The Filipino Press: March 18-24, 2022

President Duterte signs law amending Foreign Investments Act

supplement Filipino capital."

Signed by Duterte on March 2 and released on Friday, Republic Act (RA) 11647 amends RA 7042 or the Foreign Investments Act of 1991. The new law allows qualified non-Philippine nationals to do business in the country or invest in a domestic enterprise up to 100 percent of its capital and liberalizes the practice of professions not governed by existing special laws.

The law also allows foreign investors to set up 100 percent ownership of all small- and mediumsized enterprises.

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, who was a principal author of the House version, said the law could boost the country’s bid to be “a leading startup hub in Southeast Asia", especially for tech and other companies seeking to solve long standing problems in financial inclusion, agricultural productivity, health delivery, and other key services.

"After 30 years, we now have an updated and relevant law that fits the needs of our country. Definitely, Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) will play a big role in our postpandemic economic recovery measures. This is part of the effort to gain more capital or investments and help grow ailing industries,” she said.

Garin expressed hope that the creation of more jobs will result in faster post-pandemic economic recovery.

"Hopefully, the time when we are ranked as the third most restrictive economy in the world based on the 2020 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report, is now behind us,” Garin said.

“The fact of the matter is that disruptions in the global economy now come from small, tech-driven startups. Under the FIA amendments, tech startups would be able to locate in the Philippines with less friction, move their professionals and experts in, and teach Filipinos and improve conditions in lagging sectors of the economy,” Salceda said. Salceda said the law could be complemented by the establishment of special investors and experts’ visas for tech startups of the size that the FIA amendments now allow in the country.

or more in the country. I strongly suggest that we alter that a bit to also allow startup founders who may not have met that investment criterion yet, but are willing to locate their desirable startups in the country,” he said.

“The current special investors’ resident visa allows in foreigners who seek to invest USD75,000

San Diego College of Continuing Education (SDCCE) has a new president: Tina King, Ed.D., an equity-focused educational leader with experience working with diverse student populations in multiple sectors of education.

Dr. King comes to SDCCE from Southwestern College in Chula Vista, where she has served as assistant superintendent/vice president of Student Affairs since 2019. Dr. King has received many awards and recognitions throughout her career as a community college educational leader, including the prestigious ASPEN Rising President Fellowship in 2021.

“Dr. King brings a wonderful combination of experience and enthusiasm that make her an excellent choice as Continuing Education’s permanent president,” said San Diego Community College District (SDCCD)

Chancellor Carlos O. Turner Cortez, who served as SDCCE president from 2015 until 2021 when he was hired as district chancellor. “The Board of Trustees and I were impressed by her vision for growth and deep commitment to serving students.”

SDCCD Board of Trustees

President Maria Nieto Senour, Ph.D., echoed the endorsement, “Dr. King will provide the energetic and strategic leadership Continuing Education needs

as it continues to redefine noncredit education and expands educational opportunities to even more San Diegans.”

Dr. King will assume leadership of SDCCE, which serves 30,000 students per semester at seven campuses and many community locations.

Continuing Education plays a vital workforce development role in the region and offers an array of programs ranging from citizenship courses to welding classes. It is one of the oldest and largest noncredit colleges in the nation, serving San Diego since 1914, and its students are among the most diverse in California culturally, ethnically, and educationally. SDCCE also offers a high school diploma and GED program in conjunction with the San Diego Unified School District. The college has been lauded by the California Little Hoover Commission for its organization, practices and success, and is being used as a statewide model.

While at Southwestern College, Dr. King also served as the dean of the School of Counseling and Student Support Programs. In addition to her position at Southwestern College, Dr. King was previously interim dean of Instruction and Student Services and director of Institutional Research and Planning for North Orange Continuing Education in Anaheim. She has also served as a student affairs officer and student affairs advisor in the Educational Leadership department at California State University, Fullerton.

Dr. King also has experience in K-12 education both as a learning facilitator with the Los Angeles Unified School District and as a middle school teacher at the Compton Unified School District.

“I am incredibly humbled and honored the Governing Board has

He said the effect of a tech startup founders’ visa in the country is that while they may not necessarily be investors themselves, they may potentially attract investors with capital to invest in their own startups, which will be Philippinebased.

entrusted me to lead San Diego College of Continuing Education--a college that has proudly served San Diego for more than a century. I look forward to working with Chancellor Cortez, the team of dedicated educators and student leaders at SDCCE, and my counterparts and colleagues in the district in delivering educational experiences and career opportunities that are innovative, inclusive, and meet the diverse needs of all San Diegans.”

Dr. King earned a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from California State University, Fullerton where her dissertation focused on the role of community college faculty and staff in creating academic achievement for Black men. She also has a Master of Arts in Education from the University of Southern California; and a Multiple Subject Credential and a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from California State University, Northridge.

Dr. King’s selection follows a national search for a permanent president for Continuing Education.

Kay Faulconer Boger, Ed.D., has served as interim president since July.

Dr. King’s appointment is scheduled to be ratified at the March 24 SDCCD Board of Trustees meeting. She will begin her new role on July 1, 2022.

As one of the largest of California’s 73 community college districts, the San Diego Community College District serves approximately 100,000 students annually through three two-year colleges and the San Diego College of Continuing Education. San Diego City College, San Diego Mesa College, and San Diego Miramar College, offer associate degrees and certificates in occupational programs that prepare

Salceda also said the FIA amendments pave the way for “expert and highly technical personnel visas,” similar to the EB-1 or Einstein Visas granted by the United States for people who are highly acclaimed in their field as well as respected academic researchers and multinational executives.

“Encouraging the world’s best to live and work in the Philippines could only mean well for knowledge transfer in the country. And the FIA amendments pave the way for that by liberalizing the practice of professions not governed by special laws," he said.

AAMBIS-Owa Party-list Rep. Sharon Garin, meanwhile, said the country needs more foreign investments to come in and help

She said there is a trickle-down effect when the country experiences a generally good investment climate, as it generates more employment opportunities and will introduce innovation to industries that need to compete in the international market.

"Ultimately, you’ll have better buying power for everybody and will help the government provide better quality of goods and services. It’s definitely a win-win situation,” Garin said.

Duterte approves P200 monthly 'ayuda' for poor families,

SAN DIEGO, CA -- Ang

Tagapagrehistro ng mga Botante ay nagpakoreo ng halos 250,000 na postkards sa mga karapat-dapat na rehistradong mga botante na nagpapaalam sa kanila ng kanilang mga opsyon sa pagboto para sa Ika5 ng Abril Espesyal na Primaryang Eleksyon para sa Assembly District 80. Maaari kayong pumili kung kailan, saan at paano kayo boboto. Ang Eleksyon ay hindi na isang-arawna kaganapan at hindi na kailangan maghintay hanggang sa Araw ng Eleksyon upang makaboto.

Ang mga balota ay naipakoreo na sa mga karapat-dapat na mga rehistradong botante. Kung hindi pa ninyo natanggap ito, kontakin ang opisina ng Tagapagrehistro sa (858) 565-5800. Sa sandalling matanggap na ninyo ang inyong balota, maaari na kayong bumoto nang maginhawa mula sa inyong tahanan at ibalik ang inyong nakumpletong balota gamit ang koreo –hind na kailangan ng selyo.

O maaari ninyong dalhin ang inyong balota sa isa sa mga lokasyon ng opisyal na ballot drop box ng Tagapagrehistro, o simula sa Ika-26 ng Marso, ihulog ito sa alinmang vote center sa distrito. Kung ihuhulog ninyo ang inyong balota, i-check ang oras ng opersyon ng bawat lokasyon sa sdvote.com bago tuluyang pumunta. Ang ilang mga lokasyon ng ballot drop box at ang opisina ng Tagapagrehistro ng mga Botante ay magsasara sa Huwebes, Ika31 ng Marso sa pag-obserba sa Cesar Chavez Day. Huwag kalimutang pirmahan at petsahan ang inyong sobre ng balotang pagbabalikan. Ang inyong pirma ay kinakailangan upang maibilang ang inyong boto. Ang mga botante na

magbabalik ng kanilang balota sa pamamagitan ng U.S. Postal Service ay maaaring mai-track ito sa pag-sign up sa “Nasaan ang aking Balota?”. Maaari din kayong bumoto nang personal. Limang mga vote center ay magbubukas araw-araw simula ika-8 ng umaga hanggang ika-5 ng gabi simula Sabado, Ika-26 ng Marso hanggang sa Araw ng Eleksyon, Martes, Ika-5 ng Abril, kung saan siyam na mga vote center ang magbubukas simula Ika-7 ng umaga hanggang Ika-8 ng gabi. Maaari ninyong mahanap ang lokasyon ng ballot drop box o vote center na malapit sa inyo sa loob ng inyong pamplet ng impormasyon para sa botante, o maaari ninyong makita ito online sa sdvote.com.

