence, you will be granted Indefinite Leave to Remain This means you will no longer be subject to immigration control and may permanently live in the UK Ot her t hings t o not e

If you do not have the money to pay for the Home Office fee, which is currently £2,404, you can apply for a waiver of the fee You do this by submitting the application without paying the fee and providing evidence that you qualify for a waiver Evidence can vary One example is a letter from the refuge where you are receiving support

Expired Visa

If your visa has expired and you are now an overstayer, you can still make an application under DVILR; but you need to provide the Home Office with an explanation for the delay You need to support this with evidence Evidence can be in the form of medical reports, say if you suffered a breakdown because of your circumstances

The Home Office will look at: the age of evidence being relied upon, if there are any official reports - for example from the police, which shows passports and travel documents were withheld and the police had to retrieve them - the time between the alleged breakdown of the relationship and the application, including how long the applicant has been living apart from the partner (Source: H/O guidance on Victims of domestic violence and abuse Version 14 0)

DVILR applicat ion failed

If your application under the domestic violence route is unsuccessful you may still be granted leave under a different route For example under the Human Rights Act It is crucial that when making an application under DVILRthat you also submit representations on Human Rights That means you should provide details of your life in the UK, any children, friends and family

CONTINUED on Page 14

ByLIRASIMONCABATBAT

you have in the UK If successful, you will be granted limited leave (usually 30 months) which can be extended and later lead to settlement

Children in relat ionship

If your relationship has ended but you have children in the UK, as a parent, you should consider making an application based on your relationship with your child The conditions you will need to satisfy vary depending on whether you have a visa, or if you are applying from abroad or from within the UK The common factors in all the above are:

The child m ust be:

* Living in the UK

* Under 18 years of age

* Either a British or Irish national, or have settled status in the UK

The most challenging aspect when making an application to either enter or remain as the parent of a child living in the UK is often the ?relationship requirement?

The Home Office will need to be satisfied that you play an active role in your child?s upbringing, and you plan to continue after you apply As with most applications, evidence is ?KING? If you have a good relationship with your former partner, then a statement from

them confirming your role in your child?s life can be persuasive evidence In the absence of this (or in addition to it), it is helpful to provide letters from your child?s school stating that you take them to school or attend parent meetings Some doctors are also happy to help confirm that you have been actively involved in caring for your child by taking them to their appointments If you have court documents to confirm the active part you play in your child?s life such evidence can be crucial; but beware that you may need permission from the court to use court documents as evidence Without permission it is an offence to do so

Visa

grant ed

This will usually be for about two and a half years, during which time you can work (without restriction) in the UK and travel in/out of the UK for the duration of your visa

When you can apply for settlement (indefinite leave to remain) will depend on the type of visa you have been given Usually, ILRcan be applied after five or ten years You should seek legal advice to ensure that you know whether an extension for limited leave or ILRis appropriate in your situation Submitting the wrong application can be expensive as it may mean an additional set of fees

No visa

A further complication following a relationship breakdown is where neither child nor parent have leave to remain; that is to say both are without a visa in the UK There are scenarios when I would highly recommend that applicants seek legal advice before pursuing an application and the above situation is definitely such a case

A useful starting point is EX1 of the Immigration Rules This paragraph applies if:

1 (a) (i) the applicant has a genuine and subsisting parental relationship with a child who-

(aa) is under the age of 18 years, or was under

the age of 18 years when the applicant was first granted leave on the basis that this paragraph applied;

(bb) is in the UK;

(cc) is a British Citizen or has lived in the UK continuously for at least the 7 years immediately preceding the date of application; and

(ii) taking into account their best interests as a primary consideration, it would not be reasonable to expect the child to leave the UK; A successful application under the above will likely result in a grant of leave to remain to both the child and parent for about two and a half years This can be extended or even varied and can, in due course, lead to settlement

Ot her possibilit ies?

Em ploym ent

Other routes may be available to an applicant whose relationship has broken down such as variation of leave to that of employment under the skilled worker route This route has its own conditions including a Certificate of Sponsorship from a licenced (by the Home Office) employer

Fam ily and Privat e Life

Depending on your situation the Home Office may need to consider your application under Article 8 of the Human Rights Act In essence the Home Office will have regard to your Family and Private life in the UK To say that such an application is challenging is an understatement It is nevertheless important that you include with your application Human Rights representations as this may at least provide you with a right of appeal in the event of refusal Grant of leave on this basis will be for two and a half years and applicants will usually need to show a total of ten years before they will be able to apply for settlement

When Magellan Discovered the Philippines

ON Sat urday 16 March 1521, Ferdinand Magellan w as sailing w est w ard looking for t he Moluccas or Spice Islands w hen he sight ed an island t hat had very loft y m ount ains

He and his fleet have just left the islands of Canoyas, which was later called the Ladrones, named after the thievish propensities of its inhabitants (It is now known as the Marianas Islands)

Soon after, they learned that the mountainous island was called Zamal which is the present-day Samar Island, a distant three hundred leagues from the islands of the Ladrones On the following day, the sea-worn expedition, landed on a little uninhabited island south of Samar, which Antonio Pigafetta (Magellan?s chronicler) called Humunu, and is known today as

Homonhon, a barangay in Guiuan, Eastern Samar

On 17 March while still anchored, they were visited by several canoes or praus carrying the principal chiefs of Suluan named Inaroyan, Limbas, Bucad, Layong, Calipay, Badiao Cabuling and the Datu Garas-Garas Suluan is an island about 20 kilometres off to the east from Homonhon facing the Pacific Ocean

