The Filipino Press: May 20-26, 2022

Marcos camp to DQ seekers: Stop agenda of divisiveness, animosity

case against the runaway winner in the presidential race to stop pursuing their agenda of divisiveness and animosity.

Atty. Victor Rodriguez said they should instead learn to respect the will of the majority who voted for Marcos and his running mate Inday Sara Duterte in the May 9 national and local elections.

“I appeal to those who keep on pursuing this divisiveness, the people have spoken. The Filipino people have spoken and an overwhelming majority has voted President-elect Bongbong Marcos and Vice President-elect Inday Sara Duterte into office as President and Vice President. Learn to respect the will of the Filipino people,” he said. Marcos’ spokesman said they have yet to receive a copy of the petition that was filed before the Supreme Court to cancel Marcos’ certificate of candidacy with a prayer for the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) to block the counting of votes cast for him and his proclamation should he win. Rodriguez pointed out that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has already unanimously dismissed the disqualification cases both at the division and en banc levels.

“We have yet to receive a copy of the petition that was filed this morning. However, I think these cases have been resolved unanimously (already)

by the Commission on Elections on the division level as well as the Commission on Elections en banc. And these cases have been dismissed and the decision was unanimous,” he said.

Further, the spokesman also called on the petitioners to allow Marcos and

his incoming administration to spend the limited time in a day to work productively instead of spending time catering to their animosity.

“And I appeal to you, instead of pushing for your agenda of animosity e tulungan niyo na lang kami na

pagtuunan at gamitin natin ang ating limitadong oras (help us to focus and use our limited time) everyday, we are all limited to 24 hours in a day, allow us to be more productive,” he said.

Earlier in the day, petitioners Fr. Christian Buenafe, Fides Lim, Ma.

Edeliza Hernandez, Celia Lagman

Sevilla, Roland Vibal, and Josephine Lascano have asked the high court to issue a TRO enjoining and restraining the Senate and House of Representatives from canvassing the votes cast for Marcos and proclaiming

him as president should he win the May 9 polls.

As of 2:47 p.m. on Friday, Marcos was still leading the partial and unofficial count of votes with 31,104,175 votes based on data from the Comelec Transparency Media Server.

Meanwhile, Sara Duterte also maintains a huge lead among other vice presidential candidates with 31,561,948 votes as of the same period in the same partial and unofficial count.

A total of 55,197,306 votes out of the 67,442,616 registered voters have already come in as of posting. A total of 98.35 percent of the election returns have been processed so far.

Last week, the Comelec en banc affirmed the resolution of the poll body’s Second Division's resolution that junked the petition filed by Buenafe to cancel Marcos' COC. Similar to the ruling on the disqualification cases, the Comelec en banc said the petitioners failed to raise new matters or issues that would warrant the reversal of the former Comelec Second Division's ruling.

Recently, Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said, under Comelec rules, winning candidates for the 2022 elections who have pending disqualification cases could still be proclaimed without a final decision that would prohibit the poll body to do so and if there is nothing to prevent them from being proclaimed.

SAN DIEGO, CA -- The San Diego City Council proclaimed May 15 to 21 as National Public Works Week in San Diego, joining cities across the country recognizing all essential public works employees who provide and maintain the infrastructure, systems and services that assure quality of life, public health and safety in all communities.

This year’s theme "Ready & Resilient" highlights the ability of these professionals to perform regular public works duties while also serving as first responders during natural disasters and overcoming challenges working in the field.

Mayor Todd Gloria recently proposed his “Ready to Rebuild” budget for fiscal year 2023, which includes a $809 million budget for the City’s Capital Improvements Program (CIP), the largest investment in infrastructure in the City’s history.

“We are committed to rebuilding San Diego by tackling long-delayed and critically needed infrastructure projects, and we can’t do it without the hard work of all our dedicated City public works professionals who are entrusted with the planning, design and construction of these projects,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “Our amazing teams of City planners, engineers, inspectors, construction workers and supporting staff of professionals proudly work around the clock to help create a better future for all of us.”

Mayor Gloria’s proposed CIP budget aims to fund two new fire stations, improvements to neighborhood parks, Phase 1 of Pure Water, water and sewer infrastructure projects and help complete the construction of the new West Mission Bay Drive Bridge. This is one of the largest federally funded bridge projects in California and the

largest ever undertaken by the City of San Diego. Once completed, two separate three-lane bridge structures will replace the existing four-lane West Mission Bay Drive Bridge, built in the early 1950s.

National Public Works Week was instituted as a public education campaign by the American Public Works Association (APWA) in 1960 to bring awareness of the importance of public works in community life. It takes place annually during the third week of May.

“National Public Works Week helps us showcase the essential work of our dedicated City staff,” said City Engineer Rania Amen, Director of the Engineering and Capital Projects Department. “Each year, staff rise to the challenge of the growing size and scope of the CIP, often outside of the public eye, continuously making our communities great for all San Diegans.”

This past year, several City CIP projects were recognized with industry or professional awards at national, state and local levels, including: The California Tower Seismic Retrofit Project received the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Region 9 Historical Renovation Award. The project is the first phase of a multi-phase seismic retrofit of the 1915 California Tower in Balboa Park. The I-5/Genesee Avenue Interchange Project received the Caltrans 2021 Excellence in

By Mark Hedin/eMS

In a brand-new program, the first of its kind in the United States, California is offering college students $10,000 in pay and scholarship funding in exchange for 450 hours of community service work.

Students can apply at cacollegecorps.com or with help from counselors at the 48 colleges and universities across the state that are enrolled in the #CaliforniansforAll College Corps program, a list that includes the entire UC and CSU systems, community colleges and some private schools as well. A total of 6,500 students will be accepted to start in the fall, with preference given to those from lowincome circumstances. “Dreamers” – AB540-eligible students who arrived in the U.S. as children – are eligible to apply.

The program offers a total of $7,000 in regular paychecks -- more than $15 per hour for the work requirement – and, upon completion, a $3,000 grant for tuition or other education-related costs.

For those 6,500 students, rather than having to drive for a rideshare company or work in a local mall, “this groundbreaking program allows them to pursue programs dedicated to climate change, K-12 education or COVID recovery while serving in their own communities,” said Regina Wilson, executive director of California Black Media at a May 12 news conference announcing the program. “They earn money and academic

credit at the same time.” The news briefing was co-hosted by Ethnic Media Services.

“We really see this program as being a win-win-win,” said Josh Fryday, California Chief Service Officer, who oversees California Volunteers, the governor’s office responsible for creating service, volunteer and civic engagement opportunities in California. Students get meaningful, paid work in their communities, tailored to align with their educational goals. Service providers get help in doing their valuable work, and communities get the benefit of those increased efforts, Fryday explained.

