010423 - Southern California Midweek Edition

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Filipinos among AAPI groups a ected most by COVID in CA

FILIPINOS are among the top Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) groups affected by COVID-19 in California, according to data presented by the state’s Department of Public Health.

The data released during a recent webinar was to inform the public on AAPI health data disaggregation and how the information can help facilitate better outcomes and support for the community.

The Filipino community was one AAPI group seen frequently throughout data presented within the webinar.

A significant part of the meeting was the presentation of collected disaggregated data that detailed leading causes of death among AAPI groups as well as statistics regarding COVID-19. Speaker Michael C. Samuel with the CDPH Strategic Development and External Relations Fusion Center spoke first on the data related to causes of death.

Robredo heading home after US stint

Marcos eyes ‘new chapter’ in relations with China

by CATHERINE S. VALENTE KRISTINA MARALIT AND BERNADETTE TAMAYO ManilaTimes.net

DESPITE tension in the South China Sea, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. left on Tuesday, January 3 for a three-day state visit to China where he will meet with his counterpart Xi Jinping to discuss "political-security issues of a bilateral and regional nature" which the Chief Executive hopes would open a "new chapter" in relations between the two countries.

"As I leave for Beijing, I will be opening a new chapter in our comprehensive strategic cooperation

with China," he said in his pre-departure speech at Villamor Air Base.

Marcos said he "looked forward" to his meeting with President Xi "as we work towards shifting the trajectory of our relations to a higher gear that would hopefully bring numerous prospects and abundant opportunities for the peace and development to the peoples of both our countries."

The President also said that he would discuss "political-security issues of a bilateral and regional nature."

"The issues between our two countries are problems that do not belong between two friends

such as [the] Philippines and China. We will seek to resolve those issues to [the] mutual benefit of our two countries," he added.

Marcos said that he also hopes to"return home to the Philippines with a harvest of agreements and investments that will benefit our countrymen and further strengthen the foundation of our economic environment" as he is expected to sign more than 10 key bilateral agreements to add to more than 100 it already has with China.

These include cooperation in various areas such as agriculture, energy, infrastructure, science

Airlines mount recovery ights

by FRANCO JOSE C. BAROÑA AND BENJAMIN L. VERGARA ManilaTimes.net

IT will take at least three days before airlines finish the recovery flights for stranded passengers affected by the power outage that canceled flights to and from Manila on New Year's Day, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said on Monday, January 2.

Although the arrival and departure of passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and other airports continued on Monday, it is estimated that it will take 72 hours or 3 days before operations will normalize.

Local airlines said it will take time to fully restore their schedules as they reposition aircraft that had been held back or diverted to other airports and adjust the schedules of flights based on revised clearances in coordination with local authorities.

Bautista said that around 65,000 passengers were affected when the Air Traffic Management Center (ATMC), which serves as the facility for controlling and overseeing all inbound and outbound flights and overflights in the Philippine airspace, went down due to power outage, resulting in loss of communication, radio, radar and internet.

Airlines have been asked to operate additional flights

"Last stretch of my US trip. In 2 days, I will be back home in Manila," a post on her Facebook handle wrote on Tuesday, January 3.

In November, Robredo served as a Hauser leader at Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge in the US state of Massachusetts.

Robredo, who also serves as the chairman of Angat Buhay since stepping down as vice president last June, spoke in numerous American universities, including Princeton University, as well as at an event hosted by former US president Barack Obama. Most of her talks focused on disinformation, which she had to deal with during her presidential run last year.

The former vice president's daughters are now in different fields: Aika is presently teaching at the Ateneo de Manila University, Tricia is currently in Chile with Harvard Graduate School students, while her youngest,

Over 2-M foreign tourist arrivals in 2022 - DOT

by JOHN ERIC MENDOZA Inquirer.net

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines received and welcomed more than two million foreign tourists in2022, the Department of Tourism said on Monday, January 2.

Data from DOT indicated that a total of 2,025,413 foreign tourists arrived in the country from February to December 2022.

There is no data for January 2022 since the country only reopened on February 10 after lifting travel restrictions due to the  COVID-19 pandemic.

Most of the visitors came from the United States (505,089), South Korea (428,014) and Australia (137,974).

China ranked the only tenth with only 39,627 visitors.

Meanwhile, a total of 628,445 overseas -based Filipinos also visited the country within the said period. 

it attach better to cells.

MANILA — The XBB.1.5 subvariant, a new version of the Omicron variant, is taking over the United States, raising concerns about a potential surge in COVID-19 cases.

Estimates from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday showed that XBB.1.5 is responsible for around 40% of the confirmed cases there, up from 20% a week ago. About 75% of cases in the Northeast—or regions spanning New Jersey through New England—are caused by the new variant.

In the Philippines, the presence of the XBB.1.5 subvariant has yet to be detected.

Here’s what we know and don’t know about the new

COVID-19 subvariant.

What is XBB.1.5?

XBB.1.5 is a spinoff of the Omicron XBB subvariant, which is a recombinant of the Omicron BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75 subvariants.

The XBB subvariant drove the surges of infections in Singapore and India in October. Health authorities in the Philippines have so far detected 878 cases of the XBB subvariant.

It is unclear where XBB.1.5 came from, but it is spreading quickly.

What makes it different from XBB?

Andrew Pekosz, a virologist at Johns Hopkins University, told CNBC that XBB.1.5 is different from XBB because it has an additional mutation that makes

Are experts worried?

Some medical experts are increasingly worried about the XBB.1.5 and the XBB subvariants.

Dr. Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota, told Reuters that “probably the worst variant that the world is facing right now is actually XBB.”

In a series of alarming posts on Twitter, epidemiologist Eric Feigl-Ding called the XBB.1.5 a “super variant” and warned that it is “one of the most evasive variants against immunity.”

Yunlong Cao, a genomics researcher and assistant professor at China’s Peking University, said on Twitter last week that XBB.1.5 evades

protective antibodies as effectively as the highly immune evasive XBB.1 variant and binds better to cells.

Does XBB.1.5 cause more severe illness?

Dr. Barbara Mahon, director of CDC’s Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division, told NBC News that there is no indication that XBB.1.5 causes more severe illness than other Omicron versions.

She added that areas with many cases of the variant have not experienced a disproportionate rise in hospitalizations.

“We’re seeing hospitalizations have been notching up overall across the country… They don’t appear to be notching up more in the areas that have more

Tugade on alleged fund diversion after air system tra c glitch: ‘Farthest from the truth’

by TONETTE OREJAS Inquirer.net

The air traffic management system encountered problems on Jan. 1, which delayed or canceled more than 300 flights and affected more than 55,000 passengers.

CAAP officials who were there during our time are still there: [Manuel Antonio] Tamayo [former DOTr undersecretary for aviation and airports], Danjun Lucas [now acting deputy director general for administration], Jim Sydiongco [former CAAP director general] and [Ricardo] Banayat [CAAP deputy director general], etc. They recommended/monitored, and implemented. Ask them,” Tugade told the Inquirer via Viber messages.

“I have always instructed a redundancy plan,” he said, adding that Tamayo, Lucas, and Sydiongco “cannot deny this!”

“Farthest from the truth,” he added, referring to allegations he did not spend or diverted P13 billion in funds away from modernizing the CNS/ATM or putting in place the backup system.

The online news portal bilyonaro.com carried a story on that allegation. 

TECHNICAL GLITCH. Passengers at NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City queue at the check-in counter as it resumes its operation after Air Traffic

Management Center of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines experienced a technical issue on Sunday, January 1. However, on the official website of the Manila International Airport Authority, there are still international and domestic flights that have been canceled on Monday, January 2. PNA photo by Yancy Lim

CLARK FREEPORT — Former Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arturo Tugade on Tuesday, Jan. 3, said he had “always instructed a backup system” to the communications, navigation, surveillance/air traffic management (CNS/ATM) systems of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

Former Transportation Secretary Arturo Tugade Inquirer.net file photo

FORMER vice president Ma. Leonor "Leni" Robredo is heading home after over two months in the United States.

Marcos eyes ‘new chapter...

and technology, trade and investment, and people-topeople exchanges, amongst others.

"In Beijing, we will seek to harness the potentials of our vibrant trade and investment relations as we accelerate the post-pandemic growth of our economy. In these meetings, I will be joined by key private sector representatives who have been and will continue to be our partners in boosting our economy," the President said.

The President noted that China is the Philippines' largest trading partner, a major source of official development assistance, and before the pandemic, the secondlargest source of tourist arrivals.

China accounts for 20 percent of the Philippines' foreign trade and is also a major source of foreign direct investment.

"In undertaking this trip, I continue that legacy of strengthening the bonds of friendship established between the Filipino and Chinese peoples, and fostering bilateral ties to a higher plane of cooperation," Marcos also said.

"Although diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China were established only 47 years ago, our history of friendly exchanges with our northern neighbor goes back centuries. Bilateral cooperation has grown steadily. Today, our ties are deep, multi-faceted, and mutually beneficial," he added.

"We are rising as a nation, recovering from the ravages of a global pandemic. In our unremitting fight against the onslaught of Covid-19, our cooperation with China helped strengthen trust between our two countries," Marcos said, as he expressed "profound appreciation and gratitude" when China was "the first [country] to extend its helping hand in the form of vaccines, personal protective equipment, and technical assistance at the initial onslaught of the pandemic."

Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Nathaniel Imperial said in a pre-departure briefing last week that the Philippines and China will sign an agreement to set up "direct communication" lines on issues connected to the

West Philippine Sea, a disputed area, which is part of the South China Sea.

The deal aims to avoid "miscalculation and miscommunication" over the waterway, Imperial said.

Marcos' visit to China came more than a month after his trip to Bangkok, Thailand where he met with Xi amid renewed tensions in the disputed sea.

During their meeting, both leaders agreed that the immediate conclusion of negotiations for the final and binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea will help address the maritime disputes among littoral states.

The Philippines scored a victory against China in the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands in 2016.

The arbitration court declared Beijing's claim over nearly the entire South China Sea as illegal.

China has refused to acknowledge the ruling and continues to claim nearly the entire South China Sea.

While he is away, the President designated Vice President Sara Duterte as the officer in charge.

Marcos is accompanied by first lady Marie Louise "Liza" AranetaMarcos, former president and now Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Speaker Martin Romualdez, Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Tourism Secretary Ma. Christina Garcia Frasco, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John Uy, and other key government officials.

Opportune time

Meanwhile, Dr. Froilan Calilung, political analyst and Local Government Development Institute director, said Marcos' state visit to China will be an opportune time for the Philippines to forge "patterns of cooperation" with the region's economic superpower.

