011823 - Southern California Midweek Edition

SACRAMENTO – An  ongoing compliance drive  by the U.S. Department of Labor found that four Sacramento-area home care providers, among them a Filipino-owned care home, failed to pay employees required overtime despite some of them working 24hour shifts caring for those in need.

Investigators from the department’s  Wage and Hour Division  found that the home care employers shortchanged their employees and deprived them of their rightfully earned wages, in violation of the  Fair Labor Standards Act.

In total, the division recovered $500,854

THE Philippines may not have secured its fifth Miss Universe crown but Filipinos in the United States and around the world are still celebrating as a Filipina American has been crowned in this year’s competition.

Miss USA R’Bonney Gabriel, 28, secured the title on Saturday, January 14, beating out 83 other women from around the globe at the 71st Miss Universe pageant held in New Orleans.

"Filipinos are so happy. They are just over the moon about it," Gabriel told Good Morning America

following her win. "It's a huge win for the community and just representation. It's an honor."

Gabriel, who is an eco-friendly fashion designer, sewing instructor and model from Houston Texas, made history as the first Fil-Am to earn the coveted crown; and before that, she was the first Fil-Am to win the Miss USA and the Miss Texas crowns.

The final question and answer portion asked the top 3 candidates: “If you win Miss Universe, how would you work to demonstrate this as an empowering and progressive organization?”

Gabriel answered that she would use the title to be a “transformational leader,” crediting her experience in fashion as a “force for good” and

teaching sewing to human trafficking and domestic violence survivors.

“It’s important to invest in others, invest in our community, and use our unique talent to make a difference. We have something special and we can plant those seeds to other people in our life. We transform them and we use that as a vehicle for change,” she added.

Gabriel’s triumph becomes the ninth Miss Universe win for the U.S.

Amanda Dudamel of Venezuela was first runnerup, while Andreína Martínez from the Dominican Republic was 2nd runner-up. Puerto Rico and  PAGE 2

Marcos admin expects PH to grow by 6.5% in 2023

DAVOS – The Philippine economy is likely to sustain a 6.5-percent growth rate this year, one of the fastest pace of expansion seen in the region, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said on Monday.

In a speech during a luncheon hosted by Philippine economic managers for President Marcos and the seven business tycoons attending the World Economic Forum meetings in Switzerland, Diokno estimated that gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2022 likely exceeded the government’s growth target of 6.5 to 7.5 percent.

While growth may just be at the low end of last year’s range in 2023, Diokno noted that 6.5 percent would still be one of the highest, if not the highest growth projection in the Asia-Pacific region.

NHL player out for season

FILIPINO

Robertson is out for the remainder of the season after his team, Toronto Maple Leafs, announced that he will undergo shoulder surgery.

He is expected to miss six months.

"Maple Leafs forward Nick Robertson had season-ending shoulder surgery and will be out for six months," the Leafs' public relations Twitter handle wrote on Monday (Tuesday in Manila).

Nick, the younger brother of All-Star forward Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars, had two goals and three assists in 15 regular season games for the Leafs.

His injury stemmed from a hit from Los Angeles Kings defenseman Matt Roy in a game on December 8 in Toronto. (Aric John Sy Cua/ManilaTimes.net)

by BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO ManilaTimes.net

MANILA will host this week the 10th Philippines-United States Bilateral Strategic Dialogue (BSD) to discuss the challenges the two countries face in upholding their alliance.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will co-host the dialog with the Department of National Defense (DND) on January 19 to 20.

The DFA, in a statement, said the BSD is an annual event which serves as the main platform for the Philippines and the US "to affirm the longstanding alliance and friendship."

It also discusses current challenges and identifies new areas for cooperation at the working group and senior officials' levels.

The 9th BSD was held in Washington D.C. in November 2021. The two countries take turns in hosting the meeting.

"Both sides view the forthcoming meeting as an important opportunity to progress discussions on concrete initiatives to achieve the objectives outlined in the Joint Vision for a 21st century US-Philippines Partnership adopted by both sides during the 9th BSD," the DFA said.

"Next week's discussions will cover the

Philstar.com

MANILA — The privatization of operations of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) anticipates the potential growth of tourism as it will improve the airport experience for tourists, according to Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion.

“I am glad that (Department of Transportation) Sec. Bautista supports the privatization of NAIA,” Concepcion said over the weekend, referring to the recent confirmation by Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista that the government is preparing to privatize NAIA.

“Our airports create the first impression of our country, and since tourism has one of the

biggest potentials for growing our economy, any improvement made here will redound to so many benefits,” Concepcion said.

During an inquiry of the Senate public services committee into the Jan. 1 airspace shutdown, Bautista confirmed that the government is planning to privatize the airport.

He added that the government is open to solicited or unsolicited proposals, but cited a preference for the former.

The transportation secretary explained that the NAIA has already exceeded its rated capacity and needs to be improved and modernized.

Concepcion said that the lockdown created financial problems for micro, small and medium enterprises in the tourism

A bustling manufacturing sector, record-low unemployment rate, alongside a stable and resilient banking system, could alleviate buffers against external headwinds, all indicating a resilient economy, the finance chief said.

Liberalizing more economic sectors, improving ease

MANILA — Filipino travelers who are bringing in cheaper vegetables from abroad need to get clearances first even whether for personal or commercial use, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airpot (NAIA) warned in a Facebook post on Monday, January 16.

The clearances must be obtained from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), the BOC said.

Travelers must first apply for

a Plant Quarantine Clearance for items brought in for personal use and a Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance for items brought in for commercial use. Clearances are necessary regardless of the quantity of the items.

“This is to safeguard and prevent the spread of plant pests in the Philippines,” the statement said.

The BOC-Naia posted the

American National Hockey League (NHL) forward Nicholas "Nick"

Marcos admin expects PH to grow by 6.5%...

of doing business and allowing modern transformative industries to take root and grow are further seen to sustain the economy.

Diokno also said the Marcos administration had created a more competitive and enabling environment through public-private partnership (PPP) to further expand the “Build, better, more” infrastructure agenda of the administration.

This is seen to further boost investments on top of the government’s goal to spend at least 5-6 percent of GDP on infrastructure, Diokno noted, stressing all these would form the backbone for the rapid and sustained growth for the Philippines.

But because of the current challenges, Diokno said the Philippines is taking the first steps toward launching the Maharlika Investment Fund, the country’s first ever sovereign wealth fund that will support the goals set by the administration in the Philippine Development Plan 20232028.

“The fund, which will be established in keeping with the highest standards of accountability and sound fiscal management, aims to diversify the country’s financial portfolio,” the DOF chief said, adding, he looked forward to discussing the fund during the WEF meetings.

“May the next few days bring forth more intensive collaboration

and cooperation towards genuine economic transformation,” the DOF secretary said.

The seven tycoons who are in Davos to support Marcos’ inaugural participation at the 2023 WEF are: Sabin Aboitiz (Aboitiz); Kevin Andrew Tan (Alliance Global); Jaime Zobel de Ayala (Ayala Group); Lance Gokongwei (JG Summit Holdings); Ramon Ang (San Miguel Corp.); Teresita Sy-Coson (SM Investments); and Enrique Razon (International Container Terminal).

President Marcos and his official delegation, composed of government officials and business leaders, arrived in Switzerland on Sunday afternoon (Sunday evening Philippine time).

Onions, other veggies from abroad need...

PAGE 1

warning after several social media posts and news reports showed Filipino travelers and migrant workers now packing pricey vegetables, like onions, as pasalubong (small gifts given to relatives and friends after traveling) instead of the usual chocolates and delicacies.

Onions, fruits seized from flight attendants

Another Facebook post on Monday also showed that BOCNaia was able to seize onions and assorted fruits from 10 flight attendants coming in from Dubai and Riyadh.

Inspectors found the agricultural products through physical and x-ray examinations of the flight attendants’ baggage.

The flight attendants had no clearances for the items, which are considered “regulated importations” under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, according to the Facebook post.

The flight attendants, who may be charged with smuggling, were still under investigation for other violations.

“The flight attendants also exhibited unruly behaviors by stomping/stepping and destroying/crushing the said

products without permits in public view upon being informed of their violations,” the statement added.

Prices of onions and other food items have skyrocketed as the country weathered through an 8.1% headline inflation rate in December 2022 — which brought the full-year average to 5.8%.

This is the highest inflation rate since November 2008.

In several markets and grocery stores, onions are being sold for as much as P500 per kilogram.

Egg prices are also starting to increase. (With a report from Niña Cuasay)

R’Bonney Gabriel makes history...

Curacao also made it to the top 5.

During the Miss Universe national costume segment, Gabriel donned a NASA-inspired outfit with thigh-high silver metallic boots, silver star wings and a moon headpiece. The get-up — which weighed about 30 pounds — was designed by Filipino designer Patrick Isorena, who previously created

University

an outfit Gabriel wore in the Miss USA 2022 pageant.

Since winning the Miss USA pageant last year, Gabriel has opened up about her family and roots, sharing stories about her father who migrated from the Philippines.

