021424 - Southern California Midweek Edition

FEBRUARY 14-16, 2024 Volume 34 - No. 13 • 12 Pages

‘Mindanao secession no constitutional travesty’ DATELINE USA

by CATHERINE VALENTE

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

ManilaTimes.net

What were last year’s biggest scams?

FORMER President Rodrigo Duterte's idea of an independent Mindanao is "not a travesty of the Constitution," as it is "covered by the guarantee of freedom of speech or of expression," his former top legal counsel Salvador Panelo said.

Panelo issued the statement after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that calls for a separate Mindanao were "doomed to fail" for they were

ON Friday, February 9, the Federal Trade Commission released data showing that nationwide fraud losses topped $10 billion in 2023 — 14% more than 2022.

Nevertheless, the dramatic loss owes less to more reports than to more money being lost to each scam per these reports.

At an Ethnic Media Services briefing that morning, FTC officials discussed new trends in top scams, and why learning about and reporting scams is so crucial to protecting consumers.

Top scams of 2023 Last year’s $10 billion in reported losses, compared to $9 billion in 2022, was an all-time first, “but the number of reports we received in 2023 did not increase dramatically,” said Maria Mayo, Acting Associate Director for the Division of Consumer Response and Operations in the FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection.

“One in four consumers reported losing money with a median loss of $500 per consumer,” she continued.

Research shows that less than 5% of  PAGE 3

"anchored on a false premise."

Panelo said that Marcos "has been swayed to adopt such [a] misplaced response."

"It is amusing that the reaction to the opposition to the idea of the secession of Mindanao floated by PRRD (former President Duterte's initials) has gone ballistic from over-reaction to the utterly absurd," Panelo said.

"A forgotten idea that birthed 40 years ago owing to government's neglect of Mindanao has been resurrected by PRRD evidently as a peripheral

reaction to the discredited and graft-clothed people's initiative surreptitiously initiated by power-hungry politicians," he added.

The former Palace spokesman insisted that an idea of a Mindanao secession "can not be absolutely said to be doomed to fail," saying that "any advocacy or a concept must pass the crucible of a debate prior to the determination of its success or failure."

"Espousing an idea, no matter how outrageous, the matter of secession is certainly not, cannot be  PAGE 3

Nikko Remigio: A proud Fil-Am on a Super Bowl team The Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver is set to make his Super Bowl debut

by NIMFA RUEDA Inquirer.net

Harvard’s first-ever Filipino classes foster cultural connection, community Beginning and intermediate courses were offered in the fall semester, with an advanced level added for spring

LOVE IS IN THE AIR. An officer of the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group buys a bouquet of flowers at a stall in Dangwa Flower Market, Manila on Tuesday, Feb. 13. Flower prices are expected to increase until Valentine’s Day itself on Wednesday due to high demand.

PNA photo by Yancy Lim

LOS ANGELES – Among the hot topics leading up to the Super Bowl game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, tight end rookie Nikko Remigio.

Who is Nikko Remigio?

Remigio, 25, has been on the Kansas City Chiefs’ reserve/injured list since August last year and is set to return to the field in his first pro season tomorrow.

He was born on Nov. 4, 1999 to a Filipino father and a half Black, half white mother.

Growing up Asian and Black American in a predominantly white neighborhood in Orange County, California, Remigio felt different and faced racism.

In an interview with Berkeley News, Remigio said the other kids wanted to touch his hair because it was long and “super curly.”

He was also told to stay out of the sun because his  PAGE 4

2 Chinese Navy ships spotted as US, PH make joint patrols in West PH Sea

“MABUHAY,” “kumusta,” “salamat,” and more Filipino words now echo through Harvard University’s halls.

Last fall, the Ivy League school took a significant stride in acknowledging the linguistic and cultural diversity of the Philippines and its community in the United States with the introduction of Filipino language courses.

As reported by The Harvard Gazette in their Feb. 7 article, these courses, spanning beginner and intermediate levels, have garnered enthusiastic participation from students eager to reconnect with the Filipino language at Harvard. The inclusion of these courses aligns with a broader initiative by the Harvard University Asia Center to enhance offerings in Southeast  PAGE 3

by JOHN ERIC MENDOZA Inquirer.net

MANILA — The Philippine Navy observed the presence of two Chinese Navy vessels while U.S. and Philippine troops conducted joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea last Friday February 9.

Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad said Tuesday, February 13 that the two People’s Liberation Army (PLA)-Navy ships appeared to be monitoring the latest maritime cooperative activity (MCA) between Manila and Washington.

“There [was] the presence of two PLANavy ships [on] the horizon,” Trinidad disclosed during a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Aside from the two Chinese vessels, there were no other “uninvited guests” during the U.S.-Philippines military exercise, he added. “[As for] uninvited guests, no maritime militia, no [Chinese] coast guard vessels were monitored.”

Trinidad did not further elaborate on the type of Chinese warship present in the area last Friday.

The second U.S.-PH MCA was conducted  PAGE 5 Vice President Sara Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Malacañang file photo

Valentine’s Day meets Ash Wednesday: Navigating love amid penance VP Sara Duterte says relationship with Pres. Marcos remains ‘okay’

by CRISTINA ELOISA BACLIG Inquirer.net

MANILA — Globally, February 14 shines as a day for love and all its myths and facts, but for many Catholics this year, it also marks a time for reflection and penance as Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday fell on the same day.

The coincidence of a time of love and the start of Lent is not common.

Six years have passed since these two significant observances last shared the same date. The year 2018 was notable, marking the first occasion in 73 years that Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Ash Wednesday signifies the beginning of Lent, a 40-day journey of penance and Day aligned.

However, when Valentine’s Day contemplation culminating in Easter, which the Catholic faithful hold as the day Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

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intriguing irony emerges between the materialistic fervor of love and the austere reflection of Lent.

On the one hand, February 14 is awash with the commerce of romance — flowers, chocolates, and grand gestures fueling a trade boom. On the other, Ash Wednesday ushers in a period of fasting, prayer, and penance, calling for modesty and introspection.

This juxtaposition paints a vivid picture of contrast: the consumerist celebration of affection against a backdrop of spiritual simplicity, highlighting the complex interplay of secular indulgence and religious observance on the same calendar

MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, February 12, said that she and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “are okay,” despite the hostility between her family and the president.

“We have no problem with each other, President Bongbong Marcos and I are doing good, we are okay in terms of our relationship both personal and working,” Duterte told reporters in Malaysia where she is set to attend a Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Council program as its president.

However, asked about her  PAGE 4 relationship with First Lady

Liza Marcos, Duterte merely responded “I have no comment as of this time.”

Duterte also said that she and Marcos have not discussed the accusations made against him by her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, nor have they addressed her brother, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte’s call for Marcos to step down.

The said accusations were made during a prayer rally in Davao City where the former president said Marcos was on the government’s illegal drugs watchlist — which the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency later  PAGE 3

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From the Front Page

VP Sara Duterte says relationship with...

PAGE 1

denied.

On the other hand, Davao City Mayor Sebastian or “Baste” in the same event also called Marcos to resign as he criticized the policies of the current administration.

Sara, for her part, dismissed

Baste’s call as “brotherly love” as she attributed Baste’s actions to the “despicable treatment” she’s been receiving from some allies of Marcos.

While the vice president has not specified who these allies were, there has been a noticeable rift between her House Speaker

Martin Romualdez.

PAGE 1 Sara herself previously acknowledged the alleged rift a travesty of the Constitution. between her and Romualdez, It is covered by the guarantee stating that even she wonders of freedom of speech or of why she is being “attacked” expression," Panelo said. despite being the current He said that what is violative administration’s ally. (Inquirer. of the Constitution "is the net) espousal of violence and intimidation of the people to bring the downfall of the government and the prevention of the enforcement of laws, as Why consumer reporting well as defying the constituted matters authorities."

Reporting scams like these "Neither is such advocacy a to the FTC matters because the crime of sedition, which is rising data helps nearly 3,000 state, tumultuously and publicly by federal, local law enforcement means of violence or intimidation entities nationwide stop fraud, to prevent, among others, the and because it helps prevention promulgation and execution outreach, Greisman continued. of laws and the exercise of the “When we see, for example, powers and duties of government spikes in gift card scams, we officials," he said. reach out to the industry to see "Nor is it [a] rebellion, which what they can be doing to curb is rising publicly and taking abuse of cards,” she added. arms against the government," “When we see text messaging he added. becoming a frequent point of Panelo, a lawyer, said "a contact, we reach out to the secession by an overwhelming telecommunications industry.” majority of a part of a population People can now report frauds and a territory of a country and bad business practices in done peacefully is sanctioned their preferred language — by — and not prohibited by and anonymously if they wish international law."

— by phone at 877-382-4357, This, he said, was exemplified or online in English or Spanish by the secession of Singapore by going to reportfraud.ftc.gov from Malaysia, Sukovo from or by emailing fraud@ftc.gov. Serbia and East Timor from Identity theft can be reported in one’s preferred language at 877-438-4338, or in English or Spanish at identitytheft.gov.

PAGE 1 “To help people spot and avoid scams and identity theft and talk Asian stJames Robson, the about what they experience, William Fung Director of the we offer information at ftc. Asia Center, underscores that gov/languages” in languages this initiative reflects Harvard’s to fostering including Amharic, Arabic, commitment understanding and simplified and traditional Chinese, global French, Mam, Korean, Russian, engagement, particularly in Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, regions of increasing economic Ukrainian and Vietnamese, added importance and geopolitical Larissa Bungo, Senior Attorney at influence.

Aligned with the varied the FTC Division of Consumer & backgrounds of its students, Business Education.

“While scammers are really the courses have fostered good at what they do, knowledge dialogues on Filipino society, is power, and the best thing we traditions and contemporary can do is try to share what we issues. Intermediate students, know about spotting scams,” for example, engage in activities she said. “When people report such as reading news articles and fraud, they can share as much sharing opinions, promoting a or little as they want to. We’re deeper understanding of Filipino interested in knowing what culture and perspectives.

