012922 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 1, 2022 Volume 32 - No. 8 • 2 Sections – 20 Pages

USA

DATELINE Biden appoints Fil-Am community leader to regional role at Small Business Administration FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Fully vaxxed int’l travelers to PH no longer need facility quarantine starting Feb. 1

by CATHRINE

GONZALES Inquirer.net

MANILA — Fully vaccinated international arriving passengers and returning Filipinos will no longer be required to undergo facility-based quarantine PRESIDENT Joe Biden this week appointed upon arrival starting February 1 as the government a Filipina American community leader to a key suspended the color classification of countries and regional leadership role at the United States Small Business Administration (SBA).

Geri Sanchez Aglipay was named SBA regional administrator for region 5, according to the White House announcement on Thursday, January 27.

The region covers Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

Aglipay, a second-generation American and a daughter of a veteran, has over 20 years of experience in workforce, entrepreneurship, and economic development and is passionate about strengthening collaborative innovation across sectors and industries to create more equitable paths to financial security for small business owners and the self-employed,

territories, Malacañang said on Friday, January 28.

Starting February 1, fully vaccinated inbound travelers will instead be required to present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to departure from the country of origin, Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said in a press briefing.

Inbound travelers earlier were categorized based

u PAGE A2

How to get free COVID-19 test kits in Los Angeles County

by AJPRESS

u PAGE A2

Fil-Chinese psychologist named president of CSU Channel Islands THE California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees has appointed Richard Yao, Ph.D., to serve as the fourth president of California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI).

Yao, who identifies as a Chinese Filipino American,currently serves as interim president of CSUCI, a role he has held since January 2021.

“This is such an exciting time at CSUCI, especially as we approach our 20th year. Our university is primed for growth as we continue to increase graduation rates and confer more high-quality degrees that enrich the lives of the residents and the communities throughout Ventura and Santa Barbara counties,” said Yao. “I am so thankful for the dedication and expertise of our faculty and staff, who are continually striving to improve the success of our talented students. I look forward to working collaboratively with our faculty, staff, students, and community partners in leading CSUCI into our third decade.”

on their country of origin’s “green,” “yellow,” or “red” classification.

“Upon arrival, they shall no longer be required to observe mandatory facility-based quarantine,” he said.

The inbound travelers should monitor themselves for any sign or symptom for seven days, with the

SAFETY PROTOCOLS. Passengers of the Light Rail Transit 1 (LRT-1) follow basic safety protocols against COVID-19, like wearing masks, on Friday, January 28. Metro Manila is under Alert Level 3 but public transportation is allowed to operate.

PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.

NEED to get rapid tested for COVID-19? There are several ways Los Angeles County residents can receive a free at-home COVID-19 test.

The LA County program is designed to increase and facilitate access to COVID-19 tests for LA County residents unable to obtain appointments.

Residents can pick up a PCR test kit, perform the test and return the completed test to designated sites for processing. Residents will be notified of their test results within 24-48 hours.

Pick-Up Testing Kits will be available without an appointment and until daily supplies are exhausted at designated locations. They will be provided at no cost if residents meet the following criteria: have symptoms of COVID-19 or think they were exposed to COVID-19.

Locations to pick up the test include: • Obregon Park • Memorial Park North Recreation Center • San Gabriel Valley Airport • Wingate Park • MLK Medical Campus u PAGE A5

US sees strong post-poll ties with PH

by PIA LEE-BRAGO Philstar.com

MANILA — The United States looks forward to continuing strong and productive relations with the Philippines regardless of who is elected president in the May 9 elections, the top official of the U.S. embassy in Manila said on Thursday, January 27.

Chargé d’Affaires (CDA) ad interim Heather Variava said the “U.S. has a lot of faith and belief in the democratic process here in the Philippines.”

“Regardless who is elected in May we look forward to strong and productive

relations. We look forward to continuing the relationship,” Variava said at a virtual media briefing.

According to Variava, the embassy has received inquiries from leading organizations in the U.S. to come to the country as election observers.

“We, here at the embassy are looking to discussions with Comelec to be part of the election process or observation program Comelec hosts and we will see observers from the U.S.,” Variava said.

“As a diplomat for 25 years I can say some of the most exciting and inspiring moments Senator Manny Pacquiao is being able to watch democracy work u PAGE A2

Inquirer.net photo

I won’t embarrass myself, says Philippines, US kick off maritime exercises Pacquiao in running for president u PAGE A2

by MICHAEL

PUNONGBAYAN, JANVIC MATEO Philstar.com

MANILA — Filipino and U.S. troops have launched weeklong joint exercises that include amphibious operations in support of counterterrorism.

The Marine Exercise 2022 Philippines (MAREX 22 PH) officially began Thursday, January 27 in opening ceremonies at Fort Bonifacio.

Commandant Maj. Gen. Ariel Caculitan of the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) led the opening rites as keynote speaker.

Marine Corps Public Affairs Office chief Maj. Emery Torre said MAREX 22 aims to Undated file photo shows a naval forces of the Philippines and the United States having a joint develop Phl-US Marine Forces’ maritime exercises.

Philstar.com file photo by Efigenio Toledo IV

capabilities in amphibious operations, internal security operations and humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR).

The joint exercises will be held mostly in areas under the Western Command in Palawan and the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) until Feb.2.

Torre said all amphibious planning and executions would be in the Wescom area, while all HADR and medical training exercises would be held in the Westmincom area, with the participation of the provincial u PAGE A3

by CATHRINE

GONZALES Inquirer.net

MANILA — Presidential candidate and Senator Manny Pacquiao said on Thursday, January 27 that he would not have run for the presidency if he was not knowledgeable about the solutions to the problems of the country.

The boxing legend said he had carefully studied the problems of the Philippines and would not embarrass himself in aiming for the top government seat.

“Alam niyo, pinag-aralan ko po lahat ‘yan, kung ano ang problema ng ating bansa, pinagaralan ko. Kaya nga sinasabi ko sa lahat na hindi ako tatakbo sa pagkapangulo kung kulang po ang aking kaalaman, kung hindi

ko po alam ang problema ng ating bansa,” Pacquiao said at the “Ikaw Na Ba?” presidential interview of DZBB. (I have studied the problems of our country. That’s why I tell everyone that I would not have run for the presidency if my knowledge is lacking and I don’t know the problems of the country.)

“Bakit ko ipapahiya ang sarili ko na tatakbo ako rito tapos matagal kong inalagaan ang pangalan ko, tapos tatakbo ako rito sa pagkapangulo na wala akong alam? Hindi po ako tumatakbo na wala akong alam, kundi alam ko po ang lahat ng problema,” he added.

(Why would I embarrass myself if I have taken care of my name u PAGE A2

A2 JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 1, 2022 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

FROM THE FRONT PAGE

Fully vaxxed int’l travelers to PH...

PAGE 1 first day being the data of arrival.

They shall also be required to report to their respective local government unit if they will have symptoms.

Nograles said that international arriving passengers should have the following proof of COVID-19 vaccination: • World Health Organization international certificates of vaccination and prophylaxis • VaxCertPH • National/state digital certificate of the government which has accepted VaxCertPH under

a reciprocal arrangement unless otherwise permitted by the InterAgency Task Force Meanwhile, unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or individuals whose vaccination status cannot be independently validated will be required to present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to departure from the country of origin.

They will be required to undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of their negative RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day, according to Nograles.

They will also be required

to undergo home quarantine until the 14th day after their arrival. Their respective LGUs are tasked to monitor arriving passengers who will undergo home quarantine.

Nograles said that children below 12 years old who cannot be vaccinated shall follow the quarantine protocols of parents or the accompanying guardian traveling with them.

Also starting February 16, foreign nationals entering the country must show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19. ■

Biden appoints Fil-Am community leader to...

Geri Sanchez Aglipay

PAGE 1 especially to create a level playing field for socially and economically disadvantaged communities.

Prior to the SBA, she served as Director of the Midwest Region and National Manager of Women’s Entrepreneurship for Small Business Majority, where she expanded and directed the organization’s strategic education programs, policy, research, and financial development efforts in the Midwest and oversaw women’s entrepreneurship nationwide to address disparities.

Aglipay has served as commissioner of the Cook County

Commission for Social Innovation; co-chair of Racial Wealth Gap Committee of Financial Inclusion for All Illinois; and on the advisory council of HHS NIOSH Center of Excellence UIC Center for Healthy Work. She is a graduate of Bradley University.

In addition to Aglipay, Biden appointed Vercie Lark for SBA Regional Administrator of Region 7, which serves Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.

The president also named several individuals to regional leadership roles at the Department of Agriculture, covering Florida, Kansas, New Jersey, Washington and Wyoming. (AJPress)

Fil-Chinese psychologist named president...

PAGE 1 “During his time at CSUCI and throughout his career, Dr. Yao has been a champion of improving access and success for students coming from diverse backgrounds,” said CSU Trustee Wenda Fong, chair of the CSUCI search committee. “He is an innovative leader whose vision and experience make him the ideal candidate to lead CSUCI to even greater heights.”

Yao first joined CSUCI after he was appointed to the position of vice president for student affairs in 2018. In that role he led campus functions including Campus Life; Housing & Residential Education; Student Affairs Assessment, Data and Evaluation; Retention, Outreach and Inclusive Student Services;

and Associated Students, Inc. Yao is a licensed clinical psychologist who came to CSUCI from Nevada State College where he was the founding Dean of Students and the chief student affairs officer.

He previously served as a senior lecturer in psychology for eight years before his transition into student affairs. He had also served as Chair of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Student Affairs Council, a group comprised of vice presidents of student affairs and other high-level administrators from across the state.

Yao earned a bachelor’s in Richard Yao, Ph.D. Psychology and a master’s in Fielding Graduate University in Clinical Psychology from Eastern Santa Barbara.

Illinois University, and his Ph.D. Yao will immediately assume in Clinical Psychology from the campus presidency. ■

EXTRA DOSE. Some workers receive booster shots of the COVID -19 vaccine from volunteer medical workers at a mall in Ermita, Manila on Wednesday, January 26. Aside from malls, the government has also tapped select pharmacies and private clinics to ramp up the vaccination drive against COVID-19.

PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.

US sees strong post-poll ties...

PAGE 1

The United Nations said and people cast their votes,” she election observation is a valuable tool for improving the quality of added.

elections. Observers help build public confidence in the integrity of the electoral processes. ■

I won’t embarrass myself, says Pacquiao in...

PAGE 1

for so long and run for president without knowing anything? I will not run for the presidency if I don’t know the problems of the country.)

Pacquiao stressed he is knowledgeable about the solutions to problems like those related to the economy, jobs, and corruption.

Asked about the comment of critics that he does not have enough experience in politics, the senator said that he surpasses other presidential candidates in terms of experiences in life.

“Alam niyo po, kapag experience sa buhay ang paguusapan, daig ko po ‘yan sila lahat,” Pacquiao said, noting the difficulties he faced before becoming a boxing champion.

(In terms of experiences in life, I surpass them all.)

Pacquiao pointed at his

capability to lead as he discussed possible solutions to the economic woes of the country during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Pacquiao, his administration would provide more budget for micro, small, and medium enterprises, attract investors from other countries, and boost the “nontax revenue” if he is elected president.

He noted that the country has debt because its expenses are higher than its revenue.

“Ang concern po natin, ‘yung revenue, income ng ating gobyerno, napakaliit po. Ang sinasabi ko nga po dito ay kung talagang matatalino po talaga ang mga namuno mula pa noon hanggang ngayon, alam mo sa totoo lang ang dapat nating pagtuunan ng concern natin ‘yung revenue income ng ating

gobyerno,” he said.

(Our concern is that the revenue of the government is really low. If the previous and present leaders of our country are really smart, we should have focused on the revenue income of the government.)

“Kumbaga sa isang bahay, ‘yung income ng isang bahay, mas malaki ang ginagastos ng isang bahay kaysa income ng isang bahay, so ganun po ang sitwasyon ng ating bansa. Mas malaki ang ginagastos natin taon-taon kaysa kinikita ng ating bansa, kaya palaki nang palaki ang deficit natin at inuutang natin,” he added.

(It’s like the situation in a household where the expenses are higher than the income.

