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FEBRUARY 10-16, 2022 Volume 33 - No. 6 • 12 Pages

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DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

US: Evidence proves Quiboloy’s offenses THE United States Department of Justice pursued prosecution of the case against Apollo Quiboloy as evidence and facts supported violations of U.S. criminal law, the agency said.

Nicole Navas Oxman, senior communications advisor for International Law Enforcement spokesperson, noted that the “Federal Bureau of Investigation’s release of a wanted poster for fugitive Apollo Quiboloy follows a multi-year law enforcement effort.”

“The U.S. Department of Justice pursues prosecutions when the evidence and the facts support violations of U.S. criminal law and cause us to seek an indictment from the grand jury and the grand jury returns an indictment,” Oxman said in an email to The Star.

Nevada lifts public mask mandate immediately

by AJPRESS NEVADA Governor Steve Sisolak on Thursday, Feb. 10 announced an immediate end to the state’s mask mandate as coronavirus case numbers continue to decrease.

Masks will no longer be required in public settings, regardless of vaccination status, the governor announced in a speech.

“Masks will no longer be required in public places, but there are still some locations where you may be asked to wear a mask,” Sisolak said.

Face coverings will be enforced in certain high-risk

settings, such as hospitals and nursing homes, and are encouraged for individuals who are at high risk and have underlying health issues.

Further, teachers and students will not be required to wear masks at school, starting Friday, February 11. But the governor said school districts are free to have their own face mask policies on campus and cannot conflict with requirements placed by a county government or local health authorities. The school districts and local health agencies will also be tasked with outlining plans in place in the event of an outbreak.

Thursday’s announcement came as Nevada’s

by NEIL

VP Harris swears in members of President’s Commission on AANHPIs

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Bongbong-Inday Sara tandem begins 2022 campaign at PH Arena

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UNITED States President Kamala Harris and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra on Thursday, Feb. 3 swore in 23 members, including three Filipina American community leaders, of President Joe Biden’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs).

They were joined by U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai, who serves as Commission Co-Chair alongside Secretary Becerra and delivered congratulatory remarks.

In December, Biden appointed the members to advise him on AANHPIs issues.

Among them are Amy Agbayani, Teresita Batayola and Luisa Blue representing the FilAm community.

“We know there’s still a lot of work to do in an affirmative way, in a purposeful way, in an intentional way about ensuring that people are engaged, that they are involved, and that we are relevant to the way that they are experiencing and living life, and that we are connected with their goals and their dreams for themselves, for their families, and for their community. And that’s why it’s so important to have you all as the leaders that you are together in this advisory group, because the work that you will do is to give us candid feedback,” said Harris to the

seven-day average of new cases is 1,574 per day versus 6,300 new cases in January.

Currently, there are 800 fewer individuals hospitalized with COVID compared to the previous month.

“I’m hopeful that we’ll continue that downward trend,” Sisolak said. “I’m hopeful that this will not cause an increase in hospitalizations as we move forward.”

Employees can continue to wear masks if they choose and employers are prohibited from creating policies that prevent the use of masks by employees, according to the emergency directive.

WELCOME TO PH. Flying in from Thailand, British tourist Keith Saunders says he is elated to visit the Philippines again in a press conference at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on Thursday, February 10. Nearly two years into the pandemic, the Philippines reopened its doors again to foreign travelers.

PNA photo by Avito Dalan

ARWIN MERCADO

MANILA — Red and green flooded the Philippine Arena in Bulacan on Tuesday, February 8 as the tandem of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte-Carpio kicked off their presidential and vicepresidential campaign for the May 9 elections.

According to the camp of Marcos Jr., at least 25,000 supporters flocked to the Philippine Arena, dubbed as the world’s largest indoor stadium.

Atty. Vic Rodriguez, spokesperson of Marcos Jr., assured that minimum public health protocols were observed during the launch.

The tandem also formally introduced their senatorial slate during their proclamation activity.

All of the tandem’s 11 senatorial bets were present for the event. The tandem’s senatorial slate currently includes Juan Miguel Zubiri, Sherwin Gatchalian, Rodante Marcoleta, Larry Gadon, Loren Legarda,

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Duterte not endorsing any bet ‘at this time’

by HELEN

FLORES Philstar.com

MANILA — President Duterte considers all those gunning for the presidency in the May 9 elections “qualified,” but he is supporting none of them “at this time.”

In his taped Talk to the People aired Monday, February 7 the President revealed that “almost all of the candidates” sought his endorsement.

“Almost all of the candidates, in one way or the other, communicated to me to talk, to… ask for support. I may, in the end, if I see that it would be… my advice and maybe endorsement would help if needed. But at this time, I am saying that I am not supporting anybody,” Duterte

said in Filipino and English. “Unless there is a compelling reason really for me to change my mind and decide to support a candidate.”

Duterte said all presidential aspirants are qualified, but he has reservations on the “danger” of falling into what he considered a trap of communists.

“All of them are… I would say at this time, they are all qualified, whoever they are, those running now are qualified to be president,” he said.

“I find them OK except for a few misgivings about the danger of falling into the hands of… well, getting into a trap Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat with the communists,” the President said.

“We are fighting a war that has been

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Pacquiao gets in his biggest fight yet, the one for president

by GAEA

KATREENA CABICO

Philstar.com

GENERAL SANTOS — Manny Pacquiao, a world champion boxer-turned-politician, launched his 2022 presidential campaign — a bid centered on fighting corruption and poverty — in his hometown General Santos City on Tuesday, February 8.

Pacquiao, whose rag-to-riches rise has inspired many people, With an emphasis on his rags-to-riches story, senator Manny Pacquiao officially starts his believes he should succeed President Rodrigo Duterte as opening salvo for the 2022 presidential elections in home town General Santos City.

Philstar.com photo by Efigenio Toledo the country’s leader because he

Philstar.com file photo

PH ready for int’l travel since 2020 - DOT chief

by ROSETTE

ADEL

Philstar.com

MANILA — Tourism Secretary Bernadette RomuloPuyat said the country is ready to welcome vaccinated tourists from visa-free countries, adding that the Philippines has been ready since 2020.

During the Kapihan Sa Manila Bay virtual forum on Wednesday, February 9, Puyat expressed excitement over the reopening of international travel saying February 10 could mark the beginning of the “next chapter” in the tourism travel sector’s road to recovery.

Before the pandemic, the  PAGE 2

knows what it’s like to be poor.

“By the grace of God, sisiguraduhin ko ang bawat isa sa inyo, ang bawat Pilipino, panalo sa laban ni Manny Pacquiao,” he told thousands of people gathered at the city’s Oval Plaza.

“Sisiguraduhin ko ang bawat Pilipino may trabaho at hinahanap ng trabaho at sisiguraduhin ko sa inyo na walang mahirap na innagrabyado at inaapi.”

He is running under the Progressive Movement for the Devolution of Initiatives (PROMDI)

country recorded 8.26 million tourist arrivals in 2019.

The number of visitors declined to 1.48 million in 2020.

“These are exciting times for Philippine tourism. We have been ready since 2020; with the significant dwindling of new COVID cases, the Department of Tourism (DOT) can now push forward with our plans and programs for the full recovery of the Philippine tourism industry,” Puyat said.

Late last month, the InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) approved the DOT’s proposal

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FEBRUARY 10-16, 2022 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

From The FronT Page

Nevada lifts public mask...

PAGE 1 Masks will still be required on public transportation, such as airplanes and buses, following federal laws.

As the pandemic continues,

even with the decrease in cases, the governor continued to highlight that individuals will continue to wear masks despite the end of the mandate.

“I want kindness to be just as

contagious as COVID is,” Sisolak said. “COVID-19 has brought out the best and the worst in society.”

California earlier this week announced that the indoor mask mandate will end on Feb. 15.

US: Evidence proves Quiboloy’s...

PAGE 1

The wanted poster for the Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder, she said, is unrelated to the Philippines’ ongoing presidential election campaign.

Oxman declined to comment on the extradition or a possible U.S. request for the provisional arrest of Quiboloy, President Duterte’s close friend and spiritual adviser.

“As a matter of policy, the U.S. Department of Justice generally does not comment on extradition-related matters until a defendant is in the United States,” she added.

The televangelist was indicted Kingdom of Jesus Christ church founder Apollo Quiboloy Photo from Facebook/Pastor Apollo Quiboloy for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and children; sex trafficking by force, and bulk cash smuggling. (Pia coercion and sex trafficking of fraud and coercion; conspiracy, Lee-Brago/Philstar.com)

NORTH MEETS SOUTH. Wearing their trademark red and green colors, presidential aspirant and former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte, dubbed as UniTeam, bump fists during their proclamation rally at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan on Tuesday, February 8. In his speech, Marcos said their tandem is a good example of unity between the north and the south, the team’s campaign battle cry.

PNA photo by Avito Dalan

Bongbong-Inday Sara tandem begins...

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Jinggoy Estrada, Mark Villar, Harry Roque, Gilbert Teodoro, Herbert Bautista, and Gringo Honasan.

Rodriguez said Marcos Jr. and Duterte-Carpio are planning to complete their senatorial list and may announce the candidate for the 12th spot in the coming days.

The choice of venue, the Philippine Arena, had raised speculations that Iglesia ni Cristo

(INC) would endorse Marcos Jr. and Duterte-Carpio. INC owns the Philippine Arena.

Rodriguez, however, denied this.

“You’re reading too much between the lines. We have not said anything close to that. Ito ay venue lamang,” Rodriguez told reporters.

“Kaya namin ito napili sapagkat ito ang pinakamalaki at maaaring mag-accommodate sa libu-libo naming mga supporters and

followers,” he added.