These men came aboard, and Magellan explained to them through an interpreter, that the King of Spain had sent them not to do any damage, but to spread the Faith of Christ and convert them to the True Religion As they were so well received, they called Homonhon "Nueva Providencia"

The next day was stormy and nothing was done until March 19 when most the Spaniards disembarked, leaving only enough men to guard the vessels Mass was celebrated and after the ceremony a tall cross was raised near the shore Datu Garas-Garas, Iranoyan, and the others then entered into a treaty of friendship with Don Fernando de Magallanes (Ferdinand Magellan), representing His Majesty, which was drawn up by Leon de Espeleta, Secretary and Notary of the expedition

Antonio Pigafetta said that they stayed on the island of Homonhon for eight days but had great difficulty in securing food The natives brought them a few coconuts and oranges, palm wine, and a chicken or two, but this was all that could be spared, so on the 25th, the Spaniards sailed again, and near the south end of Leyte landed on the little island of Limasaua Here, there was a village, where they met two chieftains, whom Pigafetta calls "Kings", and whose names were Raja Calambú and Raja Ciagu These two chieftains were visiting Limasaua and had their residences, one at Butúan and one at Cagayan, on the island of Mindanao

On the island of Limasaua, the natives had dogs, cats, hogs, goats and fowls They were cultivating rice, maize, breadfruit, and had coconuts, oranges, bananas, citron, and ginger Pigafetta tells how he visited one of the chieftains at his home on the shore The house was built raised on posts and thatched Pigafetta thought it looked "like a haystack"

It had been the day of San Lazarus when the

Spaniards first reached these islands so that Magellan gave the group the name of the Archipelago of Saint Lazarus, the name under which the Philippines were frequently described in the early writings, although another title, Islasdel Poniente or Islands of the West, was more common up to the time when the title Filipinas became fixed Magellan?s people were getting desperately in need of food and the population on Limasaua had very inadequate supplies; consequently, the natives directed him to the island of Cebu, and provided him with guides

Leaving Limasaua, the fleet sailed for Cebu, passing several large islands, among them Bohol and reaching Cebu harbour on Sunday, 7 April A junk from Siam was anchored at Cebu when Magellan?s ships arrived there; and this, together with the knowledge that the Filipinos showed the surrounding countries, including China on the one side and the Moluccas on the other is evidence of the extensive trade relations at the time of the discovery

Cebu was a large town and it was reported that more than two thousand warriors with their lances appeared to resist the landing of the Spaniards but assurances of friendliness finally won over the Cebuanos, and Magellan formed a compact with the Datu of Cebu, whose name was Hamalbar, identified in Philippine history today as Rajah Humabon

Source: The Kahim yang Project Phot o Cred t s: Manila Bullet in

Photo Credits to Universal Art Archive/A amy

Antonio Pigafetta

Antonio Pigafetta

Ferdinand Magellan

Rajah Humabon

A TRIBUTE TO MY MOTHER

ByMARIAELLIS

WE rolled queso de bola (Edam cheese) on t he floor like a playt hing,? my mother would say, reminiscing about her middle-class childhood She was named Salud, the Spanish word for ?health? , because she was a sickly baby It seemed to have done her good as she lived well into her eighties

The seventh of eight children and the youngest girl her parents and siblings called her ?Nene?It?s a term of endearment for little girls Her father Amado was from an affluent family and was alcalde mayor in their town in Bicol Her mother Gavina was a poor barrio lass whose beauty had won her father?s heart Their love affair was a Cinderella story

When Salud was 24 she met her next-door neighbour

Ildefonso who was in the army He was a handsome mestizo with light brown eyes, and was Visayan They got married in 1954 and had five children the first-born being me my mum?s replica in looks and temperament

My mother was a schoolteacher who instilled in me a love for the English language We would have grammar spelling and pronunciation drills when she came home from work (As a toddler, I spoke the language before I uttered my first Tagalog words) Little did she know that I would live in an English-speaking country one day Or perhaps she knew intuitively

Having been pushy in a nice kind of way, my mum made my sister and me take piano lessons I was six and would rather play house or catch dragonflies (mea culpa!) But she insisted, and I?m glad she did, as mentioning the skill enhances my CV Looking back, I hated it when she summoned me for a ?command performance?for visitors

In my teenage years, my mum and I would lock horns over my proletariat dress sense I went around in my cheap, pang-masa camisa chino (working class top), faded maong skirt refashioned from tattered denim jeans and bakya (wooden slippers) ?What would my friends say if they saw you in those horrendous rags??, she would admonish me in a tone typical of a bourgeois mindset

My mother and I also argued over my student activism at university ?Your father?s an army officer and you go marching in the street shouting Maoist slogans ?she said ?If you?re sent to prison, it would be a disgrace to our family,?she added It didn? t help that half the men in my extended family were in the armed forces

Another contentious issue between my mother and I was my choice of career She wanted me to be a lawyer or a doctor, but I was bent on doing a media course in broadcast communication ?What would you be after that??, she asked ?I?d be on radio or TV,?I replied ?But that?s not a real profession ?she said Many years later when I worked as an interpreter in London, my courthouse assignments fascinated me As I listened to barristers arguing their clients?cases, I thought, ?My mum was right I should have been a lawyer ? My parents were true to their Catholic faith We went to Mass every Sunday without fail and prayed the rosary to the Virgin Mary Imagine my mother?s dismay when she heard that I went to a Buddhist temple and took part in a naming ceremony ?Are you abandoning your religion??, she demanded to know ?No I just want to explore other spiritual beliefs as part of my practical education,?I reassured her She was happy enough with that explanation

