The Filipino Press: October 20-26, 2023

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AFP sees no threat from PH terror groups amid Hamas' attack calls

MANILA -- Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Thursday said no local terrorist groups in the country seem to be supporting Palestinian militant group Hamas' calls for Muslims all over the world to join them in their cause. "(Initially) this is concerning for us because of the experiences that we have when it comes to terrorism but as we monitor the situation in the country we are happy to note that so far there are no indications of any terrorist groups (in the Philippines) heeding the calls of jihad (by Hamas)," Brawner said in a forum organized by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines.

Earlier, Hamas called on all Muslims worldwide to protest in support of Palestinians and for those in neighboring countries to join in the ongoing fight against Israel.

The AFP chief said ground commanders and local government officials, whom he met during his visit to Marawi City last Oct. 17 to mark the 6th year anniversary of its liberation from ISIS-inspired terrorists, assured that they have yet to detect any terrorist activity arising from this call.

"They assured us that they have not monitored any terrorist groups or even individuals attempting to wreck havoc or do any terrorist activity. We have alerted our commanders nationwide for the AFP and the Philippine National Police to be alert, to be on the lookout for any of these possible spillovers of

BACK HOME. Sixteen overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and an infant arrive from Israel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City on Wednesday (Oct. 18, 2023). Upon arrival, the OFWs received financial aid and were assured of other forms of assistance. (MNS photo) the events that’s happening in Gaza," he added.

Brawner said they have yet to receive any intelligence reports regarding entry of foreign terrorists in the Philippines.

"As of the last report that we have

there are no more foreign terrorists in the country," he added.

Expanding cybersecurity Meanwhile, Brawner said he is looking to enhance the existing AFP Cyber Group also known as the AFPCyG, by recruiting more personnel

CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY FOR UNIVERCITY AT CHULA VISTA

Groundbreaking ceremony for state-of-the-art development opening in 2025 CHULA VISTA, CA -- The City of Chula Vista celebrated the start of construction on the first phase of the UniverCity at Chula Vista, with a groundbreaking ceremony recently. The event highlighted the City’s progress in fulfilling long-held visions to bolster higher education, employment, and workforce development opportunities and provide a new library on the City’s eastern side. The much-anticipated development will add state-of-theart office space and the first new City library since 1995. The $96.4 million first phase of UniverCity is in the Millenia master-planned community.

Of this, $30 million is being funded by the state of California, and administered through the California State Library.

Local and state elected officials, city leaders, and industry partners commemorated the start of construction with a spray of confetti and ceremonial plunge of shovels into the ground. The 168,000-square-foot, Class A building under construction is expected to be finished in fall 2025.

A new City library will be the anchor

tenant, delivering in-demand services and resources. The event also marks the start of the City of Chula Vista and real estate broker CRBE’s acceptance of interest from prospective tenants that will strengthen the City’s higher education and workforce pipeline.

“This is an unparalleled opportunity for higher education and business partners, and for our entire community,” said Mayor John McCann. “Our vision is to provide access to quality higher education and teach the latest, most effective curriculum to bring high paying jobs to our area.”

The City of Chula Vista has long envisioned bringing additional higher education opportunities to the area, to meet the significant need in the South Bay. State Senator Steve Padilla, a former Chula Vista Mayor and member of the City Council, played a critical role in the City getting to this point. He and Assemblymember David Alvarez helped secure approval of a Surplus Land Act exemption on a nearby 383-acre site, to be able to use the land for higher education and employment-related development.

“This marks an important step toward our goal of bringing a fouryear university to Chula Vista,” Padilla said. “This project has been something I have been committed to for decades. This community deserves the economic and academic opportunities that will be created here.”

The new library will replace a smaller facility in Otay Ranch Town Center. Providing this new library would not be possible without the considerable support of Senate President Pro Tem Toni G. Atkins and Assemblymember David Alvarez, who helped the City secure the state funding for this needed resource.

Alvarez said that as the South Bay population grows, there is a need to continue to expand services and educational opportunities for everyone.

“I am proud to be part of this project and in helping secure $25 million in State funding,” he said. “I will continue to find new opportunities for educational growth with the goal of a university in Chula Vista.”

An additional $5 million was secured thanks to Atkins.

The building marks the beginning of the UniverCity of Chula Vista, which will altogether provide more than 12 million square feet of available development space across three locations in the City. Two locations are within the Millenia master-planned community, and the third is a 383-acre site at Hunte and Eastlake Parkways.

The library, in this first phase, will serve as a versatile community hub, providing services and resources to See CONSTRUCTION on 11

and acquiring more equipment, to allow it to be named as Cyber Security Command or Cyber Command.

"In the US for instance they have their Cyber Command so we are looking at also increasing that unit, (AFPCyG), into a Cyber Command

that would include more capabilities, more personnel of course, and more equipment, this will allow us to defend our networks better in terms of cyber security," he added.

Brawner also said that they will try to recruit more IT personnel from

the youth sector, especially those interested in serving or joining the AFP. "Again we are opening up our doors to these individuals who are highly skilled in terms of cyber, and we are relaxing some of the requirements. For instance, (the) physical and medical aspects of the requirement procedures, we are going to relax a bit," he added.

Brawner said this due to the realization that these "new breed of warriors" are not required to be physically strong but only intelligent and very skillful in the cyber domain.

He added that studies for expanding the AFPCyG are now ongoing, noting that he expects the report to be completed by the end of the year.

Brawner said the proposed AFP Cyber Command will not have a physical territory but it would be responsible for defending the cyber networks of the military.

He said the creation of such a unit is timely in the wake of hacking incidents affecting government websites.

He also added that all AFP cyber units have been warned to be vigilant and on the lookout for possible hacking attacks.

While there have been attempts to hack into AFP cyber systems, Brawner is pleased to report that they have been very successful in warding this off.

"But we're happy to note na so far hindi naman naging (are not) successful, we have been very See PH TERROR on 7

Meet OpSam’s New Endocrinologist

By Adam Behar According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 37.3 million Americans have diabetes, or 11.3 percent of the population. Millions have it but haven’t been diagnosed.

This is why OpSam Health, formerly known as Operation Samahan, has recruited Dr. Krystal Valdez, the first endocrinologist to join the OpSam team.

Born and raised in the Philippines, Dr. Valdez says she wants her fellow Filipinos to know “that there’s a specialist who speaks Tagalog and who can converse with them in their native language.” She points out that there’s “a hindrance for some Filipinos,” because they may find it difficult to talk freely with non-Filipino doctors. “I’m here for them,” she says.

OpSam Increases Specialists The addition of Dr. Valdez is part of OpSam’s ongoing commitment, under CEO Archie Bella, to expand its number of specialists. The OpSam team now has specialists including a cardiologist, a chiropractor, two dentists, and soon, a gastroenterologist.

Dr. Valdez works out of both the Mira Mesa and National City clinics, and is fluent in Tagalog. She joined OpSam in February.

As an endocrinologist, her specialty is diagnosing and treating diabetes, which she says “is the bread and butter of endocrinology.”

Almost 70 percent of her patients are diabetic and the rest have thyroid issues or problems with obesity or with their adrenal glands. Her job, she says, “is to help patients keep their hormones in balance.”

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease in which

Dr. Krystal Valdez the body’s ability to produce insulin is impaired, which can cause your glucose level to increase.

“First,” says Dr. Valdez, “you have to find out what type of diabetes you have, because that will determine how it’s managed and treated.”

In Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas is unable to make insulin. In Type 2, the pancreas makes less insulin and your body becomes resistant to insulin. Type 2 is most common in older adults, says Dr. Valdez.

However, according to the CDC, Type 2 diabetes has substantially increased among young people over the last two decades.

Diagnosing and treating diabetes “Diabetes is a silent disease,” says Dr. Valdez. In other words, sometimes there’s not specific symptoms to detect. “The most common symptoms would be more frequently urination, feeling hungry all the time, or losing weight.”

She typically treats Type I diabetes with insulin. Type 2 patients can “benefit from non-insulin agents,” she says, such as oral medications or

once-a-week injections that will help improve their insulin resistance.

Whether a patient requires insulin depends on how high their sugar levels are, she says.

It’s not the end of the world “When they get the diagnosis, it’s normal to feel worried,” says Dr. Valdez. “I calm my patients by giving them the facts: it’s a very manageable condition and it’s not the end of the world.” She says, if they follow her recommendations, diabetes “shouldn't be something that will cut years off of your life.”

