011324 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

JANUARY 13-16, 2024 Volume 34 - No. 4 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages

Philippines ‘back on its feet’ following DATELINE USA Fil-Am shot dead on pandemic, amid conflicts – Marcos FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

New Year’s Day, family appeals for help

by JEAN MANGALUZ

conflicts. that he hoped they could continue to work with According to a Palace statement on Friday, the Philippine government to look for areas of Janaury 12, the chief executive made the cooperation.

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pronouncement during the annual Vin D’ “It is with confidence that I announce that the declared that the Philippines has already recovered Honneur in Malacañang for the New Year, Philippines has… I could say [has] gotten back [on]  PAGE A2 LOS ANGELES – Filipino American Andrei from the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple world telling various foreign dignitaries in attendance “Nico” Gianan was shot dead in Manhattan Beach on New Year’s Day and his family appeals for help identifying his killer.

Andrei Gianan, 24, was working his shift at Wingstop in San Pedro on New Year’s Eve before making his way to Manhattan Beach to attend a party. Around 1 a.m. on Jan. 1, he was shot in the head by an unidentified assailant at the intersection of 11th and Peck Ave. in Manhattan Beach.

“This was a total, senseless act of violence and he was just at the wrong place at the LOS ANGELES — The City of Los Angeles wrong time,” the victim’s sister, Nina Gianan, Declaration of Local Emergency for COVID-19 renter wrote on a GoFundMe page that she created protections are ending. Thursday, February 1 is the to support her brother’s funeral expenses. deadline to pay rental arrears for rent owed from “The pain that this has left us is October 1, 2021 to January 31, 2023. The renter unimaginable.” protection provisions applied to all residential units in the City of Los Angeles and were implemented in  PAGE A2 response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“February 1 marks the end of COVID-19 renter protections in the City of Los Angeles,” said Ann Sewill, general manager of the Los Angeles Housing Department. “However, tenants cannot be evicted without notice or just cause. I encourage everyone to educate themselves on their rights as tenants at https:// housing.lacity.org.”

Tenants who receive an eviction notice for unpaid rent, also known as an Unlawful Detainer, must respond within five (5) days. Tenants who do not respond within five days risk losing by default without ENERGY COOPERATION. Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (2nd from right) and Indonesian President Joko Widodo (2nd from left) applaud getting a trial. The city urges renters to be informed in the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on energy cooperation, during a ceremony at the President’s Hall of Malacañan Palace on SACRAMENTO — A new report finds that, Wednesday, Jan. 10. In a joint statement delivered after the MOU signing and his bilateral meeting with Widodo, Marcos welcomed the two nations’ an effort to be protected and stay in their homes.

Learn more at https://housing.lacity.org. � while Gov. Gavin Newsom has achieved gender bid to strengthen their cooperation in the energy sector.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon parity in his office’s appointments, Latinos and AAPI remain underrepresented.

The report was released Monday, January 8 by the nonprofit Hispanas Organised for Political Equality (HOPE), in response to a veto last October of SB702, the third iteration

by KRISTINA MARALIT AND BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO of a bill by Senator Monique Limón (D-19) ManilaTimes.net which would require the Governor to create and publish an annual report on “aggregate “Manunumpa na siya tomorrow, January MALACAÑANG on Thursday, January 11 demographic information” of appointments confirmed that Rep. Ralph Recto will take 12, bilang bagong (He will be sworn on made to the state’s 420 boards, agencies, his oath as secretary of the Department of January 12 as the new) Secretary of Finance commissions and task forces. under the administration of [President Finance on Friday, January 12, 2024.

Key findings President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will also Marcos]. Kasi binigyan siya ng tiwala (He The report found that “the rich diversity swear into office Frederick Go, his Special was given the trust) because he is such a of California’s population is not reflected in Assistant for Investment and Economic good economist,” she said. the demographic makeup of board members Affairs, Presidential Communications Office There had been rumors that Recto was and commissioners appointed in 2023,” per Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a text moving up as Finance secretary since last publicly available self-reported data for 480 message to reporters. year, after he accompanied the president candidates appointed from January 2023 Recto will replace Benjamin Diokno, who to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation through December 15, 2023.

The tanker Yosemite Trader departs Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in a photo taken on Dec. 20, 2023, (APEC) summit last November. assumed the top Finance post in 2022.

Non-Hispanic White Californians hold the Albay 2nd District Rep. Jose Ma. Clemente and released by the U.S. Department of Defense.

Recto’s wife, former Batangas governor Photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. John Linzmeier majority of appointments at 52%. Latinos Vilma Santos-Recto, was the first to break “Joey” Salceda welcomed the appointment  PAGE A4 the news in public.  PAGE A4 Inquirer.net

LA COVID-19 tenant protections ending February 1

New report shows Latinos, AAPI underrepresented CA gov. appointees

Recto in, Diokno out as Finance chief

Tanker carrying US Navy fuel for PH climbs two spots in PH storage cancels entry to Subic 2024 passport ranking

by JOANNA ROSE AGLIBOT

by IAN LAQUI Philstar.com

File photo shows a man holding a Philippine passport.

Philstar.com file photo

MANILA — The Philippine passport rose to the 73rd rank in 2024, marking a two-spot climb from its 2023 ranking, according to the London-based Henley Passport Index, a worldwide ranking that assesses the visa-free access of 199 passports to 227 travel destinations.

According to the index released on Thursday, January 11, individuals holding a Philippine passport can visit 69 destinations without the need for a visa.

Inquirer.net

Philippine passport holders now enjoy access to two additional destinations compared to last year's 67 places with visa-free entry. The country held the 75th place in the rankings last year, according to the 2023 index.

The Philippines currently shares the 73rd spot with Cape Verde Islands and Uganda.

This marks the highest rank for the country since 2014, when the Philippines held the 68th place.

The Philippines achieved its highest record from 2007 to 2009 when the country held the 62nd  PAGE A2

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — A commercial tanker that was supposed to transfer 39 million gallons of fuel from a United States military facility to a commercial storage here has canceled its application for entry, an official of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) said on Thursday, January 11.

Armie Llamas, officer in charge of the SBMA’s office of the deputy administrator for corporate communications, said the tanker Yosemite Trader had canceled its request for a port call, based on information coming from the

agency’s seaport department.

Llamas did not say the reason for the cancellation, but the disclosure came a day after Sen. Imee Marcos issued a statement questioning the apparent lack of transparency about the shipment, particularly on the part of the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, since it involves dealings with the U.S. military.

Marcos, the elder sister of the president and chair of the Senate committee on foreign relations, called out the DND and AFP for their “inexplicable silence” on the matter, asking whether they were using the Mutual Defense Treaty  PAGE A2

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FROM THE FRONT PAGE

Philippines ‘back on its feet’...

PAGE A1 its feet from the reeling effect of the pandemic and the subsequent shocks that we have suffered from the Ukraine war and now from the conflict in the Middle East,” Marcos said in a speech, as quoted in the statement.

The Palace then cited the government’s catch-up

spending, which, it noted, may result in an economic growth target of 6 to 7 percent.

Marcos said the Philippines is believed to be one of the fastest-growing Asian countries, referring to reports from the Asian Development Bank, the Asean + 3 Macroeconomic Research Office, the World

Bank, and the International Monetary Fund.

Marcos also said, however, that amid global conflicts, he hoped there was “sincere motivation to work together and tap the power of the collective in finding ways to solve political conflict to achieve peace and prosperity for all.” 

Tanker carrying US Navy fuel for PH storage...

PAGE A1 as “a license” to keep it under wraps.

Subic Bay, she added, is also not among the bases that the U.S. military can use to preposition forces or equipment under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

Llamas said the SBMA earlier received a communication from the U.S. Navy on Tuesday for the planned fuel transfer in Subic, a former U.S. naval base. She did not elaborate.

‘Proper channels’ Also on Thursday, the U.S. Embassy in Manila confirmed that the commercial tanker was already in the vicinity of Subic Bay to transfer its cargo of fuel that came from the U.S. military facility at Red Hill, Pearl Harbor, in Hawaii.

The Yosemite Trader was carrying “safe, clean fuel” and arrangements for the cargo’s transfer and storage in Subic were done through “proper channels,” according to a statement issued by the embassy’s spokesperson, Kanishka Gangopadhyay.

In a message to the Inquirer, Gangopadhyay also said the fuel “has not been sold or donated to the Philippine government” but that he “can’t speak [on] the future use of this fuel.”

“All arrangements for the transfer and storage of this fuel were made through the proper channels, using established logistics contracts with Philippine commercial entities,” Gangopadhyay said in his statement.

The embassy also explained that it was just “one of multiple shipments’’ of fuel from Pearl Harbor to other locations in the Indo-Pacific region.

AFP: ‘Nothing to explain’ Addressing the questions

Sen. Imee Marcos, the elder sister of the president and chair of the Senate committee on foreign relations, called out the DND and AFP for their “inexplicable silence” on the matter, asking whether they were using the Mutual Defense Treaty as “a license” to keep it under wraps.

Inquirer.net file photo

raised by Marcos, the DND said the fuel shipment was “part of regular commercial transactions between the U.S. Government and Philippine companies.”

The AFP, on the other hand, maintained it had “nothing to explain on the fuel shipment.”

“The process that was followed by the U.S. government, these are all administrative in nature and did not involve the participation of the armed forces,” AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar told reporters.

Jet fuel leak In March 2022, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III ordered the defueling and closure of the Red Hill storage facility following a jet fuel leak that affected thousands of residents near the air base.

At the time, Austin said the millions of gallons of fuel will be redistributed across the IndoPacific and “will better position

the United States to meet future challenges in the region.”

The closure “will better support our operations in the Pacific theater, while caring for the health and safety of the people of Hawaii and our military families,” he said.

Protests Before the cancellation was disclosed by the SBMA, the fuel shipments from the Red Hill storage facility were already drawing protests from local and international civil society groups.

The U.S.-based advocacy group Hawai’i Justice and Peace said the U.S. Navy had “repeatedly lied to the people of Hawaii, including military families, about the safety of the drinking water” sourced from a major aquifer located only a hundred feet away from Red Hill.

“The military did not admit to the fuel leak until people who lived nearby reported smelling fuel in their water,” the group said. “This endangered the lives of 93,000 people, and the impact continues to be felt to this day. Now, millions of [taxpayer] money are spent on decommissioning the Red Hill military storage facility.”

