031723 - New York & New Jersey Edition

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DATELINE USA

Filipina in Daly City shot dead by partner in front of her two kids

A FILIPINO American woman was killed in front of her two children by her partner in Daly City, California on Monday, March 6.

Frances Kendra Lucero, 27, was shot and killed by her partner, Romier Narag, also 27, in front of her two children, aged 3 and 4.

Police said the two had argued on their way home from a family dinner. Narag allegedly shot Lucero with a 9 millimeter handgun four times as she tried to run to their house.

A ‘Balikatan’ first: PH-US drills to sink boat in WPS

by FRAnces mAngosing Inquirer.net

(Scarborough) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea when the two allies carry out next month their largest joint military exercise to date, a military official told the Inquirer on Tuesday, March 14.

Overseas voters can soon register in PH

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Overseas Voting Secretariat (OVS) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) have entered into an agreement to establish local field registration centers (LFRCs) for overseas voters.

DFA Undersecretary Jesus Domingo and Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia signed on March 2 a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on the establishment of LFRCs.

The registration centers will be located

Marcos wants government anti-human trafficking efforts strengthened, harmonized

by Alexis RomeRo Philstar.com

MANILA — President Marcos has ordered agencies to strengthen and harmonize the anti-human trafficking efforts of the government and private sector, noting that pandemic-induced livelihood losses make people vulnerable to the crime.

Marcos issued the directive during a meeting with the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) on Monday, March 13 in Malacañang.

“The IACAT and the PAOCC must take the lead in harmonizing government

The Philippines and the United States have ramped up defense cooperation under President Marcos in the face of China’s increasing assertiveness in the South China

Seeking employment in US now easier for Filipino nurses

by mAyen JAymAlin Philstar.com

SEEKING employment in the United States is now easier and faster for Filipino registered nurses and caregivers.

Migration consultant Manny Geslani said processing of immigrant visa for registered nurses and caregivers now takes less than a year.

“Gone are the long and tedious wait for twothree years during the pre-pandemic years which discouraged some nurses from applying for work in the USA,” Geslani disclosed over the weekend.

Bystander intervention workshops to combat hate held in NY, SF

by momAR g. VisAyA AJPress

CONSUL General Senen T. Mangalile met with the members of the community media for his inaugural “Con Gen Media Hour” at the Philippine Consulate General in New York last week.

Consulate. He said he is looking forward to engaging with the Filipino-American communities in the U.S. Northeast.

Before New York, Mangalile served as Minister at the Embassy of the Philippines in Berne, Switzerland, and as Chargé d’affaires, ad interim at the Embassy of the Philippines in Ankara, Turkey. He holds the rank of Chief of Mission, Class II at the Department

ConGen Mangalile recognized the role of the media as partners in disseminating information and promoting events of the Philippine u PAGE 4

MANILA — Filipino and American troops will sink a target vessel near Panatag

CALMING. The sunset as seen at the University of the Philippines-Diliman in Quezon City on Tuesday, March 14. The relaxing view drowns the noise of rushing vehicles just outside the confines of the State University. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Overseas Voting Secretariat (OVS) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) have entered into an agreement to establish local field registration centers (LFRCs) for overseas voters. ManilaTimes.net file photo

at the DFA consular offices in Aseana, the DFA said on Twitter on Thursday, March 9.

It will offer the opportunity for Filipinos who are about to go abroad to register as overseas voters (OVs) to be able to vote in their countries of destination during the 2025 national elections, the DFA said.

The continuing registration for overseas voting for the 2025 elections began on Dec.

F rom the F ront P age

A ‘Balikatan’ first: PH-US drills to sink boat... PAGE 1

Sea and its potential invasion of Taiwan and will put on their biggest exercise in history with the participation of 17,000 troops from both sides. This is nearly twice the 8,900 soldiers who joined last year.

The annual joint military exercises — called “Balikatan” or “shoulder-toshoulder” that will run from April 11 to 28 — will feature some 12,000 U.S. soldiers and 5,000 Filipino troops. Australia will send about a hundred soldiers, while likeminded countries will join as observers.

The activities will be held across Northern Luzon and the provinces of Palawan and Antique.

defense live-fire exercise, Logico added.

Last year, the United States deployed the Patriot, which stands for “Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept of Target,” as part of a mobilization exercise for the Balikatan drills. It was not used for live-fire training then.

Such a weapon system, touted as one of the world’s most advanced air defense systems, was provided by the United States to Ukraine to counter Russian missile and drone attacks. It can track and shoot down incoming missiles and aircraft with a minimum flight time of less than nine seconds and can travel up to 70km to a target.

from conventional ballistic threats,” Ong said.

When asked if the upcoming joint exercise could stir up China, Logico said: “We have the absolute, inalienable right to defend our territory. We are here to show that we are combatready.”

The defense of the Philippine archipelago from potential foreign aggressors is also the focus of the ongoing joint drills between the armies of the Philippines and the United States.

9, 2022, and will end on Sept. 30, 2024. Domingo expressed hope that there will be more registrants through the establishment of LFRCs.

Garcia affirmed the poll body’s assistance to the DFA as he enumerated the various ways to increase the number of OV registrants and, eventually, the voter turnout. (by Bernadette E. Tamayo/ ManilaTimes.net) n

The anticipated sinking exercise of an old fishing vessel will be held some 22 kilometers (12 nautical miles) off Zambales, or about 185 km (100 nautical miles) from Panatag Shoal which China seized from the Philippines in 2012, according to Balikatan spokesperson Col. Michael Logico.

He said it would be conducted by the two countries for the first time as the forthcoming drills focus on “maritime defense, coastal defense and maritime domain awareness.”

“We will be sinking a target vessel using a combination of artillery naval gunfire and aviation weapons… We will be firing HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System), our artillery … a combination of Philippine Air Force and U.S. Air Force rockets and bombs, and our frigates,” Logico said of the sinking exercise.

The U.S. Army will also hold its first Patriot missile air-defense exercise in the country as part of a coastal

“This Balikatan seems to be designed to test operational concepts to enhance strategic deterrence posture of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea,” Rommel Jude Ong, a former vice commander of the Philippine Navy, told the Inquirer

He said the large-scale deployment of American troops was a logistics exercise “to assess how it can rapidly deploy a large number of troops and equipment in theater.”

The sinking exercise would likewise test the Philippine Navy’s sea denial strategy, he said.

“It is premised on the idea that a land-based antiship missile can defend the country’s waters from any adversary’s naval shipping, even from a distance,” he pointed out.

Prelude to Balikatan

The use of the Patriot, meanwhile, would allow the AFP to understand “the need for an anti-air defense system which can protect our land and critical infrastructures

About 3,000 soldiers from the Philippine Army and the US Army are taking part in the annual “Salaknib” (shield in Ilocano) Exercise, which was first held in 2014, The Army, the Philippine military’s largest service branch, is shifting its focus to territorial defense from insurgency amid China’s increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea.

“We will now be training on scenarios that would require us to work together to face adversaries from out of the country,” Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said on Monday, March 13 on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of Salaknib at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija province.

“We will focus on defense operations such as air defense and defense from the shorelines,” he added.

This year’s Salaknib, considered a prelude to the Balikatan exercises, is being conducted in two phases across northern Luzon, including Fort Magsaysay, one of the first five agreed locations under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, a deal that gives the U.S. access to Philippine bases for joint training and prepositioning of equipment.

Photo from 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command

DIFFERENT TWIST. Partners Max Mendoza and Gab Calora (wearing mask) sell grilled balut (fertilized duck egg) in Barangay San Jose, La Loma, Quezon City on Monday, March 13. The couple sells an average of 1,200 pieces at PHP30 each, with the delicacy recooked over low fire and garnished with garlic-chili sauce on top. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

Marcos wants government anti-human trafficking... Seeking employment...

initiatives, public-private partnerships to thwart the business of human trafficking in its multifarious operations on the ground and now becoming more and more important online,” Marcos said.

According to Marcos, human trafficking is an ongoing problem for many countries as the global economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. People without work and source of livelihood make them more vulnerable to human traffickers and it’s time for government to intervene, he added.

