021023 - San Diego Edition

The loneliness of immigrant elders

THE recent mass shootings in California put a tragic spotlight on the isolation and invisibility of many immigrant elders in the state.

Both shooters in the two mass killings in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay, California were Chinese and neither fit the profile of a mass killer. Both were over 65.

“Is it any surprise that within our communities there are people, elders who have been made invisible, treated not even as human beings, who feel isolated and yes, experience mental health issues like any other community?” asked Helen Zia, an author and activist.

Zia was one of five speakers at a Feb. 3 EMS virtual briefing who shared perspectives about the isolation and invisibility of

Survey: ‘Very good’ satisfaction rating for Marcos

by Janvic Mateo Philstar.com

MANILA — A majority of Filipinos are satisfied with the performance of President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte in their first six months in office, a survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.

The satisfaction ratings of the two highest officials were among the data presented during the 2023 SWS Survey Review held at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati on Tuesday, February 7.

In his presentation, SWS vice president Jay

Sandoval said Marcos obtained a “very good” net satisfaction rating of +68 in their latest survey conducted from Dec. 10 to 14.

He said it was up from the “very good” +63 that the President obtained in a similar survey on Sept. 29-Oct. 2.

Duterte, meanwhile, obtained a net satisfaction rating of “excellent” +77 in December, up from “excellent” +73 in October.

SWS classifies net satisfaction ratings of at least +70 as “excellent;” +50 to +69 as “very good;” +30 to +49 as “good;” +10 to +29 as “moderate;” +9 to -9 as “neutral;” -10 to -29 as “poor;” -30 to -49 as “bad;” -50 to -69 as “very bad” and -70 and below

AFP prepares for 2023 Balikatan exercises with US

as “execrable.”

The net satisfaction rating is the rounded off difference between those who said that they were satisfied and those who declared they were dissatisfied with the performance of a particular government official. The polling firm has yet to release the percentage of the respondents who were satisfied or dissatisfied with the two officials, as well as the geographic and socio-economic breakdown of the responses.

In his presentation, Sandoval also noted that overall satisfaction with the administration was at

Marcos says Japan trip different from other visits: Groundwork is already there

by Gabriel Pabico lalu Inquirer.net

TOKYO — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has maintained that his five-day official working visit to Japan is different from the other foreign trips he made, as interactions with the government and stakeholders have already been developed prior. Marcos in an interview with reporters on Wednesday, February 8 while en route to Tokyo explained that in other visits that he made, there was an effort to introduce the Philippines to the world, but not the case for Japan.

“Actually sa Japan is different from the other places that we’ve been wherein we just opened up the conversations. Sa Japan, very well-developed na ‘yong mga interactions natin with G-to-G [government-to-government] even sa commercial,” u PAGE 2

Alex Eala eyes French Open, Wimbledon stints

ALEX Eala eyes to see action in the 2023 French Open qualifiers in May as she is looking to participate in more Grand Slam tournaments this year.

Coming off her first Grand Slam stint as a pro in the 2023 Australian Open last month, the 17-year-old Eala on Tuesday, February 7 bared that she is seeking to qualify at Roland Garros set from May 28 to June 11.

“My next target right now is to try and qualify for the French Open. I have to budget my tournaments because as a 17-year-old,

by Michael PunonGbayan Philstar.com

MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is preparing for this year’s joint military exercises with the United States called Balikatan amid a refreshed security alliance between the two countries that would give U.S. forces greater access to local military bases.

This year’s joint activities are expected to be bigger, considering the expansion of coverage of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) to include four more Philippine military bases where U.S. forces can operate on a temporary basis. Among the areas being readied for the

PH detects first XBB.1.5

Omicron subvariant

case

Balikatan exercises are those in Palawan and in parts of the West Philippine Sea under jurisdiction of the AFP’s Western Command.

“The AFP and the U.S. Armed Forces are once again holding the 38th iteration of annual bilateral Balikatan exercises. Although this is a bilateral activity, the AFP takes the lead in planning and execution, supported by the U.S. Armed Forces with other like-minded nations as observers,” AFP spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar announced Monday, Feb 6.

“Balikatan 38-2023 will result in the development of the AFP capability not only in the conduct of external defense operations but also in fulfilling its

u PAGE 4

More teen births involve older fathers – PSA

No

Pinoy fatalities;

Philippines ready to help

by helen FloreS, Pia lee-braGo Philstar.com

MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) recorded the first case of the XBB.1.5 Omicron subvariant of COVID-19 is believed to be the most contagious among its types. The DOH’s latest biosurveillance report, which looked at 1,078 samples from January 30 to February 3, found 196 Omicron XBB subvariants, with one being the particularly dangerous XBB.1.5.

It’s a recombinant of the BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75 sub-lineages and has already caused substantial harm in the United States due to its immunity evasion

properties. Thus, the DOH is warning that this XBB.1.5 variant of COVID-19 carries a higher risk to public health.

by Zacarian Sarao Inquirer.net by Marlon

“The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) classified XBB.1.5, an offshoot of the XBB subvariant, as a Variant of Interest, due to its increasing prevalence globally and enhanced immune evading properties,” the DOH said.

“The variant has been detected in 59 countries across six continents, according to sequence submissions in GISAID (Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data),” it added.

Citing the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the DOH said

u PAGE 2

MANILA — Six to seven percent of babies born to adolescent girls from 2016 to 2020 were fathered by men 10 years older than the mothers, while a majority of teen moms’ male sexual partners were three to five years older than them, according to government data presented to the senate on Tuesday, Feb. 7.

The numbers from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) gave senators, policymakers and public health advocates a picture of the alarming rise of adolescent pregnancies in the Philippines, many of which involve

MANILA — The Philippine embassy in Ankara said no Filipino was reported killed in the earthquake that struck southeastern Turkey near the Syrian border early Monday, February 6.

“The embassy continues to reach out to the Filipino communities and its other contacts in the region and, as of this writing, has not received reports of Filipino casualties in the provinces of Gaziantep, Hatay, Adana and Mersin,” the embassy said in a statement.

President Marcos offered

his condolences and support to the governments of Turkey and Syria after a powerful earthquake rocked the region Monday, killing over 1,300 people.

“Our thoughts and prayers go to the peoples and governments of Türkiye and Syria following the strong earthquake that has claimed many lives and caused massive destruction to their countries. The Philippines is ready to help in whatever way it can in responding to this disaster,” Marcos said in a post

WORKING TRIP. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leaves the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Wednesday, Feb. 8 for a five-day working visit to Japan. His visit is expected to reaffirm the strong relations between the Philippines and Japan, and facilitate closer defense, security, political, economic and people-to-people ties.

PNA photo by Rolando Mailo

raMoS Inquirer.net

shows

by

Alex Eala AJPress file photo by Troi Santos

detects first XBB.1.5 Omicron subvariant...

the subvariant now also accounts for 66.4 percent of cases in the U.S., from January 29 to February 4 this year.

Nevertheless, despite the fear in transmissibility, the DOH noted that current available evidence do not suggest that XBB.1.5 has any differences in disease severity and clinical manifestations compared to the original Omicron variant

“Currently, the subvariant is still reported under XBB by the WHO and will remain classified under Omicron until sufficient evidence arises showing that the virus characteristics are significantly different from Omicron,” it added.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised the alarm about a new Omicron sub-variant, XBB.1.5, which has a higher transmission rate and could dramatically increase cases. WHO’s senior epidemiologist, Maria Van Kerkhove, has cautioned that the variant spreads quickly due to its mutations, making it easier to stick to cells and duplicate, which could lead to a spike in hospitalizations and deaths.

924 total Omicron subvariants reported DOH recently reported that 924 cases of Omicron subvariants were discovered in the latest genome sequencing results, with the majority belonging to the BA.2.3.20

Survey: ‘Very good’ satisfaction...

1

strain at 454 cases, followed by 196 cases of XBB subvariants, 160 cases of unspecified Omicron subvariants, and 154 cases with no lineage specified.

The BA.5 strain still holds the title of the dominant strain in the country, with 12,716 cases already recorded. The BA.2.3.20 follows second, with a total of 4,626 cases. XBB subvariants account for 1,366 of the total cases, 705 are XBC, and 325 are BA.4.

These results paint a grim picture of the current pandemic situation, but all hope is not lost. With the latest genome sequencing results in hand, the DOH is confident that they can develop more effective measures to contain the spread of the virus. n

More teen births involve older...

violations of the statutory age of sexual consent.

Presiding over the Senate hearing, Sen. Risa Hontiveros called on state agencies to work together to stem adolescent or teenage pregnancy.

Hontiveros said she was particularly concerned about the PSA data showing that 2,299 girls aged 10 to 14 gave birth in 2021, slightly higher than the 2,113 live births from the same age group a year before.

“As legislators and leaders of implementing agencies, everyone here in the room has a responsibility for each and every one of these young parents,” Hontiveros said at the hearing of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and

gender equality.

Pregnant kids younger Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, who initiated the inquiry, pointed out that while pregnancy among girls 15 to 19 years old had been going down since 2016, based on the PSA figures, the opposite happened among those aged 10 to 14.

From 2016 to 2020, live births from that age group rose by 11 percent, the data showed.

“According to the PSA report, majority of the registered adolescent live births involved men who were three to five years older than the girls,” said Angara, chair of the Senate youth committee.

“Even more concerning was the data on fathers who were more than 10 years older than

the teenage mothers, which the PSA pegged at 6 to 7 percent annually from 2016 to 2020,” he added.

The PSA figures were supported by a separate data set from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which found that a total of 203,085 Filipino girls aged 10 to 19 gave birth in 2016.

The number slightly dipped in 2017 (196,478) and 2018 (183,000).Dr. Leila Joudane, UNFPA country representative, said 59 percent of registered adolescent births in the Philippines were fathered by a man older than 20 years old. “Teenage pregnancy is not only a health and education problem, but an economic development issue,” she said.

“We need to promote men and boys’ engagement. It’s not just an issue of women, of adolescent girls only. It’s an issue of [the] entire society,” she added.

The data prompted Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri to plead with Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. to arrest and prosecute adult men who enter into sexual relationships with minors, noting that Republic Act No. 11648, signed into law in March 2022, raised the age of sexual consent from 12 to 16.

“I urge the PNP and the DOJ (Department of Justice) to immediately prosecute these violations of the statutory rape age law. Rape is a heinous crime,” Zubiri told reporters. n

“excellent” +74 in December.

