The Filipino Press: October 13-19, 2023

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San Diego’s No. 1 Source of News & Information for the Filipino Community • An Award-Winning Newspaper Since 1986 October 13, 2023 - October 19, 2023

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GILAS PILIPINAS WINS FIRST MEN’S BASKETBALL GOLD SINCE 1962

By Jesse T. Reyes SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Justine Brownlee was the Gilas Pilipinas’ hero once more on Friday night (October 6) as our beloved old homeland – the Philippines – clinched its first Asian Games men’s basketball gold medal since 1962 (Oh, heck…I remember I was still in high school then; I was a sophomore at Villamor High School in my historic hometown of Sta. Ana in old Manila. This win is truly a goldstar achievement for the current crop of Filipino basketball players, if I must say. The Philippines rules supreme again in Asian basketball!

Congratulations!!)

Through the win, the Philippines nabbed its fifth gold medal since the last one in Jakarta, Indonesia, courtesy of a squad led by the late FIBA Hall of Famer Carlos Loyzaga (I was a fan of him in 1962).

Indeed, the Nationals’ last podium win – a bronze medal – was back in 1998, when its current coach also called the shots.

“I know every Filipino is proud to be called one today.

Congratulations, Gilas Pilipinas, WORTH A THOUSAND GOLD: on this incredible feat,” President Ferdinand “BongBong” Marcos, Jr Team Coach Cone and Gilas Pilipinas hailed for 'monumental' Asian Games 2023 triumph in men's basketball. The Philippines nabbed said in a Twitter post. “Your hard its fifth gold medal since the last one in Jakarta, Indonesia, courtesy of a squad led by the late FIBA Hall of Famer Carlos Loyzaga.

(More story inside page 5) work continues to elevate Filipino a stellar tournament during which perhaps – Jordan reduced to firing athleticism and sportsmanship to the and five assists as the Philippines 10 rebounds.

The triumph also ends the Gilas’ he was the star for the Philippines in attempts from three-point range global arena.” reversed their earlier group stage and going just 3-for-21 on field goal Brownlee top-scored with 20 defeat against Jordan to win the 19th run of missing out on a medal dating nearly every game.

It had begun as a low-quality attempts in the first quarter. But the points and also led the Gilas with Asian Games Hangzhou gold by a back to 1998, when the team took 38 minutes 25 seconds on court 70-60 scoreline. He also picked up bronze. For Brownlee, it cupped affair – an omen for the game, shooting improved in the second, the

South Bay Leaders and Community Celebrate Sweetwater Park Groundbreaking CHULA VISTA, CA -- The Port of San Diego and the City of Chula Vista along with other project partners, South Bay stakeholders, and community members today celebrated the start of construction on Sweetwater Park. The Port and City held a groundbreaking celebration at the project site near E Street and Bay Boulevard adjacent to the Living Coast Discovery Center and Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay RV resort. When finished, Sweetwater Park will be the first new park space completed as part of the Chula Vista Bayfront redevelopment, and the Port’s 23rd park along San Diego Bay. Sweetwater Park is envisioned as a natural-habitat oriented recreational open space to showcase the unique natural wildlife assets of San Diego Bay, encouraging passive recreation activities to complement the adjacent Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge. The 21-acre park was designed with community input and will be enjoyed by residents and visitors for decades to come.

“Sweetwater Park will be one of most unique parks along San Diego Bay as it’s inspired by both nature and history,” said Chairman Rafael Castellanos, Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners. “With community input, each of the elements were designed to honor the area’s wildlife and habitat. There are also elements honoring the Kumeyaay People’s ancestral lands both in the public art and educational signage. It will truly be a space for the community to feel proud of.”

“Sweetwater Park is one of the first substantial steps to building Chula Vista’s Bayfront,” said Chula Vista Mayor John McCann. “The park will allow individuals to experience the bay and the environment around it. We want this to be the people’s Bayfront, where residents in the City and the region can enjoy Chula Vista’s Bayfront.”

“Through the pandemic, we were reminded that recreational spaces are essential for social,

Pictured from left to right: State Senator Steve Padilla, San Diego County Chairwoman Nora Vargas, Chula Vista Mayor John McCann, Port Commissioner Ann Moore, Port Chairman Rafael Castellanos, Assemblymember David Alvarez

mental, and emotional wellbeing,” said Chairwoman Nora Vargas, San Diego County Board of Supervisors.

“Investing in Sweetwater Park helps San Diego County achieve its goal to provide spaces where community members can be physically active and thrive.”

“We wanted to create a space for residents and regional visitors to enjoy for generations to come. Sweetwater Park delivers on that and it’s thanks to engagement and input from the community and our partnership with the City of Chula Vista,” said Commissioner Ann Moore, Chula Vista’s appointee to the Board of Port Commissioners. “Sweetwater Park will connect us all to some of the best nature has to offer along San Diego Bay, allowing us all to experience and appreciate it, while also protecting our precious wildlife habitat and coastal resources.”

Sweetwater Park is being built just north of the Gaylord Pacific Resort and Convention Center where construction is currently underway. It is anticipated to open in late 2024. Features will include: Meadows and specialty gardens with native plants, shrubs, and groundcover. Some of these native plants serve as ecological buffers and mitigation areas to protect sensitive wildlife habitats, particularly at the Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge Mounded grasslands Nature playgrounds Various seating and picnic areas Pedestrian walkways and bicycle paths, some paved and others See SOUTH BAY on 5

Jordanians scoring with four of their nine attempts from outside the threepoint line, even taking the lead just before half-time before Brownlee ensured the Gilas would go into the half level at 31-31.

The partisan local crowd at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium took to supporting the Jordanian, audibly jeering the Philippines’ free throw attempts.

But the Gilas showed they were unmoved, Brownlee sinking three free throws after drawing a foul as he was lining up a shot from outside the arc. Both teams continued to trade the lead early in the third, and in the vein of the first quarter continued to try their luck from downtown, with the Gilas Pilipinas having more success in that regard with the Jordanians.

Finally, the Gilas managed to go on a 14-4 scoring run, pulling away from 37-37 to lead at the third interval a clear 10 points. However, there was no escaping the fact that it was a low-quality, tense, and nervy contest. The closest Jordan would get from there was within six points despite the crowd’s vocal backing.

The Gilas defense held strong picking up boards on Jordanian misses, and ensuring the opponents never had a clear shot at the basket.

As the clock wound down, every basket, every defensive play, was cheered loudly on the See JESSE REYES on 5

Why Ageism Prevails and How to Stop It Age isn’t everything when it comes to human health and ability, yet it often dominates conversations about these to the detriment of older adults.

Age isn’t everything when it comes to human health and ability, yet it often dominates conversations about these to the detriment of older adults.

In a Friday, Oct. 6 EMS briefing, aging experts discussed why ageism — discrimination on the basis of older age — prevails in the way we view older adults, and how to overcome it.

Talking about age How we talk about aging determines much of how we experience it, said Dr. Louise Aronson, a geriatrics professor at UC San Francisco. “We were about the same age as a species for a really long time, and though now we’re a whole lot older, some things haven’t changed. Old age still ends in death.”

As far back as 10,000 B.C. until as recently as 1820 A.D., the global life expectancy was 20 to 30 years; in 2019, it was over 73.

The COVID-19 pandemic “showed us how age matters,” she added, as older adults had disproportionately greater risks and fatalities. U.S. adults 65 and over made up over 75% of COVID-related deaths as of September 2023, according to the CDC. The health system’s very definition of older adults as anyone 65 or older, however, prevents practitioners from meeting these adults’ individual needs.

For example, “We give vaccines based on people’s biology and social behaviors, so there are 17 subcategories for children, three for adults between the ages of 19 and 64,” Aronson said.

“But everybody aged 65 and up is lumped into a single category, even though a child would instantly see the physical and assume the differences between a 64 year old and 104 year old. This distinction is not based on

scientific evidence about our lives.”

Nevertheless, “age isn’t everything,” Aronson said. Ethnic differences also compounded these risks, with Black Americans aged 75 to 84 having a nearly 900-fold difference, Latinos well over a 500-fold difference, Native Americans a 200-fold difference, and AAPI a 150-fold difference over nonHispanic whites in the first six months of the pandemic.

