021623 - Las Vegas Edition

IRS says more early birds ling taxes

BARELY three weeks after the start of this year’s tax filing season, the IRS had received 19 million tax returns, processed 16.8 million of them, and issued eight million refunds each averaging $1,963.

The message – IRS Deputy Commissioner

Kevin Moorehead told reporters on an Ethnic Media Services conference call last week – is file your returns sooner rather than later, and do it electronically. Ask that refunds be wired directly into your bank account. The IRS turn-around time will be a lot faster.

The reason is that the Inflation Reduction Act put $80 billion in the IRS bank account to hire 5,000 more telephone assisters and to add more Taxpayer Assistance Centers around the country where you can go for free help to file your taxes.

“We expect more than 168,000,000 individual tax returns to be filed, with the vast majority of those coming in before April 18, the tax deadline date,” Moorehead said.

Era of ‘free’ COVID vaccines, test kits, and treatments is ending. Who will pay the tab now?

TIME is running out for free-to-consumer COVID vaccines, at-home test kits, and even some treatments.

The White House announced this month that the national public health emergency, first declared in early 2020 in response to the pandemic, is set to expire May 11. When it ends, so will many of the policies designed to combat the virus’s spread. Take vaccines. Until now, the federal government has been purchasing COVID-19 shots. It recently bought 105 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent booster for about $30.48 a dose, and 66 million doses of Moderna’s version for $26.36 a dose. (These are among the companies that developed the first COVID vaccines sold in the United States.)

People will be able to get these vaccines at low or no cost as long as the governmentpurchased supplies last. But even before the end date for the public emergency

US backs PH in new dispute with China

by BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO ManilaTimes.net

THE United States renewed a warning that it would defend its treaty ally if Filipino forces come under attack in the disputed South China Sea, after a Chinese coast guard ship allegedly hit a Philippine patrol vessel with a military-grade laser that briefly blinded some of its crew.

The incident took place on February 6 when the Chinese coast guard ship beamed high-grade lasers to block the Philippine patrol vessel BRP Malapascua

from approaching Second Thomas Shoal on a resupply mission to Filipino forces there, according to the Philippine officials.

U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said China’s “dangerous operational behavior directly threatens regional peace and stability, infringes upon freedom of navigation in the South China Sea as guaranteed under international law and undermines the rules-based international order.”

“The United States stands with our Philippine allies,” Price said in a statement. He said that an armed attack on Philippine armed

Fewer Pinoys taking up nursing

by MAYEN JAYMALIN Philstar.com

MANILA — Despite the huge demand for healthcare workers (HCWs) abroad, the local recruitment industry on Monday, Februaary 12 reported a downtrend in the number of Filipinos opting for a nursing degree.

Recruitment leader Lito Soriano observed that fewer Filipino youth are now enrolling in nursing schools because of the prevailing cap in the deployment of HCWs abroad.

Soriano, who owns an agency deploying health workers to Saudi Arabia, said there has been a decline in the number of nurses applying to work since the pandemic as a

result of the deployment cap. “We have been posting on social media job vacancies offering good salaries and numerous benefits for registered nurses, but we have few applicants,” Soriano disclosed. According to Soriano, there are few applicants because the country is also producing fewer nursing graduates.

Soriano said young Filipinos are discouraged from taking up nursing because of the belief that the deployment cap limits their chances of working abroad.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the government set an annual deployment cap of 7,500 for HCWs to ensure a sufficient supply of nurses in the country.

SWS: 75% of Pinoys satis ed with Marcos

by JANVIC MATEO Philstar.com

MANILA — About seven in every 10 Filipinos are satisfied with the performance of President Marcos in the last quarter of 2022, according to a survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The SWS on Tuesday, February 14 released the full details of its Dec. 10 to 14 survey on the performance of the President, which showed public satisfaction increasing from 71 percent in October to 75 percent.

forces, public vessels, or aircraft, including those of the coast guard in the South China Sea, would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments under a 1951 treaty.

The treaty obligates the allies to help defend one another in case of an external attack.

China claims the South China Sea virtually in its entirety, putting it on a collision course with other claimants.

The SWS released the full details of its Dec. 10 to 14 survey on the performance of the President, which showed public satisfaction increasing from 71 percent in October to 75 percent.

Malacañang file photo

Dissatisfaction hardly moved from eight percent to seven percent, while those who were

undecided dropped from 21 percent to 18 percent.

As reported earlier, Marcos’ resulting net satisfaction rating for December was “very good” +68, up from the “very good” +63 in the October survey.

The net satisfaction rating is the rounded off difference between those who said that they are satisfied and dissatisfied with the performance of a particular government official.

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

Marcos, Chinese envoy discuss sea rift after laser beam attack

Chinese naval forces have been accused of using military-grade lasers previously against Australian by DANIZA

FERNANDEZ Inquirer.net

MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian met to strategize on Tuesday on how best to settle the maritime disputes between the two nations.

The high-level meeting between the two officials was held as a response to an incident in which a China Coast Guard ship fired a laser beam at a Philippine Coast Guard vessel near the Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, causing temporary vision impairment to some of the PCG crew.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila issued a statement saying, “Both parties discussed how to actualize the consensus formed by the two heads of state, increase dialogue and communication, and thoughtfully manage maritime differences between China and the Philippines.”

Marcos summoned Huang to air his “serious concern” over the actions of China against the PCG and Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea.

MANILA — Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce

Enrile expressed gratitude to well-wishers as he turned 99 on Tuesday, February 14, Valentine’s Day.

“To everyone who greeted me or will greet me on my 99 years on this planet, thank you very, very much, and happy Valentine’s Day to all of you. I love you all,” the former Senate president wrote on his Facebook page.

Enrile added in his post: “99 years are, indeed, long in term of years, and I thank God for granting me those years. But in

terms of eternity, those seemingly long years are but a fleeting moment. Nonetheless, thank you Lord for the years you gifted me; for the protection you blessed me and for all the blessings you have generously given to me and to my family; and the friends you, Lord, allowed me to have during my lifetime. Thank you dear God for this day!”

A former justice secretary and defense minister during the administration of Ferdinand Marcos Sr., Enrile’s alleged ambush in 1972 was used as a pretext by the late strongman to declare martial law.

In 1986, he broke away from

US backs PH in new dispute...

military aircraft on patrol in the South China Sea and other spots in the Pacific.

Despite friendly overtures to Beijing by former president Rodrigo Duterte and his successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who met Chinese leader Xi Jinping in January in Beijing, tensions have persisted, drawing in a closer military alliance between the Philippines and the U.S.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Monday, February 13 that a Philippine coast guard vessel trespassed into Chinese waters without permission.

Chinese coast guard vessels responded “professionally and with restraint at the site in accordance with China’s law and international law,” he said, without elaborating or mentioning the use of laser.

Marcos, Chinese envoy discuss sea rift after...

The Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest following the Ayungin Shoal incident.

China, however, asserted that

the Philippines intruded into Chinese territory (Ren’ai Reef), and hence took action.

The Philippines has sovereign rights in the West Philippine

Sea, based on the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s 2016 ruling.

China, however, refuses to recognize the court’s verdict. g

Aside from China and the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also have overlapping claims in the resource-rich and busy waterway, where a bulk of the world’s commerce and oil transits.

Washington lays no claims to the disputed sea but has deployed forces to patrol the waters to promote freedom of navigation and overflight — moves that have angered Beijing, which has warned Washington to stop meddling in what it says is a purely Asian dispute. The contested waters have become a volatile front in the

broader rivalry between the U.S. and China in Asia and beyond.

Price said the Chinese coast guard’s “provocative and unsafe” conduct interfered with the Philippines’ “lawful operations” in and around Second Thomas Shoal.

In July, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on China to comply with a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated Beijing’s vast territorial claims in the South China Sea and warned that Washington was obligated to defend the Philippines under the Mutual Defense Treaty.

On Monday, Price reiterated that the “legally binding decision” underscored that China “has no lawful maritime claims to the Second Thomas Shoal.”

China has long rejected the ruling and continues to defy it.

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Wang Wenbin on Monday insisted that the Ren’ai Reef is part of China’s Nansha Islands.

In a statement shared by the Chinese Embassy in Manila, Wang said that on February 6, a Philippine Coast Guard vessel “intruded into the waters off the Ren’ai Reef (or Ayungin Shoal) without Chinese permission.”

He said that in accordance with China’s domestic law and international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos), the China Coast Guard ship “upheld China’s sovereignty and maritime order and acted in a professional and restrained way.”

“We hope the Philippine side

will respect China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea and avoid taking any actions that may exacerbate disputes and complicate the situation,” he said.

“China and the Philippines are in communication on this through diplomatic channels,” Wang added.

Sen. Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros, however, rejected Wang’s explanation.

“China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) is lying,” she said.

“It cannot claim that the Chinese Coast Guard ship acted in accordance with international law, when the 2016 arbitral tribunal that ruled against China’s baseless 9-dash-line claim was constituted precisely under the Unclos,” she said in a statement.

The senator said Ayungin is part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. “The Unclos affirms this.”

“The wider international community recognizes this. It is only China’s authoritarian government that seems to think otherwise,” Hontiveros said.

She told China’s MoFA “to stop lying and stick to the truth: that China is using her military might to justify her blatant and dangerous disregard for international law, with her flimsy historical ‘claim’ as an excuse.”

The Philippines filed nearly 200 diplomatic protests against China’s aggressive actions in the disputed waters in 2022 alone. (With reports from Associated Press)

SWS: 75% of Pinoys satisfied...

-30 to -49 as “bad”; -50 to -69 as “very bad” and -70 and below as “execrable.”

Highest in Mindanao

According to SWS, Marcos obtained his highest satisfaction rating among respondents in Mindanao, with 78 percent in both during the October and December surveys.

Satisfaction with the President increased to 74 percent in both Balance Luzon and the Visayas, from 69 percent and 65 percent, respectively. It remained at 73 percent among those in Metro

Manila.

Meanwhile, dissatisfaction was highest in Metro Manila at nine percent (from seven percent in October), followed by the Visayas at seven percent (from nine percent) and rest of Luzon and Mindanao at six percent (from nine percent and five percent, respectively).

Based on the latest survey, satisfaction with Marcos was higher among those in rural areas (80 percent) than in urban areas (70 percent). It was also higher among men (77 percent) than women (73 percent).

In terms of age groups, satisfaction with Marcos was highest among 25-34 (80 percent), followed by those in 18-24 (76 percent), 35-44 (75 percent), 45-54 (74 percent) and above 55 (71 percent).

It was also higher among junior high school graduates (78 percent) and non-elementary graduates (77 percent), followed by elementary graduates (71 percent) and college graduates (67 percent).

The December 2022 survey had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percent. g

METRO MANILA SUBWAY.  The tunnel boring machine (TBM) has penetrated seven meters at the southbound portion in Barangay Ugong, Valenzuela City at the ongoing construction of Metro Manila Subway on Thursday, Feb. 16. The Department of Transportation and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology assured that the first-ever subway is safe and less vulnerable to the impact of earthquakes since no segment would run over the West Valley Fault and the alignment will also pass through an adobe layer, which is ideal for tunneling.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

China Coast Guard Vessel No. 5205 is shown directing a laser beam at the BRP Malapascua in the West Philippine Sea in this photo taken on Feb. 6, 2023.

