010721 - Las Vegas Edition

LAS VEGAS

We’ve got you covered from Hollywood to Broadway... and Online!

JANUARY 7-13, 2021

T H E F I L I P I N O A M E R I CA N C O M M U N I T Y N E WS PA P E R

Volume 32 - No. 1 • 12 Pages

2770 S. Maryland Pkwy., Suite 201 Las Vegas, NV 89109 Tel: (702) 792-6678 • Fax: (702) 792-6879

Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY

PH bans entry from US, 6 more countries due to new COVID-19 variant China not included in travel restrictions

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

FOLLOWING a recent ban on foreign travelers from the United States, the Philippines has expanded the restrictions to six more countries to prevent the transmission of a new, more infectious COVID-19 variant.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, January 6, approved the recommenda-

DATELINE

tion of the country’s Departments of Health and Foreign Affairs to include Portugal, India, Finland, Norway, Jordan, and Brazil on the travel ban list.

Foreign passengers who have been in any of the aforementioned countries within 14 days prior to their arrival in the Philippines cannot enter the country from January 8 to 15, 2021.

However, foreign diplomats and officials from international

organizations are exempt from the restriction.

“Local/accredited foreign diplomats and international organizations such as the World Health Organization and the United Nations shall be exempted from quarantine protocols provided they will undergo RT-PCR test upon arrival at the airport, execute an undertaking, and observe strict 14-day quarantine,” the country’s Interu PAGE A2

Pence announces Biden’s election victory after Congress certifies electoral count

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

u PAGE A2

‘Last responders’ brace for surge in COVID deaths across US FUNERAL director Kevin Spitzer has been overwhelmed with COVID-related deaths in the small city of Aberdeen, South Dakota.

He and his two colleagues at the SpitzerMiller Funeral Home have been working 12-15 hours a day, seven days a week, to keep up with the demand in the community of 26,000. The funerals are sparsely attended, which would have been unthinkable before the pandemic.

“We had a funeral for a younger man one recent Saturday, and not 20 people came, because most everyone was just afraid,” he said.

As COVID-19 has spread from big cities to rural communities, it has stressed not only hospitals, but also what some euphemistically call “last responders.” The crush has overwhelmed morgues, funeral homes and religious leaders, required ingenuity and even changed the rituals of honoring the dead.

Officials in many smaller cities and towns learned from seeing the overflow of bodies during last spring’s first wave of COVID

u PAGE A3

306-232.

The count was certified just after 3:40 a.m. The process IN the small hours of Thursday, of certifying electoral college Jan. 7, United States Vice Presi- votes is a standard formality of dent Mike Pence announced that any election, but the count was President-elect Joe Biden and wildly disrupted after a vicious Vice President-elect Kamala Har- mob of Trump-supporting rioters ris have won the presidency after stormed the United States CapiCongress resumed the counting tol in an attempt to interrupt the of Electoral College votes. count on Wednesday, Jan. 6.

As expected, Biden won over The chaotic demonstration Trump in the Electoral College — which left four dead and many

by KLARIZE

MEDENILLA AJPress

90 Filipino healthcare workers in US succumb to COVID-19

A STUDY by The Guardian and Kaiser Health News showed that over a third of the number of healthcare workers who died in the United States due to COVID-19 are immigrants. Most of them were from the Philippines.

Market and consumer data company Statista cited the study in a report published on Tuesday.

According to data cited by Statista, The Guardian, and Kaiser Health News found that as many as 2,921 healthcare workers died in the U.S. last year due to the virus. Out of the sum, researchers gathered information on the

DEVOTION. Devotees welcome the image of the Black Nazarene shortly after its arrival at the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, commonly known as Baclaran Church, on Thursday, January 7. The image of the Black Nazarene has been going around the various churches in Metro Manila ahead of the celebration of its feast on Saturday, January 9.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 U.S. presidential election was certified by Congress on Thursday morning, January 7.

File photo courtesy of Joe Biden/Facebook

more injured — was the culmination of the effort to undermine the electoral process, egged on

by President Donald Trump himself since Nov. 7 when media outlets began calling the election for Biden. Republicans and Democrats alike rebuked the riot, decrying the disruption of a standard constitutional practice.

“We condemn the violence that took place here in the strongest u PAGE A2

Moody’s Analytics: PH last to recover in Asia

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE Philippines is expected to lag behind its Asian neighbors in recovering from the pandemic-induced recession, according to international think tank Moody’s Analytics.

In a recent report, Moody’s Analytics chief economist Steven Cochrane said that the Philippines, along with India, will struggle to regain all of its lost output by the end of 2022, while other economies in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region will reach the benchmark by the end of this year.

“India and the Philippines will struggle due to their deep recessions and the uncertain fiscal support of their policymakers,” said Cochrane.

Moody’s Analytics expects the country to regain its momentum by the fourth quarter

of 2022, while India is forecasted to recover by the first quarter of next year.

China, Taiwan, and Vietnam have already recovered in the second and third quarters of 2020. Hong Kong is predicted to recover by the first quarter of this year, while South Korea, Indonesia, and Australia will rebound by the second quarter of this year, followed by Thailand by the third quarter of this year.

Moody’s Analytics projected the Philippine economy to rebound with a gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 4.5 percent in 2021 and 6.2 percent in 2022 after a 9.9 percent contraction in 2020. This is in contrast with the Philippine government’s expectation of a 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent GDP growth this year.

Cochrane noted the Philippines’ lack of

u PAGE A3

DFA sees new spike in infections among overseas Filipinos

by AJPRESS THE Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday, January 6 recorded five new confirmed COVID-19 cases among Filipinos abroad.

The day before, the agency reported observed another spike as it logged 67 additional infections.

The two-day numbers bring the total tally to 13,001, of which 3,631 are currently undergoing treatment.

The agency also reported 56 new recoveries on Tuesday, January 5 and Wednesday, raising the official number of recov-

ered and discharged patients to 8,446.

Meanwhile, the death toll remained at 934 as no new fatalities were recorded by the DFA. “The DFA, together with its Foreign Service Posts, remains fully committed to monitoring and assisting our nationals abroad amidst this ongoing battle against the COVID-19 pandemic,” the agency said.

Overall by region, Europe – which comprises 20 countries – has recorded 1,794 Filipino cases, including 339 undergoing treatment, 1,337 recoveries and 118 deaths.

u PAGE A2

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte

Malacañang photo by Simeon Celi

PH Senate to probe govt’s vaccine campaign

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE Philippine Senate will continue with its inquiry into the government’s vaccination program, despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s threat of a “little crisis” should the senators insist on investigating the unauthorized inoculation of his security detail with an unregistered COVID-19 vaccine.

However, Philippine Senate President Vicente Sotto III clarified that the Committee of Whole’s probe would not focus on the early vaccination of members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG). He also said that the PSG members

would not be invited into the hearing.

“The topic of my hearing is the roadmap for the P72.5 billion for vaccines. Who in heaven’s name told (Duterte) I’m calling for the PSG? I think the president is being misled,” Sotto said Tuesday, January 5.

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon pointed out that while Duterte can invoke executive privilege to prevent the PSG from appearing in a hearing, he has no power to stop Congress from eliciting information in aid of legislation from other resource persons.

“The president, in effect, is invoking executive privilege.

u PAGE A3

A

http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

January 7-13, 2021 • LaS VEGaS aSIan JOurnaL

From The FronT Page

PH bans entry from US...

PAGE A1

Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) said Wednesday.

Foreign dignitaries who shall observe existing testing and quarantine protocols upon arrival, as well as those with medical and emergency cases, including their medical escorts, are also exempted.

The six new countries joined the list of countries under the Philippines’ travel ban, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Denmark, Ireland, Japan, Australia, Israel, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, Switzerland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Lebanon, Singapore, Sweden, South Korea, South Africa, Canada, and Spain.

Restricted travel from the United States began on January 3.

Filipino nationals coming from the countries covered by the travel ban are permitted to enter the Philippines, provided that they undergo a 14-day quarantine regardless of a negative COVID-19 swab test result Meanwhile, travelers from countries not included in the travel ban list will be “endorsed to the Local Government Units (LGU) upon yielding negative RT-PCR results at the point of entry.”

“Despite negative results, LGUs are strongly urged to ensure that travelers complete their 14-day quarantine period either at a facil-

ity or at home,” the DOH said.

China not included in PH travel ban list China will only be included in the Philippines’ travel ban after international agencies confirm that the new COVID-19 variant is detected there, Malacañang said Thursday, January 7.

“Hindi pa po iyan nari-report ng mga international agencies na kumpirmado. Ang alam lang po natin ay media reports (International agencies have not yet confirmed these reports. What we know are media reports),” said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque in a Palace briefing.

Earlier reports have said that a Chinese woman who returned to Shanghai after studying in Britain had the new COVID-19 variant.

Roque assured that once it has been confirmed, the Philippines would expand the travel ban list to include China.

“So antayin po natin iyong confirmation; at kung mayroon naman pong confirmation, siyempre isasali rin sila sa listahan (Let’s wait for a confirmation and when there’s a confirmation, we will include China on the list). As of now, wala pa pong (there’s no) confirmation,” he said.

‘Regularly updated’ The DOH on Tuesday, Jan. 5, said that the list of countries included in the Philippines’ travel ban will be “regularly updated.”

“The list of countries included in the travel restrictions shall be regularly updated to include countries who will officially report the detection of the variant,” the agency said.

The DOH added that it will make recommendations, along with the DFA, on which countries should be included in the travel ban.

A new country may be banned if its government reports the detection of the variant in its official channels, or makes an official notification to the International Health Regulations.

“Unofficial reports, including those reported by media outlets, do not qualify as official sources and therefore cannot be used as basis in recommending travel restrictions from a specific country,” the DOH said.

The IATF, meanwhile, is studying the possibility of including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the travel ban.

“Right now, if the traveler is coming from the 21 countries, he will not be allowed to enter. The only exemption if you’re an OFW but there is a move that even OFWs will be included but it’s still being studied,” Philippine Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in a virtual forum on Monday.

So far, no OFW has caught the new strain, according to Bello.

“Once we find an OFW contaminated by this new COVID-19 variant, this might be a factor that will move the IATF-EID to consider including them in the restriction,” he added.

The labor chief also revealed that the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is concerned about the shortage of quarantine facilities for OFWs. “I just had a meeting with OWWA administrator Hans Cacdac and he is apprehensive that we’ve run out of quarantine because we are repatriating at least 1,000 to a maximum of 3,500 OFWs a day,” Bello said.

A total of 327,511 OFWs have been repatriated since the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs started its COVID-19 repatriation flights in 2020.

Of the figure, 231,537 were land-based OFWs coming from at least 90 countries while 95,974 were seafarers from more than 150 cruise ships, oil tankers, and other bulk vessels. n

OLD FASHIONED. Despite the presence of numerous shopping malls in Metro Manila, small traders from nearby Luzon provinces continue to promote the country’s native products. One is through the traditional way — moving from place to place using a bull- or horse-drawn “caretela” or carriage like the one shown in photo along Aurora Boulevard near Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City on Tuesday, January 5.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Pence announces Biden’s election victory...