Among Filipino groups, Stop the War Coalition Philippines said it would demand answers from the government should it allow the fuel transfer.

“Aside from health and environmental repercussions, the security risk is posed by who will ultimately use it, what they will use it for, and who will be responsible for securing it,” the coalition said on Thursday. “We are talking about massive amounts of dangerous, combustible substances. We demand answers, accountability and transparency in this matter that will impact the public.” 

NEW LOGO. Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) chairperson Secretary Romulo Arugay (left) and Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Hubert Dominic Guevara of the Office of the President unveil the new CFO logo and seal during the inauguration of its new office in Quezon City Thursday, Jan. 11. The CFO, an agency under the OP, promotes and upholds the interests of Filipino emigrants and permanent residents in other countries.

PNA photo by Ben Briones

PH climbs two spots in 2024 passport...

PAGE A1

position.

Meanwhile, the Philippines received its lowest ranking — 83rd place — in 2021.

ASEAN neighbors still ahead Despite its rise in rank, neighboring countries in Southeast Asia still surpass the Philippines in the passport ranking.

Singapore is tied with France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Spain in the top spot for the most powerful passport in the world, allowing citizens of each country to travel to 194 destinations without a visa.

Malaysia (12th), Brunei (20th), East Timor (56th), Indonesia (66th) and Thailand (63rd)

ranked higher than the Philippines.

However, the Philippines fared better than Laos (90th), Cambodia (86th) and Vietnam (87th).

The Henley Passport Index is based on data from the International Air Transport Association which assessed 199 passports in the world. 

Fil-Am shot dead on New Year’s Day...

PAGE A1 Nina remembered her brother for his ”infectious smile, his goofy personality and his big heart.”

“Deep in his thoughts, carefree in expressing ideas, likes and dislikes and has an easygoing personality that everyone loves,” she wrote. “He could make the whole room laugh and was a joy to be with.”

“He leaves behind countless family members and friends who dearly miss him,” she added.

The family chose to honor his life by donating his organs in support of others.

Gianan’s family and the LA County Sheriff Department’s Homicide Bureau, which is investigating the case, are asking the public to provide Andrei Gianan is remembered for his ”infectious smile, his goofy personality and his big heart.” any information on the attack.

Photo from GoFundMe (Inquirer.net)

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Recto in, Diokno out as Finance...

DATELINE USA

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PAGE A1

Diokno was the former governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) from 2019 to 2022 before being replaced by Felipe Medalla.

Before he headed the BSP, Diokno was the Budget secretary from 2016 to 2019.

He finished his Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of the Philippines in 1968, and earned his Master’s Degree in Public Administration (1970) and Economics (1974) also from UP. He has a Master of Arts in Political Economy from the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, and a Ph.D. in Economics from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York, USA. Good choice Senators welcomed Recto’s Cabinet appointment.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri believes that Recto, who used to be the Senate’s “resident numbers genius,” would be a good Finance secretary.

“In the Senate, we always regarded him as the resident numbers genius. This was not just for his mathematical ability, but more importantly for his ability to immediately see the big picture implications of these numbers,” he said.

“More than most, he understands how to bridge the gap between the abstractions of mathematics and the very concrete realities that we face as a nation,” Zubiri said in a statement Thursday.

He expressed confidence that Recto will “continue to push the country along on the road to greater economic prosperity.” Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel 3rd and Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero welcomed Recto’s designation as Finance chief.

Pimentel said his appointment was “well deserved.” Escudero said Recto is an “able and capable” addition to President Marcos’ Cabinet “in ensuring that we continue to sustain the economic gains we have thus far achieved.” The senator noted that Recto was a former National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) chief.

“I wish him well and would like to express BACK IN THE LIMELIGHT. File photo shows former senator Ralph Recto my support not only in the CA (Commission on and his wife former Batangas governor Vilma Santos.

Appointments) but in his endeavors as the new SoF ManilaTimes.net photo by Rene H.Dilan (secretary of Finance),” Escudero said.  of Recto as Finance chief, noting that he will bring in a “wealth of experience in economic legislation and deep and longstanding relationships with members of Congress,” “I am optimistic that key tax reforms pending in the Senate will also move faster with his appointment, due to his relationships in that chamber, as well as his ability to broker viable compromises,” Salceda, chairman of the House Tax Committee, added.

Recto, the grandson of statesman Claro Mayo Recto, was elected as representative of Batangas’ sixth district in 2019 after his 12-year stint at the Senate, during which he served as Senate President Pro Tempore or as Senate Minority Leader.

He was a senator from 2001 to 2007 before being appointed as Socioeconomic Planning Secretary from 2008-2009.

He first became a representative of the fourth district of Batangas from 1992 to 2001.

Among the laws he authored and sponsored include the Rice Tariffication Act, the Universal Health Care Act, and the Tax Reform Act of 1997.

ART AND HISTORY. A woman views a painting of Philippine heroines at the Sining Saysay: Philippine History in Art exhibit at a mall in Cubao, Quezon City on Friday, Jan. 12. The exhibit, a collaborative project of the University of the Philippines, UP Alumni Association, and Araneta City, features the country’s history through the masterpieces of various Filipino artists.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

Delicate labor-industry deal in flux as Newsom revisits $25 minimum health wage

by DON THOMPSON Kaiser Health News

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom is revisiting California’s phase-in of a nation-leading $25 minimum wage for health workers in the face of a projected $38 billion deficit, less than three months after he approved the measure. But renegotiating wages could threaten a delicate compromise between unions and the health industry.

Newsom, whose administration initially opposed the wage deal as too costly, signed the bill, SB 525, into law without knowing the final price tag. His Democratic administration now projects the first-year cost to be $4 billion, though that number has been questioned by labor leaders.

Citing data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, finance officials said the law would boost wages for at least 500,000 workers who directly provide health care, not including related employees like janitors, groundskeepers, and security staff who also are covered under the law. According to the Department of Finance, it would also increase wages for state employees and boost the cost of health services by increasing Medi-Cal managed care payments.

About half that cost is expected to be paid by California taxpayers and the rest covered by federal payments to Medi-Cal providers.

The governor’s latest budget asks the state legislature to add an annual trigger making the minimum wage increases contingent on state revenues and to clarify which state employees are included, citing “the significant fiscal impact” of the law. Newsom acknowledged that negotiations are ongoing, a month after his office said talks would begin.

“We continue to work to land that,” he said, adding he hoped for legislation in a matter of weeks.

The governor insisted he had reservations all along and pledged to work with fellow Democrats, who control the legislature, to make the law more affordable.

But the bill he signed did not include built-in triggers, such as those used by his predecessor, Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown, that could have delayed the increase in the face of a budgetary downturn.

Newsom did, however, reject a number of spending bills last year.

“We had a commitment on the trigger,” even though it wasn’t in the bill, Newsom said in response to reporters’ questioning on Jan. 10. “We’re confident all parties that committed to that agreement are going to meet it and do so very shortly.”

David Huerta, president of Service Employees International Union California and SEIU United Service Workers West, said in a statement Jan. 10 that the union looks forward to working with the administration and the legislature “to ensure that these critically needed workforce investments are implemented while maximizing federal funds and holding the healthcare industry accountable for investing their resources in  PAGE A5

New report shows Latinos, AAPI...

PAGE A1

(17.29%), Black (11.25%), AAPI (8.54%) and Native American Californians (2.29%) collectively make up 39%, with 9% being unknown.

For comparison, the demographic breakdown of California is 34.7% Non-Hispanic White, 40.3% Hispanic or Latino, 6.5% Black, 16.8% AAPI and 1.7% Native American, according to 2023 Census estimates.

47% of appointments are female and 52% are male with 1% falling under the category of other or unknown.

The report combines race and gender to show that White men comprise 30% of appointments, White women 22%, Black men 5%, Black women 6%, Latino men 8.5%, Latina women 9%, AAPI men 3.5%, AAPI women 5%, Native American men 1% and Native American women 1%.

The report also finds that 63% of appointees live in Northern California (41%) and the Bay Area (22%), with Los Angeles County at 15%; the Central Valley, Inland Empire and Greater San Diego area at 5% each; and Orange County and the Central Coast at about 3% each.

Most appointments are Democrats at 71%, with Republicans at 9%, No Preference at 18% and Other at 2%.

Precedents Limón said Newsom “has been very intentional about ensuring diversity in his appointments” — recently appointing the first Latina Supreme Court Justice for California in 2022 and passing SB54 in 2023, which requires venture capital firms to make demographic diversity reports on the companies they invest in.

“The goal of reports like these is to replicate his success.”

“You can’t fix what you cannot see,” she added. When Newsom’s term ends in 2027 “we will have a new governor, and we want to ensure that the gains his administration has seen are gains that can be sustained.”

Newsom’s veto letter for her bill holds that because the demographic information specified in SB702 is selfreported by candidates, a report may not necessarily accurately reflect the diversity of appointees.

However, the HOPE report counters that “our state regularly uses self-reported data for many different state agencies for resources like tax credits,

disability insurance, and in the appointment of our judicial courts. We believe this report would be more accurately and efficiently produced if it came directly from the Governor’s office,” i.e. if measures like SB702 were more common. This “would come at nearly no cost to the Administration, given that they already collect this demographic data.”

On the state level, there’s precedent for such a report. The California Judicial Council, for instance, publishes demographic data relative to gender, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran and disability status for court justices and judges, and the report in Limón’s proposed bill also includes these metrics.

Among other states, Illinois under Gov. Pritzker passed a measure similar to SB702 in 2015, and has seen consistently more diverse appointees since.

This emphasis on transparency is also gaining traction among local governments throughout California.

In 2023 the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted a motion modeled after SB702 requiring the board to publish an annual demographic report of appointments. The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors adopted a similar measure in 2021. Karen Bass, mayor of the City of Los Angeles, also aims to create a similar report.

Next steps HOPE has stated that it will continue tracking appointments in 2024.

In light of the 2023 report’s findings, Sen. Limón has reintroduced her bill requiring an annual demographic report on gubernatorial appointees, in the form of SB782, which is set for a hearing on January 11.

After three past vetoes, “It will be our fourth attempt on this particular bill,” said Limón.

“What we have seen over the last four years is that this is not a partisan issue, evidenced by the strong bipartisan support that this bill has received — particularly in the last year in the legislature.”