“I think the room for improvement here is that we can work together more and coordinate together more and where – that puts meat on the bones of what we have come to call the wholeof-government approach and bring everything to bear to the problems that we are facing,” the president said.

Marcos instructed agencies to halt the operation of human traffickers who exploit the physical and economic weaknesses of

vulnerable people, especially women and children.

He also cited the need for the country to keep its status in the tier system.

“I remember (Migrant Workers) Secretary (Susan) Toots (Ople) and I started on this campaign to remove us from Tier 2. We were in

danger coming down to Tier 3 at the time. So we managed to take us back up to Tier 1. And let’s just make sure that the Tier 1 categorization or status of the Philippines is not put in any danger,” the President noted, referring to the annual assessment of the U.S. State Department’s

Trafficking in Persons Office.

The Chief Executive also tasked the Presidential Communications Office to help the IACAT by launching a communication campaign to educate the public about the danger posed by human trafficking syndicates.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has ordered the IACAT to alert all its agencies to take action against the “alarming” number of Filipino human trafficking victims, which has reached nearly 2,000 just in the first two months of year.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the IACAT would be mobilizing all its member agencies to address the “very alarming” human trafficking situation in the country. He said Filipino victims were mostly trafficked or attempted to be transported to Southeast Asian countries.

“This is what we call modern-day slavery. That’s why Filipinos should be careful. We should have a checklist before we want to go abroad,” he told reporters. – Neil Jayson Servallos n

Quoting prominent FilAmerican immigration lawyer Salvador Tuy, Geslani said that Filipino nurses and caregivers can depart faster for the U.S. “as long as the required documents are submitted electronically to the hospital or caregiving facility who had requested for the immigrant visa for her.”

According to Tuy, the pathway for Filipino nurses to enter the healthcare industry in the U.S. has become easier and faster through the electronic processing system implemented by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).

He said a foreign nurse who is issued an immigrant visa by the USCIS automatically becomes a green card holder and has permanent resident status in the U.S.

Tuy said that there is a current shortage of 190,000 nurses in the U.S. Nurses there receive an average monthly salary of $6,900 or higher depending on the specialty and professional experience.

Based on records, about 18,617 Filipino nurses took

the latest National Council Licensure Examination – a 90 percent jump compared to the previous year.

“This indicates the strong interest of the nurses to work for better employment opportunities and for their future in America,” Geslani pointed out.

It is expected that more than one-half of those who took the exams will pursue their desire to work in the U.S. with the passing rate of 80 percent set up by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

The demand for Filipino nurses for employment to U.S. Hospitals continues to rise with the easing of COVID restrictions and huge shortage of health workers to care for the rising population of senior citizens known as “baby boomers.”

Meanwhile other Filipino nurses who could not wait for U.S. jobs opted to work in the UK or Germany to join the National Health Service, or the Triple-Win system of the Department of Migrant Workers/Philippine Overseas Employment Agency. (with reports from Rudy Santos) n

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. speaks in this undated photo. Office of the Press Secretary

Pandemic stress, gangs, and utter fear fueled a rise in teen shootings

by Liz SzaBo Kaiser Health News

DIEGO never imagined he’d carry a gun.

Not as a child, when shots were fired outside his Chicagoarea home. Not at age 12, when one of his friends was gunned down.

Diego’s mind changed at 14, when he and his friends were getting ready to walk to midnight Mass for the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. But instead of hymns, Diego heard gunfire, and then screaming. A gang member shot two people, including one of Diego’s friends, who was hit nine times.

“My friend was bleeding out,” said Diego, who asked KHN not to use his last name to protect his safety and privacy. As his friend lay on the ground, “he was choking on his own blood.”

The attack left Diego’s friend paralyzed from the waist down. And it left Diego, one of a growing number of teens who witness gun violence, traumatized and afraid to go outside without a gun.

Research shows that adolescents exposed to gun violence are twice as likely as others to perpetrate a serious violent crime within two years, perpetuating a cycle that can be hard to interrupt.

Diego asked his friends for help finding a handgun and — in a country supersaturated with firearms — they had no trouble procuring one, which they gave him free.

“I felt safer with the gun,” said Diego, now 21. “I hoped I wouldn’t use it.”

For two years, Diego kept the gun only as a deterrent. When he finally pulled the trigger, it changed his life forever.

Disturbing trends

The news media focuses heavily on mass shootings and the mental state of the people who commit them. But there is a far larger epidemic of gun violence — particularly among Black, Hispanic, and Native American youth — ensnaring some kids not even old enough to get a driver’s license.

Research shows that chronic exposure to trauma can change the way a child’s brain develops. Trauma also can play a central role in explaining why some young people look to guns for protection and wind up using them against their peers.

u PAGE 10

Filipina in Daly...

Narag has been charged with murder and child endangerment and was booked into the San Mateo County Jail.

‘US driving wedge between China, PH’

by Bernadette e tamayo ManilaTimes.net

THE Chinese embassy in the Philippines on Sunday, March 12 said it sees “no problem” with the Philippines over freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, but accused the United States of using the issue to drive a wedge between Manila and Beijing. The embassy issued the statement in reaction to the remarks of U.S. Ambassador to Manila MaryKay Carlson in a television interview on the South China Sea dispute and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the U.S. Carlson had said U.S.Philippine joint patrols in the waterways are important to ensure that it remains free and open to international navigation.

“On the South China Sea

issue, there is ‘no problem’ of freedom of navigation in the South China Sea,” the embassy said.

“When talking about free and open waterways, what the U.S. has in its mind is actually the ‘freedom of rampage’ of its warships in the South China Sea,” it said.

The U.S. has been sending its warships on “freedom of navigation” sorties in the South China Sea, which China claims is part of its territory.

The embassy pointed out that the U.S. military “has been coming all the way from the other side of the Pacific to stir up trouble in the South China Sea and ganging up with its allies from other parts of the world to flex muscle in the South China Sea.” “By doing these, the U.S. has not only heightened tension, driven a wedge between China and the Philippines, but also has

disturbed and upset the joint effort of countries in this region to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea,” the embassy said.

Now that China and the Philippines are at a critical juncture of post-COVID-19 recovery, “we should keep to the right track of maintaining good-neighborliness and attaining mutual benefit rather than getting distracted by forces who are fanning the flame and driving a wedge between us, even less inviting a bully into our community,” it added.

“We need to focus on cooperation and development, and truly safeguard, promote and build peace, stability, prosperity of our region and bring more tangible benefits to people of our two countries,” the embassy said.

Carlson said the EDCA

sites, where the U.S. can store arms and equipment, would not only help the provincial and local authorities to enhance their ability to defend themselves, but to grow their economy.

The governors from Cagayan and Isabela expressed apprehension about having their provinces used as EDCA sites, fearing that the sites could become military targets if the conflict between China and Taiwan escalates further.

The Chinese embassy noted that “intense debates” have been going on recently in the Philippines about the four additional EDCA sites.

“The governors of Cagayan and Isabela are not the only ones who publicly expressed reservation to having their provinces used as EDCA sites,” it said.

Peace and development, the embassy said, remain

Bystander intervention workshops to combat...

PAGE 1

of Foreign Affairs which he joined in 1997.

“I am standing on the shoulders of giants who were assigned here in New York, all accomplished diplomats,” he said. “I am very honored to have been assigned here by our Secretary of Foreign Affairs and I am looking at the accomplishments of my predecessors, most of whom I have worked with in various stages.”

The Consul General added that he plans to continue many of the programs including “Kumusta Kabayan” where the consulate invites Cabinet members and senior officials to talk about the developments in the Philippines that may affect Filipinos abroad.

The two children are now in the care of Lucero’s family as they undergo social work evaluation, A GoFundMe page has been set up for Frances Lucero. n

He also emphasized the call of the President to strengthen economic linkages between the Philippines and the United States of America, while continuing all efforts to serve kababayans abroad.

“We have very clear directives coming from the very top that at this point in time, we have to emphasize economic diplomacy so a lot of our efforts should help attract investments, should open doors for Filipino products to enter here, and also for increased trade relations between the states that we liaise with,” Mangalile added.

