020123 - Southern California Midweek Edition

US defense chief’s Manila visit to focus on EDCA, plans to address new threats

STARTING in April millions of families could see their health coverage disappear as the government unwinds pandemic-era policies.

During 12 months after April 1, 2023, between 15-18 million Americans will lose health coverage provided during the COVID-19 pandemic by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

“Through COVID legislation, states have mostly kept people covered through Medicaid without interruption in exchange for an increase in their Medicaid federal matching funds,” says Farah Erzouki, Senior Policy Analyst, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP). She spoke to reporters during an Ethnic Media Services briefing cosponsored by CBPP last week.

When that program ends, so will the continuous coverage requirement, and all 89 million Medicaid enrollees will have to

AT a meeting to simplify the nation’s covid vaccination policy, the FDA’s panel of experts could agree on only one thing: Information is woefully lacking about how often different groups of Americans need to be vaccinated. That data gap has contributed to widespread skepticism, undervaccination, and ultimately unnecessary deaths from covid-19.

The committee voted unanimously Thursday to support the FDA’s proposal for all vaccine-makers to adopt the same strain of the virus when making changes in their vaccines, and suggested they might meet in May or June to select a strain for the vaccines that would be rolled out this fall.

However, the panel members disagreed with the FDA’s proposal that everyone get at least one shot a year, saying more

MANILA — The World Bank awarded a fresh loan program to the Philippines to support the domestic economy's recovery from the pandemic and improve the resilience of the financial sector.

In a statement on Tuesday, January 31, the Washington-based lender granted the country a $600-million loan. Aside from supporting the Philippine economy's recovery from the pandemic, this new loan financing is aimed at supporting three policy reform areas: the stability of the financial sector, improving financial inclusion for Filipinos and businesses, and climate and disaster risk finance.

"Policy actions that strengthen the stability of the financial sector – including banks and insurance companies – will help Filipino families, businesses, and investors withstand financial shocks and enhance their resilience by ensuring that problems in these financial institutions are detected at an early stage without severe disruptions to the economy,” said Ndiamé Diop, World Bank country director for Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand.

The Philippine economy took a hit at the onset of the pandemic. The economy sank to lows unseen since World War II as the Duterte  PAGE 3

by DAPHNE GALVEZ Inquirer.net

MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, January 31 urged members of the diplomatic community to work with his administration in achieving its Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028.

respective governments and also your business sectors,” he said in his toast remarks during the Vin d’Honneur in Malacañang, as quoted by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

CALIFORNIA’S vast Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community has been wrought with multiple tragedies: the Lunar New Year party massacre on Jan. 21 that killed 11 people and injured others and the Jan. 23 Half Moon Bay shooting that killed seven people.

Most of the victims of these two murderous rampages were Asian Americans and members of the Hispanic community, but there continues to be little to no clear explanations for what led to these tragedies.

With the proximity of these attacks and the widely celebrated Lunar New Year, the Asian American community is on high alert, especially as it tries to move on from wrongly being placed in the crosshairs of racist violence and harassment during the peaks of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gloria Pan, Senior Vice President, National Member Engagement, Campaign Innovations & Gun Control at MomsRising, said in a national press briefing, “This was a horrific intrusion on one of our most cherished

Millions to lose coverage during the ‘unwinding’ FDA experts are still puzzled over who should get which COVID shots and when MENTAL HEALTH OR GUN CONTROL OR BOTH? AAPI community leaders seek solutions following recent shootings in Monterey Park, Half Moon Bay Pres. Marcos urges diplomatic community to back PH growth plan Pres. Marcos okays tax refund for foreign tourists

leaders and industry experts providing technical advice to the President on the government’s economic objectives in six key sectors — agriculture, digital infrastructure, health care, infrastructure, jobs generation, and tourism.

“Let us discuss opportunities where our countries can participate,” Marcos added.

The president said post-COVID realities demand recalibrating strategies and focusing on urgent concerns that would really matter to the people – food security, job generation, poverty reduction, and managing inflation.

These strategies, he said, would entail “new thinking”

Refund Program for foreign tourists by 2024 in an effort to boost tourist arrivals in the country, Malacañang said on Sunday, January 29.

The program is among the “Quick Wins” recommendations presented by the tourism cluster of the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) in a meeting with Mr. Marcos last Thursday, January 26.

According to the Palace, the president will soon issue an executive order on the tax refund, which other countries are also implementing as an enticement to tourists.

This would allow foreign tourists to get a refund on the VAT they have paid for their purchases here which they would bring back to their home

Marcos Jr. Malacañang photo 

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This, he said, would serve as the country’s blueprint for its economic and social transformation in the next six years. “I urge our friends in the Diplomatic Community to work with us in achieving our development goals as laid out in the plan through partnerships and cooperation with your

PSAC is composed of business

top

of “modernizing” the

such

US defense chief’s Manila visit...

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saying in a department article.

While in Manila, Austin will be hosted by his counterpart, Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. Austin will also meet with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Andres Centino, and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.

Amid the changing security environment, the U.S. Department of Defense aims to "bolster regional alliances and partnerships"  to maintain regional stability. The trip comes amid regional tensions between China and Taiwan, on top of long-standing issues in the South China Sea —  including the part of it that Manila calls the West Philippine Sea.

"We see the investments

Pres. Marcos okays tax refund for foreign...

countries.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue collects a 12-percent VAT on goods sold in the country. Travel tax, e-visas

The Department of Tourism (DOT) recorded 2.65 million visitors from February to December last year—much higher than the 163,879 in 2021, but still significantly lower than the prepandemic level of 8.26 million.

According to the department, the 2.65 million international arrivals translated to P208.96 billion or $3.68 billion in tourism revenues. Of the total arrivals, 2.02 million were foreign tourists while 628,445 were Filipinos based abroad.

The DOT said it aims to draw 4.8 million tourists to the country this year.

While he granted the tax refund for purchases by foreign tourists, Mr. Marcos also approved the automatic inclusion of the travel tax in all airline tickets. Passengers currently have the option to pay the tax in advance with their ticket purchase, online before their flight, or at the airport during the

day of their flight.

Taxable individuals may be charged the full travel tax of P2,700 for first-class flights and P1,620 for economy-class flights.

The standard reduced travel tax for minors 2 to 12 years old, journalists whose travel is in pursuit of an assignment, and authorized individuals by the President of the Philippines is P1,350 for first class and P810 for economy class.

The privileged reduced travel tax for legitimate spouses of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), unmarried children of OFWs below 21 years old, and children of OFWs with disabilities even above 21 years old are P400 for first class and P300 for economy class.

The president also gave his goahead on the rollout of e-visas this year.

Furthermore, he scrapped the One Health Pass (OHP), which was the lone requirement for monitoring health, immigration, and customs concerns, as well as the practice of loud-speaker announcements in the country’s airports.

PSAC noted at the meeting that these proposals are aimed at

improving airport infrastructure and operations and promoting tourism investments, among other objectives.

Marcos and the council also agreed to prioritize China and India in terms of trade and other relations.

New app

PSAC then informed the president that it is working on an app called e-Travel, which integrates all information on immigration, customs, and health and quarantine measures.

The app, which could be introduced to the public by February, is being modified to allow easy data input for families and other groups, they said, adding that the database will include tourist destinations, information on available transportation and hotels, and traffic monitoring.

Tourists can complete the form through the app before boarding or while onboard their plane.

Marcos highlighted to the group the importance of digitalization, which he said would allow tourists to easily fill out forms while traveling and enable authorities to ensure security at the borders. g

that we’re making to advance our allies as grounded in the recognition that they are real force multipliers in our efforts to sustain a free and open IndoPacific,"  the official said.

