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MARCH 4-10, 2022 Volume 15 - No.17 • 16 Pages

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DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

AG Bonta announces arrests in alleged Inland Empire hospice scam totaling over $4.2M CALIFORNIA Attorney General Rob Bonta on Thursday, February 24 announced the arrests of 14 individuals who were charged in San Bernardino County Superior Court in connection with two hospice companies accused of stealing more than $4.2 million from the federal Medicare and state Medi-Cal programs.

Based in San Bernardino County, New Hope Hospice, Inc. and Sterling Hospice

Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO

141 Filipinos still remain in Ukraine despite escalating violence

by NEIL

ARWIN MERCADO Inquirer.net

MANILA, Philippines — Some 141 Filipinos — some of whom are hesitant or refuse to be repatriated — are still in Ukraine amid the

conflict with Russia, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported Wednesday, March 2.

DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola said 45 Filipinos are in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv who do not want to evacuate yet despite the threat of the

invasion. Meanwhile, 15 are in Lviv which is close to the border of neighboring country Poland.

Moreover, 55 Filipinos are located close to the border of Hungary who evacuated but are

 PAGE 2

Long-awaited gateway in LA’s Historic Filipinotown to be unveiled in May

by AJPRESS

 PAGE 7

President Rodrigo Duterte presides over a meeting with key government officials prior to his at the Malacañang Palace on Monday, February 28.

Malacañang photo by Karl Alonzo

HOLY SYMBOL. A nun places ashes in the shape of a cross on the forehead of churchgoers of the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help commonly known as the Baclaran Church on Ash Wednesday, March 2. This year’s observance of the religious occasion focuses on the call for the faithful to pray for peace in Ukraine, which has been plagued by Russia’s invasion.

PNA photo by

THE highly-anticipated gateway marking the entrance of Historic Filipinotown is slated to be unveiled in May, according to an update from Los Angeles Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell’s office.

In a release sent on February 25, O’Farrell, whose district covers Historic Filipinotown, said the Eastern Gateway will be installed and publicly unveiled in time for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May. “After many years, countless meetings, and a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, I’m proud to share that the Historic Filipinotown Eastern Gateway will be installed and unveiled this spring,” O’Farrell in a statement. “This project

 PAGE 2

Pres. Duterte hopes Old transport woes New Filipina co-founded his successor will normal’ shift software aims to stymie continue war on drugs test ‘new D R J A human trafficking at the source

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, March 1 expressed hope that his successor would continue his controversial war against illegal drugs, saying he is worried that the drug problem would make a resurgence.

“Itong drugs, I hope that whoever would sit as President, would continue this — if not the ferocity that I did, and I accept it, maski man lang ‘yung a little lower than my standard,” he said in a taped public address aired on Tuesday morning, March 1.

 PAGE 4

by

EMPSEY

EYES AND EROME Inquirer.net

THE prepandemic problem of inadequate public transport reemerged on the first day of the new normal, with people cramming trains and buses as though the COVID-19 threat has been completely eliminated.

“Baka pati ’yung guardian angel mo ay sumuko na rin (even your guardian angel

NING

would give up),” said Joshua Llego, a 26-year-old junior architect who works in Ortigas, after seeing a big volume of passengers on the platform of the MRT 3 station on Quezon Avenue when he took the train during Day 1 of alert level 1 in Metro Manila.

The day before, he

 PAGE 4

New initiative hopes to reduce number of victims, especially those of Filipino descent

by KLARIZE

MEDENILLA AJPress

IN a digital world where scamming has essentially become institutionalized, the risk of falling prey to con artists, thieves, and swindlers has become unfortunately easier as

the internet evolves.

But the insidiousness of the deep underbelly of the internet largely centers around human trafficking, which has only increased in scope with the advent of the internet and social media.

 PAGE 4

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Long-awaited gateway in LA’s Historic...

Over 40 Filipinos arrive in Lviv and are awaiting repatriation amid the Russian invasion in Ukraine.

Photo from the Department of Foreign Affairs website

141 Filipinos still remain in Ukraine despite...

PAGE 1 not yet ready to cross the border to another country.

“Gusto muna nila doon. Nandun yung wait-and-see attitude (Some want to stay there for now. There is this wait-and-see attitude),” Arriola said in an interview with Teleradyo.

“The rest of them, kalat-kalat na po… Medyo kalat-kalat sila ngayon pero marami na rin ang nakatawid,” she added.

(The rest are scattered… They are scattered right now but many have already crossed borders.)

According to Arriola, 40 Filipinos have already been evacuated out of Ukraine.

However, she noted that some Filipinos refuse

or are hesitant to be repatriated.

Some Filipinos in Lviv who refuse to be evacuated were instead given financial assistance, said Arriola.

“We’re giving more kasi maraming may hesitance kasi yung iba married talaga sa Ukranian… Nagiging mahirap sa ating mga kababayan na iwan yung kanilang pamilya.

Because of the family separation, there is really a lot of hesitance,” she added.

(We’re giving more because there’s really hesitancy since some are married to Ukraine nationals… It’s hard for our countrymen to leave their families.)

Some household workers, Arriola said, also prefer to stay with their employers. g

PAGE 1 has been a labor of love by so many people in Historic Filipinotown. This beautiful, historic landmark will be a source of pride for the Filipino community, and will rightfully celebrate this vibrant neighborhood and the incredible contributions Filipino Americans make to the City of Los Angeles.”

As previously reported in the Asian Journal, the City of LA commissioned the gateway, named “Talang Gabay: Our Guiding Star,” to be placed along the stretch of Beverly Boulevard that designates the eastern entrance into the neighborhood.

Designed by Filipino artists Eliseo Art Silva — whose work includes the “Gintong Kasaysayan” mural in HiFi’s Unidad Park — and Celestino Geronimo, Jr., the gateway has design elements giving a nod to Filipino culture and its roots in Historic Filipinotown.

Among the symbols include the parol (star-shaped lantern associated with Christmastime), the Gumamela flower also known as hibiscus, which pays tribute to frontline workers; and the Sarimanok (a legendary bird in Maranao art that symbolizes good fortune).

The construction has a price tag of $587,000 and will rise 30 feet high and span 82 feet across Beverly Boulevard at the entrance.

LA Board of Public Works Commissioner Jessica Caloza, the first Filipina American on the commission who was integral in the planning of the gateway, said it is a part of LA’s investments in “projects that uplift underrepresented communities.”

“The key to building and enhancing the beautiful neighborhood we all know as Historic Filipinotown has always been community.

The community has long advocated for more visibility and was committed to bringing the Eastern Gateway to life, and thanks to Councilmember O’Farrell’s leadership and all our community partners, we are almost at the finish line,” said Caloza said in a statement.

The effort to install a landmark at the eastern entrance to Historic Filipinotown has been in the works for nearly two decades, beginning with a community study of Historic Filipinotown improvements commissioned in March 2003 by then-Councilmember Eric Garcetti, according to the release.

“Our community finally had a ‘win’ in 2002, when the City Council, under the leadership of then-Councilmember Eric Garcetti, officially designated a 2.5 square mile area just west of downtown Los Angeles

as Historic Filipinotown,” said Joselyn Geaga-Rosenthal, local community leader and Building and Safety Commissioner with the City of Los Angeles. “20 years later, we have another win: a majestic Eastern Gateway to Historic Filipinotown will rise on Beverly Boulevard! This was hard won — the result of 40 years of community advocacy getting key champions along the way, including this chapter today, from the City of Los Angeles and Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell.”

In 2018, through a Council motion, O’Farrell committed an initial $152,000 for the Eastern Gateway Project and then identified additional funding for the completion of the landmark. With full funding finally secured, the community helped guide the process which led to design renderings that were released in June 2020. Construction began in March 2021.

Community leaders and community-based organizations, including longtime legacy non-profits in Historic Filipinotown such as the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC), Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), and Filipino American Service Group, Inc (FASGI), also took part in the planning process.

“Pilipino Workers Center is excited and proud of being a part of the collective process to make this HiFi gateway project a reality!” said Aquilina Soriano Versoza, Executive Director of Pilipino Workers Center (PWC).

“It really took a robust collaboration of community and city officials to accomplish the completion of the eastern HiFi gateway project. The gateway is a great project for creating visibility for the Filipino American community in HiFi and Los Angeles. That visibility gives organizations like PWC more power to lift up the issues our community is facing.”

Currently, a 3D model of the installation is displayed at O’Farrell’s District Office along Sunset Boulevard in Echo Park.

An estimated 10,000 Filipino Americans continue to reside in Historic Filipinotown, while over 600,000 Fil-Ams are said to live in the greater Los Angeles area, as previously reported by the Asian Journal.