That’s our current situation. We are spending more than our revenue, so our deficit keeps on increasing.) ■

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

DATE LIN E USA

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 1, 2022 A3

From pandemic to endemic: Will we ever be there?

ECONOMIC FRONTLINER. A delivery rider hands over a package to a resident at Molino Homes II Subdivision, Salitran 3, Dasmariñas City, Cavite on Thursday, January 27. Last week, the Senate approved on third and final reading Senate Bill 2302 or the “Food, Grocery and Pharmacy Delivery Services Protection Act”, which criminalizes “hoax ordering” to protect delivery riders from scammers and abusive customers.

PNA photo by Gil Calinga

Goodbye ‘Marites’? Facebook adds notification when you screenshot conversation in Messenger

by JAN

MILO SEVERO Philstar.com

In his Facebook account, Mark said that the new update is secured with end-to-end encrypMETA Chief Executive Officer tion.

“New update for end-to-end Mark Zuckerberg announced recently that Facebook Messen- encrypted Messenger chats so ger now has notifications when you get a notification if someone someone screenshots your disap- screenshots a disappearing mespearing messages in a secret con- sage,” Mark wrote.

Mark also said that they are addversation.

ing GIFs (Graphics Interchange Format) and stickers in the chat.

“We’re also adding GIFs, stickers, and reactions to encrypted chats too,” he said.

The disappearing messages in Facebook was first introduced in November 2020. The move was part of an effort to provide additional protection. ■

Philippines, US kick off maritime...

PAGE 1 government of Tawi-Tawi.

“We must continue to conduct relevant trainings that will improve our individual and collective capabilities.

MAREX is joined by our foreign counterpart and our major ally, the United States Marine Corps, that has long been training with us and sharing with us the duty to preserve regional peace and security,” Caculitan said.

Col. James Lively, commanding officer of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, said the joint training exercises would greatly benefit both the Philippines and the U.S. “Our goal is to successfully integrate our forces during planning and execution to conduct a full-scale expeditionary amphibious operation, side-by-side with our Filipino partners,” Lively said.

“Marine Exercise 2022 Philippines will further strengthen our commitment in the Indo-Pacific region as well as be a memorable experience for our Marines and sailors,” he said.

“We appreciate this opportunity to strengthen our enduring alliance with the Philippines in the Indo-Pacific region through combined amphibious operations,” said Capt. Karry DeWayne Sanders, chief of the U.S. Navy’s Amphibious Squadron One. “Our shared focus of regional security, stability and prosperity in the Pacific will continue to enhance our partner nation’s capability as it has for the last seven decades,” he said.

According to the U.S. embassy, U.S. maritime assets involved in the exercise include the ships of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (USS Essex, USS Portland and USS Pearl Harbor), the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, including its Battalion Landing Team 1/1, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 165, Marine Attack Squadron 214 and Combat Logistics Battalion 11.

Missile system deal As this developed, the Department of National Defense (DND) has officially signed an P18.9-billion deal for the purchase of a shore-based anti-ship missile system for the Philippine Navy.

“Equipping our Navy with this vital asset is imperative as the Philippines continues to protect the integrity of its territory and defend its national interests,” defense chief Delfin Lorenzana said.

“As the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missiles, the Brahmos Missiles will provide deterrence against any attempt to undermine our sovereignty and sovereign rights, especially in the West Philippine Sea,” Lorenzana added.

The DND chief led the ceremonial contract signing yesterday with India’s Brahmos Aerospace represented by its director general Atul Dinkar Rane at Camp Aguinaldo.

Also present was Indian Ambassador Shambhu Kumaran.

“The Brahmos supersonic cruise missiles will certainly beef up the firepower of the Philippine Navy, particularly the Philippine Marine Corps coastal defense regiment. Its system will provide counterattack capabilities within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone,” Lorenzana said.

Meanwhile, U.S. embassy

chargé d’affaires ad interim Heather Variava said Philippine sovereignty is not negotiable as she highlighted the U.S. commitment to Manila for “steadfast friendship, equal partnership and enduring alliance.”

“The United States quickly and firmly reiterated our support for our oldest ally in Asia and affirmed that an ‘armed attack on Philippine public vessels in the South China Sea would invoke Mutual Defense commitments.’

Philippine sovereignty is not negotiable,” wrote Variava in an opinion article published on the embassy’s website.

“Friends help each other.

Partners respect each other.

And allies stand by each other,” she added. She cited an incident in November when Chinese coast guards water cannoned Filipino fishing boats in the West Philippine Sea. State-of-the-art equipment Variava, who turned over last year four unmanned aerial systems to the Philippine Air Force, said the U.S. will continue to provide the Philippines with state-of-the-art equipment and participate in combined joint exercises to strengthen its defense capabilities.

She also highlighted other assistance that the U.S. has provided to its long-time ally.

“The United States has facilitated the donation of more than 65 million vaccine doses to the Philippines through COVAX, including more than 25 million donated by the American people, enough to fully vaccinate more than one in five Filipinos,” she said.

“We have also donated nearly P2 billion in other COVID-19 assistance,” she added.

Variava said 15 million doses of Pfizer vaccines for children will soon arrive, raising the total to more than 124 million doses of US-branded vaccines in the Philippines.

The diplomat also noted their support to government relief efforts in places recently affected

by Typhoon Odette, including the P1-billion assistance to meet urgent needs like food, water and shelter for the survivors.

“We know that true safety from natural disasters requires a long-term commitment, especially related to climate change. In October, the United States pledged P750 million to help Philippine cities adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change,” she said.

“In November, the Philippines set an ambitious goal of reducing carbon emissions by 75 percent before 2030. Over the next year, we will work together toward this goal by increasing access to green finance, planning new clean energy deployment, and bringing US privatesector solutions to support climate-resilient economic development,” she added.

While there is no guarantee that 2022 would be easy, Variava expressed confidence that the two countries would be able to work together to face possible challenges in the coming months.

“As the world battles another wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us have concerns about the coming year. However, as I reflect on our historic bonds and survey the possibilities before us, I am hopeful for our shared future,” she said.

“I know that our commitment to steadfast friendship, equal partnership and enduring

alliance will give us a safer, stronger and more secure future,” Variava added. ■

EVEN as COVID-19 hospitalization rates surge in some parts of the U.S., many public health experts are advising a shift from thinking of the crisis as a pandemic to an endemic, in which COVID will continue to be around for an unknown number of years, but at levels that are low and controllable.

At a round-table news briefing Jan 21, hosted by Ethnic Media Services, Dr. Ben Newman — chief virologist at Texas A&M University’s Global Health Research Complex — and Dr. Dali Fan, Health Science Clinical Professor at the University of California, Davis, debated the issue in a lively discussion.

Fan likened COVID-19 to the flu. “We have to learn to live with this virus, like we do with angina or cancer.”

Newman disagreed. “In the U.S., in a given year, the flu will kill between 12,000 and 16,000 people.

And in a given year, COVID will several hundred thousand people.

So this is a very much more serious problem.”

“I’m not done with this thing until we have exhausted every possible opportunity to get rid of COVID once and for all, because the reward for doing that is a world where you don’t have to worry about COVID, and you don’t have to live with that number of deaths and hospitalizations in the ones you love. And I think that’s worth fighting for,” he said.

Questions and responses The Centers for Disease Control announced Jan. 21 that booster shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines

have proven highly effective at preventing Omicron-related hospitalizations, and 90 percent effective at keeping people out of hospital after they had become infected with the Omicron variant.

DALI FAN — Well, that’s hardly surprising. We know that even the protective effect of two shots of the Pfizer vaccine, wanes after some time from 80 percent to about 30 percent, but a booster shot really elevates it back up to 70 percent.

So this was a really good piece of news. The undertone of the news is: get vaccinated, get the booster shots.

Given that that the vaccine’s effectiveness wanes after a period of time, will we have to get fourth and fifth boosters as we go along, maybe boosters every six months?

BEN NEUMAN — It’s not clear whether this is the case, but at the moment, based on the data we have, I think I would agree that more boosters are likely.

Additional doses of the vaccine raise both the levels of cellular immunity and antibody immunity.

And they give you both broader protection and more protection.

They are a good idea, and they are the best idea that we have so far to deal with this virus.

DALI FAN — It is not only whether we should have a fourth or fifth shot or not, but also the time of those shots, whether it’s six months or 12 months or later.

That is still unknown. I think time will tell.

When do we expect to see a peak of the Omicron variant?

And what target number or per-

centage must we reach before we can say we have effectively fought off this variant?

DALI FAN — Omicron started in South Africa, and then went to England very quickly. So if you look at those countries, they peaked very quickly within the first week or two, and then they come down very quickly as well. That’s the hallmark of Omicron across the globe. I think that’s the same thing happened in the US. It started in New York, then spread towards the middle part of the country, and to the West Coast right now.

I think we’re peaking in the West Coast it. In California, I think we should spike now or in the next week, and then come down by early February.

BEN NEUMAN — Testing centers are overwhelmed: we are under-reporting because we are under-testing at the moment. So to some extent, I’m not sure how much we can believe the apparent slowing in the number of cases.

Given the current rates of infection, is it safe for our schools to re-open?

DALI FAN — I do. I think it’s always a balance, not just in infectious disease, but in also in any other field. You balance the risk and benefit of reopening schools.

Societal engagement for children right now outweighs the benefit of shut down.

My concern is the side effect of shutdown society, and it’s aftermath.

Can we move towards an endemic, in which we acknowledge that COVID-19 will be with us for the long-term, and re-open our

u PAGE A4

A4 JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 1, 2022 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

DATE LIN E USA

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

Q&A with CA epidemiologist on COVID vaccines

by ETHNIC MEDIA SERVICES

FRESH JABS. Officials led by Assistant Secretary Wilben Mayor (2nd from right), chief of the National Task Force Against COVID-19 Strategic Communications sub-task group on current operations, do the Resbakuna sign during the arrival of 1,023,750 doses of Pfizer vaccine at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on Wednesday, January 26. The shipment is part of the government-procured jabs funded by the World Bank.

PNA photo by Avito Dalan

From pandemic to endemic: Will we ever...

PAGE A3 society to pre-pandemic norms?

DALI FAN — if you look at cancer, or in my field, chronic angina, you try a bypass, you do everything you can to mechanically provide more circulation back to the heart.

But at some point you’re going to have to say enough is enough.

And then the patient has to live on.

There’s a life to live, their families, work that needs to be done. So at

that point, you have to live with angina.

By that same analogy, we have to learn to live with COVID, no matter how brutal it is.

BEN NEUMAN — I do not believe we have come to the point where we have to give up. And that’s essentially what people are talking about when they talk about the the disease becoming an endemic.

I’m not done with this thing until we have exhausted every possible opportunity to get rid of COVID once and for all. Because the reward for doing that is a world where you don’t have to worry about COVID, and you don’t have to live with the number of deaths and hospitalizations in the ones you love. And I think that’s worth fighting for. (Ethnic Media Servies)

VACCINES are an important tool in mitigating the spread of COVID-19, said Dr. Erica Pan, California’s State Epidemiologist and Deputy Director of the Center for Infectious Diseases, at a news briefing Jan. 20, organized by Ethnic Media Services and the Vaccinate All 58 initiative.

“The risks of hospitalization and death remain high for unvaccinated individuals, so the most important thing we need to continue to do is get vaccinated and get boosted,” said Pan, a pediatric disease specialist and an expert on COVID-19.

“All three available COVID-19 vaccines continue to be highly effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death.”

Pan answered several questions at the briefing, addressing some of the most-asked questions on a call line California launched at the start of the pandemic, to address its residents’ concerns.

How do the COVID-19 vaccines work?

Like all other vaccinations, the vaccines teach our body’s immune system to fight against infection. Scientists have made the COVID-19 vaccines by using part of the virus’s genetic code, either a messenger RNA (mRNA) or DNA, depending on the type of vaccine.

Once inside the cell, this piece of the genetic code gives instructions to make a small, harmless piece of the COVID-19 virus called the spike protein.

Our body notices the spike protein, and the immune system makes antibodies to destroy the spike proteins.

This process teaches your body how to recognize and fight against the virus. If you are exposed to the virus in the future, even currently circulating variants of the virus, your immune system will quickly recognize the virus and have the antibodies and T-cells ready to fight infection.