Photo from the Philippine Coast Guard

Era of ‘free’ COVID vaccines, test kits, and treatments...

was set, Congress opted not to provide more money to increase the government’s dwindling stockpile. As a result, Pfizer and Moderna were already planning their moves into the commercial market. Both have indicated they will raise prices, somewhere in the range of $110 to $130 per dose, though insurers and government health programs could negotiate lower rates.

“We see a double-digit billion[-dollar] market opportunity,” investors were told at a JPMorgan conference in San Francisco recently by Ryan Richardson, chief strategy officer for BioNTech. The company expects a gross price — the full price before any discounts — of $110 a dose, which, Richardson said, “is more than justified from a health economics perspective.”

IRS says more early birds filing...

Although refunds are expected to be somewhat smaller this year because the COVID economic impact payments have ended, Moorehead advised people to file a 2022 return even if you don’t owe taxes.

“While people with income under a certain amount are not generally required to file a tax return, those who qualify for certain tax credits or already paid some federal tax by having taxes withheld from their paycheck may qualify for a tax refund, but they must file in order to get one,” he said.

Kevin Moorehead, Deputy Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division at the IRS, explains the green energy credits available to those who have purchased a green vehicle.

Don’t leave money on the table, agreed Sue Simon, Director of IRS Customer Assistance.

“What we want to do is ensure that anyone who has not filed a 2021 tax return do so.

But in order to collect unpaid benefits, you have to file both a 2021 and a 2022 return.

However you fill out these returns, either electronically or by paper, Simon said it is imperative that you put “Zero” as the amount of your adjusted gross income. Then IRS computers can digest that information and by filing for

both years, technical errors can be avoided.

The IRS won’t call you but you can call them on toll free phone lines and get assistance in one of 350 languages. Simon said interpreter services are also available in any of IRS’s 362 taxpayer assistance centers via their telephones.

“There are forms that are commonly used by taxpayers that are available in Spanish, simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese, Haitian, Creole, Vietnamese and Russian,” Simon said. There are online tools at IRS. gov to help people determine if they are eligible for EITC, a Sales Tax Deduction Calculator to determine how much sales tax is allowed as a deduction in your state. There is the Free File Online Lookup tool that helps taxpayers find the right company to file their tax return under the Free File program. Go to IRS.gov and search the Pick List. There is also a tax withholding estimator tool.

“All of those are available in English as well as those languages that I listed,” she said.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA) provides help and counseling to taxpayers, free of charge, especially about EITC and additional Child Tax credits which can be hard to understand, Simon added.

Susan Simon, Director

of Customer Assistance, Relationships and Education at the IRS, details how taxpayers can get free help filing their taxes.

“During the last two years, we had about 50,000 volunteers throughout the United States doing tax returns. This year, as of today, we have 81,000 volunteers in the United States and Puerto Rico preparing free tax returns for individuals and families.”

Simon said the IRS provides information in a way that taxpayers can have faith and trust that their tax return is being done correctly, that there is no scam going on, that there is no fraud. A lot of people used VITA. Last year, VITA volunteers prepared 2.2 million tax returns.

“Each one of these volunteers is trained by the IRS. They are certified. They are tested. So, you know you are getting accurate information,” she said.

There is a Taxpayer Assistance Locator tool at IRS. gov to find the local office where you can set up an appointment and talk to someone in person.

This year is going to be “significantly better” than the last few difficult years of tax returns some of which the IRS is still processing, Moorehead predicted. You could get more money in your pocket, he says. (Peter White/Ethnic Media Services)

That could translate to tens of billions of dollars in revenue for the manufacturers, even if uptake of the vaccines is slow. And consumers would foot the bill, either directly or indirectly. If half of adults — about the same percentage as those who opt for an annual flu shot — get COVID boosters at the new, higher prices, a recent KFF report estimated, insurers, employers, and other payors would shell out $12.4 billion to $14.8 billion. That’s up to nearly twice as much as what it would have cost for every adult in the U.S. to get a bivalent booster at the average price paid by the federal government. As for COVID treatments, an August blog post by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response noted that government-purchased supplies of the drug Paxlovid are expected to last through midyear before the private sector takes over. The government’s bulk purchase price from manufacturer Pfizer was $530 for a course of treatment, and it isn’t yet known what the companies will charge once government supplies run out.

How much of that pinch will consumers feel?

One thing is certain: How much, if any, of the boosted costs are passed on to consumers will depend on their health coverage.

Medicare beneficiaries, those enrolled in Medicaid — the state-federal health insurance program for people with low

incomes — and people with Affordable Care Act coverage will continue to get COVID vaccines without cost sharing, even when the public health emergency ends and the governmentpurchased vaccines run out.

Many people with job-based insurance will also likely not face copayments for vaccines, unless they go out of network for their vaccinations. People with limited-benefit or shortterm insurance policies might have to pay for all or part of their vaccinations. And people who

don’t have insurance will need to either pay the full cost out-ofpocket or seek no- or low-cost vaccinations from community clinics or other providers. If they cannot find a free or lowcost option, some uninsured patients may be forced to skip vaccinations or testing.

Coming up with what could be $100 or more for vaccination will be especially hard “if you are uninsured or underinsured; that’s where these price hikes could drive PAGE 4

Pagpapalathala: Ika-16 ng Pebrero, Ika-23 ng Pebrero, Ika-2 ng Marso, Ika-9 ng Marso, 2023

TAG: Pagsasara ng Pagpaparehistro, Espesyal na Halalan, Tagalog

PAUNAWA PARA SA MGA MANGHAHALAL SA PAGSASARA NG PAGPAPAREHISTROPARA SA

2023 PUROK 1 ESPESYAL NA HALALAN

NA GAGANAPIN SA LUNES, IKA-3 NG ABRIL, 2023 SA LUNGSOD NG HENDERSON

ANG PAGPAPAREHISTRO AY MAGSASARA

SABADO, IKA-18 NG MARSO, 2023

ANG PAUNAWA’NG ITO AY NAGBIBIGAY NANG KAALAMAN na ang pagpaparehistro ng botante para sa 2023 Purok 1 Espesyal na Halalan na gaganapin sa Lunes, ika-3 ng Abril, 2023, ay magsasara sa Sabado, ika-18 ng Marso, 2023 sa 5:00 n.h.

Ang kahit na sino ma’ng karapat-dapat na manghahalal na ang pangalan ay hindi makikita sa opisyal na talaan ay maaari’ng magparehistro sa pamamagitan ng pagbisita ng pangkaraniwa’ng oras ng pangangalakal, sa Lalawigan ng Clark Sentro ng Halalan, 965 Trade Drive, Suite A, North Las Vegas o sa Lungsod ng Henderson Tanggapan ng Kawani, 240 South Water Street, Henderson. Ang Lalawigan ng Clark Kagawaran ng Halalan ay bukas Lunes hanggang Huwebes, 7:30 n.u. hanggang 5:30 n.h. Ang Lungsod ng Henderson Tanggapan ng Kawani ay bukas Lunes hanggang Huwebes, 7:30 n.u. hanggang 5:30 n.h.

Mga pinahabang oras sa Lungsod ng Henderson Tanggapan ng Kawani Sa ika-17 ng Marso at ika-18 ng Marso, ang pagpaparehistro ng bontante ay maaari’ng gawin nang personal sa Lungsod ng Henderson Tanggapan ng Kawani, 240 South Water Street, Henderson, NV 89015, sa panahon ng mga pinahabang oras tulad ng sumusunod:

Biyernes, ika-17 ng Marso, 2023 8:00 n.u. – 5:00 n.h. Sabado, ika-18 ng Marso, 2023 8:00 n.u. – 5:00 n.h.

Upang magparehistro sa online, bisitahin ang website ng Lalawigan ng Clark Kagawaran ng Halalan sa http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/vote at pumunta sa Serbisyo sa Online na Pagpaparehistro “Click Here” na buton. Ang serbisyo’ng ito ay magagamit 24 na oras sa isang araw. Para sa karagdagang impormasyon, pinapakiusap na makipag-ugnayan sa Lungsod ng Henderson Tanggapan ng Kawani, 240 South Water Street, Henderson, NV 89015, o sa pamamagitan ng pagtawag sa 702-267-1400 o sa website ng Lungsod sa www.cityofhenderson.com

SUMMER FRUITS. Ripe and green mangoes sell for P150 per kg. at the Kadiwa store inside the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City on Thursday, Feb. 16. Eggs are also available, with the medium ones costing P240 per tray; the large ones, P250 per tray; the extra-large ones, P260 per tray; and the jumbo ones, P270 per tray.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

Juan Ponce Enrile thanks God, well-wishers...

the administration and supported the People Power Revolution that resulted in Marcos’ ouster.

Now facing plunder charges in relation to the pork barrel scam, Enrile – who served numerous terms in the Senate – patched things up with the Marcos family and accepted the offer to be a legal

adviser of the late strongman’s son who now sits in Malacañang. Meanwhile, the Sandiganbayan Third Division continued hearing the plunder cases filed against Enrile. ABS-CBN News reported that RJ Bernal, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chief counsel for company registration and

Fewer Pinoys taking up...

Citing data from the Professional Regulation Commission, Soriano said a total of 48,686 nursing graduates passed the licensure examination from 2016 to 2022.

The figure he said is insufficient to fill the huge demand for HCWs in the United States, United Kingdom and other European countries.

To curb the downtrend, Soriano urged the government to

Dateline PhiliPPines

monitoring department, was presented to testify. Enrile, who is out on bail, was not present at the hearing. In attendance was his former chief of staff and co-accused Gigi Reyes, who was recently ordered released by the Supreme Court on the condition that she attend all her hearings. g

raise or totally lift the deployment cap. Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople previously reported that the government is currently studying the possibility of raising the deployment cap for HCWs. g

OFW remittances hit record high in December

by Niña Myka PauliNe arceo ManilaTimes.net

THE remittances of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) rose to a record $3.49 billion in December, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported on Wednesday, bringing the full-year tally to an all-time high of $36.14 billion.

"The robust inward remittances reflected the increasing demand for foreign workers amid the reopening of economies," the BSP said in a statement.

The December result — up 5.7 percent from $3.3 billion a year earlier — was attributed to higher remittances from landbased workers with contracts of a year or more and sea- and land-based OFWs with contracts of less than a year. The cumulative count for 2022, meanwhile, was 3.6 percent higher than 2021's $34.88 billion.

"The full-year 2022 level accounted for 8.9 percent and 8.4 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP)

and gross national income (GNI), respectively," the BSP said.

Of the total, cash remittances rose by 5.8 percent to $3.16 billion in December, up from $2.99 billion, while that for the full year hit $32.54 billion, 3.6 percent higher from 2021's $31.42 billion.

Michael Ricafort, the chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., said that the increased holiday spending in December, with abolished Covid restrictions, compared to 1 to 2 years ago, resulted in higher OFW remittances.

"The sustained year-on-year growth in OFW remittances in recent months may also reflect a faster economic recovery in some major host countries for OFWs around the world that has enabled more OFWs to work again, especially in countries with increased COVID -19 vaccine shot rollouts that helped reduce new COVID -19 cases and moving toward greater economic normalcy and led to

stronger economic recovery that entailed the creation of new jobs, including for OFWs," Ricafort added.