Calilung made the remark during a briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday when asked about the impact of the President's visit to China.

Calilung said that Marcos himself saw the importance of his visit to China that was why he

proceeded with his trip despite the reported high Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) cases there.

He said the President "believes that this state visit is going to define whatever will be the bilateral relations that will exist between the two countries at least for the next five or six years."

He noted that China is the second world's largest economy. "It is actually one of the top performing countries in terms of global production, sa larangan din ng (in the field of) manufacturing, value change system and everything else."

Calilung said that the meeting between Marcos and Xi will "actually focus more on the economic bilateral aspects."

He also said that China remains to be one of the preferred trading partners of many members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), including the Philippines because they benefit a lot from its trade ventures with China.

Pressed about what the decision of the two leaders would be with regard to the territorial dispute in the WPS, he said, "I think both heads of State will try to exercise utmost diplomacy in towing the line in this very, very delicate matter. But I would like to believe the statements that were made by our President that he is willing to explore patterns of cooperation with China, probably joint cooperation sa [on] oil exploration. I think that will be good for the country."

Calilung was hopeful, however, that the President would also be "very adamant and very decisive at the same time not to give up a part of our sovereignty, not to give it up to China, because this is something that a president being the head of State and the chief architect of foreign policy should actually maintain."

Most recently, a Filipino military commander reported that the Chinese coast guard forcibly seized Chinese rocket debris that Filipino navy personnel had retrieved in the South China Sea last month.

China denied the forcible seizure. Marcos said he would seek further clarification on his visit to Beijing. g

Robredo heading home after...

other speaking engagements]," Robredo wrote in Filipino. "I was also able to relax and spend time with relatives since December 16. Now that I am going home, I am

Airlines mount recovery...

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or upgrade aircrafts in order to accommodate more passengers.

Bautista said he discussed with Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Cesar Chiong the possibility of operating the runway 24 hours until the recovery flights are over.

"We will also conduct maintenance checks of the runway on a daily basis so we can be sure that our runway is always safe," he said.

Airlines, he added, can use the runway even at night "so their operations will also normalize."

He said two uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) used to provide power to the air traffic management system of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) failed, forcing CAAP to tap commercial power which caused a power surge.

"There was a problem with one UPS that was being used. When they switched to the backup UPS there was still a little problem so our technical team made a way to fix it.

Unfortunately when they fixed it, the incoming power to our equipment was 300 volts and it had an effect," Bautista said. He explained that the malfunction could not be avoided because the ATMC system was outdated.

At present, a back-up power supply is being used and officials have procured a replacement power supply that is expected to arrive in 30 days.

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) expressed hope that the government will release the requested P120 million budget to upgrade the system of the NAIA in Pasay City.

"As early as last year we asked for P120 million for spare parts [of the Air Traffic Management Center]," CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio said in a radio interview over DZBB on Monday.

He said that the ATMC will be fully functional in the first quarter of 2023 if the budget is released immediately.

At least 3,000 overseas Filipino

that is to come."

Robredo served as vice president from 2016 to 2022. She ran for president but lost to Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (Aric John Sy Cua/ManilaTimes.net)

workers (OFWs) were affected by the disruption of flights on January 1.

Department of Migrant Workers Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said on Monday that all of the affected OFWs were provided assistance for the rebooking of their flights, while some 400 needed help in hotel accommodations.

Food and transportation assistance were also given to the stranded migrant workers.

The DoTr likewise liaised with the airline partners for the provision of food, refreshments, transportation, lodging and accommodation for passengers.

Philippine Airlines on Monday said that 18 domestic and three international flights were cancelled in addition to some delays caused by some flight adjustments.

Meanwhile, Cebu Pacific said it continues to review its operations while AirAsia Philippines has implemented additional flight adjustments through a recovery flight on Jan. 3, 2023. g

DOLOMITE BEACH. People from all walks of life visit the Manila Baywalk Dolomite Beach to relax and inhale fresh air during the New Year’s Day celebration on Sunday, Jan. 1. Dolomite Beach is one of the latest attractions in Manila. PNA photo by Avito Dalan

Jillian, is now working after she graduated from New York University.

"I have worked here for the past two months [in Harvard and

energized and excited for the work

Want a clue on health care costs in advance? New tools take a crack at it

by

NEED medical treatment this year and want to nail down your out-of-pocket costs before you walk into the doctor’s office? There’s a new tool for that, at least for insured patients.

As of Jan. 1, health insurers and employers that offer health plans must provide online calculators for patients to get detailed estimates of what they will owe — taking into account deductibles and copayments — for a range of services and drugs.

It’s the latest effort in an ongoing movement to make prices and upfront cost comparisons possible in a business known for its opaqueness.

Insurers must make the cost information available for 500 nonemergency services considered “shoppable,” meaning patients generally have time to consider their options. The federal requirement stems from the Transparency in Coverage rule finalized in 2020. So how will it work?

Starting in 2024, the requirement on insurers expands to include all drugs and services.

These estimator-tool requirements come on top of other price information disclosures that became effective during the past two years, which require hospitals and insurers to publicly post their prices, including those negotiated between them, along with the cost for cash-paying or uninsured patients.

Still, some hospitals have not fully complied with this 2021 disclosure directive and the insurer data released in July is so voluminous that even researchers are finding it cumbersome to download and analyze.

The price estimator tools may help fill that gap.

price, either because the procedure was more complex than initially expected, or was handled by a different provider at the last minute, one risk is that “I might get a bill for $4,000 and I’m going to be upset because you told me $3,000,” said Gerard Anderson, a professor of health policy and management and of international health at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Many insurers have offered versions of cost-estimator tools before, but small percentages of enrollees actually use them, studies have shown.

Federal regulators defended the requirement for estimator tools, writing that even though many insurers had provided them, the new rule sets specific parameters, which may be more detailed than earlier versions.

Filipinos among AAPI groups affected...

Patients, knowing they need a specific treatment, drug, or medical service, first log on to the cost estimator on a website offered through their insurer or, for some, their employer. Next, they can search for the care they need by billing code, which many patients may not have; or by a general description, like “repair of knee joint,” or “MRI of abdomen.” They can also enter a hospital’s or physician’s name or the dosage amount of a drug for which they are seeking price information.

Not all drugs or services will be available in the first year of the tools’ rollout, but the required 500-item list covers a wide swath of medical services, from acne surgery to X-rays.

Once the information is entered, the calculators are supposed to produce real-time estimates of a patient’s out-ofpocket cost.

The new estimates are personalized, computing how much of an annual deductible patients still owe and the outof-pocket limit that applies to their coverage. The amount the insurer would pay if the service were out of network must also be shown. Patients can request to have the information delivered on paper, if they prefer that to online.

Insurers or employers who fail to provide the tool can face penalty fines of at least $100 a day for each person affected, a significant incentive to comply — if enforced.

And there are caveats: Consumers using the tools must be enrolled in the respective health plan, and there’s no guarantee the final cost will be exactly as shown.

That’s because “unforeseen factors during the course of treatment, which may involve additional services or providers, can result in higher actual cost sharing liability,” federal regulators wrote in outlining the rules.

Insurers will not be held liable for incorrect estimates.

Because the cost estimates may well vary from the final

In outlining the final rule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services pointed out that some previous calculators “on the market only offer wide-range estimates or average estimates of pricing that use historical claims data” and did not always include information about how much the patient had accumulated toward an annual deductible or out-ofpocket limit.

The agency says such price disclosure will help people comparison-shop and may ultimately help slow rising medical costs.

But that isn’t a given.

“CMS has a lot of people who believe this will make a significant impact, but they also have a long time frame,” said David Brueggeman, director of commercial health at the consulting firm Guidehouse.

In the short term, results may be harder to see.

“Most patients are not moving en masse to use these tools,” said Dr. Ateev Mehrotra, a professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School.

There are many reasons, he PAGE 5

What we know so far about the XBB.1.5...

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XBB.1.5,” she said.

What should Filipinos do?

The Department of Health said the government continues to implement surveillance and monitoring activities, and is

confident in detecting variants that may enter the country. "COVID-19 variants will continue to emerge and reemerge," the DOH said. "What's important is we continue to employ our layers of protection

such as sanitation, masking, distancing, vaccination and boosters, as well as good ventilation to keep cases manageable and prevent virus transmission," it added. (Gaea Katreena Cabico/Philstar.com)

Samuel showed attendees a detailed chart that compared the rate of death for various AAPI groups based on specific causes that were ranked for each subgroup. According to the data presented by Samuel, COVID-19 was the leading cause of death for Filipinos in 2021, followed by ischemic heart disease, Alzheimer's, stroke, and hypertensive heart disease.

This depicts how COVID-19 truly made an impact within the Filipino community, where it affected them the most out of all other AAPI groups in California. Data presented by Charsey Porse, who is with CDPH’s Center of Infectious Disease, detailed COVID’s impact even more.

According to the data that was provided, Filipinos have specifically shown a significant impact from COVID-19 based on the cases that had detailed information on race and ethnicity available.

“Among Asian patients (with known detailed race), the largest number of cases occurred within the Filipino, Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese groups,” Charsey Porse, an epidemiologist with the CDPH, detailed.

Similar to the data provided by Samuel, Porse also revealed which groups had the highest death rates due to COVID. Once again, Filipinos were in the top of the list, alongside the Cambodian and Japanese communities. There was no data explaining why this was the case, however future data collected could lead to eventual conclusions and answers.

While this webinar addressed issues and disaggregated data for the AAPI community as a whole, its information is important to understanding how Filipinos fit within the AAPI community as well as what makes them different. The following sections detail the happenings of the webinar. The information acts as a crucial step towards transparency and understanding regarding health data within our community.

Data disaggregation

The issue of aggregated data takes a step towards being addressed through Assembly Bill No. 1726, written by Attorney General Rob Bonta when he was a member of the state Assembly.

With the passing of this bill, the CDPH became required (on or after July 2, 2022) to make available and collect demographic data that would include an expanded list of AAPI groups that were previously not included as subgroups. A full list of these groups can be found on CDPH’s website dedicated to the bill.

The type of data collected and how much progress has been made in the implementation of this bill was outlined in the webinar, which started with a welcome from Maral Farsi, deputy director of legislative and governmental affairs at CDPH. Attending and speaking were a variety of experts tasked with working together in and towards the implementation of AB 1726.

Karthick Ramakrishnan, chair of the California Commission on APIA (Asian and Pacific Islander American) Affairs introduced how there has so far been meaningful progress in implementation of the bill.

However, while there was progress, they also ran into challenges, specifically the pandemic. In light of this challenge, Ramakrishnan also made clear that the pandemic showed the “dire need” in collecting disaggregated data on AAPI communities.

