Philippine News Today

MILITARY CONTROL OF NEGROS EYED BY SENATE AS TEVES HIDES

Solon faces more raps, cited for protecting e-sabong, others

PASAY CITY – Visibly irked by the continued attempt of suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves, the Senate started looking into the possibility of imposing military control over the province as more cases of killings, mostly unsolved, continue to surface.

SACRAMENTO - The Southern California Filipino couple who was assaulted in the California State Capitol last February while strolling and taking pictures of each other vowed not to settle with their assailants in order to teach them lessons and that what happened to them would not be repeated.

This is the firm important decision of photographer Nicanor Nikki Arriola and wife Julienne Ochengco after meeting with their lawyers in what the couple referred to as a hate crime case.

“What we are sure at the moment is that we will push through with the case,” Arriola stressed. “Even those

Ex-DFA chief dies, Colma mayor to escort envoy brother home

unveils projects at Pangasinan group rites

Governor

BURLINGAME, California - Pangasinan Gov. Ramon “Mon Mon” Guico III disclosed major projects province wide during the United Pangasinanes

of America, Inc. (UPAI) installation of officers, inaugural banquet and ball last Saturday, April 15, at the Hilton Hotel Grand Ballroom in this city.

Filipino family in LA is latest victim of hate crime

Chinese envoy slammed for threatening OFWs in Taiwan

MANILA – It was all about the increased US presence in the Philippines, which China considers a threat to its claim that Taiwan is a permanent part of Chinese territory.

Beauty queens, Revilla’s daughter are new lawyers P17

Groups ask SC to halt cellphone SIM card registration

MANILA – Various organizations, including partylist groups, ha e filed a petition before the upreme ourt to declare unconstitutional epublic ct or the subscriber identit module ard egistration ct

ata sho ed about million users ha e registered ith onl less than t o ee s before the pril deadline, or ust percent of the estimated million cards in use nation ide

n their -page petition, the groups said the la restricts the constitutionall guaranteed freedom of speech and iolates the right against unreasonable searches, sei ures, and the right to substanti e due process

The petitioners said the egistration ct imposes a s stem of prior restraint through mandator registration

The petition filed b the ational nion of ournal-

ists of the hilippines, ournalist onal n lea, former a an una art -list representati e ufemia ullamat, a an una secretar general enato e es r , information technolog professional aded atara of un egistration et or , fisherfol leader lberto oldan of amala a a, peasant leader anilo amos and la er ichael hristopher de astro, among others, as ed the to issue a temporar restraining order while their plea is pending and the respondents to cease and desist from using, storing, transferring, and processing all information gathered into the egister and destro data alread gathered amed as respondents are the ational Telecommunications ommission T , epartment of nformation and ommunications Technolog , ational ri ac ommission and the Trade and ndustr , the nterior and ocal o ernment, and the ducation de-

partments

The la signed b resident erdinand arcos r on ct , re uires ublic Telecommunication ntities T s or direct sellers to demand end users of cards to present identification document to alidate their identities

T s must submit erified lists of their authori ed dealers and agents nationwide to the NTC and updated lists e er uarter

Telecommunications companies ha e as ed the go ernment to e tend the registration deadline to help gi e ample time to all mobile users, particularl the marginali ed sectors and those located in geographicall isolated and disad antaged areas of the countr , to register their cards

nregistered cards past the deadline ill be deacti ated

Court martial vs. 2 ranking PA officials for Plaza slay in Davao set

T The hilippine rm

ill start this ee court martial proceedings against t o ran ing militar officials and fi e enlisted personnel for their alleged in ol ement in the murder of model and business oman onette- hua la a in a ao it last ecember

rm spo esperson ol er es Trinidad, in a statement, said the rm had finished the re ie of administrati e liabilit of rig en esus urante , former st nfantr rigade commander, his deput commander ol ichael ic a o and fi e enlisted personnel dministrati e charges against urante, ic a o and

the fi e men ha e been appro ed b rm commander t en omeo ra ner r

These ere subse uentl referred to the eneral ourt artial The is chaired b the ourt resident, a en ose riel iembra, ho is the current th nfantr i ision commander, he added

The accused enlisted personnel ere identified as ta ergeants ilbert la a and elfin ialsa r , orporals drian achero, oll abal and omart onga it lso tagged as accomplices are lias r and lias aster ergeant

The militar officials and enlisted personnel ere charged ith iolation of rticle of ar , hich refers to conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman The ere also charged with Article of ar , referring to all disorders and neglects to

the pre udice of good order and militar discipline and all conduct of a nature to bring discredit upon the militar ser ice

Trinidad said urante and ic a o ere transferred and detained at the astern indanao ommand headuarters in amp anacan in a ao it on pril

The transfer is for the purpose of the administrati e militar proceeding hich is e pected to con ene tomorro Tuesda or an time this ee , he added The rm does not tolerate rongdoings and criminal acts of an soldier, be the officers or enlisted personnel

la a as shot at close range b gunmen riding in tandem on a motorbi e in front of her rented house at aranga to i o, Tugbo istrict on ec closed circuit tele ision footage ma ing rounds on social media sho ed t o unidentified assailants -- one aiming the gun at the ictim s head hile the other settled on the dri er s seat of the motorc cle -- at the time of the incident

PHL faces El Niño by June

T The li elihood of l i o b une until the first uarter of has increased, according to the eather bureau

om a -percent probabilit , the chances for an l i o bet een une and ugust ha e increased to percent, said eput dministrator speran a a anan of the hilippine tmospheric, eoph sical and stronomical er ices dministration

The probabilit of l i o bet een o ember and anuar also rose to about percent, a anan added l i o s possible impacts in some areas of the countr are drought or dr spell, but this ill be felt to ards the last uarter, a anan said in a briefing t is possible to e perience hea rainfall prior to seeing the e ects of l i o since it ill be rain or habagat southest monsoon season in une to eptember, a anan said rom our pre ious e perience, it is possible to e perience e treme rainfall e ents -- similar to ndo T phoon etsana in hen there as l i o until treme rainfall as e perienced prior to ater shortage, she said a anansaid s forecast for

the month of pril sho ed around pro inces could recei e belo normal rainfall hile generall normal rains are e pected in a n une, the estern section of the countr is forecast to e perience rains and possible ooding due to habagat ormal conditions are li el b ul , but a anan arned that ooding is still possible in the estern section of the countr solated belo normal rainfall, ho e er, is forecast in Tarlac

The estern section ma feel the effects of the enhanced south est monsoon b ugust ome areas such as the isa as, orthern indanao, amboanga eninsula and icol ma recei e belo normal rainfall

enerall , e e pect rains until eptember, and hea rains in the estern section The pea hen there could be man tropical c clones during l i o usuall occurs in ul , she said is e pecting one tropical cyclone in April; one or two in May and une and about t o to three each in ul , ugust and eptember

a anan said orthern u on ma e perience the highest temperature of in a hile etro anila s temperature could reach

oPNP officials ot ers c arge over P . s abu aul

CAMP CRAME, Quezon City – Forty-seven personnel of the Philippine National Police - Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG), including a former chief, were found to have criminal and administrative liability in the massive cover-up inol ing billion orth of confiscated shabu in Manila last year.

“Forty-seven lahat sila PDEG kasama si Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo. Yun ang i-presscon namin bukas. Ilalatag namin sa inyo kung ano yung inumpisahan namin, nagawa namin, natapos namin, recommendation naming, at mga gagawin pa namin (There are 47, all of them PDEG, with Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo. That’s our presscon tomorrow. We will present to you what we started, what we did, hat e finished, our recommendation, and what we will do next),” Philippine National Police Directorate for Investiga-

her brother Ambassador Albert del Rosario back home to the Philippines from California on Thursday, April 20.

Ambassador Del Rosario and his wife Gretchen were aboard a Philippine irlines ight to an rancisco to visit his youngest sister hen he su ered a fatal heart attack April 18, Mayor Del Rosario told PNews Today.

tion and Detective Management Director, Maj. Gen. Eliseo Cruz, said.

Domingo was relieved of his post after the controversy on the case of nowdismissed Police Master Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr., who yielded 990 kg. of shabu during an anti-drug operation on Oct. 8, 2022.

On April 10, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos presented closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage that showed the actual operation.

Abalos told the police generals and se eral other police officers seen in the video footage to go on leave within the week or face suspension after the investigation by the National Police Commission.

In an order signed on April 12, Domingo was forced to go on leave based on the directive of Abalos.

“We were shocked because we were preparing for his first isit in a long time,” said the envoy’s sister. “We are grateful to the doctor who responded to the crew’s call for a doctor aboard the aircraft. We thank the PAL crew for acting swiftly in the emergency. We also thank San Mateo County authorities for assisting with protocols in these cases.”

The Del Rosarios are expected to arrive in Ma-

nila on the morning of Saturday, April 22. The vigil is scheduled from am to 10 pm, Sunday, April 23 and Monday, April 24, at the chapels of Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park, Makati City. Funeral Mass is scheduled for Tuesday, April 25, at the main church.

The family requests that donations for the professorial chair in International Diplomacy at the Ateneo De Manila University be gi en in lieu of o ers Ambassador Albert del Rosario is remembered as a model statesman and diplomat. As PH Foreign Secretary he led and won before the Hague International Arbitration Court in 2016 his countr s fight against hina’s claim to the West Philippine Sea. He also spearheaded the signing in April 14 of the enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the US and PH to initiate the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.

“ADR” as he was respectfully referred to by associates and sta , as Philippine envoy to Washington, DC in 2001-2006. He is survived by his wife Gretchen de Venecia; children Albert del Rosario, Jr., Hans del Rosario, Ingeborg del Rosario, Margaret Isleta and Stephanie Innocentes; siblings Luis del Rosario, Jr., Amparo Palenzuela, Alicia Ong, Eduardo del Rosario and Joanne del Rosario. He was 83.

Manila eyes new mandatory face mask wearing; DOH says Covid cases up

MANILA - As Covid-19 cases are rising in Metro Manila and elsewhere, the city government of Manila plans to reimpose the mandatory wearing of face masks.

Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan, who is a doctor, said active COVID-19 infections in Manila were at 91 at press time which is higher than the reported cases last week.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila saw its positivity rate slightly go up from 6.5% last April to 7.2% as of April 15, according to OCTA Research.

This developed as the country’s daily

average of new Covid-19 cases increased by percent from April 10 to 16, the Department of Health (DOH) reported OCTA said three provinces are now at high risk for infections as their COVID-19 positivity rates increased to over 20%.

OCTA Research fellow Guido David said “high” positivity rates were recorded in Camarines Sur (21.1%), Misamis Oriental (22.7%), and Rizal (20.2%) as of April 15.

Despite the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases, the Department of Health has yet to recommend the reimposition of stricter mask-wearing rules.

In late 2022, President Ferdinand

Marcos, Jr. issued an executive order allowing individuals to not wear their face masks in indoor and outdoor spaces.

\Mask-wearing in healthcare facilities and inside public transportation, however, remains a must.

The Department of Health reported a total of 2,386 new COVID-19 infections were logged from April 10 to 16.

In its weekly bulletin, the DOH said the daily average number of cases was , re ecting a increase from those recorded in the previous week.

Of the new infections, 17 were in severe and critical condition.

Meanwhile, 356 critical patients are in hospitals, representing 9.1% of total CO-

VID-19 admissions nationwide. ealth officials also erified deaths due to the coronavirus.

As of April 16, the total number of confirmed cases in the countr stood at 4.08 million, with over 9,500 active cases. Around four million have recovered and at least 66,400 died of the disease.

The DOH said more than million individuals, or 100.44% of the target population, have been vaccinated against COVID-19, while million individuals have already received their booster shots.

On the other hand, 7.1 million senior citizens, or 82.16% of the target A2 population, have already received their primary vaccine doses.

Manila starts giving 2nd booster vs. Covid to 18-yr.-olds up

MANILA – The City of Manila on Wednesday announced the rollout of the second booster shot for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines for its general population.

Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan, who is a doctor, made the announcement during the Kalinga sa Maynila in Barangay 328, Sta. Cruz, Manila, allowing the second booster shot for residents 18 years and

above. She said the Manila Health Department would start the rollout in all health centers in the city.

Manila residents are asked to visit the health centers in their areas from Monday to Friday, a.m. to p.m.

Likewise, the public is reminded to bring the QR code from manilacovid19vaccine.ph.

“Please be guided that six adults are needed before opening one vial of vaccine to prevent wastage,” she added.

On Tuesday, the Department of Health released its guidelines for the second Covid-19 booster shot to the general population, excluding children ages 5 years to 17 years.

In its guidelines, the health department allows all healthy adults, 18 years and above, to receive their second booster shot after si months from their first booster.

Marikina marks 393rd anniversary, cited most improved LGU

MARIKINA CITY – For complying ith financial transparenc and fiscal accountability, the local government of Marikina City has been awarded by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) with the Good Financial Housekeeping (GFH).

The DILG-National Capital Region conferred Marikina, under the leadership of Mayor Marcelino Teodoro, with the Mark of Recognition for passing the Good Financial Housekeeping (GFH) assessment.

At the same time, the DILG has awarded the city with a P100,000 check for being third place among 17 LGUs in Metro Manila in the implementation of the Manila Bay Clean-up, Rehabilitation and Preservation Program (MBCRPP).

Marikina was also commended as the “Most Improved LGU” for the year 2022, DILG-Marikina Director Mary Jane Nacario said.

Teodoro and Marikina Rep. Marjorie Ann Teodoro received the awards during the celebration of the city’s 393rd Foundation Anniversary on Monday.

Nacario said the GFH was bestowed to ari ina for its financial transparenc and accountability and instituted public reporting of the budget and expenditure

of the city government.

The DILG-Marikina said the PHP100,000 reward will be utilized by the city government to maintain order and cleanliness in Marikina.

Teodoro led the simple celebration of the city’s founding anniversary, together with Vice Mayor Marion Andres, the members of the it ouncil, officials from various law enforcement agencies, and the local government personnel.

Marikina Memorial Day is celebrated every April 16 in commemoration of the city’s founding anniversary in 1630 by virtue of Proclamation No. 1417.

To mark the annual special occasion, a high mass was celebrated and was followed by the oath-taking of various homeo ners associations officiated b Mayor Teodoro.

In 2019, the city government of Marikina was awarded the Seal of Excellence in Governance from the DILG for sustaining the obstruction-free status of roads and sidewalks. Then Interior Secretary Eduardo Año personally handed the award to Teodoro during the grand launching of the “Disiplina Muna” campaign.

60 other Negros Oriental killings unsolved, Teves tagged

DUMAGUETE CITY/MANILA –

The family lawyer of the late Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo said they ill be filing more cases soon in relation to about illings in the pro ince

Interviewed at the preliminary investigation of the epartment of ustice on the arch sla of egamo and eight others, lawyer Levito Baligod said suspended egros riental ep rnolfo Teves will be among those who will be charged in connection ith the illings

“I think in a few days from now, we ill be filing ne murder cases in ol ing pre ious illings, aligod said ctually there are a lot more as I’ve said in my pre ious inter ie s n m record alone,

ha e alread na that are incidents of illings aligod alread filed murder complaints against Teves before the DOJ on arch for the deaths of three persons in egros riental in

The alleged ictims ere former ational ureau of n estigation agent Miguel Dungog, Lester Pialago ato and acito etes ibron

Monday’s preliminary investigation involved the 10 witnesses under the s custod

They are former soldiers who were arrested in succession soon after the amplona to n massacre

The governor’s widow, Pamplona

Kadiwa ‘timely intervention’ for poor Pinoys, says Bulacan mayor

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga ocal officials in ulacan on Wednesday thanked the national government for bringing the adi a ng angulo program to the pro ince, giving the residents an opportunity to buy a ordable agricultural products as ell as other food and non-food items

resident erdinand arcos r led the launch of the program in the it of an ose el onte that o ers lo er-priced products to help consumers amid the rising prices of arious com-

modities

At the same time, it provides farmers, fisherfol and micro, small and medium enterprises s ith a platform that enables them to generate more income since middlemen are eliminated, thus the sell their produce at better prices and directl to the people

Mayor Arthur Robes of the City of an ose el onte said the is an e cellent and timel program of the national go ernment that could help consumers amid the rising in ation rate

a or anice egamo, and her group of about attended the in estigation and the enate probe, hich also began onda

The DOJ investigation has yet to include Te es, ho has refused to return to the countr despite the e pir of his personal tra el authorit on arch

Teves is suspended for days until May 22, with House Speaker Martin Romualde acting as careta er of his district

A preliminary investigation was also held on the charges of illegal possession of firearms and e plosi es against Te es sons, el and urt atthe , in connection ith the triple murder charges nother hearing is scheduled ne t month aligod said the families of the ictims are concerned o er the dela in issuing subpoenas or arrants

De Lima lawyers oppose DOJ plea to reopen her trial before RTC

MUNTINLUPA CITY – The camp of former senator Leila De Lima is asking the Muntinlupa court trying her for narcotics-related charges to turn down the motion of prosecutors for the reopening of the trial against her.

n a fi e page motion, e ima s defense counsels led by Teddy Esteban Rigoroso urged the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 204 to deny the government prosecution panel’s motion for reconsideration to reopen the trial against the embattled former lawmaker.

The parties both agreed last April 17 to terminate the proceedings and to submit the case for decision of the court. The Department of Justice (DOJ), however, subsequently sought a reopening of the proceedings to allow the testimony of ublic ttorne ffice la er Demiteer Huerta as rebuttal evidence.

Huerta had been the lawyer for for-

mer Bureau of Corrections Deputy Director Rafael Ragos who had recanted his earlier testimony against De Lima in connection with an alleged racket for her to supposedly collect hush money from incarcerated drug lords at the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) to bankroll her senatorial campaign when she was still secretary of justice.

“Ultimately, the move (by the prosecution) to re-open the case at bar fails to present and manifest injustice sought to be avoided,” the defense panel said.

“Simply put, these criminal proceedings cannot be held hostage by the lack of diligence of the prosecution which had six years prosecuting the same. The reopening of a criminal case earlier declared to be terminated cannot be done whimsically, capriciously and/or unreasonably. Neither can it be made dependent on the ever-changing moods of the (prosecution) panel,” the defense added

China-Taiwan tensions high; no Filipino repatriation yet

PASAY CITY – No Filipino is seeking government help for repatriation in Taiwan as of yet, the Department of Foreign airs said amid rising crossstrait tensions.

oreign airs ndersecretar for igrant or ers airs duardo ose de Vega reassured Filipino lawmakers and the public that contingency plans have long been in place in all places where there is high concentration of Filipino workers, including Taiwan.

“As far as the Filipinos are concerned, wala pa kaming nababalitaan na gustong umuwi o nababahala (we have yet to receive reports that a Filipino wants to go home or that they are worried),” de Vega said in a aging anda briefing

He said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. had reached out to various government offices to ensure the securit of the over 158,000 Filipinos on the island.