If Californian leadership does not “evaluate our progress, gaps in representation will continue to exist,” she added. “This report reiterates the need for demographic data to be made publicly available. The work to advance transparency must start in-house.” (Selen Ozturk/Ethnic Media Services)

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PRIVATIZATION. A Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 train approaches the Magallanes Station in Makati City on Wednesday, Jan. 10. The Department of Transportation earlier said it plans to roll out the bidding for the privatization of the operations and maintenance of MRT-3 by the second half of 2024.

PNA photo by Ben Briones

Delicate labor-industry deal in flux as...

PAGE A4

their workers and in patient care.”

Yet last month, SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West President Dave Regan asserted the state must “hold fast to its commitment.” SEIU-UHW is a local affiliate of SEIU California.

Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, who helped negotiate the earlier deal, wouldn’t comment on reopening the negotiations, and State Sen. María Elena Durazo, the Los Angeles Democrat who introduced the bill, also declined comment.

The law currently phases in the wage boosts, with large health facilities and dialysis clinics reaching the $25 hourly minimum in 2026; community clinics in 2027; and other health facilities in 2028.

The $25 minimum would not take effect until 2033 for hospitals with a high percentage of patients covered by Medicare or Medicaid, rural independent hospitals, and small county facilities.

The phase-ins are set to start in June, giving state officials time to roll them back before the new fiscal year.

“I just don’t understand how the governor signed the bill to begin with. I don’t know why anyone thought it was going to be relatively cheap for the government,” said Michael Genest, now a private consultant after serving as former Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s finance director. “Does he think the unions care so much about him that they will go back to the table on something they’ve already won? That would be incredibly naive.”

Proponents of the law say it covers about 3,000 employees in the state departments of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Veterans Affairs, and Developmental Services because they operate facilities licensed as hospitals, clinics, or nursing homes.

But undoing one portion of the law threatens to unravel the entire intricate compromise between labor and the health industry.

For instance, as part of the deal United Healthcare Workers West agreed in a separate memorandum of understanding to halt for four years its repeated attempts to impose regulations on dialysis clinics.

The union also previously advocated for health worker minimum wage increases in several California cities. The compromise banned such local boosts for 10 years, a big relief to the California Hospital Association.

Regan, of SEIU-UHW, said the administration’s cost estimate “has been severely overstated.”

Nearly half of health workers who would see wage increases, or a family member, currently rely on safety-net programs such as Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and CalWORKs, said Laurel Lucia, director of the Health Care Program at the University of CaliforniaBerkeley Labor Center. So increasing their income would reduce their reliance on those tax-funded programs.

“We’re estimating that the health care minimum wage impact on the state budget could be up to $300 million in the first year, but it’s possible that it could be substantially less than that” depending on how and when the state adjusts Medi-Cal payments to hospitals and clinics, Lucia said.

Genest put the cost to the state’s general fund at about $1.2 billion in an August calculation for the health industry when it opposed the bill before the last-minute compromise.

Finance Department spokesperson H.D. Palmer acknowledged the administration’s calculation did not include offsets such as a reduction in the number of lower-income workers relying on Medi-Cal. Lucia estimated the $25 minimum wage law would raise wages for about 450,000 health workers, both those providing direct care and those in related occupations — at least 50,000 fewer than the administration’s estimate.

This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.

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

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FEATURES

OPINION

Cabinet changes

VALIDATING rumors that have been circulating since late last year, former Batangas congresswoman Vilma Santos-Recto confirmed on Thursday, January 11 that President Marcos is replacing Benjamin Diokno with her husband, House Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto as secretary of finance.

The appointment of Recto comes on the heels of Marcos’ turning over of the agriculture portfolio to shipping tycoon Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. Before this, Marcos had named Gilbert Teodoro and Ted Herbosa as secretaries of national defense and health, respectively.

Cabinet members serve at the pleasure of the president. Upon assuming power, the president was expected to pick those who supported his election campaign, or at least did not actively oppose him, to be members of his official family. Into his second year, he has a firmer grasp of the nation’s problems and has seen the capabilities of his officials. He can shake up his Cabinet accordingly.

Among the top problems in his first year were inflation, driven mainly by high prices of fuel and agricultural commodities particularly sugar and onions. In surveys by reputable pollsters, taming inflation in general has consistently been cited as the weakest point of the Marcos administration.

Last year, rice prices spiked as global supply tightened amid threats arising from El Niño.

Despite importations and an ill-advised price cap, rice prices refused to go down.

Laurel now faces the problem as rice retail prices remain elevated even as farmers complain of rice importations. The unstable supply and prices spring from deep-seated problems bedeviling the agriculture sector in general.

Diokno, who has said the economic team was “shocked” by the rice price cap, is exiting the Department of Finance amid controversy over his push for sweeping reforms in the pension system of military and other uniformed personnel.

Diokno had warned of “fiscal collapse” if the MUP pension issue was not decisively addressed. The proposal has been among the issues that triggered speculative stories about brewing destabilization plots against the Marcos administration.

Another deep-seated problem that has been highlighted in the past year is the crisis in education.

In the next academic year, the Department of Education will be taking over the senior high school ManilaTimes.net photo program from state universities and colleges under the Commission on Higher Education, after the move will not result in a further deterioration in the ended a long time ago. It must be ready to handle transition period for the shift to K-12 ended. The competencies of Filipino learners. heightened public expectations for improvements administration will have to make sure that this The honeymoon period for the new administration and a better life. (Phistar.com)

Editorial

A new international gateway up soon

Commonsense

MARICHU A. VILLANUEVA QUIETLY, a new international gateway (IGW) in the Philippines is underway and will soon come online to upgrade our connectivity with Japan, the European Union (UN) and the rest of the world.

Once the on-going submarine cables installation are fully installed and completed within this year, the new IGW will bypass the existing IGW located along the western side of the Strait of Taiwan.

CyberCrime Investigating Coordinating Committee (CICC) executive director Alexander Ramos disclosed the newest IGW was part of the $450 million that Japan invested in this major telecommunications project it unilaterally offered to the Philippines in August last year.

During our one-on-one chat at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum on Wednesday, January 10 Ramos explained this new IGW will replace the existing IGW located in the eastern seaboard of the Strait of Taiwan that has been malfunctioning for a long time now.

An international gateway is any facility that provides an

interface to send and receive electronic communications (i.e., voice, data and multimedia images/ video) traffic between one country’s domestic network facilities and those in another country.

According to Ramos, the submerged cables of our existing IGW at the Strait of Taiwan were allegedly hit by an anchor from a passing Chinese ship. Also called the Strait of Formosa, the Strait is a narrow body of water that separates the island of Taiwan from the southeastern coast of mainland China. The Strait extends from southwest to northeast between the South and East China seas.

The Strait also borders on our own Luzon Strait, extending for more than 200 miles (320 kilometers) between the islands of Taiwan (north) and Luzon, Philippines (south). It connects the South China Sea (west) with the Philippine Sea (east).

But this IGW project had nothing to do with the simmering tension on the overlapping maritime territories at the South China Sea nor with Tokyo’s own territorial dispute with Beijing.

In fact, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan John

Uy earlier hailed the new IGW would secure the gateway for the Philippines to the rest of the world via Japan. Japan’s telecom giant IPS Inc. chief executive officer Koji Miyashita and Uy signed a memorandum of support for this project held in Tokyo on Aug. 25 last year.

“This will likewise ensure unhampered data connectivity via the Eastern Seaboard away from the highly contested South China Sea,” the DICT chief cited.

Ramos sought to underscore these initiatives as part of the whole-of-government efforts in addressing the challenges of the fast evolving technology that have given rise to many nefarious online scams and other internets frauds that have gone global.

Jason Brasileno, Fraud Strategy head of the digital bank GoTyme and ScamWatch Pilipinas spokesman Art Samaniego confirmed there have indeed been disturbing increase of cyber scams and frauds during the recent Christmas holidays. With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), Brasileno explained, the GoTyme tries to harmonize the digital banking that provides their customers real people instead of robots talking and

addressing their needs.

Despite incidents of digital scams, Brasileno noted their customer base has reached two million for the past 14 months.

Part of the Gokongwei group of companies, GoTyme is one of seven licensed for digital banking by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). Brasileno cited GoTyme invested much to acquire sophisticated AI technology to fend off AI-aided cyber frauds. Thus, any unusual transaction is readily flagged and any fraud or scam attempt can be thwarted, he pointed out.

For his part, Samaniego, tech editor of the Manila Bulletin, underscored that solving cybercrimes is not the sole job of the government but is every Filipino’s concern.

Based from latest survey, 70 percent of cyber scams and other e-commerce crimes have mostly victimized people in Facebook.

Samaniego reiterated the mantra being promoted by ScamWatch Pilipinas to avoid being victimized by fraudsters actively engaged online. To make it simple and most understandable, ScamWatch advises the following: Mag-damot. (Don’t be too generous.)

Magduda. (Doubt first, check

and verify.)

Mag-snub. (Ignore and don’t click the link.)

Mag-report. (Report to CICC’s helpline 1-3-2-6) Maghanda. (Practice “cyber hygiene” like regular changing and using strong passwords) Samaniego exhorted victims not to be embarrassed in reporting the matter immediately to the CICC. “This is the only way to stop the scamdemics that could victimize also our family members, relatives, friends and other people in your Facebook social media circle,” Samaniego urged.

According to Ramos, the CICC has already called the attention of Meta – that runs Facebook – “to fix” their system that obviously has very loose regulations. Todate, he noted, the CICC attended to as many as 13,000 cases of reported cyber scams and frauds since September last year. He could not, however, get into specific numbers of how many of these cases were prosecuted. He conceded the required due process once criminal charges are filed in court take a long time for justice to grind.

Ramos, however, assuaged Filipino netizens the CICC has strengthened its “legacy project” of single platform

under the National Cyber Crime Hub based at the Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig.

Led by the DICT, Ramos vows their dedicated cyber experts with law enforcement personnel on board manning 24/7 the CICC 1-3-2-6 Hotline to quickly respond to any cybercrime complaints.

At the sidelines of our first Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum for the year 2024, Ramos further revealed Japan has also given 200 gigawatts of internet capacity to the Philippine government broadband that CICC runs and operates.

This increased the Philippine government broadband speed and capacity from measly two gigawatts in the past, Ramos pointed out.