How effective are the vaccines against the new variants we are seeing?

The risks of hospitalization and death remain high for unvaccinated individuals, so the most important thing we need to continue to do is get vaccinated and get boosted. All three available COVID-19 vaccines continue to be highly effective

at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death.

What are the benefits of receiving the vaccine even though you can still contract COVID-19?

Getting vaccinated and getting boosted helps keep you out of the hospital by lessening the severity of positive cases.

Vaccines keep Californians off of ventilators and save lives.

Protect yourself from the worst impacts of this virus and prevent spreading it from those at high risk or who can’t get the vaccine.

If someone already had COVID-19, do they still need to be vaccinated?

Excellent question, Yes. Even if you had previously had COVID19, you should still get vaccinated, especially considering highly contagious variants impacting our communities. Immunity acquired from a previous infection of COVID-19 is strong but often variable from person to person and antibodies developed from a previous infection are also temporary, with immunity declining over time.

The immunity protection from vaccination appears to be broader, providing stronger protection against the virus and variants. The more vaccinations get into the arms of eligible Californians, the more we prevent the spread and shrink the pool of people vulnerable to COVID-19. The goal is to minimize and mitigate the burden of disease in California, which is why every single shot counts.

Does receiving a vaccine or booster eliminate the need for further harm-reduction precautions like wearing a mask or social distancing?

No. Even with a booster dose, harm reduction precautions are still prudent to keep all Californians safe. Vaccines are not 100% effective, and some groups are not yet eligible for the vaccine, so taking harm reduction precautions such as wearing a face mask helps protect them from contracting COVID-19 and becoming seriously ill.

How do we know booster doses are safe?

Booster doses went through the same thorough scientific review process as the initial vaccine series, with trial data from all over the world being reviewed and considered when

making a recommendation.

The vaccines, including booster doses, are proven safe.

Getting a booster shot is the best way to keep your immunity strong and protect you and your loved ones from being hospitalized or dying from COVID-19, including from the fast-spreading Omicron variant.

Californians should go out and get themselves and their children boosted to maximize their protection against variants.

The state has ample vaccine supply, so don’t wait – get your booster today.

Are the vaccines safe for children that young to receive?

And are there side effects?

Comprehensive clinical trials in more than 4,500 children ages 5-11 demonstrate that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective in this age group, resulting in strong antibody response in children who received the vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine was found to be safe for children ages 5-11, with only mild side effects like fatigue, fever and headache.

The nation’s immunization experts analyze all reports concerning any possible serious side effects following a COVID19 vaccine. Serious side effects are rare — and the benefits of vaccination far outweigh any risk.

There have been rare, reported cases of inflammation of the heart muscle known as myocarditis and pericarditis sometimes a week after receiving the second dose of mRNA vaccine. Cases have generally occurred in young adults, men, and people with certain medical conditions or recent medical procedures. In contrast, COVID-19 disease can cause more severe myocarditis than cases rarely seen after immunization.

These are rare, short-term occurrences. The risk is low, and those affected generally recover quickly. Some people have required treatment, while others have not. Most cases are mild.

It is COVID-19 that could cause severe and long-term effects, making vaccination critically important.

The science and data – now inclusive of younger children – continue to speak loud and clear: These free, safe vaccines will help kids fend off the worst outcomes of this highly contagious virus. ■

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

DATE LIN E USA

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 1, 2022

A5

How to get free COVID-19 test kits in Los Angeles... Covered California has a record 1.8-M enrollees PAGE 1

• Ted Watkins Park • Helen Keller Park • Poinsettia Recreation Center • Plummer Park • Boys & Girls Club of San Fernando Valley • Clara Street Park • Los Nietos Library • Palmdale Hammack Center • College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita • Rosemead Library • West Hollywood Library • Lennox Library • Lawndale Library • San Fernando Library • Huntington Park Library • Lynwood Library • Pico Rivera Library • Sunkist Library • AC Bilbrew Library Insurance companies are also now required to reimburse you for 8 tests per month for each individual on the plan up to $12 per individual test.

Your health plan may cover the cost of your test if they have a network of pharmacies or retailers already setup. Alternatively, they may provide you reimbursement for the cost of overthe-counter tests regardless of the price if they have yet to set up a network of pharmacies or retailers.

The best way to find out is to contact your health plan or insurer to determine if they provide direct coverage or if you might need to submit a claim for

reimbursement.

Residents can visit covidtests. gov for more information on reimbursements requirements.

A limited supply of COVID19 PCR home test kits are also available at select county sites.

Residents can pick up a test & drop it off at designated locations. These test kits are available for those who have symptoms of COVID-19 or think they may have been exposed to COVID-19. The process is easy: 1. Pick up the test kit 2. Register the test kit 3. Do the swab test 4. Drop the test off 5. Wait for results in 24-48 hours.

As you wait to receive your results, please be sure to stay at home, avoid contact with others, and wear an upgraded mask.

The test kit is for immediate use only. You should collect and return your sample within 3-5 days of receiving the test kit.

Additionally, under the Biden administration’s promise, the federal government recently announced that every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests are completely free and can be now ordered at covidtests. gov. Orders typically ship in 712 days.

On Friday, January 28, LA County confirmed 101 additional deaths and 23,796 new cases of COVID-19.

Of the 101 new deaths reported, two of the people who died were between the ages of 18 and 29, seven of the people who died were between the ages of 30 and 49, 16 people were between the ages of 50 and 64, 36 were between the ages of 65-79, and 36 were over the age of 80 years old. Of the 101 newly reported deaths, 83 had underlying conditions. To date, the total number of deaths in L.A. County is 28,816.

Public Health has identified a total 2,610,385 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County. The positivity rate is 11.6%. Testing results are available for more than 11,005,995 individuals, with 21% of people testing positive.

There are 4,192 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized.

To keep workplaces and schools open, residents and workers are asked to: • Adhere to masking requirements when indoors or at crowded outdoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status.

• Remain home when sick, isolate if positive and quarantine when in close contact.

Residents are legally required to be isolated if they have a positive COVID test result and are vaccinated. Close contacts with symptoms and unvaccinated close contacts need to be quarantined. ■

with the Jan. 31 deadline approaching, encourages uninsured Filipino Americans to sign up now

SACRAMENTO — With the final deadline for the current open-enrollment period quickly approaching on Jan. 31, Covered California announced that 1.8 million Californians have signed up for coverage as of Jan. 24, which is a new record high for the exchange. The total represents an increase of more than 350,000 people compared to the start of 2020, as Covered California has used the increased financial help from the American Rescue Plan to expand coverage and meet the needs of people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The pandemic has highlighted the importance of having quality coverage, and with a surge of COVID-19 infections across the state, now is the time to make sure you have health insurance,” said Peter V. Lee, executive director of Covered California. “We want to encourage anyone who is currently going without health care coverage to check out their options and sign up so they can be covered in 2022.”

More than 6 million Californians have been infected by the virus, and the state’s death total is nearing 80,000.

The California Department of Public Health projects that hospitalizations during the current COVID-19 surge will surpass last winter’s peak, while the California Hospital Association expects the increased hospitalizations and infections to last until the end of February.

In addition, a recent study found that the average cost for a complex care COVID-19 hospitalization, in which patients required ventilation or admission into an intensive care unit, was more than $127,000 in California.

“We are all struggling to adjust to the changing nature of this pandemic,” Lee said. “Some constants, however, are that we know that we all need to get vaccinated, wear a mask, and get insurance to stay well and protect ourselves from financial disaster if we need hospital care.”

The American Rescue Plan is helping Californians get covered and stay covered The record-high number of enrollees is being made possible by the American Rescue Plan, the HEIRLOOM RECIPE. A man lifts the lid with burning charcoal used in cooking “bibingkang kanin” (rice cake) in Barangay Las Piñas in Peñaranda, federal response to the pandemic, Nueva Ecija on Thursday, January 27. He said their family has been in the business of making the delicacy since 1990 and the recipe was passed on to them by their ancestors.

PNA photo by Oliver Marquez which expanded the amount of financial help available to consum-

Peter Lee (left), executive director of Covered California, and Julia Liou (right), CEO of Asian Health Services, during the most recent media event of Covered California.

Photo contributed by Covered CA

ers. The law builds on the Affordable Care Act and work done in California, where Gov. Newsom and the Legislature established a state subsidy program that provided more financial help and — for the first time — extended it to middle-income consumers.

Due to the American Rescue Plan, two-thirds of Covered California enrollees are eligible to get coverage from a brand-name plan for 2022 for $10 or less per month. In addition, financial help for middle-income consumers is lowering many of their premiums by hundreds of dollars every month.

“California paved the way for the American Rescue Plan, and the increased financial help is allowing more people to get covered and stay covered,” Lee said.

“That’s critical because a quality health plan through Covered California gives you access to needed primary care or mental health services, and protects you from a six-figure hospital bill if you get sick or injured.”

The historic reduction of the uninsured rate in California California has reduced its uninsured rate by more than any other state in the nation since 2014, when coverage first became available through the Affordable Care Act. The decrease has benefited every major ethnic group in the state and been driven by the state’s expansion of MediCal and the enrollment in Covered California. Between 2013 and 2020, AANHPI uninsured rates have dropped by nearly 60 percent and the uninsured rate among California Latinos has been cut by more than half.

Since the start of the pandemic

in 2020, Covered California has played a critical role in expanding coverage to reduce the uninsured rate even further. Covered California established special-enrollment periods to help people get insured and benefit from the new financial help included in the American Rescue Plan.

As a result, Covered California has seen significant increases in enrollment Asian segments, including among Filipino (38%), Asian Indian (33%), Chinese (23%), Korean (11 percent), and Vietnamese (5 percent).

“When the pandemic started, Covered California opened its doors to everyone eligible to make sure they had access to the health care coverage they needed,” Lee said. “We have seen dramatic enrollment increases across the board — including in our communities of color — but we know there is more work to do.”

The open-enrollment deadline is quickly approaching Covered California joined AANHPI health care and health policy advocates to urge people to enroll before the final openenrollment deadline. Despite the dramatic expansion of health care coverage for nearly all AANHPI communities in California, significant disparities remain.

Dr. Ninez Ponce, director at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, a professor at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and the Principal Investigator for the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), has been tracking the progress made in health insurance coverage for over two decades. Dr. Ponce

u PAGE A10

A6 January 29-february 1, 2022 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 1, 2022 A7

DATELINE PHILIPPINES

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

PH, US strengthen ties to improve agriculture sector

by CATHERINE

TALAVERA Philstar.com

MANILA — The Philippines and the United States have affirmed their intention to work together to improve the country’s agriculture sector, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA) In a statement on Thursday, January 27, the DA said Agriculture Secretary William Dar recently met with United States Charge d’Affaires Heather Variava.

“During the virtual meeting, Dar briefly shared to CDA Variava the four pillars of the reform agenda to consolidate, modernize, and industrialize the Philippine agriculture sector including initiatives for livestock, dairy, fisheries, among others,”the DA said.

DA also highlighted the DA’s ongoing actions to address the

challenges brought by the pandemic, such as the enhanced Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita program.

The program facilitates the selling of major agricultural goods at reasonable prices to the consuming public through partnerships with local government units and the private sector.

Dar emphasized the urgent need to mobilize necessary resources to undertake critical measures to address the spread of African swine fever (ASF) such as leveling-up existing diagnostic laboratories while stressing the importance of research in the livestock industry.

“Citing damages of Typhoon Odette to the local agri-fishery sector, Dar cited the need for assistance to affected farmers and fishers,”the DA said.

Figures from the DA-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center

showed that damage to agriculture caused by Typhoon Odette reached P13.4 billion.

Meanwhile, Dar also encouraged the renewal of the US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) for the Philippines as it helps the Philippines attract investments, create new industries and new jobs and encourage supply chain resiliency.

The US GSP allowed duty-free treatment for products coming from beneficiary countries.

Dar also invited US investors into the industries such as coco chips, coco board manufacturing as well as seafood processing and canning.