“Our students are going to be focused on three main areas serving in their community,” he said. “One is around climate action. We’re going to see students doing everything from planting trees to helping compost and with fire mitigation across the state.”

“We’re also going to be seeing our students focus on food insecurity, which we know drastically increased during COVID,” he said, pointing out that “one of the biggest needs that food banks have is for

volunteers.”

Thirdly, he said, “our young people, especially in our lowincome schools, are facing increased education disparities, with learning loss as a result of COVID. So, many of these (College Corps) students are going to be tutors and mentors in our low-income schools.”

The program is open to 6,500 students – a number equal to the entire U.S. Peace Corps program -- Fryday said, but “our intention is to ultimately scale this program to more students, more universities, and hopefully be something that becomes a model for the entire country.”

“Several of our universities are targeting freshmen,” he added, “because we know that first year is really the critical year where either students are able to stay in school and stay on track, or, because of financial burdens or other reasons, end up delaying their education.”

Lindsay Fox, president and CEO of United Way in Fresno and Madera counties, spoke of how the program is intended to help “close

MANILA -- The chief of staff and spokesman of presumptive president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday appealed to the petitioners of the disqualification

NORTH MEETS SOUTH. Wearing their trademark red and green colors, president-elect former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte, dubbed as UniTeam. Marcos said, their tandem is a good example of unity between the north and the south, the team's campaign battle cry. (MNS photo)

Favorite Dish: KALDERETA or POT ROAST or BOEUF BOURGUIGNON

By Francine Maigue

The holidays or week-ends allow us to catch up on everyone’s lives. Spending quality family time, free of any stress and instead full of chats, games, laughs with comfort food ready for everyone’s third+ servings is THE BEST.

One particular family favorite that only gets better with time is Boeuf Bourguignon a.k.a. Kaldereta a.k.a. Pot Roast. This week, I’m sharing my recipe. I hope it brings joy and comfort to you and your loved ones, too. #KayaNatinTo Ingat po lagi! Wishing you all continued blessings, Francine Boeuf Bourguignon & Kaldereta

Ingredients

• 3 Tbs. Canola Oil

• 4 lbs. Chuck Roast

• 1 tsp. Salt

• 1 tsp. Black Pepper

• 1 tsp. Garlic Powder

• 1 Stick of unsalted butter

• 1 Onion, large dice

• 3 Cups Sweet Potatoes, peeled, large dice

• 2 Carrots, peeled, medium dice

• ½ Cup Green Bell Pepper, medium dice

• 1/3 Cup Roasted Red Peppers

• Garlic Cloves, smashed & halved

• 1/4 Cup Soy Sauce

• ½ Cup Red Wine

• 1 (6 oz.) Can Tomato

Paste

• 2 Cups Beef Stock

• 1 Cup Frozen Peas

• 1 Cup Mushrooms, sliced

• 1/2 tsp. Thyme

• ½ tsp. Oregano

Directions

1. Season chuck roast with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Sear on all sides in large, ovenproof pan (I prefer to use a Dutch oven) with canola oil and ½ a stick of butter. Remove from pan and set aside.

2. To pan add remaining butter, onion, carrots, sweet potatoes, green bell pepper, roasted red peppers and garlic. When vegetables begin to sweat and tenderize, add soy sauce and red wine. Simmer until aroma of wine has dissipated.

3. Add tomato paste, beef stock, peas, mushrooms, thyme, oregano, chili flakes, sugar, cumin, cinnamon, brown sugar and bay leaves.

4. Cover and place in 350F oven until beef is fork tender.

5. Serve atop white rice or mashed potatoes or with bread rolls.

KALDERETA

Lea Salonga gives glimpse of 'Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin' character

-- Lea Salonga gave her followers a peek at her character in the upcoming HBO Max series “Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin.”

The Broadway star shared on Instagram a shot from one of her scenes wherein she is photographed alone without any of her co-stars.

“Coming summer 2022,”

Salonga said in the caption.

It was in September last year when Salonga announced that she was cast in the series.

“The moms have descended upon the town of Millwood! And we have secrets and lies of our own (can’t let the children have all the fun),” she wrote at that time.

“So excited to be part of the cast of Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin,” she added before tagging her co-stars on the show.

Aside from Salonga, the series will also star Sharon Leal, Elena Goode, Zakiya Young and Carly Pope.

According to a Variety report,

MANILA

Salonga will play the role of Elodie, the overbearing mother of Minnie (Malia Pyles) “who works overtime to protect her daughter from her childhood trauma.”

Variety also said “the series is set in the present, 20 years after a series of tragic events almost ripped the blue-collar town of Millwood apart. Now, a disparate group of teen girls — the new ‘Little Liars’ — find themselves tormented by an unknown ‘Assailant’ and made to pay for the secret sin their parents committed

TO MY WIFE AND I’S ONE-AND-ONLY GRANDDAUGHTER TAYLOR ON HER “MOMENTS THAT MATTER” GRADUATION FROM THE PRESTIGIOUS UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA (UC) BERKELEY

SAN DIEGO, CA -- Why chose Berkeley?

The University of California at Berkeley has it all: World-class academics, great sports, a stunning Bay Area setting, reasonable costs and a storied history. Cal’s some 31,000 undergraduates (as of 2021 figures) pay just over $14,000 a year ($29,000 more for non-California residents) in tuition and fees for an education that is arguably richer than what they would receive at arch-rival Stanford.

In fact, the flagship campus of the massive University of California system provides a top-drawer schooling to a diverse group of students at a fraction of the price of an elite private school.

Some 21% of incoming freshmen and 43 % of Cal’s transfer students receive Pell Grants, money offered by the federal government to help low-and moderate-income families afford college. These highly motivated students do well for themselves. Cal graduates earn enough to pay back their educational fees in 1.45 years on average. “Golden Bears” (the nickname for Cal grads) from lowincome backgrounds do even better, paying back their college costs in just 0.7 years. These stats help explain why Berkeley is in the No. 1 spot on the Forbes list of America’s Top Colleges last year. After taking a year away from the rankings during the pandemic, they’ve tweaked the way we assess the nation’s best schools. The new ratings give extra credit to schools that educate the greatest number of students from the broadest range of backgrounds.

In contrast to Cal’s 2021 graduating class of 9,000 – Harvard’s numbered just 1,500. Only 12% of Harvard undergrads receive Pell Grants, which helps explain why the vaunted 384-year-old private institution in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a perennial No. 1 on college lists, fell to No. 7 in the Forbes line up.