"My dad moved to America from the Philippines on a college scholarship with about $20 in his pocket. He wanted to pave a new life for himself. He met my mom in Texas, who is a country woman from Beaumont. I'm a very proud Filipina Texan," Gabriel told ABC News in an October 2022 interview.

In addition to her pageant work, Gabriel is currently CEO of her own sustainable clothing line, R’Bonney Nola. She received a bachelor’s degree in fashion design from the

Meanwhile, FilipinaItalian model Celeste Cortesi represented the Philippines, but ended her Miss Universe journey after not advancing to the top 16 in the pageant.

Cortesi failing to make the semifinals of the pageant meant the end of the Philippines' consecutive runs to at least the semifinals in the annual beauty tilt at 12, which started with Venus Raj's 4th runner-up placement in 2010 and ended with Beatrice Luigi Gomez making the Top 5 last year.

BUSINESS TRIP. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos wave to well-wishers at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City before departing for Davos, Switzerland on Sunday morning, Jan. 15. The president will attend the 53rd World Economic Forum, where he said he will draw attention to the Philippines’ efforts at building resilient infrastructure, ensuring food security, and furthering climatefriendly, clean and green energy to power the economy. PNA photo by Rolando Mailo

of North Texas. Gabriel was born on March 20, 1994 in San Antonio, Texas, to Filipino Ramon Bonifacio ‘R’Bon’ Gabriel and American Dana Walker. Ramon immigrated to the United States from Manila, aged 19, to study.

R’Bonney Gabriel

AJPress Photos by Troi Santos

PH hosts strategic dialogue with...

Concepcion: NAIA privatization to bene t...

sector, and that efforts must now be focused on helping the sector.

“In my meeting with Sec. Frasco, we discussed how we can help our MSMEs prepare for the tourism boom. We still have, by far, the best beaches and one of the most welcoming people in the world,” he said, referring to Tourism Secretary Cristina Frasco.

Concepcion said that the biggest assist for the sector can come from making it easy for people who fly in and out of the NAIA.

“The airport experience must be improved, not just for the tourists but also for the OFWs who have only a few days to spend with their families here,” he said.

“An efficient airport will also ensure they will be able to make it back in time to their employers and keep their jobs,” he added.

Earlier this month, Concepcion suggested reviving the private sector proposal to modernize NAIA after an airport glitch that halted all air travel within the country’s airspace.

“NAIA is strategically located and any improvements made here will redound to so many benefits to the country,” Concepcion said.

He emphasized that any inefficiencies in the NAIA translate to big losses in business down the line and are felt throughout the country.

“I believed then, as I do now, that the private sector can contribute so much if allowed to participate,” he added.

On New Year’s Day, thousands of travelers were stranded at Philippine airports after a “loss of communication” as the country’s busiest hub in Manila forced hundreds of flights to be canceled, delayed or diverted.

Aviation authorities detected in the morning a “technical issue” involving the air traffic management center or ATMC at Manila’s domestic and international airport.

“Having seen how badly key systems in our air transportation system need to be modernized, and how severely any glitch can affect the whole country, I hope that this time, we can revive this proposal and see it through,”

Concepcion said, referring to a proposal made by a private sector consortium in 2018.

To recall, a consortium comprised of some of the country’s biggest conglomerates – Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Alliance Global Group Inc., Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp., Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. – made a proposal for the modernization of the NAIA.

Under the consortium’s proposal, NAIA will have a 20 percent increase in efficiency, pushing it to become a world-class gateway at par with the world’s best airports. In addition,  there were no government guarantees, and no moratorium on the construction of another major airport.

In 2018, the consortium’s unsolicited proposal was recommended for approval by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to the Manila International Airport Authority, the primary government agency for the project.

By August that year, the consortium secured from the Philippine government an original proponent status for its plan to rehabilitate the NAIA. It was approved by the National Economic and Development Authority board in November 2019.

However, in March 2020, then-DOTr secretary Arthur Tugade said he will cancel the unsolicited proposal and offer it to parties that are ready to accept the government’s terms and conditions if a deal is not finalized.

In July 2020, the consortium withdrew the proposal due to unresolved issues with the government.

“All of the conglomerates were interested in seeing the project push through,” Concepcion said, adding that it would have been good for their respective businesses, such as in air travel, real estate or retail.

“We were all in agreement that connectivity is important, and even the tycoons who were not formally

part of the group pitched in to see how they can help,” he added.

Organized labor links NAIA glitch to privatization

Organized labor yesterday linked the recent airspace shutdown to the planned privatization of the NAIA.

Labor coalition Nagkaisa said the glitch may have been machinated to build up support for the conversion of NAIA into a private airport.

“So, it’s not really the Aquino name that the administration seeks to change in the airport but the character itself, with the President giving his go signal for NAIA’s privatization,” Nagkaisa said in a statement.

President Marcos previously gave the go signal for NAIA’s privatization within the year.

Nagkaisa opposed the privatization plan, saying it is not an all-out solution to public transportation problems.

According to Nagkaisa, successful public transportation systems, including the best airports around the world remain owned and controlled by the state.

The group stressed that government-owned and controlled airports provide not just affordable and efficient transportation options for the public but also as a vital source of public employment.

It further noted that quality and efficient operations of any public utility is not simply a function of modern machines and equipment, but also of competent managers and most importantly, by a regular and protected workforce.

“We also regret to learn about CAAP employing some 7,000 non-regular workers, but won’t support the position of Senator (Joel) Villanueva that privatization can address this problem of endo in the aviation industry. It’s the reverse that will happen as in every privatization program, it is labor that is first to go or outsourced to third-party service providers,” the coalition said.

What the country needs at this time, Nagkaisa said, is strong, accountable, comprehensive, responsive, effective and democratic public services.

Despite doctors’ concerns, University of California renews ties with religious a liates

by ANNIE SCIACCA Kaiser Health News

AS the University of California’s health system renews contracts with hundreds of outside hospitals and clinics — many with religious affiliations — some of its doctors and faculty want stronger language to ensure that physicians can perform the treatments they deem appropriate, including abortions for women or hysterectomies for transgender patients.

University of California Health is in the middle of a two-year process to renew contracts with affiliate hospitals and clinics that help the university deliver care in underserved parts of the state. Many of the agreements are with faith-based facilities, including prominent hospitals operated by Dignity Health, Providence, or Adventist Health. Such arrangements generate more than $20 million a year for the UC system and help the public university approach its goal of improving public health.

The current policy, adopted in 2021, states that UC physicians have the freedom to advise, refer, prescribe, or provide emergency care, covering cases in which moving a patient “would risk material deterioration to the patient’s condition.” But some UC doctors and faculty worry that physicians would be allowed to perform certain surgeries only in an emergency.

They want to add a clause stating that physicians have the right to perform procedures in a manner they deem advisable or necessary without waiting for the patient’s condition to get worse.

Others have gone so far as to urge the university to reject partnerships with hospitals that have ethical and religious directives against sterilization, abortion, some miscarriage management procedures, and some gender-affirming treatments. The Academic Senate, a faculty body that helps the university set academic policies, and other faculty councils urged the university’s president to avoid working with health care facilities because many have restrictions that “have the potential for discriminatory impact on patients.”

In response, university leaders have pledged publicly to ensure that doctors and trainees can

provide whatever care they deem necessary at affiliated facilities but haven’t made changes to the policy language.

“We’ve made it clear that the treating provider is the one to decide if an emergency exists and when to act,” said Dr. Carrie Byington, executive vice president for University of California Health, at a fall meeting of the UC Board of Regents, the governing board of the university system.

UC Health has given itself until the end of this year to make contracts conform to its new policy. During the October board meeting, staffers estimated that one-third of the contracts had been evaluated. Administrators haven’t said whether the current policy thwarted any contracts.

Back in June 2021, the regents approved the policy governing how its doctors practice at outside hospitals and clinics with religious or ethical restrictions. Regent John Pérez made significant amendments to a staff proposal.

At the time, it was celebrated as a win by those advocating for the university to push back on religious directives from affiliates.

Pérez noted at the time that his amendments were aimed at “making clear that it’s the regents’ expectation in policy that nothing that is not based on science or [the] best practice of medicine should limit the ability of our practitioners to practice medicine in the interest of the patients.”

But some doctors and faculty said Pérez’s proposal was then wordsmithed as it was converted from the regents’ vote into a formal policy months later. Some questioned whether the policy could be interpreted as restricting services unless there is an emergency, and said it does not go far enough to define an emergency.

“It sounds pretty good,” Dr. Tabetha Harken, director of the Complex Family Planning, Obstetrics & Gynecology division at the UC Irvine School of Medicine, testified before the board. “It passes the commonsense test, but in reality, this is just the federal minimum requirement of care.”

Pérez declined to comment to KHN.

At the regents’ meetings, concerned doctors offered examples of pregnancy and gender-affirming care they believe would be at risk in some hospitals.

One was tubal ligation or sterilization procedures immediately after birth to prevent future pregnancies that may put the woman at risk. It’s a simpler procedure if done postpartum because the uterus is larger than normal and it eliminates the need for additional surgery, said Dr. Jennifer Kerns, an associate professor at UC-San Francisco and director of the school’s Complex Family Planning Fellowship.