“Our community has been waiting for this for so long, and we are so excited,” said Cecile Ramos, longtime community leader. “Dreams do come true! As someone who has lived and worked in this neighborhood for many years, I am grateful that our beautiful community is being celebrated for its contributions to our great city.” g

The Eastern Gateway in Historic Filipinotown is expected to be completed in May 2022 in time for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The long-awaited project, which features elements of Filipino culture, will be placed on the stretch of Beverly Boulevard along the eastern entrance of the neighborhood.

Illustration courtesy of the Office of Councilmember Mitch

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From the Front Page

New Filipina co-founded software... Pres. Duterte hopes...

PAGE 1 Human trafficking — the illegal trade and exploitation of individuals to benefit from their work, service, and bodies — is also referred to as modern slavery, a highly sophisticated web of criminals that seek to profit from the torment, trauma, and torture of unsuspecting victims.

But as the global human trafficking network has grown, so have the efforts by anti-human trafficking advocates.

In conjunction with other anti-human trafficking advocates, community organizations, and coders, Annalisa Enrile, Ph.D. — a Filipina American professor of social work at the University of Southern California with almost 30 years of experience working on anti-human trafficking efforts — has developed and tested a new software that aims to thwart traffickers before they traffick.

The software, named Project Gridlock, currently zeroes in on sex trafficking — the coercion and transportation of individuals for the purpose of sex exploitation — by targeting advertisements on escort websites and other virtual avenues where pimps seek to recruit unsuspecting victims.

According to Enrile, the software’s algorithm goes through escort ads, picks up the phone numbers, and spams the pimps using language and messaging that makes it sound like a potential buyer trying to make a connection. And because the team utilizes a bunch of different phone numbers to communicate with these traffickers, they won’t know which calls are legitimate or ones coming from Project Gridlock.

Enrile said that Project Gridlock worked with the Los Angeles Regional Human Trafficking Task Force, law enforcement representatives, child welfare experts, trafficking survivors, and other experts on the subject matter to identify the websites and online avenues most frequented by traffickers, pimps, sellers and buyers.

Project Gridlock was launched in Los Angeles over Super Bowl weekend, and Enrile told the Asian Journal that from that Friday, Feb. 11 to Sunday, Feb. 13 the software was able to target 5,000 pimps and traffickers.

“We believe it causes disruption, and at the very least it pushes people out and at the very most, it requires perpetrators to address how they’re exploiting in a different way,” Enrile told the Asian Journal in a Zoom interview on Friday, Feb. 18.

“If this is where we are seeing the most growth, especially around large events like the Super Bowl and you see this explosion of ‘new-to-town’ ads, can you rough this system enough so that you can push these traffickers, who have these quotas to meet, out in the open?”

Enrile posed.

Enrile explained that it was difficult to get the project kickstarted because of the lack of visible achievements that come with prevention efforts, i.e. there’s not much to see before a trafficker trafficks.

When a trafficker who has already

Photo by Tim Tebow Foundation on Unsplash

trafficked is arrested by law enforcement, for example, they can measure the severity of that person’s crimes.

“It’s not really a win for them. And that’s a problem, like with any prevention program, it’s like, how do you measure something that doesn’t exist because you’ve stopped it?” Enrile said, adding that a large chunk of anti-trafficking efforts that are victim-centric focus on recovery after the fact.

“Let’s give [victims rehabilitation] services, but nobody ever wants to say, ‘Let’s teach buyers not to buy. Let’s teach perpetrators not to sell,’” she noted.

But Enrile noted that much of the support for the program came from support from anti-trafficking advocacy community. Two weeks before the Super Bowl, Enrile’s Filipina American friend — Charisma De Los Reyes, who also happens to be commercial sexual exploitation of children program coordinator for Child Welfare Services in San Diego County — helped raise funds to pilot the project.

Within five days of fundraising, the group garnered $10,000 to start the project, which Enrile said is constantly being refined to better serve the community in the name of protecting would-be victims and inhibiting traffickers.

“I think that you have to be willing to take a chance on these out-of-the-box ideas,” Enrile said.

And for Enrile, it is worth it to take on these large, disruptive changes to a massive global exploitation ring that operates in plain sight.

“Sex trafficking is a small percentage of the numbers when we talk about human trafficking, but it is responsible for almost the majority of the profit that is derived from human trafficking as a whole.

Human trafficking, according to the International Labor Organization (ILO), is a $150 billion industry, and sex trafficking specifically accounts for a whopping $99 billion.

Generally, traffickers tend to target migrants, disabled people, and other vulnerable individuals. But victims tend to be disproportionately women, specifically, women of color and children.

According to the ILO, 71% of trafficking victims are women and girls, and 1 in 4 victims are children.

As a Filipina American expert on the issue, for Enrile, there is inextricable emotional proximity to the fact that Filipinos are among the most-targeted groups by traffickers. Enrile explained

that the fact that labor is the Philippines’ largest export coupled with the fact that migration from the country is notably high, the risk of trafficking increases.

“We tend to take jobs that are also very invisible, jobs that are service-oriented and dirty, dangerous, and demeaning that makes us more vulnerable to trafficking,” Enrile explained.

According to the United States State Department’s report on trafficking from the Philippines, “A significant number of Filipino migrant workers become victims of sex trafficking or labor trafficking in numerous industries, including industrial fishing, shipping, construction, manufacturing, education, home health care, and agriculture, as well as in domestic work, janitorial service, and other hospitality-related jobs.”

Of the estimated 10 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in 170 different countries, 3% are working without contracts, making them more susceptible to trafficking.

Additionally, traffickers work with facilitators around the world through “social networking sites and other digital platforms, recruit unsuspecting Filipinos through illegal recruitment practices such as deception, hidden fees, and production of fraudulent passports, overseas employment certificates, and contracts to exploit migrant workers in sex and labor trafficking,” the State Department wrote.

The history of exploitation of Filipinos is deeply rooted in United States militarism when it comes to sexual exploitation. Enrile said the painful stereotype of Filipinas among American soldiers as “little, brown, f*cking machines” also influenced her work to stop sex trafficking, with Project Gridlock in particular, which sought out Filipinaand Asian-centric ads.

As of press time, Project Gridlock is in the process of possibly collaborating with law enforcement agencies and institutions that may benefit from the software to aid in stopping trafficking at the source. Enrile said that the team is constantly looking to refine the software and better target these traffickers to stop exploitation before it actually happens.

“It’s like a tennis game,” Enrile explained. “The traffickers get ahead, we get ahead, the traffickers get ahead and we get ahead. We’re constantly pivoting around each other to address these incremental shifts, but lately, I’ve been wanting to see what are the huge, disruptive shifts we can do to stop this problem.” g

PAGE 1 (I hope that whoever sits as President would continue the initiative — if not the ferocity that I did, maybe just a little lower than my standard.)

“Kasi talagang sisirain ang bayan natin. I am very worried of the resurgence of the drug problem,” he added.

(Because it will destroy our country. I am very worried about the resurgence of the drug problem.)

He said the continuation of the campaign against illegal drugs would protect the next generation because “they will have a serious problem in their hands” if the drug problem is not mitigated.

“Kung ganito katindi ang pamamalakad nila, kung

hindi sabayan ng katindi ng resolve, matatalo ka,” he added.

(If the drug problem is so serious now, if you don’t meet it with as much intensity, you will lose.)

Duterte earlier said he will never apologize for the fatalities that resulted from his administration’s bloody war on drugs.

In Tuesday’s televised public address, he reiterated that he instructed policemen to avoid getting killed in police operations.

“Sabi ko sa police, ‘wag kayo magpauna,” he said.

(I told the police that they should not let themselves be killed.) (By Daphne Galvez/ Inquirer.net)

Old transport woes...

PAGE 1 observed that the train coming from the North Avenue station had only a few passengers, making it easy for him to get a seat.

One obvious change he saw on Tuesday, March 1 was that the single line of passengers for each door of the train had doubled.

Llego also noticed that there were fewer marshals, who had the difficult task of maintaining proper distance among train passengers.

“There is this added aggravation of being exhausted apart from the fear of being infected,” Llego said of the “hassle” that he and his colleagues had to endure on the way to work.

“What I can see is that we are returning to the old normal.

For me, this ‘new normal’ concept is actually a return to the old ways based on my experience in [public] transport and the protocols,” Llego stressed. “[What] I observed [is] that we are forgetting what we should have learned from two years of the pandemic.”

On midmorning of Tuesday, a bus in Barangay Greater Lagro plying from San Jose del Monte in Bulacan to Quezon Avenue had nearly all its seats occupied.

Passengers seem to have started to go back to the old practices inside the bus: some have fallen asleep, one passenger secretly eating despite a rule prohibiting it, and another heard coughing, although everyone was wearing a face mask.

Plastic dividers used to maintain physical distancing inside the bus were now rolled up since capacity inside all modes of public transportation is 100 percent under alert level 1.

A group of transport advocates also noticed Llego’s observation, pointing out that transportation needed for the return of workers under alert level 1 has been “severely underestimated.”

