022323 - Las Vegas Edition

SF house explosion and re kills disabled

Fil-Am mother of 3

A horrific explosion and fire that demolished a San Francisco home killed a disabled Filipino American mother of three young children and left her caregiver hospitalized.

The body of Rita Evelyn Lopez Price, 51, was found amid the charred rubble of her family’s house in the city’s Sunset District. The family’s two-story home in San Francisco’s Sunset District exploded Feb. 9,

US senators say health worker shortages ripe for bipartisan compromise

SENATORS are eying the growing shortage of health care workers in the United States as one of the few problems where there is room for bipartisan solutions, even in a deeply divided Congress gearing up for a presidential election cycle.

The shortage that’s only worsened since the pandemic is a prescription for skyrocketing costs, suffering, and unnecessary death, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the new chairman of the Senate’s top health committee, warned in his committee’s first hearing on Thursday, February 16.

“We are going to produce legislation, and I think people will be surprised about the level of bipartisan supporters,” Sanders said in a brief interview during a break from the hearing. He called for the committee to “produce something meaningful.”

The shortage of health care workers of all sorts is a widespread problem, but is especially acute in rural areas and minority communities.

Marcos rejects ICC probe on Duterte

by CATHERINE S. VALENTE AND BELLA CARIASO ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday, February 18 rejected a move by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to resume its investigation into former president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, saying the ICC has no jurisdiction and insisting that the country has a “good” justice system.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Philippine Military Academy’s alumni homecoming

in Baguio City, the President maintained that the Philippines would not cooperate with the ICC investigation which, he said, would be an “intrusion into our internal matters” and “a threat to our sovereignty.”

“My position has not changed. I have stated it often, even before I took office as president, that there are many questions about (ICC’s) jurisdiction and what we in the Philippines regard as an intrusion into our internal matters and a threat to our sovereignty,” the President said.

DFA chief: China harassment a ‘daily situation’ for the Philippines

MANILA — Foreign Secretary Enrique

Manalo brought up the Philippines’ maritime tensions with China at a high-level security conference in Germany on Saturday, February 18 saying that China’s harassment of Filipino fishermen and the country’s coast guard was the “daily situation that we face.”

This was earlier confirmed by fishermen who appeared at a forum in Manila last week, as they recounted that on the day a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship aimed a military-grade laser at a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel,

Chinese ships also drove them away from their traditional fishing grounds in the West Philippine Sea.

Ukraine was the predominant discussion at the Munich Security Conference, with the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, appealing anew for military aid against Russia’s invasion, while British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called on world leaders to “double down” their support for the besieged country.

Japan and its neighbor South Korea met  PAGE 3

Not yet time to invoke PH-US treaty over WPS incidents – Marcos

CORRALES

by NESTOR

Inquirer.net

BAGUIO CITY — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday, February 18 said he was not yet inclined to invoke the country’s Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the United States over incidents in the West Philippine Sea because it would only escalate rather than cool down tensions.

Speaking to reporters here after joining the annual alumni homecoming of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) at Fort del Pilar, the president said activating the

MDT at this time would only be “counterproductive.”

“It is because if we activate that, what we are doing is escalating, intensifying the tensions in the area,” Marcos said, adding that the Philippine government is in “constant contact with our treaty partners,” such as the United States and other countries in the Asian region.

“And that I think is the better recourse rather than to go directly to the Mutual Defense Treaty which again, I am very concerned would provoke the tensions rather than cool the tensions down,”

Marcos, a known Duterte ally, said he would not allow “former imperialists,” such as the ICC, to control the Philippines, unless it could be proven that the international court has jurisdiction over the country. “So, that is not something that we consider to be a legitimate judgment. So, until those questions of jurisdiction and the effects on the sovereignty of the Republic are sufficiently answered, we cannot cooperate with them,” he said.

US, Australia eye sea patrols with PH

by FRANCO JOSE C. BAROÑA ManilaTimes.net

THE United States and Australia expressed willingness to conduct joint maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea with the Philippines.

The issue was discussed by the respective defense secretaries of the two countries with Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.

Galvez met with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles on Wednesday, February 22."As countries which are committed to the global rulesbased order, it is natural that we should think about ways in which we can cooperate in this respect," Marles said during a joint press briefing with Galvez.

"We did talk today about the possibility of exploring joint patrols, and we will continue that work and we hope that comes to fruition soon," he added.

Marles said the Philippines and Australia are "deeply invested" in asserting the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (Unclos), particularly in the West Philippine Sea.

Galvez said that Australia was one of the first countries to conduct joint patrol with the Philippines in 2017. The Philippine-Australia joint patrol at the Celebes and Sulu Sea led to the establishment of the trilateral defense

the

season. PNA photo by Avito Dalan

PH still overwhelmingly Catholic

MANILA — The number of Filipinos who identified as Roman Catholic in the latest census rose by around five million to over 85 million people, representing 78.8% of the over 108 million people who were counted in 2020.

While more Filipinos reported themselves to be adherents of Roman Catholicism, they accounted for less of the population compared to the 2015 census when they represented 79.5% of the over 100 million people then.

The 2020 census differed

from 2015 as the latter included Catholic Charismatics in counting Roman Catholics, while the former excluded them. Across all regions, the proportion of Roman Catholics exceeded 50% except in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao where only 5.3% identified with Roman Catholicism.

Of all the regions in the country, the Bicol region accounted for the highest proportion of Ramon Catholics at 93.5%, followed by Eastern Visayas at 92.3% and Central Visayas at 90.5%.

DEVOTION. Fr. Doroteo Andres applies ashes in the shape of a cross to a young girl during the Mass at the Parklane Subdivision covered court in General Trias City, Cavite province on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. enjoined the Catholic faithful to renew their commitment to serve people in observance of

TROOPING THE LINE. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. troops the line in Borromeo Field during the 2023 Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Alumni Homecoming at the PMA Grandstand in Fort del Pilar, Baguio City on Saturday, Feb. 18. PNA photo by Alfred Frias

The body of Rita Evelyn Lopez Price, 51, was found amid the charred rubble of her family’s house in the city’s Sunset District. Photo from GoFundMe SAN FRANCISCO –

Marcos rejects ICC probe...

Blanket of protection

Former Bayan Muna party-list representative Neri Colmenares on Saturday said that the “unequivocal defense” of Duterte by the House of Representatives only emphasized the need for an ICC investigation.

Colmenares, who serves as legal counsel for the victims, added that the resolution of former president and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo providing a “blanket protection” to Duterte “only points that there can be no fair, comprehensive, and objective inquiry into the thousands of deaths resulting from Duterte’s war on drugs in the Philippines.”

Arroyo has filed House Resolution 780 urging lawmakers to support Duterte.

“This reiterates that our government is unwilling and unable to investigate, and that the executive and legislative branches of government verily make justice inaccessible. In fact, it reminds us that there is no domestic investigation into acts and omissions of key officials, underway today, at all,” Colmenares added.

Colmenares noted that there is no trial or named accused before the ICC.

“The defense is suspiciously premature. The politicization of judicial processes, marked by an assiduous resistance to fact-finding, eerily harks back to

Arroyo’s own time as a president when cases of extrajudicial killings, desaparecidos and torture also heavily occurred.

In choosing to ignore grave rights violations and abuses — acts incompatible with our very humanity — politicians enable and empower violators and abusers. This is how impunity perpetuates,” he said.

According to Colmenares, the resolution of the lower chamber is a mere posturing and will not be a hindrance to the ICC investigation.

“The resolution carries a mishmash of arguments that seem to claim that ‘the end justifies the means.’ In the course of its work, the ICC could also well find value in interrogating the basis of this resolution,” Colmenares stressed.

In May 2021, the ICC prosecutor at that time, Fatou Bensouda, requested the court’s authorization to launch a preliminary investigation into the extrajudicial killings conducted during Duterte’s war on drugs. Under the Rome Statute, the ICC can investigate and prosecute individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and the crime of aggression.

The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights estimated in a 2020 report that at least 8,000 people were killed during the campaign on drugs implemented under Duterte.

In November 2021, the Philippine government requested the ICC to defer the investigation, saying that it had begun its own inquiry into the killings.

In June last year, the court’s prosecutor, Karim Khan, requested the resumption of the investigation, saying the Philippine government had not substantiated its request for deferral.

Last January 26, a pre-trial panel of the ICC authorized the prosecutor to resume its inquiry.

The Philippines withdrew its membership from the ICC in 2019 but the court ruled that the country remained under its jurisdiction.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on January 26 appealed to the ICC to let the Philippines carry out its own investigation and respect the country’s sovereignty and judicial systems.

The DOJ also told the ICC that the country has a “working” and “organized” justice system compared to some African nations that the international court had investigated. Marcos expressed confidence in the Philippines’ police and judicial branch and that no external player is needed to resolve its issues.

“I do not see what (its) jurisdiction is. I feel that we have in our police and our judiciary a good system. We do not need assistance from any outside entity,” he said. g

US, Australia eye sea patrols with...

cooperation with Indonesia and Malaysia.

Meanwhile, U.S. Defense chief Lloyd Austin III discussed with Galvez also on Wednesday several proposals to deepen cooperation and enhance shared security, including the resumption of joint operations in the South China Sea. Based on a handout provided by Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, Austin

discussed with Galvez by phone developments in the West Philippine Sea, including the recent incident in which a Chinese coast guard vessel directed a military-grade laser at the crew of a Philippine Coast Guard ship off Ayungin Shoal. The U.S. defense official also underscored the commitment of the U.S. to support the "lawful rights and operations" of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea.

He reiterated that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, aircraft and public vessels, including those of its coast guard, will invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.

Austin reaffirmed the U.S. Defense Department's commitment to help bolster the Philippines' defense capabilities and capacity to resist coercion.

Opportunities to expand security cooperation with other countries "that seek to uphold the rulesbased international order and our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific," such as Japan, were also discussed, the Pentagon said.

Both defense officials committed to advance an "ambitious set of initiatives" leading up to the 2+2 Ministerial in Washington D.C. in the second quarter of this year.

Partnership Marles, who arrived in Manila Tuesday night, February 21, announced that Australia and the Philippines will sign a strategic partnership on the heels of the meeting between Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in November 2022.