Officials from Washington and Manila have previously said there are plans to expedite the completion of existing EDCA projects and adding new sites. Through the agreement, U.S. military may use facilities in Philippine military bases and camps on top of allowing U.S. troops to rotate in the country.

"We have been very clear about which is that our treaty commitments do apply in the South China Sea and that an armed attack on Philippine forces or vessels or aircraft in the South China Sea would be relevant to the defense treaty

commitments that we have." "We’ll be actively talking about what we can do together to address what has been a pretty notable period of harassment and coercion recently in the South China Sea."

The U.S. has repeatedly emphasized its support for the Philippines as the country tries to assert  sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea in the face of China's sweeping claims over a large part of the South China Sea. Earlier this month, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel drove away a Filipino fishing boat while in the Ayungin Shoal. The Department of Foreign Affairs maintained that Filipino fishermen have the right to "take whatever they are due"  in the area as it is in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. g

World Bank to lend PH $600M for pandemic...

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administration imposed mobility restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus.

Catastrophe insurance

As it is, the World Bank noted that the new loan program will aid the development of the country’s catastrophe insurance market.

This relatively-new financial instrument could prevent the public from sliding into poverty if natural disasters strike. As it is, catastrophe insurance products are designed to protect households, assets, and businesses against natural disasters.

The Southeast Asian archipelago sits within the Pacific Ring of Fire, which leaves the Philippines vulnerable to a host of natural disasters annually. Likewise, the developing nation is at the receiving end of the climate crisis, as its wildly vulnerable to the effects of a warming planet.

Diop noted that catastrophe insurance will enable the national government to use its limited resources to support communities and Filipinos who need it most.

On the other hand, the development policy loan will also expand financing access for the

public and businesses through digital technologies.

The World Bank indicated that development policy loans are sources of quick-disbursing assistance to countries pursuing reforms. As it is, this type of loan supports policy and institutional changes to foster an environment

for equitable growth within a country’s development priorities.  That said, the World Bank stood as the country’s third-largest source of official development assistance in 2021 according to data from the National Economic and Development Authority. (Philstar.com)

LET THE CONSTRUCTION BEGIN. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (center) lowers the time capsule during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino housing project in Batasan Hills, Quezon City on Tuesday, Jan. 31. Also in photo are (from left) House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Acuzar. PNA photo by Alfred Frias

AAPI community leaders seek solutions...

holidays” and that following the string of anti-Asian attacks, the Asian American community is “feeling more unsafe than ever.”

The many families of these victims are still healing and reeling from the sudden deaths of their loved ones, most of whom were in the coveted twilight years of their lives. Seeking solutions or pondering what could have been done to prevent these tragedies won’t bring back their loved ones, but it’s crucial to prevent these kinds of attacks from happening, Pan said.

It’s important to point out that it is unclear if the motivations behind these murders were related to any hate crime, as defined by the U.S. Department of Justice, in the way that the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings were.

Investigators of the Monterey Park massacre have yet to confirm a motive for the shootings; the shooter killed himself the following day.

A Half Moon Bay prosecutor told reporters that the shooter may have snapped after he was forced to pay $100 to repair a forklift he damaged at work and alleged bullying from his coworkers and long working hours.

Regardless of the motive, Asian American leaders across the

country recognize the presence of military-grade firearms in both events, sparking eerily familiar conversations about the gun epidemic in the United States. According to Gun Violence Archive, there have been 40 mass shootings in the U.S. in 2023: more than there have been days in the year so far. (The organization categorizes a mass shooting as an event where three or more people are shot.)

Statistically, the United States dominates the world in the number of gun-related deaths and homicides. In 2020, those in the U.S. were responsible for 79% of gun-related killings; that same year, Canada was responsible for 37%, Australia for 13%, and the United Kington for 4%, according to data from the U.S. CDC, UK House of Commons, Statistics Canada, and the Australian Institute of Criminology.

Gun ownership is also significantly higher in the U.S. than in any other country, with an estimated 120.5 firearms per 100 residents — this is up from 88 per 100 in 2011, according to a Small Arms Survey.

“Only in America do we see this kind of carnage, this kind of chaos, this kind of disruption of communities and lives,” California Governor Gavin Newsom said last

week.

According to AAPI Victory Alliance Executive Director Varun Nikore, 70% of Asian Americans support stronger gun control legislation but noted that interest in gun ownership among AAPIs, along with the U.S. population in general, has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Like the many mass shootings that reach national and international attention, urgency toward stronger legislation that makes it harder for the wrong people to get guns occurred almost immediately in the aftermath of the Monterey Park shooting.

“No one policy will solve this issue, but an assault weapons ban will dramatically reduce these mass shootings,” said Po Murray, co-founder and chairwoman of gun control group Newtown Action Alliance and Newtown Action Alliance Foundation.

Murray also stressed the importance of stronger restrictions and practices in purchasing firearms in general.

Currently, lawmakers in the U.S. Congress are pushing for safer storage solutions for firearms and permit requirements to purchase guns.

In addition to gun control

Millions to lose coverage during...

reapply to renew their eligibility.

Erzouki says enrollment in Medicaid grew to 89 million-plus people since February of 2020, an increase of 30%. It was the biggest experiment in universal health care since the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed in 2010.

“Access to coverage and healthcare services has been critical during this time of increased hardship. At the same time, this continuous coverage policy has meant that most Medicaid enrollees probably have not had contact with their Medicaid agencies in three years, and in some cases, even longer,” she said.

Erzouki said that people would have to do the paperwork in order to keep their medical coverage.

People have moved during the pandemic or may not receive their renewal notice in the mail.

Erzouki said in the coming months Medicaid agencies are going to be overwhelmed

processing cases and documents. She estimated seven million people could lose their coverage due to paperwork issues although they are still eligible.

“They need to make sure that their Medicaid agency has updated contact information for them,” said Laura Guerra-Cardus, CBPP’s Director of State Medicaid Strategy.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid have dubbed the end of expanded health coverage an “Unwinding.”

The Biden Administration could extend the date of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) for another 90 days and the continuous coverage requirement would remain for another three months. However, at some point it would end.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) projects that some 8.2 million Medicaid recipients who reapply will no longer qualify and will have to transition to another source of coverage. Another 6.8 million will

FDA experts are still puzzled over who should...

information was needed to make such a declaration.

lose Medicaid coverage despite still being eligible.

“Check your mail,” says Guerra-Cardus. People could receive letters at some point from either Medicaid or CHIP and they should complete the renewal forms if they get one, she says. If they don’t qualify, they may be able to get affordable coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplace and can learn more by visiting www.healthcare.gov

“However, people are given a pretty limited time after they lose Medicaid coverage to transition to the ACA. So the concern there is that people won’t have enough time to enroll in the marketplace after they lose Medicaid coverage without experiencing some sort of gap in coverage,” she said. Eligibility and income requirements vary widely by state. So contacting non-profit groups can help you fill out state-specific applications forms. For local help filling out an application go to: https://widget.

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Several panelists noted that in recent studies, only about a third of people hospitalized with a positive covid test actually were there because of covid illness. That’s because everyone entering a hospital is tested for covid, so deaths of patients with incidental infections are counted as covid deaths even when it isn’t the cause.

The experts questioned the rationale for annual shots for everyone, given that current vaccines do not seem to protect against infection for more than a few months. Yet even a single booster seems to prevent death and hospitalization in most people, except for the very old and people with certain medical conditions.