This way of viewing age in terms of vulnerability to death has particular implications for ageism in the U.S., where life expectancy has declined to 76.4 years — the shortest in two decades.

However, life expectancy, too, is disproportionately divided among racial and economic lines. Even before the pandemic, for example, 56 of the 500 largest U.S. cities had life expectancy gaps up to 30 years between neighborhoods a few miles apart.

“That isn’t about biology,” said Aronson. “That’s about social choices, and where we put our money, our values and our priorities … I would like to see a world in which you may

be “over the hill,” but the entire range of the hill has value … ‘anti-aging’ terminology is not helpful. The only way not to age is to die.”

The need to address ageism Cheryl Brown, Chair of the Executive Committee for the California Commission on Aging (CCOA), said that behavioral health, caregiver training, and housing access are key to addressing ageism.

Such policies prioritizing equity for older adults are key given that by 2030, California will be home to 10.8 million older adults — comprising one-quarter of the state’s population, and nearly twice as many as in 2010.

The trend is similar nationwide: by 2030, U.S. adults 65 and over are projected to increase by nearly 18 million from 2020, comprising one in every five Americans and outnumbering children for the first time.

Brown urged efforts in other states and nationwide similar to the California Master Plan for Aging, a 10-year blueprint developed by CCOA See AGEISM on

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2 • October 13, 2023 - October 19, 2023

Filipino Press

THE PAMPERED PINAY

Health Coach

By FRANCINE maigue

This week, I was invited to a special workshop (or should I say “support group”) hosted by Health Coach, Carol Chan, who is passionate about helping members of our community turn around their eating habits in order to turn around health conditions, like (pre)diabetes.

I sat in a room with some of the most successful women in our community—women who are always working through overbooked schedules, juggling countless professional and personal responsibilities…and often eating irresponsibly. Waiting too long to eat because there's always “just one more thing” to do then binging when there's finally a moment to eat… Doubling up on lunch time meetings… Indulging in decadent dinners during community events…

And working too long and late to make it to the gym…

Carol, an accomplished nurse, is a shining example of what research and tenacity can do to shape up one’s body and one’s life. After reading countless books and putting certain diet myths to shame, she lost weight and gained years of a more productive, satisfying life. Now Carol is on a mission to spread the word and help busy women make their health as big of a priority as their families and careers.

Admittedly, our group wasn't the easiest crowd to sell new food habits to. We take pleasure in hearty negotiations, can debate for hours, and are relentless in our defense of the choices we make and why…

Hard headed? Mmhmm.

But the facts about our current state of health, no matter how hard to accept, didn't lie. Our BMI levels, our growing discomfort, our dangerous habits and health conditions…

We knew it was time for a health intervention. It would be a step by step process to progress...

Here’s our tip of the week from our Health Coach, Carol: Not into breakfast? Skipping meals because of your schedule?

Treat proper meals as you would prescription medicine. Eat six properly portioned meals full of protein and fiber each day. Why? You've got to fuel your metabolism.

When your body begins to understand that it will receive nutrition regularly, it will no longer feel the need to store fat in the same way, training your body to go into fat burn mode.

Want to rev up that metabolism?

Here are some foods that can give your metabolism a boost: lean protein (e.g., skinless chicken, egg whites), chili peppers (for capsaicin and vitamin C), lentils and spinach (rich in iron), milk (calcium), green tea (EGCG)…and cold water!

Sounds easy enough, right?

This week, I'm going to focus on not just training my taste buds to appreciate healthier food choices…

I'm training my metabolism!

What healthy choices are you making this week, my pampered friends?

Check back every week for ways to pamper yourself and those you love.

Why? The answer is simple: YOU DESERVE IT!

Prayer to Saint Expedite May the intercession of the glorious martyr , St Expedite, recommend us, O my God, to Thy goodness, in order that his protection may obtain for us what our own merits are powerless to do.

Amen.

We supplicate Thee, Lord , to inspire by Thy grace all our thoughts and actions, that thou being their principle, we may, by the intercession of St. Expedite, be conducted with courage, fidelity and promptitude, at the time proper and favorable, and come to a good and happy end, through our Lord, Jesus Christ

Amen St Expedite, honored by the gratitude of those who have invoked thee at the last hour and for pressing cases, we pray thee to obtain from the all powerful goodness of God, by the intercession of Mary Immaculate, (today or such a day) the grace we solicit with all submission to the Divine Will

Amen

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UP President Jimenez Headlines UPAAA Grand Reunion & Convention 2023

The 22nd Biennial Grand Reunion and Convention (GRC) of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association will be held on October 19-22, 2023 at the Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick, New Jersey. This year’s GRC is back to an in-person event that would bring together UP alumni from across America and other countries. Intense event preparations have been rolled out, including invitations to participants and sponsors. Outstanding UP Alumni and Alumni group have been selected and will be honored during the GRC Gala.

Topping the list of GRC speakers is no less than the 22nd President of the University of the Philippines Angelo “Jijil” Jimenez. President Jimenez bested other equally outstanding aspirants for the UP presidency. In a speech after his selection, President Jimenez said, “Ideas are the life and blood of the university and academic freedom is the cardiovascular system.

We have to protect this system so ideas can flow and make a very healthy institution.”

This year’s proceeds from the GRC will benefit UPAAA’s Scholarship Projects and sustain other meaningful projects which benefit the UP System and the communities in the Philippines and in the US. This year’s theme is centered on “Engage, Empower and Excel.” To register, sponsor, nominate an outstanding alumni and alumni group, and participate as a jubilarian, please check the link, http://upaaagrc2023. eventbrite.com.

About UPAAA The University of the Philippines Alumni Association in America is a duly registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1981 in New Jersey by a group of graduates of the University of the Philippines led by Dr. Arsenio Talingdan. We are a strong broad-based, all volunteer organization of alumni of the University of the Philippines working together on educational, charitable, cultural and other meaningful projects that benefit alumni, the UP System, and the community in pursuit of common goals.

The UPAAA service areas include 8 UP constituent universities across 17 campuses and the 50 U.S. states.(

Top photo shows UPAAA’s first meeting with UP President Angelo Jimenez. From (L-R) Atty. Clyde Maramba, UP President's executive assistant; UPAAA Regional Vice President Northeast Winston C. Umali, MD; UP President Angelo A. Jimenez; UPAAA Membership Committee chair, Daisy B. Macadaeg and UPAAA Regional Vice President Northwest John A. Siazon. (Back) UP Manila Chancellor, Carmencita Padilla, MD; UPAAA President Jose M. David MD; and PGH OB-Gyne Fellow, Patrick Padilla, MD. Photo courtesy of UPAAA

Congratulations to the UPAAA 2023 Distinguished Alumni Awardees

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Filipino Press

October 13, 2023 - October 19, 2023 • 3

International Cuisine Carousel NATIONAL CITY, CA -- The International Cuisine Carousel has been a vision of mine for a while. There has been attempts in the past with no success due to lack of time to pursue and willing restaurants to participate on it. Fast forward after the pandemic, restaurants are still struggling to bring back the food lovers who once patronized their food, ambiance and offerings. We wanted to be part of the solution so we decided to take on project of relaunching the International cuisine section. It started with Ma Noodle House who have reached to us once again to help ramp up his sales. Inspired by the success of his advertising with the paper and with him increasing his footprint by enlarging the size of his ad. We knocked on doors of some of these restaurants being featured on this page, some called our office because they wanted to reach out to our community. With 217,000 Filipinos in San Diego based on the 2020 Census, we

would like to invite the foodies whose curiosity, love for good food, openness to trying something new, looking for value for their hard earned monies or those who love to spend on food and

entertainment, to take part in this project.

How? Of course by checking out these restaurants, taking advantage of the specials, clipping the coupon etc. Food brings people together, in my mind,

why don't we take it one step further by involving other ethnic and international cuisines to delight the palate of the readers.

We are pretty sure people want to know, is the food really good?

Yes, because we tried the food before we invite the business to advertise with us, before they landed on this page. Some have offered discounts. If you are sold

on our selection process, then its your turn to check it out and test your palates' curiosity and cravings. Don't forget to mention you saw their ad in the Filipino Press. They will be delighted to see you, our community ambassadors, take part in their economic recovery efforts (as we all know its the restaurant industry which was hardest hit by pandemic)

get to know you and our community as well. Restaurants win, you our reader/ consumers win, Filipino Press wins with the continued support from all parties, our community wins because that is one way we continue to afford to give free copy/ies of this paper which is the main source of news and information about Filipinos in San Diego and beyond.