Call for caution “We raised the alarm of a crisis in mobility since 2018 but there has been a lack of urgency to fully act on recommendations that will allow our roads to serve the average commuter who takes public transportation, bikes or walks,” AltMobility PH director Ira Cruz said.

During a meeting with President Duterte and other Cabinet officials in Malacanang on Monday night, February 28, the country’s vaccine czar, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., cautioned that there was still a need to “observe well” the implementation of alert level 1 every week while the government continued with its aggressive vaccination drive.

‘Historic event’ Galvez described the transition to alert level 1 as a “historic

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OPINION

FEATURES

Preparing for the new normal

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Philstar.com photo

AFTER two years of mobility restrictions, people are eager to shift to a post-pandemic “new normal” particularly in the National Capital Region, which accounts for about a third of the country’s economic output. There is high anticipation that by next week, the NCR will be de-escalated to Alert Level 1 and the economy can fully reopen.

After two years of battling COVID-19, however, the country is also fully aware of the continuing risks posed by the coronavirus. With the average daily COVID death toll nationwide steady at around 100, and considering the pandemic situation in other parts of the world, the country cannot rush the lifting of restrictions even as economic reopening continues.

The government’s pandemic response team has added metrics for de-escalation to Alert Level 1: 80 percent of seniors and persons with comorbidities as well as 70 percent of the general population must be fully vaccinated. Several epidemiologists say the additional parameters are not enough, and that the vaccination target for seniors with comorbidities should be 100 percent. At 80 percent, it would still leave about 1.8 million elderly and immune compromised at risk.

The consequences are being seen in the ongoing COVID surge in Hong Kong, where

hospitals have become overwhelmed. This has led to people who test positive for COVID including Filipina domestic helpers being forced out of their employers’ homes.

Hong Kong had enjoyed near-zero COVID cases for most of the pandemic, but the highly infectious Omicron variant managed to penetrate its defenses. And the cases have not been mild, which is why hospitals are overflowing with the infected. By most accounts, the cases needing hospitalization are mostly unvaccinated seniors and those with comorbidities.

Similar problems have been reported in Singapore and Indonesia, although their healthcare situation is not as dire as in Hong Kong. From below 200 cases per day in midDecember last year, Indonesia recorded 57,049 new Omicron-driven infections last Feb. 15 – breaking its pandemic record of 56,757 cases driven by the deadly Delta variant on July 15 last year.

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS WE are less than 11 weeks away from the consequential May 9, 2022 presidential elections. Campaign season is now in full gear with political rallies in different parts of the country, online discourse and

In the Philippines, people’s preference for cheaper antigen testing, whose results are not recorded by the government, is blurring the pandemic picture and skewing projections that are critical for determining COVID alert levels.

Hospital bed utilization, however, indicates that there is truly a downtrend at least in serious infections in the NCR.

Still, the unpredictability of Omicron and the possibility of more variants emerging make continued adherence to safety protocols of utmost importance amid economic reopening, particularly masking in public places, physical distancing and regular disinfection. The new normal does not mean pre-pandemic normal.

(Philstar.com)

Presidential debates: Finding your true north amid the deep toxic division fueled by fake news and disinformation

the controversial debates — all intended by the electoral system to give voters the opportunity to make better informed and conscientious decision in choosing the true leader who will steer the country in the right direction.

Unfortunately, the very

new platforms that help voters be better engaged and participative in this civic exercise has proven to be a double-edged sword. The painful fact we now realize is that people may be reaching out to other voters in different parts of the world, thanks to

social media and the internet, but are more deeply divided than ever, so much so that we feel we are living in two parallel universe.

Let us do a throwback to a not-so-distant past together.

In the olden days before social media and the internet,

we all watched and listened to the same choices of newscasts and interviews in a handful of channels, read the news from the same options of publications.

In a healthy democracy, news organizations aimed at protecting their integrity

and credibility to keep their viewership high, and so they exercised due diligence in confirming news from sources and do true honest to goodness investigative research before delivering the news.

This was changed by the PAGE 10

The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.

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D ateline PhiliPPines Bongbong, Sara Alert Level 1 not enough to achieve top OCTA survey full economic recovery - NEDA

by KAithReen

CRuz ManilaTimes.net

THE team of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio continued their domination of surveys of candidates in the May elections.

In OCTA Research’s February poll, Marcos was the choice for president of 55 percent of the respondents, 1 percent higher than what he got in OCTA’s December 2021 survey.

He dominated all subnational regions — 65 percent in Mindanao, 56 percent in Balance Luzon, 47 percent in the Visayas and 46 percent in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Marcos also ruled the socioeconomic classes, with

58 percent in the ABC group, 54 percent in the D and 55 percent in the E group.

Trailing him were Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo at 15 percent, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso (11 percent), Sen. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao (10 percent) and Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson (3 percent).

Domagoso was the second preference of voters at 29 percent, if their initial candidate drops out of the race.

Robredo had 16 percent; Marcos, 13 percent; Pacquiao, 12 percent; Lacson, 11 percent; labor leader Leodegario “Ka Leody” de Guzman, 1 percent; former defense chief Norberto Gonzales, 0.5 PAGE 8

by Alexis

RomeRo Philstar.com

MANILA — Full economic recovery would only be possible if face-to-face classes resume as in-person learning is expected to increase business activity and allow parents to go to work, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said Tuesday, March 1.

NEDA Director-General Karl Chua said while the placing of Metro Manila and 38 other areas under the most lenient Alert Level 1 would generate more economic activity and reduce unemployment, it won’t be fully implemented if parents need to stay home to help their children study.

Resuming in-person classes, Chua said, would free up the

time of one-fourth of parents who skip work or reduce work time to accompany their children who are having online classes.

“If we want a full recovery, Alert Level 1 is not enough.

Face-to-face learning should resume,” the socioeconomic planning secretary said at a press briefing.

Chua said face-to-face learning would also increase economic activity by P12 billion per week with the resumption of services around schools like transport, dormitories, food stalls and school materials. Resuming in-person learning would also avert about P11 trillion in productivity losses for every year of school closure.

He said the Philippines is losing about P22 trillion already since face-to-face classes have been suspended

for two years.

Holding in-person classes would also improve learning outcomes by about 50%, Chua added.

The NEDA chief said the benefits of resuming inperson classes are on top of the economic gains to be achieved from the placing of 39 areas, including Metro Manila, under Alert Level 1. Under the alert status, businesses can serve more customers or clients because they will be allowed to operate at full venue capacity.

The capital region and 38 other areas will be under the most relaxed classification from March 1 to 15.

The placing of some areas under Alert Level 1 would result in an additional P9.4 billion of economic activity and P3 billion in salaries per week, according to NEDA

estimates. The relaxing of restrictions is also projected to reduce the number of unemployed persons by 170,000 over the next three months.

Chua said the amount of additional economic activity would have been P16.5 billion per week while the additional salaries would have been P5.2 billion if the entire country were placed under Alert Level 1. He added that an Alert Level 1 status for the entire Philippines would have reduced the number of unemployed persons by 297,000.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez expressed confidence that the Philippines is heading towards economic recovery. He noted that the Philippine economy grew by 5.6% but it is still below the PAGE 7

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AG Bonta announces... Marcos still not sure about joining Comelec-initiated presidential debate PAGE 1 Care, Inc. reportedly enrolled patients who were not terminally ill into hospice care, many of whom told investigators that they were allegedly enrolled without their knowledge or understanding of what hospice was.

All of the arrested defendants face multiple felony counts including conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, insurance fraud, grand theft, and fraudulent insurance claims, with some defendants also facing charges related to identity theft, money laundering, and tax evasion.

Two defendants remain at large.

“End-of-life care is a difficult process for families to endure, and patients should be able to trust that their hospice providers are acting in good faith,” said Bonta. “The crimes allegedly committed by the defendants against their patients, Medicare, and our state’s MediCal program will not be tolerated. My office is committed to protecting the well-being of Californians and prosecuting those who abuse the financial integrity of our healthcare system.”

An investigation led by the California Department of Justice and assisted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General and the California Employment Development Department revealed that from 2015 to 2021, the defendants allegedly billed Medicare and Medi-Cal for millions of dollars, fraudulently claiming that they were providing hospice care to patients who had less than six months to live when in fact these patients were not terminally ill.

Each of the defendants allegedly played a role in the scam, which consisted of: paying illegal kickbacks to recruit patients for

hospice care, including patients who did not qualify for hospice because they were not terminally ill; taking patient identity information and using it to put them in hospice without their knowledge; falsely representing to patients what services they would be receiving; and billing patients with one company, only to switch them to the other company in order to avoid detection.

When a patient is enrolled in hospice care, they give up their opportunity under the Medicare and Medi-Cal programs to receive medical treatment to prolong their life, such as chemotherapy for cancer patients. As a result of the defendants’ alleged actions, numerous ineligible patients were incorrectly certified as terminally ill and tricked into receiving hospice services, which would have made access to potentially lifesaving medical care difficult in the event that any of them required it.

