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Gobble Gobble; Take the Annual Thanksgiving Safe-Cooking Quiz!
By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office
SAN DIEGO, CA -- The Thanksgiving Day -- it’s the biggest day of the year for home cooking. And you don’t want to ruin it. Which can happen if you serve your friends and family heaping helpings of salmonella, listeria or other dangerous bacteria in your turkey, stuffing, vegetables, salads and desserts by not prepping, cleaning and cooking right. Fortunately, there are some very simple rules to keep you, your family and friends safe. Bone―(appétit)―up by taking our annual Thanksgiving safecooking quiz! Thanksgiving feasts start with the thaw! Do you know the best way to thaw frozen meat? A. OK. So, when you buy your frozen turkey and bring it home, just set it out on the counter. Yes, you’ll have less counter space. But after a couple days, when the outside is soft, it should be all thawed and ready to cook. B. Woa—days?! Just run it under hot water! Until the outside is soft. C. Why thaw? Have a turkcicle… Just think of the Tik-tok challenges! D. Please, plan ahead and let meat defrost in the fridge. Meats, poultry and fish should be defrosted
HOME COOKING ANYONE? Thanksgiving-it's the biggest day of the year for home cooking and this article provides valuable tips and rules to make your family and friends are safely served . Take the quiz and learn how much you know about preparing, cooking food as safe as possible (Courtesy photo) in the refrigerator. If you’re cooking a big turkey, you should allow at least 24 hours for every five pounds in weight. Answer: D. Thawing meat in the
refrigerator is absolutely the best and safest method. That’s because a refrigerator allows meat to thaw slowly and evenly, rather than leaving parts of defrosted meat to
Filipino Community Leaders paid tribute in honor and celebration of life of late GREG MACABENTA Who is Greg Macabenta? NATIONAL CITY, CA -- Greg B. Macabenta, has experienced and accomplished more in his multiple careers in Communications than most individuals with Masters or Doctorate degrees. Yet he never finished college. He was born in Tacloban City, Greg began his “communications career” at age 8 by ghost-writing puppy love letters for his classmates. Moving to Manila in his early teens, he became a radio talent before he could speak passable Tagalog, was an actor on Manila TV during the medium’s infancy, worked as a reporter and a magazine associate editor at 16, wrote his first story and screenplay at 17, and went on to write some of the biggest box office hits in Tagalog movies. He also produced a daily TV satire that helped elect a future dictator, wrote, directed and produced the first action serial on Philippine television, and produced and narrated special reports on Filipino roots in America for U.S. T.TV. In Advertising, he created campaigns that are considered marketing classics by his peers, some of them applying guerilla marketing tactics before the term was in vogue. He was president and CEO of one of the largest advertising agencies in the Philippines, before immigrating to the U.S. where he set up his own agency in California, literally starting from scratch. His creative works have won international awards including the Gold Effie for the most effective non-English campaign in the United
States. Greg co-founded and served as national chairman of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations )NAFFAA), the biggest Filipino community organization in the U.S. He is also a recipient of two presidential awards for outstanding overseas Filipinos. In view of his contributions to NAFFAA and the San Diego community and beyond, Ms. Nicanora Montenegro, Regional President of NAFFAA in the San Diego and Imperial Counties led a tribute event in honor and celebration of life of the late Greg Macabenta in
National City on October 31, 2023. Opening Prayer was led by PASTOR PHOEBE of Peoples Church as well as giving the spiritual tribute, San Diego, Welcome Remarks by Ms. Montenegro, Special Tribute in Honor of the Life of Greg Macabenta as well as the important contributions to the Filipino community of San Diego was highlighted by Susan delos Santos of the Filipino Press, who have worked closely with Greg with regards to Seafood City's the Fiesta Filipiniana Mexicana Karaoke Competition, See MACABENTA on 6
stand at room temperature where bacteria can multiply exponentially. Note: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) says that you can also thaw meats
in cold water. But—and this is important—the water must be cold, under 40 degrees, and should be changed every 30 minute to keep it cold. Thawing in the fridge is easier!