However, Ricafort cautioned that the positive development could be offset "by the fact that similarly higher inflation in host countries of OFWs could have also increased their cost of living, which could lessen their remittances to the country."

Nevertheless, the continued YoY growth in OFW remittances could improve the Philippine economy in terms of spurring consumer spending that accounts for at least 75 percent of the economy.

"The growth in cash remittances from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Qatar and the United Kingdom contributed largely to the increase in remittances in January-December 2022," the BSP said.

The US posted the highest share of overall remittances in 2022, followed by Singapore and Saudi Arabia. g

House urged to declare ‘unequivocal defense’ for Duterte vs. ICC

MANILA – House Senior Deputy Speaker and former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led the filing of a resolution urging the House of Representatives to rally behind former President Rodrigo

Duterte as the International Criminal Court (ICC) is set to reopen its investigation for alleged crimes against humanity.

In a resolution released to media on Thursday, Arroyo and 18 other lawmakers called on the lower chamber to declare “unequivocal defense" for Duterte amid the looming probe on his anti-illegal drug campaign during his presidency.

House Resolution 780 highlighted that Duterte’s “remarkable accomplishments brought about by his relentless campaign against illegal drugs, insurgency, separatism and terrorism, corruption in government and criminality” made the life of Filipinos “better, comfortable and peaceful.”

The resolution cited the need for immediate action to curb the country’s serious and rampant illegal drug situation at the time when Duterte took office, as the drug problem was becoming an “existential threat to the country’s social fabric.”

"The country's peace and order situation considerably improved due to the Duterte administration's holistic and whole nation approach in ending insurgency and curbing the drug menace in the country that resulted [in] unprecedented growth in exports and investment," the resolution read.

Underscoring the Philippines’ "functioning and independent" judicial system, the resolution

quoted Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla who called the ICC’s intent to resume its investigation against Duterte’s anti-drug campaign as “insulting” and “totally unacceptable.” Remulla has reiterated the government’s position that the ICC can rightfully conduct proceedings only in states without a functioning government and justice system.

“We are doing what it takes to fix the system. We have a functional judicial system and I don’t see where they can come in unless they want to take over our legal system and take over our country. I don’t see that happening,” Remulla said in a press briefing last week. He said the “unreasonable” decision is not welcome in the Philippines and the Department of Justice “will not stand for any of these antics that tend to question our sovereignty and our status as a sovereign country.”

Other authors of the bill were Representatives Carmelo Lazatin Jr., Aurelio Gonzales, Anna York Bondoc-Sagum, Jose Alvarez, Mary Mitzi Cajayon-Uy, Richard Gomez, Wilton Kho, Loreto Amante, Edward Hagedorn, Edwin Olivarez, Eric Martinez, Eduardo Rama Jr., Dale Corvera, Zaldy Villa, Ma. Rene Ann Lourdes Matibag, Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo, Johnny Pimentel and Marilyn Primicias-Agabas. (PNA)

VP Sara hopes for LGBTQIA relationship protection

MANILA – The Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Thursday, February 16 clarified that Vice President Sara Duterte expressed hope for the legal protection of the partnership of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual plus (LGBTQIA+) community.

In a Viber message, OVP spokesperson Reynold Munsayac said that contrary to some reports, Duterte did not mention marriage.

"Vice President Sara Duterte did not say she supports same-sex marriage in the Philippines, as reported in a news article," he said, referring to Duterte's speech during the mass wedding ceremony in Parañaque City on Feb. 14.

In the speech, the Vice President expressed hope for their protection, considering the variety of genders being recognized in society.

“Naisip ko, sana sa mga susunod na taon, ‘yung ibang gender, katulad ng mga LGBTQIA+, ay mabigyan din sila ng proteksyon ng batas sa kani-kanilang mga partners at sa kanilang mga relationship (I was thinking that hopefully in the coming years, other genders such as the LGBTQIA+ would be given protection under the law, in their relationships),” she said.

In the same speech, Duterte urged newly married couples to practice family planning to prevent poverty, which would only cause children to suffer.

Several legislators, particularly Senator Joel Villanueva and Senator Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, had opposing views on the AntiDiscrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression (SOGIE) Equality Bill.

Villanueva raised concerns over the advancement of the SOGIE bill, saying it could lead to the legalization of same-sex marriage.

The Philippines should not approve such a law just because other countries have passed it, he said, pleading for respect for religion, if not the Word of God.

Hontriveros, however, refuted his view, saying there is no provision for a marriage license in the SOGIE bill. (PNA)

Nursing students from Centro Escolar University (CEU) gather for the annual capping and pinning ceremony at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. Philstar.com file photo by Edd Gumban

Vice President Sara Duterte

TOAST FOR SUCCESS.

Philippines 2023 Flag State

Shipbuilders Convention

Harbor Garden Tent, Sofitel Philippine Plaza,

Thursday,

The two-day event serves as a forum to discuss issues, trends and developments relevant to the world’s largest flag states and to showcase the potential of the Philippines’ shipbuilding and ship repair industry.

Era of ‘free’ COVID vaccines, test kits, and treatments...

PAGE 3

additional disparities,” said Sean Robbins, executive vice president of external affairs for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Those increases, he said, will also affect people with insurance, as the costs “flow through to premiums.”

Meanwhile, public policy experts say many private insurers will continue to cover Paxlovid, although patients may face a copayment, at least until they meet their deductible, just as they do for other medications. Medicaid will continue to cover it without cost to patients until at least 2024. But Medicare coverage will be limited until the treatment goes through the regular FDA process, which takes longer than the emergency use authorization it has been marketed under.

Another complication: The rolls of the uninsured are likely to climb over the next year, as states are poised to reinstate the process of regularly determining Medicaid eligibility, which was halted during the pandemic.

Starting in April, states will begin reassessing whether Medicaid enrollees meet income and other qualifying factors.

An estimated 5 million to 14 million people nationwide might lose coverage.

“This is our No. 1 concern”

right now, said John Baackes, CEO of L.A. Care, the nation’s largest publicly operated health plan with 2.7 million members. “They may not realize they’ve lost coverage until they go to fill a prescription” or seek other medical care, including vaccinations, he said.

What about COVID test kits?

Rules remain in place for insurers, including Medicare and Affordable Care Act plans, to cover the cost of up to eight in-home test kits a month for each person on the plan, until the public health emergency ends.

For consumers — including those without insurance — a government website is still offering up to four test kits per household, until they run out. The Biden administration shifted funding to purchase additional kits and made them available in late December.

Starting in May, though, beneficiaries in original Medicare and many people with private, job-based insurance will have to start paying out-ofpocket for the rapid antigen test kits. Some Medicare Advantage plans, which are an alternative to original Medicare, might opt to continue covering them without a copayment. Policies will vary, so check with your insurer. And Medicaid enrollees can continue

Privatization proceeds eyed to fund Maharlika

by Louise Maureen siMeon PaoLo roMero Philstar.com

MANILA — Proceeds from privatization may be used to finance the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF), rather than putting state banks and the central bank at risk, a public advocacy group said.

At a hearing of the Senate committee on banks, financial institutions and currencies on Thursday, February 16, the Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF) maintained that it does not object to the creation of a developmental financial institution.

But FEF president Calixto Chikiamco argued that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and government financial institutions (GFIs) Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines should be removed as funding sources.

creates a “giant moral hazard” when parties are protected from the consequences of their decisions, which could also lead to financial crises such as in 1997 and 2008.

“With its ability to access guaranteed loans from the GFIs and perpetual funding from the BSP, the MIF will become ‘too big to fail’ and pose systemic risk to the economy,” Chikiamco said.

He added that guaranteeing MIF debt from GFIs will produce enormous fiscal and other risks and may lead to ratings downgrade and increase the cost of borrowing for the government and, in turn, widen the fiscal deficit.

On the other hand, if the fund is not guaranteed, it also increases systemic risk to the banking system as possible evaluation of the value of the MIF will translate to losses to the DBP and Landbank.

to get the test kits without cost for a little over a year. State rules also can vary, and continued coverage without cost sharing for COVID tests, treatments, and vaccines after the health emergency ends might be available with some health plans.

Overall, the future of COVID tests, vaccines, and treatments will reflect the complicated mix of coverage consumers already navigate for most other types of care. “From a consumer perspective, vaccines will still be free, but for treatments and test kits, a lot of people will face cost sharing,” said Jen Kates, a senior vice president at KFF. “We’re taking what was universal access and now saying we’re going back to how it is in the regular U.S. health system.”

(Julie Appleby/Kaiser Health News)

KHN correspondent Darius Tahir contributed to this report.

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

SOUTHERN NEVADA REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY Procurement Dept. 340 N. 11TH Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101

INVITATION FOR BID (IFB NO

B23012)

JANITORIAL SERVICES (VACANT UNITS AND OFFICE BUILDINGS)

SNRHA CONTACT PERSON(S)

Important: Contact with any other SNRHA staff other than the person named within this document is prohibited and will result in your Proposal being rejected. This also applies to any contact with SNRHA’s Residents and Board of Commissioners.

HOW TO BID AND OBTAIN THE IFB DOCUMENTS ON THE APPLICABLE INTERNET SITE

Wanda Beckett, Contracts Administrator, 702-477-3145

Email: Procurement @SNVRHA.org

-Or- Contact: Linda Simpson 702-477-3144

TDD: 702-386-0789

Nevada Government e-Marketplace (NGEM) https://nevada.ionwave.net/

1.

2.

PRE-BID MEETING

VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE

respect to boosting our longterm economic productivity. A sovereign wealth fund may also help advance our infrastructure development,” Villar said.

Other senators questioned the lack of business plan should the creation of the MIF be passed into law.

Landbank president and CEO

Cecilia Borromeo admitted that the bank has yet to see the business plan which should guide the GFI in its investment move.

Sen. Nancy Binay said a business plan should give lawmakers and investors a bit of comfort when they see where the fund will be invested.

“It’s like when you borrow from a bank, you will be asked where you will use (the money). It’s like you don’t know where you will use it,” Binay said.

QUESTION SUBMISSION DEADLINE

HOW TO FULLY RESPOND TO THIS IFB BY SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL

All Companies submitting a bid must be registered in NGEM to enter their cost proposal. Then comply with the solicitation requirement.

Bidders can also download the solicitation document for SNVRHA website https://www.snvrha.org/ click on “Doing Business” for the Procurement page.

Video Conference will be conducted on February 16, 2023 at 8:00 am

All companies attending this meeting must email SNVRHA their contact information to confirm their attendance.

Microsoft Teams meeting

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device Click here to join the meeting Meeting ID: 285 157 459 34

Passcode: Labd99

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device

All questions must be submitted through the Nevada Government e-Marketplace (NGEM) https://nevada.ionwave.net/ by: February 27, 2023, 10:00 A.M.

All responses to questions will be issued in NGEM in the form of an Addendum.

BIDS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY

“There may be other sources of funds from the government that could initially fund it, such as privatization proceeds,” Chikiamco said as he noted that the MIF as drafted was fraught with risks in “an era of economic and geopolitical uncertainty.”

“There are sources that can be tapped to initially fund it and attract investments from the private sector and foreign sources eventually,” he said.

Chikiamco said the government should scrap planned contributions of the BSP, Landbank and DBP to the multibillion-peso MIF as this would put the country’s financial sector at great risk.