In terms of specific issues, satisfaction with the government’s efforts to help the poor was at “very good” +64, campaign against illegal drugs at “good” +46, fighting corruption

at “moderate” +12 and fighting inflation at “neutral” +1. The October 2022 survey had 1,500 respondents and a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percent, while the December 2022 survey had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percent. n

Marcos says Japan...

1

the President said.

“So what we’re really having to do now is we are going to have to, we’re finalizing some of the projects that for example, were postponed because of the pandemic, lockdowns; and also now, some new projects that are follow-on from kung ano ‘yong dati,” he added.

It is also the reason why his supposed schedule has been “very specific” as foundation had been laid out already.

“So that’s why kung titignan niyo ‘yong [if you would see the] schedule very specific, may purpose ang bawat meeting, hindi ‘yong [every meeting has purpose, not about the] general introduction of the Philippines to the EU [European Union] or to another country,” he explained.

While this is Marcos’ first visit to Japan since assuming the presidency last June 30, he and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio have already met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly held in New York last September 2022.

Furthermore, several government agencies and officials from the two countries have already met, like in the case of the Philippine Department of National Defense which has strongly advocated for the creation of a visiting forces agreement (VFA) with Japan.

Marcos also hopes that discussions would flourish, especially in the realm of agriculture, so that the country’s agricultural acceleration would take place.

“Well number one, their number one that opens up, hindi lamang the useful exchange of technology, but that’s an important part of it. But also, investment in agriculture, and hopefully opening markets in Japan for our agricultural products. So that’s a very wide-ranging discussion, so yes, we hope to do a lot on that regard para maaccelerate ‘yong ating agricultural development,” he added.

Marcos along with his delegation arrived at the Tokyo International Airport at 5:36 p.m. (Tokyo time) earlier. He is expected to meet members of Japan’s Imperial Family, along with key government officials like Kishida.

Marcos’ visit to Japan is his ninth official overseas trip since he took office. Prior to this, the President went to Indonesia and Singapore for his inaugural state visit, before flying off to New York for the UNGA.

He also went back to Singapore for business meetings in time for the Formula One Grand Prix, in a trip that was criticized by several progressive groups.

He then went to the 40th and 41st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in Cambodia, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Thailand, the Asean-European Union meet in Belgium last December, before visiting China for another state visit and Switzerland for the World Economic Forum. n

Alex Eala eyes French...

PAGE 1

I only have 20 tournaments allotted,” said Eala during her homecoming press conference at Globe Tower.

“My last tournament was Thailand; that was my 15th tournament. So, until Roland Garros qualification, I have five more, until my birthday in May, when it resets.”

The U.S. Open girls’ singles champion, who turns 18 on May 23, said she is also looking to compete at Wimbledon.

“Well, I think for a tennis player the goal is really to join the grand slams. So those are my goals for this year, go get into as many grand slams as I can,” she said.

Eala, who is currently the Women’s Tennis Association’s world No. 217, earned her career-best ranking of No. 214 and she is eager to keep rising in the rankings and compete in more pro circuit tournaments this year.

“Well, that depends on a lot of

factors. I have to defend points and hopefully gain points if I can and it also depends on who joins the tournaments and who backs out,” Eala said. “So, give or take. I hope so. I really don’t know because it would be my first French Open professionally.”

The Rafael Nadal Academy scholar made her first appearance in French Open as a junior in 2021, reaching the semifinals in singles and ruling the doubles with Russian partner Oksana Olegovna Selekhmeteva.

The first Filipino to win a Grand Slam singles title reached the main draw of the Thailand Open but she lost to sixth seed Tatjana Maria of Germany, 2-6, 2-6, in the WTA 250 event in Hua Hin last week.

Eala also made her first Grand Slam appearance as a pro in the 2023 Australian Open qualifying round, suffering an early exit at the hands of Japan’s Misaki Doi last month. (Lance Agcaoili/ Inquirer.net) n

The loneliness of immigrant...

immigrant elders spotlighted by the tragedies, and a call to action for the rest of society.

For her latest book, “Last Boat Out of Shanghai,” Zia interviewed a few hundred Asian seniors about their lives – first as refugees, and later as exiled immigrants. “So many have gone through war, starvation, civil war, great trauma, witnessed terrible, terrible things,” Zia said. Many had never told their stories before, even to their grown children. When asked why, they said because they didn’t think anybody wanted to hear.

The recent killings triggered memories that many immigrants have tried to forget, and the news brought panic and fear. Perfectly understandable, Zia says.

Working into their ‘golden years’

“Why are people still working in their seventies?” asked Rita Medina, Deputy Director of State Policy and Advocacy at the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights Los Angeles (CHIRLA), referring to the Latino and Asian farm workers spotlighted in Half Moon Bay.

Medina says many older farmworkers continue to work “into what should be their golden years” because they have to. “It’s a large number of folks we’re talking about.” The 2019 American Community Survey estimated there are about 17,000 undocumented seniors in California who can’t collect social security. Estimates put the number of undocumented farmworkers at around half of the roughly 162,000 who work in the state.

CHIRLA knows domestic workers, farm workers, street vendors, and construction workers who have waited more than a decade to adjust their

immigration status. Since many have worked “under the table” or had low-wage social security jobs, Medina says SSI benefits for many wouldn’t be enough to sustain them even if they got green cards.

“They continue to be undocumented. Some of them are alone here in this country, and their bodies are physically breaking down because of the work that they’re doing. Knee problems from bending in construction, back problems from working as a domestic worker,” Medina said.

California recently passed a health care law that will provide medical insurance to everybody in California regardless of their status. That is good news but it doesn’t start until 2025.

Hidden traumas

Laura Som is a Cambodian Chinese refugee who came to Los Angeles when she was 10-years-old along with thousands of other Cambodians escaping the Pol Pot regime.

“Long Beach has the largest Cambodian population in the nation. Many of these refugees experienced extreme violence and trauma during the genocide. Many had and have PTSD, including myself,” Som said.

As she grew up, Som watched the mental health of the elders in her community deteriorate

“from the aftermath of wars, extreme violence and neglect by the mainstream community. Some of the symptoms of these traumas are hatred, violence, rage, and depression. Little has been done to shield young children from it,” she said.

Degreed in biochemistry, Som founded the Maye Center in Cambodia Town in Long Beach to provide culturally appropriate therapies for mental health wellness for refugees and immigrants.

Noting her community ended gerrymandering in Long Beach, Som says Cambodian seniors don’t speak English but overcame their fear and organized for the good of everyone. Transforming trauma into activism overcomes fear, especially when community initiatives are successful, Som says.

“And so for us, we break the stigma by saying seniors are relevant.”

The stigma of mental health Dr. Brett Sevilla is a clinical psychiatrist and medical director of the Asian Pacific Counseling and Treatment Centers (APCTC) which serves predominantly monolingual Asian immigrant families in Southern California.

Sevilla said families who have members with mental illness often consider it shameful and will first try to contain the

problem and keep the person at home.

“If they eventually do see a psychiatrist, the person is often severely impaired, angry about being accused of being crazy, and the family is exhausted. Medications may be rejected or not taken consistently, as Western medication is believed to be too strong or even a cause of mental illness.”

Sevilla’s agency overcame these barriers by locating their offices in Asian enclaves, placing staff in local schools, providing culturally affirming services in the client’s native language, and linking families to community resources for practical support.

A decade ago, Linda Yoon, co-founder of the Yellow Chair Collective providing culturally appropriate therapy to Asian Americans in Los Angeles, fell into working with seniors at a Korean housing complex.

“One of the tasks that I was given was doing assessments, wellness checks, for every single resident.” Yoon said.

She said a lot of the residents were older women who lived alone and they would talk to her about their traumas, all the challenges they were going through, and things they just never shared with their children.

“And a lot of them end up kind of crying, really sharing something and then also feeling embarrassed because I was such a young worker that they were sharing something so intimate. There was just so much hidden trauma, isolation and loneliness that I was able to witness,” Yoon said.

She often complains with colleagues that children and families get the lion’s share of resources and they could use more—it’s part of the stigma of being invisible seniors. (Peter White/Ethnic Media Services) n

No Pinoy fatalities; Philippines ready...

on Twitter.

The embassy will continue to monitor the situation of Filipinos affected by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake and stands ready to provide assistance.

The total number of Filipinos in Turkey is currently estimated at 4,006, based on the latest official statistics, mostly concentrated in Istanbul in the northwest.

The embassy said it is ready to assist Filipinos affected by the earthquake and may

be reached via telephone and WhatsApp (+905345772344) and via email at ankara. pe@dfa.gov.ph.

“The Philippine embassy in Ankara extends its deepest condolences to the people of the Republic of Türkiye who lost their lives in the devastating earthquake in Gaziantep,” the embassy said.

“We wish for the speedy recovery of the wounded and deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of the victims,” it said.

The earthquake hit the southeastern region of Turkey, 23 kilometers east of Nurda??, Gaziantep located along the Turkey-Syria Border early Monday.

The death toll from one of the strongest earthquakes to hit Turkey exceeded 500 people. It was Turkey’s most severe quake since 1999, when one of similar magnitude devastated Izmit and the heavily populated eastern Marmara Sea region near Istanbul, killing more than 17,000. n

File photo/www.countynewscenter.com

State declares citrus quarantine in Rancho

Bernardo

THE California Department of Food and Agriculture has declared a new citrus quarantine in a 95 square-mile area of Rancho Bernardo after detecting a potentially threatening citrus tree disease during routine inspections.

The bacterial disease, known as Huanglongbing (HLB), is a major threat to San Diego’s $115 million annual citrus crop. Trees infected with HLB can produce mishappen, bitter fruit and the disease can eventually kill the tree.

This new quarantine comes after HLB was found in a residential lime tree in the area and is in addition to the existing HLB quarantine in the city of Oceanside. It covers the area bordered on the north by the intersection of I-15 and Auto Park Way; to the south by Poway Road; to the west by Via De Las Flores; and to the east by Lake Ramona. The maps for this HLB quarantine are available at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/citrus/pests_diseases/hlb/ regulation.html.

The intent of the quarantine is to protect the region’s food supply and support the agricultural economy and environmental sustainability by restricting people and businesses from moving citrus nursery stock, plant parts and fruit outside the quarantine boundaries and off their properties. The only exception is for agricultural businesses that must adhere to specific requirements for treatment, cleaning, and packing commercial fruit prior to movement.

HLB is not harmful to people or animals but could be devastating to the county’s citrus industry. The disease is spread by the Asian citrus psyllids, tiny insects that can carry the bacterium when they feed on citrus trees.

