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FEBRUARY 9-15, 2024 Volume 17 - No.17 • 16 Pages

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Marcos, VP Duterte trust ratings rebound DATELINE USA

by RED MENDOZA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Will the Senate pass expanded Child Tax Credit to help 19 million low-income children?

ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte’s trust and approval ratings rebounded in the fourth quarter of 2023, the latest OCTA Research survey said.

In its Tugon ng Masa poll conducted from Dec. 10 to 14, 2023, Marcos received a 76 percent trust rating, an increase of 3

percentage points from the previous quarter.

The latest survey showed only 8 percent distrust him, and 17 percent were undecided.

Marcos gained increased trust ratings in the National Capital Region by 7 percentage points, from 66 percent to 73 percent; Balanced Luzon by 4 percentage points, from 74 percent to 78 percent; and the Visayas by a single percentage point, from 78 percent to 79 percent.

by IAN NICOLAS P. CIGARAL Inquirer.net

 PAGE 4

YEAR OF THE DRAGON. Mallgoers take photos with the Chinese dragon displayed inside a mall in Bacoor, Cavite on Tuesday, Feb. 6. According to the Chinese zodiac, Feb. 10 marks the start of the Year of the Wooden Dragon.

PNA photo by Yancy Lim

Marcos: Government implementing measures to ease inflation MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, February 6 said that the government remains committed to ease the burden of Filipinos.

Marcos welcomed the decline of inflation from 3.9 percent in December 2023 to 2.8 percent in January 2024.

“We are pleased to announce a significant slowdown on inflation for January 2024,

 PAGE 3

 PAGE 2

PH GDP growth in 2024 to accelerate to 6.2%

THE Senate is contemplating a $78 billion expanded version of the Federal Child Tax Credit, which could provide some economic stability to an estimated 19 million low-income children.

The House passed the bi-partisan bill — known as the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 — last week on a 375-60 vote. In the Senate, the bill is being sponsored by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, who with House Ways and

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his speech in this file photo taken on January 29, 2024, before flying to Vietnam for an official visit.

Inquirer.net file photo / Ryan Legato

His trust ratings decreased in Mindanao by 3 percentage points, from 72 percent to 69 percent.

Among socioeconomic classes, Marcos rebounded among class ABC with a 16 percent increase in trust rating, from 53 percent to 69 percent, as well as in Class D and E, where there was a 2 percentage point increase in both classes.

A COMBINATION of easing inflation and tight labor market would power up consumer spending this year, boding well for the Philippines’ consumption-reliant economy, BMI, a unit of the Fitch Group, said.

Using 2010 as the base year, BMI said in a commentary that consumer spending is projected to grow 6.3 percent year-on-year in 2024 to P12.8 trillion in real terms.

That forecast is in line with BMI’s expectation of gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 6.2 percent this year, faster than the 5.6-percent expansion in 2023 but below the government’s growth target of 6.5 to 7.5 percent for 2024.

“Spending will remain impacted by the environment of elevated inflationary pressures over 2023 as well as high debt levels and its

 PAGE 2

DOJ rejects proposed Rare historic document unveiled: Mindanao independence 1899 declaration of Philippine T T -T

by ETCH

ORRES Inquirer.net

UPAS

MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday, February 5 rejected calls for the secession of Mindanao or other parts of the country.

As the principal law agency of the executive branch, the DOJ said in a statement Monday that it “stands firmly against any attempts to undermine the unity and territorial integrity of the

Philippines, as enshrined in the Constitution.

The DOJ’s statement came after former president Rodrigo Duterte warned last week that Mindanao would become independent if moves to amend the 1987 Constitution prospers President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is firm on the need to amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

 PAGE 2

independence from the US

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a poignant ceremony marking the convergence of two nations’ histories, the General Douglas MacArthur Memorial Museum unveiled an original document declaring the independence of the Philippines from the United States. Signed by President Emilio Aguinaldo, the declaration was

 PAGE 3

Consul General Iric Cruz Arribas delivering a message on behalf of the Philippine Embassy Washington D.C. and Philippine Secretary of Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. Photos courtesy of PH Embassy

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From the Front Page

Marcos, VP Duterte trust ratings...

PAGE 1 Meanwhile, Duterte got 77 percent, 2 points higher than the 75 percent she received in the third quarter. Five percent distrust her, and 18 percent were undecided.

Her trust ratings improved in Balanced Luzon and Mindanao by 4 percentage points but decreased in the NCR and the Visayas by 2 percentage points.

Among socioeconomic classes, Duterte posted a 5-percentage-point increase in trust ratings in class E, from 79 percent to 84 percent, as well as among class D with a 2-percentagepoint increase from 76 percent to 78 percent.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri has increased his trust ratings by 2 percentage points to 59 percent, with a 9 percent distrust rate.

House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez got a trust rating of 64 percent, an increase of 4 percentage points from the previous

quarter, with only a 7 percent distrust rate.

Zubiri’s trust ratings increased in NCR, Balance Luzon and the Visayas, while Romualdez’s trust rating increased to 15 percent in the NCR and 12 percent in Balanced Luzon, which offset his 15 percent decrease in Mindanao.

Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo got a trust rating of 23 percent, an increase of 2 percent from the previous survey.

In terms of performance, Marcos’ performance ratings rebounded by 6 percentage points from the previous quarter to 71 percent from 65 percent in October, which was buoyed by the increase in his performance ratings in the Visayas by 11 percentage points from 63 percent to 74 percent, Balanced Luzon by 8 percentage points from, 69 percent to 77 percent, and the National Capital Region by 6 percentage points from 61 percent to 67 percent.

Among socioeconomic

classes, Marcos’ performance satisfaction rating shot up among Class ABC, from 54 percent to 82 percent, while also registering increases among Class D by 6 percentage points to 71 percent and Class E by 2 percentage points to 67 percent.

Duterte’s performance ratings also increased by 5 percentage points to 75 percent, boosted by increases in her performance ratings in Mindanao by 10 percentage points, in the Visayas by 6 percentage points, and in Balanced Luzon by 5 percentage points.

Her performance satisfaction rating among socioeconomic classes also increased, with the highest among Class E, with a 12 percent jump from 69 percent to 81 percent, followed by Class D by 5 percentage points to 76 percent, and Class ABC by 3 percentage points by 57 percent. g

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PH GDP growth in 2024 to...

PAGE 1 servicing costs,” the research firm said.

Purchasing power “However, easing inflation and a tight labor market will support spending, as real wage growth returns to positive territory, supporting purchasing power over the year,” it added.

Despite inflation easing back to within the government’s 2 to 4 percent target in December last year after hovering above that range for 20 months, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said it deemed it necessary to “keep monetary policy settings sufficiently tight until a sustained downtrend in inflation becomes evident.”

According to BMI, the high interest rate environment is one of the major risks to consumption this year, especially for households that took advantage of low borrowing costs at the height of the pandemic.

Inquirer file photo

“Many households took on significant levels of debt in the previous low interest rate environment,” BMI explained.

Debt servicing “While there are few indications that this is bad debt, the risk to consumer spending is that the cost of servicing this debt at higher interest rates becomes a larger-than-anticipated draw on disposable incomes, to a point where consumers will have to cut back spending, especially in more nonessential segments,” it added.

Over-reliance on remittances, a major lifeline for many Filipino families, also poses a threat to BMI’s outlook.

“The possible weakening of the peso will reduce the amounts sent back by overseas workers in local currency. This could put pressure on households with fixed expenditures,” BMI said. g

DOJ rejects proposed...

PAGE 1 The DOJ said “Secession is regarded as contrary to the principles of our democratic society, as stated in Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution.”

“The DOJ remains committed to protecting our sovereignty and upholding the sanctity of the highest law of the land,” it said.

“Our nation’s strength lies in unity, and we call

upon all Filipinos to reject secessionist ideologies and work together for a strong, united, and undivided Bagong Pilipinas,” it added.

(By Tetch Torres-Tupas/ Inquirer.net)

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MEDICINE SUMMIT. Senator Christopher Lawrence Bong Go (9th from left), chair of the Senate Health and Demography Committee, graces the Access to Medicine Summit 2.0. at the Diamond Hotel Manila on Tuesday, Feb. 6. The summit aims to create an interactive space to learn from innovative and emerging best practices for improving access to medicine for every Filipino.

PNA photo by Yancy Lim

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Rare historic document unveiled: 1899...

FESTIVE. Dances and music are featured at “Pasinaya,” the largest multi-arts festival in the country, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex in Pasay City on Saturday, Feb. 3. Schools nationwide are represented as the event makes a comeback after three years of cancellation due to the pandemic.

PNA photo by Joan Bondoc

Marcos: Government...

PAGE 1 reaching its lowest point since October 2022, at 2.8 percent,” Marcos said in a statement.

“We remain committed to easing the burden on our citizens, as evidenced by the recent electricity bill discounts for low-income households,” he added.

According to Marcos, the slowdown is due to the

decline of food inflation, as well as government efforts to mitigate the El Niño phenomenon.

“Additionally, strategic partnerships with countries like Vietnam for rice supply to allow further imports of key food commodities are crucial steps towards ensuring sustain progress,” Marcos said. (Jean Mangaluz/ Inquirer.net)

PAGE 1 made immediately before the Philippine-American War, which commenced 125 years ago.

Consul General Iric Cruz Arribas, in his opening remarks, underscored the significance of the occasion, stating, “This document symbolizes the courage and resilience of the Filipino people in our quest for self-determination. It is a testament to the enduring spirit of independence that continues to define both our nations. We are honored that the MacArthur Memorial Museum will preserve and showcase this invaluable piece of Philippine history.”

Amanda Williams, Director of the MacArthur Memorial Museum, emphasized the document’s role in education and reflection. “The Declaration of Philippine Independence, housed within the museum’s esteemed collection, will serve as a focal point for deepening understanding of the complex historical narratives that connect the Philippines and the United States,” she remarked.