At the DFA, Consul General Mangalile served as Senior Special Assistant to the Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Affairs, concurrent Director of the U.S. and Canada Divisions of the Office of American Affairs, Director for Ceremonials at the Office of Protocol, and Principal Assistant at the Office of ASEAN Affairs. He was also detailed to the Office of Presidential Protocol at Malacañang Palace.

Mangalile served as Assistant

NBC News / MSNBC anchor Richard Lui (extreme right, standing) at the panel discussion with community leaders on bias-motivated harassment. Among the panelists were (from left) Kimberly Bertz, Wells Fargo Head of Diversity Equity & Inclusion Strategy and Employee Affairs; Marita Etcubañez, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives, Asians Advancing Justice - AAJC and Rabbi Becky Jaye, T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights.

Secretary of the DFA’s Office of Consular Affairs, Consul General at the Philippine Embassy in London, and Consul at the Philippine Consulate General in Osaka. He was the first consul from an ASEAN country to be elected by his peers as president of the Consular Corps of London, the oldest consular corps in the world, having been established in 1902.

During the one-hour face-to-face, Mangalile took the opportunity to assure the community of his willingness to listen to their concerns, explaining that there is a need for the consulate and the community to work in synergy.

He hopes to spark new collaborations among various organizations and individuals for the promotion of

Philippine culture, protection of the rights of Filipino migrants, strengthening economic linkages, and celebrating the contributions of Filipino-Americans to the fabric of American society.

Consul General Mangalile holds the degrees Master of Science (with Distinction) in Diplomacy, Statecraft, and Foreign Policy from Loughborough University, United Kingdom, and Bachelor of Arts, Major in Philosophy from Immaculate Conception Major Seminary, Philippines. He attended the Master of Arts, Major in Philosophy program of the Ateneo de Manila University from 1990 to 1992

entered the University of the Philippines College of Law in 1993. n

BANANAS FOR SALE. A vendor arranges bananas at the Kadiwa store located at a gasoline station in Barangay South Triangle, Quezon City on Tuesday, March 14. The bananas were sold at PHP45 per kilogram. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

Emily May, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Right To Be (extreme left) responds to a question by host,

and

Features OpiniOn HIV among teens

In their teens, there are Filipinos who are getting infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, the Department of Health has reported. In its latest HIV/AIDS registry, the DOH reported this week that 79 Filipinos aged 10 to 19 years and seven children below age 10 were diagnosed with HIV in January alone.

Of the 86 cases, 78 got HIV through sexual contact, according to the DOH. The department reported that 65 of the infections acquired HIV through male-to-male sex, eight through sex with both male and female, and five through heterosexual contact, with most of the sexual contact unprotected or unsafe. Of the cases, 18 were 18 to 19 years old, 20 were aged 15 to 17 while two were between ages 10 and 14.

Editorial

The problem raises the need to heighten awareness of safe sex and reproductive health among adolescents. Some sectors have expressed concern that sex education can encourage sexual promiscuity among the youth. Proponents of sex education, on the other hand, argue that adolescents will explore their sexuality anyway, so it is better to provide them with proper information on safe sex, reproductive health and the risks

of HIV infection and teenage pregnancy.

Before the COVID pandemic, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS had reported that the number of new HIV infections in the Philippines had more than doubled between 2010 and 2016, from 4,300 infections to approximately 10,500. The country has recorded the fastest growth rate in HIV infection in Asia and the Pacific, becoming one of eight countries that account for over 85 percent of new infections in the region, according to UNAIDS.

Last year, the DOH recorded a 21 percent increase in new HIV infections compared to 2021. In January this year, 1,454 new cases were recorded nationwide, or a daily average of 46 new infections. HIV cases in the country have shifted from female sex workers to men having sex with men.

A growing concern for health experts

is the increase in HIV infections among teenagers. While new generation treatments have become available for HIV, the infection is still debilitating and can lead to death if it progresses to full-blown AIDS. Health experts

are calling for a multisectoral response to the problem, from the home to schools, communities, civil society and concerned government agencies, all moving to save youths from infection. (Philstar.com)

Progress delayed is progress denied

the first phase of the PUV modernization program. The extension takes effect from June 30 and expires on Dec. 31, 2023.

ON the back of the nationwide strike planned by transport groups, the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced that it would extend, yet again, the deadline for PUV operators to comply with

It will be recalled that the PUV modernization program was championed by former DOTr secretary Art Tugade. Ratified in 2017, jeepney and bus operators were given three years, or until 2020, to comply with the first phase of the program. This first phase requires PUV

operators to consolidate into cooperatives or corporations to achieve economies of scale – doing so will enable them to professionalize their operations.

The year 2020 came and went and the greater majority of jeepney and bus operators failed to comply. Transport groups asked for an extension and threatened to mount a nationwide strike if they did not get their way. The LTFRB relented and granted an

extension until June 20, 2023, or another three years.

As the new deadline approaches, many jeepney and bus operators are caught flatfooted again, not having consolidated. With their franchises in threat of nonrenewal, another transport strike was organized to pressure the LTFRB. It is the proverbial gun that they put to the public’s head. Again, LTFRB relented and extended the deadline to Dec. 31, 2023.

The LTFRB should show some backbone. If they cave every time transport groups threaten a strike, this PUV modernization program will never come to fruition.

The PUV modernization program will make the country’s public transport system more efficient and environmentally friendly. The program calls for the phaseout of jeepneys, buses and other public utility vehicles that are 15 years old or older.

These will be replaced by safer, more comfortable and environmentally-friendly alternatives over the next three years. Currently, there are 220,000 jeepney units operating throughout the country.

The replacement vehicles are required to utilize Euro-4 compliant or electric engines to comply with the Clean Air Act. PUVs must also be rigged with CCTV cameras,

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

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Dateline PhiliPPines

Luis Teodoro, Philippine journalism’s champion and critic, dies at 81

MANILA — Luis V. Teodoro — a veteran columnist, media critic and champion of the alternative press — has died at 81.

Teodoro, who had a long-running column in BusinessWorld, was deputy director of media monitor Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, where he helped push for higher standards for the profession through training and through constant reminders on media ethics.

“A pillar of Philippine journalism, Teodoro’s combined careers as an academic and journalist is unparalleled,” CMFR said in a statement.

“His place as an esteemed colleague and friend is unique. CMFR will forever uphold his contribution to the work of building of a free and independent press

and its role in Philippine democracy.”

The Alternative Media Network (Altermidya), of which he was founding chairperson, called Teodoro a pillar of Philippine journalism who advanced “the ideals of pro-people

BAP: Philippines’ banking system not exposed to US contagion

by Ramon Royandoyan Philstar.com

MANILA — The Bankers Association of the Philippines assured on Tuesday, March 14 that the country’s banking system is not exposed to the contagion from the collapse of U.S.-based banks.

clients,” the statement read.

SVB’s collapse last Friday, March 10 was precipitated by a bank run, essentially the bank did not have any cash to pay back its depositors. The bank was considered one of the largest lenders to the tech sector.

journalism both as a respected member of the academe and through the alternative media that he helped organize in the Philippines.”

Teodoro’s family has confirmed his passing but

PAGE 7

In a statement, the BAP explained the fallout from the closures of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank will not have any “material impact” on Philippine banks.

“Banks have diversified deposit bases that include all sectors of the Philippine economy, allowing them to continuously provide the liquidity needs of their

Two days later, the ensuing panic forced regulators to shut down Signature Bank to soothe equity markets and investors.

Experts reckoned that SVB was the largest bank to fail ever since the 2008 Global Financial Crisis.

The failure of the two banks sent investors everywhere on edge as the collapse dominated headlines over the weekend.

“Additionally, banks in

the Philippines continue to have capital and liquidity ratios that exceed the requirements set by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas,” the BAP added. Philippines equities reacted to the news glumly. Local shares trended downward at the start of the week.

Much like the BAP, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Felipe Medalla assured the public that Philippine banks are not exposed to the fallout.