“Unfortunately, Huanglongbing is fatal to citrus,” said San Diego Agricultural Commissioner Ha Dang. “Our goal is to prevent this disease from spreading any further. By working together, we can all protect our food supply, local agriculture, and environment from this devasting disease.”

The County Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures is partnering with state and federal regulators to limit the impact on the public and help prevent the spread of the disease. County and state officials will work with residents in the affected area to arrange for treatment of citrus trees as a protective measure against the disease.

County officials are also proactively notifying local citrus growers, plant nurseries and other related businesses. Samples from trees on the affected property and the surrounding u PAGE 4

Huanglongbing (HLB) is a bacterial disease spread by the Asian citrus psyllids, tiny insects that can carry the bacterium when they feed on citrus trees. Trees infected with HLB can produce mishappen, bitter fruit and the disease can eventually kill the tree.

The recent mass shootings in California put a tragic spotlight on the isolation and invisibility of many immigrant elders in the state. Ethnic Media Services photo

SAN DIEGO – The City of San Diego, through the Commission for Arts and Culture, was awarded $4.75 million to administer a new pilot California Creative Corps arts program. Through the city’s “Far South/Border North: Artists and Cultural Practitioners in Community” initiative, grant funds will financially support artists and cultural practitioners to develop artistic content that increases local awareness of public health, civic engagement, climate and conservation, and social justice within Imperial and San Diego counties. Funds will be allocated following San Diego City Council approval. The grant funding is part of $60 million in grants recently awarded to 14 statewide administrating organizations by the California Arts Council (CAC).

“This is exciting news for artists and communities of need in San Diego,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “The power of art helped us all during the worst of the COVID-19 crisis, yet unfortunately, arts and culture were among the hardesthit sectors during the pandemic.

AFP prepares for 2023 Balikatan...

obligation in working with other countries in the region against terrorism and other threats,” he added.

Aguilar said the AFP is grateful to Sens. Francis Tolentino, Francis Escudero and Sherwin Gatchalian for their support for the implementation of the EDCA, which “is in line with our treaty obligation as contained in the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) of 1951.”

This funding is a recognition of the important role artists and cultural practitioners play in our communities, and we’re deeply appreciative to the California Arts Council for their support.”

“Far South/Border North: Artists and Cultural Practitioners in Community” is a city initiative that will be implemented in partnership with the San Diego Foundation, San Diego Regional Arts and Culture Coalition and the Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties. The partnership combines government, foundation and community collaboration, providing financial support to artists and cultural practitioners to:

• Help support the health and well-being of communities in the lowest quartile of the California Healthy Places Index in San Diego and Imperial Counties.

• Incubate and carry out public campaigns that raise awareness, engage and inspire change.

• Continue enriching their creative, artistic and cultural practice.

u PAGE 5

Since its signing in 2014, EDCA –according to Aguilar – has continuously facilitated the conduct of military exercises and humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) operations in support of the AFP’s mission.

“Likewise, with the threat of climate change, our partnership with modern and well-equipped countries such as the United States of America will develop the capability of our troops in executing HADR operations in times of natural calamities and disasters,” Aguilar said.

“In addition to capability development, our engagement with a friend and a longtime ally also brings economic activities and opportunities that will benefit the people of the host local government units,” he added.

Backing EDCA

More lawmakers, meanwhile, have voiced support for an expanded EDCA, with Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez saying it should be “further broadened” to deter “further aggression” by China in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“I support that decision. It is in our national interest to pursue and expand our defense partnership with the US to deter further aggression from China in the WPS and possible Chinese seizure of islets that belong to us under international law,” Rodriguez said in a statement.

“More sites along our western seaboard, where Chinese aggression and harassment of our fishermen have been taking place, should be covered,” he pointed out.

Four more locations have been added to the current five Philippine bases where U.S. troops would be allowed to operate under EDCA.

The five current locations are Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu and Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City.

EDCA is a supplemental element of the Visiting Forces Agreement which allows

U.S. troops to use Philippine bases on a rotational basis.

“I support the Philippine Air Force base at the former Lumbia airport in our city. I expect the US government to pour in more funds to develop and fully capacitate the air base,” Rodriguez said.

He also said the free ports in Subic, Zambales and in Clark in Angeles City, Pampanga, which are former U.S. military bases, should be used for EDCA-related exercises and humanitarian activities.

“The presence of the U.S. in the former U.S. Navy base in Subic could deter Chinese Coast Guard and military vessels from driving away our fishermen from their traditional fishing grounds in Scarborough or Panatag Shoal, or Bajo de Masinloc, which is near Zambales and Pangasinan,” he said.

He also proposed that Pag-asa Island off Palawan be included in areas open to US troops.

“We have an airstrip there. The DND (Department of National Defense) is also building a small port. We could ask our US counterparts to improve those facilities,” he added.

Oil exploration Rodriguez said the expanded defense cooperation should prompt the Marcos administration to allow and support oil and gas exploration in Recto (Reed) Bank near Palawan.

He maintained that Recto Bank is “reportedly holding more oil and gas reserves than the Malampaya natural gas project, also located in Palawan.”

Currently, a local company with foreign partners holds the service contract for exploring oil and gas in Recto Bank.

Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said EDCA is definitely advantageous to countries prone to disaster like the Philippines.

“We are the most disaster-prone country in the world. There’s no question American troops and their equipment can help us in a big way in critical life-saving disaster relief and recovery operations,” Pimentel said.

He said the arrangement would ensure “immediate availability of U.S. military personnel and logistics to assist the Philippines in responding to natural disasters.”

The 2022 World Risk Index has tagged the Philippines as the most disasterprone among 193 countries, with extreme vulnerability to destructive typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flash floods, storm surges and landslides.

The senior Mindanao legislator is also counting on the EDCA’s full implementation “to boost the ability of Filipino and American military forces to effectively combine operations and act together when needed.” – Delon Porcalla, Sheila Crisostomo n

State declares citrus quarantine in Rancho...

PAGE 3

area are undergoing tests for HLB. If HLB is detected in additional citrus trees in the quarantine area, state agricultural officials will follow up with treatment and removal of the infected trees.

Residents in the quarantine area are urged to take the following steps:

• Do not move citrus plants, leaves or foliage into or out of the quarantine area.

• Cooperate with agricultural officials who are inspecting trees,

taking samples and treating for the pest.

• Consider removing your citrus tree if you no longer need it.

• Buy citrus trees only from reputable local nurseries.

• Report citrus trees that seem to be sick or dying by contacting the San Diego Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures at (760) 752-4700 or visit sdcawm.org.

Residents can also call CDFA’s toll free Pest Hotline at (800) 491-1899 or visit cdfa.ca.gov/plant/acp.

(Katie Cadiao/County of San Diego Communications Office) n

This year’s joint activities are expected to be bigger, considering the expansion of coverage of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) to include four more Philippine military bases where US forces can operate on a temporary basis.

Photo by Walter Bollozos

New program will support artists and cultural practitioners in San Diego, Imperial counties

City of San Diego awarded $4.75M to creatively increase awareness of local issues

Dateline PhiliPPines

House plenary approves ‘Eddie Garcia Act’ to protect entertainment industry workers

MANILA — The House of Representatives unanimously passed on Monday, February 6 a bill that protects both workers and independent contractors in the film, television and radio entertainment industry.

Voting 240-0, the House of Representatives in a plenary session unanimously approved on final reading the House Bill 1270 or the Eddie Garcia Act. If enacted into law, it will entitle entertainment industry workers to fair working conditions and protection against exploitation and abuse, as well as just compensation and other benefits for their welfare.

The bill is named after prolific actor Eddie Garcia, who died after tripping over loose wires while filming a series in 2019. The incident led several actors in the industry to call out dismal and dangerous working conditions in the entertainment industry.

The filing of the bill in 2020 also stemmed from the veteran actor’s death. The measure is a consolidated version of six related bills, including one authored by Garcia’s stepson, Rep. Mikee Romero (1-Pacman Party-list).

The measure requires employers to provide workers or contractors with a copy of a

A year before inflation worsened, agricultural loans hobbled in 2021

by Ramon Royandoyan Philstar.com

MANILA — Lending to the Philippines’ oft-neglected agriculture sector remains tepid, considering the perennial struggles on food security that was exacerbated by the pandemic.

Results of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ 2021 Countryside Bank Survey Baseline Report showed that the share of agricultural loans granted by banks amounted to 11-15% of their total loan portfolio. This was lower compared to 2020 levels, considering the uncertainties that roiled the sector at the height of the pandemic.

contract that explicitly states the number of work hours, job position and description, period of employment, details of compensation and other conditions that will affect the person’s work.

The bill also states that the employer would be required to adhere to all laws related to workers’ occupational safety and health standards.

Workers are also entitled to overtime pay if they render their services beyond eight hours, and they can only extend up to a maximum of 12 hours. The measure also prohibits workers

from rendering more than 60 hours a week.

The measure also requires employers to provide all workers with governmentmandated benefits and consider their travel time to-and-from work as part of their working hours.

Rep. Alfred Delos Santos (Ang Probinsyano party-list), co-author of the bill, said the measure would help strengthen the entertainment industry in the long run by providing its workers with fair working conditions and compensation.

City of San Diego awarded $4.75M to...

The city and its partners are developing guidelines, requirements and the process for awarding CAC Creative Corps funds to qualified applicants. The city plans to release the first round of grant applications for individual artists and cultural practitioners by early next year, followed by a subsequent round later next year for organizations and local and tribal governments to subgrant to artists.

The application portal for part of the $4.75 million grant will open on February 15, 2023. San Diego and Imperial county artists and creative practitioners can apply for the grant funds.

“Assisting the city in granting fund that support creative workforce needs is critical to our regional recovery,” said San Diego Foundation Chief Impact

and Partnerships Officer Pamela Gray Payton.

“Together, we will foster the regional prosperity of artists and cultural practitioners while also collectively advancing health and climate equity and change as part of our vision for just, equitable and resilient communities.”

The city’s investments in artists, cultural practitioners and organizations, both large and small, reflect a deep commitment to making San Diego a more dynamic place to live, work, and play and contribute to a more equitable, inclusive, accessible and sustainable arts and culture ecosystem that amplifies creative work and experiences. To learn more, visit sandiego.gov/artsculture.

(City of San Diego Release) n

To add, data from the BSP survey, which randomly polled 2,530 banks, found that the number of borrowers from the agricultural sector shrank by 30% year-on-year in 2021.

The figures show a glimpse into the struggles that the sector faces perenially, even as past administrations assured some measure of relief would trickle down to stakeholders.