Dr. Mya Zapata of UCLA Health described cases of two patients who might not be able to get the same care at a religiously restricted hospital: a trans male who seeks out a hysterectomy based on a mental health referral for gender-affirming surgery, and a cisgender female who seeks out the same procedure for uterine fibroids.

In a hospital with restrictions, Zapata said, the cisgender patient would be able to get the surgery but the trans patient would not, despite both being considered nonemergency cases.

But it’s unclear if physicians are running into problems. UC Health leaders said there have been no formal complaints from university doctors or trainees practicing at affiliate medical centers about being blocked from providing care.

Critics said the lack of complaints may not reflect reality since physicians may find workarounds by transferring or referring patients elsewhere. One researcher, Lori Freedman, who works at UCSF, has spoken to dozens of doctors working at religious-affiliated hospitals across the country. Many have not filed complaints about care restrictions out of fear they’d put their job at risk, she said.

The debate stems from a partnership with Dignity Health, a Catholic-affiliated hospital system. In 2019, UCSF Medical Center leaders considered a controversial plan to create a formal affiliation with Dignity. Critics voiced opposition in heated public meetings, and the plan drew condemnation from dozens of reproductive justice advocates and the gay and transgender communities. UCSF ultimately backed off the plan.

When it became clear that UC medical centers across the state had similar affiliation contracts,

Filipino-owned California care home among...

in back wages and liquidated damages for 48 workers and assessed $26,469 in penalties.

L&S Gentle Care Inc. and owners Samuel and Imelda Padama failed to pay employees for all hours worked at one location in Vacaville and a second in Fairfield, both in California, resulting in  one worker getting wages as low as $3.98 per hour.

The Padamas also failed to pay overtime rates and maintain records of hours worked. The division recovered $108,396 in back wages for eight care givers and assessed $4,936 in penalties.

“The majority of care workers

are women and low-wage earners who provide essential services for those most in need in our communities,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Cesar Avila in a press statement.

“The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to holding care service employers accountable and ensuring their workers are paid in full and as required by federal law.”

In fiscal year 2021, the division recovered $13.8 million in back wages for more than 17,000 workers across the nation in the health care industry, known for both low wages and high rates of violations.

As the U.S. population ages and demand for home healthcare services increases, employment in a variety of  health care sectors is projected to grow 16 percent from 2020 to 2030  – faster than the average for all occupations – adding about 2.6 million new jobs.

The division enforces the law regardless of where a worker is from and can speak confidentially with callers in more than 200 languages.

For more information about the  FLSA  and other laws enforced by the division, contact its toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (4879243). (Inquirer.net)

Despite doctors’ concerns, University of California...

faculty members raised additional concerns. Janet Napolitano, then president of the UC system, convened a working group to evaluate the consequences of ending all agreements with organizations that have religious restrictions. Ultimately, the group stressed the importance of maintaining partnerships to provide care to medically underserved populations.

“With 1 in 7 patients in the U.S. being cared for in a Catholic hospital,” the group wrote in its report, “UC’s isolating itself from major participants in the health care system would undermine our mission.”

Dignity Health, which merged in 2019 with Catholic Health Initiatives to form CommonSpirit Health, has already reached a new contract that adopts the updated UC policy. Chad Burns, a spokesperson for Dignity, said the hospital system values working with UC Health for its expertise

in specialties, such as pediatric trauma, cancer, HIV, and mental health. He added that the updated agreement reflects “the shared values of UC and Dignity Health.”

Some UC doctors point out that they have not only public support, but legal standing to perform a variety of reproductive and contraceptive treatments. After California voters passed Proposition 1, the state constitution was officially changed in December to affirm that people have a right to choose to have an abortion or use contraceptives. Unlike health systems in other states, some faculty say UC Health can assert reproductive rights.

“We have a lot of latitude, being in California, to be able to make these decisions and stand in our power,” Kerns said. “I think it’s our responsibility to do so.”

Other doctors say the university system should prioritize public service. Dr. Tamera Hatfield, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist

at UC-Irvine, testified at a regents’ meeting that she had never been asked to modify care for patients based on religious restrictions since her department formed an affiliation with Providence St. Joseph Hospital-Orange about a decade ago.

“Partnering with faith-based institutions dedicated to serving vulnerable populations affords opportunities to patients who are least able to navigate our complex health systems,” she said.

This story was produced by KHN, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.

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

ALERT APP. National Capital Region Police Office chief, Maj. Gen. Jonnel Estomo, and Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos (2nd and 3rd from left) lead the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding of the S.A.F.E NCRPO alert mobile application at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City on Monday, Jan. 16. Alerts made via the mobile application will be monitored by NCRPO’s Tactical Operation Centers, which will then coordinate police response. PNA photo by Avito Dalan

PhiliPPines

Call for wealth tax revived as 9 richest own more than bottom 55M Pinoys do

MANILA — A wealth tax could fatten the Philippines’ tax haul as the growing number of dollar millionaires exposed the realities of inequality in the country, global nonprofit Oxfam said.

Erika Geronimo, executive director of Oxfam Pilipinas, reckoned that the ranks of millionaires in the country have grown by 43.5% since 2012.

The statement came as the global elite has nestled themselves in a posh Swiss ski resort for the World Economic Forum, where President  Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and an entourage of government officials and business magnates are in attendance.

Remittances slip to 6-month low

by Louise Maureen siMeon Philstar.com

MANILA — Dollars sent home by overseas Filipinos workers grew at a softer pace in November, hitting a six-month low even amid the holiday season as inflation rose in many OFW host countries.

Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed that personal remittances – the sum of net compensation of employees, personal transfers and capital transfers between households – reached $2.93 billion in November last year.

The amount is 5.8 percent higher than the previous year’s $2.64 billion.

However, this was the lowest recorded in six months or since the $2.71 billion in May 2022.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort attributed the slowdown in OFW remittances to the relatively higher exchange rate that partly led to lower amounts of dollars sent by OFWs to the country.

“Higher inflation also in host countries of OFWs could have increased the cost of living of OFWs abroad, thereby partly reducing the amount sent to the country,” Ricafort said.

Nonetheless, the increase was brought about by the 5.5-percent rise in remittances sent by land-based workers with work contracts of one year or more, to $2.26 billion from $2.14 billion.

Similarly, remittances from sea and land-based workers with work contracts of less than one year improved by 6.2 percent to $620 million from $580 million.

For the 11-month period, personal remittances inched up by 3.4 percent to $32.65 billion from $31.59  billion in the same period in 2021.

On the other hand, cash remittances coursed through banks also slipped to a six-month low of $2.64 billion. This was also the lowest recorded since the $2.43 billion in May 2022.

Still, the expansion in cash remittances in November was due to the growth in receipts from land and sea-based workers.

Cash remittances from landbased workers increased by 5.6 percent to $2.08 billion while the amount sent home by seabased workers jumped almost six percent to $560 million.

From January to November 2022, cash remittances picked up by 3.3 percent to reach $29.38 billion from the 2021 level of $28.43 billion.

“The growth in cash remittances from the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Qatar contributed largely to the increase in remittances from January to November 2022,” the BSP said.

As to overall remittances for the 11-month period, the U.S. topped the list with a share of 41.4 percent, followed by Singapore with 6.9 percent and Saudi Arabia with 5.8 percent.

Other top sources include Japan, the UK, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Qatar, Taiwan and Korea.

Despite the slowdown in November, Ricafort said increased holiday spending during the last month of 2022 could lead to more OFW remittances in December as well as higher inflation locally.

On the downside, he warned that risks of a U.S. recession could slow down remittances moving forward amid weaker global trade, investments, employment and other economic activities.

Remittances remain one of the major sources of dollars, together with revenues from the business process outsourcing sector, tourism receipts, and earnings of exporters that help boost the country’s gross international reserves.

"Inequality experienced in the Philippines is starker with the nine richest Filipinos having more wealth than the bottom half (55 million) of the population,"  she said.

Oxfam Pilipinas qualified that figure as Filipinos whose wealth bloated upwards of P278.24 million, or $5 million, and beyond.

The figures are even more severe  in a global context. Oxfam noted that the richest 1% amassed two-thirds of new wealth generated since 2020, at an estimated total of $42 trillion. This is equivalent to twice as much money generated by the "bottom 99%"  of global population.

Geronimo argued that if a wealth tax, targeted especially towards Filipino millionaires, is passed into law, this could leave the country $3.8 billion wealthier.

"This amount is enough to

increase our health budget by two-fifths,"  she added.

Data from the Bureau of Treasury showed that the country’s tax haul grew 12.5% year-on-year to P237.1 billion as of November 2022. Year-to-date, collections expanded 12.6% onyear to P2.2 trillion.

Super-Rich Tax bill

Suggestions to impose a wealth tax on the elite have been floated within the legislature in the past two years. The Makabayan bloc at the House of Representatives has refiled a Super-Rich Tax bill which proposes a 1-3% tax on billionaires.

They said it would raise around P236.7 billion a year from the 50 most wealthy Filipinos alone.

Proponents said the tax on billionaires would help fund government programs and social services for the poor and "would further help shift the burden away from regressive consumption taxes toward the handful of the wealthiest who can contribute more to our public coffers."