Three other UC campuses, in Los Angeles (where my youngest son Randy accredited from – Class of 2002), San Diego (where my daughter-in-law Abigail graduated –Class of 1997 - and who is Taylor’s mom) and Davis, rank in the top 25. The remaining five undergraduate UC campuses are on the Forbes list, which only considers the top 600 four-year degree ranking institutions out of 2,700 in total. UC Merced, located in one of the most underserved regions in the state, makes the cut for the first time this year, at No. 252.

UC has been a model of public higher education for more than 150 years now. At its founding in 1868, state and higher education leaders envisioned the first University of California as an institution that could provide an accessible and practical schooling for a broad range of residents. California had become a state less than two decades earlier, in 1850. The flagship campus started in Oakland and in 1873, moved next door to Berkeley.

In 1919, the University of California expanded south, to the burgeoning city of Los Angeles, taking over a piece of a state institution, the Normal School that had been founded in 1881 to educate teachers. Next materialized UC Davis, added to the UC system as a full campus in 1959. It traces its roots to 1908 when it was known as University Farm, established as a research and science-based extension of the original UC in the Bay Area. Davis is renowned for its agricultural programs and it’s among the best schools in the nation to study winemaking and the propagation arts.

In the 1960s, UC system leaders and the State Department of Education anticipated a spike in university enrollment due to the baby boomer generation approaching college age. They developed the California Master Plan for Higher Education, which outlined three college tracks. The plan reaffirmed UC’s mission as the state’s primary academic research institution. UC was to select from among the top one-eighth of the state’s high school graduating classes. Today, admission is guaranteed to the top 9% of California high school graduates, though not necessarily to a campus of the student’s choice.

California also has a wellregarded system of 116 community college campuses and the California State University (CSU) system with 23 locations.

An important aspect of the Master Plan is that state community college transfer applicants get priority in UC admissions, creating more opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds. Today 29% of UC graduates start their higher education at a community college.

The entire UC system enrolls a total of more than 286,000 students, including 226,000 undergraduates. More than three-quarters of students hail from California. Having such a large percentage of in-state students is uncommon among prestigious public universities. Out-of-state students often prioritized at public universities because they are charged higher tuition.

The UC system keeps gaining in popularity. A record 250,000 applicants vied for a fall 2021 spot, a 16% increase from fall 2020; applications from residents increased by 13%, while domestic out-of-state requests jumped 44%.

This resulted in record-breaking admission numbers, including more than 84,200 admitted California freshmen, the highest number of students from diverse backgrounds (43% of California undergraduates) and the third largest class of California Community College transfers.

And with tuition at private universities outpacing inflation more than 20 years running, it fully expect to see America’s best public schools to continue to vie for the top of our annual college rankings for years to come. By far, students say their top reasons to come to the University of California (UC) Berkeley include the chance to work with distinguished faculty and to earn their degrees from world-class programs.

For my two cents - I say location, location, location!

If you are looking for a place that is alive, quirky and comfortable all at the same time…then welcome home. Berkeley is a unique and beautiful place with opportunities only the Bay Area can provide. While situated in an urban setting, Berkeley is a safe spot to study and reside. It’s a site like no other and prepares you to live in the real world.

Starting off on the right foot –it wants you to succeed and get the most out of your Berkeley education; they provide a range of services to support students throughout their career at Cal, starting with “CalSO” (UC Berkeley Student Orientation), transfer entry and residential plans all the way to programs through the Career Center. In fall 2011, 60% of new freshmen and transfers said they got off to a “very good” and “really fantastic” start and when you add in “good” beginning, it jumps to 92% of new freshmen and 68% of new transfers.

At Berkeley, they embrace diversity; they want you to be yourself and by bringing students from across California, the nation and the globe, they create an environment where coeds learn from one another. Undergraduates come from across the economic spectrum and ethnic diversity. Some students are the first to attend college, some are religious, some are gay and some are Republican. As the home of free speech and the first University in the nation to have a Vice Chancellor for Equity & Inclusion – they create a space that fosters excellence through distinction and prepares students to work in an increasingly diverse world. Ninety-five percent of Berkeley seniors rated their ability to appreciate and understand racial and ethnic diversity as good or better and 82% of the alumni reported Berkeley prepared them to get along with people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

Berkeley is placed as the top public university in multiple rankings (US News and World Report, Academy Ranking of World Universities, and Times Higher Education) and the latest National Research Council placed 48 of Berkeley’s 52 doctoral programs in the top 10, the most of any institution in the nation. With over 100 undergraduate programs to choose from, you certainly won’t go wrong. But if I must advise - please

don’t just rely on rankings, listen to what other students have to say –87% of current seniors and 92% of alumni reported they were satisfied with their academic experience.

Being a graduate at Berkeley means being a part of an energetic, dynamic group of people who are passionate, curious and committed to their areas of study. And it shows!

UC Berkeley has more recipients of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships and the Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowships than any other public or private institution.

Berkeley is famed for the breath, and depth of 120+ graduate programs in 14 schools and colleges, awarding more than 3,000 master’s and professional degrees each year and close to 800 doctoral degrees each year.

A recent undergraduate alumni survey found most alumni working with only 5% seeking employment. Overall, 83% of respondents were satisfied with the course of their career and 80% believed that Berkeley had prepared them well for their profession. Furthermore, in an environment where lifelong learning is necessary to being successful over time, 86% of undergraduates believed that Berkeley had made them ready to deal with the ability to acquire new skills and knowledge on their own.

Surely, Berkeley pride spreads across the globe so no matter where you are you will hear the call “Go Bears!” In view of that and as grandparents involved in her life and college experience - I am once more so honored to write this “Go Bears!” letter to my wife Zeny and I’s one-and-only granddaughter:

Dear Taylor, Cheers!

Your generation definitely has opportunities that I never imagined when I was your age. You are able to connect in ways I never dreamed possible. I want you to soak up all of this and think about what you have learned about being a strong, educated, thoughtful young woman.

And how can it be that just less than four years ago I was writing a column as you graduated from high school? I gave you advice such as stay focused and remain organized as you are on the verge of another

Jesse T. Reyes Filipino Potpourri

Saturday, May 14th – this time –from the prestigious University of California (UC) Berkeley!

As a grandparent, this moment causes me the most pride as you are the second one in our family tree to complete a Baccalaureate Degree from one of the most distinguished university in America – UC Berkeley - the first one being your Uncle Ryan (UC Berkeley Class of 1995) who happened to be your Grandma Zeny and I’s first son. And incredibly, it took you a record time of just three years to complete your bachelor’s degree…a testament to your hard work, caring and dogged determination to earn it early.

I do want to compliment you on this very special hour. I know you heard “congratulations” a hundred times that day and because you are so special to me and your Grandma, I strive to find words to say just how dearly we love you.