The farm sector historically accounts for 10% of the Philippines’ gross domestic product, but missteps in policy and reforms kept workers languishing in poverty.

Zooming in, the BSP reported that demand for agricultural loans were wanting, considering that interest rates in 2021 were still pegged at the historically-low 2%.

Borrowing costs on this loan type, which stood higher than those set by state-owned banks and privat universal and commercial banks, were at par with those set by thrift banks and private rural and cooperative banks located in and out of Metro Manila.

Despite this, banks who responded to the BSP’s survey were optimistic in the 2022 outturn since demand improved.

The data showed that 76% of those who availed of

these agricultural loans were considered small borrowers.

Domini Velasquez, chief economist at China Banking Corp., said the figures may have been caused by strict credit standards imposed by banks in 2021. As she sees it, cooperatives within the sector are in for a fight.

“Moving forward, the challenge will be to have stronger agricultural cooperatives so that they can leverage their case to banks,” Velasquez said in a Viber message.

The data showed that 65% of banks who responded to the BSP survey required and accepted loan securities, most of which were real estate mortgages.

The same BSP report showed that 76% of banks surveyed are looking to boosting lending to the agricultural sector in the next 12 months. Most thrift banks were keen on expanding their agricultural loan portfolio.

“More than just access to loans, increasing agricultural productivity through access to cheaper farm inputs, use of big data to assess demand-supply mismatch, better post-harvest facilities, and investments in research and development should help the country’s plight in addressing food security,” Velasquez added.

Nicholas Antonio Mapa, senior economist at ING Bank in Manila, said the sector’s plight hit hard since the country is struggling with rising inflation.

“The sector is in need of support and investments and the recent amendments to the Agri-Agra Law will hopefully help channel credit to this sector,” he said.

On the other hand, Leonardo Lanzona, an economist at Ateneo De Manila university, considers this an optimal way that the financial sector can engage with the agriculture sector.

“Financial institutions however are not incentivized to operate in agriculture which

is susceptible to calamities and natural disasters, making any engaging risky. The government can thus play a major role by supporting insurance markets in agriculture,” he said. n

Replacement Project Number: K-23-2168DBB-3-C Estimated Value: $38,400,000 Bid Open Date: 04/04/2023, at 2:00 P.M. License Requirement: A

It is the policy of the City of San Diego to encourage equal opportunity in its Construction and Consultant contracts. Bids or proposals from local firms, small, minority-owned, disabled, veteran-owned, and womenowned businesses are strongly encouraged. Contractors are encouraged to subcontract with and/or participate in joint ventures with these firms. The City is committed to equal opportunity and will not discriminate with regard to race, religion, color, ancestry, age, gender, disability, medical condition or place of birth; and will not do business with any firm that discriminates on any basis. Bids shall be received no later than the date and time noted above at: City of San Diego’s Electronic Biding Site PlanetBids at: https://www.planetbids. com/portal/portal. cfm?CompanyID=17950

Claudia C. Abarca, Director Purchasing & Contracting Department February 10, 2023 2/10/23 CNS-3667208# ASIAN JOURNAL

Continuing recruitment

THERE has been no lack of news reports along with warnings issued by government agencies. Yet Filipinos continue to fall for human traffickers who recruit workers for cryptocurrency scamming syndicates overseas.

Some of the victims have been rescued in countries particularly Myanmar, whose borders with Thailand and Laos are favored by lawless elements including opium traders and now cryptocurrency scam rings. Philippine authorities have also intercepted potential victims before they can leave the country.

Last month, Bureau of Immigration officers intercepted six Filipinos – three at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Jan. 20, and another three at Clark International Airport in Pampanga on Jan. 31. The six, who all initially claimed they were traveling as part of a group tour, were about to board flights to Thai capital Bangkok, with three of them saying their final destination was Laos.

Those bound for Laos said they were offered jobs as a customer service representative for P40,000 a month, sales representative and cook supposedly in an investment company. The other three said they were initially promised jobs in a cargo company, but were later told they would work as encoders and e-games staff with salaries

Babe’s Eye View

BaBe Romualdez

NO doubt the visit, the 2nd visit in fact of U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, underscores the strong partnership between the United States and the Philippines, coming as it is on the heels of the previous highlevel visits of top-ranking U.S. government officials that include Vice President Kamala Harris, State Secretary Antony Blinken and a congressional delegation led by Senator Ed Markey in just a little over six months since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office.

The Pentagon informed us at the Philippine embassy in Washington, DC that Secretary Austin had wanted to include the Philippines in his itinerary, with South Korea as the original destination. We are pleased with the planned visit, especially since we have a new Defense Secretary, Charlie Galvez. The U.S. Defense chief had also indicated he had not had the opportunity to meet President Marcos. The timing was perfect since we had also just finished the Bilateral Strategic Dialogue with the United States which we hosted in Manila the other week.

of $1,000 a month.

All six said they met the recruitment agents through social messaging apps – a common story among human trafficking victims, according to immigration officials.

Other victims were offered jobs supposedly in business process outsourcing companies in Thailand and Cambodia, but found themselves working in cryptocurrency scam operations.

A Senate probe has shown that the crime rings force their foreign trafficking victims not only to operate scams but also to work long hours, with their movements restricted and their passports confiscated. Those who resist working or attempt to flee are subjected to beatings and verbal abuse.

Authorities have advised the public to be wary of illegal recruitment through social messaging and even dating apps, and to coordinate with the Department of Migrant Workers before signing up for overseas employment. Probers are also working to ferret out immigration employees reportedly colluding with human traffickers.

The skills required for these jobs require

a certain level of education that should make potential recruits aware of the risks of human trafficking. But the involvement of fellow Filipinos in the recruitment plus the promises of attractive pay and benefits probably help dispel fears of potential victims. Authorities must come down hard on these recruiters and any coddlers

in government.

In the meantime, those hoping to work overseas must heed the warnings of authorities about the risks of finding employment through social messaging. And if a job offer seems too good to be true, trust your instincts; it’s probably a scam, or a human trafficking racket. (Philstar.com)

Secretary Austin’s visit reinvigorates US-PH relations

Forces of the Philippines, including the commander of the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom).

He described the visit as “heartwarming” because of the enthusiastic welcome he received from the local soldiers and officials – several of whom attended U.S. military institutions for advance courses – who engaged with him. Of course, the U.S. troops stationed in Zamboanga were also elated at the visit of the former U.S. Army four-star general whose name is legendary among American soldiers, having served as commanding general of U.S. Forces in Iraq.

The courtesy call of Secretary Austin on President Marcos was very timely, and the discussions were very straightforward to a certain extent. The President expressed his deep appreciation for the continued assistance of the U.S. to the Philippines on many aspects of our bilateral relations, especially on the modernization of our armed forces.

Part and parcel of the entire relationship between the United States and the Philippines is our military alliance as underscored by the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). There is absolutely no doubt that the visit of Secretary Austin has reinforced all these agreements, particularly EDCA with four new locations to be added to the existing five that have been previously designated. While details have yet to be finalized, the new EDCA sites will be in very strategic locations.

As described by Greg Poling who is director for the Southeast Asia Program and Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Washington, DC-based thinktank Center for Strategic and International Studies, EDCA “allows U.S. forces to construct facilities at agreedupon Philippine military bases for the use of both countries… and was meant to facilitate the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the long term while allowing U.S. forces the access necessary to fulfill its alliance commitments in the short term.”

into becoming disaster resilient.

communities.

As President Marcos himself said, “…the future of the Philippines and, for that matter, the Asia Pacific, will always have to involve the U.S. simply because those partnerships are so strong,” adding that we can only properly navigate geopolitical issues, especially in the Asia Pacific region, “with the help of our partners and our allies in the international sphere.”

Horizons

Following his arrival, Secretary Austin immediately proceeded to Camp General Basilio Navarro in Zamboanga City, where he met with officials of the Armed RichaRd heydaRian

MADRID — Last month, I received an invitation from the Spanish embassy in Manila to present at this year’s Tribuna España-Filipinas (SpanishPhilippines Forum), an annual gathering that brings together top government and business officials from both nations.

In particular, I was asked to join a panel to discuss how the two countries fit into, and can maximize cooperation, amid the seismic geopolitical shifts in the Indo-Pacific region. Among my co-panelists are no less than Emilio De Miguel Calabia, Spain’s ambassador at large for the Indo-Pacific, as well as our own Ambassador Jose de Vega, among the country’s most distinguished diplomats.

The timing of the event

Part of the agreement threshed out during the visit of Secretary Austin is the allotment of $82 million by the U.S. for infrastructure investments at five current EDCA locations which will support economic growth and jobs generation in local

Discussions about additional locations have been ongoing for the past several months, and one important component would be humanitarian and disaster response (HADR), especially since the Philippines is very vulnerable to natural disasters. We have over 7,600 islands and many of these would require disaster resilience, which is really one of the main reasons why we have agreed to the EDCA as the U.S. would be able to help us develop these areas

Definitely, the agreement will also help us in our efforts to be more prepared to deal with natural disasters that may come our way. As we have seen for ourselves, weather-related disasters are becoming stronger and inflicting so much damage on people and property, with lives also lost in the process.

According to latest reports, the global economic losses due to natural disasters amount to over $313 billion in 2022 alone. The 2022 report by the United

Nations Office on Drugs and Crime released late in January also showed the connection between economic losses due to climate crisis and human trafficking. The report included the Philippines. (Philstar.com)

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

* * * babeseyeview@gmail.com

EDCA: Marcos Jr.’s game-changer move

couldn’t be any better. On one hand, Spain has experienced a remarkable transformation in recent decades. Once liberated from self-imposed isolation and economic stagnation under its former caudillo, Gen. Francisco Franco, the southern European nation has gradually joined the ranks of the world’s most prosperous and democratic nations.

Things are not looking too bad for the Philippines either.

Notwithstanding the dearth of inclusive development, the country now possesses one of the fastest-growing economies on earth. Despite our oftenbroken politics and heavily polarized democracy, global investors are giving the country a second look.

After decades of playing a relatively marginal role in regional affairs, the Philippines is now at the very center of an ongoing geopolitical scramble in the 21st century’s most

vital, dynamic, and contested region. It’s not so much our geographical location, which made ours a prime real estate in the Cold War era, but more of our geopolitical positioning, which has placed the Philippines in an unprecedented strategic “sweet spot” amid the ongoing New Cold War.

And, dear reader, this brings us to President Marcos Jr.’s decision to not only “fully implement” but also expand the parameters of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). By all accounts, this is his most consequential decision yet, with major implications for not only the Philippine-U.S. alliance, but also for Sino-American competition in the 21st century.