A stickler for good manners and right conduct, my mum would express her disapproval of rudeness in people by calling them maleducado, saying it with such disdain that she practically hissed like a cat Her moral compass would make her glower at couples being amorous in public places, with a look on her face that screamed Sodom and Gomorrah

My mother was a Tom Jones fan (Despite her prudish tendencies, she didn? t seem to mind those gyrating hips of his) We would have an early supper on a Wednesday evening so we could all watch his show on TVafterwards She also loved the Nora Daza cookery programme and would try out the recipes on weekends, serving us cordon bleu cuisine She was a mere mortal during the week and a domestic goddess on Saturdays and Sundays

Typical of Filipino neighbourliness, my mum enjoyed sharing food with families in our street I have memories of being dispatched to Mrs Crisostomo?s house round the corner to bring her a bowl of freshly cooked dish

My mother was the luckiest woman on earth for having had

the best husband in the world She was my dad?s precious princess, and oh boy, did she relish every moment of his unconditional love and devotion! I say ?unconditional?because my mum would have been irritatingly unreasonable at times, but my dad loved her to the moon and back just the same When it came to the household budget, my mother employed her enviable ?damage limitation?skills She loved the finer things in life while my dad was a frugal man So, Smart Salud would declare only half the cost of her purchases The young impressionable me imbibed this cunning practice, and years later, used it for marital audit purposes I bought a new TVone day and when asked by my husband how much it cost I deducted fifty percent off the price ?Oh, that?s great value,?he said He went to the shop the next day to get one for his mum Husband: Did you really get the TVfor £100?They told me it was £200

Me: Oh, it must have been a one-day sale offer

But I digress

Two years before she died, my mother came to visit me and my family in Northern Ireland It was in autumn, when the leaves were turning yellow and falling on the ground My mum had never seen such a spectacle before and was awed by it Then when winter came she saw snow for the first time She was child-like in her amazement

After retirement, my mother devoted her time and effort to charity work She organised many projects in her hometown to help the disadvantaged, particularly women and children In her visits to my brother in America with my dad, she would go to flea markets and buy used clothing to bring home and give to the barrio people I was with her one time and cringed when I heard her say to the seller, in perfect Imelda Marcos mode, ?I?m buying these for the poor people in my country ? My mother?s work in the community caught the attention of some local politician and she was asked to run for public office, which she seriously considered When my siblings and I heard about it, we threatened to ?disown?her as we didn? t want her to be involved in the corrupt world of politics Thankfully, she declined the offer

She continued to be of service to others until she was disabled by illness She is now in a place in Heaven reserved for extraordinary human beings who are called mothers

FACE THEMONTH OF

APPLEGRACEMONGAYA

AGE:31

BASEDINTHEUK:Derby

HOBBIES:cooking,baking,playingthepiano, andpainting

Occupation: Renal Dialysis NurseinDerby

AMBITION:Totravel places intheworldandto

expandmybusiness

MOTHER:MerlinaMongaya

FATHER:TitoMongaya

Sagada opens 'sacred', historic cave to lure more tourists

ByLIZAAGOOT

Preservat ion effort s

TOURISTS w ho have been t o t his t ow n have m ore reasons t o ret urn w it h t he opening of new at t ract ions including t he Balangagan burial cave t hat feat ures cryst al-w hit e rock form at ions

In an interview during a recent media tour, Robert Pangod, former tourism officer of this town who is now a volunteer tour guide urged tourists to visit Balangagan and not just the Sumaguing and Lumiang caves to have a complete experience of Sagada

Pangod said because of the presence of coffins the cave is considered "sacred" as well as historic, having served as an evacuation site for the locals during World War II, which kept them out of the eyes of the Japanese invaders in the Cordillera region

?Ang Balangagan parang circular itsura niya, bale may tatlong level, pinaka mataas ang burial chamber, dito mo makikita ang mga rock formation na puros mga white na limestone Dito din ang mga chandelier type (Balangagan cave is circular in appearance with three levels the topmost of which is the burial chamber where you can see white limestone rock formations Chandelier type of rock formations can also be found here) ?he said

Pangod said the second level of the cave has rock formations in grey and black

Balangagan cave, which was opened to locals in 2014 and formally opened for tourism purposes in the last quarter of 2022, has a distinct character that also provides a cultural attachment for tourists

Upon entering, visible are several traditional coffins laid on the side, the big burial jar on top of one of the ledges, and the small burial jar for children on another ledge

Going in, visitors can find chandelier types of stalactites on the ceiling and walls A crystal-white stalactite almost meeting a stalagmite is also among the first views On the flooring are several rock formations also in crystal-white colours

To see the three levels of the cave, at least 2 5 to three hours have to be spared for exploring and listening to the stories and briefings from the tour guide

?Several other rock formations are inside which cannot be seen in Sumaguing,?Pangod said ?The best place to visit for a cultural attachment is Balangagan where you can see not just the coffins of the ancestors but the olden practice of burying in jars ?