I must repeat again that we live in two different worlds currently – where once we had puppy dogs and ice cream and porch swings in common – we now must try to bridge the chasms of age, culture, and geography.

But as once before, let me try again.

home – in Berkeley. And now I am quite certain that they are bracing themselves again because you might soon leave the family nest and begin to make a place for yourself in this challenging world of ours today. They will walk once more into your empty bedroom and look longingly at the remnants of “Taylor” the little girl who filled their home with happiness and laughter.

As for me, your Grandpa Jesse, were I to write a tribute to you on this momentous day, it would be about how I am so richly blessed to have a granddaughter – your Grandma Zeny’s and I’s one-andonly granddaughter, too! – So beautiful both inside and out. I say good kids still exist! Thank you, Taylor for being one of those youth. Thank you for staying the course.

milestone, only this one involves big change. I reiterated that this particular occasion isn’t just about growing up; it’s about being a grown-up. High school graduation says, “OK, world. I’m ready. Let’s see where to go from here. It’s set for change and I’m ready to show what I got. It’s time to spread my wings and fly.”

I told you then that time would blow by and sure enough, it did!

Congratulations once more to our dearest granddaughter!

You’ve filled out your undergraduate student exit survey having satisfied all the requirements for a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Data Science and participated in the spring 2022 commencement ceremony last

58 years ago this month I took donned cap and gown, so to speak (well, we didn’t have those in my heyday just a simple “Barong Tagalog” or the best Sunday clothes you could have…Ha-ha-ha-ha!) and briskly strode up to the stage to accept my diploma. As they played the Filipino version of “Pomp and Circumstance” I glanced up the neat rows of white folding chairs where my parents sat, glowing with pride. For me, my mother was a “hero” because she fostered an environment where an education held the highest value (she, herself was a mere high school graduate but if I must say it boldly, surely smarter than most of those with distinguished PhD’s and creative titles…Ha-ha-ha-ha!) and to “not graduate” was something that was simply “unacceptable” and not even an option thought about around our home in the historical district of Sta. Ana in old Manila.

Just like in your Eastlake High School commencement ceremonies, for a second time - Your Mom and Dad sat in the audience and proudly watched you. I am quite sure there were a few seconds when you reach for that coveted diploma that you’re slightly out of focus to them; their eyes blurred a little (I’m beyond any doubt about this)…from tears of fulfillment and joy as they recall that first day at pre-school, the moment they were forced to surrender a small part of you to the outside world and of course, during your graduation from high school, too – knowing that you’re off to college for a few years – away from

You might not know what the future holds, but I’m pretty confident I can make a few predictions, myself. I believe that you will carry on with and persist to soar and flourish. You will remember the lessons of your growing years and apply them as needed. You will contribute to your community, and you will fulfill your responsibilities to the best of your ability. You will stay true to who you are and you will continue to treat others with kindness. Because of that, you will find success, no matter how it is measured.

And so, our dearest one, as you set out on your life’s destiny, your Grandma and I wish you well. Nothing means more to us that your success and achievements, happiness and joy. And because that trail is never straight and narrow, there will be times when our tracks will cross, and Your Grandma and I will embrace you, and cheer for how far you’ve come…and wish that the avenue ahead is adorned with rainbows and unicorns and soft whisperings.

My heart is so full of pride and love for you I feel it will burst just now. So our darling Taylor, I and your Grandma Zeny send you the most loving and heartfelt congratulations to you on this very special day.

Never forget how much we love you. As you grow older, you will undoubtedly face many more challenges in life. Just do your best.

Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass; it’s about learning to dance in the rain. Every day may not be great, but find something good in every day. Laugh, love, live. Follow your dreams and believe in yourself and remember to be A-WE-S-O-M-E!

Your Grandma Zeny and I will always be with you forever and ever!! Mabuhay!!!

We love you to the moon and back, Grandma & Grandpa

Professional Business Directory

STAY SAFE EVERYONE

(National City, CA – May 10, 2022)

– Paradise Valley Hospital, a member of Prime Healthcare, received an “A” Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade for spring 2022. This national distinction recognizes Paradise Valley Hospital as among the top in the nation in protecting patients from preventable harm and errors in the hospital.

“As our health care system continues to feel the strain of the pandemic, I thank the workforce and leadership of Paradise Valley hospital for sustained commitment to patient safety, day in and day out,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “An ‘A’ Safety Grade is an outstanding achievement, and one that is not possible without a 24/7 effort by the entire health care

workforce to protect patients from harm. This community should be proud.”

This is the fourth consecutive “A” grade the hospital has received, and the third consecutive year Paradise Valley Hospital has been honored with this twice-yearly distinction. “This never gets old,” says Paradise Valley Hospital CEO Neerav Jadeja. “But the nurses, physicians, and staff here continue to amaze me! I’m humbled that we’ve been recognized by The Leapfrog Group, but also proud of the men and women I’m privileged to call my co-workers!”

The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F” grade to general

hospitals across the country based on over thirty national performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm.

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospital prevention of medical errors and harm to patients. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.

To see Paradise Valley Hospital’s full grade details and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.

Help Wanted / For Rent / For Sale

“I gained a new sense of community,” she said.

the racial wealth gap.”

“We’ve identified furthering education, higher education and skills training as one of the key, core ways we are going to get generational wealth and advance prosperity. We believe that higher education is a pathway to that,” she said. But, she said, “we are seeing college enrollment rates, particularly in community colleges, go down significantly. In Fresno, we are seeing really significant dips in enrollment for people of color, particularly black men.”

“So a program like College Corps removes the financial barriers that might be in place.”

“We really have to come back to the humanity of who we are, and why we were put on this earth, quite frankly. It is not to be in service of ourselves, it’s to be in service of others, where we find the greatest version of ourselves.”

And, she added, “we get the additional benefit of just creating better community service.”

The benefits of community service extend beyond its clients.

Ia Moua, who arrived as a refugee from Vietnam when she was 9, now oversees the California AmeriCorps program, the nation’s largest, in her work for California Volunteers.

She described how her work for the Summer Bridge program, tutoring children while she was in college, changed her sense of personal identity, from a Hmongspeaking outsider living in a foreign land to a full-fledged “proud American.”

“My family escaped persecution from the Vietnam War and resettled in the United States as refugees. Our early days of survival depended on the support of public assistance and my very own personal and professional growth was shaped by the selfless act of teachers and mentors who guided me as I adapted and learned to navigate life in a new country.”

“This incredible privilege gave us a second chance at life,” she said.

Upon arriving from Kansas to study at San Jose State University, Fernando Martinez, 22, participated in a pilot program for College Corps, the Civic Action Fellows Program.

“I was looking for ways to be involved within my campus and my new community,” he said. “This provided me with both.”