At once, Mr. Marcos may have caught both critics and allies by surprise. After all, many in both opposition as well as pro-Duterte camps expected him to follow in the footsteps

of former president Rodrigo Duterte. But as I have been explaining in these pages, and in a whole series of writings for publications around the world over the past seven months, Mr. Marcos is ending up more like his father rather than “Tatay Digong” in matters of grand strategy.

Just like the late Filipino caudillo, Mr. Marcos has reached out to all major powers under the banner of an “independent” foreign policy. But just like Marcos Sr., he is also solidifying the Philippines’ bilateral alliance with the U.S. as his ultimate leverage.

After all, the Philippines fell into what I have described as China’s “pledge trap” under Duterte. Not only did Beijing fall short of implementing any significant infrastructure investments over the past decade, but it has also refused to offer any meaningful compromise in the West

Philippine Sea. During his much-vaunted trip to China last month, Mr. Marcos only managed to secure vague and generic promises of expanded cooperation. The $22.8 billion in pledges he took home may have been just a repacked version of what was offered (but largely unfulfilled) to Duterte six years earlier.

Alone, the Philippines has little leverage vis-à-vis China, though. Mr. Marcos’ big move on EDCA, which would grant the Pentagon extensive access to key bases facing both the West Philippine Sea and Luzon Strait, has placed the Philippines at the center of the Pentagon’s “integrated deterrence” strategy against China. At once, the Philippines is vital to America’s efforts to constrain Beijing’s designs across both the South China Sea as well as on Taiwan.

Even more, the Philippines has increased its joint military

exercises with the U.S. from 300 last year to 500 this year, while the number of participating troops in the annual Balikatan joint exercises, which will take place in Ilocos Norte, is set to increase from around 8,000 to as many as 16,000.

For anyone who understands basic strategy, it’s very clear that the expansion of the bilateral alliance is meant not to provoke, but to instead prevent a conflict with China. Recent history clearly shows that weakness invites bullying, while preparation and strength prevent aggression. As the ancient Romans counseled, “If you want peace, prepare for war.” (Inquirer.net)

* * *

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

* * * rheydarian@inquirer.com.ph

WARM WELCOME. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (left) welcomes United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III during a courtesy call at the President’s Hall in Malacañang Palace on Thursday, Feb. 2. During the meeting, Marcos emphasized the importance of further bolstering the cooperation between the Philippines and the United States. PNA photo by Rey S. Baniquet

Manila named world’s ‘most loving capital city’

by Marc Jayson cayabyab Philstar.com

MANILA — Are you a Manila resident? Chances are, you just sent all your loving to a crush, but in a tweet.

Love is in the air in the city of Manila, according to a global word analysis from Crossword Solver, which called the Philippine capital the “most loving city in the world.”

In its website, the word search tool analyzed geotagged tweets from all over the world that contained variations of the phrase “I love you” and those that contained the heart emoji.

“We could calculate the proportion of loving tweets per 100,000 overall to determine which location was more loving than others,” the website said.

Manila turned out to be the “most loving capital city in the world” with 1,246 “loving tweets” per 100,000 tweets.

Manila even trumped the city associated with romance – Paris, France – which did not land in Crossword Solver’s top 20 ranking.

It seems Manila residents had the most “hugot” lines on Twitter by sharing their emotions or terms of endearment online.

“Younger generations are also known to wear their heart on their sleeve online: the concept of hugot (a Filipino word meaning to express deep emotion) is spread among friends, family and romantic partners through poignant quotes, music and videos,” Crossword Solver said.

But love need not be romantic.

It may be platonic in the Filipino culture, and the most notable form of love for Filipinos is that for family.

“Love is at the core of most families, and immediate and extended families are considered important in Filipino culture,” according to Crossword Solver.

The website cited a 20062007 Gallup study that found that 93 percent of people in the Philippines reported feeling love on a typical day, the highest proportion of any country in the world.

In the Gallup poll, which quantified feelings of love from residents in 136 countries,

Philippines was “the world leader in love” with 93 percent of the population reported feeling love.

Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna said the findings showed that city residents are “very vocal on how they feel.”

The other capital cities in the top 20 list are Guatemala City, Guatemala; Luanda, Angola; Jakarta, Indonesia; Mexico City, Mexico; Bogotá, Colombia; Algiers, Algeria; Asunción, Paraguay; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Caracas, Venezuela; Kabul, Afghanistan; Tehran, Iran; Santiago, Chile; Quito, Ecuador; Tokyo, Japan; Singapore; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Hong Kong, and Minsk, Belarus.

Only major capital cities with more than 10,000 tweets and with a minimum population of 1.5 million were included in the analysis.

The most loving country is Guatemala, with 2,217 “loving tweets” per 100,000, and the most loving city in the world is Cochabamba, Bolivia with 2,878 loving tweets. n

SC dismisses coco levy graft case vs. Enrile ahead of 99th birthday

MANILA – The Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed the graft charges filed against former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile along with several others in connection with the coconut levy fund, citing the government’s failure to substantiate the delays in pursuing the case.

In its 52-page decision published online on Wednesday, February 8, the Court’s First Division dismissed the complaint against Enrile, who turns 99 years old next week, due to “violation of their constitutional right to a speedy disposition of the cases.”

Apart from Enrile, also covered by the order are businessman Jose Concepcion, Rolando dela Cuesta, Narciso Pineda and Danilo Ursua.

The court also ordered the dismissal of the same case against Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., Jose Eleazar, Maria Clara Lobregat, and Augusto Orosa in view of their supervening deaths.

“Taken in its entirety, there is a clear violation of the respondents’ constitutional right to speedy disposition of cases when petitioner republic failed to provide sufficient justification in the termination of the preliminary investigation. Consequently, a dismissal of the case is warranted,” the SC said.

“Allowing the case to proceed would unfairly burden the respondents. With this case pending

for over 30 years and possibly more without assurance of its resolution, the Court recognizes that the tactical disadvantages carried by the passage of time should be weighed against the petitioner Republic and in favor of the respondents, Certainly, if this case were remanded for further proceedings, the already long delay would drag on longer,” the High Court said.

The SC added that the government failed to establish that the delay was reasonable and justified.

“In particular, petitioner Republic did not prove that it followed the prescribed procedure in the conduct of preliminary investigation and the prosecution of the case, the complexity of the issued and the volume of evidence made the delay inevitable and (that) no prejudice was suffered by the accused as a result of the delay,” it said.

The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) representing the republic had taken the case to the SC after then Ombudsman Aniano Desierto in 1998, following the review and recommendation of graft investigator Emora Pagunuran, had dismissed the graft complaint filed against Enrile and the other respondents.

The Ombudsman said the complaint should be dismissed on the ground of proscription of

late president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III at the Aquino family mausoleum at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City on Wednesday, Feb. 8. Aquino died of renal disease secondary to diabetes on June 24, 2021. PNA photo by Yancy Lim

House plenary approves ‘Eddie...

PAGE 5

Tripartite council Eddie Garcia Act will also require the Department of Labor and Employment to create a tripartite council that will consolidate the concerns of, and link, workers in the film, television and radio entertainment industry.

“It is my hope that the Tripartite Council being established in the Eddie Garcia bill will exceed

expectations based on its legislated design and that workers will justly assert their rights on selforganization and collective bargaining,” Delos Santos said. The lawmaker added that the bill can serve as a “prototype of other workers’ welfare bills” and provide guidance to lawmakers in the Senate if they decide to include in the measure workers in theater production. (Cristina Chi/Philstar.com) n

BIRTHDAY PRAYERS. Families, relatives, and friends attend a Mass for the 63rd birth anniversary of the

SC dismisses coco levy graft case vs. Enrile...

the offense prompting the government to question Desierto’s ruling before the High Court. The case arose from a complaint filed by the Office of the Solicitor General before the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) which was subsequently referred to the Ombudsman.

It involved the decision on April 19, 1983 of the United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) board of directors where Cojuangco was president and Enrile was chairman in connection with the resolution of a Board of Administrators (BOA) decision awarding liquidated damages of PHP958 million from the Coconut Industry Development Fund (CIDF) to a private corporation, Agricultural Investors Inc. (AII).

LEGAL SERVICES

CASE NUMBER: 37-2023-00005481-CU-PT-CTL TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS:

Petitioner Jacqueline Spidle

Highbaugh filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

a. Jacqueline Spidle Highbaugh to ISIS 13. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 03/27/2023

Time: 8:30 AM Dept. 61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. 61 San Diego, CA 92101

A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county. Asian Journal: FEB. 08, 2023 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON

AII started a coconut seed garden in Bugsuk Island, Palawan province in 1972 two years before President Ferdinand E. Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 582 creating the CIDF which was administered by the Philippine National Bank (PNB) through its subsidiary the National Investment Development Corp. (NIDC).

The CIDF was to finance a nationwide coconut replanting program with an initial capital of PHP100 million from the Coconut Consumers Stabilization Fund (CCSF) levied by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA). The NIDC’s purpose was to ensure a continuous supply of high yielding hybrid coconut seed nuts by distributing the hybrid seed nuts from AII for free.

NIDC was later on substituted by UCPB as administrator of the CIDF after the bank

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9000774

DAKINE FITNESS OF CALIFORNIA located at 6593 Plaza Ridge Rd., San Diego, CA 92114.

Registrant: Janet Gonzales, 1241 Bodega Bay Dr., Chula Vista, CA 91915.

This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.

Signature: Janet Gonzales.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 01/12/2023.

AJ 1100 01/20, 01/27, 02/03, and 02/10/2023. AJSD 1100

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9000805

RICE IMPORTS LLC located at 3518 Lynch Lane, San Ysidro, CA 92173.

Registrant: RICE IMPORTS LLC, 3518 Lynch Lane, San Ysidro, CA 92173.

This business is conducted by Limited Liability Company.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 01/06/2023.

Signature: Andy Saeteurn. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 01/12/2023.

AJ 1101 01/20, 01/27, 02/03, and 02/10/2023.

was obtained by the government through the CCSF. It also substituted NIDC in its Memorandum of Agreement with AII.

In 1982 however, President Ferdinand E. Marcos lifted the CCSF coconut levy depleting the CIDF and prompting UCPB to terminate its MOA with AII. AII then demanded arbitration for UCPB’s obligations and on March 29,1983, the BOA awarded the PHP 958 million in liquidated damages. From the sum was deducted P 426 million which had been advanced by the NIDC for the development of the seed garden. The BOA also granted the payment of arbitration fee of P150,000. The complaint said that in its board meeting, the UCPB board under Cojuangco and Enrile “noted” the BOA’s findings and allowing it to lapse into effect. (PNA) n

LEGAL SERVICES

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9000898

Elite Garage Door Services located at 4630 Border Village Road, Suite N, San Ysidro, CA 92173.

