010623 - New York & New Jersey Edition

Denver man arrested for racist taunts on Filipino siblings and Korean couple in SF Bay Area

POLICE in San Ramon, California arrested a man from Denver, Colorado who was caught on video harassing three Filipino American siblings with racist taunts on Christmas morning and two Korean Americans the previous evening.

Jordan Douglas Krah, 40, was arrested Dec. 26 for violating California’s anti-hate crime law. He was caught on video on video harassing siblings Abigail, Adriana and Anjo Halili on Christmas morning.

“We heard a guy parked in his car yelling from his window saying keep walking

Marcos eyes ‘new chapter’ in relations with China

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

“As I leave for Beijing, I will be opening a

new chapter in our comprehensive strategic cooperation with China,” he said in his predeparture speech at Villamor Air Base.

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

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

“The issues between our two countries are problems that do not belong between two friends such as [the] Philippines and China. We will seek to resolve those issues to [the] mutual benefit of our two countries,” he added.

Airlines mount recovery flights

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

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

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

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

Estimates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday, December 30 showed that XBB.1.5 is responsible for around 40% of the confirmed cases there, up from 20% a week ago. About 75% of cases in the

by John Eric MEndoza Inquirer.net

MANILA — The Philippines received and welcomed more than two million foreign tourists in 2022, the Department of Tourism said on Monday, January 2.

Data from DOT indicated that a total of 2,025,413 foreign tourists arrived in

the country from February to December 2022.

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

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

by tonEttE orEJas Inquirer.net

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

BACK TO NORMAL. Flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City are back to normal on Tuesday, Jan. 3. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said operations in airports across the country are back to normal, two days after a technical issue in its Air Traffic Management Center disrupted flights on New Year’s Day. PNA photo by Avito Dalan

by Franco JosE c. Baroña and BEnJaMin L. VErgara Philstar.com

by cathErinE s. VaLEntE, Kristina MaraLit and BErnadEttE taMayo ManilaTimes.net

A man sitting

identified as Jordan Douglas Krah, was caught on video insulting Filipino American siblings with racist taunts. Screengrab/ABC7

Former Transportation Secretary Arturo Tugade Inquirer.net

‘Invest Maharlika fund in infrastructure’

by Delon Porcalla Philstar.com

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

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

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

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

“New railways, toll expressways and airports create more jobs that benefit low-income Filipino families. They also expand the markets for small and medium-sized enterprises that comprise 99 percent of all registered businesses in the country,” he added.

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

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

Investments Corp. and Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc.

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

President Marcos earlier certified the bill as urgent.

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

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

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

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

Airlines mount recovery...

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with local authorities.

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

Airlines have been asked to operate additional flights or upgrade aircrafts in order to accommodate more passengers.

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

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

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

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

“There was a problem with one UPS that was being used. When they switched to the backup UPS there was still a little problem so our technical team made a way to fix it. Unfortunately when they fixed it, the incoming power to our equipment was 300 volts and it had an effect,” Bautista said.

He explained that the malfunction could not be avoided because the ATMC system was outdated.

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

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

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

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

At least 3,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were affected by the disruption of flights on January 1.

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

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

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

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

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

Tugade on alleged fund...

(CAAP).

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

“CAAP officials who were there during our time are still there: [Manuel Antonio] Tamayo [former DOTr undersecretary for aviation

and airports], Danjun Lucas [now acting deputy director general for administration], Jim Sydiongco [former CAAP director general] and [Ricardo] Banayat [CAAP deputy director general], etc. They recommended/ monitored, and implemented. Ask them,” Tugade told the Inquirer via Viber messages.

“I have always instructed a redundancy plan,” he said,

adding that Tamayo, Lucas, and Sydiongco “cannot deny this!”

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

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

Over 2M foreign tourist arrivals in...

PAGE 1 PAGE 1

(137,974).

China ranked only tenth

with only 39,627 visitors.

Meanwhile, a total of 628,445 overseas -based

Filipinos also visited the country within the said period. n

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

What we know so far...

1

Northeast—or regions spanning New Jersey through New England—are caused by the new variant.

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

Here’s what we know and don’t know about the new COVID-19 subvariant.

What is XBB.1.5?

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

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

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

What makes it different from XBB?

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

Are experts worried?

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

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

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

Yunlong Cao, a genomics researcher and assistant professor at China’s Peking University, said on Twitter last week that XBB.1.5 evades protective antibodies as effectively as the highly immune evasive XBB.1 variant and binds better to cells.

Does XBB.1.5 cause more severe illness?

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

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

“We’re seeing hospitalizations have been notching up overall across the country… They don’t appear to be notching up more in the areas that have more XBB.1.5,” she said.

What should Filipinos do?

The Department of Health said the government continues to implement surveillance and monitoring activities, and is confident in detecting variants that may enter the country.

“COVID-19 variants will continue to emerge and reemerge,” the DOH said. “What’s important is we continue to employ our layers of protection such as sanitation, masking, distancing, vaccination and boosters, as well as good ventilation to keep cases manageable and prevent virus transmission,” it added. (Gaea Katreena Cabico/Philstar. com) n

Marcos eyes ‘new chapter’ in relations with...

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

These include cooperation in various areas such as agriculture, energy, infrastructure, science and technology, trade and investment, and people-topeople exchanges, amongst others.