“The prudential measures implemented by the BSP provide the necessary support that allows the Philippine banking system to withstand economic shocks,” BAP said. n

In this file photo from 2017, veteran columnist and journalism professor Luis V. Teodoro attends a press conference against impunity. Philstar.com file photo

12,000 troops to join largest PH-US Balikatan

by Michael Punongbayan Philstar.com

MANILA — Some 12,000 American soldiers will be arriving in the country in the next few weeks to participate in the 2023 Balikatan Exercises, which will be the biggest joint training event between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the United States military.

This year’s activities will also, for the first time with U.S. troops, involve live-fire exercises, specifically in the waters of Zambales.

Col. Michael Logico, director of the Joint and Combined Training Center under the AFP Education, Training and Doctrine Command and spokesman for Balikatan 2023, said around 17,600 Filipino and U.S. soldiers are set to join this year’s joint training exercises.

Around 12,000 of the soldiers will come from the U.S. military while the rest will be from the AFP, along with about 100 from the Australian Defense Force who will be joining some of the events for the first time.

April 11 to 28 with events in various locations in Northern Luzon, Palawan and Antique.

“Yes, this is officially the largest Balikatan Exercise,” he said, noting that the event would be “an interoperability exercise to test our concepts for maritime defense, for coastal defense and maritime domain awareness.”

He added that this year’s iteration of the joint military training between Filipino and American soldiers would also include cyber defense exercise.

Events would also be held “outside our traditional training areas,” Logico said.

“Part of it is we’re going to be doing live fire exercises into the water. So it’s practically, we’re exercising in key locations where we are able to utilize all our service components,” he said.

Only the Air Force and the Army were participants in previous exercises, he said.

as preparation for hostilities with China.

“We are here to practice, we are here to show that we are combat ready,” he pointed out.

Logico said the U.S. military would be bringing in military assets including ships and aircraft.

Training facility

Australia, meanwhile, has donated a new training facility for the Philippine Air Force (PAF) in Capas, Tarlac.

Acting Defense Undersecretary Angelito de Leon led the official acceptance of the Close Air Support Part Task Trainer, Classroom and Debriefing Facility on Monday, March 13.

The facility will be assigned to the Air Force’s 710th Special Operations Wing (SPOW).

Luis Teodoro, Philippine...

Carlito Galvez Jr.

Australian ambassador Yu officially handed the transfer documents to De Leon.

The donation was made possible through the Philippines-Australia Enhanced Defense Cooperation Program (EDCP), signed in December 2019.

“With this facility, the PAF will be able to address the technical training gaps of its personnel who will be given more time and training opportunities such as the use of simulator and actual flight events,” De Leon said.

“To reciprocate this goodwill and support, we must collectively ensure that the Philippines will be able to fulfill its roles as a responsible nation-state and a reliable regional security partner,” De Leon said.

has yet to issue a statement.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, which remembered Teodoro as a defender of press freedom, also called him “the staunchest advocate for the best in the profession and the most savage critic of its worst practices” who would continue to be a guide for the profession even after his passing.

“The current and the future generations of journalists have been gifted with Dean Teodoro’s lessons on journalism. We pledge to continue his legacy of wielding the pen in the service of the people,” the union also said.

CMC said it was “[joining] friends and colleagues in communication and media in mourning [his] passing.”

“As educator, editor, and journalist, Dean Teodoro was pivotal in fostering academic excellence in our discipline, upholding integrity in the practice of media, and defending our freedoms of the press, speech, and assembly,” it also said.

According to CMFR, Teodoro kept teaching at UP CMC — online during the pandemic and in the classroom when restrictions on face-to-face classes were eased.

Colleagues to carry on

his

work

Asked if this year’s Balikatan Exercises would factor in the West Philippine Sea problem with China, Logico said “every country has the absolute and inalienable right to exercise within our territory, we have the absolute, inalienable right to defend our territory.”

The Australian ambassador, in a post on Twitter, said her country is “grateful for the Philippines’ support as Australia seeks to become a more capable defense partner in the region.”

Alternative news website Bulatlat, where Teodoro sat on the board, said that he had “many of today’s finest journalists in the country, having provided them with tools for analysis they need to better cover stories of marginalized communities and in holding the powerful to account.”

Among the remaining journalists from the Martial Law era, and one who was a political prisoner,Teodoro wrote in a BusinessWorld column on the anniversary of People Power that while it was a momentous incident for the nation, it was “hardly” a revolution.

There will also be observers from the Japan Self Defense Force.

Logico told reporters Balikatan 2023 will run from

But he stressed the joint exercises were not meant

“On behalf of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of National Defense (DND), I thank the Australian government, represented here by Her Excellency Hae Kyong Yu, PSM, Australian ambassador to the Philippines, for donating this classroom and debriefing facility to the Philippine Air Force,” De Leon said, quoting the speech of DND officer-in-charge, Senior Undersecretary

driving wedge between China...

It accused the U.S. of “keeping on upgrading” military cooperation with the Philippines by adding EDCA bases and military deployment in the country “to secure its hegemony and

selfish geopolitical interests and out of the cold-war mentality.” “Whereas the U.S. claims that such cooperation is intended to help the disaster relief efforts of the Philippines and some Americans even tout the EDCA sites as driver of local economy, it is plain and simple that those moves are part of

the U.S. efforts to encircle and contain China through its military alliance with this country,” the embassy said.

“Australia is investing in capabilities to meet the challenges of our strategic circumstances and ensure the Indo-Pacific remains stable, secure and prosperous,” she said. (with Pia Lee-Brago) n the theme of this era and the call of peoples around the world.

“To bundle the Philippines into the chariots of geopolitical strife will seriously harm Philippine national interests and endanger regional peace and stability,” it said. n

The website, in its statement, said Teodoro “was a constant reminder that it is imperative for today’s journalists to defend human rights, uphold the highest ethical practice of journalism, and to do their best in bringing about change.”

Academic excellence, upholding integrity

Teodoro was a journalism professor at the UP College of Mass Communication, where he was dean for two terms from 1994 to 2000, according to the UP Open University, where he gave a lecture on the political economy of the mass media.

“It was during his deanship that two departments of UP-CMC — the Department of Journalism and the Department of Communication Research — were first named Commission on Higher Education Centers of Excellence,” UPOU also said.

“He held a number of professional chairs before his retirement from UP as a full professor of journalism. He conceptualized and raised the initial funds for the construction of the College of Mass Communication Media Center, the cornerstone of which was laid during his deanship of the college.”

In a Facebook post, UP

“It did not dismantle or even truly reform the feudal system. The land tenancy anomaly in fact survived it and even emerged stronger than ever. Inviting foreign investments into the country is still the main development strategy of the successors of Marcos, Sr. as it has been since 1946; and industrialization has never been seriously contemplated as economic policy,” he wrote on BusinessWorld.

“That ‘revolution’ was no social upheaval either. It did not end the vast inequality, the social injustice, and the poverty that still afflict millions of Filipinos. And the most that it did politically was to replace one wing of the ruling elite with another. It did not replace the dynasties that have monopolized political power in this country for decades, and in fact eventually allowed the representatives of their most backward, bureaucrat-capitalist faction to eventually regain and keep power indefinitely,” he also wrote.

As a generation of Martial Law journalists passes and with the structural problems that Teodoro lamented in one of his last columns still in place, the Altermidya network that Teodoro helped found promised on Tuesday, March 14 to “carry on his work and principles” in producing journalism for the people. (Philstar.com) n

FINALISTS. The Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) headed by Director Dr. Josette T. Biyo (3rd row, in grey suit) and their partners for the 6th imake.wemake competition present the 20 top school finalists and their coaches in a press conference at the Sequioa Hotel-Manila Bay, Aseana City Business Park in Parañaque City on Monday, March 13. The DOST-SEI takes pride in its continuous promotion of innovation through the imake.wemake competition fostering their goal to unleash the creativity of young Filipinos in innovation using accessible technologies to address problems in society and improve social conditions.

PNA photo by Ben Briones

Pinoy teens, young children getting HIV

by Mayen JayMalin Philstar.com

MANILA — Filipino teenagers and children are getting infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) too, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

In its latest HIV/AIDS Registry of the Philippines, the agency reported that 86 Filipinos – aged 19 years and below – were diagnosed with HIV in January 2023.