INC backed the 2016 vice presidential bid of Marcos Jr., who eventually lost to incumbent Vice President Leni Robredo. It also backed President Rodrigo Duterte, the father of DuterteCarpio.

Based on the most recent Pulse Asia survey released in December 2021, Marcos Jr. and Duterte-Carpio lead the presidential and vice presidential race, respectively. g

Pacquiao gets in his biggest fight yet...

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BUSINESS IN BLOOM. Flowers and bouquets of different shapes and sizes are displayed at a stall at the Dangwa Flower Market in Manila, days before Valentine’s Day on Thursday, Feb. 10. Flower prices have skyrocketed ahead of the occasion, with a bouquet of red roses being sold for P1,300 against the usual price range of P500 to P600.

PNA photo by Rico H. Borja

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alongside Rep. Lito Atienza (Buhay party-list). A rift within the administration PDP-Laban party has left it without an official standard-bearer, with Pacquiao running under an allied party and the candidate from the rival wing eventually withdrawing.

Pacquiao, one of the greatest pound-for-pound boxers of all time, is now facing his biggest and toughest battle yet: a bid for presidency.

Despite his popularity, Pacquiao and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso tied at the third spot in a survey conducted by Pulse Asia last December, with just eight percent of voter support. The son and namesake of ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos topped the poll.

Philanthropic politician Marites Limas, a fish vendor in the country’s tuna capital, said Filipinos should give Pacquiao a chance because he is kind and helpful, citing his housing project in neighboring Sarangani province.

“Hindi naman siguro gaya ng sinasabi ng iba na basehan ‘yung kaaalaman sa pag-upo sa pagka-presidente. I-try lang nila si Manny baka makita nila kung ano ‘yung kakayahan niya o anong magagawa niya sa ating bansa,” Limas said.

(I don’t think you can base the ability to be president on education. They should give Manny a try, they might see what he can do for the country) She hopes the politician

with a rags-to-riches story.

Moreno is a former garbage collector from the slums of Tondo and movie actor before leading the nation’s capital city.

Vice President Leni Robredo and labor leader Leody de Guzman can also adopt the self-made narrative, Presto also said.

Mindanao vote?

In his campaign kickoff in General Santos, Pacquiao was joined by broadcaster Raffy Tulfo and former Senate secretary Lutz Barbo—both running for seats in the upper chamber.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian was represented by his girlfriend Bianca Manalo.

Recorded messages of bets who were not in the city were played in the venue.

Pacquiao’s running mate Atienza was unable to join the opening rally because he was nursing a sprain. He said that Pacquiao will elevate the lives of Filipinos and urged supporters of Marcos to back a different “BBM”—“Buong Bansa, Manny.”

If he wins in the May elections, Pacquiao will be the second president from Mindanao. For that to happen, he needs to campaign hard and spend money on ads and campaign machinery, said Tony La Viña, former dean of the Manila-based Ateneo School of Government.

“I am not sure if he can win the presidency just on that. But this candidacy could viable if he captures that vote (from Visayas and Mindanao),” he said.g

VP Harris swears in members of President’s...

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will address the problem of joblessness and raise the minimum wage of workers.

Michael Yusingco, senior research fellow at the Ateneo School of Government said Pacquiao being a nice person may not be enough.

“It is quite obvious that Senator Pacman does not exude ‘statesman’ even though he appears very decent and appealing all the time,” he said. “ And the fact that he has no track record in public office to boast about, makes it very hard to convince undecided voters that he can be our president. “ 22-round agenda Pacquiao has a “22-round agenda” for the Philippines, with key themes focused on eradicating corruption, providing employment and houses for Filipinos, improving the country’s healthcare system, and boosting economic development.

Sociologist Athena “Ash” Presto said that since Pacquiao does not have a “favorable” political career, he needs to provide Filipinos concrete plans on how he would lead a country of 10 million people.

“Aside from his brand as a good philantropist, aside from his identity as coming from the people and having a heart for the people... his political run has been marred by absenteeism and very anti-human rights stances,” she told Philstar.com.

She added that Pacquiao is not the only presidential candidate

commissioners on Thursday.

“On behalf of the president and myself, thank you yet again for the life that you have chosen to live, which has been a life of leadership and service.”

Agbayani is an Emeritus Assistant Vice Chancellor for student diversity and equity, University of Hawai’i at Manoa.

Agbayani was born in the Philippines and received her education from the University of the Philippines, East West Center and the University of Hawai’i. She is a former chair of the Hawai’i Civil Rights Commission, conducts research on AANHPI in higher education, member of the Patsy T.Mink PAC and The Legal Clinic for immigrant justice Hawai’i.

Batayola is the President and Chief Executive Officer of International Community Health Services, Washington state’s largest Asian and Pacific Islander non-profit health center providing comprehensive health care to all those who need affordable care, especially immigrants and refugees. Batayola is an advocate for health care access, equity, and addressing social determinants of health. ICHS has received awards for its high quality of care and Batayola has been recognized in the Puget Sound Business Journal’s Award for Outstanding Business & Philanthropic

Contributions, Woman of Courage Undaunted from the University of Washington Women’s Center, and the Filipino Women’s Network’s Most Influential Filipino Woman in the World.

Blue retired from the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) in August 2020 after serving as an Executive Vice President for four years, one of the highest ranking AAPI officials in the labor movement. During her term was responsible for the SEIU Asian Pacific Islanders Civic Engagement and Leadership program, a member of the Racial Justice Task Force, chair of the Environmental and Climate Justice Committee, and chair of the Ethical Culture Committee.

She served on the SEIU Executive Board prior to her election as Executive Vice President. Luisa continues to be active in the community and serves on the Asian Health Services Community Board, a Trustee on Alameda County Health Systems Board of Trustees, and Vice President of the AAPI Victory Alliance Board. Luisa is the proud grandmother of seven grandchildren.

The Commission will advise the president on ways the public, private, and non-profit sectors can work together to advance equity and opportunity for every Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI)

community. The Commission is also charged with advising the president on policies to address anti-Asian xenophobia and violence, ways to build capacity in AANHPI communities through federal grantmaking and policies to address the intersectional barriers that AANHPI women, LGBTQ+ people, and people with disabilities face. The Commission will include civic leaders from across the country and will reflect the rich diversity of AANHPI communities across the United States.

Other commissioners include Ajay Bhutoria, Kimberly Chang, Emily Chen, Daniel Dae Kim, Kerry Doi, Grace Huang, Victoria Huynh, Mia Ives-Rublee, Kamal Kalsi, Michelle Kauhane, Kevin Kim, Sarah Min, Simon Pang, Aijen Poo, Naheed Qureshi, Raynald Samoa, Sonal Shah, Smita Shah, Robert Underwood, and KaYing Yang.

Biden on May 28, 2021 signed Executive Order 14031, “Advancing Equity, Justice, and Opportunity for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders” to establish the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) and deliver on his commitment to reinstate and reinvigorate this historic Initiative. (AJPress)

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Duterte not endorsing any bet...

PAGE 1

going on for the past 53 years and we do not want to exacerbate the situation by electing a president who would – not really – but to compromise the interest of the government,” he said.

Asked whether the PDP-Laban faction, chaired by Duterte, is also not endorsing a presidential bet following Duterte’s remark, Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles said the party has yet to reach a consensus on the matter.

“The PDP-Laban is still talking about this, the national executive committee as well as the leaders of the PDP Laban,” Nograles said at a press briefing on Monday.

“The consensus building and decision-making of the PDPLaban is still going,” he said.

“What the President said last night was at this time he does not support any candidate but he also said that ‘unless there is a compelling reason for me to change my mind,’” Nograles said.

Duterte’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, is running in tandem with presidential aspirant Ferdinand Marcos Jr. In his public address in January, the President said he would expose the characters of those seeking the presidency “in due time.”

He described one political hopeful as “too corrupt” and another as not ripe for the presidency.

His daughter and her running mate Marcos officially kicked off their campaign on Tuesday, February 8, promising national unity should they win in the May 9 elections.

The event was held at Philippine Arena in Bulacan, considered the world’s largest arena.

“We here in the Philippines, all of us overcame past crises because we were united. Now we need to again unite as we face this pandemic, because even the most competent and hardworking could only do so much if they are alone,” he said in Filipino.

The former senator said his tandem with Duterte-Carpio represents the collective desire of the people to really unite for the betterment of everyone and the country.

“That’s why the DuterteMarcos tandem is a very significant symbol because if the one coming from the North and the other from the South join forces, I think the two of us can unite the entire Philippines,” Marcos pointed out.

The Philippine Arena has seating capacity for 55,000 people, but organizers said only 25,000 would be allowed to witness the event in compliance with government’s health protocols.

Bulacan Vice Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado, who is seeking the gubernatorial post under PDP-Laban Cusi wing, vowed to support the tandem of Marcos and Duterte-Carpio.

This developed as the senatorial candidates of the UniTeam also began their campaign on Tuesday, with House Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda firing the first salvo at the Liberman Gymnasium in Pandan, Antique, her home province.

The three-term senator vowed to launch a campaign focused on employment generation and green pandemic recovery for every Filipino family.

“The crisis of unemployment is one of the major problems that needs to be addressed urgently. My goal is to strengthen government interventions to give our people hope, especially the poorest of our poor, belonging to the most vulnerable and marginalized sectors of our country, an assurance that they are given priority and adequate assistance as we tread on the path towards sustainable and green pandemic recovery,” Legarda said.

People’s crusade Clad in pink, supporters of Vice President Leni Robredo across the country and abroad joined on Tuesday, February 8 the official start of her three-month presidential campaign with mini-rallies and motorcades, which her supporters call people’s crusade.