“It might even be breaching regulations on a single investment,” he said.

Based on the current form of the bill, the BSP will inject some P100 billion, without touching gross international reserves, as seed capital. Another P50 billion will come from Landbank and P25 billion from DBP. Privatization proceeds are already part of the original bill.

Chikiamco argued that the funding source of Maharlika is problematic, especially as it is unclear if Landbank and DBP equity cash investment in MIF will be guaranteed by the national government.

Assuming that it is guaranteed, the economist warned this still

As a result, Chikiamco warned that this can light a fire to the rest of the banking system and result in financial contagion and panic.

“It will become wobbly. The market will perceive that as a contagion,” he said.

Further, FEF argued that the primary objective of the MIF should be clarified, conflicts of interest should not arise and the level playing field should not be tilted in favor of MIF.

The proposed fund also could weaken the BSP’s capitalization as well as its standing to maintain price and financial stability as the central bank may make policy decisions to increase dividends from the MIF that may affect its enforcement of monetary tools.

“As long as you remove the GFIs, we can live with that. I think there is a role for Maharlika in certain instances,” Chikiamco said.

When asked by panel chair Sen. Mark Villar about possible sources of funding for the MIF, Chikiamco cited the privatization of the New Bilibid Prison and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

The senator said the country can greatly benefit from the MIF, which was meant to widen the options available to the government to fund infrastructure projects.

“The Philippines may benefit from having its own sovereign wealth fund, especially with

In response, national treasurer Rosalia de Leon said there are 87 infrastructure items being deliberated by the National Economic and Development Authority which could be funded by the MIF. Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, for his part, argued that recent deliberations in the Senate appear to have become a “very expensive public brainstorming” for government agencies, given their lack of preparation on the matter.

While De Leon assured the committee of a list of allowable investments under the MIF, Pimentel said one provision allows “all other investments as may be decided by the Board.” He said the bill also imposes a two percent cap on administration and operation expenses but Section 17 of the measure allows additional expenses, which effectively cancels the restriction.

“We hear news about the President’s report that the Japanese investors are excited to invest in the Maharlika fund. Where is the mechanism of the current bill? How do they invest? It is not stated there,” he said.

“In its current form, I hope it does not reach [plenary]. It’s very disappointing, especially as an administration measure, since the assumption is that it is backed up by the best lawyers and bill drafters,” Pimentel said. “The quality of the proposal is not well thought out, not wellplanned.” g

SOUTHERN NEVADA REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY

PUBLIC NOTICE

Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority (SNRHA) Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly Section 8) Pre-application for the 2023 Waitlist Lottery

The Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority (SNRHA) Housing Choice Voucher Program will accept pre-applications for the 2023 waitlist lottery on Monday, February 27, 2023 at 8 a.m. through Monday, March 27, 2023 5 p.m. (PST)

SNRHA will conduct an electronic lottery drawing to select the pre-applications for the 2023 waitlist.

TO APPLY YOU MUST BE:

• 18 years of age or older or legally emancipated

• A U.S. citizen or eligible immigrant and have legal capacity to enter into a lease under the state and local law

How to submit a pre-application:

All pre-applications must be submitted online at the following link https://onlineportal.snvrha.org using any smart device or computer.

As a reasonable accommodation, SNRHA has computer access and staff available on the following dates and locations to assist with the pre-application processes.

Locations and hours of operation:

Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority – 5390 E Flamingo, Las Vegas, NV 89122

Monday, February 27, 2023 at 8 a.m. through Friday, March 3, 2023 5 p.m. (PST)

Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority - Commissioners Chambers – 340 N 11th St. Las Vegas, NV 89101

Monday, February 27, 2023 at 8 a.m. through Friday, March 3, 2023 5 p.m. (PST) University of Nevada, Reno Extension’s A.D. Guy Knowledge Center - 817 N. St., Las Vegas, NV 89106

Monday, February 27, 2023 at 8 a.m. through Thursday, March 2, 2023 5 p.m. (PST) (This Location is CLOSED on Friday March 3rd, 2023.)

Please Note: You must have an email address to apply.

The following preference points are available, if applicable:

• Applicants who work 20 or more hours per week

• Full-time students (Age 18 and older in an accredited school or training program)

• Receiving SSI/SSD or proof of inability to work

• 62 years of age or older

Families that live or work within Clark County

Veteran or spouse of a Veteran

Disabled Veteran (disability must be service connected)

Spouse of a deceased Veteran (death must be service connected) For

Senators Ronald dela Rosa (6th from left) and Cynthia Villar (3rd from left) together with Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Arnell Ignacio (4th from left) and stakeholders from the maritime industry grace the opening of the Expo Maritime

and

at the

Pasay City on

Feb. 16.

PNA photo by Avito Dalan

Rise for freedom

VALENTINE’S Day is not just a day of hearts. On Valentine’s Day in 2012, a global mass action was launched to end violence against women. The call to action was made amid reports that one in three women worldwide would be beaten or raped in her lifetime. In 2012, the global population stood at seven billion – meaning over one billion women and girls were expected to experience various forms of violence in that year. The One Billion Rising movement was born.

The Philippines, which has elected two female presidents and two vice presidents, recognized the problem much earlier. Republic

Act 9262, the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act, was enacted in 2004 when the country was led by a woman. RA 9262 has tough provisions against domestic violence.

As in most laws in this country, however, the problem lies in the implementation. Since the passage of RA 9262, there have been numerous complaints about barangay officials who refuse to carry out their mandate stipulated in the law to serve as front-liners in assisting victims of domestic violence. Many women especially in impoverished communities are also unaware of the law and the protection it offers to victims.

The pandemic lockdowns aggravated the problem, with advocacy groups saying reported cases nationwide tripled in 2020. In 2021, over 12,000 cases of violence against women and their children were recorded nationwide, with 5,339 more reported in the first six months of 2022

Babe’s Eye View

BABE ROMUALDEZ

THE announcement by the Philippines and the United States about the expansion of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with four new locations to be added to the current five sites and the conduct of joint maritime patrols in the South China Sea reverberated so well worldwide, with 90 percent of Filipinos welcoming this latest development in the relationship between two longtime allies.

Filipinos across the globe – in particular FilipinoAmericans – were extremely pleased, lauding the decision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in reaffirming and further solidifying U.S.-Philippines relations. I received hundreds of messages and emails expressing their full support for the President’s decision.

The meeting between our Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was extremely substantial, with the discussions

Commentary

ANA WOOD

BY 2040, one in five Americans will be age 65 or older. In 2000, that ratio was one in eight. The United States, like a majority of the world, has a quickly growing older population. Although Americans are retiring later, living longer, and there are more and more options for where seniors can live, the United States must prepare itself on how to care for our older Americans, before it becomes a crisis.

As an older American myself, I have seen the barriers to medical care many seniors face. Especially for people living in rural areas, of which there are many in Nevada, accessing hospitals, specialists, and mental health care, can be more difficult than if you lived in an urban setting. While our senior population grows, we must put systems and services in place to ensure they can access highquality medical care.

I know from my own experience that Medicare Advantage is one of the best programs out there for increasing access and breaking down barriers to health care services. Furthermore, the program emphasizes preventative

alone. Advocacy groups believe the actual numbers are much higher as many women are unwilling or unable to report their ordeal and seek help.

An 18-day campaign was launched last year, from Nov. 25 – the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women – to Dec. 12, Human Rights Day, to promote mass action in ending the problem. The United Nations is supporting the One Billion Rising campaign. With united efforts globally, the UN aims to curb the problem significantly by 2030.

Beyond “flash mobs” and other creative forms of political activism, ending violence against women and children calls for concerted action among multiple government agencies and sectors of society. Filipino women who work overseas face heightened risk of physical, sexual and psychological violence. Domestic helper Jullebee Ranara was just the latest in an ever-growing list of Filipino migrant workers who were abused and brutally murdered by their foreign employers. For 2023, the call to action of One Billion Rising

is “rise for freedom.” Despite some progress in fighting violence against women, confronting the problem remains challenging in the Philippines, and even more so in other parts of the planet

where women are still treated like second-class citizens. A more aggressive, pro-active approach is needed for this freedom to be attained. (Philstar. com)

90% of Filipinos agree on EDCA expansion and joint maritime patrols

delving on shared security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, and how both nations can address these challenges. The decision to restart joint maritime patrols in the South China Sea is not only seen as a positive development in helping the Philippines tighten its security strategy but an important step in securing our borders.

Filipinos are very patient people. We don’t want any conflict. But when push comes to shove, we will staunchly defend ourselves and those that we hold precious. Filipinos are convinced that our strategy of boosting defense ties and enhancing security cooperation with major allies like the United States will build up our capacity and capability to defend our territory and exercise our sovereign rights.

The headline news on our recent decision for the expansion of EDCA and maritime patrols with the United States has actually precipitated more inquiries from U.S. companies looking at how they can invest or, at the very least, expand their operations in the Philippines.

The Philippines was at the front

and center of international news – that is, until the Chinese balloon incident came into the picture. Clearly, the U.S. and the Philippines must also boost economic ties and increase trade and investment cooperation to strengthen the economic backbone, and therefore resilience, of our country. As I have mentioned on several occasions, the Philippines can become a stronger ally that can significantly contribute in advancing a more secure and prosperous region if it is also economically strong. At the end of the day, this is what we all want.

To reiterate, the EDCA is not directed at, or against, any country. Rather, this agreement with the United States is aimed at ramping up our defense capabilities, especially in light of the global security challenges – both traditional and nontraditional – that are emerging, and which all nations must take into account.

Let’s not also forget, the Philippines also has a defense agreement with Australia via the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) signed in

Medicare Advantage cares for our growing senior population

care for its enrollees including cancer screenings, vaccinations, and regular check-ups. Preventative care lowers the risk of serious health conditions including heart disease, serious illnesses, and viruses. Catching conditions such as colon cancer early makes all the difference for successful treatment. Preventative care in the form of exercise, which Medicare Advantage offers multiple options for, also lowers the risk of injury for seniors of all ages.

The population Medicare Advantage serves is key to its impact. Serving a majority of low-income enrollees and communities that have been historically underserved, the program is bridging the gap of health disparities existing in our country.

To understand the impact this program has on its enrollees, consider my own story. A year ago, I hurt my shoulder. My options were to undergo either intense physical therapy or surgery. Although both of these options were covered under my Medicare Advantage plan, an invasive and intense surgery was the last thing I wanted. Instead, Medicare Advantage coordinated my treatment plan with my doctors,

and I saw a physical therapist twice a week. Throughout it all, I never had to worry that I wasn’t getting the highest quality of treatment because Medicare Advantage led communications between my team of doctors and myself.  Medicare Advantage’s commitment to cost-savings throughout my treatment saved me thousands of dollars and gave me peace of mind that I wouldn’t have to forego treatment due to prohibitive costs. I’m now able to resume my routine activities. Every day I’m not in constant pain is a reminder of why I am just so grateful for my Medicare Advantage plan.

As we prepare our country and our health care system for the influx of older Americans needing medical care, we should support programs such as Medicare Advantage that are already doing the work in caring for our seniors.

* * *

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.