“It also acknowledges the happened. We want to know the story.” (Selen Ozturk/Ethnic contribution of the overseas Filipino workers, the migrants, Media Services)

What were last year’s biggest...

PAGE 1

consumer fraud victims report at all.

The most common scam category was imposters “pretending to be a trusted entity like a business, a government agency, a family member or a romantic interest”; number two was online shopping and negative reviews; three was prizes and lotteries; four was investments; and five was business and job opportunities.

The most commonly reported form of imposter scams were business imposters, with $752 million in losses last year.

Per one example, Mayo said, “A consumer gets what appears to be a banking alert about fraudulent activity with their account and is given a number to call. The call is transferred to a fake U.S. Marshal who tells the consumer their money is in danger because of a money laundering scheme. The consumer withdraws funds from their personal accounts and transfers them to a crypto wallet that the Marshal set up.”

Government imposter fraud was the second-most reported type of imposter scam — in fact, losses to FTC imposters skyrocketed from a median loss of $3,000 in 2019 to $7,000 in 2023.

While investment-related fraud was number four overall, it was the category where people reported the most losses: a total of $4.6 billion with a median loss of over $7,000 for these scams, which involve transferring money to people promising to teach them how to trade stocks.

For the first time ever, “email was the most reported contact method of scammers in 2023, Mayo said. “In 2022, text was number one, but before that phone calls were always number one.”

Nevertheless, people

contacted by phone reported the highest median losses of $1,480, while those contacted through social media lost the most money overall, $1.4 billion.

Regarding common methods of payment, people who paid scammers by bank transfer reported losing $1.9 billion, while those who paid by cryptocurrency lost $1.4 billion.

AI scams The FTC is increasingly worried about scammers using artificial intelligence to “turbo-charge fraud” through impersonation, said Lois Greisman, Associate Director of the FTC Division of Marketing Practices.

For instance, the scammer would get a voice clip of the victim’s aunt from social media and clone it to call the victim, saying that the aunt has “been in a terrible car accident, they’re in the hospital, there’s no insurance information, so they need you to wire thousands of dollars for life-saving surgery,” she explained.

Nor is AI limited to voice cloning scams, Greisman added, “but also seeping into scammers’ messages: “‘My crypto investment method works because I’ve trained the AI to beat the stock market’ — with all the hype around AI these days, that’s a very compelling claim to make.”

How, then, do you spot a scammer?

“One of the best ways is by what payment instrument they ask you to use,” said Greisman.

“If they’re insisting on payment by wire transfer, gift card, payment apps or crypto, that’s a huge bright red flag … because it gives scammers the greatest measure of anonymity, and the likelihood of law enforcement being able to trace and return the money is extremely difficult.”

Mindanao secession no...

Indonesia.

"The secession is anchored on the principle that the people have the right to self-determination.

They have the right to choose the kind of government they want, to choose the officials who will govern them and to determine their future," he said.

Panelo also said the Constitution "enshrined the principle: Sovereignty resides in the people, and all authority emanates from them."

"If the sovereign people of Mindanao opt to secede and establish its own state in a peaceful manner, it has that inherent right. Such is premised on the principle of 'Salud populi est supremacy lex' (The welfare of the people is the supreme law),'" Panelo said.

"If it is the welfare of the people of Mindanao to create its own republic for the reason that the present system does not work to their welfare, then they cannot be deprived of their right to self-determination," he added.

Panelo said an idea "can not be crushed by threat or intimidation" as "it can only be supplanted by a better idea."

"You do not crush an idea. You crush a rebellion or an uprising," the former Palace spokesman

Harvard’s first-ever Filipino classes... and the growing Filipino diaspora in the world,” Preceptor Lady Aileen Orsal shares to the publication.

Hailing from Cavite, Orsal is among the instructors for this new language offering at Harvard.

Affectionately addressed as “ate” (older sister) by her students, she emphasizes the impact of the courses, not only on the university and its students but also in highlighting the significance of language, notably one of the most widely spoken in the U.S. In a recent study, Tagalog emerged as the second most spoken language, following English and Spanish, in numerous U.S. cities. In Nevada, it stands as the predominant language spoken after English and Spanish. (Hans Carbonilla/ Inquirer.net)

said.

"The oppositors to the idea of a secession instead of lashing at the proponent should determine its whys and wherefores then provide the appropriate and effective response," he added.

(Log on to www.manilatimes.net for the full statement of Salvador Panelo, former legal counsel of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte, on Mindanao secession.) g

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4 FEBRUARY 14-16, 2024 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL

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GoFundMe has become a health care utility

by ElisabEth RosEnthal KFF Health News

BELIEVE IT OR NOT. Lucky charms are among the bestsellers in Binondo, Manila on Chinese New Year Saturday, Feb. 10. Coupled with hard work, believers expect fortune, protection and success with these items.

PNA photo by Joan Bondoc

Valentine’s Day meets Ash Wednesday...

PAGE 1

day.

In this piece, INQUIRER.net explores the vague history and commercial facets of Valentine’s Day, alongside the practices of penance like fasting and abstinence observed on Ash Wednesday, highlighting what the Catholic faithful are called to reflect upon during the confluence of these events.

An origin that is ‘vague at best’ Valentine’s Day has always been a special day, although most of its history remains shrouded in mystery. However, historians have previously found that the modern romantic notion attached to the celebration hardly shares a resemblance to how it was celebrated centuries ago.

Historical accounts said that the earliest possible origin of Valentine’s Day was the pagan holiday Lupercalia—an ancient Roman festival of fertility. The feast, however, was far more brutal than the concept of romance and love that we now associate with the date February 14.

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the Roman festival was held in mid-February, with some accounts stating that the celebration spans from Feb. 13 to 15.

As part of the celebration, Roman priests would sacrifice goats for fertility and dogs for purification. The hides of the slain goats were then believed to have

been used to slap both women and crop fields — a ritual believed to make women fertile.

History.com also recounts a legend where the festival included a fertility rite that involved pairing young women with men through a matchmaking lottery, with young men drawing the names of their female counterparts from a large jar.

By the end of the 5th century, Pope Gelasius I replaced the pagan Lupercalia festival with a day dedicated to Saint Valentine’s martyrdom on February 14.

Despite Saint Valentine being celebrated as the “patron of lovers” and a symbol of romance, Pope Gelasius I’s intention was not to start a celebration of love and passion — a point highlighted by some contemporary scholars who caution Christians against marking the day due to its pagan origins.

However, much about Valentine’s Day was based on competing origin stories.

Encyclopedia Britannica noted that the holiday’s true origin is “vague at best.”

“Valentine’s Day did not come to be celebrated as a day of romance until about the 14th century,” Encyclopedia Britannica stated.

A commercial holiday To add to its vague origins, different historical accounts also have variations on when exactly Valentine’s Day became a

commercial holiday.

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Valentine, in the form of formal messages, first appeared in the 1500s, and commercially printed cards dedicated to the holiday were being used as early as the 1700s.

Encyclopedia Britannica likewise noted that the first commercial Valentine’s Day cards in the United States were printed in the mid-1800s.

National Geographic said that the ever-popular tradition of giving Valentine’s Day cards began in 1415 when the Duke of Orléans sent a card — said to be the very first Valentine’s Day card — to his wife while he was imprisoned in the infamous Tower of London.

“In the United States, Valentine’s Day cards didn’t gain popularity until the Revolutionary War, when people took up the habit of writing handwritten notes to their sweethearts,” National Geographic said, referring to the war between Britain and the United States.

“It was only in the early 1900s that cards were mass-produced for the holiday,” it added.

Fasting and abstinence Ash Wednesday signifies the beginning of Lent, a 40day journey of penance and contemplation culminating in Easter, which the Catholic faithful hold as the day Jesus Christ rose PAGE 5

GOFUNDME started as a crowdfunding site for underwriting “ideas and dreams,” and, as GoFundMe’s co-founders, Andrew Ballester and Brad Damphousse, once put it, “for life’s important moments.” In the early years, it funded honeymoon trips, graduation gifts, and church missions to overseas hospitals in need. Now GoFundMe has become a go-to platform for patients trying to escape medical billing nightmares.

One study found that, in 2020, the annual number of U.S. campaigns related to medical causes — about 200,000 — was 25 times the number of such campaigns on the site in 2011. More than 500 current campaigns are dedicated to asking for financial help for treating people, mostly kids, who have spinal muscular atrophy, a neurodegenerative genetic condition. The recently approved gene therapy for young children with the condition, by the drugmaker Novartis, has a price tag of about $2.1 million for the single-dose treatment.

Perhaps the most damning aspect of this is that paying for expensive care with crowdfunding is no longer seen as unusual; instead, it is being normalized as part of the health system, like getting bloodwork done or waiting on hold for an appointment. Need a heart transplant? Start a GoFundMe to get on the waiting list. Resorting to GoFundMe when faced with bills has become so accepted that, in some cases, patient advocates and hospital financial aid officers recommend crowdfunding as an alternative to being sent to collections. My inbox and the “Bill of the Month” project (a collaboration by KFF Health News and NPR) have become a kind of complaint desk for people who can’t afford their medical bills, and I’m gobsmacked every time a patient tells me they’ve been advised that GoFundMe is their best option.

GoFundMe acknowledges the reliance of patients on its platform. Ari Romio, a spokesperson for the company, said that “medical expenses” is the most common category of fundraiser it hosts. But she declined to say what proportion of campaigns are medically related, because people starting a campaign self-select the purpose of the fundraiser. They might choose the family or travel category, she said, if a child needs to go to a different state for treatment, for example.

So although the company has estimated in the past that roughly a third of the funds raised on the site are related to costs for illness or injury, that could be an undercount.

Andrea Coy of Fort Collins, Colorado, turned to GoFundMe in 2021 as a last resort after an air-ambulance bill tipped her family’s finances over the edge.