“With a number of agricultural partnerships between the two countries, Variava affirmed that US programs are in place to support and complement the Philippines’ undertakings in the agriculture sector,”the DA said. ■

IMF retains growth outlook on PH despite Omicron onslaught

by RAMON

ROYANDOYAN Philstar.com

MANILA — The International Monetary Fund retained its growth forecast for the Philippines for this year, citing disruptions caused by the Omicron variant that are nevertheless expected to fade.

The Washington-based lender expects the domestic economy to grow 6.3% this year, unchanged from its projection back in October last year, Ragnar Gudmundsson, IMF resident representative to the Philippines, said. This forecast was factored in IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook report released on Tuesday night, January 25.

If realized, this year’s gross domestic product growth would be better than 4.6% expansion that the IMF projected for 2021. The Philippine Statistics Authority will release the official GDP data for 2021 on Thursday morning.

“The Philippine economy is still projected to grow at 6.3%

in 2022. This is because the carryover from the upward growth revision in 2021 is expected to be canceled out by the rapid spread of the Omicron variant and new quarantine measures in the first quarter of 2022,” Gudmundsson said in an e-mail.

“Strong growth is nevertheless expected during the remainder of 2022, as vaccination proceeds further, policy measures remain appropriately supportive, and private sector confidence improves,” he added.

The fund’s concerns over the economic impact of Omicron variant is highlighted in its bleaker outlook for the global economy. The crisis lender cut its world GDP forecast for 2022 to 4.4%, half a point lower than the October estimate, due to the “impediments” caused by the latest outbreak, although those are expected to begin to fade in the second quarter of the year.

“The global economy enters 2022 in a weaker position than previously expected,” the IMF said in the quarterly update,

adding that “the emergence of the Omicron variant in late November threatens to set back this tentative path to recovery.”

The outlook remains beset by risks, including geopolitical tensions and a wave of price increases hitting consumers and businesses that is expected to last longer than previously expected.

At home, latest government data showed the economy eked out a 6.9% growth (revised downwards) in the third quarter of last year despite the onslaught of Delta variant at the time.

This was after the government changed its pandemic strategy by replacing draconian lockdowns with “granular” ones that only restrict mobility in areas with high infection rates.

That better-than-expected GDP performance convinced economic managers to hike the government’s growth target for 2021 to 5-5.5%. The Philippine government forecasts the economy to grow 7-9% for 2022 and 6-7% by 2023 and 2024. ■

READY TO RIDE. A passenger back rides on a motorcycle taxi on Matalino St. in Quezon City on Thursday, January 27. The House of Representatives on Tuesday, January 25 approved House Bill 10571 or the proposed Motorcycles-for-Hire Act on second reading, which seeks to regulate the use of motorcycles-for-hire as a mode of public transport.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Roque woos Duterte to back Marcos

by CATHERINE

VALENTE ManilaTimes.net

SENATORIAL aspirant Harry Roque Jr. on Thursday, January 27 urged his former boss, President Rodrigo Duterte, to support the presidential bid of former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as he reiterated the UniTeam’s message of unifying socio-political divides for the country’s healing and recovery from the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.

Roque, Duterte’s former spokesman, hoped that the Chief Executive would give his undivided support to Marcos and his runnigmate, vice presidential candidate and Davao City mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

He described the tandem of Marcos and Duterte-Carpio as a symbolic unity of opposing political forces that seek solutions to natural and man-made threats to the country, such as the COVID19 pandemic.

“The message of unity to recover from the pandemic is what cemented my belief in the UniTeam,” Roque said in a statement.

“Our party runs the political gamut, but we have set aside previous political differences to work together,” he added.

Duterte has previously publicly criticized Marcos even as his

running mate is the daughter of the President.

At one point, Duterte called even Marcos a “weak leader” and supported the presidential bid of Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, who later withdrew his candidacy for the presidency.

But Roque surmised that the President, who is very proud of the achievements of Duterte-Carpio, might find it difficult not to endorse the personal choice of his daughter.

He also recalled that Duterte even served as officer-in-charge of Davao under the late president Corazon Aquino’s term “so the President, like me, was part of the anti-Marcos faction at some point.”

“Let us give President Duterte more time to decide on who to support in the May elections,” Roque said.

“But I would like to believe that the President will not overlook the decision of Inday Sara to support Apo BBM as presidential running-mate,” he added.

Roque also disclosed that Duterte would soon campaign for the senatorial slate of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino - Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

A People’s Reform Party member, Roque has been adopted as a candidate by both the UniTeam coalition and PDP-Laban.

Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. ManilaTimes.net photo

PDP-Laban wing backed by Duterte has adopted Duterte-Carpio as its vice-presidential candidate for this year’s elections.

Meanwhile, Roque urged administration critics to stop politicizing the pandemic.

“This is the time for unified action and not for divisive politics that only impede the country’s socio-economic recovery,” Roque said.

“As a former member of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), let me reassure our kababayans that the government is working non-stop to best manage the pandemic’s changing risks and impacts,” he added. ■

A8 January 29-february 1, 2022 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

OPINION

Conspiracy to delay?

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

FEATURES

IF she is sanctioned or disbarred, Rowena Guanzon says she can just plant tubo or sugarcane. The presiding commissioner of the Commission on Elections’ First Division is unfazed by the possible consequences of her disclosure of her vote for the disqualification of former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. from the presidential race.

Guanzon made the disclosure as she expressed exasperation that the two other members of the first division, which is handling the consolidated disqualification cases against the dictator’s son, appeared to be taking their sweet time in releasing their ruling, which is being penned by Commissioner Aimee Ferolino-Ampoloquio. Guanzon said the division members had agreed to release the decision on Jan. 17; at the latest, she said it should have been out on Jan. 25. Ampoloquio, who pointed to a lawyer catching COVID for the delay, denied agreeing to a Jan. 17 release.

On Friday, January 28, Guanzon stoked the controversy by implying that a senator close to President Duterte was maneuvering the “conspiracy to delay” the release of the decision until her retirement from the Comelec on Feb. 2.

Some legal quarters say her vote will no longer be counted upon her retirement and she might be

replaced by someone who will vote differently. Guanzon indicated that a party with no presidential bet is also behind the intervention.

Reacting to her insinuation, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi denied that his faction of the PDP-Laban, which has no standard bearer but is supporting Marcos’ running mate Sara Duterte Carpio for vice president, is behind any delaying tactic.

Guanzon may face sanctions for her statements, but she is not the only one impatient for the resolution of the cases. The points raised in the petitions have been argued extensively by both sides in various platforms. Decisions reached by the First Division, which also includes Commissioner Marlon Casquejo, may be appealed before the entire Comelec and elevated to the Supreme Court.

Marcos’ name has been included in the ballot that is set for printing. He himself should not want a cloud of doubt hanging over the legitimacy of his

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS THE Commission on Election’s (COMELEC) consequential decision on the disqualification case against Presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (BBM) has been up in the air for a long time with just about three months before the May 9, 2022 presidential elections in the Philippines.

Even BBM followers on different social media platforms have been asking what is delaying the announcement of the decision as this issue continues to be a dark cloud hovering over the campaign of the son of the deposed dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., who now wants to be president amid questions about his qualification to even run for office and his family’s abuse of power and alleged ill-gotten wealth during the years of Marcos’ tenure as president (1965-1986).

The recent surprise pre-emptive announcement of Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon about her voting to disqualify BBM may give us the answer to the question.

“Hindi siya nagbayad ng deficiency tax nya, hind rin siya nagbayad ng multa, kahit saan ka pumunta, kaliwa, kanan, moral turpitude talaga, may intent talaga to avoid his obligation as a taxpayer (He didn’t pay his deficiency tax. He didn’t pay the fines. No matter where you go, left or right, this is moral turpitude. There was an intent to avoid his obligation

FERDINAND Marcos, in his diaries, had a soft spot for his eldest daughter, the child most likely to succeed. On April 20, 1970, a proud father turned up at Assumption to pin a medal on: “Imee [who] won the topmost honors in school.

In all her subjects … And her teachers were proud of her. An Ilocana teacher commented ‘Ti paria hangan nga agbunga ti tarong.’ (An apple tree will not bear orange fruit).” Fifty years later, one wonders if gender bias determined Bongbong’s run for the presidency instead of Imee.

Marcos did lament: “I wish she had been a boy.”

Bongbong’s academics was a cause of concern. On March 15,

candidacy. The Comelec has been busy working to ensure that the upcoming elections will be honest, open and peaceful. The timely resolution of this case is critical in attaining this objective.

The Marcos case must be resolved with finality before election day on May 9. This cannot happen if the Comelec does not treat the case with the urgency that it deserves. (Philstar.com)

Is the integrity of the 2022 presidential election, disqualification case against Bongbong Marcos being compromised due to political pressure on Comelec? as a taxpayer),” Guanzon said in a Rappler Talk interview on Friday, January 28.

Bongbong Marcos was governor of Ilocos Norte from 1983 until 1986, the year the Marcos family was posted by the People Power Revolution.

Guanzon argued that Bongbong’s’ “failure to file an ITR from 1982 to 1985 is considered willful.”

Why the rush? The report stated that according to Guanzon, she “was compelled to do this unprecedented move because she believed the ponente or writer of the decision, Commissioner Aimee Ferolino, was being pressured by some politicians to delay the resolution.

Guanzon retires February 2, and Marcos needs two favorable votes out of three in the First Division to win in that level.”

“I already said that, the reason is because the vote is to DQ. To knock out my vote, they think they can invalidate it by releasing the resolution of the ponencia after I retire, which cannot happen because I already submitted my separate opinion to all of them including the chair and the Commissioners,” she said as reported by DurianBurgDavao.

“That should already be on the record that I voted already.

My vote should be counted and considered by the next presiding Commissioner after me,” Guanzon added.

Guanzon also made public the threats by the Partido Federal

ng Pilipinas, the pro-Duterte political party that endorsed Bongbong for President, and where he is now the party Chairman.

“Alam ba ni Bongbong Marcos that Partido Federal is threatening me, the Presiding Commissioner while his case is pending? Baka I-contempt ko kayo... ipakulong ko kayo sa Manila City Jail,” ABS-CBN News reported.

The report further said that according to Partido Federal ng Pilipinas General Counsel George Briones stated: “Because of her premature disclosure of dissenting opinion, Commissioner Guanzon should be disbarred, with forfeiture of her retirement benefits and lifetime pension because she destroyed the reputation of the institution which these moneys come from.”

Guanzon has been serving as Comelec Commissioner since 2015, taking office at the time of then Philippine President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino. She was educated in the University of the Philippines College of Law and Harvard Kennedy School.

Before we get lost in the issue of the disqualification case against Bongbong Marcos, it is important to clarify that there are two legal questions we are talking about here: One is the issue of moral turpitude and the Second Division’s disagreement on the tax code’s accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification.

As Rappler explained, these two questions of law would potentially settle when they decide

Marcos’ fate.

“That’s why, Guanzon said, she wants the decision to be released as soon as possible because it would be in the interest of everybody to have the cases go to the Supreme Court early.

Election day is May 9,” the report added.

Moral turpitude “Moral turpitude is anything that goes against morals, fairness and justice.

“Sinadya niya talaga, eh gobernador sya. I’m sure after one year na hindi nag file sinabi na ng accountant, gov gov, hindi tayo nag file, last year hindi rin tayo nag file, kasi nag mayor ako eh. Sinasabi ng accountant na mayor due na ‘yung ITR mo, walang maniniwala na hindi ‘yun intentional.”

(It was really intentional, he was a governor. I’m sure after one year the accountant could have told him, governor we didn’t file, and last year we didn’t file, because I was mayor and my accountant always reminds me it’s time to file my ITR. Nobody would believe that that is not intentional),” Guanzon said.

Guanzon argued that “the lack of a definition of what is moral turpitude gives her the opening to declare that failure to file an ITR in this case is one,” the report stated. She also pointed out that this Disqualification case is NOT a criminal case, where the standard is guilt beyond reasonable doubt. “The standard is reasonableness, substantial evidence,” Guanzon said as quoted

by the report.

“The commissioner also gave weight to the fact that Marcos’ payment of fines and deficient tax, as ordered by the Court of Appeals in 1997, was not made to the trial court. Marcos’ lawyers presented a receipt of the payment to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) but Guanzon said she could not accept a mere photocopy, and that such photocopy indicated the payment was for lease rental.”