With advances in technology, managing diabetes is much easier today. For example, there are devices that make it easy to track your sugar levels and medications that can be taken instead of insulin.

“I get a lot of Filipino patients who are diabetic,” she says.

However, Filipinos are not more susceptible to diabetes than other people. She theorizes that “there might have been some changes in the diet when some Filipinos migrated to the U.S., which could be a factor.

Other factors that could predispose you to the disease include having a family history of diabetes or being significantly overweight. Focusing on lifestyle changes is key. “It's a big part of managing diabetes,” Dr. Valdez emphasizes. “Eating well, getting enough exercise, and not smoking.”

Her Inspiration Dr. Valdez grew up in Manila and came to the U.S. with her family when she was 25. They settled in the Norwalk section of Los Angeles, where her family still lives. She notes that she comes from a family of doctors. Her father, now retired, was a pediatrician and her mother an See Opsam's on

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2 • October 20, 2023 - October 26, 2023

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CONGRATULATIONS and BEST WISHES ON YOUR RETIREMENT MASTER CHIEF EDWIN ESPINA

Master Chief Edwin Espina

NATIONAL CITY- Originally from Leyte, Tacloban, Edwin Espina joined the Navy on November 15,1993. His retirement ceremony was held on October 6, 2023 at Murphy Canyon Chapel . The reception was celebrated at his home in Bonita, Californa attended by his fellow shipmates, close friends and family.

We THANK YOU for your dedicated “30” years of service, Master Chief Espina! May you enjoy your retirement and quality time with your family.

Top photo shows AJ Timbang, Charlene Espina Timbang, Edward Espina, Edwin Espina, Cheryl Espina, Eric Espina, Raxsel Espina and Elias Espina. Master Chief Edwin Espina is married to his loving wife Cheryl, popularly known to his friends and family as "Che".

Bottom left panel photo is Master Chief Edwin Espina, upclose and personal. (Courtesy photos)

Dining and Photo Opportunity at VILLA Manila Restaurant 120LB Giant Pumpkin Display 500 East 8th St. NC CA 91950 (619)477-8512 Open Tues-Sun.

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DFA: ASEAN to come out with united position vs. Israel-Hamas crisis MANILA -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is coming out with a joint statement that will likely condemn the ongoing violence happening in both Israel and the Gaza Strip this week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday.

Varying national statements have been issued by the bloc’s member states but the regional grouping has yet to issue a united position on the Oct. 7 Hamas attack against Israel and its ensuing retaliatory strikes on the militants in southern Gaza.

“It is a statement and the draft is still moving but (on) the condemnation issue it will be limited to the terrorism and violence on both sides,” DFA Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro told reporters in a presser in Pasay.

Lazaro said Indonesia initiated the call for a joint statement in its capacity as ASEAN chair.

ASEAN’s previous position over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict had been consistent, with the bloc supporting the two-state solution.

But the statement will come following the reported strike on alAhli Arab Hospital in Gaza City that killed hundreds of civilians on Tuesday.

The Health Ministry in the Hamas-controlled enclave blamed the Israeli side while the Israel Defense Forces said a rocket fired by the Islamic Jihad militants toward Israel “misfired and hit the hospital”.

The DFA has yet to issue an official comment on the specific hospital strike but said attacks on civilian infrastructure “is a concern not only for us the Philippines but even the whole of ASEAN”.

“ASEAN will come up with a statement within the day or tomorrow on this issue of humanitarian law,” Lazaro said.

“That is a concern that will be hopefully conveyed,” she added.

‘2 Filipino doctors safe’ There are a total of 135 Filipinos in the Gaza Strip, two working as doctors there.

In the same briefing, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose De Vega said all Filipinos in the besieged enclave are safe and the majority of them are still waiting for the borders between Gaza and Egypt to open and leave.

“So far, our embassy is saying the Filipinos are safe and so far there are no attacks in their areas,” he said.

16 OFWs, infant affected by Israel-Hamas conflict arrive at NAIA A total of 16 repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Israel and a one-month-old infant arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) recently.

Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) officer-in-charge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac, together with the officials from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Health and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), welcomed the OFWs. Upon arrival, the OFWs immediately received financial assistance and were assured by the various government agencies of

other forms of assistance.

“Bukod sa financial assistance habang kayo ay nasa Israel, kami rin po ay magbibigay ng PHP50,000 para sa inyo. Sasagutin din ng OWWA ang inyong transportasyon hanggang sa inyong mga probinsya at kung connecting flight, hanggang sa hotel accommodation, kasi ganyan namin kayo kamahal (Aside from the financial assistance while you were in Israel, we will also give you PHP50,000.

OWWA will also shoulder your transportation expenses to your respective provinces, and if you have connecting flights, even your hotel accommodation, that is how we love you),” OWWA Deputy Administrator Honey Quino told the OFWs. Other agencies present during the arrival also committed to helping the repatriated OFWs. TESDA Deputy Director General Aniceto Bertiz said the agency will distribute a scholarship commitment certificate to the returned OFWs, assuring them that they could avail of TESDA’s scholarship program nationwide.

He said TESDA has 17 regional offices and 87 provincial offices, aside from the schools that they run nationwide.

“We are closely coordinating with the Department of Migrant Workers para maihanda kayo. Ang TESDA ay handang tumulong para magkaroon kayo ng new skills at training, kasama na rin yung livelihood program (to prepare you.

TESDA is ready to help you acquire new skills and training, including our livelihood program),” Bertiz said.

He added TESDA will also provide financial assistance of PHP5,000 to each of the OFWs, and if they opt to avail of the Skills Training for Employment Program (STEP) such as the bread and pastry training, they would also be given a free oven and other materials needed so they could start with their own business.

Meanwhile, the DOH said they will provide medical assistance, including psycho-social counseling, stress debriefing and medical referral.

Senator Raffy Tulfo, chair of the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers, and OFW Party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino were also at the NAIA to welcome the repatriated OFWs affected by the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

PH on Gaza hospital strike: Warring parties must spare civilians The Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), on Wednesday renewed its call on all parties in the Israel-Hamas conflict to ensure that civilians are protected after an airstrike hit a Gaza hospital killing hundreds.

“The Philippines is profoundly saddened over the recent bombing of the Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza,” DFA Spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said in a statement.

“We grieve for the hundreds of innocent lives lost in this tragic incident, non-combatants which include medical practitioners, children, the wounded, and displaced individuals who only sought shelter

at the facility,” she added.

She said all parties “should do their utmost to protect civilians in times of war and armed conflict”.

It then expressed its support to United Nations efforts to provide humanitarian relief in the conflict areas.

The Health Ministry in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip blamed the Israeli side while the Israel Defense Forces said a rocket fired by the Islamic Jihad militants toward Israel “misfired and hit the hospital”.

The strike, which further escalates the Israeli-Hamas conflict, prompted on Wednesday international condemnations, including from the US and the United Nations.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres underscored that hospitals and medical personnel are protected under the international humanitarian law.

Filipinos fleeing Gaza safe but supplies running low -- DFA Supplies are running low for the dozens of Filipinos waiting to flee Gaza as the Israeli offensive against the Hamas militant group continues and the borders of the besieged enclave remain closed.

“They are safe, the question is kumusta na ‘yong kanilang supplies at syempre may blockade so limited ‘yong food and electricity sa Gaza (the question is, how is their supply.

Of course there's a blockade so the food and electricity in Gaza are limited),” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview Tuesday.

De Vega said they also received a report that one of them has resorted to eating expired bread to get by.

“I won’t lie na napakaganda ng kondisyones nila nor is it na ‘yong ating mga opisyales sa Amman ay makakapasok (I won't lie that their condition there is ideal nor is it that our officials from Amman can enter to lend help),” he added.

But de Vega said talks between Egypt and Israel are continuous to allow the safe passage of foreigners out of the enclave.

The Rafah border between Egypt and Gaza, as well as the Kerem Shalom crossing from Gaza to Israel -- both in the southern portion of the coastal strip -- remain closed.

Israel shuttered the Kerem Shalom following the Hamas militant’s surprise attack on southern Israel last week, leaving Rafah the only viable option for people fleeing the conflict.

“Both sides ayaw nila na gagamitin itong pagbubukas para may makatakas na Hamas (Both sides want to avoid allowing the Hamas to leave),” de Vega said.

“Ang sabi ng Israeli it could be any day now na magbubukas so kailangan handa ‘yong ating mga kababayan (The Israelis said it could be any day now so our nationals must be ready),” he added.

