041224 - San Diego Edition

First-ever Listas campaign helps women prepare for emergencies

women for emergencies

campaign, launched in March during Women’s History Month, builds off of research that identified two key groups of women who would most benefit from disaster preparation resources: “the head of the household and the messenger,” said Diana Crofts-Pelayo, Assistant Director of Crisis Communication &

‘Love is with me’ –2nd Gen Asian Americans share challenges of care giving for elderly immigrant parents

THE tradition of caring for one’s aging parents is embedded in Asian culture. But 2nd generation AAPIs face multiple challenges in caring for their immigrant parents, including a lack of support, finances, and just plain time.

In its 2020 report: “Asian Americans 65 and Older,” the Administration for Community Living — an agency within the federal Department of Health and Human Services — notes that the Asian American population age 65 and older was 2,492,874 in 2019 and is projected to grow to 7.9 million by 2060. Older AAPIs largely live in three states: California, Texas, and New York, noted the report. More than 9% of the elderly AAPI population lives in poverty, with an average annual income of $30,788, and just $19,561 for older Asian American women. About

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Ferdinand R.

Jr., United States President Joe

and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida forged a stronger trilateral alliance on Thursday afternoon, April 11, as they vowed to protect the Indo-Pacific region to secure a better future for all.

In his opening remarks, President Marcos said that the trilateral meeting between the Philippines,

the U.S. and Japan is “bound by a shared vision and pursuit of a peaceful, stable and prosperous IndoPacific” region amid challenges to international rules-based order.

“Facing the complex challenges of our time requires concerted efforts on everyone’s part, a dedication to a common purpose, and unwavering commitment to the rules-based international order.

Apollo Quiboloy ordered arrested by Pasig court

by

MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, April 8 chose to remain silent on her future political plans even after emerging as a top choice for president in a recent Pulse Asia survey.

According to Duterte, she instead would like to focus on her current work as vice president and education secretary, rather than discussing her future plans in politics.

“Napakalayo pa kasi ng 2028 para natin pag-usapan sa ngayon ( it’s still too far ahead, 2028, for us to discuss it now ),” she told reporters in a chance interview.

“What we’re doing now, and what we all need to do, is to work first and contribute to nation-building,” she added.

charge last month and filed the qualified trafficking of persons charge before the Pasig RTC.

Quiboloy’s co-accused in the antitrafficking case, Jackielyn Roy, Cresente Canada, Enteng Canada, Ingrid Canada and Sylvia Cemañes, are also his co-accused in the child and sexual abuse case lodged before a Davao court.

The Davao court issued a warrant of arrest against the preacher and his associates last week.

‘Asia’s Best’: PH up for 7 awards for 2024 World Travel Awards

This is a meeting that looks ahead,” President Marcos told President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida in their trilateral meeting at the White House. “As we deepen our ties and enhance our coordination, we seek to identify ways of growing our economies and making them more resilient,

Envoy: Patience of PH on China ‘stretched to the limit’

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Philippines’ envoy to Washington said the country’s patience over being harassed by Beijing in its own waters has now been “stretched to the limit,” amid protests on Tuesday, April 9 against China’s aggression outside the Chinese consulate in Manila.

In a television interview ahead of the Philippines’ trilateral summit on Thursday, April 11 with the United States and Japan, Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez said the Marcos administration had taken a “multilateral approach” on the maritime dispute in the West Philippine Sea. The Philippines, he said, has been generally “accepting” of the situation in its own waters, including the blockade by China at Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal since a standoff in 2012.

“We have been very patient. The Philippines’ patience has been stretched to the limit,” said Romualdez. ‘Enough is enough’

“What President Marcos is doing is simply u

on Wednesday, April 10. The bipartisan bill aims to bolster and modernize the U.S.-Philippines alliance by significantly increasing U.S. security assistance. This move comes in response to heightened aggression by China in the South China Sea and the broader Indo-Pacific region. The PERA Act, introduced amidst a leaders-level summit among the United States, Japan, and the Philippines in Washington, D.C., seeks to address growing security challenges faced by the Philippines, a crucial treatybased ally of the United States. The legislation proposes an annual authorization of $500 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) grant assistance to the Philippines for each fiscal year from 2025 to 2029, totaling $2.5 billion over five fiscal years. Senator Hagerty emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation between the U.S. and the Philippines in the face of mounting security threats. “As the United States and the Philippines face growing challenges to security and prosperity in the West Philippines Sea and the wider Indo-Pacific, it’s critical for our two nations to deepen cooperation and raise our decades-long Alliance to even greater heights,” said Senator Hagerty. “This legislation is all the more timely given not only Communist China’s growing aggression in the West Philippines Sea and South China Sea, but also the leaders-level summit among the United States, Japan, and the Philippines this week.”

He highlighted the need to elevate the decades-long alliance to new heights and expressed confidence in the bipartisan bill’s ability to enhance defense and

Ian LaquI Philstar.com

by Dona Z. PaZZIbugan nestor CorraLes Inquirer.net

Marcos

Biden

by ZaCarIan sarao Inquirer.net

Balikatan in Batanes

Most preferred

In a recent survey conducted by Pulse Asia, Senator Raffy Tulfo and Duterte emerged as the most preferred presidential candidates in 2028. Tulfo garnered a 35 percent preference share among the respondents, while Duterte

almost tied at 34 percent. Meanwhile, former Vice President Leni took the third spot with 11 percent.

Earlier this year, Duterte sparked questions about her political plans after declaring that she will run for office “in the next elections” in a speech in Davao.

But Duterte later claimed that there was merely a “confusion” in her speech and that the public interpreted her statement in a way they wished to comprehend it.

To date, Duterte has yet to explicitly state her political plans after her term as vice president. n

Also on Tuesday, activists marked the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) holiday with a protest outside the Chinese consulate in Makati City, as they condemned China’s aggression against the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea.

“China, leave!” the protesters chanted as they also trampled on an effigy of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Mong Palatino, one of the leaders of the rally, said, “Our message is addressed to the Chinese government: Move out of the West Philippine Sea,

dismantle its illegal structures, …recognize the 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling, and stop the harassment of Filipino fisherfolk and …Philippine supply missions.”

‘Leveraging alliances’ Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., in a statement on Tuesday, said the country was “changing its defense paradigms, strengthening its own capabilities and leveraging alliances with allies and likeminded nations.”

This strategy serves to “enable the Philippines to both secure its territory and its rights under international law and be an effective partner of other countries in ensuring freedom of navigation, overflight and security in international waters,” Teodoro said.

In his Day of Valor message, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. urged Filipinos to remember “the sacrifices made by our brave soldiers who gallantly defended our nation’s honor in the face of adversity in past wars and armed conflicts.”

These statements followed on the heels of Sunday’s (April 7) first joint military exercises between the Philippines and three of its allies—the United States, Australia and Japan—in the West Philippine Sea.

As they did last year, Philippine and U.S. troops will again train to defend Batanes, the country’s northernmost province, in Balikatan exercises scheduled on April 25 to May 10.

The joint drills will be held in the capital town of Basco and the islands of Itbayat and Mavulis, Gov. Marilou Cayco said on Facebook.

The troops will conduct reconnaissance, free fall and island seizure drills as well as the transport of state-of-the-art High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, Cayco said.

The Inquirer reported last week that two ranking U.S. Army engineers had arrived in Itbayat to prepare the construction of a humanitarian logistics warehouse.

Batanes, which has served as Balikatan site in the past, is located about 150 kilometers from the southernmost tip of Taiwan, the stronghold of Nationalist forces fleeing the communist takeover in mainland China in 1949. China threatens to retake the island, which has since developed into a self-governing democracy.

