022423 - Northern California Edition

Making public transit safer: A ‘massive intersection of crises’

THE rash of hate crimes, growing numbers of homeless and mentally ill, and a lack of trust in law enforcement have led to more unsafe conditions on public transit.

People don’t want to ride public transit for fear of being harassed like Esther Lee was on a New York subway October 21, 2021. Lee, 41, is a Korean American. She was insulted, spit on, and called “a f***g carrier.” She filmed 57-seconds of the ugly encounter on her cell phone. Nobody came to her aid and at 42nd St. Lee got out and switched cars.

Lee reported the incident to New York’s Hate Crime Unit, but Deputy Inspector Jessica Corey told her she had escalated the situation by filming it and since the man didn’t use an Asian slur, there was no evidence of a hate crime. However, two months later a Civilian Review Panel saw the video and labeled Lee’s case a hate crime. Then she went public to a local TV station.

“If cases like mine were not being labeled as a hate crime, that meant that many more

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.”

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.

Church calls for repentance ahead of Holy Week rites

by ROBERTZON RAMIREZ Philstar.com

MANILA — The Catholic Church is inviting the faithful to participate in religious activities in line with the observance of this year’s Lenten season, which began on Feb. 22, Ash Wednesday.

In an interview with Church-run Radyo Veritas, Fr. Gregory Gaston of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino in Rome said Ash Wednesday is a reminder for people to repent, to fast and to spiritually renew

oneself.

“If you can, do go to the church on Ash Wednesday and have ashes placed on your forehead. It is not just for show, but it is also an invitation to reform our lives, to repent,” Gaston said in Filipino.

The prelate also reminded the Catholic faithful to confess their sins to prepare themselves for the Holy Week.

He said confession is God’s way of giving the faithful the strength to fight temptations, committing sins and other circumstances

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

by NESTOR CORRALES 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

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.

SAN FRANCISCO – 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.

PH, US set to hold biggest Balikatan

Annual joint exercises to include maritime, territorial defense

by MICHAEL PUNONGBAYAN Philstar.com

MANILA — Filipino and American troops are set to hold their biggest joint military exercises in April under Balikatan 2023 amid China’s growing brazenness in asserting its claim over waters within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

Philippine Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., in an interview with “The Chiefs” on One News Monday night, February 20, said Palawan would be among the areas where the exercises would be held.

Several of the land features in the West Philippine Sea occupied by the Chinese are off Palawan.

Last week, a Chinese coast

guard ship beamed powerful lasers on Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel BRP Malapascua that was helping deliver provisions to a military outpost on the grounded BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the Kalayaan Island Group.

The military-grade lasers briefly blinded some crewmembers of Malapascua.

The Chinese claimed the laser beams were meant merely to check the speed and distance of the PCG vessel and was not harmful.

“We are now bringing in more components into the training exercise. There are now many new capabilities that we have to develop jointly. So we are

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

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. The Philippine Military Academy serves as the country’s premiere military institution and training ground for aspiring future officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

PNA photo by Alfred Frias

Not yet time to invoke PH-US treaty over...

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,” 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

Marcos rejects ICC probe...

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

Blanket of protection

Former Bayan Muna partylist 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

Church calls for repentance ahead of...

that might lead to committing sins.

This year’s Holy Week will be observed from Palm Sunday, April 2 until Black Saturday, April 8.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent. It is observed by Christians as a holy day of fasting and praying. During a mass, a priest places ashes on a worshiper’s forehead in the shape of a cross.

Stay vigilant

In line with the observance of Ash Wednesday, the Department

of Health (DOH) has issued a reminder to the public to continuously protect themselves even with the decreasing number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

“We should continue to be aware of our individual risk through the assessment of our surroundings and settings,” the DOH said in a brief statement.

It added that individuals should know when to use layers of protection and when to wear a face mask.

“Today, we have kept cases manageable and low, thanks to

these practices. Let’s continue protecting ourselves by assessing our risk and to get vaccinated/ boosted,” the agency said.

DOH officer-in-charge

Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire earlier warned the public against becoming complacent as COVID-19’s current numbers do not fully reflect the actual situation in the country.

“COVID-19 may still cause severe or critical infection to the elderly and those with comorbidities, and may even cause death,” Vergeire said. g

PH, US set to hold biggest...

including this in the exercises this year,” Brawner said.

“Aside from that, we are saying this is the biggest so far because the United States is bringing in more troops compared to the previous years,” he added.

Brawner said Balikatan 2023 would definitely include “aspects of maritime and territorial defense” along with other combat and non-combat components like counter-terrorism and humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR).

He did not give details regarding the size of this year’s maneuver, but based on a US embassy statement last year, the previous exercises involved 9,000 Philippine and US troops, 50 aircraft, four ships and 10 amphibious craft.

“This is not the first time that we are doing that,” he said, adding that the Balikatan in April would be the 38th iteration of such drills which included beach landings by Philippine and US Marine personnel.

Brawner said Balikatan 2023 would involve both combat and non-combat drills like field training exercises as well as subject matter exchanges among experts in classroom set-up. Asked if electronic warfare would be part of this year’s exercises, Brawner said it would

be included but stressed this year’s event was not meant to provoke any country.

“We’ve been doing this for a long time and it’s really no provocation because in our planning, we are very careful, we consider that. We also consider the effects on our neighbors, even our ASEAN neighbors,” he explained.

“We are really very careful when we select for instance the scenario that we are going to exercise, but as I said, this isn’t focused only on combat,” he pointed out.