Registrant: Jesse Gil, 4630 Border Village Road, Suite N, San Ysidro, CA 92173. This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.

Signature: Jesse Gil. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 01/13/2023. AJ 1103 01/20, 01/27, 02/03, and 02/10/2023. AJSD 1103

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9000064

Kim’s House Desserts And Sandwiches located at 9510 Miramar Rd., San Diego, CA 92126.

Registrant: Tiger Eats LLC, 5189 Caminito Cachorro, San Diego, CA 92105.

This business is conducted by Limited Liability Company.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.

Signature: Tiger Nguyen. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 01/03/2023.

AJ 1104 01/20, 01/27, 02/03, and 02/10/2023.

LEGAL SERVICES

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9001324

Oxeda Smoothie Club located at 560 Greenbrier Dr. Unit 105, Oceanside, CA 92054.

Registrant: Oxeda Company LLC, 4122 Fairmount Ave., San Diego, CA 92105. This business is conducted by Limited Liability Company.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.

Signature: Johny Oxeda. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 01/20/2023.

AJ 1106 01/27, 02/03, 02/10, and 02/17/2023.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9001673

Little Tree House Child Care located at 210 Camino Vista Real, Chula Vista, CA 91910.

Registrant: Silvia Adriana Vasquez Zamora, 210 Camino Vista Real, Chula Vista, CA 91910. This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 01/24/2023.

Signature: Silvia Adriana Vasquez Zamora. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 01/24/2023.

AJ 1107 01/27, 02/03, 02/10, and 02/17/2023.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9002452

Throw Lights located at 718 Sycamore Ave., Space 113, Vista, CA 92083.

Registrant: Throwlights INC, 919 North Market Street, Suite 950, Wilmington, DE 19801.

This business is conducted by Corporation.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 09/01/2016.

Signature: Andrew Zhao.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 02/01/2023.

AJ 1110 02/03, 02/10, 02/17, and 02/24/2023. AJSD 1110

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9002462

The Glowed Mantle located at 7736 Arjons Drive, San Diego, CA 92126.

Registrant: Jennifer Thuy Ngoc Vo, 4965 Perkon Placce, San Diego CA 92105.

This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 01/27/2023.

Signature: Jennifer Thuy Ngoc Vo.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 02/01/2023.

AJ 1111 02/03, 02/10, 02/17, and 02/24/2023.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9002554

Tabi Law located at 204 Forrest Lane, Berkeley, CA 94708.

Registrant: Maui Kuwabara JD, 3252 Corte Mazatlan, Carlsbad, CA 92009. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 02/01/2023.

Signature: Maui Kuwabara JD. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 02/02/2023. AJ 1113 02/10, 02/17, 02/24, and 03/03/2023. AJSD 1113

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9002794

PB Poke House 2.0 located at 746 Paradise Way, National City, CA 91950.

Registrant: Sean Montgomery, 746 Paradise Way, National City, CA 91950. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.

Signature: Sean Montgomery. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 02/06/2023. AJ 1114 02/10, 02/17, 02/24, 03/03/2023. AJSD 1114

Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner. If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions. If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions. A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED.

Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date. Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court. AJSD 1117

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9000452

Rootz To Locz located at 1050 Kettner Blvd., Suite D #1033, San Diego, CA 92101.

Registrant: Anita Howard, 1050 Kettner Blvd., Suite D #1033, San Diego, CA 92101. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.

Signature: Anita Howard. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 01/09/2023. AJ 1102 01/20, 01/27, 02/03, and 02/10/2023. AJSD 1102

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9000476

Kinme Omakase located at 2505 5th Ave., San Diego, CA 92103.

Registrant: Artisan Bento LLC, 2505 5th Ave., San Diego, CA 92103. This business is conducted by Limited Liability Company.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 01/01/2023.

Signature: Shihomi Sakai Borillo. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 01/09/2023.

AJ 1105 01/20, 01/27, 02/03, and 02/10/2023. AJSD 1105

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9002242

D and D Plumbing located at 3 E Parsley St., Chula Vista, CA 91911.

Registrant: David Louis Martinez, 3 E Parsley St., Chula Vista, CA 91911. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 06/02/2010.

Signature: David L.

Martinez. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 01/30/2023. AJ 1109 02/03, 02/10, 02/17, and 02/24/2023. AJSD 1109

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9001194

Divine Grace Board & Care III located at 9315 Francis Dr., Spring Valley, CA, 91977.

Registrant: a. Henedina T Castillo, 9315 Francis Dr., Spring Valley, CA, 91977.

b. Severo N Castillo, 9315 Francis Dr., Spring Valley, CA 91977.

This business is conducted by Married Couple.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 09/27/2011.

Signature: Henedina T Castillo. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 01/19/2023. AJ 1108 02/03, 02/10, 02/17, and 02/24/2023. AJSD 1108

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9002398

It’s A Cold World located at 3608 S. Granada Ave., Spring Valley, CA 91977.

Registrant: Gregory Borja, 3608 S. Granada Ave., Spring Valley, CA 91977.

This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 02/01/2023.

Signature: Gregory Borja. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 02/01/2023. AJ 1112 02/03, 02/10, 02/17, and 02/24/2023. AJSD 1112

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9002763

a. Maru’s Art located 517 Fourth Ave #3, Chula Vista, CA 91910.

b. Eugenia’s Art located at 517 Fourth Ave #3, Chula Vista, CA 91910.

Registrant: Maria Eugenia Ixtlahuac, 517 Fourth Ave #3, Chula Vista, CA 91910.

This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.

Signature: Maria Eugenia Ixtlahuac. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 02/06/2023. AJ 1115 02/10, 02/17, 02/24, 03/03/2023. AJSD 1115

EMPLOYMENT

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9002744 Direct Plumbing located at 1555 Mendocino Dr 138, Chula Vista, CA 91911. Registrant: J Garden Plumbing Inc, 1555 Mendocino Dr 138,, Chula Vista, CA 91911. This business is conducted by Corporation.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.

Signature: James Garden. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 02/06/2023. AJ 1116 02/10, 02/17, 02/24, 03/03/2023. AJSD 1116

DIEGO

MUSIC AL REIMAGINES A SHAKESPEARE CL ASSIC

I ntroducing: Broadway smash hit & Juliet ’s Filipino American cast meembbers

by MoMar G. Visaya / AJPress

A S Broadway fans, we are lucky to see one Filipino American cast member in a musical. We celebrate if we see more than one, like in the case of Miss Saigon, The King

and

I, Flower Drum Song, Aladdin, and just recently, Into the Woods.

One of the hottest tickets on Broadway today is & Juliet, an award-winning new musical that has been packing in the audiences at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre (124 West 43 Street) since it began performances last October, and celebrated its Broadway opening on November 17, 2022.

The musical boasts a diverse cast with 15 of the 25 company members making their Broadway debuts. There are four Filipino Americans – three of whom are marking their debuts: Brandon Antonio, Jasmine Rafael, and Alaina Vi Maderal and they are joined by Nico DeJesus, who is also the Assistant Dance Captain.

The musical is an exciting reimagination of Shakespeare’s classic love story and delves into what could have happened next if Juliet hadn’t ended it all over Romeo, and got a second chance at life and love – on her terms.

Featuring a book by David West Read, the Emmy Award-winning writer from “Schitt’s Creek,” music from legendary five-time Grammy Award-winning songwriter/ producer Max Martin, direction by Luke Sheppard, and choreography by Emmy Awardwinner Jennifer Weber, & Juliet uses some of the most beloved pop songs of the last three decades to flip the script on the greatest and most tragic love story ever told.

& Juliet is a multigenerational story of selfdiscovery, empowerment, and love. This fresh retelling of Juliet’s new story bursts to life through a playlist of pop anthems as iconic as her name, all written by Max Martin and his collaborators, making this jukebox musical an instant pop favorite. Among the songs used in the musical are classics from Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, Britney Spears, and Backstreet Boys including “Since U Been Gone,” “Roar,” “Baby One More Time,” “Larger Than Life,” “That’s The Way It Is,” “Can’t Stop the Feeling,” and many more. & Juliet had its World Premiere in September 2019 at the Manchester Opera House in England, before moving to London’s West End, where it began performances in November 2019 at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London and went on to win three Olivier Awards.

The Broadway-bound production debuted last summer at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto, where it broke box office records and played to standing-room-only audiences.

An Australian production of & Juliet will premiere this month at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre.

It also broke box office records in the Stephen Sondheim Theater last month, making it a certified hit. The previous record has been held since 2014 by Beautiful – The Carole King Musical.

Their Journey to & Juliet

Brandon Antonio did his due diligence the moment he found out that the show was going to have a Toronto run. This was around February 2020, a month

before all the global pandemic lockdowns.

“So I started to do my research and I heard that & Juliet was a jukebox musical with songs by Max Martin and it’s a what-if story if Juliet lives at the end of Romeo and Juliet,” Antonio shared. “Max Martin is like the greatest songwriter of all time, I mean, those are all the songs that I grew up with, my favorite songs in the entire world.”

His agent also emailed and asked him if he was interested and obviously, he said yes. The pandemic may have complicated everything, but that didn’t stop Antonio from chasing his dream. He was working full-time at a health clinic as a receptionist at this time and because of this, he couldn’t just come to New York for his dance call so he called in sick for a couple of days and flew to New York.

It worked out well for him because he was given the role of Richard and an understudy to two of the principal roles, Romeo and Francois. He has done both so we had to ask if he preferred one over the other.

“It’s hard to choose because they both have highlights and they’re both challenging in different ways. Francois has quite a journey of self-discovery, which is fun to play and he gets to sing a Britney Spears song, which is amazing, I love being able to do that,” he explained.

“I also love to have like a full-on rock star. So that’s fun to play Romeo in the sense that you just get to live in that sort of fantasy.

So I love playing both. I really couldn’t choose.”

Antonio, who was born in Toronto and raised in the suburbs, remembers being a kid who loved to sing in the karaoke and was forced by his family to sing every time there is a gathering.

“I didn’t realize that theater was going to be in my in my pathway to performing until probably high school because that was when I started doing theater stuff,” he shared. “I was about 14 or 15 when I realized that theater might be something worth pursuing.”