Sebastian, her son who was then a year old, had been admitted with pneumonia to a local hospital and then transferred urgently by helicopter to Children’s Hospital Colorado in Denver when his oxygen levels dropped. REACH, the air-ambulance transport company that contracted with the hospital, was out-of-network and billed the family nearly $65,000 for the ride — more than $28,000 of which Coy’s insurer, UnitedHealthcare, paid. Even so, REACH continued sending Coy’s family bills for the balance, and later began regularly calling Coy

to try to collect — enough so that she felt the company was harassing her, she told me.

Coy made calls to her company’s human resources department, REACH, and UnitedHealthcare for help in resolving the case.

She applied to various patient groups for financial assistance and was rejected again and again. Eventually, she got the outstanding balance knocked down to $5,000, but even that was more than she could afford on top of the $12,000 the family owed out-of-pocket for Sebastian’s actual treatment.

That’s when a hospital financial aid officer suggested she try GoFundMe. But, as Coy said, “I’m not an influencer or anything like that,” so the appeal “offered only a bit of temporary relief — we’ve hit a wall.” They have gone deep into debt and hope to climb out of it.

In an emailed response, a spokesperson for REACH noted that they could not comment on a specific case because of patientprivacy laws, but that, if the ambulance ride occurred before the federal No Surprises Act went into effect, the bill was legal.

(That act protects patients from such air-ambulance bills and has been in force since Jan. 1, 2022.)

But the spokesperson added, “If a patient is experiencing a financial hardship, we work with them to find equitable solutions.”

What is “equitable” — and whether that includes seeking an additional $5,000, beyond a $28,000 insurance payment, for transporting a sick child — is subjective, of course.

In many respects, research shows, GoFundMe tends to perpetuate socioeconomic disparities that already affect medical bills and debt. If you are famous or part of a circle of friends who have money, your crowdfunding campaign is much more likely to succeed than if you are middle-class or poor.

When the family of the former Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton started a fundraiser on another platform, *spotfund, for her recent stay in the intensive care unit while uninsured, nearly $460,000 in donations quickly poured in. (Although Retton said she could not get affordable insurance because of a preexisting condition — dozens of orthopedic surgeries — the Affordable Care Act prohibits insurers from refusing to cover people because of their medical history, or charging them abnormally high rates.)

And given the price of American health care, even the most robust fundraising can feel inadequate. If you’re looking for help to pay for a $2 million drug, even tens of thousands can be a drop in the bucket.

Rob Solomon, CEO of GoFundMe from 2015 to March 2020, who in 2018 was named one of Time magazine’s 50 most influential people in health care, has said that he “would love nothing more than for ‘medical’ to not be a category on GoFundMe.” He told KFF Health News that “the system is terrible. It needs to be rethought and retooled.

Politicians are failing us. Health care companies are failing us.

Those are realities.”

Despite the noble ambitions of its original vision, however, GoFundMe is a privately held for-profit company. In 2015, the founders sold a majority stake to a venture-capital investor group led by Accel Partners and Technology Crossover Ventures.

And when I asked about medical bills being the most common reason for GoFundMe

campaigns, the company’s current CEO, Tim Cadogan, sounded less critical than his predecessor of the health system, whose high prices and financial cruelty have arguably made his company famous.

“Our mission is to help people help each other,” he said. “We are not, and cannot, be the solution to complex, systemic problems that are best solved with meaningful public policy.”

And that’s true. Despite the site’s hopeful vibe, most campaigns generate only a small fraction of the money owed. Most medical-expense campaigns in the U.S. fell short of their goal, and some raised little or no money, a 2017 study from the University of Washington found.

Campaigns made an average of about 40% of the target amount, and there is evidence that yields — measured as a percentage of their targets — have worsened over time.

Carol Justice, a recently retired civil servant and a longtime union member in Portland, Oregon, turned to GoFundMe because she faced a mammoth unexpected bill for bariatric surgery at Oregon Health & Science University.

She had expected to pay about $1,000, the amount left of her deductible, after her health insurer paid the $15,000 cap on the surgery. She didn’t understand that a cap meant she would have to pay the difference if the hospital, which was innetwork, charged more.

And it did, leaving her with a bill of $18,000, to be paid all at once or in monthly $1,400 increments, which were “more than my mortgage,” she said. “I was facing filing for bankruptcy or losing my car and my house.”

She made numerous calls to the hospital’s financial aid office, many unanswered, and received only unfulfilled promises that “we’ll get back to you” about whether she qualified for help.

So, Justice said, her health coach — provided by the city of Portland — suggested starting a GoFundMe. The campaign yielded about $1,400, just one monthly payment, including $200 from the health coach and $100 from an aunt. She dutifully sent each donation directly to the hospital.

In an emailed response, the hospital system said that it couldn’t discuss individual cases but that “financial assistance information is readily available for patients, and can be accessed at any point in a patient’s journey with OHSU. Starting in early 2019, OHSU worked to remove barriers for patients most in need by providing a quick screening for financial assistance that, if a certain threshold is met, awards financial assistance without requiring an application process.”

This tale has a happy-ish ending. In desperation, Justice went to the hospital and planted herself in the financial aid office, where she had a tearful meeting with a hospital representative who determined that — given her finances — she wouldn’t have to pay the bill.

“I’d been through the gamut and just cried,” she said. She said she would like to repay the people who donated to her GoFundMe campaign. But, so far, the hospital won’t give the $1,400 back.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.

Nikko Remigio: A proud Fil-Am on a...

PAGE 1 skin was getting too dark. There were more overt forms of racism, “like being called a nigger or a chink, and getting the slanted eyes gesture to my face,” he said.

Having a mixed-race identity also had its challenges. “It’s like you’re too Black for the white kids, and too white for the Black kids. And then, you’re not really Filipino because you’re only half,” he revealed.

Looking back now, Remigio realized he was learning how to deal with adversity and to “keep pushing through tough situations, knowing how to react in times of struggle and hardship.”

It was his desire for acceptance that got him interested in sports, where “you’re cherished and loved by everybody.” “It didn’t matter what race you were,” Remigio said. “It made you feel like you were just like everybody else – not different.”

Remigio’s Filipino father was born in Seattle, Washington and raised in Southern California.

His family is from Iloilo and Muntinlupa.

His mom, who is half Black and half white, is from Pontiac, Michigan. His parents met in Santa Ana, California, in 1988.

His parents divorced when Remigio was a young child, but

Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Nikko Remigio, a proud Fil-Am, is set to make his Super Bowl debut.

Photo from Instagram/@nikkoremigio

they have maintained a good relationship.

“I really admire the morals they instilled in me,” he said. “They were always there if we were really struggling, but gave us the space to navigate challenges by ourselves in order to fully learn what we’re capable of, and who we are.”

Remigio is proud of his heritage

and representation is more important to him than winning games or making headlines.

“One of the big things not only for me — but I know for my dad and his sisters, and my grandma and grandpa — is just people being able to pronounce our last name the right way,” said Remigio (pronounced ruh-meHEE’-oh). g

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Valentine’s Day meets Ash Wednesday...

Dateline USa

SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 14-16, 2024

5

PAGE 4 from the dead.

Doing penance, described by Philippine Jesuits as an “act of mortification,” is a crucial part of Lent for many Catholics. Starting on Ash Wednesday, Catholics are called to observe the two principal forms of Lenten penance: fasting and abstinence, accompanied by prayer.

Fasting, as defined by the Catholic News Agency (CNA), is the “act of doing with less.”

Catholics between 18 and 59 years old should fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

“The law of fasting prescribes that only one full meal a day is taken. Two lighter meals are permitted to maintain strength according to each one’s needs.

Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids, including milk and fruit juices, are allowed,” said the Philippine Jesuits.

Abstinence refers to the act of “doing without.” The practice is commonly observed on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and on all Fridays during the 40-day Lenten Season.

“The law of abstinence forbids the eating of meat, but eggs, milk products, and condiments made from meat may be eaten.

Fish and all cold-blooded animals may be eaten, for example, frogs, clams, turtles, etc.,” the Philippine Jesuits said.

“The law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year and older. One is not bound on the fourteenth birthday, but begins to abstain at midnight at the close of the birthday.”

There are some individuals who are exempted from these practices, including senior citizens, pregnant or nursing women, those below 14 years old, the very sick, those who are materially poor and homeless, and laborers who have to work more than nine hours a day.

Aside from cutting meals and staying away from certain food, Catholics who practice penance in the form of abstinence can also give up other things for Lent.

For example, an article by the British online newspaper The Independent noted that among the most common things being given up for Lent by X (formerly Twitter) users — based on survey responses (both serious and nonserious) tracked by the website openbible.info — include certain vices like alcohol, swearing, and sugary drinks.

SEEING RED. Flowers, balloons and all the stuff for a happy Valentine’s Day at Dangwa Flower Market in Sampaloc, Manila on Tuesday, February 13. It’s a regular working day though that falls on Ash Wednesday, the start of the Lenten season.

PNA photo by Joan Bondoc

Penance on Valentine’s Day? Valentine’s Day has long been associated with material expressions of love, including chocolates, jewelry, flowers, greeting cards, and various gifts, as well as dining experiences ranging from elegant restaurant meals to intimate homemade dinners for two.

In fact, a recently released survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) revealed that money, love and companionship, and flowers ranked high among the top Valentine’s Day “gift wishes” selected by respondents across the country.

Other gift wishes include apparel, mobile phones, watches, jewelry, food and grocery items, chocolate, motorcycles and other vehicles, appliances, houses, cake, stuffed toys, alcoholic drinks, and perfume or cosmetics.

Yet, with fasting embodying the principle of embracing simplicity and abstinence advocating for forgoing pleasures, the question arises: how can devout Catholics celebrate Valentine’s Day without compromising their Lenten commitments?

According to Rev. Fr. Douglas Badong of the Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Manila Parish, Catholics are not forbidden to celebrate or go out on dates on Valentine’s Day. “Along with the celebration of Valentine’s Day is the celebration of Ash Wednesday. The Church does not prohibit celebrating on this day. It’s also okay to go on a date,” Badong said in Filipino in an interview with INQUIRER.net.