How often should you wash your hands and cutting boards when preparing food? A. Before you start cooking. B. After you pet the dog—or the cat. Or pick up the kids. C. After you sneeze, blow your nose or have to run to the bathroom. D. You don’t have to wash your cutting boards. And if you’re wearing clean clothes, just wipe your hands on your shirt or pants. All good! E. The answer is A, B and C; but mainly, “OFTEN!” Answer: Definitely E. You should wash your hands and cutting boards before and after everything in A, B and C, and pretty much as often as you can in the kitchen. Handwashing is always a key part of safe cooking. So break out that soap and do it. Harmful bacteria, from E. coli to salmonella and staphylococcus aureus, as well as viruses, can be removed from people’s hands through proper handwashing. Here are just a few other things you should wash your hands after doing: coughing, handling money, eating, drinking, playing video games and handling or preparing raw food. Should you rinse off fruits and vegetables? See THANKSGIVING on 4
Titus Takes on World’s Best Junior Surfers By Adam Behar SAN DIEGO, CA -- What are you doing at 5 a.m.? Sleeping soundly, I hope. Titus Santucci, a proud member of San Diego’s Fil-Am community, has a very different routine. While it's still dark, Titus gathers his wetsuit, a bar of wax, maybe a banana, and one of his several surfboards, and heads to the beach – usually to Seaside Reef, his home break in Encinitas – for a surf session. While the rest of us are warming up with our morning coffee, Titus is dancing up and down the smooth, glassy waves, generating the kind of power and speed that most surfers only dream about. He’s that good. After getting his share of waves, he heads home for…a nap? No, not even close. He hits the books. You see, Titus is a different kind of surfer. Let’s just say, he’s no Jeff Spicoli, Hollywood’s version of the quintessential high school surfer, memorialized in the movie, Fast Times at Ridgemont High. The San Dieguito Academy senior, who attends online classes, has maintained a 4.3 grade-pointaverage while establishing himself as one of San Diego County's most talented and impressive new surfers to come out of the ranks. How impressive is Titus Santucci? The 18-year-old was recently selected as a member of the USA Surfing Junior National Team. This means Titus, along with 11 other surfers from around the country, will represent America in the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Junior Surfing Championship. The contest, which features the best junior surfers, from more than 40 countries competing for medals, will be held between Nov. 24th and Dec. 3rd in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Titus Santucci Also consider this: although this is the 19th year that this contest has been held, Titus is making history by being the first Filipino American surfer to participate in this prestigious championship contest and possibly bring home a medal. So, it’s a big deal for San Diego County, for Encinitas, and especially for the Filipino-American community. Historically, many of the surfers who have competed under the World Junior Surfing Championship umbrella have gone on to compete in the Olympics. “It’s essentially the
Junior Olympics,” Titus tells me in a Zoom call. His mother Irene Navarro joins us. To earn a spot on the USA Surfing Junior National Team was an extraordinary feat in itself, requiring Titus to maintain a level of performance and consistency in his surfing throughout the year, from one contest to the next. Earning a spot on the 12-member National Team is an arduous journey, especially for surfers from America and Australia, where surfing is more popular. Unlike Finland, for example, where there are fewer surfers, Titus had to perform in a challenging, hyper-competitive environment. He had to compete in multiple contests against talented young surfers from all over the country, particularly California and Florida. As Titus’ mother, a surfer in her own right who’s worked in the action sports industry, points out: “It's hundreds and hundreds of kids all vying to get the three or so spots in their age category.’ How did he get to this point? By age nine, Titus had advanced from boogie boarding to surfing. By age 12, he was already competing in and winning competitions. “That’s when I was starting to really see what surfing had to offer,” he says. In our Zoom call, I notice in the background a row of surfing trophies on top of a cabinet. But none comes close to earning a spot on the 2023 USA Junior National Surf Team. “When we got the call, I was tripping out. I was super surprised. I was just blown away,” he says. Why so surprised? It wasn’t that he ever doubted his ability, but being a Filipino American, he worried, might work against him. “In all these See TITUS on
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2 • November 17, 2023 - November 23, 2023
Filipino Press
THE PAMPERED PINAY:
Let The Festivities Begin! By FRANCINE maigue
I hope you and your loved ones had the most wonderful Thanksgiving, my pampered friends! I am so thankful for all of you. Your loyal readership and incredible support throughout the years mean so much to me. You are all blessings I treasure. Thanksgiving marks the official start of the holiday party season. Some of you may feel overwhelmed just thinking about the back-to-back events filling our calendars for the rest of the year. I say, "Let the festivities begin!" Inundated daily with stress and chaos, we must take the time to celebrate successes, show our appreciation for one another, and give thanks to a year's worth of blessings. For the coming weeks, I'll share DIY projects to help maximize your efforts to bring holiday cheer to those around you. Whether you're spearheading a benefit dinner for our kababayan impacted by Typhoon Yolanda, hosting a company holiday party, or celebrating in your family's home this Christmas, get ready to pamper those you care about with holiday projects that are lovely, tasty, and fun! FOR YOUR HOLDAY TABLE... Stumped for fresh holiday decorating ideas? Decorate the way you dress! Just as a timeless black and white striped blouse can be paired with everything from gold statement
necklaces and jewel earrings to floralpatterned leggings, go black, white, and festive with a holiday table that is both chic and whimsical! Channel your inner Dorothy Draper and have some fun thinking outside the traditional, red and green holiday decor box. Simply start with a black and white striped table cloth or runner, then build your color palette by accessorizing with gold charger plates, vibrant floral centerpieces, and jewel-toned goblets. FOR YOUR HOLIDAY MENU... Want to wow your guests with your culinary skills? Here's my signature ham recipe that is as easy as 1, 2, 3! Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, then proceed to prepare your ham in 3 simple steps. Step #1: Stick whole cloves into your ham. Place a clove every 1 inch, until you've decorated your whole ham with rows of cloves. You may choose to score your ham with shallow cuts running both horizontally and vertically, spaced 1 inch from each other. Place your cloves where your cut lines intersect. These aromatic cloves with infuse your ham with flavor and infuse your home with the most intoxicating scent. Step #2: Spoon marmalade (I recommend apricot or orange-flavored marmalade) all over your cloved ham. The cloves and cuts help hold onto the marmalade. The marmalade helps
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keep your ham moist and flavorful as an instant glaze--complimenting the natural saltiness of the ham with a bit of sweetness. Step #3: Pat brown sugar onto your entire glazed ham. As your ham bakes, the brown sugar will caramelize to form a decadent crust seaIing in the juices of your ham and framing each slice with flavor. That's it! All that's left is to bake your ham at 350 degrees. Averagesized hams usually only take an hour to bake. Yup, it's that quick and easy! You're sure to get applause from your guests when you bring your holiday ham to your beautiful holiday table! Don't forget to pick up some pan de sal to send your guests home with ham and rolls perfect for breakfast the next day! Check back every week for ways to pamper yourself and those you love. Why? The answer is simple: YOU DESERVE IT!