4 • October 13, 2023 - October 19, 2023

Filipino Press

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Gov’t assures OFWs’ families in PH of their safety amid Israel-Hamas conflict MANILA -- The Philippine Embassy in Israel assured the families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Philippines that the government is closely monitoring the safety of their loved ones amid the ongoing conflict between the Israeli forces and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

“We take this opportunity to assure not just our kababayan here in Israel, but also their families there in the Philippines who we know are anxious to find out how their loved ones are coping in this difficult time,” Philippine Ambassador to Israel Pedro Laylo Jr. said in a press briefing in Malacañang on Wednesday.

Laylo said they are closely working with Israeli authorities to locate the OFWs and Filipino community affected by the IsraelHamas conflict as he assured them that the Israeli military has already retaken control of the communities infiltrated by the militant group.

“Despite sporadic rocket attacks and the distressing images, you see in the news and on social media, these depict only certain areas in Israel particularly in areas surrounding the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military has retaken control of the communities infiltrated by Hamas militants,” Laylo said.

“Rocket attacks have considerably lessened except in Southern Israel.

People can move freely in areas far from the combat zone and we have returned to work here at the embassy since Sunday,” the official added.

As the conflict continued, Laylo asked for understanding as they could not yet immediately extend assistance to the victims due to strict travel restrictions enforced by the Israeli government, but assured them that they had established protocols for anyone who wished to be evacuated.

He also emphasized that the embassy’s Migrant Workers Office (MWO) and a team from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) are continuously providing assistance to evacuated Filipinos taken to safer ground.

He said that the MWO-OWWA teams have been working tirelessly since the onslaught of the IsraelHamas conflict to ensure that all Filipinos are accounted for and that those affected are given medical emergency assistance.

AFP ready to conduct evacuation operations in Israel if necessary While the government does not see yet the need to repatriate Filipinos in war-torn Israel, the Armed Forces of the Philippines expressed its preparedness on Wednesday to conduct an evacuation operation for Filipinos affected by the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

In a press briefing in Malacañang, AFP Spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar said that they already prepared a plan should they be called to assist in the humanitarian mission with military aircrafts, C-130 and C-295, as air transport.

“I am here to assure everybody that with the guidance of our President, his Excellency Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., the Armed Forces of the Philippines is prepared to execute evacuation operation

should there be a need for that,” he said. Aguilar noted that the operation will be in line with the whole-ofnation approach to ensure the safety of the affected overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and the Filipino community in Israel.

The Adana Airport in Turkey has been identified as a temporary safe haven for Filipinos who will be evacuated in case hostilities escalate, according to Aguilar.

“We have already identified Adana airport sa Turkey as a temporary safe haven. From there, we will be shuttling Filipinos who are affected by the conflict with the identification of the Ben Gurion airport, but all of these will only be executed based on the recommendation or the instruction coming from other government authorities,” he said.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said that there are no repatriation requests from Filipinos in Israel as he emphasized that they are now employing a diplomatic approach to allow these Filipinos and their families to cross the borders.

“We have not repatriated them yet because as I have said yesterday po, naka-blockade ang Gaza at saka pati yung kanilang border both to Israel and to Egypt,” de Vega said.

“Now it’s a diplomatic approach.

We are using diplomacy along with other countries in order to have the borders open so that we could have ‘yung mga kababayan natin, so we could have our countrymen and women go to the border,” he added.

2 Filipinos killed in IsraelHamas conflict: DFA chief The Philippine government confirmed on Wednesday that two Filipinos were killed in the war between Israeli forces and the Hamas group.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), however, has yet to release detailed information, including where the Filipinos were killed.

“The Philippines condemns the killing of two Filipino nationals and all other acts of terrorism and violence as a result of Hamas actions against Israel,” said Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo in a post over X, formerly Twitter.

“The Philippines is ready to work with other countries towards a long-lasting resolution to the conflict, in accordance with pertinent United Nations Security Council Resolutions and the general principles of international law,” he added.

Based on the latest DFA data, there are more than 30,000 Filipinos in Israel and 137 in Gaza.

In its latest bulletin on Oct. 11, the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv said there are at least six Filipinos still unaccounted for in Israel.

Manalo assured the public that the Philippine government would continue to provide all possible assistance to distressed Filipino nationals in Israel and Palestine.

Reported OFW death being confirmed by PH embassy in Israel The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv is looking into reports that a Filipino woman has died amid the conflict in Southern Israel.

Citing the embassy update

at 4 p.m. (11 a.m. in Israel), the Department of Foreign Affairs said the woman was earlier reported missing one of the attacked kibbutzim.

According to a 24 Oras report by Ivan Mayrina on Tuesday, Consul General Anton Mandap said that a body would be tested for DNA to determine its real identity.

The embassy’s labor attache and welfare officer are now heling the sister of the said Filipina in confirming the report with the Israel police.

The DFA said the embassy said confirmed that one more missing Filipino had been accounted for, reducing the number of missing Filipinos to six.

“Coordinating with Israeli authorities and local contacts, the embassy is exhausting all available means to ascertain the condition of the still missing Filipinos,” the DFA said.

The DFA said the embassy's Migrant Workers Office-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration team is now on its second day of giving help to evacuated Filipinos in hotels where they have been housed.

The hospitals are also being checked for Filipinos who may have been admitted.

"The embassy is deeply grateful to the Israeli security forces risking their lives to rescue our kababayan caught in the combat areas, as well as to the Israeli emergency services and kibbutz authorities who included Filipino nationals in their evacuation operations," the DFA said.

"As the situation is fluid and the Embassy continues to receive realtime reports from its team on the ground as well as Israeli authorities, the information above will be updated accordingly," it added.

The DFA asked the public to rely on official statements and advisories released by Philippine government agencies and to desist from spreading unverified information.

"We cannot confirm that because we do not want to cite, to confirm anything without being 100 percent sure of the facts," Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega as regards a Filipino fatality earlier in the day.

Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) officer-in-charge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac echoed de Vega's remarks, saying that reports on fatalities are being coordinated and verified with authorities in Israel.

"As far as we have been told by the Philippine Embassy, there's also close coordination with the IDF, the International Defense Forces.

For OFWs, we are also in touch with our employers so that we can get the full facts. There has been no confirmation of the reported fatality," Cacdac said.

Two Filipinos were injured from the massive attacks, but they are already recovering, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has said.

Gaza under Alert Level 3 The Philippines has placed Gaza under Alert Level 3 amid the ongoing reprisal strikes by Israel, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Eduardo de See OFW'S on 6

NATION'S PRIDE. Hangzhou Asian Games gold medalist and World No. 2 pole vaulter Ernest John "EJ" Obiena (center) receives PHP5 million from the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc., led by president Dr. Cecilio Pedro (2nd from left), at the FFCCCII Building in Binondo, Manila on Tuesday (Oct. 10, 2023). Obiena will use the money to train for his 2024 Paris Olympics bid. (MNS photo)

NO PLACE TO STAY. A woman wanders around the streets of Barangay Laging Handa in Quezon City on Tuesday (Oct. 10, 2023), which is World Homeless Day. It is estimated that more than 100 million people worldwide are without a home, even in progressive nations like the United States. (MNS photo)

PSA: System affected by data leak contains 'financial characteristics' information MANILA -- The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Thursday said "financial characteristics" of respondents are among the information stored in the system affected by a data leak.

PSA data protection officer Atty.

Eliezer Ambatali said the CommunityBased Monitoring System (CBMS) contains demographic information that are “confidential”.

"There are demographic information in the CBMS. There are educational information. We have also collected financial characteristics, not necessarily connected to an amount, and some others,” he said.

Ambatali, however, added that the information leaked were "non-income related."

“Yes. For the CBMS, it is not as extensive the financial information.

That's not as extensive as the other services of the PSA... We collect nonincome related characteristics relating to financial status of our respondents,” explained Ambatali.

The CBMS is a data gathering system at the local level which serves as a basis in targeting households in the planning, budgeting, and implementation of government programs.