The report further explained why this is important as it goes against the decision of the Second Division in a related petition to cancel Marcos’ Certificate of Candidacy (COC): In the ruling that junked the case, the Second Division said failure to file ITRs is not a crime of moral turpitude. The election code disqualifies a person if they have been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude.

Moral turpitude is anything that goes against morals, fairness and justice. Marcos was convicted of tax evasion and failure to file ITR on four counts in 1995 concerning his years as governor of Ilocos Norte, but the Court of Appeals acquitted him of tax evasion but sustained guilt for failure to file ITR in 1997.

The Second Division’s basis is a 2009 ruling of the Third Division of the Supreme Court involving a case of Marcos Jr wanting to be the executor of his father’s estate. There, the Third Division said “failure to file an income tax return is not a crime

involving moral turpitude.” “[That] paragraph is obiter dictum,” Guanzon said. Obiter dictum is a part of a decision that doesn’t set a precedent. In this case, Guanzon pointed out that the Supreme Court case was about Marcos Jr being an executor of the estate, and the Court had in fact resolved the petition based on procedural law and not substantial law.

Simply put, Guanzon is saying the Supreme Court decided a totally different issue, and its pronouncement on moral turpitude is a mere opinion of the justice and not case law.

This case may go all the way to the Supreme Court, but the question remains: Is the integrity of the disqualification case against Bongbong Marcos and therefore, of the presidential election, being compromised because of political pressure on the COMELEC? *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

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

Relos.

BBM through his father’s eyes

Looking Back

AMBETH R. OCAMPO

Philstar.com photo

1970, Marcos wrote: “Imelda feels calamity has befallen us because she cannot control Bongbong who does nothing but play with his friends to the prejudice of his schooling. He has lost his star, missed two days homework and stayed up tonight with his two friends …

It has reached the stage where I have warned him that I will throw his friends out of the Palace if they are overstaying. But I feel that the boy’s willpower has not developed enough.”

It was decided to send Bongbong to Worth, an English Benedictine boarding school for boys as recommended by Fr. James Donelan, Ateneo rector.

On June 28, 1970, Marcos reported: “There are some criticisms (specially Max Soliven) of the decision to send Bongbong to England but it offers the best education for a boy.

In the Philippines, he is either spoiled or hated because he is the President’s son. And he has to learn to stand on his own.

But he has to learn Ilocano before he goes. So, I may send him to the North first.” Marcos wanted his son to be rooted before he flew, noting some months later, “Unlike the children of other presidents who have to retrace with extreme effort the ancestral roots.”

Bongbong left for the UK on Sept. 4, 1970, and settled well into Worth. After three months, he was back in Manila for Christmas. Fr. Bernard, one of his teachers, reported to Marcos: “Bongbong has been lazy but well adjusted. He makes believe he knows but he does not.

In History he has been observed to be ‘flippant’ and his ideas not well thought out.” Nevertheless, upon his return, significant improvements in Bongbong are

dutifully noted most notable being: “he is more orderly in his habits, takes care of his room which used to be untidy before he went to Worth and seems shy with the girls.” To the family’s surprise it was reported that the housemaster found Bongbong’s locker so neat it was made an example to the other boys. Marcos added: “He had lost his darkness and he looked unbelievably handsome … He had acquired some kind of an English accent and the peculiarly English terms like ‘frightful,’ ‘dreadful,’ ‘chap’ … he was changed much deeper than mere accent or adeptness in the English language.

He now placed greater importance on his academics than on sports. He casually announced that he would have to give up his judo as it cuts into his study and work on physics. And he bragged of his being told by his

master that they would recommend his elevation or acceleration in physics. He also bragged that he was third in mathematics in a class of 120.

“Imelda and I are agreed that we made the right decision in sending him to England.

And we remembered our fears of friends as well as enemies spoiling him, of drug-addiction, of leftists, threats of kidnapping and the fate of Presidents’ sons in the Philippine society that gave them no incentive for excellence. “… I noticed that Imelda hugged him longer than usual as I did. And she whispered to me, ‘You were right, we have lost a child. He is now turning into a man. We can no longer baby him.’ I answered, ‘We will just have to have another child to baby!’”

It is unfair to assume that Bongbong has not changed

since he was a boy in 1970 to the adult in 2022 and his father’s remarks should be taken in proper context. There is more to these diaries than Bongbong.

Much in the 1970-1973 entries clarify the road to martial law.

A caveat though, the diaries are self-referential and self-serving. Those looking for intimate revelations on Dovie Beams, for example, will be sorely disappointed. The diaries are a frontrow seat into history. Going over Marcos’ scrawl is as fascinating and scary as looking at a cobra safely caged in an aquarium.

(Inquirer.net) *** 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.

*** Comments are welcome at aocampo@ ateneo.edu

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

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

CORA MACABAGDAL-ORIEL President

CHRISTINA M. ORIEL Editor-in-Chief

MOMAR G. VISAYA Executive Editor

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

IVY MANALANG Vice President - Marketing Los Angeles Asian Journal

MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA Senior Vice President Los Angeles Asian Journal

With offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York/New Jersey Las Vegas, San Diego, Philippines

DING CARREON Videographer

ANDY TECSON Photographer

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

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

Publication of a Client’s Material does not constitute an agreement to continue publication.

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

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

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

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

Articles published in this paper do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Letters to the Editor are welcome.

Letters must contain complete name and return address. The materials, however, are subject to editing and revisions.

Contributions and advertising deadlines are every Mondays and Thursdays. For advertising rates and other informations, please call the L.A. office at (213) 250-9797 or send us an email at info@asianjournalinc.com

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 29-fEbRUARy 1, 2022 A9

A10 January 29-february 1, 2022 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNALDATE LINE

PHILIP P INE S

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

4 of 5 vaccinated Filipinos willing to get COVID-19 booster dose

by KAITHREEN

CRUZ ManilaTimes.net

A MAJORITY of Filipinos who have received the vaccine against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are willing to get the booster dose, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) Fourth Quarter survey showed.

80 percent — or four out of every five — of the respondents who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine said that they were willing to get the booster shot of the vaccine, with 73 percent surely willing and 7 percent probably willing.

According to SWS, willingness to get the COVID-19 booster dose varied slightly among the areas with 82 percent in Balance Luzon, 81 percent in Metro Manila, 79 percent in the Visayas, and 78 percent in Mindanao.

It added that willingness to get a booster was high in all education groups at 86 percent among college graduates, 79 percent

among junior high school graduates, 77 percent among elementary graduates, and 82 percent among non-elementary graduates.

Similarly, the willingness of all age groups to receive the COVID-19 booster was also high — highest among those 55 years old and above at 84 percent, 81 percent for those 45 to 54 years old, 79 percent for those 35 to 44 years old, 78 percent for those 25 to 34 years old, and 74 percent for those 18 to 24 years old.

However, the pollster said that 7 percent of the respondents were unwilling to receive the booster dose, while the remaining 13 percent were uncertain.

Uncertainty to get the booster shot was highest in Mindanao at 17 percent, followed by the Visayas at 15 percent, Metro Manila at 12 percent, and Balance Luzon at 10 percent.

“On the other hand, those unwilling to get a booster dose

hardly vary by area, ranging from 6 to 7 percent,” added SWS. A related survey from the pollster on January 20 noted that vaccine skepticism among Filipinos continued to wane with only 8 percent of Filipinos surveyed saying that they were unwilling to receive the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines.

The same survey also revealed that 50 percent of respondents have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

SWS conducted face-to-face interviews among 1,440 adult respondents from December 12 to 16, 2021. Results of the survey have a sampling error margin of ±2.6 percent for national percentages and ±5.2 percent for subnational percentages in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

The pollster maintained that the survey was non-commissioned and the results were released as public service. ■

Lacson to purge government of corruption

by KRISTINA

MARALIT ManilaTimes.net

CURBING corruption “would solve 50 percent of the problems” the country faces, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, who is running for president under the Partido Reporma banner, said on Friday, January 28.

Guesting in the “Bakit Ikaw” interview of presidential hopefuls, Lacson vowed to showcase leadership by example to spur people in government to deliver exemplary public service, just as he did when he served as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“Bakit Ikaw” is a joint undertaking by DZRH radio and The Manila Times.

“On my first day, I will immediately sign a waiver for the bank secrecy law and urge all the Cabinet secretaries, directors, and other government workers to do the same,” Lacson said.

He said his first 100 days in office will be devoted to “a massive internal cleansing” to weed out corrupt officials and workers.

“Ang aking unang lilinisin ay ang gobyerno mismo, kasi

walang ibang paraan. Ang publiko sumusunod lamang sa gobyero at kapag nakita nilang maayos ang gobyerno, ay mababalik ang kanilang tiwala at respeto sa ating gobyerno (I will clean up the government first because there is no other way. The public only follows the government’s lead. If they see an orderly government, their trust and respect will return),” he said.

He vowed to go after individuals and entities who profited by embezzling the people’s money, including those involved in the highly questionable Pharmally deal and the misuse of PhilHealth funds.

“Maski sinong tamaan, hahabulin natin (I will go after every corrupt government official. I will spare no one),” he said.

Lacson underscored the need to revise the crafting of the annual budget which he says is another source of corruption.

“We will correct the budget process,” Lacson said, citing his proposed Budget Reform Advocacy for Village Empowerment (Brave) which

is designed to encourage closer collaboration between legislators and implementing agencies to ensure resources are distributed evenly.

In this way, a budget crisis at the deliberation and approval at the bicameral level will be averted so that the appropriation measure is passed on time, he said.

“Ipapaliwanag ko sa kanila na hindi mawawala ang kanilang pet projects. Hindi mangyayari ang krisis dahil sa budget reform natin hihikayatin ang mga kongresista na makisali (I will explain to them that they will not lose their pet projects.

A crisis will not happen because we will encourage the congressmen to take part [in the process]),” Lacson said.

He said he will use his training in intelligence gathering to pinpoint those who will try to tamper with the government’s budget for personal profit and make them accountable.

“Hindi naman masama ang pork barrel per se. Kulang lang sa planning with the implementing agency (Pork barrel is not bad per se. It just lacks planning with the implementing agency),” Lacson said. ■

BRISK SALES. Business is good for an ambulant food vendor along the Mangubat Avenue service road in Dasmariñas City, Cavite on Friday, January 28. Three pieces of native vegetable spring rolls sell for P20.

PNA photo by Gil Calinga

Covered California has a record 1.8-M enrollees...

PAGE A5 spoke about the health insurance and health care disparities in the AANHPI communities.

“Looking at the population under age 65, AANHPIs have the second-highest uninsured rate in the state, after Latinos,” said Ponce. “But within this average, there are differences across Asian subgroups. In 2020, the uninsured rate for Filipino Americans in California is at 6.4 percent, higher than the AANHPI statewide average of 5.8 percent. Prior to the American Rescue Plan, top reasons for not having insurance include some confusion on how to get insurance as well as concerns about cost, not being eligible or being dropped from coverage from their jobs.”

Asian Health Services has provided health care, advocacy and social services for the Bay Area community since 1974, and has been a partner for Covered California enrolling nearly 4,000 Californians since the first open enrollment. CEO Julia Liou spoke about the importance of being insured.

“Access to the highest quality and affordable health care in language and culture is essential for the health and well-being of our families and communities, especially during this historical time.” said Liou. “Preventive care, including regular doctor visits and screenings that can detect and treat serious illnesses – all which are part of Covered California plans – is key to protecting your family’s health and preventing

financial hardship from unexpected medical bills. Connect with your local community health center today to help you find out what you are eligible for in care.”

Covered California’s openenrollment period runs through Jan. 31 — unlike the federal deadline, which ended on Jan. 15 for states that use healthcare. gov. Consumers who sign up by Jan. 31 will have their coverage start on Feb. 1.

Consumers can easily check out their eligibility and options at CoveredCA.com Those interested in applying for coverage can explore their options — and find out whether they are eligible for financial help — in just a few minutes by using the Shop and Compare Tool at CoveredCA.com. All they need to do is enter their ZIP code, household income and the ages of those who need coverage to find out which plans are available in their area.