Tanging ang mga nakatira sa ika-80 na Assembly District ng estado sa ilalim ng 2011 hangganan ng mga distrito lamang ang makakaboto sa eleksyong ito. Nasasakupan ng distrito ang mga bahagi ng katimugan ng County ng San Diego at kasama ang mga parte ng mga lungsod ng Chula Vista, National City, at San Diego. Kung kayo ay hindi sigurado kung kayo ay nasasakupan ng 2011 na hangganan ng distrito, maaari ninyo itong makita sa sdvote. com. Ang espesyal na eleksyon na ito ay para punan ang pagkabakante ng kasalukuyang natitirang termino sa ika-80 na Assembly District na magtatapos sa Disyembre 2022. Kahit na kamakailang binago ng muling pagdidistrito ang mga hangganan ng distrito ng assembly, ang mga hangganan na ginamit noong nagsimula ang termino ang tutukoy kung sino ang maaaring bumoto para punan ang puwesto upang makumpleto ang termino. Matuto nang higit pa tungkol sa pagboto sa Espesyal na Primaryang Eleksyon ng Assembly District 80 sa sdvote.com, tumawag sa (858) 5655800

MANILA -- President Rodrigo

R. Duterte has signed into law a measure amending the Foreign Investment Act (FIA) to make the Philippines more accessible to foreign investors.

You don’t have to like me

Let’s make that very clear

If firm-but-friendly’s not your style

You will not want me here

Some drill sergeant I am not

I don’t lead with shame nor fear

But fine details I was taught

Are good friends one treats so dear

I was raised to make my mark

To be better than the last

To raise my voice and raise my fist

To be bolder than the past

If my light outshines you

Please know I mean no harm

Cause my success is ours, my friend

You need not be alarmed

Try and keep me where I am

And you’ll stay just where you are

We’re meant to rise up hand-in-hand

Respect the Kind

We’ve already come so far

Cut me loose if you crave glory

I give credit where credit’s due

I’m not led by my hero’s story

Ego blocks the pure and true

One meeting a month…just one

Is one too many, you see

Those “one” meetings add up, up, up

And there’s just one of me

I want to help, I want to serve

But you’ll excuse me, please

To eat, sleep, breathe, see my family

You know, basic human needs

You can’t just guilt me, I won’t believe

That I’m the reason why

This or that just won’t come through

When I’m the ride or die

I work hard, I smile through pain

My kindness is no lie

I’ll give you more than you expect

If you say jump, I’ll fly

I’m in demand not on demand

You can’t just turn me on Call, post, text me all you want Sometimes, I can’t/won’t respond

Help me help you help them all out

We can’t just cry and whine

If you want change, you must pitch in Together, let’s strategize.

As found in Francine’s chapter, “Becoming A Global Pinay Powerhouse,” featured in The Filipina Women’s Network Book DISRUPT 2.0: Daring to Lead.

*Celebrating all our strong women as March and International Women’s HERstory Month wrap up (though we should continue to honor and support our women and girls every day of the year)!

Wishing you and your loved ones a very Happy Easter, dear friends! HE IS RISEN!!!

Ingat po lagi! Love, Francine Exclusively here in The Filipino Press--Follow Francine Maigue’s adventures as she represents our region with grace and honor as one of the "100 Most Influential Filipinas in the World" and the "Global Face of Pinay Power," as named by the Filipina Women's Network. Francine is the Filipino-American History Achievement Award Winner in Humanitarianism, Arts, and Community Service and an Outstanding Filipino American Young Leaders Awardee as selected by His Excellency Ambassador Cuisia and the Philippine Consuls. Originally from Cavite City, Philippines and raised in Chula Vista, Francine Maigue received her master’s degree from Harvard University and bachelor’s degree from UCLA. Francine is the District Director for California State Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez. She is the Immediate Past President of the FilipinoAmerican Chamber of Commerce of San Diego County, Board Member for the Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center Foundation and Los Chabacanos of Cavite City, and is a former Miss Philippines of San Diego. Got an organization, business, or event Francine should know about? Email: thepamperedpinay@yahoo.com.

Duterte's decision on 4-day workweek proposal known Monday

MANILA -- President Rodrigo

Duterte is set to reveal on Monday his decision on the recommendation of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to reduce the workweek into four days to conserve energy, Malacañang said Thursday.

Asked when will the public know whether Duterte approves or disapproves of the proposal, acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar said, “Malalaman po natin ito ngayong darating na Lunes [we will find out this coming Monday].”

Andanar made the remark following the proposal of NEDA chief and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua for the government to impose a four-day workweek to conserve energy and alleviate the public’s expenses amid the series of big time oil price hikes.

“Ito’y suggestion para maibsan ‘yung posibleng negative effects or ‘yung talagang ano na ito eh, hindi na maiiwasan na negative effect na pagtaas ng presyo ng krudo,” Andanar said Oil firms this week implemented another major price hike, marking the 11th straight week of increases with domestic pump prices already hitting P84.55 per liter in select areas across the country.

Andanar said the government tends to follow the recommendations of the economic sector as they are the experts in the field.

“Pero ang mahalaga ho ay sinabi naman ni Presidente Duterte kay [Finance] Secretary Sonny Dominguez after the Secretary of Finance gave his recommendation na that is our policy. Kung ano ‘yung magiging desisyon ng ating economic cluster dahil ayun naman ang kanilang forte, ayun ang polisya ng ating gobyerno,” he said.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Wednesday that employers may implement such shortened workweek even without a new law or a department order providing for the measure.

Philippines likely to stay under Alert Level 1 until end of Duterte's term -- Duque

The Philippines may remain under Alert Level 1 until President Rodrigo Duterte's term ends on June 30, 2022, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Thursday.

During a Laging Handa briefing, Duque said that they are still studying the possibility of further de-escalating to Alert Level 0 and no policies have been made yet regarding that. He said the government is focused on helping areas under Alert Level 2 so they could be downgraded to Alert Level 1 by ramping up vaccination coverage, particularly among senior citizens.

"'Yan muna ang ating pagtuunan ng pansin kaysa 'yung pag-usapan na 'yang Alert Level 0. Maayos naman tayo sa Alert Level 1. Tingin ko baka ito ay hanggang sa katapusan na,” he said.

"Alert Level 1 muna tayo malamang hanggang sa katapusan ng termino ng ating Pangulong Duterte," he added. Duque previously said elements of Alert Level 0 would still be discussed by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases along with other government advisers.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority earlier said mayors in the National Capital Region — the country's main economic hub — are ready for Alert Level 0. Duque, however, underscored that the country's alert level status will still

depend on the possible mutations of the COVID-19 or the hospital utilization rate.

He also stressed that the time is not yet rite to remove the mandatory wearing of face masks as there are still COVID-19 infections in the country although the number has already decreased to below 1,000 per day.

“Let us be prudent and let us be guided by data and science through our expert panel. Konting pasensya, but pinag-aaralan po ‘yan. Darating at darating ang panahon na kung kailangan magtanggal ng mask ay bakit naman hindi? Pero sa ngayon, masyadong premature. Masyado pang maaga,” he said.

(Be patient as we’re still studying that. The time will come when it is already okay not to wear face mask. But for now, it's too premature, too early.)

So far, only 48 areas in the country, including the NCR, are under Alert Level 1.