PAGE A1 t possible terms,” Pence said in his own written remarks before resuming the count on Wednesday night. “To those who wreaked havoc in our Capitol today: you did not win. Violence never wins.”

Previously, Trump demanded that Pence block the congressional confirmation of Biden’s win but Pence said in a letter sent early on Wednesday (before the riot) that a vice president does not have the power to reject Elec-

toral College votes.

Trump and his supporters, since November, have claimed that the Nov. 3 election was corrupted by massive voter fraud, but have provided no evidence of the claim.

“It is my considered judgment that my oath to support and defend the Constitution constrains me from claiming unilateral authority to determine which electoral votes should be counted and which should not,” Pence

wrote in his letter to Congress on Wednesday morning.

Following the certification, Trump acknowledged Biden’s win for the first time and said there would be an “orderly transition.”

“Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th,” the outgoing president said in a statement. n

DFA sees new spike in infections among...

PAGE A1 t

The Middle East and Africa, covering 33 countries, has reported 7,712 cases; of which, 2,421 are undergoing treatment, 601 deaths and 4,690 recoveries.

The Asia Pacific region, which spans across 21 countries, has 2,708 cases, with 784 undergoing treatment, 1,893 recoveries, and 21 deaths.

The Americas – covering 10 countries like the United States – have 787 reported cases, with 67 undergoing treatment, 526 recoveries, and 194 deaths.

“To date, the Middle East and Africa remain to be the region with the most number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, recoveries, under treatment, and fatalities among our nationals,” the DFA noted on Tuesday.

“The Americas has the least numbers in all categories compared to other geographic regions, except in the total number of deaths, wherein Asia and the Pacific rank lowest with a total of only 21,” it added.

Meanwhile, in the Philippines, there are a total of 479,693 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 9,321 fatalities and 448,375 recoveries. n

90 Filipino healthcare workers in US succumb...

PAGE A1 t

country of origin of 660 people.

The majority or 421 cases of death among healthcare workers were individuals from the U.S. Ninety (90) immigrant healthcare workers from the Philippines also

died last year. Meanwhile, 12 deceased U.S. healthcare workers were originally from Haiti, 12 from Nigeria, and nine from Mexico.

“In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Pre-

vention officially reported that 928 healthcare workers died from COVID-19 up to 17 December, a figure it admitted is likely an undercount,” Statista noted.

(Christina Eloisa Baclig/Inquirer.net)

(702) 792-6678 • http://www.asianjournal.com

From The FronT Page

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 7-13, 2021

Moody’s Analytics: PH last to recover in Asia PAGE A1 t commitment to fiscal stimulus, which is a factor in the think tank’s forecast.

“Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Japan and Thailand stand out in terms of the amount of fiscal stimulus... Japan has approved an additional $708 billion stimulus speeding plan for 2021... Singapore and Malaysia are expected to continue fiscal support, and Indonesia’s central bank is committed to provide interest-free funds to the government for targeted fiscal spending at least through mid-2021,” he said.

“India and the Philippines are the least committed to fiscal stimulus, even though they were the two most hard-hit economies from COVID-19 and their subsequent lengthy and strict quarantine policies,” he added.

Cochrane also pointed out that the Philippines lags behind its APAC neighbors in procuring vaccines.

“While behind North America and Europe, most of the larger

Asia-Pacific countries have secured enough doses at this point to vaccinate roughly 75 percent of their populations. An important exception is the Philippines, which has made little progress so far,” he said.

‘Worst is over’ Malacañang, for its part, vowed to prove the Moody’s Analytics report wrong, saying the country’s economy is on track to recover this year.

“Huwag po kayong mag-alala (Do not worry) the worst is over – sabi nga nila (As they say) we’ve hit rock bottom and the only way to go is up,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in a press briefing.

“Huwag kayong mag-alala (Do not worry) we will disprove that forecast wrong. At ito po ang dahilan kung bakit nagbubukas tayo ng ekonomiya at palaging sinasabi sa ating mga kababayan: Pag-ingatan ang buhay ng tayo po’y makapaghanapbuhay (This is the reason why we are opening the economy and telling people to take care of their

health so they can go to work),” he added.

According to Roque, Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez exercised prudence with regard to loans intended for COVID-19 response.

“Kung talagang kinakailangang umutang, uutang pa tayo para gastusin; ito po iyong tinatawag nilang fiscal policies. Pero sa ngayon po, I think mas prudent po ang ginawang approach ni Secretary Dominguez na hinay-hinay ang pangungutang, hinay-hinay ang paggagastos (If we need to borrow, we will borrow funds. It’s what they call the fiscal policies. But for now, I think Secretary Dominguez has taken a more prudent approach when it comes to borrowing and spending),” he said.

“Huwag po nating gastusin ang ating salapi lahat-lahat ‘no na hindi natin alam kung kailan matatapos itong pandemyang ito (Let’s not spend all our money especially since we don’t know when this pandemic will end),” the spokesman added. n

PH Senate to probe govt’s vaccine...

PAGE A1 t

It is a recognized power of the president. It is a valid exercise of the power of the President under EO 464, as affirmed by the Supreme Court in the case of Senate of the Philippines vs Ermita,” Drilon told Senate reporters.

“But to investigate in aid of legislation is also a valid exercise of legislative power. There is no preventing Congress from eliciting information in aid of legislation from other resource persons. Congress can exact information on matters that can help it craft better legislation,” he added.

On Monday, January 4, Duterte warned Congress against investigating the PSG, insisting that the inoculation was a matter of “self-preservation.”

“To me, it’s a matter of selfpreservation. Iyan lang (That’s all). Whatever be your objection, whatever be your criticism, para sa akin (for me), it is a matter of preservation. And I would like to call on Congress na hindi naman ako nakikiusap.

Ang ano ko lang diretso na salita na (I am not making an appeal. I want to tell you straight) do not tinker with the PSG,” he said in a taped speech.

‘Shut up’ Duterte said that he is not keen on allowing PSG commander Brig. Jesus Durante III and other PSG members to attend the Congress’ hearing.

“I will not elaborate on it but do not force my hand to meddle into this affair because maybe I will not, I am not so keen about allowing Durante and the rest of the PSG to testify,” he said.

He added, “If they will be called to testify in Congress… then I would ask the PSG to just shut up. Do not answer.

Invoke the right against selfincrimination and you will not get anything.”

The President threatened the Congress that there will be a “crisis” if the Congress

decides to cite the PSG in contempt and detain them.

“Huwag mo silang pakialaman (Don’t interfere) because… Two things may happen: I will ask them to shut up and not to answer any question, and I’m not threatening, please do not cite them in contempt by detaining them, I will not allow it.,” Duterte said.

“Pag ginawa ninyo ‘yan (If you do that), there will be a little crisis. Nasa inyo (It’s up to you). I am prepared to defend my soldiers. I will not allow them for all of their good intentions to be brutalized in a hearing,” he added.

Senate’s responsibility According to Senator Francis Pangilinan, it would be the Senate’s decision whether or not to focus on the PSG’s early immunization.

“What’s important to me is to ensure that the vaccine rollout should be orderly, fair, safe and effective and find out if the government is indeed prepared for it,” he said.

“If the different agencies of the Executive branch are not yet ready and are going their own ways in different directions, it is the responsibility of the Senate under the Constitution to serve as a check and balance and investigate this,” the senator added.

Earlier, the Senate adopted Pangilinan’s resolution to convene into a Committee of the Whole to conduct a legislative probe into the government’s vaccination program.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, for her part, stressed that it is the Senate’s duty to open an inquiry into the government’s plans.

“We would be remiss in our duty if we did not pursue this…. Kung may isang branch of government na nagkukulang (If one branch of government is falling short) then the other branches, including our own in the legislature, must and I believe, will step up,” she said.

FDA, NBI probes The Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday, January 6 also announced that it will proceed with its probe into the PSG’s use of unregistered COVID-19 vaccines.

“The president said the PSG should not attend congressional hearings. The FDA has its own set of processes on how we handle and investigate complaints and reports. We will continue the probe according to the processes laid out by FDA,” FDA Director General Enrique Domingo said in Filipino.

To date, the FDA has not given any COVID-19 vaccine manufacturer that applied in the country an emergency use authorization (EUA).

Likewise, the country’s National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said it will not drop its investigation.

“The focus of the NBI investigation is the alleged proliferation of unregistered anti-Covid 19 vaccines in the so-called black market and their unauthorized administration,” said Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.

“The agency can obtain information from various sources,” he added.

NBI spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin also said that the agency might reach out to the PSG and the military for the investigation.

“If they refuse to cooperate, we will still proceed with the investigation. We will build up the case based on independent evidence,” he said.

Malacañang, for its part, urged the PSG to participate in investigations by agencies in the executive branch.

“Iyong mga hearings ng ehekutibo (The hearings in the executive branch) can continue and of course we expect the PSG to appear and cooperate,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said. n

‘Last responders’ brace for surge in COVID...

PAGE A1 t deaths in places such as Detroit, where nurses at Detroit Medical Center Sinai-Grace Hospital alerted the media to bodies accumulating in hospital storage rooms. They watched as New York hospitals and funeral homes marshaled refrigerated trucks to store bodies. More than 600 bodies of people who died in the spring COVID surge remain in freezer trucks on the Brooklyn waterfront because officials can’t find next of kin, or relatives are also sick or unable to pay for burial.

People like Dr. Robert Kurtzman, Montana’s chief medical examiner, took heed. Last spring, he worked with funeral directors and others to study the state’s morgue capacity.

After looking at COVID projections, the state arranged with the Montana National Guard to have 13 refrigerated semitrucks ready to dispatch anywhere in the state.

“We are already in a precarious position, and the projections present a scary proposition,” he said. “We need to be ready for worst-case scenarios.”

Chad Towner, CEO of St. Joseph Health System, which has two hospitals in northern Indiana, ordered two refrigerated semitrailers in April. For a time, things were relatively quiet. But the pandemic has hit.

“I told a friend who was a COVID doubter that if my wife needed a bed today, I could not arrange one. That’s the dire situation we face here,” Towner said. “All our competitors in

the area are in the same boat, and we’re working together instead of competing.”

Although the freezer trucks have not yet been needed, he worries that the sharp increase in cases, and those anticipated from holiday gatherings, will make last-resort measures necessary.

“We recently had four deaths in one afternoon,” said Towner.

“A priest approached me to say he’d been asked to provide last rites to three patients in one hour.”

Moving bodies from the hospital morgue is a slower process than usual, he said. “Morticians and funeral homes are overflowing as well. Families that are sick or quarantined at the time of the loved one’s death often can’t work with us on a transfer, meaning bodies are here longer. The entire system is stressed to the tipping point,” said Towner.

Private enterprise has created a solution for smaller communities. In Bozeman, Montana, a specialty truck company has retrofitted trailers that can be pulled by an SUV or a pickup.

Acela Truck Co. has already sold hundreds of the pull-behind refrigerated units created in response to the COVID pandemic. They range from 9 to 53 feet and have racks that each hold four body trays. “We’re very busy and have orders in all of the lower 48 states,” said CEO David Ronsen. Acela has partnered with Mopec, a Michigan autopsy supply company, to help sell and deliver the new product.