“We need the CDC to tell us exactly who is getting hospitalized and dying of this virus — the ages, vulnerability, the type of immune compromise, and whether they were treated with antivirals. And we need immunological data to indicate who’s at risk,” said Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center and a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “Only then can we decide who gets vaccinated with what and when.”

Offit and others have expressed frustration over the lack of clear government messaging on what the public can expect from covid vaccines. While regular boosters might be important for keeping the elderly and medically frail out of the hospital, he said, the annual boosters suggested by the FDA and the drug companies may not be necessary for everyone.

“The goal is to keep people out of the hospital,” he said.

“For the vulnerable, it would be important for vaccines to keep up with circulating strains. But for the general population, we already have a vaccine that prevents hospitalization.”

Other panelists said the government needs to push research harder to get better vaccines. Pamela McGinnis, a retired official of the National Institutes of Health, said she had trouble explaining to her two young-adult sons why they promptly got sick after venturing out to bars one night only weeks after getting their bivalent booster.

“‘Think how sick you would have gotten if you weren’t fully vaccinated’ is not a great message,” she said. “I’m not sure ‘You would have landed in the hospital’ resonates with recipients of the disease.”

Members of the FDA’s advisory committee have been

irked in recent months, saying the agency didn’t present them with all the data it had on the bivalent vaccine before it was released in September. And some critics have said the FDA should have instructed drug companies to include only the newer strains of the virus in the shot.

Asked about that Thursday, Jerry Weir, a senior FDA vaccine officer, said his “gut feeling” was that a vaccine matched to a single omicron strain would have performed better than the bivalent shot, which also contains the original covid strain. “But the real question is where we’re headed,” he said, “and I don’t know the answer.”

Perhaps the most important presentation Thursday was from Heather Scobie, who keeps tabs on covid at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She reported that fewer than half of Americans 65 and older had gotten the latest booster, and that only two-thirds of that age group had gotten even a single booster.

Yet evidence continues to mount that it’s mostly the elderly who are at serious risk from covid. Death rates from the disease have declined in every age group except those over 75 since April, despite the uptick in new strains. Except for the very

PAGE 5

DEADLINE BEATERS. Cops keep order during the final day of voter registration at Magsaysay Park in Davao City on Tuesday, Jan. 31. The

Commission on Elections said an extension is unlikely, except in areas where calamities halted the sign-up.

photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.

AAPI community leaders seek solutions...

PAGE 4

legislation, Asian American community leaders also believe that mental health should a priority and that counseling services for Asian immigrants should be more accessible.

A Stanford University panel in 2022 stated that in one study, less than 9% of Asian Americans sought mental health services or intervention over one year compared to 18% of the entire U.S. population.

It’s unconfirmed whether either the Monterey Park or Half Moon Bay shooter was diagnosed with a mental disorder, but mental health is a usual suspect in mass

shooting investigations.

Dr. Brett Sevilla, a Filipino American medical director at the Los Angeles-based Asian Pacific Counseling and Treatment Centers (APCTC), told Ethnic Media Services that elderly Asian immigrants are not as likely to prioritize mental health counseling as a solution.

“Plenty of elderly Asian immigrants have unserved psycho-social support needs, but there is an intense stigma related to mental illness,” Sevilla said, noting that the collectivist thinking of many AAPI families can make one person’s struggle a reflection of the entire family.

Pres. Marcos urges diplomatic community to...

in doing things under a bureaucracy that puts a premium on operational efficiency, sound fiscal management, and good governance. According to Marcos, a big part of this strategy is drawing investments in key economic sectors, including agriculture, renewable energy, and infrastructure, and ensuring that opportunities and investment leads and pledges translate into actual projects.

He also expressed high hopes for the Philippines’ continued positive economic showing, which, he said, would cushion the shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy.

“Most families will try to contain it within the family or may reach out to clergy. A psychiatrist is very low down the list.”

According to Dr. Sheila Wu, director of APCTC, it’s common for elderly Asians, especially men, to portray themselves as strong and silent, which often belies what’s really going on mentally.

“In our culture, a man in his 60s is a father figure, who does not become vulnerable, share his feelings, or say he needs things. He would feel a lot of shame if he did,” Wu said.

The investigations into both shootings are ongoing. g

Millions to lose coverage during...

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getcoveredamerica.org

Children (5.3 million) and young adults (4.7 million) will lose CHIP/ Medicaid coverage. Nearly onethird of those predicted to lose coverage are Latino (4.6 million) and 15% (2.2 million) are Black, according to CMS. Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, covers 15 million people regardless of immigration status.

“One third of our population use this as insurance for children. Over half of all California children have coverage through MediCal,” says Kristen Testa, Health Director at The Children’s Partnership.

“So this unwinding will have a tremendous effect on all those families. Every one of them is going to have to renew,” she said.

Calling this period “an all hands on deck situation,” Testa noted there are community-based organizations all over California

that are trained and given grants to help with enrollment.

“There’s also the California Health Department website that has listings across the state,” she said.

California passed a continuous coverage law last year for young children that won’t go into effect until 2025, so some kids are going to lose coverage in the interim.

“So the important thing is for everybody to know and help our community renew their coverage and know where to go,” she said.

Not so lucky are people in 11 states that did not expand Medicaid under the ACA or the American Rescue Plan.

CMS estimated 383,000 individuals, who will lose eligibility for Medicaid, would fall in the coverage gap in the remaining 11 non-expansion states – with incomes too high for Medicaid, but too low to receive Marketplace tax credits.

CMS noted that state adoption of Medicaid expansion in these states would mitigate potential coverage loss at the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE).

Those states are Wyoming, Wisconsin, Kansas, Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida.

“This is a moment where we’re going to really feel the stark differences across our country. In the eleven remaining nonexpansion states, eight of which are in the south, there is already too little access to healthcare coverage for people, including communities of color,” GuerraCardus said.

After being able to take care of their healthcare needs for several years, she said that some people suddenly will lose coverage and not have any other option for affordable coverage. (Peter White/ Ethnic Media Services)

He touted the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), which stood at 7.7% in the third quarter of 2022, which is way better than the 5.7% growth in

the same period in 2021.

The full-year GDP growth for 2022 was at 7.6% — the highest in 46 years.

“Our growth assumptions remain reasonably ambitious.

We are looking to the same growth rate– that of 2022 and between 6 to 7 percent for this year,” Marcos said.

Tax collections and investments figures are also moving upwards, he said.

“With the current growth momentum, the Philippines is poised to reach upper middleincome status very soon,” he noted.

Aside from addressing domestic issues, Marcos said his administration would continue to attach great importance to the nation’s external relations, with its foreign policy geared towards actively pursuing international engagements while maintaining

the country’s national interest. He said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) continues to be a cornerstone of Philippine foreign policy, adding that his administration’s aim is to elevate relations with the country’s bilateral and multilateral partners.

The Philippines, Marcos said, will continue to work with its partners in building a stronger United Nations as it is a staunch champion of multilateralism. The Vin d’Honneur is an official reception hosted by the president of the Philippines at Malacañang Palace, traditionally on New Year’s Day.

The Vin d’Honneur” — literally, “wine of honor” — follows a French practice that takes place at the end of inaugurations, speeches, and ceremonies. g

FDA experts are still puzzled over who should...

PAGE 4 old, the death rate has hovered around 1 in 100,000 since April. Earlier in 2022, babies 6 months old and younger were hospitalized and died at relatively high rates. Vaccination levels in the 4-and-under group hover at about 10%.

While acknowledging the FDA’s desire to regularize its covid vaccine policy, panel members said it’s still too early to know for sure whether covid will surge only in the winter, like flu, respiratory syncytial virus, and other respiratory infections.