The bill, which was also filed during the Duterte administration, has been pending at the committee level since last July. Congress, like most in government, is dominated by the landed, the wealthy, and the elite.

Under this new administration, economic managers said they were keen to pursue fiscal consolidation to boost revenues. This strategy, if realized, could see a host of new taxation measures and reforms which could burden Filipinos as economic conditions prove too harsh and difficult.

"It’s time we demolish the convenient myth that tax cuts for the richest result in their wealth somehow ‘trickling down’ to everyone else. Forty years of tax cuts for the super-rich have shown that a rising tide doesn’t lift all ships —just the superyachts,"  said Gabriela Bucher, Executive Director of Oxfam International.

Oxfam’s new research hammered home a point about trickle-down economics.

"The very existence of booming billionaires and record profits, while most people face austerity, rising poverty and a cost-ofliving crisis, is evidence of an economic system that fails to deliver for humanity. For too long, governments, international financial institutions and elites have misled the world with a fictional story about trickle-down economics, in which low tax and high gains for a few would ultimately benefit us all,"  the report read.

As it is, the coronavirus pandemic widened the inequality gap around the world, especially in the Philippines. Filipinos continued to endure brutally-high inflation, which has persisted as the economy found its recovery from the pandemic threatened.

The combined effects of expensive fuel prices, supplychain disruptions, and a weak peso have altogether battered the purchasing power of Filipinos. Inflation shrank the value of the local unit, as data showed a peso coin in 2018 was only worth P0.88 by the middle of last year. (Philstar.com)

Foreign countries ‘pirating’ Filipino nursing students

by Mayen JayMaLin Philstar.com

MANILA — European countries are now “pirating” nursing students from the Philippines to address the huge demand for health care workers.

Vilma Garcia, De La Salle University Medical Center employees’ union president, said the United Kingdom and Germany are actively recruiting and offering “attractive packages” to Filipino nursing

students.

“Foreign countries are giving very attractive packages to our 2nd year nursing students so that they can continue their studies in their country and they will provide everything – tuition and lodging,” she said in an interview.

“Then, when they are already practicing, they can bring their family with them. That’s a big offer and we cannot equal that,” Garcia added in Filipino and English.

According to her, since 2022, foreign countries are directly contacting the school administration in the recruitment of nursing students. Garcia estimated that about a fourth of their nursing students have accepted the offer. “Of course, they’re still young and they also want to experience studying abroad.”

Part of the contract, she said, is that the nursing student will have to work in the host country u PAGE 7

WILD

chilis

a plastic crate for delivery at the Agribusiness Development Center of the Department of Agriculture Kadiwa store on Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City on Monday, Jan. 16. Siling labuyo is being sold for

PNA photo by Ben Briones

Signs of the times

IT’S a testament to the sad state of agriculture that Filipinos traveling abroad are bringing onions upon their return to the country. Onion prices in the Philippines are now, hands down, the highest in the world. Sugar prices are not far behind, refusing to come down to reasonable levels.

Because of this state of food insecurity, 10 flight attendants of Philippine Airlines who tried to bring in onions and other fresh produce from Dubai and Riyadh on Jan. 10 are getting sympathy even from some senators.

Editorial

The Bureau of Plant Industry reported that the 10 brought into the country 27 kilos of onions, 10.5 kilos of lemons and a kilo each of blueberries and strawberries without the required phytosanitary clearance and without properly declaring the fresh items, which are classified as “regulated importations.”

After being apprehended with the commodities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1, a video showed the PAL crew stomping on the items, spraying them with disinfectant and poking the goods with chopsticks and pens. Customs personnel noted that one of the 10 was recorded saying on video that the destruction was meant to prevent anyone else from consuming the items. PAL management said the airline is fully cooperating in the investigation of the incident and does not condone violations of the law by its personnel.

The 10 could face charges for violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act as well as Presidential Decree 1433, the Plant Quarantine Law of 1978. These are meant to prevent smuggling and to protect local crops from potentially harmful organisms from abroad. The lack of phytosanitary clearance has been cited by the government for refusing to release into the market, amid the tight supply and surging prices, tons of misdeclared yellow and red onions confiscated at the ports.

Authorities said they are studying the appropriate charges to be filed, adding they want the flight attendants penalized because similar cases have been recorded in recent weeks, which could pose phytosanitary risks to domestic produce.

Those sympathizing with the flight attendants, on the other hand, say the government should do more to stop rampant smuggling of tons of agricultural commodities instead of going after miniature fry bringing in a few kilos of precious onions.

More importantly, the public wants the government to take decisive action in significantly

Focusing on economic diplomacy

IT’S been an extremely busy week for us in Washington, DC as we prepare to host in Manila the Bilateral Strategic Dialogue with the United States.

Last Thursday, January 12, I was invited by the Center for Strategic and International Studies senior vice president Victor Cha to deliver the keynote speech for the annual forecasting conference of the CSIS on the challenges in the Indo-Pacific Region. The discussions featured experts and scholars from , and with me in the panel were Kurt Campbell, White House Deputy Assistant to the President and Coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs of the National Security Council, and South Korean Ambassador to the US Taeyong Cho with CSIS senior fellow and Japan chair and deputy director for Asia Nicholas Szechenyi as moderator.

There are so many developments in the Indo-

Pacific region today but one does not really need to gaze into a crystal ball to predict what could happen in the foreseeable future, particularly in our part of the world in Southeast Asia, especially since we are cognizant of the realities we face. The challenge simply is for all stakeholders to work together in dealing with these realities in a manner that would redound to the economic benefit of all our peoples. EMBED Like any other nation, the member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, including the Philippines, are emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic with their respective economies still experiencing the negative impact of the pandemic on many aspects, including the health and livelihood of the people.

In order to fully surmount the challenges and keep the momentum of economic recovery going, the region needs to double down on economic activities and ramp up investments in a wide array of industries and sectors.

The Philippines has been

forthright in stating what we need not just from the United States but from our other partners as well. And what we need is to work with major developed countries to get over the slump and completely recover – not through aid, but through increased trade and investments.

For all of us, it is very clear that our number one priority at this time is to see to it that our economy not only rebounds, but grows at levels that are even higher than before the pandemic. And if we are to significantly and meaningfully contribute to global economic growth, we must do our part to ensure that the economic health of the Southeast Asian region remains healthy and robust.

While some forecasts indicate that the global economy will slow down this year due to the effects of geopolitical issues, growth is expected to expand in our region, and I am convinced that this will help buoy the global economy. In addition, being competitive will help thwart any form of coercion – which is why we also welcome the establishment of the ASEAN-

US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the renewed interest and commitment of the United States to expand economic cooperation with ASEAN as a whole and with key bilateral partners, starting with the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity or IPEF that was launched last year. Certainly, we welcome the Biden administration’s efforts to revitalize economic activities between the US and the region –absent of a Free Trade Agreement – through the IPEF. Although negotiations are still in the early stages, we are determined to get to an outcome that will ultimately lead to massive outflows from the US in terms of investments, jobs generation, technological assistance as well as best practices and standards.

Let me just point out that there is a strong clamor among companies – both from the region and in the US – for an FTA. Given the proliferation of regional trade agreements, it is high time the US started seriously exploring this possibility. Otherwise, it risks getting left behind by

other countries that are already engaged in preferential trade agreements with the region.

To say that there are massive opportunities for American companies to do business in the region is an understatement. ASEAN is definitely open for business – whether as part of the global supply chain, engaging in e-commerce and the digital economy or working together on sustainable infrastructure that will benefit both the region and the rest of the world.

Economic prosperity for the ASEAN region and for the Philippines is a key element for economic security. That is why aside from the United States, we are reaching out to countries like China – which is currently the biggest trade partner of the Philippines – that can help us achieve our economic objectives. How we deal with China is always based on what will be best for our country’s interests.

Considering the intense competition between the two super powers – the United States and China – we are hopeful that the lessons from the war in

Marcos Jr.: A world traveler?

excesses, was a totally selfmade man with world-renowned exploits.)

BARELY seven months into office, President Marcos Jr. embarked on his eighth international trip. Shortly after his maiden state visit to Beijing, he will spend this week in one of the most rarified corners of our beautiful planet. For a person who has claimed to have graduated with economics-related degrees from some of the most prestigious institutions on earth, attending this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, must have been a dreamy moment.

It certainly helps that the Alpine resort town is surrounded by majestic mountains drenched in pure white snow. Mr. Marcos is reportedly the only leader from Southeast Asia to attend the uberposh confab, where the world’s most influential businessmen, thinkers, policymakers, and journalists gather annually.

Given the high frequency of his overseas travels, including a surprise visit to the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Singapore last year, some netizens have begun to describe the President as Ferdinand “Magellan” Jr. (It goes without saying, though, that Ferdinand Magellan, notwithstanding his colonialist

Against the backdrop of persistently high inflation at home, and an unprecedented Cabinet reshuffle affecting half a dozen prized positions, many have begun to wonder about the propriety of Mr. Marcos’ constant overseas travels. Bizarrely, the President has had as many Cabinet changes as foreign trips in his first seven months in office.