Balikatan will officially open on April 22 at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. —with a report from Reuters n

climate-proofing our cities and our societies, sustaining our development progress, and forging a peaceful world for the next generation,” he added.

President Marcos also emphasized that the meeting is an opportunity for them to define the future they want, and how they intend to achieve it as one.

For his part, President Biden said that the “new era of partnership” with the Philippines, the U.S. and Japan is anchored on building an Indo-Pacific that is free, open, prosperous and secure for all through the deepened ties of the three countries.

“When we stand as one, we’re able to forge a better future for all. And that’s what this new trilateral is all about in my view. Building a better future for people crossing the Pacific, and quite frankly beyond around the world,” President Biden said.

Prime Minister Kishida, on the other hand, said that the Japanese government continues to reaffirm its commitment to further strengthen its ties with the U.S. and the Philippines as he vowed

full cooperation for peace and stability in the region.

“In order to secure peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, I hope to reaffirm our intention to further strengthen trilateral cooperation and to present the specific way forward through today’s meeting,” Kishida told President Marcos and President Biden.

The meeting was attended by their respective Ministers in Foreign Affairs, Defense, Trade and Energy.

Aside from giving their commitment to defense and maritime cooperation, the U.S. and Japan also expressed their full adherence to helping the Philippines advance its efforts to address climate change and further boost the economy to create industries and more jobs for Filipinos.

The diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the U.S. span 77 years since its formal establishment on July 4, 1946 while the Philippines and Japan celebrated 67 years of normalized relations since July 23, 1956 and strengthened strategic partnership since 2011. (Presidential Communications Office) n

deterrence capabilities.

Echoing Senator Hagerty’s sentiments, Senator Kaine underscored the significance of supporting the Philippines in the wake of China’s aggression.

“China’s aggression towards the Philippines – a key U.S. ally – threatens the security and stability of the entire region,” said Senator Kaine. “It is pivotal that the people of the Philippines have the resources and support they need in the face of those threats. As a member of the Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, I will continue to work to link arms with our allies and build a safe and stable future.”

Among the other key provisions of the Philippines Enhanced Resilience Act of 2024 include:

• Mandating the submission of an annual

spending plan to Congress by the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, outlining how FMF assistance will be allocated for security purposes in the Philippines.

• Requiring the Secretary of State, in consultation with relevant department/agency heads, to submit an annual report to Congress detailing steps taken to enhance the defense relationship between the United States and the Philippines. This includes identifying crucial defense capabilities needed to modernize the Philippines’ defense capabilities and any additional appropriations or authorization laws required to support and cooperate on these capabilities.

The introduction of the PERA Act reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and reinforce the U.S.’s commitment to the security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region. n

Quiboloy’s co-accused posted bail before the case in Davao court where four surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation and one was arrested. The Pasig RTC case, however, is not bailable.

If found guilty, Quiboloy and his co-accused may face life imprisonment and a fine

the charge against him and to plead intelligently thereto. In such case, the court shall order his mental examination and, if necessary, his confinement for such purpose.

(b) There exists a prejudicial question

(c) A petition for review of the resolution of the prosecutor is pending at either the Department of Justice or the Office of the president; Provided, that the period of suspension shall not exceed 60 days counted from the filing of the petition with the reviewing office.

In a statement, the Department

of Justice welcomed the Pasig RTC’s issuance of the arrest warrant. “These arrest warrants herald the efficiency of our criminal justice system, echoing the strong resolve of the State and our society to hold accountable individuals who transgress the Rule of Law, regardless of their social status or wealth,” the DOJ’s statement read, quoting Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla. One of Quiboloy’s lawyers, Ferdinand Topacio, has yet to respond to Philstar.com’s request for comment. n

Apollo Quiboloy STAR /

First-ever Listas campaign helps women prepare...

“These heads are women who bear the weight of responsibility making ends meet while taking care of children or elderly parents, while the messengers are firstor second-generation women helping support their families within the unit,” she explained. “We saw that women over the age of 18, mostly in Latino, AAPI and black communities, are the ones that would listen to our message, pass it on and actually use it during an emergency.”

CalOES is providing Californians with videos and actionable disaster safety tips, as well as local county emergency alert signups, through over 73 community organization outreach grantees. These organizations have worked alongside a larger statewide partnership network to make over 400,000 calls to California women since March asking them to sign up for alerts and sharing preparedness information.

Local phone, text and email alerts in multiple languages for disasters like flooding, earthquakes and wildfires are available for Californians in each county through listoscalifornia.org/alerts.

Women across communities

“My grandma never learned English. My mom was born in Mexico, and she was always seen as the leader within our family here and back in Mexico,” said Crofts-Pelayo. “Women are the ones that push their families to do things. It’s not necessarily the man of the household anymore. At the end of the day, they’re the ones that are most likely to be looking after elderly parents, or engaging with their community through schools and local associations.”

‘Love is with me’

25% of Asian American seniors live with their adult children.

‘We Care’ The National Asian Pacific Center on Aging is one of five organizations involved with Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC’s Narrative Change and Caregiving Project. The initiative is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. For the project, NAPCA created four videos of families discussing the myriad of challenges involved in caregiving. The filmmakers brought together a deeply-moving range of narratives. One film tells the story of two Indian American daughters caring for their mother, formerly a physician, who can now only communicate by blinking as her disease progresses. Another film focuses on a Filipino American man trying to balance the twin challenges of a full time job and

“What we want is for women to have that knowledge and talk about it with their partners, family, friends and children,” she continued. “Emergencies are not fun; it’s not if but when the next one happens. The more that a family can talk about it, the more you demystify responding to it.”

“The most important thing we saw in our research is that people need to see an emergency to truly believe it,” Crofts-Pelayo added. “We got anecdotes from people that said ‘I might not evacuate my home until I see the water rising on my street corner,’ or ‘unless I see the flames down the street.’

There are still many communities that have never experienced a natural disaster, and our aim is showing people that this is real, this happens every day … All disasters are local, which is why community-based preparedness is so important.”

“It’s the women who are taking care of parents, grandparents, children, doing the shopping, taking care of the house, preparing for tomorrow,” said District 10 Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen. “For emergency situations, it’s key that women not only hear these messages but deliver them.”

“When disaster comes, it affects everybody across communities, and seeing different women talk from their cultures about having go-bags ready, batteries charged, water for washing and drinking — women across communities can think, ‘If she’s doing this, I should be doing this in my home as well,’” she added.

A teacher’s perspective

“Thinking about the safety and wellbeing of my family and students, knowing that I have the knowledge and the tools to protect them,

is always a top priority for me, and thinking about emergency preparedness goes hand in hand with that,” said Shayla Happi AmenraWarmsley, a Sacramento-based mother of two and second grade teacher. “I’ve started implementing these tools both in my personal family and within my classroom — from creating emergency kits, to developing family communication plans and emergency contact systems, this campaign definitely helped bring many ‘what-ifs’ into the practical reality of what I would do in the case of an earthquake, fire, flood, or a power outage, which did happen to my home a month ago,” she continued, adding that Listas enabled her to respond to it.

“In times of crisis, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless, especially for young people,” Amenra-Warmsley said. “Having a plan just as important as practicing it, so a lot of what I do at home and with my students alongside teaching the tools we need to be prepared — like shelterin-place plans, memorizing emergency phone contacts, planning evacuation routes and having snack bags — is teaching the tools we need for mental resilience, whether that’s morning yoga or emotional regulation exercises.”

