The Filipino Press: March 15-21, 2024

MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. assured Filipinos in Germany that the government is working tirelessly to ensure that all overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are treated with dignity and respect.

Marcos, along with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and the rest of his delegation, met with thousands of Filipinos living and working in the European nation on Tuesday night (Manila time) to conclude the second day of his three-day working visit in Berlin.

“We are working tirelessly to ensure that you are treated with the dignity and the respect that you deserve,” the President said in his meet-and-greet with the Filipino community.

“Through various programs and initiatives, we strive to protect your rights, your welfare. We strive to ensure your well-being and empowerment is assured,” he added, citing initiatives by the Department of Migrant Workers, such as the One Repatriation Command Center and the 24/7 OFW helpline 1348.

He also mentioned the government’s reintegration program for returning OFWs and educational assistance for their children.

According to the Philippine Embassy, about 35,000 Filipinos in Germany work in various

By Sunita SohraBji/EMS

Misidentification of

no way to record it. Subsequently, they will not have access to culturally appropriate mental health services who can address the trauma they have experienced,” Rachel Evans, youth programs manager at San Diegobased Somali Family Service, told Ethnic Media Services.

Students Erased MENA students’ identities are “immediately erased” as soon as they’re enroll in the school district. They are classified as White. Of the more than 5 million children enrolled in schools throughout California, not one is identified as Middle Eastern or North African.

“It’s very challenging when the budgets are determined. There’s no data about their quantity, where they are, where they’re located, and what their needs are,” said Evans.

Moreover, a lack of identity often induces multi-generational trauma,

industries, such as health care, information technology, hotel and hospitality, as well as in the academe.

“Your

leading to depression and selfharming behaviors, she said.

Data Collection Standards Vary

Currently, MENA folks who have experienced a hate crime have difficulties in noting whether the crime is accurately reported,” said Evans, noting that agencies have varying standards for collecting data about the population. In some data collection, people of MENA origin are identified as White. In others, they are identified as Middle Eastern, she said. Critically, the FBI identifies MENA people as White in its annual Uniform Crime Reports, meaning there is no data on the recent spikes in violence against the community.

“When it comes to hate crimes, accurate data is essential to ensure that our community gets the support and resources it needs,” said Evans.

New Legislation AB 2673, introduced in the California state Legislature this week by Assemblymember Bill Essayli, will add the MENA classification to all state intake forms. Essayli, who is Lebanese-American, also authored

House Resolution 30 in 2023, in an attempt to collect MENA data at the federal level.

Approximately 740,000 people from the Middle East and North African countries reside in California, which has the largest MENA population in the nation. “Current demographic data collection in California is entirely inadequate in capturing the unique experiences that MENA communities face, from health issues to socioeconomic outcomes,” said Essayli, as he introduced the bill Feb. 26.

“AB 2763 will ensure that state agencies and legislators will have the necessary data to make informed decisions about policy priorities and resource allocation,” he said.

‘Who Am I?’

“I

According to Marcos, remittances from Filipinos abroad reached a record high last year, amounting to USD33.5 billion.

For San Diego County renters and homeowners who cannot live in their homes because of damage due to the Jan. 21-23, 2024, severe storm and flooding, FEMA Rental Assistance may help. The initial rental award is for two months and may be reviewed for further assistance.

Lodging Assistance and Rental Assistance FEMA rental assistance is a temporary grant to survivors to pay for somewhere to live while they repair or rebuild their home. For renters, it may provide a solution while their home is under repair or while they look for a new place to rent. A Rental Assistance grant may cover:

* Funds for temporary housing while you are unable to live in your home.

* Funds can be used for security deposits, rent and the cost of essential utilities such as electricity, gas and water. They may not be used to pay for cable or Internet.

* Lodging Expense Reimbursement may be available to those who incurred out-of-pocket expense for staying at a hotel/motel or other short-term lodging.

Steps for Homeowners and Renters

Survivors who live in San Diego

service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service. To view an accessible video about how to apply visit: Three Ways to Register for

The Chief Executive, likewise, said Germany has been supportive of the Philippines in ensuring a secure and peaceful South China Sea, assuring OFWs that the government will not give up its claim in the disputed territories.

“Nagkakaproblema po tayo ay may ibang bansa sinasabi ‘yung ating teritoryo ay kanila pala. Ngunit asahan ninyo hindi po tayo papayag dahil maliwanag na maliwanag naman na ito ay bahagi ng Pilipinas. (We are experiencing issues. There are countries who claim that our territory is theirs. But expect us not to agree because it is very, very clear that that is part of Philippine territory.),” he said.

German tech giant backs PH digital transformation push

The national government’s bid for digital transformation gained a big boost after getting support from Siemens AG, a German multinational technology conglomerate.

In a meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, Siemens AG President and CEO Dr. Roland Busch said the tech giant is open to providing training for Filipino workers and businesses adapting to modern technologies, noting the Philippines’ ideal young workforce for such a program.

FEMA Disaster Assistance - YouTube.

After You Apply

Keep your receipts for three years to show how you spent FEMA grants. If grant money is not used as outlined in the letter, you may have to repay FEMA and could lose eligibility for further federal assistance.

FEMA may provide Rental Assistance, including initial and continued assistance awards, up to 18 months or the end of the 18-month period of assistance, whichever comes first. FEMA will also award applicants one additional month of rent when utilized for a security deposit.

FEMA is prohibited from duplicating benefits provided by other sources for the same loss. While FEMA grants do not have to be paid back, if you receive assistance from another source for the same need you may be required to repay FEMA.

For the latest information on the Jan. 21-23, 2024, San Diego County severe storms and flooding, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4758.

The President also lauded the OFWs' massive contributions to the Philippine economy.

contributions to the

Philippine economy over the years will not be forgotten. Bagong bayani (modern heroes) we call you, and rightly so,” he said.

President Ferdinand

The Pampered Pinay Lifestyle: Quick & Easy Comfort Food

By Francine Maigue

For students who start to crave mom's cooking and your fave dish from a hometown resto...

Fear not, my friends! Even if all you've got is a mug, a few bucks and a dorm micro-fridge combo, we can make some foodie magic. (Your dorm mates will be impressed.)

Here are two of my fave microwaveable dishes (that aren't TV dinners) with only five ingredients and in five minutes and five steps...or less! Let's do this!

SWEET & SOUR CHICKEN

INGREDIENTS:

1. Chicken Nuggets (You can buy a bag of frozen nuggets...or save some fast food leftovers. Hello, McDo 20 piece special!)

2. Banana Ketchup (I don't currently have a preference, but I know others feel strongly about their brand of choice.)

3. Atsara (Again, pick a brand, any brand.)

4. Soy sauce (Tell me you have a packet from takeout lying around.)

5. Sugar (You've got a packet of sugar or sweetener handy, right?

Optional - Black pepper (Yup, you guessed it...from a little saved packet.)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Mix banana ketchup and atsara in a microwave safe bowl for 30 seconds.

2. Add sugar, soy sauce and pepper to taste.

3. Microwave chicken nuggets, then toss in sweet and sour sauce.

4. Serve on top of microwaveable rice.

5. No fifth step...just share and enjoy!

SINIGANG INGREDIENTS:

1. Packet of Sinigang mix (Find it in Seafood City or favorite FilipinoAsian market's spice/soup mix aisle.)

2. Frozen, peeled/deveined,precooked baby shrimp (These make life so much easier.)

3. Tomato (chopped)

4. Onion (chopped...Grocery stores actually sell chopped onions in the fresh produce/prepared salad section. True story.)

5. Your favorite sinigang veggies (My faves are daikon and baby bok choy.)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Fill a mug 1/3 of the way with water, add a few shrimp. Heat in the microwave until thawed, then dispose water, leaving only the shrimp in your mug.