Under Alert Level 1, intrazonal and interzonal travel shall be allowed without regard to age and comorbidities. All establishments, persons, or activities, are allowed to operate, work, or be undertaken at full on-site or venue/seating capacity provided it is consistent with minimum public health standards.

Bayanihan, Bakunahan 4

Meanwhile, National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. noted that 1,400,889 vaccine doses were so far administered during the fourth wave of the "Bayanihan, Bakunahan" national vaccination drive.

The regions that administered the most number of vaccine doses during this initiative were Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Central Visayas, and Ilocos Region.

The Bayanihan, Bakunahan 4 was initially held from March 10 to 12 and was extended until Friday, March 18, targeting to vaccinate 1.8 million more Filipinos against the viral disease.

Based on the NTF’s report on Wednesday, a total of 64,838,213 Filipinos are now fully vaccinated, while 11,291,687 individuals have received booster shots or additional doses.

The government is eyeing to fully vaccinate 90 million by the time Duterte steps down from office.

DTI not keen on implementing price freeze amid rising fuel prices, Ukraine crisis

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is not yet considering implementing price freeze on basic commodities despite the rising cost of fuel amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, an official said on Thursday.

This, as analysts warned about the effect of these crises to basic goods.

Trade Assistant Secretary Ann Cabochan said there are mechanisms in the Price Act regarding the matter, among it is the state of emergency declaration.

"As of this time and sinabi na 'to ni [Trade] Secretary Lopez, na hindi pa natin nakikita yung circumstances that will give rise to a declaration of state of emergency," Cabochan said in a public briefing.

"Patuloy po natin 'yang minomonitor kung magkakaroon ng (we are monitoring whether there will be) circumstances that would prompt such declaration kasi yung implementing agency under the price act, marami po kami diyan," she added. The official noted that only the basic commodity prices are capped

during price freezes. This means that the cost of prime commodities are not affected.

Prime goods, based on the Department of Trade and Industry's website, include flour, canned goods, plywood, medicine not considered essential by the health department, fertilizers, onion and garlic, among others.

The agency though is studying proposals to update the suggested retain price (SRP) bulletin, which will be coordinated with manufacturers.

"Pinag-aaralan natin, kasi pag nagbibigay tayo ng SRP bulletin na may price adjustment, alam naman natin yung magiging epekto din niyan kasi tataas pa yung presyo kaya we have to study, with the manufacturers na nagbigay," she explained.

"Hindi naman lahat ay humihingi din ng increase as of this time, may ilan-ilan po."

Since the start of the year, diesel prices have increased by P30.65 per liter, gasoline by P20.35 per liter, and kerosene by P21.90, based on data from the Department of Energy and the most recent price increase.

Imee confirms security breach in Smartmatic ops ahead of polls

Senator Imee Marcos on Thursday said a security breach occurred within the operations of Smartmatic, the poll technology provider for the May 2022 automated elections.

"There indeed was a security breach in the Smartmatic operation that appears to be clear," Senator Marcos, who chairs the Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation, said during a media briefing after their second hearing on various issues involving the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

"While it is being investigated further by the NBI, the CICC (Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center), the National Privacy Commission and other groups, we have to admit that a very serious breach occurred, it may not be hacking, technically, but we feel that it compromises the processes and operations of Smartmatic in very serious ways," she said.

Marcos claimed data regarding Smartmatic, including personal information, ledgers, photos of their office, contact persons in the Comelec, might have been hacked by a syndicate group.

"Andoon lahat sa Facebook eh, nakakapagtaka eh. Kaya medyo kinakabahan tayo to that degree, the depth and breadth of the data that has been released, that is still publicly available as far as I know. Nandoon nakita ko, and we may be involved with a criminals' hacking syndicate, yang XFOS," she said.

"Mayroong empleyado ang Smartmatic na nilabas 'yung laptop niya at hinayaang well, not hacked, but hinayaang makopya ng a certain group. I think that is as far as we can go," Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who was present in the hearing, disclosed.

"'Yung mga sinasabi ko, mga luma na raw 'yon, 2016, pero hindi natin alam. May ballot face ng 2022 pero sinasabi nila naka website naman daw 'yan. Pero ganoon pa man masyadong personal 'yung ibang detalye. Nakakanerbyos. Pati 'yung mga flowchart, 'yung mga processes ng Smartmatic. May mga password, userword, sabi nila bulok na at nonusable," Marcos added.

"But nevertheless, the wealth of detail and the depth of knowledge is a little bit alarming," she said. (MNS)

stations from

California EDD Adds 15 Languages, Expands Access to Unemployment Insurance

By SunItA SOhRABjI/EMS

San Francisco, CA -- Settling a complaint brought about by several civil rights organizations, California’s Employment Development Department will expand language access for its unemployment insurance program by translating all written materials into the 15 most-used languages in the state and adding more interpreters to its phone lines.

Documents from the EDD will now be available in Arabic, Armenian, Cantonese, Farsi, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer (Cambodian), Korean, Mandarin, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese. Phone line services will be available in Cantonese, English, Mandarin, Spanish and Vietnamese, Armenian, Korean, and Tagalog.

Critically, people may also ask to have an interpreter in any other language, and, according to the terms of the settlement, if an interpreter is not available immediately, one must be provided within five business days.

The EDD is also required to form a multilingual access advisory board and to collect data on which languages people are requesting during a two-year compliance period.

The complaint was filed by the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles on July 20, 2020, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic when 1.7 million Californians — 9.2 percent of the state’s workforce — were unemployed. 1.2 million Californians filed unemployment claims that year. That number dropped dramatically in 2021 when just 402,000 Californians filed unemployment claims, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics at the US Department of Labor.

LAFLA filed the claim with California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing. Several other civil rights organizations joined the complaint, including: Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus, California Rural Legal Assistance, Center for Workers’ Rights, and Legal Aid at Work.

The settlement of the complaint was announced Feb. 28. “The Employment Development Department partners with communities across California to provide multilingual information and support,” said EDD Director Nancy Farias in a press statement. “One in five Californians communicate in languages other than English, making it critical that EDD communicates with customers in many languages.” Almost 7 million people in California primarily use one of more than 200 non-English languages. While Spanish is the most common, constituting approximately 64%, roughly 2.4 million residents use languages other than Spanish.

Joann Lee, Special Counsel on

Language Justice at LAFLA told EMS in a Feb. 28 interview that the Covid-19 pandemic laid bare the disparities in language access at the EDD.

“Although EDD has historically provided some language services, our community members have always encountered some barriers in accessing the benefits and services that they provide. And the main point of entry for many of our linguistically marginalized communities has been through the phones.”

“During the height of the pandemic, EDD’s phone lines were extremely busy,” said Lee, noting that the agency was encouraging people to use its web portal where materials were available only in Spanish and English.

Many people who did not speak English or Spanish used third party brokers who often turned out to be scammers. The fraudulent representatives set up email accounts in the claimant’s name but would not give them the password to access email from the EDD.

Many fraudsters demanded payment every time they had to confirm something or certify benefits, said Lee, noting that scammers also demanded a portion of each payment once it came through. Benefits were issued via Bank of America debit cards, which brought with them additional possibilities for fraud, she said.

The EDD must also update its “antiquated” systems for data collection, said Lee, noting that part of the delays during the pandemic were old systems incapable of processing the increased flow of data.

Winifred Kao, Senior Counsel for Impact Litigation at the Asian Law Caucus told EMS that during the pandemic, ALC and other organizations were fielding an unprecedented volume of inquiries and requests for assistance

with EDD. Kids were helping their parents navigate the complex system online. “It really just exposed what a tremendous barrier these issues were. What struck me during the pandemic was a lot of coverage about the problems at EDD,” said Kao, referring to huge backlogs and delay in receiving payments and a lack of communication from the agency.

“But for our clients, all those issues were 10 times worse because of language access, which just overlaid every single problem you were hearing about with EDD,” said Kao, who also leads the ALC’s workers’ rights program. “We were encouraged that new leadership at EDD recognized the dire situation for so many of our client communities, and the urgent need to address these problems.”

Kao shared the story of two women who are Arabic speakers, who were not able to communicate with EDD and not able to read the agency’s materials on how to apply for benefits. So they ended up turning to a broker who promised to help them apply and secure benefits and then kept the benefits for himself.