“There are changing elements to what it means to be prepared, it means being both flexible and adaptable in the face of adversity,” she added. “As a teacher, I not only educate my students academically but also teach them lifelong skills of resiliency, emerging from any storm as a stronger version of themselves. Learning how to prepare for emergencies is at the heart of that.” (Selen Ozturk/Ethnic Media Services)n

– 2nd Gen Asian Americans share...

being the sole care giver for his 91 year old mother. In a sweet moment, the two chat about old times as they make egg rolls together.

A young Hawaiian Chinese woman lives with her elderly mother, who suffers from multiple illnesses. They are forced to talk about end of life expectations as a close family member is moved to hospice care. And in another film, a Thai American woman, whose elderly parents still work at their restaurant despite health challenges, says: “I feel like I’m the parent of two really stubborn children.”

The series is titled: “We Care.”

Patience and love “Every story is different, the expectations are different,” Benny Lai, a spokesman for NAPCA, told Ethnic Media Services. “But the mindset is the same. You have to have a lot of patience and love. Otherwise you

cannot be a caregiver.”

“Asian folks are more willing and common to be caregivers. Back in our home countries, it’s very common that the second generation are living with their parents,” said Lai. “And when they are in the States, living in bigger homes, getting married, moving out of their parents’ homes, they find it easier to hire a couple of domestic helpers at maybe $3,000 to $4,000 a month per person, or put them in elderly houses for $4,000 a month. But not a whole lot of people can afford them,” he said, noting that by default, adult children become their parent’s caregivers.

Denyse Woo Ockerman, who lives with her mother Irma in Hemet, California, characterizes her mom as “my best friend.”

Ohana “We were meant to be together,” she says in her film. “Caregiving is imprinted in our

• Cebu - Asia’s Leading Wedding Destination

• Department of TourismAsia’s Leading Tourist Board.

aim to maintain and surpass the strides we’ve made since taking office, ensuring sustained growth in the country’s tourism sector,” she added.

culture. It is ohana,” says Woo Ockerman, using her culture’s word for a deeply-tied family.

“Love is With Me,” are the words that echoed through Manisha and Nayana Shahane’s mother’s journal, which she began to write shortly after being diagnosed with Multiple Symptom Atrophy. The family’s long term care insurance ran out: Manisha and Nayana had to step up round-the-clock care, often at expense to their own well-being.

The loss of time for self care was a theme that echoed through all four videos. But each caregiver also spoke about the deep satisfaction they had gained from caring for a vulnerable human being.

All four films will be featured at various film festivals around the U.S. beginning in May. They can be viewed on NAPCA’s YouTube channel next month.

(Sunita Sohrabji/Ethnic Media Services)

n

The awarding body hails tourism’s best in three tiers: country, regional and world awards across different categories. Established in 1993, it is touted as the “Oscars” of the travel industry.

For Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, the accolades of the Philippines highlights the efforts of her agency under the current administration.

She is thankful for the WTA body for providing the Philippines a platform “to continuously showcase our diverse tourism offerings not only within Asia but on the global stage.”

“…Most importantly, we express our thanks to our tourism stakeholders who continue to safeguard the myriad of tourism gems in the Philippines for all the world to love and enjoy,” Frasco said in a statement.

“While winning these accolades adds prestige to our endeavors, they also translate into livelihood opportunities for millions of Filipinos whose wellbeing depends on tourism. We

Frasco also cited that 2023 was a banner year for the Philippines after it bagged several recognitions from WTA.

It won the World’s Leading Dive Destination for the fifth year since 2019 while Philippine capital, Manila, was named the World’s Leading City Destination.

The Philippines also took home the Global Tourism Resilience award, an inaugural award from the WTA about the “global leadership, pioneering vision, and innovation to overcome critical challenges and adversity.” Four other countries received this award, serving as benchmarks for best practices in tourism resilience.

Likewise, the Philippines was hailed the Destination of the Year by online travel platform TripZilla at the 2023 TripZilla Excellence Awards as well as Asia’s Best Cruise Destination by the WTA.

The public can vote for the Philippines until July 28, 2024, through https://www. worldtravelawards.com/vote. n

City of San Diego launches voter registration challenge for high schoolers

Month-long competition aims to promote civic engagement among local youth

SAN DIEGO – Recently, the City of San Diego launched the Shirley N. Weber Voter Registration Challenge with the goal of encouraging young people to become more engaged in their communities and more aware of their civic responsibility.

The City’s Office of Child and Youth Success and the Office of the City Clerk are hosting the challenge through the month of April. City staff will share resources and promotional materials with local high schools that are participating,

to encourage students to register to vote. At the end of the Voter Registration Challenge, California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber and Mayor Todd Gloria will recognize the top school during an awards ceremony, along with a special visit by radio and television personality Geena the Latina. “We want to do our part to empower San Diego youth to actively participate in democracy,” said City Clerk Diana Fuentes. “Especially as we see a decline in voter

registration, it is crucial that everyone connected to local youth help to amplify the importance of voting and ignite a movement where every voice and vote counts.”

“Youth empowerment is a focus area that has come up over and over during conversations with youth while developing the city’s first-ever Child and Youth Strategic Plan.” said Andrea O’Hara, executive director of the Office of Child and Youth Success. “Partnering with the City Clerk’s Office to promote the Secretary of State’s initiative and supporting our local high school students with the resources needed to pre-register aligns perfectly with our strategic goal of empowering youth to take charge of their future.”

In addition to registering students ages 18 and older to vote, schools can encourage eligible students ages 16 and 17 to pre-register, which will allow them to automatically become registered voters when they turn 18. More than one million students have pre-registered to vote since the State of California launched the pre-registration program in 2016.

So far, 19 high schools have signed up for the City of San Diego’s Voter Registration Challenge, which runs through April 30. The event also coincides with the California High School Voter Education Weeks during the last two weeks of April.

(City of San Diego Release) n

Preferred design concept for potential

Ocean

Beach Pier

replacement revealed Design concept based on feedback from community throughout year-long engagement process

SAN DIEGO – Following more than a year of community engagement and public input, the City of San Diego on Saturday, April 6 revealed the preferred design concept for a potential Ocean Beach Pier replacement. The concept, unveiled at a community workshop held this afternoon, captures the features that San Diegans expressed they would like to see in a new pier.

While incorporating iconic elements of the existing 57-year-old Ocean Beach Pier, the preferred design concept revealed on Saturday also includes aesthetic elements that offer something modern and new for future generations to enjoy. The concept showcases a pier approximately 2,000 feet long with an average deck width of 22 feet and a shape similar to the existing pier, with curving arms on the western end. It includes a network of interconnected pathways, gathering places, new retail and dining opportunities and enhanced fishing amenities – all of which were key elements according to community feedback.

“This iconic structure is synonymous with Ocean Beach and I’m thankful to the residents in that community and across San Diego who provided feedback to shape this design concept,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “Now we turn our focus to obtaining the necessary environmental permits and funding to make this community vision a reality.”

As part of Saturday’s event, community members participated in interactive workshops to provide additional input on specific pier amenities that have not been incorporated into the design, including lighting and shade options. This input, along with feedback gathered during an online survey over the next month, will help the design consultants finalize some of the project’s remaining amenities. Everyone is encouraged to take the survey by visiting OBPierRenewal.com.

“Thank you to the city Engineers, consultants, and the community for working together on the preferred design concept of the OB

Pier,” said Councilmember Jennifer Campbell. “The Pier is an important landmark in San Diego and is in desperate need of improvements for San Diego residents and the nearly half a million tourists that visit every year.”