Nevertheless, he urged Catholics to prioritize Ash Wednesday through participation in Mass and the receiving of ashes on their foreheads.

“Do not forget that we have

fasting and abstinence,” he said, adding that “eating meat is prohibited.”

For some Catholics who are inclined to forego certain Valentine’s Day activities to give more importance to Ash Wednesday, Fr. Badong recommended going on simpler dates or choosing to celebrate Valentine’s Day either on Feb. 13th or on a subsequent date like Feb. 15th.

In an interview, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) assistant secretary general Fr. Bryand Restituto reminded Catholics that “Ash Wednesday is a day of obligation” and “a day of fasting and abstinence.”

A reminder of what ‘true love’ is “Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday remind us of the true meaning of love. To love is to be willing to sacrifice. Ready to offer one’s life,” said Fr. Badong in Filipino.

He added that everyone participating in Ash Wednesday rites should consider what they can do or give up on this day as a sign of their sacrifice.

“Whatever they can save, for example, from not buying alcohol or cigarettes, this can be what they offer to those in need,” he added.

When asked about the significance of the imposition of ashes, Fr. Badong explained that it is a sign of repentance or asking for forgiveness.

Man is from dust. We have nothing to boast about, especially before God. To dust, we shall return,” he said.

“We are entering 40 days of preparation to once again remember how much God loves us,” he added. g

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FIRST STEP. The Senate Committee on Science and Technology, chaired by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano (left), approves the consolidated measures seeking to modernize the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology during the second hearing on Monday, Feb. 12, with Phivolcs director Teresito Bacolcol (upper right) as main resource person. Cayetano cited the importance of mapping public infrastructures along fault lines, checking lines of communication and increasing the agency’s staff through scholarship programs that would entice Filipino students to take up specific in-demand science courses such as hazard mapping.

PNA photos by Avito Dalan

2 Chinese Navy ships spotted as US, PH...

PAGE 1

last month while the first-ever joint patrol was held in November 2023, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The previous joint patrols of Manila and Washington also saw the presence of Chinese vessels and aircraft.

In November 2023, a Chinese Navy guided-missile frigate and a surveillance plane kept watch on the joint maritime patrol.

As a U.S. Navy Poseidon P-8A surveillance aircraft flew overhead while the Philippine Navy’s BRP Conrado Yap (PS39) sailed with the U.S. Navy’s USS Gabrielle Giffords for a passing exercise, the PLA-Navy Jiangkai-II frigate and a Shaanxi Y-9 surveillance aircraft operated in the vicinity, as witnessed by INQUIRER.net and a few other Filipino journalists who were invited to observe the activity.

There were no aggressive interactions from both sides, although the Jiangkai-II frigate came as close as 9.26 kilometers (5 nautical miles) from the USS Giffords.

Lt. Cmdr. Tim Cline, mission commander of the U.S. Navy P-8A maritime patrol aircraft said at that time that: “Nothing unusual.

Both parties… conducted themselves safely and professionally and normally, which is what we’re always out here trying to do.”

Two Chinese Navy ships were observed watching while US and Philippine troops conducted joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea last Friday, February 9, Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad reveals during a press conference at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, on Tuesday, February 13, 2024.

Inquirer.net file photo

“The objective [of our operations here] is to normalize activity and normalize interactions with each other,” he added.

On January 3, a Jiangkai-class Chinese frigate and a Chinese Luoyang-class destroyer also shadowed the second MCA of Manila and Washington in the West Philippine Sea. These PLA-Navy warships appeared while BRP Gregorio del Pilar, BRP Davao del Sur (LD602), and BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16), along with U.S. Navy destroyer USS Sterett (DDG- 104) were conducting their patrols.

The BRP Gregorio del Pilar and the PLA-Navy’s Jiangkaiclass Chinese frigate exchanged

radio challenges, but no other untoward incidents occurred during that time.

Beijing’ actions are in line with its assertion of sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, including most of the western section of Manila’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

An international tribunal ruling in 2016, however, effectively dismissed this sweeping claim.

According to Article 57 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, a country has sovereign rights over its own EEZ, but other nations could still enjoy non-economic uses in other states’ EEZ such as freedom of navigation as well as the right of overflight. g

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Secessionist aspirations

AFTER initially ignoring the call for Mindanao secession aired by his predecessor, President Marcos said it was “anchored on a false premise” and is a “sheer constitutional travesty.” Any Mindanao secession is “doomed to fail,” the president said, as he reiterated that the national territory “will not be diminished, even by one square inch.”

He subsequently emphasized that a stronger Mindanao will mean a stronger Philippines. And a critical component of a stronger Mindanao, he said, is making the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao stronger. The BARMM sprung from secessionist aspirations of the group now in control of its government, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, whose leaders have rejected the call of former President Rodrigo Duterte for Mindanao secession.

With the BARMM administration getting billions in funding from the national government, to do largely as it pleases under the autonomous arrangement, it would be counterproductive for the region to support any secessionist aspiration, especially one that springs from political warfare rather than from a genuine dream of carving out an independent state.

The MILF has been down the secessionist path for decades, along with the original separatist group, the Moro National Liberation Front. The MNLF forged a peace pact with the government and its

leaders were given autonomous control over the original ARMM. As MNLF chieftain Nur Misuari famously lamented, however, rebellion was easier than governance.

He became enmeshed in corruption, and when his hold on power was threatened, he staged a mini rebellion that exacerbated the problems in Mindanao. The ARMM bred warlords led by the Ampatuans, who had the impunity to massacre 58 people in a single assault when their stranglehold on power was challenged.

Today the BARMM remains the poorest region in the country, with poverty incidence at 37.2 percent as of 2022. With the poverty are its concomitant elements: inadequate health care, malnutrition and undernutrition as well as undereducation. Armed violence remains high, keeping away tourists and investors who can be drivers of economic growth.

Transparency, accountability and good governance are critical in creating a stronger BARMM. But studies have shown a low capacity for effective governance among those in charge of the region. The regional leadership is given an

Editorial

ManilaTimes.net photo

overly wide discretion, with little accountability, in the utilization of public funds, including those billions provided by the national government.

Poverty, underdevelopment and social injustice fuel desperation and drive people to take up

arms. If the BARMM goes the way of the ARMM, secession can be revived in the region. Preventing this from happening is the best way to ensure that aspirations for secession will be eliminated in Mindanao. (Philstar.com)

The world is watching: US election developments

Babe’s Eye View BABE ROMUALDEZ IN the coming months, close to 60 countries will be having elections, but none as consequential as the elections in the United States. Additionally, the world is going through a lot of challenges that continue to make it difficult for many countries to recover from the pandemic, among them climate change, the war in Ukraine, the escalating conflicts in the Middle East and tensions in the IndoPacific region.

The ongoing NATO drill dubbed as “Steadfast Defender 2024” – said to be the biggest NATO military exercises since the end of the Cold War – participated in by 31 NATO allies and Sweden involving 90,000 troops and personnel, over 1,100 combat vehicles as well as 50plus warships and over 81 air platforms, is raising concerns about the war in Ukraine spreading across Europe.

According to Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR)

The Broader View HARRY ROQUE SO said the still-popular Rodrigo Duterte, who has unflinchingly faced and cheated death many times over. In our recent phone conversation, the former president divulged that the International Criminal Court will issue a warrant for his arrest anytime soon. As he has consistently vowed, Tatay Digong would only face charges related to the war on drugs campaign filed before the Philippine courts. He would seek death rather than have the foreign tribunal, with the complicity of local law enforcers, drag him to The Hague court.

First, it would constitute an illegal arrest. The ICC lost its jurisdiction over the drug war because the Philippines is no longer a State Party to the Rome Statute. The Court Prosecutor failed to trigger the Court’s jurisdiction before our withdrawal became effective on March 17, 2019. As contended by two Appellate Chamber judges, the Prosecutor can no longer open a preliminary investigation once the State’s withdrawal officially took effect.

Second, the octogenarian has

General Christopher Cavoli, Steadfast Defender 2024 will demonstrate the ability of the Alliance “to reinforce the EuroAtlantic area via trans-Atlantic movement of forces from North America.”

The exercises will test new defense plans and see how quickly U.S. forces could be deployed to reinforce their European allies in countries bordering Russia and the eastern flank of the alliance. The drills, which will continue until May, “will be a clear demonstration of our unity, our strength and our determination to protect each other, to protect our values and the rules-based international order,” General Cavoli said.

The Oct. 7 attack of the terrorist group Hamas against Israel and the consequent war in Gaza has also stoked fears that a full-scale war between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah could spill over to the Middle East.

Many say that we are living in an increasingly “VUCA” world marked by volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity – with 2024 set to be a historic, recordbreaking year because over 50

countries will be holding national elections that could affect the lives of over two billion voters across Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia.

Experts say that among the consequential poll exercises are the ones in the UK, India, Iran, Pakistan, Indonesia, Russia (although some critics claim this would be a mere “rubber stamp” activity) as well as the Taiwan elections held last January because of their potential global impact.

But the elections that people are closely watching would be the November 2024 presidential elections in the United States because the outcome would be of great consequence to the foreign policy of the U.S., which in turn could impact the situation in Europe, the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific region. Obviously, the big question right now in the minds of leaders and many people across the globe is – who is going to be the next president of the United States: will it still be Joe Biden, or will the world see a Trump 2.0?

To say that developments are heating up in the U.S.

political scene would be an understatement, especially after the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments regarding the decision of the Colorado Supreme Court to disqualify former president Donald Trump from the state’s Republican primaries and remove his name from the primary ballot.

During the hearing that lasted for more than two hours, the justices – who come from both sides of the political spectrum – seemed doubtful of the legal authority of a state to disqualify candidates in a federal election by deciding who gets to appear on the ballot because of the possibility that this could lead to partisan decisions.