The women are now worried about over-payments and the tax consequences of fraud. “That problem certainly wouldn’t have been the same if the clients could have communicated with EDD directly or applied just on their own, as English speakers do,” said Kao. “The benefits were talking about here are critical safety net benefits that community members are entitled to, and that they need to be able to support their families during crisis,” said Lee. She added that language barriers prevented thousands of people who were eligible for unemployment benefits from applying, because they did not know they were entitled to receive them.

CALIFORNIA LANGUAGE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION (CLTA) HONORS TWO TEACHERS IN FILIPINO

By SALVADOR S. IDOS

SAN DIEGO, CA -- In its annual statewide conference held Feb. 2527, 2022, the California Language Teachers Association (CLTA) honors two Filipino Teachers with OUTSTANDING TEACHER Award. Both are from San Diego, both are immigrant teachers and both are members of the Council for Teaching Filipino Language and Culture (CTFLC) based in San Diego. The award is a recognition of their excellence in teaching the language and their dedication and commitment to their students and community. The Filipino Language Program in San Diego is one of the most successful Less commonly taught language programs in the nation. From one Filipino Language class when it started in 1988 at Bell Junior High School, it now has close to 2,000 students enrolled in San Diego County. It is second only to Spanish in terms of number of students enrolled. There was a time when only the major languages, Spanish, French, Japanese, Italian and German were taught as Language Electives. After Filipino was introduced, nineteen other languages followed suit; Vietnamese, Arabic, Pashto, Lao, etc. From its humble beginning, the Filipino Language Program in San Diego has gone a long way. In the words from Sacramento, it has become

the “Model for the Less Commonly Taught Languages in California”. JACQUILIN MAGAT-LAPID

Jacquilin Magat-Lapid, known as Jackie to her countless friends and colleagues, came to the US as a 15 year old immigrant from the Philippines. She grew up in Manila, Philippines. At Morse High School, she came under the tutelage of Mrs. Rosalina “Sally” Idos who opened up a class of Filipino for Native Speakers. It was a felt need at that time because many of Jackie's contemporaries who all were Philippine born immigrants were finding it difficult to transition to the American way of life. There was a constant clash in campus among

the Philippine born and the US born students because of cultural disconnect. The boys, without realizing it, started to act like gangsters committing petty crimes. Some of them were brought to the Juvenile Hall and in the worst scenario some of them were deported back to the Philippines. Some of the girls had unwanted pregnancies. When Jackie was taking a class under Mrs. Idos, she joined Kaisahan (after school club at Morse High School) where she became one of the star performers of Philippine Folk Dances. Her Filipino class and her active involvement with Kaisahan enabled her to withstand

Jacquilin Magat-Lapid Mrs. Rizalyn M. Cruz

IT’S A PROXY WAR AMONG BIG POWERS: ON UNDERSTANDING THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR AND OF HOW THE FILIPINOS’ MINDANAO WAS ALMOST SOLD TO THE GERMANS BY THE AMERICANS, TOO!

SAN DIEGO, CA -- Greetings!

You can spot this underlying clash when the danger of direct conflict arises. They don’t mind losing soldiers abroad, but they keep it bottled there.

“But enough about me, let’s talk about you, what do you think of me?” said the ego-drenched voice of an imperial power, it doesn’t really matter which.

In this case, New York Times pundit David Brooks - recently grateful to the people of Ukraine because “They’ve reminded us how much the events of the past few years” – Trump, Black Lives Matter, etc. – “have conspired to weaken our faith in ourselves” and “caused us to doubt and be passive about the gospel of democracy.” No doubt about it, there’s no level of suffering on the part of others that can’t be brought down to its usefulness for America’s self-absorbed elites.

Why must Ukrainians be paragons of moral virtue so Americans like Brooks can feel good about themselves again? Isn’t it enough that they’re suffering and dying bravely and probably unnecessarily, as in most wars? I say Ukraine is a complex society with an active inheritance of neo-fascism and racism it has to deal with, along with the invasion and its atrocities.

Along with being a gruesome conflict between two neighboring state, this is also a proxy war between great powers – as Vietnam (my generation’s war) and Syria were. You certainly can spot this underlying clash whenever the danger of direct conflict between those powers arises. Suddenly their tone becomes muted and sober, as happened when Ukraine demanded the U.S. impose a no-fly zone. Oh we’d never, said the U.S. elites in unison, even the hawkish among them. Russia cooed back in similar tones. Then they returned to extravagant charges and threats.

As I have written earlier above they definitely don’t mind losing some ordinary soldiers abroad, but they absolutely keep it muffled there.

You can also see this split-level reality play out in negotiations. The local stuff, like brief ceasefires and evacuation routes, get discussed on the Belarus border among lowerlevel functionaries.

The headline read, “Talks fail to yield progress.” Of course, they did! Nothing got decided because all the weighty issues must go back to Moscow or Washington first –but those parleyings will continue, and one can hope that something’s afoot. Ukraine’s president’s office astoundingly announced that they were “ready to discuss…what Ukraine’s possible neutral status might looks like.” Earlier, in France’s “readout” of a recent call between presidents Macron and Putin, the Russian said his main goal was “the demilitarization and neutral status of Ukraine.”

So, why then is this war still on –isn’t it chiefly about Ukraine joining NATO? Yet both parties seem ready for neutral, Finland status. The territorial issues in the Donbas could surely be settled through some hard haggling.

There is no doubt about it that the current conflict in Ukraine is a hybrid proxy war between the ex-Soviet power, Russia, and the Western allied forces which are led by the United States. It is fought with Special Forces, drones, and even social media campaigns of disinformation, or fake news, that only create chaos and kindle up debates among people worldwide that do not always understand the reality of the circumstances. Some even call this on-going crisis “Putin’s War.”

Yet, if one seeks to understand the current situation one must recognize the strategic history of the Soviet, or Russian, conflict with the West. I say some of the strange logic behind the Russian attack and the consequent humanitarian aspects of warfare cannot be easily justified within any strife. Russia might need to halt its forces but, simultaneously, the West must stop its economic and military pressure on Russia.

The end of the Second World War is a good starting point to understand the 2022 Ukrainian crisis. After the Allied forces won, the two major powers of the United States and the Soviet Union, both in terms of strategy and in designations of ideology, entered a new global order – the world shifted from a state of

multi-polarity (prior to the First World War) to a bi-polar situation. Even if one was stronger than the other, both great powers dictated the global arena. In an attempt to prevent a condition in which one power would rise above the other, both begun strengthening themselves with allies.

In April 1949 the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was founded as a precautionary measure to the rise of Soviet Union and as a mediation mechanism to prevent further discords between European members. Following that strategic logic, and after West Germany joined NATO in May 1965, the Soviet Union, in its turn, established the Warsaw Treaty Organization (WTO), commonly known as the Warsaw Pact.

Generally, NATO was built of Western and Central European countries, as well as the United States and Canada, and the Warsaw Pact consisted of the Soviet Union, including Eastern Europe. The whole argumentation behind these pacts was simple – collective security. That is, an invasion on one ally would be considered an attack on all. As we know, the Soviet Union had broken up for various reasons, including ideational and material grounds. While it dissolved, Russia remained a great power in wane. The United States and NATO understood the situation and, considering the initial rise of China a decade before, began pressuring Russia in an attempt to speed up the decline. Even after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russia had tremendous sway on Eastern and Central European nations, an influence the West wanted to revoke. NATO had not dissolved after it was conceptually useless –If the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact lost, NATO won – why should it continue to exist, let alone enlarge it? The Soviet Union had disbanded, but its core, Russia, did not. The rise of China did not help either.