Following the unveiling, a symposium on the PhilippineAmerican War, organized by the museum in partnership with the Filipino American National Historical Society- Hampton Roads Chapter, provided further insight into this shared history.

The event, attended by dignitaries such as Virginia Congressman Robert Scott and Norfolk City Mayor Kenneth Cooper Alexander, along with historians and leaders from the Filipino community in Hampton Roads, served as a meaningful reminder of the enduring bonds between the Philippines and the United States.

The MacArthur Memorial has also released a new multimedia guide that provides a look at some of the SpanishAmerican War and Philippine-American War items in the museum collection. It can be viewed by visiting https://www. flipsnack.com/FE7AC7BBDC9/macarthur-memorial-spanam-war-and-phil-am-war-collection-guide##. (PH Embassy Release)

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On stage during the unveiling ceremony (from left): Col. Arthur M. Romanillos Jr., Philippine Army Attache; Dr. Cynthia Romero, Chairman of the Council of United Filipino Organizations of Tidewater; Consul General Arribas, Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander, Virginia Representative Bobby Scott, and Max Frias of the Philippine American National Historical Society- Hampton Roads Chapter.

Amanda Williams, Director of the MacArthur Memorial Museum and Consul General Iric Arribas with the Philippine Declaration of Independence on display.

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FEBRUARY 9-15, 2024 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

Will the Senate pass expanded...

PAGE 1 Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Missouri, structured the proposed plan.

The proposal needs 60 votes to pass in the Senate.

Several Republican senators have already expressed their opposition. Contrary to some of their concerns, however, the proposed measure does not benefit US citizen children with undocumented parents, even those with Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers.

In an interview with Ethnic Media Services, Chuck Marr, Vice President for Federal Tax Policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, explained the expanded credit and its importance in lifting millions of children out of poverty.

EMS: Could you explain the provisions of the measure?

Chuck Marr: The Child Tax Credit has been around for a few decades, and over time, and it’s fully available to middle-class and higherincome families.

But we still have 19 million children whose parents work for low wages. And because their earnings are not high enough, they do not get the full child tax credit. So 19 million kids, the kids who stand to benefit the most, actually get the least.

The child tax credit right now is basically upside down. And it needs to be turned right side up. And so this bill makes good progress. It It doesn’t fix everything, but it makes real progress.

Even with this small package, you’re helping 1 in 3 black children, 1 out of 3 Latino children, and 1 in 7 Asian American and White children.

EMS: So how does this work?

CM: It moves low-income families to a per child phase in, which is so important.

Right now, throughout the population, 70 percent of kids live in families with two or more children. So this is a really big benefit. And then also the special lower cap for low-income families, this gets rid of that. So those are two big changes.

And then there’s a third piece, which is very important.

Low-income people who work in lowwage jobs don’t tend to get sick days. They don’t get leave when their elderly parent gets sick. Higher income people, middle-

The Senate is contemplating a $78 billion expanded version of the Federal Child Tax Credit, which could provide some economic stability to an estimated 19 million lowincome children.

Unsplash.com photo by Vitolda Klein

class people, they tell their employer: ‘You know, I got to take a couple of weeks off here. I got to help out.’ Low income people, they get fired for doing things like that.

Three big changes So this bill says, OK, a low income person goes to file their taxes. Last year, they worked quite a bit. This year they’re working less. Maybe someone had a baby. Right.

Maybe they’re caring for an elderly parent. Maybe their hours were cut.

So they get to take a choice.

They would choose between this year’s earnings, or last year’s, to calculate their child tax credit.

Those are really the three big changes. And again, it’s that per child that’s the major driver. If you have a single mom who makes, she has a toddler and a second grader, right? She works as a home health aide parttime around her kids’ school schedules. And she makes $15,000. Right now, she gets about $1,800 in child tax credit, right, far below the $4,000 that a higher income family would get. So with this bill, she’s going to get another $1,700. So not quite to $4,000, but to $3,600.

(Editor’s note: the maximum cap on the child tax credit is $2,000 per child per year, regardless of income.)

EMS: For low-income families, why is this being offered as a credit at the end of the year, rather than a direct subsidy, which could help a lot of families month by month?

CM: If you think back during the pandemic, that one year where there really was a major expansion, child poverty was cut in half. That’s what we need to get back to. You know,

that was just historic. And it’s so sad that that expired.

That was when they when they went month to month.

And that really helped provide stability for families.

Something goes wrong. You still can help pay your bills.

This proposal does not do that. This is 1/12 of the size of the pandemic package.

I think the idea here is that let’s do what we can now in this package. And then in 2025, when all the Trump tax cuts expire, let’s try to block the tax cuts for the highest income people.

And let’s try to go back to that really large expansion of the child tax credit, including that monthly delivery.

EMS: This is being framed as a bi-partisan bill. Would you agree with that framing?

CM: You wish that both sides would just want to help low-income children. But sadly, that’s not the case.

So this is a trade, where Republicans are pushing for a series of corporate tax breaks. And then Democrats pushing more for the child tax credit. And it’s a negotiated settlement: a dollar of corporate for a dollar of helping low-income children.

Some from the far right are raising issues of of what the effect on work would be.

And I think that’s very silly. I mean, the idea that a single mom who’s working is going to give up a job that pays $25,000 a year just so she can keep $2,000 is ridiculous to me.

This bill is intended to deal with the volatility of earnings and life circumstances.

People have children. Their parents get sick. It helps provide some stability.

(Sunita Sohrabji/Ethnic Media Services)

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Is housing health care?

State Medicaid programs increasingly say ‘yes’ STATES are plowing billions of dollars into a high-stakes health care experiment that’s exploding around the country: using scarce public health insurance money to provide housing for the poorest and sickest Americans.

California is going the biggest, pumping $12 billion into an ambitious Medicaid initiative largely to help homeless patients find housing, pay for it, and avoid eviction.

Arizona is allocating $550 million in Medicaid funding primarily to cover six months of rent for homeless people. Oregon is spending more than $1 billion on services such as emergency rental assistance for patients facing homelessness. Even ruby-red Arkansas will dedicate nearly $100 million partly to house its neediest.

At least 19 states are directing money from Medicaid — the state-federal health insurance program for low-income people — into housing aid and addressing the nation’s growing homelessness epidemic, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Even though there’s little agreement that this will provide a long-term fix for vulnerable patients’ health or housing, the Biden administration is encouraging other states to jump in. Several are in the pipeline, including Tennessee, West Virginia, and Montana — and New York got the green light from the federal government in January.

Using health care funding to house people is “a big philosophical debate,” said Alex Demyan, assistant director of Arizona’s Medicaid agency. “We know health care can’t solve all the problems, but we also know that housing agencies are maxed out and we have enormous need to help stabilize people.”

Homelessness jumped 12% in the U.S. last year, to an estimated 653,104 Americans, the highest level on record, even as the nation dramatically increased its inventory of permanent housing and temporary shelter beds.

As people languish on the streets, often struggling with addiction, severe mental illness, and untreated chronic diseases, health care officials and political leaders are turning to health insurance money for relief.

They argue that housing aid will improve health and save taxpayer money by keeping people out of institutions such as nursing homes, hospitals, and jails.

But evidence supporting this argument is mixed.

For instance, in a trial by researchers at the University of California-San Francisco, homeless people in Santa Clara County, California, who were randomly assigned to receive long-term housing and services used the psychiatric emergency department 38% less than a control group over four years while increasing their use of routine mental health care. But participants were still hospitalized at high rates and continued to rely on the emergency room for routine medical care or rest.

State Medicaid programs have long dabbled in housing, but with the blessing and encouragement of the Biden administration, they are launching more services for more people with heaps of new state and federal money. The trend is part of a broader White

House strategy that encourages Medicaid directors to offer social services alongside traditional medical care, with the goal of making their residents healthier.

“A health care dollar can do more than just pay for a doctor visit or hospital stay,” Xavier Becerra, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, told California Healthline. “We should be using the federal health care dollar for wellness care: Get them before they get ill, and keep them healthy. Is there anyone who would deny that someone who is homeless is going to have a harder time also keeping their health up than someone who is housed with running water and heat?”

Becerra acknowledged these initiatives as experiments. But he said the federal government can no longer ignore the rampant death and disease that is plaguing homeless populations around the U.S. “We’re simply saying, ‘State, if you can prove to us that with this Medicaid dollar you will improve someone’s health or health outcome, then you have essentially served the purpose of the Medicaid program and you’re saving taxpayers more money,’” he said.

But not all health care leaders — or even homelessness experts — believe this is the best use of Medicaid money, especially by a safety-net program that faces routine criticism for failing to provide basic health care to many enrollees.

“If you’re on Medicaid, you often have to wait months and months for a specialty visit, even if it’s a life-threatening concern, so I worry about what people won’t be able to get because of this,” said Margot Kushel, a leading homelessness researcher and primary care doctor at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center who primarily treats low-income patients.

“It’s not that I don’t want the money to be spent, but is it best spent in health care?” she asked. “It’s much better than nothing, but it’s far from providing the long-term housing and stability that people really need.”

Kushel said the danger is that most Medicaid housing assistance can be used only once or is time-limited, such as rental payments, which typically end after six months.

“By the time folks get into housing, they’re already really, really sick,” she said. “What happens at the end of six months when rental assistance like free rent runs out?”

Housing as health care Across the country, state Medicaid programs are stretching the definition of health care and getting into the business of social services, delivering a range of nontraditional benefits such as healthy homedelivered meals for patients with diabetes and air filters for patients with asthma.

While the federal government historically has banned the use of Medicaid money for direct rent payments, that has changed.