“I would expect that a goodly number of states will say, ‘Whoever the Democratic candidate is, you’re off the ballot’ and others, for the Republican candidate, ‘You’re off the ballot.’

And it’ll come down to just a handful of states that are going to decide the presidential election,” Chief Justice John Roberts put it, describing it to be a “pretty daunting consequence.”

Justice Elena Kagan was even

more blunt in her remarks: “Why should a single state get to decide who gets to be president of the United States?”

The justices also noted that “insurrection” is a broad term, and that the language in Section 3 of the 14th amendment which bars any “officer of the United States” who has taken an oath to support the Constitution but “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” from holding public office, is “vague” as it did not specify the president or vice president in the long list of elected position that the section applies to.

The justices also indicated the opinion that Section 3 cannot be applied unless Congress enacts legislation first that would allow it.

Aside from Colorado, one other state that has disqualified the former president from the presidential primary ballot is Maine, with 15 more cases having been filed in various states that include New York, Texas and Virginia.

But regardless of who becomes president, we are pleased to have friends from both sides of the aisle,

continually working with them, making sure that the relationship that we have been able to sustain over the years remains strong not only in terms of security cooperation but particularly in the economic aspect.

In fact, we can expect more business activity with the United States in the coming months, such as the reinvigorated U.S.Philippines Society with a lot of new members composed of top American companies arriving next week. Next month, we will be expecting a large U.S. Presidential Trade Mission headed by Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.

Without a doubt, I am extremely confident that our relationship with the United States will continue to thrive even beyond the November U.S. presidential elections. (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

Over his dead body lived – and continues to live – a full life. He has nothing to fear or lose at this point.

When I asked for his intel source, FPRRD refused to reveal it on the phone. Obviously, some groups are monitoring his activities. I do not doubt the veracity of the information since the former chief executive still has access to various intelligence reports. It also coincides with the story peddled by an anti-Duterte politician and a supposed complainant in the war on drugs case that the ICC would request the Philippine government for Digong’s arrest soon.

The Rome Statute states that once the Pre-Trial Chamber (PTC) determines probable cause, it can issue a warrant or summons for an accused to ensure the person’s appearance in the trial; the person does not obstruct the investigation or court proceedings; and prevent the person from continuing the commission of the crime (Article 58, Section 1).

I am grateful that the Philippine National Police (PNP) has stated they would not serve an arrest warrant to FPRRD according to the wishes of the ICC. This complies with the verbal directive of President Bongbong Marcos, Jr. to all Executive agencies to desist from cooperating with the ICC. On the other hand, I

am disappointed that Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra thinks there is no need for a memorandum circular vis-à-vis the issue. With due respect to my fellow cabinet member under the Duterte administration, I believe that a verbal order carries less legal force. It can easily be superseded by another public pronouncement. I recall that in November, the Chief Executive suddenly backtracked from his original position of non-engagement with the ICC since assuming office in 2022.

Thankfully, PBBM clarified last month that the government will not lift a finger to help the Court investigation.

Under the best evidence rule, when the subject of inquiry is the contents of a document, no evidence shall be admissible other than the original written document itself. Under any circumstance, a presidential issuance would compel government agencies, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the National Bureau of Investigation, to disengage from an ICC-related proceeding.

Investigation & arrest In terms of a preliminary investigation, the ICC process differs from our local courts. In the Philippines, the investigation is considered a statutory right.

Under the Revised Rules on Criminal Procedure, the accused has the right to participate in the probe and to examine the evidence submitted by the plaintiff. If the evidence is voluminous, the complainant must specify the evidence that will be used against the respondent. Upon receipt of the subpoena, the accused should file a counter-affidavit and that of his or her witnesses and other supporting documents within ten days.

In contrast, the ICC follows the European inquisitorial justice system, which prioritizes the expeditious resolution of a criminal case. The international Prosecutors can directly gather and collect evidence to buttress their case against suspected individuals who may have committed an atrocity crime within the Court’s jurisdiction.

They have the sole right to examine evidence and keep documents or information confidential. They have the prerogative to request the presence of persons under investigation, victims, and witnesses. Should they decide that the evidence at hand is sufficient, they may even forego directly questioning a person under investigation. They are also not obligated to notify individuals who will be charged

before the Pre-Trial Chamber.

Nonetheless, the Prosecutors are mandated to impartially and equally assess both incriminating and exonerating evidence when determining the criminal responsibility of an individual.

Persons under investigation, meanwhile, are not entitled to file a counter-affidavit. They are not allowed to access the evidence presented by accusers. However, the Statute protects their right against selfincrimination and the right to legal representation (Article 55).

They cannot be subjected to any form of duress like torture, or questioned in a language that they cannot fully understand and speak. While being investigated, they cannot be arbitrarily arrested or detained except on grounds established in the Statute. Prosecutors or national authorities requested by the Court shall extend the same rights to persons believed to have committed a crime within the jurisdiction of the Court.

Once the Pre-Trial Chamber decides favorably on the application and evidence submitted by the Prosecutor, it will issue an arrest warrant for the accused. Since the ICC does not have a police force, they must entirely rely on the law enforcement agencies of a

State Party. Article 59 stipulates that upon receipt of a request for provisional arrest or arrest and surrender, a member country must immediately apprehend the person according to its laws and the provisions of Part 9 (of the Statute).

If we apply it to the Philippine situation, the ICC request will go through the foreign affairs and justice departments. The latter agency will then cascade the arrest order to the PNP or NBI. They may even seek the help of the AFP. Can the ICC immediately and forcibly bring FPRRD to The Hague? The answer is no. The former president has the right to apply to the competent authority in the custodial State for interim release pending surrender (Article 59). The competent authority shall consider whether there are urgent and exceptional circumstances to justify interim release and whether necessary safeguards exist to ensure that the custodial State can fulfill its duty to surrender the person to the Court. Tatay Digong can also petition the Supreme Court for a writ of habeas corpus. (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.

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Bill protecting OFW remittances hurdles House panel MANILA – The bill protecting the remittances of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) hurdled committee level at the House of Representatives.

During the hearing on Tuesday, February 13 the House Ways and Means Committee approved the substitute bill to House Bills 185, 1190, 2944, 3020, 4170, 4257, 4343, 4397 & 4469, or the proposed OFWs Remittance Protection Act. The bill provides for a 50 percent discount on OFW remittance fees imposed by banks and nonbank financial intermediaries.

In return, banks and other financial intermediaries will receive tax deductions equivalent to the discounts provided to OFWs. Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo said the original proposal included a provision limiting

the total annual tax deduction for these financial intermediaries to PHP24,000 per OFW. Salo noted that the House panel approved a motion to remove the proposed cap to further encourage OFWs to send their remittances.

“It is imperative that we lessen the cost incurred

by OFWs in their remittances, which account to a staggering USD36.1 billion or 8.9 percent of the country’s gross domestic product," Salo said.

The proposed law would also prevent these financial institutions from increasing remittance fees without prior consultation with the Department of Finance, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.

Salo said this provision shields OFWs from unexpected fee increases. (PNA)

FDA chief open to medical marijuana as doctors warn of harm

by Gaea Katreena CabiCo Philstar.com

MANILA — The chief of the country's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Tuesday, February 13 that he is "very open" to the medical use of cannabis or marijuana, but doctors warned that the legalization of the substance could expose Filipinos to "unnecessary harm."

Last week, a joint panel of the House of Representatives approved a consolidated bill that seeks to make legal the medical use of marijuana, but without removing it from the country's list of dangerous drugs.

In a briefing Tuesday, FDA Director General Samuel Zacate expressed openness to the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

"Filipinos must have a wide range of therapeutic indications or drugs of choice. So ako for the record [...] is very much open for marijuana as long as it has been streamlined and does not pose harm to the public," Zacate said.

Although open to considering medical marijuana, Zacate said the issue is still "subject to the wisdom of the legislative [branch]."

Under current regulations, the FDA has the authority to grant hospitals compassionate special permits for using unregistered medical products, including processed medical cannabis.

According to the United States National Institute on Drug Abuse,

tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) found in marijuana "has proven medical benefits in particular formulations."

These medications are prescribed to patients undergoing chemotherapy, suffering from wasting syndrome due to AIDS, or experiencing neuropathic pain associated with multiple sclerosis.

'Harmful' In a separate briefing, medical groups led by the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) opposed the proposed measures to legalize cannabis for any use other than those with medical value approved by the FDA. "Although there is variability in the experience on the harms of legalizing cannabis in various states or countries, there is a clear trend towards the harmful effects that outweigh the purported benefits," the PMA said in a statement read by neurologist Dr. Leonor Cabral-Lim. For the medical association, the proposed House measure is a "de facto bill for recreational marijuana."

"Cannabis used as a recreational drug, and used as medicine for unproven medical indications is a dangerous drug," it added.

PMA experts warned of potential negative impacts on brain development due to prenatal cannabis exposure. They also pointed out the increased vulnerability of young people to developing dependency on the substance.

"The legalization of cannabis is a step that could irreparably harm the social fabric of our nation by enabling easier access to marijuana for Filipino youth," the PMA said.

'Medical cannabis office' Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, who chairs the House's dangerous drugs committee, said that the proposed legislation would not legalize marijuana as it will remain classified as a prohibited drug under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The bill also seeks to create a Medical Cannabis Office under the Department of Health, which will grant accreditation to doctors and other licenses for the medical use of cannabis.

Public health reform advocate Tony Leachon questioned adding the responsibility to the DOH. "The Department of Health is so overloaded with work. Why would you bring that to the DOH?" he said.

During his confirmation hearing as the DOH chief, Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said he was in favor of the legalization of medical marijuana.

When asked about Herbosa's stance on medical cannabis in September 2023, Leachon responded partly in Filipino: "If he approves medical cannabis, we don't know who else to turn to."

Thailand is set to urgently move a bill to ban the recreational use of cannabis after the kingdom decriminalized the substance in 2022. g

RIGHT AND PRIVILEGE. Voters’ registration for the 2025 national and local elections resumes at the Commission on Elections main office in Intramuros, Manila on Monday, Feb. 12. The registration period will run until Sept. 30.