De Vega said the names of Filipinos who registered for evacuation have been submitted to the Egyptian government for consideration.

“May guarantee tayo diyan, ang walang guarantee ay sa northern Gaza at city of Gaza kaya nananawagan See DFA on 8

FREE RIDES. Electronic tricycles (e-trikes) wait near the Manila City Hall, ready to ferry commuters for free amid the transport strike on Monday (Oct. 16, 2023). The city government mobilized 20 e-trikes, three sports utility vehicles from the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and two Manila Police District transporters and 16 patrol vehicles along major routes to aid stranded passengers. (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)

PBBM suspends implementation of Maharlika fund law MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the suspension of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 11954 or the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) Act of 2023, Malacañang announced Wednesday.

In an Oct. 12 memorandum signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin by authority of the President, the Bureau of Treasury (BTr), in coordination with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), was directed to suspend the implementation of the IRR of RA 11954, “pending further study thereof.”

The memorandum also mandates the BTr to notify all concerned heads of departments, bureaus, offices and other agencies of the executive department, including government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs), about the suspension of the implementation of MIF law.

The memorandum which takes effect immediately was addressed to BTr officer-in-charge Sharon Almanza, LBP president and chief executive officer (CEO) Lynette Ortiz and DBP president and CEO Michael de Jesus.

In a statement, the Office of the Executive Secretary said the directive was to make sure that there will be safeguards to ensure the proper use of Maharlika fund.

“President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued a suspension because he wanted to study carefully the IRR to ensure that the purpose of the fund will be realized for the country's development with safeguards in place for transparency and accountability,” it said.

Under RA 11954 inked by Marcos on July 18, the MIF is established to optimize national funds by generating returns to support the Marcos administration’s economic goals laid out in the Medium-Term Fiscal Framework, the 8-point Socioeconomic Agenda, and the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.

According to the law, the MIF will be used to invest in a wide range of assets, including foreign currencies, fixedincome instruments, domestic and foreign corporate bonds, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, real estate and highimpact infrastructure projects that contribute to the attainment of sustainable development.

The BTr issued the IRR of the MIF Act on Aug. 28, following consultations with founding government financial institutions (GFIs), LBP, DBP and the Technical Working Group consisting of the Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC), and the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG).

Landbank, DBP allay depositors’ fear about Maharlika contribution Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) on Tuesday allayed fears of depositors that their savings would be affected

by the state-run lenders’ remittance to the seed capital of Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF).

This, after Landbank and DBP sought regulatory relief from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) as their respective capital infusions into the MIF could render them non-compliant with central bank regulations.

“Depositors are with a bank that is liquid and stable. There is nothing to worry about,” Landbank president and CEO Lynette Ortiz told GMA News Online.

For his part, DBP president and CEO Michael de Jesus said, “We are seeking regulatory relief because if we breach the minimum capital requirements, there will be fines and penalties.”

“This [is what] we want to avoid,” De Jesus said in a Viber message, adding that “depositors of DBP should not worry.”

“The P25-billion Maharlika contribution of DBP will not have an adverse effect on our depositors.

The P25 billion will come from existing assets. We sell existing assets then invest in Maharlika (which is also an asset),” he said.

Landbank and DBP remitted P50 billion and P25 billion, respectively, to the Bureau of the Treasury —which will put in escrow the seed funds for the initial capital of the MIF until the sovereign wealth fund and the state-run firm that will manage it become operational.

BSP Governor Eli Remolona said the regulatory relief being asked for by the banks was due to the capital infusion they provided to MIF, which “may make them non-compliant with our capital requirements.”

Under the BSP’s regulations, universal banks are required to have a minimum capitalization of P3 billion up to P20 billion, depending on the number of branches.

Landbank has an authorized capital stock of P200 billion, while DBP has an authorized capital of P35 billion.

Central bank rules also require banks to maintain a capital adequacy ratio - an indicator of a bank’s ability to meet its obligations - of 10%.

In a separate statement, Landbank said its capital adequacy ratio (CAR) remains at a “very healthy level” of 16.61% as of endJune 2023, well above the 10% minimum requirement of the BSP. “Even with the bank’s P50 billion seed capital to the MIC (Maharlika Investment Corp.) as mandated by Republic Act No. 11954, otherwise known as the Maharlika Investment Fund Act of 2023, the bank will meet its CAR requirements,” Landbank said.

Relatedly, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order No. 43, which adjusted the percentage of net earnings to be declared and remitted by Landbank for Calendar Year 2022 from 50% to 0%.

The EO 43 stated that the secretary of Finance recommended the downward adjustment of Landbank’s dividend rate “to support the capital position of the Landbank, maintain its compliance with BSP regulations on capital adequacy requirements, and expand its role in the economic recovery of industries adversely affected by

the COVID-19 pandemic, in the interest of national economy and general welfare.”

Apart from Landbank and DBP, the MIF’s initial capitalization would be sourced from the P50billion contribution from the national government, which will come from the following sources: Under the law, the MIF has an authorized capital stock of P500 billion.

The BSP’s Monetary Board earlier declared a dividend of P31.859 billion “in favor of the national government,” which will then be used to bankroll the MIF. The MIF, the country’s first sovereign wealth fund, is a pool of funds sourced from state-run financial institutions that will be invested in high-impact projects, real estate, as well as in financial instruments.

House panel OKs bill making senior high optional for tech-voc pursuers A House of Representatives panel on Wednesday approved a measure that would make Grades 11 and 12 optional for students who prefer pursuing a technicalvocational education.

During the hearing, the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture, chaired by Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo, approved an unnumbered substitute bill, otherwise known as the "Education Pathways Act".

Romulo said the objective of the bill is to help the youth achieve their maximum potential and enhance their employability by establishing education pathways that "empower and equip the learners with the competencies that are necessary for college or employment".

The bill provides that the students, upon completing junior high school, shall have the option to choose between two education pathways: the college preparatory program under the Department of Education (DepEd) or the technical-vocational program under the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

“What will happen is basic education will be K to 10. After 10, we can have a graduation for basic education. But if a learner decides to proceed to a university or a college, then there will be an additional two years. Grades 11 and 12 will be under the Department of Education. But if a learner, after completion of basic education (Grade 10), wishes to take the tech-voc track, which currently I understand about 30 to 36 percent of our learners in fact go to the tech-voc track instead of going to Grades 11 to 12, we will have an upgraded TESDA that will take care of the curriculum together with industry partners,” Romulo said.

“We want the industry to be directly involved so that a degree or diploma can also be obtained by graduates or those who will complete the tech-voc curriculum.

We want Filipinos to understand that tech-voc is globally highly competitive now and it is a highly skilled profession already, unlike how it is being treated right now,” he added.

According to the bill, those See MAHARLIKA on

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October 20, 2023 - October 26, 2023 • 5

A CONFLICT ANALYSIS OF FILIPINOS IN DISTRESS: LOYAL OFW NEVER LEFT PATIENT AS HAMAS CAME TO KILL AND THE BOMBING OF PAL FLIGHT 434 AND THE HEROIC ACTION OF ITS PILOTS AND AIR CREW SAN DIEGO, CA -- Conflict has been a longstanding feature of the Filipinos – our “kababayans” – with two long-running insurgencies and a number of other types of hostilities and violence.

In the current day, the main types of violence and conflict includes violence by state actors against civilians; clan-related violence; political and armed conflicts by nationalist/separatist groups in Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago; a communistinspired guerrilla campaign (mainly in western Mindanao); violent extremists and criminal groups; anti-drug vigilantes; other criminal violence; domestic and genderbased violence; protests; violence around elections; and local conflict over resources and community rights.

There is no doubt about it that that our “kababayans” have developed strong mechanisms over this long history of experience with conflicts (and natural disasters, if I may add, too).

In one of his messages to Filipino Catholics, St. John Paul II (1981) said: “The Philippine nation is deserving of particular honor since from the beginning of its Christianization, from the moment that Magellan planted the Cross in Cebu on 15 April 1521, all through the centuries, its people have remained true to the Christian faith.

In an achievement that remains unparalleled in history, the message of Christ took roots in the hearts of its people with a very brief period, and the Church was thus strongly implanted in this nation of 7,641 islands and numerous tribal and ethnic communities.”

Indeed, the rich geographical and human diversity, the various cultural tradition, and the people’s spirit of joy and sharing, together with the fruits of the missionary efforts, have successfully blended and have shaped a clear national identity that is unmistakably Filipino and truly Christian.