Brawner said China or any other neighboring country is not informed of the specifics of the Balikatan as it is public knowledge anyway and is regularly announced by the military.

“It’s really not a secret that we hold this Balikatan exercise but we also have an observer program which is injected into the Balikatan exercise where we allow our partners to observe the exercises,” he said, referring to partner nations like Japan, South Korea, Australia and ASEAN neighbors.

Meanwhile, PCG Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu on Tuesday, February 21 called on his men to remain steadfast in their task of protecting the country’s territorial waters.

“We carry the weight of great expectations from both the Filipino people and the global community. It is our solemn duty to uphold the best interests of our country and our people and to never falter in our commitment to this cause,” Abu said in a speech after giving awards to crewmembers of Malapascua and BRP Teresa Magbanua in recognition of their efforts to protect Filipino fishermen.

“As we continually muster our courage, may I remind all the coast guardians to never lose sight of the aspirations that we all set forth at the beginning of my term for us to collectively accomplish,” he added.

He praised PCG officers and men “who have displayed exceptional courage and stern determination to defend” the Philippines and its territory.

He reminded the PCG personnel of the delicate situation in the West Philippine Sea, particularly in areas around Palawan.

“While we may not have the advantage of having larger and more sophisticated vessels, our unwavering determination and strong will to uphold our dignity as one solid independent nation and assert our sovereign rights will undoubtedly make a significant difference,” he said. 

US senators say health worker shortages ripe...

PAGE 1

The shortage of health

care workers of all sorts is a widespread problem, but is especially acute in rural areas and minority communities. 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 higher-income 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

Philippine Marines with the Joint Rapid Reaction Force conduct an amphibious landing utilizing logistical navy ships to seize a scenario-based objective as part of the Balikatan joint exercises in this 2016 photo. Philstar.com photo

SPROUTING ONIONS. Amid reports of massive hoarding of red onions, a man prepares to sell sprouted onions for only P50 per kilo in Davao City on Monday, Feb. 20. The retail price of onions skyrocketed to as much as P700 per kilogram in December last year due to a shortage of supply that was traced to hoarding.

PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.

San Francisco house explosion and fire kills...

The family’s two-story home in San Francisco’s Sunset District exploded Feb. 9, 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)

US senators say health worker shortages ripe...

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.

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 Lewis-McChord.

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

Making public transit safer...

similar incidents were being mislabeled and dismissed,” Lee said.

Peter Kerre founded Safe Walks NYC in January 2021. He created an Instagram page, setting up a program of volunteers to walk with people to and from transit stops in Brooklyn. In May 2021 Safe Walks expanded to cover Manhattan below 59th St.

“Communities were eager for public safety solutions that did not involve law enforcement. Safe Walks was a great fit, especially for women of color, many of whom reported having negative interactions with the New York Police Department,” Kerre said.

During an Ethnic Media Services press call last week, Kerre told reporters that in most cases victims were alone. “Not only in the subway but walking from the subway or walking elsewhere in the city,” he said. “So simply having an extra person with you will make a very big difference.” Kerre said if people feel unsafe, a volunteer can ride with them on the subway.

However, it has not solved “the massive intersection of crises” that are at the root of the problem and ever-present on New York subways, says Kerre.

First of those: all the hate crimes mainly targeting the Asian American and Pacific Islander community (AAPI). Second, all the mentally ill people on the street.

Third, all the homeless who are in crisis due to unemployment and financial hardships, and then there is the “elephant in the room”: a breakdown in trust between law enforcement and the community.

“They’ve been flooding the New York subways with a massive police presence, increasing surveillance cameras and extracting the unhoused and unwell folks from the transit system but there’s been no indication of what’s being done with them. Many times they end up back within the subway system.”

Collecting data on ridership, ethnicity, and gender would help define the problem but so far New York officials haven’t done that like in California.

“What Senate Bill 434 would do is require that California’s top 10 largest public transit systems collect data from their passengers on the problem of harassment and uncomfortable behavior,” says California State Senator David Min. Min, the only Kirean American in the California Senate, is Vice Chair of the California Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Legislative Caucus. Min named the bill ‘Public Transit for All: Improving Safety & Increasing Ridership’ and introduced it February 13. A former law professor who specialized in banking and housing policy, Min has testified six times before Congress on these issues.

“There’s a saying in academia that the plural of anecdote is

data, and so we need hard data at this point if we want to develop solutions. What this would do is to give a voice to the millions of transit riders throughout the State of California,” he said.

Once we have that data, then we can start to develop solutions, Min says.

Janice Li is Board President of the Bay Area Rapid Transit System (BART). Her day job is with Chinese for Affirmative Action, a San Francisco-based organization that has led Asian American civil rights advocacy for more than 50 years.

Li says BART’s pre-COVID riders made 430,000 trips on an average weekday and made up 70% of Bart’s operating costs, about $1 billion/yr. But during the lockdowns ridership dropped to four percent and has since rebounded to just 40% of what it was. “We will not continue to exist if we cannot find new revenue streams,” Li says.

BART’s average rider has changed. Two-thirds are nonwhite, one third are in households with incomes under $50,000, and 44% don’t own cars. For the working poor of the Bay Area, BART is an essential mode of transportation.

“BART knows that in order to bring back riders, we must continue to prioritize safety. I am proud of the many new initiatives that we launched over the past three years, including our BART ambassador program, bathroom attendants, elevator attendants, and crisis intervention specialists,” Li said.