“For the next few years we may not know how often we need to make a strain change in the vaccine,” said Dr. Steven Pergam, medical director of infection prevention at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. Or even if people who are not in poor health or elderly need additional boosters.

One vaccine-maker represented at the meeting, Novavax, said it would need to know by the end of March which strain to include in its vaccine for fall. Companies with mRNA vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna can change their formulas faster, but their products aren’t clearly better than Novavax’s. All three of those vaccinemakers revealed at the meeting that they are developing single-

dose vials or prefilled syringes.

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

Not academically pro cient

THE problems besetting the various aspects of Philippine education were enumerated yesterday. Attending the release yesterday of the Basic Education Report or BER 2023 prepared by the Department of Education, President Marcos committed to boost education infrastructure as well as upskilling programs for teachers. He made the commitment as Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte said “Filipino learners are not academically proficient” and many of them “may fail to meet the standards of the demanding and competitive world.”

The Vice President, who delivered the education report, identified inadequate school infrastructure and resources “to support the ideal teaching process”

as the most pressing problem.

Editorial

Duterte also noted the “weak teaching methods… in addressing 21st century skills.”

Basic education learners, meanwhile, cannot understand mathematics problems or comprehend text of moderate length. The Vice President said there are also learners who suffer from emotional abuse, exhaustion and psychological fatigue.

Duterte also cited “cracks” in DepEd procurement processes including the lack of transparency and accountability – problems that hounded the procurement of laptops for teachers’ use during the COVID pandemic lockdowns.

The curriculum under the K-12 program, meanwhile, will be tweaked as it has failed to deliver on its promise of producing students who are employable upon finishing basic education,

she said. BER 2023 showed that the majority of senior high school graduates still find it necessary to pursue higher education to obtain gainful employment. The lack of classrooms has been a problem for many decades. Despite a continuing program to build more schools and classrooms, the infrastructure expansion cannot keep up with the booming student population. Even before the pandemic, international studies have also shown that Filipino 10-yearold students rate poorly in mathematics and reading comprehension. The basic education curriculum has been revised in the past years to put more emphasis on the teaching of the sciences, mathematics and English proficiency. Yet the BER 2023 shows that more must be done. The exodus of teachers slowed down as pay and benefits were improved, and there has been a continuing government program to hire more

educators. But the country continues to suffer from a lack of qualified teachers. The hybrid learning mode employed during the pandemic lockdowns highlighted the inadequacies of teaching skills especially in the use of digital technology for education.

With the problems identified, they must now be confronted with greater commitment, effort and resources. Education is supposed to narrow social inequities and open opportunities for advancement in life across income classes. This can still be achieved. (Philstar.com)

US, PH mull potential restoration of bases

INVOKING the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty – acknowledging and repeatedly stressing its applicability in the West Philippine Sea (a Philippine proposition earlier rejected by the Obama administration) –the United States appears to be angling to use Subic Bay once more as its naval base in this part of the world.

After the Philippine Senate voted in 1991 to reject the continued presence of American bases, Subic is now a freeport, with a 300-hectare shipyard that was built in 2006 by the South Korean firm Hanjin. Considered in 2015 as one among the top 10 shipbuilders in the world, Hanjin was sold to U.S.-based Cerberus Capital Management in 2020 in the wake of the Korean company’s financial troubles. (It is now known as the Agila Subic Shipyard.)

Cerberus appears to have entered the picture to foil a move by Chinese investors to buy the facility, according to a report last year citing an unnamed “security official.”

It was “very opportune that

the (U.S.) came into the picture,” Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez candidly admitted in a forum early this month. “We would like to have more economic activity between the Philippines and China, being a neighbor, but we were also quite disturbed by the fact that they came in very strongly wanting to take over that project.”

The shipyard could soon see the presence of U.S. Navy ships because an American defense contractor, Vectrus Inc., has set up shop there. Earlier, in May last year, the Philippine Navy had leased the shipyard’s northern part to set up a naval operations base.

Security cooperation and “issues related to the South China Sea” were the core issues tackled at a four-day meeting held in Manila last week, billed as the 10th Bilateral Strategic Dialogue. In a joint statement, the Philippine and U.S. foreign affairs and defense panels highlighted Subic Bay as “priority site” for “high quality, private sector-led infrastructure investment as a means of supporting Philippine economic growth and enhancing connectivity in the Philippines.”

last November and, last week, by Lindsay Ford, the U.S. defense deputy assistant secretary for South and Southeast Asia, showed their specific interest in the shipyard. Notably, Ford was joined by Maj. Gen. Chris McPhillips, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s director of strategic planning and policy directorate. That move aroused more curiosity over the U.S. military’s plans on how to maximize use of the shipyard.

Besides the Subic project, the U.S. is hurrying up the completion of building facilities inside five selected Philippine military bases: three in Luzon, one in the Visayas and one in Mindanao. Purpose: to enable, as soon as possible, the U.S. armed forces to store war equipment and other materials in these facilities.

The five sites, however, seem not enough for the U.S., as it presses for hastening the verification of “additional agreed locations” for the same purpose.

On this point, DFA Undersecretary Teresita Lazaro clarified that “we agreed to finalize the procedures for the additional agreed locations. In fact, it is a work in progress.”

Undersecretary Angelito de Leon. The U.S. panel was coheaded by Daniel Kritenbrink, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and Ford representing the defense department.

One can easily see that, in effect, the U.S. facilities would be mini-military bases within Philippine bases, wherein U.S. and not Philippine jurisdiction would prevail.

Note that under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), such facilities would be strictly controlled by American forces and off-limits to Filipinos. EDCA is the executive agreement that implements the 1999 Visiting Forces Agreement or VFA, which allowed the rotational stay of U.S. troops –numbering 600 per batch – in the country throughout a year.

boosting security and economic ties” in the face of “current realities and challenges.”

Besides the above-cited moves, at the 10th BSD, the two panels agreed on the following:

• The U.S. will host a “maritime dialogue” this year to identify potential points of maritime activities;

• The Philippines will take steps to “streamline technology transfer” and develop a “road map for defenses mobilization;”

• Aside from the BSD, defense and foreign affairs ministers of both countries will hold their “two-plus-two ministerial dialogue” – the third since 2012 and 2016 – and stage a “policycentric tabletop exercise” by the third quarter of 2023.

also disclosed that in the past few months, “we have been discussing with the White House a possible visit by President Marcos to Washington.” The objective, he wrote, is “to further cement the ties between the longtime allies on various areas of mutual concern and interest. We hope to find a suitable schedule for both our leaders to meet this year.”

Last Thursday, January 26, in a television interview, Romualdez couldn’t help turning up the volume on the trumpets and drums that the current administration has been deploying to promote its initiatives.

There are so many times in our lives when it is easy to drop the high road for an easier, safer, and more profitable one. Yet, despite making choices much lower, even opposite the high road, we still look for it. There is an inherent attraction to the high road; it has logic, lots of logic, but beyond that, like a siren, it sings to the soul.

If the high road were not indelibly etched in our soul, if it is purely a matter of personal choice without an inborn, inner nudging, there would vastly be more of humanity unable to attain it. That there is a universal voice encouraging us to seek and move towards the high road is a deep message about its primacy in the totality of human creation.

I believe that religions resonate with humanity, that even before religions had their intellectual packaging, primitive man already looked to the sky

But the visits by U.S. Ambassador MaryKay

Lazaro co-headed the Philippine panel with Defense

Carlson

and the heavens, feared yet revered the sun, resonated with the moon, was awed by the stars. It was not from teachings; rather, the sense of the supernatural was an impulse that man simply followed.