So, dear reader, let us briefly examine the merits and demerits of Mr. Marcos’ seeming penchant for “hyperdiplomacy.” A more sympathetic perspective would argue that the current president is simply airbrushing his predecessor’s undesirable legacy. After all, former president Rodrigo Duterte heavily undermined, despite his best intentions, the Philippines’ reputation among the respectable elements of the international community.

The list of policy blunders under the previous president is too long for this article, but here is a brief glimpse: A mindless “drug war” claiming thousands of lives with no sustainable results. Diplomatic subservience to authoritarian superpowers at the expense of trusted allies and friends. Puerile rhetorical outbursts coupled with toxic masculinity. And, lest we forget, the wholesale mismanagement of the COVID-19

pandemic, which triggered one of the deepest recessions in the whole developing world.

No wonder, then, Mr. Marcos made it clear during his first major overseas travel last year that he is determined to “reintroduce the Philippines” to the international community. His visits to the US and Europe helped restore frayed ties with traditional partners. And his dignified, statesmanlike behavior during global summits last November was a far cry from the Duterte era antics. And it must be said that Mr. Marcos, constantly accompanied by seasoned diplomats and accomplished technocrats, has had relatively succinct yet substantive speeches throughout all his foreign trips, so far.

During his first seven trips in office, Mr. Marcos reportedly secured $46.4 billion in investment pledges. The President has tried to justify his “jet-setter” schedule as the “best way to drum up business” for the country.

The problem, however, is that there is no credible evidence to suggest a strong correlation— never mind causation—between travel frequency of world leaders, on one hand, and investment inflow frequency, on the other. First of all, Mr. Marcos has simply secured “pledges” of investments. It’s hard to say whether the $22.8 billion

“pledges”

regulatory certainty, and market size. This is why, for instance, even if Vietnam’s top leader rarely travels abroad, his country is now a top investment destination.

Ukraine will make nations realize the folly of trying to take over another country. Any attempt at such will not succeed because the like-minded nations would never allow that to happen. As we have all seen, what is happening in Ukraine can impact even the farthest country in the world. In the end, everyone loses, which is why we are hoping and praying that the situation does not escalate any further and will be resolved sooner rather than later. What it all boils down to is this: each country wants to ensure economic prosperity and security – a clear direction the Marcos administration is taking today – because when all is said and done, we will only do what is best for our national interest and will remain focused on our economic diplomacy to achieve peace and security. (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.

Moreover, all authoritative studies, whether by international financial institutions or leading scholars, show that the primary drivers of greenfield investments are more foundational factors such as good infrastructure, political stability, human capital,

Finally, there is also a need for transparency on the exact expenditures and size of the President’s delegations during overseas visits in order to ensure we avoid potential junkets— something a developing country grappling with high inflation can’t afford. In short, I’m all for rebranding the country after six

years of populist disaster, but I’m not much given to performative diplomacy either. What we need is results-based, calibrated economic diplomacy that goes beyond resplendent overseas trips.

* * * 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.

* * * rheydarian@inquirer.com.ph

RICHARD HEYDARIAN

ANDY

Babe’s Eye View

BABE ROMUALDEZ

ManilaTimes.net photo

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos

Malacañang photo

he garnered in China weren’t simply a repackaged version of those offered to Duterte in 2016. After all, the $24 billion in investments promised to the former president went largely unfulfilled.

bringing down the prices of onions. If onions weren’t more expensive than pork and beef, who would bother lugging them into the country all the way from the Middle East? (Philstar.com)

DFA exec grilled over zero acquittal of overseas Filipinos from criminal raps

by Daniza FernanDez Inquirer.net

MANILA — A Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official was grilled by senators on Tuesday over the zero acquittal of overseas Filipinos from criminal cases from January to June last year.

During the Senate committee on migrant workers hearing, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva shared the DFA’s report showing zero acquittals while 1,278 individuals were convicted in the first half of 2022.

DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose De Vega said they do not get a lot of acquittals a year.

“Offhand, I hope — kasi (because) I was not undersecretary then — we don’t get a lot of acquittals. That’s the fact,” De Vega said.

“Usually, a maximum [of] maybe less than a dozen a year, maybe. Kasi ang nangyayari diyan, most of time, ang nangyayari, nasesettle, hindi na dumederetso pa sa kaso,” he explained.

(What happens is, most of the time, cases are settled and not pushed through.)

Villanueva said that the situation was “unacceptable.”

“This is not acceptable. These are facts. These are figures that we have on our hand. We wanted to find out ilan ‘yung na-acquit (how many were acquitted)? Kung walang na-a-acquit (If none), what the hell are we doing here? We don’t even evaluate the things that we do,” the senator pointed out.

“May weak evidence gathering ba tayo? ‘Yung mekanismo ba may problema? Talaga bang kulang iyong legal representation natin du’n sa mga benepisyaryo from sa start of the case o late na tayo nakapasok kasi dahil ganu’n? That’s what we wanted to find out kasi that’s the only way we can improve our services to our people,” he went on.

(Do we have weak evidence gathering? Do we have a problem with the mechanism? Do we really lack legal representation for beneficiaries from the start of the case, or are they entering late? That’s what we wanted to find out because that’s the only way we can improve our services to our people)

Senator Raffy Tulfo, the panel chairperson, likewise lamented the

zero acquittals.

“[Baka] mahina ‘yung mga abogadong nakuha ng ating DFA na para idepensa ‘yung ating mga Filipino nationals na may problema sa abroad,” Tulfo said.

(Maybe the lawyers that the DFA deployed are weak to defend our Filipino nationals who have problems abroad.)

De Vega asserted that at least overseas Filipinos are getting legal representation than none.

Tulfo then responded: “Don’t say that kaysa wala. So, dapat po talagang kailangan na kailangan na magkaroon ng legal assistance ang sinumang Pilipino kasi kasama ‘yan sa mandato ninyo na dapat ‘pag may Pilipino in distress. Kailangan tulungan at gastusan kaya nga tayo may legal assistance fund.”

(Don’t say rather than any. Filipinos deserve legal assistance because it is included in your mandate to help Filipinos in distress. You have to help and spend money on them. That is why we have a legal assistance fund.)

Tulfo’s committee is deliberating measures to provide and expand free legal services to OFWs.

Marcos backs Ukraine’s 10-Point Peace Plan, is willing to talk to Zelenskyy

by Catherine S. Valente ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said the Philippines supports Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy's proposed plan on a peaceful settlement of the ongoing conflict with Russia and expressed willingness to make a phone call to Zelenskyy himself.

Speaking to reporters onboard PR001 en route to Switzerland, Marcos said while it is not for the Philippines to decide on the proposed 10-Point Peace Plan, it will support "any effort toward peace."

"That's not for us to decide. Those details are for -- should there be talks Ukraine and -between Ukraine and Russia, sila mag-uusap tungkol diyan (they're the one who should talk about that). We support any effort toward peace, anything basta't matigil ang patayan, matigil ang giyera (that will end killings and the war)," the President said during a chance interview.

"'Yun na muna. Tapos kung papaano nila gagawin (That's our position for now). On how they will do that), what will they do with the territories that have changed stance, et cetera. That is really clearly between the two countries," he added.

The Wall Street Journal reported on December 22, citing anonymous American and European sources, that Ukrainian authorities were working on the final details of their peaceful conflict settlement proposal, which could be made public in February 2023.

Late last month, Zelenskyy told a joint meeting of the US Congress, following his talks with American President Joe Biden, that the two had discussed Kiev's proposals to settle the Ukrainian conflict.

According to Zelenskyy, Biden supported Ukraine's initiative to hold a global peace summit to discuss these proposals.

Commenting later on the proposed initiative, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that no "peace plan" on Ukraine was possible if it did not account for the four new regions joining Russia.

Meanwhile, Marcos said he was willing to set up a phone call meeting with Ukdraine President Zelensky as requested by its embassy in the Philippines.

This, after the Chargé d'affaires of the Ukraine Embassy in Malaysia said their government has been trying to set up a call between Marcos and Zelensky since June but to no avail.

"Well, there was talk of it a couple of months ago pero wala ng napag-usapan (there was no

discussion on that). That's why nagulat kami (we are surprised) when the special envoy came out and said na hindi pa sinasagot (we are nor responding). Sinagot namin (we responded) but we couldn't get it scheduled," the President said.

Denys Mykhailiuk, the Chargé d'affaires of the Ukraine Embassy in Malaysia, said they had been contacting Marcos through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) twice a month since June 2022 but had received no response.

Mykhailiuk said the Ukrainian government wanted to discuss the Philippines' participation or cosponsoring on the Peace Formula.

DFA Undersecretary Carlos said that the phone call between Marcos Zelenskyy needs to be discussed and arranged first.

"We don't really appreciate when matters like these are vented by representatives of another government through the press. I think I'll limit my comment," Sorreta said in a Palace briefing last week.

"If he wants it to happen, we have to discuss it. These things are arranged, talking points are discussed, there's pre-discussion. It's not good diplomatic practice to be doing it the way he did," he added.