Making people feel safe means putting more BART personnel in our stations, at our platforms, and riding trains throughout our 50-station system spanning five Bay Area counties, she says.

BART has two new initiatives

— Not One More Girl, which is a youth-led campaign to address gender-based harassment and violence on BART, and Let’s Talk About Us, an art campaign to bring visibility to domestic violence in AAPI communities.

“These campaigns are creative and engaging ways for our riders to learn what they can do if they witness these situations happening and resources if they are victims or survivors themselves,” Li said.

Crime on BART trains is down to 7.45 crimes per 1 million trips. There were two homicides at the 24th St. Mission station last year. “Both times they were conflicts that happened in the neighborhood at the street level, where the victims ended up escaping into our underground system,” Li said.

She says what’s needed is more community-based resources to address homelessness, drug addiction, and mental health crises.

FREE AGAIN. A woman hugs an old man who was among the 205 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) who were granted clemency at the New

Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City on Monday, Feb. 20. A total of 416 PDLs were released simultaneously from the prison facilities of the Bureau of Corrections nationwide. PNA photo by Yancy Lim

Dateline PhiliPPines

IPU renews call for de Lima’s release as her detention nears its sixth year

by Kaycee Valmonte Philstar.com

MANILA — The InterParliamentary Union has renewed its call for the release of former Sen. Leila de Lima and to have all charges against her dropped already, as her detention nears its sixth year mark next week.

The decision was made during its 170th session held in Geneva from January 21 to February 2 this year. The Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians “is ever more convinced that the steps taken against Ms. de Lima came in response to her vocal opposition in the way in which the then President Duterrte was waging a war on drugs.”

Missing Pinay, 3 kids died in Turkey quake – embassy

by Pia lee-Brago Philstar.com

MANILA — A Filipina and her three children, previously reported missing, died in the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck southeastern Turkey near the Syrian border, according to the Philippine embassy in Ankara.

“It is with deepest regret that the embassy must confirm the passing of a Filipina and her three children, previously reported to be missing under the rubble in Antakya,” the embassy said in a statement.

The Filipina and her children were laid to rest by her Turkish husband in accordance with Turkish tradition.

“The embassy and the entire Department of Foreign Affairs family express their deepest condolences for this tragedy,” the embassy said.

More than 20 families are at the Philippine embassy’s shelter.

The embassy has met more than 70 Filipinos who have decided to remain in the provinces. It is accelerating the repatriation of Filipino citizens who want to return to the Philippines.

More than 46,400 people have died across Syria and Turkey since the earthquakes struck nearly two weeks ago.

Homeward bound Meanwhile, members of the 82-man Philippine interagency contingent sent by the government to help victims of the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey are now preparing to return home.

Office of Civil Defense spokesman Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said the search and rescue team is now on stand-by.

While waiting for instructions from local authorities if they will be tasked to conduct more search, rescue and retrieval operations, members of the team are helping the medical team in serving patients.

At the Laging Handa public briefing on Monday, February 20, Alejandro said the search and rescue personnel have cleared 38 buildings since arriving in Adiyaman in Turkey.

The medical team, on the other hand, has so far provided ambulatory medical care to at least 603 patients through a field hospital.

Alejandro said the entire contingent would leave Turkey on Feb. 24 and hopefully will be back in the country by March 1.

“Our medical team operates the field hospital every day.

Members of the search and rescue team no longer has search assignment, so they are helping the medical team,” he

Marcos OKs 19 projects to boost PH innovation

by Catherine S. Valente ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has approved 19 projects as part of his administration's efforts to promote and advance the culture of innovation in the country, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan announced Tuesday.

Marcos, who heads the National Innovation Council (NIC), gave the nod for the projects during a meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday, February 21.

"The Council has approved 19 projects or project proposals amounting to P115 million under the Innovation Grants—majority of which sought to address the pre-commercialization and commercialization requirements of innovative products or services, the enhancement of innovation facilities and services, and the conduct of capacity-building activities," Balisacan said during a Palace press briefing.

"The Marcos administration is committed to promoting and advancing the culture of innovation in the country through increased collaborations with the private sector, especially as we prioritize the development of infrastructure, pursue digital transformation, and work towards creating a more attractive and enabling business environment and investment climate in this term," he added.

Balisacan pointed out that innovation "plays a critical role in our pursuit for sustained and accelerated economic growth and development, as it serves as a catalyst for raising overall productivity and elevating the quality of our goods and services."

"Only through a collective national effort can we truly pursue and attain these goals for our future," said

added.

The Philippine government is also preparing to send help either by means of cash or non-food items to Syria, which was also affected by the strong earthquake. g

Should cases against de Lima continue, the IPU requests that one of their trial observers be present to monitor the conduct of her cases before branches 205 and 256 at the Regional Trial Court in Muntinlupa City.

The IPU expressed “grave concern” that de Lima “continues to languish” behind bars even after a key witness already retracted his statement against her.

The parliamentarians' group also pointed out that de Lima had to go through criminal

proceedings “with no clear end in sight,” noting that some official proceedings “maligned her as a woman and injured her dignity as a human being” with some of the sessions bringing to light her alleged sexual conduct.

Last year, star witness Rafael Ragos recanted his allegations of receiving money from New Bilibid Prison inmates involved in illegal drug trading and handed it to de lima’s aide.

Ragos is the former National Bureau of Investigation Deputy Director and former Bureau of Corrections Officer-in-Charge.