Robredo herself and her running mate Sen. Francis Pangilinan, together with members of their Senate slate, motored to Camarines Sur – her home province – where they were warmly welcomed by their supporters. Pink is Robredo’s campaign color.

Members of Robredo’s Senate slate who joined her campaign kickoff in Camarines Sur were

Dateline USa

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, former Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat, lawyers Chel Diokno, Alex Lacson and Sonny Matula.

Detained Sen. Leila de Lima sent a representative.

“It is only timely and proper to start the hardest fight of my life here. Thank you for joining me.

Thank you for your sacrifices,” the 56-year-old Robredo said in remarks before supporters in Libmanan in Camarines Sur. Her late husband, former interior secretary Jesse Robredo. served as Naga City mayor for six terms.

“Unless we change the old and rotten kind of politics, unless we give our countrymen hope and inspiration, nothing will really change,” she said.

Also with Robredo in her first day of campaigning were her three daughters – Aika, Tricia and Jillian – during her motorcade from the town of Lupi to the municipality of Libmanan earlier in the day.

Abroad, Robredo’s supporters gathered in front of the Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne, Australia, to express their support for Robredo and Pangilinan. A video posted on Facebook showed Robredo’s supporters, donned in pink clothes, chanting “Gobyernong Tapat, Angat Buhay Lahat!”

“We offer to you this campaign, this journey toward the fulfillment of our promise of prosperous and bright future. A future where this is no hunger for food, justice, love and care,” Pangilinan said in Filipino.

Raucous welcome Manila Mayor Isko Moreno also kicked off his campaign on Tuesday for the presidency with a caravan around the city.

He engaged his supporters by signing framed photos and dancing with them on top of his caravan vehicle with his running mate Dr. Willie Ong and three senatorial candidates – Samira Gutoc, Jopet Sison and Carl Balita.

But social distancing proved difficult to implement in Manila, the country’s most densely populated city, his campaign organizers admittted.

Moreno himself took off his mask and some of his supporters had their masks down to their chins as they cheered their candidate on.

At a press briefing, Moreno’s PAGE 5

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 10-16, 2022

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Biden names new US ambassador to PH PRESIDENT Joe Biden has named career diplomat MaryKay Loss Carlson as the next United States ambassador to the Philippines, a position vacant for more than a year since Sung Kim ended his fouryear tour of duty in Manila in Oct. 2020.

Carlson currently serves as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Previously, she worked as Deputy Chief of Mission in New Delhi, India for three years and as ad interim CDA for 10 months; and as principal Deputy Executive Secretary of the Secretary of State in Washington, D.C. She has been a foreign service officer since 1985 after earning her degree in Spanish and International Studies from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee and Master of Arts in International Relations from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. She also served at diplomatic missions in China, Ukraine, Hong Kong, Mozambique, Kenya, and the Dominican

Carlson worked as Deputy Chief of Mission in New Delhi, India for three years and as ad interim CDA for 10 months. She currently serves as same at the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Photo from US.GOV

Republic.

“The biggest lesson I learned is the need to treat each applicant with respect,” Carlson said in an interview with the Rhodes College website in 2019.

“Consular officers are the face of the United States, and how we treat applicants, even those who don’t qualify for

visas, matters.”

Heather Variava has been the U.S. Embassy’s ad interim Chargé d’Affaires (CDA) – the embassy’s official representative in the absence of an ambassador — since September last year, succeeding John Law. (Inquirer.net)

PH ready for int’l travel since 2020...

PAGE 1

to allow the entry of fully vaccinated tourists coming from the 157 countries that have visa-free arrangements with the Philippines.

The task force also dropped the color-coded classification system of countries based on their COVID-19 status.

The tourism chief said the opening of the borders to eligible foreign visitors could help the millions of Filipinos working in tourism-related establishments and businesses get back on their feet.

“Allowing the entry of these international travelers is a welcome development that will lead to growth in the travel and tourism sector, the restoration of lost jobs, the generation of much needed revenue for tourism-related enterprises, tourism communities and the government, plus many other benefits that will be felt by the entire tourism value chain,” Puyat said.

Health and safety protocols in place She said that the DOT has implemented health and safety protocols for arriving travelers.

“I am excited about the prospects of a healthy rebound in tourism for a good number of reasons: the high vaccination rate among our tourism workers, the public health safeguards and guidelines that have been put in place and the number of new tourism circuits that have been developed,” Puyat said.

According to DOT, 92.51% or 317,892 of 349,534 tourism workers already received their COVID-19 shots as of February 4.

Puyat also said a number of tourism destinations have 100% vaccination rate among its workers. These are Baguio City; Aurora; Palawan towns Coron, El Nido and San Vicente ; Puerto Princesa City, and Camiguin island.

“The DOT offices are also facilitating the roll-out of booster shots for eligible tourism workers,” Puyat said.

Meanwhile, Puyat stressed that fully vaccinated Filipino nationals and foreign tourists are exempt from the 5,000-passenger arrivals cap set by the Department of Transportation and its OneStop-Shop.

Based on the IATFEID Resolution 160-B, unvaccinated foreign children below 12 who are traveling with their Filipino parent/s, will be allowed entry and must follow the entry, testing and quarantine protocols that apply to their parent/s.

On the other hand, minors aged 12 to 17 are required to follow the protocols based on their vacation status. They must also be accompanied by their parents during their facility-based-quarantine.

An individual is considered fully vaccinated if he or she received the second dose of COVID-19 jab or a single dose vaccine more than 14 days before the date and time of the departure from the country of origin, according to IATFEID’s resolution.

Last week, Puyat reminded tourists that while the international visitors are not required to undergo facility-based quarantine, they must still continue selfmonitoring and report to the local government unit of their destination should they exhibit any symptoms of the virus. g

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FEBRUARY 10-16, 2022 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

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Dateline PDuterte hiliPPines not endorsing any bet...

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 10-16, 2022

PAGE 3

Vice President Leni Robredo launches her presidential campaign in her hometown of Naga City on Tuesday, February 8.

Philstar.com photo by Jazmin Tabuena

Robredo’s campaign kicks off in hometown Naga with promise of new politics

by Xave

GreGorio Philstar.com

NAGA CITY — Vice President Leni Robredo returned to her roots in Naga City to launch her campaign for the presidency, promising to bring to the country the brand of leadership she is known for in her bailiwick of Bicol.

A crowd gathered for Robredo’s grand rally on Friday at Plaza Quezon, where she was joined by her running mate Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and eight of her 12 senatorial candidates.

Prior to the rally, the Robredo-Pangilinan ticket had

barnstormed the towns of Lupi, Libmanan and Tigaon, and the city of Iriga in Camarines Sur, where they received a warm welcome from residents.

It comes as no surprise that Robredo started campaigning in her bailiwick, the Bicol region, as she won by landslide here in the 2016 vice presidential race despite other Bicolanos running against her.

For 2022, Robredo said she is also counting on the “solid” Bicolano vote, which amounts to around 3.6 million voters as of 2019.

But Robredo said Bicolanos should vote for her not solely because she is one of them,

but because of the kind of governance she has to offer.

“That’s the kind of governance that is honest, sensible and competent, without corruption, without strife, without deception,” Robredo said in Filipino at her campaign stop in Libmanan.

While Robredo’s voter base is strong in Bicol, she still has a lot of catching up to do to displace survey frontrunner former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, who enjoys a double-digit lead over the vice president.

But should she pull off this Hail Mary, it would be her third time defeating the deposed

ruary 10.

Non-accountable forms and supplies are set to be dispatched on February 16 from the Comelec warehouse in Quezon City to provincial and city treasurers in priority areas, it added a statement.

VCMs, consolidation and canvassing system (CCS) machines and transmission equipment meanwhile will be deployed from April 2 to 19.

The Comelec also said that offi-

cial ballots and indelible ink from the National Printing Office will be sent to the city and municipal treasurers from April 20 to May 5.

News5 reported that as of February 8, 17,502,631 ballots have been printed as of February 8.

“Notice has been given to all political parties, political candidates, party-list groups and accredited citizens’ arms of the Commission through the modes

Deployment of election equipment starts MANILA — The Commission on Elections has started dispatch of equipment, peripherals, forms and supplies related to the 2022 national polls in May. “Election items that are ongoing deployment from the Comelec warehouse in Sta. Rosa Laguna to local hubs nationwide include the vote counting machine external batteries, until 31 March, and ballot boxes, until 10 April,” the commission said Thursday, Feb-

u PAGE 7

campaign manager Lito Banayo said it was difficult to implement the Commission on Elections (Comelec)’s guidelines for social distancing in a “noisy” Philippine election campaign.

Moreno’s proclamation rally Tuesday night was at the Kartilya ng Katipunan beside the Manila City Hall.

Partido Reporma standardbearer Sen. Panfilo Lacson and his running mate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, officially launched their campaign in Imus, Cavite. They promised to hold their campaign in a “disciplined” manner.

The city was chosen as the jump-off point of their campaign being the birthplace of Lacson, a former national police chief and now on his third and final term in the Senate.

Cavite is the country’s second vote-rich province with over 2.1 million voters in 2016.

Lacson was No. 1 in the province in the 2007 and 2016 senatorial elections. This is his second attempt at the presidency, the first being in 2004.

“We will wage a very disciplined campaign, especially that it is Alert Level 2 here and

there are alert levels in other parts of the country,” Lacson told a press conference three hours before the proclamation rally at the Imus Track and Field Oval and Grandstand.

“I was born here so I always kick-off my campaign here,” he said.

Sotto said the traditional campaign trail was for candidates to do a motorcade with few public meetings and stops and a major rally at night, most of the time causing disruption in traffic flow. But this campaign would obviously be different, he said.