Galvez and Marles agreed to establish on an annual basis a Defense Ministers' Meeting between the two countries the first of which will be held in Australia"We're gonna work together to look at ways in which we can deepen the opportunities where Filipino servicemen and women can work alongside Australian servicemen and women, and to that we're building upon training which is occurring right now in Mindanao," he said.

He said Australia will send one of the largest contingents to the Balikatan exercises in the coming months while the Philippines, for the first time, will send observers to Exercise Talisman Sabre in Australia in August.

Marles noted that Australia and the Philippines have a "greater strategic alignment than we've had in any moment in our respective histories."

"It is deeply connected to our respective national interests that the rules of the road as they apply to a body of water such as the South China Sea, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the freedom of navigation, the freedom of overflight, all of these principles are completely central to our national interests, to our collective security," the Australian official said.

Australia is the second country, next to the U.S., with which the Philippines has a reciprocal visiting forces agreement, signed in 2007. Just this week, the two countries kicked off their six-week Army-toArmy Exercise. Marles will meet with President Marcos to discuss the two nations' bilateral ties. g

PH still overwhelmingly Catholic

Among the highly urbanized cities, Mandaue had the highest proportion of Roman Catholics, while Albay had the highest proportion among all provinces.

Meanwhile, in the Bangsamoro region, Islam was the most predominant region, accounting for 4.49 million people or 90.9% of the population there.

After Roman Catholicism, Islam came in far second with nearly seven million adherents, comprising 6.4% of the population. The number of Muslims in the Philippines grew by close to one million compared to the 2015 census.

Coming in third is Iglesia

ni Cristo with over 2.8 million adherents, accounting for 2.6% of the entire country. The homegrown Christian church grew by around 200,000 people since the 2015 census.

Catholicism, Islam and Iglesia ni Cristo were also the top three religions in the 2015 census. Completing the list of the top 10 religions in the Philippines are followers of the Seventh Day Adventist and Aglipay churches (0.8% each), Iglesia Filipina Independiente (0.6%), Bible Baptist Church (0.5%), and the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Jehovah’s Witness and Church of Christ (0.4% each). g

SF house explosion and fire kills...

irreparably damaging two other adjacent homes.

Price had been disabled by a stroke and was wheelchairbound. Her caregiver, Lisa, a Thai immigrant, was able to escape from the fire but is hospitalized with burns on her head and torso.

Price’s two children were in school at the time and a third child was staying with an aunt.

Authorities believe the explosion and ensuing fire came from an illegal drug lab being operated in some part of the house. Rita’s husband,

Darron Price, 53, is suspected of manufacturing hash oil and/or phencyclidine known as PCP.

Investigators reportedly found “butane tanks, ovens, and other materials consistent with processing hash oil with volatile solvents at the scene,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Darron Price turned himself in and was charged with involuntary manslaughter, manufacturing a controlled substance, four counts of reckless burning, two counts of child endangerment, and one count of elder abuse. (Inquirer.net)

CHESS CULTURE. Two men play chess using giant pieces and a 16-foot board at a mall in Cubao, Quezon City on Thursday, Feb. 23. The chess culture in Araneta City where a number of historic tournaments occurred -- one of which is the Philippines International Chess Tournament in October 1973 where a ceremonial match was played by the late former president Ferdinand E. Marcos and American grandmaster Bobby Fischer. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

Senior Undersecretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., Officer-in-Charge of the Philippine Department of National Defense (DND), and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence of Australia Honorable Richard Marles MP shared the two countries’ aspiration for collective security and defense in IndoPacific during their high-level meeting on Wednesday, February 22. DND photo

Former US soldier sentenced for sexually abusing Pinoy kids

by Michael Punongbayan Philstar.com

MANILA — The United States District Court in Tacoma, Washington has sentenced a former U.S. Army soldier to 22 years behind bars for sexually abusing Filipino children.

Moeun Yoeun, 40, of Steilacoom, Washington, will serve the prison term for child sex trafficking, producing child pornography and traveling to the Philippines to sexually assault young children.

The United States Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Washington announced the conviction through its official website, identifying the former soldier as a staff sergeant stationed at Joint Base LewisMcChord.

Yoeun was found guilty of sex trafficking children, producing images of child sexual abuse and traveling to sexually abuse children after he pleaded guilty to the charges in August 2022.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said the former soldier admitted that young girls in the Philippines were threatened with death if they refused his sexual assaults. “At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle called the crimes ‘vicious, heinous, and cruel’,” a press release read.

“Mr. Yoeun weaponized his position of trust as a noncommissioned officer in the United States Army to sexually exploit and cause irreversible trauma to impoverished girls in the Philippines,” U.S. Attorney Nick Brown said.

“He cruelly threatened their lives if they tried to flee from his violent sexual assaults. This lengthy sentence is necessary to deter Mr. Yoeun and others who prey on children,” he added.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office noted that in the plea agreement, Yoeun admitted to, over the course of several years, using adult and child residents of the Philippines to recruit more

than a dozen other children to produce pornography. He further admitted to traveling to the Philippines and engaging in sexual acts with at least six children in exchange for nominal amounts of money.

U.S. prosecutors cited numerous studies showing the long-term damage suffered by child sex abuse victims, concluding, ”further research only confirmed and expanded upon this emerging understanding of these insidious effects of childhood sexual trauma. Studies now tell us that the numerous child victims in this case, as a direct consequence of the Defendant’s violent sexual attacks, will face an elevated risk of alcohol abuse, illicit drug use, sexual promiscuity and suicide.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Yoeun will be required to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison and will be on federal supervision for 15 years. g

DFA chief: China harassment a ‘daily...

at the sidelines to discuss issues of mutual interest, while US Vice President Kamala Harris spoke out against China’s “deepened” ties with Russia amid its war on Ukraine.

Meanwhile at a panel discussion, a recorded video of which was released by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Manalo reported China’s “cases of harassment” in the West Philippine Sea.

“[T]here are daily incidents, at least as far as we see it, of cases of harassment or land reclamation, which in many cases have been depriving the Philippines of the use of our exclusive economic zone (EEZ),” he said.

“It is these challenges which the Philippines and other countries in our region face, especially those with claims also in the South China Sea. [T]hat is more or less the daily situation that we face,” he added.

Manalo also met on the sidelines with Ambassador Fu Ying, vice chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People’s Congress of China.

He tweeted about that “broad and candid exchange,” saying that “We talked about the latest incidents around Ayungin Shoal and how to further strengthen relations while managing our

maritime differences and regional security challenges in IndoPacific.”

UN action

At the discussion he attended, Manalo said the United Nations could further help create greater awareness on the importance of a rules-based maritime order, and its Security Council could initiate an open debate on “rule and order to prevail in the maritime domain and the South China Sea.”

“I think discussions like that would help create greater awareness of the importance of Unclos (UN Convention on the Law of the Sea) and also maintaining a rules-based order so that any disputes or conflicts are settled through the rule of law and through peaceful means and not through coercive measures or aggressive moves,” he said.

He noted the Philippines’ “resoundingly victorious 2016 arbitral award against China, [which] basically provides a mooring, at least as far as we’re concerned, for the maritime regime in the South China Sea, especially because it’s based on the Unclos.”

But while he asserted the country’s rights over its maritime territory, Manalo also said that “it’s a very complex situation [we face since] the Philippines and

California requires hospitals to turn to a patient’s next of kin, closing a longtime loophole

by Mark kreidler Kaiser Health News

ABOUT four years ago, Dr. Gene Dorio sat on the ethics committee of a Southern California hospital whose administrators insisted they could decide whether to disconnect a ventilator from an unconscious patient — even though the man’s wife and adult children wanted to continue life support.

The problem, Dorio told California lawmakers last year, was the hospital had the right to override the family’s wishes because the patient had not completed an advance directive or designated a power of attorney. The hospital chose to listen to the family, but under state law, his family’s wishes held no weight.

other countries in the region have very strong links with China on the economic and cultural front.”

The Chinese Embassy in Manila has yet to respond to the Inquirer’s request for comment on Manalo’s remarks.

‘They’re really driving us away’

Earlier last week, fishermen facing China’s harassment in the West Philippine Sea took part in a seminar on fishing rights led by the Peoples Development Institute.

In an interview with the Inquirer on the sidelines of that event last Thursday, they also shared videos documenting their recent experiences near Panatag (Scarborough Shoal).

On Feb. 6, when a Chinese ship aimed a laser at a PCG vessel near Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, the fishermen said they were also harassed by the CCG, which deployed its personnel on two rubber boats to chase one of them out of Panatag Shoal.

“They shouted and honked at him. ‘No fishing inside! Go outside!’” fisherman Christopher de Vera, who witnessed the incident, said, adding that Chinese maritime militia vessels also surrounded their boats that day.

“Those are six Chinese militias… They’re just there,” he was recorded as saying in one of

That’s no longer the case. As of Jan. 1, California joined 45 other states and the District of Columbia with next-of-kin laws that designate a surrogate to make decisions on a patient’s behalf — even if that person wasn’t specifically authorized by the patient before the medical situation arose. The list includes spouses or domestic partners, siblings, adult children and grandchildren, parents, and an adult relative or close friend — in many cases, the people who brought in the patient for care in the first place.

“Hospitals and HMOs could usurp the rights of the families to make critical medical decisions under the law that was in place at the time — including decisions on pulling the plug,” Dorio, a geriatrics specialist in Santa Clarita and member of the California Senior Legislature, told KHN. “We knew we needed a law like most other states have.”

According to data analyzed by Penn Medicine researchers, only about a third of U.S. adults have either an advance directive, with which they detail instructions about medical care, or a medical power of attorney, which authorizes someone else to make those decisions.

The idea behind the nextof-kin law, proponents say, is to empower representatives to advocate for patients rather than allow a hospital to make medical decisions, which can be influenced by cost, bed space, or

insurance pressures.

“This law takes the pressure off the hospitals, who are being asked to render care, save lives, deal with Medicare, deal with insurance — any number of things all at once,” said Michele Mann, a Valencia, California, attorney who specializes in estate planning, including advance directives.

evolved through the years, but it is something of a mystery why the state took so long to put a next-of-kin statute on the books. When the California Senior Legislature, which sponsors and lobbies for laws aimed at helping the state’s older population, approached the state’s Office of the Legislative Counsel for help with the bill, Dorio said,

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

California requires hospitals to turn to a...

some staff attorneys expressed surprise that such a law wasn’t already in place.