“He has given a general order to always watch out for the safety and welfare

of all OFWs, including in Taiwan,” he added.

“[T]hrough Malacañang and other offices, e ish to reassure e er one, including other countries and our partners --the Philippines is a peaceful country, wala tayong intent na gumawa ng (we don’t have the intention to conduct) offensive military actions, there is no need for anyone to make statements which would make it appear that our OFWs are being targeted,” de Vega said.

The reassurance came following the remarks of Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian last Monday, who claimed that the United States intends to take advantage of the new sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) to interfere in the Taiwan Strait situation. The Chinese diplomat then “advised” Manila to oppose “Taiwan independence” if it genuinely cares about the 150,000 Filipinos working there.

Romualdez, solons meet US counterparts, see better PH-US ties

in Manila thank Majority Leader Scalise for his warm welcome, his kind words, and most importantly his commitment to further strengthening Philippine and US ties in various aspects. It was a fruitful and engaging meeting, to say the very least, and I feel that we are reaching new heights and levels of understanding,” Romualdez said.

rate meetings with US Representatives Darrell Issa, Ami Bera, Mike Rogers (chairman of the House Armed Services Committee), and Christian Stewart, as well as Utah Attorney General Sean David Reyes, a FilipinoAmerican.

mains an important and strategic trading and investment partner of Manila. This economic partnership remained strong despite challenges brought about by the pandemic.

WASHINGTON D.C. – House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez disclosed here the Philippine-United States relations are reaching new heights and levels of understanding after the series of meetings with US House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and other US lawmakers in the US Capitol, Washington DC.

Scalise (Louisiana, 1st congressional district) was delighted to see the Philippine delegation and warmly welcomed them at the ffice of the a orit eader

“We, from the House of Representatives

Joining Romualdez were Majority Leader and Zamboanga 2nd District Rep. Manual Jose Dalipe, Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Navotas City Rep. Tobias Tiangco, Agusan del Norte 1st District Rep. Jose S. Aquino II, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel del Gallego Romualdez, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco, and House Sergeant-at-Arms PMGEN. Napoleon Taas.

Romualdez said the Philippine government under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has reintegrated relations with the US to provide stability, peace, and prosperity, especially in enhancing our capability for defense and stronger economic security.

“Let’s make the two countries closer. We are here to gather support from US Congress to strengthen and improve our capabilities from external threats and national disasters,” Romualdez added.

The Philippine delegation also held sepa-

During the meetings, they discussed strategies to strengthen economic cooperation, defense and security engagements, as well as bilateral strategic dialogue between the two long-time allied nations.

This solidifies the good or ing relationship between President Marcos and President (Joe) Biden. Rest assured that legislators from both sides of the fence will follow through ith the necessar or so that the benefits of this dynamic relationship would become more tangible tenfold,” Romualdez said.

As a treaty ally, the Philippines has been receiving substantial defense assistance from the US in terms of training and defense items and equipment.

From 2002 to 2021, the Philippines received defense and security assistance at roughly USD1.8 billion for defense modernization, maritime security, counter-terrorism, anti-narcotics, anti-human traffic ing, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear preparedness.

On the economic front, Washington re-

In 2021, the US was the Philippines’ third largest trading partner, top export market, and fifth ma or import source, hereas the hilippines ranked 30th among the US’ top trade partners. The US was also the Philippines’ fifth largest source of foreign in estments in 2021, notably in the IT-BPM, electronics, real estate, construction, and transportation and storage sectors.

American businesses, including Fortune 500 companies, have found a home in the Philippines. They recognize the Philippines for its business-friendly policies, skilled and well-educated workforce, and network of economic zones.

“With our strong economy, we invited the US to increase and expand its investments. Just recently I was with the economic team of President Marcos to help generate more investments during the 2023 World Bank Group-International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings,” Romualdez said. “Now the congressional delegation of the House leadership is engaging their counterparts in the US Congress. We are working all out with our strong message to come to the Philippines and invest there.”

Abalos, PNP chief ‘clash’ on P6.7-B drug haul

QUEZON CITY – Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. said closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage showing police officers allegedl attempting to pilfer kilograms of the 990 kilograms of shabu seized last year in Manila speaks for itself.

The chief of the Philippine National Police, Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, however, insisted that there was no cover up in the case.

“In law, there is the principle of Res Ipsa Loquitor. The thing speaks for itself. The video in itself is a statement of what transpired,’’ Abalos said in a statement.

Res ipsa loquitur is a doctrine in the common law and Roman-Dutch law jurisdictions under which a court can infer negligence from the very nature of an accident or injury in the absence of direct evidence on how any defendant behaved in the context of tort litigation.

Azurin Jr. insisted that there was no attempt to cover up and save dismissed Master Sgt. Rodolfo Mayor Jr. from any liability P6.7-billion Manila drug bust in the ctober

“While I respect Gen. Azurin, I am sure he agrees with me that the public deserves to know the truth. Hindi lamang sa isyu ng ilos undi higit sa lahat sa ung ano ang nangyari sa 900 kilos (of shabu) na nakumpiska (This is not only about the issue on the ilos but this is all about all hat happened to the ilos that as confis-

(From page 1)

who will handle case for us claim that is a big strong case.”

Arriola disclosed that there was no settlement on the date supposedly scheduled for a mandatory settlement.

“What transpired, however, was a meeting with Deputy District Attorney Emilee Divinagracia and the Assistance Chief Deputy District Attorney Rochelle Beardsley who are both Filipinas that will handle our case,” said Arriola. “They themselves claim that this is a big case, that they will support us and try their best to get the most out of the case to achieve justice for us.”

The couple was joined in the mandatory settlement by a dozen supporters from the Filipino community but were the only ones allowed to meet with their legal team.

Arriola was quick to add that they were reminded that some delays like rescheduling in the proceedings are anticipated but are one in saying that they will not agree to a settlement.

Another hearing is scheduled on May 1 after suspect Keylen Xavier Lee Farley, who is now detained at the Sacramento County Main Jail, was arraigned last March before the epartment of the acramento Superior Court.

An investigation led to Farley’s arrest and the subse uent filing of three felon counts by the Sacramento District Attorney: two counts for robbery of the second degree and aggravated assault and a third count for elder abuse.

Arriola admitted that the case has caused him and ife ulienne a lot of sacrifices as the are not onl continuall su ering from physical injuries but also psychological trauma and mental anguish as days pass and that they cannot make a living as caregivers as before.

cated),’’ Abalos insisted.

Abalos said he trusts that the National Police Commission will “investigate thoroughly as per its mandate.’’

n a press briefing on unda pril 16), Special Investigation Task Group 990 head Maj. Gen. Eliseo Cruz pointed out that more shabu were stolen as evidenced by the complete CCTV footage they got in the course of the probe.

Being advanced in age and not as strong as before, Arriola rued that they can no longer fulfill the duties of caregi ers particularly when it comes to lifting their clients. su ered si bro en ribs apart from bruises and abrasions. My wife’s knees suffered even more after the incident as she was already using a cane due to weakened knees for a month before the attack. She also had a lot of bruises even in her chest,” said Arriola of their injuries.

Arriola added that it is harder to overcome the trauma they both are experiencing. Ochengco would suddenly burst into tears whenever it all comes back to her, Arriola revealed.

“I am grateful that no one died in the attack and with our faith in God, we are recovering little by little. We doubt though, if we can go back to doing our main livelihood as caregivers. The advice of our doctor is to have our injuries and trauma to fully heal before even thinking of going back to working as it is very hard if I reinjure the broken ribs that are slowly recovering,” said Arriola who wished they were both young to recover more easily.

When asked on how they get by in their day to day needs, Arriola is thankful that personal friends have given them help and supporters from the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) and National Alliance on Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) have started fund raising campaign that are still going on.

“We really need all the help and support we can get as bills kept piling up through the days that we cannot got to work and even had to attend to the case hearings,” Arriola appealed. “Those who have the means can support us by going to the NaFFAA campaign at Fight for Justice: Elderly FilAms Attacked, organized by National Federation of Filipino American Associations

However, Azurin urged Abalos not to depend too much on the information being fed to him.

“Let me call the attention, also of our kind Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, the honorable Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos, Jr to take a second look on the people who may be feeding him with misinformation to cast doubt on the integrity of the PNP organization which is

Greater LA or that of NAFCON at tinyurl. com/helpthearriolas.”

Fight for Justice: Elderly Fil-Ams Attacked, organized by National Feder...

Dear Friends of the Filipino-American Community, We are National Federation of Filipino American Associat...

Farley allegedly attempted to steal a professional camera in broad daylight from Arriola who then had two large cameras on his shoulders. In the struggle, Arriola was knocked to the ground which was captured in a video on the incident.

In the same video, Farley was seen dragging Arriola on the pavement and kicking him on the chest multiple times as he was on the ground while Ochengco was also reportedl thro n to the oor as she tried to restrain the man from attacking her hus-

under his authority,” Azurin said.

“While I join the good SILG in the fight against erring personnel in the police force, let us not lose focus on the real enemy here, which is shabu and the drug syndicates,” he added.

Amid concerns that criminal charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous rugs cts of against aster Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo will be dismissed due to technicality due to a violation of police operational procedure, Azurin said it is already up to the court.

“If it will pave the way for us to identify all these people. Sabi ko nga (As I have said), we have our own strategy. Sa chess nga pinapakain mo ‘yung pawn para makain mo ‘yung mas malaki (In chess, ou sacrifice our pa n to capture bigger chess pieces),” he said in a press conference in Camp Crame on Monday.

Azurin said Mayo was just a “leaf in a tree,” and getting into the root will take a lot of work and trust.

“Binigyan mo ako ng objective (You gave me an objective), I’ll reach that destination. Don’t ask me kung ano ‘yung gagawin ko, ganun lang iyon (what I will do. It’s that simple). We just need to put trust,” he added.

Azurin is set to retire upon reaching the mandator age of on pril e has been in the police service for over 38 ears, and the first chief of the arcos administration.

band.

Farley then rushed to a getaway car dri en b another unidentified suspect while the victims were taken to the University of California Davis Medical Center.

It was ironic that Arriola had been covering the rise of anti-Asian attacks in California as a photojournalist particularly the case of the Roque family who were verbally and physically assaulted at a McDonald’s restaurant drive-thru in North Hollywood last year.

Arriola said he believes that what happened to them was a case of Asian I really feel it’s Asian hate because the assailants picked on them as they are the only Asians from the many tourists present at that time of the incident.

(From page 1)

A Filipino family that was queueing in a drive through of a well-known fastfood restaurant found themselves the victim of a verbal and physical assault last year. They filed a case against their assailant, onl to discover that they would again be subjected to further verbal insults coming from the lawyer of the man they sued.

The second rash of insults happened last week at the preliminary hearings to decide if the Roque family’s case against their assailant would proceed to trial.

They were not expecting what they called the “hurtful and insulting” questioning thrown their way by the defense lawyer, who insinuated that the Roques had ill intentions in raising awareness of anti-Asian

Governor...

hate.

The incident had all the hallmarks of a hate crime.

On May 13, 2022, a Jeep driven by Nicholas Weber rear-ended the car of Nerissa Roque, 47, while she and her daughter Patricia, 19, were in line at the McDonald’s outlet on Victory Boulevard, North Hollywood.

The case became known back in the Philippines as it was covered by the US operations of the country’s biggest newspaper, the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Instead of apologizing, Weber reportedly hurled anti-Asian insults at the mother and daughter, and a video of the incident showed the assailant seemingly grabbing Nerissa by the neck.

When Gabriel Roque, 62, tried to intervene, Weber punched him, causing the se-

(From page 1)

Gov. Guico III shared a brief message through live broadcast because he was not able to personally attend the UPAI ceremonies due to emergency appointment in Malacanang Palace with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.

The upcoming projects were shared on behalf of Gov. Guico by Dr. Sheila Marie Baniqued, included the construction of the Pangasinan East-West Expressway (Pewex) to shorten travel time throughout the province of Pangasinan from four hours to less than one hour.

Other projects unveiled were:

1. Construction of the Pangasinan Salt Center to boost production of salt, one of the premier products of the province;

2. Establishment of the Pangasinan Polytechnic College. This is the expansion of the University of Eastern Pangasinan (UEP)) established by Gov. Guico in Binalonan, Pangasinan when he was mayor of the booming town in eastern Pangasinan. The UEP has so far helped more than 7,000 scholars with free ex-

penses;

3. Improvement of the Health Care System province ide to benefit the population especially the senior citizens;

4. Construction of the Capitol Complex to include a mall, 5-star hotel, recreational facilities and other amenities to boost tourism.

In concluding the special report on the upcoming special projects of Gov. Guico in Pangasinan, Dr. Baniqued echoed “Pangasinan Ang Galing.”

She explained that when Gov. Guico was the Mayor of Binalonan, “Binalonan Ang Galing” was the town’s motto. When he as the ongressman in the fifth district, “Fifth District of Pangasinan Ang Galing,” became the motto.

“Tonight, I shout with you all “UPAI Ang Galing!” she said.

Gov. Guico III was scheduled to induct and install the incoming officers. On his behalf, Atty. Noel Vincent inducted and installed the following officers l in adilla, president harito Roxas-Wui, vice president; Marita N.

Chinese...

nior citi en to fall to the ground, su ering bruises and broken ribs in the process.

Patricia had the presence of mind to take a video of the assault with her cellphone, and she was also able to get the license plate number of Weber’s Jeep.

As if the assault was not bad enough, the LAPD took more than an hour to arrive at the scene, then added insult to injury by adising the o ues not to file charges against Weber.

Further, at the preliminary hearing, Weber’s lawyer subjected the Roque family to demeaning and degrading questions after the Roques insisted on pursuing two counts of felony battery against Weber. The fierce uestioning of the assailant s la er may be due to the fact that Weber was also charged with a hate crime, a more serious o ense that could land him in prison for

Padilla, secretary; Norma Bitanga, assistant secretary; Lee Junio, controller; Angelina E, Reguindin, assistant controller; Josephine J. de la Cruz, treasurer; Susan Arcilla, assistant treasurer; Arse Valdez, auditor; Becky Bautista, assistant auditor; Conrad Barcelon, Marcel Cayabyab Rodil Peralta, sergeant-at-arms.

Others installed were Ernesto Abalos (Chairman), Jose “Pepe” Rosario, Jr., Amor Wui (board secretary)., Caridad Aquino, Romulo Arenas, Nemy G. Bautista, Romy Cerezo, Rudy Junio, Chris Torres, Bernard Valdez, board of directors at-large with past UPAI President Fred Almerom as adviser.

Chris Alanzalon, Andy Junio, Carlito Carrera, Gloria Junio, Jose Castillo, Lyn Descalzo, and Ben Rufo were named board of directors to n affiliates

Newly installed UPAI President Alin adilla inducted appointed officers, namely, Elizabeth Alanzalon, PRO; Edna Roxas-Gorospe, PRO; Lorette de Veas, historian; Jose Manuel, parliamentarian; Pacita Aningalan, mutual assistance; Jose Esteves, former mayor of Milpitas, Cali-

(From page 1)

But critics say it was more than just a veiled threat, while the Chinese embassy said it was a misunderstood statement taken out of context.

hate er it as, arious go ernment officials too issue with Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian’s remarks at the 8th Manila Forum over the weekend to the point that one senator asked Malacanang to have him recalled.

For his part, National Security Council spokesman Jonathan Malaya said Huang had already been assured in the past that the Expanded Defense Cooperation Agreement or EDCA, between the US and the Philippines as ne er meant for o ensi e operations against China or for interference in the Taiwan issue.”

Said Malaya: “Our primordial concern in Taiwan is the safety and well-being of the more than 150,000 Filipinos living and working on the island.”

He added that the government takes grave exception to an e ort b guests in our countr to use this to fearmonger and intimidate us.”

In his speech, the ambassador said that the Philippines was advised to “unequivocally oppose ‘Taiwan independence The epartment of oreign airs has made clear on multiple occasions that the Philippines has always maintained a “One-China” policy.

The envoy, however, took it a step too far by saying allowing the US access to the military bases near the Taiwan Strait was an ill-advised move “if you genuinely care about the 150,000 OFWs” in the self-governing island.

Opposition senator Risa Hontiveros bluntly stated: “These are truly disgraceful statements from Ambassa-

several years if found guilty.

The court is expected to decide this week if the case will proceed to trial.

In the meantime, the Roque family can take heart at the support they have received from the Fil-Am community, including such organizations as the Filipino Migrant Center, the Progressive Asian Network, and about a hundred kababayans who rallied outside the LA Superior Court.

Patricia, a University of California Irvine student, related their tale to Inquirer. net, which printed their telling of the events which the family says traumatized them.

She could not hide her disappointment at the LAPD. Patricia also said they would pursue the case to the very end, even if it takes a year or more, to make sure that Nicholas Weber receives what is due him.

fornia, constitution and by-laws; Angeline Noguera, youth representative; Norma Panoringan, current Mrs. Pangasinan. Some highlights of the Inaugural Banquet Ball include: Invocation by Father eo re araan ational nthems, Elements of Time Band; Welcome Address, Bernard Valdez; Acknowledgement, Elizabeth Alanzalon; Presentation of Awards, outgoing UPAI President Fred Almeron assisted by outgoing UPAI First lady Cynthia Almeron; Introduction of the nducting fficer, ose o o astillo. Emcees were Charina Torres San Diego and Rolly Junio, Presentation of the Executive fficers and oard of irectors as led by Dr. Ricky Paningbatan, DDS; Presentation of Bouquet to the outgoing UPAI First Lady Cynthia Almeron, UPAI First Lady Marita Padilla, assisted by former Miss Pangasinan Jennifer Castillo; Valedictory Address Transfer of Gavel of Responsibility, outgoing UPAI President Fred Almeron; Inaugural Address, UPAI President Alvin Padilla.

Delegation from Pangasinan who at-

dor Huang Xilian. How dare he threaten us.”

As if on cue, the DFA announced this week that Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang would be arriving in Manila next week to meet with his local counterpart, Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo.

The said the official isit continues the series of high-level interactions between” the two countries, and would tackle “regional security issues.”

This is taken to mean that China would reiterate its statement last week expressing grave concern at EDCA as well as the biggest ever Balikatan military exercises between American and Filipino forces, which is ongoing.

The t o senior officials ill also co er the sensiti e issue of China’s continued intrusions on the West Philippine Sea, which Beijing claims is part of the South China Sea.

While both sides have agreed to settle all issues via diplomacy, the speech of the Chinese envoy did little to improve the situation.

According to Hontiveros, “The Palace should tell Beijing to recall their representative in Manila as soon as possible. He has no business being a diplomat if he is unable to engage ith us in a respectful and dignified manner.”

The senator added that the ambassador “along with his countr s ships and artificial islands in the est hilippine Sea, should pack up and leave.”