It appears, too, that while the history and development of man did have their very primitive stages, there was an unerring thrust toward the high road. In human time, it may seem like forever from one century to another, from one millennium to another. But in that context of seeming forever, the pattern of seeking the light, of moving to refinement, of expressing artistry – in other words, the high road – jumps out. Every society, no matter how crude, crass, or violent, will profess they are acting so because they are pursuing elements of the high road.

Many times, their leaders will be mouthing the high road but acting the opposite. Dictators and tyrants align themselves and their rhetoric to the high road in order to justify their cruelty to their enemies. Even in utter

hypocrisy, the worst will use the words of the high road.

There are many among us who feel deep frustration and even the beginnings of despair. They have been trying so hard to stay within the high road, struggling to resist compromise and corruption. Yet, they say that things are worse than ever, that many societal leaders have totally sold out their pride and principles for money and power. Sad, but with ample basis.

The very instincts of man may recognize the attraction of the high road but there are baser instincts that demand urgency over others. The need for survival will too often overwhelm the subtle voice of nobility, of heroism. When hunger dominates the lives of people, subtlety is temporarily muted, drowned in the noise of grumbling stomachs. No matter how divinely ordained the high road may be, it cannot just subvert the primal needs of man.

Those among us who may insist on the high road, risking everything including life itself, can do so because he or she has

Last week’s 10th Bilateral Strategic Dialogue was intended to “facilitate focused and sustained inter-agency coordination, planning and implementation of action plans on priority areas.” The 9th BSD, held in Washington DC, came out with a “Joint Vision for a 21st Century United States-Philippines Partnership,” which Ambassador Romualdez said “outlined several areas of cooperation aimed at

tasted the sweetness of purity, nobility, and altruism. We can give up the lower for the higher because we have known enough the flavor of the supernatural, enough for our courage to make a painful exchange. But those who have been left behind are not expected to know what a few have known, and will not sacrifice their survival for what they cannot understand.

The high road, then, demands of those who adhere to it a kind of advocacy beyond the conviction. Knowing the difficult path to the high road, the temptations that overcame us before we overcame them, those who have managed to attain to the next level or levels of life and understanding, can discern quite quickly that many remain in the grip of survival. Their decisions, then, will be to ensure survival. Survival is at the foundation of the totem pole – which means it must be served first before the journey upwards.

From dictatorial rule, which humanity has been used to from the start, to freedom and democracy, is a journey of

Supposedly intended to ensure “more coordinated responses to potential flashpoints,” no further details were provided.

• Set a year-end target for the conclusion of their General Security of Military Information Agreement to help simplify technological transfers of their respective defense units; and

• Reconvene the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement meetings that apparently have been temporarily sidelined.

Ambassador Romualdez has

lifetimes. If dictation had been the experience of mankind for millennia, it needs enough counterforce to reverse it and then move forward to the high road. But since the beginning of humanity to the present time is almost too much to measure not only in time and influence, shedding it from habit and culture for the refined will surely demand a great effort.

Thank goodness that several societies and countries have gone ahead of us in the political journey of man. They may have been most brutal and violent in their early stages but they did eventually learn from the pain of savagery. Their lessons drove them to try new ways. We have seen totalitarianism slowly gave way to shared power, even the beginnings of democracy. Their paths inspire us to follow, not necessarily them, but the universal journey to the high road. It does not mean that they have fully transcended their old patterns; but the high road has become competitive and will fight to go even higher.

I do not believe that patience

Certain U.S. officials are impressed by Marcos Jr., according to him. “They find it refreshing, to say the least. They’ve obviously seen him when they came here… and they were very pleased to hear the things that the president has articulated, especially with regard to our relationship with the U.S..” (Philstar.com)

* * *

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

* * *

Email: satur.ocampo@gmail.com

alone can contain the painful frustrations that afflict those who see and know the ethical decay eating away at the Filipino collective soul. There has to be courage to accompany convictions. Short of that, it is despair that will set in and anger that will erupt. Yet, either or both will simply be distractions in an already arduous journey we know as the high road.

It becomes even more grating when those who sell themselves to greed and lust for power at any cost seem to get away with anything, with everything. And, around us, are whispers from their secret agents trying to tell us, “If you cannot beat them, join them.” Devils come in many disguises.

There is nothing easy about the high road or the effort to come closer to it. But look at it this way. If we do not want to fall back, what else is there for us?

(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

DOJ investigating scheme to delay deportation of foreign detainees

by Kristine Joy Patag Philstar.com

MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration is again under the magnifying glass, this time for a supposed scheme  to prevent foreigners from being deported to their homeland.

This has apparently kept a detained Japanese national believed to be behind a spate of robberies in Japan on Philippine soil.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, in a streamed press conference Tuesday, January 31, said that the Japanese Embassy has asked the department to deport four Japanese fugitives detained at the Bureau of Immigration.

While the Philippine government promises to hasten the deportation proceedings of the Japanese fugitives — one of whom is believed to be "Luffy",  the leader of a robbery group operating in Japan — Remulla explained that they cannot deport foreigners  with pending cases or investigations in the country.

Three of the four detainees mentioned by the Japanese Embassy have pending cases — some are at prosecutor level while some are already in courts in different parts of the country.

"Most of the cases — if not all — involve Violence against Women and Children, but we

are of the impression that these cases were invented or not real cases, [these are] contrived cases filed against them just to keep them in the Philippines,"  he continued.

"There are lawyers who specialize in these cases and many of them will lose their license if they continue doing this. We will file cases — even against the lawyers if they will insist on filing cases which are contrived — but that is the way it works."

Remulla said they learned about this scheme when they deported two Chinese nationals last week. The fugitives also had cases, but these were later dismissed after authorities looked into them.

"It’s a part of the corruption ring that operates within the Bureau of Immigration.  All these legal services offered by law offices do not stop at tactics which are not supposed to be used in cases like this,"  Remulla said, adding they are ready to file disbarment cases against lawyers who use tactics to delay deportation proceedings.

Remulla clarified that he is not speaking on whether specific  cases are made up or not but that, based on experience and logic, there have been schemes like this.

“We know that this is a modus operandi — a ruse [by] lawyers to stave off deportation ... we will

49% of Pinoys see life improving this year – SWS

worsen in the next 12 months.

file case against lawyers who [make up] cases to prevent ends of justice from being met,” he said.

Criminal ring run from detention?

The DOJ chief also said authorities confiscated cellphones from foreign nationals detained at the BI facility. One Japanese detainee had six phones, he said.

"This is the subject of investigation within BI because these cannot be tolerated, this reeks of corruption,"  Remulla said, adding it is "very possible" that criminal activities were run from the detention centers through the contraband phones.

“Luffy” is believed to be directing robberies in  Japan from his detention cell in the Philippines.

He said BI personnel who allowed mobile phones into the detenction center  will be dealt with severely for a "very serious breach of discipline" in the bureau.

Still, Remulla stressed that the government intends to deport the fugitives to Japan as soon as possible and even before President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. flies there  in early February.

"We expect all of these cases to be solved in the next few weeks and we will see how many we can deport before the state visit, he said. g

MANILA — Forty-nine percent of Filipinos believe their quality of life will improve this year, according to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey. The survey, conducted from Dec. 10 to 14, 2022, also found 37 percent of respondents saying life would stay the same while five percent predicted it would

The remaining eight percent did not give an answer.