Patients without an advance directive or power of attorney have long been able to designate a surrogate, even if it’s simply by verbally declaring so while at the hospital – but that relies upon the patient being conscious.

If patients arrive at a hospital or medical center incapacitated or later become so, providers must make a good-faith effort to find a person authorized to make medical decisions, according to a California statute in effect since 2005. The steps include going through the patient’s belongings and reaching out to anyone the hospital “reasonably believes has the authority” to make decisions via directive or power of attorney. The hospital must show it has contacted the secretary of state to ask whether the patient had an advance directive.

With the new law in place, health care providers still must check for a patient’s advance directive or power of attorney. But once officials have determined that none exists, they can turn to the next-of-kin list, all of whom are legally authorized to speak for the patient.

“It’s groundbreaking,” said Mann, who makes decisions for her sister, a patient with multiple sclerosis in a longterm care facility. “With the next-of-kin list, often the person who brought the patient in is a family member or close friend with a clear understanding of the

patient’s wishes. In those cases, the hospital’s search is over — a legally authorized representative is standing there.”

AB 2338, introduced by Assembly member Mike Gipson, added a section to the probate code, and it resembles the way most states handle the division of a person’s assets after death. When people in California die without a will, their assets and property are distributed in a fixed, descending order of priority: spouse first, then children, parents, siblings, etc. Now, a person’s medical decisions will be decided in the same way — but not necessarily in the same order.

California gives hospitals and health care providers the discretion to decide which family member or close friend can make medical decisions — a provision inserted into the bill after the influential California Hospital Association and other medical groups opposed a set hierarchy.

Some experts question how effective the new law will be, since hospitals retain the power to pick the patient’s representative, especially if there are conflicting opinions among family members.

“Although I have no reason to believe they would abuse the power, the hospitals get to decide who would be a good decision-maker,” said Alexander Capron, a medical law and ethics expert and professor emeritus at the University of Southern California.

Lois Richardson, a vice president and legal counsel for

Notyet time to invoke PH-US treaty over...

the hospital association, said a strict order of surrogates often doesn’t reflect what a patient would want. “The concern has always been that having a strict statutory hierarchy, in many, many cases, does not reflect real family relationships,” Richardson said.

The hospital lobby dropped its opposition after Gipson agreed to give the industry flexibility, and the measure passed through the legislature with virtually no opposition.

Ideally, people should have an advance directive to ensure their wishes are followed, Gipson said. But for seniors, those who live alone, and anyone without a stated directive, the law opens the field of people who may be able to advocate on their behalf — including a close friend who might just as well be family.

“At least this way, you have someone who knows what you want making those decisions,” Gipson said, “rather than leaving it up to a hospital.”

This story was produced by KHN, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.

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.

he said. The MDT, signed in 1951, is an agreement between the Philippines and the United States to defend each other in case of an armed attack on a public vessel, troops or an airship.

Serious concern Marcos has summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian to Malacañang to express “serious concern over the increasing frequency and intensity of actions” by the Chinese against the Philippine Coast Guard and Filipino fisherfolk.

“I said that the laser-pointing incident was only a part of what we are seeing as intensifying or escalating of the actions of the militia, marine militia of China, the coast guard of China, and

the navy of China,” he said. “So we are hoping that we can find a better way rather than these incursions into our maritime territory and the rather aggressive acts that we have been seeing in the past few weeks and months,” he added.

The president said he reminded Huang that Beijing’s incursions in the South China Sea were not consistent with what he and Xi discussed in Beijing in January when they agreed to establish a direct communication line to prevent “miscommunication and miscalculation” in the disputed sea.

In his bilateral meeting with Marcos in Beijing in January, Xi promised to “find a compromise and find a solution” that will allow Filipinos to fish again in

their “natural” fishing grounds in the West Philippine Sea without Chinese interference. Despite the increasing Chinese incursions in the West Philippine Sea, Marcos said in his speech before PMA alumni and top security officials of the government that his administration would continue to uphold the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty in accordance with the Constitution and with international law.

“This country has seen heightened geopolitical tensions that do not conform to our ideals of peace and threaten the security and stability of the country, of the region, and of the world,” he said. But he added: “This country will not lose one inch of its territory.” g

US senators say health worker shortages ripe...

Sanders pointed to the startling numbers of Americans living in medical care deserts to illustrate the point. There are nearly 100 million people who don’t have easy access to a primary care physician, almost 70 million with no dentist at hand, and some 158 million people who have few local mental health providers, Sanders said. The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the nation’s existing worker shortage as many left the workforce as the crisis worsened. Some contracted the virus themselves, and large numbers

of health care providers died. An investigation by KHN and The Guardian revealed more than 3,600 health workers in the United States died during the pandemic’s first year alone. Some got burned out or sought higher-paying jobs elsewhere.

“Despite all of our health care spending, we don’t have enough doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, dentists, dental hygienists, pharmacists, mental health providers, and other medical professionals,” Sanders said, pointing to data that suggest the nation faces a shortfall of about 450,000 nurses and 120,000 doctors in the coming years, and 100,000 dentists now.

While Democrats and Republicans alike acknowledged the shortages hobbling care for hundreds of millions of Americans, any legislative solution must pass not only the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, but also the full Senate and House of Representatives. Far-right House Republicans have threatened to go so far as forcing the federal government to default on its debts as they demand spending cuts, and high government spending on health care could make new legislation a ripe target.

Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, the committee’s top Republican who is also a doctor, cited a few programs the committee is responsible for updating this year, such as an expiring program that trains many of the nation’s pediatricians. He said funding should reflect what works in the health care system and come “with the appropriate spending offsets.”

“We have to make sure that we’re not wasting the money we’re trying to None of the senators in the packed hearing room disagreed with the fundamental problem that too many medical professionals are leaving their fields and that educational institutions are not graduating enough new ones to replace them and meet the growing needs of an aging population.

Members on both sides of the aisle recognized growing levels of burnout in the medical professions; increased threats faced by health care workers; the costs and challenges of working underserved areas; and financial incentives that steer younger professionals toward more lucrative specialties and higherincome areas.

Senators agreed on some strategies to boost numbers of health workers, such as encouraging more lowercost educational options like community college and ensuring that existing programs are extended this year, such as the National Health Service Corps

that trains doctors for underserved areas and graduate education programs.

A whiff of partisan thinking drifted into the conversation, with some Republicans focused more on decrying government interference in health care. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) suggested the State Department should do a better job clearing foreign students and practitioners to immigrate here. Cassidy raised electronic health records requirements as a contributor to physician burnout, saying they consume too much time. Even in those areas, there were signs lawmakers could agree. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) also raised the idea of unjamming the immigrant backlog.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said vaccine requirements were an impediment. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) raised regulations barring some surprise medical bills as harmful to doctors.

“I think the fact that the committee has made this the first hearing means a number of us have bills. We may try to take a bunch of them up together and see if we can combine them into something,” said Kaine, pointing in particular to the idea of expanding loan forgiveness for people willing to go into areas with shortages. “I think there’s great prospects for bipartisan progress on this.”

Senators credited Sanders with the initial progress toward a compromise. He spent his first weeks in his post meeting with committee members from both parties to identify areas of bipartisan agreement.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said Sanders reached out to meet with her and discuss her priorities. They both named workforce shortages as a top issue, she said, adding, “We’ve got good stuff to work on.”

“In my conversation with him just on the floor this week, about what we might be able to do with the workforce issue, I think he was kind of probing to see if we could put together some efforts to just focus on these on workforce shortages,” Murkowski told KHN. “There is a great deal of interest in legislating in this space.”

“What it’s going to look like, I can’t tell you yet,” she added. “We are going to produce legislation,” Sanders said as the hearing ended. “I don’t do hearings for the sake of hearings. (Michael McAuliff/Kaiser Health News)

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.

DFA chief: China harassment...

the videos.

“Two rubber boats are now chasing away one fisherman in a fishing boat inside [the lagoon] of Scarborough Shoal. They’re really driving us away, they don’t want us inside,” he said in another footage on the same incident.

“There have been so many [of these instances] that I could no longer keep track of them. We want to fish inside the lagoon, too. There’s more catch and we can seek shelter there during bad weather,” De Vera said.

He recalled that as early as 2016, the CCG was already directing a laser at them at Panatag Shoal.

“They first used a searchlight when we approached near the shoal at night. They later used a laser so we ducked for cover as our eyes went burning. The light was overwhelming and we went blind for a few minutes,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sen. Francis Escudero said on Sunday that the government should not have cold feet in dealing with China’s actions even as he opposed calls to remove the PCG as an attached agency of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

Coast Guard transfer “We shouldn’t be doing

something out of fear that it might anger or be misinterpreted by China, which is trying to seize part of our territory,” he said.

“If you remove the (PCG) from the DOTr and transfer it to the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), the first question is, what’s their difference with the Philippine Navy?” Escudero asked.

“Secondly, if we consider [PCG] as a military (unit), then we could no longer deny that the Philippine military will be up against China’s military in the West Philippine Sea. And the next step will be a declaration of war, which, I believe, nobody wants to happen,” he added.

The AFP also said on Sunday that its “troops are resolute in ensuring that the interests of the Filipino people in the West Philippine Sea are protected,” a day after President Marcos said the Philippines “will not lose one inch” of territory amid a fresh territorial spat between Manila and Beijing.

“Guided by the President’s vision, which he emphasized in his message yesterday, our troops will always be ready to provide a safer, more peaceful and progressive country,” it said in a statement. g

OVER the years, there have been numerous incidents of harassment and intimidation by the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) against Philippine vessels, like last Dec. 17 when CCG vessel 5205 sailed dangerously close to a boat delivering food, noche buena packages and other supplies to troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

This latest incident at Ayungin Shoal where this same Chinese Coast Guard vessel 5205 shadowed and pointed a militarygrade laser at the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) patrol vessel BRP Malapascua – resulting in temporary blindness for some Philippine crew – is causing more and more Filipinos to become increasingly angry at the way the Chinese have been encroaching into our territory.

What is worse is that the Chinese are now claiming the area as theirs, with the China Foreign Ministry spokesperson saying it was the PCG vessel that did not have permission and “intruded” into the waters when in fact, Ayungin Shoal is located about 105 nautical miles off Palawan and is therefore clearly well within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines.

As Congressman Rufus Rodriguez said, “How can we intrude into our own territory?”