Since the end of the Cold War, NATO had not faded away but grew stronger, a fact that signaled other world powers to prepare themselves as well. In 1949 twelve members established NATO, including the United States, the United Kingdom and France. Turkey joined in 1952. (Western) Germany was added in 1955, Poland in 1999. In 2004 seven more countries connected with NATO, making NATO a thirtystate pact. Thus, Russia gradually lost its influence over extensive parts of Europe and consequently, its ascendancy over the world. In a realistic approach, Moscow did not want to stay behind the United States and China and, as a nuclear power and the world’s largest country, begun propelling Western influence Westward, which also meant pushing Western economic and military pressure from its near borders, including sabotaging NATO’s attempt to recruit Georgia in its South-Western boundary, Finland and Sweden in the Baltic area and of course – Ukraine – which, together with Belarus, separated a long common frontier with a NATO member (Poland). Extending NATO to the East would provide a ground carpet on which the military could move towards Russia as well as decrease Russia’s response time in case of a nuclear attack.

Ukraine became an independent country in August 1991 but has been under the Russian sphere of influence ever since. Both in the Orange Revolution (2004-2005) and in the Maidan Revolution (20132014) Ukrainian Politics were the battleground – the West pushed for one candidate and Russia pressed for another. Ukrainian Politics and ground became the proxy upon which powers clashed each other. In 2008 NATO begun officially discussing about Ukraine’s membership but was thrusted back by Russia. As proWestern candidates were favored since 2014, Ukraine also attempted to join the European Union, an economic pact which Russia perceived more no less dangerous for its global position than NATO itself. In an attempt to push back Western pressure and influence over Ukraine, Russia had annexed the area of Crimea in early 2014. Additionally, the zones of Donetsk and Luhansk, referred to as the Donbass region, declared their separation from Ukraine as most of the population were pro-Russian and as Russia had pushed pro-Russian administration in the Donbass.

WAR

Jesse T. Reyes Filipino Potpourri

during the Spanish-American War, the country would have fallen just the same to other colonial powers of the period.

in decades

IN ANOTHER EPISODE

ALTERNATE HISTORY:

As a powerful hegemon in a bi or tri-polar global system, Russia should not be considered as the sole aggressor, even though its attempt to create a European dependence on energy is significant (i.e., Nord Stream). In the current Ukrainian matter, strategically speaking, Russia is not an agent but a promoter. One could also assume that if the West had not pushed over Ukraine, attempting to recruit it to NATO or to the European Union, Russia would not have invaded Ukraine in 2022 or in 2014, for that matter. Indeed, Liberalism and Democracy are important concepts and Ukrainians’ voices must be heard; and opinions are many, of liberals, conservatives, and people in between. Yet Liberalism and Democracy do not always align with strategic goals, especially not when one great power is struggling with the other. Moreover, while Russia strives to preserve or boost its global influence, it is the United States that also attempts to maintain its global hegemony in light of the fact that this dominance is also being questioned by China. Russia must stop its intervention in Ukraine… Period! Yet, in the current state of affairs, it is the United and the West who must guarantee that Ukraine will be a neutral buffer zone just as it was the United States that demanded from the Soviet Union to withdraw its nuclear missiles from its backyard, Cuba, in October 1962. The current conflict in Ukraine is a gamble for both sides. First, the decision to invade and attack Ukraine and Ukrainians is a dangerous one for Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. As both nations perceive themselves as brothers, or as nations with similar values at the very least, Moscow risks that not only citizens but government officials, military commanders and soldiers will refuse fighting in Ukraine as many Russians have Ukrainian relatives. One can assume that the decision to deploy Chechen fighters in Ukraine was made to address this risk as the white Christian majority in Russia will care less about the death toll of who it perceives as foreign fighters, or not Russian. Non-Russians, nonSlavs, will also have fewer struggles to fight Slavs, a fact which will lower the probability of soldiers and commanders refusing to fight. This may also serve as Moscow’s

indicator of the Chechen Republic as Russia also seeks to avoid future conflicts in the Chechen Republic.

Second, the Western refusal to publicly deny Ukraine’s possible future membership in NATO or in the European Union is a dangerous one as it is too premature and can lead to an escalation between European and NATO members and Russia, an intensification that will invoke article five – that an attack on one ally is an assault on all. This situation can lead to the largest military conflict since the Second World War and even to nuclear warfare. Thus, one must only hope that both sides will halt their vigorous intervention in Ukraine. One must also expect that, in case the conflict escalates, NATO and article 5 will dissolve in light of the danger for the future of humanity, just as both powers decided to cease provocation in October 1962’s Cuban crisis.

Finally, a more probable outcome, which will only put greater threats to the West, is that Russia might decide to create a titan-alliance with China while it temporarily gives up Ukraine to de-escalate the situation. As with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, ideational and material aspects must change with time and with generations both in Russia and in Ukraine to ensure a peaceful estrangement from Soviet times. Furthermore, considering the current fragile circumstances of the European Union, one must also wonder why Ukraine seeks to join an alliance no longer in its prime.

On flip side of the coin and as everyone knows by now, our beloved old homeland – the Philippines – is no stranger to conflicting colonization. Spain, the United States of America, and Japan all fought to keep the Philippine islands under their rule. Heck…even the British occupation of Manila was an episode in colonial history of the Philippines when the Kingdom of Great Britain occupied the Spanish settlement capital of Manila and the nearby port of Cavite for twenty months from 1762 to 1764.

FYI: To add yet another what-if to our history, someone should dig up the plan of Leopold II of Belgium to take the Philippines as a colony. But that’s another story for another time.

It is a fact, too that had the United States left the Philippines alone

And now, I have found out that Germany, through Denmark, could have been another Philippine colonizer if history had gone another way.

Before we move on with our narrative, allow me to ramble a bit first: “I am here by the order of the Kaiser, Sir!” These were the words allegedly spoken by the German commander of the East Asia Squadron, Vice Admiral Otto von Diederichs, during a talk with Rear Admiral George Dewey, commander of the United States Asiatic Fleet in Manila Bay on 12 June 1898. They were given in answer to Dewey’s inquiry on the reasons for the presence of a large German naval force in spite of Germany’s limited interests in the Philippines. Later, von Diederichs wrote that he could not recall the exact term used, but that he could have handed-down a similar phrase, without threatening intention, though. He admitted that his appearance might have aroused suspicion.

Aren’t those facts seeking to answer the following questions: What happened in the Philippines that led to the presence of such a large number of foreign men-ofwar then in Manila Bay in 1898? What exactly were the motives for Germany’s involvement in the Philippines during those time frames?

Precisely, what links existed then between the Filipino revolutionaries and Germany?

No doubt about it, the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution at the end of August 1896 took the Germans in Manila by surprise. After some hesitation, German Acting Consul Spitz requested the dispatch of a warship in order to protect Germany’s interests and her nationals in the islands. On 24 November 1896 the cruiser Arcona, under LieutenantCommander Becker, arrived in Manila. This only seemed to confirm rumors that Germany intended to acquire the Philippines. Moreover, it was said that three German nationals actively supported the revolutionaries. No hard evidence, however, could be found to bear this assertion.

The Battle of Manila Bay took place on 1 May 1898 following the outbreak of the Spanish-American War. The German Emperor expected an American defeat with Spain left in a sufficiently weak position for the Filipino revolutionaries to capture Manila – leaving the archipelago ripe for German picking. Following the American victory in the war, the Philippines and the Far East were brought to the attention of the world and Germany recognized the great potentialities of the islands as a major commercial market.

In point of fact, foremost of the United States rivals in replacing Spanish rule in the archipelago was Otto von Bismarck’s Germany. The European power was as ready as the Americans in occupying the islands, with its naval might in the Far East waiting for signal. Indeed, the Germans had just joined the splurge in partitioning China, along with the British, Russians, French and Americans.

Even before the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, there were already rumors in Manila of German sympathy towards the Filipino rebels. A number of Filipino creoles were, in fact, convicted of treason and later executed by Spanish authorities for reportedly working for the Germans.

On 12 June 1898, the day the Philippines declared its independence from Spain - Vice-Admiral Otto von Diederichs arrived in Manila Bay. The number of German vessels in Philippine waters increased to three. Earlier, on 6 and 9 May, respectively, the German ships Irene and the Cormoran arrived in the bay with a separate instruction from the German government, mainly to protect

German nationals in Manila. German interest in the Philippines was cut short with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on 10 December 1898. The Philippines was finally annexed by the United States in 1899. Moving forward - Don’t you folks know that even before the Great War (World War I), the U.S. was already contemplating proposing a huge land deal that would have split up the Philippines as we know it.