Jasmine Rafael meanwhile was working in a restaurant when her manager called her to audition for the musical. Up until this point, she has been auditioning for New York projects but nothing seemed to

pan out so she told her manager not to send her any more New York projects. Her manager insisted and she was told the basics – the premise of the show and the use of pop songs.

Jasmine was cast and she was told to be in NYC to start the rehearsal process in a little less than two weeks. She dropped everything, left her job, and told her family and friends that she was off to achieve her threeyear-old dream.

“It wasn’t like a lifelong dream because I just simply didn’t see a lot of people look like me or sounded like me, with my abilities, on Broadway, but then since it started diversifying, I allowed myself to have that specific trait and it’s been amazing to see the dream come true,” Rafael told the Asian Journal in an interview.

Rafael comes from a family of performers so it is no surprise that she knew she wanted to perform as early as five years old. Her dad was a pianist and composer, her mom was a choir director, and her brother AJ is a singer.

She describes the past couple of months of being in the show as a whirlwind, similar to the way she was cast, and a constant learning curve.

“It’s been really busy. A lot of excitement, learning, and growing, especially in terms of our lifestyle and how to sustain energy,” she said.

Especially for 15 of them in the company who were making their Broadway baptisms of fire. Was it what she expected?

“Yes and no,” Rafael replied laughing. “I really didn’t know what to expect. It just takes everything from you. And that’s like, more than I thought it would, in a way. It was like I know how to dance I got to sing you know, but to do it at this frequency like eight shows a week mentally, so that wasn’t what I expected. But it’s kind of better than I would have expected, the bond that I have with the cast and how much fun I’m having is like really, really amazing.”

Amazing is the same word that Alaina Vi Maderal used to describe how it feels being part of one of Broadway’s biggest hits this season.

“I think I always knew that the show was going to be received very well because it was a huge hit in Toronto. We knew

we were going to have a fun time in New York City,” she recalled.

“I am very grateful to be a part of the show and to be received so well from the theater, Broadway, queer, and even Asian American community in Toronto.”

As a part of the Toronto ensemble, Maderal was in Canada for the whole summer last year.

Now, she describes her NYC situation as a wonderful feeling, especially when she’s on the subway on her way to work and she gets that moment when she realizes her reality and she would get that ‘Wow, I can’t believe that I’m on my way to go work in a Broadway theater in New York City’ kind of feeling.

“I guess my life now feels sort of surreal because the city has so much energy and I mean, this is what I’ve always imagined my life to be like but I kind of still feel like I’m up in the clouds a little bit,” she revealed. “Just because I haven’t been back down to reality. Just because this is everything that I’ve ever, ever wanted, so I still feel like I’m in this like dream state, a surreal place. And I’m trying to come back to reality but knowing that this is my reality is kind of a fun experience for me. It’s definitely real!”

For Nico de Jesus, being assistant dance captain for the show is his full circle moment.

“Growing up Filipino in

u PAGE 10

Nico De Jesus Alaina

Vi Maderal

Brandon Antonio Jasmine Rafael

Lorna Courtney and the cast of & Juliet

Photo by Matthew Murphy

Photo by Matthew Murphy

Love Your Heart week of action promotes heart health with events, information & more

THIS year Love Your Heart events and no-cost blood pressure screenings will be available over the course of several days in locations throughout the county and Mexico.

Knowing your blood pressure numbers is a vital first step toward heart health. Heart diseases are the leading cause of death in the United States, and the second leading cause of death in San Diego County. In 2021, nearly 5,000 people died in San Diego County from heart diseases.

This year the Love Your Heart Week of Action runs Feb. 11 through Feb. 19 and will include two community events – one in Chula Vista and another in Ramona – along with more than 300 locations across San Diego County and Mexico where you can get your blood pressure checked for free. Check your nearest location at https://sdcounty. maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index. html?id=c5e5a67a3de743a1aab8e84488e870ea.

“We all have a responsibility to keep ourselves and our families healthy,” said Nora Vargas, Chairwoman, San Diego County Board of Supervisors. “Through this program our county is expanding access to healthcare beyond our borders and making it easy to get checked on your way to work or home from the store. Take charge of your health and keep your heart healthy, a 5-minute check can save your life! – ¡Cinco minutos pueden salvar tu vida!

Launched 12 years ago, the Love Your Heart used the period around Valentine’s Day to encourage a deeper understanding of the importance of heart health. This year it continues as an expanded week of action to combat one of the more preventable causes of death: heart disease.

“I’m proud to say over the past 12 years we have been able to help thousands of people become aware of their blood pressure, and in the process save lives when they went to their doctor for follow up care,” Macchione said. “Our successes happened because of the diligent work by the county and through our incredible partners, but more needs to be done and we continue to urge everyone to become more heart healthy and aware.”

Research showed three behaviors to be the most impactful on your health:

• Poor Diet

• Physical inactivity

• Tobacco use.

Those behaviors contribute to four chronic diseases:

• Cancer

• Heart disease and stroke

• Type 2 Diabetes

• Lung diseases (like asthma).

Combined, those four diseases cause more than half of all deaths worldwide.

Among people in San Diego County, heart disease remains the second leading cause of death, equating to nearly 5,000 loved ones lost in 2021.

“While the statistics may seem grim, efforts like Love Your Heart have driven a 12 percent reduction in the percentage of deaths associated with preventable death threats from 2007 to 2019,” Dr. Ankita Kadakia, Deputy Public Health Officer. “By making small lifestyle changes and knowing your blood pressure numbers you can take control of your health.”

Heart health is top of mind for many Americans after NFL player Damar Hamlin collapsed during the Buffalo Bills game last month. That is why San Diego County and Live Well partners are also impressing the importance of learning CPR and knowing where AEDs are around your workplace and in other public spaces.

For people interested in learning about CPR, the Community Emergency Response Team will demonstrate hands-only CPR at the Ramona Love Your Heart fair.

The two community events will bring Live Well partners together to provide blood pressure screenings, flu vaccines, Narcan distribution and other resources to educate our neighbors and empower them to take control of their health.

• Saturday, February 11, 2023

12 p.m. – 3 p.m. San Diego PACE Chula Vista 880 3rd Avenue, Chula Vista, CA, 91911

‘Iconic’: Megastar Sharon

Cuneta, Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez repeat concert, live at Pechanga Resort Casino March 19

BOWING to numerous requests, Philippine Megastar Sharon Cuneta and Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez will once again hold a back-to-back concert dubbed “Iconic,” on March 19 at 6 p.m., at Pechanga Resort Casino. Similar successful ‘Iconic’ performances were held in Manila in 2019 and the past year in other key states in America. And again, the Pechanga concert forms part of the duo’s U.S. concert tour for 2023.

Pechanga Resort Casino is well-known for hosting only the best and the brightest Filipino entertainers and performers aimed to provide the ultimate experience especially to its Filipino-American patrons.

Cuneta is not only a multiawarded actress but her talent spans to singing where most of the ballad songs she rendered made waves in the Filipino movie and song industries.

Velasquez, on the other hand, is a prime performer, and has built a niche for herself, even reaching the consciousness of the United States’ FilipinoAmerican population. Her unparalleled singing talent has inspired local performers to emulate her unique vocals.

Together, these phenomenal icons and singing sensations – Sharon Cuneta and Regine Velasquez – will join forces one more time, to perform on stage at the Pechanga Resort Casino on March 19, 2023. The North America Music Tour 2023 is produced by Louie Ocampo and Raul Mitra.

It’s definitely a date! Don’t miss this magical milestone as Sharon & Regine’s Iconic II Concert duet deliver sentimental songs full of memories that have topped most playlists for decades.

Pechanga Resort Casino offers one of the largest and

most expansive resort/casino experiences anywhere in the United States. Voted the number one casino in the country by USA Today and rated a Four Diamond property by AAA since 2002, Pechanga Resort Casino provides an unparalleled getaway, whether for the day or for an extended luxury stay.

Offering 5,400 of hottest slots, 152 table games, a 1,100 room and suite hotel, dining, luxury spa, and golf at Journey at

Pechanga, Pechanga Resort Casino features a destination that meets and exceeds the needs of its guests and the community. Pechanga Resort Casino is owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians. For more information, call toll free (877) 711-2946 or visit www.Pechanga.com. Follow Pechanga Resort Casino on Facebook and on Twitter @ PechangaCasino.

(Advertising Supplement)

San Diegans urged to ‘Think Blue’ and show love for clean water and clean beaches in February

Residents can join community cleanups and educational webinars to help create a more sustainable city

SAN DIEGO – With Valentine’s Day

approaching, Think Blue San Diego – the public education and engagement program of the city’s Stormwater Department – is encouraging San Diegans to show their love for clean water and clean beaches this month by participating in community cleanups and educational webinars to help create a more sustainable city.

Think Blue’s nonprofit partner I Love A Clean San Diego is joining the city in hosting a series of events throughout February, including major cleanups in Barrio Logan and City Heights, that residents can participate in.

“To keep our city clean and beautiful, we’re asking San Diegans to show their love for our town by attending a cleanup or webinar this month,” said Bethany Bezak, Interim Director of the city’s Stormwater Department. “These opportunities to ‘Think Blue’ and make a difference will help preserve and protect our amazing local environment.”

Opportunities for San Diegans include:

• Coffee Date Cleanup – Saturday, Feb. 11, 9 a.m. – This Valentine’s weekend cleanup in Barrio Logan, sponsored by Think Blue, will help divert litter and debris from the Chollas watershed and prevent it from reaching the ocean. Before the cleanup, volunteers will learn about the watershed and how to recycle right. Coffee and hot chocolate will be provided by Café Moto.

*Memorial Dog Park, 2975 Ocean View Blvd., San Diego, CA 92113

*Volunteers can register at https:// cleansd.samaritan.com/custom/501/opp_ details/2512?slotId=15585230211.

• Say No to Single-Use Plastic Webinar –Thursday, Feb. 16, 5 p.m. – This free hour-long online session, sponsored by the County of San Diego, helps residents learn how to eliminate single-use plastic waste through zero waste swaps. Attendees will learn how to properly recycle or dispose of plastic waste, what happens to plastic after it’s thrown into a bin or dumpster, and why it’s important for public and environmental health to reduce plastic usage.

*Register to receive a link to the webinar at https://love.cleansd.org/event/say-no-tosingle-use-plastic-webinar/e441695. For those who can’t attend, please register to receive a recording to watch later.

• Sunset Sweep: Manzanita Canyon Cleanup –Thursday, Feb. 23, 3 p.m. – During this two-hour cleanup, sponsored by Think Blue and San Diego Canyonlands, volunteers will remove litter and debris from Manzanita Canyon near City Heights and keep it from flowing through the watershed into local waterways and the ocean.