Billings Clinic in Montana also anticipated a flood of deaths last spring by reserving a semitrailer for delivery, if needed. The clinic, which has just two morgue spaces, has dealt with 80 COVID deaths, including seven on the weekend after Thanksgiving.

Chief Nursing Officer Laurie Smith said the hospital is at capacity, despite adding beds by converting office space and building an addition. The hospital, which currently has 335 beds, so far has handled the additional deaths through what she calls a “sad partnership” with funeral homes, which have been quickly picking up bodies the hospital cannot store.

The hospital does its best to allow relatives to say goodbye, but that often involves family members standing at an interior window outside the patient’s room, using a computer tablet to communicate their last words.

That is just one way in which the rituals of grieving have changed during the COVID pandemic.

Typical congregational hymns are pretty much gone, as are choirs.

“We are using mostly recordings, sometimes a soloist,” said Spitzer. (Cindy Loose/Kaiser Health News) This story was produced by KHN (Kaiser Health News), which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.

KHN is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente. n

A

Vilma Santos-Recto to refile bill seeking new ABS-CBN franchise

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

PHILIPPINE Deputy Speaker Vilma Santos-Recto on Monday, January 4, said that she will refile a bill seeking to give broadcast giant ABS-CBN a fresh 25-year franchise.

“I am refiling the bill seeking for the renewal for another 25 years of the ABS-CBN franchise. I filed it the last time and I continue to believe that it is the right thing to do,” she told Inquirer.net in a text message.

Santos-Recto’s statement came after Philippine Senate President Vicente Sotto III filed Senate Bill No. 1967, which seeks to give ABS-CBN a fresh legislative franchise, citing the importance of television as the main source of information for most Filipinos.

“We need to start rebuilding our economy,” Santos-Recto said.

“Through this bill, we will be creating jobs (so many people do not have jobs today) and help promote healthy competition among the networks. Most importantly, di mapagkakaila ang (one cannot deny the) far reach ng ABS-CBN in the regions during calamities,” she added.

Santos-Recto expressed hope that the House Committee on Rules will “immediately act” on the counterpart measure of Sotto’s bill so that “it will hopefully be referred to the Committee on Legislative Franchises the soonest.”

Under the 1987 Constitution, private bills like the granting and renewal of franchises must first be approved by the House of Representatives before the Senate can tackle it in plenary.

According to Sotto, ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal has a “better chance” now with the change of House officials.

“New (House) Speaker, new officers. (There) could be a better chance,” he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Meanwhile, Santos-Recto said she is “hoping for the best.”

In July 2020, the Philippine House of Representatives rejected the bills seeking to grant ABSCBN a new 25-year franchise.

Voting 70 to 11, the House Committee on Legislative Franchises adopted the recommendation of its technical working group to deny the network a new franchise. Two congressmen inhibited while one abstained.

ABS-CBN stopped its operations on May 5, 2020 in compliance with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC’s) cease and desist order due to the expiration of its congressional franchise.

The order directed ABS-CBN to

Philippine Deputy Speaker Vilma SantosRecto Inquirer.net photo

shut down its various TV and radio broadcasting stations nationwide “sent a valid Congressional Franchise as required by law.”

Republic Act No. 7966, which granted the network a 25-year franchise to operate TV and radio broadcasting stations expired on May 4, 2020. n

:8IG< ;@<D 8KK<EK@FE @DD@>I8K@FE C8NP<IJ C<>8C @DD@>I8K@FE `j X 9@> @JJL< k_\j\ [Xpj% D8EP `e fli Zfddle`kp E<<; pfli j\im`Z\j% K_\i\ Xi\ k_fljXe[j n_f dXp nXek kf \og\[`k\ k_\`i i\j`[\eZp fi glijl\ ]lcc Z`k`q\ej_`g Ylk [feËk befn _fn kf Y\^`e Xe[ n_\i\ kf ^f%

JK8E; FLK =IFD K?< G8:B% 8J@8E AFLIE8CËJ GIF=<JJ@FE8C J<IM@:<J ;@I<:KFIP# n`cc efn Y\ ilee`e^ n\\bcp# \m\ip K_lij[Xp f] CXj M\^Xj <[`k`fe%

8AËj GJ; ZXe _\cg PFL i\XZ_ flk kf k_\d X]]fi[XYcp Xe[ \]]\Zk`m\cp%

:8CC PFLI 8::FLEK D8E8><I .') .0)$--./ 8jb XYflk fli GIFDFK@FE8C @EKIF;L:KFIP G8:B8>< GI@:@E> n_`Z_ ilej pfli X[ n\\bcp ]fi dXo`dld \ogfjli\ Xk kilcp X]]fi[XYc\ iXk\j%

Fli gi`ek \[`k`fej ile `e kXe[\d n`k_ 8AËj Gi`ek <[`k`fe Fec`e\% Fec`e\1 _kkg1&&`jjll%Zfd&Xj`XeaflieXc[`^`kXc\[`k`fe

A4

http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

JANUARY 7-13, 2021 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

O PINION A festering problem

FEATURES

WITH repeated emphasis on the presumption of innocence, President Duterte finally decided to publicly identify the members of the House of Representatives implicated in corruption in the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Eight incumbent congressmen and a former lawmaker were identified in a report prepared by the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission, which conducted a probe on corruption in the DPWH. The department had merited special mention by President Duterte himself for investigation.

PACC Commissioner Greco Belgica has explained that the lawmakers were not the subjects of the probe, since Congress is outside the PACC mandate. But the names of the congressmen surfaced in the course of the probe, Belgica said. The President, who initially refused to name the lawmakers in the PACC report, said they were linked to various anomalies including kickbacks ranging from 10 to 25%, bid rigging and influence peddling.

Such stories have in fact surfaced in the DPWH through several administrations. While the department has its share of rotten eggs, some DPWH officials in the past have lamented that

lawmakers also promoted corruption in the department. Even contractors that did not meet DPWH criteria were awarded projects due to pressure from lawmakers, the officials said.

It’s the public that suffers the consequences. Studies conducted by groups including the World Bank have shown that road projects are among the biggest sources of corruption around the globe. And the cost of corruption is usually passed on to the end users, who suffer from substandard roads.

All the congressmen named in the PACC report have denied the allegations. The Department of Justice has stepped into the probe. The Office of the Ombudsman, champion of opaqueness in government, might be interested in pursuing its own probe. These stories have been swirling around the DPWH and Congress for years. A presidential body has unearthed leads. It’s time to find out the truth. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS “GEORGIA…Georgia on my mind”…must have been the soundtrack of Tuesday, January 6, 2021 as American voters in this state have once again cast their solemn vote through ballots — either through mail-in or in-person at polling stations throughout the state.

WHY again, you’d ask, especially when President-elect Joe Biden is constitutionally bound to be sworn into office as the 46th president of the United States by noontime of January 20, 2021, after his historic win to be the candidate for President who has won the biggest number of popular votes in American history?

This is true as well for Vice President-elect Kamala Harris — the first woman, and the first person of color to hold the second highest position in the Executive Department — who could possibly be the first woman president in the future.

This is how The Washington Post explained it: Ever since Trump lost to President-elect Biden, he has made repeated and false claims that widespread voter fraud cost him the presidency. Yet almost every single legal challenge filed on his

Street Talk GREG B. MACABENTA WITH these words of contrition, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo hoped to cleanse her presidency of the grave sin of “influencing” the 2004 Philippine election, which she had just pulled from under the feet of Tagalog movie action king, Fernando Poe Jr. Arroyo had just emerged victorious in a bruising contest for her first full-fledged presidential term, having served the balance of the aborted tenure of another film star, President Joseph “Erap” Estrada.

Estrada had been forced out of office through the combined efforts of the Philippine Congress, the Supreme Court, the military, civil society and his then-VicePresident Arroyo.

According to political pundits, it was the pseudo-Constitutional equivalent of a shotgun wedding.

In a protest march reminiscent of the 1986 People Power dethronement of President Ferdinand Marcos, the military and civil society forced Estrada to “resign” the presidency. This was after an attempt by Congress to impeach him was suddenly discontinued without the requisite Senate trial and verdict of guilt. Estrada was,

Philstar.com photo

Georgia on my mind: Why this special Senate runoff election matters to effect change in America

behalf has been rejected by the courts, including the Supreme Court. His own attorney general said there was no evidence of widespread fraud.

Trump can count on about a dozen conservative senators, as well as scores of House Republicans, to press his case by objecting to the certification of results from some crucial battleground states.

Democrats, however, control the House, and are certain to reject any effort to overturn the outcome. Additionally, many Senate Republicans oppose the pro-Trump efforts.

That all but guarantees that after hours of debate, Congress will certify President-elect Biden’s victory, clearing the path for his inauguration Jan. 20.

Why does Georgia’s Senate runoff matter?

Georgia is on our mind NOT because it will give the outgoing President Donald J. Trump four more years as president to further shield him from all the legal woes he would be facing for all the alleged and reported criminal, civil, and political transgressions he has committed. No. Justice will prevail and he will be held accountable for all that he did and did not do according to

the oath he took as president.

Whatever the outcome of this special election will NOT affect the certification of Electoral College results by Congress, no matter how hard the propaganda machinery has been trying to make supporters believe that the election victory was “stolen” from Trump.

Georgia is on our mind because the results of this special election will determine if the leadership of the Senate will go blue — ejecting Republican Mitch McConnell from his post as Senate Majority Leader and paving the way for a Chuck Schumer leadership.

Last November 3, none of the Senatorial candidates in Georgia garnered more than 50% of the vote. This forced dueling runoff races between the top two vote-getters in each contest, the Post reported.

So the American voters in Georgia will be casting their most consequential decision that will determine if PresidentElect Joe Biden will be able to smoothly put into action the changes he campaigned on to “restore the soul of America” and “build back better” from the rubbles and ashes of the failed Trump leadership.

Hello Garci Trump-style “I...am...sor..ry…”

in effect, simply told to “cut and cut clean” like Marcos.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr. then swore in Arroyo as president on the grounds that Estrada had “resigned.” Actually, like Marcos, Estrada was threatened with forcible eviction, so he felt compelled to leave Malacañang.

At any rate, because Arroyo only served the balance of Estrada’s term that technically allowed her to run for a full term of six years. However, her election became questionable because of allegations of corruption. In fact, Arroyo stated at one point that she had no intention to run. However, she eventually changed her mind — and that was how she was pitted against another film star, FPJ. In a country that has always had difficulty telling the difference between reel and real heroes, Poe was expected to win handily.

Obviously, not wanting to take any chances, Arroyo placed a call to an official of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), Virgilio Garcillano, nicknamed, Garci.

And thus, did “Hello Garci…” become part of Philippine political lore.

Arroyo insisted that it was a

perfectly legitimate call. She just wanted to have a sense of where the election was heading.

Of course, in the course of the “legitimate” conversation, she also suggested that Garci should ensure a million-vote victory for her.