Lacson and Sotto were unfazed by their standings in the latest surveys, saying much can change during the campaign.

“Surveys are a good guide but when Election Day approaches, you will see voters using both their heads and hearts in deciding who to vote,” Sotto said in Filipino.

The tandem is backed by three political parties in the country, namely Partido Reporma, which Lacson chairs; the Nationalist People’s Coalition chaired by Sotto; and the National Unity Party headed by their campaign manager, former Interior chief Ronaldo Puno.

5

Sen. Manny Pacquiao launched his campaign in his hometown General Santos City, with his running mate Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza.

Pacquiao launched his campaign with a promise of an honest and prosperous government that can provide jobs for millions of Filipinos and one that can jail the corrupt.

While he has fallen out of favor with President Duterte, with whom he locked horns over the leadership of their political party PDP-Laban, Pacquiao said he would be continuing the legacy of the President.

“I will continue the legacy of what’s good for the country, like maintaining …

Build, Build, Build. That’s included in economic growth and development– – the infrastructure development.

They can expect an honest government and a prosperous government that can provide jobs,” Pacquiao said in Filipino at a press conference.

Pacquiao started off the campaign with a caravan of over 500 vehicles in the afternoon.

The event was attended by only two members of the Pacquiao-Atienza senatorial slate – Lutgardo Barbo,

SFIO receives letter of interest from US EXIM Bank for up to $28.75-M in debt financing STARFLEET Innotech, Inc. has received a letter of interest from the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM), in support of SFIO’s real estate development projects in the Philippines.

In their letter, EXIM, the official export credit agency of the United States, expressed interest in extending financing of up to $28.75 million, towards SFIO’s medical and retirement resort in Montemaria, Batangas, just south of Metro Manila in the Philippines. Potential debt financing from EXIM would be eligible for a maximum repayment term of seven years.

This follows a series of partnerships and exploratory talks SFIO has spearheaded

towards non-dilutive debt financing for its various projects.

SFIO is currently engaged with a number of local banks in the Philippines to secure similar financing arrangements for their real estate developments, including a bayside, eco-friendly tech village in Batangas.

These projects play a crucial role in the global asset

management company’s strategy of collaborative innovation towards building better communities. Profits from these high-yield projects are intended to be reinvested into future growth, helping carry the group towards their plans to uplist from the US OTC Markets to the NASDAQ by 2024.

(Advertising Supplement)

6

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O PINION Human capital development

FEATURES

EVEN before the pandemic, development experts had emphasized the need for better education and upskilling of the Philippine workforce. While the country has been one of the biggest global sources of migrant workers, most of them have been in blue collar jobs or household services. Filipino teachers took jobs overseas as maids or caregivers.

Even in business process outsourcing, the country has led mainly in voice services, thanks to Filipinos’ English proficiency. In skills BPO, however, other countries such as India are the world leaders. And even in English proficiency, the Philippines has been losing its edge, with several BPO companies reporting difficulties in recruiting workers with the required language skills.

With the global economic crisis spawned by the COVID pandemic, hundreds of thousands of overseas Filipino workers have lost their jobs and have been forced to return home. In a working paper, the Manila-based Asian Development Bank said the Philippines must intensify efforts to develop human capital, particularly for repatriated OFWs who will be reintegrated into the economy.

ADB economists said resources must be boosted for quality education and training. They said skills diversification is needed as workers must adapt and respond better to changes in the labor market.

Aside from re-skilling and upskilling, the ADB paper said reintegration can include tapping the skills of returning OFWs so they can help their communities transition to selfreliant microeconomies.

Considered modern-day heroes, OFWs and their remittances have powered the country’s consumption-driven economic growth and helped keep the economy afloat even during global downturns. The OFW phenomenon, however, has steep social costs, as even Pope Francis had pointed out when he visited the Philippines. And the country must pursue the long-term goal of creating enough decent job opportunities so Filipinos will see no need to seek greener pastures abroad.

Getting meaningful employment starts with proper education. Although education is now free all the way to college, there are still too many progress, with education officials attributing this Filipinos who cannot afford the miscellaneous costs to decades of neglect and smug complacency. and other demands of formal education. Improving The country is just starting to recover from its the quality of free education also remains a work in worst crisis since World War II. The success of

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

recovery will hinge in large part on the quality of a nation’s most precious resource, its people.

The pandemic should spur greater investments in human capital development. (Philstar.com)

Election season heats up in the Philippines: Who will succeed Rodrigo Duterte?

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS FEBRUARY 8, 2022 marked the official campaign season in the Philippines leading up to the May 9 Election Day. As the candidates held kickoff rallies in different places of the country, all eyes are on the most important position that will potentially change the trajectory of the country, for the better or for the worse, depending on who will win among the presidential candidates vying to succeed President Rodrigo Duterte.

This is how international news agency Reuters described the five leading contenders for the presidency: Panfilo “Ping” Lacson The 73-year-old senator and former Philippine National Police Chief has been in government for more than 50 years.

Lacson rose through the ranks in law enforcement starting off with a post at the PC Metropolitan Command (Metrocom) from the early 70s to Philippine National Police Chief from 1999-2001. He was a retired police officer when he ran for office and became Senator from 2001 to 2013, and again from 2016 to the present.

He was born in Imus Cavite and was educated in Philippine public school in elementary and high school. He earned his Bachelor of Arts Majoring in Philosophy at the Lyceum before going to the Philippine Military Academy.

If elected President, he wants to get rid of corruption and invest in health care and small businesses.

He chose former actor/ comedian and now Senator Vicente Tito Sotto III as his running mate.

Manny Pacquiao The 43-year-old boxing icon has earned the respect and admiration of people around for being the only man to hold world titles in eight different divisions.

This achievement also made him win the hearts of the Filipino people for the “Pinoy pride” he brought to the country.

It is a rags to riches story for the Pacman who amassed wealth from the sport. After he became a born-again Christian, he said he wanted to give back to the people by literally giving away money and aid to the needy.

This calling also compelled him to join politics and served two terms as a congressman

and is now a senator.

He retired from boxing in September and is now running for president with the campaign promise “to improve the healthcare system, eradicate corruption, spur economic growth and provide housing for the poor.”

Reuters reported that “Pacquiao was until recently one of Duterte’s staunchest supporters, backing his war on drugs and efforts to restore the death penalty, but their relationship has soured.” He also criticized Duterte for his close relationship with China.

He chose Jose “Lito” Atienza, a congressman and former Manila mayor and environment secretary.

Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso His claim to fame before entering the political arena was his being the celebrity matinee idol they call “Isko Moreno.”

Reuters described him as “The mayor of Manila and former movie heartthrob grew up in the slums, scrapping for leftover food in restaurants and collecting junk to help his parents.”

Isko reinvented himself, went to school to pursue higher

studies that would prepare him for a career in politics.

Reuters chronicled that: “He became a city council member in 1998 and Manila’s vicemayor for three terms before an unsuccessful run as senator.

He was elected Manila mayor in 2019, beating incumbent and deposed former president Joseph Estrada.”

Isko won the respect of the people of Manila and of the nation for cleaning up Manila and restoring many of its historic sites.

Domagoso’s campaign promise: “Zero tolerance of Chinese maritime aggression in the South China Sea and his economic agenda centres on housing, labour, health and infrastructure”.

Isko chose Willie Ong, a doctor who has 16 million followers on Facebook looking for free medical advice.

Leni Robredo Let me quote what Reuters stated: “Vice President Robredo, 56, is the leader of the opposition and the only female candidate.

A former human rights lawyer, she served as Duterte’s housing minister but quit after being excluded from cabinet

meetings and has become one his staunchest critics.

“After condemning what she called ‘senseless killings’ in his war on drugs, she was appointed Duterte’s ‘drugs tsar,’ but he sacked her after just 18 days.”

Robredo is pressing for public sector transparency and has vowed to lead a government that cares for the people and to bolster the medical system.

Should Robredo win, she would be the third woman to lead the Philippines after democracy champion Corazon Aquino in 1986 and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2001.

She is running with Francis Pangilinan, a lawyer and senator, and is currently in second place in the polls.

Bongbong Marcos According to Reuters: “The namesake of the late dictator, Marcos, 64, is a former governor, congressman and senator who has emerged as a clear frontrunner in opinion polls.

“Since returning to the Philippines in 1991 from exile after his father’s overthrow, the Marcos family has sought to rebuild an image tainted by the elder Marcos’ often brutal rule

and the plunder of billions of dollars of wealth.

“Known as ‘Bongbong,’ Marcos Jr. has named Sara Duterte-Carpio, Duterte’s daughter, as his candidate for vice president. However, the vice president is elected separately.

Popular with many younger people who were born after his father’s dictatorship, Marcos claims to offer a ‘unifying’ brand of leadership.

“Observers have attributed his lead in polls to a strong presence on social media, one that critics say is attempting to rewrite the family’s controversial history.” *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

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

What will happen to the billions of the ‘Son of God?’

Sentinel

RAMON TULFO ECCENTRIC religious leader Apollo Quiboloy, who styles himself as the “appointed son of God,” may soon be extradited to the United States after being indicted in a federal court for sex trafficking and money smuggling.

Quiboloy has been placed on the Wanted List of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The pastor of the Davaobased Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name may spend the rest of his life in a federal prison, sex trafficking being a very serious offense.

What will happen to his billions of pesos in the banks and investments in big corporations and real estate?

Quiboloy, one of the country’s richest and most powerful individuals in terms of assets and political connections, is not married and has no children.

Candidates for national office go to him for his “blessing,”

in order to win the vote of his followers, who number by the millions.

In the 2016 election, Quiboloy lent his jet and helicopter to then cash-strapped presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte so he could campaign throughout the country.