The case was investigated by the California Department of Justice’s Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse (DMFEA). Through DMFEA, the Department of Justice works to protect Californians by investigating and prosecuting those who perpetrate fraud on the Medi-Cal program.

DMFEA also investigates and prosecutes those responsible for abuse, neglect, and fraud committed against elderly and dependent adults in state licensed facilities.

DMFEA regularly works with whistleblowers, the California Department of Health Care Services, and state and federal law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute Medi-Cal provider fraud and elder abuse, and fraud by entities other than MediCal providers when their actions result in fraudulent claims. g

Alert Level 1 not...

PAGE 6 2019 level.

“That is the benefit of Alert Level 1. It will now allow us this year not only to hit back the 2019 level pre-pandemic, we can exceed it with the 6% to 7%. But Sec. Karl said it can be even higher than seven percent. Of course, barring outside forces like the Ukraine issue,” Lopez said during a meeting of the government’s pandemic task force last Monday, February 28.

“We are now on the road to full economic recovery towards building back better,” he added. g

by Neil

ArwiN MercAdo Inquirer.net

MANILA — Presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is still unsure whether or not he will join the debate organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“I don’t know, I’m still looking at the format,” Marcos Jr. said in an ambush interview on Tuesday, March 1 when asked if he will attend the Comelec-initiated event.

The Comelec presidential debate will be on March 19.

Marcos Jr.’s spokesperson, Atty. Vic Rodriguez, previously said that his presidential bet’s attendance at the activity will only be confirmed “if his hectic campaign schedules permit.”

The camp of Marcos Jr. earlier wrote Comelec and

Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

other presidential candidates, requesting to tackle the format of the debate prior to March 19.

In the letter, Marcos Jr.’s campaign manager Benhur Abalos Jr. said it would be “more proper and prudent if all presidential candidates will be given an opportunity to discuss before

Inquirer file photo

the Commission among themselves the format, which will include the issues to be discussed, the time allotment for each, the right to respond and rebut his/her arguments, who will be the moderator, among others.”

Earlier on Tuesday, the Comelec announced that it would inform presidential and

DRY. Residents of Barangay Anabu II in Imus, Cavite line up to get water from a Maynilad truck on Saturday, Feb. 26. The water service provider is doing maintenance activity to repair water pipes that caused the temporary service interruption.

PNA photo by Gil Calinga

vice-presidential candidates of the general topics that would be tackled in the debates.

Asked if he will attend now that the topics are to be released prior to the event, Marcos Jr. said: “That’s basically the same as the others.”

Marcos Jr. has been drawing flak for always declining major presidential interviews, debates, and forums that his rivals generally attend.

The first one Marcos Jr. turned down was an interview with veteran journalist Jessica Soho, who he called “biased.” He also skipped the presidential forum organized by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), citing supposed conflict in his schedule.

Most recently, he did not participate in the presidential debate organized by CNN Philippines.

But he attended the debate arranged by media network SMNI, which is owned by televangelist Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who earlier endorsed Marcos Jr. for president. However, presidential candidates like Senators Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao, Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, and Vice President Leni Robredo did not attend the SMNI debate.

Marcos Jr. has also so far accommodated interviews by broadcaster Korina Sanchez and TV personality Boy Abunda. g

Old transport woes test ‘new normal’...

PAGE 4 event” considering that it took place just a year after the government started its vaccination rollout.

“However, we still need to be vigilant and to guide the people, our local government units and all institutions to selfregulate and manage, and live with the virus,” the secretary said.

“We need to remain focused on improving [vaccination coverage by] providing boosters, providing protection to our children and seniors, and achieving a resilient ‘wall of protection,’” he said, adding that around three million seniors and an equal number of children age 12 to 17 are still unvaccinated, while only 10 million Filipinos have received their booster shot since October last year.

The government’s economic officials, on the other hand, are more optimistic about recovery with the shift to alert level 1.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua said on Tuesday that 62 percent of the country’s economy, covering 20.3 million workers or about 48 percent of the country’s workforce, would start recovering under the new normal.

He added that P9.4 billion worth of economic activity would be generated a week in areas under alert level 1,

translating to P3 billion in more salaries weekly.

Full on-site work in gov’t Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, for his part, said there would be more spending because “when people are going out, there will be more things to spend for on their way to work or home.”

Government agencies are also required to comply with the 100-percent on-site workforce deployment in accordance with a memorandum circular issued by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Monday.

Work-from-home arrangements may be required for workers who get sick, their close contacts, or asymptomatic workers who are waiting for the result of their COVID-19 test or completing the prescribed quarantine period.

At the televised Laging Handa public briefing, Civil Service Commission member Aileen Lizada said government agencies must check and ensure that workplaces and personnel are safe and health protocols are enforced at all times.

She also advised government agencies to get their Safety Seal from the Department of the Interior and Local Government to demonstrate that their worksites complied with the minimum public health standards and occupational safety and health regulations. g

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Bongbong, Sara top OCTA...

PAGE 4 percent; and Faisal Mangondato, 0.2 percent.

OCTA said 17 percent of respondents either refused to give an answer for their second choice for president or do not know who their second pick will be.

Duterte-Carpio was the preferred vice-presidential candidate of 43 percent of the respondents, 7 percent lower than last December’s rating.

She was followed by Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto 3rd (33 percent), Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan (10 percent), Dr. Willie Ong (7 percent) and Buhay party-list Rep. Jose “Lito” Atienza (1 percent).

Duterte-Carpio was the main candidate in Mindanao at 82 percent and the Visayas at 43 percent, while she tied with Sotto in the NCR at 40 percent.

Sotto took the lead in Balance Luzon at 46 percent.

Duterte-Carpio garnered 45 percent in ABC group, 42 percent in the D group and 48 percent in the E group.

Sotto was the top second choice at 30 percent among vice-presidential candidates, followed by Pangilinan (19 percent), Duterte-Carpio (13 percent), Ong (12 percent), Atienza (4 percent), Manny Lopez (1 percent), Carlos Serapio and Rizalito David (0.1 percent each), and Walden Bello (0.02 percent).

OCTA interviewed 1,200 respondents nationwide from February 12 to 17.

Marcos’ spokesman Vic Rodriguez said the results of the OCTA survey confirmed that the direct, onground communication campaign approach worked for the candidate.

“Certainly, there is no substitute to showing up in person, in flesh and blood, just to be in the company of millions of individuals one wishes to serve,” Rodriguez said.

Marcos and Duterte-Carpio also received the endorsement of a coalition of supporters of Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go. The coalition, led by senatorial candidate Greco Belgica, and referring to themselves as the Let’s GOUniTeam Coalition, is composed of more than 300 groups of Duterte DieHard Supporters (DDS) and Bong Go supporters in the 2016 and 2019 elections “who remained loyal up to this time.”

It said the coalition was established to “uphold the essence of [the] ultimate sacrifice made by much-loved Senator Go” after the withdrawal of his certificate of candidacy from the Commission on Elections.

“Following the lapse of [a] considerable coolingoff period of time after the heart-shaking withdrawal, [we] have finally accepted it, moved on, and came into a consensus to support UniTeam base on merit and track records of BBM-Sara tandem,” the group said in a statement.

The group lauded Duterte-Carpio for endorsing Marcos, highlighting that he was the only skilled, capable and efficient candidate among the presidential candidates.

Marcos’ competency to lead “was bolstered through the display of his attitude and character by not showing any retaliatory measure against his critics despite striking below the belt against his person and that of his family — an example of positive traits of a leader with [a] positive mental attitude which is crucial in making decisions in difficult times,” the coalition added.

The UniTeam campaign manager, former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr., accepted the manifesto of support presented by the coalition. g

COMMON STATION. Construction is ongoing at the Unified Grand Central Station, also called the North Triangle Common Station, along Edsa in Quezon City on Tuesday, March 1. Located between Quezon Avenue and FPJ Avenue, it will connect Light Rail Transit Line 1 and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 to the upcoming MRT-7 and Metro Manila Subway.

PNA

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SFIO announces new F&B expansions in Malaysia, regional headquarters in Dubai GLOBAL investment holding company Starfleet Innotech, Inc. (SFIO) (OTC: SFIO) announced a series of expansions across new markets for their food and beverage businesses. Through their Malaysia-based team, SFIO has launched Hungry Dudes, a mall kiosk concept for cafe fare in Kuala Lumpur, with additional sites reserved for later this year. SFIO will soon be converting these Hungry Dudes kiosks into locations for their flagship F&B business, Epiphany Cafe.

Over the next two years, the company is targeting to launch at least 100 licensed outlets, establish centralized commissaries to service them, and strike strategic partnerships with convenience stores to boost brand awareness. By the end of 2023, SFIO plans to have flagship sites for Epiphany Cafe in 10 major regions.