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

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

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

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

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

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

technical assistance at the initial onslaught of the pandemic.”

Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Nathaniel Imperial said in a pre-departure briefing last week that the Philippines and China will sign an agreement to set up “direct communication” lines on issues connected to the West Philippine Sea, a disputed area, which is part of the South China Sea.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Opportune time

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

Calilung made the remark during a briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday when asked about the impact of the

President’s visit to China.

Calilung said that Marcos himself saw the importance of his visit to China that was why he proceeded with his trip despite the reported high Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) cases there.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Denver man arrested for racist taunts...

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you need to get away from that store, ‘you’ve been the people vandalizing and robbing these shops,’” Abigai Halili told ABC7 News. Krah allegedly followed up with obscene hand gestures.

“We didn’t know what to do and he kept going on and on saying ‘you’re Filipino idiots. You probably sell cocaine. You’re dealers,’” says Halili.

The Halilis were not the only Asian Americans

allegedly targeted by Krah.

On Christmas Eve, Arine Kim and her friend Elliot Ha were shooting a video for TikTok while eating at an In-And-Out Burger when a man later identified as Krah spewed racist and homophobic slurs at them.

A man off camera can be heard saying, “You guys filming yourself eating? You’re weird homosexuals.” A little later, the man says, “You’re Kim Jong Un’s boyfriend?” And moments

later says, “Normally I could spit in your face…that’s some Filipino s**t.”

When the victims’ videos went viral, the police said they were flooded with tips that helped them identify Krah, who has ties in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Kim and the Halilis said they were thankful for the quick arrest of Krah, as it shows that the attacks on Asians are very real, but also punishable by law. (Inquirer. net) n

NEW YEAR BABY. Melanie Soriano gives birth to her first child, Nathalie, at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Sta. Cruz, Manila on Sunday, Jan. 1. Baby Nathalie was born at exactly midnight of Jan. 1. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Jordan Douglas Krah allegedly also targeted Arine Kim and her friend Elliot Ha with a homophobic and racist rant at a San Ramon In-N-Out Burger. TIKTOK

Features OpiniOn

Safe religious devotion

The annual Traslacion or procession is not yet being revived, but a “Walk of Faith” will be held on Sunday, January 8 in Manila on the eve of the Feast of the Black Nazarene. Starting at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park at 2 a.m., the procession is expected to last about three hours as participants make their way to Quiapo Church, home to the Black Nazarene image.

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

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

Authorities are also appealing to devotees with symptoms of illness – those with fever, sore throat, continuous sneezing, coughs,

Babe’s Eye View

THE World Health Organization is cautiously optimistic that the COVID-19 pandemic will no longer be a global health emergency by mid next year. According to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the number of weekly COVID-19 deaths has dropped to

cold and diarrhea – to skip the Nazarene activities. Viruses can spread rapidly in mass gatherings, and COVID-19 is still very much around, with highly infectious strains detected in the country.

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

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

The Church has had its share of COVID deaths, with members of the clergy and supporting laity succumbing to the illness. In January last year, amid an Omicron-driven

post-holiday surge in cases, Quiapo Church was closed to devotees and guarded by police on the Feast of the Black Nazarene, with masses instead live-streamed. This year the restrictions have been eased, but prudence is still needed in preventing Nazarene-related activities from spreading illness and death. Religious devotion and protecting public health need not be incompatible. (Philstar. com)

2023: A year of economic opportunities for the Philippines

almost 90 percent since its peak at the end of January last year. Many experts also believe that COVID-19 will likely become endemic, meaning the virus would still be around but more manageable, like the cold or seasonal flu.

There is, however, great concern about the situation in China due to surging infection rates, compelling some countries to require travelers from China to present negative COVID-19

swab results. Whatever it is, we are all praying and hoping that the outbreak would be controlled to a certain extent and would not result in new mutations of the Omicron subvariants such as BA.5, BA.2.75 and the BF.7 that has been identified as largely responsible for the spike in infections across China. The U.S. has offered assistance with their effective mRNA vaccines, but China has so far declined the offer. There

are reports, however, that people from the mainland are getting Pfizer’s mRNA vaccine in Hong Kong. Nevertheless, the lifting of worldwide restrictions is driving a lot of optimism that 2023 could be a year of recovery for most of the global economy, including the Philippines.

Finance Secretary Ben Diokno says “the worst is over and the best is yet to come” for the Philippines. And despite projections of a

global recession this 2023, the Development Budget Coordination Committee predicts that the Philippine economy will grow by 6 to 7 percent in 2023 in the face of external headwinds.

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

of Southeast Asian Nations and dialog partners Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, India and New Zealand.

Driving this optimistic economic outlook are several factors that include the early approval of the 2023 national budget; the country’s strong international credit profile that continues to be at investment grade and the stable and resilient banking

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Archdiocese of Cebu mourns death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

by Dale G. Israel Inquirer.net

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

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

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

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

Pope Francis at the Vatican.

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

2012.

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

It was also Benedict XVI

All systems go for Feast of Black Nazarene sans Traslacion

by Franco Jose c. Baroña ManilaTimes.net

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

BGen. Andre Dizon, Manila Police Director (MPD) director, said during the media conference at the Pope Benedict Building in Quiapo Church on Tuesday, Jan. 3 that security measures have been put in place to ensure a peaceful and orderly celebration.