“In his retraction, Mr. Ragos said that he had been forced to testify against her by the then Secretary of Justice Vitaliano Aguirre II, who led the witch hunt against Ms. de Lima in the Philippines’ House of Representatives Justice Committee’s hearings in 2016,” the IPU noted.

Following Ragos' recantation, the Department of Justice however said they will leave it up to the courts to decide on the matter.

Ragos has already finished his testimony before the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 204, which is handling one of the two remaining drug cases of the former senator where the

former is key witness. De Lima's team has said they will seek provisional liberty for the former lawmaker again, through a supplemental for bail.

The Geneva-based IPU, composed of elected national legislative bodies from across the world, was established in 1889. It "works for peace and co-operation among peoples and for the firm establishment of representative democracy." (with reports from Kristine Joy Patag)

Balisacan, who also serves as head of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

"The Marcos administration reaffirms its commitment and determination to turn these visions and plans into a reality, and build a strong economic foundation for the future generations of Filipinos. What we desire is to not only improve the way we do things today, but also to make us better-prepared for whatever outcomes the future may bring," he added.

During the meeting, Balisacan said the Council, which serves as the government's main coordinating body for innovation policies, has also approved six Executive Members for 2023 to 2026, with the seventh slot to be filled by a climate change expert. These members, he said, come from the ranks of businesses, entrepreneurs, academe, and the scientific community.

Balisacan said the Councils also presented to the President salient features of the Republic Act 11293 or the Philippine Innovation Act, as well as updates on the formulation of the National Innovation Agenda and Strategy Document.

"This document outlines the country's ten-year vision and long-term goals for innovation and thus, serves as a detailed roadmap towards improving innovation governance," he said.

To recall, the National Innovation Council is a 25-member body tasked to develop the country's innovation goals, priorities, and long-term national strategy.

The president serves as the Council's chairman, with the secretary of the NEDA as vice chairman. They are joined by sixteen ex-officio members along with seven executive members from the private sector who were nominated during the meeting. g

ECO-FRIENDLY BAGS. Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda (center) and Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval (left) look at ‘bayong’ (woven bags) made by residents of Barangay Potrero in Malabon City during a medical mission and distribution of Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) at the village covered court on Monday, Feb. 20. The lawmaker pledged PHP1 million in livelihood assistance for bayong weavers in the city which would be coursed through the Department of Labor and Employment. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Former senator Leila de Lima Philstar.com file photo

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. 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.

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.

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.

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 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

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

Marcos Jr.’s foreign policy: A quiet revolution?

host of traditional allies.

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

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

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

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

BBM names special envoy to China for trade, investment, tourism

MANILA – President Ferdi-

nand R. Marcos Jr. has picked businessman Benito Techico as his special envoy to China for trade, investments and tourism.

Marcos administered the oath of office to Techico in a ceremony held at Malacañan Palace in Manila on Tuesday, February 21, based on a video uploaded by state-run Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM) on its official Facebook page.

"President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. administers the oath of office to Mr. Benito Techico as the Special Envoy of the President to the People’s Republic of China for Trade, Investment and Tourism in a ceremony at the Study Room in Malacañan Palace on Feb. 21, 2023," RTVM said.

As Marcos' special envoy to China, Techico is tasked to coordinate with government officials, business leaders and other important stakeholders to promote and improve economic cooperation between the Philippines and China, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in another Facebook post.

The PCO also shared several photos of the oath-taking ceremony.

The Office of the President (OP) said Marcos is optimistic that with Techico's appointment, the two countries' ties would improve.

"During the ceremony, the President emphasized the importance of Mr. Techico's appointment, expressing his hope that it

would bring forth new opportunities for economic development, growth and most importantly, peace and stability between the Philippines and China," the OP said.

Malacañang has yet to release Techico's appointment paper.

Prior to his new position in the government, Techico served as chief executive officer and president of Philippine Blue Cross Biotech Corp.

Marcos' foreign trips have so far generated a total of 116 investment projects worth PHP3.48 trillion (USD62.926 billion), with China yielding the highest investments amounting to USD24.239 billion, based on a report from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). (PNA)

Rising sea level threatens stability of boundaries, Philippines warns

by Pia Lee Brago Philstar.com

MANILA — The Philippines warned that rising sea level threatens the stability of its boundaries, as a United Nations agency highlighted coastlines being “pushed” inward thus affecting baselines from which countries’ maritime zones are measured.

During a UN Security Council meeting on sea level rise and its implications for international peace and security held recently, Ambassador and deputy permanent representative Ariel Rodelas Peñaranda, chargé d’affaires of the Philippine mission to the United Nations, asserted that the convergence of scientific opinion should guide UN member states in pursuing a common security agenda on sea level rise.

He said the Philippines, with more than half of its cities and communities located along its coasts, is one of the most vulnerable to sea level rise due to anthropogenic climate change.

The Philippines has observed sea level rise at 60 centimeters, about three times that of the global average. He noted that the impacts of sea level rise threaten all the elements that encompass the national security of the Philippines.

“The nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the people’s well-being, core values, and way

of life, among others, are being threatened, especially those living in the coastal areas,” Peñaranda said.

He said that it is important that discussions on the implication of sea level rise on peace and security be always peoplecentered.

As sea level rise threatens stability of boundaries, Peñaranda warned against inference in favor of ambulatory baselines, and stressed the importance of certainty, predictability and stability in boundaries, which will also serve to prevent conflict.

He said that the UN, especially the Security Council, should take into account the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, including their projections and recommendations.

According to recently released data from the World Meteorological Organization, global average sea levels have risen faster since 1900 than over any preceding century in the last 3,000 years.