“There were 79 adolescents aged 10 to 19 years old, and

DOJ indicts Bantag, several others over killing of Percy Lapid, inmate Jun Villamor

by Kristine Joy Patag Philstar.com

MANILA — The Department of Justice has indicted suspended Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag and several others over the killing of radio broadcaster Percy Lapid and alleged middleman Jun Villamor.

The DOJ panel of prosecutors, in a resolution dated March 9, said it found probable cause to charge Bantag and his supposed right-hand man, SSupt. Ricardo Zulueta over the killings of Lapid — whose real name is Percival Mabasa — and Villamor as “principal by inducement.”

Lapid was known for his hard-hitting commentaries on government officials. He was shot in October last year while he was in his vehicle, near the gate of his private subdivision in the capital region.

“The preliminary investigation established

that the murders of [Lapid] and Villamor were attended by conspiracy between and among the respective respondents. The plan of the respondents to kill them both, including its execution, was shown by the evidence for the complainants,” the DOJ said in a statement.

Lapid assassination

On the indictment of Bantag, the DOJ said that “sufficient circumstantial evidence have been presented to establish that he masterminded the assassination of [Lapid].”

It said that several circumstances were shown starting with the call of Villamor to confessed gunman Joel Escorial where the former told the latter not to disclose Bantag’s name when caught. The department also noted the motive for the murder, such as “Lapid Fire” episodes that showed the then-BuCor chief’s house.

“Significantly, the statements of the respondent

PDLs corroborate the finding and point to Bantag as the one who ordered the killing,” the DOJ added.

Meanwhile, on the part of Zulueta, the DOJ said prosecution panel held that the statements of the Persons Deprived of Liberty “clearly establish his participation in the killing of [Lapid],” specifically citing the BuCor official’s call to inmate Denver Mayores to look for a killer as the start of the assassination plan.

“Moreover, it was respondent Zulueta who provided the amount of P350,000.00 as additional payment to the hitman/ killer and told respondent Labra that respondent Bantag is thanking them for the assassination,” the statement quoted the resolution.

Others who will face charges are:

As principal by direct participation in Lapid killing

Joel Escorial, confessed gunman

Israel Dimaculangan

Edmon Dimaculangan

alias Orly

As principal by indispensable cooperation in Lapid killing

PDL Denver Mayores

PDL Alvin Labra

PDL Aldrin Galicia

PDL Alfie Peñaredonda

Christopher Bacoto.

The DOJ said that the call started with Zulueta to Mayores, then to Labra who messaged Galicia who, in turn, instructed Villamor to find a gunman. They found Escorial, through Bacoto.

“The phrases ‘nainip na ang itaas’, ‘itaas’ is already getting mad, ‘may utos si tanda’, work coming from ‘taas’ were mentioned in the sinumpaang salaysay of the PDLs. They confirmed that the words ‘itaas’, ‘taas’ or ‘tanda’ refers to respondent Bantag,” the statement further read.

Villamor murder

In the murder of Villamor, Bantag, Zulueta, Labra and PAGE 9

In its latest HIV/AIDS Registry of the Philippines, the agency reported that 86 Filipinos – aged 19 years and below – were diagnosed with HIV in January 2023. Philstar.com file photo

Progress delayed is progress...

an automated fare collection system, speed limiters and a GPS system. The DOTr specifies no preference as far as manufacturers of new generation PUVs are concerned. For as long as they pass the Philippine National Standards and are aligned with the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines of the LTFRB, operators will have no problem renewing their franchises.

Government has made it easy for PUV operators to replace their decrepit vehicles. A subsidy of P160,000 has been granted to cover the down-payment, chattel mortgage and insurance of a brand new vehicle. A concessionary interest rate of six percent will be applied over an amortization term of seven years. This allows the PUV operators to obtain a brand new PUV with practically zero cash outlay whilst paying affordable monthly installments. The cost of a new vehicle can range from P900,000 to P2.5 million, depending on its load capacity and engine.

Some PUV drivers and/ or operators may find it difficult to understand how the financial model works. For guidance, they can refer to the LTFRB or enroll in the Driver Scholar Program of TESDA.

Adjunct with the modernization of buses and jeepneys will be the rationalization of routes. New routes will be created while appropriate number of PUVs will be deployed per route. The benefits of the program are numerous. For the riding public, they will enjoy more efficient and connected routes, shorter waiting times, a safer and more comfortable journey, predictable travel times, more disciplined drivers (due to the elimination of the boundary system) and reduced traffic. For the drivers, they will benefit by way of fixed base salaries plus benefits (which they are presently deprived of), higher incomes by virtue of vehicles with higher passenger capacities, faster turn around times due to rationalized routes, less working hours, less traffic, less work stress and less franchise costs. It is

Pinoy teens, young children...

a win-win situation for all. There are other reasons why the PUV modernization program needs to be implemented with no more delay. According to the DENR, 80 percent of the pollution in Metro Manila and key cities is attributed to motor vehicle pollution, particularly from old diesel-run PUVs. In terms of motorists’ safety, some 40,133 accidents were recorded involving PUVs between 2016-2019. The extraordinarily high accident rate of PUVs is due to the lack of maintenance of vehicles and failure to replace tires, break pads, headlights and tail lights. The sad reality is that independent PUV operators function from hand to mouth. They simply do not have the financial elbow room to invest in maintenance. Hence, the need to organize into cooperatives or corporations. And then there is the outdated boundary system – an arrangement that brings out the worst in PUV drivers. The need to earn the boundary compels drivers to race like mad men to secure as many passengers as possible, even if it means

PAGE 8

seven children less than 10 years old,” the report revealed.

Except for one case that lacks data on the mode of transmission, all 78 adolescents acquired the infection through sexual contact.

Of the 78 HIV-infected adolescents, 65 acquired the infection through male-to-male sex, eight through sex with both males and females, and five through male-to-female sex.

By age bracket, the DOH said 57 (72

percent of the cases) were 18 to 19 years old, 20 (25 percent) were 15 to 17 years old, and two (three percent) were only between 10 to 14 years old.

The DOH previously reported a total of 1,454 new HIV cases for January 2023. The figure indicates an average of 46 new HIV cases are reported each day.

In 2022, the DOH reported a 21 percent increase in the number of new HIV cases compared to the previous year. n

program is long overdue. Citizens, commuters and drivers have waited six long years for this badly needed program to be implemented. We must not let those who resist change and those who failed to prepare get in the way of progress. Let this be the last time the LTFRB gives in to pressure. At the end of the day, progress delayed is progress denied. (Philstar. com)

breaking traffic rules. Drivers have no choice but to work 12 to 14 hours per day just to earn a decent take-home pay, after boundary. Many have resorted to taking illegal drugs to meet the physical demands of the job.

The PUV modernization program will eliminate

the boundary system in exchange for fixed salaries plus SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-Ibig benefits for the driver. Working hours will be rationalized and safer driving conditions secured. Drivers will now be accorded the dignity they deserve.

The PUV modernization

* * *

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.

* * *

Email: andrew_rs6@yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter @aj_masigan

BUSINESS AS USUAL. There was no sign of a transport strike along Gil Puyat Avenue near Taft Avenue in Pasay City on Monday, March 6. More drivers preferred to ply their routes than join the protest of groups opposing some provisions of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program. PNA photo by Avito Dalan

Pandemic stress, gangs, and utter...

The number of children under 18 who killed someone with a firearm jumped from 836 in 2019 to 1,150 in 2020.

In New York City, the number of young people who killed someone with a gun more than doubled, rising from 48 juvenile offenders in 2019 to 124 in 2022, according to data from the city’s police department.

Youth gun violence increased more modestly in other cities; in many places, the number of teen gun homicides rose in 2020 but has since fallen closer to prepandemic levels.

Researchers who analyze crime statistics stress that teens are not driving the overall rise in gun violence, which has increased across all ages. In 2020, 7.5% of homicide arrests involved children under 18, a slightly smaller share than in previous years.

Local leaders have struggled with the best way to respond to teen shootings.