And Garci agreed. What’s more, Garci delivered.

Thus was coined the term, “Garcified” and “Garcification.”

The trouble was, somebody in Malacañang recorded the conversation. The recording was subsequently leaked to the media and the political opposition in the Lower House moved to impeach Arroyo.

Of course, Americans are familiar with what happens to an impeachment proceeding against a president who has control of the Senate. Those who don’t know about the failed attempt to dislodge Donald Trump from the White House must have been asleep like Ichabod Crane in Washington Irving’s short story, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”

It was also a “perfectly legitimate” phone call to Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine (rhymes with Ichabod Crane), that got Trump into trouble. Trump wanted Zelensky to make a public statement that

Avid Trump supporter Republican David Perdue seeks a second term in office and is challenged by Democrat Jon Ossoff.

Separately, the Post reported that appointed GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler is running against Democrat Raphael Warnock to complete the remainder of retired Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson’s term.

What results are needed by both sides of the aisle to win?

The Post explained: “Republicans need to win only one of the races to secure a narrow 51-49 majority. But if Democrats take both seats, the Senate would be divided 50-50, with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris poised to cast tie-breaking votes once she takes office and assumes her duties as the Senate’s presiding officer.”

The Post further reported that the results of the elections will not change the “calculus in Congress when it comes to the Electoral College certification process.” This is because pursuant to quirks in Georgia election law, Perdue won’t be able to cast a vote Wednesday even if he wins.

“Perdue’s contest went to a Jan. 5 runoff that is being held after his term ended, he

is not a senator right now. If he wins, he can retake his seat after the results of his election are certified later this month and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp issues a certificate stating he won. Loeffler, on the other hand, is still a senator. Her appointment by Kemp remains in effect until the winner of the election is sworn in,” the Post explained.

In the days leading up to the January 5 election, the New York Times reported that about 3.1 million people have already voted in the run-off races, and this accounts for almost 40% of all registered voters in the state.

The Times reported that based on early voting data, the races are very competitive, meaning the state that used to be “red” may have already evolved to be purple, and even blue, with the Democrats having an even bigger share of the early voting electorate compared to their share in the November general elections. The question now is: Will the Republicans be more compelled and motivated to vote in person to beat the fire and enthusiasm of Democratic voters lead by Stacey Abrams who has been turning the tide in Georgia by mobilizing people of color to

vote?

Despite the desperate efforts from Trump’s Republican minions in Congress who “pledged to undo Democrat Joe Biden’s victory by mounting a challenge to the election results during a joint session of Congress,” they will not be successful in subverting the will of the American people who decisively fired Trump and elected Biden to be president of the United States in the next four years.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! May 2021 clear the path toward new hope and new beginnings to fulfill our shared goals of healing and unity for the greater good of the American people. ***

the government of Ukraine was investigating allegations of corruption against Hunter Biden, the son of former Vice-President Joe Biden, apparently to dissuade Biden from challenging Trump’s reelection bid. This was an impeachable offense and the U.S. Democrats who had just regained control of the House of Representatives filed impeachment charges against Trump.

Unlike Arroyo, Trump was impeached but was, expectedly, acquitted by the Republicancontrolled Senate. In the case of Arroyo, she controlled both Houses of Congress and the attempt to impeach her did not prosper.

At the outset, Arroyo was rattled enough to actually go on national television to express remorse for what she had done.

But as it became clearer and clearer that the impeachment threat was headed nowhere, she dug in her heels and in the classic tradition of Philippine politics, she went on to serve a full six years.

But at least, Arroyo said, “I... am...sor...ry!” Which is more than anyone can expect from Donald Trump.

And Arroyo did it only once.

Or, at least, she was exposed only once.

Trump’s version of “Hello Garci” was first exposed when he called up the President of Ukraine. And like the proverbial dog who returns to his vomit,

Trump made another questionable phone call again. And he has been exposed again - with an audio recording, no less. A virtual “smoking gun,” in the words of the Washington Post’s Carl Bernstein, recalling the White House audio recordings in the Watergate scandal that forced President Richard Nixon to resign.

Last week, still unwilling to accept the prospect of vacating the White House on January 20, Trump called up, Brad Raffensperger, the Secretary of State of Georgia, a fellow Republican, and suggested — and then demanded — that 11,800 votes be produced to overturn Joe Biden’s victory in the hitherto Republican-leaning State.

Fortunately, Raffensperger is one Republican with both cojones and integrity. Over Trump’s insistence that the election in Georgia had been “rigged” the Secretary of State denied that it was — in fact, the results had been counted and recounted two more times, with Biden’s victory being confirmed in each case. Trump even threatened Raffensperger, warning that the latter could get into trouble for not complying with Trump’s demand. But the Secretary of State held his ground.

This scandal is still developing. By the time this piece sees print, the Senate runoff elections in Georgia will have been held and the winners — whether the

Republican incumbent Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler or their Democratic challengers Jon Ossooff and Raphael Warnock — will have changed the balance of power in the U.S. Senate. It will have shifted to the Democrats or will have remained in Republican hands.

How Trump’s version of “Hello Garci” will affect the Senate runoff is anybody’s guess.

What is certain however is that Trump will never say, “I... am...sor...ry…”

Note that the results of the Georgia runoff elections are different from the chaos — and possible violence — that Trump will have incited on January 6, when the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, as President and Vice-President, will have been confirmed by a joint session of Congress. I shudder to think of what could happen, with fanatical Trump supporters clashing with the police and anti-Trump marchers in Washington DC. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to kill Americans by the thousands every day.

It has not been a good start for the New Year. ***

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.

*** Gel Santos Relos has been in news, talk, public service and educational broadcasting since 1989 with ABS-CBN and is now serving the Filipino audience using different platforms, including digital broadcasting, and print, and is working on a new public service program for the community. You may contact her through email at gelrelos@icloud.com, or send her a message via Facebook at Facebook.com/Gel. Santos.Relos.

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.

*** (gregmacabenta@hotmail.com)

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.

ADVERTISING AND ADVERTORIAL POLICIES ROGER LAGMAY ORIEL Publisher & Chairman of the Board

CORA MACABAGDAL-ORIEL President Main Office: 1210 S. Brand Blvd Glendale, CA 91204 Tels: (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 Fax: (818) 502-0858 • (213) 481-0854 e-mail: info@asianjournalinc.com http://www.asianjournal.com

Las Vegas Sales Office: 2770 S. Maryland Pkwy., Suite 201 Las Vegas, Nevada 89109 Tel.: (702) 792-6678 • Fax: (702) 792-6879

ROBERT MACABAGDAL Vice President & General Manager Las Vegas Asian Journal

With offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York/New Jersey, Las Vegas, San Diego. Philippines MOMAR G. VISAYA Executive Editor

Asian Journal Publitions, Inc. (“AJPI”) reserves the right to refuse to publish, in its sole and absolute discretion, any advertising and advertorial material submitted for publition by client. (“Client’s Material”) Submission of an advertisement or advertorial to an AJPI sales representative does not constitute a commitment by AJPI to publish a Client’s Material. AJPI has the option to correctly classify any Client’s Material and to delete objectionable words or phrases.

Client represents and warrants that a Client’s Material does not and will not contain any language or material which is libelous, slanderous or defamatory or invades any rights of privacy or publicity; does not and will not violate or infringe upon, or give rise to any adverse claim with respect to any common law or other right whatsoever (including, without limitation, any copyright, trademark, service mark or contract right) of any person or entity, or violate any other applible law; and is not the subject of any litigation or claim that might give rise to any litigation.

Publition of a Client’s Material does not constitute an agreement to continue publition.

Client agrees and covenants to indemnify AJPI and its officers against any and all loss, liability, damage, expenses, cost, charges, claims, actions, uses of action, recoveries, judgments, penalties, including outside attorneys’ fees (individually and collectively “Claims”) which AJPI may suffer by reason of (1) Client’s breach of any of the representations, warranties and agreements herein or (2) any Claims by any third party relating in any way to Client’s Material.

AJPI will not be liable for failure to publish any Client’s Material as requested or for more than one incorrect insertion of a Client’s Material. In the event of an error, or omission in printing or publition of a Client’s Material, AJPI shall be limited to an adjustment for the space occupied by the error, with maximum liability being ncellation of the cost of the first incorrect advertisement or republition of the correct advertisement.

Under no circumstances shall Asian Publitions, Inc. be liable for consequential damages of any kind.

ASIAN JOURNAL PUBLITIONS, INC. publishes the Los Angeles Asian Journal, published twice a week; Northern California Asian Journal, Las Vegas Asian Journal and the New York / New Jersey Asian Journal which are published once a week and distributed to Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange Counties, Northern California, Las Vegas and New York and New Jersey respectively.

Articles published in this paper do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Letters to the Editor are welcome. Letters must contain complete name and return address. The materials, however, are subject to editing and revisions.

Contributions and advertising deadlines are every Mondays and Thursdays. For advertising rates and other informations, please ll the L.A. office at (213) 250-9797 or the Las Vegas Sales Office at (702) 792-6678 or send us an email at info@asianjournalinc.com

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 7-13, 2021

(702) 792-6678 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Dateline PhiliPPines

A

Palace: Case not closed for deceased Filipina flight attendant 3 suspects speak out after being released

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

THE controversial death of Filipina flight attendant Christine Dacera is not a closed case, Malacañang said Thursday, January 7, despite the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) claim that it has reportedly “solved” the alleged rape-slay case.

“Hintayin po natin na ma-conclude iyong imbestigasyon. Obviously po dahil mayroon pang hininging ebidensiya ang ating fiscal (So let’s wait for investigations to be concluded. Obviously, because the fiscal is still asking for more evidence) case is not yet closed,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

The PNP considered the case as “solved” after identifying the 11 “suspects” in Dacera’s death.

However, the Makati City prosecutor’s office on Wednesday night released three suspects in police custody, ruling that the evidence presented by police investigators was insufficient to show that Dacera was raped and killed.

The Makati prosecutor’s office also noted that Dacera’s cause of death remains unclear.

An initial autopsy report said the cause of death was a ruptured aortic aneurysm, which may be caused by several factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, infection, or sudden traumatic injury.

“I can only agree with the decision of the fiscal na kinakailangang isumite ang physical evidence nang sa ganoon kapag naisampa ang kaso, hindi po iyan madi-dismiss for lack of evidence (that it is necessary to submit the physical evidence so that when the case is filed, that will not be dismissed for lack of evidence),” Roque said.

Dacera, 23, was found unconscious in an empty bathtub of a hotel in Makati City on January 1 after a New Year’s Eve party with friends. She was rushed to Makati Medical Center where she was pronounced dead.

The National Capital Region Police Office on Thursday, Janu-

Christine Dacera Photo from Instagram_@xtinedacera

ary 7 said it is still waiting for the toxicology report.

For his part, Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento said the police have only submitted a medico-legal report and death certificate of Dacera.

“At this point in time, the pieces of evidence are not sufficient for us to file any charges, any case for that matter so we cannot file homicide murder rape with homicide with the existing evidence presented so far by the PNP and their witnesses,” he said in an interview with CNN Philippines.