Ramos believes these latest information communications technology projects will close the gap needed by the CICC to be steps ahead against cyber criminals. With the upcoming completion of the newest international gateway for the Philippines, it is a bonus waiting to happen. (Philstar.com) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

Retired generals to BBM: Probe plunderers, stop corruption

Gotcha

JARIUS BONDOC PLUNDERING lawmakers must be shaking in their boots.

They’re targeted in an anticorruption petition circulating in chat groups of Philippine Military Academy graduates.

The petition addresses President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. It asks him to investigate “the 20 senators and 100 congressmen listed in the affidavit of Janet Lim Napoles in connection with the pork barrel scam.”

The Sandiganbayan in 2021 convicted Napoles for P10 billion in plundered Priority Development Assistance Fund.

For more than a decade she devised fake projects and beneficiaries so lawmakers can pocket pork barrels.

Napoles also fronted for lawmakers to steal P728 million in supposed fertilizer subsidies and P900 million in Malampaya gas field royalties.

The petition also seeks Marcos’ elimination of corruption that eats up 20 percent of annual national budgets. Among several steps: withhold release of pork barrels, unprogrammed funds, unnecessary travel expenses; reduce confidential-intelligence funds; remove overpaid and useless government positions; practice austerity.

Twenty-three retired generals and colonels have signed the petition so far. Active duty officers are proscribed from political actions.

The petition was first posted Dec. 30 in the biggest Viber group of PMA grads, with 1,174 participants. It spread to other online chat groups of active duty and retired grads.

Signatories and their PMA batches are: Col. Salvador B. Calanoy IV, ’84; Lt. Gen. Isidro S. Lapeña, ’73; Lt. Col. Alexander Quirante, ’72; Capt.

Ephraim Rio, ’73; Brig. Gen. Roberto Santiago, ’68; Commo.

Justo Manlongat, ’69; Col. Hector Tarrazona, ’68; Rear Adm. Rufino Lopez, ’74;

Brig. Gen. Carlito Gamit, ’74; Maj. Gen. Alphonsus Crucero, ‘74; Brig. Gen. Errol T. Pan, ‘74; Col. Ricky dela Paz, ’74; Lt. Col. Oscar Mallabo, ‘74; Brig. Gen. Roland Rodriguez, ‘74; Capt.

Winston G. Arpon, ’64; Col. Alfonso O. Rivera, ’66; Brig. Gen. Aaron Fidel, ’79; Maj. Gen. Ramsey L. Ocampo, ‘70; Capt. Rafael Enriquez, ’57; Commo. Vicente Buenaventura, ’57; Maj. Gen. Gil Meneses, ’80; Brig. Gen. Oscar Cabaron, ’68; Col. Ernesto P. Benitez Jr., ’82.

“With all due respect,” they “suggest” to Marcos Jr. that (excerpted): “(1) The 2024 national expenditure program match the projected P4,184.4-billion 2024 national revenues.

“This can be done. Eliminate corruption that eats up 20 percent of annual budgets, pork barrel under different names, P450-billion unprogrammed fund, unnecessary travel expenses; “Reduce intelligence and confidential funds, remove overpaid and unnecessary positions, sell perennial

losing government-owned and -controlled corporations, have more public-private partnerships to lessen kickbacks, and practice austerity in all government offices.

“With total P6,776.5-billion projected deficits in 20232028, unbelievable annual GDP growth rate of 7.3 percent for six years and 11.5-percent annual increase in our national budget for six years, our government likely will go bankrupt before the end of your term. Central Bank was bankrupt when your family left the Philippines in 1986. “(2) Implementation of Maharlika Investment Corp. be stopped, and the P50 billion and P25 billion of Landbank and DBP, respectively, be immediately returned to them.

“As economists pointed out, the MIC is unjustifiable because government does not have excess funds and its investment portfolio is highly speculative.

Salaries and pensions of all government employees are deposited in Landbank. Any

adverse development will panic us. “(3) Finance Sec. and Landbank chairman Benjamin Diokno be fired immediately for investing P50 billion of Landbank’s equity in MIC. He violated the single investment ceiling and compromised the stability of Landbank.

“In addition, he insulted military and other uniformed personnel and trivialized their roles as defenders of the country. This diminished their trust and confidence in our government and your leadership. “(4) All the 20 senators and 100 congressmen listed in the affidavit of Janet Lim Napoles in connection with the pork barrel scam be investigated. Napoles is now in prison. For fairness and justice, the erring senators and congressmen should not be treated above the law.

“We voted different presidential candidates in May 2022 Elections. Now we are one in wishing you success because your success is our success, and your failure is also our

failure. May God give you more wisdom and discernment as you lead us during these critical and challenging times.”

Other points were addressed to Congress, namely, that: • “[The seven] incumbent senators and [yet uncounted] congressmen [in Napoles’ list] be made to go under preventive suspension, without pay and allowances, until the investigation is over.

“Congress was called ‘the Philippines’ biggest criminal syndicate’ in the Dec. 30, 2013 issue of BizNews Asia.

Congress is the top obstacle to the progress of our country.

• “Reduce allowances of different committees in Congress.” (Philstar.com) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

*** Catch Sapol radio show, Saturdays, 8 to 10 a.m., dwIZ (882-AM).

Follow me on Facebook: https://tinyurl. com/Jarius-Bondoc

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

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Comelec probes alleged vote buying for Cha-cha ‘P13 billion needed for Charter change plebiscite’

by MAYEN JAYMALIN Philstar.com

MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will look into reports of “vote buying” for a people’s initiative pushing for Charter change or Cha-cha.

“We will have the local Comelec look into this once they receive signatures from proponents of the people’s initiative,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said on Wednesday, January 10.

The people’s initiative or the “power of the people” is a constitutional provision empowering the public to propose amendments to the Constitution by lodging a petition signed by at least 12 percent of registered voters.

Garcia stressed that buying signatures for such initiative is technically illegal and thus the petition must not be accepted.

“It means that the signing was not voluntary. But of course, this needs to be proven,” Garcia noted.

Should a people’s initiative for Cha-cha be verified by the Comelec, Garcia said that around P13 billion will be required to conduct a national plebiscite to determine if the Filipino people will favor or reject a proposed constitutional amendment.

Meanwhile, Sen. Imee Marcos is seeking a Senate investigation into the alleged P20-million payoffs and misrepresentations in the signature campaign for a people’s initiative.

Marcos filed Senate Resolution 902 directing the appropriate Senate committee to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the alleged payoffs and misrepresentations in the signature campaign.

In an online article, Marcos said that certain lawmakers claim that coordinators of a certain party-list group received an unspecified amount of money to ensure that their constituents will provide the required three percent of total voters per municipality for a people’s initiative to amend the Constitution to gain ground.

She said according to Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman, Albay’s League of Mayors was called for a general meeting at Ellis Hotel in Legazpi City, allegedly owned by Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, on Jan. 5 without telling the mayors about the specific agenda.

Lagman further stated that voters who would sign the petition or people’s initiative will be given P100 each.

“These reported payoffs in the signature campaign for a People’s Initiative to amend the Constitution and the blatant manner by which ordinary citizens, particularly those in need of government aid, are being misled and exploited, are unconscionable acts of corruption which are inimical to the very concept of democracy,” the resolution added.

On Wednesday, the Department of Labor and Employment and Department of Health belied allegations that funds for the government’s medical and emergency employment programs are being used for the people’s initiative.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government also denied any participation in the supposed initiative, with Interior

Secretary Benhur Abalos saying the DILG is prohibited from such campaigns.

Signatures Reliable sources told The STAR that barangay officials in La Union were being utilized to gather signatures of at least 20 qualified voters in their respective purok to sign the form urging the Marcos administration to revise the Constitution through people’s initiative.

The signature campaign started Jan. 10 and was done through the initiative of La Union Reps. Paolo Ortega (1st District) and Dante Garcia (2nd District).

Some of the residents unaware of the purpose of the campaign were obliged to sign the documents after the kagawads explained that it is to survey those who are eligible to vote in the presidential elections.

However, those knowledgeable of the Cha-cha issue and are in favor of its revision signed the document, while those who are against it have abstained.

A source said that a majority of the respondents were in favor of Cha-cha, not only its economic provision but also some other aspects of the Constitution.

In an interview conducted by News 5, one resident of Quezon City admitted that she attended a meeting of solo parents on Jan. 6 where she was made to sign a document on the pretext it was for the distribution of aid in the amount of P3,000, which later turned out to be for a people’s initiative for Cha-cha.

Another report showed that personnel of the media outfit were able to observe an alleged employee of Quezon City Hall going house-to-house to obtain the signatures and the voting precinct numbers of residents in the area.

Some of the residents reportedly signed the document being peddled in the belief that it was for the distribution of government aid.

Fisher’s group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said its members in Bicol reported that on Jan. 7 three government officials, including a lawyer from the provincial government, arrived in Barangay Cota na Daco, Gubat, Sorsogon urging residents to sign the petition for Charter change through a people’s initiative.

Pamalakaya chairman Fernando Hicap said their members declined to sign the petition due to lack of clear explanation from the officials regarding the purpose and benefits to the people of the signature campaign.

‘EDSA-pwera’ The group behind the People’s Initiative for Reform, Modernization and Action or PIRMA during the administration of late former president Fidel Ramos on Wednesday said it was behind the “EDSApwera” television ads pushing for amendments to the 1987 Constitution.

Lawyers Alex Avisado of the Gana Atienza Avisado Law Offices confirmed that it was his group behind the pro-Charter change ads that aired on major TV networks GMA, TV5 and ABS-CBN this week.

Avisado denied government funds were used to fund the

ads and claimed that the money came from donations.

Meanwhile, Lagman alleged that the Marcos family has something to do with the “EDSA-pwera” advertisement.

“The EDSA-pwera Charter change ad campaign is part of the Marcos family’s continuing demonization of the EDSA People’s Power Revolution which ousted the Marcos dictatorship and helped install the present 1987 Philippine Constitution,” Lagman said.

“Using EDSA-pwera as a catch phrase, the ad also misleads viewers by saying that it was farmers, students and local businessmen who were the ones disadvantaged by the 1987 Constitution, but what the voiceover and the placards are saying is that APPEAL FOR CLEMENCY. Cesar and Celia Veloso (extreme left and 2nd from left), parents of Mary Jane Veloso, and her children appeal to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Indonesian President Widodo for clemency, at Mendiola Bridge, Manila on Wednesday, Jan. 10. Mary more foreigners should wholly Jane was arrested in Indonesia for drug trafficking in 2010 and was sentenced to death.