2. Add preferred amounts of sinigang mix (I like a lot in mine... Asim!) tomato, onion and veggies to mug.

3. Fill nearly to the top with bottled or filtered water, and cover with plastic wrap or at least a napkin (to help steam the veggies), then microwave until veggies are fully cooked. *If you are using daikon (which takes a bit longer to cook through), microwave it water separately first, then add it in.

4. Mix well. Let it cool for a bit... and Enjoy!

5. Again...Who needs a fifth step?! Just share, and make friends Mmm...comfort food in one's home away from home. And you did it ALL BY YOURSELF! (Good job. You're, like, a grown up or something.) ;) These recipes come in handy, not only for students cooking up in their dorm room, but single folks enjoying that apartment living...and everyone out there who's working long days and wants the taste of slow cooked goodness without tons of time and cleanup.

Lutong bahay is still possible, my friends. All you need is about five minutes, five ingredients and a microwave!

Top photo

it Seafood Sinigang (photo by Renn)

U.S. Passport Replacement Services

SAN DIEGO – In response to the Major Disaster Declaration for California, the Office of the City Clerk of the City of San Diego and the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Diego will assist flood survivors with replacing their lost or damaged U.S. Passports as a result of the severe weather in January.

City Clerk Diana Fuentes and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors Andrew Potter are expanding Passport Services to assist with the replacement of lost or damaged U.S. Passports. Flood survivors

are encouraged to visit the U.S Department of State Replacing Your Passport After a Disaster webpage for details on eligibility.

Both offices will be available for flood survivors during business hours Tuesday, March 12 through Friday, March 29, 2024, 8 am to 4 pm to assist with the required forms.

Spanish language assistance

SACRAMENTO, CA -- Caltrans recently launched an equity tool designed to help all Californians benefit from transportation projects and identify communities most negatively impacted by the transportation system, which results in high rates of traffic, crashes, and air pollution, as well as limited transit options.

The Caltrans Transportation Equity Index (EQI) tool will help inform project selection, program evaluation, and policy decisions, better align the transportation system to state environmental and equity goals and help address transportationrelated inequities. Data will be used to identify transportation-based priority populations to help end harms created or made worse by the state’s transportation system. Caltrans aims to advance equitable outcomes during project planning, development, and design phases, for both the department and partner public agencies.

“Establishing the EQI tool shows our serious commitment to embedding equity in our decision-making to improve the quality of life for all Californians,” said Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin. “By more easily identifying and prioritizing communities with the greatest transportation needs, there is tremendous potential in this tool to help

achieve an equitable transportation future for all.”

“Caltrans will use this tool to help ensure all California communities benefit from our transportation projects,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares. “We need to identify the ways our transportation infrastructure has negatively impacted our communities and neighborhoods. Better data lets us build equity into our transportation system from the ground up.”

Caltrans began developing the EQI in 2021 as a commitment to the department’s equity statement and to deliver on the Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure (CAPTI), which acknowledges the communities in California that experience fewer benefits and shoulder a greater burden from the state’s transportation system. These disparities often reflect a history of decision-making that “… quite literally put up barriers, divided communities, and amplified racial inequities.”

The tool includes three key data indicators: the first focuses on household income and federally recognized tribal lands; the second measures traffic proximity, volume, and crash exposure; and the final considers access to destinations, measuring gaps in the transit, bicycle, and pedestrian networks. The EQI

relies on both publicly available and internally developed datasets from public and private sources.

Some examples of the adverse effects of transportation decisions include higher exposure levels to dangerous crashes, lower access to jobs and education, and reduced environmental and health outcomes.

The EQI can be used to help ensure new transportation projects lead to long-term improvements in the quality of life for every neighborhood and community. Research regarding communities that have been hurt by unfair transportation decisions includes Pasadena and Stockton, as well as other cities around the state. With the EQI, Caltrans can more easily identify transportation projects that improve access in these areas to prioritize for state and federal funding programs.

The EQI’s first application will be to deepen the analytical capabilities within the Caltrans System Investment Strategy (CSIS). The CSIS will be a data and performance-driven system that guides transportation investments.

Additional applications of EQI are still under development.

MANILA -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has ordered the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) in Bohol to check whether a resort built within the vicinity of the famous Chocolate Hills failed to comply with the Temporary Closure Order (TCO) issued last year.

In an official statement on Wednesday, the DENR said Regional Executive Director Paquito Melicor issued a memorandum directing PENRO Bohol Ariel Rica to check if Captain’s Peak Garden and Resort located in Sagbayan, Bohol, is indeed operating.

Social media posts promoting the resort have earned negative reactions from netizens.

The DENR said it issued the Captain’s Peak Resort a TCO on Sept. 6, 2023.

A Notice of Violation was also issued to the project proponent on Jan. 22, 2024 for operating without an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the DENR.

Any type of project created in the Philippines that may affect the environment must secure an ECC from the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).

The DENR said Chocolate Hills in Bohol was declared a protected area through Proclamation No. 1037 issued by then President Fidel V. Ramos on July 1, 1997.

“This Proclamation designated the Chocolate Hills as a National Geological Monument and a Protected Landscape, recognizing the unique geological formations and the importance of covering this natural wonder for future generations,” the DENR statement read.

“The declaration aimed to preserve the iconic landscape of the Chocolate Hills and promote sustainable tourism while protecting the biodiversity and environmental integrity of the area,” it added.

DENR explained that landowners’ rights and interests will generally be recognized and respected if the land was titled before its declaration as a protected area.

However, it said the declaration of an area as a protected area may impose certain restrictions and regulations as to how the land may be used and developed within the protected area, even for privately owned lands.

These restrictions and regulations, it added, are to be detailed in the Environmental Impact Statement before the issuance of an ECC for the project.

Dismayed Senator Nancy Binay, chair of the Committee on Tourism, expressed dismay over a structure built within the protected areas of Chocolate Hills, asking concerned government agencies and local government units to explain why permits were granted and the resort was allowed to operate.

"Kung ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno na may tungkulin at responsibilidad na pangalagaan ang Chocolate Hills ay may proenvironment mindset, ang tanong po natin, bakit nakapagtayo ng resort at mayroon pang (If the government agencies, which has the mandate and responsibility to take good care of the Chocolate Hills, has a proenvironment mindset, our question is how come a resort was built and there are also) cottages and swimming pool," Binay said in a statement Wednesday.

Binay said she received a report that the Protected Area Management Board approved the proposal and

issued a resolution "favorably endorsing" the development of Captain’s Peak Garden and Resort in 2022 and 2023.

"We understand the importance of development, but there should be boundaries. If the Department of Environment and Natural Resources continues to issue Environmental Compliance Certificate in the guise of 'tourism development', I believe they have misunderstood what ecotourism is all about, and they have become complicit in defacing a natural monument they're supposed to oppose," she said.

Bohol Island was made part of the 195 global geoparks across 48 countries by UNESCO through a resolution adopted in a conference in Paris on May 24, 2023

Binay filed Senate Resolution No. 967 seeking to investigate the matter in aid of legislation with the goal of preserving Bohol's protected area and major tourist attraction.

Demolition

At the House of Representatives, Bohol Rep. Alexie Tutor called for the demolition of the Captain’s Peak Resort.

"That Captain’s Peak Resort should not have been allowed to be built there in the first place. It should be demolished and the construction site should be restored, with costs borne by the owners of that resort. But before these can happen, we have to follow due process," Tutor said in a statement.

Tutor said she supports the call of Bohol Province Board Member Atty.

Jamie Aumentado Villamor, who is also chairperson of the Provincial Board Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Protection, to stop the construction of structures within the vicinity of the Chocolate Hills to help protect the province’s major tourist attraction.

"I agree with the Committee's findings and course of action. The Committee is correct in seeking the intervention of the Environment Secretary Maria Antonia YuloLoyzaga," Tutor said.