Foreign traders: Clear roadblocks to PH growth

by FranCo JoSe C. Baroña ManilaTimes.net

WHILE being upbeat on the Philippine economy, foreign business leaders are also wary about the bottlenecks on the road to recovery that the government needs to remove.

Chris Nelson, executive director and trustee of the British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, said his group is "very much optimistic for the Philippines," but "obviously inflation is still a concern because that directly impacts the consumers."

"We have to remember that the Philippines is a very consumerdriven economy," Nelson said during The Manila Times Roundtable interview on Friday. "But it is good that as of this time the pace has significantly strengthened."

He stressed that inflation "will definitely impact" the pace of consumerism.

For Nelson, the conclusion of the Duterte administration moving into the start of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s government "was generally a good start."

He pointed to proposed laws that were passed during the past administration, such as the amendments to the Retail Trade Liberalization Act and the Foreign Investment Act "that were all very good trends."

"We were very supportive of these measures because these are the things that we would like to see continue going forward to allow the Philippine economy to fully open up. We need these laws to be fully implemented," he said.

He particularly would like to see the ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

The world's biggest free trade deal, the RCEP came into force on Jan. 1, 2022. Over a decade in the making, the RCEP was introduced at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Bali, Indonesia, in 2011.

Another roundtable participant, Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines Executive Director Lorens Ziller, said that he was also upbeat on the economy.

Ziller noted that Moody's and the World Bank have tagged the Philippines as the fastest growing economy in Southeast Asia "which we kind of expected from a democratic point of view and the

drive the Filipinos have to come back after the pandemic."

"It is true, inflation is a little bit of a concern, as we have seen the onions in the country have the highest price compared to the rest of the world. So, that is something that should make us think why. Some say there is a cartel behind it. Well, I do not know. Anyway that is part of the inflation, I guess," he said.

Nevertheless, Ziller said compared to the Duterte administration, President Marcos has opened up the Philippines to the world.

Marcos "is very outgoing, and that is a very positive thing. I think he has done all the right things so far, and we hope he will continue like this," he added.

One primary concern is the government's digitalization program, which has encountered "bottlenecks" particularly in the Internal Revenue and Customs bureaus.

"I think there has been certain resistance to digitalization," Ziller said.

He said foreign business groups are very willing to help remove the bottlenecks.

Nelson said this problem affects the efforts to make doing business with the government easier.

"The government should be able to allow people to set up and do business quickly. They have to figure out how to shorten the time frame in setting up businesses in the country. This will definitely help in making the Philippines an investment destination," he said.

If the government wants to move things "you have to move it quick[ly]," he said.

"What the people really want is speed," Nelson said. "The Philippines needs to keep up the momentum because you have to appreciate that it's a very competitive environment out there."

Nordic Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Executive Director Jesper Svenningsen shared Ziller and Nelson's optimism, and believes that the Philippines is a good destination for companies from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

Svenningsen said President Marcos' talk on promoting e-governance is "something we are really looking forward to as this will make things more transparent, less red tape."

"That is something we really hope to see implemented fully in 2023," he said.

The Nordic countries are "all champions in e-governance processes and we would be very happy to share our knowledge with the Philippine government," he said.

"We are the leading country in the aspect of e-governance and we certainly know that it takes a long time; it is not something you are able to do in a day. It's really an ongoing process. In the Nordic countries it's been going on for more than 10 years now, so we are willing to share our experiences and just reach out to us," Svenningsen said.

He said that the Philippine government should understand what foreign companies need to stay longer in the country.

"Bottlenecks should be removed; the government should do away with more sets of hurdles," Svenningsen said.

He also said the Philippines should move to renew the European Union Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+).

GSP+ gives developing countries a special incentive to pursue sustainable development and good governance. Eligible countries have to implement 27 international conventions on human rights, labor rights, environment and good governance.

"GSP+ needs to be extended. That has to be done because this will really benefit the Philippines," Svenningsen said.

Nelson also noted the importance of consistency in implementing laws governing business and investments, particularly on contracts being awarded.

"The rule of law has a huge impact in foreign investments. The government should make sure that rules do not change in the middle of the game. We need more certainty," he said.

While welcoming improvements in implementing economy-related laws, "constitutional changes with respect to foreign investments are only needed when what is being removed are those that are bad for business," Nelson said.

"To me, the real point is how can the Philippines focus on what it does best, what are its advantages to others and how can it improve those to make people come here," he said.

Foreign countries ‘pirating’ Filipino nursing...

PAGE 5

after graduation.

The school administration, Garcia said, is not stopping the nursing students and letting them decide if they would accept the offer from other countries.

But she expressed fear that the ongoing recruitment of Filipino nursing students will further worsen the prevailing manpower shortage in private hospitals.

At this time, Garcia said De La Salle could not operate fully and can only accommodate 43 percent of the bed capacity due to lack of nurses. With a 250-bed capacity, she said De La Salle is the biggest private hospital in Cavite.

A 250-bed capacity hospital would require 340 nurses to fully operate. However, she said De La Salle only has 100 nurses working at this time.

Garcia noted that many of the nurses have opted to resign because of low salaries and being overworked. Private hospitals could only afford an entry-level salary ranging from P12,500 to P16,000 a month.

Even the employees’ union, she said, has been helping out in the recruitment of new nurses to address the shortage.

“We are already looking to the provinces for new graduates, but we can’t keep up with the competition especially from foreign countries,” Garcia explained.

She said

FOREIGNER NO MORE. Senator Francis Tolentino (left), chairperson of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, administers the oath of allegiance to professional basketball player Justin Brownlee at the Senate in Pasay City on Monday, Jan. 16. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. granted Filipino citizenship to the 6-foot-5 shooting guard through Republic Act 11739.

PNA photo by Avito Dalan

the manpower shortage in De La Salle is not

unusual, but a common situation happening in most private hospitals nationwide. Garcia called on the government to immediately address the problem besetting the country’s health care

system.

Catriona calls Miss Universe 2022 hosting stint ‘achievement unlocked’

By Kristofer Purnell Philstar.com

Warrior” co-host Zuri Hall — it was Catriona’s first time in a hosting capacity at Miss Universe — while Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo and television host Jeannie Mai Jenkins were the 2022 pageant’s main hosts.

The beauty queen took to her Instagram account, days after Filipina American R’Bonney Gabriel was crowned Miss Universe 2022, to reflect on her hosting stint.

“Achievement unlocked... It’s always been a dream to be in the hosting line up of Miss Universe,” Catriona said, thanking the pageant’s president Paula Shugart and chief executive officer Amy Emmerich.

Catriona also extended her thanks to her styling team for the last-minute preparations despite not having fittings and for being able to to help her pack for a few hours in Manila while in the middle of the holiday season.

In previous posts, Catriona also shared how lovely it was to work with Zuri backstage, and a group photo that included the newly-crowned R’Bonney and new Miss Universe owner Anne Jakrajutatip.

During the Miss Universe 2022 show proper, Catriona was seen backstage visibly in tears during a segment that paid tribute to the late Miss USA Cheslie Kryst, who had bunked with her before as roommates.

The Philippines’ bet Celeste Cortesi did not make the cut for the Top 16, marking the end of the country’s 12-year streak of qualifying for the semifinals.

Catriona went viral for her wide-eyed yet calm surprise at the Philippines’ early elimination when the Top 16 was announced, assuring that the Philippines and other powerhouse nations like Thailand and Mexico will have more chances in future editions.

DOST technologies at par with global technologies in the Consumer Electronics Show and Silicon Valley, USA

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), in an effort to strengthen emerging technologies such as Semiconductor Manufacturing Services (SMS), Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Space Technology industry in the Philippines, presented engagement opportunities to scientists during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2023) in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA and Business Mission in Silicon Valley, San Francisco, California, USA from January 5-11, 2023.

CES is the most influential technology event in the world — the proving ground for breakthrough technologies and global innovators.

This year, CES 2023 highlighted technologies on sustainability, digital health, metaverse, electric vehicles, transportation, and mobility from over 4,000 exhibitors thereby providing various insights and possibilities for the Philippines to utilize market intelligence and benchmarking.

The Philippine delegation, composed of the DOST, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation, Inc. (SEIPI) and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) sought possible partnerships with governments and key industry players through the Philippine Business Forum highlighting the country’s investment-

ready environment. DOST participated in one of the fora, World Electronics Forum (WEF), where DOST Undersecretary Leah J. Buendia presented technologies and programs of the Philippine government which are at par with the emerging global technologies.

Technologies observed in CES 2023 include 1) SentiV from France, a scouting robot for monitoring field crops; 2) Agwa from Israel, an AI-assisted indoor home vegetable-growing device; 3) Land Evaluation Engine by satellite data and AI from Japan, an application for monitoring the lands of interest from space.

Similarly, DOST Advance Science and Technology Institute (ASTI) has on-going project counterparts such as 1) Robot for Optimized and Autonomous MissionEnhancement Response (ROAMER), designed for detecting banana plantation monitoring, 2) Gul.AI, a mobile AI-powered plant growing system for optimum yield, and 3) DATOS, an AIpowered engine land feature detection from satellite

images. The striking similarity in the functions between ASTI’s projects and CES technologies demonstrate the relevance of its R&D activities and their potential to address society’s needs.

