The Filipino Press: January 19-25, 2024

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DMW, DOT partner to provide OFWs opportunities in local tourism

MANILA -- The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Thursday to benefit overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are planning to go back to the Philippines for good.

In a statement, DMW officer-incharge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said that through the "Balik Bayani sa Turismo" partnership program, returning OFWs and their families will be provided with free tourism-related skills development and enhancement training that would open jobs and business opportunities for them so they could continue to provide for their families even as they return to the country.

“Walang OFW na ayaw umuwi (No OFW would never want to go back) for good. Everyone has plans for their families and communities.

That’s why this partnership with the DOT is a huge help for our OFWs to come home with their families while having a sustainable source of income in the local tourism sector,” Cacdac said.

Among the tourism-related training that may be provided for the OFW and their families include culinary tourism, farm tourism, homestay operations, and skills on how to become tour guides.

Meanwhile, those who have acquired foreign language skills

MEGA JOB FAIR. Hundreds of job seekers queue up at the Mega Job Fair held by the City of Manila at SM Manila on Thursday (Jan. 18, 2024).

About 12,000 employment opportunities are being offered by private companies and industries in the job fair. (MNS photo) or have extensive experience in tourism-related activities can become part of the DOT’s pool of experts which would give them opportunities to become resource

persons in various government programs.

In the same agreement, the DOT and the DMW will also provide scholarship grants to qualified

OFWs and their family members interested in becoming tourism front-liners and service providers or tourism enterprise owners, in cooperation with the Technical

Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco underscored that the OFWs are the best tourism ambassadors

of the Philippines because of the competence and expertise they offer to the world.

Moreover, Frasco said OFWs have acquired rich experiences that can help promote the country’s local tourism industry.

The Balik Bayani sa Turismo program is expected to strengthen the collaboration between the national and local governments in the implementation of the full-cycle and comprehensive reintegration programs and services for OFWs and their families while promoting the vibrant local tourism sector of the Philippines.

“We are counting on our partnership with the DMW because the returning OFWs are so much valued in the tourism industries because of their experience and expertise,” Frasco said.

DFA: Safety, support assured by no commitment from Iran to release 18 Filipino seafarers Iran's government has not made any commitment regarding the release of the 18 Filipino crew of the oil tanker that was seized in the Gulf of Oman, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday.

However, the Iranian government has guaranteed its support for the Philippine government's call for the safe repatriation of the Filipino seafarers, according to DFA See DMW on 3

As Voters Head to Polls Worldwide, What The Foundation for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award has recognized Barbara Role for Diaspora Communities?

Jiménez, with a community leadership award.

By Selen Ozturk/EMS With 2024 being the biggest election year in history, the role of diaspora is more crucial than ever.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- With 2024 being the biggest election year in history — as over 70 countries with over four billion people send citizens to the polls — the role of diaspora communities is more crucial than ever.

At a Friday, January 12 Ethnic Media Services briefing, speakers discussed how AI and social media spread disinformation among diaspora groups, and shared how diaspora communities will engage with elections in their home lands of Mexico, India and Taiwan.

Diaspora communities and voting “The right to vote is one of the main demands of diaspora populations” and their home countries have responded, said Kathleen Newland, Senior Fellow and Co-Founder of the Migration Policy Institute.

In 1980, only 21 countries enfranchised citizens abroad, whereas by 2020, 141 countries did — nearly three quarters of the countries in the world.

Diaspora voting varies dramatically. In some countries, like India and Taiwan, voters are required to physically return. In others, like the U.S., overseas voting is “hands-off” without outreach to diaspora, so that “people have to find out for themselves how to register,” explained Newland.

The electoral influence of diaspora communities depends not only upon the percentage of a country’s population living abroad

and whether they can vote, but also upon whether these overseas voters actually exercise their right to vote, Newland added.

Misinformation through social media, AI Misinformation from abroad could be as impactful for some elections as votes from abroad, said Dr. Rohit Chopra, Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at Santa Clara University.

In the context of elections, misinformation not only inserts a fake claim into public discourse, but also “muddies the difference between what is fake and what is true … with themes, say, like the ‘deep state’ or COVID conspiracies,” he explained, “or of strong pro-Modi sentiment combined with criticism of dissenters in the case of the Indian diaspora … It’s like the Wikipedia problem, where 80% may be very accurate, but we don’t know what 20% of it is false.”

As AI is increasingly weaponized to spread fake news, the companies and policies behind it are overwhelmingly U.S.-based — and so impact diaspora countries

“like a trigger effect,” Chopra said, contributing to the rise of fake news globally.

This rise has coincided with a global increase in authoritarianism and a crisis of legitimacy for the media. Thus, even initiatives to criminalize fake news will involve serious concerns about the concentration of power.

“The political power of the diaspora is not limited to their voting power … we have to rethink the relationship between the state, technology, and the public globally,” Chopra added.

India The Indian election is the largest by far this year, with about 900 million individuals registered to elect 543 members of Parliament across over 50 state parties through a million election booths between April and May, said Dr. Arvind Panagariya, Professor of Indian Political Economy at Columbia University.

Nevertheless, this parliamentary election is very much a presidential one, with Prime Minister Narendra See DIASPORA on 9

SAN DIEGO, CA - Barbara Jiménez, who oversees the County’s Department of Homeless Solutions and Equitable Communities (HSEC), was among the national awardees representing large and small businesses, health care, education, nonprofit, cybersecurity, communities and government.

The Baldridge Foundation said today this is the first time ‘Community’ has been a category, and “the inaugural group embodies the type of role model leadership our communities and our country need.”

Al Faber, president and CEO of the Foundation for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, Inc., said the leadership awards “recognize outstanding individuals, leaders, and supporters who embody Baldrige leadership and management values and principles, and who have provided outstanding service to the Baldrige community and beyond.”

For more than 30 years Jiménez has provided, promoted and overseen social and human services throughout San Diego County. Before being named HHSA Community Operations Officer in July 2021 and being tasked with creating HSEC, much of her career was focused on communities in South and Central San Diego.

She is known for her binational and bilingual work and extensive community listening sessions, including steering Southeastern Live Well Center planning for nearly a decade. During the heart of the COVID-19 emergency, her responsibilities included coordinating with nonprofits the expansion of outreach and resources

Barbara Jimenez, Community Operations Officer County Health and Human Services Agency into neighborhoods where they were already embedded and trusted.

“Barbara has a real passion for working side by side with the community, so this award is a perfect match,” said Dr. Eric McDonald, interim HHSA director. “We are thrilled for her, but frankly not surprised because we see the good work she does every day.”

Jiménez said she was both honored and surprised to learn of the award.

“Having the opportunity to make a positive difference in people’s lives drives me and is something I couldn’t accomplish without the support and dedication of countless coworkers,”

said Jiménez. “This award is a tribute to all of our efforts, and I’m humbled to be the recipient.”

The Baldrige Foundation was created as the private partner to the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program in 1988. Its mission is to ensure the long-term financial viability of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program and to support organizational performance excellence throughout the United States and the world. The Leadership Awards will be presented during the Foundation Awards Ceremony held as part of the annual Quest for Excellence conference near Washington, D.C. on April 9, 2024.

2 • January 19, 2024 - January 25, 2024

Filipino Press

Success starts with a single step…

By FRANCINE maigue

As I mentioned last week, for the whole month of January I will be sharing my ideas for easy-to-keep, daily resolutions. By the end of the month, you’ll have 365 options to help make each day of the coming year something to remember fondly.

Here is batch #2 to display right next to last week’s list. YOU get to choose which resolution to execute each day.

Check off these achievements in ANY ORDER you choose!