She expressed hope that YuloLoyzaga will hold in abeyance the decision on the operation of Captain’s Peak Resort.

"There is a process. I will first trust the administrative process and exhaust all administrative remedies. If the administrative process does not work, those with proper legal standing can go to court to stop the Captain’s Peak Resort and also hold liable the government officials who permitted the construction and operation of that eyesore of a resort for their wrong actions on this matter," she said.

Not DOT-accredited

The Department of Tourism (DOT) said developments inconsistent to Bohol's UNESCO designation as a Global Geopark must be “disallowed” as it backed the temporary closure of a resort built too close to the Chocolate Hills.

In a statement on Wednesday, the DOT clarified that the resort was never a DOT-accredited tourism establishment as the agency itself raised its concerns regarding the development as early as August 2023.

“The Department of Tourism supports the preservation and protection of Bohol’s Chocolate Hills, located within a declared UNESCO Global Geopark and a source of national pride for the Philippines,” it said.

“[The DOT] agrees with the Bohol Provincial Government's position that development within the Chocolate

Hills area are (sic) not consistent with its long-term sustainability, and should be disallowed,” it added.

The DOT underscored that while development is essential for growth and progress, “it must be conducted in harmony with environmental and cultural preservation”.

“We urge all parties involved, including government agencies, private sector entities, and local communities, to work together towards sustainable and responsible tourism practices that uphold the integrity of our natural heritage,” it said.

DILG to probe local execs' lapses over Chocolate Hills resort

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday said it would look into the accountability of concerned local government units (LGUs) over the construction of the Captain's Peak Resort within the vicinity of the iconic Chocolate Hills in Bohol province.

In a statement, DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said he would not hesitate to "pursue legal actions" against officials who would be found liable for neglect of duty or any irregularity over the issue. He also reminded local officials to perform their duties as "stewards of nature".

"Under our Local Government Code, they have the mandate to enhance the right of the people to a balanced ecology. If illegal construction was allowed within a protected area, this would fall gravely short of this responsibility. We commit to working with the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) toward any resolution they deem just on this matter," he added.

Abalos said any activity that disturbs or destroys protected areas such as the Chocolate Hills, without proper authorization, is prohibited by law.

On Wednesday, Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado said the provincial government is already addressing the issue.

Social media posts promoting the resort drew flak from netizens.

The DENR earlier issued a temporary closure order against the Captain’s Peak Resort on Sept. 6, 2023.

Chocolate Hills is a world heritage site of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and was declared a protected area through Proclamation No. 1037 issued by then President Fidel V. Ramos on July 1, 1997.

Call to action

The Diocese of Tagbilaran, meanwhile, urged the people of Bohol to take decisive action in protecting the environment.

“It is important for us, Boholanos, to recognize and cherish the unique gifts bestowed upon us, including the extraordinary beauty of landmarks like the Chocolate Hills, pristine white sand beaches, centuries-old churches, and myriad of other natural wonders,” Tagbilaran Bishop Alberto Uy said in a social media post.

The prelate, meanwhile, acknowledged those who have started doing their share in taking care of God’s creation.

“This emerging awareness is crucial in our collective journey towards a sustainable future. It is imperative that we elevate our

See DENR on 8

MANILA -- Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Monday described as "out of this world" the alleged 17 conditions of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy before he appears before an inquiry of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family and Gender Equality.

In a press briefing, Hontiveros said this is the first time she encountered a resource person who has laid down conditions before attending a Senate inquiry.

"Ang masasabi ko lang dyan, bakit Senado ang mag aadjust sa kanya (What I can say about that is why would the Senate adjust for him [Quiboloy]?," Hontiveros said.

"The Senate will not bend its rules and procedures for you, Pastor Quiboloy, even if you are, as you say, a self-appointed son of God," she added.

The first alleged condition cited by Hontiveros orders the panel to "unmask and show the full faces of your witnesses, no mask, no dark eyeglasses, no caps, bonnets, or head covering of any kind."

Another is Quiboloy saying that "I retain the right to personally cross examine your witnesses. That includes you, Madam Chair (No time limit)."

Hontiveros admitted though that she only saw the alleged conditions spreading in social media and her panel has not received any official communication from Quiboloy's camp.

"Sana nga hindi totoo eh kaya lang pinamumudmod talaga nila [sa social media] (I hope it's not true but it is really spreading in social media)," she said.

Probe on SMNI suspension sought

Also on Monday, Senator Robinhood Padilla filed a resolution seeking a Senate inquiry into the indefinite suspension of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) which is owned by Quiboloy.

In Senate Resolution 960, Padilla sought to have the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, which he chairs, handle the investigation "in aid of legislation."

"The imposition of baseless suspension orders on SMNI not only constitutes a denial of due process but also an erosion of press freedom," he said in his resolution.

Padilla maintained the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), in its show-cause and suspension orders on SMNI, "failed to indicate the need to suspend the operations of SMNI, much more express how this is necessary to avoid serious and irreparable damage or inconvenience to the public or to private interests."

He added that the right of the people to public information "should not be unduly curtailed" because access to information on matters of public concern will help people by giving them a better perspective of vital issues confronting our society.

He noted the Supreme Court - in the case of Chavez vs. Gonzales in February 2008 - made it clear that freedom of the press is "crucial and so inextricably woven into the right to free speech and free expression, that any attempt to restrict it must be met with an examination so critical that only a danger that is clear and present would be allowed to curtail it."

The NTC noted that the 30-day suspension order was issued against

SMNI on Dec. 19, 2023 after the House of Representatives said in Resolution 189 that the SMNI violated several provisions of its franchise as provided under Republic Act 11422.

In response, the SMNI asked the commission to specify and detail its violations concerning its Certificate of Public Convenience.

This request was denied by the NTC, which said the show cause order had sufficiently and expressly stated the acts alleged to have been committed by the media network.

No extradition request yet for Quiboloy – DOJ

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday has yet to receive an extradition request from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for Apollo Quiboloy following a California court's unsealing of arrest orders for the controversial pastor who is wanted by the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for multiple charges.

“There is no extradition request received yet by the DOJ from the DFA. It’s difficult, however, to speak on hypothetical situations. The government’s goal is to attain justice in whatever form and through the best forum,” DOJ spokesperson Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano told the media.

“The decision to resolve came as a result of almost a year of verifying the evidence on record as well as the identity of the alleged victim,” he noted.

Central District of California Judge Terry Hatter Jr. earlier ordered the unsealing of the arrest warrants against the Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder and his co-accused following a request by the United States Attorney Criminal Division.

The charges against Quiboloy and co-accused Helen Panilag and Teresita Tolibas Dandan include conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, coercion, sex trafficking of children, conspiracy, and cash smuggling.

The online poster on Quiboloy on the FBI webpage said the 74-yearold pastor is wanted for his alleged participation in a labor trafficking scheme that brought church members to the United States via fraudulently obtained visas and forced them to solicit donations for a bogus charity.

The donations were allegedly used to finance church operations and the lavish lifestyles of its leaders.

Members who proved successful at soliciting for the church were allegedly forced to enter into sham marriages or obtain fake student visas to continue soliciting in the United States year-round.

Further, it was alleged that females were recruited to work as personal assistants, or “pastorals,” for Quiboloy, adding that victims prepared his meals, cleaned his residences, gave massages and were required to have sex with him.

House panel cites Quiboloy for contempt over absence in hearing

The House Committee on Legislative Franchises on Tuesday cited in contempt Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy over his repeated failure to appear before its hearing on the alleged franchise violations of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).

Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel moved to cite Quiboloy in contempt for his non-appearance at

Tuesday's hearing, citing his refusal to obey the summons without a legal excuse and acting in a disrespectful manner as grounds under Section 11 of the House rules.