The Chinese embassy has refused to apologize for their ambassador’s ill-chosen words regarding OFWs, whom Filipinos consider as “modern day heroes” for their sacrifices to impro e the li es of their families

Military...

(From page 1)

To prevent the social volcano in Negros Oriental from exploding due to the crimes and abuses there, a “military takeover” there maybe enforced, according to Sen. Robinhood “Robin” C. Padilla at the Senate hearing on the murder of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo.

Padilla, who likened the situation in the province to a volcano waiting to explode, said the Constitution allows the takeover by the Armed Forces of the Philippines if needed, and if authorized by the President.

Senator Francis N. Tolentino, meanwile, is pushing for the postponement of the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in Negros Oriental amidst current peace and order situation in the province.

Tolentino made the proposal during the continuation of the inquiry of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs on the recent assassination of former Governor Roel Degamo as well other pending violence-related cases in Negros Oriental.

Tolentino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, warned that the present political atmosphere in Negros Oriental may lead to further chaos, especially if the Barangay and SK polls should proceed in the province this coming last week of October.

The lawmaker from Cavite asked the leadership of the Senate panel chaired by Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa to once again invite, in the next scheduled hearing, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia in connection with the proposal.

Janice Degamo, welcomed the proposition made b Tolentino, sa ing that it ill definitely help pacify the current political climate in her province. Earlier, Mayor Degamo proposed that the military takeover the reins of law enforcement in Negros Oriental due to so many unsolved killings.

Tolentino earlier asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to set-up a Special Prosecution Task Force in Negros Oriental which will help hasten the progress of violence-related cases pending before various trial courts in the said province.

Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo told the Senate hearing that she agreed that a military takeover in Negros Oriental might help, saying she wants an end to impunity in the province. She, however, opposed the possible declaration of martial law in her province.

eoph te enator adilla as ed officials at the hearing if it was time for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to authorize the military to take control of the province.

He said the Chief Executive can do so under Article 7, Section 18 of the Constitution, which states that “the President shall be the Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces of the Philippines and whenever it becomes necessary, he may call out such armed forces to prevent or suppress lawless violence, invasion or rebellion.”

“Sa palagay ninyo ‘di pa ito napapanahon sa Negros Oriental?(Do you think it is time for this in Negros Oriental?)” he asked, noting there were many other victims of other crimes in the province seeking aid during the Senate hearing on Tuesday.

He added that aside from the murder of the governor, there have been many other victims of other crimes including those merely seek-

ing aid.

“Masukal po ang mga usaping ito ngunit sa lahat ng testimonya, damdamin, at emosyong bumuhos sa ating pagdinig, hindi po nawawala ang tampok na problema: ang kawalan ng tiwala sa ating kapulisan, ang patuloy na impunity sa Negros, at ang pagsira sa pangalan ng institusyon dahil sa mga scalawag o kalawang na patuloy na sumisira sa pundasyon ng PNP (Based on the testimonies and emotions from earlier hearings, the problem remains - the loss of trust in our police, the continued impunity in Negros, and the tarnishing of the name of our Philippine National Police),” he said.

“Ang mga indibidwal na ito ay minsang pinagkatiwalaan ng tungkuling pangalagaan ang ating bansa, sinanay at ginastusan ng gobyerno para magsilbi sa publiko. Ang paggamit po ng kanilang kadalubhasaan upang isagawa ang gayong kasuklam-suklam na krimen ay hindi po katanggap-tanggap (These individuals are trusted and trained to protect the people. Their use of their skills to commit such heinous crimes is unacceptable),” he added.

Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, the slain governor’s widow, agreed with Padilla that a “military takeover” can defuse the situation in Negros Oriental, though not to the point of martial law.

“If that would hasten, gaano katagal bago truly one can feel wala na talaga ang intimidation. Para sa akin, in my personal point of view, okay ako kung ganoon na lang muna (If that would hasten ending the feeling of impunity, then personally I am okay with it),” she told the senator.

Sen. Francis Tolentino, meanwhile, proposed to postpone the upcoming barangay

and youth elections in Negros Oriental due to the volatile situation in the province.

He warned that the situation in Negros Oriental may lead to further chaos, especially if the local polls should proceed in the province this October.

Suspended Philippine lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr. is accused of protecting online cockfighting in the entral isa as region

The accusation surface on the third day of the Senate probe of political kilings in the country

Former Negros Oriental governor Pryde Henry Teves, who attended the hearing, belied accusations against him and his brother, Congressman Arnolfo Teves, Jr., who is a suspected mastermind behind Gov. Degamo’s killing. Rep. Teves, whose current whereabouts are unknown, has also denied allegations against him. He was reported to have been seen dining in a restaurant inside a hotel in Seoul, South Korea. Earlier, he took a leave for purportedly medical purpose in United tates but his official trip has e pired, prompting the House of Representatives to suspend him for failing to return to the country.

Senator Dela Rosa, a former Philippine National Police chief and chairman of the investigating committee, expressed disappointment over the alleged involvement of a number of police personnel in what some described as a “breakdown” of the criminal justice system in Negros Oriental.

“Baka akala ninyo masaya ako sa aking kinarororoonan ngayon, na ako ang nagiimbestiga sa inyo,” he said while holding back tears and addressing not only the police officers present at the hearing but the as a whole.

MARILYN B. KING

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Vice President for Operations & Promotions

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Editor-in-chief

Got Wheels! closes Wait List to apply

FOR the past four years, Peninsula Family Service has freed older adults from isolation ith its a ordable transportation program called Got Wheels!

Four hundred residents of 12 cities who were born on or before April 1953 get to arrange a ride with program partner Serra Yellow Cab from one address to another in the privacy and comfort of their own taxi for $5 each one-way ride. They are entitled to six one-way rides a month point to point in the 12-city service area.

NICK SAGMIT

GEORGE GANGE

RENE AVENIDO

Photo Correspondents

LYDIA SOLIS

Chief Correspondent Southern California

Office Manager GILDA PASION BALAN FRANCO G. REGALA ALI MACABALANG

JEANNE MICHAEL PENARANDA Manila Correspondents

THOMAS G. MADELO JR. Creative Director

JO ERLINDA YABUT Entertainment Editor MA. CECILIA G. MADELO Graphic Director

BLESIE D. SISON

ALBERT MARTINEZ RENE AMON Account Executives

VAL G. ABELGAS, HOMOBONO A. ADAZA, PERRY DIAZ, JOJO LIANGCO, JO ERLINDA G. NEBRES, ROY C. MABASA, ART G. MADLAING, FR. JOEPEL PADIT, RODEL E. RODIS, LOURDES TANCINCO ESQ, MELANDREW T. VELASCO, DANTES & CYNTHIA VELUZ, CRISTINA OSMENA, LUDY ONGKEKO. COLUMNISTS

The views and opinions expressed herein by writers, columnists and advertisers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher, management and staff of Philippines Today. We are not responsible for incorrect printing, photographical errors or information listed or for loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts. Reproduction or redistribution in whole or in part is prohibited.

EDITORIAL

Is Trump deathly afraid of DeSantis?

There are some indications that former president Donald Trump has become deathly afraid of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who at this early stage appears to be the only viable candidate to challenge him to be the Republican Party’s standard bearer next year.

Where he used to constantly belittle DeSantis as being nothing without his support in the past, Trump has been reduced to all but begging the accomplished Florida governor not to run, and just give way to his last chance of getting back at the White House.

Trump fanatics say that DeSantis is a bland character. He may be so compared to Trump the showman, but he has done much in the past and the present time for the electorate to give him a second look next year.

True Republicans can only like what De Santis stands for. He is every inch a GOP man and always has been, unlike Trump who once called himself a Democrat. DeSantis is also a former militar officer, not a draft dodger ho cannot e en remember hat foot he supposedl had bone spurs in.

Moreover, DeSantis has none of the weaknesses of the 45th POTUS. He does not insult people ho ha e di erent political beliefs than him and his bac ground sa s he is more li e most past Republican presidents. He has been married to the same woman since way back and is a true conservative, and the people of Florida like what he has done for the state.

e did not o er-react to the - pandemic, and as among the first to open the state and allow businesses to operate normally at a time when most other states still preferred some form of lockdown.

Most of all, DeSantis carries none of the baggage that Trump now bears, and which will likely get heavier in the months to come.

Don’t get us wrong. Philippine News Today does not in any way, shape, or form endorse Ron DeSantis to be the Republican Party’s nominee for president next year. But we cannot ignore the fact that presidential elections will be held next year, and for better or worse only the Democratic Party or the Republican Party bet has a chance of winning.

Third party candidates have never been able to break the glass ceiling that says only a wellorganized and well-funded candidate can be elected president.

At this stage, Trump’s national popularity is close to hitting rock bottom, although his appeal to his core voters remains intact.

GOP leaders know that to win next year, one of the candidates has to capture more votes from independents than his or her opponent. And unless some political miracle happens, those independents are more likely to lean the Democrats’ way.

DeSantis could conceivably change that.

nless he has a change of heart, resident oe iden ill run for a second and final term ne t year, and will thus become the oldest president of the US ever should he win.

e antis could capture a big chun of the outh ote, hich does not find either Trump of Biden too appealing.

Trump knows next year is his one last chance to evade the numerous charges he faces, and may even believe he can win. There’s only one problem: Ron DeSantis.

Perhaps under a worst-case scenario and the Florida governor becomes GOP standard bearer, don’t put it beyond Trump to grovel before DeSantis and ask that POTUS #45 be his running mate.

Launched in 2019 as a pilot program in Daly City, the service expanded to Colma and Brisbane in May and then South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, Burlingame, Hillsborough, Half Moon Bay, El Granada, Moss Beach and Montara later in October 2020. Service includes rides to San Francisco International Airport.

Thanks to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors who approved funding for the pilot program and the bridge grant before alTrans stepped in, ot heels benefits members” whose golden cards entitle them to deeply discounted rides to visit with family and friends, attend faith service, go shopping, dine out or make their medical appointments. They are free from orr about dri ing in the fog and traffic or dealing ith par ing a orable word of mouth about the program spread, prompting a Wait List for anyone wishing to avail themselves of the same convenience.

Last month the wait list closed as Got Wheels! reached capacity. While the program is not accepting applications at this time, current members are una ected b the closure The are in fact encouraged to use their maximum rides a month, enjoy the freedom of mobility and participate in community.

Got Wheels! continues to explore funding streams to strengthen and preserve the program ean hile an ateo ount residents see ing a ordable transportation ma contact the following community-based programs:

SamTrans Redi-Wheels and Redi-Coast (650)508-6241: $4.25 fare for San Mateo County residents unable to ride buses due to a disability.

Get Around (650)522-7490: $5 per each of 8-ride limit a month for City of San Mateo residents years and older.

Get Up Go (650)378-2750: Free rides for older adults who do not drive or have difficult using public transportation, and Connect a Ride (650) 738-7350: $5 per each of 8-ride limit a month for City of acifica residents ears and older

For other transportation options, contact San Mateo County 24-hour hotline: 1-800675-8437 or 1-844-868-0938. Visit www.pfso.org to learn about Peninsula Family Service programs for older adults.

Philippine News Today Executive Editor Cherie M. Querol Moreno is a 4-term Commissioner with San Mateo County Commission on Aging and Program Manager for Peninsula Family Service Got Wheels! Transportation Program.

The other day, a friend of mine, grieving at the loss of our mutual friend, remarked:” God works in mysterious ways.”

The statement set me thinking about things that have happened in the world , which all point to the fact that such happened because they were all God’s will.

When one loses a loved one,as most of us have, one ‘s initial reaction is to ask “why”.

Why do people, especially the young ones, die? When there are victims of wars, mass shootings, accidents , of whatever age, we wonder why their lives were cut short. Could their deaths have been prevented? Why were they, not we, taken so soon?

Consider the number of fatalities all over the world , due to sic ness , natural calamities, man-made con icts, and other causes. Then think of the growing earth population made possible by advanced medical technology . Could there be a relation between the two? Could all of the above have been part of God’s plan for humanity?

od or s in m sterious a s , hich our finite minds cannot comprehend

I remember my anguish and sorrow when I lost my daughter, Angela “Gigi” , to the Big C some 18 years ago. In my pain, I asked God why she had to die so soon. Parents aren’t supposed to outli e their o spring, are the

Admittedly my faith was shaken , until the time I realized that God must have had a reason for taking her away from us.

I think of Jude Torres and his beloved sister, whose sudden death caused him and his family so much sorrow , of my nieces and nephews who lost their parents, of people who have lost their loved ones, and I hope they too have accepted God’s plan for them.

I know that we, who have survived, have to live each day, as if it were our last , loving our fellowmen, forgiving those who have hurt us, spreading kindness , for we do not know if tomorrow will ever come.

God works in mysterious ways indeed!

Today, In the belief that no one can predict the time when one leaves this earth, as we journey through life, we must all be ready to meet our Creator.

Sadly, in this materialistic world, more and more people think less and less of their inevitable death, as they go about seeking success and happiness, which are all transitory. They forget that wealth and power are theirs, by the grace of God . whose ways are inscrutable .

To Him be the glory!

God’s ways are inscrutable

Military should stop the EDCA propaganda

(HADR) operations.

Of course, HADR is also an important aspect of the US presence but it is not the primary objective of Washington in deploying and prepositioning its military forces in the northern Luzon areas as well as in Palawan.

The locations of the military bases betray the real intentions of the prepositioning and deployment of US military personnel, equipment, supplies and spares.

THE TRENCHES

Washington is preparing for any contingency in the Taiwan Straits as Beijing steps up its live military drills around the self-ruled island, which it considers a renegade province.

For China, Taiwan is non-negotiable. Beijing will not allow it to declare independence and separation from the mainland.

For the US, it will defend Taiwan and will not allow China to invade the island similar to what the Russians did in the Ukraine. It is a red line.

However, US troops, planes and ships are too far away from the potential con ict one The are deplo ed to uam, apan and outh Korea. It needs forward locations near the volatile Taiwan Straits.

The Philippines is the perfect location to preposition US forces to monitor and control areas around Taiwan.

rom an air force base in al-lo to n in aga an, fighters can patrol Taiwan Straits. US warships that are allowed in a naval base in Sta. Ana town, also in Cagayan, can refuel and monitor ship movements in the strategic Bashi and Balintang channels.

In southern Palawan, US forces can also guard an important international trade route from a military base in Balabac island.

Both areas in Cagayan and Palawan are strategic choke points where Chinese warships regularly transit from the South China Sea to the acific cean and ice ersa

China’s aircraft carrier Liaoning regularly passes through these two areas every time it conducts patrol beyond its maritime borders.

Chinese and American submarines also play cat-and-mouse games beneath these important sea lanes of communications where part of the $3 trillion seaborne trade passes every year.

The strategic importance of the four new EDCA sites are beneficial for both the mericans and ilipinos and, perhaps, the rest of the region.

There are advantages and disadvantages to the US presence in these areas. The US can help improve and develop the sites, build more infrastructure, and provide jobs and livelihood to the local communities.

But there could also be social costs as a result of the US presence.

eneral al e chose to highlight the role in operations. He was probably trying to sell the US role in these EDCA sites to the Filipino public, wary of the potential danger of the country being dragged into a con ict bet een the and hina o er Tai an China, of course, is unhappy. The EDCA sites pose a threat to its own national interests and there could be consequences for the Philippines for allowing the US to use these strategic bases.

In the coming days, weeks or months, the Philippines should expect more Chinese harassment and gray zone tactics in the West Philippine Sea.

There could also be some retaliation in trade by imposing nontari measures to hilippine e ports of mangoes, pineapples, and bananas.

Chances of an unproportional humanitarian crisis looms larger if a war breaks out between the US and China over Taiwan, and the hilippines is dragged into the con ict

But the US might not be able to assist the country in the humanitarian crisis as it will be too focused on defending Taiwan.

There is also no guarantee the US will help if there are disasters caused by typhoons and earthquakes in northern Luzon as Cagayan o anuel amba recalled there as no assistance hen ide areas in his province was inundated a year ago.

The government must stop its propaganda about HADR. It must honestly admit that EDCA sites are for the US security interests as well as the Philippines’s external defense posture.

The Philippines has no military equipment to defend its local bases from potential missile strikes or even drone attacks.

It has to rely on the US, which will demonstrate the capability of MIM-104 Patriot missiles in intercepting ballistic missiles attacks during this month’s “Balikatan” drills in northern Luzon.

ast ear, the atriot missiles ere first brought to aga an for the “Balikatan” exercises. But its capability will be demonstrated this year.

The government, however, must remember, the US is not here to protect the country’s interest. The US troops are here for their own security interests.

The late dictator, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., had relied on the US security umbrella during the 1970s and 1980s for external defense.

The US projected power in the region, using its bases to launch attacks during the Vietnam War in the 1960s and 1970s.

(Continue on page 27)

A time for reckoning

“There’s always a time for reckoning.”

- President Rodrigo Duterte

“Six years is too long for a bad governor and just enough for a good one.”

-Opposition Governor of Misamis Oriental during Martial Law

The quotation attributed to President Rodrigo Duterte is one of the few that is right - coming from him. Duterte, like many Presidents before him, is a man of many words – just words and no action that promotes the national interest. The only comments he translated into actions were on sex and the killing of thousands of poor illegal drug addicts, not to speak of his overwhelming admiration of President Xi Jin Ping – the man at the top of the totem pole of the corona virus.

According to the Social Weather Station (SWS) and Pulse Asia (PA), Duterte was a very popular President. Considering the dismal performance of Duterte as President, I am quite convinced that if the surveys are true, they must have been taken inside the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) in Mandaluyong City, which is the euphemistic term for an insane asylum or the whole country must have been a nut house where those who gave Duterte high popularity rating needed eyeglasses and hearing aids or a psychiatrist. And the other possible reason is that the survey groups were bought or those who did the interviews were similarly bought. Which is which? Only time or a truthful confession will tell.

Past: Why should I continue writing about former President Duterte? This is the question asked me by an OIC Mindanao governor appointed by President Cory Aquino, now he texted me that PBB M has appointed him Presidential Assistant on uslim airs ood for him as he and deserve each other. President Duterte is not past – he is very much present for several reasons. First, he is the father of Vice-President Sara Duterte who is one breath away from the presidency. Second, he must be having nightmares about his cases in the ICC. Third, with the way he behaved as President, he appears to be obsessed with the idea of wielding power. Fourth, he has now the most tempting opportunity to get back to power so he could do something about his legacy – which up to this point is nothing Fifth, his network when he was President is still there - in both military and civilian agencies of go ernment i th, he is the most strategic figure in the country today who can upset all the plans of the current President considering his publicly low opinion of P BB M, both as a leader and as a person. Seventh, he must be missing all the perquisites of power.

So former President Duterte is not past – he is very much present. He is a man to watch.