* * * Ana Wood, Board Member and Government Affairs Chair, Las Vegas Asian Chamber of Commerce

2007 and which took effect in September 2012 following its ratification in July of that same year. The agreement was very timely as it paved the way for the conduct of disaster relief assistance by the Australian Defense Force when Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) hit the Philippines in November 2013.

President BBM’s recent visit to Tokyo is also expected to boost economic as well as security ties between the Philippines and Japan. No less than the President underscored this when he said prior to his departure that the bilateral visit is essential as it is “part of a larger foreign policy agenda to forge closer political ties, stronger defense and security cooperation” in addition to “lasting economic partnerships with major countries in the region amid a challenging global environment.”

In a recent brief written by our friend Gregory Poling with Andreyka Natalegawa and Danielle Fallin titled, “Building a U.S.-Japan-Philippines Triad” published at the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ online site, the authors

First Person

ALEX

OVER the past few days, U.S. fighter jets shot down four strange flying objects that have crossed over American and Canadian airspaces. This is a ballooning phenomenon.

On Feb. 4, after days of tracking its movements, a U.S. jet fighter fired a single missile to bring down a 200-foot balloon closely observed as it crossed the country.

The Americans waited for the object to float out to sea off South Carolina before shooting it down to avoid any collateral damage on the ground.

China protested the action, claiming the balloon was owned by a civilian company and used for purely meteorological research. Beijing is asking for the debris of the balloon to be returned to it. Washington is not obliging. The Americans want to know more about the technology being used by China over U.S. airspace. Recovered remnants of that balloon have been sent to an FBI laboratory for examination.

Washington has not released technical details to date.

On Feb. 10, U.S. jets downed another “cylindrical” flying object

underscored Japan’s growing role in the Indo-Pacific, and why Tokyo and Washington should collaborate more closely in “engaging with other alliance partners, including the Philippines. Japan is uniquely suited to this role given its extensive and long-standing security partnership with the Philippines, creating a robust level of security cooperation between Tokyo and Manila.”

In fact, having security alliances that show we are part of a coalition of like-minded countries can serve as a deterrent and can promote peace in the Indo-Pacific region.

As usual, pseudo-nationalists are looking at it from a negative perspective, saying we may be sucked into the maelstrom if a conflict between the U.S. and China breaks out. In the first place, if there is a conflict in the region over Taiwan for example, the Philippines would not be able to remain a fence sitter for long because of its very strategic location as well as its proximity to Taiwan. We would feel the impact and would be involved in one way or another. In this global world, there is no such thing as

an “island nation.”

Fortunately, we have enlightened senators like Win Gatchalian, Chiz Escudero and Francis Tolentino who clearly see the significance of the EDCA expansion and the resumption of joint maritime patrols as good for the country. Even Senate President Migz Zubiri and many key legislators that include Congressman Rufus Rodriguez see the importance of our alliance with the United States. Some may have an axe to grind against the U.S. but they know very well this latest development is a positive step for our country’s security. And more importantly, this decision by President Marcos is appreciated and supported by 90 percent of Filipinos not only here but in many parts of the world, who continue to look at the United States as our most trusted ally and partner. (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

Ballooning

off the coast of Alaska. Here, too, we are not told how much of the downed object was recovered from the frozen sea. All that has been shared is the observation that the downed object did not seem to have any system of propulsion or control. The flying object has not been attributed to China.

A day later, Feb. 11, another U.S. jet shot down a “highaltitude airborne object” over Canada’s Yukon province, close to the border with Alaska. Apart from describing it as a hexagonal object, little has been made publicly known.

On Feb. 12, yet another strange flying object was tracked from over Montana and shot down over Lake Huron. Still, we are not told about the nature of the object nor its origin. Washington says the object was shot down because it posed a threat to commercial aircraft.

With very little detail disclosed, it is assumed that the three later objects were also balloons or something akin to it. Inasmuch as Washington had not officially attributed the three latter objects to China, Beijing has not issued any statement about them. The mystery deepens.

A debate has erupted in Washington over whether the flying objects shot down while wafting over North America were

actually engaged in surveillance. We know next to nothing about the larger framework within which these strange flying objects was launched.

These balloons and whatever equipment they carry are rather costly things. They are not being sent up for the pleasure of watching a balloon waft in the air, carried by atmospheric currents with apparently very little ground control over their precise flight paths.

In addition to the very real hazard these balloons pose to commercial aircraft, they have been flown over another country’s airspace without prior notice. That is a clear national security concern. We are now told that unidentified balloons have been detected flying across U.S. airspace the past years, although nothing was done about these previous flying objects.

One analyst surmised that China could be testing high-altitude or “near space” craft as part of its futuristic weapons development program. When enough has been known about wind currents and weather corridors, these devices could be fitted with warheads.

Defense officials have enough reasons to be worried. Over the past months, North Korea has been testing missiles like mad.

Senate to probe new ‘human trafficking’ scheme at NAIA

MANILA –  The newly discovered "human trafficking" scheme in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) will soon be looked into by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee (SBRC), Senator Grace Poe on Thursday, February 16 said.

Poe, in a statement, said the SBRC, which is chaired by Senator Francis Tolentino, has always been active on investigating incidents involving graft and corruption.

"No doubt that it will happen soon," Poe said.

Based on the preliminary report her office received, the lawmaker said the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), Bureau of Immigration (BI), the Philippine National Police (PNP) Aviation Group and the Globan Aviation will have a lot of explaining to do.

In her privilege speech delivered on Wednesday in the Senate plenary, Poe reported that the PNP Aviation Security Group received an anonymous tip about a human trafficking activity involving an aircraft that is set to depart for Dubai at about 10 p.m. on the same day at the NAIA.

The anonymous information, she said, also noted that only six passengers have been declared but a total of 14 passengers will actually board the aircraft.

"Ang nasabing eroplano ay (The said plane is) operated by Cloud

Nine No. 1 Leasing Company

Limited, a Hong Kong registered leasing company, and their assigned aircraft ground handler is a local company, [called] Globan Aviation Service Corporation or GLOBAN," Poe reported.

She said her office was able to secure a copy of the flight’s General Declaration, which states that only three crew members and six passengers will board the plane.

But based on the information that Poe's office got from the BI, seven passengers were declared that include a Malaysian, a Korean, a Chinese, a Vanuatuan and three others from Saint Kitts and Nevis.

"Malinaw na may (It is clear that there is an) irregularity at paglabag sa (and violation in the) existing policies and procedures of airport agencies like the MIAA, Immigration, PNP Aviation, and CAAP," she said.

Poe's fellow senators expressed their disgust after hearing about the incident and urged the appropriate committee to handle the inquiry.

Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, who chairs the Senate Committee on

Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, even suggested to refer Poe's privilege speech in his committee.

"They [alleged corrupt NAIA employees and Immigration officers] violate all protocols and laws just to give VIP treatment to these people. What a disgusting incident. I move that you refer this privilege speech to my committee," Dela Rosa manifested.

Poe believes what happened is more than just a protocol glitch as it involves national security and human trafficking.

"Let us not allow private flights in our airports as a highway for human trafficking,” she appealed.

Last December 2022, Poe recalled, a similar incident happened wherein undeclared Chinese nationals were also able to skirt pre-flight inspections.

No kid-glove treatment

Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert “Ace” Barbers said those responsible for the incident should not be given the kid-glove treatment.

“Once again, our security has been compromised and the public salaried officials and employees are caught sleeping on their jobs,” he said. “Heads must roll in this incident. This cannot take place innocently and without the knowledge of those who are tasked to implement strict controls in our airports and all other ports of entry and exit. My serious concern is the cargo in such instances. If human trafficking can take place, how much more with illegal drugs.”

Barbers, chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, expressed serious concern that other than human trafficking, drug trafficking is likewise possible using the same modus operandi.

“If human trafficking can take place using private planes, how much more with illegal drugs,

Filipina found alive after 3 days under quake rubble

by Bernadette tamayo and Vince JacoB Visaya ManilaTimes.net

A TEAM from the Philippine Embassy in Turkey on Tuesday, February 14 visited in the hospital a Filipina earthquake survivor who was rescued after three days under the rubble from a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Turkey and Syria last week.

The Philippine Embassy, on Facebook, said its Mersin-based team checked on the condition of Juliva Benlingan, 33, a native of Lagawe, Ifugao, who was previously reported missing.

which are considered as mere cargoes,” he said. “Years ago, I have already warned and alerted these officials on the possibility of drug trafficking using private planes. Back then, I had unconfirmed reports of such activities. This might explain the abundance of supply even during the war on drugs. The accidental discovery of the latest illegal activity could be but the tip of the iceberg.”

BI backs ‘one-stop-shop’ border clearance

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) expressed support for the proposal to create a one-stop-shop processing center to harmonize border clearance procedures.

Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the recommendation was tackled during an emergency meeting called by the Office of the Transportation Security, amid reports that an unauthorized private jet was able to depart the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on Feb. 13.

During the meeting, immigration representatives explained the role of the BI in processing departing individuals.

He added that the BI is only one of the numerous agencies that inspect departing and arriving special flights. Permits on security, health, duties, and others are handled by other government agencies.

“The entrance of other individuals in the airport premises does not fall under the jurisdiction of the BI. Our officers only process passengers, following the official General Declaration,” he said in a statement.

Immigration officers are only given ramp access during special flights together with the quarantine and Customs officers. They are also assigned in random except during presidential flights.  (PNA)

According to her sister Maribel, Benlingan sustained wounds on her face, head and feet, and was dehydrated when rescued.

"As she recovers well at an Adana hospital, she thanked God for a second chance at life and the embassy for their well wishes," the embassy said.

The team provided Benlingan with financial assistance and gave her doctors and nurses "tokens of our appreciation."

Maribel said Juliva, mother to a 12-year-old girl, endured 60 hours under the rubble of a collapsed building before she was rescued.

In its continuous evaluation on the ground, the Philippine Embassy said it is "focusing on management of its resources toward the welfare, recovery and return to normalcy of Filipino

A few weeks ago, Pyongyang paraded intercontinental ballistics missiles that could theoretically reach the U.S. heartland.

It is not just North American airspace that have been violated by these strange flying objects. A large balloon similar to that one shot down off the coast of South Carolina was reported in the vicinity of Colombia. These devices apparently have the ability to circumnavigate the globe and stay aloft for long periods.

The downing of the first balloon was, no doubt, a huge embarrassment for the Chinese leadership. It marked the first  strong response to whatever “near space” strategy China might be brewing. Beijing is probably scrambling for a viable explanation for the other objects shot down the past few days.

The balloon-related incidents reinstates Beijing as the true

evacuees."

Displaced Filipinos continue to arrive at the shelter in Ankara, transported by the embassy and on their own volition, it added.

The embassy said its team in Mersin "is also in contact with a set of volunteers from the hospitality industry who have offered to provide food assistance to Filipino-Turkish families who chose to remain in Antakya and to [the] Philippine humanitarian contingent in Adiyaman province."

"We deeply appreciate the charity of kababayan (fellow Filipinos) and our Turkish brethren," it added.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) also on Tuesday said it will repatriate the remains of one of the two Filipinas who died in the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Turkey.

DFA acting Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo Jose de Vega said the Philippine government will also repatriate other Filipino survivors who wish to return home.

The Filipina fatality was already buried in Turkey based on the decision of her Turkish husband, de Vega said during a Laging Handa press briefing.