"The fact that he has not been appearing in these hearings, in this committee, just shows that he has no respect for this committee. It just shows that he acts like God. He acts with impunity. He takes this hearing for granted. Ipinagwawalang bahala niya. Importante po siya dito (He is simply ignoring this hearing even though he is crucial here)," Pimentel said.

Pimentel noted that the House has previously issued a subpoena to Quiboloy following his absence from the committee hearings held on Dec. 5 to 11, 2023, and Feb. 7, 2024, despite receiving multiple invitations.

According to Quiboloy's lawyers, the KJC leader has not been involved in the management and daily operations of SMNI since 2018, noting that he only holds the title of "honorary chairman".

However, lawmakers maintained that Quiboloy is the actual "beneficial owner" of Swara Sug Media Corporation, which runs and operates SMNI.

Pimentel said it is very clear that Quiboloy has no intention of appearing before the panel.

"Therefore, Mr. Chair, under House rules, it is our obligation to show these people who take this committee for granted the sanctions that could be meted under our House rules. Therefore, Mr. Chair I move to cite for contempt Pastor Quiboloy on the grounds which I have stated," Pimentel said.

Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, meanwhile, said they have already provided legal justification for the non-presence of Quiboloy through a letter submitted to the House panel.

"The gist of it states that based on all the previous hearings of this honorable committee, we have an idea of the information being required and we have stated in this letter very respectfully that Pastor Quiboloy around four years now has had no hand whatsoever in the running of SMNI, whose franchise is under consideration," Topacio said.

He noted that three KJC officials are in a better position than Quiboloy and possess the necessary competence to respond to the panel's queries.

Topacio also confirmed that Quiboloy is still in the Philippines.

Among SMNI's franchise violations include its failure to deliver truthful and balanced reporting to its audience and transferring its shares without prior approval by Congress.

The panel also approved House Bill 9710, which seeks the revocation of SMNI's franchise. (MNS)

WHAT’S IN A NAME? I SAY PLACES AROUND THE WORLD THAT YOU PROBABLY DIDN’T KNOW WERE NAMED AFTER FILIPINOS!

SAN DIEGO, CA -- Greetings!

Filipino Americans make up one of the largest Asian American ethnic groups in America with over 4 million Filipinos and Filipino Americans residing in the entire United States of America.

The earliest documented evidence of Filipinos in the continental United States occurred on October 18, 1587, when mariners under Spanish command called “Luzones Indios” landed in Morro Bay, California as published by Lorraine Jacob Crouchett in her book, “Filipinos in California.”

The Filipino American National Historical Society established Filipino American History Month in 1988 and every October since then, several communities throughout the United States and its territories have celebrated this occasion, not only to commemorate the anniversary of the presence of the first Filipinos on American soil and to observe its heritage but also to recognize the social, intellectual and economic contributions of Filipinos and Filipino Americans in this adopted country of ours.

With all the internal (and external, too!) “issues” going around nowadays, I say this is an appropriate and most opportune time to promote and reflect on Philippine history and culture and to provide all Americans (here and elsewhere around the globe) with the opportunity to learn and appreciate Filipinos and Filipino Americans and their historic and immense social contributions to the United States of America.

It is absolutely necessary to instill in our youth the importance of education, history and ethnicity in creating role models; in establishing a proud cultural identity and in producing exceptional citizens of this wonderful nation of ours.

Therefore, I – your humble “kababayan” – thought that I should, at least do a piece again on how much we are all regarded as a race of people – not only here in our good, old U.S. of A. but also around the world … so to speak.

Here it goes then. Please read on, my dear folks.

Did you know that the East Sulu King Paduka Batara, also known as Paduka Pahala was the first potentate from the Philippines who was buried in China? In 1417, he travelled to the country to pay tribute to the Chinese Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Di. Unfortunately, Paduka Pahala contracted a mysterious disease during his trip. He eventually died in Dezhou, a town in the Shandong province of China – following this, the emperor commanded that a tomb monument (which surprisingly still stands to this very day) be built to honor and remember the Filipino monarch.

Filipinos have been settling in Cuba since the 16th century and they are one of the earliest Asian communities in the country. In fact, one of Cuba’s provinces was named “Nueva Filipinas” (New Philippines) which is now Pinar del Rio.

Most Filipinos who were brought by the Spaniards to Cuba worked in the tobacco plantations while there were others who were altar boys, catechism leaders and church laborers. Pinar del Rio is known for their cigars, which were brought over from the Philippines by the Spanish authorities because it was much closer to Europe and easier to oversee. Afterwards, some Filipinos moved to Havana’s big Barrio Chino or Chinatown. Others jumped ship to settle in Louisiana, U.S.A. Others sailed back to Sinaloa and Jalisco in Mexico. Those with money went to Spain or back to Manila (and brought with them the “Escabeche a la Cubana” which is a favorite dish to all Filipinos which they always serve using fish). The rest of the Filipinos intermarried with the Cuban population.

Overtime, the Filipinos who stayed quickly lost their ties to the Philippines since many of them look and were also like the local Cubans. They can speak Spanish, they were Catholic, they have to pay taxes and they were treated like slaves by their Spanish masters. Nonetheless, their children survive to this day in Cuba.

Filipino-Cubans were generally called “Chino Manila” as in the capital city of the old homeland and was famous among the Cuban population at that time.

The emergence of the Mexican War of Independence in 1810 was a turning point in the Filipino-Mexican relations. Spain was anxious to keep the Philippines from being afflicted by the independence fever. Spain did its best to remove Mexican and Philippine links. That was easier said than done, if I may say so. By then, a vast number of Filipinos were already living in Mexico; many per historical accounts participated in the Mexican War of Independence. One of the most famous of these Filipinos was Ramon Fabie y de Jesus who was a lieutenant colonel in Father Hidalgo’s Valencia Regiment in Guanajuato.

Fabie was a scion of a rich clan from Paco (a settlement in Manila and the neighboring district of my historical hometown of Sta. Ana). He went to study mining engineering at the Colegio de Mineria in Mexico City at age 16 in 1802. His father was a lawyer for the Real Audiencia in Manila. In 1810 Fabie was in the silver boom town of Guanajuato; there, he joined the rebel Mexican Army, mainly composed of miners from the nearby Valencia mines.

Growing up in my sleepy hometown in Bicol where Quaresma is a big thing at this time of the year, certain things were emphasized year-in, year-out. First, is fasting and abstinence. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday which is a 40-day season of reflection, repentance and spiritual growth. Fasting is abstinence or avoidance of meat particularly on Fridays leading to Easter.

Second, the Passion of the Christ during the Semana Santa leads to his crucifixion and resurrection. The 14 concrete stations around the parish church were supposed to remind us of the sequence of events that took place on Good Friday. At home, there were things or chores we could not do on that day. The main reason was obvious – respect for the suffering and death of Jesus even if it was just a reenactment. Everybody would behave and be told to listen to the radio drama unfolding until we got to “Consummatum Est” when it was finished.

For example, we were to

In 2009,

In 2008, former President Gloria

Peru named after a national hero of a foreign county and the first to have such a monument.

Fabie took part in the defense of Guanajuato against a counterattacking Spanish force in November of 1810. The Mexican insurgents were defeated. The surviving rebel officers including Fabie were publicly hanged in front of the town’s infamous Alhondiga de Granaditas. The grateful Mexican government later recognized Fabie by naming a street in Mexico City after him.

In Papua New Guinea, there is a monument honoring Filipino missionaries who assisted European priests in their missionary and charitable activities in the country. During the 1880s, Francis Castro along with 13 highly-trained Filipino catechists accompanied a group of European missionaries headed by Fr. Alain de Boismeni to Yule Island.

