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JANUARY 5-11, 2024 Volume 17 - No.13 • 16 Pages

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Marcos vows to ‘build better, more’ in 2024 DATELINE USA

by Catherine s. Valente

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed that the government will “build better and more” this year.

In a pre-recorded New Year’s message, the president said that he looks back on

2023 “pleased” with the administration’s accomplishments.

“Your government’s New Year’s resolution is to fully work towards giving efficient and devoted service, which will be the key to improving life for us all,” Marcos said. “We look forward to the new year with a pledge to build better and more. We have set high

by tina g. santos

LA County reinstates mask mandate at health care facilities

Inquirer.net

There have been increases in COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths in LA County over the past week

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PH’ outstanding debt balloons to P14.51 trillion

MANILA — The Philippines’ outstanding debt climbed to a record of P14.51 trillion as of the end of November 2023 due to the net issuance of domestic securities, the Bureau of Treasury (BTr) said on Wednesday, January 3.

In a statement, the national treasury said that the debt stock increased by P27.92 billion where 30.91% are from external debts while 69.09% are from domestic borrowings.

The end-November debt level was 0.19% percent higher than the P14.48

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Asean ministers worry over rising South China Sea tensions

Los Angeles County has reinstated a mask-wearing mandate for staff and visitors at health care facilities following the rise in COVID cases. The health department said it was possible that at least part of the local increase in transmission is driven by new COVID-19 strains gaining dominance in Los Angeles County, including JN.1, a newly emerging strain descended from BA.2.86, an Omicron lineage.

File photo

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles County has reinstated a mask-wearing requirement for staff and visitors at all licensed health care facilities in light of an upswing in coronavirus metrics, officials said Saturday, December 30.

hopes for the days ahead, and we know that these can only be achieved with hard work.”

The president also promised to keep the nation united in the face of new challenges.

“No doubt the coming year will bring its fair share of new challenges. But these we have weathered before, like the great

BLESSING. Priests sprinkle holy water on devotees who joined the first day of the two-day blessing of the replicas of the Black Nazarene outside the Quiapo Church in the City of Manila on Wednesday, Jan. 3. A prelate of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene reminded devotees against climbing the andas (carriage) of the image of the Black Nazarene during the Traslacion on Jan. 9.

PNA photo b Avito Dalan

MANILA — Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) have expressed concern over escalating tensions in disputed areas in the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, and called on all the parties involved to exercise restraint and pursue a peaceful resolution of disputes in the region.

“We closely follow with concern the recent developments in the South China Sea that may undermine peace, security, and stability in the region,” the top diplomats of Southeast Asia’s regional bloc said in a statement late Saturday also issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The statement came after China and the Philippines in recent months traded accusations over a series of maritime run-ins, while

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PH, US hold joint patrol Recovering tourism industry in West Philippine Sea exceeds target, draws over

by Faith argosino Inquirer.net

MANILA — The Philippines and the United States commenced the first joint patrol in the West Philippine Sea this year, which will last until January 4.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday, January 3 said the two-day bilateral event will consist of “passing exercises, communication

checks, cross-deck exercises, joint patrols, Officer of the Watch maneuvers, and fixedwing flight operations.”

“The 2nd maritime cooperative activity marks a significant leap in our alliance and interoperability with the United States. It also demonstrates our progress in defense capabilities and development as a world-class armed force, as we carry out our mandate to protect

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5.5 million visitors in 2023

by Zeus legaspi Inquirer.net

MANILA — The Philippines’ tourism industry has been recovering faster than expected since taking a hit during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said on Tuesday, January 2.

In its year-end report, the DOT said that the country welcomed over

5.4 million tourists in 2023.

“A total of 5,450,557 international visitors entered the country from January 1 to December 31, 2023,” the DOT said.

It added that among the 5.4 million visitors, 91.8 percent (5,003,475) were foreigners, while 8.20 percent (447,082) were overseas Filipinos.

Target exceeded This figure is around 650,000 more

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From the Front Page

Recovering tourism industry... Marcos vows to ‘build better, more’...

PAGE 1 than the DOT’s projected 4.8 million international visitors for 2023.

In 2022, the Philippines welcomed around two million visitors, 73 percent of the, foreigners.

In early December last year, the DOT announced that it had breached the five million mark for foreign tourist arrivals.

“Annyeonghaseyo” Its yearend report added that South Koreans accounted for 26.41 percent of the total foreign visitors, making them the Philippines’ largest market for international visitors.

Second on the list are Americans (16.57 percent) followed by the Japanese (5.61 percent), Australians (4.89 percent) and Chinese (4.84 percent).

Cashing in Further, the DOT said that the country’s international tourism receipts have surged to an estimated P482.54 billion in 2023 – about 124.87 percent higher than

Virgin Island in Panglao, Bohol is a popular destination among local and foreign tourists.

Photo by Leo Udtohan

the estimated P214.58 billion in 2022.

“In 2019, or the prepandemic period, the DOT recorded P482.15 billion in international tourism receipts,” it added.

“By 2024, the DOT is targeting a baseline target of 7.7 million international visitor arrivals,” the DOT stated in its yearend report.

Resilient tourism industry Citing the country’s multiple tourism awards in

2023, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco lauded the tourism industry’s resilience amid setbacks in previous years.

“The indomitable spirit of the Filipino has been globally acclaimed with the Philippines receiving the Global Tourism Resilience Award with our country seen as a benchmark for innovation amidst trials and challenges,” Frasco said in the same report. n

PAGE 1 tribulations our forefathers defeated, and as a proud inheritors of this indefatigable spirit, we, too, shall overcome,” he said.

He reported that in 2023, his administration built 33 specialty centers, over 2,000 classrooms, and seven additional co-chain facilities.

The government also facilitated investments in renewable energy with a total potential capacity of around 121,000 megawatts and completed eight water supply projects, Marcos said.

“We also completed eight water supply projects, with 147 additional water projects being implemented in preparation for next year,” Marcos said, referring to the threat of El Niño.

He cited government assistance programs, including college scholarships and livelihood grants, as well as welfare programs that are meant to help people “graduate” from poverty.

The president said these programs serve as government support for Filipino skilled and talented workers that will serve as

ladders to fulfilling their dreams.

“This is the reason why we continue to give support to our farmers, from seedlings to fertilizers to fuel, because their sweat alone should not nurture the crops they grow in feeding the nation,” Marcos said.

“We will continue to purge the government of rules that slow the delivery of public services because when projects get delayed, progress is denied our people,” Marcos said.

“And this commitment to efficiency and service will extend to documents and licenses, because service delayed is also service denied,” he added.

Meanwhile, the president reminded Filipinos “that great things are always possible so long as we keep the faith in each other, in our nation, and in God.” “I am one with those of you who are fervently praying that the coming days will be filled with hope brought by prosperity for all,” Marcos said.

“And as long as values that bind us keep us united in our collective pursuit of shared progress, we will succeed. Mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas,” he added. n

Asean ministers worry over rising...

PAGE 1 President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. cited the need to change the country’s approach since diplomatic efforts were headed in a “poor direction,” he said last month.

China, in recent days, has also noticeably intensified its public responses to persistent challenges against its sweeping claims over the South China Sea, particularly from the Philippines, denying and dismissing all allegations made by Manila in their maritime dispute.

‘Sea of peace, stability’ Asean officials underscored the need to maintain and promote freedom of navigation in and overflight above the maritime sphere of Southeast Asia.

“We reaffirm the need to

restore and enhance mutual trust and confidence as well as exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability, [and] avoid actions that may further complicate the situation,” they noted.

The ministers are pushing for a peaceful resolution of disputes, “including full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, without resorting to threat or use of force,” in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).

The foreign ministers also reiterated the importance of peaceful dialogue “that

contributes constructively to the promotion of regional stability and cooperation in the maritime domain.”

“We welcome the efforts to manage the situations and ensure that peace and stability are maintained. We recognize the benefits of having the South China Sea as a sea of peace, stability, cooperation, and prosperity,” they pointed out.

“We underscored the importance of the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea in its entirety and committed to working towards the early conclusion of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea,” the PAGE 4

CODE OF CONDUCT. A screengrab from a Dec. 9, 2023, video by the Philippine Coast Guard shows China Coast Guard Vessel No. 3305 firing a water cannon at BRP Datu Bankaw, a patrol vessel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, near Scarborough Shoal Photo by Bajo de Masinloc

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PH’ outstanding debt balloons to P14.51 trillion...

PAGE 1 trillion in October 2023.

The country’s domestic debt at the end of November posted a total of P10.02 trillion which is 1.23% higher than the previous month’s P9.9 trillion.

The BoT attributed the increase in domestic debt to the net issuance of government securities worth P171.091 billion while principal payments amounted to P45.14 billion, which resulted in net payments of P125.95 billion.

NO TRAFFIC. Motorists cruise along traffic-free Quezon Avenue in Quezon City on Tuesday, Jan. 2, the first working day of the year. Government agencies and private firms are back in business as Malacañang did not declare a holiday, unlike last year.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

PH, US hold joint...