The financial assistance helped provide time and energy to focus on his classes, he said, and provide computer programming enrichment for underserved children.

“It’s through this program that I learned firsthand how much local school communities are lacking in areas like technology, and access to those STEM-related careers,” he said, and the opportunity to help other kids growing up in similar situations to myself.”

“For me, the most meaningful part of the fellowship is the genuine connections I’ve made with the children I mentor, to inspire to pursue STEM, and get excited for college. You can see their creativity spark up in different ways that they didn’t know they could.”

“I cannot imagine not reapplying for the College Corps.”

and a

PRRD signs law promoting foundlings' rights

MANILA -- President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has signed into law a measure promoting the rights of deserted or abandoned children with unknown parents and recognizing their status as natural-born citizens.

Under Republic Act (RA) 11767 or the Foundling Recognition and Protection Act, an abandoned child found in the Philippines or in Philippine embassies, consulates, and territories abroad is presumed a natural-born Filipino citizen, regardless of the status or circumstances of birth.

"As a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, a foundling is accorded with rights and protections at the moment of birth equivalent to those belonging to such class of citizens whose citizenship does not need perfection or any further act," RA 11767, inked by Duterte on May 6, read.

The presumption of natural-born status of a foundling may not be impugned in any proceeding unless substantial proof of foreign parentage is shown.

A deserted child shall be acknowledged a natural-born Filipino citizen, even though his birth certificate was simulated, his legal adoption was not processed, or his registration was delayed.

"In the event that the biological parents cannot be identified and located, the foundling shall be declared legally available for adoption, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations and taking into consideration the best interest of the child," RA 11767 said.

Once the adoption is finalized, the adopted foundling shall be considered the legitimate child of the adopter for all intents and purposes.

The adopted foundling, according to RA 11767, is also entitled to the rights and obligations provided by law to legitimate children born to them without discrimination of any kind.

The National Authority for Child Care (NACC), Local Social Welfare and Development Office (LSWDO), and any accredited child-caring or child-placing agency shall ensure that foundlings are accorded with alternative childcare options, which include "kinship care, foster care, or even residential care, consistent with existing laws, while the search and inquiry into the facts of birth and parentage of the foundling is ongoing."

A foundling shall also be granted available government program or service such as registration, facilitation of documents for adoption, education, legal and police protection, proper nourishment and medical care for survival and development, and admission to safe and secure child centers.

The NACC, through the Regional Alternative Child Care Office (RACCO), shall conduct a proactive and diligent search and inquiry into the facts of birth and parentage of the foundling, within 15 days after commitment or submission of the affidavit of the finder or other concerned person, or after the information that there is a probable foundling.

An affidavit of the finder, certification of the village captain or police authority on the foundling's discovery, and NACC's report must be submitted to register the foundling with the Local Civil Registrar, according to RA 11767.

The biological parents, the NACC or the LSWDO may file a petition for the revocation of the Certificate of Live Birth before the Local Civil Registrar, if the parentage of the foundling has

been established or if there is a fraud to conceal the material facts of birth or parentage of the person that would otherwise not render the person as a foundling.

"The biological parent/s or legal guardian of a foundling may petition the NACC to recover the legal custody and restore parental authority over the child," the law read.

The law also contains a provision for a "Safe Haven" provider that is tasked to take care of the infant.

To develop and implement more responsive policies, plans and programs for foundlings, regular and synchronized data collection shall be conducted by local government units in coordination with the Philippine Statistics Authority, NACC, and other relevant stakeholders.

All benefits provided under RA 11767 shall also apply to foundlings duly registered during their childhood but have reached the age of majority without benefitting from the adoption process.

Duterte OKs bill protecting financial consumers Financial consumers will now have more protection against cybercrime under a new law signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte. Republic Act (RA) No. 11765 or the “Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act”, signed by Duterte on May 6, recognizes that the state must implement measures to protect consumers rights’ such as right to equitable and fair treatment; right to disclosure and transparency of financial products and services; right to protection of consumer assets against fraud and misuse; right to data privacy and protection; and right to timely handling and redress of complaints.

"It is the policy of the state to ensure that appropriate mechanisms are in place to protect the interest of consumers of financial products and services under the conditions of transparency, fair, and sound market conduct, and fair, reasonable, and effective handling of financial consumer disputes, which are aligned with global best practices," the law read.

These mechanisms reinforce their confidence in the financial market and foster the stability of the Philippine financial system.

RA 11765 gives financial regulators authority to formulate their own standards and rules of business conduct for financial entities.

"Financial regulators may also determine reasonableness of interest, charges or fees which a financial service provider may demand, collect, or receive for any service or product offered to a financial consumer. Likewise, they may issue their respective rules of procedure concerning administrative actions arising from the implementation of this act," the new law read.

The law also gives financial regulators authority to impose enforcement actions on their respective supervised financial service providers for noncompliance with this act and other existing laws pertinent to the jurisdiction and authority of the respective financial regulators. They will also have the authority to adjudicate reimbursement of lost funds within a certain threshold.

RA 11765 states that financial regulators must prepare the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this act within one year from its effectivity. It was passed by the Senate as Senate Bill No. 2488 on Feb. 2,

2022 and adopted by the House of Representatives as an amendment to House Bill No. 6768 on Feb. 2, 2022.

Financial consumers refer to persons or entities, or their duly appointed representatives, who are purchasers, lessees, recipients, or prospective purchasers, lessees or recipients of financial products or services.

Financial regulators refer to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Insurance Commission (IC), and the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA). (MNS)

Duterte inks law extending validity of firearms licenses

President Rodrigo R. Duterte has signed a law extending the validity of the license to possess firearms and ammunition.

Republic Act (RA) No. 11766, signed by Duterte on May 6, extends the validity of the license to possess firearms and ammunition from two years to five or 10 years, amending RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

"All licenses to possess a firearm, regardless of type or classification, shall be renewed every five years or ten years, at the option of the licensee, which shall be reckoned from the birthdate of the said licensee, unless sooner revoked or suspended," RA 11766 read.

It added, “failure to renew the license on or before the date of its expiration shall cause the revocation of the license and of the registration of the firearm or firearms under said licensee.”

Similarly, the registration of the firearm must be renewed every five or 10 years, at the option of the licensee, which must be reckoned from the birthdate of the said licensee unless sooner revoked or suspended.

Failure to renew the registration of the firearm on or before the date of expiration will cause the revocation of the license of the firearm. The said firearm will be confiscated or forfeited in favor of the government after due process.

"The failure to renew a license or registration within the periods stated above on two occasions shall cause the perpetual disqualification of the holder of the firearms from applying for any firearm license," the law read.