Quiboloy has two television channels and a radio network, the Sonshine Media Network International. The network also has an online presence.

The broadcast network has been handed to the pastor by the government on a silver platter.

If the charges against him are true, it’s unthinkable for Quiboloy, who tells his flock that sinners would suffer the fires of hell, to violate his very preaching.

Quiboloy claims to have stopped an earthquake in Mindanao on Oct. 29, 2019.

The preacher once made a veiled threat to a television host, a weirdo like him, by saying that celebrities should not be boastful.

Quiboloy said celebrities shouldn’t be boastful, or else bad things might happen to

them, like what happened to the sacrilegious Beatle, John Lennon, who was shot dead by a fan.

The grade-A eccentric pastor claims to have 4 million followers in the country, and 2 million in other parts of the world.

Many of his followers abroad are in the U.S., the reason he came to visit regularly.

On Quiboloy’s last trip to the U.S. on his private jet, federal agents seized gun parts and a big amount of cash on board. * * * Quiboloy is not the only eccentric leader in the country; there are others who scare the wits out of their followers with their fire and brimstone sermons.

The reason Filipinos are scared to offend religious leaders is that they believe these individuals represent God on earth.

That belief dates back to the Spanish era, when priests impregnated women followers, because “they served God’s purpose.”

Until Filipinos get rid of the notion that they can’t enter

heaven unless they blindly follow the teachings of their church, this country will continue to produce the likes of Quiboloy.

Pinoys need to have more education so they can have the power of discernment. * * * Reports that Quiboloy is President Digong Duterte’s spiritual adviser are downright inaccurate.

The two are good friends, and their friendship dates back many years.

I remember the time Davao City Mayor Duterte and I went on a three-day vacation to Macau years ago, and we were fetched at the Hong Kong airport by Quiboloy’s limousine.

The relationship between Digong and Quiboloy doesn’t go beyond friendship.

Digong is not guided by any religious dogma as he is spiritual. There is a big difference between religiosity and spirituality.

If the President doesn’t believe in priests being Christ’s representatives on earth, why would he believe that Quiboloy

is the anointed son of God? * * * Ferdinand Topacio, one of Quiboloy’s lawyers, says the candidacies of Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte are in jeopardy because the FBI would undermine “whichever candidate the U.S. does not want to win in this country.”

Duh! Why would Marcos and Duterte-Carpio’s candidacies be in peril because of Quiboloy being placed on the FBI’s wanted list?

Following Topacio’s logic, since Quiboloy endorsed Marcos and Duterte-Carpio during a recent visit with the controversial religious leader, the FBI might work for their defeat.

Quiboloy chose his lawyer well; they’re both eccentric. * * * Eccentricity is the name of the game in Philippine politics.

The more “unique” a candidate is, the more likely he’ll win. Voters will likely remember them at the polling booth.

Voters want to see their candidates sing, dance or

perform wacky acts on stage.

But Filipinos don’t have the monopoly of voting for peculiar candidates.

A porn star, Ilona Staller, won a seat in the Italian parliament in the 1987 election. She was known to show her breasts in public.

When Gen. Douglas MacArthur was a military commissioner in Japan in the post-war period, some prostitutes won in the first ever democratic election.

This made MacArthur comment to his subordinates: “They must have had many clients.” * * * Joke! Joke! Joke!

An applicant for unemployment benefits in Australia filled out the needed form.

Here are his answers to the following questionnaire: Occupation: Burglar.

Reason for unemployment: Everyone is home. *** 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.

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

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Number of unemployed Filipinos rises to 3.27 million in Dec. 2021

by Neil

ArwiN MercAdo, roNNel doMiNgo

VACCINATED. A boy flinches as he gets vaccinated against COVID-19 at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan City on Monday, February 7.

ManilaTimes.net photo by John Orven Verdote

Comelec junks Marcos DQ case THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) junked the disqualification case against former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for lack of merit, according to a Manila Times source that was privy to the ruling.

The ruling, which was reached with a 2-0 vote from a three-man panel of the First Division, was penned by Commissioner Aimee Ferolino and concurred by Commissioner Marlon Casquejo.

The Comelec first division said it recognized that the resolution for the case was of paramount importance, considering that the 2022 national and local elections were fast approaching.

However, the division said that the deprivation of one’s right to be voted for in any election should not be exercised whimsically and capriciously, lest “it will be preventing qualified candidates from pursuing a position in public

office”.

To erase doubts as to whether the failure to file tax returns is a crime involving moral turpitude, the poll body cited the pronouncement of the Supreme Court in the case of the Republic of the Philippines vs Ferdinand R. Marcos 2nd and Imelda R. Marcos wherein the high tribunal categorically ruled that “a failure to file a tax return is not a crime involving moral turpitude.” (ManilaTimes.net)

DND gets P1 billion worth of military, engineering equipment from China

by ZAcAriAN

SArAo

Inquirer.net

MANILA — The Department of National Defense (DND) received on Wednesday, February 9, P1 billion worth of military equipment from China for the rehabilitation of Marawi City and other humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations.

The equipment was donated by the Ministry of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China, according to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

“This military grant from China speaks volumes on how our two

nations can be civil, diplomatic, and friends despite some issues on territorial claims,” Lorenzana said at the ceremonial handover of the donated equipment.

The donation is made up of various rescue and relief equipment, drone systems, detectors, water purification vehicles, ambulances, firetrucks, X-ray machines, EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) robots, bomb disposal suits, transport vehicles, backhoes, dump trucks, forklifts, and earthmovers.

The shipment first arrived on Jan. 16, as part of a pledge by Chinese Gen. Wei Fenghe during his visit to Manila in 2020.

work,” the PSA noted.

910,000 more people who are in More Filipinos looking for jobs the labor force that took part in National Statistician Dennis the job market.

Inquirer.net Mapa said in a press briefing the In time with the holidays last MANILA — The unemploy- uptick was due to an increase year, the government had eased ment rate in the country slightly in the labor force participation mobility restrictions, allowing increased to 6.6 percent—or 3.27 rate — 65.1 percent in Decem- more people to go out and more million Filipinos—in December ber compared to 64.2 percent in businesses to operate. This was before a new round of surge in 2021, the Philippine Statistics November.

This means that more Filipinos COVID-19 infections, with the Authority (PSA) reported on 15 years and older actively looked Omicron variant spreading in the Thursday, February 10.

The PSA said the December for a job. Mapa said there were Philippines last January. g 2021 unemployment rate was an increase from the 6.5 percent—or 3.16 million Filipinos—recorded in November 2021.

PSA said the December 2021 unemployment rate is the second lowest since January 2021, while there were 7.2 million unemployed Filipinos in April 2020 during the first surge of the coronavirus pandemic.

SOUTHERN NEVADA REGIONAL The employment rate, meanwhile, slightly dropped from 93.5 HOUSING AUTHORITY percent in November 2021 to 93.4 percent in December 2021, said the PSA. Despite the slight dip in the employment rate, the number of employed persons in the country REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) increased by 797,000 in December 2021 which is estimated at FOR 46.27 million from 45.48 million in November 2021.

CLOUD-BASED ELECTRONIC The underemployment rate was estimated at 14.7 percent SIGNATURE SERVICES in December 2021. This is lower than the 16.7 percent recorded a RFP NO. 22025 month prior, said the PSA. (FEBRUARY 2022) “This was the fifth lowest underemployment rate in 2021.

Underemployed persons are employed persons who expressed desire to have additional hours of work in their present job or to Submission Deadline: have an additional job, or to have a new job with longer hours of

Deployment of election...

Meanwhile, a second batch of equipment worth 54 million renminbi (around P435 million) will be delivered at a later date.

Present during the ceremonial PAGE 5 handover were Huang Xilian, the Chinese Ambassador to the mandated by law,” it added.

The official campaign season Philippines, and Gen. Andres Centino, the chief of staff of the for candidates in national posts Armed Forces of the Philippines. started on February 8, with presThere were senior defense of- idential and vice presidential bets ficials, including Undersecretary launching their proclamation Cardozo Luna and Undersecre- rallies across the country.

Comelec representatives also tary Ricardo Jalad, who heads the started to remove campaign Office of Civil Defense.

Dr. Dominador Chiong Jr., materials posted in public places the director of the Veterans outside common poster areas Memorial Medical Center, also on Tuesday. (Kristine Joy Patag/ Philstar.com) attended. g

March 10, 2022 at 10AM PDT

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Keeping the art of Rondalla alive: Celebrating NEA National Heritage Fellow Tagumpay De Leon

by AJPress FILIPINO performer and educator Tagumpay De Leon was recently recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts as a National Heritage Fellow.

Affectionately known as “Uncle Pi,” De Leon is a performer and instructor known as one of the greatest living ambassadors of the Filipino instrumental art known as rondalla, an ensemble

of stringed instruments played with the plectrum or pick and generally known as plectrum instruments.

“It is very important for the Filipino American community to be constantly reminded of their culture and where they came from and one way I can accomplish this is to let them hear the beauty of their own music by

De Leon receives a recognition from FilAm Arts for his countless contributions to the Filipino American community and to marvel at this towering achievement as one of the rare few to be know n as NEA National Heritage Fellow.

listening to the rondalla,” said De Leon.

FilAm Arts on January 29 held an event honoring De Leon’s work and his achievement as being an NEA National Heritage Fellow.

“A community celebration is exactly what we needed to champion Uncle Pi’s life’s work to bring us together since his achievement is most certainly a refection of his Filipino American arts community,” said Giselle Tongi-Walters, executive director of FilAm Arts.