PAGE 1 the people and the state,” AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner, Jr. said in a statement.

According to the AFP, Philippine and US assets have arrived in the West Philippine Sea and performed advanced maritime communication exercises and completed “division tactics, an exercise to develop their confidence

in maneuvering near other vessels.”

The AFP added that it also deployed four Philippine Navy vessels, a search and rescue multi-role helicopter, and an anti-submarine warfare capable helicopter, while the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) used its navy vessels, a cruiser, two destroyers, and multiple combat aircraft. n

The treasury also said that the rise in debt was somewhat reduced by about P3.87 billion, as the Philippine peso strengthened and had an impact on domestically held foreign currencydenominated securities.

External debt, on the other hand, amounted to a total of P4.48 trillion is 2.06% lower than the end-October’s debt of P4.58 trillion.

The treasury said that the country’s external obligations were lessened due to the government’s net repayment of foreign loans amounting

to P1.08 billion and “favorable foreign exchange movements.

On the other hand, total debt guaranteed obligations declined by P7.86 billion or 2.18% month-overmonth to P353.14 billion as of endNovember 2023.

The treasury attributed the drop in guaranteed debt to the government’s net repayment of both domestic guarantees amounting to P1.21 billion and external guarantees amounting to P3.50 billion. (By Ian Laqui/Philstar. com) n

Asean ministers worry over rising South China...

PAGE 2 foreign ministers added.

Separate code The officials also welcomed the recent holding of a maritime dialogue between China and the United States in Beijing and the meeting between US President Joe Biden and China’s leader Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Summit in California last November.

“We hope that such dialogues will continue to further Asean’s efforts to strengthen stability and cooperation in the region’s maritime sphere,” they said.

“We reaffirm our unity and solidarity and our shared commitment to maintaining and further strengthening

stability in our maritime sphere to bring about overall peace, security, stability, and prosperity in our region,” they added.

Mr. Marcos said in November that the Philippines was working on a separate code of conduct with neighboring countries such as Malaysia and Vietnam regarding their territorial conflicts in the South China Sea as a broader agreement with China has not been progressing.

Asean and China have worked toward creating a code of conduct in the South China Sea, a plan dating back to 2002, although the regional bloc had already broached that proposal a decade earlier and officially endorsed it in 1996.

But progress has been slow despite

expressions of commitment by concerned parties to advance and speed up the process.

Talks on the components of the code have yet to start amid concerns over China’s willingness to commit to a binding set of rules consistent with international law.

China claims most of the South China Sea through a “nine-dash-line” that loops as far as 1,500 kilometers south of its mainland, cutting into the exclusive economic zones of the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

It updated its claim last August into a 10-dash line covering almost the entire West Philippine Sea. n

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States expand health coverage for immigrants Cancer patients face frightening delays in as GOP hits Biden over border crossings treatment approvals A GROWING number of states are opening taxpayerfunded health insurance programs to immigrants, including those living in the U.S. without authorization, even as Republicans assail President Joe Biden over a dramatic increase in illegal crossings of the southern border.

Eleven states and Washington, D.C., together provide full health insurance coverage to more than 1 million low-income immigrants regardless of their legal status, according to state data compiled by KFF Health News. Most aren’t authorized to live in the U.S., state officials say.

Enrollment in these programs could nearly double by 2025 as at least seven states initiate or expand coverage. In January, Republican-controlled Utah will start covering children regardless of immigration status, while New York and California will widen eligibility to cover more adults.

“These are kids, and we have a heart,” said Utah

state Rep. Jim Dunnigan, a Republican who initially opposed his state’s plan to cover children lacking legal status but relented after compromises including a cap on enrollment.

There are more than 10 million people living in the U.S. without authorization, according to estimates by the Pew Research Center.

Immigrant advocates and academic experts point to two factors behind state leaders’ rising interest in providing health care to this population: The pandemic highlighted the importance of insurance coverage to control the spread of infectious diseases; and some states are focusing on people without legal status to further drive down the country’s recordlow uninsured rate.

States have also expanded coverage in response to pleas from hospitals, lawmakers say, to reduce the financial burden of treating uninsured patients.

All states pay hospitals to provide emergency services to some unauthorized residents in emergency

rooms, a program known as Emergency Medicaid. About a dozen states have extended coverage for only prenatal care for such people. Full state-provided health insurance coverage is much less common, but increasing.

An estimated half of the people living in the U.S. without authorization are uninsured, according to a KFF-Los Angeles Times survey. That’s more than five times the uninsured rate for U.S. citizens. Immigrants lacking authorization are ineligible for federal health programs. But states can use their own money to provide coverage through Medicaid, the state-federal insurance program for low-income people.

California was the first state to begin covering immigrants regardless of their legal status, starting with children in 2016.

“This is a real reflection of the conflict we have in the country and how states are realizing we cannot ignore immigrant communities simply because of their immigration status,” said

Adriana Cadena, director of the advocacy group Protecting Immigrant Families. Many of the millions of people without permanent legal residency have been in the United States for decades and have no path to citizenship, she said.

These state extensions of health coverage come against a backdrop of rising hostility toward migrants among Republicans. The U.S. Border Patrol apprehended nearly 1.5 million people in fiscal year 2023 after they crossed the southern border, a record. GOP presidential candidates have portrayed the border as in crisis under Biden, and dangers of illegal immigration, like increasing crime, as the nation’s top domestic concern.

Simon Hankinson, a senior research fellow specializing in immigration issues with the conservative Heritage Foundation, said states would regret expanding coverage to immigrants lacking permanent legal residency because of the cost. Illinois, he noted, recently paused PAGE 10

LA County reinstates mask mandate at health...

PAGE 1 The county recently entered the “medium” level of COVID-19 hospital admissions, as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Over the past week in Los Angeles County, there have been notable, yet not unexpected, increases in COVID-19 reported cases, hospitalizations and deaths,” the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said in a statement. “While recent increases are significant, they remain considerably below last winter’s peak and common-sense protections are strongly recommended to help curb transmission and severe illness as the new year begins.”

The threshold for the CDC’s medium level is between 10 and 19.9 new COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 population over seven days.

The CDC reported 10.5 new COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 people in Los Angeles County for the week ending Dec. 23.

“Based on the Los Angeles County Health Officer Order posted on December 27, 2023, when the COVID-19 hospital admission level in Los Angeles County meets or exceeds the CDC’s Medium Level, all healthcare personnel, regardless of COVID-19 and influenza vaccination status, in licensed health care facilities that

provide inpatient care are required to mask while in contact with patients or working in patient-care areas,” the department’s statement said.

“In addition, all persons visiting a licensed health care facility that provides inpatient care are required to mask when around patients and while in patient-care areas. This will remain in effect until the COVID-19 hospital admission level in Los Angeles County is below the CDC’s Medium Level for at least 14 consecutive days.”

There were 609 COVID-positive patients in LA County hospitals as of Dec. 23, according to state data.

That’s up from 259 on Nov. 1, but lower than at this time last year, when the number was over 1,200. Some of those patients were admitted for other reasons and discovered they had COVID after being tested at the hospitals.

Since last week, the reported daily average of COVID-19 cases in the county has increased by more than 25%, from 495 to 621, according to the health department. Officials said the number represents an undercount due to the large number of home test results for COVID-19 that are not reported.

The department also reported a daily average of five COVID-related deaths, an increase from two earlier this month on Dec. 6.

Health officials have said that the great majority of people who die with COVID-19 have pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or hypertension.

A week ago, the health department said it was possible that at least part of the local increase in transmission is driven by new COVID-19 strains gaining dominance in Los Angeles County, including JN.1, a newly emerging strain descended from BA.2.86, an Omicron lineage.

JN.1 does not, however, appear to be resulting in more severe cases of COVID-19, officials said.

To protect against COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses circulating this holiday season, health experts recommended the following commonsense precautions: • Wash hands often or use hand sanitizer, especially before eating, after sneezing or coughing, or when in public places.

• Consider wearing a well-fitted, high-quality mask in crowded indoor spaces, travel hubs or poorly ventilated spaces.

• Stay home if you have any symptoms of illness, including coughing, sneezing, a fever or sore throat, and consider talking with friends and family so they know to be cautious about gathering if they show signs of infection. (Inquirer.net) n

By Lauren SauSSer KFF Health News

MARINE Corps veteran Ron Winters clearly recalls his doctor’s sobering assessment of his bladder cancer diagnosis in August 2022.

“This is bad,” the 66-year-old Durant, Oklahoma, resident remembered his urologist saying. Winters braced for the fight of his life.

Little did he anticipate, however, that he wouldn’t be waging war only against cancer. He also was up against the Department of Veterans Affairs, which Winters blames for dragging its feet and setting up obstacles that have delayed his treatments.

Winters didn’t undergo cancer treatment at a VA facility.

Instead, he sought care from a specialist through the Veterans Health Administration’s Community Care Program, established in 2018 to enhance veterans’ choices and reduce their wait times. But he said the prior authorization process was a prolonged nightmare.