In addition to signing up consumers through its website, Covered California also partners with certified and licensed enrollers who provide free and confidential help throughout the state. Covered California works with more than 11,000 Licensed Insurance Agents, who have established more than 500 storefronts in communities across California. Consumers can visit https://www.coveredca.com/support/contact-us/ and search for the agent nearest them.

Consumers can also call Cov-

ered California at (800) 300-1506 in English or (800) 983-8816 in Tagalog and get information or enroll by phone.

Covered California’s online enrollment portal and certified enrollers will also help people find out whether they are eligible for Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal enrollment is available year-round, and the coverage will begin the day after a person signs up. In addition, people can apply for Medi-Cal online or by picking up an application at one of the many county resource centers throughout the region.

Covered California is the state’s health insurance marketplace, where Californians can find affordable, high-quality insurance from top insurance companies. Covered California is the only place where individuals who qualify can get financial assistance on a sliding scale to reduce premium costs. Consumers can then compare health insurance plans and choose the plan that works best for their health needs and budget. Depending on their income, some consumers may qualify for the low-cost or nocost Medi-Cal program.

Covered California is an independent part of the state government whose job is to make the health insurance marketplace work for California’s consumers.

It is overseen by a five-member board appointed by the governor and the Legislature. For more information about Covered California, please visit www.CoveredCA. com. (Covered CA Release)

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 29-fEbRUARy 1, 2022 A11

A12 January 29-february 1, 2022 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Asian Journal

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 29 - fEbRUARy 1, 2022 B1

WKND

Saturday, january 29, 2022

LifestyLe Consumer Guide Community marketpLaCe

Visas issued despite petitioner’s death this Sunday on Citizen Pinoy ALMITA’S father petitioned her in 2001.

However, before her visa was issued, her father died on Christmas Eve of 2014. This resulted in the petition being “revoked.”

Her previous lawyer suggested that the family lie about the petitioner’s death, pretending he was alive, and continue pursuing the case.

However, Almita’s mother did not want to lie.

They discussed Humanitarian Revalidation but were informed by the lawyer that he did not handle such cases.

However, the lawyer sent a single-page letter to the National Visa Center (NVC) seeking Humanitarian Revalidation. Due to delays and missing documents from the previous lawyer, the USCIS eventually officially revoked the

petition.

Mom refused to give up and insisted on getting the “Attorney-of-Last-Hope,” Michael J. Gurfinkel, who was able to submit a new humanitarian revalidation request that was approved. Almita and her five children were able to get their immigrant visas and arrived in the U.S. in November 2021.

Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, January 30 at 7:00 PM PT (10:00 PM ET thru select Cable/Satellite providers), right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app.

(Advertising Supplement)

Kim shares sneak peek of her life as an ‘independent girl’

By Micah

Kim Chiu

Photo from Instagram/@chinitaprincess

Sophia c. MarcelloneS Inquirer.net

ACTRESS-host Kim Chiu recently shared snippets from her life living as an “independent girl” on her YouTube vlog.

The actress revealed that her sister evicted her from home, “Sabi niya ‘Bahala ka na, malaki ka na. Punta ka na du’n now na, bago pa kumalat or bago pa magkalagnat or something else. Umalis ka na. Umalis ka na dito ngayon.’ Parang eksena sa teleserye,” she said.

The actress confirmed that some members of her family at home tested positive for COVID-19.

Chiu is currently living alone in a condo.

“If you’re wondering kung bakit ako nandito mag-isa, is because yun nga kumalat na nga yung virus sa bahay namin,” she said.

She said that her sister forced her to leave their home so she will be safe from the virus.

As seen in her vlog, Chiu took a COVID swab PAGE B2

THIS FAMILY NOW NEEDS A “BIGGER RICE COOKER” AFTER DAUGHTER AND HER FIVE CHILDREN GOT THEIR IMMIGRANT VISAS, THIS SUNDAY ON CITIZEN PINOY. Almita (left) was petitioned as single by her father in 1997, but because she married her boyfriend, she had to be repetitioned in 2001. Unfortunately, Almita’s father died before she could get her visa. Her previous lawyer sent a one-page letter seeking Humanitarian Revalidation, but USCIS revoked the petition. It seemed her dreams of immigrating to the U.S. were “dead.” Almita’s sisters, Evelyn (2nd from left), Mimi (3rd from left) and their mother consulted with leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (right) who filed a new humanitarian revalidation request and was able to get it approved. Almita and her five children had their visas issued and immigrated to the U.S. in November 2021. Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, January 30 at 7:00 PM PT (10:00 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo.

(Advertising Supplement)

Bea on her marriage plans FOR actress Bea Alonzo, there’s no rush when it comes to making crucial decisions like marriage.

The 34-year-old actress took to her Instagram stories to share about her personal view on the subject.

Alonzo asked her followers to throw questions through the “Questions” feature on Instagram.

One of her followers asked her about her marriage plans.

“You’re not getting any younger po, when will you get married and have kids like Marian, Anne, Jennelyn, etc.?” the netizen asked.

“May taxi?! hahahaha,” she jokingly replied.

“Hindi ako nagmamadali. I’d like to take my time. It’s not a race, after all. I believe we all have our own timeline,” she added.

Alonzo is in a relationship with Dominique Roque.

The two revealed their relationship to the public last year. (By Doris Mondragon/Inquirer.net) n

Bea Alonzo Photo from Instagram/@beaalonzo

B2 January 29 - february 1, 2022 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

EntErtainmEnt

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

Remembering Rosemarie de Vera-Javier, a beauty queen with a mission

By Dan

E. nino

Beauty queen.

Movie actress. Singer and recording artist.

Charity fund-raiser.

Philanthropist.

Community leader. Marketing specialist.

Those are the words I use to characterize Rosemarie de VeraJavier, a good friend, a province mate and fellow community leader. She passed away quietly at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles on Jan. 15, 2022 at 9:05 p.m. surrounded by immediate family members and via Zoom in both the U.S. and in the Philippines. She was 60.

Rosemarie was proclaimed Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism in 1980 and represented the Philippines at the Miss Asia Quest and wound up as runner-up in 1981.

With all her accomplishments, and busy schedule as a mother to four young children, Rosemarie soldiered on in her humanitarian endeavors — helping the disadvantaged and less fortunate members of society and belonging to Gabay For Children of Autism and Cerebral Palsy, her favorite charitable NGO in Quezon City, Philippines. Despite the challenges of organizing fundraisers, Rosemarie undauntedly organized a fundraising event in partnership with the Pangasinan BrotherhoodUSA at the Marriott Hotel in Long Beach in 2018, summoning her

PECHANGA RESORT CASINO WISHES EVERYONE A PROSPEROUS YEAR OF THE TIGER!

Rosemarie de Vera and Giovanni Javier on their wedding day.

buy goods like medications, vitamins, food rice, pampers, etc. Rosemarie’s legacy had a Domino effect. Our implementor on the ground then, the Ateneo APO Alumni Association picked up the project and also raised funds twice in a row in one year in 2021 and also distributed similar goods.

At one time, while visiting Manila, she donated her travel allowance to the needy who were in a hospital’s corridors waiting to be treated. Giovanni, Rosemarie’s husband, was choking with emotion while relating this episode about Rosemarie’s concern for the hapless patients.

Born and raised in Manila, Rosemarie is the fifth of 12 children of the late Rustico de Vera of Mangaldan, Pangasinan and Zenaida Rosario-de Vera of San Carlos City of Pangasinan.

Although a full-blooded Pangasinense, Rosemarie could not speak fluent Pangasinan.

Although she was already under the weather on Oct. 31, 2021, the last time I saw her, Rosemarie was still delighted to meet her fellow Pangasinenses and officers of Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA wherein she’s a board member.

You can tell that she was somehow frail due to chemotherapy. As customary, she cooked her own Rosemarie de Vera-Javier organized rice donations that would be during the distributed to fellow church members during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

PAGE B3 well-heeled friends to participate.

Funds collected were sent to this group of 21 handicapped children and young adults to buy essential sustenance and medical goods.

I knew it as I was there lending a helping hand.

As a CEO and board chairman of APO Global Foundation, I picked up the pieces and also recommended Gabay as our beneficiary and sent financial assistance twice in 2020 — to

Come celebrate the Lunar New Year with our exclusive dining and drinks specials PECHANGA Resort Casino welcome guests to reserve tables for Family Dinner or Business Lunch to enjoy exclusive “Lucky” Lunar New Year Dining and Drink Specials that have been meticulously prepared by the chefs of Bamboo, Blazing Noodles and Umi Sushi & Oyster Bar. Tastily made by Umi Chef Kiyo Ikeda, the Lobster Three Ways ($98), Sticky Rice Stuffed Chicken ($58) and the Eel Lotus Wrap ($42) will certainly bring you to a new level of dining experience.

Chef Marie Surakul at Bamboo serves Steamed Whole Fish ($98) which means an increase in prosperity and Long-Life Noodles with Beef Tenderloin ($38). She points out that noodle is a symbol of happiness and longevity, and guests will experience instant happiness while eating these Lunar New Year specialties.

Blazing Noodles, just off the Pechanga hotel lobby, dishes up eight traditional Asian specialties for the occasion.

From Fried Red Snapper to Stir-fry Lamb Meat with Spicy XO Sauce, these special dishes’ prices range from $22 to $92.

The dining specialties in Blazing Noodles, Bamboo and Umi will be available from Jan. 28 through Feb. 13. Reservations are recommended at Umi Sushi & Oyster Bar and can be made by visiting www.Pechanga. com/eat or calling (951) 7708504.

Above all, Pechanga’s expert mixologists created a 5 Spice Old Fashioned Cocktail for the Lunar New Year. Each spices represent one of the five elements: wood, fire, earth, water, and metal, which is symbolic for an everlasting

luck and fortune. Guests can stop by the Acorn, Corner or Round Bars from Jan. 28 to Feb. 13 for a taste of this specialty cocktail for just $12.75.

Lunar New Year property décors The Lunar New Year symbolizes the fresh start of a new year, a new beginning.

In celebration of this festival, Pechanga, starting from January 17, 2022, will decorate the entire property with traditional new year elements, such as bright red lanterns, refined orientalstyle garden bridge, beautifully bloomed peach blossoms, traditional calligraphy spring couplets and more. Throughout

the floor, you will be able to find countless photo-op spots for your selfies or a family portrait, while capturing the stunningly displayed Lunar New Year decorations.

For more information on Pechanga events and promotions, please call (877) 711-2946 or visit our website Pechanga.com.

Must be at least 21 years of age to participate in promotions.

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

Pechanga Resort Casino offers one of the largest and most expansive resort/ casino experiences anywhere in the United States. Voted the number one casino in the country by USA Today and rated a Four Diamond property by AAA since 2002, Pechanga Resort Casino provides an unparalleled getaway, whether for the day or for an extended luxury stay. Pechanga offers more than 5,000 of the hottest slots, table games, worldclass entertainment, 1,100 hotel rooms, dining, spa and golf at Journey at Pechanga, Pechanga Resort Casino features a destination that meets and exceeds the needs of its guests and the community. Pechanga Resort & Casino is owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians.

For more information, call toll free (877) 711-2946 or visit www.Pechanga.com.

Follow Pechanga Resort & Casino on Facebook and on Twitter @PechangaCasino.

(Advertising Supplement)

Kim shares sneak peek of her...

PAGE B1 test and tested negative.

“Living ALONE because of Omicron,” she wrote in the vlog.

In her vlog, she also shared her daily workout routine before leaving for work as host in the

ABS-CBN noontime show “Its Showtime”.

Chiu told her followers that she will be sharing a new vlog on Sunday, “So this is the start of my 2022. I started it with ‘A day in a life’, unusual as an independent girl dahil nga for the safety of everybody and for my safety also.” n

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 1, 2022

B3

Filing bankruptcy due to Why using your married child excessive credit card debt? as a co-borrower to refinance

ARE you seriously in debt and don’t know what to do?

Individuals who have accumulated excessive debt are often left to ponder whether bankruptcy is their only realistic way to get out of debt. However, they hesitate to do so because of all the negative things they’ve heard about bankruptcy.

Sometimes, these people feel that somehow, they’ve lost, failed, or that they will never have a chance to rebuild their credit again.