The application for the renewal of the license or registration may be submitted to the Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) of the Philippine National Police within six months before the date of the expiration of such license or registration.

RA 11766 likewise states that the permit to carry firearms outside of residence will be valid for two years from the date of approval of the application, unless sooner revoked or suspended.

The new measure now includes elected incumbent and former officials and active and retired military and law enforcement personnel to be exempted from the requirement of a threat assessment certificate.

Also exempted are members of the Philippine Bar; certified public accountants; accredited media practitioners; cashiers, bank tellers' priests, ministers, rabbi, imams; physicians and nurses; engineers; businessmen who, by the nature of their business or undertaking, are exposed to high risk of being targets of criminal elements.

See PRRD on 9

May 2022 polls 'most successful' -- DILG spox

MANILA -- The spokesperson of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday said the recent national and local elections was one of the most successful, as he dismissed claims of electoral fraud and other forms of cheating.

DILG spokesperson and Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said the allegations are not supported with data and facts on the ground.

“Essentially napakaganda po ng nakaraang eleksyon (the recent election was commendable). I think this is one of the most successful conduct of elections in recent memory,’’ Malaya said during the National Task Force to End Local Communists Armed Conflict (NTFELCAC) press briefing.

He attributed the "peaceful" elections to the reforms set in place, including the automation of the elections and focused deployment of police officers.

Malaya said the success of the May polls is measured not on the actual election day only but even months leading to it.

“Kasi bago ako napunta sa (Before I was appointed to) DILG, I was with the Department of Education (DepEd) and (during) elections we were the ones deploying teachers for the elections and I think the reforms that we did since the beginning up to now, including the automation of the elections, the focused deployment of police in all areas, the use of PNP officers as BEIs (Board of Elections Inspectors) in areas where there is harassment and intimidation of regular teachers,” he said.

Citing Comelec, Malaya said less than 1,000 vote counting machines malfunctioned or less than one percent of the entire inventory of the VCMs.

“Yung walang problema (Those with no problem [VCM]) is 99.2 percent. So there is really no debate [election results] anymore," Malaya said. Malaya also cited that there were only 20 validated election-related incidents in the last elections, much lower compared to previous national and local polls. He said on the part of politicians,

no permit-to-campaign fees or any form of support were given to the rebel groups who use these schemes to extort money.

“I hope walang nangyari na hindi natin na-monitor (that there is no instance where we failed to monitor (politicians providing support to the NPA) but in so far as our intelligence (report) is concerned, this has been been a very successful elections because as mentioned kanina (earlier) it is a combination of factors. The support of the local government units (LGUs), our focused military and police operations, the retooled communist support program, this support to the barangay development program, all of these have contributed to the severely diminished capacity of the CTGs (communist terrorists groups) to collect and harass our politicians," Malaya said.

“But this is not just the DILG, but the entire NTF-ELCAC that vigorously reminded local officials that the goal of the task force in eradicating CTGs depends on them," he added. (MNS)

Senior citizens spend hours playing chess under the shade of a tree at the Quezon Memorial Circle on Tuesday (May 17, 2022). Most of the players are members of the Quezon Memorial Circle Chess Club. (MNS photo)

FIELD OF SUNFLOWERS. Michael Caballes, Bukid Amara owner and farmer, inspects the sunflower plantation at his farm located in Lucban, Quezon. The farm promotes science-based farming and helps lure tourists to the province. (MNS photo)

their respective localities.

Under the law, the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) must formulate the rules and regulations for the effective implementation of the law. The non-issuance of the implementing rules and regulations must not prevent the implementation of this act upon its effectivity.

RA 11766 is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 1155 and House Bill No. 10610, which was passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on Feb. 2, 2022.

Duterte inks Timbangan ng

Bayan law

President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law establishing Timbangan ng Bayan centers in public and private markets to protect consumers from deceptive and unfair sales acts and practices.

RA 11706, signed by Duterte on April 13, amends Chapter II, Title III of RA 7394 otherwise known as the Consumer Act of the Philippines.

Under the new law, Article 62-A directs all provincial, city, and municipal governments to establish accessible Timbangan ng Bayan Centers in all public and private markets, including supermarkets, and when practicable, in flea markets or tiangges and grocery stores, within

PARADISE VALLEY

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Timbangan ng Bayan Centers will provide consumers with an effective means of checking the accuracy of the weight and the quantity of the goods that they are buying.

"These centers must have the necessary instruments for determining weights and measures, which shall be available, free of charge, to all persons who need to confirm the accuracy of the quantity or measurements of products purchased or about to be purchased," the law read.

The law states that the market supervisor will be in charge of the safekeeping and routine maintenance of the Timbangan ng Bayan instruments and shall be responsible for maintaining a record of every product found to be deficient in quantity or is substandard in dimension, as well as the establishment where the same was bought including the name/s of the proprietor/s or manager/s.

A certificate duly issued by the market supervisor or his/her authorized representative reflecting the contents of such record will be prima facie evidence of a violation of Article 64 of this act.

RA 11706 includes among the prohibited acts fraudulently altering, tampering, vandalizing or destroying any scale, balance, Timbangan ng Bayan instrument, weight or measure after it is officially sealed. As for penalties, anyone who is

guilty of prohibited acts may be fined not less than PHP50,000 but not more than PHP300,000 or by imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than five years or both upon the discretion of the court.

The owner, possessor, or user of instruments of weights and measures, upon conviction, will be subject to a fine of not less than PHP50,000 but not more than PHP300,000 or by imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than five years or both, upon the discretion of the court.

Two successive violations will automatically result in the cancellation of the business permit of the erring individual or business establishment.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Trade and Industry, must, in coordination with the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, the League of Provinces of the Philippines, the League of Cities of the Philippines, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, and other relevant government agencies and stakeholders, promulgate the rules and regulations to effectively implement the provision of this act.

The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of the new Article

national nonprofit organization driving a movement

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Spiritual Life

The Power of Hope

I have been sharing my personal experiences and insights through this column for almost twenty five years. The enthusiasm I first felt when I started writing this column, upon the encouragement of the late Ernie Flores, original publisher and founder of The Filipino Press has never wavered. In fact, it has come to a point where I consider writing “My Personal Testimony” as a social responsibility towards the many readers of this newspaper.

A reader asked me, how do you decide on the topics you write about? I found some difficulty in answering her question because most often I do not decide on what to write. It is what I feel at the moment that inspires me to write.

I remember the time when I asked Ernie,” what should I write about? His answer was, “write anything about life and living.” Then he became more specific, write about spiritual matters. Hence, my very first article was about the beginning of my spiritual journey and my personal testimony on how my life was transformed by God through my faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Soon I started writing articles about my activities and experiences. Apparently, my readers appreciated my candor in sharing about myself. My life became an open book. I met so many readers of The Filipino Press who inspired me with their comments. One said, “thank you for changing my life”, then tells me about the article I’ve written. I did not know her, but she embraced me and said, “I am glad I met you in person.”