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

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

Dizon said the MPD will conduct a send-off ceremony on January 5 at the Quirino Grandstand in Ermita, Manila.

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

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

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

This includes the suspension of the procession of the Black Nazarene image or “Traslacion” amid the

threat of COVID-19.

Irasga said a “Walk of Faith” will instead be conducted from the Quirino Grandstand to the Quiapo Church but without the image of the Black Nazarene after the midnight Mass on January 8.

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

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

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

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

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

Marcos hopes Filipinos lives get ‘better and better’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

every day because he was a bookworm.

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

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

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

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

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

Duterte actually took time to read

Marcos’ palm and quipped about foreseeing that the President would soon welcome a granddaughter.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

cases and more than 65,000 fatalities.

During the same sevenday period, three cases were added to the tally of severe and critical infections, which also went down to 433 from the previous week’s 516.

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

are utilized.

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

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

Entice the youth to serve in government, solon proposes

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

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

“The state must recognize the vital role of the youth in nation building and by requiring them for

government internship, it will encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs,” the bill’s explanatory note read.

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

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

The amount of the stipend shall be based on the trainee’s actual attendance, absences and tardiness incurred.

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

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

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

The Department of Labor and Employment currently

implements the GIP to provide young workers, particularly the indigent, the opportunity to demonstrate their talents and skills in public service.

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

Individuals up to 35 years old may be accommodated under exceptional circumstances, specifically in areas that are hit hard by disasters and calamities.

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

Marcos, Duterte get high trust ratings in poll

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

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

President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte both received a net rating of 81 percent and 82 percent, respectively, based on a gross trust rating of 87 percent for the President, and 88 percent for Duterte

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

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

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

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

On their performance in

Archdiocese of Cebu...

PAGE 6

who appointed Palma as the archbishop of Cebu.

“We always believe that he is God’s gift to the whole church and in particular to the Archdiocese of Cebu,” Palma said in an interview after the Mass.

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

During the Mass, Palma was accompanied by Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Ruben Labajo, Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Antonio Ranola and some priests.

After the Holy Mass, people crowded and approached the portrait and the skull cap inside a glass box to take pictures and offer prayers. n

All systems go for...

PAGE 6

January 7.

“The celebration will be a balance of faith and obedience to the government

that we will follow the minimum health protocols required,” he said. “What we will spread is faith and not COVID.” n

Yancy Lim

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

Marcos, Duterte get...

office, Marcos ended the year with a 78 percent satisfaction rating with only four percent saying they are not satisfied with Marcos while 14 percent of the re-spondents were undecided.

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

Some 93 percent who trust Duterte were from the poorest sector, 87 percent

were from the “D” class and 84 percent were from the upper to mid-income group.

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

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

(By Pia Lee-Brago/Philstar. com) n

AFP intensifying presence in West Philippines Sea

by Michael Punongbayan Philstar.com

MANILA — Ensuring that territorial defense remains a top priority, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is increasing its presence in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) even during President Marcos’ scheduled visit to China this week.

As the President flies to China for a state visit and a scheduled meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, Philippine security forces will intensify their patrols in the disputed waters inside the country’s exclusive economic zone.

“We are intensifying our presence there as directed by DND (Department of National Defense),” Col. Medel Aguilar, AFP spokesman, told reporters on Sunday, January 1.

“This is in line with the policy direction stated by our Commander-in-Chief at the WPS,” he said when asked about the military’s accomplishments in 2022 when it comes to territorial defense.

Marcos and Xi are expected to discuss the WPS and South China Sea (SCS) issues, along with other matters affecting the Philippines and China, during the state visit.

Since the increased presence of Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) and maritime militia vessels was monitored in the WPS, the AFP through the Philippine navy has increased its patrol operations

in the area along with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

The military also continues to send fresh supplies to the grounded BRP Sierra Madre at the Ayungin Shoal despite radio challenges and shadowing activities by the CCG.

Recently, National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos noted that the WPS and SCS disputes not only between the Philippines and China but with other claimant countries as well are a food security issue.

“Fish is the real most important resource in the area. Our food security is at stake here,” she said in Filipino.

She said she was writing a book that would contain a proposal to have a regional regulatory fishing agreement that will benefit all claimant countries in the SCS.

‘Hire Filipinos’

In another development, a seafarers group wants Chinese dredgers operating in Manila Bay for big reclamation projects to hire Filipino seamen to open high-value jobs right here in the country.

The Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Marinong Pilipino (SMNP) is asking the Department of Labor and Employment and Department of Migrant Workers to question why foreign dredgers are not hiring Filipinos to man their vessels working on these projects.

In a letter to Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma and Migrant

Workers Secretary Susan Ople dated Dec. 18, 2022, SMNP said having these vessels fully manned by foreigners is a “heinous disregard and disrespect to the Filipino seafaring profession.”

The group said the vessels are supposed to be under a bareboat charter (temporarily under Philippine flag arrangement) but continue to employ Chinese crew members which should not be allowed by local authorities.

Chinese vessels and their crews are not permitted to do business in Philippine domestic waters unless they are given a special permit by the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina).