The resulting “net personal optimism” (percentage of optimists minus pessimists) of 44 percent is four points higher than the 40 percent in October 2022 and the highest since the prepandemic score of 44 percent in December 2019, the polling firm said.

The survey question on the

respondents’ prediction of their quality of life change over the next 12 months has been fielded 147 times since April 1984. Out of the 147 surveys, the net personal optimism score was negative only 11 times, reaching a historic low of -19 in May 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. It has since trended back upwards to pre-pandemic levels. g

Vergeire ‘ready’ to lead DOH if Marcos appoints her

by Pia Lee-Brago Philstar.com by Red Mendoza ManilaTimes.net

HEALTH Officer-in-Charge

Maria Rosario Vergeire said that she is "ready" if President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. decides to appoint her as full-time secretary of health.

Asked during a television interview on Tuesday, January 31 whether she wanted to be health secretary, Vergeire said that based on the six months she has helmed the department, she was ready because Filipinos might need her. In a later media briefing, Vergeire clarified that she will only accept the offer of Health secretary if Marcos has decided to appoint her full-time.

"Hindi niya kailangan akong lapitan para maging Secretary of Health ako, ako po ang magsasabi at makikipagusap sa kanya (The president does not need to approach me to be the health secretary, I will be the one to discuss it to him if he decides on

it)," Vergeire said.

What changed her mind, according to Vergeire, was her visits to different communities in the past six months of her tenure as officer-in-charge, talking to different communities and experiencing first-hand the coronavirus situation in the country.

"Sa tingin ko ngayon, with all

EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT

of these things happening and sa trabaho na we need to improve the healthcare system, sa tingin ko it is the appropriate time for me to help the country (I think with all the things that are happening and the work that we should be doing to improve the healthcare system of the country, I think this is the appropriate time for me to help the country)," Vergeire said. g

PSYCHIC

Health Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire ManilaTimes.net photo

FEBRUARY 1, 2023

Paolo confirms dating Yen; clarifies breakup with LJ

By Kathleen a llemit Philstar.com

IT’S finally confirmed: Paolo Contis and Yen Santos are a couple.

On the second part of his interview in “Fast Talk With Boy Abunda” on Monday, January 30, the actor-comedian has confirmed the rumor and speculation that he is dating his “A Faraway Land” leading lady.

Si Yen Santos ba ang girlfriend mo na?” asked Boy. Paolo initially jested, “As a friend?” while laughing.

Maria Luisa Varela wins

Miss Planet International 2023

By Kathleen a llemit Philstar.com

M ARIA Luisa Varela

has been crowned Miss Planet International 2023 in Cambodia, drawing a reaction from vlogger and pageant director Wilbert Tolentino.

Varela competed at the coronation night held on Sunday, January 29, in Koh Pich Theater, Phnom Penh City.

Zimbabwe’s Jemima Mandemwa and Japan’s Aya Ono are 1st runner-up and 2nd runner-up, respectively.

Other winners include Tiffany Ha (3rd Runner UpVietnam), Katarina Juselius (4th Runner Up - Finland),

Alina Safronova (5th Runner Up - Latvia) and Pok Srevleak (6th Runner Up - Cambodia).

The Miss Planet International (MPI) was mired with controversy late last year when Binibining Pilipinas 2022 1st runner-up Herlene Nicole Budol, together with her manager and MPI national director Wilbert Tolentino, had to back out due to several mishaps prior to landing and while joining the pre-pageant activities in Uganda, where it was supposed to be held.

With Varela’s win, Tolentino aired his scathing remarks on his Instagram on Monday, January 30. He claimed that the

competition was rigged, and that the Philippine contestant was already aware of the finals question.

“FYI lang po guys, bayad po ang Korona ang na panalunan ng Miss Planet Philippines at alam na nya final Question. Bago cya lumipad ng #Cambodia para sumabak ng MPI.

Ate Girl (Maria Luisa) lumaban ka ng patas kawawa din mga co candidate mo at nag e effort din cla para sa Pageant sinalihan nila at mag travel pa sila patungong #Cambodia,” Tolentino wrote. He had also called out a certain Miki Antonio, with

Continued on Page 10

When Boy said, “Umayos ka,” and repeated his question, Paolo confirmed his relationship with Yen.

“Yes,” he revelead. “Ang samin kasi, kung baga, what you see is what you get na naman e, ‘di ba? Hindi na namin pwedeng ipilit ‘yung tao to be happy for us, hindi na namin pwedeng ipilit ‘yung mga tao na paniwalaan ‘yung gusto nilang paniwalaan. Sana lang isipin nila na kung ano lang ‘yung nakikita nilang naka-post, ‘yung lang ang truth na alam nila.”

He clarified though that when the trending “Baguio as a friend” photo came out, they were not yet an item. It also took place when LJ had already left for New York. Paolo also denied that Yen was the cause of his separation with LJ. “Hindi. Somehow, medyo

Paolo Contis and Yen Santos in an Instagram post. Photo from Instagram/@paolo_contis

matagal na kaming hindi okay ni LJ pero we were together officially. Napapadalas ‘yung away. I think it was a combination of stress sa pandemic and everything.

“One of my biggest mistakes was hindi ko inalala ‘yung mental health. Isa ‘yan sa feeling ko simula ng downfall namin. Hindi ko inisip ‘yun. Plus ‘yung pag-didiskarte ko ng sarili ko na hindi ko na iniinform sa kanya ‘yung mga bagaybagay, which led to bigger problems. I won’t divulge na sa isyu na ‘yun. Eventually it piled up. Again, hindi kami naguusap nang maayos.

Everytime na lalabas ako ng bahay dahil may pandemic, may work, e, may mga kalokohan din akong ginagawa,” Paolo shared.

Paolo and Yen starred in the 2021 movie shot in Faroe Islands. In the same year, news of Paolo and then partner LJ Reyes broke up when the latter admitted it in her guesting in Abunda’s online show in August 2021.

In August 2021, LJ moved to New York with her children, Aki and Summer. Aki is her son with actor Paulo Avelino, while Summer is her daughter with Paolo Contis.

Last Friday, January 27 Paolo talked to Boy about his failed relationships and his greatest fear of being hated by his daughters. Apart from Summer, Paolo is also father to Xonia and Xalene, his daughters with ex-wife, former dancer Lian Paz.

UPAAGLA gala to recognize alumni of character & service

The University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles, one of leading alumni chapters of UPAA, is hosting its 2023 Bi-annual Gala and Alumni Awards Night celebrating the best and the brightest of UP alumni with the theme “Onward and Upward to Excellence!” on March 18, 2023 at the beautiful Omni Los Angeles Hotel. Coming from a two-year hiatus with the pandemic, UPAAGLA is moving forward and continuing its mission of service to its alma mater by coming together and showing that we are resilient, adaptable, and ready to face the next chapter with optimism and hope. This formal event will feature attendees from all over Southern California and from the Philippines and will honor four members of our alumni family whose commitment to leadership and service was exemplified last year. It will surely be an evening to remember filled with camaraderie, dancing, feasting, and performances by talented alumni.

The evening will begin with a red carpet reception at 6:00 p.m. followed by the full program at 7:00 p.m. This year’s awards are for: Service Recognition Award; Leadership Recognition Award, Most Distinguished Alumnus Award;

and Lifetime Distinguished Achievement Award. It’s not too late to nominate! Please go to the UPAAGLA Website: https://www.upaagla.org/ awards. The deadline to submit nominations is February 10.