In 2022, Arizona received federal approval for an initiative called “H2O,” which will prioritize homeless people and those at risk of losing housing who also have a mental health condition and chronic illness. When it launches in October, it will primarily provide two services: rent payments for up to six months; and transitional housing, which can PAGE 7

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OPINION

FEATURES

Advanced persistent threat

5

Cybersecurity experts have been warning about the threat for some time now: hacking of government websites, with the attacks originating from foreign countries. The experts, citing global data, said most of the attacks have been traced to operators in only a handful of countries: North Korea, China, Russia and Iran.

In the case of a recent hacking attempt targeting the Philippine Coast Guard, the National Coast Watch and the private website of President Marcos, the operation was traced to Chinese telecommunications operator China Unicom. This is according to the Department of Information and Communications Technology, which said the hacking attempt was successfully foiled by Philippine cybersecurity experts.

Because of recent developments, the PCG suspects that the hacking attempt was linked to the maritime dispute between the Philippines and China. Earlier, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration faced a cyber attack that was also traced to China.

Although China Unicom is state-owned, the DICT stressed that it is not accusing the Chinese government of being behind the cyber attacks, but merely reporting that the hacking attempts emanated from Chinese territory. An official of the DICT said the

Philippines would coordinate with China in a bid to identify the perpetrators and stop their activities.

Experts, however, have been warning of possible state-sponsored cyber attacks from overseas directed at Philippine government agencies and private entities operating critical infrastructure such as public utilities, submarine cables, airports, the banking system and defense installations.

A DICT official said the hacking attempt on the PCG by at least three “advanced threat groups” could be classified as cyber espionage because the objective was to gather information by breaching email systems and internal websites of government agencies using Google Workspace. Google itself reported the attempts about two weeks ago.

Also targeted were the domain administrators of the Department of Justice, the Office of the Cabinet Secretary and the

Editorial

First Word YEN MAKABENTA IRONICALLY, like a bull in a China shop, ex-President Rodrigo Duterte has made imperative the appointment of a commission to fully investigate the six-year war on drugs, which he launched

ManilaTimes.net photo

Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department of Congress.

The DICT official pointed out that such hacking attempts are classified as “an advanced persistent threat” because they require “significant spending on research and development and technology” to conceal the activities.

Around the world, governments are readying their defenses against the new type of warfare that is waged in cyberspace.

In the Philippines, which has one of the highest incidences of digital scams and related offenses, the latest attacks should give urgency to ramping up cyber defenses.

(Philstar.com)

Time for a commission to probe Duterte’s drug war and its cost in human life and nation’s sanity and used to define his presidency.

He provokes this policy decision with his deranged reaction to the arrival in Manila of a UN rapporteur and the imminent start of the investigation by the International Criminal Court

(ICC) of accountability for human rights abuses and extrajudicial killing of drug lords, pushers and users by units of the Philippine National Police on the command of his former excellency.

Incensed also by President

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s reversal of Duterte’s policy to kowtow to China on the South China Sea dispute and downgrade Filipino ties with the U.S., Duterte has unleashed a fiery tirade against the president, accusing him of being a drug

addict, and unworthy of the highest office of the land.

Using U.S. senator Joseph McCarthy as his model, Duterte had resorted to the propaganda tactic of waving purported lists of officials and generals allegedly involved and in the pay of drug lords

and drug traffickers. He dangled the lists before the media and sought to create suspense and anticipation by releasing the lists little by little, making people guess whom he would malign next.

Now, he is trying to renew the drug crusade, and he has PAGE 10

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Dateline PhiliPPines

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Garin says DOT needs to intensify PH to promote rule of law, efforts to attract more tourists social stability in ASEAN

By GabriEl Pabico lalu Philstar.com

MANILA — Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin has called on the Department of Tourism (DOT) to intensify efforts toward attracting more tourists, as other Southeast Asian countries start implementing a novisa requirement for Chinese visitors.

Garin in a statement said the country is already known for its tourist spots but it might get a boost if the government gets rid of cumbersome bureaucratic practices.

“Kailangan mas paigtingin pa ng DOT at iba pang ahensya ang ating turismo lalo na’t marami sa kalapit nating bansa ay nag-alis na ng visa requirement para sa mga Chinese national,” she said on Monday.

(The DOT and other government agencies need to intensify efforts towards tourism, especially since some of our neighbor-countries have removed visa requirements for Chinese nationals.)

“While we have a lot of tourist spots and our hospitality is one of a kind, it should be coupled with less bureaucracy and better facilitation,” she added.

Last January 24, it was reported that Thailand and China have agreed to waive visa requirements for each other’s nationals to facilitate travel and tourism between the two countries.

Thailand and China’s mutual visa exemption takes effect on March 1.

Singapore announced its own version of the visa-free entry last December 2023, while Malaysia made theirs last November.

Garin said better tourism numbers would improve the country’s economy.

“Kapag lumago ang ekonomiya, tataas ang employment rate, tataas din ang antas ng pamumuhay ng mga Pilipino,” she noted.

(If the economy improves, the employment rate increases, and the quality of life of people would improve.)

China is one of the countries with the highest number of tourists going to the Philippines. However, Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian admitted last January 25 that there has been a sharp decline in Chinese tourists in the country compared to the prepandemic numbers.

Huang said that almost 1.8 million Chinese tourists visited the country in 2019, but this has dwindled to just around 200,000 in 2023. g

Is housing health care...

PAGE 4 include shelters with intensive services.

Arizona saw a 5% jump in homelessness in 2023 from the previous year. Its program will supplement a separate state-funded Medicaid initiative that provides 3,000 rent vouchers for people in southern Arizona who have a severe mental illness and are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. About 5,000 people are on the waiting list for a voucher.

“We’ve seen such positive health outcomes and cost reductions as a result, so it made total sense to us to expand our work in that space,” Demyan said. That program slashed ER visits 45% and reduced hospital inpatient admissions 53% at the six-month mark after patients started receiving services, while increasing less costly preventive care 56% and saving $4,300 per member, per month, according to state data.

California, home to nearly 30% of the nation’s homeless population, saw a nearly 6% jump in homelessness in 2023, to about 181,000 people.

The state launched its massive CalAIM initiative in 2022 to offer a wide variety of social services to a small sliver of the state’s roughly 15 million Medicaid enrollees. A large share of the resources are going to housing services for homeless people or those facing eviction, such as covering security deposits and enlisting case managers to hunt for available apartments. State leaders are also asking the Biden administration for permission to provide six months of rent.

“If you’re saddled with a great deal of either physical or behavioral health conditions, whether it’s diabetes or HIV, high blood

pressure or schizophrenia, without housing, it’s really hard to stabilize those conditions,” said Mark Ghaly, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency.

But he cautioned that Medicaid’s core focus must remain getting people healthy, even if they’re living outside, which is a monumental and expensive challenge because conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and HIV require continuous treatment and often multiple medications.

“I do not think that health care is responsible for solving homelessness in California or anywhere else,” Ghaly said. “But if housing instability or lack of housing is one of the key drivers getting in the way of being healthy, then absolutely we need to pay attention to it.”

Health insurers that provide Medicaid coverage in California can choose whether to provide housing services, but Oregon is requiring Medicaid insurers to do so.

Homelessness grew 12% in Oregon from 2022 to 2023, but the state is targeting patients at risk of becoming homeless. Participants will be eligible for six months of rent and other services when the program launches in November, said Dave Baden, deputy director of the Oregon Health Authority.

“We’re really trying to focus on people teetering on the brink,” Baden said. “If you’re already homeless, you really need longer, sustainable housing dollars to keep that person housed.”

It’s not just states experimenting with this approach. Kaiser Permanente is one of the health systems that has invested its own PAGE 10

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expressed confidence on Tuesday, February 6 that the Philippines will take the lead in promoting the rule of law, social stability, and economic prosperity in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

This, as he led the oathtaking of the new officers of the Philippine National Committee of ASEAN Law Association (ALA) Philippines, Inc. at Malacañan Palace in Manila.

“I am glad to administer your oaths of office today for it signals your devotion to lend your legal expertise to promote close relations, cooperation, and mutual understanding amongst magistrates, lawyers, and teachers of law in ASEAN member countries,” Marcos said.

“Your representation to the international bodies, such as the ALA, reflects our country’s continued commitment to strengthen our multilateral cooperation with our neighboring countries.”

The president said the election of the new ALA Philippines officers is vital in reaching the country’s goal of a “just global community amidst the critical geopolitical issues that we are being confronted with in the region.”

He said he is optimistic that they would be instrumental in harmonizing the respective national laws of every ASEAN country to achieve a common consensus on concerns within the region.

Marcos also hailed the Supreme Court for accepting the hosting of the Council of ASEAN Chief Justice Meeting, as well as Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo for accepting the position of Philippine National Committee chairperson of ALA Philippines.

“By taking on these challenges, you have proven that we are one with our ASEAN counterparts to facilitate legal collaboration, interconnectivity, and integration amongst them,” he said.

Marcos also pledged to support the judiciary in implementing the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027.

He said his administration respects and adheres to the judiciary’s autonomy, adding that he also aims to strengthen the partnership between the executive and the judiciary.

“Under the leadership of Chief Justice Gesmundo and the commitment of the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court and other public servants in the judiciary, the Filipino people can now rest assured that responsive and real-time justice can be delivered,” Marcos said.

The ALA was established by ASEAN lawyers in February 1979 in Jakarta, Indonesia through the proposal of Singaporean Professor Tan Sook Yee and the late former senator Edgardo Angara.

It was formed to create a regional organization for lawyers in ASEAN to promote close relations, cooperation, and mutual understanding among them in the region.

It aims to provide organizational cooperation in law research, provide organizational facilities for ASEAN cooperation in conflict avoidance, arbitration, and resolution of legal disputes; and push for cooperation with international, regional, national, and other organizations.