Hence, I do proudly assert that our fellow “kababayans” have a deep sense of responsibility, enjoy a secure spirituality with God, believe that there is meaning to be found in life, and maintain a sense of spiritual connections with others.

And shedding further light on how Filipinos have cope with stressful situations, here’s how they have dealt with it from recent events that have happened: As Hamas fighters swooped into Israel in a coordinated air, sea and land assault on Oct. 7, our “kababayan” Angelyn Peralta Aguirre took refuge in a bomb shelter together with her elderly patient. From there she sent frantic messages to her family in Binmaley, Pangasinan.

“Wadiya la ra. Natatakot ako.

(They are already here. I am afraid),” the 33-year-old physical therapist said in one voice message sent to the family chat group at 1:50 PM, Philippine time. More panicked text messages from Aguirre followed.

Around 5 PM, she went silent.

“At that moment we were praying for her safety. We did not expect that she would be killed,” her sister Wilma told reporters in an interview from their house on Thursday.

Israeli officials are hailing Aguirre as a hero for showing courage when she refused to abandon her 70-year-old patient at a time when she had a choice to leave and save her own life.

In a post on X, Jerusalem’s deputy mayor, Fleur HassanNahoum heaped praises on the Filipino woman.

“Despite having a chance to flee the Hamas terror attacks, Angelyn showed unbelievable humanity and loyalty by remaining by Nira’s side during the violence, resulting in both of them being brutally murdered by Hamas. Unimaginable honor in the face of evil,” she asserted.

Esty Buzgan, deputy chief of mission at the Israel Embassy in Manila remarked: “Our heart goes to Angelyn and her family, please receive my sympathy and condolence for her loss. It’s like losing one of us; it hurts the same.”

Aguirre was one of two overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) confirmed to have died in the Jewish-majority

country, following the shock assault

by Hamas militants near the Gaza border, sparking the declaration of war and a flurry of retaliatory air strikes and bombardment by Israeli forces.

The other victim was Paul Vincent Castelvi, a 42-year-old caregiver from Pampanga, who had reportedly been abducted by the militants before his body was found.

Until last week, the identities of the two victims had been kept under wraps in deference to their families’ wishes.

On Wednesday night, President Ferdinand “BongBong” Marcos extended his condolence to the relatives of the two Filipinos killed in the war in Israel, assuring them of full government support.

“Last night (Wednesday), I made two of the most difficult phone calls I’ve had to make as President. The nation is one in grieving with the families of the Filipinos who were killed in the attacks on Israel,” the President said in a post on his social media accounts.

“We will provide the utmost support to the families they were taken from. This tragedy will not deter our spirit. We will continue to stand for peace,” he added.

Reached by the newspaper “Inquirer” on Thursday, Castelvi’s father Lourdiness burst into sobs as he demanded justice for Castelvi’s death.

“We want justice for Paul,” the 71-year-old conveyed on the phone.

Castelvi had been the family’s breadwinner according to his father.

A high school graduate, Castelvi labored in Saudi Arabia for 10 years as a school bus driver to support his three siblings and parents before finding work as a caregiver in Israel.

In Pangasinan, Aguirre’s sister imparted the family learned that Aguirre and her Israel employer had been lying in a bed when the terrorists attacked their house in Kibbutz Kfar in Gaza. Wilma told everyone grew worried when Aguirre stopped responding to their message. It was only on Monday when it was confirmed that Aguirre had perished, along with her employer.

According to the employer’s daughter, she was on a video call with her mother when the Hamas militants were pushing their way at their house.

“I think this is the end of my life,” the employer told her daughter in the video call, as quoted by Aguirre’s family.

The daughter had articulated to Aguirre’s family how the caregiver bravely helped her patient as they rush to the bomb shelter.

But the quarters had no locks and the militants fired through the door.

“Wadiya la rad abong. Say shelter mi anggapoy lock. Nayari dan idepak.

Mandasal kayo.

Nasumpal la kumon. (They are in the house now. Our shelter has no lock. They can kick it open. Please pray. I hope this stops)!” Aguirre said in one of her last text messages.

Later, her other sister Angenica, who is also working in Israel, informed her family that she had lost contact with Aguirre but had heard reports that a Filipino woman and her employer had been killed and that power was out in Kibbutz Kfar.

Aguirre, a physical therapist graduate from Our Lady of Fatima University in Valenzuela City had been in Israel for six years.

Meanwhile, President Marcos, in a phone call to Angenica promised to have Aguirre’s remains brought home as soon as possible, the family announced.

Similar arrangements are being made for Castelvi’s body but it might wait till December, according to his father.

Explaining the expected delay, Lourdiness affirmed Castelvi’s widow was due to give birth and would need to recover first for the trip back home to the Philippines.

In Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, the family of another caregiver Loreta Villaran Alacre, 49, declared she had been missing since Saturday the day Hamas attacked.

Alacre reportedly attended a music festival near Gaza Strip, one of the areas targeted by the militants.

In a post on Facebook, Alacre’s

Jesse T. Reyes

Filipino Potpourri

"UNIMAGINABLE HONOR IN THE FACE OF EVIL": Loyal Filipina caregiver in Israel, Angelyn Aguirre refused to leave her elderly patient and was murdered by Hamas terrorists alongside her employer on 7 October 2023.

CAPTAIN EDUARDO "ED" REYES (1936 - 14 FEBRUARY 2007): Commended by the U.S. Congress for his valor and clear thinking on PAL Flight 434's harrowing experience on 11 December 1994 and what I believe is one more reason on why Filipino pilots get top priority in local and international airline companies. employer Noam Solomon said her “devoted caregiver” for six years had gone missing.

“Please help find my Lori,” she implored.

The employer said one of Alacre’s companions was shot and found in a hospital. “Loreta was last seen near Netivot and Ashkelon,” Solomon posted.

Alacre’s sister Annabella indicated that the last time she spoke to her sister was on Oct. 5.

“We are praying for Loreta’s safe return,” Annabella said, adding that there was no information on whether Alacre had been abducted by the Hamas.

Alacre had been working in Tel Avi for close to 15 years now.

Moving on with our narrative, few of us are hopping on a flight these days, but even before when we were all free to fly anytime, many of us still get anxious. From the moment the plane takes off to the minute it lands, many people can’t shake off that feeling of dread. Even though the chances of a plane going down is about one in 5.4 million, and the likelihood that you’ll die on an airplane crash is even lower (one in 11 million), there’s always that tiny voice inside our heads that says something might go wrong.

Twenty-nine years ago, something did indeed go wrong.

And it led to a harrowing experience for passengers onboard Philippine Airlines flight 434.

So, what happened to Flight 434?

In 1994, PR 434 was a flight from Manila to Tokyo with a stopover in Cebu. On December 11 of that year, the plane landed in Mactan International Airport at 6:50 AM. One of the passengers from Manila was named Ramzi Yousef, who investigators later said as using a fake name.

Based on the investigations, Yousef went to the lavatory while the plane, a Boeing 747, was airborne to assemble the bomb he managed to bring with him onboard.

He used a modified Casio watch as a timer and took out the wiring, batteries, and spark source from his shoes, which passed through airport security because metal detectors at the time were unable to detect it.

In his toiletry kit he also carried nitroglycerin that he hid inside a bottle of contact lens fluid.

Yousef then moved to seat 26K and stuffed the bomb underneath the seat, where the life vest was. He disembarked in Cebu after setting the bomb to explode in four hours.

The plane took off again from Cebu at 8:38 AM bound for Tokyo.

The flight carried 273 passengers and 20 crew members.

The bomb detonated at 11:43 AM. The passenger sitting on 26K, a 24-year-old Japanese man named Haruki Ikegami, was killed instantly, while at least 10 passengers in front and behind him were injured.

In a retelling of the incident on Canadian TV show Mayday, the blast punctured a hole in the floor toward the cargo hold underneath.

Thankfully, the blast did not reach the aircraft’s fuel tank. If it did, investigators noted it would have likely blown up the entire plane.

“It was as if a big rocket exploded right in the room,” Captain Eduardo Reyes testified during a terror trial two years after the incident.

According to a report in the Washington Post, the blast set part of the ceiling on fire but passengers quickly put it out with blankets.

Because the autopilot was engaged, the plane was able to correct the initial misalignment that the blast caused. In order to guide the plane to safety, the pilot needed to take control of the aircraft, but they were worried that disengaging the autopilot might cause the plane to bank to the right.

In a report on Cebu Daily News, Reyes then calmly made an announcement to the passengers before disengaging the autopilot.