“We know if we just collect data on ‘Asians’ we don’t have the kind of detailed understanding that we need to target the investments needed to make sure that our communities are being served adequately,” Ramakrishnan explained, hoping that this data will be used to aid in progress m ade for and within AAPI communities.

“Disaggregation doesn’t get at the heart of what this is about, which is data equity. Equity

in the collection, analysis, and dissemination of data. But it’s also data to advance equity,” he added, noting the importance not only of the data but how it is used.

Rohan Radhakrishna, deputy director and chief equity officer with the CDPH’s Office of Health Equity, detailed how race and ethnicity data were collected, analyzed, and reported in five broad categories that were defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budgets since 1997, where AB 1726 is a step towards breaking down those categories for AAPI communities.

“Data disaggregation refers to the breaking down of collected data into smaller definable units to better illuminate underlying patterns and trends,” Radhakrishna noted. He went on to describe how each individual has a complex array of factors that affect their life and health.

Radhakrishna listed the following factors as immigration, socioeconomic status, nativity, language, and an individual’s experience as a minority with structural and intrapersonal racism. “These complexities are obscured when data is aggregated into broad categories,” he explained, adding that disaggregated data can therefore illuminate social and health disparities that were otherwise hidden by broader categories.

“Asians aren’t a monolith,” Radhakrishna expressed, where he elaborated how ‘Asian’ is often used as an umbrella term, categorizing groups of people into one. This can therefore “reinforce inaccurate and harmful notions of the model minority” as well as lead to disproportionate access to opportunities and resources.

Implementation  Julie Nagasako, deputy director of CDPH’s Office of Policy and Planning, addressed key actions the CDPH has been taking to implement AB 1726.

“One of the critical steps that will improve our ability to share disaggregated data are updates to our vital records system, both for birth and death data,” Nagasako shared. She was transparent in expressing how as these implementations were made mid-year, in April and June, it would take a bit of time to have a complete year of data under the new protocols for collection detailed by AB 1726.

Nagasako emphasized that the collection and provision of this disaggregated data is not an effort made by one person let alone one department, rather a multitude of teams at CDPH are working on strengthening their coordination. They are aiming to build connections in an effort to better understand how to offer disaggregated data in a way that can help AAPI communities most.

Additionally, in order to ensure “data completeness” Nagasako expressed how the coordination extends to external partners as well. “AB 1726 has to do with how we manage and display the data that we generate,” she explained, highlighting that this data comes from a variety of sources, such as external surveys, federal data, and health systems to name a few.

Nagasako then spoke on another crucial part in the implementation process, where in order to make the disaggregated data available, it would be released bit by bit to the public. One of the resources she referenced, which was referenced by other speakers in the webinar, was the “Asian and Pacific Islander Data Disaggregation Brief.”

CDPH, according to Nagasako, will be incorporating disaggregated data wherever possible, such as an upcoming 2023 health assessment core module. She also noted how, based on feedback from the public, the CDPH’s website that houses the data brief will also include information about upcoming data releases, with links to where people can access them directly.

The data: Leading causes of death and COVID-19

As previously outlined, two speakers, Michael C. Samuel and Charsey Porse spoke on highlights from disaggregated data that has so far been collected and made available to the public. Both speakers were transparent with attendees throughout, even providing thorough analyses of various data and charts provided as an example.

“Different systems often collect race and ethnicity data with different categories,” Samuel declared before proceeding to show examples of aggregated population data in California.

Referencing what Radhakrishna had detailed about how race and ethnicity data were collected, Samuel’s example of aggregated data only showed five broad categories, which included Asians and Pacific Islanders as separate entities.

“Looking at this disaggregated (or in detailed categories) is critical,” Samuel expressed. As a comparison, Samuel, then after, showed attendees charts of disaggregated data, which included a variety of AAPI groups. This highlighted how the aggregated data had so much missing.

The next set of data that Samuel presented was the chart comparing rates of death among AAPI groups. “COVID-19 is the top leading cause of death based on age adjusted rates,” Samuel described, noting that while there is this common thread amongst the data for different groups, there are still a variety of differences. For example, for the Chinese/Taiwanese group, “lung cancer is the fifth leading cause of death as it is for Vietnamese, but it doesn’t appear in the top five in the rest of the groups,” he said.

“In conclusion, great progress has been made in analyzing and sharing disaggregated race and ethnicity data. There are important differences observed between disaggregated groups,” Samuel concluded in his section, pointing out that this data should hence be interpreted with caution in order to get an accurate understanding.

Continuing from what Samuel had spoken about, Porse provided ample detail about data collected regarding COVID-19.

“Relative case and death rates of COVID have varied across racial and ethnic groups throughout the pandemic,” Porse started, before providing statistics that showed that when 2020 ended, “28% of COVID-19 cases were missing race and ethnicity data.”   However, this data with CDPH has since improved.

“Cumulatively now, about 19.5% of our COVID-19 cases are still missing race and ethnicity information, which spans the entire pandemic period,” Porse emphasized the difference in numbers.

There is still of course more to be done as many of the cases that do include race and ethnicity data, specifically for AAPI communities, are still “missing data in detailed race ethnicity subgroups,” Porse explained. She then provided more numbers, where in 2020, around 5% of California COVID cases were reported among Asians and around 89% of those cases were missing detailed race information.

“Due to the amount of missing data, we cannot calculate rates for race groups due to statistical unreliability,” Porse continued, detailing how around 12% of California’s COVID-19 deaths in 2020 were among Asians and that 16% of those deaths were missing detailed race information. This highlighted that while data was being collected, they were not enough to completely tell the story due to the lack of disaggregation.

However, Porse reassured attendees that while there was “under-reporting of detailed race information," which makes it “hard to measure disparities and draw conclusions across subgroups.” The CDPH intends to continue to improve on data collection as well as making it available to the public. (Amrylois Ferido/AJPress)

NO LONGER FREE. Passengers queue to get on board an Edsa Carousel bus at the Mega Q-Mart Station in Quezon City on Tuesday morning, Jan. 3. The minimum fare is PHP13 for the first five kilometers and additional PHP2.20 for every succeeding kilometer. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

PhiliPPines

‘Invest Maharlika fund in infrastructure’

by Delon Porcalla Philstar.com

MANILA — One way for the government to prove that the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) will directly benefit Filipinos is by venturing into the Marcos administration’s “Build Better More” infrastructure projects, a Mindanao lawmaker suggested on Tuesday, Jan. 3.

Rep. Johnny Pimentel of Surigao del Sur said putting the multibillion-peso funds to infrastructure development projects, especially now that the country is on the way to recovering from the pandemic, would create jobs for Filipinos and boost trade even more.

Archdiocese of Cebu mourns death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

by Dale G. Israel Inquirer.net

CEBU CITY — The Archdiocese of Cebu has joined others around the world in mourning the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma presided over a Requiem Mass for the late pontiff at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral on Monday afternoon, January 2.

A portrait of Pope Benedict XVI was placed in front of the altar, along with a zucchetto or skull cap worn by the former pope.

The cap was brought to Cebu City by Msgr. Jan Thomas Limchua, a Cebuano priest with a rank of a papal chaplain and a member of the household of Pope Francis at the Vatican.

Palma said Benedict XVI would be remembered for giving San Pedro Calungsod, the first saint from the Visayas and the second Filipino saint in 2012.

The late pope chose Cebu as the venue for the 51st International Eucharistic Congress in 2016.

It was also Benedict XVI who appointed Palma as the archbishop of Cebu.

“We always believe that he is God’s gift to the whole church and in particular to the

“He offered to us an example of humility and love for the church. Today, we feel that being a wonderful and loving shepherd, we pray that soon, the Church may find a way to raise him up in the altar of the Lord.”

During the Mass, Palma was accompanied by Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Ruben Labajo, Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Antonio Ranola and some priests. After the Holy Mass, people crowded and approached the portrait and the skull cap inside a glass box to take pictures and offer prayers. g

This is the best or ideal situation if it were up to him, rather than “merely hold passive assets such as fixed-income instruments, equities and bonds” of the sovereign wealth fund – the Philippines’ first – that the House of Representatives had approved last December.

“If we look at Indonesia, they are actually using their newly established sovereign wealth fund to attract private partners that can co-invest in developing highly productive infrastructure assets,” Pimentel said.

“New railways, toll expressways and airports create more jobs

that benefit low-income Filipino families. They also expand the markets for small and mediumsized enterprises that comprise 99 percent of all registered businesses in the country,” he added.

Besides improving the mobility of people and goods, these projects also provide recurring revenue streams from train fares, toll levies, terminal fees as well as leasing and retail opportunities, Pimentel said.

“In fact, some of the largest Filipino private conglomerates have found it gainful to embark on tollways and rail transit systems, while others are going into aviation,” he said, referring to San Miguel Corp., Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc.

“We are confident the Senate will pass the bill after giving it a fair hearing and putting in further improvements,” Pimentel said.

President Marcos earlier certified the bill as urgent.

Under House Bill 6608, the MIF may invest in a wide range of real and financial assets to generate long-term social wealth savings and to fuel national economic development.

The MIF’s permissible investments include joint ventures and infrastructure projects.

Want a clue on health care...

said, including little financial incentive if they face the same dollar copayment whether they go to a very expensive facility or a less expensive one. A better way to get patients to switch to lower-cost providers, he said, is to create pricing tiers, rewarding patients who seek the most cost-effective providers with lower copayments.

Mehrotra is skeptical that the cost estimator tools alone will do much to dent rising medical prices. He’s more hopeful that, in time, the requirement that hospitals and insurers post all their negotiated prices will go further to slow costs by showcasing which are the most expensive providers, along with which insurers negotiate the best rates.

Still, the cost-estimator tools could be useful for the increasing number of people with high-deductible health plans who pay directly out-of-pocket for much of their health care before they hit that deductible. During that period, some may save substantially by shopping around.

Those deductibles add “pressure on consumers to shop on price,” said Brueggeman, at Guidehouse. “Whether they are actually doing that is up for debate.” g

KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

At least 20 percent of the net profits of the Maharlika Investment Corp. – the entity that would manage the MIF – will be remitted to the national treasury “to be earmarked for social welfare projects.”

Nearly 50 countries around the world have established sovereign wealth funds, many of which are funded by surplus government revenues or reserves. g

LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOUTAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (LACMTA) REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

LACMTA will receive proposals for PS95570 - Rail Data Collection Services for Metro’s Main Line Rail System at the 90, Floor Receptionist Desk, Vendor/Contract Management Department, One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

A Pre-Proposal conference will not be held. This project is a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Set-Aside contract. To participate in this RFP, proposers must be SBE certified with LACMTA prior to proposal due date. For information on the Set-Aside Program, visit: https://business.metro. netNendorPortal/faces/home1/ certifications.