‘Justice will be served’ Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte assured that justice will be served for Dacera and her family, according to Roque.

“Ang pangako naman po ng Presidente ay makakamit po ang katarungan sa Pamilyang Dacera (The president’s promise is that justice will be served to the Dacera Family),” he said.

“Malalaman po natin ang katotohanan at sa administrasyon po ni Presidente, dahil siya’y abogado at dati pang piskal, hindi niya hahayaan na ang mga kriminal ay hindi po mapaparusahan (We will know the truth during the administration of the President because he is a lawyer and a former prosecutor, he will not let criminals go unpunished),”

the spokesman added.

‘Like a sister’ The released suspects linked in Dacera’s death broke their silence on Thursday, insisting that they all loved the victim.

“Nararamdaman ko po iyong sakit na nararamdaman nila [Dacera’s family] kasi naging parang kapatid ko siya [Dacera].

Sobrang mahal na mahal ko po siya. Para sa akin, sobrang sakit din po mawala si Christine pero sana malinawan ang pamilya ni Christine. Iyon lang po (I feel their pain because Christine was like a sister to me. I really love her so much. For me, it is really painful that Christine is gone but I hope her family will find clarity.

That’s all),” said Rommel Galido.

John dela Serna said he loved Dacera so much because she became part of their lives.

Meanwhile, John Paul Halili urged to wait for the results of the investigation.

“Tingnan na lang natin kung ano iyong lumabas na resulta.

Hirap na hirap na po kasi ako (Let’s just look into the result that came out. This is already hard for me),” he said.

Another one of the suspects, Gregorio de Guzman, maintained that none of the 11 persons tagged in the case harmed Dacera.

De Guzman, who is the son of singer Claire de la Fuente, revealed that he was gay, contradicting the police’s claims that Dacera was raped.

“Paano po naging rape? Bakla po ako. Never po ako nakipagtalik sa babae ever in my life (How did it become rape? I am gay. I never had sex with any woman ever in my life),” he said.

He also revealed that he performed Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) on Dacera after seeing her in the bathtub.

“We found her in the bathtub with a pillow behind her head like she was sleeping. Then I checked her nose; there was no air coming out. Checked her pulse; there’s none. So, I got nervous,” De Guzman told The Manila Times. n

BIKE BORDERLINE. BIKE BORDERLINE. A contract worker paints white markers on the side of the road along Roosevelt Avenue, Quezon City on Thursday, January 7. These markings are marginal lines for passing bicycles in the area.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

Sara Duterte top choice for president, Isko for VP – Pulse

by Janvic

Mateo Philstar.com

MANILA — Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio emerged as the most preferred presidential bet and the second most preferred vice presidential bet in a non-commissioned survey conducted by Pulse Asia.

Twenty-six% or 2,400 respondents of Pulse Asia’s November 2020 Ulat sa Bayan survey said they would support a presidential bid of Duterte-Carpio if the elections were held during the survey period between Nov. 23 and Dec. 2.

The same survey also showed that 16% of the respondents will support President Duterte’s daughter should she run for vice president, one point behind Manila Mayor Isko Moreno who led the most preferred bets for the second highest post in the land with 17%.

Following Duterte on the most preferred presidential bet are former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Sen. Grace Poe, who both received support from 14% of the respondents.

Moreno is the fourth most preferred presidential bet with 12%, followed by Vice President Leni Robredo (eight%), Sen. Panfilo Lacson (four%). Sen. Christopher Go (four%) and former speaker and Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano (three%).

Sen. Richard Gordon and former Supreme Court senior associate justice Antonio Carpio received less than one% of support from the respondents.

On the vice presidential race, following Moreno and Duterte were Senate President Vicente Sotto III (14%), Marcos (11%), Pacquiao (11%), Go (nine%), Sorsogon Gov. Francis Escudero (six%) and Cayetano (five%).

Sen. Sonny Angara, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar and human rights lawyer Chel Diokno all received two% of support among the respondents.

The survey has a margin of error of +/- two% at 95% confidence level.

The respondents were asked to choose from a list provided who will they vote if the elections were held at the time of the survey period. They were also allowed to mention others not included in the list.

Senator preference The same survey also asked the respondents to select up to 12 personalities they prefer to vote for senator if the 2022 elections were held during the survey period.

Pacquiao, who is eligible to run for a second term as senator, emerged as the most preferred with 62.1%, followed by broadcaster Raffy Tulfo (54.3%), Duterte (50.9%) and Moreno (48.4%).

They were followed by former senators Escudero (46.7%), Cay-

etano (46%) and Loren Legarda (45.6), who is currently serving as Antique representative and deputy speaker at the House.

On eighth spot is Marcos (41.8%), also a former senator whose sister Imee is currently serving in the Senate. He was followed by Lacson (38.2%), Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri (35.7%), Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian (28.1%) and former senator Jinggoy Estrada (28%).

Outside the so-called Magic 12 but within the margin of error were Sen. Francis Pangilinan (27.9%), Sen. Risa Hontiveros (27%), Gordon (26.9%) and Villar (25%).

Following them were former senator JV Ejercito (22.8%), former senator and current Information and Communications Technology Secretary Gregorio Honasan (22.5%), Davao City Rep. and presidential son Paolo Duterte (21.9%), Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos (21.9%), former Pampanga governor Mark Lapid (20.4%), former senator Bam Aquino (19.9%), former senator Mar Roxas (18.5%) and presidential spokesperson Harry Roque (18.4%).

Both Sen. Joel Villanueva and Leila de Lima, who are eligible to run for a second term, trail in the survey with 14.3% and six%, respectively.

Villanueva ranked second in the 2016 polls while De Lima ranked 12th. n

A

January 7-13, 2021 • LaS VEGaS aSIan JOurnaL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

B January 7, 2021

(702) 792-6678 • http://www.asianjournal.com Las vegas ASIAN JOURNAL

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 7-13, 2021

VEGAS&STYLE Journal

inside

LIfeStyLe • CONSUmeR GUIde • COmmUNIty • mARketpLACe

Disney in search of a Filipina The lessons of 2020 ‘lola’ for upcoming movie

by Ricky Lo Philstar.com

by RitcheL

MendioLa AJPress

AMERICAN media giant Disney is looking for a Filipina or Filipina American actress to play the role of a “lola” (grandmother) for an upcoming film.

In its casting call currently up on Project Casting, the mass media company said it is searching for 50 to 90 years old Filipina or Filipina American females who can speak English fluently. They must also be willing to travel to Atlanta, Georgia, where the film is shooting.

“Katie Doyle Casting, Hawaii is assisting Sarah Finn Casting (‘Avengers: Endgame,’ ‘The

Mandalorian,’ ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’) in looking for an actress to play a role in an upcoming Walt Disney Studios film,” read the casting call.

“No professional acting experience is required, but the applicant must speak English fluently and be comfortable traveling on a plane to Atlanta. They also should be currently authorized to work in the United States (either a U.S. citizen, a green card holder, or an O-1 visa holder),” it added.

Interested applicants are required to record a short introduction video about themselves, sharing a story about their family or their favorite activity, delivered

in Tagalog or in any Filipino language. However, applicants must speak in English when introducing themselves.

The role will be shooting for a few days in mid-February in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States.

“We are committed to diverse, inclusive and authentic casting.

We highly encourage performers who are Filipino or of Filipino descent to apply,” the call said.

While the upcoming film is undisclosed, Project Casting speculated that the role is for the upcoming Marvel movie “Spider-Man 3,” which is reportedly filming and casting in Atlanta.

While the upcoming film is undisclosed, Project Casting speculated that the role is for the upcoming Marvel movie “Spider-Man 3,” which is reportedly filming and casting in Atlanta. Show in photo are cast members Tom Holland and Fil-Am actor Jacob Batalon. Photo from Instagram/@lifeisaloha

NOW that we have rung out the annus horribilis and rung in the New Year with fervent hope, keeping our collective fingers crossed, let’s bear in mind the lessons of 2020 with the help of a dozen celebrities. Here they are without further ado.

1. Dr. Joven Cuanang — The year 2020 taught us patience, resilience and discipline to help us overcome the many challenges we faced. The pandemic taught us not to tamper with Nature any more than what we have done. Humankind must realize that we are part of an ecosystem that is fragile and that we must be guardians of our planet, Our Mother Earth, the only One We Have.

2. Senate Pres. Tito Sotto — Stay clean, stay healthy, all for your family.

3. Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos — 2020 has reminded us to always be appreciative of and grateful to everyone in our lives and everything that we have. Always count our blessings.

4. Rico Hizon, CNN Philippines Senior Anchor — Despite the challenges of the year, the best lesson of 2020 was re-discovering more about myself, spending more time with family and renewing our faith in the Lord.

5. Ronaldo Valdez — That most material things don’t really matter that much. That sunshine and exercise are very important and those are what we often neglect. Lastly, loved ones are not given importance as much as they should be.

6. National Artist Ryan “Mr. C” Cayabyab — On first impulse, I would say that we should trust and rely on our scientists more, and be more prudent and skepti-

cal about news and data being fed online or on any news outlet. 2020 was more about being alive and being thankful for what we have: Our family and the warmth of our respective homes.

7. Antipolo City Mayor Andeng Bautista-Ynares — The year 2020 brought significant lessons for everyone. Personally, due to the passing away of my dad and best friend (former Sen. Ramon Senate Pres. Tito Sotto Revilla Sr.), 2020 has taught me how important it is to remember to love, appreciate and honor the people we love as much as we can, more than what is expected from us. Don’t get me wrong. I have always loved and cared for them dearly, but when God invites them to join Him in heaven, you still feel like you could have loved them even more.

That loving should be limitless; that we could be more kind to others; that we could always allow bigger spaces for understanding others; that it is not okay to take our health for granted; that we are capable of always rememberRico Hizon ing those who help us in times of dire need whether that help comes big or small; that we should trust the processes that we need to go through in order to get back to our usual selves. These are some of the clearer lessons which we must value as we face life’s many challenges.

8. Mike Enriquez — The best lesson of 2020? That there is God and we should never forget that.

9. Frontrow head R.S. Francisco — 2020 has taught me that no matter how much we plan, it is only God who is truly in control. No one expected that this pandemic would hit us and it changed everything for everyone.

So to continue to move forward, PAGE B2 Ronaldo Valdez

Philstar.om photos

EntErtainmEnt

B January 7-13, 2021 • LaS VEGaS aSIan JOurnaL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

Janella shares struggles while hiding AC reportedly the first pregnancy amid pandemic Filipino to appear in ‘Riverdale’

by Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

KAPAMILYA actress Janella Salvador revealed that she did not hide her pregnancy for “selfish reasons.”

She said that she just wanted to cherish the moment as a firstime mother.

“I wasn’t hiding it for selfish reasons,” she told ABS-CBN News in an interview.

“I wanted to hide it because I wanted to cherish the moment in my life, na first time ko maging mom. Iyong wala munang ingay, ‘yung may sarili muna akong moment to enjoy it,” she added.

The actress admitted that she was hurt by the comments she received, especially those saying that she’s not proud of her pregnancy.

