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JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 1, 2024

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

Marcos: No help for ICC ‘in any way, shape, form’

by JANE BAUTISTA, JULIE M. AURELIO Inquirer.net

PH FIRST REPUBLIC. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, January 23 led the country’s commemoration of the 125th anniversary of the First Philippine Republic, committing to continue honor the legacy of forefathers of the Malolos Republic.

Malacañang photo

USA

DATELINE Fil-Am kids face higher risk of asthma than other Asian ethnicities FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

HEALTH is wealth may sound cliche but not when the future generations are on the line. A study shows that Filipino American kids are at higher risk of asthma compared to their Asian peers.

A study in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology shows that Filipino American children top the chart of asthma prevalence.

Meng Chen, MD and clinical assistant professor of allergy and immunology at Stanford University, shed some light on these findings.

“Using California survey data, we found that childhood lifetime asthma prevalence varied among Asian American ethnic groups, with the lowest prevalence in Korean American children and the highest prevalence in Filipino American children,” said Chen.

Chen and her colleagues pulled the data from the California Health Interview survey of 34,146 children where 13 percent are Asian Americans with diverse representations across other Asian ethnicities.

The prevalence of Asthma among Asian  PAGE 4

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, January 23 said the government would not lift a finger to aid probers of the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigating the bloody war on drugs during the previous Duterte administration as the tribunal’s action is a threat to the country’s sovereignty.

“Let me say this for the 100th time. I do not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC in the Philippines. I consider it as a threat to our sovereignty, therefore, the Philippine government will not lift a finger to help any investigation that the ICC conducts,” the president pointed out.

He made the remarks after Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, a principal player in the antinarcotics war being probed by the ICC, called on Malacañang to be upfront about the reported arrival of the ICC

investigators here.

Dela Rosa, who headed the Philippine National Police during the term of then-President Rodrigo Duterte, oversaw the war on illegal drugs that saw thousands of lives lost in alleged extrajudicial killings.

Reacting to reports that ICC investigators were already in town, Marcos reiterated that the government would not help them at all.

“We do not recognize your jurisdiction. Therefore we will not assist in any way, shape or form, any of the investigations that the ICC is doing here in the Philippines,” he said in a talk with reporters in Quezon City.

The president said the ICC probers could come and visit the country as “ordinary people” but they would be strictly watched by the government.

“We are monitoring them and making sure that  PAGE 2

‘UN rapporteur to see freedom of expression in the Philippines’

by PIA LEE-BRAGO Philstar.com

MANILA — UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan would see for herself a “flourishing” Philippine democracy and the government’s progressive agenda, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

“The government is confident that through meaningful dialogues and meetings with government, media, civil society organizations and other stakeholders, Ms. Khan will see for herself the transparency

and progressive agenda of the government with respect to the promotion and protection of freedom of speech and expression,” the DFA said in a statement over the weekend.

Khan, special rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, will visit the Philippines from Jan. 23 to Feb 2.

She is the third special rapporteur to visit the country in 14 months, following the special rapporteur for the sale and exploitation of children Fatimah Singhateh in November 2022 and the special  PAGE 2

“The government is confident that through meaningful dialogues and meetings with government, media, civil society organizations and other stakeholders, Ms. Khan will see for herself the transparency and progressive agenda of the government with respect to the promotion and protection of freedom of speech and expression,” the DFA said in a statement over the weekend.

Philstar.com photo

Senate panel issues subpoena vs Quiboloy MANILA – The Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality issued a subpoena on Tuesday, January 23 against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) Leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy who was absent during the panel’s inquiry on his alleged abuses of women and children.

Panel chair Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros called on Quiboloy to appear at the next hearing saying he is not “a son of God” who is exempted from the laws of the State.

“Kahit ang Korte Suprema ay walang kapangyarihang pigilan ang ganitong inquiries ng Senado, at ang pag-require sa mga taong Malacañang file photo humarap dito (Even the Supreme Court has no power to stop Senate inquiries, and require individuals to appear),” Hontiveros said before ending the first hearing.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

She noted that Quiboloy can invoke the right against self-incrimination “only when and as the [possibly] incriminating question is propounded” like any ordinary witness.

Hontiveros also said that being absent from the hearing is a lack of respect for the Senate as an institution.

“Hindi po ito religious persecution. Ito ay pagsisiyasat sa paggamit sa paniniwala, pananalig o pananampalataya ng iba, para gumawa ng mga kasuklam-suklam na abuso at pinsala sa mga taong binaluktot ang paniniwala, tinanggalan ng lakas, at pinagsamantalahan (This is not a religious persecution. This is an inquiry in using belief or faith of others to commit abuses and damages to people who were fooled, weakened, and abused),” she said.  PAGE 2

Vigil held to honor Marcos: No to foreign ownership Fil-Am, 10 others of land, media, power firms VP Duterte declares she’ll run again killed in Monterey for office ‘in the next elections’ Park mass shooting

by JEAN MANGALUZ Inquirer.net

MONTEREY PARK – On the one-year anniversary of the Monterey Park mass shooting that left a Filipino American and 10 other people dead, the city on Sunday, January 21 held a candlelight vigil to remember the victims amid calls for stricter gun laws.

The vigil was held at Monterey Park City Hall to honor the memory of the 11 victims, including Valentino Alvero, a 68-year-old FilAm who was fondly remembered by his family as the “life of any party.”

On Jan. 21, 2023, the gunman, Huu Can Tran, entered Star Dance Studio and opened fire, killing 11 and seriously wounding nine others. He killed himself the following day  PAGE 2

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, January 23 said that he is against the foreign ownership of assets such as land, energy and the media.

Marcos reiterated his stance that he agreed with economic amendments when he was asked Charter-change.

Pushed further if he agreed with foreign ownership, Marcos said that land was out of the question.

“Corporations baka pwede natin pag-usapan, except for the critical areas such as power generation, media, all the strategic areas that we cannot allow to be influenced by a foreign entity, be it a corporation or another country, but that’s what we have to decide where we draw the line,” said Marcos in a 24 Oras interview.

According to Marcos, land ownership was a difficult topic.

Wealthy foreign entities, Marcos said, could come in and buy the land of an area, driving up the value of land, leaving old residents unable to pay the real estate tax.  PAGE 2

by ZACARIAN SARAO Inquirer.net

MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte has declared she will run for office again “in the next elections.”

Duterte revealed her political plan during a flagraising ceremony in Barangay Bago Gallera, Davao City on Monday, January 22.

“Narinig ko na sinabi ng aking kapatid, si Mayor Baste (Sebastian Duterte), at ng aking mas matandang kapatid, si Congressman Pulong (Paolo Duterte), na hindi sila tatakbo. Baka hindi sila tatakbo sa susunod na eleksyon, kaya’t narito ako sa inyong harap dahil mangangampanya ako sa inyo dahil tatakbo ako sa susunod na eleksyon,” Duterte said in a speech in Vice President Sara Duterte Photo fromFacebook/ Bisaya.  PAGE 2 @MayorIndaySaraDuterteOfficial

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JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 1, 2024 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

From the Front Page

Senate panel issues subpoena...

PAGE 1

“Pero sa ngayon, para kay alias Amanda, para kay alias Jerome, para kay Ms. Arlene, maraming salamat. Daghang salamat. To Mr. Wood, thank you very much, sir.

And to our Ukrainian friends, our fellow women, ‘Dyakuyu’ (Thank you),” she added.

The lawmaker said the committee sent two invitations to Quiboloy but received no answer.

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

Instead, Hontiveros revealed that the pastor sent a letter to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri which details were not provided.

In a privilege speech last year, she emphasized that the offenses attributed to Quiboloy are ongoing and involve the abuse of women and children within the KOJC. Hontiveros said victims have

reported physical assaults, including beatings, lashings, and injuries from being forcefully slammed against the wall.

There is also an affidavit detailing sexual abuse by Quiboloy on a minor, according to the lawmaker.

Preachers, she said, have revealed information about his wealth accumulation and concealment methods. (PNA)

“The 1987 Constitution was not written for a globalized world.

And that is where we are now. So we have to, we have to adjust so

that we can increase the economic activity in the Philippines, we can attract more foreign investors,” said Marcos. g

Marcos: No to foreign ownership of land...

PAGE 1

Marcos, however, banked on foreign investors to help the Philippine economy.

VP Duterte declares she’ll run again for...

PAGE 1 (I heard that my sibling, Mayor Baste, and my elder sibling, Congressman Pulong, mentioned that they won’t run.

Maybe they won’t run in the next election, so that’s why I am here with you. I will campaign for

you since I will run in the next election.)

Duterte, however, did not specify what position she would be running for.

Pressed for details, the Office of the Vice President has not clarified Duterte’s

announcement but said that her visit to Barangay Bago Gallera LAW OF ATTRACTION. Trinkets, charms and crystals, which are supposed to bring luck and prosperity to believers, for sale at a store in Ongpin was “spontaneous.”

Street, Binondo, Manila on Saturday, January 20. The Chinese New Year of the wood dragon begins on February 10, symbolizing power, The upcoming national and nobleness, honor, luck and success, according to Chinese culture.

PNA photo by Joan Bondoc local elections are scheduled for May 2025; however, Duterte’s tenure as vice president extends until 2028. g

Marcos: No help for ICC in any...

PAGE 1

CARPE DIEM! ATTENTION IMMIGRATION LAWYERS!!!

LEGAL IMMIGRATION is a BIG ISSUE these days. MANY in our community NEED your services. There are thousands who may want to expedite their residency or pursue full citizenship but don’t know how to begin and where to go.

STAND OUT FROM THE PACK. ASIAN JOURNAL’S PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DIRECTORY, will now be running weekly, every Friday of Northern California Edition.

they do not come into contact with any agency of the government.

And if they are contacting agencies of the government, may it be the police or local government, our directive is not to answer them,” the president noted.

No official request Since last year, Marcos had maintained that his administration would not cooperate with the ICC in any of its investigations after the ICC decided in January 2023 to allow the reopening of an inquiry into the bloody war on illegal drugs and denied the Philippines’ appeal against resuming the probe.

During the weekend, former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, a critic of the tough-talking Duterte, claimed that the former president and ex-Davao City mayor would be ordered arrested within the first half of 2024.

Trillanes claimed to have received information that ICC probers arrived in the country last December and already conducted their initial investigation.

“For the primary respondents of the case, I believe they already have what they need. What we are waiting for right now is the warrant of arrest, which may come very, very soon,” Trillanes said.

However, the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday said that it had yet to receive any official

communication or confirmation on the presence of investigators from the ICC in the Philippines.

“Specifically, the DOJ has not received any advisory from the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) that the ICC has indeed entered the Philippines, a requirement that would trigger the interdepartmental coordination concerning developments that go to the very core of our sovereignty and the primacy of our Constitution and our laws,” the DOJ said in a statement.

It reiterated its earlier position that having withdrawn from the ICC in 2018, “the Philippines has no legal duty to comply with any obligations or proceedings thereunder.”

Legal, political mistake According to the DOJ, any presence of international bodies such as the ICC within the Philippines must follow the Constitution and relevant laws.

Specifically, it said prior consent and approval from concerned agencies such as the DFA, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the DOJ must be secured before the foreign entities could conduct official operations within the country.