A handful of communities — including Pittsburgh; Fulton County, Georgia; and Prince George’s County, Maryland — have debated or implemented youth curfews to curb teen violence. What’s not in dispute: More people ages 1 to 19 die by gun violence than by any other cause.

A l ifetime of limits

The devastating toll of gun violence shows up in emergency rooms every day.

At the UChicago Medicine trauma center, the number of gunshot wounds in children under 16 has doubled in the past six years, said Dr. Selwyn Rogers, the center’s founding director. The youngest victim was 2. “You hear the mother wail, or the brother say, ‘It’s not true,’” said Rogers, who works with local youth as the hospital’s executive vice president for community health engagement. “You have to be present in that moment, but then walk out the door and deal with it all over again.”

In recent years, the justice system has struggled to balance the need for public safety with compassion for kids, based on research that shows a young person’s brain doesn’t fully mature until age 25. Most young offenders “age out” of criminal or violent behavior around the same time, as they develop more self-control and longrange thinking skills.

Yet teens accused of shootings are often charged as adults, which means they face harsher punishments than kids charged as juveniles, said Josh Rovner, director of youth justice at the Sentencing Project, which advocates for justice system reform.

About 53,000 juveniles in 2019 were charged as adults, which can have serious health repercussions. These teens are more likely to be victimized while incarcerated, Rovner said, and to be arrested again after release.

Young people can spend much of their lives in a poverty-imposed lockdown, never venturing far beyond their neighborhoods, learning little about opportunities that exist in the wider world, Rogers said. Millions of American children — particularly Black, Hispanic, and Native American kids — live in environments plagued by poverty, violence, and drug use.

The covid-19 pandemic amplified all those problems, from unemployment to food and housing insecurity.

Although no one can say with certainty what spurred the surge in shootings in 2020, research has long linked hopelessness and lack of trust in police — which increased after the murder of George Floyd that year — to an increased risk of community violence. Gun sales soared 64% from 2019 to 2020, while many violence prevention programs shut down.

One of the most serious losses children faced during the pandemic was the closure of schools — institutions that might provide the only stabilizing force in their young lives — for a year or more in many places.

“The pandemic just turned up the fire under the pot,” said Elise White, deputy director of research at the nonprofit Center for Justice Innovation, which works with communities and justice systems. “Looking back, it’s easy to underplay now just how uncertain that time [during the pandemic] felt. The more that people feel uncertain, the more they feel there’s no safety around them, the more likely they are to carry weapons.”

Of course, most children who experience hardship never break the law. Multiple studies have found that most

gun violence is perpetrated by a relatively small number of people.

The presence of even one supportive adult can protect children from becoming involved with crime, said Dr. Abdullah Pratt, a UChicago Medicine emergency physician who lost his brother to gun violence.

Pratt also lost four friends to gun violence during the pandemic. All four died in his emergency room; one was the son of a hospital nurse.

Although Pratt grew up in a part of Chicago where street gangs were common, he benefited from the support of loving parents and strong role models, such as teachers and football coaches. Pratt was also protected by his older brother, who looked out for him and made sure gangs left the future doctor alone.

“Everything I’ve been able to accomplish,” Pratt said, “is because someone helped me.”

Growing up in a ‘war zone’

Diego had no adults at home to help him feel safe.

His parents were often violent. Once, in a drunken rage, Diego’s father grabbed him by the leg and swung him around the room, Diego said, and his mother once threw a toaster at his father.

At age 12, Diego’s efforts to help the family pay overdue bills — by selling marijuana and stealing from unlocked cars and apartments — led his father to throw him out of the house.

At 13, Diego joined a gang made up of neighborhood kids. Gang members — who recounted similar stories about leaving the house to escape abuse — gave him food and a place to stay. “We were like a family,” Diego said. When the kids were hungry, and there was no food at home, “we’d go to a gas station together to steal some breakfast.”

But Diego, who was smaller than most of the others, lived in fear. At 16, Diego weighed only 100 pounds. Bigger boys bullied and beat him up. And his successful hustle — selling stolen merchandise on the street for cash — got the attention of rival gang members, who threatened to rob him.

Children who experience chronic violence can develop a “war zone mentality,” becoming hypervigilant to threats, sometimes

DOJ indicts Bantag, several...

PAGE 8 participation,” are:

as principal inducement.

Others indicted for the inmate’s murder, “as principal by direct

PDL Maria Alvarez

PDL Joseph Georfo

PDL Christian Ramac

PDL Ricky Salgado

PDL Ronnie Dela Cryz

PDL Joel Reyes

“Accordingly, the Panel of Prosecutors respectfully recommends the approval of the two corresponding Informations (charge sheets) in the above-entitled case,” part of the resolution read.

The murder charges will be filed before the courts of Las Piñas and Muntinlupa, over the separate incidents of the killing of Lapid and Villamor, respectively.

Bantag meanwhile is also facing criminal raps for alleged torture of Bilibid inmates, and graft and plunder complaints. n

sensing danger where it doesn’t exist, said James Garbarino, an emeritus professor of psychology at Cornell University and Loyola University-Chicago. Kids who live with constant fear are more likely to look to firearms or gangs for protection. They can be triggered to take preemptive action — such as firing a gun without thinking — against a perceived threat.

“Their bodies are constantly ready for a fight,” said Gianna Tran, deputy executive director of the East Bay Asian Youth Center in Oakland, California, which works with young people living in poverty, trauma, and neglect.

Unlike mass shooters, who buy guns and ammunition because they’re intent on murder, most teen violence is not premeditated, Garbarino said.

In surveys, most young people who carry guns — including gang members — say they do so out of fear or to deter attacks, rather than perpetrate them. But fear of community violence, both from rivals and the police, can stoke an urban arms race, in which kids feel that only the foolish walk around without a weapon.

“Fundamentally, violence is a contagious disease,” said Dr. Gary Slutkin, founder of Cure Violence Global, which works to prevent community violence.

Although a small number of teens become hardened and remorseless, Pratt said, he sees far more shootings caused by “poor conflict resolution” and teenage

impulsivity rather than a desire to kill.

Indeed, firearms and an immature teenage brain are a dangerous mix, Garbarino said. Alcohol and drugs can magnify the risk. When confronted with a potentially life-or-death situation, kids may act without thinking.

When Diego was 16, he was walking a girl to school and they were approached by three boys, including a gang member who, using obscene and threatening language, asked if Diego was also in a gang. Diego said he tried to walk past the boys, one of whom appeared to have a gun.

“I didn’t know how to fire a gun,” Diego said. “I just wanted them to get away.”

In news accounts of the shooting, witnesses said they heard five gunshots. “The only thing I remember is the sound of the shots,” Diego said. “Everything else was going in slow motion.”

Diego had shot two of the boys in the legs. The girl ran one way, and he ran another. Police arrested Diego at home a few hours later. He was tried as an adult, convicted of two counts of attempted homicide, and sentenced to 12 years.

A Second Chance

In the past two decades, the justice system has made major changes in the way it treats children.

Youth arrests for violent crime plummeted 67% from 2006 to 2020, and 40 states have made it harder to charge minors as adults. States also are adopting alternatives to incarceration, such as group homes that allow teens to

remain in their communities, while providing treatment to help them change their behavior.

Because Diego was 17 when he was sentenced, he was sent to a juvenile facility, where he received therapy for the first time.

Diego finished high school while behind bars and went on to earn an associate’s degree from a community college. He and other young inmates went on field trips to theaters and the aquarium — places he had never been. The detention center director asked Diego to accompany her to events about juvenile justice reform, where he was invited to tell his story.

Those were eye-opening experiences for Diego, who realized he had seen very little of Chicago, even though he had spent his life there.

“Growing up, the only thing you see is your community,” said Diego, who was released after four years in detention, when the governor commuted his sentence. “You assume that is what the whole world is like.”

KHN data editor Holly K. Hacker and researcher Megan Kalata contributed to this report.