PNA photo by Yancy Lim

Senate approves ‘Eddie Garcia’ bill or independent contractors shall not be less than the applicable minimum wage in the region.

The employee shall also be entitled to social security and other benefits.

Work for minors shall be governed by Republic Act 9231, or the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act. g

by Javier Joe ismael ManilaTimes.net

THE Senate approved on second reading Senate Bill (SB) 2505 or the proposed Eddie Garcia law on Monday, February 12.

Sen. Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada, chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, said that the bill aims to protect movie and television workers from abuse, extended working hours, harassment, hazardous working conditions and economic exploitation.

The measure was named after veteran actor Eddie Garcia, who died in 2019 after suffering a neck injury while shooting for a television series.

Under SB 2505, the industry worker shall be protected by their employers or principal in the workplace. Workers will be provided just wages, social security and welfare benefits, and insurance.

The worker and the employer or principal shall execute an agreement or an employment contract in a language or dialect understood by both parties. The contract shall include the job position and status; job description; period of employment or service; details of compensation and other workers' benefits including rate, method, and schedule of payment; authorized deductions, if any;

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL The measure was named after veteran actor RAIL AUTHORITY Eddie Garcia, who died in 2019 after suffering a neck injury while shooting for a television IFB No. PO954-24 series.

File photo hours of work and proportionate Railroad Batteries additional payment or overtime pay; board, lodging, and medical attention and workers' grievance mechanism among others.

The normal work hours shall be eight hours a day, which can be extended to a maximum of 14 hours, exclusive of meal periods.

In no case shall the total number of work hours be more than 60 hours in a week except for those aged 60 and above who shall be allowed, under exceptional circumstances as defined by the Tripartite Council, to work beyond eight hours but in no case exceeding 14 hours.

The bill also provides that the minimum wage rates of workers

The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) is seeking quotes for Railroad Batteries.

Bid documents may be obtained at https:// metrolinktrains.com/doingbusiness (free registration).

Electronic Bids are due at 2:00 P.M. (PT) on 3/5/2024.

For further information, contact Arisa Hicks, Contract Specialist, at (213) 452-0250 or hicksa@scrra.net 2/14/24 CNS-3782977# ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)

The Asian Journal

MDWK

Wednesday FEBRUARY 14, 2024

MAGAZINE

Gabbi Garcia and Maymay Entrata: PH’s next beauty queens?

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Stars on fellow celebrities’ breakups

By Nathalie tomada Philstar.com

By RoNNie CaRRasCo iii

JUST a few days shy of Valentine’s Day, sad news of ManilaTimes.net celebrity couples breaking up WHAT do Gabbi Garcia hadn’t ended yet. and Maymay Entrata have in The latest shocker is the common? Both are beauty called-off engagement of Bea queen materials.

Alonzo and Dominic Roque.

Interviewed by some Just last month, Dominic was members of the entertainment sharing with this paper and media at separate events, both other media that they were Gabbi and Maymay were asked set to finalize plans during if they have plans of joining that same month for their national beauty pageants. destination wedding supposedly There’s no denying that happening this 2024.

Maymay is being groomed But in a joint statement, by former pageant hopefuls they officially confirmed “with themselves and fellow great sadness” that they had celebrities that she has what “mutually decided to amicably it takes to clinch a major end our engagement.” The Gabbi Garcia Maymay Entrata title, thus stand a chance to Photo from Instagram/@gabbi Photo from Instagram/@maymay decision to make it public represent the country. appeared to be intended to put Maymay, however, isn’t she might rethink her decision impossible? Isn’t she aware a stop to the “utterly false” and keen on trying her luck: “It is though if her condition is met: that this is one of the highly “ridiculous stories” about their not what my heart so desires.”

“Remove the Q & A portion!” anticipated segments in any breakup, as well as the “hurtful The Kapamilya actress says Isn’t Maymay asking for the Continued on Page 9 words thrown on social media.”

“We kindly request to give us the privacy we need as we navigate our future lives with respect, kindness, compassion, and dignity,” the ex-couple said.

The BeaDom breakup is just the latest in a string of celebrity breakups that devastated fans since late last year — Kathryn Bernardo-Daniel Padilla, Kim Chiu-Xian Lim, Jericho RosalesKim Jones, or those who were, at least, confirmed through official statements or third parties.

Nevertheless, you can’t stop some fans from hoping and praying that their idols get back together. And it’s hard A view of Pechanga Resort Casino’s hotel towers, the Cove pool complex and a portion of The Journey at Pechanga golf course. to totally rule out comebacks Photos courtesy of Pechanga/iGraphix or reconciliation for couples, especially if examples abound.

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(Advertising Supplement) Character Media, the awards up and my hands and feet

Pechanga Resort Casino ushers in two major awards within one week

Ogie Alcasid and wife Regine Velasquez

Photo from Instagram/@ogiealcasid

Elisse Joson with partner Mccoy de Leon Photo from Instagram/@mccoydeleon

Paul Salas with girlfriend Mikee Quintos Photo from Instagram/@paulandre.salas

din yun. Sarili lang natin ang makakapagsabi kung kelan OK ulit i-share sa lahat yung mga personal (stuff).”

The Pira-Pirasong Paraiso star declined to offer advice to couples going through breakups since, “I think personal choice naman yun if aayusin or going the other way, which is parting ways.”

Paul Salas, on the other hand, recalled how a previous breakup took an emotional toll on him. “Mahirap yung pagmove on. Matagal. Actually, I was able to fully move on mga 2021 lang. Recently, lang po talaga,” said the former child star who is now in a relationship with fellow Kapuso artist Mikee Quintos.

The “Shining Inheritance” star didn’t name names, but his last publicly known relationship was with actress Barbie Imperial.

“Yun (the breakup) po talaga ang reason ko po na lumapit ako sa Word of God. Lumapit ako sa Kanya and nagsurrender, ‘di ko po kaya ‘to,” he further shared at a Beauty Wise event.

“Takot maiwanan, ganun ang feeling… I admit I’m the more jealous type than Mikee, I’m more the overthinker than Mikee, but one of the things that I love about her, is that she understands. We accept each other’s imperfections.”

How he was able to cope with his first major heartbreak was to forgive himself first “so you can forgive others.”

Still, the 25-year-old admitted that news of celebrity breakups got him and his girlfriend a bit scared.

“Hindi naman para sa amin na pakialaman yung nangyari sa kanila. We really don’t know about the things that happened off cam. But maybe, may takot din kami na nararamdaman ni Mikee.

“Like with the breakup of KathNiel. Isa rin yun sa

kinakapitan natin because 11 years is no joke. Kasama ko rin tumanda sila, nakasama ko rin sila sa first movie nila, ‘Must Be… Love,’ so I was able to witness and was inspired by their love story. Tapos marinig mo na ganyan.

“Of course, it’s always sad and alarming for those who are inspired by them, so I told Mikee, maybe we should really make God the center of our relationship and talk about whatever problems we have.”

Ogie Alcasid was also recently asked for his thoughts about the celebrity breakups, some of which involved personal friends of his.

One could say that the veteran singer-songwriter, who’s now happily married to Regine Velasquez, also experienced the end of his first marriage being discussed in the press, although there wasn’t social media at that time.

Ogie agreed that no one enters into a relationship thinking they would separate, but he had a few words of advice for those going through it.

“Ingatan nila ang mga puso nila,” he simply said during a media huddle for his Valentine’s concert, “Love, Q&A,” with Odette Quesada.

“It’s really sad when people break up. So take care of your heart.”

If it’s any consolation, celebrity breakup or not, life goes on. Just take a page from Nadine Lustre. The end of her reel and real-life loveteam probably became the biggest heartbreak for fans in 2020, but fast forward to today, she can now laugh off questions about celebrity breakups.

When the press attempted to ask her opinion last Friday after a mediacon for her series “Roadkillers,” she said, “Okay na ako, guys.

Hindi na ako kasali diyan.

Okay na ako.”

Gabby Concepcion on aging with grace prescribed medicine designed to treat one’s nerves.

Quality of life “When I was younger— many moons ago—my Mom gave us vitamins, but the one she said we should really take is a vitamin B complex. They’re found in food like lentils, fish, pork and fruit. People say, ‘Don’t sweat the small stuff,’ but it’s sometimes important to focus on the small stuff before [conditions] worsen.”

Gabby then said that he makes it a point to enjoy life.

“I enjoy staying in my beach house. Life is short but we still have time to enjoy, but make Gabby Concepcion Inquirer.net photo sure to put value on the quality feeling numb. Akala ko pagod of that life.” lang ako pero napapadalas,” he The actor was the guest said. speaker in “A Talk on Peripheral He made it a point to Neuropathy” by a health care consult with a doctor who brand last weekend.

community

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - February 14, 2024

9

Glaiza de Castro on serial killings, feeling unsafe

By Marinel Cruz Inquirer.net

physical acting. As you’ve seen in the trailer—it’s extremely bloody.”

Lost, scared As to whether or not the film attempts to make a statement on the idea that there could be serial killers in the Philippines, Glaiza said: “Wherever you go, be it in the Philippines or here in Korea, there will be a point in your stay when you’ll feel kind of unsafe. There was a time when, I tried to go to a particular restaurant that I was keen on trying on my own. I rode the subway and when I realized that I was already lost, I felt scared.

I stepped out of the train even when I wasn’t supposed to because I suddenly felt claustrophobic. I don’t know what happened to me, but the feeling kind of reminded me of the Itaewon tragedy.”

She continued: “When I was already walking, a weird-looking man followed me and tried to catch my attention by talking to me. I couldn’t understand him, and so I thought I must have dropped something from my bag. I wasn’t sure if he had good intentions, but at that moment, I didn’t feel safe. As much as possible, don’t let your guard down,” she pointed out.