Radar screen: Former President Duterte is no longer at center stage nor is he the man on the saddle. The rest of us who are stakeholders and interested in history will continue to monitor him because he is a very relevant person in our contemporary development.

The important questions about former PR are the following: 1.What is he currently doing – politically? 2. Is he a friend or an ally of President BB M? 3. Is he one of the persons behind the current move in Congress to amend the Constitution? 4. Is he still a friend and ally of former President re the the ones behind the mo e in the ouse of Representatives to call a Constitutional Convention? 6. Is he still in constant touch with President Xi Jin Ping of China?

7. Are his much ballyhooed death squads alive and kicking?

The answers to these questions will determine what PR will do in the political arena. Whether President BB M will finish his term hether ill be able to get bac to power? If, I were PBB M, I will watch very closely PR and monitor his every move for three reasons – uneasy is the head that ears the cro n, od help me from m friends can ta e care of m enemies and eep our fiends close, our enemies even closer?

emember finished his term despite a failed presidency - an intense investigation by

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‘Laughter for Good Health’ now available at Amazon

As book author and columnist, I am delighted to announce that the long-awaited

T HEALTH” subtitled “Humorous Anecdotes and Stories on Cooking, Events, Family, History and Personalities” is now available to our readers and the general public through Amazon. T

T , hich

Health & Wealth

co-authored with May Ann Cove Cheatham from Arizona, is no m fifth boo printed print on demand and mar eted b Amazon. Foreword was written by Razzle Rowe, R.N., from hoeni , ri ona The bac co er of T

T pages a ailable in ardco er, aperbac and -boo includes the T, isten to the ans ers of T T as follows:

*Laughing is “internal jogging” an antidote to stress, and good for the immune system.

aughing doubles the heart rate for three to fi e minutes and gives the chest, neck, face, shoulder, abdomen, and scalp a good work out.

*Hearty laughing reduces muscle tension and helps the body get rid of the greater amounts of accumulated carbon dioxide.

*Laughing reduces pain by releasing endorphins, the body’s natural pain killers.

*The facial laugh muscles instruct the brain to feel good, regardless of how you feel. e er let home or office be ithout T ere are some re ie s and comments on T T

“I highly recommend this book that makes me feel good and makes me laugh each time I read, and which, I am certain, will also make you laugh for good health,” wrote RAZZLE ROWE, R.N. from Phoenix, Arizona USA.

T T is a must reading for every couple and family as antidote for stress and worry. Order now your copy, read it and be blessed with a merry heart,” said FELIX L. OLIDAN, JR, Evangelist and Minister, WANCHAI CHURCH OF CHRIST, Wanchai, Hong Kong.

am delighted to recommend T

T c o-authored b rt abot adlaing and ar nn o e heatham This is a lasting gift ou can gi e to our children and grandchildren,” echoed MILDRED WARD, hildren s ible lass Teacher, T OF CHRIST, San Francisco, California USA commend co-authors rt abot adlaing and ar nn o e heatham for ointl riting T HEALTH, a new bestseller. I personally recommend this timeless book to every individual and family who desire to have good health and joyful living,” wrote ATTY. JUNAS T. SA-

T, resident, T T , ugallon, Pangasinan, Philippines.

T T is a must reading for anyone interested to have good health and joyful life,” said HENRY T BRAVO, Evangelist and Elder, SURREY CHURCH OF CHRIST, Vancouver, B.C., Canada.

As practicing physician, I fully understand laughter as natural antidote to stress and worries. Every home and hospital must have copies of this timeless book available for reading,” echoed , , aguio it , hilippines.

hristians must be happ and o ful T

T ill encourage and help e er hristian to be laughing, joyful and rejoicing. Order your copy now, read it and be joyfully blessed,” wrote BENNY JOYNER, Adult Bible lass Teacher, T T, San Francisco, California USA.

T - To commemorate our th edding nni ersar on a , , m belo ed ife irginia imene adlaing and are o ering a special T b ordering no our cop of T ma on regular price is - ardco er, - aperbacbook, plus shipping and handling) You can choose the second FREE autographed book through our BOOKS MINISTRY namel T T

Beware the syndicates in the government

Philippine National Police chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. retires next week and one of his final messages is not like what other heads of the police usually say as they ma e their final e it from the service.

Most will thank the incumbent president and heap praises on the cops under him, sa ing that the o er helming ma orit are good men and omen, untainted b an hint of corruption.

The ill sa that it as a great honor to head the and lea e behind numerous accomplishments, be the real or imagined

Not Azurin.

The general arned resident ongbong arcos to choose the ne t chief ell, at the same time arning that there is or are a s ndicate or s ndicates that ant nothing more than to ha e one of their bo s head the men and omen of the , -strong police force e left man things unsaid ith his arning

T o things stood out among the unspo en thoughts in his mind hile he made no mention of the abinet secretar hom he directl reports to, urin ma ha e ta en a pot shot at ocal o ernment ecretar enhur balos ot too long ago, balos said he alread had somebod in mind to succeed urin This as not a er smart thing to do, as balos appears to be fa oring one particular officer ho fre uentl goes ith him in his out-of-to n sorties urin said senior officers should a oid being the center of attention during photo opportunities, and a certain bald-headed, oungish loo ing general appeared to be the person the retiring chief as referring to

Azurin also expressed his frustration at the Local Government secretar of not onl accusing but actuall demanding that se eral generals ta e a lea e of absence due to the mess that follo ed in the a e of hat has been billed as the biggest drug bust e er i point se en billion pesos orth of shabu the poor man s cocaine ere sei ed in a raid in a arehouse o ned b a middle-ran ing police official last ear t should ha e been and ould ha e been a ma or ictor in the ar against drugs nstead, urin felt that balos had rongl accused officers of attempting to free the capture officer, hose bac ground as uestionable to begin ith nti-drug intelligence officer odolfo a o as o ner of a lending compan housed in a arehouse here close to a thousand ilos of shabu ere found enator ato dela osa, himself a former chief, said he recalled the name a o as an undesirable cop ho had been reassigned to the boondoc s some ears ago, onl to miraculousl find his a bac to etro anila, hich is the most lucrati e posting for an one ith a corrupt mindset igher ups allegedl stepped in and as ed that a o be restored to his pre ious posting This mere master sergeant as apparentl a billionaire at the time of his arrest t the time of a o s arrest last ctober, grain T ideos sho ed that he as initiall handcu ed, then uncu ed, onl to be handcu ed again

There ere operati es ho ere tr ing to sell the idea that it as the careta er of a o s business ho as the drug boss, but nobod as biting the insane bait

The T footage supposedl enraged balos, ho ordered three senior officials to go on lea e as a result

This as done ithout the no ledge of urin, and it as his turn to seethe ith anger e ept his mouth shut for a ee , but finall let loose on onda , this ee This ould be his last ee as chief and he as not lea ing ser ice ithout sa ing his piece

ne general that balos ordered suspended appears to be innocent, onl being in the rong place at the rong time deput chief t en en amin antos had been as ed b urin to head to the site of the raid to ma e sure that the e idence ould remain untouched o stated urin his a press con.

hat got his goat as that balos ordered his suspension or relief or hate er the ocal o ernment chief ants to call it ithout chec ing hat actuall happened e onl shot from the hip, and did not e en

Does age matter in love and in immigration?

“Age does not matter When you love each other.”

--May Ann M, a 25 year-old virgin who married an 85-year old Ilocano.

“Age is just a number. It’s totally irrelevant unless, of course, you happen to be a bottle of wine.”

--Joan Collins.

“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”

--Mark Twain

The biggest age difference of a married couple was 63 years. ertrude rubb ane a , ho as born on ul , , as hen she married - ear-old nion i il ar eteran, ohn ane a on une , , according to the uinness orld ecords https guinness orldrecords com orld-records -largest-age-di erence-bet eena-married-couple mong celebrit couples ith big age di erences are ichael ouglas and atherine eta- ones ears and eorge loone and mal loone ears

There is a 90-year old Ilocano lawyer and a 19-year old irgin of unparalleled beaut and insightful intelligence ho could beat that record if he pops the uestion and the irgin sa s es That ould be ears di erence ill he pop the question? As a lawyer you should not ask a question of the opposite party unless you know the answer and the ans er ill be in our fa or The la er belie es in lo e at first sight but as a good la er he also belie es in ta ing a second loo e abundante cautela The irgin belongs to generation born bet een and a ing been born during the internet age, the are er no ledgeable The ha e man ants to be close to home and famil , to ha e fun and ha e funds, to be ell-educated, and to or in good obs The are s eptical and see people the can trust The belie e in e ualit The la er ho belongs to the mislabeled ilent eneration born bet een - is articulate and could cater to the reasonable e pectations of a generation oman

n - ear old man from locos orte ho li ed in alifornia courted, on the a ection, and married his - ear old to n mate, an attracti e irgin There as a - ear di erence e as a citi en and petitioned for her appro ed the petition uring the consular inter ie , the girl as as ed h he married her husband despite the age di erence he replied ge does not matter hen ou lo e each other t as a perfect ans er There is rh thm here did ou learn that as ed the girl t came from m heart, she replied o it is possible that there can be lo e bet een anear old man and a - ear old oman

The oman is a millennial or eneration born bet een and This generation is less inclined to ha e se ual intercourse compared to their predecessors hen the ere at the same age, if ou belie e i ipedia o e er, the oman admitted that she and her husband had se ual relations on at least occasions during their fe months of marriage hen uestioned during an immigration court hearing or s eptics ho do not belie e that men o er can ha e se ual relations, the probabl are loo ing at a mirror ead our article rectile d sfunction, immigration, and an locano la er https tiponimmigrationguide com he as placed in remo al proceedings because her orm - etition to remo e conditions on residence, hich as prepared b a tra el agent, as denied liens hose marriage is less than ears before admission to the are conditional residents and must file a petition to remo e the condition ithin the -da period before the second anni ersar of the marriage said that she did not proide sufficient e idence to establish that her marriage to her spouse as in good faith The mmigration udge ordered her remo ed because of lac of credibilit ith regard to her orm - The case is on appeal

- ear old locano, a

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Staff training: Company’s greatest asset!

Is training onl for ne sta er time hires emplo ees, their first mo e is to train them ust li e an ne emplo ee, ent through this process hen as hired the first time ut, is it onl for ne emplo ees o old emploees still need training es elie ing that training the sta is the greatest compan asset, the an ose ob orps enter held its second ll ta Training a for this ear at the center s mnasium in its -acre campus hich started ith a uarterl ards for utstanding emplo ees of the uarter belie es that continuous training is a must to be able to sur i e the st centur educational challenges n her opening remar s, enter irector a ina ernande recogni ed all the center emplo ees and reiterated her open door polic he also e pected that all sta offices ill li e ise adopt the open door polic for sta and students.

The a ardees are rene ugenio, propert assistant, a ard presented b dmin irector unil inerath nnie achariah, cademic nstructor, presented b eput enter irector ir ansfield ebbie hen-Tam, ounselor, a ard presented b esidential anager en amin ishop ee ang, admissions counselor, resno ffice, presented b enter irector ernande and inh oang, a ard presented b ecords anager ar ros

Training and de elopment help companies gain and retain top talent, increase ob satisfaction and morale, impro e producti it and earn more profit dditionall , businesses that ha e acti el interested and dedicated emplo ees, according to business statistics, see percent lo er absenteeism rates, and percent higher producti it

This also or s in educational institutions because the need to cope ith the rapid technological ad ances that ill eep their classrooms adopt to the needs of students t could be argued and rightl so that emplo ees are a compan s greatest asset, and, therefore, in esting in their training and de elopment is e to sustaining business gro th and success This commitment, tta a ni ersit said in their ebsite, ma es sense hen ou consider the length processes businesses carr out to recruit and hire ualified sta ftentimes, though, the emphasis on caring about the professional de elopment of emplo ees ends after they are hired.

That should not be the case Training should be hole ear-round for all emplo ees, old and ne , it should not stop after hiring tudies sho that organi ations engaged in emplo ee deelopment see increased sales and doubled profits double compared to organi ations not committed to emplo ee engagement edicated training and de elopment fosters emplo ee engagement, and a more efficient, competiti e, and engaged or force is critical to our compan s financial performance urthermore, of emplo ees ill sta longer hen a compan in ests in career de elopment Training and de elopment help companies gain and retain top talent, increase ob satisfaction and morale, impro e productiit and earn more profit dditionall , businesses that ha e acti el interested and dedicated emplo ees see percent lo er absenteeism rates, and percent higher producti it

The top fi e benefits of training and de elopment in helping their companies reach their strategic goals tta a niersit ebsite are as follo s etains mplo ees etention is a ma or challenge for emplo ers but retaining strong or ers can be achie ed through career de elopment n fact, training and de elopment has become so centrali ed ithin businesses that it is often used as a competiti e ad antage hen hiring ering career de elopment initiati es helps emplo ees establish a sense of alue ithin the compan and fosters lo alt , ultimatel resulting in increased sta retention and a lo er sta turno er rate

n m ears of emplo ment in arious businesses and educational institutions, emplo ees ho ere trained regularl sta in their respecti e companies, compared to those ho don t ha e trainings at all (Continue on page 27)

IMMIGRATIONS

Requirements for petitioning Caregivers

o you need Caregivers in your Care Facility?

This is a very challenging time for those Care Home Facility owners because of the shortage of Caregivers. Many caregivers can be petitioned by the facility owners whether they are coming from the Philippines or already in the United States. Our Law irm can handle the process from start to finish s of this writing the priority for caregivers is January 1, o e er, if ou are inside the ou can file an adjustment of status based on approved I-140 petition if your priority date is February 1, 2020.

What are the requirements for EB-3 Green Card for Skilled Workers, Professionals, or Other Workers?

ns er The - green card co ers a ide range of applicants and has less stringent requirements compared to the two categories above. To qualify as a skilled worker, you must demonstrate that you have at least two years of job experience or training in the job you are applying through.

To qualify as a professional, you must have at least a U.S. bachelor’s degree or its foreign degree e ui alent in the field ou are or ing in

Other workers are usually unskilled workers who are able to demonstrate the ability to perform unskilled labor that is not seasonal or temporary in nature. Caregivers usually need only three months experience as a caregiver.

What is needed to start a caregiver petition?

ns er n - applicant must ha e a ob o er from a emplo er and fulfill the abor ertification re uirements, hich ill li el mean a longer application timeline than other categories here the can be ai ed ote that since some cases re uire additional paper or to be filed, it s best to contact a ualified emplo ment immigration attorne

What is the processing time for employment based green card?

ns er The emplo ment-based green card timeline aries depending on the category you qualify for. Generally, however, here are the steps you need to take if ou are or ing to ard getting an emplo ment-based green card

1. Have a U.S. Employer omplete abor ertification rocess erage of i to ine onths nce ou ha e a ualif ing ob o er and an emplo er ho is read to sponsor our green card, the ne t step is to complete the rogram for lectronic e ie anagement abor certification This is a process that re uires our emplo er to demonstrate that the foreign or er ou is not ta ing a ob position a a from ualified or ers

hat should an emplo er do to process ns er our emplo er ith the support of an immigration attorne ill conduct a recruitment process to ensure that ou are not displacing an ualified workers

The can ta e bet een si months and a ear and a half to obtain depending on whether or not your employer is subjected to an audit. Here is the breakdown of the timeline for abor processing times re ailing age e uest t o ee s ecruitment rocess eight to nine ee s T - pplication ee s fter getting appro ed on the abor ertification, hat is the ne t step ns er our emplo er ill need to file a ettion for lien or er orm I-140. Once your Form I-140 is approved, and your priority date becomes current, ou can file for an d ustment of tatus b submitting an - form The - is the last stage along the employment-based green card timeline, but in most cases, it has the longest waiting period. However, you will be issued a work authorization document after submitting orm - in about fi e months

ote This is not a legal ad ice and presented for educational purposes onl ur office successfull obtained green card for caregi ers

T T T

T T

Our Law Firm entered into agreement with nursing facilities in the U.S. to process applicants for urses, and aregi ers in the ou ma ualif if ou ha e or license aregi ers ill need a ear of caregiving experience.

pplicants nside or outside the nited tates ma ualif Bankruptcy Basics

We also process Bankruptcy cases.

1. Bankruptcy will actually improve your credit within one year because your unsecured debts are discharged lthough the ban ruptc ill be in our records for ears, not filing ban ruptc ill ma e our credit e en orse until most our debts are paid.

2. If you are being sued by your creditors, most money judgment can be eliminated in bankruptcy.

3. Collection actions continue and you can be sued if you are in debt settlement.

4. Chapter will eliminate all unsecured debts. If you are near retirement age, you must eliminate most of your debts.

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US trade representative backs PHL for GSP reauthorization

TRADE ENVO . US Trade Representa�ve Ambassador atherine Tai during the me dia roundtable at the US Ambassador s residence in Ma a� City.

T T nited tates Trade epresentati e mbassador atherine Tai has assured her support for the Philippines for the renewal of the US Generalized System of references , hich e pired in December 2020.

“I have expressed my support to the Congress for the Congress to reauthorize, but that action must be taken by the US ongress, Tai told a media briefing at the ambassador’s residence in Makati City.

The hilippines benefits from the GSP as the trade preference program proides ero dut for , tari lines

The Philippines is also among the top fi e beneficiar countries of the The US Congress’ reauthorization of the benefits for the hilippines is ital for the country, as the US is one of the top two destinations for Philippine exports.

n the sia acific bulletin published b the ast- est enter, it said merican firms importing from the hilippines paid million in e tra tari on billion goods eligible under the US GSP since it expired in 2020.

It said the US GSP is a “valuable tool in strengthening hilippine- trade and it should be renewed.

mong the issues that the ongress is considering in the reauthorization of the GSP for the Philippines are human rights and labor issues.

The visiting US trade representative in Manila said the US Congress is also looking into adding the environmental criterion to the trade preference program.

Moreover, Tai said the Biden administration wants a labor-centered trade, which will help improve the lives of workers. nd e ha e to thin about ad ancing a trade policy that is going to be good for not just consumers, but workers because people have many facets. So in our engagements with all of our trade partners, I will often visit not just my trade counterpart, but also my labor counterpart. I will visit with not just business leaders but also with labor leaders to try to advance this project of connecting the trade and the labor conversations ith all of our partners, she added Tai is in anila for an official isit from pril to he ill also be tra eling to Tokyo after visiting Manila.

er isit to sia aims to emphasi e the importance of the -led ndo- acific conomic Framework, wherein the Philippines and Japan are signatories

Use of eco-friendly construction materials pushed

ement ma er olcim Philippines has urged local contractors to use environment-friendly construction materials both for public and private projects.

t the press conference of the relaunching of olcim s agship brand Excel ECOPlanet in Pasay City Tuesday, Holcim Philippines president and chief executi e officer oria drian said utili ing low-carbon products in the construction industry will help the country in meeting its commitments to climate action.