Hello Dear Readers, Do you have stories, pictures, achievements, events or business leads to share? Feel free to email us at filpressads@aol.com We love to hear from you! Let our Fil-Am voices be heard, our achievements inspire our community, our pride & joy spread everywhere. Visit us at www.thefilipinopress.com
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4 • November 17, 2023 - November 23, 2023
THANKSGIVING
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A. Nah., They wash them at the supermarket. Don’t they? B. Again, if you’re wearing clean clothes, wiping them off on your shirts or pants will do. C. You should definitely rinse fruits and vegetables with cold water. It will remove lingering dirt that can carry bacteria. D. It’s better if you don’t wash them. Dirt is chock-full of vitamins and minerals. Answer: Sí. I mean C, of course! Rinsing with cold water cleans off dirt and other contaminants (more germs than minerals…). But don’t wash them with detergents or soap, even dishwashing soap. You could end up eating residues from those cleaners if they’re absorbed by fruits and vegetables. Why should you keep raw meats and meat products separated from fruits and vegetables when cutting them up or preparing them? A. I heard this story once. Guy left his vegetables and meat together on his cutting board. Kitchen was hit by lightning. It turned into a Veggie-saurus. And it destroyed the whole house. So, there’s that… B. Not only should you keep them together, you should also let them soak for a while. Juice from meats is called “marinade.” C. Because raw meats, meat products and blood can carry bacteria like E. coli and salmonella that can contaminate fruits and vegetables—and make people sick. D. Vegetables? Who eats vegetables? Answer: The correct answer is C. Cross-contamination is one of the most common causes of food-borne
illness according to the USDA. That is, the transfer of harmful bacteria from one food, particularly raw meats, poultry and shellfish, to other foods. When preparing food, you need to keep raw meats and their juices away from fruits and vegetables and all ready-to-eat foods. Note: If you can, use separate cutting boards for meats and produce. If you can’t use separate cutting boards, wash yours with hot, soapy water after using them on raw meats and before using them to cut fruits and vegetables. Or use your cutting board to chop vegetables first, then use it to prepare your uncooked meat, then wash it with hot, soapy water.) Is the “five-second rule” real? Can you eat something you’ve dropped on the floor if you pick it up in less than five seconds? A. Depends. What part of the floor did you drop it on?? B. Man. My dogs eat stuff off the floor all the time and they never get sick. Nothing can contaminate your food in less than five seconds. Pick it up quick and blow on it. C. No. It is NOT real. You really shouldn’t eat anything you’ve dropped on floor. Answer: C. Eating food off the floor is OK for the dogs, but NOT people. Truth is, almost any contact is long enough for food to be contaminated by bacteria that can be found on the ground or in your house. According to Rutgers University, bacteria can transfer from a surface to food in less than one second! And finally (drum roll please), for the umpteenth year in a row, our favorite cook-safely quiz question… What is the Danger Zone? And what does it have to do with Thanksgiving dinner? A. Hey man, there’s only ONE “Danger Zone.” I mean, just Google it. It’s that great song from “Top Gun.”