“Similarly, as we vision to continuously be abreast with countries with cutting-edge technologies, we explored potential investment opportunities and areas for cooperation particularly with startup companies and universities in Silicon Valley,” says DOST Undersecretary Leah J. Buendia. “We also recognize the importance of having a pool of experts in achieving this vision, hence we have the commitment of continuous knowledge transfer and developing our home-grown science and engineering workforce through the Balik Scientist Program,” she added.

The DOST is the lead government agency that provides central direction, leadership, and coordination of scientific and technological efforts and ensure that the results therefrom are geared and utilized in areas of maximum economic and social benefits for the people.

Pechanga Resort Casino celebrates the Year of the Rabbit with $100,000 EasyPlay, cash drawings

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Lunar New Year $100K EasyPlay & Cash Drawing Pechanga Resort Casino celebrates the Lunar New Year by giving away $100,000 in EasyPlay and cash prizes on Friday, January 20 & 27. Pechanga Club members can earn varying amounts of entries to the drawing by playing slots or table games from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. each day for a chance to win big. Sixty winners will be drawn to receive $250, $500, or $750 in EasyPlay starting at 7 p.m., with an announcement every hour afterward. One lucky winner will be drawn at 10 p.m. for the ultimate cash prize of $25,000. Come discover the thrill of potentially winning multiple times.

$5K Lucky Red Envelope Giveaway

Pechanga lets players get even luckier with the “Lucky Red Envelope” promotion this Lunar New Year. Pechanga Club members can just simply visit the Promotional Area every Tuesday and Thursday in January from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. for a chance to win up to $5,000 in EasyPlay! Lunar New Year Luck Lion Dance

In celebration of the Lunar New Year, Pechanga Resort Casino will arrange a splendid Lucky Lion Dance Performance on Saturday, January 28. Starting at 3 p.m., the Lion Dance Team, which symbolizes auspiciousness and good luck, will begin their performance at the Pechanga north entrance and wind their way into the casino and through the casino floor. Guests will be able to receive Red Packets to give to the Lion Dancers to pray for a Good New Year.

Exclusive Dining Specials

Pechanga Resort Casino also welcomes guests to reserve tables for Family Dinner or Business Lunch to enjoy exclusive Lucky Lunar New Year Dining Specials that the chefs of Bamboo, Blazing Noodles and Umi Sushi & Oyster Bar have meticulously prepared.

Umi Chef Kiyo Ikeda plans to impart good fortune through his bold flavors using a wide variety of dishes. Casino guests can enjoy a 2.5lb Lobster served with Miso Stir Fried Noodles, Bell Peppers & Thai Basil ($128), Sashimi Wrap with Daikon ($42), and Duck & Vegetables with Lettuce Cups ($32).

Chef Marie Surakul at Bamboo serves Whole Fish, Holiday Noodles, and other specials. She points out that noodles are a symbol of happiness and longevity. Whole fish signifies abundance and has proved a customary tradition

for Lunar New Year throughout the ages.

Blazing Noodles, just off the Pechanga hotel lobby, dishes up six traditional Asian specialties for the occasion. These include King Crab Fried Rice, Beef Tenderloin, Fried Whole Lobster, Crispy Chilean Sea Bass, and dishes which incorporate elements that signify good luck, prosperity and healthfulness.

The dining specialties in Blazing Noodles, Bamboo and Umi will be available from Jan. 15 through Jan. 29. Reservations are recommended at Umi Sushi & Oyster Bar and can be made by visiting www.Pechanga.com/eat or by calling (951) 770-8504.

Lunar New Year Property Décor

The Lunar New Year symbolizes the fresh start of a new year, a new beginning. In celebration of this festival, starting from January 5, 2023, Pechanga will decorate the entire property with traditional new year elements, utilizing a wide array of bright red lanterns, refined oriental-style garden bridge, beautifully bloomed peach blossoms, traditional calligraphy spring couplets and much more. Throughout the floor, you will be able to find countless photo-op spots for your selfies or family portraits, while capturing the stunningly displayed Lunar New Year decorations.

For more information on Pechanga events and promotions, please call (877) 711-2946 or visit our website Pechanga.com. Must be at least 21 years of age to participate in promotions.

Come enjoy Pechanga’s four diamond-rated service with a peace of mind, and to learn more about the health and safety measures that have been implemented, please visit pechanga.com/ covid.

Pechanga Resort Casino offers one of the largest and most expansive resort/casino experiences anywhere in the United States.

Voted the best casino in the West by 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 5,400 of the hottest slots, table games, world-class entertainment, 1,100 hotel rooms, dining, spa and golf at Journey at Pechanga, Pechanga Resort Casino features a destination that meets and exceeds the needs of its guests and the community. Pechanga Resort Casino is owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians. For more information, call toll free (877) 711-2946 or visit www.Pechanga.com. Follow Pechanga Resort & Casino on Facebook, Instagram and on Twitter @PechangaCasino. (Advertising Supplement)

Jo Koy visits Bacolod for inauguration of road he donated to school

By Carla Gomez Inquirer.net

FILIPINO American stand-up comedian and actor Jo Koy and his family visited this city for the inauguration of a road he donated to a public school.

Jo Koy’s visit only became public when fans spotted him at a coffee shop on Friday and started posting photos of him on social media.

The actor-comedian, whose real name is Joseph Glenn Herbert, and his family went to the Alangilan National High School for the blessing and inauguration of a P1.5 million paved road that he donated to the school.

Teacher Gervie Jude Tolimao said Jo Koy also gave an additional donation of P1.2 million for school improvements.

Jo Koy’s adopted sister, Gem-

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray Photo from Instagram/@catriona_gray

MISS Universe 2018 Catriona Gray was honored and full of gratitude to be part of the hosting team of the pageant’s recently concluded 2022 edition.

Catriona served as a backstage commentator alongside “American Ninja

Filipino-American stand-up comedian and actor Jo Koy takes a groufie with students of the

Alangilan National High School in Bacolod City. Inquirer.net photo

Agwa from Israel, an AI-assisted indoor home vegetable-growing device (left) and Gul.AI a Philippine made mobile AI-powered plant growing system for optimum yield

DOST Undersecretary Leah J. Buendia presented DOST’s programs in 2023-2028 at the World Electronics Forum together with officials from DTI, DICT, PEZA, SEIPI and PTIC, and participants from the government and industry sectors

ma Herbert Simmons, is a cousin of master teacher Veneranda Ortoño, former officer-in-charge

principal of the Alangilan Nation-

Once dubbed Lea Salonga’s ‘mini-me,’

Esang de Torres now set to make a name for herself

FOR child singers, puberty can be a tricky phase to navigate.

While some emerge from that stage with their voices relatively intact, others have to deal with more drastic changes: The vocal range shrinks; the tone deepens and thickens; and before long, they learn that they can now barely eke out songs that they used to sing with ease.

That’s the exact predicament “The Voice Kids PH” season 2 second runner-up Esang de Torres found herself in two years ago amid the pandemic. And it sent her into a panic. (By Allan

Policarpio/Inquirer.net)

The Metamorphosis

AS I wrote this column, I couldn’t help but feel very much grateful that I am alive and have done very well in 2022 amidst many uncertainties and fears of this COVID pandemic that brought us a NEW normal.

If you are also reading this, let us all be thankful that we are still alive as millions of people who did not make it to Christmas, since the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic visited this planet almost three long years ago.

To be well and healthy to this day is a great blessing that no amount of money can buy!

In 2022, amidst all the things that happened or events that did not occur as we wished would have happened, brought some good tidings and extra especial achievements for me and my family. In like manner, I also pray that you and your family had also experienced this past year.

For the first time in over four decades, I spent almost 10 weeks in the Philippines, doing something that I must do and undergo to grow and to be happy and fulfilled, despite the normal human emotions of disappointments, uncertainties and frustrations that often go along with many great projects.

I am referring to the many sleepless hours, planning, working and coordinating the final stages of the publication of my first book, “Finding Life’s Meaning & Leaving a Legacy” that finally saw the light of day on Thanksgiving Day 2022 when I held in my hands the final digital printed copy of my book! Like a mother holding the fragile body of her newborn child, the feeling of ecstasy was beyond description and all the painful labor hours are ephemerally forgotten. I was alive and happy

The uncertainities, blessings of 2022 and hopes for 2023

for the birth of the 30 months gestation of this legacy book in the intellectual womb!

My book, “Finding Life’s Meaning & Leaving a Legacy”, as the title implies is a collection of real-life stories of 25 successful men and women from different ethnic backgrounds or nationalities from different countries who were born the same, naked, from their mother’s womb in various circumstances in different parts of the world. Among them was a young boy — Israel Claustro, now an elected Superior Court judge in California — whose family arrived from Mexico NOT knowing English. So are the families of two contributors , from France (George Blanco, now a retired dean of a California college) and another family from Italy whose father did not speak a word of English (Robert Novielli, a former sales executive and now a Catholic church leader). One very special role model of all girls anywhere in this world, is the story of the first woman White House doctor, Dr. Connie Mariano, born in the Philippines of a Filipino parents.