“For them to take weeks — up to months — to provide an authorization is ridiculous,” Winters said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s cancer or not.”

After his initial diagnosis, Winters said, he waited four weeks for the VA to approve the procedure that allowed his urologic oncologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas to remove some of the cancer. Then, when he finished chemotherapy in March, he was forced to wait another month while the VA considered approving surgery to remove his bladder. Even routine imaging scans that Winters needs every 90 days to track progress require preapproval.

In a written response, VA press secretary Terrence Hayes acknowledged that a “delay in care is never acceptable.”

After KFF Health News inquired about Winters’ case, the VA began working with him to get his ongoing care authorized.

“We will also urgently review this matter and take steps to ensure that it does not happen again,” Hayes told KFF Health News.

Prior authorization isn’t unique to the VA. Most private and federal health insurance programs require patients to secure preapprovals for certain treatments, tests, or prescription medications. The process is intended to reduce spending and avoid unnecessary, ineffective, or duplicative care, although the degree to which companies and agencies set these rules varies.

Insurers argue prior authorization makes the U.S. health care system more efficient by cutting waste — theoretically a win for patients who may be harmed by excessive or futile treatment. But critics say prior authorization has become a tool that insurers use to restrict or delay expensive care.

It’s an especially alarming issue for people diagnosed with cancer, for whom prompt treatment can mean the difference between life and death.

“I’m interested in value and affordability,” said Fumiko Chino, a member of the Affordability Working Group for the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. But the way prior authorization is used now allows insurers to implement “denial by delay,” she said.

Cancer is one of the most expensive categories of disease to treat in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And, in 2019, patients spent more than $16 billion out-of-pocket on their cancer treatment, a report by the National Cancer Institute found.

To make matters worse, many cancer patients have had oncology care delayed because of prior authorization hurdles, with some facing delays of more than two weeks, according to research Chino and colleagues published in JAMA in October. Another recent study found that major insurers issued “unnecessary” initial denials in response to imaging requests, most often in endocrine and gastrointestinal cancer cases.

The federal government is weighing new rules designed to PAGE 7

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OpiniOn

Features

Continuing challenges

5

THE year 2023 opened with bad news for the country: chaos at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Improving public infrastructure is a continuing challenge for the government. The inadequacy of infrastructure continues to be among the disincentives to investments, along with hindrances to ease of doing business. These are problems that cannot be cured by Charter change, which the House of Representatives wants to revive this year.

One bright spot for the year was the end of the COVID pandemic, as declared by the World Health Organization.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continued, however, and the war between Israel and Hamas is threatening to become a wider conflict. As in other countries, global developments have affected the Philippines in its continuing efforts to recover from the pandemic. Supply chain disruptions pushed up food and fuel costs, restraining economic growth. Taming inflation – consistently seen as the weak point of the Marcos administration – remains a challenge for the government in the new year.

In November, President Marcos finally decided to drop his post as agriculture secretary and hand it over to fishing magnate Francisco Tiu-Laurel. With El Niño seen

to intensify in the coming months, Laurel has his work cut out for him.

The past year also saw the creation of the controversial Maharlika Investment Fund.

Discussions continue on the exact nature of what is supposed to be a sovereign wealth fund – the country’s first – which is facing a legal challenge before the Supreme Court.

Education is in crisis, as indicated in the results of the 2022 Program for International Student Assessment, in which Filipino 15-year-olds ranked in the bottom 10 in math, science and reading. The secretary of education, meanwhile, is herself undergoing a crisis of sorts, with her loss of P650 million in secret funds for 2024 and a widening rift within the UniTeam.

The past year gave human rights groups

Editorial

Go Negosyo Pilipinas Angat Lahat!

Joey ConCepCion IT is my opinion that one of the attributes of a successful businessman is a strong sense of ownership of the enterprise. They are handson when it comes to running their businesses. This is not to say that they micro-manage;

ManilaTimes.net photo

some reasons to rejoice: Leila de Lima was freed, and the government is studying cooperation with the International Criminal Court in its probe of the bloody war on drugs launched by Rodrigo Duterte. Exploratory talks are on for the possible resumption of formal peace negotiations with communist rebels. But there is disagreement among civil libertarians on the use of state power against Duterte and his favored broadcasting network, SMNI. And impunity was again highlighted in March in the massacre of 10 people led by Negros Oriental governor

Roel Degamo, with accused brains, expelled congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr., still beyond the reach of the law.

Another continuing challenge for the government this year is dealing with the threat posed by China in the West Philippine Sea. Surveys have shown that most Filipinos support the Marcos administration’s response to Chinese aggression.

Despite the daunting challenges, surveys show that Filipinos are again greeting the new year with high optimism. A happy New Year to all! (Philstar.com)

Looking to a great 2024 for the Philippines

that is counterproductive because it slows down the decision-making process and undermines the confidence of delegates. I am talking about the strong sense of responsibility they have for the future of their business.

I see the same thing in the country’s economic team.

They have demonstrated throughout their careers the same devotion to government

service a business owner shows to his own company.

They have taken on the challenge of seeing to the turnaround of the country’s economic fortunes, to make sure that the Philippines is no longer the laggard of the Asian economies.

What gives me optimism is the fact that the president, like a good leader, knows how to delegate. He runs

the country like a company.

As the head of a company myself, I recognize that I am no expert in all aspects of the business; that is why I hire people who are.

In the president’s case, he has assembled a very competent and wellrespected economic team – among them Fred Pascual at the DTI, Arsenio Balisacan at the NEDA and Ben Diokno at

the DOF. They are veterans of several administrations and various economic cycles.

He has also wisely decided that he needed someone to align all the efforts and catalyze into action the plans for the country’s economic development. For this job, he chose Deck Go to become the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs. It

will be Deck’s job to ensure the smooth integration and implementation of the government’s investment and economic policies and programs.

This comes at a good time because headwinds are tapering. At the height of the Russia-Ukraine war, the talk was all about the skyrocketing prices of commodities. But PAGE 10

The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.

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Dateline PhiliPPines

7

SC approves procedural rules on anti-terror law

DEVOTION. The Catholic faithful greet the new year by attending Masses at Quiapo Church in Manila on Monday, Jan. 1. The church will be brimming with activities leading to the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Jan. 9. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc

War on drugs relentless – Palace

THE government remains relentless in combating illegal drugs, insurgency, and various forms of criminality, Malacañang said.

Citing the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) yearend report, Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said the government’s multi-sectoral engagements in promoting and ensuring the safety of communities continue.

“To meet the ever-evolving challenges faced by our nation and to fortify our mettle and grit as we contribute to nation-building, we initiated various efforts to fully realize the government’s longterm vision of a “Matatag, Maginhawa, at Panatag na Buhay for every Filipino,” the DILG said in its report.

“Similarly, we continued to align our actions to achieve the President’s eight-point socioeconomic agenda as embedded in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 and amplified in the Administration’s ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ brand of governance,” it added.

The DILG said one of the agency’s key programs is the ‘Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Iwasan (BIDA),’ which stresses the government and private sector’s shared responsibility in eradicating illegal drugs.

The agency partnered with companies to encourage the imposition of stricter measures and the conduct of random drug testing.

It also formed partnerships with major sports leagues and celebrities to feature public service announcements on combating drug abuse.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported an improvement in the crimerelated statistics, with a 0.14 percent drop in overall crime incidences and a 1.38 percent rise in Crime Solution Efficiency from January to December this year compared to the same period in 2022.

“The volume of both index and non-index crimes decreased from January to November 2023, compared to the same period of the previous year,” the DILG said.

The index and nonindex crime volumes also decreased by 8.44 percent and 7.32 percent, respectively. Improvements were also noted in seven of the eight focus index crimes.

The DILG also continued to fight extreme violence to support the peace-building efforts of local government units under the Campaign to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

As of November 2023, 1,119 former rebels were granted financial assistance amounting to P91.4 million under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.

“DILG continued its commitment to fight violent extremism through the ‘Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) Program’. It has undertaken PCVE and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) awareness and readiness training to confront security concerns presented by terrorism and the use of weapons of mass destruction,” it said.

(ManilaTimes.net) n

MANILA — The Supreme Court on Monday, January 1 said it has finalized the set of procedural rules guiding all petitions and applications related to the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, which will take effect on January 15.

In a statement, the High Court said that the approved rules will cover all petitions and applications related to detentions without judicial warrants of arrest, surveillance orders, freeze orders, travel restrictions, designations, proscriptions and other court issuances meted out in the implementation of the anti-terrorism law.

These guidelines will apply to all individuals or groups who “seek to obtain judicial relief from their designation as terrorist by the AntiTerrorism Council (ATC) and the issuance of any freeze order by the AntiMoney Laundering Council (AMLC) as a result of such designation.”

According to the rules, the CA (Court of Appeals) can only issue a preliminary order of proscription within 72 hours of receiving a verified petition if the petitioner has sufficiently established

probable cause that the order is necessary to prevent terrorism.

This order allows the AMLC to investigate and freeze the assets of the accused. The CA then holds hearings and decides on the petition within three months. If clear and convincing evidence is presented, a permanent order of proscription is issued for three years.