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

KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

Galicia were indicted

Suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag attends the preliminary investigation for the murder case of broadcaster Percy Lapid at the Department of Justice on December 5, 2022. STAR / KJ Rosales

COMMUNITY JOURNAL

Success

story: A terminated case is reinstated and visa issued, on Citizen Pinoy this Sunday

JOSEPH was petitioned by his mother in 2007 and waited 12 long years for his Nanay Pilar’s petition to become current. Unfortunately, Joseph was in Zurich, Switzerland for work and was unable to attend his embassy interview in April 2019. Despite Joseph’s attempt to contact the National Visa Center to reschedule his interview date, he received a termination

letter, where the Embassy said Joseph failed to contact them within the allotted one-year period, and his file had now been destroyed.

Joseph consulted with the Law Offices of Michael Gurfinkel to get his case back on track. After writing to the Embassy, arguing for Joseph’s eligibility, Atty. Gurfinkel

PAGE 12

2023 PIDCI Grand Marshal Ball

PIDCI (Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc.) President Nora Galleros said that her team and Dr. Dely Po Go, 2023 PIDCI Grand Marshal are working hard with the Philippine Consulate General of New York to come up with a memorable celebration of the 125th Philippine Independence Day Parade in Manhattan, New York on June 4, 2023. n

LEADING U.S. IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL SUCCESSFULLY REINSTATES A TERMINATED CASE SUCCESS STORY IN AN ENCORE EPISODE OF CITIZEN PINOY THIS SUNDAY! After Nanay Pilar (center) petitioned her son, Joseph (left) in 2007, it took some 11 years until his F-2B petition became current in 2018. His embassy interview was scheduled in April 2019, but Joseph was in Zurich, Switzerland for work and he asked to have his interview rescheduled. Unfortunately, the embassy sent a termination letter, based on Joseph’s supposed failure to contact them within a year. Joseph consulted with Atty. Gurfinkel (right), who got the case reinstated and visa issued in record time. Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, March 19 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. (Advertising Supplement)

From left to right - 2023 PIDCI Grand Marshal Dr. Dely Po Go, Consul-General Senen Mangalile (middle), Ms. Nora Galleros, 2023 PIDCI President at the 2023 PIDCI Grand Marshal Ball. Consul General Mangalile and Galleros called for a renewed partnership with the Filipino community in the ten states that comprise the area of responsibility of the NYPCG towards enhancing consular services, greater responsiveness to the community, promoting Sentro Rizal as the center for Filipino heritage, culture and the arts, preserving the generational connection between the youth and their homeland, economic investment in the Philippines such as tourism and sustaining constructive dialogue with all concerned.

AJPress Photos by Troi Santos

is multiawarded philanthropist, Dr. Dely Po Go, who has achieved the American Dream and more, matched only by her generous community giving. Many can attribute their own personal and professional success directly to Dr.

Go

PIDCI

set the expectations for the 125th Philippine Independence Day Parade on June 4, 2023 along Madison Avenue in New York. She said it will be a most “impactful” celebration featuring Philippine history and Filipino reverence for those who founded our Republic, a cultural segment that will represent Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, the present-day heroes and opportunities for investment and employment in the Philippines.

pledged a donation for Project DAPITAN - a communitybased livelihood program that bypass the usual pitfalls of previous livelihood projects by engaging local governments, delegating fund disbursements to third parties such as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with track records and good standing, providing financial literacy training and values formation through collaborations with clergy and other subject matter experts. As a philanthropist and community leader, Dr. Go hopes to leave a lasting legacy through this and many other projects propagating Filipino heritage, culture and the arts she supports.

(From left to right) Consul-General Senen Mangalile, Mrs. Maria Fe Mangalile, PIDCI President Nora Galleros, 2023 PIDCI Grand Marshal Dr. Dely Po Go, Engr. Harry Go at the 2023 PIDCI Grand Marshal Ball. The PIDCI Grand Marshal Ball is an annual fundraiser for the Philippine Independence Day Parade in New York - widely acknowledged as the largest celebration of Philippine Independence Day outside of the Philippines.

President Nora Galleros

The 2023 PIDCI Grand Marshal

Dely Go.Dr.

also

WHAT is depression?

Depression is a state of emotion where the individual has some or all of the following senses, feelings or moods: downhearted, unhappy, anxious, irritable, unable to concentrate, socially withdrawn, empty inside, has inordinate fatigue and reduced interest in activities which used to be fun, hopelessness, indecision, impaired sleep, misery, helplessness, confusion, monosyllabic speech or abnormally quiet.

What is morbid mood?

The morbid mood in depression may be so severe that the patient is unable to cry (tears dry up) or to feel the usual emotions like pleasure, grief or joy. The whole world appears lifeless and colorless to the patient, who could be pre-occupied with a sense of guilt and self-denigrating and destructive ideas.

What is melancholia?

It used to be called endogenous depression. Its features include marked slowness in thinking and activity, agitation, worthlessness, weight loss, restlessness, wringing of the hands, inability to experience pleasure or wellbeing, difficulty falling asleep and has insomnia following arousal from sleep, and diminished or loss of sexual desire. The patient usually has the feeling of guilt that he/she has committed a grave crime, with hallucinations (voices of people accusing the patient of bad deeds, or condemning him/her to death; others believe that they have incurable diseases like cancer or AIDs). Very rarely, the patient with this psychotic depression kills family members (“to save them from future misfortunes in life”) and kills himself/ herself.

How rampant is depression?

In the United States, depression affects about 17 million Americans. In the Philippines, about ten percent of young adults have moderate to severe depression in 2022, about 3.6 million of the population. More than two-thirds to 75% of them do not benefit from proper therapy because of the patient’s inability to seek counseling, misunderstanding of the

Are you depressed?

condition, or misdiagnosis. Most people do not seek professional help because the condition is very common and many of them are mild or subclinical (with no obvious symptoms). Sometimes, even physicians miss making the correct diagnosis in earnest, thinking the patient’s complaints could be due to some medication interaction. Are there screening tests for depression?

Yes, there are. Mental health specialists can administer preliminary tests such as the BDI (Beck Depression Inventory), or the HRS (Hamilton Rating Scale), which is composed of 20 questions to screen the patient. Today, computerized phone interviews are gaining effectivity as a screening tool. These tests are only a small part of the evaluation process because the specialists have the symptoms of the patient and other criteria to aid them make the correct diagnosis.

Don’t we all get depressed sometimes?

To some degree, when the situations demand it, normal people develop a mild form of depression, which is transient, self-terminating, and not a disease. As long as the resultant symptoms are trivial and temporary, and do not debilitate the person, the condition does not need any medical treatment.

What foods relieve depression?

Foods that are high in tryptophan, an amino acid involve in serotonin production, provide relief to some people with depression. Niacin (Vitamin B3), which is essential in the production of tryptophan, can be found in dried peas, beans, whole grains, dried fortified cereals, and especially in oily fishes like salmon and mackerel. It is reported that Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in fish oil may actually reduce depression. PMS Escape, a high carbohydrate drink, claims to increase tryptophan level and may control the depression related to pre-menopausal syndrome for about 3 hours. However, there are impurities in the L-tryptophan diet supplements that are associated with EMS (eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome), which increases white blood cells and causes muscle pain.

Does calcium help alleviate depression?

Calcium supplements and Vitamin B-12 have been

reported to reduce premenstrual depression. Also, some studies showed that among depressed people who drink caffeinated beverages have a lower incidence of suicide, which seems to suggest that coffee or tea reduces depression.

What are the therapy guidelines?

Among adults who suffer from major or chronic depression, a trial of antidepressant drugs is used, together with psychotherapy that is designed for the patient. For those who do not improve with this strategy, ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) has been found to be effective and safe. If this fails, psychosurgery might be indicated.

How about exercises?

Believe it or not, physical exercises may be as effective as psychotherapy in the management of mild to moderate depression. Prolonged aerobic workouts lead to higher levels of serotonin, adrenalin, endorphins and dopamine in the brain (producing the popular term “runner’s high”). Physical exercises, brisk walking, ballroom dancing, yoga, tai-bo, etc. lead to better emotional health. As an extra bonus from physical exercises, weight loss and improved muscle tone lead to a better sense of well-being and higher selfesteem. Those individuals with strong spiritual faith have a relatively lower predisposition to depression. These people might benefit from meditation, yoga, and other techniques for obtaining spiritual security, inner peace, and happiness. How about for children?