Members of the international community have also expressed

Weak maritime patrol capability

THE Philippines, with 7,641 islands, ranks fifth among states with the most extensive coastlines, according to The World Factbook of the U.S Central Intelligence Agency covering 198 countries and 55 territories. That coastline totals approximately 36,289 kilometers, which must be properly policed to keep out intruders, protect the environment and catch pirates, smugglers, drug dealers and other lawbreakers.

Guarding the western seaboard of the archipelago is particularly challenging as foreign vessels led by Chinese militia ships escorting massive swarms of their fishing vessels operate within Philippine territorial and sovereign waters. For such missions in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard says it has all of three offshore patrol vessels. The PCG says it needs at least 30 ships to effectively patrol the WPS alone.

Editorial

including shabu, guns and even motorcycles. Large containers of prohibited drugs are unloaded from ships in the high seas and plucked out of the water by smaller boats, and then freely brought in through poorly policed coastal areas.

ONLY Nixon could go to China!” There goes one of the most famous proverbs in highstakes geopolitics, which, quite ironically, can be traced back to Hollywood, namely the 1991 film “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.” The logic behind the supposed “old Vulcan proverb” is pretty straightforward: Any unexpected foreign policy turnabout is most feasible under leaders with robust domestic standing.

As a relatively hawkish Republican, U.S. President Richard Nixon’s outreach toward Maoist China in the early 1970s was less vulnerable to domestic criticism than, say, by a more dovish Democratic counterpart, who would have easily been

This acute lack of capability is surely among the factors emboldening Chinese coast guard vessels, which are under military supervision, to enter the WPS at will, shoo Filipino fishermen away from the Philippines’ maritime exclusive economic zone and challenge the operations of the PCG and Philippine Navy.

Apart from Chinese militia incursions into Philippine waters, smugglers appear to operate with ease around the archipelago, especially if protected by local political kingpins, bringing in through porous coasts a wide range of contraband

The PCG is under the Department of Transportation. The Navy has its patrol vessels, but their numbers and capability are also limited, especially when ranged against the coast guard and naval assets of China. This is despite the modernization boost for the Armed Forces of the Philippines that was carried out by the Duterte administration.

The country will have to turn to allies and other friends to boost Philippine maritime patrol capabilities, including electronic surveillance of the waters around the archipelago. With the Philippines buried in P13.42 trillion debt as of the end of 2022, any coast guard modernization can be expected to be modest. It is an investment in national security, however, that cannot be put off. (Philstar.com)

Filipino patience running out over China’s latest incursion

their concern in light of this inyour-face kind of aggression and intimidation being demonstrated by China, among them the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom and Denmark, calling out China for its dangerous and provocative actions.

Canada described China’s actions as “coercive” and a “violation of international law and contrary to the maintenance of regional peace and stability, and the rules-based international order,” while both Germany and Denmark also called on China to abide by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award by the Permanent Court of Arbitration which is “legal and binding.”

A friend from the diplomatic corps told me that China’s actions are “getting more and more unconscionable and provocative,” even preposterously accusing the U.S. of orchestrating the arbitral case. Absolutely not true – it was China’s aggression that precipitated our decision to file the case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration that invalidated China’s expansive maritime claims, including its ridiculous nine-dash-line with absolutely no basis whatsoever in international law.

Filipinos were extremely pleased when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. summoned the Chinese ambassador over this latest incident involving a Chinese Coast Guard vessel. From what I am told, the President was cordial, but at the same time was very firm and clear in expressing his serious concern over the “increasing

frequency of action by China against the Philippine Coast Guard and Filipino fishermen in their bancas.”

Filipino fishermen have long been suffering from the intimidation and restrictive actions employed by Chinese vessels which are depriving them of their livelihood, with reports that they were being threatened or their fishing gear confiscated. Numerous protests have also been filed over the illegal fishing activities of Chinese vessels in disputed territories in the South China Sea, with other claimant nations like Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia complaining about Chinese fishing fleets encroaching on their maritime territories.

In fact, there are calls for the European Union to impose sanctions on Chinese fishing vessels over alleged illegal fishing activities. An independent study commissioned by the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries (PECH) last December on the “Role and impact of China on world fisheries and aquaculture” showed that the large number of Chinese distant water fleets that go dark by using techniques like turning off their identification system, increase the possibility of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing infractions.

According to the study, “One of the most important environmental consequences of the Chinese fishing fleet on the EU’s distantwater fishing activities is the depletion of fisheries stocks, which is associated with environmental degradation and results in reduced resource availability for all actors

Marcos

accused of “appeasement.” In many ways, a similar dynamic is shaping the ongoing transformation in Philippine foreign policy under President Marcos Jr., yet with opposite implications for China.

To be clear, I fervently believe that a Leni Robredo or, say, Panfilo Lacson administration would have certainly taken a patriotic and strategic approach to China.

Yet, one can’t deny that Mr. Marcos is overseeing a seemingly seamless transformation in our foreign policy by discarding his predecessor’s pro-China antics in favor of a more assertive stance in the West Philippine Sea as well as more robust defense cooperation with traditional allies.

And given Mr. Marcos’ large electoral mandate, high approval ratings, and the relegation of the House of Duterte to a “junior partner” status, the dramatic shift in our foreign policy is likely more

involved.”

During the visit of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris to the fishing community of Tagburos in Palawan last November, she spoke about the risk that fishing communities face “when foreign vessels enter Philippine waters and illegally deplete the fishing stock; when they harass and intimidate local fishers; when they pollute the ocean and destroy the marine ecosystem.” If one can recall, over 200 Chinese fishing vessels were seen at Julian Felipe Reef (Whitsun Reef) in March 2021 with reports that they have been anchored in the area since December 2020, raising fears of “possible overfishing and destruction of the

marine environment, as well as risks to safety of navigation” in the West Philippine Sea.

Given these numerous incidents in the past, no one can really blame Filipinos for the continued and increasing anger at and distrust of China. This latest incident has also prompted many enlightened legislators to consider working together with other countries aside from the United States to maintain maritime peace and security in the region.

Certainly, we cannot and must not “drop the ball” on this one like what happened in 2012 when we “lost” the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

I have often said – Filipinos are a patient people, and while

everybody wants a peaceful resolution to all these incidents that have been repeatedly happening over the years, it is clear to all of us that “what is ours is ours,” period. We are not claiming anything outside of what is clearly within our territorial waters. As President Marcos had said: “We have no conflict with China; the issue we have is that China is claiming territory that belongs to us.” (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

Jr.’s foreign policy: A quiet revolution?

sustainable and real than many Marcos critics acknowledge.

Not long ago, many confidently predicted that the current president would end up consolidating the pro-Beijing direction of Rodrigo Duterte. For instance, one reputable international news outlet published an op-ed piece entitled, “Bongbong Marcos will move the Philippines closer to China” shortly before Mr. Marcos’ expected election victory. Over the succeeding months, a whole host of news agencies and experts speculated on how China would supposedly benefit from a fully acquiescent Philippines under a Marcos-Duterte regime.

In fairness, one can’t blame these observers for jumping to conclusions, since Mr. Marcos himself repeatedly backed Duterte’s China policy throughout the 2022 presidential elections. But just as I questioned the

“debt trap” thesis in the past, correctly predicting that there won’t be much of Chinese infrastructure investments in the Philippines, to begin with (See, for instance, “Duterte’s Chinese Chimera,” 4/16/18), I also penned a whole series of articles last year, which (correctly) predicted a potential major policy shift under Mr. Marcos.

In fact, shortly before his assumption of power, I penned a piece for another publication, where I forecasted “Marcos Jr. will likely adopt calibrated assertiveness towards China while welcoming pragmatic cooperation on the economic front.” By early October, I forecasted an expanded Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) deal, which would give the Pentagon access to a whole host of bases close to Taiwan’s southern shores in another article.

To be clear, this piece is not about flaunting one’s scientific “predictive” capacity, but rather about the art of scenariobuilding. As I argued in a piece in early-2022, three factors would shape a Marcos Jr. presidency: “(i) margin of victory and, accordingly, a potentially newfound sense of personal destiny, (ii) factional politics and personalistic jostling within the ruling regime, and (iii) external pressure/encouragement from international partners, especially Washington and Beijing…” (“Marcos Jr. presidency: Three possible scenarios,” 3/22/22).

Mr. Marcos not only secured an empathic electoral victory, but he is also atop a dominant coalition, which has broadly marginalized pro-China players. Meanwhile, Mr. Marcos has been actively courted not only by Washington, but also by Tokyo, London, Brussels, and a whole

host of traditional allies.

Meanwhile, Mr. Marcos’ trip to Beijing last month produced zero breakthroughs on either the West Philippine Sea disputes or a whole host of unfulfilled infrastructure investment projects. Like many experts, Beijing (incorrectly) viewed Mr. Marcos as Duterte’s strategic clone.

Barely a year into office, a self-assured Mr. Marcos has revitalized defense relations with Western powers while standing up to bullying by Eastern powers. In a bizarre twist of events, it took a Marcos to correct Duterte’s foreign policy excesses sans any major backlash at home.

* * *

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

* * * rheydarian@inquirer.com.ph

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

Amnesty International reiterates call for de Lima release

MANILA— A day before the sixth anniversary of her detention on drug charges that she says were manufactured, Amnesty International has reiterated calls to free former Sen. Leila de Lima.

The organization pointed out that the the charges filed against the former lawmaker "have utterly collapsed" after witnesses retracted their respective statements. Some have claimed to have been coerced into testifying against De Lima, who was accused by the Duterte administration of involvement in the illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison.

"The Marcos administration

must ensure the immediate and unconditional release of de Lima and drop all charges against her. The authorities must also conduct a thorough, independent, transparent, and effective investigation into the attacks against her,” Amnesty International Southeast Asia researcher Rachel Choa-Howard said in a statement.

"Those responsible for violations of her rights since her arrest, including her arbitrary detention, must be brought to justice in fair trials."

De Lima was arrested in February 2017 due to drug-related

Shun hypocrisy, worldly attachments – bishop

charges. Groups here and abroad found her arrest and detainment were related to her investigation on former President Rodrigo Duterte’s so-called “war on drugs,” as they described charges against her as fabricated.

Amnesty International also noted that court proceedings on the former senator’s cases have been delayed in the past years.