“We’ll be landing at Naha soon, please remain in your seats and

fasten your seat belts,” he said. The report noted that some passengers were crying and that one Japanese passenger even began to write his will. The major problem was that the ailerons, or the part of the plane that enables turning maneuvers, were disabled, and that its elevators, or what controls the aircraft’s ability to ascend and descend, also failed.

But the flight crew, led by Captain Reyes and flight systems engineer Dexter Comendador, remained calm and were determined to land the plane safely. They requested for emergency landing at the closest airport, which was Naha Airport in Okinawa Island.

A U.S. “blackbird” or military stealth plane appeared.

“Please check our undercarriage,” Reyes radioed the U.S. airmen, asking the blackbird pilots to check if a bomb have been left behind and if the landing gears had been released.

“Your gears are solid,” the American pilots responded.

The pilots prepared for landing in Naha.

“Help me with the elevator,” Reyes ordered Comendador and First Officer Jaime Herrera.

The runway at Naha was now in sight. “Pull!” Reyes commanded the co-pilots to slow the airplane’s brakes.

The aviators then breathed a sigh of relief. They safely landed the plane! Hallelujah!

Yes, the intrepid Filipino pilots have heroically landed the crippled plane, saving the lives of all but one of those onboard.

Passengers reportedly burst into applause for Captain Reyes and his crew when the plane finally landed safely about an hour after the explosion.

Japanese first responders and news reporters rushed to the aircraft.

The passengers first disembarked.

The crew and the pilots then followed. Japanese investigators interrogated them for 12 hours.

Yousef was later identified as one of the masterminds of the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center in New York City. The bombing of PAL flight 434 was intended to be a test run of the so-called “Bojinka” plot, a series of terror attacks planned by Yousef and Khalid Sheikh Mohammad that involved blowing up airplanes around the world, assassinating Pope John Paul II and crashing a plane into the headquarters of the CIA in Virgina, U.S.A. The plot later failed after police discovered the suspect’s lair in an apartment in Manila on January 1995. Yousef was later arrested in Pakistan and was convicted for his role in the “Bojinka” plot. He was sentenced to life without parole.

According to Cebu Daily News then, most of the crew of PAL flight 434 resigned and migrated to other countries after the bombing, but the pilots stayed and continued their careers in the Philippines. Captain Reyes moved to Cebu Pacific, retired in 2002 and passed away in 2007. Comendador meanwhile, also moved to Cebu Pacific and then later to AirAsia Philippines, where serves as CEO. From the U.S. Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007) Part 3 (Senate) page 4137 there is a fitting tribute to Captain Eduardo Reyes: “Mrs. Dole, Mr. President, today I wished to honor CPT Eduardo Reyes, a retired pilot who flew for Philippine Airlines.

On December 11, 1994, Captain Reyes was piloting Philippine Airlines flight 434, from Manila to Tokyo, when a bomb planted by now-convicted terrorist Ramzi Yousef was detonated aboard the aircraft. The blast immediately killed 1 Japanese businessman and injured 10 others. It also caused the plane’s controls to stop functioning

normally, putting the lives of everybody aboard the plane at risk.

In this most trying of situations, Captain Reyes and his crew rose to the challenge. Controlling the altitude of the plane via the throttle – which I understand is an extremely difficult thing to do – Captain Reyes kept the plane in the air for nearly an hour before making an emergency landing in Okinawa. His courageous actions and outstanding skill as a pilot helped avert a great disaster and save the lives of 272 passengers and 20 crewmembers.

Captain Reyes later had the courage to testify on behalf of the United States against al-Qaida master bomber Ramzi Yousef. In 1994, Yousef was working on a master plan, often called the Bojinka Plot, to bomb 12 U.S. passenger planes over the Pacific Ocean in a 2-day period, killing over 4,000 civilians. The bombing of Captain Reyes’ plane was a test run for that plan. And, as many have remembered Yousef was also responsible for the bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993.

Captain Reyes’ testimony at Ramzi Yousef’s 1996 trial helped to put one of the world’s most dangerous terrorists on prison for life.

For his valor and clear thinking on December 11, 1994, and for his contribution to the fight against terrorism by testifying against Ramzi Yousef, I would like to commend Captain Reyes. The United States and countries throughout the world are indebted to him for this brave actions.”

The above preceding specific incidents involving Filipinos in distress tells us how our “kababayans” cope and deal with stressful situations – courageously - and often times with complete regards to humanity on their minds - even up to their last breath of life.

From my perspective, there is no doubt that life is difficult. I say this universal truth once understood and accepted allows us to transcend the challenges of daily living.

Life’s difficulties lie on the “common hassles” as well as the major trials of human existence: aging, catastrophic illness, or disability, family, social and economic difficulties; the loss of loved ones; and confronting our death.

There are no easy answers to the problems of life. However, we – as resilient Filipinos - can certainly cope with uncertainties and difficulties.

From its biological and evolutionary roots to complex human social behavior, coping is the essence of living. By utilizing a system of beliefs, practices, and relationships, human beings can negotiate and navigate stressful situations.

One of these systems of beliefs and practices is religion.

Mabuhay!

And may God bless us all!

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Join Sharp Toastmasters group in Chula Vista.

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Dear Readers, Do not hesitate to Email us your story tips, dear editor letter, business referral etc. at info@thefilipinopress.com

4

who wish to pursue the college preparatory pathway will go through senior high school, which will be under the jurisdiction of the DepEd. The DepEd shall develop and implement a comprehensive curriculum for Grades 11 and 12 that prepares students for admission to colleges and universities.

Meanwhile, the students choosing the technical-vocational pathway shall be under the TESDA, which will provide them with a variety of programs designed to equip students with practical skills and competencies for specific industries.

The technical-vocational programs shall include subjects that ensure students will attain functional literacy skills.

Under the bill, TESDA shall be tasked to collaborate with industry partners to ensure that the programs are aligned with current industry needs and standards.

TESDA shall also facilitate apprenticeship programs and onthe-job training opportunities for technical-vocational students to gain practical experience. Industry stakeholders shall be encouraged to provide apprenticeship opportunities and participate in skills development.

The bill also proposes that after completion of the technicalvocational program or upon certification from TESDA of eligibility for college admission, the student may avail of the ladderized education program and enroll in colleges or universities for educational advancement.

PH to lose P60-B this year due to illicit tobacco trade: solon The chairperson of the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee is planning to introduce a measure that would effectively address the rampant

cigarette smuggling, estimating that the revenue losses would reach PHP60.6 billion this year if the current illicit trade persists.

In a message during a multisectoral discussion on Tuesday, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said he would propose a comprehensive tobacco illicit trade bill that addresses everything from smuggling through the de minimis loophole and the country's economic zones, to leakage of tobacco declared for export or transshipment, as well as the manufacture of fake cigarettes.

"We must attack the problem in its complete form – in every stage of the value chain," he said.

He pointed out that there is a problem in the collection of cigarette excise tax, noting that the 2022 collections declined to PHP160.4 billion from PHP173.9 billion in 2021, or a reduction of PHP13.5 billion.

He said the government also missed the 2022 target of PHP191.6 billion by PHP31.2 billion.

Illicit cigarettes, he said, are "easy to come by" in every segment of the market and every venue for selling.

"There is no challenge to buying these brands. And they sell at as low as one-fifth the price of licit cigarettes. Walang kalaban-laban ang matino (The legitimate ones don’t stand a chance)," he said.

"Even fakes of premium brands are becoming easier to come by. From the same online shopping sites, fakes that are half the price and, supposedly, of the same flavor, are sold openly."

He also highlighted that the health costs of smoking-related diseases are PHP188 billion this year, arguing that the cost could decline to as low as PHP150.9 billion without illicit tobacco trade.

Until the issue of illicit trade in cigarettes is resolved to a significant degree, he said, there would be hesitation among the

public to support further tax increases in tobacco.

"In the meantime, the revenue base will continue to shrink and there is a chance that prevalence might actually increase as a result of cheaper illicit alternatives. This is a serious national crisis. For better or for worse, our advocacy of higher taxes played a role in making the illicit sector more attractive. We have a responsibility to help solve this problem," he said.

Technology seen to boost DENR's monitoring of protected areas The Senate Finance Subcommittee B is pushing to provide additional budget for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to strengthen its monitoring of the country's legislated protected areas.

Finance subcommittee chair Senator Cynthia Villar said the PHP444-million allocation under the DENR’s proposed PHP24.572billion budget for 2024 is not enough to monitor the 4.2 million hectares of protected lands.