Pangod said there used to be many jars when the cave was discovered and opened to the locals in 2014 but without anybody guarding it, some were destroyed, stolen or simply disintegrated over time

?Makikita kanina, napaka puti yung mga rock formation pero may mga talagang hindi rin alam ng mga turista pati ng ilang locals, bata na pumapasok na inaapak-apakan na lang ang rock formation kaya nagkakaroon ng mantsa (You saw a while ago how white the rock formations are, but the reason there are stains is that some tourists and locals, even children, who are unaware, enter and step on them),?he said

He said local leaders of Sagada are appealing to tourists, tour guides, and residents to be responsible and not step on the rock formations on the floor or even touch them Also, the "what you bring in, bring it out with you" rule should be observed, he added

Pangod said a maximum of 100 persons including the 20 guides are allowed at a time inside Balangagan to prevent much disturbance in the cave

He noted that Balangagan and the other sites in the southern

zone were opened with the conformity of the community and tour packages have been created with the people?s participation pertaining to social preparations and safety features

More t ourist sit es, m ore accom m odat ions

Mayor Felicito Dula, in a separate interview, said tourism is Sagada?s primary source of income and they are happy that the tourism industry of their town is well on its way to "normal" after the pandemic

From the previous 3,500-bed capacity, he said the town is now capable of accommodating up to 5,000 guests with the opening of additional facilities which the residents prepared amid the health crisis

The average accommodation rates are from PHP350 to PHP500 per head per night he noted

?Discover Sagada, discover yourself Come to Sagada, and experience the new attractions prepared by our people for everyone to enjoy ?Dula said

Source:

Philippine New s Agency

Filipino Games We Love

ByCAMILLEL EUSEBIO

T is already sum m ert im e in t he Philippines The sun is out and shines bright ly in a t ropical count ry like ours

IAround March, school ends, and kids get two months of summer holidays when they are free to play on the streets and hang out with their friends

But times have changed Most Pinoy parents back home are worried about their kids?security, they rarely let them go past their gates unchaperoned Kids spend more time on their gadgets than they do playing outdoors But do you still remember how it felt like to be a kid on the streets on a hot summer?s day, buying chichirya (junk food) from the sari-sari store, playing with your friends until sunset?Sounds like an Eraserheads (or APO Hiking Society if that is more your era) song, right?Oh, those were the days

So, while we are braving the chilly weather here in the southern hemisphere, let us take a quick trip down memory lane and reminisce about some Pinoy street games we used to play:

Pat int ero

Probably the most popular street game for kids living in private subdivisions, patintero is our variation of tag, but played with two opposing teams The team who?s ?It?or taya will attempt to tag the members of the other team while staying in their grid (usually like a rectangle or 2 parallel lines) The objective of the game is for the running team to make it past the grids and back to their starting point without being tagged If one of their teammates is tagged, they lose and the game restarts with them as the It

Tum bang Preso

Also known as Tumba Lata, this game requires an empty tin can placed in a small circle The one who is taya will guard the can while the other players use a slipper to knock down the can while a couple of metres away from it The goal is to hit the can, put it back to its original place and run back to their starting point without being tagged by the taya

Luksong-baka and Luksong t inik

Probably the most popular street game for kids living in private subdivisions, patintero is our variation of tag, but played with two opposing teams The team who?s ?It?or taya will attempt to tag the members of the other team while staying in their grid (usually like a rectangle or 2 parallel lines) The objective of the game is for the running team to make it past the grids and back to their starting point without being tagged If one of their teammates is tagged, they lose and the game restarts with them as the It

Chinese gart er

Your schoolgirl days will not be complete if you have not experienced playing jackstones inside the classroom and Chinese Garter in the hallways or on the streets The game has a similar concept to Luksong Baka and Luksong Tinik, but the players use a garter (about one to two meters long) as the hurdle The players have to jump over the garter and back as the hurdle gets higher and higher in every round

We wish to raise funds to fulfill Maggie's wishes

HI, our nam es are Lyn and David We are Maggie?s m um and dad

This is very difficult for us to appeal publicly -we wish we were not in this position, but as parents we will do whatever it takes for our child

We wish to raise funds to fulfill Maggie?s wishes and be able to fund treatment that is not available on the NHS

First of all let me tell you about our daughter Margaret - ?Maggie?to her friends

Maggie is the most thoughtful, loving, selfless and kind girl Always with a radiating smile on her face Always with a positive outlook in life She always thinks of others before herself She loves her family and friends so much Maggie is very outgoing, always on the go and she cares so much about her circle of friends

Maggie loves to travel, she always enjoys discovering new places, learning new cultures and loves tasting local cuisines This is where her passion for Geography started She studied geography A level in the hope of going to university, she always said she would like to be able to see the world as her job

Unfortunately, on 27Th May 2022, our life was turned upside down Our family has changed forever

She was admitted to the intensive care unit in Nottingham, and later diagnosed with metastatic alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma with fusion positive We were devastated, heartbroken beyond what everyone could imagine But Maggie gave us courage, she endured 9 cycles of intensive chemotherapy, with unimaginable side effects but never ever complained She always says, ?I can do this? Her bravery, tenacity and determination give us the strength to keep fighting and to never lose hope

Just before Christmas last year, we were given the good news that her latest scan showed control of disease She then started the maintenance chemo But that was short lived After two weeks of starting the new regime, Maggie developed a severe headache, and on 26th January the MRI scan showed that the cancer had spread to her brain It was devastating There are no words to describe how we all feel We were told to prepare for the worst Unfortunately, the recent diagnosis has significantly reduced Maggie?s survival chances We were told it was terminal Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma fusion- positive is the most aggressive form of cancer in children Unfortunately, the treatment available is very limited

This is where we need you, our family, friends, strangers, anyone Please help our daughter fulfill her dreams Maggie would like to continue to explore the world and make precious memories Maggie didn? t qualify for a trial drug, but she started on the standard relapse protocol chemotherapy on 6th Feb 2023 There is an option to self-fund the trial drug on top of her chemo regime There is a small chance that this will be beneficial That very little chance is what gives us hope We will also explore any open-label trial that is available in the world We know that in America there has been an open-label trial for positive fusion alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma

To everyone we are asking for your help, whatever amount you may have I know this is a big ask but we are relying on the goodness of people, businesses, strangers, friends, and family Please help share and circulate our page Help our Maggie fulfill her dreams and receive the treatment she deserves

Thank You

#OurMaggieNeedsYourHelp

For donations, please visit this link:

ht t ps:/ / gofund.m e / 7546c5c5

ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES

THE visit or t o Met ro Manila com m only sees t he Philippines as t he m ost w est ernized of Asian count ries and in m any w ays, it is But t here is also a rich underlay of Malay cult ure beneat h t he pat ina of Spanish and Am erican herit age

National cultural life is a happy marriage of many influences, as the indigenous Malay culture is assimilated and adapted to different strains in a practice typical of Malay temperament

An upsurge of Philippine nationalism stimulated a desire to preserve the ancient heritage without restricting its openness to foreign artistic influence

The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 islands It stretches from the south of China to the northern tip of Borneo The country has over a hundred ethnic groups and a mixture of foreign influences which have moulded a unique Filipino culture

Before t he Spanish explorers cam e, Indo-Malays and Chinese m erchant s had set t led here In 1521 t he Spaniards led by Ferdinand Magellan, discovered t he islands The Spanish conquistadores established a colonial government in Cebu in 1565 They transferred the seat of government to Manila in 1571 and proceeded to colonize the country

The Filipinos resist ed and w aged Asia?s first nat ionalist revolut ion in 1896 On June 12, 1898, Emilio Aguinaldo declared the Philippines independent from Spain and proclaimed himself president After ruling for 333 years, the Spaniards finally left in 1898 and were replaced by the Americans who stayed for 48 years On July 4, 1946, the Americans recognized Philippine independence

The Philippines is t he t hird largest English-speaking count ry in t he w orld The country is divided into three geographical areas: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao It has 17 regions, 81 provinces, 136 cities, 1,494 municipalities, and 41,995 barangays (Barangay ? The smallest political unit into

which cities and municipalities in the Philippines are divided (Data as of December 2007)

Our La nd

The Philippine archipelago is com posed of 7,107 islands, w it h a land area of 299,764 square kilom et res Its length measures 1,850 kilometres, starting from the point near the southern tip of Taiwan and ending close to northern Borneo Its breadth is about 965 kilometres The Philippine coastline adds up to 17,500 kilometres Three prominent bodies of water surround the archipelago: the Pacific Ocean on the east, the South China Sea on the west and north, and the Celebes Sea on the south

The topography of the bigger islands ? particularly Luzon and Mindanao ?is characterized by alluvial plains, narrow valleys rolling hills and high mountains The highest mountains are found in Mindanao and Luzon, with the altitudes varying from 1 790 to 3 144 meters Most of the smaller islands are mountainous in the interior, surrounded by narrow strips of discontinuous flat lowlands which constitute the coastal rims

The shorelines of both large and small islands are irregular

The Philippines? fertile land accounts for the more than 900 species of orchids representing 100 genera that have been found The sampaguita is the national flower

Among the country?s fauna are some endangered species like the Philippine Eagle, the tarsier, and the mouse deer

Metro Manila is strategically located in the middle of Luzon, on the eastern coast of Manila Bay and at the mouth of the Pasig River, sprawled

over

The city is between the bay to the west, the highlands to the east, and Laguna de Bay to the southeast Most of its densely populated areas are found along the Pasig River running across the metropolis dividing it into two sections ?the north and the south

Our Hist ory (in a nut shell)

Before t he Spanish conquist adores cam e, a t hriving com m unit y flourished on t he banks of t he Pasig River It was called ?Maynilad?, after the nilad plant whose star-shaped flowers clustered in abundance along the low-lying river banks

The lord of the riverside kingdom was Raha Sulayman who held court on the south side of the river while his uncle Lakandula, ruled on the north side The Spaniards were set on conquering this community

After the savage Battle of Bangkusay, where they overtook the natives with their awesome firepower, the Spaniards conquered Manila In this Battle, Sulayman was killed

Realizing its strategic position as a trading centre and military outpost, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi head of the Spanish expedition, promptly declared Manila the capital of the new colonies won by Spain

On June 24, 1571, Manila was declared the capital of the entire archipelago Delighted by this conquest, the King of Spain awarded the city a coat of arms and the grandiose title: ?The Noble and Ever Loyal City? Soon, Manila became a replica of a European medieval city There were churches, palaces and city halls built in the Spanish baroque style Work began on building a wall around the city to keep the pirates and Moros at bay It took 150 years

to finish this wall The end result was an astounding eight foot-thick, three mile-long wall, with two forts and a bastion, 370 guns in place manned by a force of 5 000 men and 10,000 reserves This walled city became known as Intramuros

Beautiful as it was, Intramuros stood as a perfect illustration of the discrimination at that time against the natives called Indios Although it was built by Indio workers and Chinese artisans,

Intramuros was meant only for the clergy and the Spanish nobility The natives could not enter except to work as servants Outside the walls in the arabales or suburbs, lived the Indios the Chinese and other foreigners The diversity of trade and culture in the suburbs made it alive and interesting Tondo, Binondo, Sta Cruz, and Quiapo bustled with commerce These places were home to the merchants, carpenters, blacksmiths, carriage makers, masons, and other artisans