PNA photo by Yancy Lim own land, businesses and even schools in our country,” House Deputy Minority leader and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro said. her to answer, as part of her reprieve after her recruiter

by ALEXIS ROMERO to Philippine ‘Not voice of the people’ testimony on the pending case surrendered Philstar.com Davao City 1st District Rep. that she filed against her illegal authorities.

In 2022, the Marcos Paolo Duterte on Wednesday MANILA — Indonesia has recruiters. strongly opposed the people’s vowed to look into the case of DFA Undersecretary Ma. administration appealed for initiative for Cha-cha, saying Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipina Theresa Lazaro said Marcos clemency for Veloso.  that it is not the voice of the on death row in Yogyakarta expressed hope that the people but the voice of a over drug-related charges, progression of the case of Veloso few who want to perpetuate Malacañang said on Thursday, would merit her clemency “at the themselves in power. appropriate time.”

January 11.

Duterte also alleged that he “The government will “Yes, with the decision of got information that PBA party- the Indonesian government to continuously exhaust all efforts list Rep. Margarita Nograles is look into the case filed by Mary to assist Ms. Veloso and her leading the initiative in Davao Jane Veloso in the Philippines,” family,” Lazaro said.

City.

Veloso’s family was able to visit Presidential Communications “To all Dabawenyos, do not Secretary Cheloy Garafil said and spend several days with her sell your soul for a mere P100 in a text message when asked last Christmas through the help or P10,000 in exchange for if President Marcos secured a of the DFA and the Philippine The Southern California your signature. If you want commitment from Indonesian embassy in Jakarta, she added.

Regional Rail Authority to follow the minions of the President Joko Widodo to Veloso was arrested at the (SCRRA) is seeking proposals person dreaming to be great in reexamine Veloso’s case.

Yogyakarta airport in 2010 after for a Fuel Hedge Advisor.

Congress to perdition, that is “In fact, the Indonesian 2.6 kilos of heroin were found in Proposal documents may your choice,” he said. government is waiting for the her luggage. be downloaded at SCRRA's Meanwhile, Nationalist decision of the Philippine court She has denied involvement in at http://www.

People’s Coalition chairman on the case she filed,” Garafil the illegal drug trade, saying she website metrolinktrains.com/contracts.

Vicente Sotto III said the NPC added. was not aware that heroin was Proposals are due on 02/29/24. is not behind the reported Widodo met with Marcos last placed in her baggage.

For further information people’s initiative and that it Wednesday, January 10 as part According to her, a drug contact: Tammi Phillips, will not support or endorse of his three-day official visit to syndicate had tricked her into Contract and Compliance anything. bringing illicit drugs to Indonesia the Philippines.

Administrator, at PhillipsT@ Labor group Partido ng In a statement, the Department from Malaysia while she was scrra.net.

Manggagawa (PM) urged the of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the looking for a job. public, including workers, to legal interrogatories required Veloso was sentenced to death 1/13/24 oppose the Cha-cha signature from the Philippine Regional in 2010. She was supposed to be CNS-3770667# campaign, saying that the Trial Court on the case of Veloso executed by firing squad in April ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.) people must stay away from have been sent to Jakarta for 2015, but was given a temporary the “Trapo-led” initiative and instead demand the government’s action on urgent concerns.

“If they can easily purchase a new Constitution via People’s Initiative, then what will prevent them from making another purchase to perpetuate themselves in power,” PM chair Renato Magtubo pointed out.

Reforms To create more jobs and income opportunities for the Filipinos, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales urged senators to heed the business sector for economic and business reforms in the Constitution.

Gonzales said that luring in foreign investors is the goal of the House of Representatives in pushing for the amendment of economic provisions in the Constitution that “restrict the flow of foreign capital into the country.”

He underscored the “consistent refusal” of senators to consider House initiatives for Charter reform has prompted many congressmen to push for the people’s initiative for constitutional amendments, a mechanism that will bypass the Senate. 

of deceased Ramon Nieto) and Benigno Manuel Valdes (legal representative of Rafael Valdes).

“The plaintiff offered no explanation as how such series of transactions became illegal that would constitute illgotten wealth,” said Pahimna’s resolution concurred in by Associate Justices Georgina Hidalgo and Michael Frederick Musngi, the division’s chairperson.

The court accepted documentary evidence like the original copy of receipts and passbook accounts which was under the custody of Maria Lourdes Magno, chief administrative officer of the Presidential Commission on Good Government’s (PCGG) library and records division.

Magno is the government prosecutors’ lone witness in the case.

However, the court noted that Magno stipulated that she is only a custodian of the records as chief librarian of the PCGG and “has no personal

knowledge of the transactions contained in the documents she identified.”

Furthermore, the PCGG’s chief librarian stipulation “clearly shows that Ms. Magno is not a credible witness to substantiate the allegations of the plaintiff.”

“In short, the plaintiff failed to substantiate on its allegation that herein defendants Nieto group knowingly allowed themselves to be used as dummies of Manuel H. Nieto and/or spouses Ferdinand E. Marcos and Imelda R. Marcos in acquiring ETPI shares of stocks without lawful consideration,” it added.

Now owned by PLDT and Globe Telecom, Eastern Communication was founded in 1878 and laid the first submarine cable linking the Philippines and Hong Kong.

In the 1970s, the telco company was acquired by Marcos cronies Jose Africa, Manuel Nieto Jr. and Roberto Benedicto, whose shares were later sequestered in 1987. 

Indonesia vows to look into Veloso case SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL RAIL AUTHORITY RFP NO. SP612-24 FUEL HEDGE ADVISOR

Sandiganbayan junks ill-gotten case vs Marcos associates

by JOHN ERIC MENDOZA Inquirer.net

MANILA — Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division dismissed the ill-gotten wealth lawsuit case against the associates of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and his wife Imelda Marcos involving the 3,305 shares in Eastern Communications, the oldest telecommunication company in the country.

In a 19-page resolution penned by Associate Justice Lorifel Pahimna furnished to the media on Friday, January 12, the antigraft court granted the demurrer to evidence or a bid to prove that the evidence presented is not enough to prove the case lodged by the defendants dubbed as “Nieto group,” a minor stockholder in the telecommunication company.

The defendants are Rosario Arellano, Victoria Legarda, Angela Lobregat, Benito Nieto, Carlos Nieto, Manuel Nieto III, Ma. Rita delos Reyes, Carmen Tuazon, Ramon Nieto Jr. (standing as legal representative

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Asian Journal

WKND

LIFESTYLE CO N S U M E R G U I D E COMMUNIT Y MARKETPLACE

Tragic event leads to a sweet and successful ending on Citizen Pinoy this Sunday DOLORES was petitioned by her U.S. citizen mother in 2003 as a married child under the F3 classification. After 18 long years, the National Visa Center (NVC) notified them they could now start preparing their paperwork.

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

Dolores’ brother, Don, consulted with the Law

Offices of Michael Gurfinkel where leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Gurfinkel proposed that they inform the NVC of the husband’s death, so Dolores’ petition could be converted from “married” (F3) to “single” (F1), resulting in visas being immediately available for Dolores and her children. Atty. Gurfinkel also requested expedited processing because the petitioner PAGE B2

LJ says God blessed her with a ‘new life’: ‘Better than I could imagine’ by jessicA Ann evAngelistA Inquirer.net

LJ Reyes expressed her gratitude for the life she is currently living as she paid tribute to 2023, which she said brought her great things.

On Wednesday, Jan. 10, the former actress posted an Instagram reel featuring the blended family she is building with non-showbiz partner Philip Evangelista.

“I just want to share my gratitude for what God has done in my life. During the holidays, I looked back to the year that was through the photos on my phone. I tried so hard to fit all of the memorable photos and videos into a reel, but it just wouldn’t fit!” she wrote.

Reyes said that God blessed her with a “new life” better than what she had expected.

“He blessed me with more

BITTERSWEET GREEN CARD BECAUSE HUSBAND DIED, ON AN ENCORE SUCCESS STORY OF CITIZEN PINOY THIS SUNDAY! Dolores (center) was petitioned by her U.S. citizen mother in 2003 as a married child of a U.S. citizen (F3). Finally, in 2021, the National Visa Center (NVC) notified the family that they could now start preparing their paperwork, even though the priority date was not yet current. However, the husband, who had a heart condition, became excited over the prospect of immigrating to the U.S. and had a heart attack and died. It was a bitter turn of events. Ironically, because of her husband’s death, Dolores’ petition was converted from “married” (F3) to “single” (F1) and it was considered “current”. Leading Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (extreme right) was able to have the case queued for interview and requested expedited processing because the petitioner was already elderly and sickly. The “sweet” outcome of the unfortunate turn of events was that Dolores and her children – Keno (extreme left) and Kobey (2nd from left) – were able to immigrate to the U.S. sooner.

Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, January 14 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/ Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo.

(Advertising Supplement)

Kristine looks back on 13 years of marriage to Oyo

By Anne PAsAjol Inquirer.net

LJ Reyes with her family

than just my prayers. He blessed me with a new life that is better than I could imagine,” she said.

In 2021, Reyes moved to New York City, together with her children Aki and Summer, after her publicized breakup with actor Paolo Contis, whom she

Photos from @lj_reyes IG

had been with for six years.

Reyes first broke her silence on her separation from Contis in an interview with Boy Abunda, saying she didn’t know how she endured the pain if it wasn’t for the Lord.

PAGE B2

IN celebration of Oyo Sotto’s 40th birthday and their 13th wedding anniversary, Kristine Hermosa reflected on how they have kept their marriage strong through their faith in God and in each other.

“To my beloved, getting older means more wisdom—lets focus on the brighter side,” the celebrity mom said on her Instagram page on Friday, Jan. 12.

“Our life together has never been easy.

Challenges were never absent but despite being in a fallen world, having you and our children made life extraordinary—a taste of heaven on earth,” PAGE B3 Kristine Hermosa and Oyo Sotto

Photo from Instagram/@khsotto

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Pechanga presents ‘Regine Rocks’ concert, Feb. 9

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

Tragic event leads to a sweet...

PAGE B1 was elderly and sickly. If something happened to her, the petition could be at an end.