The Ocean Beach Pier Renewal project aims to provide a long-term solution for the pier through a potential replacement. A 2018 study determined that the pier has reached the end of its service life. As a result, the city is pursuing a potential replacement of the pier as the best option considering the ongoing costs of repairs, the need to modernize the existing facility and anticipation of future sea level rise.

The current Ocean Beach Pier remains closed since it was damaged by high surf in October 2023. Over the winter storm season, it suffered additional damage, including losing one pile, a portion of a pile cap and large sections of railing. The city is currently assessing the damage to the Ocean Beach Pier to determine any potential options to stabilize the current structure. At this time, no final decisions have been made regarding whether or not the current Ocean Beach Pier will reopen. “We are excited to have reached this major milestone in the Ocean Beach Pier Renewal project,” said Elif Cetin, assistant director for Strategic Capital Projects. “The release of the preferred design concept is the culmination of more than a year of work in close coordination with the community. We started this process with a blank slate, open

to everyone’s ideas and desires for a potential replacement pier and we feel like the preferred design concept represents the community input we received. This state-of-the-art design holds core elements of the existing pier and pairs them with unique and innovative design features that will provide a whole new pier experience for generations to come.”

As the final design of the replacement pier is being developed, city staff will be working to acquire the proper environmental permits for the project under the California Environmental Quality Act and engage with the appropriate stakeholders to get feedback during the Environmental Impact Report process, as well as acquire proper funding. The current estimated cost range for the Ocean Beach Pier Renewal project is $170 million to $190 million. This number is the estimated total project cost and includes everything completed so far for the community engagement process all the way through the end of construction.

If the project receives the proper environmental permitting and secures the necessary funding, demolition of the existing pier and construction of the new pier will take place concurrently. The new pier will be constructed over approximately the same footprint as the existing pier but with a higher deck elevation to minimize the potential for wave damage and account for future sea level rise. Work would start from the base of the pier, where it connects with the land, and work toward the west.

Dateline PhiliPPines

Metro traffic woes worsened – Abalos

by Franco Jose c. Baroña ManilaTimes.net

INTERIOR and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said traffic congestion in Metro Manila has increased by 17.68 percent from 2019 to 2023 due to a larger volume of vehicles, accidents, and a lack of discipline among motorists. Abalos added that road configurations and conditions, as well as policies and penalty systems, exacerbated the problem even more.

He said local government units (LGUs) up to the barangay (village) level should be involved in solving the problem.

“One of the solutions we are emphasizing is what we call road-clearing operations on all public roads, alleys and streets.

Our barangay, our LGUs play a very big role here,” Abalos said, noting the scheme was proven effective in Barangay Holy Spirit, where operations resulted in the clearing of 92 roads and the dismantling of illegal structures.

The initiative, he said, led to the creation of an alternative route for motorists in the Commonwealth area.

“To our mayors and village

Comelec sees 70%-80% overseas voter turnout in 2025 polls

MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) hopes to achieve a 70 to 80 percent overseas voter turnout for the 2025 midterm polls, with the pilot implementation of internet voting.

“If we can reach 70 to 80 percent, that is already an achievement for us,” Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco told reporters on the sidelines of the demonstration of the Online Voting and Counting System (OVCS) at the Comelec office in Manila.

longer require Filipinos abroad to physically go to Philippine posts or mail their ballots.

“They can cast their votes at the convenience of their home, workplace, sailors at sea, as long as they have internet connection and enrolled devices,” Laudiangco said.

The Comelec-Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) has declared the joint venture (JV) of SMS Global Technologies, Inc. & Sequent Tech Inc. as having the lowest calculated bid (LCB) for the OVCS at PHP112 million.

Concerns in San Juan City on Wednesday, April. 10. “The local governments are

the most important, I have to say,” the president said, noting the national government can plan solutions, but they would be futile without the support of LGUs. “We need to have the cooperation of the local governments to understand what the problems are in your place, what the possible solutions are, and how we bring it all together into one complete system, which we can monitor and regulate,” he said. n

US, Japan to unveil Luzon investment connecting 4 major PH biz hubs

Preferred design concept for potential...

The timeline for the start and end of construction for this project is yet to be determined but will be provided once the environmental permitting

process and funding acquisition process are complete. A current project timeline is available on the Pier Renewal project webpage (https://www.sandiego. gov/cip/ocean-beach-pierrenewal). More information about the Ocean Beach Pier Renewal Project can be found at OBPierRenewal.com. (City of San Diego Release) n

This is a big jump from the 38 percent overseas voter turnout in the 2022 polls, with only around 600,000 of some 1.6 million registered overseas voters casting their votes.

“That was the highest in overseas voting history. But that remains low when compared to local voter turnout. This is why we want to increase this through internet voting,” Laudiangco said.

“We hope to have a similar turnout as the local elections, where we had 84 percent turnout in the last elections,” he added.

He said the OVCS will no

The project has an approved budget of PHP465.8 million.

Meanwhile, the SMSSequent JV demonstrated on Thursday, April 11 its internet voting system before the SBAC during the post-qualification evaluation.

Laudiangco said the SBAC is looking to complete the postqualification evaluation this month.

Transmission system deal

awarded

Also on Thursday, the Comelec en banc the Notice of Award to the joint venture of iOne Resources, Inc. and Ardent Networks,

Jinggoy upbeat on Eddie Garcia bill’s passage

by Javier Joe ismael ManilaTimes.net

SEN. Jinggoy Estrada is optimistic the landmark legislation that will protect the workers in the movie and television industry will be enacted before Congress adjourns sine die The proposed Eddie Garcia Law will not go through bicameral conference deliberations after the House of Representatives adopted the bill’s Senate version. Estrada, who is the proponent of the measure in the Senate, said the enrolled bill can now be transmitted to Malacañang for

the president’s signature.

“For the hardworking, creative, passionate, and dedicated individuals working tirelessly to entertain us, whether on the big screen and TV, this is a long-awaited and much-deserved remuneration,” said Estrada, chairman of the Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development.

The bill was named after the late veteran actor Eddie Garcia, who died following an accident while he was on set in 2019.

It imposes the strict implementation of an eight-hour work shift, to a maximum of 14 hours or a total of 60 hours a

week.

It provides insurance coverage for workers in case of accident or death during a movie or TV production, the right to unionize, and protection from violence, harassment or any act that degrades the workers. Employers must provide contracts, transportation expenses, social security, and welfare benefits to ensure better working conditions and standards.

A Movie and Television Industry Tripartite Council comprised of representatives from the government, employers, and industry workers

Features OpiniOn

Valor in the WPS

The Philippines marked Araw ng Kagitingan or Day of Valor on Tuesday, April 9 in the shadow of continuing Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea. The special day is meant to honor all those who fought foreign colonizers and invaders, particularly those who repelled Japanese forces in Bataan for four months until April 9, 1942. Following the fall of Bataan, the Filipino and American soldiers who survived the siege were made to walk to Tarlac in the infamous Death March.

Both during World War II and in the revolution against Spanish colonial rule, Filipinos have shown courage in their readiness to fight a superior military force and die for their country. Today, that valor is again being tested as the country faces a challenge to its sovereignty and maritime economic entitlements, which have been officially recognized by an international arbitration court based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

In the past months, Filipino Navy and Coast Guard personnel along with fishermen and civilian boat crew have been injured by water cannon blasts from China Coast Guard ships preventing Philippine vessels from undertaking resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre, a rusty ship serving as a naval outpost on Ayungin Shoal. The Chinese also shoo away Filipino fishers from

WHEN presented by opinion polls with the top choices for senators at next year’s midterm elections, middle-class educated Filipinos typically react with a mixture of disbelief and despair. They rue the fact that from the same list are names of politicians who may someday be perceived as “presidentiable.”