“Construction industry is one of the industries that are, let’s say, contributing to this carbon dio ide emissions, he said.

drian said the compan continues to engage with national and local authorities to discuss the benefits of using eco-friendly cements and other construction materials, especially as the government boosts its infrastructure program.

“We are here to be partners and we are here to provide what is needed to reduce

the CO2 emission for construction industry and to decarbonize the construction industr in the countr , he told reporters drian said the appetite in the hilippines for eco-friendly products has increased amid the impacts of climate change.

Excel ECOPlanet, which has components of recycled waste materials from steel, power plants and limestone, among others, has 30 percent less carbon emission compared to ordinary Portland cement. drian said olcim hilippines manufacturing facilities were able to use a million tons of recycled waste blended to its cement products.

He said the company is also interested in recycling waste materials from constructions and demolitions.

“We are making a serious pledge here in embedding recycling into the new way of building, he added e should preserve the natural resources. We should make sure that we build more with old materials

Vilma Santos hopes to shake off acting rust for ‘age-appropriate’ film

It can be surprising to hear that an artist of Vilma Santos’ stature still gets nervous in front of the cameras. She has been acting since she was nine. And in her 60 years in the industry, she built a formidable career that most actors can only dream of countless awards, blockbusters hits, and genre-defining film classics

But despite all her achievements, Vilma, once in a hile, still finds herself ondering an still act?”

That was the question that crossed her mind hen she got the o er to do hen et ou in To o her first acting pro ect in se en ears and her first ith perennial screen partner hristopher de Leon in 19 years.

aninibago talaga a o ometimes, as mself, a a a-arte pa a a a o n some a s, I feel like I’m starting all over again. Of course, the enthusiasm is there, but need to sha e o the rust,” Vilma said at a recent press conference for the upcoming movie.

t s not eas to face the cameras again because I went on a show biz hibernation. Public service became my focus for 24 years. Even doing press cons like this one will probably take some getting used to o ed ilma, ho sat as ipa it a or from to atangas go ernor - , and representati e -

And who better help her get back into the groo e than o et, her costar in iconic films li e elas on, Tag-ulan sa Tag-ara , ro en arriage and other titles True enough, she requested Boyet to stand as an associate director. no need that e tra push to be m actress self again. I know that he can motivate me. I’m used to or ing ith o et m comfortable

with him. I believe he will be able to help me,” said ilma ith o et, alread no hat to do once I hear him start his lines. And he knows how to react to my reaction.”

impl put, it s pure chemistr , added o et, hose last mo ie ith ilma as ano o o e in he s right agsasalita pa lang a o, alam ni a na ang sasabihin o e ha e that pure chemistry when we do scenes. And we hope that it s still there, the actor said e no each other’s nuances. She’s my best friend when it comes to work. Vi wanting me to become an associate director means that she trusts me in stu like this.”

s the associate director, hristopher ill also be in charge of the artistic side of the movie and oversee all his scenes with Vilma. e re going to tal about e er scene and figure out ho e can go about them e came from the tutelage of Ishmael Bernal, Lino roc a, arilou ia - ba a, ddie arcia and aurice uillen o thin e no ho to do a scene together. And we will present our ideas to our directors,” he said.

urrentl being shot in apan, hen et ou in To o is directed b ado eru and ommel enesa ith a script b u ette octolero. The story follows two aging overseas ilipino or ers ho find lo e and happiness in each other, despite the weight of their respective pasts.

on ilma is a bubbl , but feist , oman ho s generous ith her time and a ection oe o et is a di orced man embittered b his eife s infidelit

hen recei ed the script, thought the character of Azon would be perfect for Vi an actress I have been wanting to work with again.

The role is going to be good for her, I thought,” o et related nd hen as told that i accepted the pro ect, as li e, o o here e are e ha e a beautiful stor Than od

The film as described as a light and romantic drama that is appropriate for our age side from or ing ith o et, another factor that made me say yes was the shooting location. as more than illing to and or in apan because we’re also after the visuals… the cherry blossoms in spring,” Vilma said.

At 69 and 66, respectively, Vilma and Boyet quipped that the days of teenybopper romance are long behind them hat the ha e to o er is a more mature kind of love.

indi bata-bataan The stor is uite simple, but has depth… it’s something that will hopefully make people fall in love. And that’s not easy because we’re not 21 anymore!” Vilma said, laughing.

Still Vilma is grateful that there are producers these days who believe that actors her age shouldn t ust be relegated to mother, grandmother or auntie roles. In other countries, you see older actresses li e ane onda and er l treep who continue to get opportunities to play good roles,” Vilma said.

nd ust because an actor is older doesn t necessarily mean that they lose their ability to con e romance or the occasional ilig o e has no boundaries ou can still fall in lo e hen you’re older. And it’s good because then you know better, you’re mature, and you know how to handle stu ut the lo e and o are still there, Boyet said.

e also ant to sho our generation that e can still fall in lo e that ou can still lo e and be lo ed alang age-age ou feel it, ou sho it and you give it,” Vilma said.

Beauty queens, Senator Revilla’s daughter are new lawyers

Celebrities led by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. and wife Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla are celebrating.

This as iinger and former Myx VJ Tippy Dos Santos and Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2018 Eva Patalinjug were among the nearly 4,000 examinees who passed the 2022 Bar examinations.

Inah Revilla, daughter of Senator Bong and Congresswoman Lani, also passed the bar.

Also bar passers were reigning Reina Internacional del Chocolate Jerelleen Rodriguez, and 2020 Miss Philippines Air Patrixia Santos.

Tippy was surrounded by family members during the announcement of results and her live reaction to seeing her name was caught on camera, Philippine Star reported.

Her husband Miguel Porcuna further congratulated Tippy on surpassing this hurdle to becoming a lawyer.

“Called it. Congratulations, my love! No doubt since day one! Nowhere but up, and I am excited for what’s in store for you!” Miguel wrote in an Instagram post. a, ho had finished outside the Top 20 of Miss Grand International 2018, documented her achievement on her own Instagram account.

“Finally, ATTY. EVA PSYCHEE S. PATALINJUG, R.N.,” Eva wrote in her caption, this as she is also a registered nurse, along with a scales emoji.

Patalinjug had already passed a regulatory examination before when she earned her license as a registered nurse. She was crowned Mutya ng Pilipinas sia acific nternational in , and received the Bb. Pilipinas Grand International title in 2018.

Also a 2022 Bar exam passer is Inah Revilla, the daughter of actor-senator Ramon Bong Revilla and Cavite 2nd district Representative Lani Mercado-Revilla.

Both of Inah’s parents took to social media to congratulate their daughter on passing and to acknowledge there is now a lawyer in the family.

“Lahat ng hirap, sakripisyo, at pagsisipag ay laging nagbubunga ng maganda,” Lani wrote on social media.

Senator Revilla, meanwhile, noted that apart from balancing it with her duties as a mother, Inah had pursued becoming a lawyer partly because of him and for him.

“Hindi ko mapigilan maluha sa tuwa, at hindi ko mailagay sa salita ang pagiging proud ko bilang isang ama... Now that you have reached your dream of becoming a lawyer, always remember why God has blessed you with this to help and bless others,” said the actor senator.

Rodriguez said in an Inquirer report: am o erfilled ith o and relief on the results! The six-month wait was worth it. It’s the best title I could ever win.”

In March last year, while still enrolled at the University of the Philippines

College of Law, Rodriguez captured the Reina Internacional del Chocolate crown at the 2022 Reina Internacional del Cacao pageant held in anama he is the first Filipino woman to receive the title, according to the report.

he said the la firm she is currentl working for allows her to explore all legal fields m prett sure hat ind of lawyer I will be, though, one who has integrity and practices the law in the grand manner.”

3,992 people passed the 2022 Bar

exams the second one conducted under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic out of the 9,183 examinees ho finished the four-da test for aspiring lawyers, yielding a passing rate of hich is significantl lo er than 2020/21’s 72.28%.

Tippy, Eva, Inah, and all other 2022 Bar Exam passers will become practicing lawyers after the oath-taking and signing of the Roll of Attorneys at the Philippine International Convention Center on May 2.

The new 1MX returns to London this July promising a specially curated music festival for the international audience

nounced that highly popular Filipino artists Moira, en en and anine erdin are confirmed to perform at in ondon on ul t is set to announce some of the hottest international acts soon as the newly branded festival promises a word class festival for audiences across ages and ethnic backgrounds.

usic festi al fans in are in for a repeat treat as 1MX, an international live music event brand of ABS-CBN Global, returns to historic Apps Court Farm at Walton-OnThames in Surrey on July 15.

Since it launched in Dubai in 2017, then Abu Dhabi in 2018, Singapore in 2019, Dubai and anila in and ondon in , has made a name as a day-long music festival that draws concertgoers of all ages and ethnicities. With star-studded line-ups of iconic Filipino and international artists spanning multiple genres, 1MX has carved an increasingly prominent space in the live music scene.

For this year, ABS-CBN Global already an-

Attendees of the largest music festivals are spoilt for choice as these al a s o er a bu et of not only artists from various genres on stage, but of attractions o stage The same goes for or in ondon, e are curating a nonstop, 10-hour program that showcases not just Philippines’ top performers, but from around the world. We hope to serve the wider international audience who loves to indulge in a full music festival experience - good music and specialized cuisines in a colorful festival setting ,” said ABS-CBN Global Head of Events and Managing Director for Europe, Middle East North Africa Joseph Arnie Garcia.

Wide options of specially curated food and beverage will be available to 1MX attendees throughout the whole day. Moreover, there will be shops with special items like commemorative in ondon shirts for sale, sponsor s booths, family games and activities, rides, and a media hub.

tic ets, the tier that is al a s the first to sell out, include perks like exclusive access to the VIP fan pit across the stage, exclusive access to the VIP lounge with food and beverage and bar stations, and, not to forget, the very convenient exclusive access to VIP loos. Early bird ticket prices of GBP 99 for VIP and GBP 59 for General Admission are available for a limited time only. Installment options are also available for both ticket categories.

Bb. Pilipinas 2023 coronation night set on May 28

The 59th Binibining Pilipinas beauty pageant will take place on May at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, two weeks after Miss Universe Philippines will crown their queens at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on May 13.

Forty ladies will compete to get the chance to represent the country in the Miss International and Miss Globe pageants under Ms Stella Marquez Araneta and husband Jorge Araneta.

There is no official announcement et if Binibining Pilipinas will add another title to its roster of crowns after losing the local franchises for Miss Intercontinental and Miss Grand International.

Reigning Bb. Pilipinas International Nicole Borromeo is set to compete in Tokyo, Japan on Oct. 26, which means her successor will have to wait until to represent the country in the Miss International pageant.

The Binibining Pilipinas Charities nc said the official candidates of Binibining Pilipinas are:

1. Elaiza Dee Alzona ofia ope al e nna alencia a rini aulina aba o

5. Mirjan Hipolito

6. Jeanne Isabelle Bilasano ngelica ope

8. Rheema Adakkoden

9. Kiaragiel Gregorio

10. Zeah Nestle Pala

ra unsalan a ianna argarita lanes

13. Trisha Martinez

14. Katrina Mae Sese

15. Alasha Reign Parani

16. Samantha Dana Bug-os

17. Vientree Zoe Santiago

18. Anje Mae Manipol

19. Andrea Marie Sulangi

20. April Angelu Barro

21. Charismae Almarez

22. Julia Mae Mendoza

23. Rasha Cortez Al Enzi

24. Juvel Cyrene Bea

25. Mary Joy Dacoron Trac ois edua

27. Sharmaine Magdasoc ab ernh long ea acapagal

30. Xena Ramos

31. Paola Allison Araño

32. Mary Chiles Balan

33. Pia Isabel Duloguin

34. Julianne Rose Reyes

35. Candy Vollinger

36. Katrina Anne Jhonson

37. Allhia Charmaine Estores

38. Jessilen Salvador orraine ara

40. Yesley Cabanos

These ladies will compete for the coveted Binibining Pilipinas titles in the hopes of representing the country in international pageants abroad.

Gab Valenciano back in Los Angeles for good

Fellow celebrities Jak Roberto, Darren Espanto, Melai Cantiveros, Krista Ranillo, and Erik Santos, as well as entrepreneur Angie Mead King wished Gab Valenciano the best of luck in his new journey.

Manila media like Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, and even Panay News also reported on the development on the dancer, composer and performer like his father.

He then thanked the people he met and “learned to love along the way.”

“You all know who you are, and I just want to say thank you, and I love you deeply. I wouldn’t be here if not for all of you,” he said.

Gab also thanked his family for their continued prayers.

“Thank you to all my loved ones for all your prayers. Just like in 2013 when I studied abroad, this is a huge leap of faith forward yet again, but I am grateful I’m able to constantly jumpstart my life and reinvent myself with God, my friends, and my family by my side,” he said.

“To God be all glory and praise in all I do. I dedicate this ne t phase to those ho ne er ga e up on me. I love you all! Here we go!” he wrote.

Gab Valenciano is back in the United States, this time for good.

On Instagram, Gab, 34, who is Jose Angelo abriel alenciano in real life, shared his ight journey from Manila to Los Angeles, California on April 12, with his parents Angeli and Gary Valenciano, Hermes Joy Tunac reported for GMA Integrated News.

Gab did not disclose if his parents Gary and Angeli Pangilinan moved back for good to the U.S. as well.

But the actor, musician, dancer-host and model shared that his mother is currently on a wheelchair due to an accident which needed stitches on her foot.

“She got into an accident a few days ago and needed stitches on her foot, hence the wheelchair and cane. But she is a trooper and traveled anyway,” he added as Inquirer reported.

ABS-CBN News’

‘KBYN’ bags bronze medal from New York Festivals TV & Film Awards

ABS-CBN News’ “KBYN: Kaagapay ng Bayan” has on a bron e medal under the est ublic airs rogram category of the New York Festivals TV Film Awards.

The announcement was made during the festival’s Storytellers Gala held virtually on Wednesday.

The winning episode featured three inspiring stories that e emplified the indomitable ilipino spirit These included the stories of three brothers with progressive and ine plicable disease li ing in the mountains of Tagkawayan, Quezon province. The disease rendered them immobile and the feature hosted by veteran broadcaster Noli “Kabayan” de Castro showed them tirelessly trying to eke out a living and go on with their lives.

The two other stories were of pickers of rotten vegetables in Divisoria, Manila’s busy commercial district known for low-priced goods, and the life of Filipinos li ing in houses submerged in ood aters is - e s first current a airs program since the pandemic and after the Kapamilya network lost its franchise in 2020.

The show premiered on April 10, and can be seen every Sunday at 5 p.m. on A2Z and on other ABSCBN News platforms.

“A new season, a new chapter, a new step,” Gab wrote. an ears in the ma ing, and finall , here we are. I am back in LA for good and ready for what’s to come,” he added, the reports added. heart is full and o er o ing ith e citement and gratitude!”

ab also rote, The past si ears ha e been quite the journey. A lot of ups and downs and a hole lot of e periences that belie e ha e prepared me for this very moment.”

“I am thankful for the people I’ve met and learned to love along the way. You all know who you are and I just want to say thank you and I love you, deeply. I wouldn’t be here if not for all of you,” he added.

In June 2020, Gab opened up about having depression and reached out to those who were going through the same thing.

He has always been vocal about being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and clinical depression since 2019. In fact, he is one of the few celebrities who have not been afraid to go public with his mental health struggles.

Since then, the 34-year-old singer and dancer has continued to inspire and help educate more people dealing with mental health issues.

Gab’s recent appearances in the Philippines include the Eraserheads reunion concert in December 2022 and episodes of the variety show “Wowowin.” (Claire Morales True/cmtpr1962@ yahoo.com.ph)

PH residential real estate prices up in Q4

MANILA – Prices of residential real estate in the Philippines registered faster year-on-year growth in the last quarter of 2022 but slower quarter-on-quarter, except for the townhouses outside the National Capital Region (NCR).

Residential Real Estate Price Indices (RREPI) data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Friday showed a 7.7 percent year-on-year expansion in real estate prices nationwide while the change from the end-September 2022 level is at 2.2 percent.

In particular, housing prices in NCR inched up by 16.1 percent compared to the last quarter of 2021 and this covers all types of housing units.

On the other hand, the rise in Areas Outside the NCR (AONCR) is slower at 4.5 percent, but this excludes townhouses.

Expansion relative to the end-September 2022 level is faster for AONCR at 4.8 percent compared to the 2.4 percent in the NCR.

Nationwide, prices of duplex housing units led the increase in the RREPI at 42.9 percent, and was followed by the condominium units, 12.9 percent; and single-detached/attached houses, 10 percent.

Prices of townhouses, meanwhile, declined for the second consecutive quarter, with the fourth quarter 2022 figure at percent

Compared to the third quarter 2022 levels, RREPI grew by 2.2 percent due to higher prices of duplex housing units, townhouses, and single detached/attached houses.

Prices of condominium units, however, went down quarter-on-quarter, the latest report said.

Meanwhile, the report said the number of residential real estate loans (RRELs) for all housing types of new housing units slipped by 10.3 percent year-on-year in the last quarter of 2022, with those from NCR down by 22 percent and those in AONCR by 3.4 percent.

Also, availment of housing loans contracted by 4.5 percent quarter-on-quarter from October to December 2022 due to the 23.5 percent drop in RRELs in NCR amidst the 8.5 percent rise in RRELs in AONCR.

In terms of usage of the RRELs in the last quarter of 2022, 81.1 percent were used to purchase new housing units.

Bulk of these housing units is accounted for by singledetached/attached units, 47.2 percent; trailed by condominium units, 33 percent; and townhouses, 18.9 percent.

Need Cash to survive?

Easy or quick cash loan solution is a basic form of loan, but there are still things you should know before you start taking on this type of loan when you need it in the future.

Most of us have experienced financial hardship at one point in our lives. It could be medical emergencies, family expenses, and bills to pay. And using cash to overcome the above cases has become a problem specially if you don’t have enough credit limit to use to available credit card. Lucky are those who have family and friends they can run to in case they need to borrow more money. However, it doesn’t always happen and the people e usuall go to can t o er cash either

You may be thinking of getting an easy payment solution, which fortunately is always available. But before you decide to take out a quick cash loan, make sure you understand what it means and what its limitations are and if its worth the cost of the money you are borrowing.

If you are on a tight budget and need cash urgently, many options can help ou uic l sol e our financial problems elo , we’ve covered the pros and cons of an instant cash solution - factors that you need to consider before making your decision.

Advantages of quick cash loan solution

Easy application. an lenders o er instant cash ad ance solutions a ailable 24 hours a day, seven days a week and even have online apps for Android or iOS. Signing up is easy and approval is instant, making this type of loan attractive to those in dire need of cash.

Almost No conditions.