The DOJ acknowledged the 2021 ruling of the Supreme Court that Duterte could not invoke the withdrawal from the Rome Statute to evade the investigation

of the ICC on the alleged crimes against humanity he committed when the Philippines was still a member of the international body.

However, the DOJ pointed out that the ruling was a “mere obiter dictum or the court’s incidental expression of opinion not essential to the decision and not establishing precedent.”

“As a sovereign nation with a robust and functional justice system capable of addressing internal issues without external interference, the Philippine government has shown that it is ready, willing, and able to investigate and prosecute any crime committed within its territory,” the DOJ noted.

In a statement on Tuesday, human rights lawyer Kristina Conti, who is also a counsel of the families of drug war victims, said that it was “both a legal and political mistake” for President Marcos to snub the investigation of the ICC. Marcos “should think hard over how history will judge his obstinate refusal to bring justice to the victims of the war on drugs,” she added.

Conti noted that the inquiry of the Hague-based court has a “strong legal basis” and that the country’s “resort to an international court to obtain justice is grounded on law and practical reason.” g

Committee on civil and political rights in September and October 2022, respectively.

In 2023, the country had dialogues with the Committee on Migrant Workers, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women in March, April and October

2023, respectively.

The Philippines completed its 4th Universal Periodic Review in November 2022.

In December 2023, the Philippines welcomed the Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture for a country visit pursuant to its obligation under the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture. g

‘UN rapporteur to see freedom of...

PAGE 1

rapporteur for climate change and human rights Ian Fry in November 2023.

The DFA said the Philippines – a signatory to all eight core human rights treaties – has completed five constructive dialogues in 14 months, starting with the Committee on Rights of the Child and the Human Rights

Vigil held to honor Fil-Am, 10 others killed...

PAGE 1

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after he was pulled over by police outside a Torrance strip mall.

The mass shooting was one of the worst in Los Angeles County history — and occurred on the eve of the Lunar New Year in a community that is majority Asian American and is considered the first suburban Chinatown in the nation.

According to the city of Monterey Park, the remembrance serves as a space for reflection and healing as residents and the larger community honor the memory of the victims.

Following the shooting, President Joe Biden visited Monterey Park, consoled each of the victims’ families and announced executive actions aimed at reducing gun violence.

He also took time during his State of the Union speech on Feb. 7, 2023, to call for increased gun control.

Rep. Judy Chu, a former Monterey Park City Councilwoman and three-time mayor, who also chairs the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, issued a statement Friday reflecting on the tragic events of a year ago.

“Sunday marks one year since a truly unconscionable mass shooting in my hometown of 38 years, Monterey Park, that devastated and terrified the Asian American community nationwide,” Chu said. “I mourn and honor the eleven people, all of whom were of Asian descent, who were murdered on one of the most important and celebratory days of the year for our community.”

“My heart is with the victims’ families and survivors today, many of whom are still recovering from the senseless violence and trauma of that day and grappling with the terrible anguish of losing

Mourners gather at a vigil for the victims of the Monterey Park mass shooting.

Photo from the City of Monterey Park

loved ones,” Chu added. “As we grieved and healed this past year, I was encouraged by the remarkable stories of hope and unity; so many of my neighbors, and strangers from across the country, courageously offered support, raised money for the families affected, and helped us process the trauma.”

Chu noted that local advocates and organizations mobilized and continue to support the victims with translation services, government resources, fundraising and mental health care, as well as long-term assistance at the MPK Hope Resiliency Center at Sierra Vista Park Community Center.

She also reiterated her support to ban high-capacity magazines, implement universal background checks and restore the assault weapons ban.

In the past, Chu has touted two pieces of proposed gun-violence prevention legislation — the Language Access to Gun Violence Prevention Strategies Act, and the FLAG, or Fair Legal Access Grants, Act. She has said the first would ensure multilingual outreach efforts about red flag laws and gun violence prevention, while the second would provide

funding to ensure proper legal representation for people seeking to file red flag petitions to keep guns away from people with mental health or other issues precluding them from owning weapons.

“I have introduced the Language Access to Gun Violence Prevention Strategies Act, to build on the president’s action to further strengthen ‘red flag’ laws and other gun violence prevention strategies by ensuring resources are disseminated in a culturally appropriate manner and made available in-language for immigrant and Asian American and Pacific Islander communities,” Chu’s statement said.

“These efforts are all incredibly crucial to our collective recovery and healing process,” she said, “but I am most of all so heartened by our own community’s support for each other and our unyielding determination that Monterey Park’s vibrancy can be restored.

“I know that our community is a resilient one, and this past year has proven that in countless ways. In the aftermath of tragedy, our community continues to be a beacon of strength.” (Nimfa Rueda/Inquirer.net)

(650) 689-5160 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Dateline USa

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 1, 2024

3

Women and minorities bear the brunt of medical misdiagnosis

by Liz Szabo KFF Health News

CHARITY Watkins sensed something was deeply wrong when she experienced exhaustion after her daughter was born.

At times, Watkins, then 30, had to stop on the stairway to catch her breath. Her obstetrician said postpartum depression likely caused the weakness and fatigue.

When Watkins, who is Black, complained of a cough, her doctor blamed the flu.

About eight weeks after delivery, Watkins thought she was having a heart attack, and her husband took her to the emergency room.

After a 5½-hour wait in a North Carolina hospital, she returned home to nurse her baby without seeing a doctor.

When a physician finally examined Watkins three days later, he immediately noticed her legs and stomach were swollen, a sign that her body was retaining fluid. After a chest X-ray, the doctor diagnosed her with heart failure, a serious condition in which the heart becomes too weak to adequately pump oxygen-rich blood to organs throughout the body. Watkins spent two weeks in intensive care.

She said a cardiologist later told her, “We almost lost you.”

Watkins is among 12 million adults misdiagnosed every year in the U.S. In a study published Jan. 8 in JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers found that nearly 1 in 4 hospital patients who died or were transferred to intensive care had experienced a diagnostic error.

Nearly 18% of misdiagnosed patients were harmed or died.

In all, an estimated 795,000 patients a year die or are permanently disabled because of misdiagnosis, according to a study published in July in the BMJ Quality & Safety periodical.

Some patients are at higher risk than others.

Women and racial and ethnic minorities are 20% to 30% more likely than white men to experience a misdiagnosis, said David Newman-Toker, a professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the lead author of the BMJ study. “That’s significant and inexcusable,” he said.

Researchers call misdiagnosis an urgent public health problem.

The study found that rates of

misdiagnosis range from 1.5% of heart attacks to 17.5% of strokes and 22.5% of lung cancers.

Weakening of the heart muscle — which led to Watkins’ heart failure — is the most common cause of maternal death one week to one year after delivery, and is more common among Black women.

Heart failure “should have been No. 1 on the list of possible causes” for Watkins’ symptoms, said Ronald Wyatt, chief science and chief medical officer at the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine, a nonprofit research and advocacy group.

Maternal mortality for Black mothers has increased dramatically in recent years. The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed countries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, non-Hispanic Black mothers are 2.6 times as likely to die as non-Hispanic white moms. More than half of these deaths take place within a year after delivery.

Research shows that Black women with childbirth-related heart failure are typically diagnosed later than white women, said Jennifer Lewey, codirector of the pregnancy and heart disease program at Penn Medicine. That can allow patients to further deteriorate, making Black women less likely to fully recover and more likely to suffer from weakened hearts for the rest of their lives.

Watkins said the diagnosis changed her life. Doctors advised her “not to have another baby, or I might need a heart transplant,” she said. Being deprived of the chance to have another child, she said, “was devastating.”

Racial and gender disparities are widespread.

Women and minority patients suffering from heart attacks are more likely than others to be discharged without diagnosis or treatment.

Black people with depression are more likely than others to be misdiagnosed with schizophrenia.

Minorities are less likely than whites to be diagnosed early with dementia, depriving them of the opportunities to receive treatments that work best in the early stages of the disease.

Misdiagnosis isn’t new. Doctors have used autopsy studies to estimate the percentage of patients

who died with undiagnosed diseases for more than a century.

Although those studies show some improvement over time, life-threatening mistakes remain all too common, despite an array of sophisticated diagnostic tools, said Hardeep Singh, a professor at Baylor College of Medicine who studies ways to improve diagnosis.

“The vast majority of diagnoses can be made by getting to know the patient’s story really well, asking follow-up questions, examining the patient, and ordering basic tests,” said Singh, who is also a researcher at Houston’s Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center.

When talking to people who’ve been misdiagnosed, “one of the things we hear over and over is, ‘The doctor didn’t listen to me.’”

Racial disparities in misdiagnosis are sometimes explained by noting that minority patients are less likely to be insured than white patients and often lack access to high-quality hospitals. But the picture is more complicated, said Monika Goyal, an emergency physician at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., who has documented racial bias in children’s health care.

In a 2020 study, Goyal and her colleagues found that Black kids with appendicitis were less likely than their white peers to be correctly diagnosed, even when both groups of patients visited the same hospital.

Although few doctors deliberately discriminate against women or minorities, Goyal said, many are biased without realizing it.

“Racial bias is baked into our culture,” Goyal said. “It’s important for all of us to start recognizing that.”

Demanding schedules, which prevent doctors from spending as much time with patients as they’d like, can contribute to diagnostic errors, said Karen Lutfey Spencer, a professor of health and behavioral sciences at the University of Colorado-Denver.

“Doctors are more likely to make biased decisions when they are busy and overworked,” Spencer said. “There are some really smart, well-intentioned providers who are getting chewed up in a system that’s very unforgiving.”

Doctors make better treatment decisions when they’re more confident of a diagnosis, Spencer said. u PAGE 4

FAITH AND HISTORY. A few devotees pray inside the Basilica Minore de Santuario de San Pedro Bautista, the oldest church in Quezon City, on Monday, Jan. 22. The church, founded in 1590, was declared an important cultural property by the National Museum in 2017 and a minor basilica by the Vatican in 2020.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

New year brings new support for CA homeowners looking to take advantage of $80K COVID-19 relief grant Delinquency date change allows more homeowners to join tens of thousands who have already taken advantage of federal funding earmarked to help Californians recover from COVID-19

SACRAMENTO – The California Mortgage Relief Program has announced an important update that will extend program eligibility to more homeowners across the state. The program has extended the delinquency requirement for mortgage and property tax relief applicants to February 1, 2024.

Since launching in midst of the pandemic, the program has been instrumental in aiding 30,205 households in California who have suffered economic setbacks due to COVID-19.

Tuesday’s (January 23) announcement opens the door for additional homeowners to potentially receive a grant of up to $80,000 in federal funds.

Rebecca Franklin, president of the CalHFA Homeowner Relief Corporation, emphasized the ongoing struggles of many homeowners due to pandemic-related financial hardship.

“By extending the delinquen-

cy date, we are broadening the reach of our program to assist more families in need,” Franklin said. “Homeowners should not wait to protect their future and apply online today. These grants represent a crucial support system for Californians, enabling them to catch up on past-due bills caused by the pandemic and secure their financial well-being.”