Law enforcement personnel must also first obtain a written order from the CA before they can conduct surveillance on individuals associated with terrorism and secretly monitor and collect information related to their communication and activities. The rules specify the grounds, content, and effectiveness of such surveillance orders.

Under the rules, individuals suspected of terrorism can be arrested and detained without a warrant for a limited period as provided by the Revised Penal Code. The ATC can extend this period for up to 14 days, and a designated Regional Trial Court can approve an additional 10 days. The

arrested individuals must be informed of their rights, and any form of torture or cruel treatment is prohibited.

Procedures for handling classified evidence related to national security and state secrets are also established under the guidelines. Additionally, when vulnerable groups like the elderly, pregnant women, persons with disabilities, and children are involved, a guardian ad litem may be appointed to protect their rights.

Prior to its passage in 2020, the antiterrorism law was widely contested by civil society and the government’s own human rights commission largely due to its loose definition of terrorism, which raised fears that peaceful dissent and legitimate expressions of opposition could be unjustly labeled as terrorist activities.

After several petitions to nullify the entire law, the High Court in 2021 struck down just two parts that included the overbroad definition of terrorism and the second mode of tagging individuals or groups as terrorists. (Philstar.com) n

Cancer patients face frightening delays in...

PAGE 4 improve prior authorization for millions of people covered

by Medicare, Medicaid, and federal marketplace plans.

The reforms, if implemented, would shorten the period insurers are permitted to consider prior authorization requests and would also require companies to provide more information when they issue a denial.

In the meantime, patients — many of whom are facing the worst diagnosis of their lives — must navigate a system marked by roadblocks, red tape, and appeals.

“This is cruel and unusual,” said Chino, a radiation oncologist. A twoweek delay could be deadly, and that it continues to happen is “unconscionable,” she said.

Chino’s research has also shown that prior authorization is directly related to increased anxiety among cancer patients, eroding their trust in the health care system and wasting both the provider’s and the patient’s time.

Leslie Fisk, 62, of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, was diagnosed in 2021 with lung and brain cancer. After seven rounds of chemotherapy

last year, her insurance company denied radiation treatment recommended by her doctors, deeming it medically unnecessary.

“I remember losing my mind. I need this radiation for my lungs,” Fisk said.

After fighting Florida Health Care Plans’ denial “tooth and nail,” Fisk said, the insurance company relented.

The insurer did not respond to requests for comment.

Fisk called the whole process “horribly traumatic.”

“You have to navigate the most complicated system on the planet,” she said.

“If you’re just sitting there waiting for them to take care of you, they won’t.”

A new KFF report found that patients who are covered by Medicaid appear to be particularly impacted by prior authorization, regardless of their health concerns. About 1 in 5 adults on Medicaid reported that their insurer had denied or delayed prior approval for a treatment, service, visit, or drug — double the rate of adults with Medicare.

“Consumers with prior authorization problems tend to face other insurance problems,” such as trouble finding an in-network provider or reaching the

limit on covered services, the report noted. They are also “far more likely to experience serious health and financial consequences compared to people whose problems did not involve prior authorization.”

In some cases, patients are pushing back.

In November, USA Today reported that Cigna admitted to making an error when it denied coverage to a 47-yearold Tennessee woman as she prepared to undergo a double-lung transplant to treat lung cancer. In Michigan, a former health insurance executive told ProPublica that the company had “crossed the line” in denying treatment for a man with lymphoma. And Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana “met its match” when the company denied a Texas trial lawyer’s cancer treatment, ProPublica reported in November.

Countless others have turned to social media to shame their health insurance companies into approving prior authorization requests.

Legislation has been introduced in at least 30 states — from California to North Carolina — to address the problem.

Back in Oklahoma, Ron

Winters is still fighting.

According to his wife, Teresa, the surgeon said if Ron could have undergone his operation sooner, they might have avoided removing his bladder.

In many ways, his story echoes the national VA scandal from nearly a decade ago, in which veterans across the country were languishing — some even dying — as they waited for care.

In 2014, for example, CNN reported on veteran Thomas Breen, who was kept waiting for months to be seen by a doctor at the VA in Phoenix. He died of stage 4 bladder cancer before the appointment was scheduled.

Winters’ cancer has spread to his lungs. His diagnosis has advanced to stage 4.

“Really, nothing has changed,” Teresa Winters said. “The VA’s processes are still broken.”

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF— an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.

Learn more about KFF.

8

JANUARY 5-11, 2024 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 5-11, 2024

No Filipino hurt in magnitude 7.5 quake in Japan - envoy

by Bernadette e. tamayo ManilaTimes.net

MANILA – No Filipinos were hurt during the 7.5 magnitude earthquake that hit the Ishikawa Prefecture in Japan on New Year’s Day although some of them sought shelter in evacuation shelters, Philippine Ambassador to Tokyo Mylene Garcia-Albano said.

Garcia-Albano on Tuesday, January 2 gave an update on the situation of Filipinos in Ishikawa during a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon television interview.

“We have not received any report of Filipinnos there who have been harmed because of the earthquake that occured on Monday afternoon, January 1,” Albano said in Filipino

BACK ON THE ROAD. It’s still business as usual for a jeepney terminal at the corner of Agoncillo and Pedro Gil Streets in Malate, Manila on Tuesday, Jan. 2. Traditional jeepneys with unconsolidated franchises will be allowed to operate until Jan. 31 in routes where the consolidation rate under the modernization program is below 60 percent.

PNA photo by Yancy Lim

and English.

She said there are about 1,300 Filipinos in Ishikawa Prefecture, which is in the western part of Japan and near the sea, which prompted officials to issue a tsunami warning.

“There were about 35 of them who [were] transferred to the city hall because of the evacuation alert that was given out last night,” Garcia-Albano said.

The embassy received reports that some Filipinos have transferred to temporary shelters.

However, she said that due to damaged roads and bridges other Filipinos have opted to stay in their homes rather than transfer to evacuation centers.

The ambassador said the earthquake was also felt in Tokyo “but it is quite a distance” from Ishikawa because Tokyo is in central Japan.

The Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in Osaka and Nagoya also reported

that no Filipinos were hurt during the strong earthquake.

Garcia-Albano said the embassy and the PCGs are “in constant touch” with Filipino community leaders in different parts of Japan “throughout the year to prepare ourselves for this kind of event” and they “in turn inform us of their situation.”

“Our Assistance to Nationals Unit and our Migrants Workers Office are active in monitoring the condition of our countrymen,” she said.

Asked what advice she can give to Filipinos in Japan, Garcia-Albano said, “We are here to help. Please visit our website in case you need something.”

“Our [telephone] hotline is there. Please reach out to us if we can provide help. We will try to respond as quickly as we can. We are also following Japan government sources [for any updates],” she said. n

9

Cha-cha train to get going this year – lawmakers by delon Porcalla Philstar.com

MANILA — Regardless of what its bicameral partner, the Senate, wants, the House of Representatives is bent on pursuing this year its plan to revive moves to amend major provisions in the 1987 Constitution that have hindered the country’s economic growth.

“The task ahead is to pave the way for major, longoverdue structural economic reforms, including economic Charter change,” Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo, senior vice chair of the House appropriations committee, said in support of Speaker Martin Romualdez’s pronouncements.

The Marikina second district congresswoman enumerated the sectors that have kept the Philippines a laggard among its ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) neighbors, ranking eighth among 10 member-nations, not just in foreign direct investments (FDI) but also in other

crucial fields.

“In the case of education and health, a proper assessment is necessary to determine the required reforms,” Quimbo pointed out, citing as basis the recent PISA results where Filipino students scored dismal rankings in math, reading and science, ranking 77th among 81 countries in all areas. PISA stands for Program for International Student Assessment of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Health problems like the three-year global pandemic COVID-19 should make the Philippines ready should such issues arise again, according to her.

“A critical step towards this is to establish a robust and resilient health care infrastructure and develop sufficient human resources for health.”

“As our economy moves forward in 2024 and beyond, there is a growing consensus PAGE 10

10 JANUARY 5-11, 2024 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

States expand health...

PAGE 4 enrollment in its program over financial concerns.

“We need to share resources with people who contribute to society and not have people take benefits for those who have not contributed, as I don’t see how the math would work in the long run,” Hankinson said. “Otherwise, you create an incentive for people to come and get free stuff.”

Most adults lacking authorization work, accounting for about 5% of the U.S. labor force, according to the Pew Research Center. The state with the most unauthorized residents with state-provided health insurance is California, which currently covers about 655,000 immigrants without regard for their legal status. In January, it will expand coverage to people ages 26-49 regardless of their immigration status, benefiting an estimated 700,000 additional Californians.

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, D.C., and Washington state also provide full coverage to some people living in the U.S. without authorization. New York and Washington state are expanding eligibility next year.

Oregon, Colorado, and New Jersey in recent years began covering more than 100,000 people in total regardless of legal status. Minnesota will follow in 2025, covering an estimated 40,000 people.

While states are expanding coverage to people living in the U.S. potentially without authorization, some are imposing enrollment limits to control spending.