All proposals must be received on or before 1 2:00 p.m . Pacific Time on Friday, January 20, 2023 at the address listed above, sent to the attention of Annie Duong. Proposals received later than the above date and time will be rejected and returned to the proposer unopened.

For a copy of the Proposal/ Bid specification visit our Solicitation Page on our Vendor Portal at https://business. metro.net or for further information email Annie Duong at duonga2@metro.net. 1/4/23

CNS-3657148# ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)

Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Sta. Cruz, Manila on

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)

Archdiocese of Cebu,” Palma said in an interview after the Mass.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma (holding a crosier or staff) and other local Church officials take a few minutes to pray in front of a portrait of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who died in the Vatican on Saturday, December 31, 2022. Palma presided over a Requiem Mass for the late pontiff at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral on Monday afternoon, January 2. Inquirer.net photo

Safe religious devotion

The annual Traslacion or procession is not yet being revived, but a “Walk of Faith” will be held this Sunday in Manila on the eve of the Feast of the Black Nazarene. Starting at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park at 2 a.m., the procession is expected to last about three hours as participants make their way to Quiapo Church, home to the Black Nazarene image.

Devotees are allowed to bring Nazarene replicas, but nothing larger than two feet tall. The traditional pahalik or kissing of the original image is prohibited although devotees can touch the Nazareno. There will be midnight masses on Jan. 8 and 9, with Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula celebrating the mass on the feast day itself.

Editorial

be highly evasive to both natural and vaccine immunity. Even if fully vaccinated and boosted people show only mild or no symptoms if infected by these new strains, they can pass on the virus to vulnerable members of their household such as the elderly and those with comorbidities, who can suffer serious illness or even succumb to COVID. The current dire COVID situation in China illustrates the threat posed by the new strains of the Omicron subvariant.

The Catholic Church and city officials led by Mayor Honey Lacuna, who is a physician, are appealing to participants to strictly observe basic COVID health safety protocols, starting with masking and hand hygiene. Physical distancing is still encouraged although this is not easy to observe in a procession.

Authorities are also appealing to devotees with symptoms of illness – those with fever, sore throat, continuous sneezing, coughs, cold and diarrhea –to skip the Nazarene activities. Viruses can spread rapidly in mass gatherings, and COVID-19 is still very much around, with highly infectious strains detected in the country.

These new coronavirus strains are proving to

The Philippines has lifted mandatory masking outdoors along with restrictions on religious gatherings. The Catholic Church itself, however, has found it prudent to cancel the traditional Traslacion for a third year in a row, to avoid creating a COVID superspreader event.

The Church has had its share of COVID deaths, with members of the clergy and supporting laity succumbing to the illness. In January last year, amid an Omicron-driven post-holiday surge in cases, Quiapo Church was closed to devotees and guarded by police on the Feast of the Black Nazarene, with masses instead live-streamed. This year the restrictions have been eased, but

2023: A year of economic opportunities for the Philippines

BABE ROMUALDEZ

THE World Health Organization is cautiously optimistic that the COVID-19 pandemic will no longer be a global health emergency by mid next year. According to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the number of weekly COVID-19 deaths has dropped to almost 90 percent since its peak at the end of January last year. Many experts also believe that COVID-19 will likely become endemic, meaning the virus would still be around but more manageable, like the cold or seasonal flu.

There is, however, great concern about the situation in China due to surging infection rates, compelling some countries to require travelers from China to present negative COVID-19 swab results. Whatever it is, we are all praying and hoping that the outbreak would be controlled to a certain extent and would not result in new mutations of the Omicron subvariants such

as BA.5, BA.2.75 and the BF.7 that has been identified as largely responsible for the spike in infections across China. The U.S. has offered assistance with their effective mRNA vaccines, but China has so far declined the offer. There are reports, however, that people from the mainland are getting Pfizer’s mRNA vaccine in Hong Kong.

Nevertheless, the lifting of worldwide restrictions is driving a lot of optimism that 2023 could be a year of recovery for most of the global economy, including the Philippines.

Finance Secretary Ben Diokno says “the worst is over and the best is yet to come” for the Philippines. And despite projections of a global recession this 2023, the Development Budget Coordination Committee predicts that the Philippine economy will grow by 6 to 7 percent in 2023 in the face of external headwinds.

“…an average GDP growth of 6.5 percent is nothing to be sneezed at: it is still one of the highest, if not the highest, growth rates among ASEAN+6 economies,” said Secretary Diokno, referring to the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and

dialog partners Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, India and New Zealand.

Driving this optimistic economic outlook are several factors that include the early approval of the 2023 national budget; the country’s strong international credit profile that continues to be at investment grade and the stable and resilient banking system that is characterized by strong capitalization well above international norms.

He also points to the country’s adequate buffers against external headwinds, such as the hefty level of our gross international reserves of $95.1 billion as of November 2022, the low external debt to GDP ratio of 26.8 percent by the end of September 2022 and a favorable external debt profile. The Philippines also has a steady supply of foreign exchange from overseas Filipino remittances, export revenues from business process outsourcing firms, tourism receipts and inflows from foreign direct investments, Secretary Diokno disclosed.

Significantly, the policies and reforms that have removed barriers to foreign investments

to allow for more participation in Philippine industries have made the economic environment more attractive and favorable.

The “game-changing laws” such as the Public Service Act and amendments to the Retail Trade Liberalization Law are “expected to boost foreign direct investments in particular, and the economy in general,” the country’s Finance chief said.

Great opportunities are certainly opening up with more countries taking interest in the Philippines as an investment destination.

No doubt all the trips of President Marcos are extremely important, leading to enhanced trade and economic partnerships worldwide.

Economic opportunities from the U.S. abound for the Philippines following the passage of the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act by the U.S. Congress, allocating a record $858 billion to the U.S. Department of Defense.

One of the significant provisions of the NDAA is outlined under Section 5949 that prohibits executive agencies from buying or obtaining any electronic parts, products or services that include “covered

semiconductor products or services” from certain Chinese companies which represent a sizeable and growing share of the chips market and a broad range of American electronic equipment such as mobile phones, networking equipment and automobile parts.

Although Section 5949 takes effect five years after the enactment of the 2023 NDAA with the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council issuing the implementing rules and prohibitions in 2026, the Philippines can take advantage of the fallout from this legislation. Just consider, the Philippines’ semiconductor and electronics exports to the world amounted to $45.92 billion in 2021, with most of the exports going to the U.S.

The Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors and Science Act of 2022 or CHIPS Act signed into law by President Joe Biden last August is also a positive development, according to the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines, as this will diversify the source of semiconductor wafers which the Philippines imports for the assembly, test and packaging

New year chaos

IRIS GONZALES

COULD the New Year chaos at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) be a portent of things to come for us, here in this insanely chaotic nation of 110 million? I surely hope not because this is certainly bad news for us.

Is it possible that somebody or some groups with vested interests – rumored syndicates in the airport, for instance –sabotaged aviation systems to make our airport authorities look incompetent? Wasn’t it just a few months ago that some groups desperately wanted changes in airport leadership?

Or could the rumor going around our chat groups that somebody mis-plugged an equipment which triggered the shutdown, be true? “Nasaksak sa 220 (volt) ang computer,” so goes the story in the grapevine.

There are so many conspiracy theories but what is clear is that at the end of the day, some 65,000 passengers were affected by a massive airport disruption

that happened around 9:49 a.m. of Jan. 1, the first day of 2023.

What a way to start the New Year in our land of mayhem. Just a few days ago, I wrote about the noticeably positive changes in our airport when I flew out of the country last week. I was pleasantly surprised to have enjoyed a smooth experience at NAIA. Oh how swiftly things would change.

Now, about to head back to Manila, I’m quite anxious. Would I be able to make it home or, like many other flights, would our plane be sent back in mid-air?

Even tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan could not help but heave a sigh of frustration: “We’re told radar and navigation facilities at NAIA down. I was on my way home fm Tokyo – 3 hours into the flight, but had to return to Haneda. 6 hours of useless flying but inconvenience to travelers and losses to tourism and business are horrendous. Only in the PH. Sigh,” MVP tweeted on Sunday. Only in the Philippines, indeed. We make positive changes once in a while, only to fall two steps backwards. So what really happened?

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, in a brief phone call, said there is absolutely no truth to the report going around that “nasaksak sa 220 (volt) ang computer.”

Sec. Jimmy was hearing a New Year’s Day mass with his wife when his phone started buzzing minutes after what turned out to be a power outage.

He immediately informed President Marcos of what happened.

Despite this – and strangely – Marcos’ social media account talked about our destiny in 2023 and nothing about how our destiny was actually unfolding with the airport mess.

What really happened was a loss of power in the Air Traffic Management Center. The exact reason for this is being investigated. The center’s uninterruptible power supply (UPS) also bogged down, crippling the country’s airspace. ATMC is the facility in charge of all inbound and outbound flights between Manila and elsewhere.

The system likewise failed to connect to the commercial power supply from Meralco.

Sec. Jimmy said the equipment

was acquired in 2010 but started operations only in 2018. It also did not have a back-up system.

“At around 09:49 a.m. the Air Traffic Management Center (ATMC) went down due to a power outage which resulted in loss of communication, radio, radar and internet. The primary cause identified was a problem with the power supply and the degraded uninterruptible power supply which had no link to the commercial power and had to be connected to the latter manually. The secondary problem was the power surge due to the power outage which affected the equipment,” the Transportation department said in a separate statement.

As of 5:50 p.m. on Jan. 1, operations resumed, while equipment restoration is still ongoing.

The Transportation department has instructed airline partners to provide – free of charge – food, refreshments, transportation, lodging and accommodation for all affected passengers.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) also advised all its airports to attend to all stranded passengers.

These efforts are all good but at the end of the day, passengers just want to fly back home or head toward their planned destinations.

10 years behind Moving forward, Sec. Jimmy said we need to acquire an upgraded system, which would need a budget of more than P13 billion.

“With what happened today, we need to fast-track the backup system. if you compare us to Singapore, they are at least 10 years ahead of us,” he said at a press conference that day.

‘Anywhere except the Philippines’

Sadly, what happened last Sunday brought us irreversible damage and major inconvenience to tens of thousands of passengers.

I heard that in Singapore, some foreign tourists planning to head off to Boracay after landing in Manila, changed their plans and looked for other destinations instead.