The ALA Philippines Inc. was founded on June 25, 1981 by Angara and 13 other legal luminaries in the country. (PNA)

‘Duterte gets info he may be arrested at any time’

by John Eric MEndoza Inquirer.net

MANILA — Expresidential spokesperson Harry Roque claimed that former President Rodrigo Duterte told him about receiving information that he may be arrested at any time in light of the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation of his administration’s drug war.

According to Roque, when Duterte told him about it, he was not able to sleep.

“You know what, I have a confession. I didn’t sleep.

Because Father Digong called me and said, he got information that he might be arrested at any time,” Roque said in Fiilipino

Former President Rodrigo Duterte

during his Facebook live on Sunday, Feb 4.

“My instinct was to run to Davao [City]. However, I also told myself: What can I do if I run there. But I couldn’t really sleep,” he

Inquirer.net file photo

added, without elaborating.

He then made remarks attacking supporters of the opposition, specifically of former Vice President Leni Robredo, whom they called PAGE 9

8

FEBRUARY 9-15, 2024 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 9-15, 2024

9

Catholic bishops demand protection for ‘Duterte gets info...

Filipino fishers from Chinese aggression

by Cristina Chi Philstar.com

MANILA — Six Catholic bishops in dioceses near fisher communities have issued a rare appeal for the government to bring the full might of the law against Chinese vessels harassing Filipino fisherfolk, backing international action to stem China’s “forcible occupation” of Philippine maritime zones.

In a joint pastoral exhortation on Sunday, February 4, the Catholic bishops said that “all legal means must be exhausted” to fend off China’s destruction of the Philippines’ marine resources, which in turn have “wrought havoc on the lives of our fisherfolk.” “(And) if present diplomatic endeavors do not suffice, then it is permissible – morally necessary even - to have recourse to the friendship of allies who can help us defend what is ours,” the statement read.

The joint pastoral exhortation was signed by Socrates Villegas, archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan (Pangasinan); Bartolome Santos Jr., bishop of Iba (Zambales); Daniel Presto, bishop of San Fernando (La Union), Socrates Mesiona, apostolic vicar of Puerto Princesa (Palawan); Broderick Pabillo, apostolic vicar of Taytay (Palawan);

and Fidelis Layog, auxiliary bishop of Lingayen-Dagupan.

The church leaders stressed that aggressive incursions of Chinese vessels into the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone have brought “widespread destruction of coral reefs, marine sanctuaries and the habitat of fish and sea-dwelling animals” and “has wrought havoc on the lives of our fisherfolk.”

“Before the forcible occupation of our maritime zones, fishermen did not have to go very far to be able to harvest the riches of the sea that provided for their needs and those of the members of their families,” the statement read.

Now, the bishops wrote, Filipino fisherfolk have to risk their lives by venturing far into the open sea just to bring home catch.

Even then, they “still face the threat of being bullied by Chinese fishing and naval vessels that, by their size and power, can easily outmaneuver and frighten our fishermen in their bangkas and lampitaws (boats),” the statement read.

The Catholic leaders warned that a “policy of appeasement” only brings trouble to Filipino fishers who are at the mercy of the “tall tale claims” spun by “Chinese aggressors.”

“It has only emboldened it, as it

makes more inroads into our marine sanctuaries and maritime zones, displacing our own fisherfolk from fishing grounds from which they have traditionally harvested the wealth that the sea then had to offer,” they added.

“We seek peace, and it cannot be a moral option to wage war. But neither is it just for the leaders of our country to allow our own fisherfolk to be driven out of fishing grounds over which international law recognizes our rights,” they also said.

In 2023, the Philippine Coast Guard had increased its documentation of Chinese harassment of Filipino vessels in the Philippines’ maritime zone, as well as expanded its presence through patrol operations and assisted in the resupply missions for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, among others.

The Philippines has also forged stronger partnerships in developing the PCG and explored joint patrols with other countries like the United States, Japan Australia, South Korea and Germany, among others.

In December 2023, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that there would be a “paradigm shift” with how the Philippines responds to China, noting that traditional diplomatic PAGE 10

PAGE 7 “pinklawan” (a combination of Filipino words pink and yellow).

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Philippines did not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction over the Philippines as his predecessor had initiated the country’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute, which created the global court. Marcos said, however, that ICC investigators can come and visit the country “as ordinary people.”

Duterte declared the Philippines’ withdrawal from the international treaty in March 2018. The withdrawal took effect a year later.

The ICC nevertheless asserted its jurisdiction over the country, noting that its investigation covers alleged crimes against humanity committed from November 1, 2011, to March 16, 2019, while the Philippines was still a state party to the Rome Statute.

Duterte was the chief architect of the war on drugs which claimed at

least 6,000 lives, according to official government data. But human rights watchdogs and the ICC itself estimated the toll to be between 12,000 and 30,000 from 2016 to 2019 alone.

In the same Facebook live on Sunday, Roque mentioned that Duterte’s claim about his impending arrest was corroborated by rumors of Task Force Davao’s disbandment due to its perceived loyalty to Duterte.

“Now of course I sniffed around for what is happening in Davao. Well, it seems like there is truth in what he said because I gathered news that Task Force Davao would be disbanded,” Roque said.

“They know that this Task Force Davao is loyal to the Dutertes. So it seems that there was — well, that’s the buzz now — that Task Force Davao will be disbanded,” he added.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines, however, denied Roque’s pronouncements about Task Force Davao. g

10 FEBRUARY 9-15, 2024 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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Time for a commission to probe Duterte’s...

MIGRATORY BIRDS. White herons (egrets) find refuge at the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area, also known as the Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park on Monday, Feb. 5. The presence of migratory birds, such as the white herons, is a key indicator that the country’s wetlands, coastlines, and forests are healthy and thriving.

PNA photo by Yancy Lim

Is housing health...

PAGE 7 funds into housing. In recent years, the health care giant has committed hundreds of millions of dollars to help maintain or build thousands of affordable housing units, in addition to providing housing-related Medicaid benefits for its members.

“We have to do something. The crisis is out of control,” said Bechara Choucair, its chief health officer.

Mission creep Sherry Glied, a professor at New York University and former Obama administration official who is an expert in health care economics, warned in a recent health policy analysis of mission creep in health care. She cautioned that health care institutions getting into the business of social services could be a “dangerous distraction.”

Glied pointed to at least 57 health systems and 917 hospitals around the country that have launched social service initiatives, with most focusing on housing. Because many institutions struggle to meet patient safety and quality care standards, Glied argued that they should instead improve basic care and leave housing to social service organizations “that specialize in this work.”

“Providing people with food or housing is pretty far removed from the core mission of health care,” she told California Healthline.

Peter Lee, another former Obama administration official and the founding executive director of California’s Obamacare exchange, said health care providers should consider offering some housing and social services, but he fears such initiatives may divert money from traditional medicine and prevent patients from getting adequate care.

“In the past five to 10 years, there has been a lot of recognition that health is about much more than actual health care. Very true,” Lee said. “The question is how do you address those issues while health care itself is not doing too great. The brass tacks of this is making sure people with diabetes have great diabetes care, that people get checkups in time, that people can get the regular health care they need.”

State Medicaid programs, which provide care to at least 80 million Americans, often struggle to deliver basic medical services, such as childhood dental visits and breast cancer screenings. In California, the state spending the most on housing services, children on Medicaid did not have timely access to care for mental health or substance use in 2022, according to an audit published in November.

Despite these shortfalls, most of the states that have been given the federal go-ahead to experiment with housing services have secured funding for five years. California is among the states that hope to make the benefits permanent.

Though a Republican presidency could interrupt this trend, states say they’re committed — even if their initiatives don’t pass a traditional cost-benefit analysis.

“The singular focus on a financial return on investment is not as clear as it was previously,” said Cindy Mann, a federal Medicaid director under Obama.

“States are just seeing how little sense it makes to treat people and then release them back to the streets without the support they need.” (Angela Hart/KFF Health News) KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces indepth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.

PAGE 5 widened his net of nastiness and drug lists by adding the biggest fish of all — the president of the Philippines no less, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whom he has charged with being a drug addict.

He hurled the charge in a rambling tirade at a public rally in Davao City.

Worse than plastering BBM with the accusation, Duterte, in a lunatic turn, seized the occasion to urge officers and members of the nation’s Armed Forces to mount a coup against the president and take over the government. Then, he threatened the government with a new secession bid by Mindanao from the republic.

Duterte wildly fantasizes that the drug addiction canard — like Hitler’s big lie about the Jews and Joe McCarthy’s multiple lies about communists in the U.S. government — is incendiary enough to cause an upheaval in the government of the day and restore the drug war to front and center in national life.

Throughout his six years as president, Duterte never seriously attempted to substantiate with incontrovertible facts and figures his hyperbolic claims of corruption and wrongdoing in high places and the far-flung tentacles of the drug traffic in the country. He could not get the drug agencies of the government, like the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Dangerous Drugs Board, to play along and confirm his claims.

When the clock ran out on his presidential term on June 30, 2022, Duterte’s drug campaign became like McCarthy’s anti-communist crusade; it ran out of steam and was hobbled by a flat tire.

It’s been two years now since Duterte left office. He does not wield any authority anymore, not even that of his neighborhood barangay. He remains authoritarian in temperament, but he is now owed, at best, the courtesies toward a former president and old man. He has no one to command.

This, at the bottom, is the reason for the new tactic of smearing BBM with the drug addiction charge and baiting him to the indignity of a joint drug test.

The same intent to shock and awe the nation into alarm and support for his anti-drug crusade is plainly Duterte’s objective now in smearing BBM with the drug addiction brush.

A moment’s reflection on the accusation quickly unveils its fundamental weakness and hollowness.

In hurling the accusation against the president, Duterte makes it appear that he has plastered the president with the commission of a great crime or shortcoming in his duties as president and leader of our people. He suggests overtly that for this imaginary criminal offense, BBM deserves to be ousted from office.