The cost of Utah’s program is capped at $4.5 million a year, limiting enrollment to about 2,000 children. Premiums will vary based on income but cost no more than $300 a year, with preventive services covered in full.

“The pandemic highlighted the need to have coverage for everybody,” said Ciriac Alvarez Valle, senior policy analyst for Voices for Utah Children, an advocacy group. “It will make a huge impact on the lives of these kids.”

Without coverage, many children use emergency rooms for primary care and have little ability to afford drugs, specialists, or hospital care, she said. “I am not sure if this will open the door to adults having coverage, but it is a good step forward,” Alvarez Valle said.

Colorado also limits enrollment for subsidized coverage in its program, capping it at 10,000 people in 2023 and 11,000 in 2024. The 2024 discounted slots were booked up within two days of enrollment beginning in November.

Adriana Miranda was able to secure coverage both years.

“You feel so much more at ease knowing that you’re not going to owe so much to the hospitals,” said Miranda, 46, who is enrolled in a private plan through OmniSalud, a program similar to the state’s Obamacare marketplace in which lowincome Coloradans without legal residency can shop for plans with discounted premiums.

Miranda left Mexico in 1999 to follow her two brothers to the United States. She now works at Lamar Unidos, a nonprofit immigrant rights group.

Before she had health insurance, she struggled to pay for care for her diabetes and racked up thousands of dollars of debt following foot surgery, she said. Under the state program, she doesn’t pay a monthly premium due to her low income, with a $40 copay for specialist visits.

“I was really happy, right? Because I was able to get it. But I know a lot of people who also have a lot of need couldn’t get it,” she said.

OmniSalud covers only a small fraction of the more than 200,000 people living in Colorado without authorization, said Adam Fox, deputy director of the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative. But starting in 2025, all low-income children will be able to be covered by the state’s Medicaid or the related Children’s Health Insurance Program regardless of immigration status.

“There is a growing acknowledgement that people regardless of their immigration status are part of the community and should have access to health care in a regular, reliable manner,” Fox said. “If they don’t, it adds costs and trauma to the health systems and communities.” (Phil Galewitz/KFF Health News) KFF Health News senior audio producer Zach Dyer contributed to this report.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces indepth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.

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Cha-cha train to...

PAGE 9 that reforms are needed in various areas to improve the state of our nation and to uplift the lives of the Filipino people,” Quimbo, a lawmaker-economist, stressed.

“In the case of economic liberalization, there is a consensus among economists and the business sector that the economic provisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution should be liberalized,” she said, underscoring the need to lift very prohibitive economic provisions in the Charter.

Quimbo pointed out, however, that “amending our Charter must go hand in hand with addressing other critical issues: the cost of power, the traffic problem, enforcing contracts, reliable internet speeds and the development of human capital.”

“The bottom line is we

need to send a certain and predictable signal to the global investor community: the Philippines is ready, able and willing to accept FDIs,” she stated in her 2023 yearend report entitled “A Year of Economic Challenges and Steady Progress.”

Another senior administration stalwart, Rep. L-Ray Villafuerte of Camarines Sur, expressed optimism about this year’s performance of the House under the leadership of Romualdez and President Marcos as head of the government.

“I am looking forward to a fine year ahead for our people in 2024 on the back of expected bigger strides

by President Marcos a yearand-a-half into office in his socio-economic reform agenda of ensuring better lives for Filipinos and a prosperous and peaceful Philippines on his watch,” he said. n

HOLIDAY. A huge crowd at Rizal Park in Manila on New Year’s Day, Jan. 1. Rizal Park is the usual destination for people taking advantage of the holiday to bond with family or friends.

PNA photo by Yancy Lim

Looking to a great 2024 for the Philippines...

PAGE 5 look at things now: commodity prices are down and consumer spending is up.

Forex remittances continue to be a driver toward the last quarter of 2023.

OFWs are a formidable force and that is why we at Go Negosyo pour so much effort into enticing them to put up businesses here. They, much like foreign investors, need to be reassured that competent people are at the helm, and that the Philippine economy remains resilient.

This is a valuable lesson we business veterans try to share with MSMEs. There will be headwinds, but those who are prepared will be able to sail through them. The winds blow different ways and at different times; one just needs to adjust the sails and ride it out. The important thing is to have the fortitude and the knowledge to power through the difficulties.

While there are things that are beyond our control, like the weather and war, things eventually return to normal and settle down. We saw that in the prices of wheat and sugar. We know this firsthand in RFM, when, after commodity prices skyrocketed, they reached a peak and started coming down – enough to restore our margins and improve our profits. With stable prices and a sense of stability restoring confidence, businesses can move on and even invest in expansion, creating jobs for more people.

With this confidence among the bigger companies, brisk business among the MSMEs cannot be far behind. Sari-sari stores, for example, benefit from stronger consumer goods companies as a robust logistics system and competition among the big manufacturers benefit them in terms

of more competitive prices and retailer incentives.

This is why big corporations keep a close eye on the men and women at the helm of the country’s economy. When we feel that the president has chosen well, we are confident in the decisions they make.

I believe this also manifests in how well the PSAC (Private Sector Advisory Council) is working together. The PSAC was set up early in the president’s term to advise the president on jobs, health, digitalization, infrastructure, agriculture and tourism. Today we are seeing the synergy growing and maturing. Our team in the jobs sector, all fellow top businessmen, have gotten into the groove of things and we are all fully engaged in the job at hand.

For some of us, the PSAC tasks go beyond recommendatory and extend into execution. I, for example, have Go Negosyo and the MSMED Council, and the PSAC Jobs recommended the creation of the Private Sector Jobs & Skills Corp. (PCORP) to create a skilled workforce.

These are all initiatives of the private sector. Nobody told them to do it. But being in the private sector has taught us a lesson or two: every project must be seen to its completion. To get things done, you don’t stop at giving recommendations; instead, you have to be part of the solution. And to make sure things are sustained, you build the structures that make it possible – even easy – to implement. These are realworld solutions acquired through years of practice and even mistakes. Proposals are only as good as the paper they’re written on; follow-through is the key.

And this is where that sense of ownership I mentioned earlier is so

important. We must all feel that we have a stake in the country’s future. Perhaps businessmen feel it more acutely because every fluctuation and every disruption is magnified and is directly quantifiable in the daily reports that we receive. Perhaps the policymakers feel the repercussions more deeply because they know where these come from and how they could have been headed off.

The PSAC will play a big part in how our economic policies move forward because they will provide support and ensure that the recommendations are implemented. I work together with the secretaries of the DTI, the DepEd and the DAR and I can say that partnership with the government is important in making sure that the program implementation pulls through as envisioned. Without this cooperation, we will all be throwing punches in the air.

There are so many opportunities for the Philippines. Organizations like the ADB, the World Bank and the IMF remain optimistic and expect the country’s economy to be among the fastest-growing in the region. The numbers show that we are experiencing broad-based growth, and a young, digital-savvy population will be our edge.

Opportunities are with us, but we have to stay confident and reject the pessimism. The government cannot do it alone. We in the private sector must be there alongside them because we are all in this together.

With teamwork, 2024 will be a great year. (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.

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COMMUNITY JOURNAL

11

Tragic event leads to a sweet and successful ending on Citizen Pinoy this Sunday

DOLORES was petitioned by her U.S. citizen mother in 2003 as a married child under the F3 classification. After 18 long years, the National Visa Center

Don Rosete (left) hired leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (right) to help with the case of his sister, Dolores (center).

(NVC) notified them they could now start preparing their paperwork.

Unfortunately, events took a bitter turn when Dolores’ husband had a heart attack and passed away a month later.

Dolores’ brother, Don, consulted with the Law Offices of Michael Gurfinkel where leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Gurfinkel proposed that they inform the NVC of the husband’s death, so Dolores’ petition could be converted from “married” (F3) to “single” (F1), resulting in visas being immediately available for Dolores and her children. Atty. Gurfinkel also requested expedited processing because the petitioner was elderly and sickly. If something happened to her, the petition could be at an end.

The “sweet” ending of this tragic situation was that Dolores and her children, PAGE 12

BITTERSWEET GREEN CARD BECAUSE HUSBAND DIED, ON A BRAND-NEW SUCCESS STORY OF CITIZEN PINOY THIS SUNDAY! Dolores (center) was petitioned by her U.S. citizen mother in 2003 as a married child of a U.S. citizen (F3). Finally, in 2021, the National Visa Center (NVC) notified the family that they could now start preparing their paperwork, even though the priority date was not yet current. However, the husband, who had a heart condition, became excited over the prospect of immigrating to the U.S. and had a heart attack and died. It was a bitter turn of events. Ironically, because of her husband’s death, Dolores’ petition was converted from “married” (F3) to “single” (F1) and it was considered “current”. Leading Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (right) was able to have the case queued for interview and requested expedited processing because the petitioner was already elderly and sickly. The “sweet” outcome of the unfortunate turn of events was that Dolores and her children – Keno (left) and Kobey (2nd from left) – were able to immigrate to the U.S. sooner. Watch this success story on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, January 7 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo.