Cudal-Rivera

While attending an event at the Tooma Park, an elderly person approached me and said, “Mrs. Cudal, I have all the copies of your articles. I cut them out and saved them.” It was a great compliment which served as one of my motivations for writing this column.

One of the theme that hovered in my mind the past week was about “the power of hope”. The pandemic has kept us anxious and fearful of an unseen enemy in our environment. COVID-19 is so deadly that it has caused the death of millions around the world. The United States, supposedly, a country with the most advanced medical facilities leads the whole world in the number of people infected by COVID-19. But we now have hope, a vaccine has been discovered and will soon be available to protect us from this dreaded disease.

What is hope? This question led me to read more about this attitude common to all of us. One author said, “To have hope is to want an outcome that makes your life better in some way. It not only can help make a tough present

situation more bearable but also can eventually improve our lives because envisioning a better future motivates you to take the steps to make it happen.

Hope may mean different things to different people. Those who speak of hope in a spiritual context would consider it as a firm belief that good things will happen with faith on a higher power. Hence, they will direct their hope outward in prayer. In the Bible, hope is the confident expectation of what God has promised and its strength is in His faithfulness. For others, it might mean always looking on the bright side and seeing challenges as opportunities. In other words, always “hoping for the best”.

Whatever the details, hope in general means a desire for things to change for the better and to want that change to come as soon as possible.

Definitely, we are in a situation where we hope that things will change for the better. We are hoping that with the coming of the Covid19 vaccine, we will all be immunized and live a normal life once again. We hope.

You don't have to fix anybody

We live in a world that encourages us to pretend. We don't want people to think we're a mess so we keep things hidden. We fear what our friends and family might think if they knew what's really going on so we keep up the smiles. "I'm fine...OK... great.... How are you?"

But Jesus frees us to be ourselves. He accepts us warts and all. He doesn't keep His distance as we struggle along helplessly. He's got His loving arms wrapped around us tightly each step, or misstep, along the way. That's incredibly freeing, especially since we all have issues. Probably a handful.

When we've walked with Jesus for a while we have a story to tell. Even if we don't feel 100% better, our weakness has continued to drive us into the arms of Christ where we're forgiven, have our wounds dressed and our hope renewed. We've learned how weak we are without Him. He's become our refuge and that's made all the difference in our lives.

Danny Hernaez From Whom All Blessings Flow

On this Sixth Sunday of Easter, I wish to continue to speak about the new commandment of love that Jesus mentioned during his last days with his disciples and which was the focus of the gospel message last Sunday. The novelty of this commandment is the fact that “loving each other should be patterned after the love of Jesus himself” that is universal, selfless and limitlessly infinite. In this gospel Jesus directs our attention from the pattern of loving that he has set forth for us to follow to our actively loving Him who is the source of real love. Just as we should love one another as Jesus loved his disciples by giving his life in total obedience to the Father on the Cross, we are being told in this Gospel today that we should remain in his love.

This is how he mentions it in the gospel today: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and the Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words…” The act of keeping the words of Jesus enables us to receive the indwelling of the Blessed Trinity. The active presence of the God in our lives is the very souce of peace that each and every one of us desires to attain. He states clearly and directly that “Not as the world gives do I give it

(peace) to you.” The world defines peace in a negative way, as the absence of conflict. Jesus offers something positive, that happens in one who keeps his word. This is how the indwelling of God happens: “My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.” True peace happens when one encounters God and allows him to dwell in him.

How do we allow God to dwell in us? In the gospel reading today

Jesus said that “whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. The first step in this process of indwelling is loving Jesus Himself. How can we love Jesus? This begins with knowing him. The process would definitely require one to know Jesus as he revealed himself in Scriptures, as taught by the Catechism and the official magisterium of the Church as I mentioned in one of my homilies several Sundays ago. Furthermore, loving Jesus would truly entail that we keep his word. I believe that this word that he mentions is the new commandment that he left his disciples: “A new commandment I give you. Love one another as I love you.” This gospel message this Sunday summarizes not only the demands that Jesus has on those who want to be disciples but also tells us how we can be open to the indwelling of God himself in our lives.

With the indwelling of the Triune God himself, we can receive the peace that Jesus promises. “”Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you.” Indeed the peace that comes from Jesus is a peace that is true and lasting. The world has a negative definition of peace, as the absence of conflict. The peace that Jesus promises his disciples is the presence of God himself in our lives. What else would be ask for when God is present in our own lives, in our own families, in our communities, in our nations and in the world itself. This peace is characterized by the presence of God who reconciles us to ourselves, who forgives us and enables us to be reconciled with others and be at peace with others and the world.

When you open up your heart to hurting people and share how God has been helping you face your own issues, something beautiful happens. You become the arms of Christ. Your words become His. Your compassion becomes the fragrance of Jesus that draws people into His arms. You don't have to fix anybody. That's God's job. And you don't have to minister to everyonejust the people God puts in your life. But the important thing is that we're making ourselves available.

Jesus didn't come as a king, but as a helpless infant (Luke 2). Although he was perfectly God

The God who comes alongside us asks us to come alongside others.

and perfectly human at the same time (John 1:14), he lived his life as a humble laborer. After he began his ministry, he demonstrated humble service to others in the miracles he performed, as well as in his instruction to his disciples. When the time came for him to die, he submitted to his Father's divine will (Mark 14:36). And now, seated in power at the right hand of God, he intercedes on our behalf (Acts 5:29-32). As the perfect model for godly leadership, Jesus set the perfect example of humility. Ask God to help you follow Jesus' example as you seek to demonstrate the kind of humility that will cause others to see Jesus in you. <(((><

SAN DIEGO, CA -- Habang

nagsisimulang lumabas ang mga balota sa mga mailbox sa kabuuan ng County ng San Diego, ang opisina ng Tagapagrehistro ng mga Botante ay hinihikayat ang mga botante na bumoto nang maaga. Mahigit sa 1.9 na milyon na balota para sa Ika-7 ng Hunyo na Gubernatoryal na Primaryang Eleksyon ay naipadala na sa mga rehistradong mga botante noong nakaraang linggo. Kung hindi pa ninyo natatanggap ang sa inyo hanggang Martes, Ika-17 ng Mayo, kontakin ang opisina ng Tagapagrehistro.

• SIMPLE: Isang balota, mga instruksyon at isang “Bumoto Ako” sticker ay nakalakip sa inyong opisyal na pakete ng balota.