The SMNP also wants the PCG, Marina and DOLE to inspect the foreign vessels being used in reclamation projects in Manila Bay, particularly China Harbor Engineering Corp.’s M/V Liang Ku 9; M/V Liang Ku 99; Shen Zhen Star; Guang Zhou Star; M/V Zhou Hai Star/Atap; M/V Zhua Hai Star; Seastrans Mariner; KG 18; Heng Da 188; Hong Fu 588 (2009-built); M/V Xin Yi 9577; An Da kang 689; Hiong Fu 598; M/V Xin Yi; Hong Fu 588, and Hua Tai Long.

It claimed that the Chinese dredging firm is using 3-in-1 dredgers similar to the vessels used in reclaiming islands in the disputed West Philippine Sea. They started their activity in May 2022 when they started hauling sand from Zambales.

The Marina, for its part, said the

OFF TO CHINA. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos wave before boarding a Philippine Airlines flight bound for China at Villamor Airbase in Pasay City on Tuesday, Jan. 3. President Marcos’ trip to China marks his first bilateral visit to a non-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) country since assuming the presidency.

PNA photo by Alfred Frias

SC to decide on public interest cases this year

by Neil JaysoN servallos Philstar.com

MANILA — After deferring ruling on cases of public interest last year, the Supreme Court (SC) is expected to decide on at least two of them this year: petitions for the postponement of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), as well as on questions on the constitutionality of the no-contact apprehension policy (NCAP).

“These are some of the priority cases that we will be deciding in 2023. Hopefully, we can resolve these current pending cases that spark public interest (this) year,” Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo said at a recent press briefing.

On Dec. 6 last year, the SC suspended the oral arguments on the case against NCAP, thereby extending the temporary restraining order (TRO) on the policy until the high court decides on the case.

Gesmundo adjourned the session with only Associate Justice Japar Dimaampao having interpellated the representatives of transport groups and asked the petitioners to file additional documents, including notices of violation.

The oral arguments will resume on Jan. 24 and will pick up where the SC justices left off with Dimaampao interpellating Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra.

The high court deferred action on a petition by government respondents – represented by Guevarra – for the lifting of the TRO, until the oral arguments are concluded.

The NCAP is a road safety and traffic management program being implemented by the local governments of Manila, Parañaque, Quezon City, San Juan and Valenzuela, as well as along EDSA by the MMDA.

The measure has been met with widespread opposition from public utility vehicle operators and private vehicle owners due to stiff fines and the lack of stoplight countdown timers in cities.

Meanwhile, the SC is also expected to rule on election lawyer Romulo Macalintal’s petition for the Commission on Elections to resume its preparations for the BSKE as well as on a TRO on Republic Act 11935.

Signed into law by President Marcos on Oct.10, RA 11935 allows the postponement of the BSKE to October this year.

In his petition,

Macalintal is also urging the SC to order the holding of the elections at an earlier date, preferably in May.

Aside from deciding on public interest cases this year, the SC is also expected to promulgate rules governing antiterrorism cases, as well as the writ of kalayaan , a judicial mechanism that seeks to bolster the protection of basic human rights in the country.

Gesmundo said an ad hoc committee drafting the rules on handling terrorism cases in relation to the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 is expected to finish its draft on or before April. This would then be submitted for consultation with the public and other legal and judicial stakeholders.

“The Court did not settle with just rendering a decision on this case. We went a step further to ensure that the implementation of the antiterrorism law is properly done when it reaches the judicial process,” the Chief Justice said.

“We want to make sure that there are specific rules governing the antiterrorism cases so that the rights of people are respected, the right of the state is also equally protected,” he added. n

AFP intensifying presence in West...

vessels were issued the required permits.

Engineer Marc Anthony Pascua, Marina National Capital Region director, said the agency issued the required permits to the vessels of China Harbor operating in Manila Bay, but noted that employing Chinese crew in such project is not allowed.

Benjamin Guo, deputy contractor’s representative for the Pasay Reclamation Project of China Harbor, declined to comment on the matter.

The other Chinese company whose vessels were reportedly the subject of an ongoing PCG probe for conducting alleged illegal activity in Manila Bay is the China First Engineering Co., main contractor of the Waterfront Reclamation Project.

Both companies are under the China Communication Construction Corp. or CCCC, a company whose subsidiaries had dredging vessels blacklisted by the US government in 2020 for allegedly participating in the building and militarizing of the disputed artificial islands in the South China Sea.

CHEC vessels extract sand from the Bucao River in Botolan, Zambales and dump it in Manila Bay under a sand supply contract with

a local company called Global Sand Ventures Inc. (GSVI).

One of the incorporators of GSVI belongs to the family of the wife of former executive secretary Victor Rodriguez, who owns Halrey Construction Inc. represented by Josefa Halili of Sta. Maria, Bulacan.

Many are wondering why the contractor became the supplier of sand to the multibillion Manila Bay reclamation projects when it allegedly does not have a permit from the Departments of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and of Public Works and Highways, and the Zambales local government to extract sand from the Bucao River.

There is also a violation being attached to the GSVI and CHEC. The permittees in Bucao River must be the owners or charterers of the ships used in dredging to ensure that the extraction and dredging activity is in accordance with the regulation of the DENR.

In this case, charterers or lessors or the ship managers are not the permittees in the Bucao River.