“It was really hard. I was getting comments na, ‘Kinahihiya mo ba? Hindi ka ba proud?’ I don’t think any mom would want to hide her baby,” she said.

by Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

Janella Salvador

Janella said her partner Markus Paterson supported her thoughout her pregnancy journey.

“Markus has been really, really helpful as a father and as a partner... Emotionally, he was there to support me when I would have meltdowns. It’s really not easy,”

Photo from Instagram/@superjanella

she said.

“He would be my arms and legs, lalo na during my last few stages of pregnancy. Hindi ako makatayo, hirap na hirap na ako maglakad. Wala siyang reklamo.

He would do everything for me. I couldn’t ask for more.”

KAPAMILYA dancer AC Bonifacio will appear on the 5th season of popular U.S. TV show “Riverdale.”

In her Instagram account, AC shared a video of the TV show featuring her in a dance battle with the series’ main character, Cheryl Blossom, played by American actress Madelaine Petsch.

“Here’s my page 1/365 submission :) startin off the year right w a lil sneak peek to #Riverdale Season 5!” AC captioned her post.

The new season of “Riverdale” is set to premiere in the U.S. this January 20.

This is reportedly the first time that a Filipino talent will be appearing in the U.S. series.

In 2010, Charice Pempengco appeared on the musical drama “Glee” as Sunshine Corazon.

AC was last featured in “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” last 2013.

AC made headlines last year for her dance covers of Blackpink songs, which the K-pop group AC Bonifacio Photo from Instagram/@acbonifacio recognized.

In 2018, “Riverdale” trended stars, KJ Apa and Cole Sprouse, tional video on how Filipino they in the Philippines after its lead were “investigated” in a promo- are.

SB19 opens 2021 with 5th song topping Billboard global chart

By Kata

Dayanghirang Philstar.com

National Artist Ryan “Mr. C” Cayabyab

Frontrow head R.S. Francisco

Alberet Martrinez

Cheryl Cosim

Kuh Ledesma

Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat

PAGE B1

Philstar.com photos

The lessons of 2020

I had to stop questioning and to surrender to God’s plan so that I could adapt and make the best of the current situation.

I devised my own ways to help those affected by the pandemic through my Kontra Gutom feeding program and by pushing through with RS Luxxe Wear clothing from which all proceeds go to my charitable pursuits. At FRONTROW, we had to make adjustments on how we conduct business so that our valued business partners could carry on and continue to provide for their families.

And lastly, I had to create ways to maintain a strong bond with my loved ones, and to make sure that they are all okay, although I am not able to see them personally.

10. Brillante Mendoza — It may sound like a cliché and overused but honestly my greatest learning is how to be contented and be at peace with yourself.

Everything we have and accomplished is nothing once a calamity, pandemic or disaster occurs.

Nawawala lahat ng saysay ang anumang bagay or sinuman tayo sa mundo.

11. Albert Martinez — That family is priority. Don’t take basic things for granted. Appreciate God’s creations. Keep true friends. Know the real meaning of happiness.

12. Cheryl Cosim — 2020 has been a trying year for everyone but it has also given us the opportunity to think long and hard about what truly matters in life.

That we need to appreciate and be grateful for what we have. That this may be God’s way of telling us to pause and reflect on all aspects of life...how we treat our Mother Earth, our relationship with our loved ones, with ourselves and our relationship with Him. That we need to be more compassionate and kind to one another.

We have been forced to learn difficult lessons during this pandemic, but these are lessons we probably needed to learn.

13. Ricky Davao — Because of everything that happened in 2020, I became really scared and paranoid. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I was going to experience this in my lifetime.

Because of this situation, I learned that what truly matters is having a loving family you can rely on and having good friends you can communicate with. I learned that material things are not as important as I thought. Last year also made me realize more than ever

the importance of savings.

Lastly, I learned to be more prayerful and thankful for each day that I wake up healthy and for all the blessings whether big or small that come my way. Praying for a better, safer and more fruitful year for all.

14. Kuh Ledesma — That our lives are in the hands of our Creator and so we must discover what it is that makes Him decide to give us a long life. To be grateful and thankful always for every day God gives us. To never tire in serving Him by sharing Christ to others because it is Jesus alone that can hold our lives together. To live our lives pleasing to Him so that we are ready at any time to meet our Creator. John 14.6.

15. Jessica Soho — That we don’t need a lot of things. And we should share. Those who can help, should. And lessons we learned in kindergarten...wash our hands properly.

16. Tourism Sec. Berna Romulo-Puyat — As with any of life’s obstacles, let us not allow this incredibly challenging year to end without drawing important learnings from it.

Let us remember that we withstood and overcame this year’s hurdles together. Our Bayanihan spirit, in a way, saved us. We supported one another, lent a helping hand wherever needed, and worked as one to rebuild what was lost.

If anything, let this year remind us to always hold dear what matters most: The health, safety, and time spent with our loved ones.

With faith that better days are ahead in 2021, I wish everyone a meaningful, peaceful and COVIDfree New Year.

17. Krista Ranillo — The best lesson of 2020 is to appreciate what we’re already blessed with.

It’s easy to always want more in life but this year really taught me to be content and to find things to be grateful for every single day.

I’m thankful that my husband gets to work at home and we’ve spent much needed quality time as a family. Before, it was all about work during the week and attending parties during the weekend.

Now, we’ve replaced those with quiet walks around the neighborhood and family prayer time. 2020 really strengthened our faith and our family bond.

18. Dr. Vicki Belo — 2020 made it so clear to me that God is truly in charge. We think that humans are so advanced in science but a tiny virus showed

us how powerless we are. 2020 also showed us what is truly important — health, family and God. 19. Julius Babao — 2020 is definitely the worst year for mankind since the World Wars.

But it has also done something important to all of us. It made us appreciate the simplest things, it forced us to bond together with our families, it made us more conscious with our health and hygiene, it brought us closer to God and made us realize that our lives are fragile.

20. MTRCB chief Rachel Arenas — For me, the biggest lesson of 2020 is realizing what truly matters in life, and these are not the material things. The pandemic has enabled us to appreciate the true value of family, friends and faith.

The pause allowed us to slow down, gave us the opportunity to rest, review, rethink, reset our bodies and lifestyles that have gotten used to routines that deny us our authentic selves.

Being isolated from much of the sights and sounds we have gotten used to, made us appreciate the simpler things in life without the usual pretentious trappings.

The quarantine period forced us all to step up to the plate to learn how and harness our digital technology to enhance our safety protocols against COVID-19, from entertainment, grocery shopping, work meetings, schools, parties, Masses and prayer events, and even our routine medical checkup through tele-consults, to name a few.

Finally, the one lesson that stands out is gratitude. There are so many things we took for granted but now realize how special and how important they are.

Really, just to be able to count one’s blessings during this time of great difficulty for so many, is a gift.

There are things though, that cannot be replaced by digital technology, such as being with loved ones and people who greatly matter to us. That is why, I make it a point to go home to our district not only to give assistance but to see our constituents in person.

However, with all the restrictions in place, masks, face shields and social distancing, it has been very difficult and sad.

I miss exchanging warm hugs and holding hands with them, I miss our usual barangay get-togethers, where we get to eat, drink and be merry together.

PINOY pop group SB19 once again claimed the top spot for this week at Billboard’s LyricFind Global Chart with their hit ballad “Hanggang Sa Huli.” “ # S B 1 9 B i l l b o a rd L F To p 1.

‘Hanggang Sa Huli’ lands at #1 on this week’s Billboard LyricFind Global, making it the 5th #SB19 song to reach the top spot. Thank you to A’TIN, our #1 source of love!” announced the group on its Twitter handle, @SB19official.

Prior to “Hanggang Sa Huli,” the group’s dance tune “Alab,” as well as the ballad “Tilaluha,” “Love Goes” and “ikako,” the track dedicated to COVID-19 frontliners, also Filipino boy band SB!9 Photo from Instagram/@officialsb19 claimed the top spot in the chart.

The P-pop group recently by K-pop groups. livestreamed on January 17. Other ranked 6th in Billboard’s Top They will then be featured performers include Parokya ni Social 50 Artists of 2020, the only as one of the performers at the Edgar, KZ Tandingan, Ben&Ben, Filipino act in the list dominated 6th Wish Music Awards to be and Gloc-9.

Arnel shares his journey out of depression, anxiety anxiety and depression during the pandemic.

In an exclusive interview with INTERNATIONAL singer Ar- Philstar.com, Arnel admitted that nel Pineda has an advice for he also suffered from anxiety and people who are suffering from depression in the past.

By Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

Arnel Pineda

“I think they shouldn’t stop working, you know, they should keep on trying. Don’t stop believing. I think they need to have someone who’s telling them that only them that can tell that it’s over,” he advised those facing the same ordeal.

“I went through a lot of depression and anxiety, too. All I do is work. Just keep on working. I just keep on trying to better myself. Once you fulfilled something, I think it eases out depression and anxiety. We just got to stay positive and (be surrounded by) a lot of people who can help you or support you and compliment all your aspirations in life,” he added.

Overall, he said he wishes “for the world and the people who got affected by this pandemic to heal.”

He said that his Christmas song, “This Christmas,” was about the people who are willing to help the unfortunate during these tough times.

“This is about people who are willing to be Santa to someone helpless, to the one who needs it the most, the hope that we could give to them, the freedom that we could give to them. Because this pandemic, we all grieve and (are) paranoid, buti na lang may mga frontliners who are still doing the Photo from Instagram/@arnelpineda2007 work for us, protecting us.”

Enrique writes sweet birthday message for his ‘paradise’ Liza KAPAMILYA actor Enrique Gil penned a short but sweet birthday message for his on- and offcam partner Liza Soberano.

In his Instagram account, Enrique posted a photo of him and Liza embracing in a beach.

“We may be in an island far away but my paradise is always with you. Happy Birthday my love! 23 to infinity,” Enrique wrote.

Liza celebrated her 23rd birthday in a resort in Siargao with Enrique and her family.

Celebrities such as Erich Gonzales, Kim Chiu, Janine Gutierrez, Elisse Joson, Rayver Cruz and Andrew E, to name a few, greeted Liza on her special day.

She then thanked everyone who wished her a happy birthday.

“Thank you so much for all the greetings and wishes,” Liza Enrique Gil with Liza Soberano wrote. (Philstar.com)

Photo from Instagram/@enriquegil17

(702) 792-6678 • http://www.asianjournal.com

EntErtainmEnt

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 7-13, 2021

B

For Richard, signing with GMA 7 is Artist manager to Nadine: Honor thy contract ‘easy,’‘most practical’ career move

By Ronnie

CaRRasCo ManilaTimes.net

by allan

PoliCaRPio

Inquirer.net

WHILE Richard Yap had other offers from different networks, transferring to GMA 7, the former ABS-CBN talent said, was the “easy” and “most practical” career move.

“GMA has been there for a long time, it has been doing a lot of shows. I simply chose a more established network; it’s the main reason we went here,” related the actor, who recently signed an exclusive contract with the Kapuso network The nonrenewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise—coupled with the production restrictions prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic—forced a number of Kapamilya stars to seek projects elsewhere: Some found work in the revitalized TV5; others like Richard, opted for GMA 7.