• MAGINHAWA: Gumawa ng mga desisyon sa pagboto at markahan ang inyong balota nang kumportable sa inyong tahanan.

• SECURE: Pirmahan at petsahan ang inyong sobre, i-seal ang inyong nakumpletong balota sa loob at ibalik ito postage free sa isang pinagkakatiwalaan na source:

• Ibalik ang inyong balota sa pamamagitan ng koreo. Para sa lokasyong malapit sa inyo, bisitahin

ang U.S. Postal Service office o collection box website.

“Hindi na ninyo kailangan maghintay pa hanggang sa araw ng Eleksyon para bumoto,” sabi ni Cynthia Paes ang Tagapagrehistro ng mga Botante. “At kung mas maaga naming matanggap ang inyong balota, mas masisimulan ang pagproseso nito sa lalong madaling panahon. Ang inyong balota ay maaaring nasa unang paglabas ng mga resulta sa gabi ng eleksyon.” Pagboto sa pamamagitan ng koreo:

• Ibalik ito sa isa sa mga 132 na opisyal na mga lokasyon ng mail ballot drop-off sa kabuuan ng county. Hanapin ang isa sa pinakamalapit sa inyo sa pamamagitan ng pagbisita sa online locator tool ng Tagapagrehistro. I-check ang bawat oras ng operasyon ng lokasyon bago pumunta. • Ibalik ito sa opisina ng Tagapagrehistro kung saan ang maagang pagboto ay kasalukuyang idinaraos na. Ang mga oras ng operasyon ay mula ika-8 ng umaga hanggang ika-5 ng hapon Lunes hanggang Biyernes.

Ang mga botante na nagbalik ng kanilang balota sa pamamagitan ng U.S. Postal Service ay maaaring i-track ito sa pamamagitan ng pagsign up sa “Nasaan Aking Balota?”. Maaari mo ring piliing bumoto nang personal sa alinmang vote center.

• Simula Sabado, Ika-28 ng

Mayo, mga piling vote center ay magbubukas araw-araw mula ika8 ng umaga hanggang ika-5 ng gabi kabilang ang Memorial Day sa Lunes, Ika-30 ng Mayo. Pagkatapos simula sa Sabado, Ika-4 ng Hunyo, mahigit 200 na mga vote center ay magbubukas araw-araw mula ika-8 ng umaga hanggang ika-5 ng hapon.

• Ang lahat ng mga lokasyon ng mga vote center ay magbubukas sa Araw ng Eleksyon, Ika-7 ng Hunyo, kung kailan ang oras ng pagboto ay magiging ika-7 ng umaga hanggang ika-8 ng hapon. Matuto nang higit pa tungkol sa inyong pagboto sa Primaryang Eleksyon sa Hunyo sa sdvote.com, tumawag sa (858) 565-5800 o toll free sa (800) 696-0136

Beat The Summer Heat With Salty And Sweet: McDonald's USA® Debuts the Chocolatey Pretzel McFlurry®

The first new McFlurry of 2022 arrives to restaurants nationwide for a limited time starting May 25

CHICAGO, ILL -- Just in time for the start of summer, McDonald’s USA is releasing its first new McFlurry flavor of the year – the Chocolatey Pretzel McFlurry®. The frozen treat will be available starting May 25 for a limited time at participating restaurants nationwide.

SAN DIEGO

Continued from page 6

lot behind the site of the former historic North Park Theatre.

The Villa Monserate Neighborhood Park Project received the APWA Project of the Year - Parks Award. Numerous improvements were made to the existing neighborhood park built in 1975, including the installation of two new playground structures, new picnic tables and seating areas, a picnic shelter and landscaping and irrigation improvements.

“The award-winning work of our dedicated professionals is undoubtedly inspiring,” said Strategic Capital Projects Department Director James Nagelvoort. “Delivering these complex and essential projects in the nation’s eighth largest city is only possible by working hand in hand with all of the other City departments and programs.”

As one of the largest employers in the region, the City of San Diego employs hundreds of engineers and thousands of public works professionals. The City is currently recruiting for engineering positions.

For more information on CIP projects visit the CIP website or search for projects throughout the City using the CIP Project Map Viewer.

Each McFlurry is made with McDonald’s creamy vanilla soft serve, blended with chocolate-covered pretzel bits and topped with a rich caramel swirl – making it the perfect combination of salty and sweet.

Is your mouth watering yet?

Our fans know the Golden Arches is the place to be when a sweet and salty craving strikes - and we have just the perfect menu items to pair with the Chocolatey Pretzel McFlurry to hit the spot.

• If you have a sweet tooth… you’ll be SO excited to get a first taste of the rich chocolatey goodness and tasty caramel together. Even better, you’ll be first in line to compliment it with a scrumptious Apple Pie or a Chocolate Chip Cookie to satisfy your sweet craving.

If you crave salty… you can’t wait to get a taste of the crunchy pretzel pieces. You’re def going to want to order a large World Famous Fry, or a mouthwatering Big Mac® to pair with the dessert. Is there even such a thing as too much salt? As if.

You can get your hands on the new Chocolatey Pretzel McFlurry, along

with the classic OREO® or M&M’s® McFlurry however you order your McDonald’s – in the restaurant, drivethru or on the McDonald’s App for McDelivery.

About McDonald’s USA McDonald’s USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to millions of customers every day. Ninety-five percent of McDonald’s approximately 13,500 U.S. restaurants are owned and operated by independent business owners. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonalds and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ mcdonalds.

MARCOS

Continued from page 1

Marcos Jr., Xi discuss bilateral ties, regional development

Presumptive president Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. had a discussion with Chinese president Xi Jinping about bilateral ties and regional development, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said Wednesday.

According to the Embassy, Marcos and Xi talked over the phone this morning.

Xi was quoted as saying that Marcos has participated in and witnessed the development of relations between China and the Philippines as he also branded the former senator as "a builder, supporter and promoter of the China-Philippines friendship."

Xi further called on both countries to carry forward the friendship of the two sides and stay true to their original

aspiration.

According to the Embassy, Xi said the Philippines and China should "grasp the general trend, write a grand story on the China-Philippines friendship in the new era, and follow through the blueprint for bilateral friendly cooperation, so as to usher in an even brighter future for the bilateral ties."

Moreover, Xi congratulated Marcos anew on his insurmountable lead in Eleksyon 2022.

Xi earlier recognized the Philippines and China as “partners through thick and thin” as “neighbors facing each other across the sea.”

“In recent years, with the joint efforts of both sides, the bilateral relations have been consolidated and enhanced, bringing benefits to the people of both countries and contributing to regional peace and stability,” Xi said. (MNS)

Chocolatey Pretzel McFlurry