At the Holy Rosary Parish Church at Six Miles in Port Moresby, there is a memorial bearing an embedded marble plate with the inscription: “In remembrance of the first group of Filipino lay missionaries in Papua New Guinea who arrived on Yule Island during the 1880s and others whose names are known only to

God: Emmanuel Natera, Diego Rendall, Bernardino Taligatus, Basilio Artango, Telesforo Babao, Francis Castro, Juan Malabag, Gregorio Ramos, Cirilo Espinosa, Gregorio Toriomesa, Nicolas Albaniel, Anastacio Buen Suseso, Marcelo Fabila, Juan de la Cruz.”

It is a genuine fact that around the globe, one can find streets,

monuments, statues and edifices bearing familiar Filipino names. There are Rizal monuments and busts in Spain, Japan, Singapore, Belgium, Andorra (Yes…even in this tiny, independent principality situated between France and Spain in the Pyrenees mountains!) and right here in America.

Additionally, in 2008, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inaugurated the first Jose Rizal Park in Lima, Peru. It is the first public park in Peru named after a national hero of a foreign country and the first to have such a monument.

In San Francisco, California there are streets named after LapuLapu (the first Filipino hero and the first native to resist Spanish colonization), Andres Bonificio (the “Father of the Philippine Revolution”) and Tandang Sora (a Filipina revolutionary who became known as the “Grand Woman of the Philippine Revolution” and the “Mother of Balintawak” for her notable contributions) while in Korea, a Philippine monument stands tall as a testament to our “kababayans” bravery in the face of overwhelming odds fighting the Communists during the Korean War.

Jesse T. Reyes Filipino Potpourri

Aiding the escape of the Jews from the Holocaust, Philippine President Manuel Quezon was definitely a hero – not only to the Filipino people but also to the Jews. In Tel Aviv, the Open-Door Monument stands ready to testify about the “Open Door” policy the late Filipino head of state presented for Jewish refugees – upholding a strong humanitarian tradition of providing succor for forcibly displaced individuals on need of protection. This judiciousness saved over a thousand Jews from the horrible Nazi genocide in 1939. To this day, the Israelis remember and appreciate the compassion of the Filipinos.

A monument to Philippine President Elpidio Quirino was unveiled in Tokyo’s prestigious Hibiya Park in June of 2016. The memorial, the first in Japan and in

honor of a former Filipino head of state pays homage to President Quirino’s role in paving the way for normalization of post-war Philippines-Japan relations, in particular his momentous decision in 1953 to grant executive clemency to convicted Japanese war criminals then serving their sentences in Muntinglupa Prison. The presidential mercy defied expectations and the prevailing anti-Japanese sentiment at that time. President Quirino suffered devastating personal loss during the war, with his wife and three children being felled by Japanese bullets as they fled their home during the 1945 Battle of Manila. The Filipino president’s grant of executive clemency was also seen as an act of conviction and courage, coming a mere eight years after the war’s

Lenten Reflection: Why does Jesus make us uncomfortable? Part 1

him in such an upright position.

minimize (or stop altogether) hard labor, housecleaning, use of pointed or sharp objects like a bolo, use of bright colored-apparel, and to refrain from taking a bath after 3 pm. The buzz then, however, was that it was a good day/evening to hunt for amulets (anting-anting). And that I did, stupidly waiting until midnight sitting on top of a tomb waiting for some sign or ghosts to wrestle with. Looking back, some of these prohibitions were folklore or just plain superstitious beliefs.

Before the church began covering the image of Jesus nailed on the cross with a black cloth, I used to look up at the large, towering image on Sunday mornings with discomfort. Although I know that it was just a replica, being a blessed image displayed on the retablo I could not help but feel sorry for him. It was like Jesus was resurrected a long time ago, but the evidence of the crime is kept on display to remind Catholics of why he was murdered and left hanging up there to bleed to death, almost naked with just large nails keeping

It’s insane especially with what is happening in Palestine today. The killings are akin to modern rewriting of the Bible where Israelis were told by the god of Israel to kill all the Canaanites (or they will not have peace) except now, they are modern day Palestinians who descended from ancient Canaanites. Jerusalem is supposed to be split between the warring states. Palestinians have sovereignty over the eastern side where the Temple Mount is, while the Jewish people would have the Western Wall.

Imagine Jesus being present there today and trying to referee. He will be nailed again to the cross for meddling. This, in essence, is what Catholics do every year – relive the Passion of the Christ and let him die on the cross over and over, for “our sins.” Did he really die on the cross for our sins or did we just learn the wrong or incoherent thing as handed down by cultural traditions?

Did the Father will the death of the Son to show God’s love and mercy and to atone for our sins?

Every year, we hear the same thing that God was incarnated into the human flesh as Jesus Christ to show God’s love for Planet earth that in the beginning, was

highlighted by Adam and Eve’s rebellion. Jesus’ death restored life and the disrupted divine -human relationship so that “whoever believes in him will not perish and will have eternal life.”

Belief in Jesus begins in early childhood when baptized “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.” So, does claiming that Lord Jesus Christ is our “Lord and Savior” will do the trick if we follow the practice of faith (going to church on Sundays and holy days of obligations, donating to the church, and following church traditions)? Or should we free ourselves from the doctrinal strictures and look at Jesus’ death and resurrection differently using other lenses?

We are sinful people by nature regardless of what people will say. One can go to church every Sunday, makes the confession/communion and will still be confronted by the seven deadly sins of pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath (anger), and sloth (laziness) because these sinful ways are inherent in all of us. We practice it every day, but we provide ourselves with waivers (ehem, excuses why we did it), bypass the Confessional and just go straight to Communion for the bread and wine.

“Eternal life,” is what drives us to Sunday service and observing Lent is one of the items on the salvation checklist. During the Holy Week that we took a vacation for, we understood that the Passion of the Christ is what makes the week holy, and observing it in street drama or processions, over the radio, or walking through the 14 stops heightens our understanding of faith. Does it really?

What if we change our paradigms about Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection? What if we stop thinking that God acts and thinks like humans with emotions (anger – punishes us; love – let Jesus die on the cross, or neutral – gavis us free will to choose between right or wrong)? What if the real reason why Jesus came was to validate God’s kingdom? During Jesu’ short life on earth, he always talked about the Kingdom of God, according to the Apostles.

What if eternal life in the Kingdom of God is not up there or anywhere in the universe? Certainly, ancient people made us believe that heaven is up there, and modernity accepted such metaphysical assertion for lack of understanding.

Peter holding the key to the pearly gates of the Kingdom of Heaven

according to Matthew, conjures an image of Peter up in the clouds somewhere in the universe.

Heaven, according to the Bible, is a place of peace, love, community, and worship where all archangels and saints gather around God’s supreme court like a physical destination that we’ve been promised. Religious art clearly amplifies such perception with future saints always looking up (heaven, God, Virgin Mary). And we think of a God who is white, bearded, and with commanding presence while Jesus is seated on the right hand of the Father as coequals. We’ve been told that Lucifer used to be part of God’s court until he rebelled and was sent down below to torment people on earth.

What if the Kingdom of God is here on earth and when we die, our body is buried here until the Final Judgement that nobody knows when it will be? So, the bottom-line here is that nobody really knows where God is and only Jesus took the human form here on earth. It makes a lot of sense that the reason Jesus lived with us is to make us see, feel, and hear him speak about the kingdom where he commanded an audience like he was a king. (To be Continued)

the Open Doors Monument honoring Filipinos was unveiled at the Holocaust Memorial Park in Rishon Lezion in Israel.

The Victoria Manalo Draves Park in San Francisco, California, United States of America.

The President Elpidio Quirino Memorial stands proudly against a backdrop of Tokyo high-rises in Japan.

Macapagal-Arroyo inaugurated the first Jose Rizal Park in Lima, the very first public park in

The 1810 Mexican Revolution involved many Filipinos living in Mexico including Ramon Fabie who died in Guanajuato.