It was reported that the sand supply deal with the Chinese contractor was sealed when Rodriguez still held office in Malacanang. n

2023: A year of economic opportunities for the...

system that is characterized by strong capitalization well above international norms.

He also points to the country’s adequate buffers against external headwinds, such as the hefty level of our gross international reserves of $95.1 billion as of November 2022, the low external debt to GDP ratio of 26.8 percent by the end of September 2022 and a favorable external debt profile.

The Philippines also has a steady supply of foreign exchange from overseas Filipino remittances, export revenues from business process outsourcing firms, tourism receipts and inflows from foreign direct investments, Secretary Diokno disclosed.

Significantly, the policies and reforms that have removed barriers to foreign investments to allow for more participation in Philippine

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

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

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

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

Department of Defense.

One of the significant provisions of the NDAA is outlined under Section 5949 that prohibits executive agencies from buying or obtaining any electronic parts, products or services that include “covered semiconductor products or services” from certain Chinese companies which represent a sizeable and growing share of the chips market and a broad range of American electronic equipment such as mobile phones, networking equipment and automobile parts. Although Section 5949 takes effect five years after the enactment of the 2023 NDAA with the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council issuing the implementing rules and prohibitions in 2026, the Philippines can take advantage of the fallout from this legislation. Just consider, the Philippines’ semiconductor and electronics

exports to the world amounted to $45.92 billion in 2021, with most of the exports going to the U.S.

The Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors and Science Act of 2022 or CHIPS Act signed into law by President Joe Biden last August is also a positive development, according to the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines, as this will diversify the source of semiconductor wafers which the Philippines imports for the assembly, test and packaging of chips. According to Mckinsey research, global demand will also continue to grow, with semiconductors poised to become a $1-trillion industry by the end of the decade.

We are catching up as a top exporter of semiconductors and electronics to the U.S., and a strong sign that the United States

is looking at the Philippines as one of the alternative sources for its imports is the upcoming visit to Manila of U.S. executives from the Semiconductor Industry Association in mid-January.

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

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

* * *

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

NO LONGER FREE. Passengers queue to get on board an EDSA Carousel bus at the Mega Q-Mart Station in Quezon City on Tuesday, Jan. 3. The minimum fare is P13 for the first five kilometers and additional P2.20 for every succeeding kilometer.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

COMMUNITY JOURNAL

Atty. Gurfinkel answers immigration questions from Kapamilya in San Diego on part 1 of Citizen Pinoy’s ‘Your Tanong, My Sagot’

LEADING U.S. Immigration Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel visited San Diego, where he answered questions of Kapamilya from the “America’s Finest City” and neighboring areas. In Part 1 of “Your Tanong, My Sagot,” viewers will hear answers to the following immigration concerns:

• Kathy, of Mira Mesa, wants to know if a person can visit the U.S. even if they are under petition.

• Raquel of San Diego is asking if she can petition her cousin in the Philippines as her caregiver.

• Edith is waiting for her green card through her U.S. citizen daughter. Her other daughter who is 15 years old, is in the U.S. on a tourist visa extension. Edith wants to know how her 15-year-old daughter can stay in the U.S. PAGE 12

YOUR TANONG, MY SAGOT IN SAN DIEGO, PART 1. Leading U.S. Immigration Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel answers immigration questions from Kapamilya in San Diego, in Part 1 of Citizen Pinoy’s “Your Tanong, My Sagot.” Some of the questions Atty. Gurfinkel answers are – From Jefferson and Virginia: Virginia petitioned his son, Jefferson, as single but he got married. Is there a way to revive Mommy Virginia’s petition?; From Kathy of Mira Mesa: Can a person visit the U.S. as a tourist if they are under petition?; From Edith of National City: I am waiting for my green card through another daughter’s petition. My 15-year-old daughter is in the U.S. on a tourist visa extension. Is there a way my 15-year-old can stay in the U.S. with me?; The Cruz family: Grandpa Lando, Dad Allan, and grandson Chean drop by to visit Atty. Gurfinkel who worked on their case and successfully reunited the family. Watch Part 1 of “Your Tanong, My Sagot” in San Diego on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, January 8 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo.

(Advertising Supplement)

Health@Heart Damage control

a more stable, less erratic, pattern during the day. But the key is calorie-control (especially the ones from carbohydrates) combined with daily exercise.

body to control the urge to eat.

Appetite suppressants: Dangerous!

Kylie welcomes 2023 with rumored new love

PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS

THE holidays may be behind us but their collateral health effects, among others, will linger a while. Medically speaking, it is actually a time for “damage control” for those of us who have over-indulged during the festivities. And I plead guilty to have also succumbed to the temptation myself.

The post-holiday “makeover” is just as a healthy pre-emptive measure, more so for those who really want to maintain their normal weight or those who have diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, etc.

As with anything else, damage control is best as a preventive strategy. However, special celebrations and holidays expose all of us to that great irresistible gastronomical temptation.

For dieters, those who are watching their weight or counting calories, these occasions are tough times. Blessed are those strongwilled souls, whether or not they carry a caloriecounter on one hand and a scale on the other. These health-conscious individuals will reap their rewards in terms of stamina, energy, a stronger immune system, and even longevity, as shown by medical statistics.