These programs cover poverty alleviation and economic development programs such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

According to Ambatali, the PSA learned about the data leak through a Facebook post of a user that allegedly has the concerned files.

He said the post contained some links to a drive that contains CBMS files and other links that may contain malware.

The data leak on PSA came following the ransomware attack on the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

(PhilHealth).

Ambatali said they cannot yet determine if the perpetrators of cyber attacks in PhilHealth and PSA are the same. But, he said they already have some leads based on the Facebook post.

He said the PSA believes that the malicious file infected into the PSA system is not similar to the Medusa malware that affected PhilHealth’s system.

Asked about the possible motive of the perpetrators behind the cyber attack on PhilHealth, Ambatali said, “From the post that we have seen, it is just to expose or brag about that they can do this kind of cyber attacks.”

Despite the data leak, Ambatali said the operation of PSA will continue including the releasing of birth, marriage, and death certificates, as well as national IDs. 2 more gov't agencies allegedly suffer data breach -- expert Two more government agencies have allegedly been the subject of data breaches, a tech expert said Thursday, following news of similar cyber attacks against the Philippine Statistics Authority and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

Data Ethics PH founder Dominic Vincent Ligot said ransomware attacks on government agencies were being done by cybercriminals out to make a profit. Successful ransomware attempts are then posted in Dark Web blogs as "trophies."

"I-a-attack nila 'yung system mo tapos maniningil sila...Ito nasingil namin, ito hinde," he said.

The second type of hacker, on the other hand, only wants to show the weaknesses in an agency's cybersecurity system, Ligot said.

He said the PSA data breach could have been done by the second type of

hacker since no ransom demand has been issued.

Ligot said that aside from PSA, 2 more government agencies have allegedly been victimized by cybercriminals.

"May dalawa pang ahensya na hindi pa naisisiwalat. Pabayaan na natin ang mga ahensya themselves to announce it. They are relatively major," he said.

Ligot said some of the data allegedly leaked on the Dark Web include confidential documents from the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and emails from Philippine government offices.

He also cited other instances of high-profile hackings including the theft of 77 million records in the Commission on Elections website in 2016.

Websites of local government units are also frequent targets of cybercriminals, he said.

Ligot also cited reports that the PhilHealth hack was conducted because its anti-virus and security software had already expired. "Ang sabi hindi raw lumusot sa procurement 'yung approval. Iniisip ko, parang napaka-tragic naman kung 'yun ang rason. Hindi lang na-approve 'yung procurement ng anti-virus mo, ngayon naikalat na 'yung data ng taumbayan."

He chided PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. for seemingly making light of the Medusa ransomware hack.

"Sorry na lang to PhilHealth pero on the day of the release, mismong presidente nila nagsabi: 'Tignan na lang natin kung ano ang lalabas.' Kumbaga, tila hinahamon pa nila si Medusa, feeling nila bina-bluff lang ni Medusa 'yung release. Wag po tayong ganun.

Let's treat these things seriously."

He said among the data records possibly leaked are emails, birthdays, passwords and phone numbers.

The National Privacy Commission has launched a deeper investigation into the data breach that hit PhilHealth after initial analysis found that it involved a staggering 734GB of data.

It said that the investigation will look into the accountability of PhilHealth officials for the breach, which may have partly been caused by expired antivirus software.

The NPC said that its Complaints and Investigation Division found “sensitive personal information” among the data that was affected by the breach. (MNS) PhilHealth to notify members who have compromised data The Philippine Health Insurance (PhilHealth) Corporation on Wednesday said they would notify their members who have compromised data after they analyze the information uploaded by hackers.

PhilHealth earlier admitted its outdated cybersecurity system enabled hackers to gain access to employees' work stations, which they use to download data, create policies, presentations, and research.

The hackers, however, failed to infiltrate the PhilHealth database on membership, contribution, and accreditation.

The government earlier rejected ransom demands by the hackers, which led to the leaking of the data to the Dark Web. Rey Baleña, acting vice president of PhilHealth's corporate affairs group, said the state insurer is waiting for the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to give them a copy of the files.

A cybersecurity task force has also been formed in the agency to prevent similar attacks from happening again, according to Baleña.

"Tuloy-tuloy 'yung investigation dito at kami ay bibigyan ng DICT ng kopya ng mga files na na-download nila mula sa na-post ng mga hacker," Baleña said in a public briefing.

"Wala kaming capacity at expertise na gawin ito. Kapag naibigay na sa atin itong mga files na na-download nila, makakapagsimula na kami ng aming analysis — sino-sino ang mga miyembro na nakompromiso at nang sa gayon ay magawa na namin ang pag-reach out at pag-notify sa mga miyembro na nakompromiso," he said.

Baleña added that they were not expecting for the data to be retrieved anymore, as this was already released.

The PhilHealth official urged members to not entertain suspicious calls and emails.

"Unfortunately, hindi na ito mababawi (data) ang atin na lang gagawin moving forward ay hindi na ito mangyari sa pamamaraan na masiguro na mayroon tayong [sufficient] na antivirus software," he said.

"As we speak, mayroon na tayong naka-up, install. As we speak now, awarded na sa ating bagong provider ang kontrata para sa ating anti-virus softwares," he said.

Those who have concerns or complaints on the ransomware attack, he said, may course their query through their temporary email addresses at phic.actioncenter2023@gmail.com and phic.dpo@gmail.com.

An expert earlier said the state insurer might be held liable for a data breach in the agency, even if it was also a victim of a ransomware attack.

The National Privacy Commission (NPC) this week said it was looking into PhilHealth’s accountability as the cyberattack could have exposed its members' data.

DICT installs satellite broadband in 438 far-flung areas The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) recently completed the installation of satellite broadband in 438 geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA), bringing internet connection to some of the farthest reaches of the country.

In a statement on Wednesday, DICT Secretary Ivan Uy said the project, which involved the installation and activation of very small aperture terminals (VSAT) in the provinces of Benguet, Kalinga, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Quezon and Pangasinan, was completed in 30 days.

“This achievement highlights both DICT’s commitment to digital transformation in GIDA regions.

Residents in Northern Luzon can now readily access essential digital services via high-speed broadband,” Uy said.

Aside from providing internet connection to the public, he said, the project would help students through online education and transform remote areas into digital communication hubs.

“By providing high-speed internet connectivity to these GIDA sites, this project also equips the provinces' micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with the tools to participate in the thriving e-commerce landscape,” he added.

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), an attached agency of the DICT, led the deployment of VSATs in these areas to ensure their compliance to industry standards.

The VSATs are powered by internet service provider Stellarsat Solutions Inc. and Kacific Broadband Satellites.

It is part of the DICT’s national broadband project that aims to provide connectivity to 65 percent of the Filipino population that lack internet access. (MNS)

www.thefilipinopress.com

JESSE REYES

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Philippine bench, the long faces on the Jordanians one grew yet longer.

The crowd, too, had gone tense and quiet, their chosen team to support fading under the pressure of the timer. Fouls became the norm as Jordan tried to regain possession, but it was to be for naught.

When the buzzer sounded, there were no big celebration – just respect between the teams as they shook hands. Only then did the Gilas began jumping about in delight and all that could be heard were Philippine cheers in the stands and on court. The Gilas had ended a 61-year wait for gold.

It didn’t come or draw to a head that the game was low on quality, or that it was one of the lowest-scoring Asian Games finals ever. All that mattered was that the Philippine anthem would sound out over the arena, and gold medals placed around the Gilas players’ neck.

Speaking afterwards, Chris Newsome said: “There was a lot of people who didn’t think we could do it, and we proved them wrong.”

Teammate Angelo Kouame agreed, referring to the recent Men’s FIBA Basketball World Cup jointly hosted in Manila.

“We wanted to fight for everybody, we wanted to fight for the country. It’s an amazing win,” Kuoame added. “A month after the World Cup, we knew that our national team really needed that win.

Everybody came together and that was a great team effort.”

Earl Scottie Thompson declared: “This is especial for us, for our country. This is a very meaningful win because we made history.”

“Our coach told us, even from the start, that this is a rare opportunity and we should take this chance. Our game plan was to stay aggressive because every possession counts.

We also followed on defensive game plan that our coaches gave us, and it worked.”