The National Heritage Fellowship is presented to master folk and traditional artists in the United States by the National Endowment for the Arts. Similar to a Living National Treasure award in the Philippines and other Asian countries, the National Heritage Fellowship is the United States’ highest honor

Tagumpay De Leon with his family during FilAm Arts’ celebration for his achievement on Jan. 29 in Los Angeles.

Celebrities hit Toni Gonzaga

by Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

CELEBRITIES reacted on Toni Gonzaga hosting the grand proclamation rally of presidential aspirant Bongbong Marcos and running mate Sara Duterte.

Toni trended online on Tuesday, February 8 after she hosted the Marcos-Duterte proclamation rally at the Philippine Arena.

The host introduced Representative Rodante Marcoleta as part of the UniTeam’s senatorial slate, one of the congressmen who denied the renewal of ABS-CBN franchise.

“Representante ng Sagip party list. May laban tayo sa kanya.

Number 43 sa balota. Congressman but soon to be Senator Rodante Marcoleta,” Toni said.

On Wednesday, Toni confirmed that she will step down as the host of the ABS-CBN reality show “Pinoy Big Brother.”

Former PBB housemate Dawn Chang took to her Facebook account to show her disgust toward’s Toni’s actions.

“I am deeply insulted and disappointed by the actions of my fellow kapamilya actress Ms. Toni Gonzaga. Paano nyo po nasikmurang suportahan at tulungan ang mga taong may malupit na nakaraan sa kasaysayan ng bansa at sa pagkawala ng trabaho ng mga kasama natin sa industriya?

As a former PBB housemate, alam kong magtatampo nyan si Kuya,” Dawn wrote.

“Hindi pwede. It is my privilege to lend my small voice in this battle for the soul of our country.

Kaya sa aking mga kapwa Pilipino, kay VP Leni Robredo Leni

in the folk and traditional arts.

In a typical year, fellowships are presented to between 9 to 15 artists or groups at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tagumpay de Leon received his honor in a virtual Zoom ceremony.

Born in 1945 in Nueva Ecija, Philippines to Illuminada Mendoza, an accomplished pianist, and National Artist Felipe Padilla De Leon, a bandleader and composer.

Coming from a musically inclined family, De Leon studied the piano, accordion and violin at an early age. Together with his siblings, he formed the De Leon Rondalla and performed at events throughout Manila.

“It’s interesting because I am self-taught. My mom was a concert pianist and my dad a composer and an orchestra conductor, but my dad discouraged us from

Gerona Robredo po ang suporta ko. Hindi po ako binayaran dito,” she added.

Award-winning director Erik Matti also took to his Facebook account to criticize Toni on her “misplaced loyalty.”

“Everyone has a right to their own political stances. But when Hitler runs for office after slaughtering millions of Jews and you still support his bid, the least you can do is acknowledge all the blood he has spilled and with integrity, stick to your own crazy misplaced loyalty in private or in silence,” he said.

“In the same way the plunder and the horrors of the Marcos regime to our country the Philippines, that no one has claimed responsibility until now with the players still roaming around free, moneyed and powerful, is irefutable and a historical fact that cannot be forgotten and rewritten.”

“The victims of both the Holo-

caust and our Martial Law were all real people with names, families and siblings that walked and talked the earth then and even survived by descendants until now. No one can ever say they didn’t exist.”

“I cannot fathom anyone, who have access to the same historical facts from our books and Youtube like everyone else, can still have the gall to hold their head so high to the point of being so arrogant and obnoxious to brush away critics and dissenters even acknowledging and flaunting it with such an insensitive hashtag,” he added.

Former Kapamilya host Gretchen Ho also posted on her Twitter account “Pretty painful to see.”

“Service crew nga ng Jollibee, takot makitang kumakain sa McDo! Ito, nagpasara ng kumpanya niya, siya pa ang nag-intro!

Ang bait naman ni Kuya!!!” he said.

becoming musicians because he always told us, ‘You want an additional way of earning a living,’” De Leon said, according to a University of California, Riverside (UCR) release.

Supplementing his passion for music, De Leon graduated with a degree in chemical engineering from Mapua Institute of Technology.

He moved to Burbank, California in 1971, according to the National Endowment for the Arts, and became active with the

Fil-Am community with groups such as the Pamanlahi Dance Troupe and Fil-Am Cultural Family Group.

He went on to form the Rondalla Club of Los Angeles, which continues to perform today, and is a teacher of the rondalla instruments. Since 2001, De Leon has been an instructor at UCR, teaching every Friday afternoon and passing down the art form to future generations of Fil-Am undergraduates.

“I teach because I want to

Tagumpay De Leon, a rondalla performer and instructor, with fellow group mates at the FilAm Arts’ celebration on Jan. 29 in Los Angeles.

The beat that got Guji through the pandemic month meant that I had time to do the things that interests me.

And that’s doing music covers, vlogs and just being a creator.”

“This Beat Will Save You” was actually written by Lorenzana back in 2018. Waiting for the time to put it out, he eventually found the moment when he joined the YouTube creator camp NextUp Philippines. The track found its way getting used as the accompanying music for his NextUp project. He was one of the big winners of the competition wherein he won P100,000 worth of equipment of his choice. “’This Beat..’ reminded me that I should keep on working, especially when we I was isolating with my family. I used the time to be creative, because that was the healthy thing to do, while recovering from Covid.”

Sure enough, Lorenzana was able to produce a music video for the single during the time he was recovering. The music video is in collaboration with other creators whose theme mirrors his recent experience. It will premiere on YouTube next weekend.

Lorenzana added that besides music and being a creator, he is also slated to do a movie with Viva in the coming weeks.

“I’m just waiting for the day when we finally will get the green light to go out again. Then I can work again on the movies that I signed on with Viva.”

In ending, the experience allowed Lorenzana to realize the message of his own creation.

“Keeping busy with what I love doing most, in many ways, really The singer’s own composition ‘This Beat Will Save You’ inspired him during a challenging time. did save my life.” (ManilaTimes.

Photo from Instagram/@gujilorenzana net)

IT’S an all-too-familiar story for the past two years — COVID-19 and its variants have been hogging the news cycles so much that it has become the norm. It still stings though when someone close has caught it.

Guji Lorenzana knows this feeling all too well.

The singer-actor caught the virus as well as his whole family.

“That was a worrying time for us. But me and [wife] Cheska worried more for our kids Cassidy [2 years old] and Brielle [11

Toni Gonzaga with husband Paul Soriano and presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Photo from Instagram/@paulsoriano1017

National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellow Tagumpay De Leon AJPress photo by Andy Tecson

months].”

After finding out his status, Lorenzana resolved to foster a positive mindset, “We isolated and just did everything to stay healthy.”

And for Lorenzana, staying healthy means keeping busy with the things he loves to do.

One of them is producing music.

Luckily, just before getting Covid, Lorenzana released a new single which, coincidentally enough, is titled “This Beat Will Save You.” “Staying in isolation for a

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9

Fely Quitevis-Bateman: Seizing opportunities and making sound investments

FELY Quitevis-Bateman has been in the real estate industry for almost five decades now, starting her career in Manila back in 1974. Through sheer handwork and determination, she was able to create a name for herself after moving to the United States.

The Nevada-based businesswoman established Precious Properties and has been calling Pahrump home for the past 30 years. Pahrump is located in Nye County, about 60 miles west of Las Vegas and an hour east of Death Valley National Park, a place known for extremes.

Through the years, Quitevis-Bateman has held positions in Nye County and she takes pride in these roles, which she navigated with ease.

“I have been very proud of all the positions I held especially being a Nye County Commissioner where together with the other 4 commissioners we carefully determined how to spend the county’s budget and the approval of different projects that came to our table for approval,” she relayed.

Quitevis-Bateman invested not just her money but her time as well. She knew she had so much to learn in the industry and believed that for her to succeed, she had to invest in improving her mental fortitude to grow a successful business venture.

She went to Harvard Business School in Cambridge from 2005 to 2007 after she was accepted

Fely Quitevis-Bateman and her husband Russ Bateman

from over 2,000 applicants to study Owner/President Management Program.

“I was lucky to be in the 6% who were accepted. My class was 21 days a year at $1,000/day and I had the honor to be in a group of multi-millionaire business owners and a couple of them are billionaires today,” she shared.

She makes it a point to learn from every position she gets herself into, whether it is in Harvard or her hometown of Pahrump.

Fely Quitevis-Bateman in front of the Harvard Business School entrance.

“I learned very important lessons as one of the commissioners of the Division of Aging too. As a member of the jury selection, I was honored to have met and sat down with all the NV Supreme Court justices and selected a candidate that replaced an elected Nye County Judge that passed away a few months after being elected,” Quitevis-Bateman recalled.

The hardworking achiever bought her first house in Pahrump in 1999 although she has been selling Pahrump land since 1992 as a California broker.

Indeed, she has amassed great memories in Pahrump, witnessing it rise and grow into what it is today.

One of her favorite memories is when former President Fidel Ramos stayed with them in 2007 for a few days. “He was very happy to have played golf at Mountain Falls Country Club,” she quipped.

Despite her successful and colorful career, Quitevis-Bateman takes pride and treasures her humble beginnings and low-key profile.

She was born in Bugallon, Pangasinan and her father used to be a carpenter turned contractor while her mother was a plain housewife who took care of them extremely well. She is proud to share her father’s success story in helping build some high-rise

buildings along Buendia Ave, Ayala Ave, and Paseo De Roxas in Makati with her siblings who are engineers, CPA, and architect.

Pahrump Rising Quitevis-Bateman chose Nevada because demographics showed Nevada to be the No. 1 growing state, and it still is up to now, she said. She saw the great opportunity available in Pahrump and the surrounding region, especially since Pahrump is the heart of the desert and the perfect place to enjoy the best of southern Nevada.