Filipino Press Tom Cruise, Giorgio Moroder and Kenny Loggins! “Highway to the DANGER ZONE! Riiiide in—to the DANGER ZONE!” B. Easy. The Danger Zone is anywhere in Ken’s Mojo Dojo Casa House… C. It’s that distance you have to walk—through kids, over toys, past the pets and without tripping on the bunched carpet—to get your Thanksgiving feast from the kitchen to the table. Without. Dropping. A thing. D. It’s the range of temperatures between 41 degrees Fahrenheit and 135 degrees Fahrenheit the temperatures where bacteria can grow like crazy in foods, doubling in number in as little as 20 minutes. Answer: D; it’s definitely D. With all due respect to Top Gun, the real “Danger Zone” is the range of temperature between 41 degrees and 135 degrees Fahrenheit that allows bacteria to breed exponentially— not a good thing. If hot foods cool or cold foods heat up enough to enter that zone, your food can become a bacteria-fest. And you, your family and friends can end up getting sick. So keep hot foods safely heated with chafing dishes, preheated steam tables, warming trays, slow cookers and ovens. Place cold foods in containers on ice, or in the fridge. And refrigerate leftovers as soon as you can, but definitely within two hours. There you have it. Now you’re an expert. But if you’re still interested, you can get more information about food safety tips at FoodSafety.gov’s “Food Safety by Types of Food” webpage, or by calling the USDA’s Meat and Poultry hotline at 1-888674-6854. So, be safe. Cook safe. And keep the safe-giving in your Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving To Everyone !!! From The Filipino Press Staff
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HEALTHY LIVING. This health-conscious group goes through their aerobics and zumba routines at the Quezon Memorial Circle grounds in Quezon City on Monday (Nov. 13, 2023). The place is buzzing with various physical fitness activities and family-friendly attractions. (MNS photo)
9-month remittances grow 2.8% to $27.74-B MANILA -- Personal remittances from Filipinos abroad have remained among the top dollar earners for the country as they brought home USD27.74 billion in remittances for the first nine months of the year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported Wednesday. Overseas Filipinos’ remittances from January to September 2023 rose by 2.8 percent from the USD26.49 billion in the same period in 2022. These grew by 2.6 percent to USD3.23 billion last September from USD3.15 billion a year ago. “The growth in personal remittances in September 2023 was driven by increased remittances from land-based workers with work contracts of one year or more and seaand land-based workers with work contracts of less than one year,” the BSP statement said. Top sources of personal remittances in January to September period are the United States, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Japan and United Kingdom. Cash remittances through banks both increased year-on-year and yearto-date by 2.6 percent and 2.8 percent to reach to USD2.91 billion and USD24.49 billion, respectively.
“OFW (overseas Filipino worker) cash remittances for the month of September 2023: +2.6 percent yearon-year (slower versus +3.8 percent a year ago or in September 2022--but the continued growth nevertheless is still a good signal/bright spot for the overall economy as an important growth driver) to USD2.913 billion, the highest in two months or since July 2023 and the second highest so far this year and also still among record highs on a monthly basis” Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said. On the effect of the Israel-Hamas conflict to remittances, Ricafort said it remains manageable for as long as it does not escalate and spread in other areas in the Middle East, especially the oil producers that are also host countries for many OFWs. National government debt payments up in September The national government's (NG) debt payments went up by 15 percent in September this year, data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed. In a report, the BTr said the debt service bill during the month amounted to PHP238.9 billion, up from last year's PHP206.9 billion. More than half of the debt
payments during the month went to amortization. Data showed that principal payments amounted to PHP167.5 billion, higher by 13.9 percent than last year's PHP147 billion. Of the total, the BTr paid PHP148.8 billion to domestic lenders and PHP18.6 billion to foreign creditors. Interest payments, meanwhile, amounted to PHP71.4 billion, up by 19.3 percent from the PHP59.8 billion in the same month last year. Interest on local debt rose to PHP55.8 billion this year from PHP47.7 billion in 2022. Domestic interest payments during the month consisted of PHP28.6 billion in fixed-rate Treasury bonds, PHP25.6 billion in retail Treasury bonds and PHP1.6 billion in Treasury bills. Interest on foreign debt amounted to PHP15.5 billion, also higher from last year's PHP12.1 billion. For the first nine months of the year, BTr data showed debt payments reached PHP1.4 trillion. Principal payments amounted to PHP940 billion while interest payments reached PHP460.1 billion. (MNS)
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November 17, 2023 - November 23, 2023 • 5