The California Mortgage Relief Program is distributing federal funds to eligible California homeowners in the form of non-repayable grants that can be applied to various housing-related expenses, including: • catching up on overdue mortgage and reverse mortgage payments, • addressing unpaid property taxes, • reducing or eliminating partial claims or loan deferrals.

California homeowners who were initially ineligible due to

the previous delinquency date continue to be invited to reapply.

The application process is fast and easy, and can be completed online or via a mobile device by visiting www.CAMortgageRelief.org. Applicants must still meet all other eligibility requirements.

The CalHFA Homeowner Relief Corporation (CalHRC) is a special-purpose affiliate of the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA). CalHFA is an independent state agency that assists low to moderate income Californians by acting as the state’s affordable housing lender. Through CalHRC, the agency is able to disburse The American Rescue Plan Act’s Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) on behalf of the State of California given its extensive expertise in the mortgage assistance and homeownership space.

(CA Mortgage Relief Release)

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JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 1, 2024 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

Fil-Am kids face higher risk of asthma attacks...

PAGE 1

American kids was 12.5 percent, almost mirroring the non-Hispanic white children at 12.2 percent.

The data, which shows Asian American children sharing a relatively similar rate with non-Hispanic white children, reveals significant risks.

Furthermore, a closer look at the groups reveals a variation: Korean American children had the lowest asthma prevalence at only 5.1 percent while Filipino American children had the highest at 21.5 percent.

This is not surprising given the fact that almost half of the Filipino American children with asthma had an attack a year before the survey was conducted and most of

them have an asthma action plan.

Though not an alarming rate, it’s a warning for healthcare institutions.

According to Chen: “Our research highlights the importance of and need for disaggregating Asian American ethnic groups in order to better understand distinct clinical features, disease risk and management unique to these distinct Asian American communities.”

Correlation of asthma and BMI Another factor in the picture is the body mass index (BMI) which is also a contributor to the risk of asthma. Korean American children are still at their low-risk rate while Filipino American children

are at the highest risk — regardless of BMI or weight.

The root cause of asthma starts as early as the mother’s maternal health. This factor, along with prenatal events and genetics, forms the child’s respiratory health.

However, the growing concern of asthma isn’t just particular among Filipino American children. Pediatric asthma has been a public health issue in the Philippines where nearly 1 out of 10 children have asthma.

While there’s no data showing why Filipino American children are more prone to asthma, one thing is certain: it’s a wake-up call for strategized disease management for Asian American communities. (Mary Villegas/Inquirer.net)

Women and minorities bear the brunt...

PAGE 3 In an experiment, researchers asked doctors to view videos of actors pretending to be patients with heart disease or depression, make a diagnosis, and recommend follow-up actions. Doctors felt far more certain diagnosing white men than Black patients or younger women.

“If they were less certain, they were less likely to take action, such as ordering tests,” Spencer said. “If they were less certain, they might just wait to prescribe treatment.”

It’s easy to see why doctors are more confident when diagnosing white men, Spencer said. For more than a century, medical textbooks have illustrated diseases with stereotypical images of white men. Only 4.5% of images in general medical textbooks feature

patients with dark skin.

That may help explain why patients with darker complexions are less likely to receive a timely diagnosis with conditions that affect the skin, from cancer to Lyme disease, which causes a red or pink rash in the earliest stage of infection. Black patients with Lyme disease are more likely to be diagnosed with more advanced disease, which can cause arthritis and damage the heart. Black people with melanoma are about three times as likely as whites to die within five years.

The COVID-19 pandemic helped raise awareness that pulse oximeters — the fingertip devices used to measure a patient’s pulse and oxygen levels — are less accurate for people with dark skin.

The devices work by shining light through the skin; their failures

Dateline USa

have delayed critical care for many Black patients.

Seven years after her misdiagnosis, Watkins is an assistant professor of social work at North Carolina Central University in Durham, where she studies the psychosocial effects experienced by Black mothers who survive severe childbirth complications.

“Sharing my story is part of my healing,” said Watkins, who speaks to medical groups to help doctors improve their care. “It has helped me reclaim power in my life, just to be able to help others.”

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

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

72-year-old Fil-Am sues company for age, race discrimination

LOS ANGELES – A 72-yearold Filipino American is suing a textile company supply firm for age and race discrimination, alleging he was told by a boss that he was “old and on his way out of the company” and eventually fired in 2022.

Antonio Amores’ Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit against Groz-Beckert USA Inc. and its parent company, GrozBeckert KG, alleges wrongful termination, harassment, age and racial discrimination, retaliation, breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress and failure to prevent discrimination, harassment and retaliation. Amores seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

Groz-Beckert develops, produces and sells machine needles, precision parts, precision tools and systems for the textile industry. A company representative could not be immediately reached for comment on the suit brought Friday, January 19.

Amores was hired in April 1995 as an area sales manager and was later promoted to sales manager of the sewing and knitting division, in which he developed relationships with sourcing networks, maintained contact with brand owners and end customers, grew brand awareness, and expanded GrozBeckert’s market position, the suit states.

Amores managed accounts in Texas, the northern border states of Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and the Dominican Republic, according to the suit.

In October 2021, GrozBeckert hired John Rivett, about 30 years younger than Amores, as the plaintiff’s supervisor, and Amores was told to acquaint Rivett with Groz-Beckert’s accounts as well as his dealer and manufacturing business partners, the suit states.

The next month, the two were on an international business trip when Rivett told the plaintiff that Rivett was hired to take over the department because Amores

was “old and on his way out of the company,” a statement that left Amores “shocked,” the suit states.

Although Amores complained to upper management about what Rivett allegedly said, no action was taken and Rivett began excluding Amores from Groz-Beckert’s business operations, the suit alleges.

Rivett told Amores during a February 2022 meeting that he was being fired because he was not fluent in Spanish and was no longer needed to handle GrozBeckert’s California business, the suit states. Amores did not need to speak Spanish to perform his duties, the complaint further states.

When Amores told Rivett that California was only a small part of his sales area, Rivett responded that he had taken over the plaintiff’s other territories, according to the suit, which further states that Amores has suffered lost income and emotional distress due to his termination. (Inquirer.net)

What’s ahead for the US economy in 2024?

by Selen Ozturk Ethnic Media Services

nic Media Services briefing, experts across the financial spectrum — from housing to oil ALTHOUGH inflation and un- to small business — discussed employment rates are falling, how our current economy is immany Americans are struggling pacting some of its most vulnerto stay afloat with record-high able members, and suggested costs of living. what’s ahead for 2024.

At a Friday, January 19 EthThe struggle for housing Even in the wealthiest regions of the Bay Area like Silicon Valley — the fifth-largest economy in the world — the struggle to find housing is communitywide, said Nathan Ganeshan, founder of homeless aid nonprofit Community Seva.

Though California has 12% of the U.S. population, it has 28% of its homeless population.

Since 2013, Community Seva has helped about 320,000 of these individuals “by serving hot meals, blankets, sleeping bags, grocery gift cards, hygiene products, temporary housing, advocacy and more,” Ganeshan said. “We shouldn’t forget how entwined the struggle for basic needs like food and hygiene is with the struggle to find housing. However much the economy is improving, it’s riskier for those on the edge if the cost of basic needs is also rising.”

In Santa Clara County alone, where 10,000 people are homeless, over a quarter of all people are food-insecure — and these risks extend well beyond those who are unhoused. Even among those in the high-paying tech world, precarity looms in Santa Clara, the state’s third-most expensive housing market.

“With the ongoing tech layoffs, we’ve seen firsthand a severe impact of housing, as parking lots in Santa Clara are filling more and more with people living in cars and RVs,” added Ganeshan. “Someone recently said to me ‘I lost my job, but I can always find another one.

But I lost my house, and I can’t get another here.’”

The housing market Home prices have drastically outpaced income nationwide because “the pandemic brought drastic changes to supply and demand,” said Rob Warnock, Senior Research Associate at Apartment List.

“Many people took their homes off the market while many others decided to buy — and skyrocketing prices didn’t slow until the middle of 2022, when the Federal Reserve started to raise interest rates — but homes are still 45% more expensive now than they were before the pandemic.”

In contrast, he continued, “Rents fell during the pandemic because there were many more vacant apartments for rent than houses for sale.”

As the economy emerged from the pandemic in 2021, rising rents worsened an affordability crisis which peaked in 2022, when over half of all U.S. renters were cost burdened, i.e. spending over 30% of their income on rent.

Since then, rents have declined 4% as the U.S. has begun a massive construction boom, explained Warnock.

Last year nearly 500,000 new apartments entered the market, “with about a million more in the next year or two.”

What’s next for 2024?

“Home sale prices should continue to rise,” he said. “The Federal Reserve said they won’t raise interest rates further, and for more homes on the market, there will also be more interested buyers. However, we expect new rentals to grow strong for the next 12 to 24 months, with new apartments curbing rent costs … It’s a lesson we can all learn from: if you want afford-

able housing, build more of it.”

Oil and gas Oil prices, too, are stabilizing from pandemic peaks, said Denton Cinquegrana, Chief oil analyst at OPIS. The national average for gas in 2023 was $3.52 a gallon — down nearly 11% from $3.95 in 2022, when Russia attacked Ukraine “and there was a concern that markets would lose seven to eight million barrels a day of oil from Russia,” he explained.

“But as the year went on, oil exports continued to non-sanctioning countries like China and India,” he continued. “Though tensions are rising in the Middle East now, the situation looks similar — oil production hasn’t shut, and the only cost added is from the extra time it takes to avoid the area and ship oil around the Cape of Good Hope instead.”

In the year ahead, Cinquegrana said “prices will probably fall five to 15 cents less than 2023 — likely around $3.45 to $3.50.”

Although the nationwide electrification of cars is further increasing the supply and lowering the cost of oil, “this process is very slow,” he added.

“It takes about 10 to 12 years to turn over the fleet” of over 280 million cars registered in the U.S. A stronger dampening of prices may owe to the fact that “the cars we drive now are much more fuel-efficient than they were a decade or two ago, and the fact that since the pandemic, many drivers still work from home.”

AAPI small businesses AAPI is the fastest-growing minority community in the U.S., contributing over $1 trillion in economic output in 2021 alone and making up nearly 10% of all entrepreneurs nationwide — with 2.9 million AAPI businessowners employing 5.1 million people, said Chiling Tong, president and CEO of National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE).

As AAPI business owners continue to recover from the pandemic, the top challenge they face is “access to capital,” she continued. “Nearly 30% of respondents to our most recent survey have very low confidence that they could fund an emergency $5,000 business expense.”

What aid is available — specifically the COVID-era Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans — AAPI entrepreneurs are more often unaware of, most often due to language barriers, she added. In 2021, AAPI small business owners had a 66% funding rate through the Paycheck Protection Program compared to 75% for whites.

Despite these challenges, 2023 saw an unprecedented 5.5 million new business applications filed, making it the strongest year of new business applications on record; in total, the U.S. has over 33 million small businesses.

In short, expectations for the year ahead are mixed: While 61% of owners have a positive outlook for their own business in 2024, 71% hold a bleak view of the economy itself.