74. Plant your Christmas tree.

75. Eat dessert first.

76. Feng shui at least 1 room or workspace.

77. Budget a monthly foot massage.

78. Rap karaoke.

79. Go to lunch with a co-worker you don’t know well.

80. Ride a bike.

81. Have a “glam” photo shoot.

82. Take an ill-fitted piece of clothing to a tailor.

83. Update your Driver’s License photo.

84. Swap a cup of coffee with a cup of tea.

85. Paint your toenails a wild color, or wear socks that make you laugh.

86. Check your blood pressure.

87. Taste unfamiliar ethnic cuisine.

88. Wear your hair differently.

89. Pack and enjoy a picnic.

90. Return something you’ve borrowed.

91. Take the scenic route home.

92. Whack a piñata for stress relief.

93. Attend a networking event.

94. Watch an old Hollywood musical.

95. Go for a hike with a friend.

96. Skype with a long-distance friend or relative.

97. Snack on a handful of unsalted nuts in between meals.

98. Ask someone, “Why?” 99. Be a “tourist” in your own city.

100. Visit your parents.

101. Schedule a dentist appointment.

102. Dance in your living room.

103. Forego other beverages, and drink only water for a day.

104. Call someone by their full name.

105. Refresh your shower curtain.

106. Do something your 10 year-old self enjoyed.

107. Try to go a whole day without saying, “um.”

108. Give someone less fortunate a jacket, blanket, or towel.

109. Throw a wish penny into a fountain or well.

110. Learn to say, “Thank you,” in a different language.

111. Eat broiled fish.

112. Schedule your yearly physical.

113. Post your favorite inspirational quote as your Facebook status.

114. Say something kind to a neighbor.

115. Use canned food or bottled water as free weights, and do reps on each arm.

116. Exfoliate your skin.

117. Turn off the lights every time you leave a room.

118. Drink a glass of carrot juice.

119. Stare at the clouds, and describe the shapes you see.

120. March in place for one whole song.

121. Go a day without eating red meat.

122. Help someone without being asked.

123. Wear your favorite color.

124. Play catch.

125. Return a shopping cart to its proper place.

126. Make a pledge to not eat fast food for 1 week.

127. Go down a playground slide.

128. Sit down, and eat your breakfast slowly.

129. Make eye contact with someone across the room.

130. Eat a cup of fresh berries.

131. Give someone a high-five.

132. Test a new fragrance.

133. Wear something sexy to bed…even if you’re

the only one who’ll see it.

134. Try a new radio station.

135. Paint an accent wall.

136. Drink a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.

137. Sign a message with a happy face.

138. Leave a place better than you found it.

139. Display something you are proud of on your refrigerator door.

140. Google yourself.

141. Watch a cartoon.

142. Go down a “posh” street, and decide which house you would “buy.”

143. Complete as many sit-ups as you can during a commercial break.

144. Assemble a stuffed animal at Build-A-Bear, and deliver it in person to a random child at a hospital.

145. Wear sunblock.

146. Repurpose leftovers.

2024 is in full swing, and we’ve got to be ready to move with it, my pampered friends! Remember, successfully keeping these resolutions means making a simple but steadfast commitment to living a quality life. I believe in you. I believe in us.Cheers to a fabulous start to our New Year!

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Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega.

"We haven't heard any commitment from Iran. But based on past experience, when they apprehend a ship with Filipino seafarers, they usually release them," said De Vega, the DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs.

"However, in this case, they haven't said anything yet. Although the Iranian ambassador here promises to support us."

Iran seized last week the oil tanker St. Nicholas carrying Iraqi crude for Turkey. It was the same ship that was previously seized by the United States for carrying oil to Iran amid the sanctions imposed at that time.

De Vega said for the Iranian government, the seizure of the oil tanker is legal and in accordance with their laws. "It's a legal process in their mind, it's a legal seizure," he said.

The Middle Eastern and African Affairs office of the DFA confirmed that the Iranian Embassy in the Philippines has assured them of the safe condition of the 18 Filipino crew members aboard St. Nicholas.

"He said, 'They are all in fine condition.' He reiterated it yesterday, so we have the assurance that the Filipino seafarers are fine.

The next thing is they will assist us in our consular visit," DFA Assistant Secretary Mardomel Melicor told GMA Integrated News.

The Iranian Ambassador in the Philippines has reportedly requested the names of the 18Filipino crew members aboard the seized oil tanker.

Meanwhile, our embassy in Tehran, Iran is currently in talks with Iranian officials to visit the seafarers who are currently held by Iran.

"It's important for them to see the 18 so they can take photographs to show their families. That is the number one priority, and of course, if they need any assistance or extra help," De Vega said.

Empire Navigation, the company managing the ship, continues to coordinate with authorities and the

Filipino Press families of their crew members.

(MNS) DMW: Germany, Middle East hiring skilled Filipino workers Germany and several countries in the Middle East are hiring Filipino skilled workers, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced on Monday.

The DMW said several countries in the Middle East have open roles for electricians or electrical mechanics, according to a “BaliTanghali” report.

Meanwhile, Germany is seeking Pinoy employees to fill positions as nurses, skilled workers and hospital industry workers under the joint declaration of intent the Philippines and Germany recently signed.

The DMW said the developments are “good news” for training schools and Filipinos who are looking for opportunities abroad.

The department also reminded interested parties to only apply to job vacancies offered by licensed recruitment firms and to refrain from accepting work offers posted in social media platforms.

Premium lounge opened to serve OFWs at NAIA T1 The country’s modern heroes now have an exclusive place where they can comfortably spend idle time while waiting for their flights at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 in Parañaque City.

Located on the fourth floor near the pre-departure area, the OFW (overseas Filipino workers) Lounge can be used for free, regardless of what type of tickets they are holding.

A similar place is also being prepared at Terminal 3.

More OFW lounges would also

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be put up in other international airports in Clark, Pampanga; Cebu; and Davao.

The lounge is a joint project of the House of Representatives, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Department of Migrant Workers and Manila International Airport Authority.

It is patterned after similar spaces run by airlines but only for their business-class and first-class passengers.

“Binuksan namin ito batay na rin sa utos ng Pangulong (We opened it as directed by President) Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.,” Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said in a statement on Sunday.

On Saturday night, Romualdez and OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio and Deputy Administrator Mary Melanie Quiño inspected the new lounge. (MNS)

January 19, 2024 - January 25, 2024 • 3

4 • January 19, 2024 - January 25, 2024

Filipino Press

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DA bans import of live birds, poultry products from California, Ohio MANILA -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) has banned the importation of domesticated and wild birds, including poultry meat, eggs and other products, from the US states of California and Ohio.

In a news release Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. said the move was due to several outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the region.

“The rapid spread of the HPAI H5N1 strain in the United States since the first laboratory detection necessitates a wider coverage of the trade restriction to prevent the entry of HPAI virus and protect the health of the local population,” he said.

The case of H5N1 was reported by the US Veterinary Services to the World Organization for Animal Health in November for both states of California and Ohio.

The Philippines agreed to impose a state-wide ban only when at least three or more counties in an affected state in the US report an HPAI outbreak.

The ban would also include dayold chicks and semen.

Tiu-Laurel also ordered the immediate suspension of the processing, evaluation of application, and issuance of the Sanitary Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPSIC) of the commodities.

All shipments coming from California and Ohio that are already in transit, loaded or accepted at Philippine ports before the official communication of the ban on Jan. 15, 2024 shall be allowed.

However, it must be assured that these products were produced or the birds were slaughtered four 14 days before the first outbreak.

The DA will seize and destroy or return to the states of origin poultry and poultry products imported to the country from California and Ohio after Nov. 14, 2023 and Nov. 21, 2023 respectively.

The country’s importation of poultry meat from the US in 2023 has reached 166,356 metric tons.

The US ranks second on the list of countries supplying poultry meat to the Philippines, which is roughly 40 percent of total poultry meat arrivals (426,620 metric tons).

Other states from the US are excluded from the temporary restriction issued by the DA. They can still import poultry and poultry products to the Philippines.

PH needs minimum P1.3T to boost farm output, reduce wastage The Philippines needs to invest at least PHP1.3 trillion over the next few years to boost rice production, reduce wastage of agricultural products and ensure the country’s food security.