“Of course, I also know that we shouldn’t be too quick to judge. Some people could have a chemical imbalance in their brains and are not aware of their medical condition. It’s also possible that they are unaware that what they’re doing is already wrong. It’s interesting to tackle topics like that. I’m sorry if that’s all I could say, at the risk of my explanation ending up being a huge spoiler.”

When actress Glaiza de Castro agreed to be part of Louie Ignacio’s horrorKathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, also known as the love team KathNiel ABS-CBN photo thriller “Slay Zone,” she also committed to wearing two very different hats: one as an actress, the other as a producer.

Glaiza said this meant that she was already involved in the process of creating her character, vlogger/social media influencer Veronica Ledesma or V. “When the project was first presented to me, it was just KAPAMILYA actor Daniel Padilla thanked former long-time on- and off-screen partner Kathryn Bernardo during his renewal of a concept. I only knew that it would be a thriller and that I Glaiza de Castro Inquirer.net photo contract with ABS-CBN yesterday. would be working with Mamang During his speech, Daniel said that their memories together a really big responsibility. It the topic of the slay zone as Pokwang. My character was will be forever in his heart. actually does. I’m grateful that a big platform for her as an only at 10 percent in terms of “Siyempre hindi ko pwedeng kalimutan si Kathryn. influence. She has many secrets. Wide has allowed me to be development. She didn’t even Maraming maraming salamat Kathryn sa ating maraming taon na part of the creative process.

I don’t think she’s aware if have a name yet,” Glaiza told pinagsamahan,” Daniel said.

I’m hoping that this will happen she has already overcome her Inquirer Entertainment in a “You know, hinding-hindi mawawala sa puso ko ang in all the projects that we will insecurities and has accepted virtual interview from Korea magaganda nating memories at ang ating mga adventures at be making in the future. I’m her past. We can’t even be where she is shooting a TV journeys na pinagsamahan. Thank you very much,” he added. given additional responsibilities sure if Veronica assumed a new series.

Daniel also expressed his gratitude to millions of KathNiel fans and challenges, and another “To make the story relevant, identity when she changed her who supported their journey. chance to explore beyond name to V,” she said. we tried to define her first “At siyempre lalahatin ko na ang lahat ng KathNiel, maraming my capabilities as an actor.

Big responsibility maraming salamat sa lahat ng taon ng pagmamahal at pagsasama in terms of her occupation.

My work doesn’t just end in The film is set in a rural area There are so many interesting natin. Hinding-hindi mawawala sa puso ko at sa aking memories, acting out my character. I’m called Pulang Araw, which is personalities on social media ang ating masasayang pinagsamahan,” he said. excited about the possibilities headed by the newly appointed these days.

We see a lot about “All good memories ang ating masasayang pinagsamahan. of me being a member of both them, either real-life stories and police captain Corazon All good memories for me at walang walang makakatalo sa the creative and production Fernandez (Pokwang) and news, or work-related posts. mga memories na ‘yon. And for me, wala pa ring fans club na teams,” she added. is being promoted on social Like me, we sometimes work makakatalo sa KathNiel. Sorry but it’s true,” he added.

Glaiza described her costar media by V. The place suddenly with brands so we have an Earlier this month, Kathryn also renewed her contract with Pokwang as “a mom, a friend turns into a slay zone when a image to protect.”

ABS-CBN after rumors emerged that she will sign with Maja “This is why I said ‘yes’ to it. series of killings happens. In the and a big sister on the set all Salvador’s Crown Artist Management or make a surprise move to rolled into one.” She recalled: I liked the idea that I’m involved course of finding out the truth GMA. (By Jan Milo Severo/Philstar.com) “We stayed in one standby behind the murders, the lives in the creative process. Of area so we became close. She’s of people close to them are course, during the shoot, Direk very thoughtful. I appreciated endangered.

Louie also had a lot of inserts all her simple gestures of Being a coproducer of the in relation to my character kindness, of her making sure film (under Wide International and Mamang’s, so this is really I’m comfortable. You see, we Film Productions) is not so a collaboration,” the actress lies in having too little time From Page 8 all look after each other during different from what Glaiza does added. beauty contest — whether to achieve a big goal as shoots, especially since what with her music, she pointed Glaiza then tried to explain it be local, national or even opposed to Maymay’s with so we’re doing is not comedy out.

“If we hear the word what the story is about based barangay (village)? much time but with too little and a lot of our scenes require on V’s perspective. “She regards ‘producer,’ we think it entails A test that there’s more to “confidence.” physical beauty than meets the Has Maymay been browsing eye, why is Maymay scared of it old editions of prestigious when she seems she can nail it national pageants and is after all? afraid she might turn out to In stark contrast, joining be another Janina San Miguel The “Magandang Dilag” actor Gomez affirmed that he is now trying to

By JessiCa ann evangelista beauty pageants has been who was a major disaster at the emphasized that he is also trying to make “find himself,” stressing that he is not Inquirer.net Gabbi’s childhood dream.

Q&A portion but nonetheless his “personal relationships” private again trying to pull the “victim” card after his But given her showbiz finished Binibing Pilipinas after many women, including his baby controversies last year.

ROB Gomez said he’s focusing on his commitments, commercial World 2008? mama, got dragged into his issues last “I think it’s the time to work. It’s the work and trying to “heal” as he navigates endorsements and alike, “I Or is Maymay simply taking through the aftermath of his viral text year. time to find myself. Maybe heal. I don’t don’t think i can be able to a cue from our first ever Miss “I really don’t talk about my personal wanna sound like a victim. Because scandal with Herlene Budol and Bianca squeeze it in my time table...

Universe Gloria Diaz to be relationships. It’s just that last time I kinda I don’t wanna pry on it. I don’t want Manalo last year. but we’ll see!” oneself and not pretend to be had to plead my love. But this time I’ll try anyone na maawa sakin. I do not wish to In an interview with MJ Marfori via Without stressing the someone that she is not? share my problems with anyone,” he said.

TikTok during a Chinese New Year event, Continued on Page 11 obvious, Gabbi’s problem I get it.

Daniel Padilla thanks Kathryn Bernardo at ABS-CBN contract renewal

Gabbi Garcia and...

Rob Gomez says he’s healing after text scandal

10 community

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - February 14, 2024

Do I have a community property interest in a house which my spouse acquired before our marriage?

Nadine Lustre gets reminded of own relationship Barrister’s Corner with dad in ‘Roadkillers’

By Nathalie tomada Philstar.com

NADINE Lustre was reminded of her own relationship with her father when she filmed the action-thriller “Roadkillers.”

In the Studio Viva-produced series, Nadine takes on the role of Stacey Sunico, a daughter trying to make amends for the past trouble she caused her doting and forgiving mechanic father Nato (Bodjie Pascua). She later learns about her father’s clandestine life as henchman for a corrupt politician.

When her father falls gravely ill during COVID times, a desperate Stacey goes to extreme lengths to save him — but fails. Now, she must face the ultimate challenge of fulfilling her father’s dying wish: to be buried next to her mother.

However, someone knows the crime she has committed, leading Stacey down an even deadlier and more dangerous path as she will do whatever it takes to honor her father’s final request.

Apart from exploring the extent of what a child can do for a parent, even if it means bordering on the extreme and the criminal, the series highlights the unique relationship dynamics between a father and a daughter. For one, it was Nato who taught Stacey how to drive and troubleshoot car problems — skills that would come in handy as the story progresses.

When Nadine was asked if she connected to her character on this aspect, the actress shared that there was indeed some common ground between her own upbringing and relationship with her father and those of her character.

“Nakakatawa yung sakin kasi nung napanood po ng dad ko yung ‘Roadkillers,’ sabi niya parang ako lang si Bodjie,” she began in response to The STAR’s question during the post-screening mediacon on Friday.

“Nung nag-shoot nga po kami with Tito Bodjie, talagang he reminds me of my dad like with everything, the jokes, the way he talks.

“And my dad is really a mechanic by profession. I also grew up really as a daddy’s girl, so I love tinkering with things, even the white out tape, even those of my classmates, I would fix.”

“Just because I was fascinated with my dad na mahilig and magaling siya magkumpuni ng mga stuff, like even the controller of a playstation, he can fix it. So, I grew up like that (looking up to my dad) exactly like how Stacey is.

“Although my dad, hindi naman siya henchman ng pulitiko (laughs), but just the same sobrang naaastigan din ako sa dad ko. So while we were shooting the whole series, every time I had an interaction or scene with Tito Bodjie, I remembered my dad.”

Though Nadine could never imagine herself resorting to Stacey’s drastic decisions in the series, she could draw parallels between hers and her

EMPLOYMENT

would then consist of the reduction in the mortgage loan principal during the marriage plus the portion of appreciation during the marriage applying the ratio discussed above.

In the Marriage of Marsden, Atty. Kenneth the real property was purchased uRsuA Reyes by the husband for $38,300 prior to the marriage. The GENERALLY, in California, original mortgage was $30,000. property acquired by a spouse By the time the husband prior to marriage is considered got married, the house was separate property under family now worth $65,000 while the code section 770 while those mortgage has gone down by acquired after marriage are $7,000. Both the appreciation considered community assets of $26,700 and the mortgage under family code section 760. reduction of $7,000 would How do you characterize real be separate property since it property purchased prior to occurred prior to marriage. marriage but with the mortgage Marriage of Marsden (1982) 130 principal paid down using CA3d 426, 181 CR 910.

Nadine Lustre leads the cast of Rae Red’s action-thriller series community income or funds During the marriage until ‘Roadkillers,’ which starts streaming on Viva One on March 1. during the marriage? The the time of trial, the property Philstar.com photo community in this situation has appreciated another acquires a pro tanto interest in $117,500 (property now valued character’s traits. the ratio that the payments on at $182,500) while the mortgage She said, “I guess I am stubborn but not on has further declined by $9,200 that level because with Stacey, with the things she the purchase price made with community funds bear to the up to the date of separation. has done, she’s really on the extreme side… In a total payments on the purchase The ratio at which community sense, I can also do everything for my family but price and any appreciation funds paid down the mortgage not up to that extent. should be apportioned ($9,200) during the marriage “I also love Stacey because — sorry for the accordingly.