The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in 2018 also found that her detention was “arbitrary and in absence of legal basis.” (Kaycee Valmonte/ Philstar.com)

‘Church Nullity Act’ hurdles House panel

MANILA – The House Committee on Population and Family Relations on Thursday, February 23 approved a bill seeking civil recognition of church annulment to make it accessible and not expensive for many Filipinos.

TINGOG Party-list Representatives Jude Acidre and Yedda Marie Romualdez authored House Bill 1593 or the Church Nullity Act of 2022 that they filed on July 7 last year.

“On behalf of Tingog Party-list, I’d like to thank the committee for its favorable action on House Bill 1593. This is a significant development that provides hope for an efficient and more affordable procedure to remedy the situation of couples trapped in an irreparable relationship,” Acidre said.

The bill has been endorsed to a technical working group (TWG) tasked to consolidate all eight related measures and craft a substitute bill.

Acidre said if the bill becomes law, a declaration of nullity (of marriage) decreed by the Church will hold as much weight and have the same effect as a civil annulment.

He added that the measure removes the burden of undergoing the civil annulment process such that Catholics who have sought annulment in the Church should not anymore be “long oppressed by the darkness of doubt” over whether their marriages, already declared null and void, should also be recognized as such by the State.

HB 1953 proposes that a marriage duly and legally solemnized by a priest, imam, rabbi, or presiding elder of an established church or religion in the Phil-

ippines which is subsequently annulled, dissolved or declared a nullity in a final judgment or decree in accordance with the canons and precepts of the church or religious sect, shall have the same effect as a decree of annulment, dissolution or declaration of nullity issued by a competent court.

“A marriage solemnized by the Church therefore should have not only canonical but civil effects as well. Priests, pastors, imams and rabbis who solemnize marriage must have the authority to solemnize granted by the State,” the bill’s explanatory note read.

The authors said the proposed measure was an offshoot of Pope Francis’ position to simplify the procedures for annulling marriages in the Catholic Church.

“If a marriage can be legitimately contracted under the laws of the Church, then it follows that under the same laws, such marriage can also be nullified or annulled,” they said, noting Pope Francis’ issuance of “Mitis Iudex Dominus lesus,” which streamlined the process of the declaration of nullity of marriage.

“The Family Code of the Philippines recognizes as valid a marriage solemnized under the laws of the Church. If marriages so solemnized are recognized by the State, it is only proper that the very church that solemnized the marriage should also have the power to rule that attendant infirmity that rendered a marriage null and its effects binding on the State. This is also the same to all other established churches and religions,” the authors explained.

Under Section 3 of the bill,

“the status of children of marriages subject to a decree of annulment or declaration of nullity by the church or religious sect shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Executive Order No. 209, otherwise known as the Family Code of the Philippines.”

In case the grounds for the church annulment or declaration of nullity are not similar to any of the grounds provided in the Family Code, their common children born or conceived before the issuance of the decree of annulment or declaration of nullity shall be considered legitimate, according to the bill.

Without prejudice to the conditions set forth by the church or religious sect, the measure also proposes that either of the former spouses may marry again after complying with the requirements provided under Section 5 and Article 52 of the Family Code, otherwise the subsequent marriage shall be null and void.

To secure a marriage license, the spouse involved must present a true certified copy of the decree of annulment or declaration of nullity issued by the church or religious sect and registered with the appropriate civil registry.

They added that under Presidential Decree No. 1083, the State recognizes divorce under the Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines, which is based on Sharia, or Islamic law.

“Under the principle of equality before the law, if a Muslim divorce is recognized, there can be no serious objections towards the recognition of the civil effects of a marriage by an established and duly recognized religious denomination,” they

by Helen Flores Philstar.com

MANILA — Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula on Wednesday, February 22 reminded the Catholic faithful that this year’s Lenten season is a reminder for everyone to shun hypocrisy and worldly attachments as he urged them to return themselves to God.

In his Ash Wednesday homily, Advincula said the daubing of ashes on the faithful’s forehead is a reminder for everyone that everything is not permanent, including wealth and power, except for God’s love for his people.

“Dear brothers and sisters, this is the very heart of our Lenten observance. This season is a blessed time for us to turn away from hypocrisy and worldly attachments and go home into the warm embrace of our loving God,” he said. The prelate enjoined the faithful to do charity, pray and abstain without selfishness, deception and showing off and serve out of love, instead of aiming to please others or feed one’s ego.

Advincula also reminded the people, who seemed to glorify their wealth and power, that they should use these in helping others as he emphasized that wealth could change over time, including the life borrowed from God.

He stressed that people should also learn how to give importance to the things that are permanent, which is believing the words and the teachings of God.

“The wealth we own can increase and decrease. The power we hold can be gained and be lost. Our bodies age and weaken over time. We can be wounded and hurt. Our feelings come and go – here on earth, no triumph lasts forever, but also no trial lasts forever,” he said.

‘Continue serving fellowmen’

Meanwhile, President Marcos on Wednesday called on Filipinos to continue to serve their fellowmen as the Catholic faithful observed Ash Wednesday.

“We pray for our nation’s quiet reflection this Ash Wednesday. As we prepare for the season of Lent, may the love of Christ inspire us to endure and faithfully continue our service to others,” Marcos said in a statement posted on Twitter.

Thousands of faithful flocked to various churches across the country on Wednesday with the resumption of the physical observance of Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the

penitential 40-day Lenten season for the Roman Catholic Church.

The Archdiocese of Manila has allowed the daubing of ashes on the faithful’s forehead, a few years after it was restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ashes are shaped as crosses to serve as a reminder of the love of God and for everyone to pray with a sincere heart, fast in genuine solidarity with those who are suffering and give alms out of hearts that are truly contrite and compassionate. g

Ipalathala: Ika-24 ng Pebrero at ika-3 ng Marso, 2023

TAG: Paunawa ng Halalan kasama ang Pagboto/Mga Kandidato, Espesyal na Halalan, Tagalog

ESTADO NG NEVADA – LALAWIGAN NG CLARK

Ako, si JOSE LUIS VALDEZ, ang nararapat na itinalagang Kawani ng Lungsod para sa Lungsod ng Henderson, Estado ng Nevada, ay nagpapatunay na ang Espesyal na Halalan ay gaganapin sa Lunes, ika-3 ng Abril, 2023. Ang mga lugar ng pagboto ay magbubukas mula 7:00 n.u. hanggang 7:00 n.g. sa nasabing petsa.

SAKSI ANG AKING KAMAY at PANGSELYO ngayong ____ araw ng

Pebrero, 2023

JOSE LUIS VALDEZ

Kawani ng Lungsod

LISTAHAN NG MGA KANDIDATO NA IBOBOTO SA IKA-3 NG ABRIL, 2023 ESPESYAL NA HALALAN

KONSEHO NG LUNGSOD, PUROK 1

APAT NA TAONG TERMINO

Tim Cox

Eddie “Every Cycle” Hamilton

Aaron Johnson

Alex Kleytman

Alisha “Ali Brady” Nilson

Jim Seebock

Melissa Woodbury

LUGAR NG PAGBOTO SA ARAW NG HALALAN PARA SA 2023 ESPESYAL NA HALALAN SA IKA-3 NG ABRIL, 2023 Munisipyo ng Henderson, 240 S. Water Street, Henderson, NV 89015

PINETSAHAN Ika-21 ng Pebrero, 2023.

Para sa karagdagang impormasyon, pinapakiusap na makipagugnayan sa Tanggapan ng Kawani ng Lungsod ng Henderson, 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

Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula Philstar.com file photo

VEGAS&STYLE JOURNAL

Eugene’s love story gives hope to singles over 40 PH couple gives strong finals performance in ‘America’s Got Talent: All Stars’

by Nathalie M. toMada Philstar.com

EUGENE Domingo’s love story gives hope to singles in their 40s and beyond who are still looking for “The One.”

The Ten Little Mistresses star thought she’d be single forever until she met her now-significant other, Italian movie critic Danilo Bottoni.

The topic of Eugene’s relationship cropped up during The STAR’s one-on-one interview with her regarding Ten Little Mistresses, the first Filipino Amazon Original Movie, which is still No. 1 on Prime Video Philippines a week after its streaming premiere.

Incidentally, the murdermystery comedy is directed by The IdeaFirst Company’s Jun Robles Lana, the same director of Barber’s Tales, the drama that paved the way for Eugene to find love.

In 2014, the film competed at the Udine Far East Film Festival in Italy, where it won the Third Place-Audience Award. But the “biggest reward” there was meeting Danilo.

“When Danilo and I first met, walang ayos ang buhok ko, dry na dry. Malungkot…I was just there, parang lost, but (I was thinking) anyway, I’m here, so might as well enjoy. That was my state when he found me,” the 51-year-old actress-comedienne said.

No sparks flew on that first meeting though. Admittedly, she was then at a point in her life where she thought she would be “single forever”.

“Hindi talaga nag-click yung first niyang sinabi for the reason that personally, give up na ako nun. Parang I was already accepting the fact that I would be single forever and maybe I would just go to a convent,” Eugene further shared with The STAR.

“Promise yun talaga ang plano ko, pumasok sa convent! May dala-dala akong isang sako ng pera, ibibigay ko (sa kanila). But, by the way ha, convent sa Italy hahaha!

“Parang, ‘This is my cash, please take care of me, I’m single, I’ll pray with you… and be singing with you.’ Yun ang nasa isip ko, forever single na ako.”

But contrary to her “plans,” someone unexpected came along. At the Udine filmfest, Danilo approached her because he had seen her previous comedy hit films, from Kimmy Dora to Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank. In fact, they were already friends on Facebook.

Eugene recalled, “He was there and he said, ‘We’re friends on Facebook, can I invite you to have pizza with me?’ That’s it. Parang

Eugene and Danilo enjoy traveling together, here

Photo

nahilo na ako hahaha! I said no.

“Because whenever I’m in a festival, medyo sine-set aside ko yung ‘hashtag landian’ because I have work and I have a responsibility. But as soon as hawak ko na yung trophy (for Barber’s Tales), ready na ako makipag-landian. Pero ‘di ko na siya nakita.”

That wasn’t going to be the end of the story though. Eugene was quick to add, “After nun, I chased him.”

The couple has been together for some seven years now. While there have been marriage speculations, further fanned after Eugene shared “copper wedding rings,” as per GMA News, on Instagram back in 2020, these have not been addressed in interviews. But it’s clear that they’re inseparable.