In a news release on Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. said irrigation of 1.2 million hectares of farm lands, planted mainly with rice, would require PHP1.2 trillion in capital spending.

“No major post-harvest facility was funded by government in the last 40 years. Puro maliliit, patingitingi, which is actually irrelevant, useless.

Sayang (Mostly small, retail, which

is actually irrelevant, useless. A waste),” he said.

“We need really to fund these projects. But we must build bigger.

We have three designs -- small, medium and large, not mini.”

Tiu-Laurel said integrated rice mill and warehouse complexes must be built which will cost around PHP90 billion over several years.

This would reduce an estimated 15 percent in losses in rice due to the lack of post-harvest facilities.

However, such establishments will save around PHP10.7 billion worth of rice or an additional 23 days of rice inventory, which is equivalent to around 10 percent of rice imports based on last year’s figures.

Tiu-Laurel reported that PHP1 billion has been allocated early this year to build four cold storage facilities --primarily at the Food Terminal Inc. Complex in Taguig City-- to partly address the recurrent oversupply and wastage of vegetables in parts of Luzon alone.

According to traders, transporting vegetables from Benguet to Metro Manila results in 30 percent losses that are eventually passed on to consumers.

“If we try to solve the problem as soon as possible, assuming a target of 2025, I need an additional PHP5 billion to address the vegetable cold-storage issue of the whole nation,” he said.

The 5,000-pallet position cold storage facility in FTI will take at least 12 months to complete.

While the Department of Agriculture will provide continued assistance, Tiu-Laurel said oversupply of vegetables and highvalue crops must be addressed mainly by the local government units.

DA chief says no cash aid for farmers dealing with pests, oversupply issues The government has no fund to provide cash aid for farmers who incurred losses due to pests and oversupply issues, Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said on Tuesday.

Several farmers in Cordillera and Cebu were forced to throw away cabbages due to oversupply, while onions in Nueva Ecija were hit by pests.

“As of now wala dahil technically there is no fund to help them,” Tiu Laurel said in a press conference in Malcañang.

“Maybe we can given them seeds to replant and pesticides along with it and some other support,” he said.

While the pest problem that hit the onion industry in Nueva Ecija “will have some effect” on onion prices, the spike is not expected to be significant, he said.

“It will have some effect because it will reduce production. Pero based sa study ng DA… minimal lang,” he said.

So far, the DA is still looking at more viable solutions to aid farmers in Nueva Ecija, the Secretary said.

“Pinagaaralan ko pang mabuti kung paano ma-address yun.

Unfortunately, I don’t have the answer today on how to address it,” he said.

Tiu Laurel gave the statements after his meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on the DA’s 3-year plan.

The plan — which needs P93 billion in funding — involves the construction of cold storage facilities for rice, corn and other high-value crops.

DA chief eyes Laguna Lake revival to boost fish production Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. sees the need to revive Laguna de Bay as a major source of fish for residents of Metro Manila and nearby provinces as it is the country's largest freshwater lake.

“Our aim is to produce more food at lower prices. For example, bring back bangus prices to PHP50PHP70 per kilo,” he said in a news release on Thursday.

“Maximizing the aquaculture potential of Laguna Lake is essential to achieving that goal. If we can add more capacity, then let’s do it.”

Last week, Tiu-Laurel had a meeting with fishpen operators in the region after aquaculture associations in Laguna Lake sought the agency's help in increasing the mortality of fingerlings in fishpens, minimal introduction of salt water that is helpful in bangus production, and the reintroduction of fresh water.

Fishpen operator groups claim the last time saltwater was allowed to flow into the lake was in 2022.

They said the annual opening of the floodgates to allow fresh water is not happening.

Data from the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) showed that the 940-squarekilometer Laguna de Bay produces as much as 90,000 tons of freshwater fish a year and provides livelihood to around 13,000 fishermen.

LLDA is a quasi-governmental agency that has jurisdiction over the freshwater lake.

Its board consists of the secretaries of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Trade and Industry and economic planning departments, as well as representatives from the Office of the President and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

Tiu-Laurel said he would arrange a meeting with LLDA to discuss plans and programs for Laguna Lake, along with the guidelines for the opening of the flood gates, that is crucial for the introduction of fresh and salt water needed for a more productive aquaculture industry.

He also ordered the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to test the water quality of the lake every quarter, as well as undertake a study on the capacity of Laguna Lake.

In 1999, the LLDA implemented a zoning and management plan that allowed 10,000 hectares of Laguna Lake for fishpen operations, 5,000 hectares for fish cages as well as areas for fish sanctuary, navigational lanes and open fishing.

White goby, mudfish, ayungin, bangus, catfish, kanduli, tilapia and the common carp are the commercially-important fish found or grown in Laguna Lake. (MNS)

PRIVATIZATION. A Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 train approaches the Magallanes Station in Makati City on Wednesday (Jan. 10, 2024). The Department of Transportation earlier said it plans to roll out the bidding for the privatization of the operations and maintenance of MRT-3 by the second half of 2024. (MNS photo)

CONVENIENT RIDE. Passengers board modern jeepney units at the Farmers Garden Parking terminal in Cubao, Quezon City on Monday (Jan. 15, 2024). A survey conducted by research and analytics firm Capstone-Intel Corp. among 1,503 adult respondents on Nov. 22 to 29, 2023 showed 70 percent support the government’s public utility vehicle modernization program. (MNS photo)

LTO eyes agency-to-agency deal as license cards run out by February MANILA -The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is looking to government printing offices for the supply of plastic cards for driver’s licenses as these run out by the end of the month.

In a press conference at the LTO headquarters in Quezon City on Thursday, LTO chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II, said government printing agencies have already submitted their quotations for the supply of 6 million license cards, with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) now working on the processing and approval.

“This would be the fastest way and the most transparent and open to all. We're following it up so hopefully, we'll get those licenses out before February,” he said.

To date, Mendoza said there are around 270,000 license cards left in LTO offices nationwide.

“Normal monthly demand for driver's licenses is around 550,000 a month. So, 270,000 is good for around two weeks or half a month.

Hanggang end of the month po yan unless mag-wind down (That’s only going to last until the end of the month unless it winds down),” he said.

If LTO fails to provide license cards, Mendoza said, expired driver’s licenses will automatically be extended until April 2024.

To avoid this scenario, he said, agency-to-agency procurement is one of the alternative modes of procurement under the Government Procurement Act and is the fastest way to procure more license cards in the near future.

“Kung titignan mo yung capability at readiness, parang mas ready yung government printing offices (If you look at capability and readiness, it seems government printing offices are the most prepared),” he added.

After forwarding the quotations to the DOTr, Mendoza said, the next steps for the procurement process are technical tests on the thickness, weight and quality of the plastic by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and whether the security codes on the cards are correct.

“These would also be checked as part of procedure, whether to approve or not approve the agencyto-agency contracts. Pricing is just one of the components of the entire contract deal,” he said.

In the meantime, Mendoza said the LTO is working on making sure the delivery of these license cards will reach LTO district offices in as little time as possible, as well as preparing licensing and registration caravans in barangays.

“Kasama na rin diyan yung ating mga outreach program. Wag na sila pumunta samin, kami na pupunta sa mga barangay (This includes the outreach program. They won’t have to come to us, we’re going to the barangays),” he said.

Currently, Mendoza said the 4 million license cards donated by the Philippine Society of Medicine for Drivers still cannot be used as they await the opinion of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) on its legality.

“Umaandar pa naman yan, pero kung sa karera kung ano mauuna, mukhang itong agency-to-agency-in terms of delivering the cards (That’s still ongoing but if this was a race, looks like the agency-to-

agency deal will be the fastest in terms of delivering the cards),” he said.

Gov’t encourages Pinoys to shift to digital TV for better experience, emergency warning feature The government is calling on the public to shift to digital television service for better TV experience, more programming, and early warning broadcast during times of emergencies and disasters.