The Manila Steps naming ceremony and honoring the first Filipino immigration at Kalk Bay, South Africa in 2018.

Dear Readers,

Our Business Community needs workers for restaurants, medical offices, supermarkets, caregivers, delivery services and more. If you know of anyone, relative, friend, neighbor or former co-workers looking for a job, kindly give them a copy of the Filipino Press for job opportunities. Some jobs may not yet be posted, so you may visit our website at www.thefilipinopress. com or email at filpressads@aol.com. We are here to help you our kababayans find jobs, opportunities and connect you to resources that you may need. Thank you

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you’ve paid your deductible. If you decide to stay with Original Medicare (Part A and B) and

want to cover the 20% financial gap that Medicare doesn’t pay for, you may want to add a Medigap plan to your Original Medicare. Ideally, the best time to purchase a Medigap policy is during your Medigap OEP, which starts the first day of the month that you're both 65 or older AND enrolled in Medicare Part B. This period lasts for six months. During this period, Medigap companies must sell you a policy at the best available rate regardless of your health status, and they cannot deny you coverage.

If you miss your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, you can still apply for a Medigap policy, but you may face underwriting which insurers use to figure out your health status and determine whether to offer you coverage, at what price, and with what exclusions or limits. Based on your pre-existing health conditions, you may have to have a waiting period or insurers may charge you more or deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions. Be aware that this information only pertains to protections that apply nationwide. Some states have other protections that give their residents additional opportunities to enroll in a Medigap.

Spiritual Life

Family

A while ago, was invited by my niece to her wedding to be held in Fort Myers, Florida.. I felt that this is a “must-attend” event, considering that I haven’t seen her for more than twenty years, besides, her mother was a great influence in my life. Lack of funds did not deter me from planning my trip, since I have a strong faith in God’s goodness. I believe that, God will provide. I also believe in what Jesus said, “Knock and the door shall be opened. Ask and it shall be given to you.” I prayed about my need and sent an e-mail to a sister-in-law whose son (one of my many nephews) is an employee of the United Airlines. With a humble heart, I offered myself to be her traveling companion. I said, “Manang Meng, if you will attend the wedding of Cencia, will you consider me as your traveling companion.” Her response was prompt. “I requested Andrew to arrange your travel itinerary. He will send you the e-ticket.” I started humming, “How Great Though Art”, the hymn which wells in my heart, every time I feel God’s grace pouring on me. My total dependence on God for His provisions in my life has carried me through my journey through life. God provides. God answers prayers. God will take care of you. The Holy Bible is filled with God’s promises. It is up for us to claim them with deep and abiding faith in His greatness and abundant love. I arrived safely, with my

values on display

Aurora S. Cudal-Rivera

My Personal Testimony

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

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

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

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

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

The family values engrained in us – respect for elders, love of God, hospitality, mutual cooperation and family harmony – was amply demonstrated by everyone.

Memories flooded my mind as I interacted with my nieces and nephews. My trip to Fort Myers turned out to be much more than attending a wedding, it was a nostalgic family reunion which refreshed the family values we hold dear. I remember my father’s advice, “Love one another, for love is of God.”

A rush hour existence

In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears. (Psalm 18:6)

Many of us live a rush hour existence: running here, there and everywhere, never quite catching up to our to-do list, seldom taking time to slow down and reflect. We get so used to the frenetic that when silence does come, we grab whatever device is within reach and fill it with screen time.

Underneath the surface, there are a myriad of emotions, dreams, and disappointments waiting to be heard and understood. But we often choose to stay busy and entertained instead of listening to what our hearts are saying. As a result, we miss out on taking our hearts to Jesus with vulnerability and trust. We stay stagnant spiritually.

We have a lot to learn from King David. "What so distinguished David was that he took a broad spectrum of emotion straight into his relationship with God ...

Danny Hernaez From Whom

All Blessings Flow

His emotions showed in tears, shouting, singing, and even intense dancing." David dared to look at His own heart and tell God about it; once He got things off His chest, he was filled with hope again. He believed His heart was safest in the hands of God. Do you?

Will you get off the highway, find a rest stop, get back in touch with your heart and tell God exactly how you feel? That's not flaky spirituality; it's having a real and authentic relationship with your Heavenly Father. It's being an emotionally secure man or woman instead of an emotionally detached media zombie.

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

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We are now on the last Sunday of Lent, and we look forward with anticipation to the Holy Week celebration. The Gospel (John 12:20-33) invites us “to see Jesus” who talks about the “hour” of his glory, fulfilling the promised “new covenant” in the First Reading (Jer. 31:31-34). The “new” in this covenant is Jesus Himself, “the source of eternal salvation,” according to the Second Reading (Heb. 5:7-9), accomplishing “for all” what the old covenant could not do. The gospel reading begins with the arrival of “some Greeks who had come to worship at the Passover Feast.” They were Gentiles (nonJews) who observed the Mosaic Law and the Jewish religious practices.

(Remember the temple cleansing when Jesus got so angry because the “temple area” was made into a marketplace? That area was intended for them.) Now, these Gentiles from Greece were in Jerusalem looking for Jesus who was also there for his last Passover Feast. This foreshadows what Jesus would say at the end:

“When I am lifted up . . . I will draw all people to myself” (Jn. 12:32).

Here unfolds the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy (Jer. 31:3134) about the “new covenant,” whereby Jesus in his “hour” would be sacrificed as ransom, and not anymore the animals in the old covenant sacrifice that could not redeem man’s debt. This “new

covenant” would extend to all, not just the Jews: “No longer will they have to teach their friends and relatives how to know the Lord” (Jer. 31:34). What was once privileged knowledge of God, given only to the Jews, would now be opened to all. This points to the universal redemption that the Second Reading (Heb. 5:7-9) tells about Jesus: “the source of eternal salvation for all.” In a way, the prediction of the Pharisees in verse 19 makes sense: “Look, the world has gone after him” (Jn. 12:19). That is why, when these Greeks sought him, Jesus knew that the “hour” of the “new covenant” had arrived.

The “hour” signifies the time of his glorification. When Philip and Andrew told him about the request of the Greeks, Jesus said: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” He sensed this very strongly upon hearing that Gentiles were looking for him. But, in order

to draw them to himself, he had to first be “lifted up from the earth.” This is the glory of his “hour.” While glory is usually associated with power, it begins differently for Jesus, as he becomes like “a grain of wheat that falls to the ground and dies to produce fruit.” It would first appear as defeat and humiliation (lifted up on the cross). Then, upon his Resurrection (lifted up out of death) and his Ascension (lifted up from his earthly existence), it would break through as the boundless love and power of God, embracing all peoples and encompassing all times and places. Thus, it was twofold: “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.”

What Jesus has gone through we are called likewise to follow. To do this, we must be as willing as he was to let go of everything in order to obey God, even when it means our humiliation, suffering and death.

Jesus acknowledges how difficult it was even for him: “I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your Name.”

In obedience, we glorify God and, in turn, are also glorified. As we enter the final week of Lent, let us make a serious effort “to see Jesus,” not simply to catch a glimpse of him through some kind of mystical vision or experience, but, rather, “to follow” him in perfect obedience. This is our own path to glory.

Sa unang araw pa lamang ng ating pagsilang Umpisa ng umikot ang gulong ng ating buhay Bawa’t araw, bawa’t sandali, di mapipigilan ang pagikot ng gulong Isang biyaheng walang balikan, alamin kung saan ang patutunguhan.

Ang buhay natin ay parang gulong

Kung minsan pakiramdam natin tayo ay nangingibabaw Kung minsan naman dama natin na tayo ay napapailalim Sapagkat ang gulong ng buhay natin kung minsan ay umaatras, kung minsan ay sumusulong o di nagbabago ng posesyon.