Over the centuries, the Spanish rule was occasionally threatened by attacks from the sea and by internal uprisings The Chinese, Dutch and British all tried to lay siege on Manila but were unsuccessful But the 1880?s saw the birth of a reform movement led by Marcelo H Del Pilar, Lopez Jaena and Jose Rizal (the national hero) This reform movement ultimately led to a revolution and by 1898, the days of the Castilian rule were numbered The most lasting legacy of the Spanish rule was the Catholic religion which makes the Philippines the only Christian nation in Asia

But as soon as the Spaniards left, the Americans took over 1902 was the beginning of the American era, a period characterized by the expansion of public education, advances in health care and the introduction of democratic government The outbreak of

Cont inued on pAgE 24

an area of 626 sq km Manila sits in the middle of a swampy deltaic plain formed by accumulated sedimentary deposits from the Pasig River and other streams

Editor?s note: Do you knowthe basicfactsabout our homecountry?Welearned them in school, but in thepassingof years, awayfrom the Motherland, manyof usmayhave forgotten So, refresh your memorywith thisarticle Shareit with your UK-born children to makethem awareof their Filipino heritage

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war in the Pacific in 1941 disrupted American rule Manila was declared an open city and the Americans withdrew their defences For three years, Manila was occupied by the Japanese imperial forces Life at that time was made difficult by strict Japanese military rule When the American troops entered Manila to liberate it, they had to bomb the city to dislodge the tenacious Japanese Manila was devastated

On 4 July 1946, a year after the end of the war, the Philippine flag was hoisted signalling the recognition of Philippine independence

Our People

The Filipino is basically of Malay st ock w it h a sprinkling of Chinese, Am erican, Spanish and Arab blood The Philippines has a population of 76 5 million as of May 2000 (with a projected population of 88 7 million for 2007), and it is hard to distinguish accurately the lines between stocks From a long history of Western colonial rule, interspersed with the visits of merchants and traders, evolved a people of a unique blend of east and west, both in appearance and culture

The Filipino character is actually a little bit of all the cultures put together The bayanihan or spirit of kinship and camaraderie that Filipinos are famous for, is said to be taken from Malay forefathers The close family relations are said to have been inherited from the Chinese The piousness comes from the Spaniards who introduced Christianity in the 16th century

Hospitality is a common denominator in the Filipino character and this is what distinguishes the Filipino Filipinos are probably one of the few, if not the only, English-proficient Oriental people today

Filipino is the official national language, with English considered as the country?s unofficial one

The Filipinos are divided geographically and culturally into regions, and each regional group is recognizable by distinct traits and dialects ? the sturdy and frugal Ilocanos of the north, the industrious Tagalogs of the central plains, the carefree Visayans from the central islands and the colourful tribesmen and religious Moslems of Mindanao Tribal communities can be found scattered across the archipelago The Philippines has more than 111 dialects spoken, owing to the subdivisions of these basic regional and cultural groups

Some 80 percent of the population is Catholic, Spain?s lasting legacy About 15 percent is Muslim and these people can be found basically in Mindanao The rest of the population is made up mostly of smaller Christian denominations and Buddhist

The country is marked by a true blend of cultures; truly in the Philippines, East meets West The background of the people is Indonesian and Malay There are Chinese and Spanish elements as well The history of American rule and contact with merchants and traders culminated in a unique blend of East and West both in the appearance and culture of the people of the Filipinos, or people of the Philippines

Hospitality a trait displayed by every Filipino makes these people legendary in Southeast Asia Seldom can you find such hospitable people who enjoy the company of their Western visitors Perhaps due to their long association with Spain, Filipinos are emotional and passionate about life, in a way that seems more Latin than Asian Ethnic

Groups: 91 5%Christian Malay, 4%Muslim

Malay ,1 5%Chinese and 3% other Our Clima t e

The Philippines has a t ropical clim at e w it h relat ively abundant rainfall and gent le w inds There are three pronounced seasons: the wet or rainy season from June to October, the cool, dry season from November to February, and the hot, dry season from March to May

Temperature in Manila ranges from 21°Cto 32°Cwith a 27°Caverage The coolest month is January and the warmest is May Both temperature and humidity levels reach the maximum in April and May

Our La ngua ge

Tw o official languages ? Filipino and English Filipino, which is based on Tagalog, is the national language English is also widely used and is the medium of instruction in higher education

Eight (8) major dialects spoken by majority of the Filipinos: Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo Bicolano Waray Pampango, and Pangasinense

Filipino is that native language which is used nationally as the language of communication among ethnic groups There are about 76 to 78 major language groups, with more than 500 dialects

Our Fa it hs Predominantly Christian Catholics 82 9% Protestants 5 4% Islam 4 6%

Philippine Independent Church 2 6% Iglesia ni Cristo 2 3 %

Hist orically t he Filipinos have em braced t w o of t he great religions of t he w orld ?