“Sa atin pong mga televiewers right now, we encourage you, or hinihikayat po namin kayo na mag-shift na rin po sa ating digital TV service. Mas maganda po ang experience sa digital television kapag nag-digital TV po kayo. Mas maraming programs na mapapanood, mas maraming programa and then mas maganda ang signal,” National Telecommunication (NTC) Deputy Commissioner Alvin Blanco said in a television interview over PTV. “Mas klaro and of course mas marami kayong programs na makikita. Other than that, meron din po tayong early warning broadcast na makakatulong din po sa ating mamamayan pagdating sa mga emergencies and disasters. So, we encourage everyone to please let us prepare for our full digital television service,” he said.

Launched during the Ceremonial Digital Switch On (DSO) at the Digital TV Summit 2017, the plan enjoins broadcasters, manufacturers, content producers, including televiewers, in a comprehensive nationwide implementation strategy for the expedient migration from analog to digital broadcasting come the Analog Switch Off (ASO) target at the end of 2023.

Engr. Erwin Galang, director of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), also called on the public to transition to digital TV and see the difference.

“Tulad po ng nasabi ni DepCom Alvin, hinihikayat po namin lahat ng manonood ng digital TV. Makikita n’yo po ang diperensya, mas maganda, mas malinaw. Yung mga paborito mong artista, mas makikita mo ang itsura. Life changing po ‘yun,” he said.

Galang also said that the plan of the NTC, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) is to adopt the emergency warning broadcast system feature of the digital TV. This is similar to the emergency warning in Japan when the country was struck by a powerful earthquake on New Year’s Day, Galang pointed out.

“Ang experience po na nakita po sa Japan ay prior po na dumating sa ibang lugar nakita na po nila at nawarningan na po sila. So, inaasahan po natin na magagawa rin po natin ‘yun dito sa Pilipinas,” the KBP official said.

The government is implementing measures to make it easier for the public, especially in the rural areas, to shift to digital from analog broadcast.

Blanco said that the NTC required the networks for simulcast broadcast of their analog and digital signals to continue serving households using analog television while the preparations are being done for the transition to digital.

“And we also have to make sure na itong mga households na ito that are still relying on analog reception ay makapag-access po ng digital TV before po natin ipatigil ang analog TV service,” he said.

“Pinag-aaralan rin po ng pamahalaan ang pag-provide ng subsidy for some of the households na kailangan po nating i-transition.

Pinag-aaralan rin po ito to make sure na maili-limit ang mga inconvenience,” he stated.

Blanco said that the NTC has not changed the timeline for the ASO and at this point in the country’s transition, the agency started to prepare for the ASO until the full adoption of the digital system.

Outside of Mega Manila, the transition from analog to digital is ongoing, Blanco said, noting that there are digital TV services being provided in other areas of the country like Cebu, Davao and many other key cities.

Based on the latest data for Metro Manila, 82 to 83 percent of households could now receive digital TV signal or reception, with less than a million households relying purely on analog TV. “So, mangilan-ngilan na lang na household or maybe about mga 17 percent, 18 percent. Based on the data that we had, very recently, ‘yung mga households that are, that’s for the Mega Manila area,” Blanco said.

“Ito po yung ating hinihikayat na mga households na as much as possible, tangkilikin na po nila ‘yung ating digital TV service na pino-provide na po ng ating mga television networks, ” he noted.

NTC urges switch to digital TV as analog shutdown looms The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has called on the public to switch to digital television (TV) by purchasing digital-ready TVs or digital TV receivers ahead of the planned shutdown of analog TV. During the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing on Monday, NTC Commissioner Alvin Blanco said the difference between digital and analog TV is massive, with digital TV looking much clearer compared to its older counterpart.

“Other than that meron din po tayong early warning broadcast na makakatulong po sa ating mamamayan pagdating po sa mga emergencies and mga disaster (Other than that, there’s the early warning broadcast that can help the public in times of emergencies and disasters),” Blanco said.

Digital TV also offers other features such as better signal, program information, and more channel selections.

He noted that some TV networks are offering digital TV boxes that can be connected to most televisions.

To date, an estimated 82 percent of households in Mega Manila have already switched to digital TV, with the rest -- numbering less than a million -- still using analog TV. In 2017, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) announced a simultaneous operation of analog and digital TV for four to six years before the analog shutoff.

The standard for digital terrestrial TV broadcasting (DTTB) was issued through a memorandum circular by the NTC in 2013 following an order by former president Benigno Aquino III. (MNS)

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WHEN YOU STUMBLE, GET BACK UP! SAN DIEGO, CA -- (or disembarked, for that matter) Air Force One several times over last year. In fact, his administration is taking steps to avoid his penchant for tripping and sometimes falling - as his age remains a top concern for voters.

According to the American news website Axios – Biden has reportedly been wearing tennis shoes more frequently, uses a shorter stairway to Air Force One and has been working on his balance with a physical therapist for the past two years.

Not wanting to wake my wife in the middle of the night, I tiptoed in the dark to our toilet. Unbeknownst to me, the rug beside my part of the bed had wadded. I stumbled and hit the floor – hard. I don’t think it was set out to make me fall as I must admit I did not even pause a second to check my bearing as I got up…I just stood up abruptly and headed to the bathroom groggily. And that left me with an aching back and a bump above my left forehead and that wasn’t the first time it had happened to me, too.

So once again, I stumbled and fell for the nth time. A few inches from the floor, I knew it was going to hurt bad. A fall is never fun especially when you are an aging senior citizen – but I’m learning how to “catch” myself before much damage is done, or else recover after a painful fall.

And I must confess, too that nothing damages our dignity like

stumbling!

Ha-ha-ha-ha!

In my 76 years of existence, I have seen people, dressed to the hilt, stumble and fall flat on their faces as they were walking to church. I have witnessed serious and gifted soloists, stepping up to the stage with score in hand, stumble and fall flat as the sheets of music sailed like maple leaves in an October breeze. I’ve watched a sure and winning touchdown by a fleet split-end – nobody within fifteen yards – foiled by stumble.

I’ve looked on as brides and grooms stumbled in unison…as military bandsmen stumbled in formation… as shoppers stumbled in stores…as rigid Navy officers stumbled while inspecting the sailors…as elite, elegant ladies stumbled on stage… as emcees got tangled in mike wires and stumbled off stage… as cap and gown grads stumbled to their knees receiving their diplomas…and as an experienced, well-respected, eloquent college professor stumbled and fell just before he began to speak. I could never forget that one because in the fall he cut his lip and delivered his entire address while wiping the blood off his face!

And yes…Can’t you remember when you have stumbled?

Nothing is absolutely more humiliating or embarrassing than spilling your dignity as we fall flat on our pride. The first thing we do is take a quick look around to see who might have noticed. We long

January 19, 2024 - January 25, 2024 • 5

Jesse T. Reyes

Filipino Potpourri

President Joe Biden stumbles while walking up the steps of Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. to become invisible. Some of my own stumbling experiences make me shudder just to call them to mind.

But do you know something?

Almost without exception the response of onlookers is sympathy…identification with the embarrassment…mutual ache…a deep sense of inner support. In fact, the immediate response is to help the stumbler back to his feet.

I cannot recollect a single occasion when anyone who stumbled was held down or stepped on by those nearby. I recall that there was instant concern for their hurt feelings and their physical welfare.

I also remember that everyone who tripped got right back on his

feet, shrugged off the momentary humiliation, and forged ahead.

There’s something to be learned, my dear readers, in all this business of stumbling.

In the Bible, the penetrating letter of James, every verse is like a scalpel – cutting deep incisions in our conscience. Hidden within James 3:2 is something we often forget: “For we all stumble in many ways.”

What’s he saying?

Nobody’s perfect…to stumble is normal…a fact of life…an act that guarantees our humanness. He goes on to mention that we often stumble in what we say. When it comes to the tongue, we blow! He says (in 2:10) that stumbling brings

guilt…even if it is in one, small area.

Isn’t that the truth?

Perhaps you yourself have just stumbled as you read this column’s edition today. You feel guilty, you feel like a failure. You wish like crazy you had never opened your mouth…or done what you did… or responded like that. You’re miserable, discouraged, and you’d like to hide, or better still – crawl off and die.