It warned that, even if global warming is “miraculously” limited to 1.5 degrees, the planet will still see a sizeable rise in sea water levels.

Bogdan Aurescu, Romanian foreign minister and cochair of the International Law Commission Study Group on SeaLevel Rise, agreed that climate change-related sea level poses a real risk to over two-thirds of UN

member states.

Outlining a range of sea level rise implications, he said coastlines are being “pushed” inward, affecting baselines from which countries’ maritime zones are measured and therefore threatening countries’ access to resources. While several actions are available to protect countries’ coastlines, including physical barriers, their costs remain out of reach for many of the countries worst affected.

UN Secretary General Antonio Gutteres said some nations’ coastlines have already seen triple the average rate of sea level rise as he warned that, in the coming decades, low lying communities and entire countries could disappear forever.

“The danger is especially acute for nearly 900 million people who live in coastal zones at low elevations — that is one out of 10 people on earth,” Gutteres said. “We would witness a mass exodus of entire populations on a biblical scale, and we would see ever-fiercer competition for fresh water, land and other resources.”

The Security Council Open Debate is aimed at highlighting the risks to international peace and security posed by sea level rise, and exploring ways how the Council can address these risks in the global security architecture and invest in preventive mechanisms. g

Bill legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes pushed

MANILA – Two members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, February 21 pushed for the passage of a bill legalizing marijuana or cannabis for medicinal purposes.

During a public hearing, Surigao Del Norte 2nd District Representative Robert "Ace" Barbers, House Committee on Dangerous Drugs chairperson, said that while cannabis may be legalized for medicinal use, House Bill (HB) 6783 does not allow its recreational use.

“Recently, more and more countries are easing regulations on the said drug for medicinal purposes. Other countries have already allowed its recreational use. For our purposes, we will limit it for medicinal purposes only,” Barbers said.

Former House Speaker and now Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez authored HB 6783 seeking to remove cannabis from the list of illegal drugs and substances.

Alvarez said the classification of cannabis and its derivatives, as a dangerous drug, "makes no sense at all." "And we must correct this absurdity,” he said.

Barbers said there is evidence that cannabis oil and other derivatives are helping seriously ill patients.

“It is just a matter of time before we are deluged with calls

to open our eyes and minds to the latest scientific developments now benefiting humanity,” he said. “If our chemical heavy pharma couldn’t find the cure to these illnesses, why would we stand in the way and deprive the afflicted of relief and enjoyment of their lives.”

He said it is about time that authorities should look at the positive side of the substance of cannabis.

“If there is a good side to it, then by all means we should consider it. Look at the substance amphetamine, a major component of shabu. It is a critical component or ingredient of many medicines now being consumed worldwide,” Barbers said.

In defending his bill, Alvarez pointed out that many acts of violence, crime and fatal accidents are attributable to the consumption of alcoholic beverages, lung cancer to cigarette smoking and diabetes to sweets and soft drinks consumption, and yet the government allows the production and sale of these products.

“Something is definitely not right,” Alvarez said.

Despite the injuries that alcohol, cigarettes and soft drinks bring, the government still allows their production and sale

HOUSING SERVICES

simply because of tax revenues, he said.

“If this is the ultimate saving grace that justifies allowing said products to be produced and sold to the public, then with more reason cannabis should be allowed. It is a potential source of billions worth of revenues. The experience of other countries and states that rolled back senseless prohibition against this substance is clear proof,” he added.

Alvarez cited the State of Colorado, which was able to collect over USD1 billion in cannabis tax revenues since legalizing it in 2014. In 2021, Colorado collected USD423 million from cannabis tax revenues, up almost 10 percent from the prior year.

According to a study by the RCG Economics and Marijuana Policy Group, should the State of Nevada legalize recreational cannabis, the move will support over 41,000 jobs by 2024 and generate over USD1.7 billion in labor income, he added.

“Let us give cannabis a second chance. Let us make this happen by giving our all-out support for HB 6783, otherwise known as An Act Removing Cannabis and any Form of Derivative Thereof from the List of Dangerous Drugs and Substances Under Existing Laws’,” he said. (PNA)

RITUAL. Eleonora Atencio (right), 43, a member of the Dumagat/Remontado indigenous people in Tanay town, Rizal province feeds her 5-month old daughter Liang during the ritual food ceremony at the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) compound in Balara, Quezon City on Tuesday, Feb. 21. The MWSS has turned over a total of P160 million in “disturbance fees” to the Indigenous Peoples Organizations (IPOs) of Rizal and Quezon provinces for their respective ancestral domains which were affected by the construction of the P12.2-billion New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project. PNA photo by Ben Briones

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

by HANNAH MALLORCA

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.

(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

Filipino Canadian teen gets rst-ever platinum ticket from ‘American Idol’

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 nag-mature 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.

FILIPINO Canadian teen Tyson Venegas won the first-ever 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 17-year 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-year-old.”

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 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)

PNAA members return to the Philippines for the rst 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)

Inquirer.net

Coco Martin Photo from Instagram/@dreamscapeph

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

PNA of Metropolitan DC turned over

baths to the Aetas in Castillejos, Zambales during their

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.

Tyson Venegas Photo from Instsgram/@tysonvenegas

Atty. Gurfinkel answers immigration questions from Kapamilya in Las Vegas on Citizen Pinoy

IN this encore episode, leading U.S. Immigration Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel and the Citizen Pinoy team went to Radiant Beauty Skincare Med Spa, a skincare clinic co-founded by husbandand-wife team of Frances Calayan-Cuento and Mariel

“Muyie” Cuento, to answer immigration questions from Kapamilya in Vegas.