To that end, SFIO also just opened their regional headquarters in the United Arab Emirates, following the successful completion of their registration in Dubai. This office will oversee the conglomerate’s growth in the region, beginning with negotiations with key distributors for the company’s Gorgeous Coffee products. SFIO’s Dubai team is now conducting market research and feasibility studies, paving the way for Epiphany Cafe’s entrance into the Middle East. This regional office will also serve as the remote hub for SFIO’s technology division, managing the conglomerate’s subscription-based software and hardware offerings, such as the Neurosky health monitoring wearables that the company recently secured exclusive

distribution rights over within the United Arab Emirates.

“We kicked off this quarter with the announcement that 2022 will be the year we begin e x p a n d i n g aggressively,” said CEO Jeths Lacson.

“Not even halfway through the quarter, we’ve already made significant progress entering two new markets with our F&B offerings.”

“That said, it’s important to note that we are taking a ‘measure-twice, cut-once’ approach to this growth – entering markets only after we’ve done the requisite studies and properly localized our playbooks,” Lacson said. “We’re excited about all the immediate growth we’re seeing, both in terms of global footprint and shareholder value. But we want to ensure this growth is sustainable in the long-term. So, we’re investing heavily in understanding the markets we’re entering.”

To further facilitate that growth, SFIO is also building out the capacities of its Philippines-based technology division.

Richard Prodigalidad, who leads SFIO’s

technology efforts, describes this division as the “scaffolding supporting this period of hyper-growth”.

“Right now, we’re expanding in multiple important directions,” Prodigalidad said.

“We’re entering new markets, while also striking partnerships to fund and accelerate those expansions. Behind all that is a global team, operating across time zones and various markets. The only way to ensure this is all scalable is through technology.”

Prodigalidad leads a stable of developers, designers, project managers, and communications specialists working across blockchain, artificial intelligence, wellness technologies, e-commerce, and learning management systems.

Currently in the technology division’s pipeline is one such learning management system, designed to consolidate and streamline the training resources for businesses like Epiphany Cafe. Catering to the brands’ franchisees and employees across different markets, this digital learning platform replaces traditional training

methods, allowing for more affordable, scalable, and localized onboarding processes. In addition to being a knowledge hub for Epiphany Cafe’s franchise operations, these platforms will also see use across SFIO’s other units – offering on-demand access to the entrepreneurship master classes of The Global Academy and training courses for the real estate division’s agents.

According to Statista, the global online e-learning market is forecasted to grow exponentially to reach over $370 billion by 2026. This growth is led in large part by the use of learning management systems, which in 2019 generated roughly $18 billion in the U.S. alone.

“Having a platform like this allows us to grow rapidly while ensuring the quality of our operations and our workforce, keeping us aligned around latest developments and shared values,” Prodigalidad said.

“Eventually, we’ll be developing this proprietary learning management system into a subscription service for other organizations like SMEs that want to scale their knowledge sharing, continuous learning, and training processes. We’re planning to roll out this subscription service by the third quarter of this year.”

In the meantime, SFIO’s learning management system will be servicing new and existing Epiphany Cafe locations across New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, and the United States as early as Q2 2022.

(Advertising Supplement)

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MARCH 4-10, 2022 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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Presidential debates: Finding your...

PASSENGERS’ QUEUE. Public commuters line up to get a ride on Commonwealth Avenue in Philcoa, Quezon City on Monday, Feb. 28. The volume of passengers is expected to balloon after the government approved on Sunday, February 27 to place the National Capital Region and 38 other areas under Alert Level 1 from March 1 to 15.

PNA photo by

Solicitor General tells Comelec to scrap polls partnership with Rappler or risk court case

by Kristine Joy

Philstar.com

Patag

MANILA — Warning of potential court action, the Office of the Solicitor General is urging the Commission on Elections to rescind its Memorandum of Agreement with online news site Rappler for the May polls, claiming it “violates the Constitution and relevant laws.”

Solicitor General Jose Calida said the Comelec has until March 4 to withdraw from the arrangement with Rappler.

“Otherwise, the OSG as the People’s lawyer, may have to file the necessary case in court to declare the nullity of the MOA by 7 March 2022,” the OSG added in a statement late Monday afternoon, February 28.

The Comelec last week announced that it entered into a partnership with Rappler on “voter engagement and fighting disinformation in relation to the 2022 National and Local Elections.”

In its press statement dated February 23, the poll body said the online media company committed its resources to help them disseminate information and engage the public. “An online show, podcast, workshops and seminars are also in the pipeline,” it added.

SEC case, data sharing But Calida questioned the partnership and claimed it “will unwittingly grant Rappler, a foreign-funded entity, the monopoly of truths arising from its claimed factchecking accreditation from international entities.”

The solicitor general was referring to the revocation of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Rappler’s

Certificate of Incorporation in 2018 The SEC ruling has since been elevated to the Court of Appeals, and the court later ordered the regulatory body to look into the effects of Philippine Depositary Receipts of Omidyar Network to the company.

The SEC however upheld that the donation has “no effect,” according to Rappler’s lawyer in November 2021.

They have since appealed the finding.

But Calida insisted that Rappler is subject to the foreign equity restriction under the Constitution.

“Thus, the MOA contravenes this Constitutional limitation and the proscription against foreign participation in the conduct of the elections,” he added.

The solicitor general also questioned the authority given to Rappler to produce show for election-related information, to “alert” the poll body on election-related clams on social media, and to establish “PHVote Microsite,” which will contain information related to the polls.

Calida went as far as accusing Rappler of disseminating “unverified and, sometimes, false claims” and noting the Distributed-Denial-of-Service attacks on its website in insisting on their being “unfit” for the purpose of the MOA. DDoS attacks on news website have become more frequent in recent months and have targeted news sites other than Rappler. On Sunday, February 27, a DDoS attack took down the website of CNN Philippines as the network was hosting presidential debates. Newsrooms and press freedom organizations

have called for government action to look into the attacks.

Quoting Calida, the OSG said that if “Rappler goes on to implement the MOA, the credibility and integrity of the 2022 elections will be in shatters.”

But Rappler, in a statement, said Calida’s statement is “fraught with falsehoods, innuendos and hallucinations”, saying also that the memorandum of agreement with the Comelec is to “[help] the poll body disseminate truthful information to voters and ensure transparent elections.”

Rappler said it has been partnering with the Comelec since 2013 and that the poll body has similar arrangements with other media companies.

“This claim reads like the column and social posts of the lobbyists of a presidential bet,” it also said.

Marcos camp also questions MOA Earlier on Monday, February 28, the campaign team of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. questioned the same agreement between the Comelec and Rappler.

Benhur Abalos, Marcos’ campaign manager, asked why Comelec allowed Rappler to be a “fact checker” as he raised the SEC and CA rulings on Rappler. He also said they have “issues” on the Comelec’s precinct finder, which will also be made available to Rappler’s website.

This is not the first time the Marcos team and the OSG have been on the same side as they both earlier moved to have Associate Justice Marvic Leonen inhibit in the poll protest that the former senator filed over the results

PAGE 5 24/7 news cycles of cable news in the 90s and the individualized on-demand news consumption beginning the turn of the millennium. With more competition among sources of information, “Breaking News” became the race, the sense of urgency to report ahead of the others became more important than diligence and precision in reporting.

And with a wider gamut of programming formats, the difference between entertainment and news has increasing became blurred, with more news organizations now utilizing the shock factor and sensationalism the audience find in reality shows.

Traditional news media organization had again had to deal with new reality brought about by new technology that allowed newscasts, news reports, breaking news, documentary, commentary etc. by anybody through the internet via YouTube, podcasts, etc. Every person now technically can have his or her own channel. The gatekeeping of information that used to be shared by a few news organizations who adhere to the social responsibility of delivering accurate and factual news and information have been taken away from them.

This opened the gates to the use of YouTube, Tiktok, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc. as channels of content that are NOT vetted or filtered for their truth, accuracy and precision.

As long as you can produce something, you have the platform to air and promote it to reach a wider audience.

This is why in our engagement with other people in today’s world, made us ask ourselves “Where is that coming from? Saang planeta ka ba nakatira (What planet do you live in?)?” especially when such platforms are being used and abused to purposely effect disinformation for some people’s dirty political tactics to deceive people, win their “trust” and mobilize them to action according their political agenda.

This, unfortunately has caused people to mistrust each other’s sanity, intention, honesty, when in the past, we all believed we were working together for the same goal.

This brings us back to the importance of having debates during campaign period. It is during the campaign season that each and every candidate will have the opportunity to introduce herself/himself to the voters, share her/his vision and platform to the people on how to make their life better in the next six years through her/his leadership and governance.

Convincing the electorate why they are the better candidate is done by each campaign through political ads, media interviews, online features, campaign sorties/events/rallies, door-to-door reaching out to people through grassroots campaigning, mailers, etc.