GROWING STRONG IN AMERICAN FAMILY LIFE ON THANKSGIVING 2023 SAN DIEGO, CA -- I say nothing is as rewarding as events such as a naturalization ceremony for new United States citizens. For me, this is absolutely a ceremony of renewal. With its participants, the American Dream is reborn As she was saying the Pledge of Allegiance, it was clear to me that she wasn’t just reciting words that she’d memorized. She spoke with belief and it was very good to see, because the pledge not only contains the best definition of our country, it also embraces our greatest hope to always remain “One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Last Thursday, October 26th, my daughter-in-law Valerie associated a people who are among the freest on the face of the Earth. Yes, she joined a nation greatly blessed, founded by men and women who wanted it said of our country. Here the people rule. They created a philosophy of freedom that is expressed in the document by which our country was established and the preamble of which was read to all of us, the Constitution. Indeed, “Val” as we all fondly calls her within the family circle joined a country that has been called “The least exclusive club in the world – with the highest dues.” America was distinctly created by men and women who understood that freedom doesn’t come free. It has a cost. But I don’t suppose anyone would know the cost of liberty, the price of freedom better than my daughter-in-law Val who have just taken this oath last month. And so, just a month before Thanksgiving 2023 she joins a happy country that is happier for her presence. She’s adding her voice to the chorus, and in doing that she’d become part of a great unending song. I say, too that there have been times in recent history when some of our citizens have doubted if America is still all she was meant to be. They’ve wondered if our nation still has meaning. And then you see these naturalization ceremonies for new United States citizens all across America and it’s genuinely
an affirmation for me. My daughterin-law Valerie, standing there, reveals that we all must still stand for something. I thank her for the compliment of her new American citizenship. God bless you, Val! Moving on, my youngest son Randy and his wife Valerie’s (Zeny and I’s other daughter-in-law) oneand-only child – (Zeny’s and I’s other grandson) - Riker Aiden Reyes – will turn one year old next Saturday, November 25th – a couple days after Thanksgiving 2023. It is my hope that someday he will read this article about him and his mom, too and understand why he is so treasured by me and his Grandma Zeny and the value of the sage advice his wise (Ha-ha-ha-ha!), old Grandpa Jesse has offered him. It’s been a year since then and still had that extraordinary feeling that things would never be the same for our family ever again. It was the exact same emotion when they handed your father over to me in the delivery room of the Navy Hospital here in our beloved adopted hometown of San Diego – “America’s Finest City” – when he was born decades ago. I have to confess; your arrival took me completely by surprise and astonishment. I knew you would be cute, just like your cousin Jacob. I knew you would be very special, too. However, I never dreamed how quickly and overwhelmingly you would captivate my heart. And it didn’t end there. Every time I saw you, you were even more beautiful (or should I say handsome like Grandpa…Ha-ha-ha-ha!), even more precious and seemed even more cascading with joy. My heart abruptly halts when you looked at me and smile with that huge, unrestrained grin of recognition. It takes so little to please you and the reward of doing so is just so great, it makes being near you a sudden pleasure. You have such a wonderful curiosity, an interest in the world around you including the natural one. I love that you want to look at everything, touch everything and
grandfather Larry, whose last name you also bear, always used to say: “It’s the journey not the destination that truly matters.” He would add: “You don’t have to get to the top of
At baptism, Riker is with his Dad Randy and Mom Valerie
The author with grandson Riker
his
beloved
Baby Riker with his adoring Grandma Zeny and Grandma Dorie of course taste everything (Well, almost everything…Ha-ha-ha-ha!). I sincerely hope you never lose that sense of wonderment. It has been so amazing watching you experience new things, especially that outdoors. One of the best things about life is that you will be continually encountering new scenarios, having new sensations and learning from each of them. Your late-lamented great-
the mountain, it’s about what you experience along the way that is most important.” In my 76 years, I have had many different life experiences and lessons of which I believe you can benefit. In my view, you can live a happy, healthy and full life. You do have a rich heritage and an engrained Reyes family’s pioneer spirit. Know it, be proud of it and glean information from it. Perhaps, when you’re a little older – keep a journal or write short stories about yourself and your very own experiences. No one will know what family history and events were like unless someone took the time to document it, at least from their perspective! So, to our dearest Riker, H-A-P-P-Y First Birthday!! With eternal affection - Never forget that no matter what you do in life, your Grandma Zeny and I will always love you, unconditionally!!! To my dear readers, and if I timed it right, Thanksgiving will be a part of your life this week. As you can see - mine too, for sure…Ha-ha-haha! You see I’ve always got a love affair going with Thanksgiving. It has been going on for over 57 years now, as far back as I can vividly remember. Besides Christmas, off course…hands down, it’s one of my favorite holidays of all. Here’s why. First of all, it seems to blend together all we Americans hold precious and dear – without the sham and plastic mask of commercialism. Shopping centers jump from Halloween to Christmas. It’s spooks to Santa...pumpkins to presents… orange and black to red and green. It’s doubtful that any of us has ever seen (or will ever see) a Pilgrim hype. Just can’t be done. Except for grocery stores, merchants are mute when Thanksgiving rolls around. Second, it highlights the home and family. Thanksgiving is synonymous with stuff that can be