Like almost everything else in Duterte’s turn as president, this new project of his is not backed by sound and careful thinking. It is as ill-founded as his claim of being a Muslim at birth in order to ingratiate himself with Filipino Muslims.

It is the same with his foolish order to the National Historical Commission to divert and twist the commemoration of the Quincentennial of Ferdinand Magellan’s epic circumnavigation of the globe into a celebration instead of the Battle of Mactan and Lapulapu’s triumph over the great explorer.

It is fair to ask now, therefore: “Really, Mr. Ex-president, where does it say in our statute book and in the criminal codes of nations that an addiction to drugs or narcotics is a criminal offense, eminently worthy of censure or shaming? Why do you, sir, paint drug addiction as a crime against the nation when our anti-drug program ostensibly espouses the objective and desire to rehabilitate and rescue those among our people who unfortunately fall victim to drug addiction.”

Drug addiction no crime, says U.S. Supreme Court Mr. Duterte is obviously not aware that there is a standing decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that loudly and expressly overturned and swept aside statutes and attempts to criminalize drug addiction and subject it to punishment.

In Robinson v. California, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Robinson’s conviction under a California law that declared it was a criminal offense “to be addicted to the use of narcotics.” The court ruled that it was cruel and unusual punishment to impose criminal penalties on Robinson based on his conviction of the status offense of narcotics addiction, which a majority of the judges considered an addictive illness. Justice Potter Stewart, who wrote the decision, noted that “even one day in prison would be cruel and unusual punishment for the crime of having a common cold....it is unlikely that any state would make it a criminal offense for a person to be mentally ill, or a leper, or to be afflicted with venereal disease... such a law would be universally thought to be an infliction of cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments.”

The prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment in the Eighth Amendment is applicable to the states through the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The ruling, which reversed the state’s judgment, recognized that drug addiction is a disease and that it is unconstitutional to impose punishment for having a disease. Additionally, Justice Stewart’s opinion, in combination with Justice Harlan’s concurring opinion, held that it is unconstitutional to criminalize behavior in the absence of a guilty act or actus

reus. Justice Stewart’s opinion focused on the unconstitutionality of punishing a mere status or condition; Justice Harlan’s concurring opinion focused, however, on the unconstitutionality of punishing a “bare desire.”

The accusation against President Marcos and the nastiness of Duterte’s presentation at a public rally in Davao City shows us again the utter lack of moderation and civility of the former president. The attack is totally gratuitous and the product of ill will.

Duterte may be worried or angry that the Marcos government could change its mind about refusing cooperation with the ICC in investigating the drug war and its many abuses.

Duterte probably feels that he is just one piece of paper away from being served an arrest warrant for his accountability in the infamous drug war because a UN rapporteur is currently visiting the country and seems to be looking right at home.

Commission to probe the war on drugs The most sensible and rational reply by the Marcos government to ex-resident Duterte’s charge of BBM’s alleged drug addiction is to appoint a commission to fully investigate the war on drugs during the Duterte presidency to ferret out the whole truth about the program and what it has cost our country and our people in terms of lives and social harmony.

By exposing the basic derangement of Duterte’s vision of the drug problem and the extent of police abuses and crimes in the conduct of the drug war, President Marcos can make a constructive contribution to the quest for justice for the families of the victims in the drug war and the effective interdiction and control of the drug problem in the country.

A formal inquiry, like the investigations of the assassinations of former senator Benigno Aquino Jr. and John F. Kennedy, will dive deep into the malaise of the drug war, the flawed policymaking, the terrible train of victims and abuses, which to this day still cry out for exposure and redress.

An inquiry will satisfy the fundamental international prayer and ICC demand for the Philippine justice system to show an earnest effort to ferret out truth and accountability in the drug war.

The demagoguery in the conception and design of the drug war and the irresponsibility of those who were placed in charge of conducting it are the real reasons why the war has been a pronounced failure for all its harshness and barbarity and why the drug menace continues to hound the nation.

(ManilaTimes.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.

Catholic bishops demand protection for...

PAGE 9 means have failed to settle the country’s issues with the East Asian giant in the tense waterways.

The president’s statement came after Chinese naval assets water cannoned PCG vessels during its resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre

in Ayungin Shoal.

“We gratefully acknowledge statements of resoluteness about defending the resources

God, in his munificence, has made available to us through the sea. But words are NOT enough,” the bishops wrote.g

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 9-15, 2024

COMMUNITY JOURNAL

11

Success story: Aged-out daughter obtains immigrant visa through CSPA, on Citizen Pinoy this Sunday MARIVIC, a U.S. citizen, filed a petition for her daughter, Alyssa, in May 2019.

However, in January 2021, after filing all paperwork and fees,

Marivic was notified by the U.S. Embassy that her daughter’s interview was cancelled since the latter aged-out when she turned 21 in August 2019.

Marivic was desperate

and wanted to explore other ways of bringing Alyssa to the U.S. and consulted with leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel to see PAGE 12

Julia is definitely the class act Barretto

By Tessa Mauricio-arriola ManilaTimes.net

JULIA Barretto first stepped into the public eye when she started her showbiz career at age nine. Now 26 years old, she has definitely sharpened her acting skills to major-league level, what

with her upcoming film, “Ikaw Pa Rin ang Pipiliin Ko,” pairing her off with one of the GOATs (greatest of all time) of Philippine Cinema, the one and only Aga Muhlach.

With every entry in her growing filmography showing acting skills that emerge more refined

from one title to the next [Julia counts 10 movies to her name, from 2015’s teenybopper flick “Para sa Hopeless Romantic” all the way to her show-stopping first venture into the sexy genre with 2022’s “Expensive Candy”], she will surely be PAGE 13

LEASING FULLY FURNISHED

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‘ATTORNEY-OF-LAST-HOPE’ MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL (RIGHT) CONVINCED THE U.S. EMBASSY AGED-OUT CHILD WAS ELIGIBLE FOR VISA UNDER THE CHILD STATUS PROTECTION ACT, ON AN ENCORE SUCCESS STORY OF CITIZEN PINOY THIS SUNDAY! The U.S. Embassy cancelled the interview for Alyssa, the daughter of U.S. citizen Marivic, after Alyssa aged-out in August 2019. Desperate to find a way to bring her daughter to the U.S., Marivic wanted to explore other options like a student visa or a work visa, but Atty.

Gurfinkel was able to convince the U.S. Embassy that Alyssa was eligible for an immigrant visa under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA). Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, February 11 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo.

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12 FEBRUARY 9-15, 2024 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS MY column titled “Aspirin, the Wonder Drug” came out in 2002 when this common household item was on the spotlight for its new role in staving off heart attack, medically termed Acute Myocardial Infarction (the killer, Acute MI), blood clots, and stroke.

In 1962, a year after I graduated from medical school, my 46-year-old father succumbed to a heart attack, and at that time, the medical community did not even know that aspirin was useful in lowering the risk of Acute MI and that taking aspirin immediately when chest pains developed was a prudent measure on the way to the emergency room. Today, these are all “common knowledge,” especially in this wonderful age of the internet and cyberinformation, where Dr. Google is on-call 24/7.

Studies suggest aspirin reduces the recurrence rate for cancers, or even prevent cancer. For decades, this popular cheap pill has been used, not only as antipyretic (against fever), analgesic (for pain), and anti-inflammatory (against arthritis), but also to prevent inflammation in the veins in the pelvis and legs (phlebitis) and resultant blood clots in the legs (thrombophlebitis), which could travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolus) and cause death.

What is aspirin?

Aspirin (medically known as acetylsalicylic acid) is a common household medication for pain (analgesic), fever (antipyretic), and inflammation (antiinflammatory).

This “simple” and inexpensive drug is so much underrated and practically taken for granted. Aspirin is really a versatile drug, with a lot of good uses, much more than the lay public realizes.

How was aspirin discovered?

In 1827, Leroux of France first came upon salicin, an active ingredient in the willow bark, and in 1838, Piria produced salicylic acid from salicin. In 1897 Hoffman, a German chemist, was able to modify salicylic acid into acetyl salicylic acid (aspirin). In 1899, Dreser introduced aspirin (heroin,

http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426

Aspirin: Safe?

codeine) into medicine.

All three drugs have been in popular use since then, with more than 40 tons (100 million tablets) of aspirin produced annually worldwide, 40 million pounds in the United States alone, about 300 tablets per man, woman and child per year. The entericcoated form is preferred to minimize gastric irritation.

The 81-mg mini-dose coated tablets are the most popular, taken once daily by millions in the U.S. How is aspirin versatile?

Besides being used as an analgesic for pain of

newborn. There are also studies that suggest regular aspirin use increases the chances of conception and a successful pregnancy, among those women who have had dilemma in getting pregnant or having miscarriages or stillbirths.

How does aspirin work?

Aspirin, as we stated earlier, thins the blood by preventing platelet aggregation. Platelets are blood components that play a role in blood thickening or clot formation. When they aggregate (clump together) blood thickens and clots form. Clots tend

Besides being used as an analgesic for pain of various causes (headaches, body aches, arthritis, dysmenorrhea, neuralgia, gout, etc.), and for febrile states, aspirin is also useful in the treatment of rheumatic disease, and as an anti-platelet (to thin the blood and prevent blood clots) in coronary (heart) artery and in the deep veins in the legs and pelvis, as we stated above. various causes (headaches, body aches, arthritis, dysmenorrhea, neuralgia, gout, etc.), and for febrile states, aspirin is also useful in the treatment of rheumatic disease, and as an antiplatelet (to thin the blood and prevent blood clots) in coronary (heart) artery and in the deep veins in the legs and pelvis, as we stated above. Aspirin also appears to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer by 20% and also lowers the risk for colorectal cancer. Many physicians themselves and patients today take low-dose aspirin (baby aspirin or 81 mg.) daily to reduce the chances of getting a heart attack and stroke by its anti-platelet (blood thinning) action by blocking the production of a prostaglandin called thromboxane. It is believed the drug produces analgesic/ anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the production of pain-producing chemicals called prostaglandins.