He, however, added that Filipinos who are already citizens of Turkey, being married to Turks, should first re-acquire their Filipino citizenship to qualify for repatriation.

Ballooning

strategic rival to the U.S..

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine merely exposed its muchballyhooed army as obsolete, badly trained and ill-equipped. It is an army that belongs to the past century, now forced to recruit convicts to man the frontlines or die in large numbers trying to achieve badly thought-out military objectives.

The Russian army is now hobbled by the fact that its most sophisticated weaponry has been shown to rely on parts made in other countries. Russian technicians are now reported to be cannibalizing refrigerators for chips to be used in assembling missiles.

By contrast, China now appears to be gearing up its military for highly technological warfare. It appears to be devising strategies only poorly understood by the U.S. and its allies. After the first balloon was

"Some of them are already Turkish citizens. They need to re-acquire [first] their [Filipino] citizenship under Republic Act 9225 to avail [of the repatriation service]," de Vega said in Filipino.

"So, madali po 'yan (So, it's easy). Kung magagawa natin (If we can do [that] within the next several days, dapat magsisiuwian na 'yan (they would be expected to come home)," he added.

De Vega noted that there are about 248 Filipinos who were affected by the earthquake, with 64 of them staying at a temporary shelter in the country's capital Ankara.

On the other hand, 70 others sought financial assistance from the embassy, he said.

De Vega added that there is no definite schedule yet on the repatriation of the distressed Filipinos and the body of the Filipina fatality. g

downed by a missile, China might have gotten away with the explanation that this was a meteorological instrument that somehow flew off course. After the three subsequent shoot-downs, the original Chinese explanation can no longer hold. Beijing better come up with a more viable explanation for why these “lost” flying devices seem to be crossing into the North American airspace in a wave.

Beijing does not have to explain anything until the remnants of downed flying objects reveal them to be of Chinese origin. Depending on the quality of the debris recovered, this could happen in a few days. (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.

PAGE 6

Committee on Public Services chairperson Senator Grace Poe PNA photo

Julieva Benlingan with her Turkish

VEGAS&STYLE

First casting announced for ‘Here Lies Love’ on Broadway

Jose Llana, Conrad Ricamora to reprise original roles; International casting search for other company members now underway

THE producers of “Here Lies Love,” the groundbreaking musical from the minds of Grammy®, Oscar®, and Tony Award® winner David Byrne (concept, music and lyrics) and Grammy Award® winner Fatboy Slim (music), announced on Wednesday, February 15 that Jose Llana (“The King and I,” “The 25th Annual Putnam Country Spelling Bee”) and Conrad Ricamora (“How to Get Away with Murder,” “The King and I,” “Soft Power” – Grammy nominations) will join the show’s Broadway company, recreating the critically acclaimed roles they originated off-Broadway.

“Here Lies Love,” which tells the story of former Filipina First Lady Imelda Marcos' rise to power and subsequent fall at the hands of the Philippine People Power Revolution, will begin performances Saturday, June 17 ahead of an official opening night on Thursday, July 20.

Developed & directed by Tony Award winner Alex Timbers, with choreography by Olivier Award nominee Annie-B Parson and additional music by Tom Gandey and J Pardo, the show’s home at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway at 53rdStreet) will be transformed into a dance club where the audience is immersed in the story.

Jose Llana portrays Ferdinand Marcos, the tenth president of the Philippines whose 20-year dictatorship spanned from 1965 to 1986. He was the husband of Imelda Marcos. He lived in exile in the United States until his death in 1989. Llana returns to this role after creating it at the Public Theater off-Broadway (Lortel nom).

His Broadway credits include “The King & I” (Lincoln Center and US/UK tours), “The 25th Annual Putnam Country Spelling Bee” (Drama Desk Award), “Wonderland,” “Flower Drum Song,” “Rent,” “Streetcorner Symphony” and the 1996 revival of “The King & I.” Additional New York theater credits include his many collaborations with the Public Theater including “Saturn Returns,” “On The Town” and “Twelfth Night.”

Appearing on numerous cast albums, Jose is also a best-selling recording artist with the VIVA

Philippines label. He has made two appearances with American Songbook at Lincoln Center, which led to the release of his second solo CD, “Altitude.” Find Jose Llana on Twitter/Instagram: @thejosellana.

Conrad Ricamora portrays Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, a Philippine senator, opposition leader and the Marcoses' primary critic. His assassination in 1983 ignited the People Power Revolution which finally ousted Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos from power. Ricamora’s television and film credits include six seasons opposite Viola Davis in “How To Get Away With Murder” (Oliver), recurring role on “The Resident,” “Fire Island,”

“Over The Moon,” “Talladega Nights,” “The Light of the Moon,” “Raising Christopher” (writer/producer/actor). He has appeared on Broadway via “The King And I” (Lincoln Center - Grammy Nomination), as well as Off-Broadway with “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Here Lies Love” (Public TheaterTheatre World Award, Lortel nomination), and “Soft Power” (Public Theater - Drama Desk, Lortel, Grammy Nominations);

His other stage credits include “Soft Power” (Ahmanson Theatre); “Tartuffe,” “Woyzeck,” “Fuddy Mears” (Clarence Brown Theatre); “Romeo and Juliet,” “Richard III,” “Midsummer” (Utah Shakespeare Festival);

“The Taming of the Shrew” (North Carolina Shakespeare Festival). Ricamora receieved the 2016 Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award and the 2017 Equality California Award. Find Conrad Ricamora on Twitter/ Instagram: @Conradricamora. Both actors received Lucille Lortel Award nominations for their performances at the Public Theater off-Broadway. Ricamora previously reprised his role in the show’s Seattle Rep production. Jose Llana said, “This is a dream: to be a Filipino actor, playing a Filipino character, telling a crucial part of Filipino history, which is also part of American history. I'm honored to return to Here Lies Love. We built a family creating this show 10 years ago, and now we get to do it again on Broadway. See you on the dance floor!”

For his part, Conrad Ricamora said, “Working on Here Lies Love allowed me to embrace my Filipino heritage––all that Pinoy

pride! This is a huge moment for increasing representation on stage, and I’m so excited and proud to bring this revolutionary show to Broadway.” An international casting search is now underway for the remaining company of 20+ actors.

Ticket information

As the official card sponsor of “Here Lies Love,” American Express® card members have Early Access to exclusive presale tickets before the general public, from Monday, March 13 at 10 a.m. EST through Monday, March 20 at 9:59 a.m. EST at Telecharge.com.

Presale tickets for “Here Lies Love” are available exclusively to Audience Rewards® members from Monday, March 20 at 10 a.m. ET through Wednesday, March 22 at 9:59 a.m. ET. It's free and fast to join at www. AudienceRewards.com.

Audience Rewards is the Official Rewards Program of Broadway, providing membership benefits and rewards for more than 2.7 million members and representing more than a quarter of all Broadway tickets purchased through Ticketmaster and Telecharge. Free and easy to join,

Franco Finn to host NBA All-Star weekend events

FILIPINO American Franco Finn, who is the in-arena emcee/host and television personality for multiple National Basketball Association (NBA) champion the Golden State Warriors, will represent the organization in the upcoming 2023 NBA All-Star festivities in Salt Lake City, Utah, according to a release provided by the organization.

Known as the first and only Filipino/Asian American “Hype Man” in the NBA, Finn will host two events during All-Star Weekend: the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday, February 17, and All-Star Saturday Night on Saturday, February 18. This will be his first time joining the All-Star festivities on-site as host for events featuring the biggest, brightest and current/ upcoming NBA league stars.

Finn, who many Warriors fan know and love, regularly entertains and energizes soldout crowds during Warriors home games (now at Chase Center). He hosts the pre-game show “Warriors Warm-up,” introduces the team’s starting line-up, and conducts contests and promotions at the arena. He is in his 20th season with the Golden State Warriors franchise.

Franco Finn is a first-generation San Francisco native. Born & raised in the Mission & Excelsior districts in Francisco, he eventually settled in the Sunset District. Franco attended French American International School (FAIS) in grade school, where he had a bilingual education and learned how to be fluent in French. Finn then attended Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep in San Francisco, and received his B.A. in Communications at Santa Clara University.

For nearly a decade, Franco has been an aviation professional, working in many capacities within the airline industry from Brand Marketing, Partnerships, Communications, External Relations & Employee Engagement. Currently, Franco manages the Community Relations & Engagement efforts for the state of California at Alaska Airlines, while also serving as their company media spokesperson, host, and travel influencer.

Franco is an active member in the San Francisco community where he also serves on the Executive Board of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, board member for the Hotel Council of San Francisco, and was recently appointed as a Commissioner for the City & County of San Francisco’s Film Commission.

When Franco is not working his business and corporate jobs, people recognize him and his voice in the last 20 years as the inarena emcee/host and TV personality for the current NBA World Champion the Golden State Warriors.

Finn is also a well-known professional auctioneer, nicknamed the “Hypeman Auctioneer,” where he shares his voice and influence at many charity benefits, galas, celebrity events and all types of fundraiser events around the San Francisco Bay Area, the country & beyond. He’s a graduate of the Mendenhall School of Auctioneering in North Carolina, as well as a member of the National Auctioneers Association (NAA) with a Benefit Auction Specialist (B.A.S.) designation.

Franco has been involved in a multitude of fundraising events for many years, working with some of the most recognizable nonprofit charities and organizations from the American Red Cross, March of Dimes, The Ronald McDonald House, the Boys & Girls Clubs, the

YMCA, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, just to name a handful, helping to raise millions of dollars and counting, in his career.

Within the Filipino American community, Finn has been an active member in community events over the past 20 years, generously and proudly providing his emceeing talents to the Pistahan Parade and Festival, SF Giants Filipino Heritage Night, and Filipino American History Month Celebration at City Hall.

Finn’s media background and experience includes being a current segment host on KRON 4 TV, where you can see his recurring “Franco On The Fly” travel segments. He also has worked as a freelance emcee/host for the San Francisco Giants’ special events department for the past 14 seasons. He is a local and national emcee – Franco has hosted a variety of signature events, as well as sporting events from NASCAR to Red Bull’s extreme sports competitions. His previous stints include being an on-air personality and host for TV and radio for entities such as CBS, Comcast SportsNet, the Oakland Raiders (NFL Network), KOFY-TV, Radio Disney, KGO AM 810, and guest appearances on ESPN Radio.

Audience Rewards allows buyers to earn Show Points on every ticket purchase, to be redeemed for free tickets, theater collectibles, unique experiences, and more.

Founded in 2008 by a unique coalition of prominent theater owners, including Nederlander, Shubert, and Jujamcyn, major national presenters, and key performing arts centers from across the country, Audience Rewards has offered members first access presales to more than 100 Broadway shows and 200 VIP experiences and events, which have included a meet and greet with Jake Gyllenhaal, a walk-on role in Rock of Ages, a cooking class with Gavin Creel & Celia Keenan-Bolger, celebrity Q&As, backstage tours and much more.

Tickets are on sale to the general public beginning Monday, March 27 at 10 a.m. EST online at Telecharge.com or by phone at 212-239-6200.

For information on groups of 10+, contact Broadway Inbound at broadwayinbound.com or call 866-302-0995.

More information about the wide variety of standing and seating options available throughout the theater’s reconstructed space will be announced soon. Sign up now at HereLiesLoveBroadway.com for early access to tickets.