Yoyo dieting is harmful

Our physiology is at the optimum when we consume just the right amount of calories to maintain our normal weight and when our glucose (blood sugar) level is on an even keel most of the time. When we overeat and then try to starve ourselves to compensate for our indiscretion, our blood glucose spikes up and down, described as yo-yo dieting. This severe fluctuation in our blood glucose level has adverse effects on our body and on our immune system. And this poses even greater danger for persons with diabetes.

Eating several times a day, even 5 or 6 times a day, NOT exceeding the total 24-hour caloric need of our body, is a healthier habit, which helps maintain our blood glucose level in

The ‘fat hormones’

The urge to eat is controlled by hormones in our body. And these hormones fluctuate depending on how much sleep we get, what types of food we eat and how much calories we take in, and on how much physical activities we indulge in daily. Scientific researchers are focusing on specific substances they call “fat hormones,” which our own endocrine glands in the body produce. There are hormones that make one eat and there are also hormones that signal the brain for the person to stop eating. These substances control hunger and satiety.

‘Hunger hormone’

The hunger hormone is Ghrelin, which is secreted by our guts (stomach and intestines). When its level goes up, we feel hungry and have the urge to eat. The level of Ghrelin goes up when we get less sleep or not enough sleep. This is the reason why those who are trying to lose weight should get adequate amount (about 8 hours) of sleep. An imbalanced meal and stress also elevate the Ghrelin level. Food deprivation obviously increases the Ghrelin level, hence it is better to keep the level of this hormone on an even keel and not fluctuate too much by eating regularly (or even more than 3 times a day) but at a controlled total calorie ceiling to maintain health and body weight. So, starving oneself is not a good way to lose weight, since this will lead to a Ghrelin “boomerang” in the latter part of the day.

‘Satiety hormone’

The opposite or counterhormone, which is called Leptin, signals the brain when to stop eating. It controls the appetite. This “satiety hormone” is produced by fat cells in the body. When a person loses weight, the leptin level in the blood stream also goes down. As a result, there is a “rebound” weight gain. The best strategy in losing and maintaining a desired weight level is to lose in a slow and steady pace, about one to two pounds a week, and not more. In this manner, there will still be an effective level of leptin in the

Most appetite control pills, juices, solutions and powders on the market are not physiological and use an unnatural way to suppress (by force) the appetite for weight control. While they are readily available and very popular, they have potential adverse side-effects on the heart, liver, kidneys and brain in the long haul. Some serious complications, and even deaths, have been reported from the use of these diet substances. Since greater calorie intake than output is the cause of increase in body weight, the safest, most natural, strategy is to eat less and burn more calories with physical exercises, making the output of calories (energy) greater than the intake of calories (food).

The healthier “makeover” for our post-holiday misadventures includes daily gradual incremental reduction in the food we eat, daily physical exercises (as simple and easy as brisk walking for about 30 minutes a day), and hitting the scales daily (yes, daily) to check on any progress. This will aid you greatly in making you more religious to your overall personal health program. Drinking a lot of water (not fruit juices, and especially NOT soft drinks, which are toxic in themselves!) can help a lot.

Excess weight that does not come down only means a greater reduction in food intake is needed. The excess weight gained over the holidays could be safely eliminated within a week. There is really no need to buy expensive prepared “diet” foods, which are nothing but high proteinlow carbohydrate, calorieportioned, meals. Rice, bread, soft drinks, and sweats are the top culprits that cause weight gain fast and increase the risk for diabetes and cardiovascular illnesses. With discipline and resolve, and daily exercise, anyone can achieve the same weight control by counting calories.

For those who are overweight to begin with, the same strategy (output of calories must exceed the intake) works like wonders. Simply put, more exercise and less food, until the scale tells you that you have

By Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

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

For the past two days, Kylie shared videos on her

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

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

“Wandering with another fellow wanderer,” she wrote on her video touring the town of Kanchanaburi by train.

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

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

Aljur and Kylie broke up

Atty. Gurfinkel answers immigration...

PAGE 11

with her.

• Jefferson was petitioned as single by his mother, Virginia. However, he got married. Jefferson now asks if there is a way to revive his mother’s petition.

Atty. Gurfinkel also gets a surprise visit from the Cruz family. It was nearly 10 years ago when Atty. Gurfinkel helped the grandfather, Lando Cruz, after the U.S. Embassy in Manila denied his son Allan’s visa because of a misunderstanding. The Law Offices of Michael Gurfinkel were able to help bring Allan and his son, Chean, to the U.S. It was a memorable success story featured on Citizen Pinoy.

Atty. Gurfinkel answers these questions in Part 1 of “Your Tanong, My Sagot,”

achieved your dream weight (and body!) for the NEW YOU in the exciting new year.

I pray that 2023 shall be a year of new hope and that the world would be a lot wiser and smarter. Together, let us welcome and cherish each other with understanding and compassion and savor the great wonderment still ahead of us.

To all people of goodwill (and others as well) a happy new year, peace be with you, and may God bless us all

with Kapamilya from San Diego and adjacent areas. Watch this encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, January 8 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET thru select

around the globe.

* * *

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 is your best ally when it comes to your health.