Jesse T. Reyes
Filipino Potpourri
found only at home – the warmth of a fireplace, early morning fussing around in the kitchen, kids and grandkids, long distance phone calls, family reunions, singing around the piano, holding hands and praying before those special meals, your favorite football team versus somebody (they always beat) on the tube, a touch football game in the street or backyard, friends dropping by, pumpkin pie, homemade rolls, and six million calories. It is a time of quiet reflection upon the past and an annual reminder that God has, again, been ever so faithful. The solid and simple things of life are brought into clear focus, so much so that everything else fades into insignificance. Thanksgiving is good for our roots…it deepens them and strengthens them and thickens them…making our trunks and limbs more secure in spite of the threatening gale of our times. The meal, the memories, the music Thanksgiving brings have a way of blocking out the gaunt giant of selfishness and ushering in the sincere spirit of gratitude, love and genuine joy. Third, it drips with national nostalgia. For me, even more so than the Fourth of July. That holiday reminds us of a battle we won, giving us independence. This one takes us back to a simple slice of life some 400 years ago when our forefathers and foremothers realized their dependence on each other to survive. With Thanksgiving comes a surge of renewed patriotism, a quiet inner peace that whispers, “I am proud to be an American.” I recall, as an eighteen-years-old Filipino U.S. Navy recruit standing erect and proudly repeating the “Pledge of Allegiance” in 1966. Our nation was at war in Vietnam and times were hard. At that period on the start of my American journey and young life, I fell strangely in love with the United States of America. In my very first Thanksgiving which happened to be aboard the guided missile cruiser U.S.S. Chicago (CG11) forward deployed in the Tonkin Gulf, I had profound feelings of gratitude for my newly adopted country…my shipmates…my new family. I swore before God that I would fight to the end to keep this land free from foes who would want to take away America’s distinctives and the joys of living in this good land of opportunity. I have never forgotten my promise. I never shall. No doubts about it, Thanksgiving puts steel into our patriotic veins. It reminds us of our great heritage. It carries us back with numbing nostalgia to that first dreadful winter at Plymouth where less than half the handful of people survived. It speaks in clear, crisp tones of forgotten terms, like: integrity…bravery… respect…faith…vigilance… dignity…honor…freedom… discipline…sacrifice…godliness. Its historic halls echo with voices of Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, Adams, Henry, Lincoln, Lee and Jackson who challenge us to trim off the fat of indolence, compromise, passivity, and the stigma of strife. It gives a depth of relevance and meaning to the nineteenth-century words of Katharine Lee Bates: “O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears! America! America! God shed His grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!” Nostalgia washes over me, too as I also reflect on last week’s Veterans Day celebration on those brave men and women whose bodies lie beneath white crosses – U.S. warriors who fought and died that we all might live and be free – and as I consider those statesmen who hammered out our laws on the anvil of wisdom, compassion and human dignity. People who cared about the future of this great land, not just their own comforts. Visionaries. Toughminded, clear thinking, sacrificial souls who did more than talk about integrity. They modeled it. Fourth and finally, it turns our heads upward. Just the word “Thanksgiving” prompts the spirit of humility. Genuine gratitude to God for His mercy, His abundance, His protection, His smile of favor. At this 2023 holiday, as at no other, we count our blessings and we run out of time before we exhaust the list. And best of all, life simplifies itself. At Thanksgiving we come back to the soil and the sun and the rain which combine their efforts to produce the miracle of life, resulting in food for our stomachs and shelter for our bodies…direct gifts from our God of grace. From the annals of our rich heritage, there has been preserved this announcement which was made 400 years ago. It says it all: “TO ALL YE PILGRIMS: Inasmuch as the great Father has given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, beans, squashes, and garden vegetables, and has made the forests to abound with game and the sea with fish and clams, and inasmuch as He has protected us from the ravages of the savages, has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience; now, I, your magistrate, do proclaim that all ye Pilgrims, with your wives and little ones, do gather at ye meeting house, on ye hill, between the hours of 9 and 12 in the day time, on Thursday, November ye 29th of the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and twentythree, and the third year since ye Pilgrims landed on ye Pilgrim Rock, there to listen to ye pastor, and render thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all His blessings. – William Bradford/Governor of Plymouth Colony, 1623” To my dearest family, I’m so grateful we could all gather today. Happy Thanksgiving! May we celebrate many more together. I pray this Thanksgiving 2023 will be full of plenty of love and joy for all of you, the people I hold dearest to my heart. I admit that when it comes to families, I definitely got the best! God bless the U.S of A.!! H-A-P-P-Y THANKSGIVING TO YOU ALL!!!