Islam and Christ ianit y Islam was introduced during the 14th century shortly after the expansion of Arab commercial ventures in Southeast Asia Today, it is limited to the southern region of the country

Christianity was introduced as early as the 16th century with the coming of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521

Protestantism was introduced by the first Presbyterian and Methodist missionaries who arrived with the American soldiers in 1899

Two Filipino independent churches were organized at the turn of the century and are prominent today These are the Aglipay (Philippine Independent Church) and the Iglesia Ni Kristo (Church of Christ) founded in 1902 and 1914 respectively

Educ a t ion

Philippine educat ion is pat t erned aft er t he Am erican syst em , w it h English as t he m edium of inst ruct ion Schools are classified into public (government) or private(non-government)

The general pattern of formal education follows four stages: Pre-primary level (nursery and kindergarten) offered in most private schools; six years of primary education, followed by four years of secondary education College education usually takes four sometimes five and in some cases as in medical and law schools, as long as eight years Graduate schooling is an additional two or more years

Classes in Philippine schools start in June and end in March Colleges and universities follow the semestral calendar from June-October and November-March

Source: ht t ps:/ / londonpe dfa gov ph

FILIPINIANA CORNER

Cont inued FROM page 20

Gam es w e play during part ies and fiest as

If you lived in the province or traveled back to your parents?hometown during the summer holidays, you have probably been to fiestas and joined parlour games While ?Agawang-biik?or capture the pig and hotdog-eating contests are crowd favourites in country fairs, our games lean a bit more on the dangerous side Here are some traditional Pinoy games you might have witnessed or participated in:

Palo Sebo

A test of strength and endurance, two players (usually young men in provinces) race to climb the top of long bamboo poles to retrieve a flag Whoever gets the flag first is the winner It is not as easy as it sounds as the bamboo sticks have been greased or oiled before the game to make it more challenging

Kadang-kadang

If you understand Tagalog, this game is quite self-explanatory It is similar to striking a pinata while blindfolded, but instead of a paper mache figure, the contestants would try to hit a palayok or a clay pot filled with goodies like candies, small toys, and coins The person who hits the palayok gets an extra prize of course

Pukpok-palayok

If you understand Tagalog, this game is quite self-explanatory It is similar to striking a pinata while blindfolded, but instead of a paper mache figure, the contestants would try to hit a palayok or a clay pot filled with goodies like candies, small toys, and coins The person who hits the palayok gets an extra prize of course

Pabit in

If there is a world record for the most popular game played in Pinoy children?s birthday parties, this would probably make it to the list Pabitin is a sure party hit because everyone who participates gets to take home a prize A makeshift wooden lattice with an assortment of treats (snacks, little toys) connected to it using a string hangs from a tall ceiling When the game starts, the lattice is lowered, and the kids jump and grab as many prizes as they can until there is nothing left

Did you love playing these games when you were a kid? How about you take a break from your gadgets and social media, head outside and teach some of these games to your children when the weather is warm? Not only will you encourage them to go outside and get moving, but you will also help them appreciate the Filipino culture in a light and playful way

HOW TO GET UNSTUCK FROM THE PAST

ST Pet er ?s biggest problem w as m at hs

When Jesus told him he must forgive his brother not seven times but seventy times seven times, he got really confused

We don? t even need psychologists and psychiatrists to tell us why forgiving is a difficult thing to do I admit I don? t have the ability to utter magical words and make you forgive a person who has hurt you really bad or has caused a loss in your family I can only hope there are some feelings you can begin to handle better especially with the passage of time

The first person we may forgive is ourselves

There are people who live a life of regret, mentally replaying bad events and blaming themselves for bad decisions, wrong choices or things within or beyond their control

My usual hang up is fretting over the fact that I cannot undo the times I hurt or disappointed other people I used to think I had an overdeveloped guilt complex

Amy Morin is considered the new guru of mental health She is a psychotherapist who wrote the book 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don? t Do after recovering from a series of traumatic events in her life In the worldwide bestseller, she observed that one of the things that keep us feeling depressed is the tendency to get stuck in history

We can? t blame those people I assume that ruminating gives people some relief I don? t know why and what kind but they seem to find refuge in it So, I won? t judge

Let me just share what Dr Morin said: some people ?subconsciously think If I stay miserable long enough, I?ll be able to forgive myself You may not be even aware that deep

down, you don? t believe you deserve happiness ?

?You?ll miss out on experiencing new opportunities and celebrating the joys of today if you?re distracted by things that have already occurred ?wrote Morin

Dr Morin reassured that mentally strong people can ?make peace with the past?if they ?focus on the lessons learned?and ?look at the situation differently ?

She cited the bittersweet story of James Barrie James was six when his 13-year old brother died The inconsolable mother asked James to ?never grow up?so he could be a substitute for his dead brother Barrie lived a life as someone else ?His attempt to stay a boy seemed to stunt his physical growth as he hardly reached five feet tall ?

Later on, James Barrie used his life experience to write Peter Pan or The Boy Who Wouldn? t Grow Up, one of the world?s immortal tales!

Andrew Newberg and Mark Robert Waldman are scientists and brain researchers who wrote the book How God Changes Your Brain They noted that mental habits are not that easy to change ?Old neural circuits do not disappear, especially if they are tinged with negative or stressful memories ?

So, they recommend three things: ?a conscious commitment to make a small improvement every day a good dose of social support to help you honour that commitment, and a healthy serving of optimism and faith ?

Many scientists agree that negative thoughts lead to physical diseases and a shorter life

So if we?re not ready to forgive other people now, maybe we can at least, forgive ourselves already We need not dwell on the past that we cannot change if we can look at the future we?re just about to make

Whatever we?ve been through, our life has

not ended yet It is just about to begin I am writing this article during Lent My cousin, who is a priest, said that ?lent?came from the Old English ?lencten?, which means ?spring ?Spring is the time when nature renews itself

?The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness ?Lamentations 3:22-23

Manyscientists agreethat negativethoughts leadtophysical diseases anda shorter life.So,if we?renot readyto forgiveother peoplenow, maybewecanat least,forgive ourselves already."