Eugene confirmed that she brings him with her to film shoots here and premieres. Such as the one hosted by Prime Video for Ten Little Mistresses, where she readily acknowledged him in the audience and said: “Luckily, I have found ‘The One.’ Thank you, Babe.”

“Even if I say, you don’t need a man to be happy, in my case… our souls connected and I found peace because of his love,” she further told this paper.

Asked for more pieces of advice to singles in their 40s and above, and still hoping to find a life partner, Eugene shared: “You don’t really have to suffer or exert too much effort. It will come to you, if it’s for you and if you are ready, if you prayed hard for it, and if you just surrendered, ‘Lord, You know what my heart is looking for, it’s up to You.’ Surrender, don’t exert too much effort, don’t tire yourself. Just be there, just be present, it will be in front of you.”

Meanwhile, The STAR asked Eugene if she was open to do a romantic-comedy about — for a change — people at a certain

age, who have accumulated more life experiences and a more adult perspective on love.

“If there’s a very good material, ay naku siempre naman. There’s a lot of us. And I’m very sure, yung rom-com naman wala namang age limit yan eh. It’s essential. I would really love to do something like that. I-manifest natin. A romcom for people like us, with an interesting age, na pwede pa ma-in love. Alam mo, parang ano yun — ang tender. Because you would think, this could be your last na,” she said.

Eugene would also love to do a full-length musical on screen.

“Sana maalala ko ni direk Jun

(Lana) ‘pag natupad na yung project niya na musical. I will really study, take up voice lessons and learn basic dancing steps. Ang sarap kasi maging part ng isang musical and also on stage, I hope I get to do something more lengthy.

“In All Out Sundays (on GMA), we do comedy skits, musical din yun, and I really enjoy it. And so I hope I get to do a lengthy musical, na medyo legit ganun. I really want to do something like Gypsy Rose. It will require a lot of training, I know. But ‘di naman masama mangarap because you ask.”

However, Eugene is not that willing to take on another drama a la Barber’s Tales.

“To be honest, hindi! Hahaha! Ayoko na mag-drama, ang hiraphirap. I can do it because I’m an actor but if you ask me now, and you let me choose between comedy, musical and drama, and then ‘pag drama, kasama mo yung the best dramatic actors in the country, dun nalang ako comedy and sa musical. Ang hirap talaga mag-drama,” she honestly said. But, Eugene reiterated, “I’m glad I made it — Barber’s Tales. And I’m very thankful for it. If not for Barber’s Tales, I would not have met Danilo. Exactly yun talaga ang pinaka-reward dun.”

David pays the price of fame

by Maridol raNoa-BisMark Philstar.com

YOU can’t blame David Licauco for feeling overwhelmed.

Since starring as Fidel in GMA’s "Maria Clara at Ibarra" opposite Barbie Forteza, his star has never dimmed.

The "Pambansang Ginoo" and the face of various products – the latest of which is BlueWater Day Spa – admitted that a lot has changed since the groundbreaking series overhauled his life five months ago.

Time flies faster, and it sometimes can be exhausting. But he’s not complaining. In fact, he feels blessed.

“This has been my dream,” he explained.

So he brushes off the fatigue that is the price he has to pay for getting a lion’s share of attention, not only among TV viewers, but young netizens.

David admitted worrying that the popularity of his love team with Barbie – FiLay – (for Fidel and Klay, the latter’s character), may affect the actress’ real-life boyfriend Jak Roberto.

But David set aside his worries because he is sure Jak – an actor himself – would understand.

Besides, David and Jak are good friends. They have worked together back in 2021. And David is all praise for Jak, whose humility and diligence he admires.

“I have so much respect for him,” David said.

The Fil-Chinese entrepreneur also has so much respect for his well-being. He spends time on the treadmill and lifts weights. That’s why being the ambassador of a wellness retreat like BlueWater Day Spa is a natural progression for him.

“Relaxation I such a precious time for me. Being very busy with

by ChristiNa alpad ManilaTimes.net

FILIPINO acrobatic dancing tandem Jervin and Anjanette

Minor gave their all for their final performance in "America's Got Talent: All Stars," which left the audience and the judges in awe.

Showing stunts they said they have never done before, the reallife couple impressed judges Simon Cowell and Heidi Klum so much that they gave the Minors a standing ovation.

"You two were born to do this together. It is so beautiful to watch you two dance. I thought it was fantastic," Klum said in her postperformance review.

"It's beautiful to watch, and you made it seem effortless so best of luck to you," judge Howie Mandel added.

Finally, Cowell praised the two by saying, "I think on a show like this, you gotta be good; you gotta be better than you were when we first saw you; and you gotta be likable — and you achieved all three. I'm really happy for you because pressure is really on tonight, but you did it really brilliantly."

Before their final performance, the husband-and-wife in their video interview said they didn't expect to get through the audition after making a mistake in their routine.

Still, they went through the process with flying colors and in January and secured the final spot after winning the super fans vote.

"We want to make our country, our family and our son proud. We want to show our son that dreams do come true," the couple said.

Ten other acts are vying for the championship, which will be

announced on February 27. The Minor couple first won Pilipinas Got Talent Season 5 in 2016. In 2019, they joined Asia's Got Talent, and finished in Top 3.

Coco admits having ‘one longtime girlfriend,’ but insists on keeping personal life private

by haNNah MallorCa Inquirer.net

COCO Martin might be known for being strictly tightlipped about his private life, but he appeared to have confirmed that he’s in a relationship with a mysterious longtime girlfriend.

In an interview with broadcast journalist Karen Davila, the “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” star made the brief revelation about his private life on her Youtube channel, which was uploaded on Thursday, Feb. 16.

“You’re a very private person, at pasensya ka na (and I’m sorry). Kailangan ko ‘tong tanungin, ganoon ang buhay (I have to ask this question, this is life). So, you have one longtime girlfriend?” Davila asked Martin. “Sakto lang (It’s okay),” Martin answered, before bursting into laughter. Davila, while laughing, persuaded the actor to answer if he’s in a relationship with someone at the moment.

“Opo ( Yes ),” Martin replied, although he did not disclose her identity. When asked by the broadcast journalist on whether their relationship is going to end up in marriage, he said, “Dapat po, dapat ( It should be ).”

During the interview, Davila also asked the 41-year-old actor if he sees himself having children in the future. While he sees himself being a father “anytime,” he stressed that he wants to keep his personal life away from the spotlight.

“Sa akin kasi, gusto ko panatilihing pribado ‘yung buhay ko. Kasi mahirap po pag in-all out mo, lahat pakikialaman. Diba parang sa isang magkasintahan, pag nagliligawan kayo, pag nagdedate pa lang kayo, gusto ng lahat magkatuluyan. Pag kayo na, ang daming opinyon hanggang sa magkasira kayo. Bakit ko hahayaan? Ito nga lang sa ginagalawan ko [sa showbiz], ang gulo-gulo na eh. Papapasukin ko pa sila sa personal na buhay ko?” he explained.

the taping schedules as well as managing my businesses, having my favorite Balinese Massage at the spa at the end of a long tiring week is something that I always look forward to,” he explained. Joining David as BlueWater Day Spa endorser is Miss World Philippines 2021 Tracy Maureen Perez.

(For me, I want to keep my personal life private. It’s hard to be all-out about my life because a lot of people want to pry. For example, for partners who are currently in a relationship, when you’re in the courting and dating stage, people want you to get together. But when you finally

decide to date, there are a lot of opinions about your relationship which might end up ruining what you have. So, why would I allow it to happen? It’s messy to be in showbiz, so why would I want others to be involved with my personal life?)

Martin also noted that he doesn’t talk about showbiz once the cameras are off, saying that he prefers to focus on everyday problems at home.

“Sa bahay po namin pag umuuwi ka, ni-isang beses, hindi ako tinanong about sa trabaho kasi ayokong pinag-uusapan ‘yung showbiz. Kunwari, maganda ba si ganyan? Mabait ba si ganyan? Hindi nga namin pinag-uusapan ‘yung project na ginagawa ko,” he said.

“Normal lang [pinag-uusapan namin]. Problema sa bahay, kung anong dapat ayusin. Kasi mga kapatid ko, nasa akin din. May mga pamangkin ako, ako ‘yung tatay eh. Meron akong lola pero ako ‘yung head of the family ngayon,” the actor added.

(When I come home from work, we never talk about showbiz. Not even once. We never talk about if a certain celebrity is beautiful or kind. We don’t even talk about the projects that I’m doing at the moment. We talk about normal things. Just problems at home, and what needs to be fixed. It’s because my siblings are with me, my nephews and nieces see me as their father. I may have a grandmother but I’m the head of the family now.)

The “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano”

star was also asked how he manages to resist temptation

in the industry, where he mentioned that his hard work is a reminder to not be involved in entertaining certain desires.

“Mahirap nga po. Ako naman sabi ko nga ang lahat naman ng tao, lalo na bilang lalaki, dadaan at dadaan diyan. Pero sa akin kasi, kapag nagmature na, makikita mo rin ‘yung magiging kapalit, lalo na ngayon. Pag ikaw, gumawa ka ng isang pagkakamali, lahat ng pwedeng pinaghirapan mo, lahat ‘yun malulusaw lang,” he said.

(It’s hard. For me, everyone has a stage where they’re faced with temptation, especially as a man. But for me, when you mature, you eventually realize the fruit of your actions. When you do something wrong, everything that you worked hard for will be gone.)

Martin has long been involved with Julia Montes, who starred as his leading lady in the 2012 soap opera “Walang Hanggan” and his childhood friendturned-wife in “Ikaw Lamang” in 2014.

While the rumored sweethearts have yet to confirm or deny romance speculations, they have been spotted together in various encounters including visiting the grave of the late Fernando Poe Jr. on his 83rd birthday in August of last year.

The “Doble Kara” star was also surprised by Martin on the set of “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” on her birthday in March 2022, and were seen together going through voter registration in September 2021.

and overseas.

from Instagram/@eugenedomingo_official

David Licauco

Photo from Instagram/@davidlicauco

Jervin and Anjanette Minor Photo from Instagram/@powerduo2015

Coco Martin Photo from Instagram/@dreamscapeph

Sugar Barons zoom to nine-point lead over Luisitans

CEBU — Drawing a brilliant twounder-par 70 worth 56 points from Abe Rosal and 52 from Damasus Wong on Tuesday, February 21, defending champion Canlubang zoomed to a nine-point lead over Luisita after the first 18 holes of the Philippine Airlines Interclub Seniors championship at wellmanicured Alta Vista here.