However, there are campaigns that may have dished out information about the candidates’ life narrative, educational and professional background, achievements, etc. that have not been vetted or tested to be true and accurate.

Then there is the sin of omission, where of the 2016 vice-presidential elections.

Responding to issues raised by the Marcos campaign, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez pointed out that the issue on supposed foreign ownership of Rappler is still pending before the CA. “If it’s pending before CA it seems to me like a

candidates may have wittingly or unwittingly covered up any material information, documents, records, etc. that may reveal much about their character – something that is of paramount importance in choosing whom to vote for and be accorded with so much power and public trust that go with the Office of the President.

Debates, therefore, while not legal requirement, have been used every election cycle, and especially now, so that the fragmented electorate will have the chance to see the candidates vying for the presidency in one setting, subjected to the same questions covering varied issues important to the people.

This is a rare opportunity for voters to assess the candidates’ knowledge about issues, compare and contrast the substance and sincerity of their answers to the questions, observe their demeanor in the way they respond to questions, their demeanor toward the other candidates and the debate moderators, see how they think fast under pressure, because as President, this is an important qualification for the job.

Debates are also important tools to fact check candidates’ claims, and bring out material information some candidates may be hiding so that they are given the opportunity to explain head on.

Debates provide one singular opportunities for the candidates and the Filipino people to share one moment together, digest the same information at the same time, watch the candidates together in real time without filter or editing.

And so if the candidates truly want to help the Filipino people make one of the most important decisions they will make for their family and the nation, then they should take participating in debates seriously and sincerely.

At the end of the day, the candidates need to show their respect for their soon to be boss – the Filipino people – and the electoral process.

They need to convince the Filipino people that their interest and welfare matter most to them as their elected leader, more than anything else; that in good faith they are allowing themselves to be vetted, cross-examined for their honesty, transparency, and accountability.

Only those who are hiding something , only those who feel entitled to the presidency, will not consent to this process and will continue to push for their own self-serving agenda. *** 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. *** Gel Santos Relos has been in news, talk, public service and educational broadcasting since 1989. She was a news anchor, TV host and radio commentator and public service host for ABS- CBN and DZMM. She is now working on her advocacies independently, serving the Filipino audience using different media platforms.

You may contact her through email at gelrelos@icloud.com, or send her a message via Facebook at Facebook.com/Gel.Santos.

Relos. Also on Twitter, Instagram: Gel Santos Relos

final determination hasn’t been reached yet. The Comelec is not the proper venue to make that proper determination,” he said.

Jimenez also explained that its MOA with Rappler is the same that they enter into with other media organizations.

“Rappler is not getting any special information

it’s not getting any special treatment. It’s not getting any information that would not be available to any other media network,” he also said.

To note, Jimenez was asked to react on Abalos’ statements.

At the time of the briefing, the OSG had yet to release its statement questioning the MOA. g

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COMMUNITY JOURNAL

11

Lola’s wrong advice resulted in many years of family separation, this Sunday on Citizen Pinoy MIKE missed the chance to bring his kids to the U.S. due to wrong advice from his wellmeaning mother.

Mike was petitioned as single by his mother, but she told him not to bring his children along, since their birth certificates had a date of marriage listed.

Many erroneously assume that a date of marriage on the birth certificate of a child born out of wedlock can be fatal to their case if they are being petitioned as single. This episode proves that is not true.

Watch how leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel was able to bring Migs and Myki to the U.S. under their grandmother’s petition, despite a date of marriage on their birth certificates.

Don’t miss this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, March 6 at 7:00 PM PT (10:00 PM ET thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the app for free.

(Advertising Supplement)

SINGLE PARENT LEAVES CHILDREN BEHIND BECAUSE OF DATE OF MARRIAGE ON THEIR BIRTH CERTIFICATES, THIS SUNDAY ON CITIZEN PINOY. Mike (2nd from left) was petitioned as “single” by his mother and wanted to bring his children with him to the U.S., but his mother said, “leave the kids behind,” since their birth certificates had a date of marriage. Unfortunately, that decision resulted in many years of separation for Mike and his children. Leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (right) was able to bring Mike’s son, Migs (left), and daughter, Myki (3rd from left), to the U.S. under Lola’s petition, despite a date of marriage on their birth certificates. Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, March 6 at 7:00 PM PT (10:00 PM ET thru select Cable/Satellite providers), right after TV Patrol Linggo.

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MARCH 4-10, 2022 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

COVID-19, Putin-22

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS AS the pandemic continues to infect and kill people in the United States and around the world, Ukraine is ravaged not only by COVID-19 but by Russia’s Putin-22, a modernday Hitler, a ruthless powerhungry land-grabber and murderer. The unprovoked attack has killed civilians, including children, in this Eastern European country with a population of 44.62 million, south of Belarus, and bordered by Russia on the east and northwest.

The bold, steadfast leadership and supreme courage of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have heartened and emboldened his people, including old men and women and teenagers (as families) to fight the superior, well-armed, Russian invaders, many Ukrainians with Molotov cocktails only (a brilliant strategy), some with kitchen knives, as their weapons to protect their country.

Zelensky had inspired the whole world with his love of country and resolute bravery, insisting on staying in his office, risking his life, ready to personally join the battle, arm-to-arm with his people and other Ukrainian officials, against the Russian tanks and soldiers marching towards the capital city, Kyiv, as the world watches with anxiety, admiration, pride, solemn joy, compassion, and prayers for Zelensky and his people.

All nations of goodwill must support this bitter struggle of the Ukrainian people, and get rid of Putin, who is now threatening “any country meddling in his invasion of Ukraine” with his “nuclear option,” which could endanger the entire planet.

Indeed, Vladimir Putin must be stopped now and charged with a crime against humanity and be brought to justice before the Hague Tribunal, to serve as a warning to all other brutal tyrants and potential invaders around the globe. Still undefeated and undeterred, Zelensky, the David, deserves a Nobel Peace Prize, while despot Putin, the crazy Goliath, owns the condemnation of

the world. Nuclear Putin is potentially much worse than all the COVID-19 variants in this pandemic combined.

The mental health and emotional toll of Putin’s savage aggression, besides the dislocation and displacement of 600,000 Ukrainians so far (possibly 4 million more), and the mounting deaths caused by Putin’s army on these loyal, brave, and proud people, whose love for their country and democracy is truly heart-warming, need our compassion and prayers.

In the meantime, these are the COVID-19 statistics as of Tuesday, March 1, 2022, at 4:14 PM (EST): Globally: 438,100,391 cases, deaths 5,980582; U.S.: 80,665,325 cases, deaths - 976,171; the Philippines: 3,663,059 cases, deaths - 56,451; Ukraine: 4,809,624 cases, deaths – 105,505; Russia: 16,495,369 cases, deaths - 352,446.

Omicron deaths Omicron (BA.1), and its subvariant, Stealth Omicron (BA.2), are milder but not mild and should not be confused as non-killers.

Almost 4,000 COVID-19 deaths were reported in the United States on Wednesday, February 23, 99.8 percent of them suspected as caused

by Omicron by the U.S. CDC, and around 69-74% a month before.

Stealth Omicron, after more than 50 mutations in the bodies of the unvaccinated, and which has been found in all 50 U.S. states, is considered to be 30 percent more contagious, perhaps more lethal too, than Omicron, which is still dominant in many countries. In Denmark and South Africa, the BA.2 is the dominant variant, between 80-90 percent.

The UK Health Security Agency (HSA) reported on February 25 that BA.2 accounted for 30.5 percent of its cases the previous week, which was only 4.1 percent in January. UK found no evidence of increased risk of hospitalization with BA.2 compared with Omicron, and that the vaccines are effective for both and for other past variants. Studies revealed that there was 67 percent effectiveness against symptomatic BA.2 infection two weeks after a booster shot.

Florida reported 131,699 cases and 1,324 deaths from Stealth Omicron in the first week of February. This

subvariant also has the ability to reinfect those who already had the Omicron infection in the past, as shown in dozens of cases in Denmark.

In the United States, COVID-19 infections continue to flatten out. The U.S. CDC revealed the 7-day moving average of new cases was 68,815 on February 15, plunging from 105, 794 the week before. There are almost a million deaths in the United States so far.

For seniors, especially with health issues (COPD, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, kidney illness, etc.), people who are immunocompromised, and those with severe allergies, are still at high risk to get sick with breakthrough infections. We cannot let our guard down yet. It’s too premature. The virus is still replicating and mutating in the bodies of those millions of unvaccinated people in the United States, and churning out new, possibly more serious strains.

New subvariant H78Y The Stealth subvariant of Omicron had “spawned a potentially deadlier subvariant” of its own, H78Y, found in Denmark, making up about 30 percent of its cases a few weeks ago, now diving to around 1 percent of the cases, perhaps because more than 81.6 of the people are fully vaccinated.