Are there other uses for aspirin?

Aspirin has also been used with success in the treatment of children with Bartter’s Syndrome, and also in enhancing the closure of Patent Ductus Arteriosus, an abnormal connection between the aorta (main artery connected to the heart) and the pulmonary artery (to the lungs) in the

to clog arteries and veins.

When arteries to the heart (coronary) get severely blocked by clots, a heart attack occurs, and when this clogging happens to the arteries to the brain, stroke happens. As simple as aspirin, this wonder drug plays a very vital role in these conditions, together with a change in lifestyle (no smoking, low carb/ cholesterol diet, regular exercises, etc.) to maintain a thinner blood condition.

Is aspirin safe for children?

Pediatricians all over the world have, for almost 5 decades, discontinued prescribing aspirin for children for pain and fever, because aspirin has been implicated in the occurrence of Reye’s Syndrome in children following a viral (upper respiratory or gastrointestinal) infection, which syndrome could be fatal. For fever or pain, physicians now prefer to prescribe acetaminophen (like Tylenol), but for some specific illnesses (like Kawasaki Disease, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, etc.) aspirin is still being used effectively by pediatricians.

What are the side-effects of aspirin?

Besides Reye’s Syndrome in children, allergy (especially those with asthma), life-threatening

gastrointestinal bleeding, long-term intake of aspirin also increases the risk for the development of “age-related” macular degeneration, the major cause of blindness in older adults. Taking aspirin also raises the bleeding risk for those on blood thinners like warfarin (Coumadin), dabigatran, apixaban, and on food supplements like evening primrose oil and fish oil. Minor side-effects include headache (believe it or not), bruising, nausea, vomiting, tinnitus (ringing in the ear).

In spite of all this, the new guidelines issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) “recommend daily low-dose aspirin for heart attack and stroke prevention for individuals aged 50-59 who are at high risk for cardiovascular disease.”

Before embarking on aspirin therapy, or on any other regimen, consult your attending physician. *** The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health. *** 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. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He was a recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995, conferred by then Indiana Governor, later Senator, and then presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry Truman, President George HW Bush, Muhammad Ali, Astronaut Gus Grissom and other personalities (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday. com, and philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.

Leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (right) was able to get a visa for Alyssa (left) through her mother, Marivic’s (middle) petition, despite aging out, on a brand-new episode of Citizen Pinoy.

Success story: Aged-out...

PAGE 11 if her daughter could apply for a work or a student visa.

Atty. Gurfinkel saw that Alyssa was eligible for her visa under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) and demonstrated her eligibility to the U.S. Embassy. Alyssa was rescheduled for her interview, and obtained her immigrant visa and green card.

Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, February 11 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app.

(Advertising Supplement)

Gloc-9 brings Pinoy rap and reggae to Australia

By Jerry Donato Philstar.com

FILIPINOS are figuratively and literally everywhere.

They leave the country to seek greener pastures and adapt well to the new host country, but their connection to their culture remains intact.

They’re indeed tethered.

Such a Pinoy diaspora and dispersion can also be seen in Australia, and allows local

Gloc-9

Philstar.com photo

artists like Gloc-9 to treat his kababayan based in the Land Down Under to Pinoy music.

“To be able to take them (or bring them) a little closer to home through my songs,” said the awardwinning rapper, singer, and songwriter Gloc-9 about what he looks forward to in the show, Numinous X Asintada Australian Tour 2024 come March, in an e-mail chat with The STAR. “And meeting our kababayan and performing for them, especially our OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers),” added he.

In 2019, Gloc-9 had a tour with Shanti Dope in Australia, in which he is musically visiting for the second time with Numinous X Asintada Tour. “I’m so excited,” said he.

Described as a Pinoy rap and reggae fusion, the tour features Gloc-9, the fivepiece collective Chocolate Factory, Skusta Clee, Flow G, Shanti Dope, John Roa, Omar Baliw, HellMerry, and Hero.

In a statement, Joel Cabides, CEO of Variant Productions that presents the show along with Tala PAGE 15

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 9-15, 2024 13

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Solving your IRS problems Julia is definitely the class act...

Minding Your Finances Atty. RAymond BulAon READ this if you owe the IRS money and can’t pay.

IRS problems have a way of ruining all aspects of your life. They take a toll on you FINANCIALLY, PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY. They’re there when you go to bed at night and they’re there when you wake up in the morning.

The IRS is relentless and is the WORST CREDITOR you can have.

People with IRS Problems are always looking over their shoulders for the IRS. Once you owe the IRS money, they become very aggressive in their collection attempts. They can: (a) take all the money you have in your bank account through a BANK LEVY; (b) Serve your employer a WAGE GARNISHMENT order; (c) Take your assets and sell them at an auction; and (d) File a federal tax lien against your home.

If you own a small business, PAYROLL TAXES are the worst. The IRS can close your business, sell your assets and hold you PERSONALLY LIABLE for the unpaid taxes.

The IRS leaves no stone unturned in its neverending quest to collect taxes. Imagine having the IRS attack your pension, Retirement or Social Security Check!

Taxpayers with IRS problems can never build up retirement funds or assets. When you have IRS problems, there is NO END

IN SIGHT! You get up every day with this incredibly large problem on your shoulders.

You wonder if today might be the day when the IRS shows up at work, at home, or if they decide to take your money in the bank or your paycheck. This is a HUGE BURDEN TO CARRY EVERY DAY! SOLUTION: Are there ways out of IRS problems?

Yes, there are. But you must make the decision to end them and no one else can decide that for you. When you decide that ENOUGH IS ENOUGH and you want the things that everyone else has and YOU’RE READY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, there are options available to you!

1) You may qualify for tax debt forgiveness depending on what the IRS sees as your “reasonable collection potential.” This takes into account assets, property, and your income.

2) You may qualify for CNC or “currently not collectible status.”

If you have no money to pay now because you are unemployed or have limited income, the IRS may leave you alone until your situation gets better.

3) You may qualify for an installment agreement to pay based only on what you can afford to pay. In some situations, you may not even have to pay the full amount.

4) You may qualify for penalty abatement. Did you know that in some cases, a big chunk of what you owe is due to penalties? By having some of the penalties waived, your tax debt could be reduced significantly.

5) Are you a non-filer?

Do you have multiple years of unfiled returns and are afraid to face the IRS? By

voluntarily admitting that you have failed to file your returns for years, the IRS can be less forgiving and allow you to get back on track. Remember, it is not a crime to owe taxes. But it is against the law to willfully evade taxes by not filing a tax return when required.

The above scenarios are typical, and I see them every day. My office specializes in ending the misery of debt problems, including IRS problems. We do all the talking with the IRS. We will handle all the meetings and correspondences with the IRS. We will keep the IRS away from you and your family so that you can go to work and carry on a normal life.

Your IRS problems will not go away by themselves.

Let us help you understand your options in ending your IRS nightmare!

If you owe the IRS, the State, EDD or State Board of Equalization, my office can help you find the best solution to resolve your tax liability. You will never have to speak with the IRS again.

I will review your case and help you make the best decision for yourself and family. ***

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray J. Bulaon has successfully helped over 6,000 clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call RJB Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-866471-8272.

(Advertising Supplement)

Derrick and Elle bring real-life romance to ‘Makiling’

By Jerry Donato Philstar.com

IN the revenge drama series “Makiling,” Derrick Monasterio and Elle Villanueva play their parts well as Alex, the habalhabal driver, and Amira, the provincial lass. Beyond these descriptions, he is also the protector of her, while she is the protectress, in her own way, of the hapless and the

helpless.

Now in its fourth week, “Makiling” has revealed these traits of Alex and Amira, and they are becoming more defined.

“Perhaps what my character and Amira represent is that they’re the figure of the people who are voiceless and powerless,” said Derrick in the show’s recent press conference. “(They) want to take revenge,

but they can’t. They don’t have the power and the money.

Their inner struggle is kung paano (sila) maghihiganti given their limited means,” added he, giving everyone a sneak peek.

“She got orphaned by her mom early in life. They both share interest in and passion for becoming an herbalist.

Mahilig silang tumulong sa mga tao (They like to help PAGE 15

PAGE 11 regarded as one of the defining actresses of her generation, just like Aga was his.

Julia’s talent, though, isn’t the only thing that makes her the class act our column today declares her to be. Seeing her and speaking with her this week after quite some time in a cozy roundtable — and without anyone else in the cast with her like our previous encounters — every little bit that makes grown-up Julia a woman of sophistication simply unraveled.

On top of the list, in the opinion of someone who has met and witnessed many a young actress’ progress in the biz, is Julia’s cognizance. When I say she’s got a good head above her shoulders, she really does, because Julia’s not merely articulate in the way celebrities become from getting used to endless interviews all their lives.

Compellingly, her answers are not the perfect and conventional “artist answers,” but they are thoughtful, discerning and levelheaded, and they come out quick!

Case in point, it can’t be easy to reply to questions about the deluge of adverse reactions that the May-December storyline of her movie with Aga has attracted lately.

Yet in responding to them, it is evident that Julia has transcended the confines of her early years in the spotlight and even avoided falling into the typical “born and raised in the biz” personality. Instead, she has blossomed into an intelligent young woman whose professionalism and sensitivity especially shine through in her latest venture.

Acknowledging the feedback and concerns some netizens have raised regarding the almost three-decade age gap between her and Aga to be played out on screen, Julia thoughtfully expressed, “I super understand [where they’re coming from]. No one is invalidating anyone’s opinion. We’re neither normalizing nor advocating this ‘unconventional relationship.’

“This is why my last post about the film was that the most or the least I can request is [for the movie to] just be given a chance.”