"Alam ko na yung pera hindi magkakasya kasi (I know that the money is not enough because) in addition that you have to watch over the protected areas, you also have to improve based on the problems that you encounter," she said during the Senate budget hearing Wednesday.

This despite DENR Secretary Ma. Antonia "Toni" Yulo-Loyzaga told the committee that while the agency has its forest protection enforcement budget, communities are being deputized to help monitor the activities within the area.

"We work with what we are given po. We do request every year for of course additional budget and what we are trying to do now is also apply some new technology po. We use the drone, satellite imagery. However, hindi po talaga kakayanin (it cannot sustain). There

are areas wherein one ranger has to cover thousands of hectares," YuloLoyzaga said.

Villar agreed saying that the use of technology is cheaper and more effective than hiring security personnel.

"They tolerate. At saka yung sinasabi mong people's organization (PO), dapat babantayan din yan.

Hindi naman lahat ng people's organization matino. Baka mamaya ite-take advantage lang yung (And the people's organization that you're saying should also be monitored.

Not all people's organization are upright. They might also take advantage of the) legislated protected area," the lawmaker said, adding the DENR has an existing 282 agreements with different POs all over the country.

These agreements include the Protected Area CommunityBased Resource Management Agreement (PACBRMA) with the controversial Socorro Bayanihan Services, Inc. (SBSI) in Surigao del Norte which was recently suspended due to gross violations of its terms and conditions.

PACBRMA is one of the three major tenure instruments being issued by the DENR to POs, which is tasked to rehabilitate by planting and undertaking some allowable livelihoods in the awarded protected area with the duration of 25 years subject to renewal or suspension.

The revenues generated from the protected areas are being deposited to the DENR's Integrated Protected Area Fund, wherein 75 percent is retained for the operations of the protected area and 25 percent is remitted to the National Treasury.

However, the DENR reported to the committee that in the previous years, not the full 75 percent is being released to the agency.

Villar vowed to look into the matter and consult with the Department of Budget and Management. (MNS)

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October 20, 2023 - October 26, 2023 • 7

Help Wanted / For Rent / For Sale

PH TERROR

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successful in warding off, in defending our network(s)," he added.

Brawner said the attempts to attack the military systems are made by both foreign and local hackers.

"I'm not sure but what I could say is that almost everyday we experience attempts to attack our, the entire networks of the AFP," he added.

Brawner said the AFP will be defended against these threats once the proposed Cyber Command is activated.

PNP chief orders boosted cybersecurity measures amid hacking incidents MANILA, Oct 19 (Mabuhay) -Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. has ordered the implementation of measures to boost the cybersecurity of the police force's offices amid the spate of hacking of government websites.

In a press briefing in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Wednesday, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) has been tapped to oversee the implementation of these measures, which were discussed during a recent command conference attended by police officials.

She added that an investigation is underway after reports that the data system of the PNP Forensic Group has been compromised following an alleged hacking incident.

"Our ACG, in coordination with the ITMS (Information Technology Management Service), is looking into whether the integrity of the Forensic Group's data system, particularly the DNA data system, has been compromised," she said.

Fajardo, however, assured that the databases of the PNP’s Forensic Group, such as DNA, Combined DNA Index System, Integrated Ballistics Identification System, and Automated

Fingerprint Identification System, are all intact.

She also said the online portal of the PNP Recruitment and Selection Service (PRSS) was not affected by a previously reported data breach.

Fajardo said the ITMS personnel are going around PNP offices to conduct vulnerability tests.

“The vulnerability test would determine whether our systems, particularly those connected with the Internet are vulnerable to attacks kaya pinapalakas din natin hindi lamang yung hardware pati na rin yung ating mga software (The vulnerability test would determine whether our systems, particularly those connected with the Internet, are vulnerable to attacks, so we are strengthening not only the

hardware but also our software),” she said.

She added that the ACG is willing to provide technical assistance to help other government agencies in investigating hacking and data system breach incidents.

The series of hacking incidents began with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., which was hit by a ransomware attack.

The hackers gained access to the state insurer's online systems and demanded USD300,000 in exchange for not leaking the personal data they had acquired.

The Philippine Statistics Authority has also announced that its Community-Based Monitoring System, which contained personal and

sensitive personal information, was accessed by hackers.

On Oct. 15, the House of Representatives website was also compromised.

Meanwhile, two ranking police officials have been included in the latest reorganization of the PNP. Based on PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr.'s order dated Oct. 18, Southern Police District (SPD) Director Brig. Gen. Roderick Mariano was reassigned to the Office of the Chief PNP while Brig. Gen. Mark

Pespes from Directorate of Intelligence (DI) as the new acting director of the Southern Police District (SPD).

The SPD covers the cities of Parañaque, Pasay, Makati, Taguig, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa and the municipality of Pateros.

Pespes was among those who responded to the botched escape of Abu Sayyaf leader Idang Susukan and Daulah Islamiyah members Arnel Cabintoy and Feliciano Sulayao Jr. from the PNP Custodial Center at Camp Crame on Oct. 9, 2022. (MNS)

8 • October 20, 2023 - October 26, 2023

Filipino Press

Spiritual Life The reward of compassion Most loving God, there are moments in our lives when we withhold help to others because we are afraid to go beyond ourselves and other people’s perception. Give us a brave heart and a deep faith to help those who are behind bars.

Imbue us with love so that we can get rid of our fears and prejudices that deters us from reaching out to those who are not like us or who are different from us. Cast away our fears and change our unyielding heart through the power of Your love. Amen.

I said this prayer after I read the following story.

In 1921 Lewis Lawes became the warden at Sing Sing Prison.

No prison was tougher than Sing Sing during that time. But when Warden Lawes retired some 20 years later, that prison had become a humanitarian institution. Those who studied the system said credit for the change belonged to Lawes.

But when he was asked about the transformation, he said; “I owe it all to my wonderful wife, Catherine who is buried outside the prison walls.”

Catherine Lawes was a young mother with three small children when her husband became the warden.

Everybody warned her from the beginning that she should never set foot inside the prison walls, but that didn’t stop Catherine. When the first prison basketball game was held, she

Aurora S. Cudal-Rivera

My Personal Testimony

went walking into the gym with her three beautiful kids and she sat in the stands with the inmates.

Her attitude was, “my husband and I are going to take care of these men and I believe they will take care of me! I don’t have to worry.”

She insisted on getting acquainted with them and their records. She discovered one convicted murderer was blind so she paid him a visit.

Holding his hand she said, “Do you read Braille?”. The prisoner asked, “ What’s Braille”. Then she taught him how to read. Years later he will weep in love for her.

Later Catherine found a deafmute in prison. She went to school to learn how to use sign language.

Many said that Catherine Lawes was the body of Jesus that came alive again in Sing Sing from 1921 to1937.

Then Catherine was killed in a car accident. The next morning Lewis Lawes didn’t come to work,

so the acting warden took his place.

It seemed almost instantly that the prison knew something was wrong.

The following day, her body was resting in a casket in her home, three quarters of a mile from the prison. As the acting warden took his early morning walk he was shocked to see a large crowd of the toughest, hardest-looking criminals gathered like a herd of animals at the main gate. He came closer and he noted tears of grief and sadness.

He knew how much they loved Catherine. He turned and face the men, “All right, men, you can go.

Just be sure to check in tonight!.

Then he opened the gate and a parade of criminals walked without a guard, the three-quarters of a mile to stand in line to pay their final respects to Catherine Lawes. And every one of them checked back in.

Every one.”

Could we be like Catherine? I wonder.

Don't give up!

This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God... You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:2, 4) There was an oppressive heaviness in the air. I had an overwhelming feeling of being alone. I felt like no one cared - like I was a failure. These thoughts and feelings were incredibly real. They consumed me and to some extent, even paralyzed me.

Relationships became stressed, problems became overwhelming and a general veil of darkness came over me. As I prayed and sought God, I began to feel as if He wasn't even hearing me. It became obvious that I was facing some intense spiritual warfare. I knew that the only way to combat it was through focused and intense prayer. Request a prayer mentor.

The first step is to realize the truth of where the battle comes from. Remember the words of Paul: "For our struggle is not against

Greetings in the Lord!