In the current election cycle, the ones that consistently stand out in the top 12 are individuals who appear to have mainly made a mark in the mass media for the roles they have played as heroes, protectors of the poor, and dispensers of quick justice. It is easy to scoff at these choices as nothing more than vessels of illusory empowerment, the outcome of voter immaturity and ignorance.

But if they are, then nothing

Horizons

NOWADAYS, it’s a fad to brandish patriotic credentials via strong posturing on the West Philippine Sea disputes. Countless government officials compete to criticize China’s latest bullying acts in our waters. This is in stark contrast to the six years of the Rodrigo Duterte presidency when we had to endure either defeatist rhetoric by no less than the commander in chief and/ or sift through the myriad of contradictory statements by top Cabinet members.

But now, even senior allies of the former president have joined the patriotic chorus. Think of Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, who couldn’t resist trolling the Chinese national team with his couture West Philippine Sea shirt during last year’s Fiba World Cup tournament. Just weeks earlier, his colleague and fellow Duterte loyalist, Sen. Christopher Go, expressed his “deepest resentment and condemnation” of China’s bullying of Philippine coast guard vessels in the West Philippine Sea. Even more interesting is the case of Duterte’s former political adviser and reelectionist Sen. Francis Tolentino, who has gone so far as to take credit

Panatag Shoal. President Marcos has said his administration continues to talk with China to ease tension in the West Philippine Sea. Instead of easing, however, the tension appears to be escalating, as Beijing insists that Manila had promised to remove the Sierra Madre from Ayungin. Beijing has shown no proof of this promise or identified the Filipino who supposedly made the commitment.

There are conflicting versions of whether Rodrigo Duterte during his presidency had a “gentleman’s agreement” with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping for a status quo in the WPS that would effectively make the Sierra Madre disintegrate from disrepair into the sea.

In the absence of a valid confirmation of this supposed agreement, Philippine Navy and Coast Guard personnel backed by civilians continue to

brave Chinese harassment within the Philippines’ maritime exclusive economic zone to regularly bring supplies to Filipinos stationed on the Sierra Madre. The observance of Araw ng Kagitingan

a

Overcoming political despair

much has changed in our political life. From the very moment of our founding as a nation, Filipinos have searched for political figures who embody a form of redemptive hope, a break from the systemic oppression and inequality in which the country has historically been mired. Many such leaders have failed to deliver on their promises or satisfy their people’s expectations. Yet, Filipinos do not tire of voting for the same type of politicians, never giving up hope, preferring to invest their trust in elections rather than in revolutions. Nation-building, however, demands more than personal charisma. It requires a vision that includes the painstaking creation of a professional civil service, the formation of an educated citizenry, the development of a productive economy, and the establishment of a capable government under a functioning rule of law. These are collective undertakings

that, by their long-term nature, have to be sustained beyond the tenure of any charismatic leader. As essential as they are to nation-building, there is usually nothing romantic about them. The civil servants who quietly work on these tasks are rarely seen as heroes. But more than that, because they are unelected, these unsung civil servants are expected to defer to those who wield political power by virtue of their election to public office. This is probably the hardest part of nationbuilding—how to establish a professional bureaucracy that can competently administer the day-to-day affairs of government, especially during the most difficult political transitions.

A well-trained nonpartisan career administrative service that is immune to the vagaries of political contestation is the prime achievement of all mature democracies. Such political systems can tolerate the most

eccentric and disruptive of all politicians because of their strong institutions.

But there is often a downside to these modern public institutions—and this is best summed up by the term “bureaucratic” in all its negative connotations. This happens when officials become so fixated on the rules and procedures that they lose sight of the larger mandate of their agencies. Instead of dispensing public service, they become empires of petty authority. Such organizations become so calcified that they turn into fetters impeding change and reinvention.

The German sociologist Max Weber saw this as the unexpected outcome of rationalization, a disease in modernity that can only be cured by the restoration of value rationality through politics. This necessary interruption is the role he assigns to charismatic leaders who have a vocation for

politics. He did not mean the narcissists and demagogues who habitually promise to rescue the masses from the dysfunctions of a corrupt and uncaring bureaucracy. He was referring, rather, to redemptive figures who exemplify a practicable vision of political renewal.

The political philosopher Wendy Brown, in her recent book, “Nihilistic Times: Thinking with Max Weber,” writes: “Charisma, with its capacity to incite and excite, inspire and mobilize, and above all lead beyond business as usual, is an indisputably potent element of political life.” It is a tragedy that the ones who have been adept at appropriating it are the political egotists who—beyond their antics on stage—are incapable of offering a new vision of “who we are” and “what we should do.”

On the other hand, we have a lot of young progressive political leaders who have a clear notion of what lies ahead for the

country and what needs to be done but, lacking the passionate and visceral language in which to articulate this, fail to capture the imagination of the masses. Brown describes their accustomed political style as “free of rhetorical power, prevailing only on the basis of their evidentiary and logical soundness.” In short, bland. What is needed is the reenchantment of political life—which, in recent years, has been the monopoly of rude, intimidating, and angry demagogues—by charismatic leaders who can mesmerize crowds with visions and actions that remind them of their power to change the world. (Inquirer. net)

* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

* * * public.lives@gmail.com

JAPHUS: A Japan-Philippine-US Alliance?

for the gradual crystallization of quadrilateral cooperation among the Philippines, Australia, the U.S. , and China. “Last year February 2023, modesty aside, I suggested the ‘quad’ with USA, Australia, and Japan—finally the joint maritime patrol will happen today, April 7, 2024!” Tolentino claimed in a recent social media post.

The problem, however, is that well before he began speaking tough on the West Philippine Sea issue, countless experts have been raising this issue in major capitals and influential policy circles for the past decade. The main reason the “Quad” didn’t come to fruition earlier is Tolentino’s former boss, Duterte, who actively sabotaged our traditional alliances to please his patrons in Zhongnanhai. Thanks to President Marcos’ sound approach to the West Philippine Sea disputes, all sorts of long-delayed initiatives are taking off with vengeance. The recently concluded quadrilateral patrols with our three key allies are likely just the beginning of a new era of Philippine foreign policy.

This week, Mr. Marcos will return to the White House for a historic trilateral summit with U.S. President Joseph Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The aim is to create a new security grouping in the mold of the Australia-UK-U.S. (AUKUS) and U.S.-Japan-South

Korea trilateral groupings.

With multilateral organizations, namely the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, refusing to call out China’s hegemonic ambitions, the U.S. is leveraging its large network of partners through “minilateralism”—ad-hoc, flexible, and issue-specific cooperation with like-minded powers.

For Tokyo, the emerging Japan-Philippine-U.S. (JAPHUS) trilateral grouping is also a major step in solidifying its emergence as a key security provider in the Indo-Pacific region. Shortly after the JAPHUS trilateral meeting this week, Mr. Marcos and Kishida are expected to sign a Visiting Forces Agreement-style pact that could transform regional affairs for the foreseeable future.

There are, however, reasons to curb our geopolitical enthusiasm. Mr. Marcos must make sure that the new trilateral grouping will not mean just more American (and, potentially, even Japanese) boots and bases in the Philippines. In particular, the JAPHUS alliance should serve as a springboard for comprehensive strategic cooperation, including the expansion of quality investments as well as high-end defense aid to the Philippines.