“I think GMA was the easiest choice. Others are still starting out, while GMA does everything by itself, so it’s the practical choice,” Richard, who started his show biz career at ABS-CBN in 2010, told reporters in a recent virtual conference.

He first gained prominence for playing Papa Chen in the 2011 soap “My Binondo Girl,” then rose to stardom as Ser Chief in the phenomenal late-morning series “Be Careful with My Heart,” which ran from 2012 to 2014.

“At first, they were only inviting me for guest appearances. That’s why I was on ‘Eat Bulaga!’ early this year. But a month or two ago, we started our talks. It all happened so quickly,” he said.

Network transfers are typically met with mixed reactions from fans. But given the current situation in the industry, people, Richard observed, have become more forgiving.

“I think they’re more understanding now because of what

Richard Yap

happened. They’re heartbroken, they get it. I would say that around 98 percent of the comments I got were positive,” he related. “But of course, there were some who didn’t want me to transfer.”

Richard’s first project as a Kapuso is an appearance in the comedy anthology “Dear Uge.” And while he was known for doing lighthearted romantic-comedies, he said he would love to take a jab at comedy and action in the future.

“I’m sure there will be romcoms, but the network is opening a lot of avenues for me to explore, and I’m excited about my future projects,” he said. “We’re busy these days and that’s a good thing.”

Asked which Kapuo stars he’s most excited to collaborate with, Richard said it’s Michael V. “I have been a fan of ‘Bubble Gang’ for a long time,” the 53-year-old star said.

As for possible leading ladies, Richard named Heart Evangelista, Rhian Ramos, Marian Rivera, Lovi Poe, Solenn Heussaff and Jennylyn Mercado. “I would love to work with anyone of them. There

GMA photo

are a lot of great actors here, too,” he said.

The year 2020 was a challenging one for everyone. In his case, it’s his restaurants that took a beating. “The businesses suffered, especially during the enhanced community quarantine. But the past few months were better.

We’re slowly recovering,” the actor-entrepreneur said.

Richard is also thankful that show biz is starting to find its footing again. “We haven’t been able to work a lot this year, because the industry really slowed down,” he said, adding that vlogging has been a good way to maintain visibility while television work was nonexistent.

“At least my supporters still get to see me and get updated about what I do,” he pointed out. “I hope to continue vlogging and shooting new content, especially when things are back to normal.”

Richard and his family usually travel during the holiday season.

This time, they stayed at home.

“We’re just happy and grateful that we’re alive and healthy,” he said. “I hope 2021is better for all of us.”

Iza shares learnings from 2020 life-changing events

by MaRinel

CRuz

Inquirer.net

The series of life-changing events that happened in Iza Calzado’s life in 2020, especially when she contracted then survived COVID-19, has left the actress wanting to focus on only two things: improving her health and accomplishing her life purpose.

“Experiencing COVID-19 wasn’t just terrifying. It felt like somebody doused you with cold water and told you, ‘You’re not immortal! You can disappear from this world just like that!’ It will make you ask questions like, ‘Is this really happening to me?

Then, what will tomorrow bring?’

There was a lot of uncertainties,” Iza told Inquirer Entertainment in an exclusive virtual chat.

“I thought that once I get checked in to the hospital, things would be OK. I had my oxygen and was taking the right meds. But then, I almost got admitted to the ICU (intensive care unit). One day I was a little better, but the next day, I caught a bacterial infection and needed IV and antibiotics. It’s what you call a but-wait-there’smore moment. It’s when you realize that you’re no longer in control,” Iza recalled.

“What were my realizations?

Iza Calzado

No. 1 is to prioritize my health. I abused my body. Just being in this industry alone for 18 long years took a toll on my body. I diet; I work out a lot, but I always don’t have enough time for sleep, which is vital to having optimal health,” she pointed out.

Photo from Instagram/@missizacalzado

“I have always hated the long working hours in this business, but what am I to do? I’m just an employee. If I say something, I might lose my job. Since this happened to me, I would now insist that I can only work for a specific PAGE B4

Jennylyn, Dennis celebrate 7th anniversary with their kids the nearly 30-second-long clip on her Facebook page last Saturday, Jan. 2.

Along with snippets from their JENNYLYN Mercado and Dennis Trillo marked their seventh date, the video also featured the anniversary as a couple with a ro- phrase “Seven years strong” before ending. mantic dinner date in Tagaytay.

The couple welcomed the new The two celebrated the occasion with a short video of their year with their respective sons as intimate, candle-lit dinner on well, as seen on Mercado’s InstaNew Year’s Day. Mercado shared gram page.

by Ryan

aRCadio Inquirer.net

Dennis Trillo and Jennlyn Mercado with Calix and Alex Jazz

“If 2020 taught us anything, it’s to not take anything for granted.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, BESSIES!” she said. “May the world become a better place for everyone this 2021!”

Mercado shares her child Alex Jazz with her ex-boyfriend Patrick Garcia. Meanwhile, Calix is Trillo’s son with his former girlfriend Carlene Aguilar.

Photo from Instagram_@mercadojenny

AN ARTIST manager who requested anonymity — concerned about Nadine Lustre and her situation — understands and supports Viva Artists Agency (VAA) in its move to make the actress honor her management contract. Allow me to address the artist manager as Ms. X who has a vast experience in the field.

It was on December 11 when Boss Vic del Rosario’s VAA filed a lawsuit against Nadine before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court. It reasoned out that “early this year, Nadine violated her valid and existing Agency Management Agreement with them by contracting independently with advertisers, promoters and other third parties in utter disregard of the exclusivity of her contract.”

While Ms. X is supposedly proartist management, she’s quick to share a typical showbiz upstart’s mindset when offered a contract.

“Usually, we, managers, offer a one-year management contract with the artist. There are stipulated clauses in it which we ask the artist to study carefully, or if necessary have it read by his lawyer. That contract almost always gets extended for five years,” Ms. X explains.

The problem, she adds, normally arises within that five-year period, “Kadalasan kasi, on the second or third year biglang sikat ‘yung talent mo. That’s when he gets inundated with offers which, of course, translate to money.

Ang nangyayari, nanghihinayang na ‘yung artist sa 30 percent commission off his talent fees without taking into consideration

Nadine Lustre

Photo from Instagram/@nadine

the management office’s efforts in building him up, plotting his career, investing on him, etc. Eh, paano rin naman ‘yung company which gambled on him?”

Ms. X terms it as “build-up contract” which, in most cases, is a win-win situation on the part of the contracted artist.

She sees the parallelism in the case of Nadine who started out with VAA in 2009. The actress’ contract got renewed until 2014, for another 10 years to expire in June 2024.

In 2015, Nadine had signed another five-year contract to end in June 2029.

Ms. X continues, “Ako, I have nothing against Nadine. Pero di ba, last January she wanted released from VAA kasi raw civil right niya ‘yon. Ang akin, what is a contract for? What purpose does it serve kung hindi mo rin pala ito io-honor? I suppose Nadine had willingly signed it since it was done in good faith.”

Nadine announced she had left the VAA this January with a legal statement from the Kapunan and Castillo Law Office citing her rights

under the Civil Code of the Philippines specifically Article 1920.

This was, however, countered by the VAA saying that Nadine could not unilaterally withdraw from her contract.

“Given this scenario,” Ms. X stresses, “Sana, antimano Nadine should have sought a dialogue with the VAA to lay down her terms or if she was no longer happy with the way the VAA was handling her career.”

Ms. X went on to cite how professional and business-like Boss Vic and his daughter Veronique are, “Nakaka-deal ko ‘yung magama at matino silang kausap. The matter could have been resolved amicably without Nadine taking it to the courts of law.”

As a refresher, Nadine’s passport to instant fame was via the Wattpad novel-based film “Diary ng Panget” in 2014 opposite James Reid. It gave birth to their JaDine loveteam which had since graced the wide screen and two widely followed TV series on ABS-CBN. “Sa showbiz,” Ms. X concludes, “may commandment din, ‘Honor thy contract.’”

Fil-Am vlogger Alex Wassabi to take break from YouTube after 15 years by niña

V. Guno

Inquirer.net

YOUTUBE star Alex Wassabi (real name: Alex Burris), announced that he will take a break from creating videos after 15 years on the platform.

Burris, 30, explained to his millions of followers on his channel Wassabi why he wanted to go on a hiatus, in a vlog titled “Thanks for the last 15 years… Goodbye” on Friday, Jan. 1.

Alex Wassabi (real name: Alex Burris) “I’m honestly burnt out guys. I Photo from Instagram/@alexwassabi

feel less creative,” he said. “I don’t have the same urge to create that I used to.”

“So I want to take a break to just be myself, just figure out who I am, just figure out what I want to do with this channel or if I even want to be a YouTube creator anymore.”

Burris said that since he launched the channel in January 2006, he had not taken a break for longer than a week, his reason being that he felt pressured other people depended on him.

Features

B January 7-13, 2021 • LaS VEGaS aSIan JOurnaL

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS IN this information age and era of rapid telecommunication and split-second transmission, data, truths, and facts are disseminated with lightning speed to do business, social contact, educate, and entertain, but, unfortunately, so are myths, fake news, and falsehood, which could instantly misinform, confuse and put people’s health and life in jeopardy.

With the advent of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna anti-COVID19 mRNA vaccines, which is a light at the end of the long tunnel in this pandemic, hope smiles at humanity because this symbolizes the beginning of the end of this deadly global disaster that has infected almost 86.5 million and killed about 2 million people around the world; nearly 21.5 million cases and almost 365,000 deaths in the United States; and nearly 480,000 infected and around 9400 deaths in The Philippines.

Here are some harmful myths circulating around the internet and in the social media we want to correct before they hurt and kill people. I appeal to all readers to eblast only facts and truths to counter fake news and falsehood.

This is our obligation to ourselves and to our fellowmen.

The vaccines for COVID-19 are dangerous Not true. These vaccines have been proven safe and effective.

People are actually now feeling more secure about the safety of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines against COVID-19 after seeing healthcare front-liners, government officials, celebrities, and seniors getting either shot, without serious side-effects. The social media claim that Tennessee nurse Tiffany Dover died after getting the vaccine was fake news; she is alive and working. The CDC advises people with a history of “immediate allergic reactions” to anything in the past should NOT get these vaccines, without consultation with an allergist-immunologist first. More than 13 million doses of the vaccine have been administered in 30 countries; 4.7 million persons in the United States have received the shot since the vaccination started here on December 14, 2020.

People now know that vaccines are safer than COVID-19, which has killed millions, and are eager to get their shot for protection and peace of mind.

These vaccines were rushed and are unsafe False. The reason why these vaccines were developed so fast was not because short-cuts were taken, but because of the new discovery and application of a more advanced, more efficient, and speedier techno-scientific process (using mRNA) in vaccine development, the first time ever it was uti-

COVID-19 vaccine myths How gaming stopped Alden from ‘Goin’ Crazy’ lized. These new mRNA vaccines do not alter the recipient’s DNA. President Trump also helped in facilitating the efforts of these and other vaccine companies. In the past, it took several years or even decades to come up with vaccines.