Back in the early 1900s, as I have earlier indicated - Western countries (namely the American and European empires) strategically traded colonies in an effort to expand their influence in other parts of the world. It was like a game of “pass the colonies,” and the Philippines was a prime product to trade – even parts of it, like Mindanao.

According to Governing the North American Artic by researchers from Cornell University and the University of Oxford, the U.S. ambassador to Denmark Maurice Francis Egan, urged by his Danish friends, proposed trading Mindanao to Denmark in 1910 in exchange for Greenland and the Danish West Indies, the lands the Americans had been eyeing since the 19th century. Denmark would then swap Mindanao to Germany in exchange for Northern Schleswig, a region in the south of Denmark that Germany had taken in the Second War of Schleswig a few decades prior. In return, Germany would have gained another foothold in Southeast Asia aside from German New Guinea.

In true colonial fashion, the colonizers were once again using occupied lands as pawns in their bid for greater global influence.

Back in 1910, the Philippines was a U.S. territory run by the Insular Government of the Philippine Islands, headed by GovernorGeneral William Cameron Forbes, now the namesake of Makati’s well known gated community Forbes Park. Truly for a passing minute, Mindanao was just another pledge of Western imperialism.

And for the real prize of the game, if you’ll ask me is Greenland!

Former President Donald Trump’s comments in the past about purchasing Greenland from Denmark aren’t as crazy as they sound – after all – given the history. The U.S. has certainly been after the large Artic Island for centuries.

Twentieth-century American Artic explorer Rear Admiral Robert E. Peary once said, “With the rapid shrinking of distances in this age of speed and invention, Greenland may be of crucial importance to us in the future. Greenland in our hands may be a valuable piece in our defensive armor. In the hands of hostile interests, it could be a serious menace.”

But the United States would never get Greenland and Mindanao would never be sold to Germany, because before the idea could gain ground, World War II began. By the end of the conflict, Germany was in tatters, left without a Kaiser after landing on the losing side of the fighting. Its defeat led to Denmark regaining Schleswig from Germany following the 1920 Schleswig plebiscites, renaming the region South Jutland County, and eventually, the Region of Southern Denmark.

Denmark had its county back without having to give up Greenland, and the potential MindanaoDenmark-Germany trade was lost in history. It’s nothing more than a footnote in yesterday’s books, which thankfully never went anywhere beyond conversations among American diplomats.

Yes, it was frankly the German Philippines that never was!

What would have happened if the trade had taken place, we will never know for undoubtedly, but we can always speculate? Had the pursuit happened, Mindanao would have been a German colony at the height

IN UKRAINE: Russia’s invasion in February 2022 began Europe’s first major war

IT’S A PROXY WAR AMONG BIG POWERS: There is no reason to think that U.S. competition with China and Russia will be any different than earlier periods of history

OF

In 1910, the United States Ambassador to Denmark (1907-1917) Maurice Francis Egan proposed the following: The United States would trade Mindanao for Greenland and the Danish West Indies; Denmark would in turn swap Mindanao to Germany for North Schleswig,

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DUTERTE

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retains excise tax on fuel

Rodrigo Duterte has approved providing a P200 monthly allowance or "ayuda" for poor households for an entire year to ease the impact of fuel price hikes, Malacañang said on Wednesday.

At the Palace briefing, acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar said Duterte approved the two recommendations of the Department of Finance (DOF) in light of the series of increases in fuel prices.

“Inaprubahan ng Pangulo ang dalawang rekomendasyon ng DOF kaugnay sa pagtaas ng fuel price

(The President has approved the two recommendations of the DOF regarding the fuel price hikes),” he said.

“Una, ang pag-retain ng fuel excise taxes na ini-impose ng TRAIN

[Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion] Law dahil ang pagsuspende nito ay magrereduce ng government revenue ng P105.9 billion na magpopondo sa mga programa ng pamahalaan. At pangalawa, ang pagbibigay ng targeted subsidies ng P200 bawat household to the bottom 50% of Filipino households,” Andanar said.

During Duterte's Talk to the People taped on Tuesday and aired on Wednesday, Finance Secretary

Carlos Dominguez III proposed providing a P200 monthly subsidy for poor households for an entire

year to ease the impact of fuel price hikes. He also recommended retaining the excise tax on fuel.

Dominguez admitted that the amount might not be enough but he pointed out that this is what the government can afford to provide as of this time.

The targeted subsidies will amount to P33.1 billion in budgetary requirements, according to Dominguez.

Dominguez said the funds for the subsidy would be sourced from the higher collection of value-added tax (VAT) due to the higher prices of fuel.

With the $110 per barrel Dubai crude oil price, Dominguez said VAT revenues will increase by P26 billion. At $125 per barrel Dubai crude oil price, VAT revenues will increase by P34.6 billion.

On Tuesday, oil firms implemented a major price hike on fuel products, marking the 11th straight week of increases.

Prices per liter of fuel products went up as follows: gasoline by P7.10, diesel by P13.15, and kerosene by P10.50.

In the past 10 weeks, prices of fuel products have been hiked, and have only been on an upward movement so far this year.

The Department of Energy has maintained that the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has hit global prices. The Philippines does not directly import from Russia, but sources its supply from other countries which in turn source their supply from the country. (MNS)

Healthgrades Names Alvarado Hospital and Paradise Valley 2022 Patient Safety Award Recipients

SAN DIEGO, CA -- Paradise Valley Hospital and Alvarado Hospital, members of Prime Healthcare, recently announced that they have been recognized by Healthgrades as 2022 Patient Safety Excellence Award™ recipients. This distinction places Alvarado Hospital and Paradise Valley Hospital among the top five and 10 percent, respectively, of all short-term acute care hospitals as evaluated by Healthgrades, the leading marketplace connecting patients and providers.

Prime Healthcare has more patient safety excellence awards for seven years in a row than any other health system (2016-2022), according to Healthgrades.

“Through our 2022 Patient Safety Excellence Awards, we seek to recognize hospitals that excel in providing top-quality care for their patients while preventing serious injuries during hospital stays,” said Brad Bowman, MD, Chief Medical Officer and head of Data Science, Healthgrades. “We are proud to name Paradise Valley and Alvarado Hospitals as 2022 Patient Safety Excellence Award recipients and look forward to their continued efforts to make patient safety a priority.” Paradise Valley Hospital Chief Executive Officer Neerav Jadeja is gratified that the hospital he represents has been recognized, but he is not surprised. “Our people deserve the kudos,” said Jadeja. “I can’t say

enough about the work the physicians, nurses, and staff do here to take care of our community. They deserve all the praise in the world!” Alvarado Hospital Chief Financial Officer Marilyn Sharp feels likewise. “We put so much emphasis on patient- and staff-safety here, it just feels great that the hard work shows such tangible results.” Sharp adds, “This is what It’s all about: providing a safe place for our patients to be cared for and to heal. This is even more notable considering the past two years of the pandemic.”

During the study period (2018 through 2020), 170,231 potentially preventable patient safety events occurred among Medicare patients in U.S. hospitals.* Healthgrades found that just four patient safety indicators accounted for 74% of all patient safety events: hip fracture due to an in-hospital fall, collapsed lung resulting from a procedure/surgery, pressure or bed sores acquired in-hospital, and catheter-related bloodstream infections acquired inhospital. Healthgrades also found that patients treated in hospitals receiving the Healthgrades 2022 Patient Safety Excellence Award™ were, on average:

● 55.8% less likely to experience an in-hospital fall resulting in hip fracture, than patients treated at non-recipient hospitals*

● 52.6% less likely to experience a collapsed lung resulting

Spiritual Life

Women as Agents for Change

I grew up in a home where men supported the aspirations of their women for higher education, for healthy family life, and for worthy community service. I also grew up in a community where women’s contribution to society are valued and respected. With these influences, I consider myself as an agent of change if not a pivotal force for change in my own home, in my community, and in society as a whole.

Being a woman puts you in an enviable position to raise children and to influence them to do good, to be fair and to respect the rights of others. But you cannot do this alone.