National Women?s Month

THE observance of Int ernat ional Wom en?s Day (IWD) w as a result of t he organising act ivit ies of w om en in t he early 20t h Cent ury

Between 1909 and 1911, working women in the United States of America participated in organizing strike activities of the National Women?s Trade Union League and other concerned groups They were protesting against low wages lack of protective legislation and the very poor working conditions to which women workers were subjected during that time

The demonstrations were an offshoot of the tragic March 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City which took the lives of

more than 140 working girls, mostly Italian and Jewish immigrants Subsequently, the inhumane working conditions and other unfair labour practices leading up to the disaster were invoked during observances of IWD

In Europe, Clara Zetkin and the Socialist Women?s International demanded that March 8th be International Women?s Day, celebrated each year to recognise working women around the world The celebration of IWD has since stimulated major historical events For instance, IWD was the inspiration for the general strike, which began the Russian Revolution in St Petersburg in 1917 when 10, 000 women textile workers demonstrated

It is due to such a history of women organising around the world that IWD was officially recognized by the United Nations to celebrate women?s contributions to all societies

In the Philippines the Women?s Month Celebration has since served as a venue to

highlight women?s achievements and discuss continuing and emerging women?s empowerment and gender equality issues and concerns, challenges, and commitments

The celebration focuses on concrete activities that are aligned with national and international instruments and treaties such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Beijing Platform for Action, the Philippine Plan for Gender-Responsive Development (1995-2025), the Framework Plan for Women, and the Sustainable Development Goals 2023-2028 Them e

The 2023 National Women?s Month Celebration marks a juncture in the advancement of women?s rights as it launches a new recurring theme from this year to 2028: WEfor gender equality and inclusive society It sparks a renewed commitment to the advocacy and banks on the gains achieved during the 2016-2022 theme, WEMake CHANGEWork for Women,

which emphasized the need for compassionate and harmonized networks towards gender equality and women?s empowerment (GEWE)

The recurring theme also aligns with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, which aims for ?deep economic and social transformation to reinvigorate job creation and accelerate poverty reduction by steering the economy back on a high-growth path ?

The plan also highlights that growth must be inclusive, building an environment that provides equal opportunities to all Filipinos and equipping them with skills to participate fully in an innovative and globally competitive economy We begin this new era of the National Women?s Month Celebration with the hope and ambition that WEare all for Gender Equality, WEare all for an inclusive society

Source: ht t ps:/ / pcw gov ph/ nat ional-w om ens-m ont h/

Women?s International Day and Mothers' Day

IN celebrat ion of Wom en?s Int ernat ional Day and Mot her ?s Day t his March 2023, t he Great Foundat ion UK, a regist ered charit y, endorsed by t he Depart m ent of Tourism London, is going t o have it s first -ever search called, The Filipina Am bassadress for Wom en?s Int ernat ional

With several nominations and deliberation, we have come up with five finalists to showcase their advocacies as women based on their achievements, to inspire and empower other women in our society and to highlight the Filipino culture and traditions

The f ina list s a nd t heir a dvoc a c ies:

Susa n Lovet t

My Advocacy:

?Helping people to start rebuilding their lives ?

I am active in organising charitable events to raise money to help people in need and suffering from terminal illnesses

M a ric el Cha mpion

My Advocacy:

To support the Anti-discrimination group to give awareness and be compassionate to everyone as much as possible and wherever possible regardless of their nationality, religion, and sex preferences

I experienced being discriminated against when I was livingin the Middle East This discrimination has affected my mental well-being and self-confidence

Joy Aba los

My Advocacy:

is all about my family

I have three children, my youngest is diagnosed with ADHD and ODD and I study hard to learn BSL to communicate with my eldest who is born deaf

My family and my partner are always my inspiration to stay strong and move forward in life

The event will start at 16:00 in the afternoon and be followed by a family and friends disco party on 18 March 2023 Saturday at Hawkinge Community Centre Heron Forstal Avenue Folkestone Kent CT18 7FP

Thank you t o our m ajor sponsors:

East Sussex College

David Gr mes optic an Remy?s café Kul narya

Bexhil Hast ngs St Leonards F pino Community

For m ore inform at ion:

Jennif er De Vera

My Advocacy:

??BAYANIHAN, DAILY1 HOURPRODUCTIVITY?

Involvement, participation, and motivation

I learned that "Development starts when you can spend 1 hour for yourself" It might be an hour to the gym, 1 hour of reading, 1 hour of free online courses, 1 hour of learning new skills as long as you try to improve yourself every day outside work and household chores

M a rc ia lot a M a xwell

My Advocacy:

To seek justice for those facing violence, poverty, and discrimination and help more of God?s children experience life in all its fullness

Spec al t hanks:

The Ship Inn Sandgate Marco Perre Wh te Caro ne A nsworth Kent Filipino Commun ty Cagayan de Oro Ta ent Centre and M ndanao Ta ent Centre Internationa Me D zon

07972850111 or 07537946949

fawi uk23@gmail com

FB:Filipina Ambassadress for Women?s International

For t icket s: Under 16?s free w it h accom panying adu t

FAWI - Search for Filipina Ambassadress for Women's International 2023 Tickets, Sat 18 Mar 2023 at 16:00 |

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Proceeds: Gawad Kalinga Philippines and Women?s Victims of Violence

Published by: International Women?s Day (IWD)

YOURADVOCACYEMPOWERSYOU!

SAVETHEDATE!

HALF PAGE SIZE: 26 CM (W) X15.75 CM (H) 1/ 4 PAGE SIZE: 12.5 CM (W) X15.75CM (H)

FULL PAGE SIZE: 26 CM (W) X 33 CM (H)

PAPER SIZE: 29 CM (W) X 36 CM (H)