These conditions mean that the economy is “the number one issue” for many in the AAPI and small business community, said Tong. “Although they feel personally positive, this is because they’ve faced three years of inflating costs and supply disruptions. In 2024, they’ll support leaders who convincingly promise a better economy ahead.” g

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Probing the drug killings

WHETHER or not it’s true that probers of the International Criminal Court were in the country last December, the stories should prod Philippine authorities to speed up and intensify their own investigation into possible extrajudicial killings and other state abuses in the so-called war on drugs carried out in the previous administration.

The stories have swirled since late last year about the arrival in the country of ICC probers. Over the weekend, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV said he had “inside information” that the stories were true, and the ICC probers had gathered sufficient evidence to order the arrest of the primary respondents led by former President Rodrigo Duterte and his first Philippine National Police chief, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, reputed to be the architect of the bloody Oplan Tokhang crackdown on illegal drugs.

The ICC had rejected the Philippines’ argument that the court lost jurisdiction after the country’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute took effect. The ICC says even with the withdrawal, it has jurisdiction over possible crimes committed when the Philippines was still a party to the Rome Statute, which created the court.

President Marcos, who said in July last year that “we’re done talking” with the ICC, said in November that the country’s return to the ICC is “under study.” At around the same time, Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, who previously said an ICC probe would be an “insult” to the country and an infringement on national sovereignty, also said cooperation with the ICC “needs a serious study” on the part of the DOJ.

Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra had previously said the government could not stop private persons from cooperating with ICC probers, who are looking into drug killings perpetrated not only during Duterte’s presidency but also by so-called death squads when he was mayor or vice mayor of Davao City between Nov. 1, 2011 and June 30, 2016. When he was vice mayor, the mayor was his daughter, now Vice President Sara Duterte, who is reportedly included in the ICC probe.

Trillanes claimed additional evidence would be gathered against the secondary respondents in the possible indictment for murder as a crime against humanity. The country has a law covering such crimes. But Guevarra has said that before indictments can be made, it must first be established that the killings were systematically carried out to constitute a crime against humanity. The government, Guevarra said, was having difficulty finding witnesses and gathering evidence that can sustain such an indictment.

Perhaps witnesses are more willing to cooperate with ICC probers. Even as the ICC proceeds with its work, the government must continue showing the world that there is a sustained, earnest effort in the Philippines to uncover the truth and give justice to victims of the drug war. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

Hullabaloo over nothing

Babe’s Eye View BABE ROMUALDEZ MOST countries continue to recognize the One China Policy, and so do we. This is affirmed by the fact that the Philippines to this day has only the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) as a representative office in Taiwan with no formal diplomatic ties.

Over the years, we have maintained close economic cooperation with Taiwan being the 8th largest trading partner, 8th largest export market and 8th biggest source of imports in 2022, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Taiwan is home to close to 200,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) employed in manufacturing and various sectors, and it goes without saying that we have good peopleto-people and cultural ties.

Which is why it really isn’t such a big deal, and it’s not surprising, that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. congratulated the winning candidate in the recently concluded presidential elections in Taiwan on behalf

of the Filipino people, saying that he looks forward to “close collaboration, strengthening mutual interests, fostering peace, and ensuring prosperity for our people in the years ahead.”

Having been educated in the UK, President Marcos was simply displaying common courtesy and returning the gesture of the Taiwanese government that tweeted its congratulations when he won in the 2022 May presidential elections. Presidentelect Lai Ching-te, who was vice president during that time, had expressed his best wishes for PBBM as well as Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio. And just in case China has forgotten, Taiwan was not represented during the inauguration of President Marcos Jr. despite actively seeking to send a delegation.

As pointed out by the Department of Foreign Affairs, the congratulatory message was clearly the president’s way of expressing his gratitude to Taiwan for hosting the OFWs, many of whom are engaged in the manufacturing industry and are expected to benefit from a salary increase owing to a landmark law that was passed by the Legislative Yuan (the highest

legislative body in Taiwan) last December.

Not surprisingly, I received several messages saying that China was “overreacting” to the congratulatory statements issued not only by the Philippines but other nations as well. As one described it, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) was “acting like an overzealous principal engaged in a scolding spree,” lecturing and calling out countries that congratulated the winners or said that the recent elections is proof of Taiwan’s vibrant democracy.

Included in China’s “rebukes list” is the United States for purportedly sending a “gravely wrong signal” to “independence separatist forces,” while British Foreign Secretary David Cameron who offered his “warm congratulations” received condemnation from the Chinese MOFA for his “wrong act.”

Australia, which issued a statement saying that the “smooth conduct of the elections is a testament to the maturity and strength of Taiwan’s democracy,” already received a dour warning from Chinese Ambassador Xiao Qian the night before the elections in Taiwan through an opinion piece

published in a major newspaper: “If Australia is tied to the chariot of Taiwan separatist forces, the Australian people would be pushed over the edge of an abyss.”

Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa also issued a congratulatory message “for the smooth implementation of the democratic election,” and shared expectations for the Taiwan issue to be “resolved peacefully through dialogue” – prompting the Chinese embassy in Japan to blast her comments as a “serious interference in China’s internal affairs.”

Singapore congratulated “Dr. William Lai and his party on their victory,” adding that Singapore will continue to grow its close relationship with Taiwan based on the One China Policy – and was also reprimanded.

But the most blistering comments were seemingly reserved for the Philippines, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning warning the Philippines “not to play with fire” and outrageously suggesting that the president read more about the Taiwan issue to arrive at “the right conclusions.”

Filipinos angrily reacted to

Mao Ning’s statements. Of course, if anything, Filipinos are angry with China at the way they have been treating our fishermen, harassing and shadowing Philippine Coast Guard vessels and resupply boats – ramming our vessels, spraying them with water cannons, pointing military grade lasers and other acts of aggression that have caused harm and damage.

It’s no surprise that Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro scored a lot of points when he called out Mao Ning in a statement. He simply expressed what many Filipinos wanted to say in the first place.

“It is unfortunate that the PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson stooped to such low and gutter-level talk – resorting to insulting our president and the Filipino nation, and further debasing herself, the ministry, and Party she represents in the process,” Secretary Teodoro said.

“But then again, we should not at all be surprised – being a nation and people enjoying the privileges, rights, and freedoms of a democratic society – that an agent of a Party and system of government incompatible with our way of life and who routinely

spouts State-sanctioned propaganda and disinformation would go that far and that low,” he continued.

“It is unfortunate, but I am, myself, unsurprised. The spokesperson’s statements were ‘on brand.’ We, and the world, should not expect more,” Secretary Teodoro clapped back.

But as many have pointed out, China would not have been so offended by congratulatory messages had the winner been the “China friendly” candidate.

Too bad, things didn’t turn out their way.

Clearly, what is important is that China and the Philippines have both agreed to “improve communications” and deal with issues regarding the South China Sea calmly. This is after all the more important issue which everyone should try to resolve peacefully, instead of making a big hullabaloo over something that is perfectly innocuous.

(Philstar.com) ***

the traffic consequences of this large project.

MRT-3 is a commuter rail line that is supposed to displace the EDSA bus line. It is so inefficient a mode of transport that the bus route is not only conserved, it was given its own reserved lane known as the Edsa Carousel.

This reduced the number of lanes available for all other vehicles.

Metro Manila is probably the only urban sprawl that does not have its own local government.

Instead, the mayors of the constituent cities haggle in a council and veto anything that is not in their parochial interest to have.

The way Metro Manila is governed needs radical review.

We need an elected governor for what is in reality really one large city. But tampering with the powers of the constituent local governments will likely be politically explosive.

Some key traffic policies need dramatic review. The volume reduction scheme based on plate numbers is an insane policy.

It encouraged car owners to

acquire second vehicles to evade the ban. These spare vehicles are now parked in the side streets, clogging traffic flow.

We may argue with the conclusion that we have the worst traffic flow in the world.

But that is not the point.

The insane traffic condition we confront daily needs a fundamental review of the way this metropolis is governed.

The MMDA is mandated to relieve the symptoms of a badly planned metro. But it is not empowered to undertake the engineering solutions to solve the actual problems. It is certainly not empowered to begin any meaningful urban planning for an urban center on the verge of choking.

The TomTom finding should be an occasion to debate the fundamentals of how our metropolis is governed. (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.

*** babeseyeview@gmail.com

Insane

First Person ALEX MAGNO THE Philippines topped two lists the past week. We are the world’s biggest rice importer.

Metro Manila traffic is the worst in the world.

Neither recognition should make us happy. We already have the world’s worst airport.

Meanwhile, our people spend the most time on social media – possibly the new opium of the people.

The lead vocalist of the visiting British band Coldplay summed it up over the weekend: “Traffic here is completely insane.”

Our traffic rating was reported out in the 2023 TomTom Traffic Index. This report is put out by a Netherlands-based multinational developer and creator of location technology as well as consumer electronics. It is based on a comparative study of 387 metro areas around the world.

MMDA Acting Chair Romando Artes said his agency will reach

out to those behind this report to inquire about the methodologies employed for this study. That will probably be a futile effort.

It will not matter if we are first, second or third in the world. Our economy bleeds billions because of the difficulty getting from one point in the city to the other. We all know the reality.

Besides, TomTom was not organized just to put us down.

It is their business to compare traffic conditions across cities for the purpose of developing software to help harried commuters cope in congested environments. The company does not profit by ranking us worst.

Artes, in addition, reminds the public that the MMDA is doing all possible “interventions” to improve traffic flow. That is possibly all that this agency can say, given its seriously limited mandate.

To understand all that brought us to this “insane” traffic condition, we will have to look at many things: historical and geographical factors, institutions of governance, the general

failure of strategic planning and the driving culture of our denizens.

This mad urban tangle we call Metro Manila is basically an unplanned metropolis growing in a semi-circle out of the port.

It is composed of very old settlements with very narrow streets as well as new towns with inadequate provision for road space.

The wonder of it all is that this unified urban mess is not fully governed by a single political entity. Metro Manila is a confederation of independent cities, each governed by local governments jealous of their turf.

Some subscribe to the U-turn policy, others do not. Some have windows to the number-coding policy, others do not. Policies on street parking vary across localities.

Barangay chairmen have absolute power over permitting tricycles to operate – leading to some localities having an oversupply of this mode of transport. Where I live, there is such an oversupply of tricycles they spend more than half their

time lining up for passengers.

Once, I went to the MMDA to get help to clear our road of abandoned vehicles that eat up parking spaces and clog roads. I was told they could do nothing about it for fear of being charged with carnapping.

In its restricted role, the MMDA could not reconfigure mass transport routes to adjust to shifting commuter behavior.

I was told the agency could not do that. At any rate, given our jeepney drivers’ propensity for mounting strikes, it was bound to be met with political opposition.

The large engineering projects required to help our traffic move is often met with bureaucratic resistance. The Skyway project, that finally links the northern half of the Metro with the south, was delayed by over a decade.

Only Ramon Ang’s persistence saw this project come to life.

The much-touted subway is very costly and will probably require a generation to complete. It is an undertaking of the national government, with the MMDA limited to managing

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Sandiganbayan acquits Binay PH Armed Forces vows more Navy assets in matriarch of graft, malversation Scarborough Shoal after new China incident

by IAN LAQUI Philstar.com

MANILA — Sandiganbayan on Monday, January 22 cleared former Makati City Mayor Elenita Binay, spouse of former Vice President Jejomar Binay, of graft and malversation charges over the alleged anomalous purchase of medical equipment amounting to P9.9 million in years 2000 and 2001.