• Jeff wants to know if he can petition his brothers, and how much time it will take before his siblings can join him in the U.S.

• While Rudy can petition

his stepson, it will take at least 11 years for the priority date to be current. He asks if there are other, faster options for his stepson to come to the U.S.

• Richard’s friend came to the

Eugene ‘still learning’ after 3 decades in showbiz

by nathalie toMada Philstar.com

THE Eugene Domingo starrer

Ten Little Mistresses is currently No. 1 on Amazon Prime Video.

The First Filipino Amazon Original movie is the latest offering of the Idea First Company’s Jun Robles Lana (director) and Perci Intalan (producer), the duo behind commercially successful and critically-acclaimed movies such as Big Night, Panti Sisters, Born Beautiful, Die Beautiful, Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes, Bwakaw, Barber’s Tales and Kalel 15. Prime Video earlier announced that it will stream worldwide in more than 240 countries and territories starting Feb. 15.

The murder-mystery comedy tells the story of Filipino widowed billionaire Valentin Esposo (John Arcilla) and his 10 mistresses who will exhaust all means and ways to assume as the next legal wife. Eugene is the trusted mayordoma Lilith who runs the household like clockwork, including serving and managing the multiple mistresses when they all come together under one roof. However, when Valentin mysteriously ends up dead, they all become prime suspects. Ten

Little Mistresses also stars Carmi Martin, Pokwang, Agot Isidro, Iana Bernardez, Donna Cariaga, Sharlene San Pedro, Kris Bernal, Christian Bables, Adrianna So and Kate Alejandrino.

As envisioned by direk Jun as “the mistress movie to end all mistress movies,” Ten Little Mistresses is irreverent, outrageous, uproarious, campy, right off the bat. It’s Eugene who sets the tone in the opening scene, where her blue-eyed Lilith character peeks out from the mansion’s window, before leading a musical number to the tune of Sampung Mga Daliri, and conducting the rest of the house staff like a choir.

It’s easily one of the standout scenes in the film and it let the comedienne live out her “frustrated musical star” dreams.

“Very Bollywood, ‘di ba?” quipped Eugene in a one-on-one interview with The STAR on the day of the streaming release, Feb. 15, wherein it quickly took the top spot among most-watched content by Filipino subscribers of the platform.

“We filmed that repeatedly as we tried to cover everything and it was so detailed. Nakaheels kami lahat tapos hagdanan. Hirap din ako sa tuhod, tapos may lyrics, may pa-choreograph. You really have to be conscious, you really have to be skillful here and I cannot be tired. If you show that you’re tired or ayoko na, lahat nakaka-affect, and I want to — mahirap sabihin ‘to hahaha — show the younger ones na dyusko, kung ako nga G na G (game na game), kayo din,” she said. “It was the base (theme) music for the whole film. And then, I felt like Cate Blanchett in TAR, parang conductor. Yes, nakakabitin! But if I heard it right, maybe in the future, if direk Jun would direct a full-length musical, I won’t be surprised.”

Interestingly, it was the dialogue-less, closeup scene before that musical number that proved to be more challenging to film. It took the 30-year comedic veteran 12 takes to nail it.

“This is the first sequence of Lilith. You would think that you just open the curtains and look out, no Parang naka-take 12 ako hahaha! Direk Jun was not satisfied with my first, second and third take, oh my god!” she shared.

“He was like, ‘Euge, I want you to feel excited at the same time worried. And think deeply of what you are supposed to feel in that moment.’ Oh my god, paano ba yun? Pinaka-mahirap kasi ang walang dialogue, tapos blue eyes pa ako, nag-da-dry. So, I had a lot of concerns. This is very technical but what I’m trying to say is that direk Jun is very clear with his directions… and he will not stop until you give it because it is needed.”

As for Lilith’s blue eyes, it wasn’t just any minor detail incorporated into her character.

Eugene had to test seven different shades of blue before they settled on the contact lenses she would use in the film, the color of which was as blue as superhero Thor’s eyes. But whenever she would put it on, “automatically, I felt like Lilith was inside me. Because of the blue eyes, nasa lines yun ni (co-star) Donna Cariaga, ‘Wala

talagang nakakaligtas sa blue eyes mo.’ It has a super power hahaha! It’s very perceptive. It’s a cute element that direk Jun added and I really enjoyed it. Yun palang, ang camp na!”

Interestingly, when it came to details and requirements of her roles, her approach nowadays is to fully trust the director and the script. This is because Eugene, whose first-ever film appearance was in the 1991 drama Emma Salazar Case, has since “changed” as an actress and comedian.

“I’m very dependent on everybody on the set — (it’s all about) dependence and respect. Because you can’t dictate this or that. I’ve done that. I’ve done all kinds of how to do this job. But all throughout, I’m very committed. But I have changed,” she shared.

“Before I was too serious, even in comedy, and with too much preparation and planning, (which could result in) frustration. And with frustration, you become lonely, you try to play yourself for everything… and it ruins things. So as an actor, after all these years, I learned to trust. Trust everybody because they are thinking for you and they got you because they believe you can deliver as an actress.”

Direk Jun has previously tapped the actress in movies like Big Night and Barber’s Tales, which was Eugene’s last lead role in a drama film.