Marriage of Moore to the original purchase word — no BS siya. I believe that’s also the kind (1980) 28 C3d 366, 371, 373, price ($38,300) amounts to of person that I am. She’s, as in, dedma like wala 168 CR 662, 664, 665.

Other 24.02%. This percentage of siyang pakialam sa sarili niya kahit magmukha expenses associated with the the property appreciation siyang madungis or anything. At some point, I’m property are not considered during the marriage of also like that. I’m very simple. It’s just that now I’m in the calculation such as $117,500 ($28,223.50) plus very different because, you know, if I’m on work mortgage interest, taxes, and the reduction in mortgage mode, iba talaga. But on a normal day, sobrang insurance. In essence, the real balance during the marriage relax lang ako. property would accumulate ($9,200) would constitute the “And she’s very boyish, the same as me. And community component of the I guess… not necessarily as a daddy’s girl but as a both a separate property and a community property component real property. The rest was the family person. Because how Stacey was brought by the date of separation. husband’s separate property. up, her environment kasi, her dad handles guns The appropriate remedy in The husband in that case was and cars because he’s a mechanic. So, I guess this situation where separate awarded his separate property a bit similar although there were no guns when property is subsequently component of the real property I was growing up, cars lang… So, I was very… paid with community funds is plus one half of the community ‘cowboy.’ That’s how I can relate to Stacey.” “apportionment.” property component.

One thing that Nadine really enjoyed while The process of apportioning The Marsden apportionment doing this series was the action-packed scenes. method is also applicable to There were car chases, gun fights, some grappling between the separate and community property component situations where a community and close action. is laid out in the Marriage of real property is later transmuted “I really love doing action. Even with direk Marsden.

In that case, the into one spouse’s separate Rae, as soon as she told me about the project, of property through execution of a course, I would say yes because I’ve really wanted court determined the ratio or percentage in which the quit claim by the other spouse to do action for a long time,” she shared. but is subsequently paid using “With regards to preparation, I also underwent mortgage loan principal was reduced during the marriage and community funds. Marriage training in firing, assembling guns, and stunts. applied that percentage to the of Broderick (1989) 209 CA3d We really had to rehearse (the stunts) especially appreciation of the real property 489, 257 CR 397. In litigation, because the environment, the conditions, as you during the marriage. The the community interest in the can see in the scenes, are sandy, there’s dirt, community property component situations mentioned about is and it’s rocky, so it’s really very tricky. As much as possible, the director wanted the stunts to be realistic.

“At the end of the day, Stacey is not a Continued on Page 11 no longer available to most families who are still under a Minding Your tremendous financial burden.

Finances Real estate values surprisingly shot up during the pandemic but once the feds started raising interest rates, Atty. RAymond people who could otherwise BulAon refinance their mortgage and squeeze out some of their equity from their home are no LIFE happens. Sometimes longer able to do that because even the best laid plans can go of the high costs of borrowing. wrong. How do you respond Buying has also slowed down when this happens to you? Do and according to a recent you easily give up when you’re overwhelmed? Remaining calm article, mortgage applications have plunged to a 28-year low. can be difficult when things are People with little credit chaotic and so the usual reaction card debt had no other choice is panic. but to borrow, hoping that Bankruptcy can be a “when things get better”, they lifesaver for people who are at can just pay it all back slowly. the end of their financial rope.

Of course, this is nothing more Since the pandemic started, than a temporary solution that a lot of people have been could backfire if the additional struggling to just keep up with debt is not paid back. At their bills. The pandemic may some point, the credit lines have caused job instability; for business owners affected by the are exhausted, and they are in a deeper financial hole that pandemic, the government did is hard to get out of. I know what it could to help mitigate this sounds discouraging when losses by offering financial you’re clueless about where to assistance and loans. People who couldn’t pay their mortgage turn once you have exhausted your resources. But there is were allowed forbearances. hope.

Renters who couldn’t pay If you are currently facing their landlord were protected a financial crisis, it may be with eviction suspension laws. tempting to just throw in the Unfortunately, all the above are

proven through expert witness testimony typically by a forensic CPA. Since California case law allows the creation of a community interest in real property acquired prior to marriage, one has to consider vehicles to protect themselves if you own property and you are contemplating of getting married. There are several ways of avoiding the creation of a community interest on your separate real property.

One, you can sign a prenuptial agreement. Two, the parties can execute a postnuptial agreement if the parties are already married. Three, the parties can execute a transmutation agreement with a waiver of any family code section 2640 reimbursement claim. If your divorce case involves complex issues of asset distribution, it is best to retain the representation of competent counsel. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice.

The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information.

This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed.

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

Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com.

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Bankruptcy: When life doesn’t go as planned

FOR RENT

PERSONAL

towel and give up all hope for a better financial future. But let me tell you that instead of getting frustrated and angry about things that you cannot control or change, your energy will be better spent focusing on finding a solution. Stop analyzing everything that happened and quit being too hard on yourself. In life, things will not always go your way but keep your head up and focus on putting the pieces of the puzzle back together. In the meantime, seek legal counsel about your situation especially if important assets or legal rights are at risk.

It’s better to know your options now so you can plan before your situation becomes a financial emergency. ***

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray J. Bulaon has successfully helped over 6,000 clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call RJB Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-866-471-8272.

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entertainment 11

Rob Gomez says he’s healing after text...

From Page 9 to keep it private again,” he stated.

Gomez underscored that the aftermath of his viral text scandal made every day difficult for him, even to this day, but stressed that he’s trying to recover nonetheless.

“Every day is complicated,” he said. “[But] the comeback is always greater than the setback. I’m just grinding. I’m working out now. Trying to get the best Rob Gomez Photos from Instagram/@robgomez.23 shape of my life,”

The Kapuso actor shared that right now he is also looking for “self-respect,” as it is part of his way of loving.

“Self-respect ko po kailangan ko po siyang hanapin talaga kasi tayo ay mapagmahal. Tatalon tayo kapag kailangan, kapag sinabihan tumalon, ‘yun ‘yung hahanapin natin,” he said.

Gomez made headlines last December after his sexual conversation with co-stars Budol and Manalo heated up the internet.

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - February 14, 2024

Pops Fernandez thanks ex-husband Martin Nievera for making her ‘shine’

By Anne PAsAjol Inquirer.net

POPS Fernandez has nothing but good words for her ex-husband, veteran singer Martin Nievera, who skipped staging his annual show to give way for her anniversary concert “Always Loved.”

Fernandez expressed her appreciation for Nievera who made an appearance at her show as guest, through a series of posts on her Instagram page on Monday, Feb. 12.

“To the man who I share my 40 plus years in the industry with… I don’t think I would have ‘shined’ as much until we worked together in ‘Penthouse Live’!” she wrote, recalling their days together in the 1980s variety show.

“There is that chemistry that up to this day is unparalleled.

Even we are surprised. We bring out the best in each other,” she said.

Fernandez also noted that while he is an “excellent performer on his own,” she and Nievera make “magic” whenever they take the stage together.

“He has taught me how to be more passionate with my work only [because] that is how he is… his life is singing and performing,” she further spoke

Other celebrities who were part of the concert and whom Fernandez paid tribute to were Joey Albert, Rowell Santiago, Randy Santiago, Homer Flores, Erik Santos, Georcelle DapatSy, Top Suzara and Robin Padilla.

Nievera and Fernandez, dubbed as the local entertainment industry’s “Concert King and Queen,” got married in 1986 and were legally annulled in 2000.

Fernandez earlier opened up about their relationship and admitted that they also go Pops Fernandez and Martin Nievera through misunderstandings Photo from Instagram/@popsfernandezofficial every so often.

“I don’t want to pretend of him. “Thank you for all the na we are a hundred percent lessons. Thank you for making okay. We go through certain me shine.” tampuhans, but what is good Nievera, in response, underscored how proud he is of about it is we know how to deal Fernandez, saying she “[shines] with it,” she said.

“I think because we bright all by [herself].” choose to always be okay, “Maybe there was a time na-sesettle naman siya. We in your [40s] that I had to disappear for a while to let you settle everything privately, and we deal through all those find your wings. And boy oh misunderstandings privately,” boy have you learned to fly!” she added. he said.

Nievera and Fernandez “When you need our kind of have two children, namely magic I am never far away,” he vowed. “Thank you for the kind Robin and Ram. The veteran singers recently words and for including me became grandparents as Robin in your 40th year celebration. welcomed baby Phineas Atlas, Congratulations to you and his first child with his partner your entire team. You were Mian Acoba. awesome!”

Nadine Lustre gets reminded of own...

From Page 10 superhero, she’s just a normal person. So it’s really a lot of that but I really enjoyed it a lot, especially the training.”

Nadine said she hopes to do more films with similar themes and tones in the future.

“More darker and grittier projects, I guess.

It’s really just because my previous projects were mostly rom-com (romantic-comedy) and drama.

So now, I’m at a point (in my career) where I want to explore different genres and I want to take on more challenging roles,” she said.

“Nakakatawa kasi may nabasa po akong article with the headline, ‘Nadine ayaw na magloveteam, gusto maging psychopath,’ (laughs).

Yun naman po yung lagi kong sinasabi because it is very interesting, you know, like doing a role of a psychopath or a killer or someone who

is deranged, just trying to figure out how this person’s mind works.”

She elaborated that she’s fond of going into the “intricate details” and studying people for characterization. Plus, she enjoys watching crime documentaries, horror and psychological thrillers.

“So, I want to dive into that and so far naman po, all of the projects or at least, I guess, the direction that I’m taking is really headed towards that,” she said.

She disclosed that her next project is the folklore horror film “Nokturno” with Mikhail Red, her director in “Deleter,” which won her the Best Actress award during the 2022 Metro Manila Film Festival.

“So, I’m really, really excited to see what projects will be pitched to me. I’m so looking forward to it.”

12

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - February 14, 2024

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