(Advertising Supplement)

12 JANUARY 5-11, 2024 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

On processed foods and cancer

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS DID you know how many hotdogs are consumed each day in the United States alone? Roughly 633 hotdogs are eaten by Americans per second, or 37, 980 every minute, almost 2.3 million an hour.

A lot of dogs According to Janet Riley, president of the National Hotdog and Sausage Council, USA, Americans eat twenty billion hotdogs a year. This does not include those sold at ball games, which is about 30 million during regular pro season.

Calories Hotdogs, also known as franks, are popular because it is inexpensive, convenient to eat, and has lower calories than pizza or hamburger. A hamburger, depending on its size and condiments with it, could provide 350 calories or have as high as 800 to 1,000 calories. A slice of pizza has 272 calories, while a hot dog has only 148.

Quality of food While calorie-intake is vital to our health, and being appropriately conscious about how much we eat positively impacts our wellbeing and our longevity, the quality of what we eat is also very important. As they say, we are what we eat.

Processed foods: Unhealthy Medical statistics on the relationship of nutrition/diet, health/diseases and longevity show that a meal with processed foods (canned or frozen, especially meats, like hotdogs, bacon, ham, etc.) is most unhealthy. Eating processed foods has been linked to the development of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, like hypertension, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and various forms of cancers, most notably cancer of the pancreas and the gastrointestinal tract.

Foods manufactured are processed to preserve their texture, color, aroma, nutritive value, prevent bacterial growth, and to maximize their “shelf” life.

This goes true with either canned or frozen food items.

To achieve all these, various strategies are employed. The two common ones are the use

of chemical preservatives and additives, and controlled heat sterilization.

What in the processing technique or in the chemical additives and preservatives used is hazardous to health has not been fully determined, but the statistics are too overwhelming to ignore.

The association between the illnesses mentioned above and the regular ingestion of processed foods is very significant.

There is no question that FRESH, unadulterated, is best!

Killing us softly In general, red meats and other high cholesterol and high fat food items harm our body. The adverse effects on our various organs happen so slowly, taking decades before illnesses and symptoms manifest themselves, that we do not feel sick or threatened immediately, and thus continue consuming these great tasting foods regularly.

Metaphorically speaking, these foods are slow poisons which are killing us softly.

Healthier option The proven healthier alternative is a diet composed of fish, vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains, wheat, and other high fiber foods. The high omega 3 content in fish in general, and the phyto chemicals in vegetables, especially the green leafy ones, and the other antioxidant flavanoids in this regimen, are all beneficial in their boosting effects on our immune system, and on their protective action for our cardiovascular and gastrointestinal health.

Coupled with controlled carbohydrate and calorie intake, daily physical exercises, and stress management, this gastronomic option is healthier, a life-saver, and one which maximizes people’s potential longevity. *** The Carnitine craze Like the snake oilstyle scams claiming “the greatness, benefits, and safety” of dozens of socalled food supplements and herbals, which are very expensive, the addition of l-carnitine in drinks and other food items is nothing but false advertisement and public misinformation.

Carnitine is a normal substance in our diet. It is a hydrophilic amino acid derivative, produced in

the liver and kidneys, from meat and dairy products we eat. Carnitine allows for the proper metabolism and conversion of fats into energy. We do not need any “extra” carnitine to stay healthy. Our body gets enough from the food we eat daily. To add another chemical substance to our food is totally unnecessary and may even be dangerous.

Primary carnitine deficiency, which is a rare inherited autosomal recessive pattern, affects 1 out of every 40,000 live births in Japan and 1 out of every 37,000 to 100,000 newborns in Australia. It is a congenital defect in babies and very young children but seen in adults very rarely.

Primary carnitine in adults is almost unheard of.

In view of available medical facts, why are manufacturers adding l-carnitine to their food products for the general public? Besides, an infant or a child, or even the rare adult, who has this uncommon disorder would not be helped, much less cure the carnitine deficiency anyway, since the amount added to the food items is not in the therapeutic level.

The inference that the added l-carnitine to the food items in question is beneficial and safe for the consumers is another gimmick these greedy and unscrupulous vendors of illwill are using to earn a fast buck.

Manufacturers of unproven herbals and the umpteen numbers of “food supplements” on the market today continue to victimize the helpless ignorant consumers. And they obviously do so with impunity because they know they can get away with it.

The more important issue here is, therefore, why our government is not enforcing our laws governing truthin-advertising and other pertinent regulations to protect the public? *** The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who

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Tragic event leads to a sweet and...

PAGE 11 Keno and Kobey, were able to immigrate to the U.S. sooner while the petitioner – Dolores’ mother and the boys’ grandmother – was still alive.

Watch this success story on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, January 7 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo.

Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app.

(Advertising Supplement)

Atty. Gurfinkel was able to bring Dolores (center) and her children Keno (left) and Kobey (2nd from left) to the U.S. sooner after the reclassification of Dolores’ petition from F3 to F1.

Fil-Am human rights activist crowned Miss Earth USA Beatrice “Bea” Millan-Windorski becomes the first Fil-Am to hold the national title

By Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

LOS ANGELES – Beatrice “Bea” MillanWindorski, a Filipino American university student who describes herself as a human rights activist, was crowned Miss Earth USA 2024 at the national pageant finals held at the Rosen Centre in Orlando, Florida on Sunday, December 31.

Millan-Windorski, representing Wisconsin, became the first Fil-Am to hold the title.

She is from Whitefish Bay, Milwaukee County in Wisconsin. Her maternal grandmother Marcela Buenavista Millan lives in San Juan, San Fernando in La Union.

She went to Whitefish Bay High School in Whitefish Bay. She became interested in environmental advocacy as a young girl while visiting her family in the Philippines.

Millan-Windorski is a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with a double major in International Relations and History. She is set to graduate with honors in May this year.

“Education is incredibly important to me,” she said in a Miss Earth USA video.

“My lola or grandmother was the first in her village to attend university.”

Millan-Windorski said everyone in her grandmother’s hometown thought her family was making a mistake by selling their farmland to support her education, she added.

Her grandmother earned a nursing degree and migrated to the United States.

“She made sure to emphasize to me from my young age that an education is never is your best ally when it comes to your health. *** 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. ***

Beatrice “Bea” Millan-Windorski, who describes herself as a human rights activist, was crowned Miss Earth USA 2024 last Sunday.

Photo from Instagram/@theladycodeshop

wasted on a woman,” she said.

The Fil-Am beauty queen has completed a fellowship with the Philippine Embassy and an internship at the East-West Center in Washington DC. She has conducted research on the U.S.-ASEAN relations, translated articles from Tagalog to English and wrote articles about local connections between the US and communities across Southeast Asia.

She often visited the Philippines and PAGE 13

Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He was a recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash

Award in 1995, conferred by then Indiana Governor, later Senator, and then presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry Truman, President George HW Bush, Muhammad Ali, and Astronaut Gus Grissom (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday. com, and philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.

(212) 655-5426 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Minding Your Finances Atty. RAymond BulAon IS the government after you for unpaid IRS taxes that you cannot afford to pay? Do you get sick to your stomach not knowing what the government will do next to collect what you owe?

Most people think they have no recourse when it comes to dealing with the Internal Revenue Service.

This is absolutely NOT TRUE! Don’t let the IRS take advantage of your lack of knowledge – because they will (it is, after all the, the government we’re talking about here).

News Alert: The IRS just announced this week that it will now go FULL-FORCE again in collecting taxes that you owe! This was temporarily put on pause during the pandemic and so the IRS was not doing much to collect in the last 3 years.

That is about to change so expect to get a collection letter to be in your mailbox soon! What does that mean? That means that if you have ignored your IRS tax problems in the past, you can’t afford to do that anymore. The IRS is a giant collection agency that will not be ignored! They have an arsenal of weapons in their hands to make sure that you pay every penny that you owe. I’m talking about the IRS garnishing your wages, putting a tax lien on your home and other assets, freezing your bank account, and revoking your U.S. passport! You don’t think that can happen to you? Do you really want to find out the hard way or do you want to do something about it now BEFORE the

HOUSING

Tax problems? Don’t let the IRS ruin your life! worst happens?

There are completely legal and ethical ways to put the IRS at bay. What you need is the knowledge about IRS procedures and rules that will help you in fighting the tax man.

You have legal rights as a taxpayer but if you don’t know what they are, there’s a chance you’re not getting a fair deal when dealing with the government. These powerful strategies I’m talking about can buy you precious time to save your business, your assets, and your sanity!

Is your tax bill GROWING every day? Believe it or not, the penalties and interest that the IRS is charging you can exceed 20% in some cases! This means that if you can just get some of the penalties and interest removed from your account, you can drastically reduce the total amount of your tax debt. Of course, the government will not tell you this and it is up to you to find out for yourself how this can be possible under certain circumstances.

Ultimately, you want to accomplish four primary objectives when fighting the IRS: 1.

Remove the threat and worry of the taxing authorities taking aggressive collection action against your income and assets.

2.