I respond to this with simply one word … Ridiculous! Get up out of that pool of self-pity, brush off the dirt with the promise of God’s forgiveness – and move on!

Remember the adage, too – “You can’t keep a good man down” – is a biblical concept. Proverbs 24:16 says, “For the righteous falls seven times and rises again.”

Now from my personal experiences, I must add a word of realism. Instead of receiving the normal reaction of concern and support, you may find that some who saw you fall will want to hold you down or bad-mouth you because you slipped. To that I suggest – Ignore them completely!

They have forgotten that James 3:2 includes them. The only difference

is that you didn’t get to see them stumble. But they have, believe me, they have.

What all this adds up to is not difficult to discover: “God wants to use you --- stumbling and all --- but he won’t do so if you refuse to get up.” No doubt about it – stumblers who give up are a dime a dozen.

In fact, they’re useless. Stumblers who get up are rare. In fact, they’re priceless.

Jesus said, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him though when they came! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than he would cause one of these little ones to stumble.” (Luke 17:1-2 NASB).

What say you?

See someone stumble lately?

How did you treat him or her?

Talk or laugh about him or her.

Remember James 2? How about empathizing with the person?

And finally, on branching out – Keep track of people in your life who stumble this week and note how you reacted to each one…

Ha-ha-ha-ha!

Cheers!

Mabuhay!

New Report Shows Latinos, AAPI Underrepresented CA Gov. Appointees

By Selen Ozturk/EMS A new report finds that, while Gov. Gavin Newsom has achieved gender parity in his office’s appointments, Latinos and AAPI remain underrepresented.

SACRAMENTO, CA — A new report finds that, while Gov. Gavin Newsom has achieved gender parity in his office’s appointments, Latinos and AAPI remain underrepresented.

The report was released Monday by the nonprofit Hispanas Organised for Political Equality (HOPE), in response to a veto last October of SB702, the third iteration of a bill

by Senator Monique Limón (D-19) which would require the Governor to create and publish an annual report on “aggregate demographic information” of appointments made to the state’s 420 boards, agencies, commissions and task forces.

Key findings The report found that “the rich diversity of California’s population is not reflected in the demographic makeup of board members and commissioners appointed in 2023,” per publicly available self-reported data for 480 candidates appointed from January 2023 through December 15, 2023.

Non-Hispanic White Californians hold the majority of appointments at 52%. Latinos (17.29%), Black (11.25%), AAPI (8.54%) and Native American Californians (2.29%) collectively make up 39%, with 9% being unknown.

For comparison, the demographic breakdown of California is 34.7% Non-Hispanic White, 40.3% Hispanic or Latino, 6.5% Black, 16.8% AAPI and 1.7% Native American, according to 2023 Census estimates.

47% of appointments are female and

52% are male with 1% falling under the category of other or unknown.

The report combines race and gender to show that White men comprise 30% of appointments, White women 22%, Black men 5%, Black women 6%, Latino men 8.5%, Latina women 9%, AAPI men 3.5%, AAPI women 5%, Native American men 1% and Native American women 1%.

The report also finds that 63% of appointees live in Northern California (41%) and the Bay Area (22%), with Los Angeles County at 15%; the Central Valley, Inland Empire and Greater San Diego area at 5% each; and Orange County and the Central Coast at about 3% each.

Most appointments are Democrats at 71%, with Republicans at 9%, No Preference at 18% and Other at 2%.

Precedents Limón said Newsom “has been very intentional about ensuring diversity in his appointments” — recently appointing the first Latina Supreme Court Justice for California in 2022 and passing SB54 in 2023, which requires venture capital firms to make demographic diversity reports on the companies they invest in. “The

goal of reports like these is to replicate his success.”

“You can’t fix what you cannot see,” she added. When Newsom’s term ends in 2027 “we will have a new governor, and we want to ensure that the gains his administration has seen are gains that can be sustained.”

Newsom’s veto letter for her bill holds that because the demographic information specified in SB702 is selfreported by candidates, a report may not necessarily accurately reflect the diversity of appointees.

However, the HOPE report counters that “our state regularly uses self-reported data for many different state agencies for resources like tax credits, disability insurance, and in the appointment of our judicial courts. We believe this report would be more accurately and efficiently produced if it came directly from the Governor’s office,” i.e. if measures like SB702 were more common. This “would come at nearly no cost to the Administration, given that they already collect this demographic data.”

On the state level, there’s precedent for such a report. The California Judicial Council, for instance,

publishes demographic data relative to gender, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran and disability status for court justices and judges, and the report in Limón’s proposed bill also includes these metrics.

Among other states, Illinois under Gov. Pritzker passed a measure similar to SB702 in 2015, and has seen consistently more diverse appointees since.

This emphasis on transparency is also gaining traction among local governments throughout California.

In 2023 the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted a motion modeled after SB702 requiring the board to publish an annual demographic report of appointments.

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors adopted a similar measure in 2021. Karen Bass, mayor of the City of Los Angeles, also aims to create a similar report.

Next steps HOPE has stated that it will continue tracking appointments in 2024.

In light of the 2023 report’s findings, Sen. Limón has reintroduced her bill requiring an annual demographic report on gubernatorial appointees, in the form of SB782, which is set for a hearing on January 11.

After three past vetoes, “It will be our fourth attempt on this particular bill,” said Limón. “What we have seen over the last four years is that this is not a partisan issue, evidenced by the strong bipartisan support that this bill has received — particularly in the last year in the legislature.”

If Californian leadership does not “evaluate our progress, gaps in representation will continue to exist,” she added. “This report reiterates the need for demographic data to be made publicly available. The work to advance transparency must start inhouse.”

Bridging Health Gaps in LA County

By Selen Ozturk/EMS As wealth and health disparities widen nationwide, California is bridging the gap by making care accessible to all.

LOS ANGELES, CA -- As wealth and health disparities widen nationwide, California is bridging the gap by making care accessible to all.

On January 1, California expanded Medi-Cal, its version of Medicaid, to all lowincome individuals regardless

of immigration status. This expansion is uniquely impactful in LA County, which will see the closure of its no-cost low-income health program My Health LA (MHLA) at the end of January, since all MHLA patients will now be eligible for Medi-Cal. At a Thursday, Jan. 11 briefing cosponsored by MHLA and the California Department of Health Care Services, LA County health workers and patients discussed what this transition from restricted (i.e. emergency) benefits to full coverage means for health access

overall — especially for those who never had full coverage in the past.

Medi-Cal expanding, My Health LA sunsetting This dramatic expansion of Medi-Cal — the last in a series which began in 2015 to include children, then in 2020 to young adults, and then in 2022 to older adults — “opens the doors to full insurance for all ages for all low income undocumented immigrants,” said Anna Gorman, COO of Community Programs at MHLA.

As a result, an estimated 700,000 individuals statewide will get full-scope MediCal, including “mental health care, medical care, vision, dental, long term care, substance use disorder services, transportation and in-home care,” she continued.

“Previously, this population could only get emergency or restricted MediCal.” This expansion coincides with the sunsetting of My Health LA, a decade-long partnership between LA County DHS and over 50 community clinics countywide that

A breakdown by race and gender of all 480 gubernatorial California appointees between Jan. 2023 and Dec. 15, 2023. (Credit: Hispanas Organised for Political Equality)

A breakdown by political affiliation and geographic residence of all 480 gubernatorial California appointees between Jan. 2023 and Dec. 15, 2023.

(Credit: Hispanas Organised for Political Equality) allowed hundreds of thousands of low-income uninsured residents to receive primary or preventive care at these clinics while coming to DHS for emergency or hospital care.

Now that participants can get full Medi-Cal, they can apply through their community clinics, or by calling the LA County Department of Public Health at 833-540-0473, Gorman said. “For state-funded benefits, your information is only used to determine if you qualify;

state laws protect your privacy, and using benefits won’t hurt your immigration status except for a few small exceptions — a residential nursing home, or mental health institution care.”