The “sweet” ending of this tragic situation was that Dolores and her children, Keno and Kobey, were able to immigrate to the U.S. sooner while the petitioner – Dolores’ mother and the boys’ grandmother – was still alive.

Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, January 14 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app.

Don Rosete (left) hired leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. (Advertising Supplement)

Gurfinkel (right) to help with the case of his sister, Dolores (center).

PECHANGA Resort Casino proudly presents the “Regine Rocks” concert that will be held on Friday, February 9 at 8 p.m. at the Pechanga Theater.

Regine Velasquez is a Filipino singer and actress. She is considered as one of the most influential figures in Philippine popular culture and is known for her vocal range and belting technique.

Velasquez rose to prominence after winning the television talent show Ang Bagong Kampeon in 1984 and the Asia Pacific Singing Contest in 1989. She achieved commercial success in some Asian territories with her fifth album “Listen Without Prejudice,” which sold more than 700,000 copies and became her highest-selling album to date.

Velasquez has played leading roles in the romantic comedies “Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw” and “Pangako Ikaw Lang” and received the Box Office Entertainment Award for Box Office Queen for the latter.

Referred to as “Asia’s Songbird,” she has consistently been credited with inspiring a generation of Filipino singers.

She has received many awards, including MTV Asia’s Favorite Artist Philippines in 2002 and 2003, and the Aliw Awards’ Entertainer of the Year in 2007, 2009, and 2019.

Regine Velasquez performed with Sharon Cuneta at the Pechanga Summit on July 22 and July 23, 2023 for their “Iconic” concert. Now she’s back again to put on a more intimate show for her fans and she couldn’t be more excited!

Hurry, you don’t want to miss this! Buy your tickets now from the Pechanga Box Office, or by calling 888-810-8871, or visit www.pechanga.com.

Shows in the Pechanga

Theater offer a comfortable and intimate concert experience.

With 1,200 seats in its theater, each show features state-ofthe-art, acoustically perfected sound, plus comfortable chairs, and an up-close view from every theater seat.

Pechanga Resort Casino offers one of the largest and most expansive resort/casino experiences anywhere in the United States. Voted best casino in the west USA Today and rated a Four Diamond property

by AAA since 2002, Pechanga Resort Casino provides an unparalleled getaway, whether

for the day or for an extended luxury stay. Offering 5500 of the hottest slots, 152 table games, a 1,100 room and suite hotel, dining, luxury spa, and golf at Journey at Pechanga, Pechanga Resort Casino features a destination unrivaled anywhere in California. Pechanga Resort Casino is owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Indians. For more information, call toll free (877) 711-2946 or visit www.Pechanga.com.

Follow Pechanga Resort Casino on Instagram, Facebook and on X @PechangaCasino.

(Advertising Supplement)

LJ says God blessed her with a ‘new life’...

PAGE B1 “It was so difficult. It was painful. Kung hindi malakas ang pananampalataya ko sa Panginoon, hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupulutin,” she said.

“Matagal ko nang

nararamdamang nakahiwalay na siya sa amin,” commented Reyes on Contis, who is now dating Yen Santos.

In 2023, the retired celebrity surprised her Instagram followers by saying that she had

been engaged to Evangelista, and they tied the knot in October of the same year.

After Reyes’ announcement, Contis expressed his happiness and congratulated his former partner. g

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 13-16, 2024 B3

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Miles shares struggles to be cancer-free

by Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

ACTRESS Miles Ocampo revealed that she had a cancer but is now cancer-free after undergoing thyroid surgery last year.

In her interview with Karen Davila, Miles said she only knew that she had cancer after the surgery. “’Yung doktor ko sinabi na ito ang situation ko na parang ayaw pa nilang sabihin ‘yung cancer sa akin. It was malignant at ang laki na niya.

Kung hindi ko po siya naagapan, posible talagang kumalat,” Miles said.

“Nalaman kong cancer siya nu’ng after na nu’ng operation,” she said.

Miles, however, said that she will take her medicine for the rest of her life.

“Yes, I’m cancer-free. But ‘yun na nga maintenance for life. ‘Yung meds ko, habambuhay na siya,” she said.

“And doon na ako naka-base, kumbaga ‘yung weight ko rin. Doon na siya magbi-base kung papayat o tataba. Kasi every two months kailangan kong magpa-blood test para i-check kung i-adjust ba ‘yung dosage,” she added.

Miles said that she learned a lot out of her experience. “’Yung mga times na ‘yon na parang it’s so uncertain, hindi mo alam kung ano ang mga mangyayari, just trust Him. Trust Him, kapit ka lang sa Kanya, talk to Him,” she said.

Miles Ocampo

Photo from Instagram/@milesocampo

Miles is currently one of the hosts in the noontime show “Eat Bulaga.” She recently won Best Actress at the recent Metro Manila Film Festival for the movie “Family of Two.” g

‘We know what you did last summer’: Kathryn Bernardo’s sister shares cryptic post

By Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla in “2 Good 2 Be True.”

ABS-CBN Entertainment, 2G2BT via Facebook

KAPAMILYA star Kathryn Bernardo’s sister Kaye posted a cryptic post in her social media account.

In her Facebook account, Kaye posted a reel wherein there’s a text that said, “We know what you did last summer.”

She captioned the post with: PAGE B6

Kristine looks back on...

PAGE B1 she continued.

Hermosa underscored how she does not believe in “low time” in marriage because she and Sotto have always put God in the center of their relationship. “… As long as we are doing our part to pursue Him and each other, it will always be a high time.”

“May we not forget how our love story began kahit

ilang birthday at anniversary pa ang lumipas, at wag sana [magka-Alzheimer’s disease] ang romantic side mo,” she quipped.

“And yes, here we are…

13 years of constantly being frenemies yet we stick together no matter what,” she added.

“Lalaban tayo, mahal ko! Happy 40th, my dear husby! Always grateful for your life.”

For his part, Sotto greeted

Hermosa via his Instagram page, saying that her love and beauty shine brighter than the sun.

Among those who celebrated the life milestones of the couple were their family and fellow celebrities.

Hermosa and Sotto have five children together, namely Kiel, Ondrea, Kaleb, Marvic and Vittorio. They welcomed their youngest child, Vittorio, in August 2021. g

B4 JANUARY 13-16, 2024 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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Virgelia Productions kickstarts the Year of the Dragon with Gratitude Gala In the Mix

Mic Diaz

Carlyle Nuera’s solo exhibit is a look into his Fil-Am Barbie Signature lead designer process.

Photos from Instagram/@carlylenuera

‘I’m Wearing Carlyle Nuera’ is a look into the Fil-Am Barbie Signature lead designer’s process

by Amrie Cruz Inquirer.net

BARBIE fashion—that is, the iconic Mattel doll’s extensive clothing collections—has garnered wider appreciation in the past few months with the help of the 2023 “Barbie” movie and stylist Andrew Mukamal recreating iconic Barbie looks for Margot Robbie’s appearances.

Dressing Barbie has been a dream for many and queer Filipino American designer Carlyle Nuera is living it.

In celebration of the 65th anniversary of the Barbie doll, Belfast’s The Naughton Gallery invites the public to an exhibition called “I’m Wearing Carlyle Nuera” featuring “a selection of Nuera’s personal fashion designs, drawings, and writings on display alongside a wide variety of Barbies—from collector’s items to playline dolls.”

As Barbie Signature’s lead designer, Nuera has been taking charge in designing premium fashion pieces for collector’s dolls with unique face sculpts and articulated bodies.

Vintage Barbie doll garments aren’t the only ones worth excitement. Nuera is known for his love for dramatic silhouettes

and bold colors, probably best shown in his Chromatic Couture collection. He’s been taking inspiration from his Filipino roots as well as the Mutya Barbie serving as an example.

He’s also designing for the Inspiring Women series, creating doll versions of the likes of Anna May Wong and Eleanor Roosevelt and really paying homage to the style of their eras.

You can also thank Nuera for some of the “Barbie” movie dolls like the one for Mojo Dojo Casa House Ken in his massive faux fur coat. “We received unit photography of Ryan Gosling in this costume designed by Jacqueline Durran, but no context as to why Ken was dressed so… insufferably.

It wasn’t until I watched the movie for the first time that it all made sense for all the emotional turmoil Ken was going through, for why there were so many horse icons in [his] outfit,” Nuera wrote.

As Nuera’s first solo show, fans finally get to take a deeper look into his creative process. Early sketches and design illustrations show each doll’s journey from initial concept to final product.

“I’m Wearing Carlyle Nuera” opened on Jan. 11 and is free admission. g

VIRGELIA Productions fired up the year with The Gratitude Party, its signature year-starter event at The QD Venue in Westminster in Orange County last Sunday, January 7.

The glamorous gala was highly attended by the newly crowned title holders of Virgelia Productions pageants such as Miss Asia USA, Miss Latina Global and Miss Europe Global, media and its generous donors.

One recurring theme in the event is women empowerment and aiding women and children who have been abused, neglected and displaced.

Miss Latina Global 2018 and founder of The Lighthouse Organization Suly Weerakoddy expressed the importance of having events like this to raise awareness and support for abused women and children.

Miss Global Ambassador Mary Gari said that Virgelia Productions gave her a platform to stand for Persian women and women all around the world.

“It’s the best platform to have the potential of showing your personality and the best version of yourself,” she said.

Mrs. Asia USA California Tsogzolmaa Myagmarsuren thanked the production company for the many opportunities that she has been given and the friendships that she has gained through the pageant.

Miss Europe Global Michelle Beach, wearing a Dolce & Gabanna dress, was excited to represent Armenia and to be at the first Virgelia Productions Queens party of 2024.

Mrs. Asia USA First Runner Up Czarina Umali Au said that the pageant was a wonderful platform for her to share her talents and her love for singing and modeling. She added that she would like to get to know more business-oriented and empowered women.

Miss Teen Latina

Photos by Mic Diaz

Global Cheyenne Hinojosa was excited to represent her Latina side and revealed that the title means everything to her.

Current title holders such as Miss Asia USA Tiffany Chang, Miss Teen Asia USA Lily Feller, Mrs. Asia USA Srey Kong Michael, Miss Latina Global Janice Lopez, Mrs. Latina Global Kimberly Armond and Mrs. Europe Global Jay Rinaman, along with former title holders, graced the red carpet and

dazzled the audience with the latest trends in a fashion show featuring new clothing business owners Sherino Sindashi of California and Oun Srey.