Overheard from these foreigners: “Anywhere except the Philippines!”

For sure, Sec. Jimmy and his team or the Marcos administration for that matter

of chips. According to Mckinsey research, global demand will also continue to grow, with semiconductors poised to become a $1-trillion industry by the end of the decade.

We are catching up as a top exporter of semiconductors and electronics to the U.S., and a strong sign that the United States is looking at the Philippines as one of the alternative sources for its imports is the upcoming visit to Manila of U.S. executives from the Semiconductor Industry Association in mid-January.

As Sec. Diokno said, 2023 augurs a bright future for the Philippines – and we have the potential of being one of the leading economies in the AsiaPacific region as long as we remain focused and not “drop the ball,” with our leaders and policy makers keeping their eyes on growing our economy.

A prosperous new year to all! (Philstar.com)

* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

* * * babeseyeview@gmail.com

only inherited this problem but it is now their duty to address it. Clearly, our aviation system –among many other systems in this country – is old and outdated. Did the previous administrations do anything to upgrade it? How about maintenance efforts?

That said, I wonder what former transportation secretary Art Tugade and the Duterte administration did to address this system. And to think secretary Tugade even wanted his son to manage our airport.

Last Sunday’s New Year chaos puts the spotlight on how we run things in this country.

As a reader pointed out, “Whatever is in place is dependent on the person in charge and not on proven procedures.”

How many more snafus can this country bear? (Philstar. com)

* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

* * *

Email: eyesgonzales@gmail.com. Follow her on Twitter @eyesgonzales. Column archives at EyesWideOpen on FB.

ANDY TECSON

DING CARREON Videographer

MOMAR

ManilaTimes.net photo

prudence is still needed in preventing Nazarenerelated activities from spreading illness and death. Religious devotion and protecting public health need not be incompatible. (Philstar.com)

All systems go for Feast of Black Nazarene sans Traslacion

by Franco Jose c. Baroña ManilaTimes.net

IT'S all systems go for the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene from Jan. 6 to 9, 2023.

BGen. Andre Dizon, Manila Police Director (MPD) director, said during the media conference at the Pope Benedict Building in Quiapo Church on Tuesday that security measures have been put in place to ensure a peaceful and orderly celebration.

Gen. Dizon said a total of 3,000 uniformed personnel will be deployed for this religious event.

He said they will be assisted by an additional 2,000 personnel from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), police districts, and other support units and government agencies.

on January 5 at the Quirino Grandstand in Ermita, Manila.

He said there will also be checkpoints around the Quirino Grandstand and Quiapo areas.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Procopio Lipana, on the other hand, said they will deploy more than 700 personnel on the day of the festival, January 7.

Changes to the traditional celebration and several innovations were also introduced and announced during the media conference by Quiapo Church lay adviser Alex Irasga.

This includes the suspension of the procession of the Black Nazarene image or "Traslacion" amid the threat of Covid-19.

after the midnight Mass on January 8.

Kissing the image of the Black Nazarene, or "Pahalik", will also be prohibited.

"To avoid further contamination, we will remove the two traditions during the celebration of the feast," said Irasga.

Those planning to join the procession are encouraged to bring candles and observe health protocols such as the wearing of face masks.

Irasga said images of the Black Nazarene measuring more than two feet tall will be prohibited at the Quirino Grandstand as early as January 7.

something new every day because he was a bookworm.

“Araw-araw marami akong natututunan sa trabahong ito.

service for life),” he said.

In his recent vlog, Marcos was joined by Vice President and Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sara Duterte where the two answered a few questions from netizens.

One of the questions was: “Ano naman po ang pangarap ninyo para sa bayan ngayong 2023 (What is your dream for the country this 2023)?”

Marcos, in response, renewed his push for unity, saying it was a crucial ingredient in nationbuilding.

“Sana paganda ng paganda ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino, nagkakaisa ang Pilipinas para sa ikabubuti ng lahat. ‘Yan ang aking pangarap para sa taon na ito. Sa aking palagay, ipagpatuloy natin ang pagkakaisa natin (I hope the life of every Filipino gets better and better, the Philippines is united for the good of all. That's my dream for this year. In my opinion, let' us continue being united),” he said.

Duterte, for her part, said that she always included in her prayers for a “strong, successful, and stable Philippines.”

Marcos, who assumed office in June 2022, said he learned

Mabuti nalang mahilig akong magbasa. Lagi akong nag-aaral ngayon. Sa awa naman ng Diyos ay nagagamit naman natin ang ating mga natututunan para hindi mapanis ang ating pagiisip (I learn something new every day from this job. Luckily, I like to read. I always study. With God’s grace, we are able to use what we learn everyday so our mind does not get dull),” he said.

Sara said she is looking forward to completing her short course in Psychology by February.

Marcos and Duterte were also asked to predict what was in store for each other by reading each other palms.

Marcos said that he foresees Duterte being in public service for a lifetime.

“Hindi ko kailangan tignan ang palad nito… Si Inday, puso ng ina. Nakikita ko ang puso ng ina, ‘yun ang nagiging motivation niya para sa trabaho niya. Kaya sa palagay ko habang-buhay na si Inday Sara na nasa serbisyo ng publiko (I don’t need to read her palms… Inday has the heart of a mother. I can see that it will be her motivation in her work. That is why I think Sara will be in public

Duterte actually took time to read Marcos’ palm and quipped about foreseeing that the President would soon welcome a granddaughter.

“Mayroong blessing. May apo na darating (There will be a blessing. A grandchild will arrive),” Duterte said, as a joke.

Asked to share their New Year’s Resolutions, the two had the same response: Get more sleep.

“Talagang kailangan na matuto ako na magpahinga dahil nagkakasakit na. Hindi na dapat nangyari ‘yun (We need to learn to rest because we’re getting sick. That shouldn’t happen again),” Marcos said.

He suffered from colds during his trip to Brussels, Belgium due to the cold weather there.

He said he also wanted to spend “more time with family.”

Duterte said she aimed to complete eight hours of sleep rather than just five hours, which she would usually get.

This was the second time that Marcos and Duterte joined each other in the former’s vlog.

Marcos said the last time they were together in a vlog was during the campaign period in April 2022.

The two ran under the UniTeam tandem -- a play on their platform of unity. (PNA)

Entice the youth to serve in government, solon proposes

MANILA – The government must have an enticing program to encourage the youth to enter civil service, according to a bill filed by Senator Mark Villar.

Senate Bill No 1525, or the Government Internship Program (GIP), seeks to mandate all government agencies to provide compensation to internship program that would complement ongoing recruitment efforts in order to ensure that civil servants are well-motivated, properly trained and the deserving ones promptly recruited.

“The state must recognize the vital role of the youth in nation building and by requiring them for government internship, it will encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs,” the bill’s explanatory note read.

The bill states that interns shall be Filipino citizens only aged 18 to 25 at the time of the application while internship period shall be for a period of at least three to six months and must be implemented on a year-round basis.

Interns shall be provided with a stipend amounting to 75 percent of the existing rate of Step 1 of Salary Grade 1 and non-taxable.

The amount of the stipend

shall be based on the trainee's actual attendance, absences and tardiness incurred.

Among the duties that may be assigned interns are clerical/ secretarial work, customer service, research and support services.

An intern shall be a beneficiary of the program only once, with the Civil Service Commission and National Youth Commission in charge of a database to serve as monitoring tool for all institutions.

“The GIP shall not be considered as employment. Thus, there is no employeremployee relationship between the beneficiary and the institution. GIP graduates shall be given preference in the hiring of workers in the institutions,” the bill states.

The Department of Labor and Employment currently implements the GIP to provide young workers, particularly the indigent, the opportunity to demonstrate their talents and skills in public service.

Interns can be aged between 18 and 30 and graduates of at least high school or vocationaltechnical.

Individuals up to 35 years old may be accommodated under exceptional circumstances,

specifically in areas that are hit hard by disasters and calamities.

“The internship program bridges the gap between the academe and the workplace and it shall be beneficial both to the government as well as to the students,” Villar said. (PNA)

Dizon said the MPD will conduct a send-off ceremony

Irasga said a "Walk of Faith" will instead be conducted from the Quirino Grandstand to the Quiapo Church but without the image of the Black Nazarene

"The celebration will be a balance of faith and obedience to the government that we will follow the minimum health protocols required," he said. "What we will spread is faith and not COVID." g

PH daily average of new COVID-19 cases down by 39%

MANILA – The daily average of new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases decreased by 39 percent from Dec. 26, 2022 to Jan. 1, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Monday, January 2.

From 813 daily infections recorded from Dec. 19 to 25, 2022, the number went down to 494 in the recent week.

The latest case bulletin showed 3,458 new cases and 164 verified deaths.

Of the additional deaths, the DOH said 32 occurred from Dec. 19, 2022 to Jan. 1.

To date, the Philippines has 12,660 active COVID -19 infections.

Overall since the pandemic was declared in March 2020, the country has logged over 4 million

coronavirus cases and more than 65,000 fatalities. During the same seven-day period, three cases were added to the tally of severe and critical infections, which also went down to 433 from the previous week’s 516.

Only 16.2 percent or 350 out of the 2,155 intensive care unit (ICU) beds are in use, while 16.2 percent or 350 of 2,155 non-ICU beds are utilized.

About 73,775,259 or 94.46 percent of the country’s target population (78,100,578) are vaccinated against COVID -19, including 79.45 percent of 8,721,357 senior citizens, as of Jan. 2.

As of Jan. 1, a total of 21,169,446 have received booster shots out of the fully vaccinated population. (PNA)

Marcos hopes Filipinos lives get ‘better and better’ Marcos, Duterte get high trust ratings in poll

by Pia Lee-Brago Philstar.com

MANILA — President Marcos received high trust and satisfaction ratings in the latest survey by The Issues and Advocacy Center (The CENTER) as the new administration completed its first six months in office.

The CENTER said it conducted anew its noncommissioned PULSO ng PILIPINO nationwide survey to gauge the public’s perception relative to the performance of the Marcos administra-tion and measured the trust rating and satisfaction rating of the President.

President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte both received a net rating of 81 percent and 82 percent, respectively, based on a gross trust rating of 87 percent for

the President, and 88 percent for Duterte with both yielding to a similar, but negligible six percent of respondents who said they tend not to trust the country’s top two officials.

Seven percent of those polled said they are unsure of their perception for Marcos and six percent for Duterte.

The Pulso ng Pilipino survey also showed that Marcos was highly favored by 93 percent from the poorest “E” sector, 89 percent from the “D” group, and 84 percent from the upper to middle income households.