“When I started my job almost five years ago,” she added, “I said I hoped that we would not need this program much longer, and today we’re finally here.”

Life-changing health access See HEALTH on

7

6 • January 19, 2024 - January 25, 2024

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January 19, 2024 - January 25, 2024 • 7

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A transition to full coverage like this “changes people’s lives,” said Louise McCarthy, President and CEO of Community Clinic Association of LA County. “A couple decades ago, I was in the hospital looking at a $22,000 medical bill. I was uninsured and had no way to pay, but it turned out I was eligible for Medi-Cal and enrolled that day. That bill went away. I am now a homeowner, an employer. I went to graduate school. That would not have happened with medical debt.”

Like medical access, medical debt too can change someone’s life, “steering them down a path of persistent poverty, and people can avoid it if they get the full care they’re entitled to — even without insurance, there’s still care available at these centers” she added.

The need for such care is rising countywide.

Carmen Muniz, COO of Family

Health Care Center of Greater Los Angeles, said her center alone had 2,500 assigned MHLA patients between ages 26 and 49 in October 2023, amounting to 2,239 visits and a 24% growth of patients from the previous year.

“No patient should feel that because they have limited income, they can’t receive the care they need,” Muniz said, “nor should your immigration status be a barrier for you to receive quality

medical care.”

Full care “is like a gift” Amalia Torres, a patient of Muniz’ clinic since 2001 who transitioned from My Health LA to Medi-Cal on January 1, said this transition from restricted to full coverage will give her a chance to newly access dental care, and emergency situations — like a kidney stone diagnosis she received in the past — will no longer be as threatening.

Having come to the U.S. from Puebla, Mexico 22 years ago, she received prenatal care for all three of her children at FHCCGLA, and said the new eligibility of her husband, too — the sole source of income in her household — gave her great peace of mind.

Guadalupe Ramirez, a Maternal Health and Child Care Access (MHCCA) patient for nearly 15 years — since the Affordable Care Act — said full coverage granted her son life-saving heart surgeries, and now that she’s eligible for it alongside her three children it’s been “like a gift. My priorities are always on my children, and knowing I won’t have to worry about expensive care for myself is a true weight lifted off my shoulders.”

Lorena Prieto, Managed Care Lead at Eisner Health in LA County, added that as Medi-Cal expands, some state counties like LA are transitioning from some “managed care” or primary provider insurance plans to others.

As this happens, local clinics are also making sure that patients

already getting the care they need “remain with their medical homes through the transition,” Prieto explained. So far, “over 90% of our My Health LA patients are successfully enrolled into full Medi-Cal, and they already have access to crucial benefits that weren’t covered before — like hearing aids, glasses, walkers, canes, wheelchairs and timely mental health services.”

She added that “Medi-Cal enrollment is not subject to public charge; nobody needs to fear receiving the benefits they need.”

Celia Valdez, MHCCA Director of Outreach and Education, emphasized the importance of mental health care under full Medi-Cal for children and parents, especially those facing financial difficulties and those impacted by the pandemic “with the stress that presents. Knowing that our families no longer have to choose between, say, an invasive surgery, or even getting new glasses, and putting food on the table or paying your utility bill … It makes me feel good to be a Californian.”

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8 • January 19, 2024 - January 25, 2024

Filipino Press

Spiritual Life Have a Blessed Day I have been receiving many inspiring massages through the email and the senders want me to share these messages to others. Aware that many of my readers may not have their own computers, I thought of sharing some of these messages through this column. The latest message from my niece in the Philippines is entitled “Rules for a blessed day” and it is in the form of a slide presentation. It is beautiful and inspiring. How can we truly make our day blessed? What can we do to make our lives a blessing to others today? Let us reflect on these 10 rules for a blessed day.

Today I will not strike back.

If someone is rude, if someone is impatient, if someone is unkind, I will not respond in like manner.

Today I will ask God to bless my “enemies”. If I come across someone who treats me harshly or unfairly, I will quietly ask God to bless that individual. I understand the enemy could be a family member, neighbor, coworker or stranger.

Today I will be careful about what I say. I will carefully choose and guard my words,being certain

Aurora S. Cudal-Rivera

My Personal Testimony

that I do not spread gossip, slander or malign anyone in any way.

Today I will go the extra mile.

I will find ways to help share the burden of another person. I will find ways to make life more pleasant.

Today I will forgive. I will forgive any hurts or injuries that come my way. I will also work to forgive injuries that have been inflicted upon me in the past.

Today I will do something nice for someone but I will do it secretly. I will reach out anonymously and bless the life of another person.

Today I will treat others as I wish to be treated. I will practice the golden rule “do unto others

as you would have them do unto you” with everyone I encounter.

Today I will raise the spirits of someone who is discouraged. My smile, my words, my expression of support can make a difference to someone who is wrestling with life.

Today I will nurture my body.

I will eat less; I will eat only healthy foods. I will thank God for my body.

Today I will grow spiritually.

I will spend a little more time in prayer today; I will begin reading something spiritual or inspirational today; I will find a quiet place (at some point during this day) and listen to God’s voice.

Do you love the Lord?

I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things. (Isaiah 45:7) God will use pain in order to create a love relationship with His creation. This statement may challenge your theology. However, consider that God allowed Jesus to experience incredible pain in order to create an opportunity to have a relationship with His creation. Consider how Jesus created a relationship with Paul.

He blinded him and used a crisis in his life in order to bring him into a relationship with him and use him for God's purposes. Consider how God recruited Jonah for the mission He had for him.

This is not God's first choice for His creation. Romans 2:4 reveals that God's preference is to show mercy and kindness: "Or do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?"

The problem is there are few people who respond to the goodness of God. God loves people more than He loves their comfort. He invests a great deal into mankind. He desires relationship with us and will go to great lengths to create

Danny Hernaez

From Whom All Blessings Flow such a relationship in order for us to receive the rewards and inheritance He has for us.

I have observed this process in the scriptures in working with people through years of ministry. I have noticed three distinct stages.

First, we live based on convenience. Our obedience is largely based on circumstances in our lives. We choose to obey based on the circumstances.

The second stage is the crisis stage. God allows a crisis to come into our lives. We are motivated to obey God in order to get out of the pain of our situation. Many times God allows us to stay in this condition in order to demonstrate His love and faithfulness during our pain. Gradually, we discover something new about God and often have a personal encounter with Him that changes us. Our very nature is affected by this

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Greetings in the Lord!

Two weeks ago we celebrated the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord which marked the beginning of ordinary the season of the liturgical year. The feast of the Baptism of Our Lord marked the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus himself.

The same feast also allowed us to evaluate how we have lived out our Christian faith, as followers of Jesus and members of His Church.

That was an opportunity to for to see that being members of the Church we have both the rights as adopted children of God and the responsibilities in the mission of the Church. This mission is one that is shared by all the baptized, both the lay and the ordained ministers.

According to the gospel of St. John, these two disciples mentioned were traditionally known as John, the son of Zebedee and Andrew, the brother of Simon whom later Jesus called as Peter. They were the disciples of John the Baptist who brought them to Jesus the Lamb of God. Notice, how the two left John the Baptist and followed Jesus after the encounter with Jesus himself.

From that gospel we would know the steps of discipleship. What does it mean to be a disciple, in the first place? Being a disciple, briefly, means living out the life of person one admires, follows and obeys.

In the case of Christian discipleship, it means knowing Jesus, listening to His teachings, accepting his message and doing the commandments that He wants his followers to do. Last Sunday’s gospel spoke about the steps of becoming disciples. The first step is coming to know Jesus. The second step is being with Jesus. Jesus opens Himself to anyone who gets interested in knowing Him and this is what happened to the first disciples, “so they went and stayed with him that day…” Going and staying with

Fr. Agustin T. Opalalic Jesus means being able to know Him more closely, admire Him more lovingly so that they would be able to follow Him more devotedly. The third step in discipleship is following Jesus They followed Him and learned from Him so that in turn they shared their own experience. The fourth step is sharing the experience of the encounter of following Jesus to others. This is what Andrew did when he told his brother, Simon: we have found the Messiah… and he brought him to Jesus. I reviewed these steps because our gospel today, taken from St. Mark speaks further about the call of Jesus to discipleship but this time describes the response of those called and the central focus of the message of his mission.