Additional show information

From its world premiere at The Public Theater in 2013, “Here Lies Love” has enjoyed popular and critical acclaim. The show returned to The Public in 20142015, debuted at London’s Royal National Theatre in 2014, and

by Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net

MISS Universe 2018 Catriona Gray and actor-singer Sam Milby announced their engagement on Thursday, February 16.

The celebrity couple happily shared the news on Instagram posting a photo of them, each holding their cups of coffee labeled "Mr. Milby" and "Future Mrs. Milby." The photo also saw Gray wearing a diamond ring.

"Living an answered prayer with my best friend. I love you, fiancè (eeeeee) [smiling face with three hearts emoji] [diamong ring emoji]

most recently opened at Seattle Repertory Theatre in 2017.

The creative team for Here Lies Love on Broadway includes three-time Tony Award® nominee David Korins (scenic design), Tony Award® winner Clint Ramos (costume design), Tony Award® winner Justin Townsend (lighting design), M.L. Dogg & Cody Spencer (sound design), and three-time Tony Award® nominee Peter Nigrini (projection design), with casting by Tara Rubin CSA, Xavier Rubiano CSA, Gail Quintos and general management by Foresight Theatrical. Additional creative team members include ATW Jonathan Larson Grant recipient J. Oconer Navarro (music director), Billy Bustamante (assistant director), Renée Albulario (assistant choreographer), Bobby Garcia (casting consultant/Philippines), Gregory T. Livoti (production stage manager), and Ryan Gohsman and Sheryl Polancos (assistant stage managers). Giselle “G” Töngi is the show’s Cultural and Community Liaison. “Here Lies Love is produced” by Hal Luftig, Patrick Catullo, Diana DiMenna for Plate Spinner Productions, Clint Ramos, and Jose Antonio Vargas, with Aaron Lustbader serving as Executive Producer. They are joined by Giselle “G” Töngi, Celia Kaleialoha Kenney, Bobby Garcia and Girlie Rodis, Miranda Gohh, Rob Laqui, Georgina Pazcoguin, Yasuhiro Kawana, Triptyk Studios, Shira Friedman, and Hunter Arnold/ TBD Theatricals.

@samuelmilby," wrote Gray. Milby, meanwhile, said, "I (FINALLY) put a ring on it! I love you my forever koala... now my fiancé [heart emoji." Showbiz friends immediately congratulated the two in the comments section.

"Congratulations. so happy for you both!!!" Isabel Oli-Prats wrote. "Congrats, you two!!!" said Darren Espanto. He put a ring on it!! Congrats again, brother!," posted Jake Ejercito.

"Wahhhh congrats!! I remember talking about this at the Mega event.

Jose Llana plays the role of Ferdinand Marcos in “Here Lies Love.”

Conrad Ricamora portrays the role of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino in “Here Lies Love.”

Photos by Billy Bustamante

Franco Finn becomes the latest Fil-Am to land a big hosting gig, as he will host two events in the upcoming NBA All-Star weekend. Photo provided by Golden State Warriors

Catriona Gray and Sam Milby are officially engaged. Photo from Instagram/@cariona_gray

Franco Finn during one of the home games of the current NBA champion the Golden State Warriors.

Photo provided by Golden State Warriors

Celeste on first acting job, life after Miss Universe

by Nathalie M. toMada Philstar.com

CELESTE Cortesi shared that she would love to explore the world of showbiz after her first acting experience in Mars Ravelo’s Darna. The surprise appearance in the series finale last Feb. 10 was quick to trend on social media.

The Miss Universe Philippines played the role of Kevnar, the Queen of Marte, who showed up before the titular character Darna (played by Jane de Leon) to thank her for keeping the planet safe and protected.

“It was a surprise for my fans and I’m happy I did it,” Celeste told The Philippine STAR and a few other members of the press in a chance interview on Monday, February 13.

“It was such a good opportunity because Darna is one of the most iconic characters in the Philippines, and it was my national costume in the Miss Universe. The script was in Tagalog and not even an English word. But I managed. I had like three days to really study. It was a very fun experience. It was very challenging actually. It was my first time to do, like, a whole script in Tagalog and a script in general as I’ve never really done acting,” she said.

“It was just a few days before (that JRB Creative Production offered the role) and I was also very surprised but I really took the challenge. It was my first acting experience. It was my first experience acting in Tagalog. I’m really grateful. I just did my best as I always do. I hope more doors will open.”

She was also grateful for the chance “to work with very professional and talented people.”

“That’s the most important thing for me. The fact that I have so much to learn and so much to explore and I’m really looking forward to what’s going to happen after Miss Universe.”

Joining showbiz fully could be the next step for the Fil-Italian beauty and she’d welcome it. “I would love to. Honestly, now, I’m really exploring. I’m looking forward to my next step. I’m learning to speak Tagalog so I’m very focused on that. I have time to learn,” she shared.

“I’m really just excited about what’s to come. I

want to grow, I want to really step out of my comfort zone, which is what I’ve been doing for a very long time. I am excited to try new things. There’s always an opportunity. When a door closes, there’s another one wide open.”

By “door closed,” Celeste meant her failed bid at the 71st Miss Universe held last month in New Orleans. The international pageant was won by Miss USA, R’Bonney Gabriel, who happens to be Filipino-American. “Of course, everybody is very heartbroken about what happened in Miss Universe, and me as well. But I’m very grateful because I had a chance to represent the Philippines. And I worked very, very hard. I felt the love, I felt the support. At the end of the day, I’m just very grateful,” Celeste said. While she didn’t get the chance to bond enough with R’Bonney during the competition, Celeste said she’s very happy for her. “I remember we took a photo together, I remember we danced together during a dinner. She’s really nice and I think that she’s been working very, very hard for the crown. I always said it is destiny, it’s her destiny. I’m happy for her and I think she’s gonna do great things as Miss Universe.”

The STAR got to interview Celeste on the sidelines of the launch of Stanible app, which works as a one-stop shop for unique digital collectibles from celebrity creators. She said, “I can learn a lot of things about NFT. I’m here with my boyfriend.

I’m here also to have a new experience.”

On a highlight of her life that can be shared on the Stanible app, she said, “To be honest, to be able to win the crown of Miss Universe Philippines was the best moment. It was a really good comeback for me. And I really felt the love of Filipino people. I’m just grateful.” Prior to Miss Universe Philippines, she was Miss Earth Philippines in 2018.

When asked about what she did shortly after Miss Universe, she shared, “I had two weeks like I was eating everything hahaha. So good. Just two days ago, I started working out again since I wanted to continue my career. I wanna stay fit, I wanna stay healthy. But it’s good sometimes to let go after a lot of months of dieting and sacrifices. You need a break and you really need to also consider your mental health somehow. Now, I’m back, I wanna focus on new goals, so that’s it.”

The search for Celeste’s successor is already ongoing with applications being currently accepted until Feb. 17.

Told by a reporter that aspiring contestants last Feb. 13 included a mother, she said, “I think that Miss Universe has entered a new era, very inclusive of every single woman. And I think a woman, especially a mother, can be whatever she wants to be, she can have a family, she can have a career, she can also be Miss Universe,” she said.

“I wanna really meet the candidates. I want to give advice and you know, it’s the time for a new queen to be crowned and represent the Philippines so I’m really, really excited for them.

“My advice would be to really enjoy the experience, to work very hard, to not forget where you came from, to always be humble in every situation and to enjoy. Because sometimes, we have so much pressure, opinions from so many people. But as long as you remain yourself, as long as you respect yourself first, everything would be OK. And I always say the same thing: Miss Universe is destiny. Whatever is gonna happen, I’ll be very, very happy to see who’s gonna be the next Miss Universe Philippines.”

by Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net

THE Queen of Philippine Soap Opera Judy Ann Santos is finally making a big screen comeback this 2023 with riveting horror-drama thriller film entitled "The Diary of Mrs. Winters."

Santos' last big screen outing was 2019's awardwinning war drama "Mindanao" by Brillante Mendoza. Her last horror movie was way back 2014, the reboot of "T'yanak" by directors Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes.

According to the celebrated actress, it took her a while to finally star in another movie because has already set her rules when it comes to choosing her acting projects.

"I was waiting for the right material. At the same time, siguro nandoon na din ako sa part na pinoproseso ko na yung bawat proyektong tinatanggap

ko – if it's worth it to be away from my family and my children, if it's worth the time and the effort kasi kung hindi, magluluto na lang ako sa bahay at aalagaan ko na lang ang mga anak ko kasi yun naman talaga ang worth it para sa akin," a straightforward Santos said in a media conference.

"With that being said, I was really praying for a very good horror material because after 'T'yanak,' I did 'Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes,' then 'Mindanao.' I realized I was looking for a different horror project that would challenge me," she added.

Her prayer was finally answered after director Rahyan Carlos pitched her "The Diary of Mrs. Winters."

This is also Carlos' comeback project in directing horror genre. For the longest time, he has been busy as Star Magic artists' training head and as the only accredited teacher of the Chubbuck Technique in the Philippines. For this film, he has worked with National Artist for Film and Broadcast Ricky Lee as scriptwriter.

"When I got the script from direk Rahyan, he personally messaged me and I learned that it was a collaboration with sir Ricky Lee. I knew it was going to be a good story knowing how good direk Rahyan is because horror is his forte," Santos shared.

Putting into spotlight a unique career, "The Diary of Mrs. Winters" is about a Filipina bio-forensic assistant cleaner in Canada named Charity (Santos), whose life is cursed after keeping the diary of an old lady who committed suicide. A series of unfortunate events will happen to her, including the death of her loved ones, forcing her to fight for her true love, Victor, played by Sam Milby.

"When I read the script, alam kong maganda siya at kailangan kong gawin kasi sumikip yung puso ko at umikot yung tiyan ko. So that's how I base a project when it's good, I have to do it kapag alam kong hindi na ako makahinga sa ganda or tawangtawa ako habang binabasa ko. I know I'll be able to deliver this character kasi navi-visualize ko siya kung paano siya nangyayari and I trust direk Rahyan with all the workshops that we did. It's just online pero magaan agad yung pakiramdam ko sa kanya. Malaking bagay kasi yung komportable ako sa lahat ng katrabaho ko," Santos said.

Facing fears

With the production and stars set to fly this month to Toronto, Santos shares her excitement as she will be able to conquer her fear in heavy snow.

"Yung preparation lang naman na kailangan kong gawin is more for myself, it's my fear of cold and my fear of snow. Basically, takot ako sa lamig. Kaya noong tinanong ako ni Sam nung nag look test kami

if I like snow or cold, sabi ko talaga no. Sabi niya, 'So why did you accept this?' Exactly," she noted.

"Parang more than anything, I'm praying for a project that would help me face my fears. I'm turning 45 this year and I think it's the perfect time for me to face my fears of heavy snow. Siguro para sa iba napakababaw nung rason, ang arte-arte. Noong bata kasi ako, noong nasa Toronto ako with my mom, ang feeling ko talaga wala na akong tenga. I was 14 years old and since then, ayoko nang maka experience ng snow. But then again, our children, gustong gusto nilang maka experience ng snow," Santos recalled.

Aside from this project, she also recognized her husband Ryan Agoncillo for inspiring her to finally face her fear.