One of the reasons why instant cash solutions are such an easy option for an individual in need of instant cash is because it requires fewer requirements.

Unlike traditional loans, they require a lot of requirements to verify your ability to repay the loan. you only usually need the following:

Between 18 and 53 years old (female), or 58 years old (male)

Just ID card

Signed a labor contract with the enterprise worked for months

Sometimes they will need a collateral of some sort

No credit check required.

Another good thing with the quick cash loan solution is that if you have a bad credit history or have a low credit score, you can still get a loan. For instant cash solutions, no credit check is required. In addition, there are already many online lenders that o er uic solutions for bad credit

But be wary of this, you can get cash fast, but with high interest rates and big penalties if you miss any agreed repayment period. That is the most significant dra bac of fast cash ad ance, and is sometimes the reason why many individuals accept criminal offenses in order to pay their debts.

Disadvantages of quick cash loan solution

If there are advantages, there are also disadvantages to payday loans and here are some of them:

Very High interest rate.

If you’ve tried taking out a personal loan or using your credit card, you probably know that the interest rates between the two compared to a quick cash loan solution are huge. Technically, payday loans are expensive, which is why some borrowers get stuck in a debt cycle because they can’t repay the total amount on schedule.

Time constraints.

Besides the high interest rates of payday loans, time constraints also become an issue ome financial institutions o er repa ment periods of up to 12 months, but often, fast payment solutions are paid o immediatel , hich ma es it difficult for some borro ers There are monthly expenses and budgeting that need to take place, and repa ing the loan in full can be er difficult

Final conclusion

Easy cash loan solution is a form of quick loan; You will have the money you want without any hassle. However, it has some drawbacks that require you to be cautious. You can always take out a payday loan, but make sure you only use it for essentials and not for luxuries. In addition, you have used all possible resources to borrow money. That way, you know that payday loans are the only option left for you.

Thanks for your inquiries, please call Ken Go of 1st Innovative inance roup for our financing needs all en -or write to kennethgo@verizon.net

CABRE 01021223 NMLS 238636

DILG, PBA partner against illegal drugs

QUEZON CITY – Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. said they are tapping the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) in the ongoing campaign against illegal drugs.

This was made possible under the DILG’s Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) program.

“The partnership of DILG and PBA will not only strengthen the campaign against illegal drugs, but will also send out a message to the PBA teams, players and fans, that the league is against and will not tolerate the ad erse e ects of illegal drugs,” Abalos said during Game of the Ginebra San Miguel-TNT Tropang Giga Governors’ Cup championship at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. e are a are that this is the first time, since its inception, that the PBA joined hands ith the go ernment in the fight against illegal drugs kaya una na po ang aming pasasalamat (that is what we are thankful for,” he added.

Abalos said the government banks on the massi e in uence of bas etball to Filipinos, especially the youth, in communicating BIDA’s objective.’’

Abalos said the BIDA program is not solely focused on supply reduction but also centered on demand reduction, adding that the pushers and suppliers are usually targeting the youth.

With the youth being fans of basketball players, Abalos said the youth can emulate

their idols who will serve as role models for them.

Likewise, the DILG chief emphasized the indispensable role of sports as a deterrent against the use of illegal drugs.

“With this partnership, we expect to promote and advocate for sports as an effective solution to prevent the youth from subscribing to illegal drugs,” he added.

The DILG chief bared that through this collaboration, made official through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), the PBA is expected to upscale

its drug testing initiatives in accordance with Republic Act (RA) No. 9165, or the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of among its pla ers and sta

Under the MOA, the PBA players will also sport the BIDA program logo on their jerseys during PBA-sanctioned games and disseminate campaign collaterals and adocac materials in an e ort to increase awareness towards its widespread national platform regarding the dangers of illegal

drugs.

“’Whole-of-nation’ has always been our battle cr in the go ernment s fight against illegal drugs and in the implementation of BIDA. Nagpapasalamat kami sa PBA (we thank the PBA) for answering the call and for oining us in this fight, he said.

PBA chairperson Ricky Vargas and commissioner Willie Marcial presided over the formalization of the partnership through the signing of the MOA which they hoped would spark and reinvigorate the message of the BIDA program by leveraging the league’s audience and nationwide reach.

Abalos added that the partnership between the DILG and the PBA will serve as a springboard for the BIDA Workplace, a planned congregation of private companies that aims to strengthen the campaign’s

directive by formulating independent drug policies.

e also praised the independent e orts of the PBA in maintaining a drug-free working environment.

ould li e to commend the e orts of the PBA in their intervention and preventive initiatives. Rest assured that with this collaboration, we will be able to take our advocacy to new heights.”

Fil-Am rapper Saweetie, NBA stars guests at FIBA World Cup draw in Manila

Filipino American rapper Saweetie will return to the Philippines to perform for the FIBA World Cup 2023 draw event on April 29 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

According to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, the Grammy nominee will join Popstar Royalty Sarah Geronimo and Billy Crawford for special performances in the event.

Saweetie, whose real name is Diamonté Quiava Valentin Harper, was born to a Filipino Chinese mother and African American father.

Also gracing the event are former NBA stars and FIBA ambassadors Pau Gasol, Luis Scola, and Carmelo Anthony.

Gasol won back-to-back NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2010.

Scola, on the other hand, played for various NBA teams since 2007 and last played in the league with the Brooklyn Nets in 2016.

Earlier, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. extended his support to the hosting of FIBA Basketball World Cup (FBWC) 2023 and the Philippine Sports Commission-led Task Force by calling a meeting at the Malacañang Conference Room in Manila.

“This administration is committed to providing the Inter-Agency Task Force with all the necessary support and assistance it needs in order to fully achieve its objectives and to secure the safe, orderly, and successful conduct of the tournament,” said Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Hubert Guevara who represented the President in the meeting.

Guevara encouraged all those involved to work together for a successful hosting of the FIBA World Cup.

“Let us all take this endeavor both as an opportunity and as a challenge—an opportunity to showcase what the Philippines has to o er and a challenge to ma e the FIBA Basketball World Cup a great experience for athletes and fans alike,” he said.

PSC and Inter-Agency Task Force Chairman Richard Bachmann arranged the FIBA Basketball World Cup gathering attended b the ffice of the ecuti e Secretary, leaders and representatives of

various government agencies, FBWC Committee and PSC Commissioners Olivia “Bong” Coo, Matthew “Fritz” Gaston, Walter Francis Torres and Edward Hayco.

“Today, we move one step closer to fulfilling our goal of bringing the best World Cup hosting in the history of FIBA Basketball,” Bachmann said in a news release on Wednesday.

“I also thank our national government for Administrative Order No. 5 issued by Malacañang last March 27, directing all government agencies and instrumentalities to extend their support for this hosting,” he added.

Bachmann also expressed optimism about the hosting of the prestigious basketball event while assuring everyone that, “all timelines, concerns and deliverables expected from each of us here will be met, as we, at the PSC, continue to work hand-in-hand with the SBP and other vital agencies.”

“Our Team Pilipinas needs the team within us,” he added.

On Aug. 25-30 this year, the group phase of the competition will be hosted simultaneously by the Philippines, Japan, and ndonesia The final phase is slated Sept. 5-10.

2023 PHILIPPINE MEDICAL, DENTAL AND VISION SCREENING MISSION

SF DYNAMIC LIONS CLUB IN COLLOBORATION WITH SF HOST LIONS CLUB AND SF HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS LIONS CLUB AND THE MANILA ACHIEVERS LIONS CLUB DENTAL TEAM

The hilippine edical ission as accomplished last January to February in collaboration ith the ost ions lub and ealthcare ro iders ions lub

TikTok – Worried About What’s Behind All Those Dancing Cats?

April 14 EMS News Briefing

pal o ernment ta and the ommunit fficials, and the hilippine rm angers etachment There ere about patients ser ed mostl in ental and ision creening.

, alif debate rages over the possible ban of TikTok, a hugel popular app o ned b the ei ing, hinabased compan te ance er million users in the regularl access the app for more than minutes a day, watching entertaining videos featuring a variety of genres.

TikTok is increasingly becoming a source of ne s for people under e esearch Center study released last fall concluded that percent of TikTok user between the ages of - regularl get their ne s from Ti To Conversely, the number of people using Facebook and Twitter to get their news has been steadily declining.

attac s on the sian merican communit

There are a number of threats facing the both domesticall and globall , but the lawmakers who continue to perpetuate the increasingly harmful and false narrative that everything Chinese is threatening and connected to actions by the Chinese government are making the situation worse on a number of di erent le els, but it is our communit that often pays the price for their reckless rhetoric.

aria,

ost ion ina lfonso

The edical, ental and ision creening as a success ith ions lub embers and olunteers from the ta na chool and the ommunit bout patients ere ser ed mostl ental and ision creening lso boo s and laptop computers and ere donated to the ta na lementar chools

ost ion olanda a ab ab, ion oger a ab ab and ion r uisa a ab ab

The edical ission as a success ith the support of the an arlos it unicipal o ernment and the epartment of ealth

mid the merriment of dancing cats and lip-syncing grandmas lies concerns about privacy, and China’s ability to collect user data via TikTok. There are also concerns that the app promotes the ideology of the Communist art of hina

n pril thnic edia er ices ne s briefing featured en ar arner, - irginia, chair of the enate ntelligence ommittee arner discussed his T T bill, which could potentially ban TikTok in the

arner as oined b ohn ang, resident and ecuti e irector, sian mericans d ancing ustice and ate uane, merica s irector of ree pression rograms oth organi ations oppose a blanket ban on TikTok.

en ar arner

In framing TikTok as a foreign “untenable threat to mericans online pri ac , both before, during, and after the Tik Tok hearing ith the compan s ingaporean , hou Zi Chew, lawmakers missed a chance to talk about legitimate concerns around privacy and misuse of user data on the part of social media apps in general. The conversation should begin and end with how to keep consumers safe and protect their privacy on any app, not just Tik Tok.

ate uane

ban on Ti To also ould gi e rise to significant irst mendment concerns The upreme ourt has recogni ed that the digital realm is currently “one of the most important places to e change ie s eople in the have a constitutional right to speak via the internet, and to do so on the platform of their choosing.

ost ion res l ie rtega and l Ortega

The edical, ental and isual creen as a success ith the ions lub embers and olunteers from the an iguel unici-

Social Security Update

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I strongly believe in the positive power of technolog also first to ac no ledge that there’s a lot of creative things on TikTok and on top of the creative things, there are a whole now group of people who have made that ma e their income o of that and thin that is a good thing.

nd hile e re going to tal about TiTok, I know some of my critics have said, well, you know, shouldn’t you be concerned about not just TikTok, but Facebook and YouTube ut there is a di erence ith Ti To controlled b te ance te ance is a Chinese company, and China law as of 2017, requires any Chinese company at the request of the ommunist art to turn o er e erthing.

nfortunatel , in hina right no , hinese tech companies, they’re not obligated to their customers or their shareholders t the end of the day, they have to be obligated to the

Chinese engineers are getting access to this merican data The idea that an ad ersarial entit , the ommunist art of hina, could use this to blackmail someone because they know your likes is a very real, tangible threat. We shouldn’t have to wait till it plays out to ta e it o ha e seen the acti ities of the ommunist art in hina The are ferocious.

ohn ang

We are not naïve to the national security threats posed b the hinese o ernment, but a number of lawmakers are using the increasingl tense - hina relationship to sto e enophobia and anti- hinese sentiment here in the t is this t pe of intentional rhetoric that increases violent physical and verbal

or citi ens, and particularl the tens of millions of oung mericans ho use Ti To , to witness a popular social media platform summarily shut down by the government will raise serious questions in the minds of a rising generation about the sanctity of free speech in this countr lso, the enforcement of such a ban could force major changes in the operation of the internet in the nited tates, including potential requirements on service platforms to police and censor the traffic of users, or e en a national fire all to pre ent users from downloading TikTok from sources across our borders.

In addition to the implications of a ban on domestic free e pression, a legislati e ban on Ti To in the ould set an alarming global precedent, lending legitimacy to authoritarian regimes in shutting do n and ecluding services they disfavor and contradicting man of the positions the has ta en in the international conte t

hen igeria banned T itter for se en months in une , the condemned the ban, reiterating its support for “the fundamental human right of free e pression and access to information as a pillar of democracy in igeria ast ear, the similarl denounced “Russia’s shuttering of independent media and technolog platforms, and hen mass protests erupted in Iran after the killing of ahsa mini, the go ernment strongly condemned the actions of the Iranian regime and called on the Iranian authorities to refrain from the bloc ing or filtering of ser ices

f the ere to no appro e holesale banning as a means of redressing its security concerns about digital platforms, other governments will follow suit, insisting that their own security concerns are equally pressing.

For more information, please contact:

Sandy Close - sclose@ethnicmediaservices.org

CONSUL GENERAL FERRER CALLS ON SAN JOSE CITY MAYOR MATT MAHAN

SAN JOSE CITY, USA – Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Frank Ferrer paid a courtesy call on San Jose City Mayor Matt Mahan on 12 April 2023.

The two sides held discussions on promoting mutual trade and investment, enhancing people-to-people ties, and engaging with the Filipino American community in the City of San Jose.

Consul General Ferrer shared the Philippines’ investment priorities to Mayor Mahan and expressed hope that companies in San Jose, especially technology-related ones, can consider the Philippines as a site for future expansion, especially in growing its startup ecosystem.

The Consul General also thanked the City of San Jose and Filipino American community groups in the cit for the annual ag raising ceremon to celebrate the Filipino American History Month in October in recognition of the contributions of Filipino Americans in the country’s history. He also noted with appreciation the elano anongs ar , the first par in an ose which memorializes the contributions of the Filipino American community in the farmworker labor movement of the 1960s.

San Jose is northern California’s largest city. It is known as a global hub for the high tech industry of Silicon Valley. There are over 65,000 Filipino Americans residing in San Jose.

Keeping Local Restaurants Cooking, The PG&E Corporation Foundation

Renews Contribution to Restaurants Care Resilience Fund for 2023

Independent Restaurant Owners in PG&E’s Service Area Can Apply for $5,000 Grants

Oakland, Calif. For the third consecutive year, The PG&E Corporation Foundation (The PG&E Foundation) is providing grants to independent restaurant o ners and their sta s through the alifornia Restaurant Foundation’s (CRF) Restaurants Care Resilience Fund. The PG&E Foundation is contributing $900,000 this year to help build more resilient hometown businesses for the long term.

The PG&E Foundation’s donation will help fund total grants across California of $2.1 million to more than 360 independent restaurants. CRF increased the amount of individual grants to $5,000 this year, which can be used for technology adoption, equipment upgrades, employee onboarding and retention, and unforeseen hardships, re ecting a commitment to strengthen restaurants to continue contributing to local economies and communities.

Last year, the PG&E Foundation funded $3,000 grants to 144 hometown restaurants in 28 counties in acific as and lectric ompan s ser ice area.

You can watch a video about one of the recipients, located in PG&E’s hometown headquarters of Oakland, here.

“We are so grateful for the continued support of the PG&E Foundation of our Restaurants Care Resilience Fund, as it allows us to join forces to help independent restaurant owners in Northern and Central California build resilience and strengthen their business for the long term, said l cia arshfield, Executive Director of the California Restaurant Foundation The esilience und grants directl benefit the local community by providing restaurant owners ith financial assistance Than s to the oundation’s generosity, this will be our biggest and most impactful Resilience Fund yet.”

“Local restaurants are a hub for gathering, connecting and celebrating. They strengthen the fabric

of our communities, and we’re proud to help business o ners and their sta s thri e e re grateful to partner with the California Restaurant Foundation to help build more resilient independent businesses in our hometowns,” said Carla Peterman, Executive Vice resident, orporate airs, orporation, and Chair of the Board, The PG&E Corporation Foundation.

Apply Now through May Restaurant Fund applications are open now through May 7, 2023. Restaurants can apply at www. restaurantscare.org/resilience. Grants are open to all California-based restaurant owners in PG&E’s service area that ha e fe er than fi e locations and less than $3 million in revenue. Priority will be given to restaurants that have not received a grant; however, previous recipients also are encouraged to apply.

CRF began the Resilience Fund in 2021 to support restaurants recovering from economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which contributed to many restaurants closing their doors temporarily or permanently.

Since its inception, the CRF has awarded 788 grants to independent restaurant owners across the state. Of the recipients, 68.5% were women-owned and 83% were minority-owned.

The PG&E Foundation’s funding for this charitable donation comes from PG&E shareholders, not PG&E customers.

Assisting Small and Medium Businesses

PG&E remains committed to providing ways for its small and medium business customers to save energy and money amid recent economic hardships including the pandemic and recent in ation ere are some ways PG&E is helping its customers: Contacting business customers who would save money by choosing a better rate plan for their opera-

tions, in line with changing peak hours for time-ofuse rate plans saving customers over $5 million in energy costs already this year.

Providing COVID-19 relief and support information to all small business customers, including PG&E resources and external support for businesses like California state programs.

aunched the implified a ings rogram to proide energ efficienc assessments and upgrades at no cost to ualified small business customers

Increasing outreach to small business customers highlighting payment support and energy-savings programs through email campaigns, PG&E’s Energy Advisors, and direct mail.

Conducting outreach to eligible customers to enroll in a discounted rate for businesses struggling to stay open.

ering rebate and financing solutions to help small business customers realize sustained cost savings.

For more information on PG&E Small and Medium Business customer support, visit pge.com/smbsupport.

About PG&E

acific as and lectric ompan , a subsidiar of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/ and http://www.pge.com/about/newsroom/.

About The PG&E Corporation Foundation

The PG&E Corporation Foundation is an independent c nonprofit organi ation, separate from PG&E and sponsored by PG&E Corporation.

You can read about PG&E’s data privacy practices here or at PGE.com/privacy.