It’s quite astonishing that communist Vietnam, a former U.S. enemy, has a trade surplus

with the U.S. that is 10 times our total exports to our sole treaty ally. The current levels of American economic footprint in the Philippines are, frankly, pathetic compared to their investments in neighboring countries, most of which are increasingly more aligned to and/or dependent on China. And will the U.S. offer a bilateral free trade deal to the Philippines, as the Japanese did almost 20 years ago? Not to mention, when will the Philippines finally receive modern fighter jets and warships from either the U.S. or Japan?

Moreover, tighter security cooperation with our traditional allies should not limit our room for maneuver. We should avoid getting locked into a permanent anti-China alliance, but instead leverage our security partnerships for our national interest. In particular, we should make sure that we won’t get involved in any U.S.-led contingency plan over Taiwan absent proper assessment of the big picture of what is best for the Philippines’ long-term security. We should guard against overcorrecting Duterte’s follies, too. (Inquirer.net) *

RichaRd heydaRian

today is

tribute to their valor, along with those of earlier generations who were not deterred by a superior force in defending their country. (Philstar. com)

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and U.S. President Joseph Biden Malacañang file photos

Randy david

31 provinces now affected by drought

MANILA — The number of provinces affected by drought has risen to 31, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

Nineteen of the drought-hit provinces are in Luzon.

These are Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Cagayan, Cavite, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Kalinga, La Union, Mountain Province, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan and Rizal. Metro Manila was included in the list.

In the Visayas, Antique, Biliran, Bohol, Cebu, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Iloilo, Leyte, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Samar were affected by drought.

Lanao del Norte is the only province in Mindanao experiencing drought.

Drought conditions are characterized by below normal rainfall or a 21 to 60 percent reduction from the average for five consecutive months, or way below normal rainfall for three consecutive months.

PAGASA said Batangas, Laguna and Masbate were affected by the dry spell.

Capiz, Siquijor and Southern Leyte in the Visayas and Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay in Mindanao also experienced dry spell. Fifteen provinces nationwide – nine in Luzon, two in the Visayas and four in Mindanao –experienced dry conditions.

Dry spell means below normal rainfall for

three consecutive months, while dry conditions are characterized by below normal rainfall for two months.

PAGASA said El Nino may persist unti May.

In Cagayan Valley, damage to agriculture due to El Niño has reached more than P560 million, Monico Castro Jr., Department of Agriculture (DA) field operations division chief, reported during a management committee meeting last week.

Cornfields incurred the biggest damage with losses of 32,166.95 metric tons followed by rice, 3,657.95 MT, and high-value crops, 80.33 MT.

The DA has coordinated with affected local government units and endorsed the list of farmers to concerned agencies for financial assistance, according to Rose Mary Aquino, acting DA regional executive director.

Cagayan Valley is the top corn producer in the country.

State of calamity in Negros Occidental town

Meanwhile, in Negros Occidental, the Sangguniang Bayan of San Enrique approved during a special session on Monday, April 8 the recommendation of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to declare a state of calamity in the town due to the damage caused by El Niño.

Mayor Jilson Tubillara said damage to crops and fisheries was estimated at P9.9 million, with 600 farmers and 6,000 households affected.

San Enrique is among the rice producing towns in Negros Occidental. — Gilbert Bayoran, Victor Martin (Romina Cabrera/Philstar.com) n

Jinggoy upbeat on Eddie...

US, Japan to unveil Luzon investment connecting...

of the deliverables of the historic trilateral leaders’ summit between President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., U.S. President Joe Biden, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on April 11.

The investment initiative, the official said, would “accelerate coordinated investments in high-impact infrastructure projects, including ports, rail, clean energy, semiconductors, supply chains, and other forms of connectivity in the Philippines”.

After the launch, the governments would set up a steering committee to accelerate the corridor projects.

The U.S. Development Finance Corporation will also open its first regional office in the Philippines as part of the announcement, the official said. “When it comes to PGII, we do expect it will take some time for the full suite of investments that we’ve envisioned here to come to pass,” the official said.

“But as I mentioned, we’re standing up a steering committee of high-level U.S., Philippines, and Japanese government officials to ensure that we are steering private sector investment to exactly the types of projects that this corridor needs to improve, as well as bringing a full suite of U.S. government tools to bear.”

The official noted that the corridor and the recent U.S. Presidential Trade Mission to Manila are testaments that Washington D.C. “take very seriously” its work to help the country’s clean energy transition and supply chain resilience, among others. ‘More investments’

The administration official said several U.S. companies would also announce new investments in the Philippines, including in areas of undersea cables, logistics, and telecommunications.

Google on April 11 said it would invest USD1 billion in two

submarine cable projects, one of which was to create new fiber optic routes between the U.S., Japan, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and on to Guam.

Google added that its ongoing Taiwan-Philippines-U.S. cable system project would also get an extension to CNMI “to increase reliability in the region”.

On top of these, the senior official said the U.S. would launch new aid packages on “humanitarian assistance and disaster response, specifically located around the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites”.

“Including over the next year, you’ll see USAID (United States Agency for International Development) in partnership with DOD (US Department of National Defense) launching a new initiative to pre-position humanitarian relief commodities for Philippine civilian disaster response authorities at EDCA sites,” the official said. (PNA) n will be created to provide advice and consultation on policies and programs according to the country’s Labor Code.

“We hope this will be signed and become law soon. This fulfills the long-awaited protection for the welfare and rights of TV and movie industry

workers. This is our tribute to ‘Manoy’ Eddie Garcia and the industry’s dedicated workers. His death will not be in vain,” Estrada said in Filipino. n

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Rek innddling wandeerlust: Winter E sc apade 8

Rbeckkons balik bayans back to the Phiilippines JOURNAL

by MoMar G. Visaya / AJPress

EVENGE travel was all the rage at the recently concluded Winter Escapade 8, the annual balikbayan travel initiative of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Department of Foreign of Foreign Affairs (DFA) which made its triumphant return after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

This year, over 250 enthusiastic participants, including nearly 50 from the United States, embraced the opportunity to delve into the rich tapestry of Philippine culture and heritage. DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo extended his appreciation to the tour participants “for choosing the Philippines as the place of respite from the winter chill” and acknowledged that the increasing participation in this program “is proof positive of the consistent and growing interest in the tourism, culture, and heritage of the Philippines.”

“This was one of the best years in terms of the participation and the enthusiasm of the participants,” Philippine Ambassador to Canada Maria Andrelita Austria told the Asian Journal. “We listened to what they really wanted so we made sure that there was something for every type, the more adventurous ones or the ones who want to relax.”

The ambassador expressed her fondness for swimming with the whale sharks in Oslob, emphasizing the abundance of natural resources and environmental treasures present in the country. She underscored the importance of preserving and highlighting these assets, emphasizing the need to showcase the Philippines’ rich biodiversity and pristine ecosystems. “We tend to forget how beautiful the Philippines is,” she emphasized. The ambassador also brought gifts to the governors of Bohol and Cebu who hosted reception dinners for the guests. “We wanted to tell a story of the potential of the Philippines

so we thought, rather than to bring a gift from Canada, we brought a gift that is exported to many countries like the U.S. and Canada,” Austria explained. “It’s a little-known secret that the Philippine crab meat is the

closest relative of the Maryland blue swimming crab, yung alimasag natin. People from the U.S. buy that and make them into Maryland crab cakes.”

“It’s like the story of our people, how we are so adaptable and how we are essential to many of the countries but we Filipinos do not know about it,” she added.

Creating memories

From February 18 to 27, eager travelers embarked on a journey that spanned the enchanting landscapes of Manila, Bohol, Cebu, Guimaras, and Iloilo, forging unforgettable memories and fostering cross-cultural exchange.