On this 29th Sunday in Ordinary time our readings lead us a different perspective of the reign of God. In the past Sundays we reflected on the inner nature of the God’s reign where it was compared, in last Sunday’s Gospel, to a wedding feast of the son of the King; the participation of which required invitation that demands free response besides the fact that appropriate conduct and attire were both made as requirements for those in attendance. The Sundays prior to last, we listened to how Jesus spoke in parables that work in the vineyard is open to all and its compensation is equal to each, no matter, how long or how brief the duration of the work would last. All these gospel readings point to the nature of the reign of God and the invitation to be a part of it which, nonetheless, has their own requirements to fulfill. Today’s gospel speaks of the relationship of the reign of God to external institutions whose importance are also significant in the social elements of the life of men and women.

This reality is presented in the Gospel of Matthew through a question that was posed by the Pharisees. who plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech. (Matt.

22: 15). The question was “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not.” (Matt. 22:19). The

From Whom All Blessings Flow Don't give up!

Jesus didn't come as a king, but as a helpless infant (Luke 2).

Although he was perfectly God and perfectly human at the same time (John 1:14), he lived his life as a humble laborer. After he began his ministry, he demonstrated humble service to others in the miracles he performed, as well as in his instruction to his disciples.

When the time came for him to die, he submitted to his Father's divine will (Mark 14:36). And now, seated in power at the right hand of God, he intercedes on our behalf (Acts 5:29-32).

As the perfect model for godly leadership, Jesus set the perfect example of humility. Ask God to help you follow Jesus' example as you seek to demonstrate the kind of humility that will cause others to see Jesus in you. <(((><

Fr. Agustin T. Opalalic answer of Jesus was very wise and prudent for a seemingly simple man when he said: “Show me the coin that pays the census tax… Whose image is this and whose inscription?”

And after they replied that it was “Caesar.” He said to them in reply: “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” (Matt. 22: 21) This wise and prudent answer has become the basis for the fundamental understanding of the relationship between the reign of God and the secular state. This may be phased as the “church and state relationship.”

It must be noted that both institutions have “similar ends in view.” On the one hand, the State might be defined as an institution having for its end the promotion of the temporal well-being of its members. The temporal well-being of the members of the state are mentioned in the Catechism of the Catholic Church

(CCC n. 1907) as “In the name of the common good, public authorities are bound to respect the fundamental and inalienable rights of the human person.” On the other hand the Church looks mainly to the eternal welfare of its members. Both have their power from God, the Church holding hers from Christ, while the State receives its powers, not an assembly of men, but from God.” (Is. 45: 4-6) What a beautiful message to ponder during these times when our Christian moral values are being questioned and their interpretation as well as implementation are legislated into norms that often are affected by the present culture of the people whose worldview are influenced by current ideologies that oftentimes contradict nature of man and even Christian morality.

As we are about to end the ordinary season of the liturgical year and enter into another season of the liturgical calendar, let us pray that the understanding of the goals of both institutions would become clear to us, Catholics, so that we can discern, deliberate and finally decide the right path to undertake for our present and future lives, guided by the wise answer of Jesus to the Pharisees many years ago: “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” (Matt. 22: 21)

FINDING MEANING Ni Salvador S. Idos

Our journey in life involves a search for meaning to events as they unfold in our daily life. I am a Senior and I am very much aware of my own mortality as I live what could be the twilight years of my life. I am aware and have fully accepted the suffering the infirmities which comes with the advancing years.

Our main goal in life is TO ATTAIN HOLINESS, to become Christ-like by having an intimate relationship with our Lord Jesus.

Danny Hernaez

flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12) Acknowledge that the enemy is trying to trip you up. Audibly command the enemy to leave you alone. Recruit focused prayer support to join you in the battle against the enemy. Remember, "the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."

As you face the enemy, God will give you the strength and hope you need for each moment. Cling to Him, release your burdens and battles to Him. He will guide your steps. Know that the promises He gave you in the light hold true through the darkness. Then, one day, you will realize that the incredible battle you were in has been won and God is the victor.

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Suffering at any stage in our life especially at an old age is a path to Holiness because it draws us closer to God. It is a humbling reminder that we are weak and vulnerable and that we need the strength of God to help us pull through. Suffering

DFA

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kami kung may Filipino man doon to please leave and go to the other parts of Gaza close to the border (We have guarantee there, but we don't have one in the northern Gaza and Gaza City that's why we ask our nationals who are still there to go to other parts of Gaza close to the border),” he said.

As of Oct. 17, the number of Filipinos in Gaza is at 135, four of whom were added from the initial 131.

Of this number, some 78 are near the Rafah border and other parts of southern Gaza.

Meanwhile, de Vega said three Filipinos in Israel are still missing

Opsam's

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OBGYN. Dr. Valdez recalls “going with them when they were doing clinics or rounds in the hospital,” and knowing early on that she’d follow in their footsteps.

Adjusting to San Diego “I like San Diego a lot,” she says.

“There's great Asian restaurants and Filipino food,” but she also enjoys cooking herself. She likes the beach, going to plays, and experiencing concerts and cultural activities. And she’s grateful that San Diego has such a large Filipino community.

could lead to a complete surrender to God’s will. If we allow God to take full control of our lives it could lead us to the road of Holiness thus giving meaning to the Mystery of suffering.

of our Lord on the Cross so that we too with His Mercy could share in the Glory of His Resurrection.

The Catholic church holds that “All who die in God’s grace and friendship but still imperfectly purified undergo a process of purification which the Church calls “Purgatory” so as to achieve Holiness necessary to enter the Joy of Heaven.” All of us have our own cross to bear. If we embrace our suffering with Love, it could transform us into a much better person. Suffering on earth and going through Purgatory after life are both soul cleansing leading to Holiness. There can be no Easter without Good Friday. We unite our suffering with the suffering

Salvador S. Idos

since Oct. 7 but said there is still no confirmation whether they are among the people abducted by the Hamas group into Gaza Strip.

“We don’t have confirmation that the reason they are missing is because they were kidnapped by Hamas,” he said.

The bodies of the two of the three Filipino fatalities, on the other hand, are expected to be repatriated within the month.

The other casualty will be cremated and will be brought home by his wife around November, de Vega said.

DFA confirms fourth Filipino fatality in Israel-Hamas war The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday confirmed that another Filipino has been killed in Israel following the

Hamas attack on the country.

The DFA said the victim was a Filipina caregiver working in a communal settlement in Israel when the Hamas militant mounted a surprise attack on Oct. 7.

“I regret to inform the nation that we have received confirmation from the Israeli government of another Filipino casualty in Israel,” DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo posted on X, formerly Twitter.

He said the government has given assurance to the next of kin of its full support and assistance.

DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said the fourth fatality was one of the three Filipinos declared missing.

He said there is still no information on the two remaining missing Filipinos. (MNS)

Get Screened Her advice for the readers of “The Filipino Press” is “to get screened for diabetes” especially as you enter your ‘40s or ‘50s. “You don't want to wait until your organs are failing because then it may be too late to do something about it,” she warns.

People with diabetes are at higher risk for heart disease or a stroke, amputation, and premature death.

Payment Medi-Cal is accepted at all OpSam Health locations, and most patients don’t have co-pays. Selfpaid patients are given a sliding fee schedule with a set amount.

Make an Appointment

Dr. Valdez works in OpSam’s Mira Mesa clinic on Monday through Wednesday and in the National City clinic on Thursday and Friday.

Make an appointment at OpSam’s Mira Mesa or National City clinic by calling (209) 683-5640. For all medical clinic locations, call (844) 200-2426 For more information, visit their website at www.opsam.org.

OpSam Mira Mesa 10737 Camino Ruiz, Suite # 235 San Diego, CA 92126 OpSam National City 2835 Highland Avenue National City, CA 91950

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Christian beliefs, Natural Law, and Man’s Contradictions

The Israeli-Hamas War enters its second week and promises to get nastier, bloodier, and even bigger in scope with the potential to expand beyond the Israel-Gaza borders.

What began as a terrorist attack on a Saturday, October 7 to be exact,

by Hamas militants, an international terrorist group, inflected on hundreds of Israeli civilians. The gory scenes exploded in living rooms who awaked to such dastardly acts.

In response, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared an all-out war that he projected to be a long one. Israel’s response was immediate and began leveling high rise structures in Gaza City. The toll is now over 4,000 with 1,400 Israelis and the rest were on the Palestinian side, the result of indiscriminate bombing in the city. Israel vowed to go after Hamas with “whatever it takes,” and thus pile up the number of deaths in Gaza.

Many sections in Gaza are now in rubble. Hospitals are overwhelmed, body bags are running out, electricity and food supplies have been cut off, and the death toll promises to continue to rise. Let’s pause a minute and reflect. First, what is terrorism? Oxford dictionary defines it as “the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims.”