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info@thefilipinopress.com community of the works, sacrifices of our Philippine National hero in instilling nationalism and love for our native country and more. During the tribute event, Special commendations were presented by Audie de Castro, Honorary Consul, The Philippine Consulate, San Diego, National City District 3 commendation by councilmember Ditas Yamane. Special messages were delivered by Dr. Aurora Cudal-Rivera – NaFFAA Regional
Past President, NaFFAA Regional Advisory Board , Myrna TF Reyes - NaFFAA Regional Past President, NaFFAA Regional Advisory Board, Andrew Amorao NaFFAA Regional Past President, NaFFAA Regional Advisory Board, Julie Zulueta, NaFFAA Regional Vice President, San Diego and Imperial Counties, NaFFAA National President, MARIELA FLETCHER. Closing remarks by Paster Phoebe. (Photo by Zen Ply)
NAFFAA team paid tribute to NAFFAA's "grandfather", the late Greg Macabenta (photo by Zen Ply)
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Spiritual Life Happy Thanksgiving! Some years ago, I was in a quandary on what to write for Thanksgiving Day and I ended up writing this poem entitled “Thoughts on Thanksgiving Day”. What should I be thankful for, Dear God? What should I be thankful for? Should I be thankful for the rain That waters the parched terrain? Should I be thankful for the sun? That gives light to everyone? Should I be thankful for the man? Who loves me in spite of who I am? Should I be thankful for my friends? Who gives me comfort when I'm in pain? Should I be thankful for my children? Who brings me joy without no end? Dear God, I am thankful for everything. For everything I am content. I thank you God for all the things You have given me - my life, my love, My children and their children, my friends, And all those who've
Aurora S. Cudal-Rivera
My Personal Testimony
touched me In a very special way. Indeed, we have so many things to be thankful for and everyday should really be thanksgiving day. We have a great God who provides all our needs according to His riches in glory. A lyricist and composer, Andrae Crouch came up with this beautiful hymn, My Tribute. How can I say thanks for the things You have done for me. Things so undeserved, yet you gave to prove Your love to me, The voices of a million angels could not express my gratitude, All what I am and ever hope to be; I owe it all to Thee.
To God be the glory, To God be the glory, To God be the glory, for the things He has done. With His blood He has saved me. With His power He has raised me; To God be the glory for the things He has done. Just let me live my life – Let it be pleasing Lord to Thee; And if I gain any praise, Let it go to Calvary. With His blood He has saved me. With His power He has raised me. To God be the glory for the things He has done! Happy Thanksgiving Day to all!
The Master of Prayer encouraged small-faith disciples to go lumber jacking after big targets. Mountains and mulberry trees seem not to have much in common, but Jesus used both examples when he taught believers that a command in his name would force even fruit trees and mountains to take flying leaps. Was Jesus teaching a lesson about physical displacement? Was he assuring his listeners that hard-core mountains are conquerable? Did their stubborn toehold in the earth have a correlation to his lesson? In this teaching-moment, Jesus emphasizes always turning to God. Jesus inspired his followers to expect results from bringing flecks of faith to God's creative palm. When confronted with this teaching, I wonder when I last boldly requested something, totally believing God would answer. When have I asked for something earthshaking, beyond my imagination? Hindrances to my prayers happen daily, and I am the biggest obstacle. One downfall
Today is the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Next week we will be celebrating the Solemnity of the Kingship of Jesus in the Universe. It is noteworthy that as we are about the end the Ordinary Season of the Liturgical year, we celebrate this Sunday Eucharist with the gospel reading with a parable on “stewardship.” The parable tells of the master who “entrusted his possessions” to his servants while he went away on a journey. Two of the servants did well, as they “traded with the talents” that he entrusted to them. The third failed, preoccupied with his own future (afraid of what the master will do to him if he loses it), he “dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.” Looking at the whole story, the parable is not much money but rather, being “good and faithful servants.” The amount one receives and the profit one makes are secondary. What mattered to the master was the servants' faithfulness in taking responsibility over his gifts. Each one was entrusted with different amounts, but only two were given exactly the same reward for being “good and faithful” and were told, “Come, share your master’s joy.” The parable is also about the kind of person the master was. He was extremely generous to his servants, contrary to what the third servant had thought (a demanding person, harvesting where he did not plant and gathering where he did not scatter). He was very reasonable
Fr. Agustin T. Opalalic in giving each of them “according to his ability.” The servants themselves understood that the amount was well suited to the “ability” of each one. And afterwards, He did not give just a portion of his possession to the "good and faithful", but rather, shared everything. As God’s servants, we are stewards of His manifold gifts. Through His Son (in whose Death and Resurrection we were baptized), He has given each of us a portion of His “possessions” (a share in His divine life). Through the Holy Spirit, He has given us, “according to our ability,” various forms of charisms and services. The kind and amount of gifts we receive do not really matter. What's important is how we make use of them to attain the very purpose that God has for each one of us, which our old Catechism says is: to know God, to love God, to serve God, and to be with Him in heaven.” Our First Reading and Psalm provide us with the splendid
examples of people who live according to God's purpose and thus make their lives fruitful. The “wife” (Ps. 31:10–13, 19–20, 30–31) and the “man” (Ps. 112: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6) both live in “fear of the Lord.” According to St. Paul in the Second Reading (1 Thes. 5:1-6), this means living as “children of the light.” It is not the servile “fear” of that servant in the Gospel who was spiteful and bitter towards his master, but rather a holy “fear” that enables us to be awed by the love of God who shares with us not only earthly blessings but also eternal joy with Him. Like the “wife” who receives “a reward for her labors” and the “man” who eats “the fruit of his handiwork,” we will receive the same if we fulfill our own vocations with love and energy. As we wait for the return of the Lord, let us be “alert and sober” and live daily in the manner befitting our Father's beloved children. Being stewards of the talents we received from God is one responsibility each Christian should always consider. God has been so generous for us to be grateful to him in return, developing fully our talents and returning them to God through sharing them to the least of our brothers and sisters, especially those who are in dire need. In this way we do not only recognize and acknowledge the gifts we have received but assist others in making aware of God’s goodness and mercy through the gifts we share with them.