Seek a reduction in the total amount of debt.

3.

Negotiate a formal resolution to your tax situation that will be the most affordable arrangement given your financial situation.

4.

Ensure the

appropriate steps are taken to permanently eliminate any possibility of a future tax burden.

If you owe the IRS, the State or both and don’t have the money to pay them, I would like to help you resolve your tax liabilities.

My office will work diligently to prevent any enforced collection action such as bank account and accounts receivable levies and seizure of assets. After you hire me, you will never have to talk to the IRS again!

As your attorney, I will call the IRS and deal with them directly while trying to find the best solution for your situation. I can help you wherever you are in the United States. How about a good night’s sleep for a change? I know that having IRS problems can be very stressful, but unless you do something about it, nothing will change, and your problems just get worse over time. Call me now for a quick consultation and let’s talk about how we can get rid of your IRS problems forever! *** NOTE: Due to the current lockdown order caused by COVID-19, I am offering free consultations BY PHONE to anyone who needs help in dealing with their debt problems. *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has been in private practice for 23 years and have helped more than 6,000 clients obtain debt relief. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call RJB Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-866-471-8273.

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 5-11, 2024 13

Michelle opens up about sexual abuse trauma

By HannaH Mallorca Inquirer.net

ACTRESS Michelle Madrigal revealed that she was a victim of sexual abuse in her younger years.

In her Instagram account, Michelle bravely shared her abuse experience without disclosing the perpetrator’s identity.

“2024 is all about doing things bigger than myself and serving others. It starts today.

This might stir emotions, but I am here to shed light on the issue of child sexual abuse.

Those close to me understand that I’m a survivor myself,” Michelle wrote.

“To be completely transparent, I endured sexual abuse at a tender age for a number of years, a time when my innocence was cruelly taken, leading to a tumultous adolescence,” the actress said.

The former Star Circle contestant reflected that her experience led her into a rebellious phase in her life.

“Unaware that I was experiencing PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder), I carried this burden alone until I sought help from a therapist at 20. For nearly a decade, I held onto something that

Michelle Madrigal in Austin, Texas Photo from Instagram/@mitch_madrigal

was finally released when I opened up,” Michelle said.

“Understanding my rebellious phase suddenly made sense. Shame and self-blame consumed me for years. I was angry, indifferent, seeking solace in drugs and alcohol to escape the overwhelming emotions, unworthiness, and fear. I often questioned why it happened to me,” she added.

Michelle said that she will use her experience to empower others to step forward and begin their healing journey.

“This year, in

conversations with women, I was astonished to find that 3 out of 5 had encountered some form of sexual abuse.

My purpose in life is clear: to support survivors. I’ve always yearned to use my voice for a greater cause, and my mission is to help one survivor at a time feel acknowledged and secure, reassuring them that their story is significant,” she said.

“As a mother, it is my paramount responsibility to educate my daughter about these realities. Past generations often lacked the knowledge or tools to address such issues, often sweeping them under the rug in different cultures,” she added.

Michelle said that many children don’t feel safe enough to confide in anyone, not even their parents, about their experiences.

“I’m determined to change that narrative, to extend a helping hand, and foster an environment where openness and support prevail,” the actress said.

At the end of her post, Michelle urged support for the group RAINN or Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, a US-based anti-sexual violence organization. n

Fil-Am human rights activist...

PAGE 12 volunteered for Project CURMA or Coastal Underwater Resource Management Actions in San Juan, La Union.

Project CURMA is a sea turtle conservation program that educates volunteers on avoiding plastic garbage, cleaning up coastlines and saving turtle nests from poachers.

She has described her involvement with the International Refugee Assistance Project

(IRAP) as “the advocacy closest to my heart.”

IRAP helps ensure that people fleeing from climate-related disaster have a legal path to asylum and safety.

She was crowned Miss Wisconsin Earth in May 2023. Last Sunday, she competed against 52 other candidates at the Rosen Centre in Orlando.

She will represent the U.S. at Miss Earth 2024 in Vietnam. n

14 JANUARY 5-11, 2024 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY JA N UA RY 5, 2 0 24

14

people events arts culture entertainment

Andrea reflects on solo Spain trip, grateful for ‘healing’ 2023

by Kristofer Purnell Philstar.com

YOUNG actress Andrea Brillantes reflected on the loaded past year she had highlighted by solo soul-searching trip to Spain last May. Andrea uploaded her Spain trip vlog on the last day of 2023 though she had gone much earlier in the year, citing hours of footage that required voiceover narration instead for a faster edit.

The actress was initially going to be accompanied by her close friend Bea Borres but instead opted to travel on her own.

“Experiencing solo travel had always been a dream of mine so I decided this was the perfect time to do it. I needed this time to myself kasi nga may pinagdadaanan ako at that time,” Andrea said, referencing her break-up to basketball player Ricci Rivero on the same month.

Andrea had a tearful flight to Madrid (with a quick layover in Abu Dhabi) as she admitted to being afraid of planes, heights and turbulence, as well as experiencing nervousness in travelling alone.

The actress went on guided trips to Granada — her first time commuting alone — where she misplaced her passport and wallet (but managed to get them back), Seville, Toledo and Madrid.

On her free day in Madrid, Andrea visited the Bank of Spain, a nearby market, Mercado de San Miguel, and Plaza Mayor where she encountered

Andrea Brillantes

Photo from Instagram/@blythe

several Filipinos, and at night partied at a famous club.

“I went home by myself — oo na may mga naga-assume! — I didn’t bring anyone with me to my hotel,” Andrea adamantly clarified.

The clarification likely comes after fans pointed out that fellow Kapamilya Daniel Padilla had also visited Spain in the same areas and their individual photos went viral following Daniel’s break-up with longtime partner Kathryn Bernardo.

Andrea was tipped as the reason for

the split, however it should be noted that Andrea and Daniel’s Spain trips were several weeks apart.

During another free night in Madrid Andrea managed to drop by the 360º Sky Bar without a reservation because a teenage Filipina invited her to join her table, spending the rest of the evening with her and a friend, and in another watched a flamenco show.

Towards the end of her trip while visiting the Royal Palace of Madrid, Andrea encountered a Filipino couple who offered to take photos of her as she was alone, and at night met up with friends she learned were also in the Spanish capital.

On Instagram, Andrea posted a similar video this time reflecting on 2023 which she compared to a wild roller coaster, “It’s like I was three different people this year, with everything that has happened shaping me into who I am now.”

The actress noted key moments like beginning her own makeup business Lucky Beauty, getting noticed by idols like BLACKPINK and Sabrina Carpenter, attending Milan Fashion Week, and the previously mentioned solo trip to Spain.

“This year, like a lot of people, I have been hurt and I have hurt, I have cried and I have laughed, I have loved and I have lost, I have been broken and repaired, I have stumbled and learned,” Andrea said.

The young actress ended by describing 2023 as a year of healing that made here stronger and wiser, and hoped 2024 would be one of growth. n

Rico wants to travel the world more with Maris

by Charmie Joy Pagulong Philstar.com

MARIS Racal’s biggest discovery this year about her boyfriend Rico Blanco was his sense of humor.

When they traveled to different cities in Italy for a month, she was amused to see his funny side.

“I didn’t know he was that funny,” shared Maris in a recent interview. “I thought he was a very serious person.

Then, when we traveled together, tawa lang talaga ako ng tawa.”

Rico’s humor is “dry and sarcastic,” described Maris.

“Unexpected humor. Grabe siya,” she added.

Rico, on the other hand, found out how a great team player Maris was during their sojourn in Italy. “Nadiscover ko this year, I know that she is a team player like sa couple, but when we traveled together, I really

saw kung gaano siya ka-team player. Kasi nakikita natin siya inaalalayan sa trabaho.

She works so hard and I understand that,” said the former Rivermaya frontman.

“So, I thought if we travel, medyo baka ako mostly (organize), but no… We also tried some stuff, akala ko ako lahat because it was her first time in Europe, so I thought like, ‘Ako ‘to.’ But no,” added the rocker.

Maris was the one who

also booked the train rides, looked for restaurants, and other stuff. “It was really teamwork,” she asserted.

Rico chimed in, “We enjoyed it tsaka walang sisihan (there was no blame game). You know what, when you’re on vacation, may mawawala, may iiwan.

Nakakatawa pala siya kahit umuusok na siya. Tapos ako maya-maya tatawa.”

Going on a trip is just part PAGE 15

Barbie Forteza

Photo from Instagram/@barbaraforteza

Barbie on showbiz breakups in 2023: ‘We respect their personal lives, privacy’ by hannah mallorCa Inquirer.net

BARBIE Forteza opted to not comment on the string of breakups in the entertainment industry in the past year, saying she respects their “personal lives and privacy.”

The year 2023 witnessed several breakups in local showbiz including Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, Kim Chiu and Xian Lim, and Andrea Brillantes and Ricci Rivero, just to name a few.

Barbie, who remains in a long-term relationship with Kapuso star Jak Roberto, told reporters that making a comment about the past breakups is not her story to tell, as she stressed that she and her boyfriend are not involved in their relationship.