Those who are fully vaccinated, or those who had COVID-19 infection before, could still be infected or re-infected (breakthrough infections and reinfection by new variants and subvariants that are still not identified).

After an infection, one is immune only to the infecting variant, but not to other variants.

Health news capsules SARS-CoV-2 was likely present in live mammals sold at a Wuhan wet market in late 2019, where it then spread to humans shopping and working there, scientists concluded in a pair of reports totaling 150 pages, according to the New York Times. This seems to clear the mystery around the origin of SARS-CoV2 virus of COVID-19.

A New Hampshire hospital received hundreds of harassing phone calls and a bomb threat from a group called “The Truth Seekers,” whose members demanded that a COVID-19 patient there receive ivermectin, per the Washington Post. Ivermectin,

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Charo shares the many risks she took as an artist and her road to wellness

By Marinel

your triggers are, at the same time, know how to ‘inhale’ and ‘exhale.’ Spend time being still and being calm.

This is difficult to do. You need a lot of self discipline,” she said. “I also take care of my heart by honoring my feelings. Often, we try to repress our emotions. We try to please the people around us and be dismissive of what we’re truly feeling. Over the years, I’ve learned to honor these feelings—when I’m angry, I acknowledge it—but I don’t stay in those negative feelings for long.”

“Don’t be afraid, stay calm, listen to the experts and follow the rules,” advised Charo, whose family went through a health crisis after her husband, Cesar Rafael Concio Jr., got infected by the COVID-19 virus recently.

“Thank God he is OK now. He is now in his best condition. I was there with him every step of the way

in his journey to wellness,” declared Charo. “If there’s one thing that I appreciate and am proud of myself, it is that inner strength and sense of resilience that I have.”

To those who might be experiencing something similar, she said: “Let’s just be guided by what our gut and intuition say. Let’s do what is right all the time.

The one thing I realized about myself because of the experience was that I am capable of doing everything for the sake of my loved ones.”

Looking back, Charo said marrying her husband was a “major decision” in her life that she considered “all worth it.”

“When our engagement was announced, a lot of notso-kind comments came out, but I’ve never looked back. I became the person that I am because of my husband. I learned to appreciate myself and to be kinder to myself because he accepted me, warts and all,” she recalled.

Together, they have two sons—Francis and Martin— and three grandkids.

“I learned the meaning of unconditional love because of my husband.

Yes, I’ve lived a full life— an imperfect one, but a full life, nevertheless. I can say it’s such a blessing,” Charo told Inquirer Entertainment during a virtual chat to launch SunLife Financials’ new ad campaign, “Partners in Health,” of which she is one of the brand ambassadors. g

warning that increased and uncontrolled SARS-CoV-2 transmission would bring new risks.”

Indeed, we still need to be careful, vigilant, and patient.

We are almost at the finish line. *** 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.

Cruz

Inquirer.net

“THERE were too many risks to mention, but that’s the general picture for you.”

This was the reply of actress Charo SantosConcio when asked what she thought was a risk she took as an artist that she considered was all worth it.

Charo, who is also a media executive and a TV-film producer, explained: “In my career, I took so many risks especially when I was still going up the ranks, trying my hand in a lot of programs I expected would be followed by the audience.”

“I’ve encountered a lot of problems, experienced a lot of failures, but I just kept going. Why? I was driven by my passion for content, for engaging the audience and my love for the arts in general. I’m a movie fan, I will forever be one. I will forever see myself in the characters I watch in movies and I will be forever happy for the success of the talents that join the business. This is where my heart is.”

Charo further shared that since the pandemic, she has engaged in self-care activities for her mental health. “While I do a lot of walking and dancing—I dance with my granddaughters—I also make sure to stay mindful of my thoughts because, with the pandemic, I went through some anxiety,” she began.

‘Self discipline’ “You have to know what like hydroxychloroquine, has been found to be effective against COVID-19.

Scientists around the world believe “that many countries lifting protective measures against SARSCoV2 have increased the spread and contributed to more mutations.”

Many states in the U.S. are beginning to unmask and do away with social distancing, which is premature.

Together with more than 3,700 other scientists, leading experts in the United Kingdom posted an open letter “criticizing Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decision to end all protective measures against COVID-19,

Charo Santos-Concio Inquirer.net

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Gerald names his biggest competitor – himself By amalia

Senon

Inquirer.net

FOR actor Gerald Anderson, his biggest competitor is not a colleague or another actor, but himself.

Anderson was asked about his views on competition after he inked another contract for Star Magic last Wednesday, Feb. 23.

“Personally… I am a very competitive person,” he noted. “Kaya rin ako nagtagal ng 16 years sa industriya na ito is because of that trait na ‘yan, pagiging competitive.” (That’s also why I have lasted 16 years in the industry; it’s because of that trait of mine, being competitive.)

Even when the question was asked, Anderson said he already thought about it.

“Bago muna ‘yung tanong, naisip ko na ‘yan kanina especially kami dito sa likod. Sa kokonti lang na shows na naipapalabas o nabibigay sa loob ng isang taon, ang dami naming mga artista,” he added. “We’re

Gerald Anderson

all fighting for roles, for shows. Competitive kami sa isa’t isa.”

(Even before the question was asked, I already thought about that, us here in the back. There are only a few shows released or created in a year, and there are a lot of us actors… We are competitive towards each other.)

Anderson stressed that he and his fellow actors are all “in a very competitive industry.” He also shared that just before the contract signing, he was talking to

IMMIGRATION

Photo from Instagram/@andersongeraldjr

fellow Star Magic artists who also renewed their contracts. They asked about what’s new in each other’s lives while also taking note that they all started at just about the same time in the industry.

“Si Jake, sa first show ko siya ang kuya ko doon, si Zanjoe, si Sam. Kami, nagsimula kami sa PBB and we have the younger version namin na boyfriend material na si Ronnie,” he said.

(Jake Cuenca was my elder brother in my very

SERVICES

first show. There’s Zanjoe Marudo and Sam Milby.

We started in “Pinoy Big Brother” and we had our younger version who was boyfriend material in the person of Ronnie Alonte.)

“Again, ang biggest competitor mo is ‘yung sarili mo talaga,” he stressed. “Isa sa pinakanatutunan ko over the years is ‘yung sarili mo talaga ‘yung biggest competitor mo.” he added.

(Again, your biggest competitor is really yourself.

That’s one of the biggest lessons I learned over the years, that your self is your biggest competitor.)

Meanwhile, he promises fans that they can look forward to more and better shows from him and his fellow Kapamilya stars.

“Ngayon pa lang, eto ang pinagdadaanan namin, pero mas gumanda pa ‘yung content namin para sa inyo,” he said. (Despite what we are going through now, we are even able to give you better shows.)

“Just imagine when we come back stronger,” Anderson added. g

Janice de Belen

Philstar.com photo

The many hats Janice wears

By Pat-P

Daza Philstar.com

JANICE de Belen became a household name in 1979 when she was 11 years old as the star of Flordeluna. She played Flor, the title character, in the top-rating soap opera that aired on RPN-9 until 1984. She also conquered the big screen and became the reel and real love of Gabby Concepcion.

In 1986, when she was 18 years old and at the peak of her TV and movie popularity, Janice got pregnant and gave birth in 1987 to Luigi, her love child with Aga Muhlach. In 1992, she married John Estrada with whom she has four children: Inah, Moira, Kylah and Yuan. They separated in 2001 and their marriage was annulled by 2004.

Over tea and a wonderful spread of fresh fruits and PAGE 15

SERVICES

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N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY M A R C H 4 , 2 0 22

people events arts culture entertainment

James Beard Awards names 12 Fil-Am semifinalists S

Mia Orino and Carlo Gan of Kamayan ATL Photo from Instagram/@engineeredcapture

Genever owners Trisha Perez, Tinette Sumiller and Roselma Samala Photo courtesy of Instagram/@Genever

Dale Talde

Photo from daletalde.com

Carlo Lamagna Photo from Instagram/@twistedfilipino

by MOMAR

G. VISAYA / AJPress

IX chefs, two restaurateurs, one pastry chef, a bar that offers an outstanding bar program, and a couple of emerging chefs.

That is how Filipino Americans in the food and hospitality industry fared on Wednesday, Feb. 23 as the James Beard Foundation announced its 2022 Restaurant and Chef Awards semifinalists in advance of the returning James Beard Awards.

In the category of Emerging Chef, Mia Orino and Carlo Gan of Kamayan ATL (Atlanta) are in the running. This is open to chefs who display exceptional talent, character, and leadership ability, and who are likely to make a significant impact in years to come.

A couple of Filipino restaurants - ABACÁ, San Francisco; Kasama, Chicago - are in the running for Best New Restaurant, which honors a restaurant that opened in 2020 or 2021 that already demonstrates excellence in cuisine and hospitality and seems likely to make a significant impact in years to come.