The longest reigning Miss Asia USA 2020 Didi Caneda performed a sensual and mesmerizing belly dance while Mrs. Latina Global Violeta Martin rendered songs from her home country of Mexico. Mrs. Asia USA First Runner Up Czarina Umali Au sang her favorite Celine Dion

song, Ahmed Deberky covered contemporary Top 40 tracks, and 11-year old prodigy singer Ysabella Loyola sang popular tunes from musicals such as The Wiz and Les Miserables.

Steadfast supporters of Virgelia Productions such as fashion designer Tommy Le, longtime official souvenir program photographer Huy Khiem, independent photographers Nelson PAGE B5

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 13-16, 2024 B5

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The summon to listen Pastor’s Notes ReveRend Rodel G. BalaGtas THE “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” These were Samuel’s words in today’s First Reading from the Book of Samuel (1Samuel 3:3b—10, 19). They signify openness, receptivity, and willingness to follow God’s commands. They highlight the establishment of a bond between a person and God. Samuel uttered these words after receiving instructions from Eli, a high priest who served as his mentor and was responsible for caring for the tabernacle.

It was during a night when Samuel heard a voice calling him. Mistakenly thinking it was Eli, his mentor, Samuel finally

realized that it was God’s voice after hearing it multiple times.

Following Eli’s guidance, Samuel opened his ears and heart, ready to listen to God’s call for him to assume a spiritual leadership role in Israel as a priest and prophet.

A similar incident occurred in this Sunday’s (January 14) Gospel. As Jesus passed by, John the Baptist directed two of his disciples to Jesus, saying, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” John’s words indicated that the disciples should follow the true Messiah. The two disciples promptly heeded John the Baptist’s instruction. They listened to Jesus’ teachings and followed him.

As we embark on the new year, God desires us to have the same disposition. We must listen to His voice through the summons of spiritual leaders in our church and community. These leaders are entrusted with the mission of guiding us towards the truth and wisdom of the Gospel, and

ultimately towards Christ—who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Trusting them, for they have been called by God and endowed with the power of the Holy Spirit, is crucial in our journey towards a life of holiness, love, chastity, generosity, service, inclusivity, understanding, mercy, compassion, forgiveness, kindness, peace, and justice.

As we continue to grow as a church community, let us remain attentive to the voice of God, urging us to place our trust in our spiritual leaders. Let their guidance inspire us to play our part in promoting peace and unity. *** 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. *** Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.

Virgelia Productions kickstarts...

Junk fees are illegal in California Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights atty. C. Joe sayas, JR. A LOT of attention has been focused on so-called “junk fees,” hidden fees that often take consumers by surprise in the final stages of a transaction.

A new law from the California Legislature have now made such “junk fees” illegal in the State of California.

Junk fees came into prominent national attention with complaints from concert goers against ticket sellers. These would include vague items like service fees, processing or handling fees, and convenience fees that jack up the costs of concert tickets beyond their original advertised price. Large hotel chains have also been criticized for vague resort fees and other surcharges that significantly inflate the advertised nightly rates for hotel stays. The practice of such hidden or surprise fees seems to have become more common in recent years, with anecdotal accounts pointing to similar practices in the car rental, entertainment, and hospitality industries.

On October 7, 2023, Governor Newsom signed into

law Senate Bill 478, which prohibits “offering a price for a good or service that does not include all mandatory fees or charges other than taxes or fees imposed by a government on the transaction.” The new law, which will go into effect on July 1, 2024, requires that businesses disclose all fees upfront.

This directly addresses the California Legislature’s main criticism of junk fees, namely, that it is a form of deceptive, bait-and-switch advertising that actively hides the true cost of a transaction until it is too late to back out. California Attorney General Rob Bonta is a strong supporter of the bill, noting at its introductory conference “how frustrating it is to get to the checkout and find out something advertised at one price actually costs much, much more.”

At the the bill’s introductory conference. it was argued that junk fees are “bad for consumers and bad for competition,” and that “[t] he prices advertised should be the price you pay.” The consumer advocacy group CALPIRG agrees, noting in a Los Angeles Times interview that “[w]ithout knowing the true price of a product or service upfront, the process of comparison shopping becomes nearly impossible.”

Starting July 1, 2024,

businesses offering goods and services for sale will have to be much more transparent with any fees they seek to charge California consumers. The law is intended to specifically prohibit drip pricing, which involves advertising a price that is less than the actual price that a consumer will have to pay for a good or service.

With open disclosures, consumers can better see the real costs of products or services that they pay, and ultimately can make wellinformed decisions. *** 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 Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at no cost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www.joesayaslaw.com. [For more than 25 years, C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is a past Presidential Awardee for Outstanding Filipino Overseas.]

(Advertising Supplement)

Rape charges by Pepsi Paloma vs Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Richie D’Horsie just a gimmick — Coca Nicolas

PAGE B4 Shen, Richard Dizon and Syed Hussain among others were present.

An international buffet and a dessert table showcased the culinary delicacies of the title holders’ countries such as Armenia, Persia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Mongolia, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Mexico and many more.

Everyone’s invited to come and have fun at the grand opening and ribbon-cutting of Aberdeen Institute, a brand-new School of Nursing that offers CNA and LVN programs, on Saturday, January 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Take a tour of the campus and learn about Aberdeen Institute.

It’s the best and most affordable Nursing school in town. RSVP at

FORMER sexy star Coca Nicolas revealed that the rape case filed by Pepsi Paloma against Joey de Leon, Vic Sotto and Richie D’Horsie was just a Photos by Mic Diaz gimmick to make them popular.

In her interview with Julius www.aberdeeninstitute.net. See necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs Babao, Coca said that their and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its you there!! management, editorial board and staff. manager Rey dela Cruz initiated *** the rape complaints. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints Coca said that she and Pepsi micdiazpresents@gmail.com expressed by the author do not

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

By Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

shared the same house that’s why they treated each other as sisters.

“Nabanggit ko sa kanya ‘yon, sabi ko, ‘Pechay, totoo ba ‘yung kay Tito, Vic and Joey?’,” Coca said in her interview with Julius.

“Hindi, alam mo naman si Tito Rey. Parang hindi ka naman naano diyan kay Tito. Lahat gagawin niyan para sumikat tayo,” Pepsi answered Coca.

Coca said that she is ready to Former sexy star Coca Nicolas PAGE B7 Philstar.com photo

FOR RENT

B6 JANUARY 13-16, 2024 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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The duty to provide complete and accurate financial disclosure in a California divorce Barrister’s Corner ATTY. KENNETH URSUA REYES COUPLES that are going through the divorce process in California should understand that the Family Code and the Family Courts requires that they provide complete and accurate disclosure to the other spouse.

The financial disclosures are taken seriously by the Courts and failure to disclose could have serious consequences for the non-disclosing party in a divorce case. The parties are required to prepare and exchange preliminary declaration of disclosure which includes and fl142 schedule of assets and debts, fl-150 income and expense declaration, 2 years tax return, a statement of all material facts and information regarding the valuation of all assets that are community property or in which the community has an interest, a statement of all material facts and information regarding obligations for which the community is liable, and an accurate and complete written disclosure of any investment opportunity, business opportunity, or other incomeproducing opportunity presented since the date of separation that results from any investment, significant business, or other income-producing opportunity from the date of marriage to the date of separation. If the case does not settle and proceeds to trial, the parties would have to exchange final declaration of disclosure which consists of the above information with the characterization of the assets and debts whether community or separate and the valuation of those items.

Family Code Section 2100 states that “[a] full and accurate disclosure of all assets and liabilities in which one or both parties have or may have an interest must be made in the early stages of a proceeding for dissolution of marriage or legal separation of the parties.”

This disclosure must be made regardless of the characterization

of the assets and liabilities as community or separate property.

Family Code Section 1100 defines disclosure as “the act of providing information to the other party or to the court.” Disclosure can be made in a variety of ways, including through the exchange of financial documents, such as tax returns and bank statements, or through written declarations.

Family Code Section 721 states that “[e]ach party to a proceeding for dissolution of marriage or legal separation has a duty to make full and accurate disclosure of all financial information and material facts.”

This duty includes disclosing information about all assets and liabilities, as well as information about income and expenses.

The duty of disclosure is important for several reasons.

First, it allows each spouse to have a full understanding of the marital estate before they enter into negotiations, settlement, or go to trial. This helps to ensure that the division of property and debts is fair and equitable.

Second, the duty of disclosure helps to reduce the likelihood of fraud and concealment of assets.

If a spouse fails to disclose all of their assets or liabilities, the other spouse may be able to set aside the divorce judgment.

Finally, the duty of disclosure helps to promote the public policy of California, which favors the speedy and efficient resolution of divorce cases.

If a spouse fails to comply with their duty of disclosure, they may face a number of penalties. The court may order the spouse to pay the other spouse’s attorney’s fees and costs. The court may also order the spouse to disclose the hidden assets or liabilities and award the non-disclosed asset to the other spouse. In some cases, the court may even set aside the divorce judgment.

The best way to comply with the duty of disclosure is to be honest and forthright with your spouse and with the court. Gather all of your financial documents and review them carefully. If you have any questions about what to disclose, consult with an experienced divorce attorney.

Here are some specific tips for complying with the duty of disclosure: 1. Disclose all assets and

liabilities, regardless of the characterization as community or separate property.

2. Disclose all income and expenses, including income from employment, investments, and businesses.

3. Disclose all debts, including credit card debt, student loans, and mortgages.

4. Disclose all gifts and inheritances received during the marriage.

5. Disclose all business interests, including partnerships, corporations, and limited liability companies.

6. Disclose all information about any income-producing opportunities that arose after the date of separation but that resulted from any investment made during the marriage.

If your divorce entails significant assets such as a business interests, real estate holdings, retirement plans, inheritance, it is important to seek the guidance of an experienced family law attorney to help you navigate through your case. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice.

The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information.

This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed.

The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APC This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist with extensive trial experience. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He was a former CPA prior to law practice. He is Managing Partner of the LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APC and Managing Partner of REYES CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC. located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com.

Wintertime is the best time to treat skin discoloration — here’s why Beauty Talk with Imee

IMEE ONG-MAGHANOY IN our recent column, we have talked about having a skincare routine and knowing the ingredients and/or products that are best for your skin type – and will ultimately – treat your skin problem. Well, our topic today is somewhat a sequel to that last skincare 101.