As a poet once said, “As unto the bow the chord is so unto the man is woman; though she bends him, she obeys him, though she draws him, yet she follows, useless each without the other.”

As one of the pioneers of public health education in the Philippines, I worked with a team of women to change the knowledge, attitude, and skills of people towards better health.

I was a community organizer at a time when community organizing was not yet a popular term as a process in community development.

I made the community aware of what actions to take in order to promote health, prevent disease, and prolong life. Together with other women, we served as a pivotal force in motivating people to assume

responsibility for their own health, to strengthen relationship with others, and to improve the quality of life in the community where we live.

When I came to the United States, my desire to make a difference in the lives of others, especially within my own Filipino American community, became more intense considering the challenges of cultural and social adjustment one has to make in a new environment. Women are strong and resilient. They can sacrifice their own lives for the good of their country and people. I can cite many women leaders in the world who served as a vital force in the fight for freedom and democracy, in upholding the rights of women, maintaining that human rights are women’s rights. I could cite so many women whether in leadership positions or as farmers, teachers, housewives or caregivers, who in their own right are pivotal

forces for change. But there is one woman I could never forget: Maryam Rajavi who has a forceful voice of a gentle lady, encouraging the thousands of people listening to her to continue fighting for freedom, justice and democracy. I can still feel her soft and firm hand as she shook my hands to thank me for my support of Iran’s aspiration to be free from tyranny and injustice. It was my pride and honor to have met Maryam Rajavi up close and personal. I was able to appreciate the beauty of her soul and the strength of her character as she uses her talent and position to change the world. Like her, we can be a pivotal force for change anywhere at any time, but let us be reminded of the Serenity Prayer, “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Aurora S. Cudal-Rivera My Personal Testimony

Who are you?

Now then, tell my servant David, "This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over My people Israel. (2 Samuel 7:8)

Have you ever heard someone say, "He is a self-made millionaire"? They are stating that this person accomplished everything through his own efforts. His achievements were a result of his hard work and street smarts.

David was nearing the end of his life. The prophet Nathan was responding to David's idea to build a temple where the Ark of the Covenant would stay. God reminded David of his roots and where He had brought him. God took David from the fields of pasturing sheep to pastoring a nation. God reminded David that He cut off all of David's enemies. (David never lost a battle.)

Have you ever felt tempted to look at your accomplishments with pride as if you were the reason for your success? Have you ever thought your prosperity was due to your ingenuity? Has your material success been a testimony to others that God is the ruler of all aspects of your life, even the material side?

Danny Hernaez From Whom All Blessings Flow

Joseph's greatest test was not his temptation to be bitter against his brothers. It wasn't the sexual temptation that came inside Potiphar's house. It wasn't even the discouragement of years of imprisonment for being wrongfully accused. It was the temptation of prosperity and ownership. Once he was elevated, he was given choices that he never had before. It was totally up to him as to which choice he would make. Stewardship reveals what we believe about God and ourselves. Not every man can carry a full cup. Sudden elevation frequently leads to pride and a fall. The most exacting test of all to survive is prosperity. (Oswald Chambers)

Do you have a proper understanding of who you are? Do you understand that it is God who

has given you the ability to work and achieve? He is the source of all good things. Ask God today if your life models this belief.

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. <(((><

This is the third Sunday of Lent and we still have three weeks before we finally enter into the celebration of the Paschal Triduum which is the celebration of the core of our faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. This mystery of our faith that we proclaim every Sunday is the center of our own faith and the saving mystery that Jesus proclaimed and gained for our own personal salvation and the salvation of the whole human race. The season of Lent is almost halfway gone and we are halfway into the celebration of this great mystery. The season of Lent, as we have been reminded, is a period for us to go deeper into our own consciousness of our discipleship – for those who have been in the faith many years; a season of preparation for the sacraments of initiation: baptism, confirmation and the Eucharist – for those who would like to be actively a part of this communion of the faith. Truly, the days of Lent should be spent as a period of both personal and communitarian examination of our relationships, but specifically our own relationship with Jesus Christ himself who, according to the Gospel of last Sunday, we must listen to because He is chosen Son of the Father.

Reflecting on the readings of the past two Sundays, I mentioned in my homilies that we have to create our own personal deserts and mountains because as God had in the past been encountered by the

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the tremendous peer pressure from her friends who have lost their way. When she was about to graduate, through the strong recommendation of Mrs. Idos, Jackie was awarded a five year scholarship which enabled her to earn her Bachelor's Degree from San Diego State University. She went on to earn her Master's Degree from Alliant University.

Mrs. Jacquilin Magat-Lapid started teaching Filipino in 2005 at Bell Middle School where she received Teacher of the Year and Woman of the Year in Education at the 79th school district. She taught Filipino Language, Yearbook, and ASB. In addition, she served in their school site council for four years and she led in their Instructional Learning Team. In 2016, she moved to Mira Mesa High School where there is a large concentration of Fil-Am Students. Then she started teaching Filipino at Miramar College. She welcomes positions of responsibility as an opportunity to serve. At one time she was the President of FILAMEDA (Filipino American Educators Association). At another time, she was the President of CTFLC( Council for Teaching Filipino Language and Culture). She worked with San Diego Unified School District as a CurriculumWriter and was a CoChair for textbook adoption in Filipino in the District. Heradvocacy g. One of the popular programs she pioneered is with CCAP (Career College Access Pathways) where her students at Mira Mesa High School could earn units which will be credited in College. Her approach in teaching is Holistic. She wants her students not only to learn the Language but also to become leaders in the community and in the Global stage. She teaches from the heart and her students love her for it. Her students are very much involved in Filipino community events. They produce the annual Culture Night and she accompanies them to the theme parks and does a lot of other things to build beautiful memories in their school life. Her achievements were not left unnoticed. For 2022, she is honored by CLTA (California Language Teachers Association) with an OUTSTANDING TEACHER AWARD. Mrs. Magat-Lapid is a

people of Israel and the disciples of Jesus in the desert and the mountain.

The Church has guided us in this encounter of God through the means given to us: devout prayers, meaningful penance and generous almsgiving. Why do we have to encounter God during this Lenten season? This is the question that the readings of this third Sunday would want us to know. When Moses encountered God on Mount Horeb, he was given the mission to liberate Israel from the bondage of Egypt in order that God would make a covenant relationship with Israel in Sinai wherein they will be His people and He will be their God. This was the old covenant relationship that the Old Testament has kept for us to know. When Jesus was encountered by his disciples in Mount Tabor where he was transfigured with two old testament figures: Moses and Elijah, in the presence of his beloved disciples, it was to confirm that his passion and death and resurrection were the only

recipient of the same statewide honor and recognition bestowed on her Mentor Mrs. Rosalina V. Idos 25 years ago. Hers is a beautiful and inspiring story. Mrs.Magat-Lapid has become a treasure in the Filipino community of San Diego. Mrs. Magat-Lapid was raised by her aunt, Sylvia. She is married to Michael Lapid, also a Filipino Language teacher. They have a five year old son, Mickey. Gawad Kalinga brought her to a presentation of the International Conference of WCCI (World Council for Curriculum and Instruction) held in Pecs, Hungary in 2010. In 2015, she had the good fortune of earning a Fulbright scholarship. She is currently the Producer and Director of “Voices of the Fil-Am Youth” which aims to tackle issues related to the Fil-Am Youth of San Diego and is conducted through live streamin.

RIZALYN M. CRUZ, Guro

Mrs. Rizalyn Cruz, Guro hails from Davao City, Philippines. She earned her Bachelor's Degree from Ateneo de Davao, a Jesuit run university in Mindanao. Back in the Philippines she was a high school teacher and parttime college Instructor. She migrated to the US in 1997. She studied at San Diego State University and in 1999 she started teaching Filipino Language at Southwestern College until 2007. In 2010 she was hired as a teacher of Filipino at Otay Ranch High School. Initially, she had only three classes. This jumped to five classes the following year. So far, she has 17 years in language teaching. Her teaching is standards driven and she uses a wide variety of teaching methodologies to make her students engaged in the learning process. Her students are having fun at the same time that they are learning the language. At Otay Ranch High School she organized a dance troupe, Pangkat Sayaw which performs not only on campus but also in the community and in Convalescent Homes. She has a separate club called Bayanihan which manages the Annual Culture Night. This enables the diverse students of Otay Ranch High to showcase their own culture. She is one of the strong supporters of the annual Magkaisa Conference where parents, students and teachers come together to discuss issues relevant to the Filipino community. She is also a member of the Sweetwater Union High School

nonrecipient hospitals*

way by which he would be able to bring redemption to man and the whole world as well as in order to strengthen the faith of the Peter, James and John.