Man of the hour Brownlee paid tribute to his teammates. “We knew that we would have a hard chance of playing in the game, especially when we lost to them earlier in the tournament.”

“The Filipino heart, the Filipino pride…there is nothing like it. We displayed it in this tournament. We were down in some games, and we were up, and then we came back.

The Filipino heart toughened us up a lot, especially in this gold medal game.”

Now, please allow me to digress a little bit as the above narrative has got everything to do with what I am about to opine and write thereabouts.

As most of our fellow “kababayans” (countrymen/women) know about it – the Philippines – pledged not to backdown as China warns against “trouble” at a disputed shoal.

Yes, you read it right…last

AGEISM

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Filipino Press month, the Filipinos vowed not to back down on the face of a Chinese effort to block its fishermen from a fiercely-contested sandbank/reef in the South China Sea, while Beijing threatened the Filipinos not to “provoke and cause trouble.”

The comments came a day after Manila cut a floating 300-m (980ft) barrier installed by Beijing at the shoal, one of Asia’s most contested maritime features, making use of coast guard personnel posing as fishermen in a small boat.

The move, which the Philippines called a “special operation,” could further strain ties that have deteriorated this year.

“They might still return the floating barrier once again, they might still do shadowing and dangerous maneuvers once again,” Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela told CNN Philippines.

Earlier he indicated that four Chinese vessels were in the area when a Filipino boat approached and were “not that aggressive” adding it was clear media people were onboarding the Philippine ship.

He said China’s Coast Guard had even removed remnants of the several ball-buoy barriers and had been measured in its response to the presence of its vessel, which reached its closest point to the strategic atoll since China seized it in 2012.

“We have shown the world that the Filipino people will not back down and we’re still going to consistently carry out whatever is necessary for us to maintain our presence,” Tarriela affirmed.

The Scarborough Shoal, a prime fishing spot about 200-km (124 miles) off the Philippines and within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) has been the site of decades of “onoff” disputes over sovereignty.

China, which calls the rocky outcrop Huangyan Island, has accused the Philippines of “intruding” in what were indisputably Chinese waters. It warned Manila to steer clear of provocation.

“China firmly upholds the sovereignty and maritime rights of Huangyan Island and we advise the Philippine side not to provoke and cause trouble,” China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a press briefing.

The Philippines and China have repeatedly spared over the shoal but tension had ebbed under the previous pro-China administration in Manila.

Ties have soured this year, however, as new President “BongBong” Marcos, who authorized the cutting of the cordon, seek to strengthen relations with its ally, the United States.

Such efforts involved giving the American military expanded access to Philippine bases, a move criticized

by China as provocative and liable to stroke regional tensions.

Incidentally, vessels of the two

Jesse T. Reyes

Filipino Potpourri

MAN OF THE HOUR: Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Justin Brownlee is the Philippines' men's basketball team 'hero' during the 19th Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China.

POSITIVELY FILIPINO: Senators were among the Filipinos who showed support for Gilas Pilipinas and roared in joy and relief as their men's basketball team ended decades of heartbreak in winning their first Asian Games gold medal in 61 years. countries have faced off several times this year elsewhere in Philippine EEZ. Manila has accused Beijing’s Coast Guard of dangerous and aggressive acts such as using a military-grade laser to deter a resupply mission to Filipino troops stationed on a rusty, grounded warship.

China says that occupation is illegal.

Chinese nationalist tabloid the “Global Times” quoted an expert as saying Philippine decision makers were acting under the influence of a United States bent on instigating conflicts to contain Beijing.

Control of the shoal, about 850km (528 miles) off mainland China is a sensitive issue for Beijing, which for the past decade has maintained a constant presence of Coast Guard ships and fishing vessels there.

The shoal figured in a case the Philippines took to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, which ruled in 2016 that China’s claim to most of the South China Sea had no basis under international law.

China does not recognize the ruling.

Fast forward to the present: Prior to the final game which resulted in the Philippines bagging gold, Gilas Pilipinas win over China definitely stoked patriotic fervor all over the archipelagic country.

Senators were among the Filipinos who showed support for the Nationals enroute to its rousing 96-75 victory over China in the FIBA World Cup held at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, and Senators Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Christopher “Bong” Go was seen wearing matching black shirts with the print “West Ph Sea,” short for West Philippine Sea. “Congratulations Gilas Pilipinas!

That’s the heart of the Filipino that you’ve shown fighting to the very end. I salute all the players, coach and fans because ‘our never-say-die attitude’ gave us the hope to secure a victory in the FIBA World Cup,” Go, himself a prolific basketball player, said in Filipino.

SOUTH BAY

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in 2021 and aimed at supporting older adults socially, economically, and healthwise.

Ageism and Alzheimer’s Relating ageism to Alzheimer’s disease, Dr. Barry Reisberg — psychiatry professor at NYU and adjunct aging professor at McGill University — said the point at which older adults can no longer participate socially and in the workforce is later than many may think.

This point is measured clinically by the Global Deterioration Scale, which identifies the 7 stages of Alzheimer’s.

Reisberg, who developed the scale, said stage one precedes any detectable impairment of memory. In stage two, the adult “would not remember things, like names or where they place things, as well as they could five or 10 years previously”; this lasts a mean of 15 years.

In stage three, this symptom advances to “a decrease in job functioning” — e.g. organizational or travel skills — which lasts about seven years in otherwise healthy adults.

Many people can go on working into this third stage and the fourth — which entails more forgetfulness of recent events — depending upon the job at hand, he emphasized.

In the fifth and sixth stages — which entail the need for help with daily activities and a greater inability to recall names — the key is to help older adults “be all that they can be as long as they can,” said Reisberg. In the seventh

October 13, 2023 - October 19, 2023 • 5

1

with softer surfaces Sand dunes Overlooks for bayfront viewing Incorporation of Kumeyaay signage Public art, including an installation by local artist Roberto Salas Public restroom facilities 216 parking spaces These features are in addition to the Sweetwater Bicycle and Pedestrian Path that was built and opened in the spring of 2021. The three-quarter mile path will wind through Sweetwater Park.

The Port of San Diego and the City of Chula Vista conducted a transparent and open outreach process through which community members shared their vision for this park space. The Port and the City sought to learn how to best balance the recreational wants and final stage, which normally lasts one to two years, communication is impaired and help is needed with all daily activities, like bathing and dressing.

One way to both combat ageism and support older adults — especially in the case of health problems like Alzheimer’s — is optimizing aging through intergenerational activities” and communication, suggested Brown, wherein older adults could learn from innovations of youth and youth could learn from the experience of older adults.

Optimizing aging is not mutually

exclusive but inclusive with recognizing aging, added Aronson.

“Does old age come with an increased risk of illness and death? Absolutely it does,” but “age alone cannot predict which category the person is in …

There are some teenagers with really good judgment, who could drive perfectly well at 14 and there are others who shouldn’t be driving at 25.”

“We need different sorts of measures than age,” she continued, “so everyone over a certain age doesn’t feel completely a part of this society … (and) won’t miss out when they could have added to it more fully.”

“While we were saddened by our not qualifying for the Olympics, Gilas did not disappoint the home crowd by showing a big potential for future competitions,” he reiterated.

He cited that the victory over a Chinese team boosts the morale of Filipinos amid the challenges the country is now facing in the West Philippine Sea being claimed by Beijing as part of its territory.

Asked about the “WPS” shirts he and the other senators wore during the game, Go said they were given to them to show their being one with the team and the country’s territorial sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. “The West Philippine Sea is ours!” Go said. “This victory is also for all of us.”

For Zubiri, the Philippines, even through basketball, was able to show it would not be bullied by China on the homecourt, seemingly referencing similarly gallant stands made by the Philippine Coast Guard and Navy in the WPS. “This was the most important game of all! For our pride and for our motherland, the Philippines,” Zubiri declared. “We may not have won any of our games for the world championship, but this win was the sweetest of all.”

Likewise, Villanueva described the Gilas Pilipinas’ victory over China as the country’s “best win.”

“Most important basketball game of the year! It feels like we won the championship! Yahoo!” he noted.

“Our Gilas Pilipinas fought well like each and everyone of them knows the story of Ayungin, Recto Bank, Pag-asa Island, etc.”

He concluded: “So proud of them! Everyone contributed! We saw a different Gilas Team; there’s fire in their eyes.”