With the seasoned Rolly Viray accounting for 47 points, the Sugar Barons were so impressive that they had to discard the 46 of Mari Hechanova in grabbing momentum going into the second round that will be played at unpredictable Club Filipino in Danao.

“That was a super round,” Luisita non-playing skipper Jeric Hechanova said, when asked of Cangolf's sterling opening 18. “I thought we did pretty well shooting 146. That was quite a special round that they came up with.”

Another squad that also put together a super effort was Cebu Country Club, which is campaigning in the lower Founders division but trails the overall pace by just five points after a 150 also at Alta Vista.

Jay Yuvallos had 53 and Eric Deen 49 for Cebu CC, which counted the 48 of Antonio San Juan, even as Teodoro Almario drained three birdies in posting 50 points that boosted Club Filipino de Cebu to an opening 133 and a 19-point lead over Diram Country Club in the Sportswriters division.

The Sugar Barons actually needed to tinker with their opening round team after Tommy Manotoc needed to go home hours before tee time because of a family emergency. And if he doesn't return, Cangolf is in danger of playing one of the three remaining rounds with just three players.

Ex-pro Dan Cruz collected 50 points, Chino Raymundo had 49 and Marty Ilagan shot 47 in his

Seniors' debut for the Luisitans, who threw away with 44 of Steve McDonald.

Manila Southwoods was another three points back after getting 51 points from Manfred Guangko, 48 from Bong Brobio and 44 from Luis Garcia, with Del Monte amassing 139 built around the 51 points of Ramon Jaraulla and 47 from Crispin Aparilla.

“I will play when the team asks me to play,” Rosal said when asked if he will still anchor the Sugar Barons in the final round on Saturday also at Alta Vista.

The annual event, considered the country’s unofficial national team championship, was shelved for two years due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the 74th staging of the event is supported by platinum sponsors ABS-CBN Global, Asian Journal Media Group, Airbus, and NUSTAR Resort and Casino.

Gold sponsors include Radio Mindanao Network, Mastercard, Primax, University of Mindanao Broadcasting Network, PLDT/ Smart, and Konsulta MD.

Joining the event as silver sponsors are Philippine National Bank (PNB), Biocostech, and VISA.

Minor sponsors are Bollore Logistics, Manila Standard, Tanduay Brands International, and Asia Brewery while donors are Department of Tourism, Ogawa, Newport World Resorts, Rolls Royce, and Boeing.

The first-round results:

CHAMPIONSHIP – Canlubang

155, Luisita 146, Manila

Southwoods 143, Del Monte 139

FOUNDERS – Cebu Country Club 150, Riviera 141, Orchard

139, Sherwood Hills 132, Apo

Golf 132, Villamor 130, Negros

Occidental 129, Fil-Am Hawaii 128, Camp John Hay 125, Altavista 1

125, Pueblo de Oro 125, Alabang

122, Valley 122, Wack Wack 121,

Filipino Canadian teen gets first-ever

Eagle Ridge 119, Taotaomona 118, Guinhalaran Golf 104, Manila Golf

103, Coral Ocean Point 88, Bay City Golf 86

AVIATOR – Iloilo 123, Cebu

Country Club 2 114, Zamboanga

113, Sarangani 110, SF Maharlika

105, Team Tuga 104, Mimosa

103, Forest Hills 101, Southern

California Redhawk 99, Lanang

98, E-Yona 95, Camp Aguinaldo

94, Via Verde LA 93, Boggie

Buddies Filgolfers 91, Baguio

Country Club 87, Bacolod Country Club 86, Guam Seals 84, Bay Area

Golf Org. 2 83, Lumbia Golf and Country Club 78, Fort Bonifacio 74, SF Peninsula 73, Golf and Country Club of Iligan 73, Liloan 72, Guam

Compadres 70

SPORTSWRITER -- Club Filipino de Cebu 133, Dirab 114, Guam

Seniors 111, San Juanico 111, Leyte 114, Ping Golfer’s Club 109, MSU Marawi 107, Rancho Palos

Verdes 105, Club Intramuros

103, Paoay 103, Edwin Andrew

Airforce Base 98, SFO Alliance

96, Vancouver 95, SFO East Bay 93, Eagle Ridge Lagitek 91, Camp Evangelista 88, PGA British Columbia 87, Cotabato 86, Van City 1 83, Seattle 83, Mabuhay Golf of SFO 83, Filam Fairfield 79, UP Tee Jots 86, Honolulu 74, Moffet Fields 2 60

FRIENDSHIP -- Canphil 112, Malaysian Eagle Hunter 101, Davao City 99, West Highlands 97, Parbreakers 87, South Cotabato 84, Mt Malindang 83, Filam NJ

82, Filam NJ 82, Veterans Golf

78, Filam SFO 76, Philam Central Florida 76, West Covina Warriors 74, Filcansa 73, Engineers and Architects (Eagle) 70, Ez Par 70, Moffet Fields Team 1 68, Van City

platinum ticket from ‘American Idol’

FILIPINO Canadian teen

Tyson Venegas won the firstever platinum ticket of the American Idol’s 21st season with his soulful rendition of Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind,” all while playing the piano.

Venegas, who was one of the contestants in Season 2 of ABSCBN’s The Voice Teens, wowed Idol judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan as he confidently hit each riffs and runs, his voice curling and doing slow vibrato.

The performance of this 17year old native of Vancouver, Canada was so powerful that Richie quipped that he needed to validate if he was indeed just a teenager as he said.

Richie asked Venegas’ mom, Iris, to verify his age. “He’s claiming to be 17-years-old, but he’s performing like a 45-yearold.”

Venegas’ mom told him that one of her son’s first concerts was Richie’s. “He was inspired by you, and that’s when he learned to sing from his heart.”

“We’ve flipped the switch now. I inspired him back then, he just inspired us today. Let me tell you, that performance was spot-on professional,” said Richie.

“You sang notes and runs that I haven’t felt in my body in a long time, and I felt so connected, I feel so alive,” said Perry.

Bryan, for his part, told

Tyson Venegas

Photo from Instsgram/@tysonvenegas Venegas: “You are exactly what we look for, what we pray for.”

Platinum ticket

Because of Venegas’ impeccable performance, he was awarded the first ever platinum ticket, which Richie said would mean that he could “coast through one whole week of Hollywood week.”

The exclusive platinum ticket, introduced only last year by American Idol, will be given

through the audition round. This is expectedly higher than the golden ticket that is usually given to contestants who are able to advance to the next round after an impressive performance. For Venegas, this means that he need not join the first round of performances during the Hollywood week and be able to watch from the sidelines. (Evangeline Valderrama/Inquirer. net)

Ruffa advises Willie: ‘Don’t be so sensitive’

by Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

Vice Ganda remains ‘home’ in ABS-CBN

VICE Ganda — dubbed as "The Unkabogable Star" — reaffirmed his loyalty in ABS-CBN as he officially renewed his contract with the company he calls home.

At the contract signing nicknamed "The Unkabogable Day" held Wednesday, Vice also thanked Madlang Pipol for the success of his recent film "Partners In Crime."

Co-starring Ivana Alawi, the movie served as his comeback in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) and was listed as one of

the top-grossing movies in last year's MMFF. With his back-to-back achievements, Vice could not help but look back on his decades-old career with much gratitude.

"The journey has been quite long na rin. There were difficult times, but there were a lot of fun times. It was colorful pero kung susumahin mo, it's a winning journey," Vice said. Looking ahead, Vice said he will continue his loyalty to the network that made him a household name.

Vice started as a standup comedian and singer in the late 90s. Soon, he was scouted to play bit roles and eventually supporting characters on television and film. But his biggest break came in 2009 when ABS-CBN asked him to join "It's Showtime." The audience loved his brand of comedy and soon fans would fill movie houses and live events venues to enjoy his work.

As such, Vice made sure to thank the ABS-CBN bosses and to

2 68Pinoy Vancouver 62, Bennett Valley 61, Fil Oz Sydney 63, MSU Marawi 2 61, Sky West 58, Pittsburg Filam 56, Brotherhood Sharp 46, Travellers 45, Tri City 30. PAGE 10

ACTRESS Ruffa Gutierrez believed that TV host Willie Revillame will be fine after the controversies he faced recently.

In a recent press conference for her upcoming movie "Martyr or Murderer," Ruffa compared Willie to a cat.

“You know si Kuya Wils, I think he’s like a cat, he has nine lives. Nawala na siya, bumalik, nawala, bumalik, he’ll never go anywhere. I think he’ll be fine, I don’t think he will suffer a lot,” Ruffa said.

She also gave Willie some advice.

“I think ang advice ko lang kay Kuya Wils, enjoy life. He’s super successful already, enjoy time with his family, wag nang pansinin 'yung mga bashers," she said.

“Nandiyan lang 'yan, importante happy siya sa pamilya niya. Sa tingin ko narating na rin niya ang tuktok ng tagumpay and I believe Kuya Wils has a good heart," she added.

She also asked the controversial TV host not to be sensitive.

“'Yung mga natulungan niya nandiyan lang 'yan, patuloy siyang pinagdarasal. So chin up, Kuya Wils! Don’t be so sensitive,” she said.

Beauty queen-actress Ruffa Gutierrez Photo from Instagram/@iloveruffag

Growing old is a privilege

Health @Heart

PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS

QUITE often, people complain about growing old. They say they hate getting up there in age and living with wrinkles all over, deformed fingers, with the aches and pain of arthritis, diminished agility and dexterity, a limited mobility, and varying degrees of impairment of vision, hearing, and memory.

The picture portrayed above is, in general, and invariably, a description of what all of us, sooner or later, will face as we get nearer midlife, and more so as we sail through the sunset of our life. As a cardiac surgeon, I feel that as long as one does not have a serious heart ailment, severely complicated illnesses, or cancer, the changes our body and mind undergo as we grow older are as natural and “normal’ as life itself. The cycle from birth to death is a predestination none of us can escape from. In between those years, depending on our genes, and more so on our lifestyle and discipline, on how we behave, our health and longevity will vary accordingly.