* * *

Cable/Satellite providers), right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app. (Advertising Supplement)

Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, a Health Advocate, Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He is a recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1996, whose other awardees include President Harry Truman, President George HW Bush, Astronaut Gus Grissom, Mohammad Ali and David Letterman. Websites: FUN8888.com and philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.

The Cruz family is one of the success stories featured on Citizen Pinoy. (L-R) Grandson Chean, Dad Allan, and petitioner Grandpa Orlando, with leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel.

(L-R) Edith, Jefferson and his mother, Virginia, and Kathy. Their questions will be answered on this episode of Citizen Pinoy.

The ‘husband’ Liza Lorena will ever have

By AllAn PolicArPio Inquirer.net

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

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

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

Wonderful script

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

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

when we finally met, I hugged him immediately, so that he could feel comfortable with me,” she said.

Prolific show biz career

Liza has had a prolific show biz career in film and television, and has delivered memorable and awardwinning performances in such movies as “Oro, Plata, Mata” (1983 FA Awards best supporting actress); “Halimaw” (1986 MMFF best actress); and “Miguelito” (1986 Gawad Urian best supporting actress).

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

Aging was something Liza never really feared or felt daunted by. Growing old is a privilege denied to many, so they say. “You can never be young forever. I enjoyed every aspect of my life, from my youth to now. You can’t

be young forever. You will get wrinkles and that’s part of the process. You won’t look the same way you did, but I still feel beautiful at my age,” she said.

‘Never been happier’

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

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

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

Kylie welcomes 2023 with...

PAGE 12

in 2021. Kylie’s dad, Robin Padilla, revealed that the reason of the split was an alleged third party. Aljur was linked to actress AJ Raval, but he denied that the actress was the reason of the breakup. Aljur had admitted that he and the VivaMax star were in a “getting to know each other” stage. The actor had recently said that he was open to reunite with Kylie.

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

Heaven not ready to undress in the movies

By Alex BrosAs Inquirer.net

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

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

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

“I think, when it comes to my craft, siguro parang planado lahat ng ginagawa ko (maybe all the things I do are planned) Whatever I choose, whatever character I put myself into, everything is calculated. I don’t think I can see myself in that kind of sense pa. I want to respect also my parents’ opinion. If hindi okay sa kanila iyon, I think I will respect that,” she explained.

But this is not to say that Peralejo did

not give her all in portraying her character of Me Ann, the love of Ian Veneracion’s chief character.

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

“About sa comfortability doon sa pagkandong ko kay Chief, kay Ian (About the comfortability of having Chief, Ian, sit on my lap), kasi he made me feel so comfortable around him. Since we’re comfortable with each other, we get to laugh at each other’s joke. ‘Yung pagkandong (sitting on the lap), it’s work, it’s not malicious,” she said.

“I think iyon ang maganda sa aming dalawa. We have set the boundaries very clearly. Once na nakita kong si Chief na siya, ang bilis kong magpunta doon sa character na Me Ann kasi kaming tatlo, it’s teamwork kasi, eh. Nakakahiya naman sa mga beterano na actor na hindi ko galingan,” she

A big screen beginning for Joaquin Domagoso

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Knight suffers head

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Liza Lorena in “Family Matters” Inquirer.net photo

Kylie Padilla

The young actor’s first big screen role in ‘The Boy in the Dark’ already won him three international acting awards. Instagram photo/@jdomagoso

people events arts culture entertainment

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

By Kristofer Purnell Philstar.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

In the same interview,

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

“The intention this time was to... give more scope to that world. We’re shining light more on our female protagonists … dealing with grief, rebirth,” she said.

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

“Ryan and I wanted to [shoot] at

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

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

Benjamin and Chelsea now engaged

By Dana Cruz Inquirer.net

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

The actor made this announcement by showing himself and Robato posing in front of a neon sign bearing the words “Will you marry me?” via his

Instagram page on Friday, Dec. 30. He also gave a peek at the engagement ring he had given to Robato.

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

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

to the pair as well.

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

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

“OMG (Oh my God)! Yay!” Torres gushed.

Alves and Robato celebrated their third anniversary as a couple last July. They are also business partners in their online flower shop business, House of Roses. n

2022 MMFF’s surprises and takeaways

by Marinel Cruz Inquirer.net

THE viewing habits of Filipinos are definitely changing,” according to filmmaker Mikhail Red whose techno-horror film, titled “Deleter,” bagged the best picture trophy at the recent 48th Metro Manila Film Festival’s (MMFF) Gabi ng Parangal.

The film, which features Nadine Lustre as lead and which tackles the shadowy world of online content moderators, won seven awards, including best director for Red, during the ceremony held at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City.

“I am shocked. I still can’t understand what’s going on. I’m happy because genre cinema is suddenly very much alive. As an effect of the pandemic, the viewing habits of Filipinos have changed. This is largely because of streaming apps like Netflix. Also, it turned out that the Gen Z audience is our biggest market,” he told Inquirer Entertainment

“This is totally unexpected. Traditionally, horror films don’t win first best picture at the MMFF, and it’s always on the third or fourth spot in the box-office race,” he pointed

out. “I really hope that the recognition ‘Deleter’ has received will help boost the promotion of the movie.”

Red dedicated the award to what he referred to as “internet frontliners” or those who work as “cleaners of the internet.”