LA Supervisor Barger and community celebrate World War II veteran’s 100th birthday in Sierra Madre

-- os ngeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger joined a festive 100th birthday celebration at the home of Sierra Madre resident and World ar eteran enneth nhalt r nhalt as all smiles as arious members of the community stopped by to share their well-wishes and pay tribute to his extraordinary military career achievements during orld ar

“Being able to honor Kenneth Anhalt on his 100th birthday and personally thank him for his military service is something ill ne er forget, said upervisor Kathryn Barger in a statement sent to hilippine e s Toda

“His bravery and resilience is inspiring, as is his ongoing local community service that persisted well after his militar ser ice ended am er happ that our community has gathered around Kenneth on his special day to show him how appreciated he is, she added

Congresswoman Judy Chu, along with Jim Zenner, irector of os ngeles ount s epartment of ilitar and eterans airs, and members of the os ngeles ount heri s epartment from the merican egion T ost and Temple tation ere also on hand to share their congratulations ur orld ar eterans fought aliantl for our country against an enemy that would have undoubtedly

stripped us of our merican identit and a of life, stated im enner, ount s epartment of ilitar and eterans airs irector ecause of mericans li e r nhalt ho ha e ans ered the call to ser e, e are able to li e free and en o our a of life

r nhalt ser ed in the ir orces, also referred to collo uiall as the rm ir orp, from through uring those t o ears, he e bombing missions as a tail-gunner on a B-25 Liberator

LA County unveils proposed $43-B budget

LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles County’s 2023-24 Recommended Budget— focused on accelerating the emergency response to homelessness now underway and sustaining innovative programs and services launched during the pandemic— has been unveiled and set to be presented to the Board of Supervisors by Chief Executi e fficer esia a enport

The billion Recommended Budget represents the first step in the ount s multi-phase annual budget process f approved by the Board, it will add 514 new positions—many of them in mental health and health services—for a total of 114,106 budgeted positions in the County or force

Highlights of the budget include:

million to mobilize the emergency response to the humanitarian crisis of homelessness with extensive investments in mental health outreach, supportive services, and a wide range of housing programs to increase the suppl of a ordable housing and mo e people o the streets and into safe living conditions in collaboration ith our cit go ernments million for are irst and ommunit n estment , formerl known as Measure J) projects and programs to address racial disparities in the ustice s stem This fulfills the ount s commitment to allocate a full 10% of its locally generated unrestricted revenues by June to direct community invest-

ments and alternati es to incarceration

Nearly $50 million to improve conditions in the jails, and nearly million to support continued heri s epartment reforms, including reestablishing the Office of onstitutional olicing

“This budget is all about building momentum on key Board priorities while also sustaining our unprecedented pace of innovation during the pandemic, which included the launch of four new departments as well as major initiatives to fight racism and po ert , aenport said in a statement sent to hilippine e s Toda

The spending plan re ects a mi ed economic outlook, with modest increases in property and sales tax revenues but also uncertainty about the impacts of the tate budget deficit, a dramatic slodown in local real estate transactions that a ect propert ta es, and an unsettled economic en ironment o erall These and other ount -specific pressures ill likely mean that only the most critical new programs or services will be considered for funding later this ear

The ecommended udget ic s o the County’s months-long budget cycle, which moves next to public hearings in May, followed by budget deliberations in June, and concludes with the approval of the inal dopted udget in ctober laire orales True cmtpr ahoo com ph

against a i-occupied urope and erman

r nhalt as a arded the ir edal ith t o clusters act of heroism or meritorious achievement) while participating in aerial ight e also recei ed a battle star that is earned by members of organizations taking part in certain battles or other wartime operations

He is a native of the Bronx and Queens and has been married for years to his wife hirle bbne iller e attended asadena City College, became a quality engineer, and or ed at until his retirement e also ser ed on the ierra adre olice ommission and is a member of the Kiwanis Club and the eterans of oreign ars ost in ierra adre

r nhalt s famil shared the follo ing message, expressing their reaction to the celebration of their family’s patriarch:

“Our father, Kenneth Jay Anhalt, exemplifies hat being a onderful man reall is e has always been an example of a patriot, has served God, country, his community and of course his famil e has been an inspiration to all of us in so man a s The orld is a much better place because he has been part of our li es e has left his mar on us b not only his accomplishments, but also by the family he helped to raise e are so honored toda to be part of this auspicious celebration laire orales True

Assault victims in Sacramento not amenable to a settlement with assailants

we will push through with the case,” Arriola stressed. “Even those who will handle case for us claim that is a big strong case.”

Arriola disclosed that there was no settlement on the date supposedly scheduled for a mandatory settlement.

“What transpired, however, was a meeting with Deputy District Attorney is Emilee Divinagracia while the Assistance Chief Deputy District Attorney Rochelle Beardsley who, incidentally are both Filipinas that will handle our case,” happily shared Arriola. “They themselves claim that this this is a big case, that they will support us and try their best to get the most out of the case to achieve justice for us.”

The couple was joined in the mandatory settlement by a dozen supporters from the Filipino community but were the only ones allowed to meet with their legal team.

Arriola was quick to add that they were reminded that some delays like rescheduling in the proceedings are anticipated but are one in saying that they will not agree to a settlement.

Couple Nicanor Arriola (le�) and Julienne Ocheng co (right) comfort each other in the hospital

The Southern California Filipino couple who was assaulted in the California State Capitol last February while strolling and taking pictures of each other vowed not to settle with their assailants in order to teach them lessons and that what happened to the victims not be repeated.

This is the firm important decision of photographer Nicanor Nikki Arriola and wife Julienne Ochengco after meeting with their lawyers in what the couple referred to us a hate crime case.

“What we are sure at the moment is that

Another hearing is scheduled on May 1 after suspect Keylen Xavier Lee Farley, who is now detained at the Sacramento County Main Jail, was arraigned last March 15 before the Department 62 of the Sacramento Superior Court.

An investigation led to Farley’s arrest and the subse uent filing of three felon counts b the Sacramento District Attorney: two counts for robbery of the second degree and aggravated assault and a third count for elder abuse.

Arriola admitted that the case has caused he and ife ulienne a lot of sacrifices as it is not onl continuall su ering from ph sical in uries, psychological trauma and mental anguish as days pass that they cannot make a living as

caregivers as before.

Being advanced in age and not as strong as before, Arriola rued that they can no longer fulfill the duties of caregi ers particularl hen it comes to lifting their clients.

su ered si bro en ribs apart from bruises and abrasions ife s nees su ered e en more after the incident as she was already using a cane due to weakened knees for a month before the attack. She also had a lot of bruises even in her chest,” enumerated Arriola of their injuries.

Arriola added that it is harder to overcome the trauma the both are e periencing chengco would suddenly burst into tears whenever it all comes back to her, Arriola revealed.

“I am grateful that no one died in the attack and with our faith in God, we are recovering little by little. We doubt though, if we can go back to doing our main livelihood as caregivers. The advice of our doctor is to have our injuries and trauma to fully heal before even thinking of going back to working as it is very hard if I reinjure the broken ribs that are slowly recovering,” imparted Arriola who wished they were both young to recover more easily.

When asked on how they get by in their day to day needs, Arriola is thankful that personal friends have given them help and supporters from the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) and National Alliance on Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) have started fund raising campaign that are still going on.

“We really need all the help and support we can get as bills kept piling up through the days that we cannot got to work and even had to attend to the case hearings,” Arriola appealed.

“Those who have the means can support us by going to the NaFFAA campaign at Fight for Justice: Elderly Fil-Ams Attacked, organized by National Federation of Filipino American Associations Greater LA or that of NAFCON at tinyurl.com/helpthearriolas.”

Fight for Justice: Elderly Fil-Ams Attacked, organized by National Feder...

Dear Friends of the Filipino-American Community, We are National Federation of Filipino American Associat...

Farley allegedly attempted to steal a professional camera in broad daylight from Arriola who then had two large cameras on his shoulders. In the struggle, Arriola was knocked to the ground which was captured in a video on the incident.

In the same video, Farley was seen dragging Arriola on the pavement and kicking him on the chest multiple times as he was on the ground while Ochengco was also reportedly thrown to the oor as she tried to restrain the man from attacking her husband.

Farley then rushed to a getaway car driven b another unidentified suspect hile the ictims were taken to the University of California Davis Medical Center.

It was ironic that Arriola had been covering the rise of anti-Asian attacks in California as a photojournalist particularly the case of the Roque family who were verbally and physically assaulted at a McDonald’s restaurant drive-thru in North Hollywood last year.

Arriola believes that what happened to them was a case of Asian I really feel it’s Asian hate because the assailants picked on them as they are the only Asians from the many tourists present at that time of the incident.

Offline

bother to ask questions later.

(From Page 13)

There ere, to be sure, t o senior officers at the raid, including rig en arciso omingo, head of the rug nforcement roup arciso had supposedl ordered the uncuffing of a o, ostensibl to force him to ta e part in a follo -up operation at another site t least, this is hat omingo insisted as hat happened ightl or rongl , balos concluded that there as an attempt at a co er up, and the brass ere behind it e had no proof, onl a fe seconds orth of grain ideo

t the er , er least, balos should ha e immediatel called urin and as ed for an e planation

ith his retirement ceremon less than a ee a a he officiall retires on pr urin held a hastil organi ed presscon here he minced no ords, alleging that po erful indi iduals ere attempting to smear the s reputation

e e en said that he himself appeared to be the target of the un no n po er pla ers

pea ing in a combination of nglish and the ernacular, urin addressed the president and said, ir, be careful in selecting ung papalit sa a in m replacement

e continued b sa ing that he as genuinel orried for the president f those po erful people could step o er him despite his being chief, imagine hat the can do to a president ho is not no n for his strong leaderhip, urin seemed to sa o, he did not sa arcos r is a ea leader did urin also raised the possibilit that balos ma ha e also been the target of misinformation, the ind that casts doubt on the integrit of the n his last ee as chief, urin sa s as far as he is concerned, there are se eral s ndicates operating ithin the go ernment

The scariest thought of all is that the main branch of those s ndicates has not been identified, and remains entrenched in po er, be it political or economic or the longest time, there ha e been arnings that the hilippines could soon become a narco-political state The ice lords and gambling lords of the past ha e been replaced b drug lords, and the are ten times more icious and corrupt than the ueteng lords of the old eras

arcos can either listen to urin s arning, or ignore it t s his call ut if he ta es the rong path, there ill be hell to pa e ill ha e guaranteed that the hilippines is indeed on its a to being a narco-state, and ill be a full- edged one b the time he steps do n

As I See It

(From Page 12)

e elops uture eaders Targeting emplo ees ith the s ills for future leadership can be ital in establishing a business for gro th and e olution eadership talent can be ac uired through ne hires, or professionals can select current emplo ees as managerial candidates ccording to the ociet for uman esources anagement , ha ing professional de elopment ensures an organi ation is focused on future business goals b preparing promotable talent s ee t, regular training is a prere uisite for managers and super isors This ill hone their no ledge and eep them updated of de elopments in the or place mpo ers mplo ees eaders ho feel empo ered ithin the or place ill be more e ecti e at in uencing emplo ees and gaining their trust onse uentl , those emplo ees ill feel a greater sense of autonom , alue, and confidence ithin their or defines emplo ee autonom as the e tent to hich an emplo ee feels independent and can ma es their o n decisions about the or the do

es, this is the en ironment emplo ees need for them to sta longer in their companies f one is gi en the lee a to achie e his her goals, the feeling is great building up confidence and selfrespect oosts or place ngagement inding a s to bolster the consistent engagement of emplo ees can diminish boredom in the or place, hich left unchec ed can create feelings of dissatisfaction and negati e or ing habits egular training and de elopment initiati es can pre ent or place idleness and in turn ill help businesses establish regular re-e aluation of their emplo ees, s ills and processes urthermore, it ill in uence compan culture b instilling an emphasis on planning and can prompt compan anal sis and planning as it re uires emplo ers to re ie e isting talent and e aluate gro th and de elopment opportunities internall , rather than ia recruitment

This benefit ill eep the emplo ees bus and al a s on the alert to learn more and ad ust to real compan problems uilds or place elationships inall , pro iding opportunities for emplo ees to e plore ne topics, refine their s ills and epand their no ledge can help our team members bond ith each other uring these training and de elopment sessions, the ill tac le ne challenges together The can also lean on one another for arious learning opportunities b collaborating ith colleagues ho ha e specific areas of e pertise esearch has sho n that peer is actuall their preferred method of learning earning from each other s strengths not onl leads to a more ell-rounded or force, but those bonds can also impro e retention and engagement s ee t, es, training sessions de elop camaraderie and respect from among emplo ees ho are at the same time de eloping close relationships hile engaging in discussions and e change of ideas during training time

ith these fi e benefits in mind, along ith others not co ered here, it s eas to discern h emplo ee training and de elopment matters in the or place Training and de elopment are hat the companies eep them mo ing

usiness leaders, educators, managers ta e note of the greatest asset for progress and success training and de elopment

(ELPIDIO R. ESTIOKO was a veteran journalist in the Philippines and a multi-awarded journalist here in the US. For feedbacks, comments, email the author at estiokoelpidio@gmail.com.)

What’s Up Atty

(From Page 13)

citi en, married a - ear old ilipina tourist appro ed her application for ad ustment of status despite the - ear age gap

The filed a oint petition to remo e the conditions on her residence The husband died before the rescheduled date of the interie mmigration officers placed her in remo al proceedings because her conditional resident status as terminated based on her failure to demonstrate that she entered into her marriage in good faith e established the bona fides of the marriage mmigration authorities added a ne charge that she had lied on her isa application b riting the name of her deceased spouse in repl to the uestion pouse full name e argued that hether a tourist isa applicant is married or single is immaterial to the ualification for such a isa The case as dismissed e sa ed another ilipina from deportation

T T T onsular and immigration authorities ha e no right to as h a female isa applicant married a man ho is significantl older than she is This uestion is inappropriate because it is an inasion of pri ac t could be considered as age discrimination The uestion is irrele ant and immaterial because there is no la prescribing the age of the parties for obtaining immigration benefits fficers as it an a because nobod stops them ould ob ect if am the la er of the girl mmigrants should not be afraid of this intrusi e and biased officers uch officers ill ha e a serious problem if a complaint is filed against them for harassment, in asion of pri ac , discourtes to omen, age discrimination, etc mmigration officers apparentl ha e a stereot pe of hat constitutes a bona fide marriage same ethnicit , same cultural and educational bac ground, the man is a fe ears older than the oman, there is courtship, a marriage ceremon , hone moon, cohabitation for a significant amount of time, and commingling of assets

The test of a bona fide marriage is hether the bride and groom intended to establish a life together at the time the ere married The concept of establishing a life as marital partners contains no federal dictate about the ind of life that the partners ma choose to lead n attempt to regulate their life st les in the guise of specif ing the re uirements of a bona fide marriage ould raise serious constitutional uestions liens cannot be re uired to ha e more con entional or more successful marriages than citiens ar , d th ir

Therefore, since an attempt to regulate the age di erence of an alien ho marries a citi en ould raise serious constitutional uestions, and since a - ear age di erence bet een an - ear old merican oman and a i il ar eteran is considered con entional and alid, then a - ear or - ear di erence bet een an alien oman and a male citi en should li e ise be considered con entional and alid

number of oung omen ant to marr older men for securit and stabilit The belie e that older men are usuall established, ha e mone , and can sufficientl pro ide for them, that older men are generall more trust orth , protecti e, lo ing, caring and less li el to hurt them, that older men are less prone to ha ing e tra-marital a airs, and according to a beautiful mesti a ho as in ol ed ith a man ears her senior - older men ha e more e perience in e er thing including lo e-ma ing tt mmanuel amonte Tipon as a ulbright and mithundt scholar to ale a chool here he obtained a aster of a s degree speciali ing in onstitutional a e graduated ith a achelor of a s degree from the ni ersit of the hilippines e is admitted to practice before the upreme ourt, e or , and the hilippines e practices federal la , ith emphasis on immigration la and appellate federal criminal defense e as the ean and a rofessor of a of the ollege of a , orthestern ni ersit , hilippines e has ritten la boo s and legal articles for the orld s most prestigious legal publisher and rites columns for ne spapers e rote the best-seller inning b no ing our lection a s isten to The Tipon eport hich he co-hosts ith his son ttorne mmanuel oel Tipon The tal about immigration la , criminal la , court-martial defense, and current e ents t is considered the most itt , interesting, and useful radio sho in a aii band e er Thursda at a m tt Tipon as born in aoag it , hilippines ell hone - - ail attorne tipon gmail com ebsite

https tiponimmigrationguide com https ha aiianimmigrationattorne com

The information pro ided in this article is not legal ad ice ublication of this information is not intended to create, and receipt b ou does not constitute, an attorne -client relationship

Immigrants Help

or the month of arch , e recei ed appro al fromfor three naturali ation applications, one ianc e isa petition, one remo als of condition on residence and fi e ad ustment of status applications f ou ha e immigration problems the a ffices of rispin o ano can help ou find a solution before our problem gets orse, hich could lead to deportation and famil separation hris ada o ano, s is an acti e member of the tate ar of alifornia, the merican mmigration a ers ssociation and an rancisco Trial a ers e has practiced immigration la , ban ruptc , personal in ur and income ta representation since une is contact phone is - - - , email info la net ebsite crispinlo anola com ith offices in a ard and erritos,

Diliman Way

(From Page 12)

the , continuous denunciation b human rights ad ocates domesticall and internationall , complete mishandling of the est hilippine ea issue, outrageous ulgarit , and uncontrolled problems of high prices of commodities and ser ices, illegal drugs and graft and corruption man of lesser ner e could not ha e sur i ed the a alanche of misdeeds and infirmities attributed b man to him but did sur i e he as not remo ed That s uite an achie ement a be, could learn a lesson or t o from ho defied his o n rule on rec oning, at least during his presidenc , and he pro ed to be an e ception to the rule of the isamis riental go ernor hich is applicable to residents The amletian uestion is ill the time for rec oning e er come for odrigo igong uterte ill it also come for nl time ill tell as the ans ers to these uestions are not ith me but ith ou - the people

Health & Wealth

(From Page 12)

subtitled ecrets ou an isco er and o for ood ealth and onge it T T subtitled our asic uide and nformation for uccessful n esting in ome, and and ncome ropert or T T subtitled acts and idences for gnostics, theists, elie ers and hristians or our autographed cop of T

T and second boo , ust send in chec or mone order together ith the title of the second boo ou can also order e tra copies of T T for our personal and famil librar and as lasting gifts to our riends, elati es, c uaintances, eighbors, o- or ers or our autographed copies of T

T , ust send corresponding pa ment in chec or mone order to T , adrid treet, an rancisco, Tel - or - or email artmadlaing hotmail com This pecial er is good onl in the nited tates until ugust , , m th irthda

(ART GABOT MADLAING is accredited and commissioned Notary Public and licensed Real Estate Broker (DRE#00635976) in California since 1981. He is founder of MOBILE SIGNING SERVICES. FITNESS FOR HUMANITY (aka FITNESS FOR CHRIST) and ACAPINOY. Art is active Evangelist with the GOLDEN GATE CHURCH OF CHRIST in San Francisco, California USA. )

In The Trenches

(From Page 12)

hen the abandoned its t o large o erseas bases in ubic and lar , the countr s ea ness as e posed, hich hina readil e ploited b sei ing control and occup ing ischief eef in f the countr s securit interests run parallel ith the securit interests, then ashington ill be there ut if the interests are compromised, it ill distance itself and ma e en abandon the hilippines o e er, the hilippines did not al a s support the interests all the a

(From Page 14)

ur a irm successfull settled a car accident for

e also handle uncontested

T and T

e can help ou if ou need an T ndi idual Ta pa er number e also prepare income ta returns and if ou are under audit, and need a representation ith , need to reduce our ta liabilit or need to o er a pa ment plan to , e can help ou with that.

hen its o n interests are at sta e, li e its relations ith slamic states during the iddle ast crisis, the hilippines sta ed a a ib a, audi rabia, and other uslim countries pla ed a role in helping end the oro ational iberation ront rebellion in the south.