Doctor Connie, like many immigrant children, was raised and went to school in California, as top of her class and rose through the ranks in the real world of competition from grade school, to college and through her entire career in the Navy, and survived and triumphed.

And eventually became the Chief of all the doctors and health care professionals in the White House during the eight years of President Clinton. Read Dr. Mariano’s memoirs in her best selling book, the “White House Doctor” (which should be a required reading for all students in high school or college, especially girls who lacked self-confidence that

they can also compete with men or anybody else in this world! Please read also my book and learned about the struggles, predicament of all 25 men and women, whom I have interviewed and know personally!

If you wish to have a copy, we can send one to you with a donation to our GPEN Foundation for Next Generation, Just email me: ernie.delfin@ gmail.com or send a check to GPEN Foundation for Next Gen @ P. O. Box 8701, Fountain Valley, California 92708.

It is often mentioned in literary circles, that a person achieves some degree of immortality once he has done three manly achievements: sired a son, planted a tree and has written a book! With over 1,000 books now printed and in the process of being distributed to a globally wired market, this columnist has joined a few authors in the book who have gained that certain degree of immortality.

For that achievement alone in 2022, I thanked my God for this very unique, especial blessing for (me) the eldest son of a poor farmer in the rural barangay in Pangasinan.

I also am grateful to my 25 author-contributors to this legacy book who have stayed with me until the very end, in addition to my family, especially my only son and only daughter who took many nights to write their deepest thoughts “About the Publisher,” that appeared in the last pages of the book. For such thoughtful unedited expressions of their love and affection to their DAD. I am forever grateful for their acknowledgment of my fatherly love and influence to their own lives and to what they have become in their adult life!

Thank you, Donna Karen and EJ

for your uncensored words that certainly came from your heart.

From a kindergarten authorpublisher, that began almost 3 years ago, I felt that finally, I am now in my senior year in college, ready to graduate, after three years of mental struggles, hard work and roller-coaster emotional journey to the very last weeks of the preparation of the book. After the Legacy Volume in 2023, I will be in graduate school to know more about writing and publishing from this University without Walls.

During the relaxed Christmas season, I was again inspired to do the second Volume 2023 of the Legacy Series.

With acquired wisdom from the University of Hard Knocks, the next volume will be done with more efficiency, speed and less headaches l and physiological stress. I have now about half of the 20 personalities of successful men and women in the next book. I believe that the Volume 2023 edition will be out by Fall 2023! Stay tuned!

For most of this year, I learned much more about human nature from dealing with many kinds of people, from different nationalities, of different fibers or DNA. People you think were your friends due to your common profession or business are not really your authentic friends as the values and or measure of success are not the same that led to some degree of parting ways! I also realized that my bank account has been depleted due to less time and energy trying to make more money in exchange of literary, journalistic and intellectual pursuits.

Nevertheless, the decreased spendable income did not affect much nor deplete

Jo Koy visits Bacolod for inauguration of road he...

From Page 8

Esang de Torres Photo from Instagram/@esangdetorresofficial

al High School. Gemma is from Barangay Alangilan in

Bacolod and is the president of Jo Koi Entertainment.

Jo Koy recently starred in Easter Sun-

day, a 2022 American comedy film that also featured Negrense Lydia Gaston, an actress based in the United States.

ErniE D. DElfin

community

The uncertainities, blessings...

From

my vibrancy or zest for life. Despite material “downgrade” I felt happier and fulfilled with my life. My overall experiences this year reminded me of the documented experiences of our foremost Filipino hero, Jose Protection Mercado Rizal, who experienced similar and parallel experiences that I had the last couple of years: doubts, frustrations and unpredictable reactions from so-called friends.

Some of Rizal’s non-Filipino friends became more of his valued and authentic friends as they stepped up to help him in Rizal’s time of distress and quiet desperations. WHAT a parallel experience I had with Rizal’s predicament over a hundred years ago in Europe!

My ordinary book of EXTRA-ordinary people is nowhere compared to Rizal’s genius works writing his immortal novels, “NOLI” and “FILI.”

However, the lessons I learned is that men and women especially our kababayans have not really changed even after 100 years since Rizal’s time in Europe with his fellow IIlustrados de Filipinas, outside the Philippines! Filipinos really exhibit a different DNA, that may be a valid unique factor why we as a nation has not really substantially progressed , compared to many countries that used to be behind us, scores ago!

To anyone especially my fellow kababayans (Filipinos) who get frustrated in your pursuit to do something noble, that fulfills your dream, my sincere but unsolicited advice especially to would-be writers, authors and publishers, DO NOT DESPAIR! Just do what you wanted to do, no matter what! Whoever wants to put you down, intellectually or financially, just ignore them, as if they do not exist! Just focus on your personal goal and with God’s guidance, you too will succeed, like Rizal! Always carry your true North Compass with you! You will be happier and more fulfilled! Trust me! In the final analysis, what matters most is your own GOD and Yourself!

Lastly, as it is a tradition to have some kind New Year’s resolutions, hopes and dreams for the another year, let me share you just seven things I want to continue in the coming year:

1. To continue living with love and zest for life. As long as the Creator gives me the health and longer life, I will continue to do what I want to do, always putting J esus O ver Y ou and also living out my faith in action: placing J esus then O thers and then Y ourself. Those spell authentic JOY that only I can really feel deep inside.

2. To write another Legacy Book, 2023 Volume while the energy and enthusiasm to do is very high.

3. To make and do things that are most important first. Health over wealth, Family over friends. People before things. Eat healthy food. Exercise or walk daily. Health is more valuable than money! Travel more while your body can.

4. To play with and learn from young children more. Children are great teachers as they love every one. They are more authentic human beings that us adults.

5. Every day, I must be more compassionate with the OLD. Very soon, I will be like them. People always harvest what they sow.

6. Live, laugh, hope and pray.

7. Believe, trust and surrender... to a higher being!

* * *

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

* * *

ernie.delfin@gmail.com

Five benefits of establishing a revocable living trust

Barrister’s Corner

THERE is never the perfect time to think about who you would like to inherit from your estate in case you pass away or at least who among your closest friends (BFFs) and family members are even deserving of inheriting from your estate. In doing so, you should also think about which vehicle you plan to use in implementing your estate plan. One of the best vehicle in implementing your estate plan is a revocable living trust. Five major benefits of establishing a revocable living trust are: 1. Your estate can avoid the time, cost, and hassle of going through the probate court process.

If you pass away without a will (intestate) in California, one of your close family would have to file a petition in probate court to probate your estate. Your estate will be divided and distributed according to the California probate code rules of intestate succession. Even if you have a will when you pass away, your family would

still need to file a petition in probate court if your estate is worth over $166,250 and go through the probate process. This can become a circus if certain beneficiaries contest the validity of the Will or the distribution of the estate. Your estate will pay for attorney’s fees, probate referee fees, appraisers and other experts, CPA fees, etc. If people contest the case, your estate would end up paying legal fees to defend the estate in litigation. The entire process can take anywhere from 9 months to years depending on the contentiousness of the probate case.

With a revocable living trust, your trustee or successor trustee if you were the initial trustee, would administer the trust and distribute the estate according to the trust document without having to open a probate court case. If the trust is funded with all your assets, it is possible to administer and distribute the trust assets without any Court involvement at all. This process is a lot faster than going through probate.

2. Your estate is not public record.

When you file a probate case, the public has access to your probate case file. The public will know the assets of the estate including the values of those assets. If the Will is admitted into probate, the terms of the Will is open to public scrutiny.

Establishing a revocable living trust makes your estate affairs private. Strangers do not have access to the terms of your living trust. Only certain beneficiaries and possible heirs can request a copy of the revocable living trust after you pass away.

3. You can dictate who will inherit from your estate.

If you pass away without a Will, your estate will be divided and distributed in Probate Court following the rules of intestate succession in the California probate code. Certain relatives will be entitled to a share of your estate even if you feel they are not deserving. By establishing a revocable living trust, you can designate who you want to inherit from your estate.

You can designate what and how much each one will received from your estate after you pass away. The assets distributed to each beneficiaries does not have to be equal. The people you designate as beneficiaries of your living trust does not even have to be close family members. You can designate anyone as a beneficiary, with certain exceptions, of your estate.

4. You can structure your

estate to minimize estate taxes.

If your estate is valued above the estate tax exemption, establishing a trust can allow you to divide up your estate into smaller sub trusts to minimize the overall estate tax effect on your estate. It allows you to set up a vehicle for certain charitable giving which carries tax advantage and asset protection.

5. You can choose who will administer your estate after your death.

When you establish a revocable trust, you can appoint someone else as trustee or you can appoint a successor trustee if you are the initial trustee. The trustee will be administering (managing) the trust after you pass away without a need to open a probate court case. This allows for continuity in operating the trust and the efficient and cost effective distribution of estate assets. If you are concerned about whether you can trust any family members as your trustee, you can appoint an institution as a professional trustee to carry out the terms of the declaration of trust. These type of trustee services are often offered by banks, financial institutions, wealth management firms, and business management firms for a reasonable fee. This minimizes conflicts within the family and prevents negligence and wrong doing by inexperienced family members.

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

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