“Ang mga ganyang bagay is not our place to talk about kasi it does not involve us. We’re not friends with anyone na nai-issue.

Kaya hindi kami para makicomment,” she said.

(It’s not our place to talk about those kinds of topics because it does not

involve us. We’re not friends with anyone involved in the issue. This is why we’ll not comment on it) The actress, however, wished for “everyone’s healing” towards the celebrities who previously split from their partners. She also pointed out that she and Roberto are busy with their respective pursuits to give the recent breakups the time of day.

“We will respect their personal lives, we will respect their privacy, and wish for everyone’s healing,” she said. “‘Yung mga ganyang bagay, para sa’min, hindi na namin ma-entertain pa kasi hindi kami involved. As for us, busy kami sa sarili naming buhay. Busy [si Jak] sa pag-hanapbuhay habang busy ako sa paglilipat. Hindi na namin para pag-usapan pa ‘yun.”

(We cannot entertain such issues because we’re not involved. We’re busy PAGE 15

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 5-11, 2024 15

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Celebrating the multi-talented Ogie Diaz

By Ronnie CaRRasCo iii ManilaTimes.net

Iza Calzado and Toni Gonzaga Photo screengrabbed from Youtube/Toni Talks YouTube

Iza, Toni recall humble beginnings at GMA

IZA Calzado and Toni Gonzaga both kicked off their careers at GMA, and as they recalled their famous confrontation scene in Star Cinema’s “Starting Over Again,” the two actresses also reminisced about their time as Kapusos.

“Pero naalala ko kasi sabay tayo nag simula sa GMA. Nauna lang ako ng two years. Pero hindi kita makakalimutan kasi before Eat Bulaga, All My Love. Naririnig ko na ‘yung pangalan mo Iza Calzado na nag-dub niyan,” recalled Gonzaga.

Calzado looked back on the projects she did with her first network while highlighting that she had always wanted to enter show biz since she was a little girl.

“Commercial, Kung Mawawala Ka, Mis Tres Hermanas, then Te Amo. Kung Mawawala Ka, my first show! With Cogie and Sunshine,” she said.

“Bata ako, gusto ko talaga [mag-artista] dahil si daddy diba nasa industriya. Nag artista ako for a bit nung bata ako.

I wanted to be in That’s Entertainment.” reminisced Calzado.

However, the “Encantadia” star admitted that when she started to gain weight as a kid, she left the industry for a while before returning as an adult.

“When I was getting bigger, maybe I was getting selfconscious kapag hindi ko nakukuha ‘yung role. I don’t know.

Maybe things at home weren’t so great, ayun I stopped,” she opened up.

Careers at GMA After almost a decade in the work, Calzado left GMA in 2012. In 2023, she paid a visit to the Kapuso network after appearing in Fast Talk with Boy Abunda. The actress noted that regardless of which station she is at, she never forgets the people she worked with.

“Hello, mga Kapuso! It’s nice to be back. Hindi ko sukat akalain na mangyayari ito. So much has changed, but so many things are still the same. The love that I have for the people in this business, regardless of which station you’re from, basta nakatrabaho kita, and you made an impact in my life, siyempre hindi ako nakakalimot. Even if you think nakakalimot ako, hindi ako nakakalimot,” affirmed Calzado.

Meanwhile, Gonzaga also began her career with GMA when she first appeared on the network comedy show ‘Bubble Gang’ and became one of the original hosts of the longestrunning noontime show ‘Eat Bulaga from 2002 to 2005 before transferring to ABS-CBN. (By Jessica Ann Evangelist/Inquirer. net) n

Barbie on showbiz...

PAGE 14 with our own lives. Jak is busy with his business, while I’m busy with the move to my new home. We don’t have time to talk about those things.)

But when asked how she

and Roberto maintain their longstanding relationship, Barbie said communication, trust, and love are important.

“Communication, of course.

Trust is also important. Most of all, love,” she said. n

JANUARY 2 marks the 54th birthday of one of my very few closest friends this side of showbiz — Roger Pandaan in real life or more popularly known as Ogie Diaz.

No, this isn’t a tribute of sorts but a bit of history how we crossed paths, well, as fate would have it.

It was sometime in 1990 when the morning edition of “Headline Manila,” of which I was the entertainment editor, folded up. Since it was my first regular crack at showbiz, I felt I had to settle in another outlet with regular pay although times then were not as hard as they are today.

Compared to the tabloids, it was the fan magazines which were lording it over.

Considered a behemoth chain of publications then was the Graphic Arts (GASI) which also churned out a good number of the nowextinct komiks.

Probably next to the GASI fan mags which produced some of the revered names in showbiz writing was the Mariposa Publications. It was owned by then-couple Loren Banag and Cristy Fermin who dared to thrown down the gauntlet, so to speak, in the highly competitive magazine business.

Unlike the GASI mags, those published by Mariposa (Gossip, Scandals, Teenstars, Scandals, Rumors and later Bitchy) had to painstakingly make do with very little resources it had.

Made as mag covers were solo shots of celebrities on 3R, enlarged around which were graphics (from letter

Ogie Diaz

Photo from Instagram/@ogie_diaz

transfers or what we used to call “pulot”) of direct quotes ascribed to them.

In stark contrast, GASI’s mags had well-photographed windows with a stronger visual appeal any reader’s eyes could feast on. I remember having spoken personally to Cristy the day I applied for a job as an editor.

It was under a coconut tree beside where her van was parked.

Cristy took me to the second floor of the duplex office, made me edit a pile of manuscripts on the spot while she watched.

Having been used to newspaper work, I must confess magazine editing sounded Greek to me. But it became a cushy job in no time. My fast learnings would not have been possible if it were not because of Ogie who mentored me as much as I taught him on matters he’d

graciously ask my help for.

I got the job the day I applied. It was perfectly timed as the editor of the magazine (Scandals which was released every Tuesday) I got assigned to had left for good.

Ogie was already one of its regulars plus he wrote the “blind item” page using a catchy, funny pseudonym “Amy B. Yasis.”

Ogie maintained columns in all five mags.

His manuscripts were honestly any editor’s delight.

He made it easier for me as the moment I got hold of his Tuesday column, all I needed to do was to supply the head.

But wait, it wasn’t exactly a blissful life at all.

While Ogie’s manuscripts were untouched and clean, he’d flunk in the deadline department.

While all manuscripts must be strictly in by late afternoon unless there

were important events or late breakers, Ogie’s would arrive the next morning.

I understood it if only because he had so much on his plate.

Then, Ogie was already gracing the TV and movies as a newbie in comedy. He was also making a name as showbiz talk show host.

Ogie had also tried his luck at talent management.

He was also running a VHS rental business shebang in his Loreto, Manila neighborhood.

I bore witness to Ogie’s career goings-on in those five years of my Mariposa stint until I left.

While Ogie began charting his TV career in ABS-CBN, I was with a GMA weekend program as writer. There was hardly any issue despite our network affiliations.

In fact, Ogie and I would get reconnected more often — at ABS-CBN mediacons, parties, reunions, random gatherings and alike.

Regrettably, we barely keep tabs lately except on social media. But that is what Messenger was designed for — it keeps our communication lines open and easy to access.

I need not rub this in but Ogie knows how extremely proud I am of his achievements, but more so of his being able to weather life vicissitudes and vagaries. He knows he’s one person I hold dear, and vice versa.

Happy New Year, ‘teh.

Happy 54th birthday!

Here’s looking forward to seeing you cradle your first grandchild. Don’t you think it’s about time you became a lolo? n

Rico wants to travel the world more with Maris...

PAGE 14 of the couple’s bonding time together.

“Isa yun because that takes us away from work. So, ‘pag nag-ta-travel kami, kami lang,” Rico told The STAR. Maris was the one who picked Italy as their travel destination.

“We pictured kung anong country lang muna. I travel a lot, and then, I told her it would be nice to stay in just one place and just really explore. So, she chose Italy. I just chose the main destination (cities) na kaya ng schedule namin. When we were there, she was the one who would decide what we should do. So, we took turns in terms of planning,” furthered Rico.

After touring for a month in a foreign place, Maris told this paper that their communication skills as a couple have

Showbiz couple Maris Racal and Rico Blanco get to discover more of each other as they spend a holiday in Italy for a month.

Photo from Instagram/@ricoblanco100

improved. “Individually and especially with each other. Because traveling is not all fun, it’s also planning and dealing with weather, health, so we became

sensitive to each other after that.”

Rico admitted that there were times when they would disagree on some things during their vacation but they were able to sort them out. “I think we figured out on how we could fix it if ever may mag-come up na mga ganun.

Because when you are there, you don’t have a choice. We have to fix it. We are stuck with each other in the middle of nowhere. So, I think that yun ang naging initiative namin na like mag-discover kung paano bang ways if ever merong gusto (gawin).”

After their first big trip in 2023, they’re looking forward to exploring more of the world together.

“My dream (vacation) is for us to be able to keep doing it (traveling together) until we grow old,” declared Rico. n

16 JANUARY 5-11, 2024 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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