These countries also are hosting millions of ilipino o erseas or ers and are the main source of petroleum, hich runs the countr s economic engines arcos r onl pla ed the communist card in its bilateral relations ith the mericans

erdinand arcos r should learn from the isdom of his father and balance the countr s relations ith the orld s t o largest economies and mightiest militaries

liding to one side of the spectrum could be fatal e should learn from other countries in the region, li e ietnam, on ho to deepen and broaden ties ith both po ers

WHO chief reappointed, key leaders named to drive WHO strategic direction and initiatives

--The orld ealth rgani ation has appointed fi e ne senior figures to its head uarters leadership team in ene a

The ne appointments follo the reappointment of r Tedros dhanom hebre esus to his second fi e- ear term as irector- eneral The o erall leadership team has been consolidated to align with the Organization’s priorities for the ne t fi e ears and ill or closel ith the irectoreneral to dri e for ard these priorities and s ambitious transformation agenda.

To accelerate progress on implementation of WHO’s th eneral rogramme of or , and achie ement of its “triple billion” targets and the health-related Sustainable e elopment oals, s or for the coming fi e ears is focused on fi e priorities ma ing a paradigm shift towards promoting health and preventing disease by addressing its root causes; radically reorienting health systems towards primary health care; strengthening the systems for health emergency preparedness and response; harnessing the power of science, innovation, data and technologies to advance health; and strengthening WHO as the leading authority on global health and to achieve impact in countries.

The headquarters leadership team, comprising equal numbers of women and men, will work jointly with WHO regional and countr offices

New members of the headquarters leadership team: r erem arrar ill become s hief cientist as of a The appointment of r arrar as preiousl announced in ecember n this role r arrar ill o ersee the cience i ision, bringing together the best experts and networks in science and innovation from around the world to guide, develop and deliver high quality health policies and services to the people who need them most. Prior to oining r arrar as irector of the ellcome Trust efore oining ellcome in r arrar spent ears as irector of the linical esearch nit at the ospital for Tropical iseases in iet am here his research interests were in global health with a focus on emerging infectious diseases r arrar is a clinician researcher ith a medical degree and a h r ilan i ill become ssistant irector- eneral for ni ersal ealth o erage, ealthier opulations as of a n this role r i ill o ersee the rgani ation s e orts to promote better health and ell-being through inter-

ventions relating to the environmental, social, and economic determinants of health, including climate change, tobacco control, chemical safety, road safety, food systems and nutrition, physical activity, air pollution and radiation, through a ne ealth approach r i has been ser ing as the epresentati e to the ingdom of ambodia since ul rior to this role, r i ser ed as egional mergenc irector for the ealth mergencies rogramme in the egional ffice for the estern acific r i holds a medical degree and degree in health social sciences. r u i o a atani ill become ssistant irectoreneral for ccess to edicines and ealth roducts as of a n this role r a atani ill o ersee the de elopment and implementation of WHO’s norms and policies to ensure equitable access to quality medicines, vaccines and diagnostics for all populations everywhere, including for pre enting and responding to epidemics r a atani has been ser ing as the irector of the ancer and isease ontrol i ision of the apanese inistr of ealth, abour and Welfare, and previously worked at WHO headquarters for t o ears r a atani holds a medical degree and a h in public health.

Walking vs jogging

Wtill they reach their goal.

Heart of Hope

hile cheetah, gazelle, horses, deer, and other animals in the wild were obviously born to run, it is becoming clearer, medically, that we humans were born to walk, not to jog or run. While jogging became popular since the late 60s, forty years thereafter, the negati e health e ects became ob ious, o ershado ing the health benefits Jogging traumatizes the body, including muscles, joints, heart and kidneys, especially when excessive. unning thic ens the heart tissue, causing fibrosis scarring causing atrial fibrillation t also leads to cardiac diastolic d sfunction and sti ening of the large arterial walls. Other injuries include shin splints and stress fractures. More obvious and more common are injuries to the spine, hips, knee, and ankle joints, leading to arthritis of those joints and chronic pains. Some seniors eventually requiring hip or knee replacement. Current research reveals that walking 8,000 brisk steps or more per da confers great health benefits, practicall e ual to the benefits from ogging, minus the attendant injuries from running. More importantly, most seniors are only able to brisk walk or walk but not og an more ndeed, bris al ing is in ris al ing is defined as al ing miles an hour f one can recite l rics of a song, ith a pause to breathe) between phrases, but unable to sing them, they are walking briskly.

The new study demonstrated that “walking just one to t o da s is still associated ith significant reduction in all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.” Each additional day of walking provides even greater health benefits

“People taking just 8,000 steps one or two days a week are also less likely to die over a ten-year followup period, 14.9 less likely to die compared to people who were sedentary, and 16.% reduction for those who al ed to da s a ee , concludes the stud published in JAMA Network.

This is, indeed, a onderful finding, hich ould inspire and encourage everyone, especially seniors, to take those 8,000 steps to better health. And add another day at their own pace and comfort every week or two

For those with medical issues, consult your physician before embarking on any exercise regimen. pring booster

There has been fake news on television and social media that claimed the bi alent - booster as unsafe, causing cardio ascular side-e ects Than s to a ne rench stud , the orld no has factual scientific data. The population-based study “found no evidence of an increased risk of cardiovascular events at 21 days among the recipients of the bivalent vaccine versus recipients of the monovalent vaccine, including strokes, heart attacks, pulmonary embolism and all four events combined.”

This is a welcome news, especially to those immunocompromised and seniors with health issues, since the spring booster (bivalent) is recommended by the , because those ho had the original booster, ith or without having been infected, are all recommended to have a spring booster. The reason is the immunity of those ho had the first booster, and e en those ho have natural immunity from getting the infection have protection that would have waned by spring. Natural immunity is less stable, less consistent, and less effective than immunity from the vaccines. At any rate, the bivalent booster has been proven all over again to be safe and e ecti e etting the bi alent booster this spring will confer safety from a serious residual - infection and as of esterda , pril , , there ere still more than a million , , acti e cases, and 10 new deaths.

Seaweed and endometriosis

ol unsaturated fatt acids li e omerga- and omega-6) reduce proliferation of endometriosis lesions and most beneficial in managing this common female illness where tissues that lines the inside of the uterus grow outside the womb, in places they do not belong (like the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and bowels, or even the lungs and the brain t causes abdominal pains and irregular and painful period, among other symptoms, like pain during intercourse or bowel movements.

ea eed, fish, and nuts contain a lot of pol unsaturated fatty acids, and found to be helpful when added to the diet ea eed has been long pro en to benefit women with endometriosis, alleviating their symptoms. Adding more vegetables, particularly cruciferous ones, legumes, and fruits, providing rich antioxidants and fiber, also help ietar changes, adding those items

listed above plus ginger, turmeric, and gluten-free items, certainl benefit omen ith endometriosis, as pointed out in the British Medical journal Open in 2020. This diet, together with prescribed therapy by the necologist, ill ma e life a lot more comfortable to women with endometriosis.

Toxin triggers MS

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a long-term condition that a icts the central ner ous s stem, causing muscle weakness and vision problems, as the immune system stacks the outer coating of the nerve cells to the eyes. MS most often victimizes young adults between the ages and 40, also seniors, more in women than men. There are about 2.8 million individuals around the world living with MS. The cause of MS is still a mystery. A new study has determined that “a toxin from a common bacterium may trigger MS in people with a genetic susceptibility.” This recent discovery would lead to more scientific in estigation orld ide to e entuall find for the pre ention and or cure for multiple sclerosis, a gravely debilitating disease.

hen thro n bac to a bod of ater, fish do not dro n o e er, the do dro n su ocate hen the water does not have enough dissolved oxygen in it, like in eutrophication (too much nutrients or harmful chemicals in water), or drought. They also drown follo ing the remo al of their fins as in har esting shar s fins for hinese soup delicac Thro ing bac shar s after fin remo al results in their su ocation since the need their fins to s im hen their gills are damaged by predators, they also drown. So, technically, fish do dro n too

Philip Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/ author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He was a decorated recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry Truman, President George HW Bush, Muhammad Ali, Astronaut Gus Grissom (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888.com, Today. SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

INSPIRATIONAL ARTICLE

A LIFE THAT MATTERS

The most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well. Here are some beautiful thoughts inspired by the writings of Michael Josephson. Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end. There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours nor days. All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else. Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance. It’s your place in the world; it’s your life. Go and do all you can with it and make it the life you want to live- Mae Lemison. It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed. our grudges, resentments, frustrations, and ealousies ill finall disappear. So, too, your hopes, ambitions, plans, and to-do lists will expire. The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away. It won’t matter where you came from, or on what side of the tracks you lived, at the end. It won’t matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant. Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant. It doesn’t really matter who I used to be, all that matters is who I have become. So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured? What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave. What will matter is not our success, but our significance hat ill matter is not hat you learned, but what you taught. What will matter is every act of integrit , compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empo ered or encouraged others to emulate your example. What will matter is not your competence, but your character. What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you’re gone. What will matter is not your memories, but the memories that live in those who loved you. What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what. Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident. It’s not a matter of circumstance but of choice. Choose to live a life that matters. We will not be remembered by our words but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away.

The Breakthrough of Grace

Easter Season must lead us to the awesome reality of God’s power and grace having broken through our human existence to be elevated to the divine realities. From the narrative event of the Resurrection; we heard and known that there was the tomb sealed with a big rock. Then, there was the lifeless bod of The rucifi ed ne nd then, this rucifi ed ne rose to life; and thus, creation and the fallen human nature got re-created and redeemed. The old creation changed and transformed into a new creation. The fallen human nature is elevated and exalted to now share the divine life of God. We cannot overlook this glorious reality; for, this can give us lessons that will lead us to live lives for the glory of God.

Let us consider that in life we have problems and troubles; and these hinder us to be fully alive, to be fully happy and feel accomplished. This kind of experience is like having the rock closing the entrance of the tomb to keep Jesus Christ inside. But the Risen Lord cannot be imprisoned in the tomb; thus, His divine power unleashing itself, it moves away the rock and the door opens. We cannot fall back in our faith when we experience challenges; all the more reason to go to God; so that His power and grace can move the roc s that hinder our passage a to success and fulfi llment speciall in spiritual ourne , e are to no our obstacles and fi ght for their removal; call on the Lord that they be gone from your path. We cannot be at ease with the moral and spiritual hindrances in our spiritual journey. We cannot stagnate as not to continue growing in virtues and qualities expected of us by God. What are the rocks in your life that impede you to become the person our Lord Jesus wants you to be?

Moreover, we can also be the lifeless body in the tomb; but, we must not be. So now, during this Easter Season, let us call on the Risen Lord to animate and reanimate the lifeless areas of our Christian existence. If, we are experiencing lifelessness in our prayer life; if e tend to be la to pra , or e are not fi nding energ to go to Church, we need to let God’s grace and power breakthrough in our life. If we are experiencing some lifelessness in the area of marriage and family life; if it seems that arguing and quarreling become the recurring theatre inside the home, there is need to let God’s power and grace renew and reanimate your married and family life. In the Risen Lord, let us be energized to love unconditionally, to be patient and be joyful givers to each other. What are the areas in your life that seem to have no energy or life? Do not take it for granted; for having lifelessness can be indicative of something worse; the moral corruption and vices at work in one’s life. Examine your lifestyle and behavior; for we cannot be lifeless as Christ’s disciples; but rather, always full of life, full of joy, full of enthusiasm as Christians. Lastly, the breakthrough of grace and God’s power in our dail e istence in the secular a airs that e ha e in our dail li es The “old” in Biblical context is an image and disposition of negativity and pessimism; with God’s power and grace we are no longer “old” but renewed, a new creation. If we seem worried and wearied in our daily activities, let the Risen Christ’s grace and power reanimate your disposition and attitude. We are to cast out the old self and put on the new self; sin and sinfulness are of the old self; pursuing to live the divine life is of the new self. Whatever activities leading us to commit sin or we are falling into bad habits; let the power and grace of God cast them out, and be empowered to pursue and live in righteousness. If during our daily activities and dealings we are drawn into bad works and bad speech, call on the Risen Lord to pour upon you His power and grace in order to re-create your ways and mannerisms. Let us not remain in the old creation but become a new creation. Let us not remain with our vices but live virtuous lives; so that, the Risen Lord Jesus can be seen and encountered through the way we live and behave. May we continue to live out our Easter Season with the persevering pursuit of letting the power and grace of the Risen Lord break through and cast out all that is ungodly in us to be replaced with what is godly. Amen.

Recipe of the Week

Pinoy Pineapple Fiesta Ham Spaghetti

Ingredients:

1 kilo spaghetti noodles, cooked as per package instructions

1/2 kilo Fiesta Ham, cut into slices then cut into squares

6-8 pcs. cheese hotdog, cut into thin slices

1 large can (500g) pineapple slices in heavy syrup, cut into small wedges, reserved syrup

1 large can sliced button mushrooms, drained

1/2 block cheddar cheese, grated

1 large spaghetti sauce

1/2 cup sweet chili sauce

1-2 tbsp. chili garlic in oil

1/2 head garlic, peeled, chopped medium si e onion, chopped

1/2 cup cornstarch

salt and pepper

cooking oil

Cooking procedure:

In a large sauce pan sauté garlic and onion until fragrant. Add in the fiesta ham and stir coo for to minutes dd in the hotdog and button mushroom and continue to stir coo for to minutes o add in the pineapple syrup, spaghetti sauce, sweet chili sauce, chili garlic in oil and about cups of water, bring to a boil and simmer for to 5 minutes stirring occasionally. Add in the hotdogs, pineapple and grated cheddar cheese and continue to simmer for 5 to minutes. Correct saltiness if required, season with pepper. Thicken sauce with cornstarch diluted in 1/3 cup of water, cook for another minute or until the sauce thickens. Pour sauce over a platter of spaghetti noodles with grated cheddar cheese garnish.

PHL re-opens to int’l tourists

MAKATI CITY – The Philippine government is fully reopening its doors to all foreign tourist, with the resumption of visa issuances by Philippine embassies and consulates.

In a statement, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said the new policy coincides with the total removal of arrival quota for unvaccinated passengers and the approval of a negative laboratory-based antigen test result taken within 24 hours from departure as an alternative option for arriving travelers.

Currently, only fully vaccinated foreign leisure travelers from visa-free countries are allowed to enter the Philippines.

“Right now, (the Philippines is) only for 157 visa-free countries but we are hoping that by April, we will be open to all foreigners,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said

“Starting April 1, there will be no limit to the number of international passengers arriving in all ports of entry in the country,” it said.

At present, the initial requirement for arriving tourists is a negative RT-PCR result taken 48 hours prior to departure from point of origin.

The Inter-Agency Task Force, through Resolution 164, also allowed the entry of passport holders from Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR for a period not exceeding 14 days.

“This latest development opens the country to all fully vaccinated tourists from all countries and means the country’s tourism industry is well on its way to recovery,” Tourism Secretary RomuloPuyat said.

“We at the DOT thank our colleagues in the IATF for approving such measures that will help sustain the recovery of the sector in the coming months. We have high hopes that all of these will result in an uptick in international travelers visiting the country during the summer season,” she added.

The DOT also announced the reciprocal recognition of Covid-19 vaccination certificates of roatia, prus, and epal which are among the 157 visa-free countries.

Earlier, the Philippines reopened its doors to foreign leisure travelers from visa-free countries on February 10.

Based on DOT’s data as of March 9, the number of arrivals has reached 76,736. Of this number, 43,249 are foreign tourists while 33,487 are balikbayans.

From February 10 to March 8, the DOT has recorded a total of 73,178 tourists, mostly from South Korea, the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, Vietnam, and Japan.

The official said these figures are not high compared to the pre-pandemic level but they were happy about the unexpected turn of events since projections suggest that arrivals would pick up in June or during the winter months.

“It’s not big compared to the pre-pandemic levels because pre-pandemic levels, we had about 8.28 million tourist arrivals for the whole year but we were pleasantly surprised,” she said.

Travelers from Hong Kong and Macau, meanwhile, are allowed to stay in the country without a visa for at least 14 days, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said. ationals of srael and ra il ma also again enter the Philippines visa-free for an initial stay of 59 days.

The said privilege was extended to citiens of the t o countries under a reciprocal arrangement wherein Filipinos are also allo ed entr into srael and ra il for days without a visa.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said the relaxed policy is provided in the latest resolution passed by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) on Friday.

The resolution revived a Philippine foreign ser ice circular that as in e ect before the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

“This is a welcome development which expands the list of those who may enter the country visa-free,” Morente said.

“Hopefully this attracts more foreign tourists to visit the Philippines in the next few weeks, in time for the summer season,” he added.

The BI reported that in 2019, there were more than 5,000 arrivals from Hong Kong and over 3,000 from Macau SAR (Special Administrative Region).

In the same period, almost 25,000 Israelis and around , ra ilians isited the Philippines.

Vehicle sales in PHL up 30% in Q1

MAKATI CITY – Sales of automoti e ehicles in the first uarter of the ear in the hilippines increased b percent to , units from , units in the same period in

This is the gist of the oint report of the hamber of utomoti e anufacturers of the hilippines, nc and Truc anufacturers ssociation T

oth sales of passenger cars and commercial ehicles ear-on- ear impro ed b percent and percent, respecti el assenger car sales increased to , units in anuar to arch from , units sold in the same period last ear ommercial ehicle sales also ent up to , units from , units.

ll sub-segments of commercial ehicles increased their sales e cept for truc s and buses categor fi e, hich sales declined b percent to units in the first uarter of the ear from units last ear a orit of the ehicle sales in anuar to arch period this ear

ere light commercial ehicles, selling , units, up b percent from , units in the same period a ear ago

This is follo ed b sian utilit ehicles ith sales of , units, up b percent from , units ight truc s posted an increment

of percent, selling , units in the first uarter of from , in the same period last ear ales of truc s and buses categor four ere at in the same comparable period at units or arch alone, and T recorded an increment of

percent in their total sales

ehicle sales in arch this ear increased to , units from , units a ear ago

ul of sales as still from commercial ehicle segment, but gro th as dri en b passenger cars, according to the oint report

t is orth noting that the arch sales performance is the second highest monthl performance in a post-pandemic time after the more than , -unit sales le el recorded in ecember last ear, president ommel utierre said in a statement.

utierre said the automoti e industr continues to thri e amid the increased appetite of the mar et in purchasing ne ehicles, hich the industr hopes to continue in the coming months.

n the same a , fa orable economic conditions are also an important dri ing factor for sustained gro th, he added ean hile, top car brands in anuar to arch period are To ota, itsubishi, issan, ord and onda