Among them was Edith Sobeng from Vancouver, a seasoned traveler whose curiosity was piqued by fliers promoting the tour at the consulate during her dual citizenship appointment. Despite initial apprehensions about joining a group tour for the first time, Edith found herself captivated by the diverse array of experiences awaiting her.

“For me, every moment is a highlight. The first time I joined, we explored Bohol, Dumaguete, Siquijor, and Cebu, so Iloilo is a new addition for me. There’s just so much to see and do,” Edith remarked, reflecting on her sixth Winter Escapade adventure.

Expressing her admiration for the Philippines’ natural beauty, she emphasized the importance of promoting tourism for

u

Tour participants have the option to choose the tour that

one option

want.

Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia hosted a dinner for the tour participants as she welcomed the balikbayans to her province.

they

In Manila,

was the Chinatown walking tour, where they visited Binondo, Sta. Cruz and Escolta). AJPress Photos by Momar G. Visaya

Among the must-visit sites in Iloilo is the Molo Church (in photo); others were able to visit some of Panay’s most beautiful churches, including the Miag-ao Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Some of the younger participants chose the adventurous side tours such as the sardine run in Moalboal, the island hopping in Balicasag and the trip to the Cadapdapan rice paddies. In Guimaras, they enjoyed posing with the performers with mango props.

Philippine Ambassador to Canada Maria Andrelita Austria led the wreath laying ceremony at Luneta Park to signify the start of the Winter Escapade 8. Among the elected officials and participants were Manila Vice Mayor Yul Siervo Nieto and the Consuls General in Canada - Rea Oreta (Ottawa), Arlene Magno (Vancouver), Zaldy Patron (Calgary), and Angelica Escalona (Toronto). Photos courtesy of Manila Public Information Office

10

Local volunteers, community leaders join statewide Clean California effort

ON April 6, individuals and community groups from the City Heights area joined Caltrans, Clean California, I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD), Keep California Beautiful, and Keep America Beautiful to clean up and beautify Azalea Park. Nearly 200 volunteers gathered to revitalize the park and cleaned up close to 300 pounds of litter, including garbage, household hazardous materials and recyclable materials. The group spruced up the Azalea Park Water Conservation Garden with California native plants and removed three dumpsters full of invasive plants, which can be harmful to the native plants and animals, and cause fire hazards, among other harmful effects. The beautification included painting barbeque pits, restoring park benches and tables, and installing interpretive signs, including a map of the City Heights Canyon Loop Trail. On hand to kick off and rally volunteers was Sean Elo-Rivera, District 9 council president and Linda Pennington, founder and president of Azalea Park Neighborhood Association, along with ILACSD and Keep California Beautiful representatives.

“Clean California and its local partners are grateful to the many volunteers that invested their time today to revitalize this beloved park,” said Gabriela Polo, Western Regional Director, Keep America Beautiful. “By coming together to clean and beautify Azalea Park, an important landmark for City Heights residents, we’re doing more than picking up litter. We are building resilience, fostering a sense of ownership and pride, and creating a space where community bonds can grow stronger.” This event was made possible by Governor Gavin Newsom’s Clean California initiative — a sweeping, $1.2 billion, multiyear cleanup effort led by Caltrans to remove trash, create thousands of jobs, and join communities throughout the state to reclaim, transform and beautify public spaces. Clean California is not only helping to clean up San Diego highways, but also revitalizing neighborhoods in every corner of California. The Azalea Park beautification effort was one of many taking place across the state with opportunities for volunteers to get involved. An upcoming opportunity to help is during Clean California Community Days, a series of cleanups, activities, and celebrations across the state, taking place April 19-22. Visit CleanCA.com to learn more about how Clean California is transforming communities and how to get involved. (Advertising Supplement)

Remembering our heroes and honoring their valor

AS they do every year on April 9, families, friends and advocates of Filipino World War II veterans gather in the National World War II Memorial, a massive bronze and stone plaza by a reflecting pool dedicated to the women and men who fought in America’s war. Filipino soldiers were among those on the battle front in December 1941 through April 9, 1942, fighting under the American flag. But it was only seven years ago when the U.S. recognized their service and sacrifice.

“Araw ng Kagitingan” (Day of Valor) used to be called “Fall of Bataan,” to commemorate the thousands who fought in one of the last stands of American and Filipinos soldiers before they fell to Japanese forces. In the infamous Bataan Death March, more than 10,000 died during the 60-mile march to prison camps. Led by the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP), this year’s commemoration was preceded the day before by a celestial event – a solar eclipse that brought together people all over the world. The following morning, blessed by warm weather and sunny skies, April 9ths “Day of Valor” was witnessed by hundreds of tourists from across the country, many of whom heard for the first time the heroic and patriotic service of Filipino and American soldiers and sailors in the Philippines during World War II. Unbowed and undeterred

When the Memorial opened 20 years ago, there were more than two dozen Filipino veterans living in the DC area. Today, only two remain: 96-year-old Rey Cabacar and 96-year-old Rudy Panaglima. Along with their comrades, they had organized themselves as the American Coalition of Filipino Veterans (ACFV), under the leadership of Captain Pat Ganio. They felt humiliated that Congress had passed the Rescission Act in 1946, barely a year after the U.S. had declared victory. But this victory was not meant for the 260,000 Filipinos who served and died under the American flag. Unbowed and undeterred, these aging and ailing soldiers staged protest actions in front of the White House. They walked the halls of Congress to demand what was promised them.

In 2009, about 18,000 veterans received a one-time payment of $15,000 through the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation (FVEC) Fund. Filipino veterans residing in the Philippines received $9,000. The late Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, who championed the cause of Filipino World War II veterans in Congress, made this benefit possible. In 2016, largely through Sen. Mazie Hirono’s effort, FilVetREP successfully secured legislation that awarded the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal. It was signed into law by President Barack Obama in December that year.

Congressional gold medal

Following the “Day of Valor” event was a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony held at the Philippine Embassy. Honored were World War II veterans who had passed away: Sergeant Alfonso O. Torre, Captain Dominador Gregorio, Second Lieutenant Tiburcio Manguiran and Victor Villadolid. Accepting the medals on their behalf are grandsons and granddaughters, including a widow, Fe Rael Villadolid.

near

Rekindling wanderlust: Winter Escapade...

economic growth. “I have no complaints about this tour, especially with such a lively group. It’s wonderful to see so many millennials this year,” she added, already looking forward to future excursions.

For Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, hosting balikbayan tour groups such as the Very Important (VIP) Tour and Winter Escapade is an opportunity they grabbed so they can proudly showcase their city to the world.

“Our involvement with the Very Important Pinoy Tour of the USA and Winter Escapade Tour from Canada was due to a partnership with DOT and TPB and Rajah Tours,” the mayor remarked. “We are very honored and proud to be chosen as one of the destinations for these tours projects; Iloilo City has the best of both worlds, they say it is where the past meets the present.”

“Of course, we welcomed the chance to host because we want our balikbayans to experience our city’s beauty, its development and improvements, its gastronomic offerings, and we know by hosting, we will be able to promote investments and increase economic activities within the city,” Mayor Treñas added.

Noriel Favis from Edmonton echoed Edith’s sentiments, describing his fourth Winter Escapade as an enriching experience that surpassed his expectations.