She became a realtor in Manila in 1974 and came to Los Angeles in 1984 at the age of 41. She had several clients who wanted to retire in Nevada or Arizona so she would do her due diligence and look for properties the retirees could invest in. The first property that she herself bought gave her the idea that real estate is the best investment a person can have.

That is why when she saw that opportunities were aplenty in Pahrump, she decided to call it home. Decades later came a flourishing housing market coupled with a considerable population increase that necessitated multiple new businesses opening their doors to the public.

Over the past few years, several positive economic indicators have helped transform Pahrump to become a sleepy desert town on the rise as it slowly emerged from the Sin City’s shadow.

According to Kiplinger Letter, a trusted leader in personal finance, investments, and economic forecasts, Nevada and Arizona are the only two states to have a population growth of up to or more than 50 percent till the year 2040.

Nevada will continue to grow as predicted with Las Vegas being the entertainment capital of the world. Today, Quitevis-Bateman shared that approximately $12 billion-plus budget is on the pipeline, and some of them are now under construction.

“Investors should look at demographics in their investment process. There are approximately eight taxes that we don’t pay in NV including state income tax.

We have entertainment, sports, fine dining, shopping, health care, and many more. Our international airport is one of the best nationwide,” she explained.

(Advertising Supplement)

Fely with Harvard classmate Rajan Mittal

Fely with her mentor, financial advisor, real estate consultant and loving husband Russ Bateman.

Fely and her family with former Philippine President Fidel Ramos at Mountain Falls Country Club.

Fely (3rd from left) with (from left) husband Russ and her Harvard classmates Rajan Mittal, who is Walmart’s partner in India, and Samir Modi, CEO of Modi Enterprises in India.

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Annual Filing Requirements for Nevada LLCs Tax Tips Victor Sy, MBA,cPA(retired) NEVADA LLCs have to file an Annual List of Members and renew their State Business License every year.

1. Nevada LLC annual fees: Annual List of Managers or Managing Members at $150 per year and Nevada State Business License Renewal at $200 per year.

2. Annual list and license renewals are Filed with the Nevada Secretary of State.

3. Forms are due on or before the last day of your LLC’s anniversary month. The anniversary month is the month your Nevada LLC was approved. For example, if your Nevada LLC was approved on September 1, your due date is

Health @Heart PhiliP S. chuA, Md, FAcS, FPcS “LONG” COVID Following a COVID-19 infection (Post COVID Syndrome), Long COVID is a recognized entity of long-haul COVID-19, which could be unrecognized or undiagnosed, with any combination of these symptoms: “brain fog” or cognitive dysfunction, troubled breathing or shortness of breath, fatigue, malaise, sense of “not feeling well.” Vaccines have been helpful to these chronic patients, making them feel better. A complete medical evaluation is warranted to rule out any specific organ malady.

A patient-specific rehabilitation, including a physical exercise regimen, plays a vital role in the management of these patients.

Omicron on plastic While Omicron, especially the Stealth variant, has been found to be the most rapidly transmissible SARS-CoV2 strain, recent studies have shown it to survive longer than previous strains on plastic surfaces and skin. Omicron “lasts on plastic for nearly 200 hours (8-1/2 days) and on the skin for about 21 hours.” The original variant survived on plastic for 56 hours, the Delta for 114 hours. This obviously means Omicron could be spread through touch also, besides through inhalation, the reason for the recent rapid massive vertical surges. Frequent handwashing, besides masking and social distancing, could be life-saving.

Omicron kills Compared to the original Wuhan strain of COVID-19 and the Delta variant, Omicron has been described as a milder virus. While it is milder, it is NOT mild, as has been misinterpreted. So far, Omicron has been killing about 2,200 in the United States each day, higher than the peak 2,078 deaths from Delta in September 2021.

Omicron deaths have surpassed the highest 7-day average of the “more severe” Delta strain, which is less rapidly transmissible than Omicron.

Getting vaccinated, using facemasks, social distancing, and personal hygiene are measures that will prevent replication and mutation of the virus in the bodies of the unvaccinated, and its rapid spread of more severe future strains to others.

Omicron stats “During the Omicron waves, unvaccinated adults were 23 times more likely to be hospitalized, and nearly four times as likely to be infected compared to vaccinated adults who had also received a

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September 30 every year.

4. You can file your Nevada LLC Annual List & State Business License renewal 90 days before the due date.

5. If you fail to file your Nevada LLC Annual List & State Business License renewal on time, the Secretary of State will charge $175 late fee and your LLC will go into default status. If you continue to ignore this requirement, your LLC’s status will be revoked.

6. You can Reinstate your Nevada LLC by paying all outstanding annual fees and penalties. After 5 years of an LLC being in revoked status, the LLC becomes permanently revoked.

7. You can file a Nevada LLC Annual List & State Business License renewal by mail or online. It’s best to file online so your renewals are approved instantly while it takes about five days for mailed in forms.

8. If you prefer to file by mail, download the paper Annual List & State Business License renew-

al form and mail it with a check or money order of $350 payable to “Secretary of State” at 202 North Carson Street, Carson City, Nevada 89701-4201.

9. The Nevada Secretary of State will mail a courtesy reminder about three months before due date.

10. Create an online account called “SilverFlume” with the Nevada Secretary of State at https:// www.nvsilverflume.gov/register. *** Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State University with an MBA. Vic worked with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV – Andersen Consulting) and Ernst & Young before establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation. *** He retired after 50 years of defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, EDD, BOE and other governmental agencies. He published a book on “How to Avoid or Survive IRS Audits” that’s available at Amazon. Readers may email tax questions to vicsy@live.com.

Vital COVID data booster,” according to data from Los Angeles County.

Compared to fully vaccinated but non-boosted adults, unvaccinated individuals were more than five times more likely to be hospitalized, and about twice as likely to be infected during this time, reported Sharon Balter, MD, of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, and colleagues.

Moreover, unvaccinated adults were significantly more likely to require ICU admission, intubation for mechanical ventilation, or die compared to vaccinated adults with or without a booster” according to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Austria’s vaccine mandate As people in the United States (at least 20 percent of them) prefer to exercise their freedom of choice and civil liberties to dodge the vaccines and as politicians take advantage of political correctness in order not to lose votes, existing proven science (that includes vaccination of the population) to quickly end the COVID-19 pandemic in this country has been negligently disregarded by the government to the detriment of almost a million Americans who were killed by COVID-19.

Obviously believing and heeding science more than politics and political correctness, the Austrian government became the first Western democracy to federally mandate the entire adult population (except those with medication contraindication) to be vaccinated to protect them and others from the killer COVID-19 viruses.

Polls show that the mandate, a pioneering move, is supported by the majority of the people. This only shows how wise, intelligent, and compassionate the Austrian leaders and the people are. They apparently understand that national welfare, well-being, and safety take precedence and prevail over freedom of choice and individual civil rights, when it comes to defeating this global killer. This bold “science-based” decision by the country’s leaders is Solomonic and inspiring. Austria and the other European countries to follow suit are teaching all other countries around the world on how to properly, effectively, and more rapidly contain COVID-19 and future pandemics by rigidly following our currently available internationally accepted and proven epidemiology protocol in managing infectious diseases, with mandatory vaccination and/or vaccine passes to access public places.

Sadly, in the United States, it is obvious that this will never happen because the exercise of the freedom of choice (against the vaccines) and political correctness

appear to be more important to government leaders and to at least a third of the population over pure science in dealing with this global medical catastrophe that has killed more than 927,000 Americans and almost 5.8 million worldwide.

Politics is, indeed, more deadly than the virus.

The coronavirus deaths in the United States “has been at least 63 percent higher than in any other large, wealthy nation in the world, the highest deaths per capita among rich nations…Americans are now dying from COVID-19 at nearly double the daily rate of Britons and four times the rate of Germans.” More than 36 percent of Americans have not been vaccinated as of this writing. At this rate, this killer virus will linger in the United States much longer, and then become an endemic requiring a semi-annual or an annual COVID-19 vaccination forever.

As I have asked in this column before: Is this dereliction of duty by our government not a negligent “genocide”?

More than ten billion vaccines have been administered globally, with 212 million people fully vaccinated in the United States (around 68 percent of the population), proving how safe and effective they are, and yet some people are still refusing the vaccines and putting their lives at grave risk. Not to mention the fact that their unprotected bodies will be a massive reservoir (hosts) where the virus will replicate, mutate, and rapidly transmit to people (vaccinated or not) around them. More than 98 percent of the spreaders of the virus are unvaccinated. This is why freedom of choice in this case (to refuse the vaccines, spread COVID-19, kill people, and prolong this pandemic) is a misinterpretation of civil liberties provided for in our Constitution.

While the 30 percent (60 million) unvaccinated have the right to choose (refuse the vaccines), don’t the 70 percent (a clear majority) not have the freedom to choose NOT to be infected and NOT to be killed by the virus mostly being transmitted by the unvaccinated? *** 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, a Health Public Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian and antigraft foundation in the United States. Visit our websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

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Comcast celebrates the 2022 Lunar New Year by curating Asian and Asian American entertainment collection including special guest editors Lisa Ling, Gold House Xfinity Customers can ring in the Year of the Tiger with thousands of hours of content easily accessible via the award-winning voice remote

PHILADELPHIA – Lunar New Year is one of the most important festivals for millions around the world who return home to spend time with family, eat traditional foods, and share gifts with lots of red – a symbol of good luck and fortune for many Asian cultures.

In celebration of the Year of the Tiger, Xfinity customers can access thousands of hours of Asian and Asian American entertainment in one curated destination via Xfinity On Demand and Flex, from February 1 to February 16.