“For failure of the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt, accused Elenita S. Binay,...are hereby ACQUITTED of the offense of violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019,” the deci-

sion read.

Among the co-accused who were also acquitted are Luz Yamane-Garcia, Ernesto Aspillaga, Mabel Asunio and Lilia Nonato.

Two of Binay’s co-accused, Conrado Pamintuan and Jaime delos Reyes, were, however, convicted of graft.

Pamintuan and Delos Reyes were both sentenced to six to eight years of imprisonment and were also disqualified from holding public office as a result of their conviction.

This has been the fourth graft charge that the former Makati mayor has been cleared by the anti-graft court.

The equipment to be used by

the Ospital ng Makati is said to have been bought during her term, which supposedly skipped public bidding.

The Binay martriarch was first acquitted in 2016 of a graft charge over the purchase of P13.25 million worth of office furniture and fixtures.

The next acquittal was in 2019 when the former Makati City Mayor was accused of graft over P72 million worth of furniture for the Makati City Hall.

In 2021, the Binay matriarch was also acquitted of graft and malversation or the procurement of hospital beds, and medical equipment amounting to P45 million. 

Pia becomes 1st woman to head Senate Blue Ribbon

by CECILLE SUERTE FELIPE Philstar.com

MANILA — Sen. Pia Cayetano has been elected as chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, becoming the first woman to head the panel in Senate history.

“It is a fact that Sen. Pia Cayetano, our distinguished colleague, will be the first-ever female chairperson of the SBRC in its 106th year in existence, providing checks and balances in a bicameral system,” said Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.

As Congress resumed session on Monday, January 22, senators elected Cayetano to replace Sen. Francis Tolentino as Blue Ribbon chair.

Tolentino announced his intention to step down as panel head in December to focus on his reelection bid in 2025.

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva informed the chamber of Tolentino’s resignation letter dated Jan. 22, 2024.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III supported Cayetano’s election.

“The minority applauds the decision of the majority and we congratulate our first-ever female chairperson of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee,” he said.

Zubiri earlier said Cayetano was the only female and one of three senator-lawyers being considered to replace Tolentino.

by JOHN ERIC MENDOZA Inquirer.net

MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) vowed to deploy more Navy assets in Scarborough Shoal following the harassment the Filipino fishermen experienced from China Coast Guard (CCG) personnel.

AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla made the remark on Tuesday, January 23 after fisher Jack Tabat said they were forced by CCG personnel to throw the shells back to the sea they gathered off the low-tide elevation before being driven away.

“For the Philippine Navy since the internal security [threat] has dwindled, then we can allocate more resources for our external defense. So we’ll have more assets of our Navy circling

around the area,” Padilla said over CNN Philippines, partly in Filipino.

Tabat took the video of the incident which made rounds on social media over the weekend.

No Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic personnel were present in the sand bank when the incident occurred.

Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for WPS, on Monday vowed to increase their presence and coordination with BFAR to prevent the incident from occurring again. Padilla, for AFP’s part, said they will coordinate with PCG to support their operations.

“We take this report seriously, and we are continuously coordinating with the Philippine Coast Guard on how we can support them in their operations. So this will be based

on the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea guidelines and we will, we need to do our best to prevent this incident from happening again in the future,” Padilla said.

“We will ensure that the Filipinos can freely enjoy our aquatic resources especially in this traditional fishing ground.

We are hoping that the China Coast Guard will respect this,” she added.

Scarborough Shoal is a traditional fishing ground that should be shared with neighboring countries such as China and Vietnam, according to a 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling.

Beijing, which claims almost the entire South China Sea, rejected the international tribunal’s ruling, as its vessels harass Filipino fishermen trying to fish there. 

Sen. Pia Cayetano, the new chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, has her arm raised by her predecessor Sen. Francis Tolentino after being elected in a plenary session on Monday, January 22. Joining them are Sen. Bong Go and Sen. JV Ejercito. Philstar.com photo by Jesse Bustos

The other three were Senators Sonny Angara, Francis Escudero and her younger brother Alan Peter Cayetano.

Under Tolentino, the Blue Ribbon panel probed the Department of Education’s “pricey” and “outdated” laptop deals worth P2.4 billion as well as the sugar importation controversy.

The lengthy investigations uncovered some irregularities and recommended the filing of charges against some officials involved. Other officials resigned.

Tolentino will still head another equally important committee: the Senate special

committee on Philippine maritime and admiralty zones, which will have jurisdiction to study and report on all matters relating to archipelagic baselines, maritime zones, archipelagic sea lands and other incidental matters.

“It is timely then that the Senate of the Philippines provides the necessary support for our fellow workers in the government and the executive branch in order to better secure the benefits of the vast Philippine maritime zones, including our territorial sea …and the large, exclusive economic zone,” Tolentino said last year. 

Support.

This is what it takes to take on Alzheimer’s.

It’s not easy to accept that memory loss that disrupts daily life could be a sign of Alzheimer’s. Or that two-thirds of people diagnosed are women, including Asian American and Pacific Islander women.

But we can watch for signs in ourselves and others. And reduce our risk by staying active and lowering blood pressure.

Huwag maghintay para mapangalagaan ang iyong kinabukasan.

Because we have what it takes to take on Alzheimer’s.

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Nicole Kidman praises Filipina co-stars in ‘Expats’ Ruby Ruiz, Amelyn Pardenilla embrace the limelight at the premiere in New York

“

BY MOMAR G. VISAYA / AJPRESS

WONDERFUL! They’re exquisite in the show and I’m so happy to have them be celebrated, discovered, loved, and enjoyed.”

That was how Nicole Kidman described to us the experience of working with her multicultural co-stars on the new series ‘Expats,’ among them Filipino actors Ruby Ruiz and Amelyn Pardenilla.

Expats is a six-part series on Prime Video streaming its first two episodes this week and the remaining episodes will be released weekly. The limited series is created, written, and directed

by Lulu Wang (The Farewell) is based on the novel ‘The Expatriates’ by Janice Y.K. Lee. The show follows three American women - Margaret (Nicole Kidman), Hilary (Sarayu Blue), and Mercy (Ji-young Yoo) whose lives intersect after a sudden family tragedy. The series interrogates privilege and explores what happens when the line between victimhood and culpability becomes blurred.

Set against the vibrant and tumultuous tapestry of 2014 Hong Kong, the series also beautifully highlights South Asian, Korean, Filipino, and Chinese cultures.

Playing key roles are Filipino actors Ruby Ruiz and Amelyn Pardenilla and half-Filipino Bodhi del Rosario who plays one of Kidman’s children in the show.

While all the episodes are equally good, Filipino fans should look out for the special extended episode in the series entitled “Central” which surrounds Overseas Filipino Workers with a focus on Ruiz and Pardenilla. This specific episode highlights their life and experience as OFWs/migrant workers with both actresses playing integral parts of the story as a whole.

This pivotal moment in the series aligns with Lulu Wang’s vision to delve into the day-today lives of these women in Hong Kong. Wang envisioned “Central” as the feature-length penultimate episode, aiming to provide ample time and scope to explore this non-expat perspective.

The series scrutinizes the nuanced relationships between expats in Hong Kong and the domestic workers from the Philippines who reside and work in their homes.

“Since the episode was from a non-expat perspective, Nicole would be playing a supporting

Puri (Amelyn Pardenilla) and Essie (Ruby Ruiz) share a scene in the episode entitled “Central”.

Photo courtesy of Prime Video

The main cast and director of ‘Expats’ (from left to right) Jack Huston, Brian Tee, Lulu Wang, Jennifer Salke, Nicole Kidman, Sarayu Blue, Ji-young Yoo, Ruby Ruiz and Amelyn Pardenilla.

Photo by Marion Curtis / StarPix for Amazon MGM Studios

role to these other characters, and I knew that would be a difficult pitch,” she shared.

To Wang’s surprise, Nicole Kidman embraced this ambitious undertaking, bringing her star power to a supporting role in service of the broader narrative.

Kidman confirmed this with us, saying it’s her joy to help women who deserve to fulfill their dreams.

“I’m so lucky to have the opportunities to be able to champion these filmmakers, the women, the cause,” she said. “To be able to say ‘Yes, I’ll be a supporting role in the show’ and I’m just so happy that I’ve been given the chance to do that. So I’m just hoping, I just want people to watch it.”

Ruiz, a veteran actress recently seen in the Prime Video hit “Linlang” was blown away after reading the script for “Central.”

“I am so grateful that Lulu gave that weight and value in episode five for Puri and Essie, and the rest of the domestic helpers to have significance and more value in this series,” she said.

‘Excited, grateful’ Overwhelming was the word that she used when we asked her to describe her ‘Expats’ journey.

“After so many years of trying to put it together, we’re here, in New York for the premiere,” Ruiz said.

Ruiz got the role through auditions. She sent her self-tape and it was followed with interviews through Zoom for the callbacks.

She admits she didn’t realize the gravity of the project when she was still auditioning.

“I didn’t know who Lulu Wang was,” she revealed. “And it was only later when I found out about Nicole Kidman’s involvement, and that this was one of Prime Video’s biggest projects.”

“Never in my wildest dreams, my dream was just to always have continuous work. This is such a huge blessing,” she added.

Since Ruiz played the role of Essie, the Woo family’s helper and nanny for the kids, most of her scenes were with Kidman herself. She admitted feeling a bit nervous but took it as a challenge to fully embody her character, living and breathing the role.

Ruiz mentioned that she and Essie share similar traits, like being loving, devoted, and committed. Because of these similarities, it wasn’t too hard for her to embrace the role. She even disclosed that she worked as a nanny in Canada before, so the emotions she felt for her onscreen charges were genuine and heartfelt.

“That experience of being a nanny before helped a lot. Mahal

na mahal ng mga Pilipinong nannies yung mga alaga nila kasi ganun tayo magmahal eh, hindi lang siya basta trabaho,” she said.

Amelyn Pardenilla found herself in a unique situation where her life mirrored the role she was auditioning for. As a migrant worker auditioning to portray a migrant worker with aspirations of becoming a singer, she felt like art was imitating life. Singing during her audition was a breeze for her.

Originally from Cebu, Pardenilla moved to Hong Kong 23 years ago in pursuit of better opportunities. Working as a singer in Hong Kong hotels for over two decades, she harbored dreams of being part of a musical or acting onstage.

Similar to Ruiz, she auditioned not fully knowing what the project was about. “I just wanted to try, to be exposed. Kaya wala akong expectations,” she remarked.

“I was excited and so grateful to the Lord that I got the part. I thought extra lang ako with dialogues,” she said laughing. “Hindi ko talaga akalain na nasa main cast ako.”

She admitted to being starstruck on the first few days of the shoot.

“I was so overwhelmed,” she exclaimed. “Kasi siyempre, nakikita ko lang sila sa movies and

Ruby Ruiz AJPress photos by Momar G. Visaya

Amelyn Pardenilla

Bodhi Del Rosario

Nicole Kidman

shows and I’m a big fan. Tapos sa set nakakausap ko na sila.”

A registered nurse, Amelyn said she totally related to the role of Puri.