*The Manzanita Gathering Place, Manzanita Place, San Diego, CA 92105

*Volunteers can register at https://cleansd. org/event/sunset-sweep-manzanita-canyoncleanup-2-23-2023/.

• Organic Recycling Webinar – Saturday, Feb. 25, 10 a.m. – This free hour-long online session, sponsored by the City of San Diego’s Environmental Services Department, focuses on the city’s new curbside organics waste recycling program. Attendees will learn how to reduce food waste through meal planning/storage, how to properly dispose of food waste through the new program, what types of waste go into the organics waste recycling bin, and the importance of diverting organic waste from landfills.

*Register to receive a live link to the webinar at https://love.cleansd.org/event/organics-wasterecycling-webinar/e457774. For those who can’t attend, please register to receive a recording to watch later.

“There are many great opportunities throughout February for San Diegans to get involved and show their love for our waterways and ocean,” said Ann Marie Sack, Director of Community Engagement at I Love A Clean San Diego. “Residents can volunteer for a cleanup and learn how they can do their part to live more sustainably by attending a free educational webinar.”

To learn more about Think Blue San Diego and how to implement a Think Blue mindset, go to thinkblue.org.

(City of San Diego Release) n

Introducing: Broadway smash...

San Diego we all did hip hop. It wasn’t ever a thing that we thought that we could do on Broadway. So to be a part of & Juliet is kind of a full circle for me - to grow up doing hip hop in southeast San Diego and then now doing it on Broadway is kind of crazy to me,” de Jesus told us in our interview. “I’m excited that there are three other Filipinos that are here with me amongst many other different types of Asians that are in the show as well.”

De Jesus made his Broadway debut in 2018 as part of “Pretty Woman: The Musical” at the Nederlander Theatre, eventually becoming one of the show’s dance captains. He also played Romeo on Newsies and was a part of In The Heights led by Vanessa Hudgens.

As dance captain, de Jesus says he “assists the dance guys in any way to make sure that the show choreographic-wise remains at the level of when the show opened” and that if new people are coming into the

show, they’re also in charge of helping get them into the show seamlessly.

To keep fit, de Jesus follows a strict diet and regimen to be able to perform consistently at a high level.

“My thing is [that] I take care of myself and I treat myself like an athlete,” he shared. “I take it to the extreme - I’m vegan and I do intermittent fasting. I go to the gym every day and it’s all just to maintain, to make sure that my body can do what it needs to do.” n

City of San Diego’s award-winning civic dance arts show ‘Collage’ returns to historic Casa

County’s COVID-19 emergency declarations to end; Response continues

Del Prado Theater

Professionally trained dancers of all ages perform diverse dance styles including tap, jazz, ballet and more

SAN DIEGO – This month, the City of San Diego’s Civic Dance Arts has brought back its critically acclaimed dance show to the historic Casa del Prado Theater in Balboa Park. “Collage 2023: Dance Matters” made its victorious comeback recently and will continue on Feb. 10-11 and Feb. 17-19.

The elite performance encompasses skilled and professionally trained dancers and showcases beautiful theatrical lights, eye-catching set pieces and exquisite costumes. The concert incorporates diverse dance styles, including tap, jazz, ballet, hiphop, modern and musical theater.

“We’re thrilled to bring this exciting performance event back again this year,” said Andrea Feier, executive director of the city’s Civic Dance Arts program. “Audience members are in for a treat with this visually stunning, artistically satisfying show.”

The Parks and Recreation Department’s Civic Dance Arts Program provides high-quality, affordable dance training in Balboa Park and at 19 recreation centers throughout the city. With nearly 3,000 students of all levels and abilities, the popular program teaches participants, ranging from 3-year-olds to senior citizens, many different dance styles, including tap, ballet, jazz, modern, hip-hop, Hawaiian and more.

“Collage 2023: Dance Matters” features new work by Kevin and Dea Nguyen (known as professional dance creatives), Elijah Gibson (Texas-based choreographer and founder of Social Movement Contemporary Dance), Kenji Igus (International tap sensation), as well as local artist Donna Flournoy and the talented staff of Civic Dance Arts.

“Collage 2023: Dance Matters” also highlights the talents of the program’s four advanced performing level companies and is the culmination of the year’s artistic endeavors. Community members are invited to experience these incredible dancers and their extraordinary commitment to the art form of dance.

For more information, showtimes and to purchase tickets to participate in person or virtually, visit civicdancearts.org.

(City of San Diego Release) n

Barbie gets candid about Jak, David

BARBIE Forteza teased fans

with intriguing answers related to her boyfriend Jak Roberto and onscreen partner David Licauco during her guesting with the latter on Monday, February 6’s episode of “Fast Talk With Boy Abunda.”

It was the turn of the “Maria Clara at Ibarra” FiLay love team, from their TV characters Fidel and Klay, to take the hot seat in the newest showbiz talk show on TV.

Barbie breezed through the “Fast Talk” segment with nongeneric and honest answers.

The actress said that she has no preference, as long as the guy in question is liked by her family, when asked to choose between Tisoy or Chinito

“It’s not what I’m after,” she replied when asked to choose between the abs of Jak and David, two actors who are known for their well-toned physiques.

She again refused to pit the two by replying that there’s no need to compare the two actors’ stares.

“Ang ganda ko naman. Both?” was her reply if she had to choose whose embrace she would welcome. She went unscathed in the kiss choice when she matterof-factly answered, “I haven’t kissed David.”

Apart from these, she also answered that she likes David’s shyness and humility despite his surging popularity.

Both Barbie, Boy and the audience had the strongest reaction when the actress was asked one question most people are asking her these days.

“Oo o hindi. Nagseselos ba si Jak kay David?” asked Boy.

“No,” Barbie answered. The host immediately followed it up with one of his popular Fast Talk questions. “Huling beses ka nagsinungaling?” Boy asked.

“Now,” Barbie answered, as she and Boy burst into laughter.

During the sitdown, Boy asked his trademark hypothetical question. If there is no Jak in her life, would David stand a chance with her if he decides to court her?

Siguro ‘pag ano nakilala ko pa siya deeper. Kapag naging close siya sa family ko and all.

Kasi ‘pag nalaman ko kung paano siya manligaw, maybe I’ll have an answer then. But now, we’re really good friends,” Barbie shared.

When Boy asked David the same question, he expounded that he prefers smart, go-getter, cute girls. After teasing and prodding, David said, yes, he would court Barbie. (Kathleen A. Llemit/Philstar.com) n

Love Your Heart...

PAGE 10

• Saturday, February 25, 2023

12 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Ramona Library

1275 Main St. Ramona, CA, 92065

The county looked into the California Healthy Places Index when planning the location of community events and screening sites to focus on areas with an above-average recorded incidence of high blood pressure. Knowing your numbers and making small changes to your daily life, including diet and exercise, important in the prevention of heart disease, cardiac arrest, and stroke.

Last year’s Love Your Heart campaign reached more than 7.5 million people, through the combined mediums of print, radio, billboard, transit and social media. It gave community partners more than 6,000 blood pressure monitors to give to underserved residents and supplied Love Your Heart educational packets at all COVID-19 testing sites. The campaign also reached more than 500 people through community events including the Refugee & Newcomer Fair.

(Cassie Klapp/County of San Diego Communications Office) n

THE county’s Board of Supervisors accepted a COVID-19 update on Tuesday, February 7 stating the county’s nearly 3-year-old coronavirus local emergency and local health emergency will end Feb. 28, matching the ending date of the state of California’s previously announced plan.

The update also stated the county will continue to provide all the services needed to respond to the ongoing pandemic, including surveillance, testing, tracing, treatment, vaccinations and public engagement.

The Board first ratified the county’s proclamation of a local emergency and declaration of the local health emergency on Feb. 19, 2020, becoming just the second county in California to declare a local emergency for the then-emerging coronavirus pandemic.

Those emergency responses allowed the County to respond more effectively to the pandemic; seek and use mutual aid; put itself in place to seek financial reimbursement to handle COVID-19; and make sure county health professionals, and other health agencies had the tools they needed to respond, including standing up equitable and highly accessible testing and vaccination programs.

Like the rest of the world, COVID-19 impacted San Diego County. Over the past three years, more than 976,000 San Diegans have laboratory confirmed

positive tests for COVID-19, more than 38,500 have been hospitalized and 5,728 died.

County Public Health Officer Wilma J. Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., noted the county’s focus on mass testing, treatment, vaccinations and investigation and tracing proved positive and saved people from dying.

“Sadly, while lives have been lost, combined community efforts, including enhanced surveillance, accessible and equitable testing and vaccination strategies, and provision of appropriate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), have saved lives,” Wooten said. “Early and thorough response from the County of San Diego resulted in an estimated 3,307 lives saved, from Feb. 14, 2020, through Nov. 13, 2021, according to an analysis by the county’s Community Health Statistics Unit.”

County Health and Human Services Agency Director Nick Macchione thanked current and former county supervisors, County Chief Administrative Officer Helen Robbins-Meyer, county employees, nurses, physicians, therapists, local hospitals, healthcare facilities, CAL FIRE, first responders, the county’s 18 cities, community partners, community-based organizations, the public and the media for their part in addressing a “generational pandemic.”

“What we accomplished collectively is regarded as one of the best responses in the nation, with recognition from the federal government, the governor and the state, and many other leaders.” Macchione said, “We set the bar for others to follow.”

The county’s comprehensive local response to protect the public’s health with an equity focus featured numerous actions,

including:

• Rapidly deploying widespread testing and mass vaccinations

• Keeping people informed across sectors from education to faith based and through open and frequent media communications

• Employing “promotoras”— community health workers

• Procuring outreach contracts with various and ethnic community organizations

• Working with long-term care facilities that housed people at high risk of the virus

• Surveilling wastewater to detect and gauge virus levels.

Since the start of the pandemic, the county has invested more than $1 billion to fight coronavirus, not only through health actions, but also by providing food, housing and child-care assistance, as well as stimulus to help businesses and people hurt by COVID-19. Nearly 2.7 million San Diegans have received the primary series of one of the approved COVID-19 vaccines and more than 560,000 have received a bivalent booster vaccine.

More information about the county’s ongoing response to COVID-19 is available online on the County COVID-19 website (https://www.sandiegocounty. gov/content/sdc/hhsa/programs/ phs/community_epidemiology/ dc/2019-nCoV.html). (Gig Conaughton/County of San Diego Communications Office) n