Ang gulong kapag nalugmok sa kaputikan

PBBM

Continued from page 1

“Actually, there are a couple of things coming together. It’s like a lot of stars are aligned: 110 million people—young people— and most of them are English-speaking. And secondly, I know that you’re also building data centers in your country, laying the foundation for cloud and cloud applications because we need that,” Busch was quoted as saying in a statement released by the Presidential Communications Office.

“We are more than happy to do more in terms of training the small and medium-sized enterprises to see where they can go,” he added.

DENR

Continued from page 4

consciousness regarding the state of our environment and the challenges it faces,” he added. He said the sustainable management of the province’s natural resources is a shared responsibility.

“By nurturing a deep sense of stewardship for our surroundings, we can contribute positively to the preservation of our ecosystem for generations to come,” he said.

House motu proprio inquiry

In a press conference on Thursday, Deputy Majority Leader for Communications and ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo said the House is set to initiate a motu proprio inquiry into the matter next week upon the instruction of Speaker Martin Romualdez.

"Hindi rin po nagustuhan ng House leadership po iyon (The House leadership did not like it). I’ve been communicating with the Speaker…

Paikot-ikot man, umangat at umusod ay mahihirapan Tao man kung nababad sa putik ng kasalanan Buhay ay di aangat kapag di marunong humingi ng kapatawaran.

Kung tayo ay nakakaranas

ng pagsusubok at paghihirap

Huwag tayong mawalan ng pag-asa, dahil tulad ng gulong na umiikot

Sa sariling pagsisikap at sa tulong ng Diyos at ng kapwa Ang buhay natin ay aangat at makakaranas din ng ginhawa.

Kapag sa ating buhay tayo ay laging abala

Maglingkod at magdulot ng kaligayahan sa iba

Ang pagikot ng gulong ay mabilis di tayo maiinip Kapag ang gulong ay

Marcos, currently in Berlin for a three-day working visit, expressed confidence in the capabilities of the Filipino workforce to become competitive in navigating technologies.

“We are blessed with a good workforce, a young workforce that is very well-trained, and has very good experience with working in foreign entities, countries, corporations,” the President said.

“And I think the need right now is for the upskilling to the new technologies that we are talking about. That I think is going to be key,” he added. The Chief Executive said the Philippines is looking ahead and future-proofing its workforce as technology continues to evolve.

napag-uusapan po at nasabi ko na po sa kanya, magpa-file po tayo ng (we've talked about it and I told him that I will file an) inquiry regarding this matter,” Tulfo said. Tulfo described the Captain's Peak Resort as an eyesore within the vicinity of the Chocolate Hills.

“The mere fact na nanduon ka, tiningan ko nga hindi nga ho nila ginalaw, nasa gitna sila ng dalawang hill, sinira ho nila iyong view. Actually, para makita mo ng maganda iyong hill na iyan, may aakyatin kang parang tore para makikita mo ngayon. Panget na hong tingnan (The mere fact that if you're there, it's in between two hills and it ruins the view despite not altering the hills. Actually, if you want a good view of the hills, you need to climb a tower to see it. But now, it's already unsightly),” he said.

Tulfo said the probe will determine those responsible for allowing the resort to open and operate in Chocolate Hills.

He said the local government unit and other concerned officials must

gamit sa tamang paraan, buhay nati’y nagkakaroon ng kahulugan.

Ang ating buhay ay isang paglalakbay May pinagmulan at may pupuntahan

Maayos na gulong, maayos na desisyon

Tutungo tayo sa pangarap nating paroroonan.

Marcos has made digital transformation one of his administration’s priorities. In his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) last year, the President emphasized the government's commitment to leveraging technology to enhance public services, streamline governance, and foster economic growth.

Siemens has been operating in the country for more than 125 years. The company has made significant technological contributions in the areas of telecommunications, energy, factory automation, mobility, and smart building technologies since 1894. (MNS)

have been aware of the construction and operation of the viral resort.

Tulfo also noted that the DENR and its field personnel, as well as the Land Registration Authority, will be held accountable.

“Pag mga ganun po na mga ika nga heritage site, tourist attraction, iyan po ay may mga park rangers, kung tawagin ng DENR, sila po iyong nagbabantay diyan. Ang tanong ko, nasaan iyong park ranger ng DENR? (For heritage sites and tourist attractions, there are park rangers from the DENR that would monitor them. My question is, where is the park ranger of the DENR),” he said. “Bakit napa-tituluhan po iyan? So marami pong ahensiya. Magiging busy po ang Congress siguro after we file the motu proprio inquiry. Hindi po tayo papayag, marami pong nagagalit (How did they acquire a land title for the area? A lot of agencies will be involved. Congress will be busy after we file the motu proprio inquiry. We will not allow this. A lot of people are enraged),” he added. (MNS)

Fr. Agustin T. Opalalic

Ni Salvador S. Idos

Salvador S. Idos

JESSE REYES

Continued from page 5

end, with Filipino sentiment and anger against the Japanese then still remaining deep-seated.

In Victoria, Australia there is a street named Pilita – a monicker after – of course – the much-loved 84-years-old Filipino pop singer, songwriter, actress, comedian and television host Pilita Corrales.

It was in Down Under that Pilita Corrales began her singing career. In 1959, she set sail for Australia with actor-magician John Calvert for some engagement. In route, it was reported that they were shipwrecked off Australia’s northern coast and have to be rescued by the Australian Navy. The duo went on to perform in Sydney, Darwin and Melbourne. Australians loved Pilita and she was an instant hit, and was featured on popular TV shows, thrilling audiences with her English, Spanish and Filipino songs. She was signed up by Astor Records and became the first female recording star in Australia to ever score a hit on the pop charts with the song “Come Closer to Me” – even long before Olivia NewtonJohn and Kyle Minogue.

In 1963, she returned to the Philippines to establish her career in her own country. Pilita continues to perform regularly in Australia today where “Aussies” still recognize her as the star of their generation.

In the beautiful and historic Asan Beach Park in the Territory of Guam, U.S.A. travelers can see a double monument of the Filipinos’ “Sublime Paralytic” Apolinario Mabini. Then, this place was not as peaceful as it now is. In 1892, Asan Beach was a prison camp where Filipino “insurrectos” (rebels) were exiled. Our “kababayans” were punished for standing their ground against the Spanish and later the American colonization. Among these Filipinos was the paralytic revolutionary leader, lawyer, educator and statesman Mabini who was imprisoned there in 1901.

In Delano, California there is the Agbayani Village named after Filipino farm labor activist Paulo Agbayani. It was one of the

significant projects championed by the late Filipino labor leader Larry Itliong himself in response to the plight of the aging and displaced Filipino farm laborers in America. These men were forced to live alone in labor camps due to strict California immigration laws; that virtually prevented them from marrying outside of their race. When strikes were held, their employers often evicted them from the camps and rendered them homeless; thus, the Paulo Agbayani Retirement Village was constructed to provide such a needed haven for these discriminated Filipino workers. Agbayani died from heart attack while on the picket line during the historic Delano Grape Strike. After his death, the winery where he worked for was picketed day and night.

The Paulo Agbayani Retirement Village, a 59-room Mission-style center was inaugurated in 1974 and is located on The Forty Acres – now a Historic Landmark in Delano, California.

On Sherman Street in San Francisco, California there is a park named after a Filipino-American diving champion in the Olympics.

In October of 2002, this spanking brand new 2-acre pleasance was put up in San Francisco bearing a distinctive Filipino name – Victoria Manalo Draves. It came complete with a softball field, basketball court, two-level playground, picnic area and large landscaped gardens.

Victoria Manalo Draves (19242010) daughter of Teofilo Manalo of Orion, Bataan and Gertrude Taylor, an Englishwoman was the first Filipino-American to compete in the Olympic Games. She took up diving at age 16, and came under the coaching of Lyle Draves whom she later married in 1944.