To be include among the prestigious list of sponsors and to be part of the souvenir program, interested companies, organizations or individuals can access the sponsorship opportunities page here:

https://www.upaagla.org/ upcoming-events

Everyone is invited! Tickets can be purchased through Event Brite: https://www. eventbrite.com/e/upaaglaawards-fundraising-gala-2023tickets-422965861277

Media contacts: Adrian Lecaros, Gala Chairperson, adrianupaagla@gmail.com (818) 584-6588 or Alexis Riguerra, UPAAGLA Public Relations Officer, aariguerra@gmail.com

‘Awesome ensemble’ behind Janine’s latest TV series

By marinel Cruz Inquirer.net

THIS is a team effort all the way,” declared Janine Gutierrez, lead star of ABS-CBN’s latest series “Dirty Linen,” adding that she refuses to think that the show’s success relies solely on how effective she portrays her role and would rather attribute this to the fact that she is part of an “awesome ensemble.”

“I refuse to think that I carry the entire weight of the show on my shoulders. The idea will most likely kill me,” Janine said when asked to react to director Onat Diaz’s comment that her character, Alexa Salvacion, “is the driver of the story.”

“One of the things that is special about this show is its awesome ensemble. The stories of these characters are all interesting enough for you to take time to follow them. Each of them has dirty linen in the closet but at the same time, each has goodness to share.”

Janine said she prefers to think that it was Dolly de Leon’s character, Olivia Salvacion, that acted as catalyst for a series of unfortunate

events. Dolly plays Alexa’s mother whose death Alexa is determined to avenge.

Keeping with the theme

“For me, she is the reason the story moves in the direction that it is taking. Personally, I rely on the help of my coactors, directors, writers and staff in order to fulfill the task given to me,” Janine insisted.

“In keeping with the theme, I always have to keep that anger deep inside. I’m lucky that I was able to watch the pilot episode, where Alexa’s mother got killed. Whenever I am asked to express that anger within me, I go back to that scene again and again,” Janine pointed out.

The actress also said she was thankful that Zanjoe Marudo was her leading man in this project. Zanjoe is Aidan Fiero, whose father, Carlos, is blamed by Alexa for Olivia’s death.

“Dirty Linen” is Janine and Zanjoe’s first project together. She said they never took any effort to work on their onscreen chemistry. “The story starts with us not knowing each other, so it helped that we hadn’t had the chance to bond

Maria Luisa Varela of the Philippines is

crowned Miss Planet International 2023 on January 29 at the Koh Pich Theater, Phnom Penh City.  Photos from Pageantry News

How Chapter 13 can reduce your debt and make your monthly payments affordable

Minding Your Finances

ARE you struggling every month to pay your debts, especially your credit card bills?

Are you always worried about not having enough left over for your mortgage, rent, food and other basic living expenses after you make your monthly debt payments? Do you want your credit card payments to be more affordable and manageable?

One type of relief provided by our legal system to people in debt comes from Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code. This is commonly known as “Chapter 13 Debt Consolidation or Debt Adjustment”.

It is generally available to individuals and small business owners. It is called a “consolidation” because it allows you to combine your debts into one monthly payment. But it is also called “debt adjustment” because in a lot of cases, certain debts included in the Chapter 13 repayment plan can be “adjusted” down or reduced so that you do not have to pay them in full.

Let’s say you owe $30,000 in credit cards. Most credit card companies require a minimum payment of 3% of the outstanding balance every month.. Thus, on the above amount, let’s say that you are required to make total minimum payments of at least $900 per month (3% of $30,000) to keep your account in good standing.

Now let me remind you that making minimum payments ONLY each month is guaranteed to keep most people in debt for the rest of their lives. The reason for this, obviously, is the high interest rates that the credit card companies are charging you. As much as 80-90% of your minimum monthly payment can go to interest alone and this is

why you will never get out of debt. Only a very small portion of your payment goes to paying off the principal. Of course, the banks and the credit card companies love this and are getting richer every month at your expense.

So, in our example above, let’s say it costs you $900 just to make minimum monthly payments on your credit cards. However, you are living paycheck to paycheck and you are struggling very hard to make your payments each month. As a matter of fact, you are always paying late and you are getting calls from bill collectors all the time. You are afraid that sooner or later, you will get sued by creditors and that your wages will be garnished. And then you’ll be in deeper trouble.

You’re sick and tired of being in debt and you realize that you need help. You’re confused and don’t know what to do. The only thing you are sure about is that you need some type of debt relief because you don’t see your financial situation getting better anytime soon.

Well, you may be a good candidate for Chapter 13. Of course, individual situations vary. But generally, in Chapter 13, you only pay based on what you can afford each month. The court looks at your income and your monthly living expenses and determines if your proposed monthly payment is in your and the creditors’ best interests.

Thus, if the Court determines in this situation that all you can afford to pay each month is, let’s say, $300 or $400, this would be your Chapter 13 monthly payment. Depending on your income, you may pay for 3 to 5 years, although 3 years is typical for people with lower income. Now you may wonder: “If I am only paying $300-400 per month for 3 years, that means I won’t be able to pay all my debts in full, correct? What happens to the unpaid balance after 3-5 years?”

Well, that is exactly one of the great benefits of Chapter 13. First, you pay 0% interest

‘Awesome ensemble’ behind...

From Page 8

on credit cards and most debts. Secondly, once the court approves your proposed $300400 monthly payment, that is all you would be obligated to pay.

After 3-5 years, all your payments are considered “payment in full” and the rest of your debts simply get wiped out. You can consolidate all types of debts in Chapter 13: credit cards, personal loans, late mortgage or car payments, property taxes, income and other taxes, student loans, back child support, etc.

Compare the benefits of Chapter 13 (0% interest on credit cards and most debts, lower payments, reduced debt amounts, pay off debts in as little as 3-5 years) vs. trying to pay your debts on your own and paying the outrageous interest rates being charged by the banks and the credit card companies. You will be amazed at how much easier it would be for you to finally get out of debt with Chapter 13.

Maybe you need to rebuild credit and start saving again. Or perhaps purchase a home one day like what others have done. Your financial future may be at stake. Don’t procrastinate. If your debts have become unmanageable and you need legal help, find out whether Chapter 13 may be beneficial to you.

Disclaimer: In a typical Chapter 13 case, my clients are often able to cut their debts in half (or even more!) especially if they have limited income. But of course, cases vary, and I will need to review your individual situation to see if you qualify for a debt reduction. For a free attorney consultation, call TollFree 1-866-477-7772.

* *

*

NOTE: Due to pandemic safety concerns, 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 6,000 clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call RJB Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-866-477-7772. (Advertising Supplement)

before taping. We tried to get acquainted with each other while we were already on the set. At least, we were able to reflect in real life what our characters are going through in the story,” she explained.

Prior to assuming the role of Alexa, Janine made sure to do her homework. “I started by reading the script again and again. The story of ‘Dirty Linen’ is so multilayered that it gets confusing sometimes. I first needed to find out what is truly in my character’s core. This is not easy because there are a lot of things going on with her and they’re happening all at the same time,” she began.

‘Well-written’ script

“I don’t just play Alexa, who is seeking justice. Sometimes, I am also Alexa disguised as the Fieros’ servant Mila, who appears sweet and innocent,” said Janine. “What really helped were the guidelines set by Direk Onat and Direk Andoy (Ranay, codirector). We all worked on identifying nuances that are Alexa’s and those that are Mila’s.”

Janine said it also helped that she was able to watch Erika Clemente play the young Alexa. “She did so well in the scenes where she was with Ms Dolly. As much as possible, I tried to copy her. This also helped me differentiate Alexa from Mila,” she said. “Another thing that you will see Alexa do throughout the series is crack

her knuckles. That tells you how wonderfully written the script is. This gesture will serve as the thread that weaves the story.”