He explained: “I’ve long been intrigued and fascinated with their work. The fact that social media exploded made me ask, ‘Who censors everything? Who filters it? Someone has to do it.’ Through research and watching documentaries, I stumbled upon their secretive world. We seldom put a spotlight on them except through documentaries. I feel like with this fiction film, with its horror genre, more audience will be reached. Hopefully, this will spark debate and interest in people.”

Greatest reward

With the success of “Deleter,” Red said he and Viva Films (producer) have started brainstorming for their follow-up project. As for Red, his next will be a sports genre series, “much like ‘The Mighty Ducks.’ Wala munang patayan,” he declared.

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

Nadine Lustre

Photo by Allan Sancon

Benjamin Alves and Chelsea Robato

Photo from Instagram/@benxalves

What excites and scares Boy Abunda about TV comeback

By AllAn PolicArPio Inquirer.net

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

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

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

recent press conference.

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

“We have started to brainstorm and discuss potential content. ‘What do we do? What’s our equity? What can we offer that will make people watch us?’ These are the things we ask ourselves, if we were to put together a new show, it has to be done well, and it has to be deliberate,” said the veteran television host when asked by the Inquirer about the kind of programs he wants to do.

Experiment

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

Boy Abunda Inquirer.net

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

But one thing’s for sure: His future show must have an interview component. And

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

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

back. He said, ‘Back where?’ ‘Here in GMA,’ I said.”

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

Also high on his bucket list are Heart Evangelista, Marian Rivera, Maine Mendoza and Arjo Atayde, Barbie Forteza, Julie Anne San Jose, Carla Abellana, Alden Richards, Tom Rodriguez, Dennis Trillo and Paolo Contis.

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

Saying goodbye to his ABS-CBN family was just as difficult. “Goodbyes are hard in any language.

Because we don’t want to hurt anyone. But I talked to them properly and asked for their permission,” he said. “I didn’t burn any bridges.”

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

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

2022 MMFF’s surprises and takeaways...

PAGE 14

Meanwhile, best actress awardwinner Nadine Lustre dedicated her trophy to her boyfriend Christophe Bariou, who she said is very supportive of the project. “He would visit me on our set or would drive me there sometimes. He understands how tiring and taxing this is because it’s a horror movie. Usually, we would shoot late at night. He’s just there to support me and inspire me. He would always tell me to be in my 110 percent, even during days when I felt really frustrated.”

More than winning an award, Nadine said her “greatest reward” was the fact that the Filipino audience loved “Deleter.” She added: “The award is simply a bonus. I’m proud of the movie. We have put in a lot of blood, sweat and tears. I’m happy to have been part of this project.”

She then likened her 2022 to an exciting roller-coaster ride. “A lot has happened to me this year, but all good things. I can say that 2022 is a year of growth for me in terms of my craft and personality,” she said.

Ian Veneracion, who has been part of the industry for 40 years now, bagged his first best actor award for his performance in Shugo Praico’s “Nanahimik ang Gabi.” He noted that “the movie may be fictional but it has so many layers of truth underneath.”

Ian then thanked his costars Heaven Peralejo and Mon Confiado, “with whom I was able to form a unique partnership. It’s like we’re in a dance. It felt really good sharing the floor with them,” he said.

Good news

Just like Ian, who said winning the award came as a surprise, “Family

Matters” director Nuel Naval said he also didn’t expect the good performance of the dramatic film in terms of ticket sales. The film reportedly placed fourth on the box-office race on Christmas Day.

“This is good news considering the fact that we have no superstars in our film. I hope this will give way to character actors, who are really talented, to share the limelight with the stars. I also hope they will be given good projects. That’s one of my goals when I decided to fight for the actors in my cast,” Nuel told Inquirer Entertainment shortly before the awards ceremony.

Heaven not ready to...

explained. (I think that’s what’s beautiful between [Ian and me]). We have set the boundaries very clearly. Once I saw him as Chief, it was fast for me to get to the character of Me Ann because all three of us, it’s teamwork. It would be a shame to these veterans if I did not work hard.) n

A big screen...

while his director won the same for filmmaking.

Screen veteran Nanding Joseph completes the movie’s star-studded cast,

with Aneesa Gutierrez and Kiko Ipapo in introductory roles.

That Boy In The Dark opens in cinemas nationwide starting January 8. n

Nuel later walked out of the event venue after the winner of the best supporting actress category was announced. He was visibly disappointed that none of the film’s actresses, particularly Agot Isidro, Mylene Dizon, and Nikki Valdez, were nominated. Liza Lorena, who is lead actress in the movie, also failed to get a nomination.

“They all deserve to be nominated, especially Liza Lorena. She’s a natural. That’s also what I liked about my ensemble cast. For me, acting is no acting,” he explained.

On Wednesday, January 4 the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), festival organizer, announced that a Special Jury Prize for ensemble acting was given to Lester Dimaranan’s action film, “Mamasapano: Now It Can Be Told.”

MMDA chief Don Artes predicted a P500-million gross this year. He is also confident that the films that won awards can expect a higher gross and more screening slots in cinemas nationwide. The 2022 MMFF will run until Jan. 7. n

Ian Veneracion

Mikhail Red

Photos by Allan Sancon

Heaven Peralejo

Photo from Instagram/@heavenperalejo