“Alam ko yung mga sakripisyo ng migrant workers in order to be able to provide for their families back home. Ang hirap talaga kapag nasa ibang bansa ka at wala kang pamilya,” she said.

Looking around the yellow carpet and flashing cameras, Amelyn took a deep breath and gave a big, hearty smile as she

tried to take it all in.

“Unbelievable na nangyayari ito kasi hanggang ngayon, hindi ko pa rin na-a-absorb lahat. Good timing din kasi ibinigay ni Lord sa akin,” she said, her eyes welling.

Ruby and Amelyn are both grateful for the opportunity to be a part of ‘Expats’ and as the series unfolds, it not only explores diverse perspectives and challenges stereotypes but also showcases a beautiful story about family, unconditional love, acceptance, and forgiveness.

Carmina, Gelli, Janice, and Candy’s tips to lasting friendship

by ALLAN POLICARPIO Inquirer.net

BUILDING genuine friendships is hard; maintaining them, more so.

This is especially true in show biz, where everything is fleeting and looks can be deceiving.

That’s why the enduring friendship among Carmina Villarroel, Candy Pangilinan and sisters Janice and Gelli de Belen has become a subject of admiration, not only within the entertainment industry, but also among fans and observers.

What’s the secret to their decadeslong bond that started way back in the 1990s?

Having shared interests and values was a given. Being there for each other—through the good times and the bad— brought them closer together.

But ultimately, what made their relationship last is simple: They chose to stay friends.

Hard work “Friendship is give and take.

And as they say, it takes two to tango. So, you need to put in the effort, and this goes for all kinds of relationships. You have to take it upon yourself to reach out. You have to do something to maintain the friendship,” Candy said at a press conference for the comedy-drama film “Roadtrip,” which is currently showing in cinemas.

Friendship is hard work— there’s no other way about it.

“We’re thankful to have this kind of friendship. It takes a lot of work. You have to work on yourselves. If you don’t, then wala na ’yan. Friendship will not just fall on your lap and [you can’t] expect it to last forever.

But we’re all willing to put in the effort, so we’ve been solid through the years,” Gelli said.

But just as important as showing up is knowing when to step back.

“Being friends or being part of a barkada doesn’t necessarily mean you have to see or speak to each other every day, or check in on them every minute. You also have to give and respect each other’s space when needed,” Janice pointed out. “It will all come together eventually. You don’t have to force things.”

“If one of us suddenly turns quiet, we immediately realize that she’s not in the mood, so we don’t bother her. At work, or at press conferences like this, we’re used to—and it’s our job—to talk. But when it’s just the four of us, we know when to keep quiet. So I think that works for us,” she added.

‘Moody’ friend As the self-confessed “moody” friend of the group, Carmina is thankful for the grace her friends extend to her.

“We have come to a point where

we already know each other so well that we no longer have to voice out what we’re feeling all the time,” she said.

“We have our own pace when it comes to opening up about our problems. And that’s something I appreciate. Even if they sense that something’s wrong with me, they don’t force me to talk about my problem. They wait until I’m ready to open up,” Carmina added.

As their relationship grew, they eventually learned to accept each other’s flaws and all. “You understand their strengths, weaknesses. You accept that they are the way they are. If she’s impatient or moody, respect that and vice versa. It’s a deeper kind of love, one that has no conditions,” Gelli said.

“It’s not, ‘I love you because you’re this or that.’ It’s, ‘I love you because you’re my friend,’” she added. “Simple as that.”

Grounded on honesty Genuine friendship is also grounded on honesty, and the ability to dish out harsh truths no one else will do. “This is what I really appreciate about Gelli. She’s so vocal and frank.

But she tells you as it is, but she does so with words and in a tone that won’t hurt you,” Carmina said. “Respect and trust should be there.”

Produced by Viva Films and directed by Andoy Ranay,

Gelli de Belen, Carmina Villarroel, Janice de Belen and Candy Pangilinan

“Roadtrip” is an original concept by Candy. The plot follows four women who reunite and go on a trip to visit their ailing friend.

Janice is Gigi, a naturally kind but people-pleasing writer who’s grown tired of all her responsibilities. Gelli is Maricar, a successful events planner who feels she doesn’t owe anyone an explanation; Carmina is Chiqui, an actress from a political family who seems to have everything

except the ability to make decisions for herself; and Candy is Sophia, a seemingly arrogant vlogger and businesswoman who needs a much-needed breather.

“The script was initially written during a workshop with National Artist Ricky Lee. And I thought about having friends on board because I thought it would make shooting easier.

And it did,” Candy said.

“The challenge was more on

Photo courtesy of Viva Films

the physical side, like scenes where we had to hike to Mt. Pulag. But other than that, it was all a breeze. Since we know each other so well, we were able to quickly follow up on each other’s ad libs,” Candy said.

“It was hard, but I’m happy I got to do it with these three. I’m grateful to have them in my life,” Carmina said.

“The kind of friendship we have is rare,” Gelli said. “It feels like the stars aligned for us.”

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Features

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 1, 2024

A nurse’s American dream comes true, despite her first employer backing out, this Sunday on Citizen Pinoy GROWING up, Rina missed her parents, who immigrated to the U.S. in search of greener pastures. Rina believed that being a nurse would be the fastest way

9

for her to be reunited with her company willing to sponsor Rina parents and other siblings in the for a green card.

U.S. So, immediately after she Unfortunately, there was a retpassed her NCLEX Board Exam rogression of priority dates, and in 2005, her parents found a PAGE 10

‘No patent, no right’: UP lawyer highlights scientists’ need to protect inventions

by Harvey L. Sapigao

IN the ’90s, Dr. Neila Cortes-Maramba of UP Manila led a team of scientists investigating ten medicinal plants in the Philippines. Two of these plants exhibited promising results — one for cough and the other for urinary tract infections. The team patented Vitex negundo (Lagundi) and Blumea balsamifera (Sambong) in syrup and tablet forms, granting them exclusive rights to these medicines.

Today, Lagundi and Sambong are essential remedies for coughs and UTIs, proving lucrative for the pharmaceutical industry. Had they not applied for a patent, UP Manila and its partners would not have earned more than 50 million pesos in remittances through royalties and licensing fees, nor would they have been able to claim the invention as their own and would

selling, or importing the invention,” Atty. Santiago explained.

“It is not to make the invention, but to prevent others.”

She added that, when multiple inventors unknowingly created the same invention, the first to file the patent secures the rights to it.

UP Diliman has successfully patented various inventions, such as CoaTiN, a coating technology that uses titanium nitride to extend the lifespan of metallic tools, developed by Dr. Henry Ramos of the National Institute of Physics (NIP), and an amebiasis detection kit that quickly identifies the disease using saliva, invented by Dr. Windell Rivera, Dr. Angeline Odelia Concepcion, and Dr. Alexander Edward Dy of the Institute of Biology (IB).

Patents not only benefit inventors but also stimulate innovation and improve existing products.

Applying for patents requires detailed explanations of how the invention works. This information becomes publicly available upon patent approval, allowing other inventors to draw inspiration from or enhance the patented work.

Atty. Santiago also touched upon the other three types of IP: trademarks, which protect identifying symbols and expressions; copyright which grants rights from the moment of creation; and trade secrets, which safeguards valuable confidential information.

She will also discuss harnessing IP for innovation in another iStories session.

(UPD-CS Science CommunicaPhoto by Eunice Jean Patron tions)

leave it vulnerable to idea theft.

If inventions and creations are not patented, “it belongs now to the public domain where anyone can reproduce or manufacture it,” Atty. Josephine R. Santiago of the UP Diliman College of Law said at the 7th session of the iStories webinar, hosted by the University of the Philippines– Diliman College of Science. Atty.

Santiago is an award-winning intellectual property (IP) expert who served as the Director General of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).

Failing to patent inventions exposes them to the public domain, allowing anyone to reproduce or manufacture them.

A patent, as a form of IP, provides the inventor exclusive rights to their creations. “The right of a patentee is only to prevent third persons from manufacturing, offering for sale, using,

Hila-Bana: Espasyo Temporal, the first exhibition to be held at PH Consulate in 2024, invites public to ‘follow the red thread’ SAN FRANCISCO – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco is hosting an art exhibit of Filipino visual artist and street muralist Venazir Martinez, the artist’s first solo art exhibit in San Francisco, and the first exhibition to be held at the Consulate in 2024.

Held under the auspices of Sentro Rizal San Francisco and in partnership with the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of San Francisco (UPAASF), the Consulate co-organized the opening of the “Hila-Bana: Espasyo Temporal II” art exhibit on January 19, 2024 at the Philippine Center in San Francisco’s Kalayaan Hall.

UPAASF Board chair Eric Golangco and Board member Sonia Delen graced the event, as well as members of the Filipino and art community in San Francisco.

In his remarks, Consul General Neil Ferrer said that the art exhibit is the Consulate’s prelude to the celebration of National Arts Month in the Philippines in February 2024.

Philippine Consul General Ferrer underscored the importance of holding exhibitions such as the Hila-Bana art exhibit saying, “not only because it gives our talented Filipino artists a platform to display their artistry and creativity to the world, but also because it allows us to amplify the story of the Filipino and of the Filipino American Community to a global audience.”

“I wish to commend and thank Venazir for generously sharing her creative talent with the community, and for tirelessly showcasing Filipino arts and culture to a wider public. I also express my gratitude to the UPAASF for its support to emerging Filipino artists such as Venazir, and for be-

Philippine Consul General Neil Ferrer (right) and UP Alumni Association of San Francisco Board Chair Eric Golangco (left) join Filipino artist Venazir Martinez (center) in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the Hila-Bana: Espasyo Temporal II art exhibit at the Philippine Center in San Francisco.

San Francisco PCG photos

Filipino artist Venazir Martinez explains the concept behind Hila-Bana — a compound of Filipino words hila or “to pull” and hilbanahan or “temporary stitching” — at the opening of the “Hila-Bana: Espasyo Temporal II” art exhibit at the Philippine Center.

ing a reliable partner in Philippine cultural promotion and diplomacy efforts in the Bay Area,” the Philippine Consul General said.

Hila-Bana — a compound of Filipino words hila or “to pull” and hilbanahan or “temporary stitching”— is a series of artistic reflections that delve into the complex tapestry of the Filipino people’s collective identity. It originated as Martinez’s thesis at UP Baguio and as a street art

project in Baguio City, which challenged the public's visual perception through cultural and ancestral heritage emblems that are unified by a red thread.

The “Hila-Bana” exhibition was first staged at Duke University in North Carolina in October 2023, in celebration of Filipino American History Month. The art exhibit will run at the Philippine Center until January 30, 2024.

(PCGSF Release)

Philippine Consulate General and UP Alumni Association of San Francisco officials join Filipino artist Venazir Martinez (7th from left) at the at the opening of the Hila-Bana: Espasyo Temporal II art exhibit at the Philippine Center in San Francisco.