Toward the end of the interview, Janine said she got to do a lot of things in the series, including her own stunts in some action scenes, but what

was “really tricky” for her was playing Alexa disguised as Mila. “I have to make sure I show Alexa’s sinister look when the attention of other characters are not focused on Mila. You really have to watch in order to understand what I’m talking about,” she declared.

Janine Gutierrez Photo from Instagram/@janinegutierrez

Emsculpt neo: ‘Working out’ without having to ‘work’

Beauty Talk with Imee

WORK-OUT but without “work” too much? Sounds too good to be true, does it? An average person can do about 50 to 200 crunches a day yet most often, they still don’t achieve the results they wanted.

Imagine having a machine that would give you the result that is equivalent to 20,000-crunches in as little as 30 minutes. Sounds great? IT is! And it is also TRUE.

In today’s column, let’s talk about the amazing truth surrounding, “EMSCULPT NEO.“

In a nutshell, EMSCULPT NEO is the first non-invasive device designed to eliminate fat cells and build muscle noninvasively by a combining radiofrequency heating & HIFEM in a single 30-minute treatment session. It is available in our MedSpa (both in Beverly Hills and Rancho Cucamonga), as one of the legitimate and FDAapproved (machine) providers in the city.

Clinically proven to reduce fat in the abdominal area, flanks, arms, butt, thighs, this machine, prepares muscles for exposure to stress, similar to what a warm-up activity does before any workout. This is due to the radiofrequency heating, and the muscle temperature quickly rises by several degrees. In less than 4 minutes, the temperature in subcutaneous fat reaches levels that cause apoptosis, i.e. fat cells are permanently damaged and slowly removed from the body.

“Work smarter not harder.”

Is it better than doing daily crunches, you’d ask. But, the more apt question should be, “do you have the time, stamina and sheer determination to consistently maintain those daily crunches?”

While there are healthy

benefits to working out, the reality is, we would reach an age where we would either be too busy or too tired to work out as much as we want or used to. And when you get to that point, you would have to find ways to “do the work” without having to actually “work.”

Another advantage of this machine is that it works faster! It does not only do the work for you, it does it FASTER than you could have done it yourself. It is perfect for those who are to busy go to the gym or too tired to lift weights. You can just relax and enjoy the treatment and wait for the result.

In a recent conversation I had with one celebrity client, we talked about the challenges in working out certain body parts. She mentioned that the toughest body part to address, are her arms. The same is true for most of my clients. Some say that they try to hide their arms by wearing clothes that conceals them. But “come summer time or when you had to wear a gown, there is just no way to hide it..”

Other parts like the abdominal and love handles are also among those body parts that are a challenge to most of us –– Even if we are a size 0 or 1. Truth of the matter is, it is not always the weight that needed “fixing.” Some parts of our body require special attention no matter how much we weight. Your core is you mid-body are, and if you carry about 5-10 lbs of excess fat in you abdominal areas, imagine carrying that every time you walk. It would eventually result to back pain or a weaker knee. With a technology like EMSCULPT NEO, the fat cells die and are naturally eliminated from the body through metabolic processes. It is clinically proven to burn fat and build muscles.

As I previously mentioned, we recommend this treatment as part of the treatment plan for those who suffering from excess weight especially on the abdominal area, which is a

Motion for bifurcation and status only dissolution for spouse’s that want to move on while divorce is pending

Barrister’s Corner

common problem that comes with being overweight.

But how do we incorporate “diet” in this program? You see, daily food intake is part of our life and the point of having a healthy diet is having to avoid limiting yourself that you end up feeling miserable – sometimes leading you to overcompensate in other unhealthy indulgences. In my consultations, I always talk about looking good for health reasons. We teach our clients to work with their bodies and make their programs “work for them” and not the other way around. Don’t think of diet as a way to “restrict yourself unnecessarily.” Instead, be smart with your food intake and find the balance between eating right while still getting to enjoy a little bit of everything.

Everyone needs moderate carbs and a healthy amount of meat, fish, while adding more vegetables and fruits to your daily meal . One way to enjoy your proteins is to learn how to alternate meat and fish.

When it comes to body or face treatment, the key is to be consistent with what’s best for you. Getting a professional to help you is very important. And what better way to help yourself than to find one that will “do the work” for you.

Our amazing weight-loss protocol with EMSCULPT NEO is now available at our spas.

Visit iSkin Med Spa and MiSkin MedSpa for a free consultation. iSkin is located at 8665 Wiltshire Blvd penthouse Beverly Hills ,90211 (424-382-1002)

* * *

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

THE decision to terminate one’s marriage typically brings to the forefront many issues all at once. Issues pertaining to property, support, and child custody need to be addressed in a divorce proceeding. In a long term marriage especially, these issues are often heavily litigated between the spouses, and can take a significant amount of time to resolve. Frequently, a spouse would like to “move on,” and reattain single status as soon as possible, but has a perception that to become divorced, issues concerning property, support, and child custody first need to be resolved. Many erroneously believe that getting a divorce prior to resolution of property, support, and custody issues is like putting the “carriage before the horse”—an impossibility. Under the Family Code, a spouse can “bifurcate” the issue of marital status and terminate the marriage without having to wait until the issues pertaining to property, support, and child custody are resolved.

A judgment dissolving the marriage need not resolve all issues raised in the divorce petition. If there are issues set forth in the petition with regard to property, support, and custody, the Court may nonetheless separate the issue of dissolution of marriage

status and grant an early trial on that issue (a “status only” judgment). Obtaining a “status only” judgment is most beneficial to those persons who want his or her marriage terminated as soon as possible. Through a “status only” judgment, a person is restored to single status more quickly, enabling a person to remarry even if other issues concerning the marriage have yet to be resolved.

It is important to note, however, that a judgment terminating the marriage itself also brings with it the consequence of terminating rights associated with marriage. To address the foregoing, the Court may impose conditions on a “status only” judgment, to preserve rights which normally would exist if an early dissolution of marriage status were not granted. These conditions are contained in Family Code Section 2337. The Court may require a spouse seeking early dissolution of marriage status to do any of the following, all designed to protect the interests of the spouse who is not seeking early dissolution:

1) indemnify the other spouse for adverse tax consequences resulting from the early termination of marital status,

2) maintain the other spouse on existing health insurance,

3) indemnifying the other spouse from loss of rights to a probate homestead or probate family allowance, 4) indemnify the other spouse for loss of benefits under employee benefit plans,

5) joinder of an employee benefit plan, and 6) any other condition that the

court determines is just and equitable. With a “status only” judgment, the Court reserves jurisdiction to adjudicate any other issues concerning the marriage, including division of property, award of support, and custody issues. Accordingly, if you would like to obtain a “status only” judgment, and resolve any other issues pertaining to the marriage later, it is advised that you consult with an experienced attorney.

* * * 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, P.C. 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 kenreyeslaw.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

Maria Luisa Varela wins Miss...

From Page 8

whom he has been figuring out in the issue regarding the national directorship of Miss Planet International Philippines. Kaya kht balik baliktarin natin ang dokumento

ako parin ang NATIONAL DIRECTOR ng MISS PLANET PHILIPPINES. Klaro po tayo? ” he wrote.

He added: “ Nag reach out ako sa iyo at ikinwento ko pa sayo na mahigit kami 60plus Countries na indi

mag Susupporta sa MPI. Dala sa karansan ng trauma at takot lahat sa #Uganda. As National Director for Ms Planent in the Philippines, I would like to clarify that no replacement has been made. The Philippines will not send