The Vice President was the preferred choice of those in the lower strata with 92 percent, 87 percent of the “D” class and 84 percent from the upper to middle income sector.

On their performance in office, Marcos ended the year with a 78 percent satisfaction rating with only four percent saying they are

not satisfied with Marcos while 14 percent of the re-spondents were undecided.

Duterte registered the highest trust rating in Mindanao at 97 percent, 91 percent from Visayas, 81 percent in Luzon and, 84 percent in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Some 93 percent who trust Duterte were from the poorest sector, 87 percent were from the “D” class and 84 percent were from the upper to mid-income group.

The survey was conducted from Dec. 5 to 12, 2022 which covered some 1,200 respondents nationwide.

“The premise is to determine the level of trust and or distrust of the people towards the administration and, how satisfied or dissatisfied are the respondents with the performance of these top officials,” The CENTER said. g

BLACK NAZARENE REPLICA. Devotees hold a procession of the replica of the Black Nazarene from Quiapo Church to the vicinity of San Lazaro Hospital in Sta. Cruz, Manila on Monday, Jan. 2. To avoid crowding inside the church, the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene paraded the replica of the so-called miraculous image in various churches and government establishments before the feast. PNA photo by Yancy Lim

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expressed hope that the lives of all Filipinos would get “better and better” as the country welcomes the New Year.

Meet the Filipino American cinematographer of ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

By Kristofer Purnell Philstar.com

Arkapaw grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and graduated from the American Film Institute’s (AFI) Conservatory program in 2009.

Her early film credits include shooting the films “Palo Alto,” “Teen Spirit” and “The Sun Is Also A Star,” as well as music videos for Janelle Monáe, HAIM, Arcade Fire and the Jonas Brothers.

Prior to the “Black Panther” sequel, Arkapaw’s biggest project was being behind the cinematography of the 2021 Marvel show “Loki,” where Tom Hiddleston reprised his popular character. Autumn

was nominated for an Emmy for her work on the show.

She actually replaced her friend and fellow AFI alumna, the Oscar-nominated cinematographer Rachel Morrison, on the project as Morrison had a scheduling conflict.

“When Rachel found out that she was unable to shoot, she brought my name up,” Autumn told The Hollywood Reporter. “Obviously, I was already interested. But after speaking to Ryan [Coogler] and meeting him, it just solidified that for me, because he’s a very special individual.”

In the same interview, Arkapaw discussed the film’s visual style, which explores the groundbreaking feats of the first movie and illustrates aspects of grief.

“The intention this time was to... give more scope to that world. We’re shining light more on our female

protagonists … dealing with grief, rebirth,” she said.

She cited as an example the film’s finale, when Letitia Wright’s Shuri burns funeral clothes on the beach and mourns her brother T’Challa, played by the late Chadwick Boseman, whose soul fills both movies.

“Ryan and I wanted to [shoot] at the end of the day. That was the best light for the angle we wanted,” the filmmaker recalled. “And we got a little bit lucky; there was a lot of wind that day, and the trees were blowing. There wasn’t a ton of cloud cover. You got that nice, beautiful flare coming in the lens.”

Arkapaw said the scene encapsulated the entire film. “It’s about family, and it’s about rebirth. It’s about trying to let go of grief, but it does stay with you, and sometimes you have to carry it with you, and you’re reminded of it. It’s one of the most beautiful endings I think I’ve seen.”

David on his acting, admiration for Daniel

By Jan Milo severo Philstar.com

DAVID Licauco is among the most honest interviews Philstar.com has done lately, with the actor being as candid as he can about his sudden fame, popular team-up with Barbie Forteza, admiration for Daniel Padilla and rating of himself as an actor through the years.

The actor did a more than 30-minute long interview, extending for a few minutes more while waiting for his next appointment.

He revealed that he did not expect his portrayal of Fidel Reyes, the bestfriend of Crisostomo Ibarra (Dennis Trillo) in “Maria Clara at Ibarra,” will be a hit.

“They (the people behind the show) told me that he’s the best friend of Ibarra na medyo modern ‘yung attack,” said David. “They also told me that he is the love interest of Klay (Barbie Forteza). To my surprise, I didn’t expect that people would like the pairing of Klay and Fidel. Nakakatuwa talaga.”

He has come a long way since his role as Malik in “Mulawin vs. Ravena,” the 2017 fantasy series that was the sequel to the hit 2004 show “Mulawin.”

Philstar.com asked him to rate himself as an actor, and he gave an honest self-critique of his own work throughout the years.

“Definitely 1. Naalala ko mine-memorize ko lang ang lines ko. Alam mo ‘yun, masabi ko lang ‘yung line?” he shared about his acting stint in “Mulawin.”

His next assignment was a 4. He played the bestfriend to Bea Binene’s character in the 2018 drama “Kapag Nahati Ang Puso.”

The following year, he starred as the “Chinito Heartthrob” Kobe, the man

David Licauco

who stood between the romance of lead stars Kylie Padilla and Ruru Madrid in “TODA One I Love.” He gave his supporting role in the 2019 show a rating of 4.5, saying medyo hindi pa ako confident doon sa acting ko.”

His next two projects, “Heartful Cafe” (2021) and “Mano Po Legacy: The Family Fortune” (2022), both earned a 6.5 rating.

He said he learned a lot from both shows. In “Heartful Cafe,” he was the male lead opposite Julie Anne San Jose with Barbie in a guest role.

David and Barbie were reunited the following year in “Mano Po Legacy: The Family Fortune” (MPL).

Interestingly, all three are co-starring in “Maria Clara at Ibarra.”

His Valentine movie with Shaira Diaz titled “Without You,” set for release on February 15 in theaters, also helped his acting a lot.

“Honestly, throughout the years, may nababasa ako especially sa MPL, may nababasa akong tweets na, ‘Ang bano umarte ni David Licauco. Wala akong ma-feel.’ Pero honestly ako, may nafeel ako. Na-feel ko siya e at nakaramdam ako e. Pati ang mga direktor nakaramdam din e. Pero para sa mga manonood kasi, iba siguro ‘yung basehan

nila ng pagiging magaling na aktor. Siguro mas magalaw, mas may facial reactions. Ganon e. Dati pag nagre-react nakatingin lang sa mata. Matamata acting ako dati e,” he revealed.

David admitted that he was hurt with the posts that said he was “bano” or lacking in acting. Despite these, he is thankful for the constructive criticisms and these inspired him to research on how to “act better.”

His currently airing project pits him in scenes with seasoned and acclaimed actors including lead star Dennis Trillo and Barbie.

Na-realize ko especially being around Barbie na napakagaling mag-react. Even si Dennis Trillo na napakagaling mag-react. ‘Ah okay. Siguro ganito nga para sabihin ng mga tao na medyo marunong naman akong umakting.’

“Kaya siguro ngayon nagkakaroon ako ng praises, like good feedback from this show, playing the role of Fidel. It was mainly because of that realization of mine na siguro nga dapat ganito umarte. Hindi dapat mata-mata. Hindi dapat ramdam-ramdam,” David shared. He rates his portrayal of Fidel as 8.5.

For acting inspiration, David said he looks up to actor Daniel Padilla, whose romantic roles are similar to what he has been doing in his TV shows.

“Honestly, ang palagi kong pinapanood, si Daniel Padilla talaga. Kasi lahat naman ng nabibigay sa akin na mga roles is ‘yung mga pa-kilig, love and I feel siya naman talaga ‘yung magaling don,” David said.

He revealed that some of his acting scenes in “Maria Clara at Ibarra” were inspired by Daniel’s acting in the movie “Can’t Help Falling In Love.”

“Yung eksena ko nga sa Filay (love team of Fidel

Benjamin and Chelsea now engaged

By Dana Cruz Inquirer.net

BENJAMIN Alves has revealed that he and his model-influencer girlfriend Chelsea Robato are now engaged, after being in a relationship for three years.

The actor made this announcement by showing himself and Robato posing in front of a neon sign bearing the words “Will you marry me?” via his Instagram page on Friday, Dec. 30. He also gave a peek at the engagement ring he had given to Robato.

“What a fairytale it is, to spend the rest of my life with you,” he said.

Fellow celebrities who sent congratulatory greetings to the couple were Solenn Heussaff, Lovi Poe and Andrea Torres. Actors Janine Gutierrez, Iza Calzado and Mark Herras said their congratulations to the pair as well.

“Congrats man! So so happy for you both!” Heussaff told Alves.

“Woot wooot! So happy for you guys!” Poe said to the couple.

“OMG (Oh my God)! Yay!” Torres gushed. Alves and Robato celebrated their third anniversary as a couple last July. They are also

Why Joyce enjoys marriage with Juancho

By alex Brosas Inquirer.net

FOR vlogger-TV host Joyce Pring, there’s nothing more beautiful than being married to her husband Juancho Juancho Triviño who to her seems a perfect better half.

In an Instagram post today, January 2, Pring articulated the reasons why she enjoyed her marriage to Triviño with whom she shared a child, Alonso Eliam. Pring is expecting another child soon.

“I think people often talk about the challenges of married life, and not enough about its beauty and blessing. I’ve experienced pretty wonderful stuff when I was single but nothing compares to this,” she said after she posted a photo of her with her husband and two photos with her son and Triviño.

She said about Triviño: “Nothing has been more beautiful or life changing than being married to someone who loves the Lord, loves me, and loves our children deeply. Someone who’s just as excited to build a life together. Someone who sticks around

through good seasons and bad seasons. Someone you can build a home with, and also call your home.”

With that, she feels that “as our family grows, our wrinkles

deepen, and the years pass — my love for you expands and washes over me like a roaring wave. All by the grace of God that we get to experience this.”

Heaven not ready to undress in the movies

By alex Brosas Inquirer.net

EVEN if she had a quite steamy love scene with Ian Veneracion in “Nanahimik ang Gabi,” Heaven Peralejo is not about ready to strip in her future projects.

When asked if she was ready to throw all caution to the wind the way other sexy stars do nowadays, Peralejo said she can’t disrobe for the big screen.

“Siguro ibibigay ko na po sa kanila iyon (Maybe, I will give it to them),” she said during the movie’s grand media conference, Dec. 13.

“I think, when it comes to my craft, siguro parang planado lahat ng ginagawa ko (maybe all

the things I do are planned). Whatever I choose, whatever character I put myself into, parang everything is calculated. I don’t think I can see myself in that kind of sense pa. I want to respect also my parents’ opinion. If hindi okay sa kanila iyon, I think I will respect that,” she explained.

But this is not to say that Peralejo did not give her all in portraying her character of Me Ann, the love of Ian Veneracion’s chief character.