Zubiri explained that their matching shirts with the print “West Ph Sea,” was their response to China’s new standard map which also included the exclusive economic zones of the Philippines.

“They released a 10-dash line; we wore the T-shirt as a statement that the West Philippine Sea is ours. Mabuhay Gilas! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!” he remarked.

Meanwhile, Dela Rosa said they have worn the shirts to “awaken the patriotic spirit of our Gilas Pilipinas and motivate them to secure the victory which is symbolic for us, Filipinos, in light of the recent developments in the West Philippine Sea.” For my two cents, I say there’s more to basketball than winning…

no doubts about it – there’s also telling bullying China to back off in West Philippine Sea! Mabuhay!!

Philippines on top of Asiad basketball after 6 decades HANGZHOU, CHINA -- The Philippines is men's basketball gold medalist in the 19th Asian Games here, beating Jordan, 70-60, on Friday.

Justin Brownlee paced the Filipinos with 20 points, Ange Kouame added 14, Chris Newsome 13 and Scottie Thompson 11.

It was the country's first basketball gold since winning the first four editions (1951, 1954, 1958, 1962) and first finals appearance since losing to China in 1990 Beijing.

The cagers' last medal was a bronze in the 1998 Games in Bangkok, Thailand, where China and South Korea finished 1-2.

"We knew that we would have a hard chance of playing in the game, especially when we lost to them earlier in the tournament," the naturalized Brownlee said during the post-match interview.

"The Filipino heart, the Filipino pride…there is nothing like it. We displayed it in this tournament. We were down in some games, and we were up, and then we came back.

The Filipino heart toughened us up a lot, especially in this gold medal game."

Brownlee officially became a Filipino by virtue of Republic Act 11937, signed by President R. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Jan. 12.

“As a citizen, I will try my best to make the Filipino people proud. I want to keep making you guys proud and to do whatever I can to help the national team,” the six-foot-five Brownlee said in an interview then.

Finishing 24th out of 32 in the FIBA World Cup which the Philippines co-hosted in August, the team called Gilas Pilipinas needed to rebound.

"A month after the World Cup, we knew that our national team really needed that win," Kouame, naturalized in May 2021, said.

"Everybody came together and that was a great team effort."

The Philippines now has four gold medals in the quadrennial tournament, the first three from World No. 2 pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena and jiu-jitsu fighters Margarita Ochoa and Annie Ramirez, on top of a silver and 12 bronze medals.

China picked up the basketball bronze after stopping Chinese Taipei, 101-73. (MNS)

and needs of the community and create a welcoming, warm environment for visitors, while also preserving Chula Vista’s natural resources and improving/protecting waterfront access for future generations of Chula Vista residents. The final design of Sweetwater Park is a direct result of that engagement. Landscape Architecture firm KTUA led the design effort for Sweetwater Park in collaboration with the Port. KTUA was selected for their extensive urban park and waterfront design expertise – with an emphasis on local landscape architecture and natural resource management experience. KTUA’s award-winning, local portfolio includes Southcrest Trails Park in southern San Diego, the University of San Diego Paseo de Colachis, and the Canyonlands City Heights Trail in San Diego.

The total cost for Sweetwater Park, including design and construction support, is just under $19.7 million, part of which will be funded through a grant

from the Land and Water Conservation Fund through the National Parks Service and the California Department of Parks and Recreation. The Board of Port Commissioners awarded a construction contract for Sweetwater Park to 3D Enterprises in April of 2023. Additional project partners include the County of San Diego and RIDA Chula Vista, LLC. A partnership between the Port of San Diego and City of Chula Vista, the 535-acre Chula Vista Bayfront redevelopment envisions a world-class destination in the South Bay – a unique place for people to live, work and play.

It is designed to create new public parks and recreational adventures, improve the natural habitat, offer new dining and shopping options, provide a world-class hotel and convention center, and more – all for residents and coastal visitors to enjoy. For more information about the Chula Vista Bayfront, visit portofsandiego.org/ chulavistabayfront.

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4

Vega said Thursday.

Alert Level 3 means voluntary repatriation.

There are 137 Filipinos in Gaza Alert Level 2, meanwhile, is raised over Israel, which is home to at least 30,000 Filipino workers, most of them caregivers, The DFA said that Alert Level 2 entails restriction of non-essential movements, avoiding places of protest, and preparation for possible evacuation.

Earlier, a Reuters report said the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said more than 338,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in the Gaza Strip as heavy Israeli bombardments continue to hit the Palestinian enclave.

OCHA said nearly 220,000 people, or two-thirds of the displaced people, have sought shelter in schools run by the UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees, UNRWA. Another nearly 15,000 people fled to schools run by the Palestinian Authority, while more than 100,000 were being sheltered by relatives, neighbors and a church and other facilities in Gaza City.

OCHA said that around 3,000 people had already been displaced within the enclave prior to Saturday's attack.

Attack Hamas militants carried out their deadliest attack in Israel's history on Saturday, when gunmen rampaged through Israeli towns, killing more than 1,000 people and taking scores of hostages to Gaza.

Israel has retaliated with air strikes on Gaza that have razed entire districts as it prepares for a possible ground offensive.

The DFA earlier reported that two Filipinos were killed following Hamas’ attack on Israel.

The fatalities were a 33-year-old

female from Pangasinan who was working in Israel for six years, and a 42-year-old male from Pampanga.

A third Filipino fatality, meanwhile, is being confirmed through DNA testing, according to the Philippine Embassy in Israel.

On Wednesday, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said the Philippines stands with Israel.

Palestine Ambassador to the Philippines Saleh Mohammad on Thursday said world leaders who expressed support to Israel amid its conflict with Palestinian militant group Hamas gave a "wrong message" to Israel, which later on resulted in a "massacre" in the Gaza Strip. (MNS) DOH to offer stress briefing to Filipinos returning from Israel, Gaza Filipinos who will be repatriated amid the Israel-Hamas war will undergo stress debriefing and will receive other psychosocial support from the Department of Health (DOH), Secretary Ted Herbosa said Thursday.

At a press conference, Herbosa said that he promised to Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) administrator Arnell Ignacio that the DOH will be providing mental health and healthcare assistance to Filipinos affected by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.

“You have my support—the whole Department of Health’s support—if there are Filipinos affected and they need mental health support, healthcare, just contact me. I committed that already to our fellow Filipinos affected by the war in Gaza,” the Health secretary told Ignacio.

Herbosa said that professionals usually conduct stress debriefing particularly on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) coming home from a major disaster or crisis in another country.

“We’ll identify if the patient needs either medication or continued psychosocial therapy. Important ‘yan [that’s important]. That’s the first step—you identify, then you debrief them,” he added.

The Philippines has placed Gaza under Alert Level 3 amid the ongoing reprisal strikes by Israel, said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday.

Alert Level 3 means voluntary repatriation for the 137 Filipinos in Gaza.

Alert Level 2, meanwhile, is raised over Israel, which is home to at least 30,000 Filipino workers, most of them caregivers.

The DFA said that Alert Level 2 entails restriction of non-essential movements, avoiding places of protest, and preparation for possible evacuation.

Two Filipinos were killed following the attacks, while another Filipino fatality is still being confirmed through DNA testing, according to the Philippine Embassy in Israel.

DMW prepares for repatriation of OFWs in Israel The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is now preparing for the repatriation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and the remains of Filipino fatalities amid the conflict in Israel.

“So abangan na lang ang anunsyo dito (just wait for the announcement) because obviously, we're preparing the flights and all that, but soon there will be repatriation of OFWs who had requested repatriation from Israel,” DMW Officer-incharge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said at a press conference on Thursday.

So far, he said that they have received 22 requests for repatriation, including 19 caregivers and three hotel workers.

Aside from processing the return of said workers, Cacdac said that the DMW is also advising them about labor concerns involving their

respective employers.

He said this is to ensure that these OFWs have a good understanding and agreement with their employers so they can go back to work once the situation improves.

Currently, Israel is under alert level 2 and repatriation is purely voluntary on the side of the Filipino workers.

Assistance for OFWs in transit About a hundred OFWs in transit to Israel who were unexpectedly affected by the conflict are also being assisted by the DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), according to Cacdac.