For the second year in a row, Comcast has teamed up with guest editor Lisa Ling and Gold House, the non-profit collective of Asian and Pacific Islander cultural leaders that invests in new opportunities and celebrates historic Asian achievements, to leverage its talent relationships and staff for content recommendations to supplement the Asian American editorial voice on Xfinity’s video platforms.

Xfinity X1 and Xfinity Flex customers can browse and navigate the experience with the voice remote by saying “Asian American” and “Lunar New Year” to access a wide variety of popular movies, music videos, behind-the-scenes content, and more, including: • X1 and Flex movies on demand like “Minari,” “Crouching Tiger & Hidden Dragon,” “Spirited Away,” “Joy Luck Club,” and “Crazy Rich Asians.”

• Featured programming from Xumo, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Tubi, Kocowa, Anime Network, Hi-YAH!, Music Choice, GMA Pinoy, Filipino On Demand and TVK Pop. • Recommendations from Gold House and Asian American entertainer Lisa Ling, available via Xfinity on Demand on X1 and Xfinity Stream.

• Collections and YouTube selections featuring movies, music, traditions, and recipes.

• A unique digital wallpaper of

swimming Koi Fish, which symbolize good luck, abundance, and perseverance.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the Year of the Tiger by teaming up with Gold House, for the second year in a row, and offering our Xfinity customers curated content that showcases the best Asian and Asian American programming available,” said Keesha Boyd, Executive Director, Multicultural Video & Entertainment, Xfinity Consumer Services.

Year round, Xfinity customers can visit Xfinity’s “Asian American Film & TV” destination on Xfinity On Demand, a first of its kind collection, showcasing hundreds of curated titles, integrating culturally relevant content from partners including Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, and Pandora, and celebrating significant cultural observances. For more information on programming, visit Xfinity.com/ AsianAmerican.

Kris apologizes to late brother Noynoy for letting him down

by Daniza

FernanDez Inquirer.net

KRIS Aquino on Wednesday, February 9 apologized to her late brother former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III for letting him down.

In a video posted on Instagram Wednesday, captioned with an open letter addressed to Noynoy, Kris expressed regret for failing to vocalize her love “enough times.” “[I] love you so much. [I’m] so sorry na hindi ko nasabi enough times when you were still here. [I’m] sorry for letting you down- but [I] know nakita mo how much your death has profoundly changed me,” she told Noynoy as he celebrated his 62nd birthday.

(I’m so sorry I have not said it enough times when you were still here. I’m sorry for letting you down — but I know you saw how much your death has profoundly changed me.)

The Queen of All Media likewise said sorry for failing to abide by her brother’s teachings. “[I] know you wanted to teach me how to practice humility and

Kris Aquino

not to post anything that later on [I] may regret,” she said. “[S]orry sumablay lang kay Mel, kasi pumatol ako and nag comment (Sorry, I failed because I commented) when [I] should’ve just shut up. After [I] post this [I’ll] message him na all is forgiven & forgotten,” added Kris, referring to her former fiancé Mel Sarmiento.

Kris also assured that she will try her best to be more like her

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Photo from Instagram/@kris

brother.

“Bunso will try her best to be more like you, and yung inako kong mga binilin mong wag pababayaan- ginagawa talaga,” she said.

(The youngest will try her best to be more like you, and the things I took responsibility for, I am doing it.)

Noynoy passed away on June 24 last year.

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Elisse finds fulfillment as mom, shares dream wedding

By Bot

Glorioso Philstar.com

MOTHERING takes effort — physically, mentally and emotionally. But Elisse Joson is not one to complain. Her real-life role as a mom has allowed to find her own fulfillment which, according to her, she was looking for a long time.

Being a mother to her and McCoy de Leon’s firstborn Felize completes her and makes her see the beauty of life in a clearer perspective.

“Masarap talaga sa feeling. I think ‘yun ‘yung sense of fulfillment na hinahanap ko for a long time.

It’s a nice feeling that every time you wake up and you see your child na parang who adores you, who looks up to you na wala s’yang judgment sa ‘yo and she loves you for who you are. It feels really nice to love someone na galing sa ‘yo,” said Elisse when she recently talked to select members of the press, including The STAR, in a virtual media conference to drumbeat iWantTFC’s six-episode original series The Goodbye Girl. Elisse stars in the episode titled The Legally Blind with Joshua Colet.

According to Elisse, she and McCoy are trying their best to be hands-on parents when it comes to taking care of their child, especially when they are free from showbiz commitments. “Kasi gusto namin na makilala n’ya o makita n’ya kami na laging nand’yan, taking care of her, loving her,” said she.

When it comes to accomplishing her day-to-day activities, Elisse said she’s still finding ways to make all things work with ease.

“I’m still at this stage of trying to learn how to balance things because to be a mom, it’s really a struggle to balance my schedule at ‘yun din ang struggle ko even before. But now that I have a baby, I have to master managing my time like I have to think of what is important to do, for example, this day and then, I do things one by one. I think that’s one of the superpowers of mothers — to finish everything that needs to be done.”

Elisse agreed there is no formula to better perform the role of a mother. “You just do what has to be done and everything will flow naturally.”

Being a mom does not limit her as an actress. In fact, it all the more boosts her confidence to portray roles that will challenge her acting ability.

“Sa ngayon, I feel like nag-widen pa ‘yung mga p’wede kong gawin in terms of characters because before, I felt so limited,” said she. “Now, parang mas naging matapang na ako and I don’t feel boxed (anymore). Of course, there will still be limitations but I’d like to play roles that are new to me.”

At present, the biggest struggle for her is dealing with the work setup. Lock-in tapings are required to ensure safety of everyone in the production team. Thus, Elisse has to be away from her baby for a while.

“I feel like if there are projects that will make me grow as an actress, I’ll take them,” shared she.

“With Felize, I would never think na pinapabayaan ko s’ya just because I would be away for a while because of work.”

In The Legally Blind, Elisse is the hopeful brideto-be Julia, who knows her fiancé (Joshua) is a womanizer, but believes he is only making the most out of his remaining bachelor days. She puts up with his behavior as he promises to stop having affairs with other women after they get married.

“Sa pag-ibig, meron talagang nabubulagan.

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 10-16, 2022

Smith’s shoppers rally for RMHC Despite COVID-19 concerns, community donations fill our family pantry for a year LAS VEGAS, NV, February 7, 2022 – Thanks to generous Smith’s shoppers throughout southern Nevada, the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Las Vegas will be able to provide a full pantry for the entire year to families who travel to Las Vegas seeking medical treatment for their children.

This past Saturday, February 5th, the Ronald McDonald House partnered with 34 local Smith’s stores for the 21st Annual Fill the Pantry Food Drive. Shoppers donated nearly 6 TONS of food, household supplies, and welcome bag items to support RMHC families. In addition, RMHC collected more than $15,000 in Smith’s gift cards and cash donations.

“We had concerns going into the event about strained supply chains, rising inflation, and the new COVID-19 variant keep-

Elisse Joson

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ing people away,” says Alyson McCarthy, Chief Executive Officer of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Las Vegas.

“But despite those concerns, the community really showed up to fill the pantry for our families for a full year. We are so grateful.”

Photo from Instagram/@elissejosonn

Parang ang logical explanation lang na naiisip ko is because we love through our heart so, minsan hindi na nagagamit talaga ‘yung mata natin,” she reasoned when asked why some people are blinded by love.

She didn’t deny that there were times when personal experiences were useful in portraying her character.

“Sometimes when I feel I need to use my personal experience, I use it to my advantage but kung matagal na ‘yung naging experience ko, it won’t work anymore. ‘Pag ganun, I use other methods,” Elisse told The STAR regarding her acting process.

Elisse, 26, was also asked what would be the best time for her to get married, as well as her ideal wedding.

“Yes, I’m 26, but you know, hindi natin dapat minamadali ang mga bagay-bagay. Everybody has a different timeline and now (in my case), it just so happened na nauna na si Felize. We have so much things to do first like baptism ni Felize, inaayos pa lang ngayon due to the pandemic and all the unforeseen situations, then, birthday pa n’ya. I mean, we’re gonna get there because alam namin (with McCoy) we’re meant for each other already, so we just have to take our time. It’s gonna happen.”

Contrary to what other people think that they are planning for a grand wedding, Elisse prefers a simple one. “Dream ko lang talaga sa may dagat but at the same time, I want to be blessed in church,” she disclosed.

With Valentine’s Day just a few days away, how does she plan to celebrate it with McCoy? “Of course, I have a way of making him feel special and sana s’ya rin meron, hahahaha. I can’t share much because we don’t really plan what to do on Valentine’s Day, but we both know that we have our own secret planning. I look forward to spending time with him, kahit ano pa ‘yung ma-plano namin, basta time together kasi syempre iba pa rin ‘yung quality time na kayong dalawa lang now that you have a kid,” she said.

Nearly 200 volunteers helped make this food drive possible.

Small groups of volunteers passed out wish lists at local Smith’s Food & Drug Store locations. More gathered near the House to undertake the task of sorting, dating, and weighing all the donations, and stocking the House pantry shelves and storage cabinets.

The annual food drive helps RMHC meet the basic nutritional and essential needs for families with sick or injured children in the hospital. In addition to providing breakfast, lunch, and dinner options every night to families staying at the Las Vegas Ronald McDonald House, the food drive also helps stock the shelves of the Ronald McDonald Family Room, located on the floor of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Sunrise Children’s Hospital.

Families with children in the NICU can utilize the Family Room as a place of respite during their child’s treatment and enjoy a ‘togo’ beverage or snack.

Thank you to longtime supporters Smith’s Food & Drug for donating $1,000 in gift cards and the Nevada Farm Bureau for their $500 gift to help feed our families each year.

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