We mentioned previously that caring for your skin requires commitment,. This goes without saying that treating skin problems also involves the right attitude and of course, Timing.

Yes, my dear readers. There is such a thing as “right timing” when we are dealing with skin conditions, especially with one of the most common and challenging of all which is Skin Discoloration.

Skin discoloration, also called hyperpigmentation, occurs when your skin produces excess pigment in spots or larger patches across your body. It can appear in different forms such as dark spots, age spots, post-acne marks or redness. There are a number of factors that cause skin discoloration, but sun exposure is usually the main culprit. UV coming from the sun (especially when you are not wearing sunscreen) causes dark spots.

And the primary reason why winter is the best time to treat pigmentation, is because there is low UV during the winter.

Also, sunlight triggers melanin production, which is the number one cause of skin hyperpigmentation conditions

such as sun spots. It follows the same principle for when you go through most skin treatments, your skin becomes more sensitive to sunlight. Hence, it is a good idea to schedule your treatments when the weather is cooler, days are shorter, and the sun not so glaring.

Types of skin discoloration and its causes Sun spots – as the name suggests, these are small discolored skin patches caused by repeated exposure to UVA and UVB rays emitted by the sun.

While we can’t avoid some skindarkening after sun exposure, permanent damage occurs with repeated exposure. Sun spots are most common in people above 50 years old, but they can develop at any time.

Dark spots are small areas of skin discoloration, often similar in appearance to freckles. However, unlike freckles,, they won’t fade on their own. Although there are a variety of catalysts that can lead to the development of dark spots on the skin, darker skin tones are more prone to developing discolorations because they naturally produce more melanin.

Melasma – manifests itself as larger patches of hyperpigmentation mainly on the face, is particularly common among women. It is thought to occur when the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone stimulate the overproduction of melanin when skin is exposed to the sun. Whilst the primary trigger is hormonal, sunlight can drive the melasma process an exacerbate the condition.

Age spots – are small, flat, dark areas on the skin. They vary in size and usually appear on areas exposed to the sun, such as your face, hands, shoulders and arms.

Age spots are most common in adults older than 50, but younger people can also get them if they spend a lot of time in the sun without proper SPF application.

Post-acne marks – sometimes referred to as post-inflammatory inflammation (PIH), is a type of discoloration that can develop after the skin is damaged from a pimple. The inflammation from the breakout stimulates melanin production, resulting in the appearance of a dark spot, roughly the same size as the original breakout. Though this kind of discoloration is most common among those with darker complexions, anyone can develop a post-acne mark after a breakout. It may fade on its own, but this process takes time.

Redness is a common skin concern that has many different causes such as irritation, exposure to certain medications, sun burn and skin conditions like rosacea. Some redness may be temporary, while others are long-lasting with certain skin conditions.

Uneven skin tone or skin texture – can be an umbrella word for multiple types of skin discoloration caused by sunspots, or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, for example.

It can also refer to uneven skin texture, like dry patches, builtup dead skin cells, fine lines, or blotchiness. Both uneven tone and skin texture can be signs of a dip in skin health or damage caused by several factors, including but not limited to UV rays, pollution, or even the medication you take.

As you may have noticed, sun exposure is the primary cause of skin discoloration. It is also on of the most challenging skin conditions we encounter and PAGE B7

‘We know what you did last summer’...

PAGE B3 “2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023... and the very first one that I know (2014).”

Social media users speculated that Kaye was pertaining to the years Daniel Padilla allegedly cheated on Kathryn, although these were not yet verified.

“Bakit naman ganunn, grabeeeeeee ang sakittt nunnn,” a Facebook user commented.

(Advertising Supplement) “Let’s all watch the downfall of the great

pretender and cheater,” another commented.

Kathryn unfollowed Daniel on Instagram recently.

Kathryn also unfollowed “2 Good 2 Be True” co-star Gillian Vicencio.

Daniel and Gillian, however, still follow Kathryn on the social media platform.

Gillian, however, quickly denied that she was involved in the split between Kathryn and Daniel. 

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LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 13-16, 2024 B7

Get out of debt now safely and legally Minding Your Finances Atty. RAymond BulAon

Rape charges by Pepsi...

PAGE B5 prove that the allegations against Joey, Vic and Richie are false.

“Ayon po talaga. Ako mismo, ako ang mag-prove na hindi po totoo,” she said.

Pepsi died in 1985. Coca said that Pepsi was always telling her that she wanted to rest.

“Lagi niyang sinasabi na parang gusto niya nang mamahinga. Ang sabi ko, ‘Bakit naman?’ Pagod na raw siya,” Coca recalled.

“No’ng minsan umuwi kami sa nanay niya sa Olongapo, bumili pa kami ng lechon sa La Loma para ibigay namin sa nanay niya.

Pagdating namin sa nanay niya sa Olongapo, hindi kami pinapasok.

Ang ginawa namin, umalis na lang kami,” she added.

Coca said that Pepsi was “mabait na kaibigan, mabait na kapatid, mabait siya, mapagbigay.” g

Winter-time is the...

PAGE B6 have managed to treat for the past 10 years. Just like every case is different, we see it to it, that we customize our treatment according to our clients’ specific needs and condition.

One of the most popular treatment we use to manage skin discoloration is our Signature Rosy Peel Kit combined with Customized Treatment at the spa and an Iskin at-home regimen.

We have been treating melasma and stubborn hyperpigmentation with great success for over 10 years now and we would love to help you –– especially NOW that we are in the BEST time/ season to manage this sun-exposure causing problem. Give us a call.

We’d love to help you. If you are in the LA area, feel free to swing by iSkin Beverly Hills. And if you happen to be in the Inland Empire and Orange County, we have MiSkin Spa for your selflove and self-pampering needs.

For more information you may visit iskinbeverlyhills.com.

Visit iSkin Med Spa and MiSkin MedSpa for a free consultation. iSkin is located at 8665 Wilshire Blvd. Penthouse Beverly Hills

,90211 or call 424-382-1002 MiSkin MedSpa is located at 9227 Haven Ave. Suite 120 in Rancho Cucamonga, 91370 or call 909-9898464.

You may also follow us on social media: @iskinmedspa and @miskinmedspa or watch her youtube channel that talks about how you can make “beauty a lifestyle,” on “Beauty Talk with Imee.” *** Known to several Filipino-American awarding circles, Imee has recently been awarded the “Premier in Beauty and Skin Treatment.” for iSkin Face and Body Spa. She maintains a monthly beauty column on Asian Journal, and a YouTube Channel, “Beauty Talk With Imee.”

Imee Ong-Maghanoy is an established aesthetician, a business owner and CEO of iSkin Beverly Hills, iSkin MedSpa and MiSkin MedSpa. Imee has been in the aesthetics industry for more than 20 years. She has a degree in Biology and Doctor of Dental Medicine. iSkin MedSpa and MiSkin MedSpa are fast emerging as a top spa destination in LA. iSkin is located at 8665 Wilshire Blvd penthouse Beverly Hills, CA 90211. MiSkin MedSpa is located at 9227 Haven Ave. Suite 120 in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, 91370.

(Advertising Supplement)

ARE you sick and tired of being in debt and having bad credit? Do you want to start over but simply don’t know where to begin? Is filing bankruptcy an option for you or are other options available?

These days, you are constantly bombarded with advertising from companies and other professionals offering you their “solution”. But how do you know who to trust and if you are doing the right thing?

I find that a lot of people are mostly concerned about the effects of bankruptcy on their credit more than anything else.

Most are under the mistaken belief that once they file for bankruptcy, their credit is ruined forever and that they will never be able to buy a house or obtain credit again. Of course, this is simply not true. Let me explain.

Yes, bankruptcy is reported on your credit record for 7-10 years depending on the type of bankruptcy you are filing but a lot of people quickly bounce back from bankruptcy in as little as 2-3 years.

I also find that most people who are in debt trouble already have bad credit anyway and

filing bankruptcy, if anything, can only help them rebuild their credit in the long run. Yes, in most cases that I see, bankruptcy can actually improve credit by allowing the person a chance to start over after wiping out debts.

I see a lot of people on a regular basis who are scammed by debt settlement companies.

These are the companies that you see on TV, on the internet or hear about on the radio. I say “scammed” because a lot of these people didn’t really

That’s right. Creditors can still report your delinquency month after month to the credit bureaus. You can also get sued anytime by your creditors.

And once they get a judgment against you, of course, your creditors can garnish your wages, file a judgment lien against your property and levy your bank accounts.

Secondly, when you make those monthly payments to a debt settlement company, your money doesn’t just go directly to your creditors. After collecting

First of all, what they often don’t mention is the fact that you have no legal protection while you are on their program. That’s right. Creditors can still report your delinquency month after month to the credit bureaus. You can also get sued anytime by your creditors. understand what they are getting into when they sign up for their services.

Oftentimes, these companies tell people that bankruptcy is the ‘worst mistake’ that they can make and that by enrolling in their debt management or settlement program, they will be able to help you get out of debt without filing for bankruptcy.

First of all, what they often don’t mention is the fact that you have no legal protection while you are on their program.

their fees (which they often don’t clearly explain), the debt settlement company simply puts aside your monthly payments until they have enough to settle with your creditors one by one.

Do you really believe that creditors are willing to wait several years to get paid? No. That is why they often sue and once that happens, you have a big problem in your hands.

What about the money that you already paid the debt settlement company? Good luck trying to

get any of that money back once they have it.

So, if you are in debt and your credit has suffered as a result, it may be better for you to just file bankruptcy now instead of delaying the inevitable if you’ve already done your best on your own with no success. Rebuilding your credit after bankruptcy is not as hard as you think, and this is often a better strategy than not paying your bills and letting your credit continue to get worse every single month with no end in sight.

If you’ve been struggling with debt for a while now and nothing has changed, when are you going to get so sick and tired of your debt problems to finally do something about it?

I can help you decide if bankruptcy is the right solution for your situation. If it’s not, I will be the first to tell you. If that’s the case, I can help you explore other options that may be available to you. *** NOTE: Due to the current lockdown order caused by COVID-19, I am offering free consultations BY PHONE to anyone who needs help in dealing with their debt problems. *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray J. Bulaon has successfully helped over 6,000 clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call RJB Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-866-471-8272.

(Advertising Supplement)

B8 JANUARY 13-16, 2024 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

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