Cacdac, who met with OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio on Wednesday, said he was advised that a group of OFWs headed for Israel were stranded somewhere in the Middle East.

“We’ve covered the number of OFWs who are stranded somewhere because their flights to Israel have been canceled for obvious reasons,” Cacdac said.

“In this scenario, DMW-OWWA agreed to provide assistance, yung ating (our) Aksyon Fund will be mobilized to assist those who have been stranded due to the current situation, even those who are still here, yung may mga OECs (overseas employment certificates) na, yung may mga approved contract and visas, tutulungan natin silang lahat (those who already have OECs, those with approved contracts and visas, we will help all of them).

It's one of Secretary Toots’ (Ople) legacy,” he added.

Cacdac also assured that DMW and OWWA will help the families and the children left behind by the OFWs killed in Israel.

Aside from financial assistance, he said the bereaved families will also be provided livelihood assistance, reintegration assistance, employment assistance, job facilitation, and psychosocial assistance. (MNS)

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Spiritual Life The love chapter through a mother’s eyes “Don’t keep on scolding and nagging your children, making them angry and resentful Rather bring them up with the loving discipline the Lord himself approves, with suggestions and godly advice.”

Ephesians 6:4 (LB) I am fond of clipping inspirational articles and sharing them with my children and friends.

One of the articles which have remained in my file was written

by Donna Walker, a graduate from the University of Mary Bernardino, Calif. It is a special adaptation of 1 Corinthians 13 for parents.

I would like to share Donna’s article with young parents who may find child rearing a challenging experience.

If I constantly tell my children how they should behave and perform,but do not lovingly guide them by my words and my example, I have become only bragging brass or a nagging noise to their ears.

If I could foresee what they could become and even know the very plans of God for them and have absolute faith that it would all happen, but fail to give them daily encouragement needed to meet each day’s challenges and frustrations ,then my knowledge is without love.

If I sacrifice any earthly possession for my children, yes,

Aurora S. Cudal-Rivera

My Personal Testimony

even lay down my life for them in some drastic way, yet fail to show sacrificial love in ordinary circumstances, then the love will not be communicated.

This mother’s love of which I speak is slow to lose patience, even in the most trying circumstances it never grows tired of explaining, instructing, and answering. It looks for opportunities to express praise and support. It does not make her children dependent on her in a possessive sort of way, but strives to help them achieve the right kind of independence and the freedom to think for themselves.

A mother’s love does not brag over things she can do, making her children feel inferior by comparison. It does not misuse its authority, but realizes her privilege to raise her children comes from the Lord. Love has good manners.

It does not “use” her children as simply robots to carry out her orders or live out her dreams,but treats them with respect for they are people too.

Love is not touchy; it is not easily provoked, but realizes that children are children. It does not keep a mental record of wrongs committed to be used against them later or say,“I told you so” when they fail, as she predicted. Rather, it recognizes them by praising their efforts. Love doesn’t blow up or say I’ve had enough.” It believes the best, saying, “Try, I think you can.” It loves no matter what happens—— low grades, strike outs and forgotten lines in the school play included. Love is suffient for every situation. Be sure of this one thing - love always brings positive results. Everyone responds to love.”

Discover your unique purpose You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. (Psalm 139: 15 The Message) If you are going to discover how God wants to use your life and work, you must know why you were created. If you start trying to determine your purpose in life before understanding why you were created, you will inevitably get hung up on the things you do as the basis for fulfillment in your life, which will only lead to frustration and disappointment.

First and foremost, God created you to know Him and to have an intimate relationship with Him. In fact, God says that if a man is going to boast about anything in life, "boast about this: that he understands and knows me" (Jeremiah 9:24). Mankind's relationship with God was lost in the Garden when Adam and Eve sinned. Jesus' death on the cross, however, allows us to restore this relationship with God and to have an intimate fellowship with Him. The apostle Paul came to understand this when he said, "I

Danny Hernaez

From Whom All Blessings Flow gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself." (Philippians 3:10 The Message) Establishing this relationship with God is vital to understanding your purpose. If you don't have this relationship with God, you will seek to fulfill your purpose out of wrong motives; such as fear, insecurity, pride, money, relationships, guilt, or unresolved anger. God's desire is for you to be motivated out of love for Him and to desire to worship Him in all that you do. As you develop your relationship with God, He will begin to reveal His purpose for your life. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the

Lord." (Jeremiah 29:11) Today, ask God to help you discover your unique purpose.

And now may the Lord bless you, and may the Lord keep you, and may the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and may the Lord be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May you live with the supreme blessing of God that brings happiness the world knows nothing about, a joy and a peace that is unshakable because it's built upon Christ the Solid Rock. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad; the church triumphant is the property of the Lord Jesus Christ, and He is coming soon to take us to our eternal home. In Jesus' name, we receive it with joy.

Amen. dhernaez1@aol.com <(((><

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Greetings in the Lord!

Today we celebrate the 28th Sunday in the Ordinary season of the liturgical calendar of the Church.

We will have six more Sundays before we enter into the new season of the liturgical calendar with the cycle B. This season opens with the season of Advent. In the past Sundays our reflections revolved around the response to the constant invitations of God, portrayed in the parable as the “landowner”, to work in his vineyard. The interpretations that we shared presented different aspects of the response, starting from the outright response that was shown in the gospel three Sundays ago, to the change of heart of the two brothers: one who at the beginning negatively responded, but for some reasons, changed his mind to work in the vineyard; the other positively responded at first but, in the end, did not obey the ”command” of the father. Finally, the gospel message of last Sunday made us aware that the vineyard is not ours to own, but is simply an entrustment by the owner, who can easily lease the properly to others who would willingly accept and cultivate it with love and gratitude return its produce to the landowner.

This Sunday’s gospel speaks about another way in which Jesus presents the kingdom of his Father.

The presentation begins with the old Testament that describes the reign of God as a feast, “on this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines…” (Is. 25: 7) This could be considered as one context in which St. Paul expresses himself in his letter to the Philippians (4:1214), where I mentions the following

Fr. Agustin T. Opalalic “in every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I can do all things in him who strengthens me…”

The Gospel this Sunday speaks of “the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son…”

(Matt. 22: 1ff).The essential point emphasized in this parable is the fact that the banquet prepared by the father was intended for “invited guests” who were “summoned”, but all of them did not respond to his gracious invitation. “Behold I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.” There were varied responses, from ignoring it for personal reasons expressed to the servants of the king. Hence, the king said to his servants: “the feast is ready but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.”

There are three important elements that the gospel presents today. First, the kingdom of heaven

is being compared to the wedding feast of the son. Indeed, it speaks of the abundance of food that the first reading describes which St. Paul considers as the “secret of being well fed…” Second, it has been prepared by the father of the bridegroom for his invited guests, who for reasons of their own, did not share the joy of the father and the son. Third, the condition to the response to the invitation, although open for all “the servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike.”

The king, nonetheless, expected the attendees of the banquet to be worthy so that when he saw “a man not dressed in a wedding garment, the king asked said to him, ‘my friend, how is it that that you came in without the wedding garment?”

Truly the call of God to follow Jesus is universal, everybody is invited to respond, but this response is always a free decision that should come from the heart of those who heed his call. This free decision, however, demands a real change of heart that would conform to the will of Christ who calls. This would indicate the need to listen to Jesus, follow his commands and do his will in the world today. What a beautiful message to consider today when we would like to respond to the call of Christ, according to the dictates of our own norms so influenced today’s culture of relativism and materialism. Indeed, heaven is abundantly rich, but participation in its bounty demands the right attitude and correct conduct demanded by the host of the banquet, a “wedding garment,” proper to the event.

Pagpapatawad Ni Salvador S. Idos

Buhay natin sa mundo ay binubuo ng pakikitungo Pakikitungo sa ating pamilya, sa ating kapwa at sa Diyos na ating sinasamba Kung papaano mapapanatili ang magandang pakikisama Kakailanganin ang pagpapatawad at pagpapakumbaba.

sa atin ay gumawa ng masama Balisa ay mawawala, panatag na kalooban ang madarama Maalis sa ating puso ang galit at sama ng loob, dama natin ay kaligayahan Huwag natin kalimutan na ang pagpapatawad ay para sa ating sariling kapakanan.