“I always say to direk Jun, you always create new things for me and I like that. I don’t even have to think for myself. They’re all thinking of the details. Imagine all of us, including the 10 queridas plus John Arcilla, Donna Cariaga and with the special participation of Cherry Pie Picache, lahat sila inisip yung look, the costumes, the details. So, if you get to be invited by Jun Lana, ‘wag ka na masyadong mag-isip. Just memorize your lines and follow the directions.”

Meanwhile, Ten Little Mistresses wasn’t all fun, camp and irreverence though. There’s a scene in the latter part where everyone is present in one frame. After scene after scene of the mistresses trying to outdo and upstage each other, with outrageous costumes and all, this particular scene shows them stripping down the excesses, and seemingly looking one and the same. It drives home the message of self-love, being true to who you are, and the power of women coming together.

Talking more about this scene, Eugene said, “I’m so touched by the scene, where all of us admit our faults and we forgive each other. Forgiveness as much as loving — it’s strong, both feelings, and it really enriches the relationship. And if you forgive it means, there’s love.”

“It’s a scene where the women admitted to themselves this is not right, so we should not be silent. And these things that we put in our bodies… this is not us. We’re just trying to impress someone, but it’s not who we are… There’s real beauty in you by simply being you,” she added.

Worth-noting as well is that Ten Little Mistresses had Eugene acting alongside a newer generation of actresses and comediennes. She poked fun at being addressed as a veteran along with Pokwang, Agot Isidro, Carmi Martin during the presscon. But the younger cast members made it no secret how much they idolized their “seniors” in the industry, like Donna who gushed with admiration and appreciation for Eugene.

Nagulat ako na ganun na. Kumbaga, oh my god, it’s our turn. We are the veterans now hahaha. Because in my mind and in my heart, I’m still trying to do something. I’m not like, OK, veteran. No, I’m not. I’m still learning to do other things.

I’m still on the path of that — learning. It’s just that nauna lang ako ng medyo madami-daming taon. Pero, ay ganito pala, ako na pala hahaha!”

Eugene is careful to dish out advice as she readily acknowledges that she belongs to another generation and time.

“Their generation is also different. What advice can we give them if we’re really not the same – in terms of working conditions and environments?” she admitted.

Nevertheless, whenever asked about how to achieve career longevity, her honest tip for them is to become a good teammate.

“Make sure you are a likable person at work and you’re very professional so that people will always be excited to work with you. That’s longevity for me — yung magaling ka talaga makisama and you deliver the goods very well so that producers will be happy, ‘Ah, you get her, she’s very reliable.’ So hindi mauubos, laging may happening in your life as an artista

“And please to the younger ones, once you have the money, the connections, the influence, please don’t do drugs. Please don’t destroy yourself. Because sometimes, it’s not always happy, sometimes you’re frustrated and sad, or you feel something is lacking. Just don’t do drugs. Just take a break and pray.”

Lending full support to Eugene from shoot to the blue-carpet gala premiere and presscon was her significant other, Italian movie critic Danilo Bottoni. Incidentally, Eugene first met him when direk Jun’s Barber’s Tales was screened at the Udine Far East Film Festival in Italy, where it won Third PlaceAudience Award, back in 2014.

Eugene got the audience cheering when she acknowledged Danilo in the audience. She shared that while he was used to festivals and premieres abroad as a film buff and critic, he got shy during his loved one’s Manila film premiere.

“Sabi ko, ‘Babe, why didn’t you ask a question?’ He said he was shy. Then afterwards, when we were home, he said, ‘I had a question.’ I said, ‘That’s a good question, why didn’t you ask that?’ His question was — I will share it with you — in the last scene where the girls remove their hats or their headdresses, what’s the significance of that?” Eugene recalled.

Ano sagot ko? Wala. Hinalikan ko lang siya! Hahaha!”

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.

of

through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo.

Eugene Domingo plays the trusted and blue-eyed mayordoma, Lilith, who runs the household of the billionaire playboy Valentin (John Arcilla), in the first Filipino Amazon Original film Ten Little Mistresses. Photos from Instagram/@eugenedomingo_official

Growing old is a privilege

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.

SAN FRANCISCO – Philippine

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 welldeveloped 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, high-risk 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

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 video-guided (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.

Consul General in San Francisco

Neil Ferrer paid a courtesy call on San Francisco’s new Chief of Protocol Maryam Muduroglu at the San Francisco City Hall last January 26.

Consul General Ferrer extended his congratulations to Muduroglu on her appointment as the city’s new Chief of Protocol. He also thanked the support of the City Mayor’s Office of Protocol to the Consulate through the years.

Muduroglu conveyed that her office is ready to welcome visiting Philippine officials to the city, and to assist the Consulate in making their visits meaningful. Both officials discussed forthcoming activities, including the 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders Meeting that will be held in San Francisco in November, possible visits of Philippine senior officials to San Francisco this year, and cultural programs and events, including the sister-city relations between Manila and San

DORIS Trinidad Gamalinda, poet, essayist, and editor of several national publications, died on Monday, February 13, 2023, in Manila. She was 95.

Have I told you lately that I love you — and how to avoid scams?

VALENTINE’S Day just passed. Maybe you sent a card to your grandmother, grandfather, or the older adult in your life. But if you haven’t told them lately that you love them, pick up the phone and call, too. While you’re catching up, remind them that you’ll never pressure them to wire you money or buy you gift cards — but a scammer might.

Scammers use fake family emergencies to target older adults. They call pretending to be a grandkid in trouble, or a lawyer or police officer on the scene.