“It was hectic visiting three

cities, but we enjoyed every moment. The abundance of delicious food was a highlight, although we may have been short on sleep,” he chuckled. From exploring the vibrant streets of Iloilo and Guimaras to rediscovering the charm

of Bohol’s landscapes, Noriel cherished every moment shared with his family of 16, including several first-time participants. Joining the tour to accompany his grandmother, Lola Lillian Soriano from Maryland, Ynigo Munoz found delight in exploring iconic landmarks such as Cebu’s historic pilgrimage sites and the picturesque shores of Balicasag Island in Bohol.

“I relished every moment of our travels, from exploring Intramuros to embarking on island-hopping adventures. It was a truly unforgettable experience,” he exclaimed, grateful for the opportunity to create lasting memories with his loved ones.

For Sarah Gonzales, the Winter Escapade offered a chance to explore beyond Luzon, a departure from her usual travel routine. Snorkeling in Moalboal, encountering sardines and sea turtles, stood out as a memorable experience, reigniting her love for the Philippines since her last visit in 2016. Encouraged by her aunts who had previously embarked on the journey, Gonzales and her family eagerly joined the tour, seeking to immerse herself in the diverse beauty of the country. Reflecting on her adventure, Gonzales voiced a desire for a smaller group size to enhance

the quality of activities and allow for a more leisurely pace.

Despite feeling rushed at times, she appreciated the opportunity to explore four different regions and recommended the Winter Escapade to those seeking a comprehensive tour experience.

Lucy Reyes, representing the Philippine Canadian Nurses Association in Calgary, found the trip to be both eye-opening and nostalgic. Immersed in the natural and cultural wonders of the Philippines. She was particularly moved by the warmth of the welcome extended by Governor Gwen Garcia and her team in Cebu.

However, she noted room for improvement, particularly the Sinigang Valley tour, suggesting a separation between advertising and tourism activities to enhance the overall experience. “As tourists, we wanted to sightsee, not listen to lectures,” she quipped.

Despite these observations, Reyes commended the organizers for their exceptional organization, citing the Winter Escapade as the most wellcoordinated tour she had ever participated in. Encouraged by Consul General Zaldy Patron to join the journey, Reyes found inspiration in reconnecting with her roots and discovering the unparalleled beauty of her homeland. n

Lawmakers introduce bill to facilitate shift from gas to affordable clean energy in California

by AJPress

IN a bold move to address the mounting challenges of energy affordability, environmental sustainability, and public health, the State of California is spearheading a comprehensive legislative effort to transition away from its reliance on natural gas.

Introduced by Senator Dave Min of Orange County, SB 1221, also known as the Affordable Energy Transition And Workforce Protection Act, aims to chart a new course for the state’s energy landscape.

At the heart of SB 1221 is a commitment to longterm energy affordability for Californians, coupled with strong protections for workers in the energy sector. The bill establishes a more transparent process at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), enabling a thorough review of the need for costly gas infrastructure investments. This paves the way for the evaluation of cost-effective zeroemission alternatives, such as neighborhood-scale decarbonization projects.

Recognizing the immense financial and environmental toll of the state’s aging natural gas pipeline network, SB 1221 offers a solution that addresses both affordability and sustainability. When gas pipelines fall into disrepair, the state is often faced with the decision to either invest hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure that fails to align with California’s climate goals, or pivot towards clean energy solutions that can power homes and businesses, create jobs, and improve air quality.

To avoid locking in further investment in gas infrastructure, SB 1221 will open the door for pilot programs in economically-disadvantaged communities to transition to 100% clean electricity. These neighborhood-scale initiatives can upgrade homes and buildings with clean energy technologies, providing long-term stability in utility bills for households.

Recent polling data suggests that California voters overwhelmingly support these types of clean energy initiatives. A majority (62%) of voters favor

policies that would enable neighborhoods to convert to 100% clean electricity, and a similar percentage (62%) express concern about the aging natural gas infrastructure and the high costs associated with its maintenance and replacement.

“SB 1221 will enable the state to make smarter decisions around energy infrastructure planning and invest in a way that makes energy more affordable for Californians while prioritizing the communities most in need,” said Jose Torres, California Director at the Building Decarbonization Coalition.

Despite California’s reputation as a climate and environmental leader, the state remains the second-largest consumer of natural gas nationwide. This is particularly problematic, as natural gas poses significant risks to human health and the environment. Gas-powered appliances in homes emit four times more nitrogen oxide pollution than California’s gas power plants, and two-thirds as much as cars.

Moreover, the maintenance and expansion of natural gas infrastructure is an increasingly costly endeavor. Utilities across the country are spending upwards of $15 billion annually to replace leaking pipelines, with each new pipeline typically lasting 80 years. This locks utility customers into expensive infrastructure that will eventually become obsolete as the state transitions towards renewable energy targets.

As gas demand declines in California, the fixed costs of the gas system will be spread across a dwindling customer base, leading to potentially dramatic increases in gas bills – up to $600 per month by 2050, according to the California Energy Commission. SB 1221 aims to address this issue by enabling the CPUC to pilot cost-effective, zeroemission alternatives to costly gas infrastructure replacements.

With the ongoing energy affordability crisis and the imperative to address climate change, California lawmakers have recognized the urgent need to chart a new course away from fossil fuels. SB 1221 represents a significant step in this direction, seeking to protect consumers, workers, and the environment through a comprehensive approach to the state’s energy transition. n

Remembering our heroes...

“This award ceremony is a once in a lifetime event for many here today, especially the families of our veterans,” Taguba said. “This is the 109th award ceremony we have conducted.”

Brown faces in white sands

Last month, FilVetREP leaders and supporters joined more than 5,000 participants in the annual Bataan Memorial Death March (BMDM) in White Sands, New Mexico. The march along rugged terrain of ankle-deep sand, gravel and rolling hills is known as the most grueling in the U.S. FilVetREP’s presence in the last eight years has raised greater awareness about the plight of Filipino soldiers who were deprived of their rightful benefits by the 1946 Rescission Acts. Although the memorial march has been going on for 35 years, it’s only been known recently that Bataan is in the Philippines.

Today, the Philippine flag is prominently displayed and the Philippine National Anthem is sung at BMDM’s ceremonies. Many marchers proudly display Philippine insignias on their back packs. On their shirts are printed names and pictures of loved ones who marched in Bataan.

Active history lessons

As annual events, the Bataan Memorial Death March and the April 9 Day of Valor are active history lessons. “They remind us of a proud legacy of service and sacrifice,” said Taguba. “They inspire us to continue telling their stories and keep them alive for posterity. For their staunch defense of freedom and democracy, we must make sure they did not die in vain.”

To preserve their legacy, FilVetREP embarked on developing an education program in 2017, titled “Duty to Country.” It is currently used in seven states – California, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia and Washington State. The curriculum is being taught by 22 teachers in elementary, middle schools, high schools and colleges. As a result, more than 2,400 students are learning the history of USPhilippine relationship dating back to 1898.

An award winning education program, www.dutytocountry. org was approved and fully funded by the U.S. Department of Education. It is dedicated to those who gave their lives and sacrifice, to include their

families, past and present, on the incalculable price to serve under one flag – the United States of America. n

FilVetREP Chairman Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (Ret) describes Bataan and Corregidor as “not just battlefields. They are hallowed grounds where thousands of Filipinos and Americans, men and women, fought to defend their homeland in the Philippines, and for a country far away – the United States of America. The huge losses of lives in battle, in captivity, from hunger and disease, many still missing in action, and those wounded for life, were interminable.”

In his remarks, Philippine Ambassador Jose Manuel G. Romualdez paid tribute to Filipino and American soldiers who “valiantly battled Japanese forces to defend our land, our people and our future. We should continue to ensure that younger and future generations remember their service and embrace their virtues of resilience, patriotism and sacrifice.”

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