Ni Salvador S. Idos Sa ating pangaraw-araw na kabuhayan Tila ang tsismis ay isa sa mga libangan Na ang paksa ng usapan ay tungkol sa buhay ng ating kapwa Ito ba ay nakakabuti o nakakasama Ating suriin kung ano nga ba ang nagiging resulta.
Danny Hernaez
From Whom All Blessings Flow to my prayer life is focusing only on what my physical eyes see. I see my bank account. I see the effects of cancer in a person. I see someone held captive in a debilitating sin. Physical sight blocks my "Son-sight"! Another way I hinder prayer is by presenting God with solutions from my imagination. I dream up ways for him to "work" things out. That's when a leafy tree reminds me of Jesus' "mountain and mulberry" words. A mulberry tree stands guard outside my breakfastroom window. In the spring, the tree is a flurry of leaves and feathers. As the berries ripen, I watch crows forage and blue jays dart in for fast food. On the windowsill, I prop up an index card that reminds me of Jesus' challenge-words, "You can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted.'" I love that in his teaching, Jesus drew graphic word-
Greetings in the Lord!
TSISMIS
Be uprooted If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, "Be uprooted and planted in the sea," and it will obey you (Luke 17:6).
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pictures for us; and when he gave imperative commands, waters and winds obeyed. There's never been a reason for me to say to my fruit tree, "Get out of my yard! Go! Plant yourself in the Gulf of Mexico." However, because of Jesus - full of grace and truth - I trust that my faith-seeds are mega-sized in the hand of God. The next time I see a clump of hills, I will remember that they could hike up their grassy skirts, yank up roots, and walk off. I will remember my mulberry tree could wiggle out of the soil and settle into salt water. I will remember. Father God, I still struggle with feeble faith, but I thank you for hearing my timid voice and working wonders to your glory. I lift my eyes to the hills and thank you for the visual aid, O Son of Man. In His name. Amen. God conquers ALL. <(((><
hindi totoo tungkol sa ating kapwa Karangalan at magandang ngalan ay ang tanging yaman Hwag dungisan at sirain ng kasinungalingan.
May mga politico nasadyang nagkakalat ng dilim at kasinungalingan Gamit ang Social Media upang sirain ang dangal ng kalaban Magingat at di basta maniniwala sa mga teorya Galing sa mga taong di nagaatubiling magsinungaling Makamit lamang ang ambisiyon at hangarin.
Ang tsismis ay isang usapang hakahaka Pinauusapan ang di kanaisnais na pangyayari sa buhay ng iba Tinatanggap na totoo, subalit hindi pa naman kumpirmadong totoo Samantala ang magandang ngalan ng pinaguusapan nasisiraan sigurado. Kung sa tsismis ating ihahambing ang iba sa ating sarili Dalawang bagay lamang ang mangyayari Kung sa ating palagay ang ating kapwa ay nakakalamang Sa puso natin inggit ang maghahari At kung sa ating tingin tayo naman ang nakakalamang Magkakaroon tayo ng pusong mapagmalaki.
Ating iwasan ang tsismis at ng hindi magkasala Sa halip makibahagi sa kaligayahan ng mga taong pinagkalooban ng magandang biyaya Ugaliin natin magbigay puri sa ating kapwa Kapayapaan at panatag na kalooban ang ating madarama Sa ating paglalakbay sa buhay na pansamantala.
Gamitan ng sandata ang katawan natin ay masusugatan Gayundin naman ang tsismis ay katulad ng isang patalim Nagdudulot ng sakit, nakakasugat ng damdamin Walang nakikitang daloy ng dugo, subalit ang matinding sakit na nararanasan ay totoong-totoo. Kung tayo ay kasama sa tsismisan Pagkakamali ng iba ang pinaguusapan Nakakalimutan natin na tayo rin naman Ay makasalanan, marupok at may pagkukulang. Mula sa ating Panginoon galing ang isang utos at isang babala Hwag na hwag magsabi ng
Salvador S. Idos
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