Henceforth, the world will witness faster vaccine development in the future for other ailments.

One can get COVID-19 from the vaccine Not true. There is no virus in the vaccine, unlike in some vaccines of yesteryears. These two available mRNA vaccines today work by providing the genetic code for our body cells to manufacture proteins, which cause our body to launch an immune response against the virus, enabling the individual to develop immunity. So, these new vaccines cannot cause COVID-19 or any disease. It does not cause infertility either. Pregnant women with COVID-19 might even prevent a miscarriage or premature labor with the vaccine, so vaccination is recommended to ALL pregnant women.

These vaccines can cause long term ill-effects No. There is no evidence, even in the studies and clinical trials and among those vaccinated, that these mRNA vaccines can lead to long term side-effects. The only complication observed is mild allergic reaction (immediately severe in rare cases) which happens within 15 minutes or an hour after vaccination, the reason post-vaccinated individuals are observed for 15 minutes to an hour before being discharged. The common side-effects can include pain around the needle-entry site, headache, tiredness, fever, and chills, varying in different persons.

These reactions are a good indication that the body is responding and creating antibodies against the SARS-CoV2 virus, including the new variant from the United Kingdom.

Instant protection after the shot Wrong. With the widely publicized efficacy of 90 to 95 percent for each vaccine, as shown by their respective studies and threestage clinical trials, people may have the impression that after receiving the shot, they are instantly protected, immune within seconds/minutes from getting infected with the SARS-CoV2 virus of COVID-19. Not true! There were cases reported where individuals, five or so many days after receiving the vaccines, still got infected with COVID-19. It takes about 3-4 weeks for the vaccine to provide 52 percent (partial) immunity, and about another couple of months to achieve 90-95 percent protection. The claim that two half doses will confer the same full immunity was not part of the original studies and trials on 80,000 subjects, and is therefore questionable. As time goes by, we will learn more about the virus and the efficacy, duration of protection from the mRNA vaccines, and if we will need annual

shots, like the flu vaccines.

People with health issues should not get the vaccine False. As a matter of fact, those with high blood pressure, diabetes, heart diseases, etc., should get the vaccine because they are high risk for COVID-19, especially seniors, who have the highest COVID-19 mortality. The same is true with those with compromised immune system (those with autoimmune disease, cancer patients undergoing treatments, etc.).

After the healthcare front-liners, seniors, and these persons are the next priority for vaccination.

After getting infected, no vaccine is needed Not true. Studies show the protective value of the vaccine is better than the immunity from having COVID-19, so the CDC recommends vaccination also for those who had COVID-19 for greater protection.

After getting the shot, no PPE are needed False. After receiving the vaccine, Personal Protective Equipment are still needed, as explained earlier. We must continue to use facemasks (more effective N95 masks, if available) when in public, do social distancing, and do frequent handwashing. As I stated above, there were people who got infected several days after getting the shot, because immunity takes weeks/months to develop antibodies to protect the person. My precautionary recommendation is, after vaccination, behave as if you never got the shot, and continue to protect yourself and others following the same standard COVID-19 Guidelines, until herd immunity is established and stable. The scientific community and government will surely advise the public when “freedom” day arrives. We are all anxiously looking forward to that historic liberation with bated breath (literally) under our facemask. *** 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. *** 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. *** 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 Public Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian and anti-graft foundation in the United States. Visit our websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

Iza shares learnings from 2020 life-changing...

PAGE B3 number of hours [in a day] and if you (producer) won’t say ‘yes’ to this, then I also won’t. I don’t want to return to the hospital just for that,” she declared. “We should really prioritize our health if we want to live longer and happier.”

Another realization for Iza is purpose, “and this branches out to being a public figure/actress, to being a wife (to British businessman Ben Wintle), and one day, to being a mother,” she explained.

“Now, I find myself wanting to pass on whatever I’ve learned to others. I don’t want to just bring with me to the grave all the things that I’ve learned from my mentors over the years. These people encouraged me and believed in me,

EMPLOYMENT

http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

so whatever nugget of wisdom I have about life that I can pass on to younger artists, I would gladly pass on to them,” Iza said.

The 38-year-old actress also pointed out that, “It took me so long to learn and discover the things I know now. If I could tell them to you now and they’d create an impact in your life, then good.

If I can also provide, for example, this young kid an opportunity—by putting in a good word for him, or by encouraging him—I’d gladly do it. I know how words create impact and the three people who had mentored me were very helpful just by the words they had said.”

Iza was referring to the following artists who passed away last

year: Filmmaker Peque Gallaga (“He was one of those who encouraged me to attend workshops.”), stage-TV director Al Quinn (“He always worked in tandem with my dad Lito Calzado. I also called him ‘Tatay.’”) and theater-stage director Freddie Santos (“He was my hosting mentor when I was with GMA Artist Center.”).

“Sometimes, we think of grand ideas as our purpose, like She Talks Asia and Aktor, both of which I’m part of. But we often forget that it’s these tiny moments that make a big difference in one person’s life. Imagine if every day we’d do something like that to just one person, then we’d surely be helping a lot,” Iza explained.

SERVICES

by Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

KAPUSO actor Alden Richards revealed that gaming saved him from anxiety during the COVID19 pandemic.

In a recent exclusive interview with Philstar. com, the “Eat Bulaga” host admitted that the first months of the lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic was hard for him.

“Yes. Actually, dumaan din ako sa ganong stage.

But really it’s just a matter of how you see things at the moment. Kalaban mo lang talaga during those times yung sarili mo, kung paano mo pina-process ‘yung situation in every day, in the past nine months kasi sobrang binago niya lahat,” Alden said.

“Now, almost a year affected by the pandemic, medyo nakaka-cope naman. But during the first five months, mayroon mga ganong instances,” he added.

Alden said his gaming friends and families helped him successfully cope with the lockdown.

“I’ve been really into my gaming since I was young naman... Mas na-enhance lang dahil I had a free time before. Four months straight ‘yon kasi nga bawal lumabas. Binusy ko lang sarili ko, bond with

Alden Richards

Photo from Instagram/@aldenrichards02

family, ayon ‘yung mga wala bago mag-pandemic.

‘Yung mga gaming friends ko ang nagpa-busy sa akin so hindi ko na siya gaanong inisip,” he said.

Why onscreen partners Maymay and Edward felt awkward during initial shoot of ‘Princess DayaReese’

by Marinel

Cruz

Inquirer.net

“WE are proud to help hold the flag and plant it to say that ABS-CBN is not going anywhere no matter what is thrown against us,” declared Edward Barber, onehalf of the popular “MayWard” tandem.

Edward and onscreen partner Maymay Entrata were asked to express their opinions, in a recent virtual multimedia conference, about the fact that their love team is bannering 2021 for the Kapamilya network with the romantic comedy film “The Princess DayaReese,” which began airing on New Year’s Day. “It’s been a tough 2020 for ABS-CBN. It’s an honor to represent the company. Hopefully, this movie can help ‘restart’ the lives of a lot of Kapamilya members and inspire them to begin 2021 with a positive outlook—even though, realistically, the coming year will also have its own set of problems,” Edward said.

Grateful Meanwhile, Maymay is grateful that despite the pandemic and the sad fate that befell the network, “I never felt that my family and I lost so much financially. I’m glad that the network still chose to use MayWard to be an instrument for spreading happiness and inspiration to Kapamilya supporters,” she pointed out. “Edward and I actually didn’t expect that our movie would be shown immediately in 2021, but I’m ready for anything.

I will serve ABS-CBN for as long as I’m needed.”

MayWard’s 2020 calendar was supposed to be fully booked. They were supposed to shoot a teleserye in Japan last March and an iWantTFC series shortly after. The shoot for “Princess DayaReese,” which should have began in April, had to be rescheduled three times (in August, then in September and, finally, November) before it was finished.

This was why the two admitted to feeling awkward at the start of the shooting, especially since their last acting project was a “Maalaala Mo Kaya” episode shot almost a year ago.

“The awkwardness was natural, even to someone as close as we are, also because we didn’t work on an actual set for many months while we were all in quarantine. We didn’t have any face-to-face contact for so long,” Edward explained.

Acting workshops Maymay, however, said they both didn’t allow the awkwardness to last for long. The two attended a series of acting workshops to help them prepare for the shoot. “Sadly, we were still feeling

Edward Barber and Maymay Entrata

it even on the fourth day of the shoot. This prompted Direk Barry to come up to us one time and do a pep talk. What he told us made me think, ‘Work! Work! Work!’”

Aside from their home network, which showed support by continuously giving them worthwhile projects, Maymay said she and Edward are grateful to their followers, who never left their side amid the pandemic. As early as two weeks ago, their supporters have already booked several block screenings for “Princess DayaReese.”

“We’re forever grateful to them.

They do this for us even though they don’t always see us on TV and we’re not too active on social media both because of the quarantine and network shutdown. We still feel their love,” Maymay said.

“Thank you for respecting every decision we make that is related to the love team.”

Content At this point, Edward had to speak for both of them when asked about the real status of their relationship. “I’ve answered this question three times already today. The keyword I always use is content. We are contented with where we are and with the friendship that we have. We both feel there’s no need to push it any further. No matter what we’re going through personally, we will make sure to work things out professionally.

“This is not a show biz/plastic relationship, no. I’d quit the job [if] I had to do that. Maymay and I are the closest of friends. No matter what the industry wants, or what the fans want, this is where we are,” he declared.

When they were asked what their friendship vow for each other

SERVICES

ABS-CBN photo

would contain, Maymay was the first to answer. “Whatever challenges you have to go through in life, I will be beside you. I am one of your prayer warriors. I always pray not just for you, but also for your family. I promise to support you as your best friend. I will be happy and accepting of what will make you happy.”

Edward responded with, “This won’t be my promise for you just for 2021, but for until the very end.

I will do my best to protect you, not necessarily physically. I know you and your heart. I know how amazing a person you are.

Shining star He further said: “I know that when people see a shining star, one that’s honest and pure, they usually want to pull it down, step on it. I’ll be there to always try to protect you, even though it’s not hard to see that you don’t need much protecting because you’re always strong enough to take care of yourself. I will be that someone who will listen if you need someone to talk to. I’ll always have your back, wherever you go.”

“Princess DayaReese” tells the story of Reese (Maymay), who has always dreamed of living like royalty. The opportunity to fulfill this dream arrives in the form of the runaway Princess Ulap (also played by Maymay), who looks exactly like Reese. In exchange for gold, Reese flies to Ulap’s kingdom, named Oro, to pretend to be the latter for 40 days. This is where Reese meets Caleb (Edward), a young reporter determined to discover whether there indeed are secrets cloaking the kingdom. The situation gets tricky when the man in search of “truth” begins to fall for a “fake” princess.

(702) 792-6678 • http://www.asianjournal.com

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 7-13, 2021

B

B January 7-13, 2021 • LaS VEGaS aSIan JOurnaL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

seafood city fpfc