SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Tani Cantil Sakauye, a Filipina American jurist, was nominated on Wednesday, July 21, by Gov. Arnold Scwarzenegger to become Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court. The governor formally introduced Cantil Sakauye during a packed news conference under the Capitol dome.

In announcing his choice for Chief Justice, Gov. Scwarzenegger said in a statement that "she is a living example of the American Dream and when she is confirmed by the voters in November, Judge Cantil Sakauye will become California's first Filipina chief justice, adding to our High Court's already rich diversity."

The urgent challenge for the new Aquino administration is to increase revenues, but research group IBON urges government to place the burden of adjusting to the fiscal crisis on those that have the greater capacity to pay.

The new Aquino administration is faced with a serious fiscal crisis that could deteriorate rapidly or compel severe austerity if the revenue effort does not quickly improve. The first quarter deficit is already at 8.4% of the gross domestic product (GDP) from 7% of GDP in the first quarter of 2009.