LEADING U.S. IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL (RIGHT) RETAINS THE PRIORITY DATE FROM THE ORIGINAL EMPLOYER, EVEN AFTER THE LATTER WITHDREW THE PETITION. When Rina (left) passed her NCLEX Board Exam in 2005, a convalescent facility was willing to sponsor Rina to come to the U.S. All went well until there was a retrogression of priority dates. After the retrogression, Rina found out that the facility was under new management and was no longer interested in pushing through with the case, so they withdrew her petition. Fortunately, Rina’s family found another facility who was willing to sponsor her. The family retained Atty. Gurfinkel, who championed Rina’s case, was able to transfer/retain the original 2006 Priority Date of the previous employer’s petition to the new employer’s case. Rina’s American Dream finally came true. Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, January 28 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo.

(Advertising Supplement)

East Bay Regional Park District launches Annual Trails Challenge program 20 new trails for 2024

OAKLAND – For the past 31 years, the East Bay Regional Park District has encouraged the public to explore their Regional Parks through its annual Trails Challenge program. The free program connects people with nature and healthy recreation by providing 20 designated trails for each year’s challenge.

The 2024 Guidebook includes 20 trails available for all levels of fitness, ranging from easy and moderate to challenging. There are trails open to hikers, bicyclists, dogs, and equestrians.

Trails Challenge 2024 also offers increased accessibility with trails that have been evaluated and identified as usable by persons with mobility limitations.

To complete the challenge, hike five of the 20 trails, or 26.2 miles (the distance of a marathon) of trails within East Bay Regional Park District. You can submit your log, online or by mail, by December 1, 2024, and receive a commemorative pin, while supplies last.

Trails Challenge is made possible in partnership with the Regional Parks Foundation and Kaiser Permanente, who have both sponsored Trails Challenge since 2005.

Download the 2024 Trails Challenge and learn more at ebparks.org/TC. Tips for the trails East Bay Regional Parks are popular with hikers, bikers,

equestrians, and nature viewers, among others. Help keep trails enjoyable for all by following these tips for the trails: • Hikers: Stay to the right and stay alert • Bikers: Slow down around others and call out or ring your bell when passing • Equestrians: Keep to the right around other trail users PAGE 11

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JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 1, 2024 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

Features

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

Your PH Consulate in San Francisco approves 2,117 Minding Finances overseas voting applications filed in Q4 2023 SAN FRANCISCO – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco approved 2,117 overseas voting (OV) applications filed from October 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023, during the hearing conducted by the Consulate’s Resident Election Registration Board (RERB) on January 16, 2024.

After a full year of registering overseas voters for the 2025 elections, which began on December 9, 2022, the Consulate’s RERB has so far approved a total of 8,868 OV applications.

The RERB is composed of Deputy Consul General Raquel Solano as RERB Chair, and Vice Consul Adrian Baccay and Genevieve Ferrer as RERB Members.

The Consulate, along with other Philippine embassies and consulates worldwide, will continue registering overseas voters until September 30, 2024.

Filipino citizens (including dual citizens) who will be outside the Philippines, are at least 18 years of age on May 12, 2025, and are not otherwise disqualified by law, may register with the Consulate as overseas voters for the 2025 Philippine National Elections.

Registered overseas voters of previous elections who moved to a new address within the Consulate’s area of jurisdiction, are also urged to visit the Consulate and apply for change of address. The Consulate

Atty. RAymond BulAon

San Francisco PCG photos

covers the states of Alaska, Northern and Central California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Northern Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Additional information on

the ongoing overseas voting registration is available on the Consulate’s official OV page: https://pcgsanfrancisco. org/overseas-voting/.

(PCGSF Release)

SAN FRANCISCO’S VACANT TO VIBRANT SUCCESS

QUESTION: I owe a lot in back taxes. I’m constantly getting threatening letters from the IRS. This has become a big problem that I have no idea how to solve.

What can I do?

Answer: For what it’s worth, take some comfort in knowing that you are not alone. There are millions of Americans in similar situations, dealing with debt hanging over their heads and concerned about how it will affect their future.

The good news: You have many options. To fully understand and take advantage of your options, we urge you to see a qualified tax resolution professional. He or she will take a close look at your previous returns, looking for mistakes that may have resulted in an inflated tax debt amount. This process alone can substantially lower your IRS debt.

Once you and your qualified tax professional have analyzed your previous returns, the next step is to negotiate a resolution with the IRS. You will most likely be looking at one of two options – the Offer in Compromise or the Installment Agreement.

The Offer in Compromise was created for people who owe a substantial amount to the IRS but who, for whatever reason, are unable to pay off their tax debt, even over time. The Offer in Compromise allows taxpayers to negotiate a settlement amount that will take care of the entire tax debt once and for all. This settlement agreement can low-

Sooner or later, you need to face your IRS tax problems er the tax debt by a significant amount.

Unfortunately, the Offer in Compromise program is often misunderstood, partly because people see a lot of ads on TV and the internet promising them that they can simply settle their tax debt “for pennies on the dollar.”

They make it sound too easy.

Don’t be fooled. While this is true for people who qualify, what the advertisers don’t tell you is that this is based on a formula used by the IRS in determining eligibility. A lot of offers are rejected because they fail to consider the formula in making offers that stand no chance of acceptance from the time they are filed. Buyer beware. If it sounds too good to be true, maybe it is. Again, I am not saying that it doesn’t work. All I am saying is that what you should offer the IRS must be based on the IRS’s calculation of what is acceptable given your own unique circumstances.

If you do not qualify for the Offer in Compromise – and to do so you must be able to prove eligibility – then you may consider the Installment Agreement, which allows you to pay off your debt by making manageable monthly payments.

The IRS has different types of installment agreements depending on how much you owe, the value of your assets, your income, and how much time the IRS has to collect what you owe over the 10-year collection period imposed by law.

If you have no available equity in assets and your income is not sufficient to cover your monthly

living expenses, the IRS can also put you in uncollectible status.

That means that the IRS will not take any collection actions as long as you remain in this status and your financial circumstances do not change. Yes, the interest continues to run on the outstanding debt, but it could be a way to buy time. Example: Remember what I said about the 10-year collection statute? The IRS has 10 years to collect from the date of assessment. If you are close to the expiration of the 10-year period, being put in uncollectible status does not stop the running of the statute. So, it may be possible to remain in uncollectible status until the 10-year period expires. This could be one way of getting rid of your IRS tax problems.

If you owe the IRS, the State, EDD or State Board of Equalization, my office can help you find the best solution to resolve your tax liability. You will never have to speak with the IRS again. I will review your case and help you make the best decision for yourself and family. *** 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. *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation.

Atty. Ray Bulaon has been in private practice for 23 years and have helped more than 6,000 clients obtain debt relief. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call RJB Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-866-471-8273.

(Advertising Supplement)

Existing pop-ups extending leases as program The IRS doesn’t send tax refunds by email or text ends to fill more downtown vacancies SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor London N. Breed and Vacant to Vibrant partner SF New Deal on Thursday, January 18 celebrated the success of the city’s Vacant to Vibrant program, which includes lease extensions for eight of the nine inaugural pop-up storefronts following a successful pilot three-month term. The city’s second cohort will be selected and announced over the course of the next few months.

Managed by the city's Office of Economic Workforce and Development (OEWD), Vacant to Vibrant launched last year in April in partnership with SF New Deal, a local nonprofit organization that strengthens neighborhoods by making it easier for under-resourced small business owners to succeed. The program creates opportunities for small businesses, artists and cultural organizations to create pop-ups in vacant storefront spaces throughout downtown.

Building on the success of the first cohort of popups, OEWD and SF New Deal are actively accepting applications for this year’s cohort to fill more vacant storefronts downtown later this year. The next set of pop-ups will expand the program’s footprint with more locations that will be designed to offer engaging and inviting spaces and experiences.

“Vacant to Vibrant is a shining example of what can be accomplished when we work together with non-profit and community partners to deliver creative solutions to our challenges,” said Mayor Breed. “We have the space to support our small businesses and property owners who are committed to supporting our city, and the results prove that this is working.”

Vacant to Vibrant pop-ups extending beyond initial three-month term: • Devil's Teeth Bakery – Hosted by BXP at One Embarcadero Center, Suite 1113 • Holy Stitch! – Hosted by Pembroke at 100 California Street, Suite 140 • GCS Agency – Hosted by The Gateway at 201 Jackson Street • KALW-FM 91.7 and Creativity Explored – Hosted by The Swig Company, 220 Montgomery Street, Suite 100 • The Mellow and Victoria Heilweil & Phil Spitler – Hosted by Lincoln Properties at 332 Pine Street • Rosalind Bakery – Hosted by BXP at Four Embarcadero Center, Suite 4504 • Teranga – Hosted by BXP at Four Embarcadero, Suite 4104 • Whack Donuts! – Hosted by BXP at Four Embarcadero Center, Suite 4507.

As part of Mayor Breed’s Roadmap to San Francisco Future, reimagining the downtown area to regain its vibrancy is a core component of the mayor’s strategic plan. Despite the challenges brought on and exacerbated by the pandemic, through this program, participating pop-up businesses continue to express significant interest in growing their brands or businesses in San Francisco’s downtown footprint.

“With Vacant to Vibrant, our local entrepreneurs, innovators and creators are showing us how to creatively reimagine San Francisco’s Downtown,” said Sarah Dennis Phillips, executive director of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. “They are proving that downtown can be a place of opportunity for artists, nonprofits, and small businesses, and their energy is creating new experiences that enliven it as a true neighborhood.

We are looking forward to building on the success of this initiative with more activators and popups over the next months, and with a long-term program that will keep the momentum going.”

“In 2023, Vacant to Vibrant proved that small businesses are a key part of downtown recovery.

We created a pathway for the economic and cultural vibrancy of San Francisco’s beloved neighborhoods to become a part of downtown, filling vacant storefronts in the Financial District with small businesses, artists and cultural organizations,” said Simon Bertrang, SF New Deal executive director.

“We are pleased to announce that Vacant to Vibrant will continue in 2024. Building on the success of the program, we are bringing a new cohort downtown and expanding the reach of the program so that everyone throughout the city and across the Bay Area can envision downtown as a vibrant neighborhood full of diverse and thriving small businesses.”

OEWD and SF New Deal are continuing to work with participating tenants as many are now

Mayor London Breed: “Vacant to Vibrant is a shining example of what can be accomplished when we work together with non-profit and community partners to deliver creative solutions to our challenges.”

File photo/www.sf.gov

actively in the process of working directly with property owners to begin new lease negotiations.

Current pop-up activators are also using this time to continue refining and iterating their business offers and approach, and responding to the feedback received and conditions experienced since launching in September last year.

“Vacant to Vibrant has been warmly received by the community,” Inner Sunset resident and regular downtown commuter, Pamela Armstead said. “As a decades-long San Francisco resident, the decline and blight overtaking downtown and many of our neighborhoods has broken my heart.

We’re all looking for answers, but programs like Vacant to Vibrant provide real, practical solutions towards getting back our quirky city and the independent businesses that make it thrive. I’m excited and hopeful that programs like this exist — let’s fill these empty spaces and get our city back!”

“The future of San Francisco is really bright, and I want to be a part of the revitalization,” said Hilary Passman, owner of Devil’s Teeth Bakery.

“This has been an awesome opportunity to get our foot in the door. Vacant to Vibrant got us into a space that we never could have gotten into prepandemic, and has brought many new and diverse businesses downtown.”