The FBI defines international terrorism as “Violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/ or groups who are inspired by, or associated with, designated foreign terrorist organizations or nations (state-sponsored). In simple terms, terrorism involves intentional use of violence and intimidation to achieve political or ideological aims.

The Hamas massacre of civilians including women, older people and

children clearly falls under this definition. But what about Israel’s response? Media reports that about 40% of those killed in Gaza were children, women and older people who could not escape the wrath of Israel. Is the indiscriminate bombing a terrorist act in pursuit of a political goal, the elimination of Hamas?

Hamas ruled Gaza but there were over 2 million Palestinians who do not necessarily support Hamas but are ruled by intimidation.

The West, led by the United States joins Israel for a just cause.

A justified war means that Israel can inflict unlimited punishment on Hamas and the unspoken words here will be that “we’re sorry for the collateral damage.” Hamas started the attack and media coverage has focused there and in the aftermath of the counterattack. However, the recent flare-ups are but a symptom of a much bigger problem of finding a two-state solution on the PalestineIsraeli issue.

There is palpable anger from both sides of the border accusing each other of murdering innocent civilians. The Christian instinct is to bless the innocent victims so they may rest in peace. Natural Law from Moses’ decalogue forbids killing, full stop. There is no parsing as to whether the killing is justified.

“Thou shall not kill” is a law handed by the ultimate lawgiver – God. In the aftermath of the Hamas killing of innocent civilians, polling in America reflected an overwhelming majority that “Israel is justified to take every measure necessary” to go after Hamas. Did Israel warn the Palestinian people to leave Gaza for their army’s impending land incursion into the city? Yes, through the media and by dropping leaflets on Gaza City

warning over a million civilians to leave the city.

In August of 1945, polling of Americans showed that 85% of Americans said “yes” that the atomic bombs dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima, Japan were justified to end the war. Seventy years later, a similar polling was conducted and 63% of Americans still believe that the atomic bombing was justified.

This is coming from a predominantly Christian country.

This is man’s contradiction to Natural Laws such as murder. Man can kill in self-defense – a justifiable act in many American laws, if it is done to prevent a serious crime. The Church interprets Commandment #5 as forbidding unjust killing. In the Book of Exodus (which came from the Hammurabi Code of Ancient Mesopotamia) is a commandment expressing the principle of reciprocal justice (lex talionis) of ‘an eye for an eye,” meaning retribution must be commensurate with the offense.

Clearly, what is happening on the ground in the Middle East is beyond God’s admonition. Rather, it follows what the God of Israel told Joshua to cross the Jordan River to get to the Promised Land. And when he gets there, to kill the tribes that were already there, the Canaanites, if he wants lasting peace for the Israelites.

One dramatic scene from the Book of Joshua is in nearby Canaan in the city of Gibeon where Joshua asked God to stop the moon and the sun’s movements to give his forces more time before daylight. The God of Israel not only obliged, but also unleashed a storm of hail and fire on the enemy.

The Canaanites are descendants from a mixture of people from early Levant and migrants from the Caucasus, or modern-day Iran. Iran, of course, is the country behind the militancy in Gaza (Hamas) and Lebanon (Hezbollah). The Old Testament gives the impression that the Canaanites were wiped out by Joshua’s army in fulfilment of God’s promise to Abraham, Isaac, and

Jacob.

Clearly, however, Joshua’s exploits had a lot of hyperbole in it because there clearly were survivors. Canaan, himself, was the son of Ham and grandson of Noah.

Noah along with Phoenicians were great seafarers. Noah’s legendary feat includes surviving the Great Flood. Phoenicia today is modernday Lebanon and adjoining parts of Syria and Israel.

Since biblical times, there was already bad blood between Arabs/ Islamic States and Israel. The United States had played a key role as a peacemaker between them.

President Jimmy Carter brought Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin to the White House, signed a peace treaty after the Yom Kippur War, and shook hands.

President Bill Clinton in 1993

brought Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to sign a peace accord that brought a period of relative calm and cooperation between the two warring parties, but we had the Arab Spring and the First & Second Intifadas. The last effort on record is the Abraham Accords by President Donald Trump.

The Abraham Accords was a departure from previous attempts wherein efforts were directed at a two-nation solution between Israel and Palestine. Trump pursued a broader normalization between Israel and its Arab neighbors but also tinkered with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in favor of Israel. Trump’s actions emboldened Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to ignore Palestinians and pursue instead, to be a major player in the Middle East. Even after the dust settles,

the animosity between Israelis and Palestinians will continue because what is happening now in that part of the Middle East (and don’t forget the Ukrainian/Russian War) proves that we are no better than the animals in the animal kingdom where the strongest rules. They don’t belong to any religion, but they do have beliefs, rituals, and they practice democracy to choose their leaders.

FILIPINO VOTES MATTER. VOTE ON NOVEMBER 7, 2023

“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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San Diego STARS Lions Club fetes Third Annual Installation of Officers SAN DIEGO, CA -- The San Diego STARS Lions Club (SDSLC) will hold its Third Annual Installation of Officers and Induction of New Members with an exciting and funfilled Las Vegas-themed event in Marriott Mission Valley on October 22, 2023. The highlight of the grand celebration is the recognition of ten outstanding professionals and one youth who served local communities by contributing their valuable time, financial assistance, and expertise in their respective fields. “Their generosity, kindness, and dedication to serve must be recognized and lauded. We should all work together to form stronger partnerships and collaboration and join forces to facilitate meaningful services with compassion and commitment. It is inspiring to witness a collective will towards wide-ranging missions and the pursuit of shared passion to serve others,” says Bella Carreon, President of SDSLC. The SDSLC Charter acronym STARS which stands for Strength, Trust, Action, Reliability, and Service aligns with the principles of the Lions Club International. The Charter supports LCI GLOBAL CAUSES to include HUNGER alleviation programs, VISION, CHILDHOOD CANCER , DIABETES and ENVIRONMENT, we serve to protect and restore, all these to improve the well being of an individual as well as communities.

What sets SDSLC apart aside from the shared mission of various Lions Clubs? One of their mottos is “Lions helping Lions serve the world.“ It is also their mission to serve those who serve, particularly,

serving fellow Lions and outstanding leaders who selflessly serve others.

From military service members, veterans, first responders, single parents, and breadwinners, to public servants. They started new projects like: Flowers….Just Because, Purse for a Cause, Go Green, and STARS Events and Entertainment, to give back to individuals and groups that have been devoting their valuable time serving local and global communities.

In February 2023, STARS held a mission in the Philippines. A group of SDSLC officers and members rendered services in eight locations: Olongapo, Cebu, Makati, Bataan, Bulacan, and three locations in Isabela. Services provided by SDSLC included diabetes check, eyeglasses provision, high blood pressure monitoring, dental check-up/ awareness, environment awareness, feeding the hungry, and distributing gifts to the needy and impoverished regions. Next February, SDSLC will return to the Philippines for another philanthropic mission.

This much-awaited event has been meticulously planned and organized by the Charter’s key members spearheaded by Bella Carreon (President), Elsa Siverts (Immediate Past President/Service Chair), Felma Vargas (1st Vice President/ Club Administrator), Jackie Dayoha (2nd Vice President), Dr. Mariflor Duhay (Secretary ), Rhiza Trinidad ( Treasurer), Sal Belisario, and other members and officers of SDSLC. All proceeds from this event will go towards San Diego Stars Lions Club’s upcoming Philippine Project slated for February 2024.

CONSTRUCTION

Chula Vista’s UniverCity,” Lucas said.

Chesnut Properties is the developer of this phase of the UniverCity at Chula Vista, along with general contractor McCarthy, and architectural firm Gensler. Lee Chesnut, CEO of Chesnut Properties, said he forsees this development changing “the landscape of opportunity in eastern Chula Vista and catapulting the region to become the place where great things happen for generations to come.”

More information about the UniverCity at Chula Vista’s first phase is available through a Digital media kit.

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users of all backgrounds and ages.

Among the features that the City hopes to include are community meeting spaces, a passport office, and a business incubator providing support for small businesses.

State Librarian Greg Lucas has visited the site several times. He said he would like to see more library projects like this one across the state. “California is the fourth largest economy in the world and should be creating more world class libraries like

Congratulations to the UPAAA 2023 Distinguished Alumni Awardees

October 20, 2023 - October 26, 2023 • 11

12 • October 20, 2023 - October 26, 2023

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