In 1950-1955, global life expectancy at birth was estimated to be 46. This had risen to 65 in 2000-2005, and is 79.11 in 2023, a 0.08 percent increase from 2022. In well-developed countries, this rise in longevity is predicted to increase to 82 years by mid-century, while among less developed nations where life expectancy is under 50 years today, the projection is 66 by 2045-2050.

In the United States, there are about 56 million who are 65 and older. By 2050, it will be about 87 million. One in 10,000 people lives to be 100. In 2022, in the U.S., there were about an average of 97,914 centenarians, and this is expected to go up to 274,000 in 2025.

The life expectancy today of various races in the U.S. are as follows: Asian-American, 84.9; North Americans, 79; Middle America, 77.9; Lowincome whites in Appalachia, Mississippi Valley, 75; Black Middle Americans, 72.9; Western American Indians, 72.7; Southern low-income rural Blacks, 71.2; and, highrisk urban Blacks, 71.1 years. By State, Hawaii leads the nation with the longest life expectancy at 80, and Hawaiian women at 83.2. Minnesota follows at 78.8 and Utah at 78.7.

In Tomigusuku City, Japan, a report shows that in year 2000, women lived to 89.2 years and

men, to about 82, and in Wara Village of Gifu Prefecture, men lived up to 80.6 years. Besides genetic as a factor, our diet, exercise, and lifestyle as a whole most significantly determine our health and longevity.

With old age comes the signs and symptoms of normal wear and tear of any machine, and the human body is one machine that is no exception. As such, the immense tribulation that is inherent with growing old poses great limitations on the person, physically, psychologically, and socially. How the individual copes with all these difficulties depends on the lifestyle he/she has lived, his/her philosophy, discipline, and attitude in life. At 92, my mother was still watching her diet and at 97, had replaced her decades-old regimented walking with her daily home videoguided (Leslie Sansone’s Walk by the Pound) mild exercises. She passed away a year before the COVID-19 pandemic, at age 101.

Alphonse Karr put it eloquently when he wrote “Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses.”

Seeing only the hole in a donut, missing the ring of bread around it, or a glass as half-full and not as half-empty, defines a person’s point of view and outlook in life. I personally believe that not taking any risk at all is the greatest risk in life and that success comes only to those who have the courage to fail. The natural infirmities and difficulties that accompany old age are the risks we should all gladly accept as we face the sunset of our life with gratitude and dignity.

However challenging and often times frustrating growing older might be, the blessing of a long and fairly healthy life is a privilege. While getting old is a problem, growing old is a solution, in spite of all the aches and pains that come with the package. Life is tough, and more especially so for the seniors. Growing old is, indeed, not for sissies or the faint of heart.

But let’s be realistic and face it, we’ve got only one other option. That option is to stop aging. And the only way to achieve that alternative is to die young. Not a palatable nor a more attractive alternative, indeed. Sadly, many are denied the privilege of growing old. Since we cannot control and direct the winds in our voyage through this sometimes harsh ocean of life, we can at least, to quote a wise man, “adjust our sails,” and find happiness and peace during our journey and wherever fate takes us.

Living to the fullest with all our faculties and abilities to help ourselves and others, and be able to continue enjoying, laughing and sharing our wisdom with,

and helping guide our children, grandchildren, great grandkids, and friends, making a positive difference in our society, smelling the flowers along the way, and savoring this magnificently wonderful world of ours (in spite of all man-induced imperfections and calamities), are, indeed, a sacred privilege. It is a blessing we should all look forward to with an upbeat frame of mind, and one to be truly grateful for. After all, not everyone is granted and blessed with this privilege.

So, as we enjoy the youth of our life, let’s lead a healthy lifestyle, show compassion for our less privileged fellowmen, and set good examples for our children to emulate. As years fly by, let us relish each day to the hilt, as if each day would be our last, and at the same time, let us pray for a life of good health, love, happiness, peace, and the privilege of growing old to enjoy them.

COVID-19 updates

As of 8 a.m. (EST), Tuesday, February 21, the worldwide total was 678,868,239 cases of COVID-19, with 6,792,200 deaths; USA – 104,996,288 cases, with 1,142,704 deaths; and the Philippines, 4,075,611 cases and 66,039 deaths. The average daily number of cases in the United States is still more than 39,000 (per day!) with around 430 deaths a day on average. Vaccination rate is around 82 percent; only about 34 percent have received the booster shot. The unvaccinated individuals are more likely to get infected and 4 times more likely to die from COVID-19. The XBB.1.5 is the dominant variant at 74 percent of all cases nationwide. Fully vaccinated people could still get infected, for various personal reasons, so let’s be vigilant and careful. Arrogance could kill.

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

* * *

The 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.

* * * 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.

Troy emotional after daughter diagnosed with autism speaks a sentence for first time

by Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

ACTOR Troy Montero turned emotional upon seeing his daughter with actress Aubrey Miles, Rocket, spoke a sentence for the first time.

In his Instagram account, Troy posted a video where Rocket sings the birthday song.

“Overflowing Happy Tears!! Rocket’s OT teacher shared this video with me today during our session summary and oh my gosh, I almost cried on the spot (I waited till I got to the car LOL) then I sent this to Rocket’s mommy and it totally made her day!” Troy captioned the post.

“Tears of happiness, hearing four words coming from our non-verbal little girl, ugh. She can say letters and a few select words but until today nothing put together like this,” he added.

Rocket was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She’s turning four years old next week.

“We’ve probably watched this video 30-40 times already and for sure we’ll hit 100 by tomorrow. She’ll be turning 4 next week and hopefully she’ll sing along as we wish her a Happy Birthday,” Troy said.

“Great job my (Rocket) we love you so much! We are so proud of you!” he added.

EMPLOYMENT PSYCHIC

PNAA members return to the Philippines for the first time since pandemic

THE Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA) and the Philippine Nurses Association of America Foundation (PNAAF) returned to the Philippines for the first time since the pandemic for their 6th International Collaborative Conference in Vigan, Ilocos Sur last January 21 and 22.

With the theme, “2023: Moving Forward with Innovations, Opportunities, and Successes,” global nurse leaders, local nurses and nursing students exchanged their inspirational stories and experiences during the conference.

Promoting resilience, compassion, and nursing excellence, the symposium covered diverse topics in healthcare, leadership, nursing practice, competency, education, and entrepreneurship with the aim of maintaining the high morale of aspiring professionals despite the predicaments brought about by the pandemic.

PNAAF President Nancy Hoff expressed her enthusiasm for the success of the event.

“Our sincerest gratitude to Governor Singson who provided the conference venue and hosted the cultural night dinner; our deepest appreciation for the hard work of the planning leaders of UNP CON, PNA Ilocos Sur, the PNAA Foundation, and their team members whose strength and collaborative efforts made it happen. The excellence and passion of the speakers who shared their knowledge and experiences were well received by the engaged conference participants. Thank you, GMA for capturing all these in photos and videos, and for many to see,” she said.

The collaborative efforts of the involved institutions were also commended by PNAAF Public Relations Committee Chair Colonel (Retired) Bob Gahol.

“The collaboration between the PNAA Foundation, the University of Northern Philippines, and the PNA Ilocos Sur exemplified the true meaning of the “Bayanihan spirit. Many thanks to GMA for sharing this event with the entire Philippines and the world,” he said.

Aside from the conference, The Philippine Nurses Association of Metropolitan DC also successfully turned over Health Hub and 10 toilets and baths to the Aetas of Castillejos, Zambales through their Healthy Aetas Community project.

The turnover ceremony was attended by more than 300 Aetas, representatives of the National Commission on Indigenous People, tribal leaders, catechists, and other guests. The Health Hub is a response to address the lack of sanitary human

waste disposal in the community.

PNAA and PNAAF officers also had the chance to visit GMA Network and was welcomed by GMA International First Vice President and Head of Operations Joseph T. Francia and GMA International Marketing Director Beth C. De Guzman.

“We continue to honor the invaluable role Global Pinoy nurses play in American society.  We are pleased to refresh our partnership with the PNAA in support of their meaningful projects for their members and for their target beneficiaries in the US and in the Philippines,” Francia said. (GMA Pinoy TV)

Vice Ganda remains ‘home’...

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promise that he will stay a Kapamilya.

"Maraming maraming salamat po sa patuloy na pagtitiwala, pagbibigay ng trabaho, oportunidad, pagkakataon... I am so grateful.

"Nakapirma na talaga yung puso ko rito. 'Yung paa ko nakabaon na dito sa bahay na 'to. Ayoko na lumabas... I'd rather be here inside my home. This is the safest place for me," Vice shared. Several Kapamilya artists, colleagues, friends, and loved ones also gave their heartfelt tributes for the Unkabogable Star.

"Thank you for your Unkabogable loyalty and love for ABSCBN and for all of us. With or without a contract, you stood by us even in our most difficult times. Binigyan mo ng lakas ang lahat ng ating mga Kapamilya sa gitna ng lahat ng ating pagsubok," said ABS-CBN COO of Broadcast Cory Vidanes.

Among the ABS-CBN executives present at the contract signing were chairman Mark Lopez, ABS-CBN COO of Broadcast Cory Vidanes, ABS-CBN Group CFO Rick Tan, Star Magic and Entertainment Production head Laurenti Dyogi, and ABS-CBN head of Non-scripted Format Louie Andrada.

Over the years, Vice received various awards as a Kapamilya star. In 2021, he was named as the Best Entertainment Program Host at the Asian Academy Creative Awards and Most Trusted Entertainment/Variety Presenter at the Reader's Digest Trusted Brands Awards.

Recently, Vice was voted by the De La Salle Araneta University community as Most Outstanding Twitter Influencer, Most Outstanding Social Media Personality, Most Influential Multimedia Filipino Celebrity, and Most Outstanding Entertainment Show Host at the 5th Gawad Lasallianeta.

Vice also won Best Variety Show Host at the 2023 Platinum Stallion National Media Awards of Trinity University of Asia. (ManilaTimes.net)

SERVICES

PNAA and PNAAF officers and members at the conference in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

PNA of Metropolitan DC turned over a Health Hub and 10 toilets and baths to the Aetas in Castillejos, Zambales during their most recent visit to the Philippines.

PNAA and PNAAF officers with First Vice President and Head of Operations Joseph Francia and GMA International Marketing Director Beth De Guzman at the GMA Network offices.

Troy Montero with daughter Rocket Photo from Instagram/@troymontero

‘The Unkabogable Star’ Vice Ganda Photo from Instagram/@praybeytbenjamin