Let me speak first about the central message of his mission. Chapter 1 verse 15 proclaims the center of the message of Jesus: “The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel. Repentance and Faith are the two evangelical actions that Jesus proclaimed in his mission. One can only believe truly when he changes himself radically, repenting of one’s since that would bring oneself open to believing in Jesus. Faith in Jesus would also eventually keep one to continuously be in the process of true conversion which is not only demanded in the gospel but is expected to happen

once one becomes a true disciple of Jesus. This leads me to share with you the response of the first disciples whom Jesus encountered and called to discipleship. These were the brothers Simon and Andrew, and the two other brothers sons of Zebedee, James and John in the gospel of Mark. “Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I wi8ll make you fishers of men. Then they left their nets and followed him…. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.”

There are two essential elements in this call of the first disciples. The first is that the call is the initiative of Jesus. It is always Jesus who calls and his call demands a response.

The response to the call of Jesus is not only free but also radical. This is the second essential element which is characterized by freedom and radicalism. Jesus would never force one to respond to his call, but when one responds freely he should leave behind many things and persons so that he could focus his attention to Jesus. This happened to the first disciples: they left their nets…, they left their father Zebedee in the boat… and followed him. We cannot never follow Jesus totally unless we freely give ourselves to him and this demands leaving behind things and people that are close to our hearts, close to our lives and even our own loved one. This is the meaning of radical discipleship.

On this third Sunday of the ordinary time of the year, let us look into ourselves and see how we have responded to the call of Jesus for discipleship. He continues to call us, we have to open ourselves so that we can hear his call, and also see whether we have totally responded to His call and follow Him more closely, more dearly and more lovingly.

BAHALA NA Ni Salvador S. Idos

God-encounter.

This begins to move us into a third phase that is a relationship that is motivated now by love and devotion instead of pain. This is where God desires us to be.

Another way of saying this is we are no longer seeking His hand.

We are seeking Him. We want to know God personally.

Obedience will not last when the motivation is only the removal of our pain. Obedience only lasts when the motivation is loving devotion. Where are you in your obedience and what is the primary motivation? If it isn't love, why not tell the Lord you love Him today and want to know Him for who He is and not for what He can do for you.

God uses enlarged trials to produce enlarged saints so He can put them in enlarged places! <(((><

Isang bukang bibig ng maraming Pilipino Ang kahulugan ba nito ay lubos nating tanto Mahalagang liwanagin ang ibig sabihin Upang magsilbing gabay sa buhay natin.

Bago pa naging Kristiyano ang mga kadugo nating ninuno Sa isang makapangyarihang Diyos naniniwala ang mga Pilipino Diyos na kung tawagin nila ay Bathala At sa Kanya nilalaan ang buo nilang tiwala.

Ang ating mga ninuno kapag nagsabi ng” Bathala na” Makapangyarihan ang

Bathala ang kanilang paniniwala Siya ang may hawak sa mga pang-araw-araw na pangyayari Dahil ang ating bukas na kung ano ang manyayari ay di natin masasabi.

Ang kasabihang “ Bahala na” ay hango sa “ Bathala na” Nagkaroon ng naiibang kahulugan sa kaisipan ng iba Para bagang mangyari na kung ano man ang mangyayari At nababali wala ang sariling pagsisikap at tiwala sa Diyos na Siya ang may hawak ng ating bukas maniwala tayo sana

Na noon ay tinatawag nilang Bathala Ang Siyang nakakaalam kung saan tayo mapapaunta.

Kapag tayo ay magpasiya at magsabi ng “Bahala na” Isapuso natin na ang Diyos, na ating Panginoon

Salvador S. Idos

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January 19, 2024 - January 25, 2024 • 9

DIASPORA

Continued from p­­­­­age

1

Modi leading the Hindu nationalist BJP party with a 76% approval rating in recent polls.

This popularity owes much to the fact that India has grown from the 10th to the fifth-largest — and fastest growing — world economy, with low levels of inflation and unemployment, and a drastically more efficient social benefits system since Modi’s rise nine years ago.

Given that during this time, Modi has developed a tech corridor in India and promoted intensive collaboration with tech overseas, an issue at the forefront of U.S. Indian diaspora interests is tech development, Panagariya explained.

Because Modi’s opposition — led

by Mallikarjun Kharge of the centerleft INC — is more fragmented than 2019, “it’s as though you’re voting for Modi or voting against Modi now,” Panagariya said, and “there’s a consensus” that he’ll win.

Mexico Much is at stake in 2024, when Mexican voters will elect a new six-year president, all 500 Chamber of Deputies members and all 128 Senate members.

“We decide whether we want a continuation of the policies that we have had” under President Obrador, who won as an opposition party by

a large margin and “transformed political life in Mexico by aiming to eradicate corruption … or we decide if we want to go back to the past,” said Dr. Diana Alarcón González, former chief advisor and international affairs coordinator for Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico City.

Currently, Claudia Sheinbaum — frontrunner of Obrador’s progressive populist MORENA party — is leading polls with 60% support.

Although the Mexican diaspora, unlike the Indian one, can vote abroad, only 70,000 are registered to vote in June — a very small number, given that 30 to 40 million first, second and third-generation Mexicans (all of whom can register) live abroad, said González.

For comparison, 98 million are registered to vote in Mexico, and 11 million first-generation Mexicans live in the U.S. Thus, said González, although the Mexican diaspora is large enough to influence electoral results, “our greatest challenge is to increase their participation.”

Taiwan With a historic third consecutive party win of Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive (DPP) candidate Lai Ching-te on Saturday, January 13, voters rebuffed mainland China by aligning themselves with the DPP-associated view of Taiwan as de facto independent.

This win will not only affect Taiwan’s relations with China but also with the U.S., especially given that “an official declaration of independence means Beijing’s military intervention and America’s involvement,” said Rong Xiaoqing, veteran reporter at Sing Tao Daily.

Nevertheless, throughout his campaign, Lai stressed “that he is not pushing for independence, only allowing the people the option to choose it or not,” Rong continued Despite the decisiveness of this victory, voting was hard for the diasporic people of Taiwan; only 4,000 of its 700,000 U.S.-resident citizens were registered in 2024.

As remote voting isn’t allowed, and the DPP has opposed attempts to legalize it, “you not only have to go back to Taiwan to vote, but you have to go to the city or village where you were registered,” he explained.

This difficulty favors the DPP given that many Taiwanese families went overseas before the party was formed in 1986, and many now are businessmen and international students — and thus have ties with the older, Chinese nationalist KMT party. “I hear many complaints from Taiwanese immigrants who can’t take a flight because they’re poor or elderly that their voting rights are impeded,” said Rong. Now that the DPP has won, “it’s difficult to predict how Beijing will react” — and how this diaspora will be affected.

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The Filipino Press is published every Saturday. We welcome news, features, editorials, opinions and photos. Please e-mail them to: editor@ filipinopress.com. Photos must be accompanied by self-addressed, postage-paid envelope to be returned. We reserve the right to edit materials. Views and opinions by our writers, contributors does not necessarily reflect those of the publisher, management and staff of the Filipino Press. © 2011 Filipino Press

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Sanya Lopez on her love life: 'Mailap' Sanya said.

“So parang may moment ako na umaatras na ako kasi, ay ligawan pa lang 'to, pero nakikita mo na 'yung ugali niya,” she added.

Sanya refused to say whether a fellow artist had courted her.

However, she added that she remains grateful for her life and is happy being single.