They ask for money, but once the grandparent finds out there was no emergency, the scammer’s gone — and so is their money. You may not get these scam calls, but chances are you know someone who will get one — if they haven’t already. Sharing is caring. Here’s what you might say to help an older adult in your life spot a scam:

• “I’ll never call and ask you to send money for an emergency. That’s a scam. Hang up!” No matter who a caller claims to be, resist the urge to send money immediately. If they ask you to pay in ways that are hard to trace

— by wiring money, sending a money order, or paying with gift cards, reloadable cards, or cryptocurrency — that’s a scam.

• “If someone pressures you to secretly send money to get me (or someone you know) out of trouble, that’s a scam. Slow down and check it out.” Scammers don’t want you talking to anyone else and realizing it’s a scam. Don’t

keep it quiet, especially if you can’t reach the person who’s supposed to be in trouble. Call someone else you trust to help figure out whether there’s really an emergency. Learn more about scams that target older adults at ftc.gov/ PassItOn and report scammers to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. (Terri Miller,?Consumer Education Specialist, FTC)

Francisco.

Muduroglu was appointed by San Francisco Mayor London

Breed in November 2022, succeeding the city’s longtime Chief of Protocol Charlotte

Doris Trinidad, as she is known in journalism and literary circles, is the mother of Marisse Gamalinda-Abelgas, former editor of the Philippine Post and Hiyas Magazine, and motherin-law of Val G. Abelgas, publisher-editor of the Los Angeles-based Philippine Post. She is also the mother of awardwinning New York-based poet, novelist and journalist Eric Gamalinda.

Born Adoracion Trinidad on November 15, 1927, to school teacher Aurora Cañizares and lawyer Jesus Trinidad, she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, summa cum laude, from the University of Santo Tomas, where she was also Assistant Literary Editor of The Varsitarian. She also attended high school at the Holy Ghost College (later College of the Holy Spirit) and was Valedictorian at Legarda Elementary School, a few steps from her ancestral home in Sampaloc, Manila.

She began her writing career as a section editor for the Manila Times until its closure during Martial Law in 1972, and later worked as associate editor for Focus Manazine, editor of the Times Journal’s People Magazine and the Journal’s lifestyle editor.

In 1980, she joined the staff of the National Media Production Center, and a year later became editorin-chief of Woman’s Home Companion, during which time she turned the magazine into the most widely circulated lifestyle magazine in the country.

She retired in 1995 and devoted her later years pursuing her first love — writing — and rapidly published a succession of books, including Looking Glass (essays, New Day Publishers, 1991); Permutations of Love (essays, Anvil Publishing, 1996); The Way of the Miracle (essays, Giraffe Books, 1998); Mysteries and Memories (essays, Giraffe Books, 2000); and Now and Lifetimes Ago (poetry, Giraffe Books, 2001). She also published Two Voices (poetry, University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, 2012 ) with Gloria G. Goloy.

In addition, her poems were also included in the

Mailliard Shultz. She is a native San Franciscan and an active member of the community. She has served on the board of several notable San Francisco organizations. g

anthology Babaylan (Aunt Lute Books, San Francisco, 2000).

Mysteries and Memories was awarded Book of the Year by the Manila Writers Circle.

In his introduction to the book, F. Sionil Jose noted “the felicity of language that only a poet can muster, the depth of perception and the illumination that clear thinking brings.”

Eugenia DuranApostol, in her introduction to Permutations of Love, said: “She rises above mere journalese and ends up enchanting you with single-topic literary musings, many of them poems-in-the-rough, almost-poems, not-quitepoems, unmetered poems. For by nature, Doris is a poet.”

Her alma mater UST also honored her with the Ustetika Award in 2006 and Philets Owl Award in 2010.

Doris Trinidad’s work explored the interconnectedness of writing, personal history, and memory, placing great value on the significance of family, friendships, art and literature, spirituality, and even politics and personal loss. Throughout her life, she remained a relentless student of the great metaphysical mysteries and the quest for God and meaning, and of being and becoming. She wrote: “I will just remind you of the treasures that might be lying in your own mind, buried for years by layers of more pressing, more recent experiences. Find a quiet corner and a restful moment to coax them out. They are part of what you are.”

Doris Trinidad Gamalinda was married to the late Marcial Gamalinda, Jr., and the mother of eight children, Marcial III (“Bunny”); Marisse Abelgas; Marco; Celine Borromeo; Eric; Diana; Marvin; and Miel Lanting. Her siblings included the late Agnes Tolosa, formerly Dean of Student Affairs at the College of the Holy Spirit, and the late Dr. Juvenal Trinidad of the UST Faculty of Medicine. She leaves behind 14 grandchildren and 11 greatgrandchildren.

Viewing was held at St. Peter’s Memorial Chapels in Quezon City, and she was interred on Feb. 19 at Loyola Memorial Park. g

And after answering questions from Kapamilya, Atty. Gurfinkel sits down with Radiant Beauty Skincare Med Spa co-founder Muyie Cuento, who shares “beauty secrets” and their impact on the community they serve. Tune in to Part 1 of “Your Tanong, My Sagot,” with Kapamilya from Las Vegas, Nevada on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, February 26 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET through select Cable/ Satellite providers), right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen

Jeff (left) asks Atty. Gurfinkel (right) how long it will take him to petition his brothers.

From left: Consul Vanessa Bago-Llona, San Francisco Chief of Protocol Maryam Muduroglu, Consul General Neil Ferrer, and Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil. San Francisco PCG photo