“It’s been great to be a part of Vacant to Vibrant, and to be engaging in discussions about creating lasting impact and change downtown through the program. KALW has done a great job bringing a new and exciting community to the Mills Building through interactive and engaging programming.

The vibrant art displays by Creativity Explored and Bee Betwee have enlivened the space. We’re looking forward to continuing the conversation about what is possible moving forward,” said Stacia Keisner, vice president, Asset Management of The Swig Company.

Applications remain open for small businesses, artists, nonprofits and others interested in bringing a pop-up to downtown through the program, as well as for property owners and managers interested in hosting a pop-up in their space through the program. Applicants can apply via the program’s website until February 23, 2024 for consideration in the next cohort. Applicants who have previously applied who were not selected in the inaugural cohort will automatically be considered in the coming round.

Vacant to Vibrant is a new program for SF New Deal and for the City of San Francisco, and the feedback and experiences shared by participants in the inaugural cohort are shaping the continued evolution of the program. Each participant in the inaugural cohort represents a unique concept, operation, and trajectory.

Visit www.VibrantSF.org or call (415) 480-1185 to learn more, while following along on Instagram at @VacantToVibrant.

(SF Mayor’s Press Office Release)

GOT an email or text message about a tax refund? It’s a scam.

IRS impersonators are at it again. This time, the scammers are sending messages about your “tax refund” or “tax refund e-statement.” It might look legit, but it’s an email or text fake, trying to trick you into clicking on links so they can steal from you.

How? They tell you to click a link — supposedly to check on your “tax refund e-statement” or “fill out a form to get your refund.” But it’s a scam and if you click that link, the scammer might steal your identity or put malware on your phone or computer.

If someone contacts you unexpectedly about a tax refund, the most important thing to know is that the real IRS won’t contact you by email, text message, or social media to get your personal or financial information. Only scammers will.

If someone does reach out, here’s what to do: • Never click on any links, which can put malware on your computer or phone, letting scammers steal from you.

• Check the status of any pending refund on the IRS official website. Visit Where’s My Refund to see if you’re really getting a refund.

• Share what you know. By telling your friends and family members about the scam, you

A sample of a scam email purportedly from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Screen capture from web

can help protect your community.

If you clicked on a link in one of these messages, or you shared personal or financial information, report it at IdentityTheft.gov to get a free, customized recovery

plan.

If you see this or any other a scam, even if you didn’t lose money, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud@ftc.gov.

(Atty. Larissa Bungo/FTC)

A nurse’s American dream comes true...

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Rina’s petition could not move forward. In the meantime, she had already found a job as a nurse in Singapore and had to leave her daughter to be raised by her relatives in the Philippines. This situation was difficult because it was a déjà vu of how Rina’s life was growing up when she was separated from her parents, and she did not want this for her child.

After six years, the retrogression was lifted, and Rina tried to revive her petition from the facility. Unfortunately, the new management was no longer offering employment and had to withdraw the sponsorship.

Desperate to find a way to re- Leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (right) was able to retain the priority date unite with her parents and to be from the previous petition for Rina (center), so she was able to finally reunite with her mother, able to bring her children, Rina Connie (left), and the rest of her family in the U.S. and her family explored other possibilities. They found another place who was willing to sponsor Rina.

The family had also retained leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel to help with Rina’s case, and he was able to transfer/retain the original 2006 Priority Date of the previous employer’s petition to the new employer’s case.

In July 2019, Rina’s visa was issued together with her two kids. Her husband’s visa followed soon after. Rina’s American Dream was finally fulfilled.

Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, January 28 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app.

(Advertising Supplement)

Rina and her children with Atty. Michael Gurfinkel

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Features

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 1, 2024

11

Filipino earth scientists attending AGU Fiancée visas: How to bring your loved one to the US meeting call on Consul General Ferrer Immigration SAN FRANCISCO – A group of Filipino scientists and science scholars attending the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting 2023 last December called on Consul General Neil Frank R. Ferrer at the Sentro Rizal at the Philippine Consulate.

According to PhD researcher Joshua Dimasaka, who studies AI and environmental risks and disaster resilience at the UK Research and Innovation Centre for Doctoral Training at University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, 25 Filipino scientists and researchers attended the AGU 23 in San Francisco. The AGU’s annual meeting convenes 25,000 attendees from over 100 countries to share research and connect with friends and colleagues.

Consul General Ferrer along with Consul Vanessa Bago-Llona, Vice Consul Adrian Baccay, and economic assistant Jennifer Sto. Domingo, welcomed the group composed of Dimasaka; Crizzia Mielle De Castro from the University at Albany, State University of New York, who studies tropical meteorology; Mirko Alessandro C. Uy from the University of Notre Dame, who studies paleooceanography and paleoclimatology Indiana; Reggie Macasieb from the University of Western Australia, School of Earth Sciences, who studies hydrogeology; Mario Soriano, a post-doctoral researcher

Insights

CHRISTOPHER KEROSKY, ESQ.

From left: Adonis T. Gallentes, Reygie Macasieb, Crizzia Mielle De Castro, Consul General Neil Frank R. Ferrer, Joshua Dimasaka, Mirko Alessandro C. Uy, and Dr. Mario Soriano.

San Francisco PCG photos

on water management from Princeton University; and Adonis T. Gallentes from the University of the Philippines Diliman, UP Marine Science Institute, who studies hydrogeology, specifically the effects of climate change on watersheds in some areas in the Philippines.

The scientists/researchers were mostly involved in studies about the effects of climate change, fostering resilience in countries like the Philippines, as well as communicating these to stakeholders, especially the public.

“I am impressed by the studies that you are working on and

Philippine Consulate officials led by ConGen Ferrer hold discussions with Filipino earth scientists attending the AGU meeting in San Francisco.

these are very relevant to the Philippines since our country is vulnerable to the effects of climate change,” said Consul General Ferrer. “I hope that someday you could go back to the Philippines and help solve our concerns there, especially on the impact of climate change on the country,” he added.

He mentioned that the Consulate, being located in Silicon Valley, works to help connect stakeholders, such as government officials and policymakers, as well as members of the private sector and business community, in exploring partnerships for developmental programs in the Philippines. He mentioned the partnership between the Philippine Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and AI-powered meteorology startup ATMO whose Memorandum of Agreement was signed during the visit of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in San Francisco on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

The scientists emphasized the significance of promoting STEM education in the Philippines, aiming to empower Filipinos to broaden their scientific knowledge and foster innovation.

The Philippine Government, through the DOST, has a program to encourage Filipino scientists and experts to return to the country and share their expertise to promote scientific, agro-industrial, and economic development, called the Balik Scientist Program.

(PCGSF Release)

A U.S. citizen can sponsor their future spouse to come to this country on a fiancée visa known as a K-1 visa. If the visa is approved, the couple must marry within 90 days to the person who sponsored their visa in order to qualify for adjustment of status to permanent residence in this country.

How to apply To start the process to obtain a fiancée visa, an application is submitted to the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of the Department of Homeland Security. In order to prove that the relationship is valid, it is necessary to provide certain documentation with the application such as evidence of the past relationship, correspondence, travel records, other evidence of their time spent together and their courtship. It is helpful to submit photographs of the couple together, including photos with family members if possible. We recommend that clients also submit statements from family members confirming that the relationship exists.

It is also necessary to submit financial documents proving that the petitioner U.S. citizen can support the fiancée in the United States financially. This usually includes tax returns, W2s from an employer and a letter confirming present employment.

Upon submission of the application, the Immigration Service attempts to determine if the relationship is bona fide. Once approval in the U.S. occurs, there is a consular interview at the Consulate overseas at which the applicant may be asked questions about the relationship. Usually only the intending immigrant attends this interview. At the end of the interview, if the officer is satisfied the relationship is bona

fide, and all other requirements for the visa are met, the visa is approved.

Adjustment of status in the U.S. Once the person comes to the United States, the couple must marry within 90 days. At that point, there is another procedure known as Adjustment of Status required to obtain permanent residence for the immigrant.

There are more forms to file and documents to submit, with an interview at the end of the application process, which both spouses must attend.

If the officer is satisfied the marriage is bona fide, and all other requirements for permanent residence are met, the adjustment of status application is approved. If the marriage is less than two years old, the immigrant is given conditional permanent residence. This status gives the immigrant all the same rights as a permanent resident except that it expires after 24 months.

Two years after the granting of conditional permanent residence, a new application must be submitted to the immigration service, documenting that the marriage still exists.

U.S. law does not allow the individual to switch to a different U.S. visa under any circumstances. If the marriage does not occur, the foreign national generally must return to their home country. So, the fiancée visa is not a good option unless the couple is relatively sure they will get married.

Pluses, minuses of K-1 visa The fiancée visa is useful for persons who cannot obtain a tourist visa and are not eligible for a visa waiver; they often have no other way of coming to the U.S. to spend time with a future spouse. The visa has the benefit of allowing the foreign national to spend up to 3 months with their fiancée living in the U.S. to “test the waters” of their relationship before actually getting married.

One problem with the fiancée visa: it can be a long process, especially now during the Biden administration. And once the

petition is filed, it is often difficult for the intending immigrant to visit the U.S. on a tourist visa or visa waiver (ESTA). The U.S. Consulates are often unwilling to grant a tourist visa if a foreign national has a fiancée visa application pending; likewise, even if the fiancée has a tourist visa or is eligible to enter the U.S. without a visa, U.S. border officials might turn the fiancée away at the airport because of the pending application.

Therefore, clients should carefully consider their future travel plans before filing the visa application and be prepared for the possibility of being apart for long periods of time. In the next segment, we will discuss the alternatives to the fiancée visa for couples, and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

*** 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. *** Christopher A. Kerosky, Esq. graduated from the University of California Berkeley (Boalt Hall) Law School and has practiced Immigration Law for over 25 years. For 15 years, “SuperLawyers” named him one of the top lawyers in Northern California (20062020; https://profiles.superlawyers.com/ california-northern/san-francisco/lawyer/ christopher-a-kerosky/358dc9f1-b1c2-46b580cc-6e9610b1cd43.html). Atty. Kerosky has had an office in San Francisco since 1989.

His law firm also has offices in Santa Rosa, Napa, San Rafael, Ukiah, Bishop and Los Angeles. He speaks Spanish and Polish fluently and conversational Russian and French. Since 2013, Atty. Kerosky has served as a Member of the Human Rights Commission for Sonoma County, appointed by the County Board of Supervisors to represent the 5thDistrict.As part of his work with the Commission, Christopher helped found My American Dreams, a local nonprofit devoted to community education and advocacy for immigrants. Atty. Kerosky served as Honorary Consul for the Republic of Poland in San Francisco from 2004 to 2019 and as such, his office acted as the Polish Consulate in San Francisco. He was one of the longest serving members of the San Francisco Consular Corps.

Atty. Kerosky resides with his family just outside Santa Rosa but also owns a house in the Bishop area.

(Advertising Supplement)

East Bay Regional Park District launches...

PAGE 9 and let them know how to pass your horse safely.

More tips for trail safety can be found on our Trails are for Everyone webpage: www.ebparks.org/about-us/whats-new/

news/trails-are-everyone.

The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,300 miles of trails for hiking, biking,

horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives an estimated 30 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area. (EBRPD Release)

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JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 1, 2024 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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