At the London Olympics in 1948, Draves won two gold medals in springboard and platform diving becoming the first ever woman in the Olympics to achieve that feat.

The park used to be the same site where Franklin Elementary School once stood, an educational institution Victoria attended as a youngster – and just four blocks away from where she was born.

Back overseas again – on Europe – in Ghent, Belgium – there is a tunnel named after a Bontoc Igorot named Timicheg.

The Fent-Sint Pieter’s railway was completed in 1912 just in time for the Exposition “Universelle et Internationalle” of 1913 – a World’s Fair held in Ghent from April 6 to October 31 of that year. Fast forward to 2006 – a tunnel of this particular station was renovated and named after Timicheg who was the son of Beda and Nomanchan from the highlands of the Mountain Province in Luzon back in the old homeland.

Timicheg had been brought to Belgium by impresario Ricard Schneidewind, whose specialty was recruiting tribal minorities for “human”-style exhibits which were in vogue during those times.

The Bontoc Igorot was part of a 55-man troupe/show that traveled with Schneidewind’s group all over Europe in 1911, beginning in France.

Interestingly, the Bontocs had also been part of the earlier 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair/Exposition in Coney Island of which I wrote about in an earlier column of mine titled “The Troubled Tales of a Filipino Tribe Brought to America.”

According to newspaper accounts, the Philippine natives who lived in a Filipino Village at the fair had a hard time dealing with depression and the severe cold weather. At the end of their contract, their manager disappeared with all their (the Igorots) earnings leaving Timicheg and his tribe mates without home or funds.

Timicheg is believed to have been the very same man reported to have left the Bontoc Company who boarded a train back to Brussels after an American consul had arranged for their return to Manila via an ocean steamer. He died of tuberculosis in Ghent.

Back again to the Golden State – at the University of Southern California (USC), there is an aquatics center named after swimmer and USC alumnus Wilfred Uytengsu.

The Uytengsu Aquatics Center is an outdoor aquatics venue that was originally built for the 1984 Los

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Angeles Olympics. It was financed by the giant fast-food corporation of McDonalds and for some 29 years, it was known as the McDonalds Olympic Swim Stadium.

In 2013, Wilfredo Uytengsu, Jr., the CEO of Alaska Milk donated $8 million for its complete renovation. Uytengsu had been a college student at USC in the early 1980s and had been part of the university’s illustrious swim team. He also represented the Philippines at various Southeast Asian Games.

Despite his average clocking’s his coach Peter Daland appointed him as the team captain on the basis of his leadership skills. A grateful Uytengsu later returned to his alma mater – now as head of many successful corporations – and made a hefty donation on his family’s behalf.

The aquatics venue was reopened in 2014 and renamed as the Uytengsu Aquatics Center.

In Union City, California a school was named after Filipino farm labor leaders Larry Itliong and Philip Vera Cruz. In late 2013 the New Haven Unified School District renamed Alvarado Middle School to honor the two Filipino labor leaders. Now known as Itliong-Vera Cruz Middle School – it marked the very first time an institute of education in America has been named after FilipinoAmericans.

At first, the whole initial idea/ proposal sparked some serious controversy as oppositionists believed that the move would distract the area’s diversity but the changing of the educational facility’s name finally pushed through in 2015.

If you all – my dear readers – can still recall from previous columns of mine – Larry Itliong (19131977) was the Filipino farm worker and labor leader who organized the West Coast agricultural workers in the 1930s. He is well recognized for staging the 1965 first walk-out of workers from the grape farms of California demanding wages equal to the federal minimum wage set.

Called the Delano Grape Strike, Itliong led the Filipino farm laborers to the picket lines where he was later joined by Cesar Chavez and other Mexican activist/laborers – and the rest is history as we all like to say it. Itliong is often dubbed as “one of the founding fathers of the West Coast labor movement.”

Philip Vera Cruz (1904-1994) was a companion labor leader of Itliong who co-founded the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC) which later merged with the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) to become the United Farm Workers (UFW) – the organization of which he was the Vice-President and which aimed to uplift the working conditions of the migrant workers.

In Alameda, California a couple of lanes were also named after Larry Itliong and Philip Vera Cruz.

Both Itliong and Philip Vera Cruz were very important and prominent figures in California’s early labor movements but it was obviously Cesar Chavez who had gotten the most attention. That certainly changed when the City of Alameda decided and voted to name two streets in a major property development in honor of the Filipino dynamic duo who were originally from the provinces of Pangasinan

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and Ilocos Sur, respectively. Similarly, a measure was passed to designate a portion of the FilipinoAmerican Highway in San Diego as the Itliong-Vera Cruz Memorial Bridge. And oh, yes! Right here in our beloved hometown of San Diego – the Filipino-American Highway is a seven-mile stretch of the State Highway Route 54 that connects the I-5, I-805 and CA-125 freeways. Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR) 125 drafted by former Assemblyman Juan Vargas (currently a U.S. Congressman) proposed that a portion of the CA54 Highway, previously called the South Bay Freeway, be renamed as the Filipino-American Highway. The Council of Philippine American Organizations (COPAO) funded the cost of creating and putting up the markers. On October 6, 2007

California state and local officials including then Philippine Consul General Mary Jo Aragon unveiled the signs marking the first designated Filipino-American Highway in America.

Before I forget, too – in 2000, the Chino Hills, California Post Office was named as the “Joseph Ileto Post Office” in honor of the slain FilipinoAmerican letter carrier Joseph Ileto.

Historically, prospective postmaster or patrons suggested Post Office names subject to the approval of the Post Office Department. Names of local or famous people, distant sites and nearby geographic or man-made features were all common sources of place names. Since at least 1967 some local postal facilities have been named in honor of individuals – usually by Congress and sometimes by the Postal Service – and the late Filipino-American

mailman Joseph Ileto was thus honored.

In addition, former Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) moved to honor the fallen San Diego Police Officer Jonathan “J.D.” De Guzman. She introduced legislation in the U.S. Congress to name a local post office after the heroic Filipino-American police officer.

“Officer De Guzman is no longer with us but we can ensure that his name lives on,” said Davis. “He made the ultimate sacrifice in protecting our community. This bill will mean that future generations will know and understand the commitment Officer De Guzman and all our law enforcement officers made on behalf of San Diegans.”

Davis’s bill designated the postal facility on Kuhn Drive in Chula Vista, California where

he lived as the” Jonathan ‘J.D.’ De Guzman Post Office Building.”

Incidentally, the entire San Diego congressional delegation joined as original co-sponsors of Congresswoman Davis’s legislation.

Additionally, the Palomar Street Bridge in Chula Vista was also dedicated in his memory with marker “Officer Jonathan M. De Guzman Memorial Bridge.”

If you are not aware of it – it was in July of 2016, when Officer De Guzman was killed in the line of duty as he and his partner were attempting to question an individual who has since been charged with the shooting.

Last but certainly not the least –on 28 October 2018 – to honor the first Filipinos who arrived in South Africa in the 1800s, the Philippine Embassy in Pretoria inaugurated the “Manila Steps” a flight of stairs in

Kalk Bay by the City of Cape Town. The Manila Steps recognizes the historical contribution of the Filipino community in Kalk Bay who were known for their exceptional fishing skills that gave rise to the area’s thriving fishing industry.

So, there you are – my dear folk – the genuinely huge contributions that Filipinos around the world and Filipino-Americans have made to America – and absolutely, the Filipino names of these places are a reminder of the numerous struggles and enduring successes that our resilient and glorious “kababayans” have experienced in order to establish their highly visible global presence especially in this great adopted country of ours.

Hip-hip-hooray!

God bless the U.S. A.!!

Mabuhay!!!