“Parang hindi pa ako umabot po sa part na gustong-gusto ko na [ang love life], 'yung parang sige na ibigay niyo sa akin 'to,

MANILA -- Sanya Lopez has opened up about her love life, and said that the right guy has yet to come to her.

The Kapuso actress said that although she wishes for a partner and is open for love, she has not met her person yet.

“Alam mo [ang sabi], kapag daw swerte ka sa career, talagang pagdating sa lovelife, mailap sa atin 'no?” she added.

However, as one of the most in-demand actresses today, Sanya said that making time for somebody is the biggest challenge.

“Parang ang hirap pumasok sa isang love life na hindi mo maibigay 'yung tamang oras para sa kanya,” she said. “Kasi ako, 'di ba parang nabanggit ko 'yun before na kapag may binigay sa akin isang bagay, focus talaga ako doon. Kaya nung binigay sa akin yung mga trabaho, talagang tutok ako.”

“Kaya lang 'yung may mga moment talaga na ang demand nila sa akin time. Kasi mas nagfofocus talaga ako kung ano 'yung pinaka feeling ko priority,” she added.

Additionally, she has had a lot of suitors but things don't work out. “Kaya lang may mga pagkakataon talaga, Tito Nelson, na ligaw part pa lang, nasa ligawan stage pa lang kami, nakikilala ko na siya agad,”

parang ganun,” she said. “Hindi pa naman ako umabot sa ganun.

Ayoko rin naman umabot sa ganun. Kasi so far, Tito Nelson, lahat ng nangyayari sa akin, happy talaga ako eh.”

In 2023, Sanya made waves for acting in “Mga Lihim ni Urduja.”

Sanya is part of the upcoming historical drama series “Pulang Araw.” She joins a star-studded cast of Barbie Forteza, David Licauco, and Alden Richards.

Sanya is also set to return as Danaya in “Sang’gre.” (MNS)

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City of San Diego Unveils Results of Street Condition Assessment

DATA WILL HELP CITY PRIORITIZE ROADS FOR REPAIR AS PART OF COMPREHENSIVE PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN SAN DIEGO, CA-- For the first time in seven years, the City of San Diego has completed a condition assessment of every paved street segment in every neighborhood, collecting data that will help guide decisions on how to prioritize and fund road repair.

This evaluation of street conditions, known as a Pavement Condition Index (PCI), is included in a comprehensive Pavement Management Plan, released this week by the City’s Transportation Department to outline a data-driven strategy for pavement management in future years.

“All San Diegans deserve smooth roads in their neighborhoods,” Mayor Gloria said. “The recent results of the Pavement Condition Index and

associated Pavement Management Plan will give us the tools to be more strategic and efficient when it comes to improving and resurfacing our street network now and in the future.”

In calculating the data gathered during the street condition assessment, which was completed over the course of several months last spring, the City scored 63 points on the PCI, which puts San Diego’s road network in the “Fair” category. PCI scores range from zero to 100 with a target network average of 70 being the industry standard.

During the data-gathering process, all of San Diego’s paved roadways were analyzed by lasers and other tools to measure pavement surface distress, such as cracks and potholes.

The resulting scoring scale includes seven condition categories: Good (85100), Satisfactory (70-84), Fair (5569), Poor (40-54), Very Poor (25-39), Serious (10-24) and Failed (<10).

In the FY24 budget, Mayor Todd Gloria dedicated a record $140 million investment to repair City streets by focusing on repairing San Diego’s high-volume roadways. In 2023, 254 miles of roadway were repaired or resurfaced, and more than 61,300 potholes were filled, a 94% increase over the prior year.

With a network of paved roads, alleyways and unimproved streets, the City of San Diego maintains more than 6,600 lane miles of roadway.

As pavement deteriorates, the cost of repair increases rapidly. Prior to this year, the City performed its last road condition assessment in 2016, resulting in a PCI score of 71. The City has not had enough funding to perform assessments at the recommended

frequency of every four years. Despite limited and fluctuating funding levels, the Transportation Department maximizes its resources to address and prevent as many pavement issues as possible.

“Every day, our City crews are out repairing streets and filling potholes.

Having this updated pavement condition assessment will help us be more strategic with how we allocate our resources in the future,” said Eric Dargan, Chief Operating Officer for the City of San Diego. “While we are heading into a lean budget year, we know that our residents expect and deserve to have to safe, smooth streets. Using a data-driven strategy will allow us to be more efficient and prioritize roads for repair in all of our neighborhoods across the city.”

The Pavement Management Plan points out that funding for road repair in the City has been inconsistent over the past 10 years and has been

www.thefilipinopress.com dependent on impacts to the City’s General Fund budget. The Pavement Management Plan examines future funding scenarios needed to bring the City’s street network to an average 70 PCI. The City maintains the second largest network of roads and alleys in California that serve over 1.37 million residents. In the Pavement Management Plan, comparisons are shown between the City of San Diego and 13 other agencies of similar size in road network and population.

Four main factors were used to benchmark the City against other agencies, including PCI funding sources, maintenance trends and annual mileage of road repairs conducted. Five of the 13 benchmarked cities currently have an average roadway network PCI greater than or equal to the City's PCI target of 70. The City's 2023 network average PCI of 63 ranks below both the average and the median of the 13 cities evaluated in addition to the average PCI for the state of California, which is currently at 65.

“The results of the PCI analysis show us we aren’t where we need to be concerning the conditions of our streets” said Bethany Bezak, Director of the City’s Transportation Department. “Now that we have this data, it allows us to put a long-term plan in place to better strategically and cost-effectively fix our roads.”

In addition to summarizing current City street conditions to identify strategic investment and funding needs, the Pavement Management Plan outlines the Transportation Department’s functions and processes related to pavement management, historical and recent pavement condition assessment information.

Along with the release of the Pavement Management Plan, the City has developed a Five-Year Paving Plan that shows which streets would be paved in the next five fiscal years if the Department were to receive the funding requested in the Pavement Management Plan. The Five-Year Paving Plan has been added to the newly relaunched StreetsSD, an interactive webpage that provides San Diegans with specific information about individual streets.

The relaunched StreetsSD page has been updated with an improved userfriendly interface that allows residents to see ongoing and future paving project plans, when streets were last resurfaced, and current pavement conditions. They can also provide feedback to the City about the streets in their neighborhood.

To view the complete Pavement Management Plan and to learn more about road repair, visit the Pavement Management Plan page on the City’s website.

Caltrans and the Office of Traffic Safety Invite Californians to Name Caltrans’ Newest Snowplows Win up to $150 in Gift Cards.

SACRAMENTO, CA -Snow doubt about it, winter driving can be nerve-wracking.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) are injecting a flurry of fun into this season of inclement weather and icy roads by inviting Californians to flash their cool and creative side in the first Caltrans Snowplow Naming Contest. The chosen names will go on Caltrans’ new fleet of mighty snowplows as they clear the way for safer winter roads.

Like snowflakes, each name will be unique. They can even be polar opposites.

“Safety on our roadways is the number one priority for Caltrans,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares. “We count on our snowplows and their drivers to be here for us every winter making sure the roads are safe and passable for motorists and emergency vehicles. We are thrilled to begin this fun and exciting contest to name our vitally important new snow vehicles.”

One contest winner will be

selected from Caltrans districts 1 - 11. Each of the 11 winners will receive a $50 gift card. Caltrans and OTS judges will then select one grand-prize winner who will receive an additional $100 gift card.

If the grand-prize winner is a California K-12 grade student, the student will receive a bonus $100 gift card for his or her classroom.

The deadline for entrants to submit their chosen name is Feb. 15. The OTS and Caltrans will announce the grand-prize winner – and the winning name – on

March 4.

Participants can submit their snowplow name by visiting https://gosafelyca.org/snowplownaming-contest/ and completing the entry form.

The contest is only open to California residents ages 5 and older. Children who enter must attend school in California. Any submissions that include profanity or other inappropriate language will not be considered. Please visit gosafelyca.org for a complete list of rules and eligibility. All prizes are provided courtesy of iHeartMedia.