Minding Your Finances ATTY. RAYMOND BULAON Because we are living in a society where having a lot of credit cards has become the norm, they also can’t imagine themselves without credit cards.

They often tell me: If I lose all my credit cards, what will I use in case of an emergency? But this is the wrong question to ask.

The truth is that credit cards only give us a sense of false security. Why? Because these plastic cards create the illusion of having money that you actually don’t have in your bank account, that’s why. That is exactly how most people end up spending their money before they even earn it. And they wonder why PAGE B6

Remembering Rosemarie de...

PAGE B2 potluck. That’s how she was: devoted to her cause and to people she was associated with. She was gentle, kind, humble, generous and no put-on-air.

Rosemarie graduated with a B.S. degree in tourism from San Sebastian College in Manila. This served her well. As a marketing specialist, she was assigned to travel to Pangasinan province not only as an ambassador of goodwill but to coordinate with the Pangasinan governor and provincial officialdom, manufacturers and producers to promote their products in a business expo in Carson, CA. “She did her job well. She was a catalyst,” quipped Eddie C. Ferrer, former president of Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA. Renowned fashion designer Renee Salud discovered 18-year-old, 5’8” tall Rosemarie de Vera and egged her to join the beauty pageant. After her reign as Mutya ng Pilipinas, she toured several countries as a singer with well-known recording artists like Rico Puno, Marco Sison, Rey Valera, Hadji Alejandro, Bobby Vale, among others. She recorded “Nasaan Ka,” a mellow dramatic Original Pilipino Music under Blackgold Records headed

by Vic Del Rosario. Her favorite singers included Carole King, Linda Ronstadt, Michael Jackson and the Bee Gees.

Rosemarie’s fame as beauty queen was her vehicle as an actress. She starred with action giants like Fernando Poe, Jr. (Sambahin Ang Ngalan Mo), Rudy Fernandez (Vendetta), Ramon Revilla, Sr. (Sierra Madre), Lito Lapid, Jun Aristorenas and Anthony Alonzo, to name a few.

I first met Rosemarie at a dinner banquet in Orange County organized by the National Asian American Coalition sometime in 2017. I gave her my business card. A year or so later, she called, informing me that she is also a fellow Pangasinense. I invited her and her husband Giovanni to dinner in Cerritos with my fellow Pangasinenses. Presto! She was eager to reconnect with her roots. This led to many meetings and phone conversations. She even asked me to cover the Search for Mutya ng California. After establishing so much rapport, we asked her to be a board member of Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA. Oh Boy! Although she lived in San Fernando Valley, she was consistent and devoted in her participation in our activities, meetings both in

person and on Zoom – with full support from hubby Vanni. We even assigned her to chair the Search for Miss Pangasinan-USA in 2020 but COVID-19 torpedoed our campaign. Rosemarie, you are something else. You left an exemplar legacy that is rare for a celebrity like you.

She is survived by her husband, Giovanni Javier, four children: Vanross, Micah, Krystal and Zyde, mother Zenaida Rosario-De Vera and living siblings Arnold, Judy, Emelie, Jocelyn, Giovanni, Jaenalyn, Gemma, Jaywin and Christopher.

A family statement was issued by her eldest child, Vanross: “Hello everyone. This is her son, Vanross.

On January 15th, 9:05 p.m., my mother Rosa Maria de Vera-Javier passed away from her 2-year fight with cancer. The family is devastated by the news and I’m sure those who knew her, are too. I want everyone to know that she was one of the brightest lights in my family as well as many others’ lives.

And that her capacity to love had no limit. She loved you all. I truly believe that. Just know that she is not suffering anymore and she is watching us all from a better place. God bless you all.”

Rosemarie’s cousin, Eulo de Vera of San Diego, reminisced her: “She loved visiting us, her relatives.

She loved to mingle, sing and always finds a way to throw humor in between conversations. When she had a special event, she didn’t forget to invite us to attend like when she performed with the Earth Wind and Fire.”

The viewing will take place on Feb. 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Forest Lawn Memorial in Glendale. A funeral service will follow at the Church of the Recessional from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. also at Forest Lawn. Interested parties may e-mail: Info@ forestlawn.com. Thereafter, her remains will be flown to the Philippines and will be interred at Himlayang Pilipino in Quezon City.

Farewell, my friend. You will be terribly missed by those whom you’ve touched with your kindness, gentleness, humility and humanitarian endeavors.

Your family and Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA will miss you dearly.

You will also be missed by the organizers of Mutya ng California, which you’ve helped nurture through the years. See you someday in another realm. *** (The author can be reached at denino1951@gmail.com.)

your house is a bad idea

Barrister’s Corner ATTY. KENNETH URSUA REYES MANY parents who may have problems refinancing their house due to low income in retirement or due to low credit score sometimes resort to the idea of having their married child serve as a co-borrower to refinance their house As part of the refinancing process, the parents usually adds their adult children to the deed of the house then have them apply as a coborrower in a mortgage. This is a really bad idea especially if there your child’s marriage is in

trouble.

This becomes a big problem if your married child ever gets divorced from his or her spouse.

Your child’s spouse will have a claim for half the community interest in your house even if your intent was only to use your child’s credit to help you qualify for the refinance.

Although you can argue that adding your married child’s name to the deed of your house was only a gift which should be characterized as your child’s separate property, the fact that your married child’s credit was used to obtain the refinance mortgage loan during the marriage which was then used to pay off your prior mortgage creates a community interest on his 50% share of your house.

According to In re Marriage of Branco, a community

property loan used to pay off a preexisting separate loan gives the community an interest in the amount of that loan. In re Marriage of Branco, (1996) 47 Cal.app.4th 1621. Thus, the refinance described above allowed for the new loan to pay off the old separate property loan, and for a community interest to arise.

Your married child’s spouse can claim that adding your child’s name to the deed was not a gift but instead property your child acquired during marriage as community property because your child paid for that interest by getting a mortgage as a coborrower during their marriage.

Family Code Section 760 provides that all property, real or personal, wherever situated, acquired by a married person PAGE B5

SFIO adopts new corporate name ‘Starfleet Innotech, Inc.’ STARFLEET Innotech, Inc. announced the formal change of its corporate name, replacing its previous name “Smokefree Innotec, Inc.” The new identity reflects the conglomerate’s ambitious new direction as a global asset management company.

“This is an important moment in our history as a company,” said Jeths Lacson, chairman and chief executive officer of SFIO. “When we began developing our plans for a network of innovative companies working in conjunction to explore new frontiers of innovation, we couldn’t help but draw inspiration from the scifi classics we grew up with. As Starfleet, we’re leading this new alliance, sharing knowledge and resources to help our businesses go where none of their industries have gone before.”

SFIO is focused on innovation through disruptive collaborations across its three key industries: Food and Beverage (F&B), Real Estate, and Technology. With a strong presence across New Zealand, Australia, and the Philippines — as well as new offices in the United States and United Arab Emirates — the company invests in high-growth businesses, supporting them through partnerships and opportunities, before leveraging their international presence to help them scale exponentially.

Guided by tradition, driven by innovation, and enabled by collaboration — SFIO says they are on a hyper-growth path towards building a

thriving global business ecosystem.

“This past year, we’ve gathered a formidable roster of technologists, strategists, communicators, and leaders to drive Starfleet Innotech, Inc. into the future,” Lacson said.

“Armed with what I believe is a truly interstellar team, our goal is to kick our businesses across the F&B and Real Estate industries into warp speed.”

Over the next three years, SFIO plans to elevate their portfolio on the global market and pioneer new technologies, with the goal of uplisting to a major stock exchange by 2024.

(Advertising Supplement)

B4 January 29 - february 1, 2022 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

EMPLOYMENT

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 29 - fEbRUARy 1, 2022

God’s never-ending call Pastor’s Notes reverend rodel G. BAlAGtAS “THE Lord’s call is not an intrusion of God in our freedom; it is not a ‘cage’ or a burden to be borne. On the contrary, it is the loving initiative whereby God encounters us and invites us to be part of a great undertaking.

He opens before our eyes the horizon of a greater sea and an abundant catch.”

These words from Pope Francis came to my mind when I received a video call from Fr. Joachim to show me the near completion of St. Mary’s School in Uganda. “I cannot thank you enough,” Fr. Joachim told me, “for the help that you and your parishioners gave us. The classrooms are almost finished and furnished, and we were able to buy new beddings for our stay-in students.”

As I looked at the newly plastered and painted buildings and the smiling children on the video, my heart jumped with joy. The money that we raised for this cause was well spent.

And all our efforts to raise funds bear fruits. Indeed. It feels good to help people in dire need, especially impoverished

children.

Accomplishments like this one inspire me to keep doing good for others and inviting people to join in any efforts to alleviate their suffering and poverty.

Thank you so much to my parishioners and friends for their contribution to this project. We all did it together.

And together we can do more!

This Sunday’s (January 30) Scripture Readings appropriately help us relish this accomplishment, for they speak about vocation.

Vocation comes from the Latin word vocare, which means to call. We all have received the call to a greater purpose and mission in life. And as Christians, our call stems from our baptism.

Jeremiah received God’s call to be a prophet even before his birth, as the First Reading tells us: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you,a prophet to the nations I appointed you.”

As in Jeremiah’s case, God did not only give us life; he also made us for a purpose and mission to give life to others.

Again, as Pope Francis reminds us, God looks on the human heart that can give and generate life amid daily routines. He states: “Vocations have this same

goal: to beget and renew lives every day. The Lord desires to shape the hearts of fathers and mothers: hearts that are open, capable of great initiatives, generous in self-giving, compassionate in comforting anxieties, and steadfast in strengthening hopes. The priesthood and the consecrated life greatly need these qualities nowadays, in times marked by fragility but also by the sufferings due to the pandemic, which has spawned uncertainties and fears about the future and the very meaning of life.”

Yes, my friends, God never stops calling us to bring life to others even amid challenging times and despite our struggles.

No illness or disaster should prevent us from thinking about the needs of others. And no criticisms or discouragement from others would stop us from answering God’s call.

It’s because God’s call is rooted in love, the most significant spiritual gift, and in the Person of Jesus Christ who gave his life to save us all! *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.

Why using your married child...

PAGE B3 during the marriage while domiciled in this state is community property.

Procedurally, your married child’s spouse will join you as an indispensable party in the divorce case. Once you are joined as a party, you will be served with a summons and complaint for joinder into the action. You then would have to retain your own lawyer to defend you in your married child’s divorce case.

If you can avoid this situation and refrain from adding your married child to the deed and serving as a co-borrower in your refinance. However if refinancing would really make a big difference in your mortgage interest and you are willing to give one half ownership interest in your house to your married child, then you may be able to plan around this situation by having your married child execute a post nuptial agreement with his spouse before you enter into the refinance transaction. Although not bullet proof, it should offer you some protection in case your child gets divorced. ***

EMPLOYMENT

Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed.

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

(Advertising Supplement)

B5

CA employees may have more paid sick leave due to COVID surge

years.

However, with a COVID illness, 6 days of paid leave may not be enough. To help employees and their families, California’s Governor and lawmakers “have reached an agreement on a Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. framework to ensure employees continue to have access to COVID-19 supplemental paid Q: COVID continues to be sick leave” until September 30, problem for many and is hitting 2022. This agreement is set to close to home with these be retroactive to January 1st of new variants that are highly this year and extend through contagious (I know relatives September 30. Lawmakers will and friends who are getting very reportedly act on the Governor’s sick!). I work for a company that emergency budget request that gives 40 hours (5 days) of paid includes this sick leave program sick leave. If I ever need to take

by June. leave due to COVID (either I get Paid sick leave can be used sick or my family gets sick) I will for absences due to illness, the need more than 5 days. What are diagnosis, care or treatment my options? of an existing A: When this health condition or column first started “Even though emergency laws took preventative care writing about for the employee or COVID-19 in March effect to help employees navigate their family member.

2020, the recorded Preventative care cases in California common issues of illness and sick may include selfwas 700 (!). Today, as we write this in leaves, the last of those measures have quarantine as a result of potential exposure late January 2022, since expired. Now, with the surge of to COVID-19 if there are over 8 quarantine is million infections in the Omicron variant, the number of required by civil the state and nearing 80,000 deaths.