During this season of Lent we are encouraged to encounter God in our own personal mountain of divine presence in order that we would be able to realize that no matter how sinful we are God loves us so much that He allowed His only Son to suffer and die on the cross so that we would be able to be in communion with Him. However, this would entail that we radically convert ourselves from our sinful ways, repent and believe in the Good News that Jesus has brought into our lives. This conversion that is demanded from each one of during this season of Lent is so necessary so that we would be able to bear fruit and actively give ourselves in participating in the mission that Jesus has entrusted to his community of disciples.

The story of the fig tree that our gospel relates today should enable us to realize that God would always allow each one of us to mend our ways, repent and be converted so that we would bear fruit in the future. Let us, therefore, make use of the remaining days of this season of Lent to encounter God and be able to change ourselves so that with the celebration of the Paschal Mystery we would be renewed and become really fruitful in the vineyard of the Lord.

District Filipino Advisory Committee. Mrs. Cruz is a Teacher Trainer of SAILN (Southern Area International Languages Network) for three years where current and would-be teachers of the Languages are trained to become Fellows of the Languages in the state of California. In 2018, she was one the Pilot Teachers of the very first after school Filipino Language program in the Elementary level. The Principal of Salt Creek Elementary school was very much impressed with her teaching skills. Mrs. Cruz is currently the President of CTFLC (Council for the Teaching of Filipino Language and Culture) which meets regularly once a month. She meets separately with the Board when there is a need. During her incumbency, she initiated the publication of a CTFLC Monthly Bulletin. This supplements the CTFLC website as a means to inform teachers and members of activities and issues related to the teaching of Filipino in San Diego. She and a few other members of CTFLC also initiated the formation of a Rondalla to develop greater appreciation for Philippine music. In a joint venture with San Diego County Office Of Education (SDCOE) and CTFLC, teachers and students of Filipino in San Diego Unified School District. Poway Unified School District and Sweetwater Union High School District are connected with their counterparts in the Philippines. This project is called the Intercultural Exchange Program. Mrs Cruz strongly believes in establishing a strong working relationship with various organizations like COPAO, SAILN, FLCSD, CLTA and Community of Practice. As a beginning teacher of Filipino, Mrs. Cruz was in attendance when Mrs. Rosalina V. Idos was honored as an Outstanding Teacher in the Languages in the state of California in 2007. By her own admission, what she witnessed has become an inspiration in her teaching career. Her Jesuit education has made her truly believe that Service to Humanity is what gives meaning to our life. She takes pride in the nobility of the teaching profession that the word Guro (Teacher) is attached to her name. Congratulations Ginang Rizalyn M. Cruz, Guro. She is married to Arthur Cruz, who also works in the Sweetwater Union High School District. They have two sons.

from a procedure or surgery in or around the chest, than patients treated at non-recipient hospitals*

● 66.2% less likely to experience pressure sores or bed sores acquired in the hospital, than patients treated at non-recipient hospitals*

● 65.8% less likely to experience catheter-related bloodstream infections acquired in the hospital, than patients treated at

When it comes to choosing healthcare, quality saves lives, which is why Healthgrades is committed to delivering the most scientifically accurate and comprehensive information about doctors and hospitals — with data insights not available anywhere else. To that end, it's important for consumers to know that if all hospitals, as a group, performed similarly to the Healthgrades Patient Safety Award Recipients, on average, 100,189 patient safety events could have been avoided.*

Consumers can visit healthgrades. com for more information on how Healthgrades measures hospital quality and access the complete methodology here. *Statistics are calculated from Healthgrades Patient Safety Ratings and Excellence Award™ methodology which is based primarily on AHRQ technical

National City awarded $4.9 million dollars to remove trash, activate and transform public spaces along I-805 freeway

NATIONAL CITY, CA - $4.9

million dollars have been awarded to National City by Governor Newsom as part of his $296 million Clean California grants and National City leadership on Tuesday will highlight areas of focus.

National City will focus on Eastside I-805 Community Greenbelt Project which will be used for a multiuse path and park improvements along under-utilized public right-of-way between Division Street and Plaza Boulevard. The project will improve public health, safety, and connections to El Toyon and Rancho de la Nacion Elementary Schools, El Toyon Park, and local shopping centers, kicking off a grand vision of a greenbelt for neighborhoods east of Interstate 805 with park space, recreation, and active transportation connections to the Sweetwater Bike Path.

Mayor Sotelo-Solis stated, “I’m very proud of this grant award. It has come about through our ongoing partnership and advocacy with the Caltrans team, National City staff, my Mayoral office and the voices of our community. We will now have the financial resources to begin activating and cleaning up those identified areas. Now it’s time to get to work!”

Locally Caltrans will fund three projects in National City, El Cajon, and Imperial Beach. The grants are part of Governor Newsom’s Clean California initiative, a sweeping $1.1 billion, multiyear clean-up effort led by Caltrans to remove trash, create thousands of jobs and engage communities to transform public spaces. “The National City Eastside I-805 Community Greenbelt project is just one of more than 100 projects to receive part of the nearly $300 million in Clean California grants to cities, counties, tribes, and transit agencies; all of which is going to underserved communities across the state” said Caltrans District 11 Director Gustavo Dallarda. “These Clean California grants for local beautification and placemaking demonstrate our commitment to making infrastructure about people, planet, and partnerships.” The projects include a wide range of community enhancements for cities, counties, transit agencies and tribal governments to beautify public spaces, such as litter removal, landscaping and art installations, walking and bike paths, and other complete streets features that enhance safety and access to transportation. The grants will generate 3,600 jobs statewide, and recipients must complete their projects by June 30, 2024. The Governor’s California Blueprint proposes an additional $100 million to fund another round of Clean California local projects. The announcement about the $4.9 Million grant from the office of Gov. Newsom was announced at a press conference with City of National City leaders, CALTRANS leaders on Wednesday, March 16 El Toyon Park located at 2005 E 4th St, National City, CA 91950 . Mayor Alejandra Sotelo-Solis, Mayor- City of National City and Gustavo Dallarda, Caltrans District 11 Director delightfully shared the great news to our readers.

Continued from page 1

students for transfer to four-year colleges and entry-level jobs. Mesa College also offers a bachelor’s degree in Health Information Management.

The San Diego College of Continuing Education offers noncredit adult education at seven campuses throughout San Diego.

With 30,000 students enrolled annually, the San Diego College of Continuing Education is the largest noncredit institution in California and serves large populations of the state's most vulnerable and underserved adult learners. In some cases, enrolled students have dropped out of high school as teenagers and are coming back to school for the first time, decades later. Others are immigrants, refugees, formerly incarcerated or opportunity youth. Continuing Education is one of four colleges in the SDCCD, along with City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges.

JESSE REYES

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of World War II.

And the $64,000 Questions might have been asked: How would the culturally rich indigenous peoples of Mindanao have been affected by Aryan-crazed Nazi Germany? Would German Mindanao have waged warfare against American Luzon and Visayas? Or would Germany have handed over Mindanao to its ally Japan during the war?

I say it’s a dystopian reality that could have brought us closer to an episode of “The Man in the High Castle.” (FYI: The Man in the High Castle is an American apocalyptic alternate history television series created for streaming service Amazon Prime Video, depicting a parallel universe where the Axis powers of Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan rule the world after their victory in World War II.) But thankfully, the deal was never pursued.

So, we can close that chapter of alternate history that we’re grateful never happened.

Lastly, is there any other stuff going on that we don’t have a clue about? You bet, always!

Mabuhay!!

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