“I think I gave my all in this film. What you will see in this film is Me Ann and not Heaven,” she said, noting that she and Veneracion had been very comfortable with each other so that doing love scenes together was not a problem.

“About sa comfortability doon sa pagkandong ko kay Chief, kay Ian (About the comfortability of having Chief, Ian, sit on my lap), kasi he made me feel so comfortable around him. Since we’re comfortable with each other, we get to laugh at each other’s joke.

‘Yung pagkandong (sitting on the lap), it’s work, it’s not malicious,” she said.

“I think iyon ang maganda sa aming dalawa. We have set the boundaries very clearly. Once na nakita kong si Chief na siya, ang bilis kong magpunta doon sa character na Me Ann kasi kaming tatlo, it’s teamwork kasi, eh. Nakakahiya naman sa mga beterano na actor na hindi ko galingan,” she explained. (I think that’s what’s beautiful between [Ian and me] We have set the boundaries very clearly. Once I saw him as Chief, it was fast for me to get to the character of Me Ann because all three of us, it’s teamwork. It would be a shame to these veterans if I did not work hard.)

Kylie welcomes 2023 with rumored new love

By Jan Milo severo Philstar.com

OVER a year after her breakup with Aljur Abrenica, Kylie Padilla welcomed the New Year in Thailand with a mystery man rumored to be her new boyfriend.

For the past two days, Kylie shared videos on her Instagram Stories and feeds of her

sojourn in Thailand. Most of the videos featured her visiting temples and scenic locations.

Many internet users, however, noticed that in some of her videos there is a man whose limbs are inked with tattoos but whose face is never seen.

“Wandering with another fellow wanderer,” she wrote on her video touring the town

of Kanchanaburi by train.

In another post, Kylie shared a video of her visiting a temple in Thailand.

“All there is, is gratitude. Paalam, 2022,” she wrote.

Aljur and Kylie broke up in 2021. Kylie’s dad, Robin Padilla, revealed that the reason of the split was an

MANILA — Marvel’s “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” was uplifted by its female actors; women were also pivotal for the film behind the camera, including Filipino American director of photography Autumn Durald Arkapaw.

Benjamin Alves and Chelsea Robato

Photo from Instagram/@benxalves

Heaven Peralejo Photo from Instagram/@heavenperalejo

business partners in their online flower shop business, House of Roses.

Juancho Triviño and Joyce Pring Photo from Instagram/@joycepring

GMA photo

Composite image of Autumn Durald Arkapaw and a scene from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” Photo from Instagram/Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Marvel Studios

Ricky Lee hopes more Filipinos return to cinemas and support local films

NATIONAL Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee wished that more Filipinos will return to the cinemas and watch local films. He also urged the government to give more assistance to the film and entertainment industry in the same way the Korean entertainment industry has received strong support from its government.

May mga nanonood na sa atin, pero ‘pag pumasok ka sa sinehan, sometimes there are only two, three or four people inside the theaters, so nakakalungkot na isipin na ganun,” Lee said during the Pandesal Forum held recently at the Kamuning Bakery Café in Quezon City. He was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII).

“Abroad actually andami ng nanonood, andaming pumapasok. I think (streaming)

By Charmie Joy Pagulong Philstar.com Continued

Putative spouse status as a defense to a petition for nullity of marriage

Barrister’s Corner

Kenneth UrsUA reyes

will not go away because it has become a habit of the people to watch content via streaming.

But I think eventually andami ng manonood sa sinehan kasi iba pa rin yung experience when you watch inside a movie house,

when you look at the big screen and then you surrender yourself totally to the big screen,” he told The STAR “When you watch a film on streaming devices, you

Kylie welcomes 2023...

From Page 8

alleged third party. Aljur was linked to actress AJ Raval, but he denied that the actress was the reason of the breakup.

Aljur had admitted that he and the VivaMax star were in a “getting to know each other” stage. The actor had recently said that he was open to reunite with Kylie.

ALL property, real or personal, wherever situated, acquired by a married person during the marriage while domiciled in California is community property. Family Code 760. However, there are situations in which the marriage may be held to be null and void. These situations include, but are not limited to entering into a bigamous marriage, fraud and misrepresentation in entering into a marriage, etc. The legal consequences of having your marriage annulled by your spouse is that it results to you not having any community property interest on property acquired by your spouse during the marriage. A nullity may also cut off your claim for spousal support.

CA3d at 718–719, 248 CR at 811–812

A party’s “good faith” belief in the validity of the marriage is not tested by whether he or she believed a “marriage” lawfully occurred under some private, secular or spiritual set of standards. A putative spouse must have had a good faith belief in the existence of a lawful California marriage. Estate of DePasse (2002) 97 CA4th 92, 107–108, 118 CR2d 143, 156; Welch v. State of Calif. (2000) 83 CA4th 1374, 1378–1379, 100 CR2d 430, 432–433; Marriage of Vryonis (1988) 202 CA3d 712, 723, 248 CR 807, 814–815

pursuant to § 2251 is also liable for the parties’ debts to the same extent as if it had been community or quasi-community property. Family.Code. § 2252.

Kylie Padilla GMA photo

Kylie and Aljur were married in 2018. They have two sons, Alas and Axl.

David on his acting, admiration for...

From Page 8

and Klay), ang inaral ko kanina, same siya don sa movie ni Daniel Padilla na ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love,’” he said, adding that he’s a fan of Daniel and the actor’s reel-and-real-life girlfriend Kathryn Bernardo.

Kinikilig ako sa kanila, fan nila ko. Ginagaya ko ‘yung mga ano niya (Daniel), kung paano niya sabihin,” David added.

The 27-year-old actor also shared how he sees himself as an actor in five years. He said

since he is blessed with youngish looks, he thinks he can still pass for the “cute and kilig” roles until he’s 29. When he turns 30, he sees himself going into more serious roles.

David aspires to be recognized like any other actor as they spend more years in their profession.

“A Best Actor Award would be far-fetched. I don’t know, but then, I’m aspiring to bag one of those awards. Hopefully, someday,” he shared.

What options do you have if your spouse files a nullity against you? You may still have a claim to community property and support as a putative spouse. A party to a void or voidable marriage has “putative spouse” status only if he or she believed in good faith the marriage was valid. Family.Code. § 225; Marriage of Guo & Sun (2010) 186 CA4th 1491, 1493, 112 CR3d 906, 908; Marriage of Vryonis (1988) 202 CA3d 712, 721, 248 CR 807, 813. A party who has the requisite objectively reasonable “good faith” belief may be a putative spouse where any legal infirmity in formation of the marriage renders the marriage invalid. Domestic Partnership of Ellis & Arriaga (2008) 162 CA4th 1000, 1005, 76 CR3d 401, 404; Estate of DePasse (2002) 97 CA4th 92, 107, 118 CR2d 143, 155; see Marriage of Vryonis, supra, 202

“Good faith” belief is tested by an objective standard based on facts that would cause a reasonable person under the circumstances to harbor a good faith belief in the existence of a valid California marriage. Domestic Partnership of Ellis & Arriaga, supra, 162 CA4th at 1005, 76 CR3d at 404; Marriage of Guo & Sun (2010) 186 CA4th 1491, 1497, 112 CR3d 906, 911; Marriage of Ramirez & Llamas (2008) 165 CA4th 751, 756, 81 CR3d 180, 183. Whether a party had an objectively reasonable “good faith” belief is a question of fact to be determined in light of all the circumstances.

Successfully proving putative spouse status or putative marriage status in court gives rise to certain property, support and attorney fees/costs rights, as well as certain other rights that ordinarily attach only between lawfully married persons. Property that would have been community or quasicommunity property had the marriage been valid is deemed “quasi-marital property” and, in a proceeding to terminate the invalid marriage, “shall” be divided between the parties as if it were community. Family. Code. § 2251(a)(2); Marriage of Tejeda (2009) 179 CA4th 973, 983, 102 CR3d 361, 368; Quasi-marital property divided

In addition, “temporary” and “permanent” spousal support may also be awarded in a nullity proceeding in favor of a putative spouse “in the same manner as if the marriage had not been void or voidable” Family Code Section 2254. The court may also award attorney’s fees pursuant to family code section 2030 in favor of a party found to be “innocent of fraud or wrongdoing in inducing or entering into the marriage, and free from knowledge of the then existence of any prior marriage or other impediment to the contracting of the marriage for which a judgment of nullity is sought.” Family Code Section 2255.

* * * Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice.  The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information.  This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed.  The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you.  This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APLC. This article is not a solicitation.

* * * Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APLC. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com.

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National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee says the Philippines should learn from the Korean wave or Hallyu, which is being strongly supported by the Korean government.

What excites and scares Boy Abunda about TV comeback

By AllAn PolicArPio Inquirer.net

BEFORE social media, fans stayed updated about their favorite celebrities and latest showbiz happenings through newspapers and tabloids, television news reports and weekend talk shows.

These days, the stars themselves do the reporting; they interview one another. The changes in the media landscape—showbiz, in particular—are undeniable, veteran host Boy Abunda observed. And these things he must learn to navigate in his television comeback.

“The landscape is different now … Everyone has become an active participant in the business of news, including showbiz. Now, when a celebrity wants to make an announcement, they just post it on social media. Some start with cryptic posts until it turns into a story. Others would directly post, ‘I’m pregnant,’ or ‘I’m angry,’” Boy said at a recent press conference.

So, in his return to GMA Network after 23 years, the challenge, he said, is coming up with a show concept that can be relevant in the age of digital media.

“We have started to brainstorm and discuss potential content. ‘What do we do? What’s our equity? What can we offer that will make people watch us?’ These are the things we ask ourselves, if we were to

Boy Abunda

put together a new show, it has to be done well, and it has to be deliberate,” said the veteran television host when asked by the Inquirer about the kind of programs he wants to do.

Experiment Admittedly, the process will involve a lot of trial and error. “We have to experiment because you won’t know what will work until it’s right out there. And then, we look at audience response to determine whether we should move forward, step back or make a turn,” he said.

And he would be lying if he said that this new chapter in his career doesn’t worry him one bit. “There are already expectations; I don’t get to have a gestation period anymore. I’m at a point in my life where I have to deliver, and know my place and what I can do,” he said. “There’s a lot of excitement, trepidation and gratitude.”

But one thing’s for sure:

Inquirer.net photo

His future show must have an interview component. And if there’s one person at the top of his list of people to sit down with, it would be Mike Enriquez, who’s currently on medical leave. The veteran television and radio news anchor underwent kidney transplant.