Dahil sa ating pagkatao tayo ay marupok at may pagkukulang Di maiiwasan na sa tuwi-tuwina damdamin ay nasasakatan Paano kaya manumbalik ang magandang pagkakaibigan Ito ay hindi manyayari kapag walang kapatawaran.

Kapag ating pinatawad ang ating kapwa sa gawaing hindi tama Hindi nangngahulugang ligtas siya sa parusa dala ng kanyang ginawa Sa ating buhay ang Kapayapaan ay hindi makakamtan Kapag hindi mangimbabaw ang Katotohanan at Katarungan.

Hindi ito naiiba sa dalawang magasawang palagi na lang nag-aaway Dahil sa tigas ng puso umabot ito sa kanilang paghihiwalay Napakasakit at malungkot na pangyayari sa ating buhay Muli, ating masasabi na walang pagsasama ang tatagal kapag walang kapatawaran.

Kapag ating patawarin ang

Ang pagpapatawad ng Panginoon ay napakamahalagang biyaya Kapag ating pinagsisihan ang ating kasalanan at humingi ng kapatwaran Conciensya ay malilinisan, dating gawi ay tatalikuran Panibagong buhay ay magkakaaroon ng bagong sigla at pagasa.

Ang Panginoon nating makapangyarihan ay mapagpatawad Tayo pa kayang Kanyang abang nilalang ang hindi magpatawad Ating ipagdasal na tayo ay matutong magpatawad At sa atin naman ipagkaloob ng Diyos ang Kanyang pagpapatawad na ating hinahangad.

Salvador S. Idos

READ. LEARN. INVEST IN YOURSELF.

“There is a mistaken notion among some that to own a paper is to have a license to clobber one’s enemies and attack people we don’t like. A newspaper is an information tool to reach a large number of people at a given time.

A newspaper should inform, educate, entertain and provide viewpoints that could give us the means to make intelligent decisions for ourselves and others.” — Ernie Flores Jr., founding editor and publisher Mailing Address: 600 E. 8th St. Ste. 3, NationaI City, CA 91950 • E-mail: filpress@aol.com Office: 600 E. 8th St. Ste. 3, National City, CA 91950 • Telephone: (619) 434-1720 • Fax: (619) 399-5311 Website: www.thefilipinopress.com • E-mail: filpressads@aol.com for ads • E-mail: filpress@aol.com for editorial

Founding Editor and Publisher ERNIE FLORES JR. Editor-In-Chief SUSAN DELOS SANTOS Marketing and Sales info@thefilipinopress.com Graphics and Design A2 Studio Graphics Filipino graphics

Contributing writers joe garbanzos Adam Behar ALICIA deleon-torres Fr. Agustin T. Opalalic Cartoonist jesse t. reyes Community Outreach Rose San Pedro Lorna Delos Santos Christina Rutter

Columnists AURORA S. CUDAL Danny hernaez francine maigue GREG B. MACABENTA JESSE T. REYES al villamora Photographer Zeny PLY Circulation Rudy Avenido

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

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NOTIPIKASYON PARA SA NADOBLENG BALOTA AY IPINADALA SA ILANG MGA BOTANTE Ano ang Dapat Gawin ng mga Botante

Napag-alaman ng opisina ng Tagapagrehistro ng mga Botante na ang ibang mga botante ay nakatanggap ng dalawang balota para sa espesyal na eleksyon sa Ika-7 ng Nobyembre. Ito ay nakakaapekto sa mga botante sa espesyal na eleksyon sa Distrito 4 at mas mababa sa isang dosenang mga botante sa espesyal na eleksyon sa Lungsod ng Chula Vista.

Ang opisina ng Tagapagrehistro ay kaagad nakipag-ugnayan sa mga vendor ng nagpi-print at nagpapakoreo upang malaman kung ano ang nangyari at kung gaano karaming mga botante ang naapektuhan.

Matapos ang pagsasaliksik, iniulat nila na humigit kumulang 7,500 o

higit sa 1% ng mga botante mula sa mahigit 600,000 mga botante na pinadalhan ng balota sa koreo, ay hindi sinasadyang nakatanggap ng nadobleng pakete ng balota sa koreo.

Isa sa dalawang pakete ng balota ay naisuspinde na sa aming sistema at hindi dapat naipadala sa koreo. Isang paunawa ang naipadala na sa mga botante na ito na nag-aabiso sa kanila tungkol sa pagkakamali at ipinaalam sa kanila na maaari silang bumoto at ibalik ang alinmang balota.

Ininstruksyunan ang mga botante na sirain ang hindi ginamit na balota.

Kung ang mga botante ay bumoto sa suspendidong balota ang aming sistema ay awtomatikong isasantabi

ang sobre ng balotang iyon.

Bibilangin ang mga balota KUNG iyon lamang ang binotohang balota na ibinalik ng botante.

Ang proseso ng pagsuspinde ng isang pakete ng balota sa koreo ay isa sa mga seguridad na ipinatutupad upang matiyak na isang balota lamang mula sa iisang botante ang papayagang mabilang. Ang barcode sa bawat sobreng pagbabalikan ay tina-track at kung nasuspinde, ititigil ng aming sistema ang pagproseso nito.

Kung nakatanggap kayo ng dalawang balota, narito ang dapat ninyong gawin: * Maaari kayong bumoto at ibalik

ang alinmang balota * Sirain ang hindi ginamit na balota. * Mga katanungan? Mag-email sa rovmail@sdcounty.ca.gov o tumawag sa (858) 565-5800 | (800) 696-0136.

48 NA MGA BALLOT DROP BOX ANG BUKAS PARA SAESPESYAL NA ELEKSYON Simula Martes, Ika-10 ng Oktubre, ang mga rehistradong botante sa Ikaapat na Supervisorial na Distrito, Lungsod ng Chula Vista, Distrito ng Fallbrook Public Utility at Munisipal na Distrito ng Tubig ng Rainbow ay maaaring ibalik ang kanilang balotang pangkoreo sa alinman sa 48 opisyal

October 13, 2023 - October 19, 2023 • 9 na ballot drop box na matatagpuan sa buong distrito.

Ang mga balotang pangkoreo ay papunta na sa halos 600,000 rehistradong botante para sa espesyal na eleksyon sa Ika-7 ng Nobyembre at inaasahang darating ngayong Linggo.

Ang mga botante lamang na nakatira sa bawat distritong iyon ang maaaring bumoto sa kani-kanilang eleksyon.

Kung hindi kayo sigurado kung nakatira kayo sa isa sa mga sumusunod na distrito, maaari niyo itong tingnan sa sdvote.com.

Ano ang hitsura ng mga opisyal na ballot drop box ng Registrar?

Ang mga opisyal na ballot drop box ng Registrar ay pula, puti, at asul at nagtatampok ng logo ng Tagapagrehistro kasama ang selyo ng County. Ang lahat ng mga kahon ay may label na "Opisyal na Ballot Drop Box" at ginawa mula sa mataas na grado, mabigat na sukat na hindi kinakalawang na asero.

Ang bawat ballot drop box ay idinisenyo upang maiwasan ang pisikal na pinsala at hindi awtorisadong pag-access sa mga balota sa koreo.

Nagtatampok ang mga kahon ng double-locking access na mga pinto, anti-pry door jambs, at iba pang mga hakbang sa pagtatayo laban sa pagnanakaw. Ang team sa pagkuha ng balota ng Registrar ay responsable para sa pagkolekta ng mga balota sa loob ng kahon.

Paano ko ibabalik ang aking balota sa isang opisyal na ballot drop box?

Markahan ang inyong balota, i-seal ang inyong nakumpletong balota sa loob ng inyong sobreng pagbabalikan, lagyan ng petsa at pirmahan ang inyong pangalan sa sobreng pagbabalikan, at ibalik sa isa sa 48 opisyal na ballot drop box ng Tagapagrehistro sa buong mga distrito, o maaari niyo itong ibalik sa pamamagitan ng koreo. Tandaan, ang inyong pirma ay kinakailangan upang mabilang ang inyong boto.

10 • October 13, 2023 - October 19, 2023

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Looking for Renters or Room for Rent?

Check our weekly classifieds.

Opportunity awaits you.

Weekly.

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October 13, 2023 - October 19, 2023 • 11

12 • October 13, 2023 - October 19, 2023

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