Margarita Manzke of République in Los Angeles got another nod under the Outstanding Pastry Chef category. Genever, also in Los Angeles is a semifinalist for the Outstanding Bar Program category. This award is given to a restaurant or bar that demonstrates exceptional care and skill in the selection, preparation, and serving of cocktails, spirits, and/or beer.

Dale Talde of Goosefeather in Tarrytown, NY is up for the Best Chef: New York State award while five Fil-Am chefs are duking it out for the Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA) award - Carlo Lamagna, Magna Kusina (Portland, OR); Melissa

Francis Ang Photo from Instagram/@cheffrancisang

Margarita & Walter Manzke

Miranda, Musang (Seattle); Sheldon Simeon, Tin Roof (Kahului, HI); Jojo Vasquez, Fond (Lahaina, HI); and Aaron Verzosa, Archipelago (Seattle).

“Honored and humbled by the nomination of #jbfa for best chef NY thank you to the team @goosefeather and my beautiful wife @ agneschung for the support thank you being on this journey,” said Top Chef alum Talde.

His fellow Top Chef buddy Sheldon Simeon also expressed his thanks in an Instagram post. In 2019, his new restaurant then called Lineage was up for Best New Restaurant.

“Humbled to be in such

Timothy Flores Photo from Instagram/@timothyryanchi

Photo from Republique LA

great company. Overjoyed to see so much Hawaii talent getting their well deserved recognition,” Simeon said.

Jojo Vasquez of Fond posted, “Woke up to some congrats messages.

So honored to be amongst some Uber talented chefs across the nation. Being noticed with our humble little neighborhood eatery for a semi-finalist for Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific.”

A first-time nominee, Genever, a Filipina-run cocktail gem in LA’s Historic Filipinotown games for its gin-based drinks, said “To say we’re honored, humbled, straight-up blown away is an understatement.”

“We’re so fortunate

to still be here after an incredibly challenging two years that many of our fellow hospitality partners did not survive. We feel truly blessed for the support we’ve had from our suppliers, friends, families, and our amazing Genever team,” the IG post read. “It really does take a village.”

Francis Ang, chef and owner of Abaca expressed his gratitude to their supporters.

“I am blown away. From a small mom and pop popup to a @beardfoundation semifinalist,” he said. “How our family has grown.

This was possible because of them--the constant hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance--this recognition is for you. I have learned to be a better leader because of them. I am proud of my #AbacáPamilya.”

Esquire Magazine named Abaca one of the best new restaurants in the United States in 2021, along with Kasama Chicago, helmed by the husband-andwife team of Timothy Flores and Genie Kwon. The New York Times also named two Filipino restaurants Kasama and Archipelago - in the publication’s The Restaurant List 2021, which honored the 50 most vibrant and delicious restaurants they were “most excited about right now”.

“Congrats to our team!

Though we are thankful to be on this years @ beardfoundation chef list, if it were not for your passion, dedication, hard work… your puns… we would not be where we are today.

Y’all make Archipelago, our community, and culture PAGE 15

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 4-10, 2022

Time for Carla to speak up

By Ronnie

CaRRasCo ManilaTimes.net

iii

LET’S face it — the longer it takes for Carla Abellana to speak about her (shaky?) marriage to Tom Rodriguez, the uglier speculations about their separation can get.

First, it was 2020 Miss Eco International first runner-up Kelly Day who was touted to be the third party in the breakup. But no, the “Marites” — the new name for rumormongers — pointed to the wrong person.

As though somebody else had to take the blame, rumormongers took a shift this time to a man. It is

with the implication that Carla allegedly married a gay man. But Tom wouldn’t dare talk about it.

Given this, Carla has to come forward. After all, it was from her end that this whole thing started.

It was Carla who took down all their pictures together on Instagram, their wedding photos included.

As if she couldn’t get enough of this, Carla had (deliberately?) shown herself sans her wedding ring in several photos splashed on social media.

Also, while Tom had expressed his love toward his wife on Instagram, sadly, Carla did not respond as amorously expected of

The longer it takes for the actress to speak up, the uglier speculations about their alleged separation can get.

Photo from Instagram/@carlaangeline

her.

Of the unpleasant talks attributed to Tom, Carla should be the first to defend her husband amid the gay issue.

Remember that before they became husband and wife in October 2021, Tom and Carla were boyfriendgirlfriend for seven years.

It would have been least discerning of Carla not to sense even an iota of “gayness” in Tom’s persona, to think that they even shared the same roof together.

Carla’s response to the issue on their separation is expected to redeem Tom, if not their marriage from crumbling. Known for being an articulate person who speaks her mind, Carla may just want the public to perpetually think of her that way.

If she truly cares about Tom, Carla may want to clear the actor’s name in the gay issue as would any wife. Carla’s silence is only an invitation to more madeup stories with Tom at the receiving end.

The public deserves a clarification from Carla as much as she has involved the public in the fray. Had she not torn down their Instagram photos and worn her wedding off her finger for all to see, then Carla doesn’t owe the public anything.

It’s she who started it all, so she might as well end it herself.

If the reason for her breakup with Tom can be any embarrassing, nothing I guess can be more humiliating than being accused of being gay most especially when it’s far from the truth. g

The many hats Janice wears...

PAGE 13 desserts at the commissary of Tin Ariola, owner of Bait Lehem, I talked to Janice last week about the many hats she wears as a single mom, a daughter, and actress.

On her relationship status: “I am an alpha female.” That’s Janice’s reply when asked if she’s currently in a relationship.

She claims that she will find it very difficult to be in a relationship again as she has learned to enjoy her financial and emotional independence.

“I love that I can do whatever I please and go wherever I want without asking permission,” she said. “I’ve been in a relationship before where my boyfriend didn’t like short hair so I had to keep my hair long. These days, I prefer my hair short; it’s easy to manage, just wash and wear.”

Although she confesses to doing unbelievable and crazy things in the name of love, these days she cannot even imagine sharing her bed and bathroom with anyone.

On being a mother: “It never stops. My eldest, Luigi, is 36 years old, but I still worry about him. He lives in Tagaytay City and whenever there is a threat of a volcanic interruption, I call and make sure he’s okay. After all, he has four kids, and they are my apos,” shared Janice.

“My four other kids still stay with me. The funny thing is that I realize I am beginning to sound like my mom. I constantly have to remind my kids to turn off the lights when they go out of their rooms, fix their

Jojo Vasquez with his wife

Photo from Instagram/@jojovasquez

Aaron Verzosa

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Photo from Archipelago Seattle

James Beard Awards...

PAGE 14 great. We are beyond thankful for each and every one of you,” Verzosa posted on Archipelago’s Instagram page.

He also acknowledged “our pamilya, Kuya @ twistedfilipino, ate @ meltronica, kuya @ chefwonder” and their teams for the honor.

“We know when it comes to our culture it takes a family to move these visions forward,” he said.

This year’s winners will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on June 13 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

The James Beard Awards, considered to be among the nation’s most prestigious honors, recognize exceptional talent in the culinary and food media industries, as well as a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive.

beds, put away their things, etc.”

On being a daughter: “When my mom died in 2016, I asked my dad to move in with me,” she recalled. “He asked me to give him a year to sort things out. By 2018, my dad had moved in with me.

Growing up, it was my mom, who accompanied me most of the time and of course, my dad was working then.

These days, I am enjoying my newfound relationship with him and our bonding moments.”

On being an actress: Janice has just finished a teleserye, starring Ronnie Alonte and Loisa Andalio

Melissa Miranda Photo from Instagram/@meltronica

Sheldon Simeon Photo from Instagram/@chefwonder

Founded more than 30 years ago, the James Beard Foundation “celebrates and supports the people behind America’s food culture, while pushing for new standards in the restaurant industry to create a future where all have the opportunity to thrive,” according to its announcement.

The 2022 James

Beard Awards will be the first in two years, after a hiatus during which the Awards underwent a full audit of its policies and procedures, continuing the work to remove bias, increase transparency and accessibility, and making the program more aligned with the Foundation’s mission and values. g

for Dreamscape titled Love in 40 Days. She doesn’t mind being locked in a taping bubble as long as she has her hobbies with her, namely, cross stitching and painting. Google chrome also allows her to watch all the series and movies she wants, while waiting to be called on the set. She enjoys the camaraderie that is formed with the cast and crew but admits that by the third week, she’s already looking for her own bed and is anxious to go home.

But she is thankful that she continues to work.

She even won the Best Actress award at the recent Manhattan International

Autumn Festival for her work in Sugat sa Dugo. A dark story about life, love and death. The film stars Janice as the mother of three kids whom she habitually neglects whenever she has a new man in her life.

During her latest affair, the kids are again left to fend for themselves and end up selling their bodies to survive. The middle child — a boy — eventually dies from AIDS. “The movie is an advocacy film about AIDS,” revealed Janice. The film was produced by Dragon Entertainment Production and directed by Danni Ugali. g

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