"Gusto kong ma-surpass yung takot na yun para ma-enjoy namin as family para kung magka chance na makakita kami ng snow with them, ma-enjoy namin together. At the same time, si Ryan kapag may fear siya of something, head first tatalunin niya talaga. Takot siya sa deep water, nag diving siya. Takot siya sa trail biking, nagma-mountain bike siya. So na-inspire ako doon. Pwede pa lang gawin siyang hobby and you face your fears and you get something out of it.

"So before I turn 45, with this perfect project parang napakatanga ko naman kung ito na yung dasal at sinagot na, hihindian ko pa ba? Merong mga taong ibinigay sa akin to be comfortable with, work in Canada, and these people will help me conquer my fear and at the same time, make me do my work as an actress na sapat at tama. Para sa akin, that's more than enough reason to enjoy this film even if takot na takot ako," she ended.

Produced by Carlos' Happy Karga Films and Canadian-based production company AMP Studios, "The Diary of Mrs. Winters" is slated to be released by the third quarter of the year both locally and internationally.

Celeste Cortesi on entering showbiz post-Miss Universe Philippines: I would love to! Photo from Instagram/@celeste_cortesi

Judy Ann Santos as Charity, a Filipina bio-forensic assistant cleaner in the horror movie, ‘The Diary of Mrs. Winters.’ Photo by AMP Studios

IN these troubling times of wokeness, extremely radical ideologies, and confusing state of people’s minds, remembering wonderful memories and retrieving decades-old cherished joys and happy events could be a beneficial antidote to these challenges today. Unfortunately, even in our 40s and 50s, remembering old memories and recalling previous knowledge in our younger years hidden in our brain may be difficult, if not impossible, for some. But there is good news on the horizon!

A drug already in use for bronchial asthma, previously approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), has been labelled recently as a “magic pill” for its ability to restore lost memories and recall previously hidden knowledge.

The same could be achieved with optogenetic therapy, but the “magic drug” is comparatively safer, non-invasive and equally effective.

“If proven effective, this novel approach could offer a new ray of hope for millions suffering from conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s, or simply help everyday people remember critical elements of their lives lost to the passage of time,” according to the research team from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands.

The research is ongoing and a most promising potential in keeping the brain of billions around the world youthful, with healthier memory maintenance and more efficient retrieval of old data. All these with a safe “magic pill.”

Drug ‘stops’ aging

Infusing older patients with blood of younger and healthier individuals shows promise

Magic memory pill 882 soccer teams to participate in 2023 Las Vegas

at “turning back the clock on aging,” but new studies show that scientists may be able to achieve the same without using another person’s blood.

Researchers from Columbia University in New York reported that “an anti-inflammatory drug can rejuvenate the system which manufactures blood in the body and possibly increasing the human lifespan by decades!”

The investigators, scientist Passegue and graduate student Carl Mitchell, discovered “the anti-inflammatory drug anakinra, approved for use in rheumatoid arthritis cases, reverses some of the effects of aging on the hematopoietic system. The drug is available under the brand name Kineret…Administering the drug returned aging blood to a younger and healthier state.” And this means extending lifespan!

Published in the journal Nature Cell Biology, this wonderful and exciting discovery, when worldwide clinical trials confirm its effectiveness, might just be the fountain of youth Ponce de Leon and all of us have been searching for.

Manicures and cancer

Many women prefer gel manicure because it lasts longer and do not easily chip. However, ultraviolet light from nail lamps has been associated with increased risk for cancer, according to some studies. The long wavelengths of ultraviolet light (UVA) from the UV nail dryer can damage the DNA and cause mutation in human cells that elevates the risk for skin cancer.

In other studies, using a strong sunscreen prior to gel manicure appear to lessen the risk. Having gel manicure, without UV dryer, appears to be a logical, safer, alternative.

Coffee and liver disease

There is a dual epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus around the world. Obesity

increases the risk for diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Losing 30 to 50 percent of body weight among the severely overweight by strict dieting have been founds to cure diabetes, even to the point of stopping insulin for good. This is no longer a theory but a proven scientific fact.

New studies found that coffee “helps protect against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among people with obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D)…caffeine intake was correlated with decreased liver fibrosis in NAFLD and other chronic liver-related illnesses.”

Portuguese scientists discovered that caffeine and polyphenols in coffee may reduce the severity of NAFLD among those with obesity and type 2 diabetes.

The research was sponsored by the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee (ISIC) and was reported in the journal

Nutrients

Mayor’s Cup International Soccer Showcase

The Las Vegas Mayor’s Cup International Showcase is back for the 15th year as one of the largest international youth soccer tournaments. This year’s tournament expects 560 boys teams and 322 girls teams.

International teams from Mexico, Canada, Japan, France, England, Bolivia and New Zealand will compete against teams from 29 U.S. states. The annual tournament is co-hosted by the city of Las Vegas and the Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club. Admission to games is free. Spectators should bring their own seating, as thousands are expected to attend and participate; carpooling is encouraged as parking lots will fill up quickly.

Road in Henderson James Regional Soccer Complex, 8400 W. Robindale Road.

Roger Tabor, president of the Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club, estimates the event will bring $55+ million into the local economy, including hotel rooms, van rentals, tournament fees, tourism and countless meals consumed by attendees.

“This is the 15th tournament to be held over Presidents’ Day weekend,” Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman said. “Once again we have had to split this event over two weekends to accommodate all the local, national and international youth teams that want to compete.

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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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The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health.

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Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday. com, and philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com.

The platinum-ranked tournament will be based at the Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex and will take place at the following fields:

Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex, 7353 Eugene Ave. (tournament headquarters)

All-American Park, 1551 S. Buffalo Drive

Kellogg Zaher Sports Complex, 7901 W. Washington Ave. Ed Fountain Park, 1400 N. Decatur Blvd.

Teton Trails Park, 7850 N. Bradley Road (at Grand Teton Drive) Heritage Park, 350 S. Racetrack

Visitors are anxious to be seen by recruiters, while enjoying our wonderful weather, making new friends and enjoying great soccer competition. I am proud that Las Vegas hosts such an outstanding annual event.”

Teams of boys ages 10-19 will compete between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, and Sunday, Feb. 19. Semi-final and championship games will be held between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 20. Teams of girls ages 11-19 will compete between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, and Saturday, Feb. 25, with semifinal and championship games scheduled between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26.

For high school-age players, the tournament is an opportunity to showcase their skills in front of hundreds of college coaches and scouts from around the country. Teams are guaranteed four games. Members of first- and secondplace teams will receive individual medals in each age division, and the Mayor’s Cup trophy will be awarded to all first-place teams. Championship games will be played at Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex; boys games will begin at approximately noon Monday, Feb. 20. The girls finals will begin at approximately noon Sunday, Feb 26. Awards will be presented beginning at approximately 1 p.m. at the stage at Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex and continue until about 4:30 p.m. For more information, including schedules, maps, teams, and rules, go online to www.lvmayorscup.com, or email info@lvmayorscup.com. The website will be updated daily with scores and standings; follow the tournament on Twitter @ LVMayorsCup.

Pre-tournament friendly matches with international and local teams will be held Thursday, Feb. 16, and Thursday, Feb. 23. Contact Tournament Director Bob Briare for the most current information and locations on possible friendly games at 702283-3724.

Lovi unleashes ‘Batang Quiapo’

by Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net

SUPREME actress Lovi Poe feels beyond blessed to be given another big project more than a year since transferring to ABSCBN. From "Flower of Evil" and "Sleep with Me," the 34-year-old is now living a dream by starring in "Batang Quiapo," an actioncomedy teleserye inspired by the 1986 film of his father, late film icon Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ).

"It's a dream for me. I keep saying it out loud kasi it's something I've never done before. But sa mga interviews ko way, way back, tinanong ako kung anong paborito kong movie niya, ang sabi ko 'Batang Quiapo,' and now nangyayari na siya," Poe happily shared to The Manila Times in a one-on-one interview.

"There's this pressure. Kahit ano namang project ang ibigay sayo. But more than anything it's just the excitement and kasi the fact na ipinagkatiwala sayo yung mga ganitong klaseng project, for me it's just a blessing. As much as possible, you just want to give your all and give your best because of the trust that was given to you," she added.

With her in headlining "Batang Quiapo" is no less than country's "Primetime King" Coco Martin who also serves as the show's director. It will be remembered in their previous interviews that the two have always wanted to work together even before Poe's network transfer.

Now that it finally happened, Poe has nothing but praises for her leading man.

"He's very collaborative because very improv style yung kay direk Coco. You don't know where the cameras are sometimes so talagang you have to be on your toes for sure. But so far so good kasi nga na-enjoy ko. When I entered, I was already told na iba yung style. And you know when it challenges me, I'm always up for it," Poe noted.

Ang sarap kasi relaxed at enjoy lang. Yun ang magandang part — yes, meron siyang ibabato na linya pero it's up to

you kung gusto mong dagdagan So he lets us be. We understand na din kasi our characters and I think that's his way of showing us that he trusts us as actors," she continued.

In "Batang Quiapo," Poe plays Mokang, Tanggol/Baldo's charming friend who will put up with his shenanigans.

Martin's character, on the other hand, is a stubborn yet loving son to his mother (Cherry Pie Picache), father (John Estrada), grandmother (Charo Santos), and younger brother (McCoy de Leon). Based on the teaser alone, the show is set to give viewers not only intense action scenes but also important values that viewers can learn from.

Poe has been having the time of her life in shooting in an open location where they are joined by the community in Quiapo. But what challenged her the most in the series were her Tagalog lines.

Yung kilos okay, sanay ako kasi magalaw ako. Ang pinakanahirapan ako in particular is sa Tagalog. Marunong naman ako magtagalog pero yung lutong, kung paano mo sabihin

My god, yung first day, to be honest kumakabog talaga yung dibdib ko. Sabi ko, 'paano ko sasabihin?' Buti na lang may mga kasama ako na gina-guide ako. Kahit si Coco tinuturuan ako so nag pa-practice ako kung paano yung Tagalog ko. Tapos as time went on, nagawa ko naman siya."

Asked what the audience can expect in this actionpacked series, Poe promised, "It will be very entertaining. Siguro lahat nandito — family, drama, action-packed, comedy, different types of people. It's not just my character and Coco's character that you have to look out for. Everyone, aside from the veteran actors, influencers, ating mga FlipTopers or rappers. Sobrang huhusay nila, nakakaamaze, nakakagulat." "FPJ's Batang Quiapo" also stars Benzon Dalina, Mark Lapid, Ronwaldo Martin, Jojit Lorenzo, Ping Medina, Mercedes Cabral, Alan Paule, Lou Veloso, Susan Africa, Pen Medina, Lito Lapid, Irma Adlawan, and Christopher de Leon. Malu Sevilla will codirect the series with Martin.

Fr. Van Nguyen Van Adam led the celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes at Dr. Connie Lacqui's home last February 11 in East Las Vegas. Family members and friends gathered for prayers, blessing and placement of the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes at the grotto. Fr. Luis from Hanoi, Vietnam is a local catholic priest, while retired Dr. Connie Lacqui has been residing in Las Vegas for over ten years. She is active in Catholic events and a singing group.

Photos by Raoul Gatchalian

Lovi Poe

Photo from Instagram/@lovipoe