Smiling as she shrugged her shoulders, Julia asserted, “Love is love,” highlighting the diversity of human relationships portrayed in the movie. “And this film is a unique love story [whose] inspiration happens in real life.”

Still careful to balance out sentiments, Julia was likewise quick to assure everyone, “We wouldn’t have been on board if we knew the film was going to send out the wrong message or that we were doing something that would be illegal in any way. The production wouldn’t have happened in the first place.

“At the end of the day, It’s up to the viewers [to discern] what they learn from it [when the movie comes out],” she noted.

Another class-act attitude Julia exudes is her sheer dedication to her role. When asked if she felt awkward on set with Aga, 54, she emphasized the importance of fully committing to the material to stay true to the story’s authenticity and get the job done as it should.

“From the beginning, I never even welcomed the thought that it could be uncomfortable [between us] because, for me, once you commit to the material you have to be in it completely. It can’t be one foot in and one foot out,” she asserted, adding that if any awkwardness did happen in certain scenes, they would only serve to make the encounters between her young character and Aga’s older role even more believable.

Off-cam, Julia properly knew her place,

The 26-year-old has definitely sharpened her acting skills to major-league level, what with her upcoming film, ‘Ikaw Pa Rin ang Pipiliin Ko.’ Photo from Instagram/@juliabarretto

showing Aga — whom she told The T-Zone she decided to call “Legend,” rather than “Tito,” which would have certainly not helped either of them — her utmost respect.

“He deserves the tag. I have too much respect for him,” she chuckled, recalling how initially, Aga suggested she just call him “Ags” to break the ice.

Julia’s professionalism actually impressed her leading man immensely, with Aga — who admitted he initially hesitated to accept the project — revealing in an earlier interview that it was when he took his cue from Julia that everything fell into place.

And so, as the trailers show, Julia and Aga’s on-screen chemistry worked beautifully against the serene backdrop of Baguio, where she plays Jas — a strong-willed choir student — and Aga Michael — a strict and conservative 50-something conductor — who develop a bond over the beautiful music of George Canseco.

As they navigate the complexities of love and age, Julia’s nuanced portrayal and unwavering commitment to truth reaffirm her status as a class act in “Ikaw Pa Rin ang Pipiliin Ko” and in the industry in general.

Because if you will remember, throughout the many personal controversies she has overcome throughout her young life — be it those that stem from her famous aunts and mother (the Barretto sisters); her complicated relationship with her father, Dennis Padilla; or even the beginnings of her going-strong relationship with Gerald Anderson, to name a few — Julia has always remained quiet, and has come out of her life experiences as the thoughtful, sensible and dutiful woman that she is today.

So that if and when she speaks, now — looking beautiful, stylish, polished and graceful every time to boot — she definitely has something worthwhile to say.

Doesn’t that make for a class act all around? g

14 FEBRUARY 9-15, 2024 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY F E B R UA RY 9, 2 0 24

14

people events arts culture entertainment

Kathryn as she enters ‘Firefly,’ ‘GomBurZa,’ Vilma Santos, Dingdong her solo era: ‘Know Dantes and Piolo Pascual win in inaugural MIFF when to walk away’

By HANNAH MALLORCA Inquirer.net

KATHRYN Bernardo is excited to embark on her solo journey following her contract renewal with ABSCBN’s Star Magic, saying self-love and knowing “when to walk away” are some of the lessons she holds close to her heart.

Bernardo reflected on the lessons she had in the previous year during an interview with MJ Felipe on ABS-CBN News’ YouTube channel, following her contract signing with the network.

“Love yourself. Know when to walk away, know when to stay. Dapat alam mo ‘yung value mo (You must know your own value),” said the actress. She also recalled how ABS-CBN COO Cory Vidanes and ABS-CBN CEO Carlo Katigbak always reminded her to be kind.

“Ito ‘yung greatest lesson nina Tita Cory and CLK: You can never go wrong with kindness and na-prove ko ‘yun sa lahat ng nangyaring ito. Walang masama kung maging mabuti ka. If you do something good, babalik sa’yo ‘yun. If you do something bad, babalik sa’yo ‘yun. Nasa sa’yo anong gagawin mo,” she said, referring to the ABS-CBN execs using their nicknames.

(This is the greatest lesson I’ve learned from Tita Cory and CLK: You can never go wrong with kindness. I proved that with everything that happened.

There’s nothing wrong with being kind. If you do something good, the good comes back to you. If you do something bad, the bad comes back to you.

What you do is up to you.)

The actress also expressed her excitement about “focusing on [herself] and what [she] wants” despite the adjustments coming her way.

Kathryn Bernardo during her contract signing with ABS-CBN and Star Magic.

Photo from Instagram/@bernardokath

“I guess may konting adjustments. But it’s a good kind of change. Ngayon ko lang na-feel na it’s so empowering as a woman and ang sarap sa pakiramdam na alam ko nang hawak ko na ang buhay ko at ang sarili ko,” she said. “At the end of the day, it’s all about [myself].

[I can] do what makes [me] happy.”

(I guess there are a few adjustments. But it’s a good kind of change. I feel that it’s so empowering as a woman and it feels so good that I have control of my life and myself.

At the end of the day, it’s all about myself. I can do what makes me happy.)

‘I’m at peace’ During the interview, Bernardo admitted that she wants to “prioritize [herself] this year and that she’s looking forward to the things she wants to do not only in showbiz but also in her personal life.

The actress last November announced her breakup from Daniel Padilla, her boyfriend of 11 years, amid allegations of infidelity against the actor.

“I want to prioritize myself PAGE 15

“FIREFLY,” “Gomburza,” Vilma Santos, Dingdong Dantes and Piolo Pascual were among the big winners announced in the closing night awards gala of the successful inaugural Manila International Film Festival held Friday, February 2, at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles.

In the glittering, glamorous gala evoking Hollywood’s major awards shows, GMA Pictures’ fantasy drama “Firefly “ won four awards – Best Picture, Best Director (Zig Dulay), Best Supporting Actress (Alessandra De Rossi) and Best Screenplay (Angeli Atienza).

Jesuit Communications Foundation, Inc. and MQuest Ventures, Inc.’s historical drama “GomBurZa” bagged Second Best Picture, Best Cinematography (Carlo Canlas Mendoza) and Audience Favorite Award, voted by the festival moviegoers who attended the screenings at the TLC Chinese Theatres from January 29 to February 1.

The IdeaFirst Company and October Train Films’ “Becky and Badette” was honored with the Special Jury Prize for its LGBTQIA cultural sensitivity and awareness, effectively combining these themes with humanity and humor.

In a tie, both Piolo Pascual (left, for “Mallari) and Dingdong Dantes (“Rewind”) won Best Actor in the inaugural Manila International Film Festival held at the Directors Guild of America in LA. Photos by Sthanlee B. Mirador

Fantasy drama “Firefly “ won four awards – Best Picture, Best Director (Zig Dulay), Best Supporting Actress (Alessandra De Rossi) and Best Screenplay (Angeli Atienza) in the inaugural Manila International Film Festival held at the Directors Guild of America in LA.

Vilma Santos romped off with the Best Actress Award for her portrayal of an OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) finding love in Japan in JG Productions’ “When I Met

Historical drama “GomBurZa,” directed by Pepe Diokno (second from right) bagged Second Best Picture, Best Cinematography (Carlo Canlas Mendoza, right) and Audience Favorite Award, voted by the festival moviegoers who attended the screenings at the TLC Chinese Theatres from January 29 to February 1. At the inaugural Manila International Film Festival held at the Directors Guild of America in LA.

You in Tokyo.”

In a tie, Dingdong Dantes and Piolo Pascual bagged the Best Actor prize. Dantes was honored for essaying a husband hoping for a second

chance and redemption in ABS-CBN Film Productions and APT Entertainment, Inc.’s “Rewind.”

Pascual triumphed in his delineation of three different characters, including Father Severino Mallari, a 19thcentury Filipino priest who was charged with murdering 57 people.

Alessandra De Rossi’s take of a mother inspiring and guiding her young son, especially through stories, in “Firefly” garnered Best Supporting Actress.

For his nuanced performance of God in the guise of a regular guy in “Rewind,” Pepe Herrera cinched Best Supporting Actor.

A jury of accomplished Filipino American professionals voted on the 10 awards – Marie Jamora, filmmaker (head of the jury), Mari Acevedo; CEO of Birns & Sawyer which will give a $200,000 co-producing package to “Firefly,” the Best Picture winner; Leah Anova, cinematographer; Reggie Lee, actor; David Maquiling, filmmaker and film school educator; and Sumalee Montano, actress and producer.

Veteran actress Hilda Koronel received MIFF’s first Monty Manibog Lifetime Achievement PAGE 15

“Becky and Badette” was honored with the Special Jury Prize for its LGBTQIA cultural sensitivity and awareness, effectively combining these themes with humanity and humor. The film’s actress Eugene Domingo and producer Perci Intalan accepted the award at the inaugural Manila International Film Festival held at the Directors Guild of America in LA.

(212) 655-5426 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Derrick and Elle bring...

PAGE 13 others),” shared Elle.

Alex and Amira, who face poverty daily, have to step out of their comfort zone, said Elle. So, her character has left her family and hometown to seek greener pastures.

Again, they will see the disparity between the haves and have-nots when they meet the Terra family as well as The Crazy 5. In fact, an episode shows how the characters have witnessed, with its apt title, “the dark and cruel nature” of the Terras.

According to a piece of information given to this paper, the Terra family and The Crazy 5 have no choice but “to deal with sins from the past.” The recent commotion, which had one casualty, shows the Terras’ true colors as they’ve ordered “a cover-up.”

It adds that a janitor in the university will be used by The Crazy 5 “as a fall guy to evade punishment.” With her characterization, Amira will try “to prove her co-worker’s innocence.”