“I had to call him, and he took my call. It was a very private conversation. He’s a dear friend of mine. I may not see him as much as I would like to, but he has been a constant friend,” Boy related. “I told him I’m back. He said, ‘Back where?’ ‘Here in GMA,’ I said.”

“Obviously, he doesn’t follow the news. I told him that I can’t imagine not letting him know about this move. And he told me that he wouldn’t have forgiven me if I hadn’t,” he said.

Also high on his bucket list are Heart Evangelista, Marian Rivera, Maine Mendoza and Arjo Atayde, Barbie Forteza, Julie Anne San Jose, Carla

Abellana, Alden Richards, Tom Rodriguez, Dennis Trillo and Paolo Contis.

Difficult goodbye Returning to GMA 7 wasn’t an easy process. “It was difficult because the pandemic halted our negotiations. But I have been in touch with the GMA executives even before the pandemic hit. Kumustahan lang. And then, we forget about it and joke about it,” he related.

Saying goodbye to his ABSCBN family was just as difficult. “Goodbyes are hard in any language. Because we don’t want to hurt anyone. But I talked to them properly and asked for their permission,” he said. “I didn’t burn any bridges.”

In 1994, Boy hosted the late-night GMA 7 program “Show and Tell.” Five years later, he transferred to rival network ABS-CBN, where he became a staple of various show biz news and gab fests, like “The Buzz.” When his most recent show, “Tonight with Boy Abunda” stopped production because of the pandemic and ABSCBN’s shutdown, he pivoted to YouTube.

While his YouTube channel was a success, television is still home for Boy. “It’s the magic of television I look for … The discipline, the process of how a show is mounted. I use social media, but I’m not a digital native. I just know enough to use it,” he said. “I’m not saying one is better than the other, but I just know television better. I want to go back to what I’m used to.”

Ricky Lee hopes more Filipinos return to...

From Page 9

control eh. You can edit it, you can post it… so you’re in control. The experience of watching a movie (in theaters), when you just let go, when you just lose control and let the story envelop you and bring you where it wants to go, it’s a very rare experience that you cannot experience while you are watching on streaming platforms. So, I hope that we really, really get back to watching films in movie houses,” he furthered.

Moreover, Lee shared the opinion of film industry executives that holding film festivals, such as the Metro Manila Film Festival, QCinema International Film Festival and Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, will also facilitate in encouraging people to return to theaters.

“Yung Cinemalaya, punong-puno yung mga sinehan lalo na sa CCP (Cultural Center of the Philippines) maski na pandemic pa rin. So people are really eager to go inside the theater. Pero yung mapuno ang theater ngayon, it may take time because mahirap ang mga tao. Andaming pagkakagastusan. Ang mahal-mahal ng price ng ticket. So, I suppose the government should help.”

He also stated the Philippines should learn from the Korean wave or Hallyu which includes K-pop and K-dramas. “I think there’s

nothing wrong with watching foreign films, especially K-dramas where we can learn so much. But we also have to support our local content.”

“The thing with K-dramas kasi malinaw yung the Korean pride,” he observed. “’Pag nanood ka kitang-kita mo yung pride nila na Korean sila. From the food, to the music, hanggang sa damit (all the way to their fashion). The Korean pride is there. (It’s) very, very strong. I think that’s one thing that we can learn. I think we have Filipino pride pero kulang pa I think pwede pa nating i-push yung pagiging Filipino. Because we tend to… nakatingin tayo sa labas. Medyo na-colonized yung isip (natin).”

The renowned screenwriter likewise noted how the Korean government strongly supported its entertainment business, which he believes is what the local industry people “badly need.”

He asserted, “I think we need more support from the government and not only from the private entities. Yung Korean content, it worked, it is appreciated all over the world because it comes as a wave. You have K-pop, K-drama, Korean food, Korean costume, so sabay-sabay sila. It’s like a wave that’s being supported by the government. Umagos sa buong mundo ng tulongtulong.”

“Hindi sila hiwa-hiwalay which I think sa atin dapat ganun din. Tulong-tulong ang Pinoy music, Pinoy TV, Pinoy movies, Pinoy food, lahat yan supported by the government at lahat ng kailangan pa para sumuporta. We go as a wave dala-dala natin ang Pinoy pride over Filipino content.”

Meanwhile, Lee said that the FFCCCII award is “very important” to him because it “brings me back to my Filipino-Chinese roots.”

“Hindi na ako masyadong marunong mag-Chinese. I stopped studying Chinese when I was in Grade 5, when my father died. But I can understand a little Chinese. I just can’t speak it and I still know my Chinese name.”

The first screenplay he co-wrote was Dragnet in 1973. The film starred Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada as an undercover police officer, who investigates a drug syndicate.

“That was my first film and it portrayed the Chinese in a very good light. Usually ang Chinese, when they are portrayed in Philippine movies, mga chekwa, mga katatawanan stereotype. (But in Dragnet) I think that’s one of the first portrayal of Chinese that’s positive. Dun ako nagsimula,” he said of the film that gave him his break.

The ‘husband’ Liza Lorena will ever have

By AllAn PolicArPio Inquirer.net MMFF best actress); and “Miguelito” (1986 Gawad Urian best supporting actress).

LIZA Lorena has been in the industry for 60 years now. And she doesn’t see herself stopping anytime soon. After all, she considered the craft of acting as her “husband.”

“I don’t see myself retiring. That will only happen if I lose my ability to memorize lines. But as long as I can do that and as long as I can walk … Well, actually, even if I do become a wheelchair user, I will still work if producers think I can still be useful,” she said at a press conference for her Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry, “Family Matters.”

“This is my life. I never got married. And so, this is my husband—my profession,” stressed Liza, who has two children: actor Tonton Gutierrez with former matinee idol Eddie Gutierrez; and Wednesday with businessman Honey Boy Palanca.

Wonderful scriptIn “Family Matters”—directed by Nuel Naval and produced by Cineko Productions—Liza is Eleanor, a doting wife who tries her best to take care of her frail husband, Francisco (Noel Trinidad), amid growing tension among their children.

Aside from the “wonderful script,” the prospect of working with Noel for the first time made the film offer too good to pass up. “I’m a big fan of his. I have yet to work with him so thank God I got to have this opportunity in my lifetime,” she said. ‘I used to watch him on Champoy’ and ‘Abangan ang Susunod na Kabanata.’”“At first, Noel was worried that I’m ‘suplada’ or ‘mataas.’ So, when we finally met, I hugged him immediately, so that he could feel comfortable with me,” she said.

Prolific show biz career Liza has had a prolific show biz career in film and television, and has delivered memorable and award-winning performances in such movies as “Oro, Plata, Mata” (1983 FA Awards best supporting actress); “Halimaw” (1986

“Hopefully, in my lifetime, I get another acting award,” she said. But in an industry that puts a premium on youth, Liza observed that the roles she gets have become more limited as she grew older. But that’s OK, she said—“Lahat ay may panahon.”“I’m just thankful to God that there’s still space for us in this industry at our age, and that the industry still wants us,” she told the Inquirer. “I’m thankful to my director and all the producers who still put their trust in us.”

Aging was something Liza never really feared or felt daunted by. Growing old is a privilege denied to many, so they say. “You can never be young forever. I enjoyed every aspect of my life, from my youth to now. You can’t be young forever. You will get wrinkles and that’s part of the process. You won’t look the same way you did, but I still feel beautiful at my age,” she said.

‘Never been happier’Looking back at her life and career, Liza can proudly say that she has “never been happier.” “I have faced so many challenges in life, but I didn’t take them to heart. That’s all part of life,” she said. “These days, I stay with positive and happy people … I try to avoid people who make me feel unhappy or ruin my mood… people whose values don’t align with mine.”

Meanwhile, asked what advice can give young aspiring actors on how to achieve the career longevity she enjoys, Liza stressed the importance of professionalism.

“You need to learn how to apologize when you’re late. You have to be courteous to the people you work with. Greet or wish them a good morning. You have to be pleasant to everyone, especially the production staff and crew.” “If you ever find your career on a low, you will be able to come back if the industry loves you. But if you have a bad attitude, everyone will want you out,” she said.

A big screen beginning for Joaquin Domagoso

YOUNG actor Joaquin Domagoso’s launching movie, “The Boy in the Dark,” which earned rave reviews and numerous awards, including the best actor plum from different film festivals abroad, will finally hit local theaters starting January 8.

A noted actor on his own, the boy once referred to as the son of actor-turned-politician Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso received his first best actor trophy from the Toronto Film and Script Awards. He likewise received similar recognition from the Five Continents International Film Festival in Venezuela and the Boden International Film Festival (BIFF) in Sweden on Christmas Day.

That’s three best actor awards for one movie, all deservingly reaped by Joaquin Domagoso.

Meanwhile, veteran scribe Gina Marissa Tagasa won Best Screenplay and Kiko Ipapo Best Supporting Actor at a film festival in Venezuela.

Director Adolf Alix, Jr. also bagged the Best Director plum for a feature film from the BIFF, and the movie itself received an honorable mention at the Toronto Film and Script Awards.

Joaquin first made his mark in the industry when he was introduced as Cassy Legaspi’s love interest in the most-watched Kapuso TV series “First Yaya” in 2020.

The stint was followed by yet another appearance in the First Yaya sequel, “First Lady.”

In That Boy In The Dark, the versatile actor plays the role of Knight, who, at a very young age, figures in an accident due to a heated argument between his parents (Glydel Mercado and Ramon Christopher).

Knight suffers head trauma which damages his optic nerve and renders him blind at age 19.

His mother leaves him while his father runs off with another woman.

Knight is left under the care of his grandfather and doting guardian, Mamay Ched (Lotlot de Leon).

Given the situation, Knight grows up to be rebellious. And while he is denied sight, he acquires an incredible skill of keen hearing.

Alone and abandoned in the family home, Knight then experiences an extraordinary encounter with a girl whose reflection he sees even in total darkness.

Not long after, Knight discovers the mystery behind the girl, who happens to be his childhood friend Ellie (Aneesa Gutierrez) and other surrounding details about a secret that shrouds the girl’s life and his rival Danos (Kiko Ipapo).

Acting really runs in Domagoso’s blood. At an early age, Joaquin has been showcasing his acting talents giving him three international acting awards in his most important movie to date. Just recently, he was Silver Winner as lead actor in the Latitude Film Awards, while his director won the same for filmmaking.

Screen veteran Nanding Joseph completes the movie’s starstudded cast, with Aneesa Gutierrez and Kiko Ipapo in introductory roles.

That Boy In The Dark opens in cinemas nationwide starting January 8. (ManilaTimes.net)

Liza Lorena in “Family Matters” Inquirer.net photo

Isko’s boy brings international award-winning debut flick back home