Californians who were not working authorities. There may be other The pandemic that in the last month because they or a situations where started two years an employee may ago is still with us and shows no sign of family member had COVID increased exercise their right to stopping. by 320%, according to the California take paid sick leave, or an employer may Even though Budget and Policy Center.” allow paid sick leave emergency laws for preventative care. took effect to help *** employees navigate common issues of illness and sick of the year. If the employer The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints leaves, the last of those measures “front-loads” the amount of sick expressed by the author do not have since expired. Now, with days in this way, sick leave may necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs the surge of the Omicron variant, not be carried over to the next and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its the number of Californians who year. An employer may choose management, editorial board and staff. *** were not working in the last to cap the amount of paid six month because they or a family leave an employee may use per The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. member had COVID increased year to 3 days, or 24 hours, and welcomes inquiries about this topic. All by 320%, according to the the total amount an employee inquiries are confidential and at no-cost.

California Budget and Policy may accrue to 6 days, or 48 You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www.joesayaslaw.

Center. With the need to go hours.

In the city of Los Angeles, com. [For more than 25 years, C. Joe on sick leave, employees are understandably concerned about specifically, employers must Sayas, Jr., Esq. successfully recovered their rights regarding leave, provide employees with a wages and other monetary damages for minimum of 6 days, or 48 hours, thousands of employees and consumers. wages, and work protection.

Under California law, an of paid sick leave per year. Sick He was named Top Labor & Employment employee working for 30 or leave will accrue at the rate of 1 Attorney in California by the Daily more calendar days within a year hour for every 30 hours worked Journal, consistently selected as Super is entitled to paid sick leave. An and can be capped at 72 hours. Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, employer is required to provide a Employers must retain records and is a past Presidential Awardee for minimum of 3 days, or 24 hours, documenting hours worked and Outstanding Filipino Overseas.]

(Advertising Supplement) of sick leave per year. Paid sick paid sick leave accrued for 4

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights

leave may accrue at a rate of 1 hour for every 30 hours worked, and must be reflected on each wage statement. The law applies to full-time employees, as well as temporary, part-time, and seasonal employees. The law also provides paid sick leave to both non-exempt (hourly) and exempt (salaried) employees.

Employees may begin using accrued sick leave on the 90th calendar day of employment.

In the alternative, an employer may use its own Paid Time Off (PTO) or sick leave policy if it accrues at the same or faster rate than the state-mandated accrual. Instead of waiting for sick leave accrual, an employer may provide the 3 days of sick leave up front at the beginning

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

FOR RENT

SERVICES

B6 January 29 - february 1, 2022 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

Megan, Mikael admit forgetting their 2nd wedding anniversary

By Dana

Cruz

Inquirer.net

MeGAN Young and Mikael Daez seem to be going strong with their marriage, but enjoying their life together may have led to the couple almost forgetting their second wedding anniversary.

The Miss World 2013 titleholder confessed that she

and Daez forgot their anniversary while showing a throwback photo from their wedding on her Instagram page last Tuesday, Jan. 25. She also thanked fans for reminding them about their special day. “[Two] years married and 11 years together. I’ve always got your back as you’ve always got mine,” she told the actor. “p.S.

Thank you to everyone else for reminding us because we always forget these things.”

For his part, Daez said, “It’s all good in the hood,” and noted that this is not the first time he and his wife forgot about a milestone in their relationship, as seen on his Instagram page, also last Tuesday. His post was accompanied by a photo of himself and Young eating ice cream together. “on cue, we forgot a major milestone in our relationship once again. Today is our [second] wedding anniversary! (synchronized face palm from me and Bonez). But then again, this is how we roll and it’s all good in the hood,” he quipped. Bonez is Daez’s nickname for Young.

Daez also poked fun at Young by showing her sleeping facedown on the bed while wearing her wedding gown.

“She has fallen and stayed fallen… in love with me! [But] to be honest, I’m just looking for a cheesy excuse to post that picture. And with that, happy anniversary to us!” he greeted Young. “My only message to Bonez is… I shall do my best to make you stay ‘fallen.’”

The couple received anniversary greetings from fellow celebrities Coney reyes, Iza Calzado and Gabbi Garcia.

Young and Daez had been together for nine years before tying the knot in January 2020.

They had two weddings that month: an intimate ceremony with their loved ones in Nasugbu, Batangas, then a bigger wedding in el Kabayo, Subic. n

Megan Young and Mikael Daez Photo from Instagram/@mikaeldaez

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

I got my conditional green card through my US citizen spouse but we divorced. Now what?

A perSoN who obtains his/ her green card via marriage to a US citizen spouse, and who is married for less than 2 years has conditional permanent resident status. A conditional permanent resident has a green card that is valid for 2 years.

In order to continue to have permanent resident status after 2 years, the conditional permanent resident and his/ her US citizen spouse must file an I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence during the 90 days before the expiration of the green card. 8 CFr 216.4(a)(1) But what if things don’t work out with the US citizen spouse after getting married, and the conditional permanent resident can no longer get the participation of his/her US citizen spouse in filing the I-751 petition?

In such a case, the conditional permanent resident may seek an I-751 waiver of the joint filing requirement. In order to qualify for an I-751 waiver of the joint filing requirement, the conditional permanent resident must show that the marriage upon which his/ her status was based was: 1) entered into in good faith, and 2) terminated. 8 CFr 216.5(a) (1)(ii) With respect to the required showing that the marriage was entered into in good faith, the conditional permanent resident must show that his/her marriage was not a “sham.”

A marriage is considered a “sham” if, when they married, the couple did not intend to

Legal Advice Atty. DArrick tAn establish a life together. An intent to obtain something other than or in addition to love and companionship (such as a green card) from that life does not make a marriage a sham. Matter of Soltan, A76 888 125 (BIA 2001). Documents such as joint

dent is legally separated or in divorce proceedings that are still pending. Also, once the marriage is terminated, the conditional resident may file the I-751 petition immediately, and does not have to wait until the normal 90 days before the expiration of the conditional green card.

It is worth noting that if the conditional permanent resident and his/her US Citizen spouse live in California, a valid divorce judgment must be obtained in the California courts. I have had numerous California-resident clients in the past who have obtained a “quick” divorce judgment in Nevada only to face USCIS scrutiny after presenting the Nevada divorce judgment in support of an I-751 waiver request (since one must be a Nevada resident to obtain a divorce in Nevada).

The assistance of an experienced attorney in handling the divorce as well as the I-751 waiver request is accordingly recommended. *** Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), and is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Philippine American Bar Association (PABA).

LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN, 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Tel: 323639-0277. Email: info@dtanlaw.com (Advertising Supplement)

“In order to continue to have permanent resident status after 2 years, the conditional permanent resident and his/ her US citizen spouse must file an I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence during the 90 days before the expiration of the green card. 8 CFR 216.4(a)(1)” bank and credit card statements, and photos that demonstrate that the marriage was entered in good faith should be presented.

Also, in order to qualify for an I-751 waiver of the joint filing requirement, the conditional permanent resident must show that the marriage was terminated. By “terminated,” the USCIS requires a valid, formal divorce judgment. An I-751 waiver of the joint filing requirement cannot be approved in cases where the conditional permanent resi-

Are PPP and other federal pandemic loans dischargeable in bankruptcy?

MANY self-employed individuals have relied on the paycheck protection program (ppp) and other federal pandemic loans to rescue their businesses from going under.

If you notice, many restaurants that we go to pre-pandemic have shuttered up permanently despite using up ppp and other loans.

Sure the ppp loans helped a lot to keep employees employed, and for the business to continue paying rent for the premises, but lockdown after lockdown has decimated a lot of restaurants.

What can the business owner do if revenues are cut by more than half? In fact, some businesses had zero revenue, from $100,000 a month of gross receipts down to almost nothing.

Will Uncle Sam come to collect PPP loans?

Soon enough, Uncle Sam will start collecting on the ppp loans.

I have four clients who are already in this situation. Maybe they can ask for debt forgiveness first for the ppp loans since that’s a feature of these loans. There’s certainly a 50/50 chance that all or a portion may get forgiven; but what about the rest of it, or all of it that is not forgiven? Can bankruptcy wipe out or discharge the ppp loans?

To answer this question, we refer to Section 523 of the bankruptcy code. It provides for exceptions to discharge. If ppp loans are excepted from discharge by Section 523, then it’s not dischargeable. Nothing in Section 523 as it is currently worded suggests that ppp loans are excepted from discharge.

Debt Relief

Atty. LAwrence yAng Therefore, ppp loans are dischargeable in bankruptcy. $100K PPP loan obtained in 2020 The debtor owns a restaurant that obtained a $100,000 ppp loan in 2020. He used the $100,000 to buy a brand new Mercedes Benz S500, fully loaded. Can he discharge his ppp in bankruptcy?

No, he cannot. Why not? Section 523 excepts from discharge loans that were “fraudulently” obtained by the debtor. obviously, if the debtor had indicated in the ppp loan application that he was going to use the ppp loan to buy an expensive car, Uncle Sam would not have given him the loan. But his ppp loan application stated that he was going to use the $100,000 to continue running his restaurant, specifically the funds were going to be used to pay rent and to pay employees, that’s why Uncle Sam gave him the ppp loan.

But let’s say, the debtor actually used the $100,000 ppp loan to pay his employees and to pay rent for the premises. With the $100,000, he was able to continue operating at a loss for two years.

Now that it’s 2022, the pandemic is still around but there’s no more lockdown. His restaurant does take-outs and allows some indoor dining, but sales are still way low and he doesn’t have any more

money to continue operating. He decides finally to shut the door and stop operating. But here comes Uncle Sam knocking on his door, asking him to pay back the $100,000. What should he do?

As I said, he can ask for loan forgiveness for all or part of the $100,000 since he actually used the money to pay employees and rent and to keep the business going for two years. Whatever is not forgiven, he can use bankruptcy to discharge because ppp loans are not excepted from discharge.

Seven of my high school classmates passed away in 2021.

They have all gone to meet their creator. I would like to mention their names here: ricardo A, Victor Y, Jerry L, George C, Jimmy G, edward N and ricardo D. Three died of CoVID, one slipped and fell in the bathroom, one of heart attack, two of cancer. I pray all of them are in heaven with our Lord enjoying eternity with their loved ones. *** Disclaimer: None of the foregoing is considered legal advice for anyone.

There is absolutely no attorney-client relationship established by reading this article. *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in Bankruptcy, Business, Real Estate and Civil Litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789 or 1000 S. Fremont Ave., Mailstop 58, Building A-10 South Suite 10042, Alhambra, CA 91803.

(Advertising Supplement)

Filing bankruptcy due to...

PAGE B3 they are broke every pay day no matter how hard they work.

If you find yourself overextended and have tried living on a budget, doing financial counseling, etc. and still have not made great progress in repaying your debts, I applaud you at least for your efforts. However, your plan must be a realistic one or you will simply end up getting frustrated.

When you have incurred more debt that you can possibly repay, perhaps filing bankruptcy may be the only way to get debt relief. otherwise, you may just remain stuck in your situation forever with no hope of getting out. And in most cases, it’s not as complicated and as bad as what your creditors would like you to believe.

As a matter of fact, most

people who file for bankruptcy do just fine. They rebuild their credit after a few years and a lot of them are able buy homes just like everyone else. Filing bankruptcy doesn’t have to be the end of the world. It is only a new beginning for those who really need it.

Suppose you have attempted to negotiate with your creditors to work out an affordable repayment plan but they simply would not work with you?

Although you’ve told them repeatedly that you cannot afford to pay the entire amount, they refuse to cooperate and continue to threaten you with filing a lawsuit, obtaining a judgment and perhaps even garnishing your wages (which you know you cannot afford).

What else can you do? This may leave you no other option but

to seek debt relief through our federal bankruptcy laws.

If you are drowning in debt, don’t wait until things get worse or you may regret not having acted sooner. Waiting until the last minute also doesn’t give you enough time that you need to find a good attorney who can protect your interests. *** NOTE: Due to COVID-19 pandemic, I am offering free consultations BY PHONE to anyone who needs help in dealing with their debt problems. *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped over 5,000 clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call RJB Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-866477-7772.

(Advertising Supplement)

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 29 - fEbRUARy 1, 2022

B7