This will lead Amira to experience unfortunate situations at the hands of The Crazy 5.

With that, it’s safe to say that Amira might rethink if she had made the right decision to leave Mt. Makiling, where she and her family hail from. Viewers can also look forward to more intense scenes with Amira.

“Makiling” is the followup project of Derrick and Elle’s tandem that started in “Return to Paradise” and shows their potential as leading stars.

For newbies like Elle, the GMA Public Affairs-produced afternoon prime show is a

Now in its fourth week, ‘Makiling,’ the GMA revenge drama has shown Derrick Monasterio and Elle Villanueva as Alex, the habal-habal driver, and Amira, the provincial lass, respectively.

GMA photos

great opportunity for her.

That’s why she feels grateful and appreciates the trust that GMA has given her.

“Fortunately, mas madali po siya sa amin (it’s easier for us),” answered Elle when asked about her and Derrick’s experience as a couple working together. “Wala pa naman kaming disadvantage na nakikita, except for maghihintayan po kami kapag hindi pa tapos yung eksena nung isa (we haven’t seen any disadvantage so far, except for the waiting part if one has still scenes to take).”

“I think it’s a big advantage because we’re very open to each other. We are very straightforward in terms of our work. So, ‘pag may makita kaming mali sa isa’t-isa, sasabihin namin kahit hurtful siya. So, there’s room for improvement for us,” added she.

Although it’s the character Amira, played by Elle, who gets hurt in the series, Elle’s emotionally charged and physically demanding scenes, in some way, leave Derrick affected.

That’s the only disadvantage he could think of.

To help Elle de-role, and recharge for the next taping day if one may add, Derrick is willing to do whatever she asks him, like cooking a meal for her. This is his way to “comfort” her. “Try to make her life easier,” said he.

After being powerless, Amira will find her strength and learn to fight back.

Given that change in the character, Elle was also asked if it’s easier to play someone, who is being bullied or someone who is ready to exact revenge?

“Hindi ko po masabi, pero gustong gusto ko na pinagdaanan ko yung parehas na inaapi, pati yung paghihiganti (I can’t say.

As an actress, I like that I’ve gone through those aspects of my character’s life),” said she. “Kung hindi ko po pinagdaanan yung inaapi (yung character ko) na ganun ka-intense, hindi ko din po matatapatan yung emotion na gustong gusto kong gumanti (If my character had not been bullied in an intense way, I wouldn’t be able to understand and tap the emotion or feeling of taking revenge).” g

Kathryn as she enters her solo era...

PAGE 14 in general. I want to do the things I haven’t done before. I want to continue doing things I [enjoy],” she said. “If a woman is happy and contented, hindi mo na kailangang i-explain ang sarili mo. It just radiates and shows and maybe ‘yun ang nakikita ng mga tao… I’m at peace.”

“I’m gonna be okay… Ako ‘yung klaseng tao na ayaw kong hindi ko hawak ang buhay ko. Ayaw ko ng nag-dictate sa’kin,” she further added.

(I want to prioritize myself in general. I want to do the things I haven’t done before. I want to continue doing things I enjoy. If a woman is happy and contented, you don’t have to explain yourself. It just radiates and shows and maybe that’s what people see in you. I’m at peace. I’m gonna be okay. I’m the type of person who hates it when I don’t have control of my life. I don’t

want people to dictate to me.)

In terms of her career, Bernardo said she’s “really open” to work with anyone as it allows her to grow. “I’m really open to working with different leading men or different women na alam kong may matutunan pa ako (I will learn something from them).”

“I feel na ang dami kong opportunities and gusto ko lang i-open ang doors ko sa lahat ng opportunities na ‘yun (I feel like I have more opportunities now and I want to open my doors to those opportunities),” she continued.

Bernardo, who marked her 20th year in showbiz, reaffirmed her dedication to Star Magic in a grand contract signing event on Feb. 2.

She also admitted that she received many offers from other networks and talent agencies, however, she is firm that she will remain with ABS-CBN and Star Magic. g

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 9-15, 2024 15

Gloc-9 brings Pinoy rap and reggae...

PAGE 12 Entertainment, said, “I’m honored to finally be producing the first-ever Pinoy rap and reggae tour here in the Land Down Under. The reception from our kababayan here, so far has been incredible. We can’t wait to showcase more Filipino talent here in Australia.”

Numinous X Asintada Australian Tour 2024 is also presented by Daybreak, Entertainment Media, and Zion Productions, with support from Numinous Philippines, Asintada Mgmt and Prod. Inc., and ImmiCo Consultancy.

As for the lineup of songs that Gloc-9 and fellow artists are curating for the Australian gigs, he had this to say: “I’ll be performing old songs and new songs. I also have collaborations with the artists that I’m with on this tour. So, it’ll be fun.”

So far, Gloc-9 has recorded and released 11 albums with songs such as Bagsakan, Takipsilim, Sirena, and Rotonda. The beautiful challenge for him is to pick the ones that the audience can resonate with. His choices will be complemented by signature tunes from, let’s say, Chocolate Factory like Kung Ika’y Akin, Ilalim, One Love, Sexy Lady, Paglipad, and Letra.

With that, a fusion of Pinoy rap and reggae

is for the taking.

“None really. I always prepare for every show, small or big, locally or abroad,” said Gloc-9 about the slight difference in his preparations for the Australian tour as compared to the earlier ones. “Every show is fulfilling the dream that I asked for.”

That is to engage listeners with the melodies and the narratives in his songs, if one may say. His works present issues on corruption, poverty, prostitution, the situations of OFWs and the LGBT community, and reincarnation.

Gloc-9 just tells them as stories and doesn’t sound preachy. Listening to any of his albums is a way to get to know him as well.

“That’s why I keep on telling everyone to listen to my songs every time I have a new album. So, they will know me on a personal level,” said Gloc-9 in a published article for his Rotonda album. “Through my songs, they will get to know me better, the way I have written the songs, the way I tell the stories, makikilala ninyo ako ng mas-personal.”

Aside from the Australian tour, is there a new song or album that fans can expect from him?

“I just finished recording my 12th album, Sari Sari story,” said he. g

‘Firefly,’ ‘GomBurZa,’ Vilma Santos...

PAGE 14 Award, which was previously announced, in recognition of her outstanding work in films directed by Philippine cinema’s finest filmmakers, including the late great Lino Brocka. Actress Pinky De Leon presented the award, named after the late pioneering community leader Manibog, to Koronel.

MIFF presented Trailblazer Awards to Filipino American actor Mark Dacascos; Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr., the Philippines’ Secretary of the Interior and Local Government; and Romando “Don” Artes, overall chairman of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). Rochelle Ona, MMFF executive director, received MIFF’s award of recognition.

The hosts, presenters and performers included Kaladkaren, Eisel Serrano, Mark Dacascos, Janella Salvador, Piolo Pascual, Alden Richards, Eugene Domingo, Dingdong Dantes, Dessa, Janice Javier, Troy Laureta, Lisa Lew, Winston Emano, Janet Nepales and Ruben Nepales The 10 films that debuted in America at the MIFF were entries in last December’s MMFF, the most successful, box office-wise, in MMFF’s almost half a century of existence.

At the MIFF screenings in Hollywood, many of these movies were shown to soldout or packed theaters: Jun

Robles Lana’s “Becky and Badette,” starring Eugene Domingo and Pokwang; Lemuel C. Lorca’s “Broken Heart’s Trip” (Christian Bables); Nuel Naval’s “Family of Two (A Mother and Son Story)” (Sharon Cuneta and Alden Richards); Zig Dulay’s “Firefly” (Alessandra De Rossi and Euwenn Mikaell); Pepe Diokno’s “GomBurZa” (Enchong Dee, Dante Rivero and Cedrick Juan); King Palisoc’s “(K)Ampon” (Beauty Gonzalez and Derek Ramsay); Derick Cabrido’s “Mallari” (Piolo Pascual and Janella Salvador); Jason Paul Laxamana’s “Penduko” (Matteo Guidicelli and Kylie Verzosa); Mae Cruz-Alviar’s “Rewind” (Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes); and Conrado Peru, Rommel Penesa and Christopher de Leon’s “When I Met You in Tokyo” (Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon).

Other talents who flew from Manila to introduce their films, participate in after-screening Q and As and informative and fruitful panels conducted throughout the five-day festival were John Arcilla, the first Filipino actor to win the Volpi Cup for best actor in the 2021 Venice Film Festival (for Erik Matti’s “On the Job: The Missing 8”), Cedrick Juan, Enchong Dee, Beauty Gonzalez, Ysabel Ortega, Christian Bables, Marvin Yap and Christopher de Leon.

Key figures from Manila included Film Development

Council of the Philippines’ (FDCP) Tirso Cruz III and Jose Javier Reyes, chairman and consultant, respectively; Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo, actress and MMFF executive committee member; and Noel Ferrer, MMFF spokesperson.

Metro Manila mayors, who were in Los Angeles for a study tour, also graced the gala.

MIFF, the first and biggest celebration of Philippine cinema in the U.S., highlighted by the largest gathering of Filipino and Filipino American stars and filmmakers, was a huge undertaking organized by the LA-based MIFF founders – Omen Ortiz, chairman; Ebradu Udarbe, president; Lisa Lew, executive producer; Ruben Nepales and Janet Nepales, media relations consultants; and Celia Abaya Dy, ticketing manager.

Also on the MIFF team who went all out to make the historic festival happen are Leo Dela Cruz, chief financial officer; Erickson Ilog, chief operations officer; Ron Ramores, chief marketing officer; Meriden Angeles, coordinating producer; and Winston Emano, consulting producer.

MIFF, hailed for championing and showcasing Filipino cinema in the United States and beyond, thanks its sponsors and volunteers for helping make that possible.

More information at www. manilainternationalfilmfest. com. g

16 FEBRUARY 9-15, 2024 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426