Children and adolescents with major depression have been found in clinical studies to respond as well to both placebos (sugar pills) and tricyclic antidepressants, especially newer ones like SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). For these group of young patients, a trial of psychotherapy (cognitivebehavioral or supportive therapy) is preferred before they are placed on antidepressant drugs. Do you have depression?

If you suspect you do, do not medicate yourself. It is most prudent to seek medical help. The first thing to do is to consult your primary physician who can help guide you. With early proper medication and/or advice,

Consul General Senen T. Mangalile paid a courtesy call on Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop on Friday, March 10, at the Jersey City Hall. With Jersey City home to the largest Filipino population in New Jersey, Consul General Senen T. Mangalile remarked how Filipino-Americans have become a significant part of the fabric of Jersey City society, especially in the field of health care. Mayor Fulop recognized this & conveyed his support for Filipino-American events, such as the upcoming Independence Day Parade. Consul General Mangalile was welcomed by Fil-Ams, who work at the Jersey City Hall and the Jersey City Police Department, during his official visit on Friday during his official visit on Friday. Consul General Mangalile expressed his gratitude for the Fil-Am workforce which keeps the City safe and running smoothly for its residents, including over 18,500 Filipino-Americans. Photos courtesy of PCGNY

Success story: A terminated case...

convinced the Embassy to reinstate the case. Joseph’s new interview was scheduled in March 2022 and Joseph’s visa was issued, to the joy of Nanay Pilar who was finally reunited with her son after such a long time. Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, March 19 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app. (Advertising Supplement)

* * *

depression in most cases can be managed effectively and eliminated faster than one can imagine. Physicians today have invaluable tools in their armamentarium for the diagnosis and treatment of depression. Many individuals with depression, who have sought medical care, are “cured” with simple oral medications – they look, behave, function, and live as normally and happily as anybody else, lost in the sea of anonymity.

* * *

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.

* * *

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.

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. He was a recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry Truman, President George HW Bush, Muhammad Ali, and Astronaut Gus Grissom (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888.com, Today. SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua. com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.

PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS

Leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (extreme right) was able to reinstate Joseph’s (extreme left) terminated case, on a brand-new episode of Citizen Pinoy.

CONSUL GENERAL MEETS JERSEY CITY MAYOR AND FIL-AMS OF THE JERSEY CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT & JERSEY CITY HALL.

Elijah Canlas aspires for filmography like Eddie Garcia’s

by allan PoliCarPio Inquirer.net

WHILE some actors see romance as a distraction, the opposite is true for Elijah Canlas, who believes that his relationship with Miles Ocampo has only made them better actors.

FPJ series not among reasons behind Lovi’s transfer to ABS-CBN

by Marinel Cruz Inquirer.net

“I WANT to have my own take on it,” said “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” lead actress Lovi Poe of a character once played by Maricel Soriano in the movie version that also featured her late father, Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ).

“I’ve already watched the movie before, but as part of my preparation for the series, I made sure to see it again. However, I don’t want to find myself copying Ms. Maricel. Also, my character here is totally different from hers in terms of their respective life journeys,” she told reporters recently.

“When it comes to training, I’m currently into one, but I’m not allowed to elaborate on it yet. I’ve been doing this unique preparation even before we started taping for the show,” she added.

‘Bargas’

Asked to describe her character Mocha “Mokang” Dimaculangan, Lovi said: “The term we always use when talking about her is ‘bargas,’ especially in the way she speaks and moves. This comes naturally to me,

too. Not many people know this, but I act according to how I’m dressed. When I’m wearing a gown or a dress, it’s like I’m playing a character. On the set, I always rely on my directors for guidance to make sure I’m consistent. The environment I work in helps a lot, too.”

When it was time to describe Coco Martin as a coactor, producer and director, Lovi had this to say: “He is such a caring person. He treats everyone on the set equally—that’s the one thing that I will never forget about him ever. I didn’t mean to observe him, but I couldn’t help it. I noticed how approachable he is. Anyone on the set can just come up to him if they have anything to ask.”

Lovi continued: “I’m amazed at how composed he is all the time, even though he is already tired because he is both the lead actor and the director. He is always ready to talk with his team. After doing scenes with him, I also noticed that he is such a natural at acting. Now, I kind of understand his

“We may have our own dreams and goals, but we’re in the same industry and we both love what we do. So we just support each other. She helps me study my script, take down notes and memorize my lines. And I do the same for her. We inspire each other,” he told the Inquirer at a recent press conference launching him as the newest contract talent of Cornerstone Entertainment.

Elijah couldn’t be happier for Miles, whose performances in the drama series “Batang Quiapo” often go viral.

“I call her ‘veterans.’ She knows the industry better than I do,” he said of his girlfriend, who started out in show biz as a child star. “And I feel so proud whenever I see her trending because I have seen how hard she works or how stressed she is. And to see her gain success is amazing.”

Explore

Does he mind Miles getting paired with other leading men? Not at all, said Elijah. In fact, he was the one who actually encouraged Miles to do kissing scenes—something the latter used to be wary of. “Ako pa nga nag-push sa kanya. Before we started dating, we had a chance to work on television (in the TV5 soap ‘Paano ang Pangako’). We were supposed to do a kissing scene, but she didn’t want to do it,” he recalled.

“But now that we’re together, I’m able to tell her that maybe this is a side [of acting] she can finally explore,” the 22-year-old actor said. “I help her get over some of her insecurities … But I can see that the more recognition she gets, the more confidence she gains.”

Asked what attracted her to him at first, Elijah said it was Miles’ talent and her being an old soul. “I noticed how good she was at acting. Then, I found out that she’s an old soul and loves music and writing letters, like me. It was music that broke the ice for us. I gifted her with a Walkman and cassette tapes,” he related. “Later on, I realized that she’s one of the kindest, most passionate people I have met.”

Numerous awards

Elijah got his first break in 2019, after starring in the acclaimed Jun Lana film “Kalel 15.” His performance as an HIVpositive teenager won him numerous awards, both here and abroad, including best actor trophies at the Asian Film Festival, the Gawad Urian and Famas Awards in 2020. He then rose to prominence amid the height of the pandemic through the hit YouTube boys’ love series, “Gameboys.”

This year, Elijah starred in “About Us But Not About Us”—also by Lana—which is an entry to the first ever summer edition of the Metro Manila Film Festival in April. He’s also part of the upcoming historical film, “GomBurZa.”

Now that he’s with Cornerstone, Elijah said his goal is to penetrate the mainstream and do bigger projects. “It will be a different kind of challenge to be in a big-scale project with a bigger cast… something that takes more shooting days. As an actor, I think it will be exciting to be part of something big.”

Elijah also hopes to dabble in music. “I compose my own music and I’m very much involved in producing it. I’m interested in different genres, like hip-hop and R&B. Now, my dad has introduced me to New Wave. So I have diverse taste in music. Given the chance, perhaps I can pursue music using a different name or with a different persona,” he surmised.

Expectations

While he has already proven his

mettle at such a young age, Elijah isn’t about to rest on his laurels. Awards are great to have, but with them come expectations. “I always feel like I have something to prove and learn. So whatever people’s expectations are of me, I will do my best to deliver,” he said.

Elijah hopes to protect his filmography as much as he can.

“At the end of the day, that’s what matters most to me—the movies you have done and how meaningful and well-crafted they are. And I’m lucky to have worked with some of the best,” he said, adding that he makes sure to consult, not only his management, but also his family, friends and girlfriend when accepting roles.

“If I feel like I won’t be proud of the project, what’s the point being in it? But now, I can say that every single thing I have done, I’m proud of. And I plan to keep it that way. But I don’t make these decisions on my own. I ask my family for guidance … even Miles,” he said. “We think about how a certain project can help my career. ‘What’s the message? How will people perceive me?’ Those are some of the things we discuss.”

If there’s one actor whose body of work inspires him, it’s the late show biz icon Eddie Garcia, whom he worked with in “Kalel, 15.” “I aspire to have a filmography like Eddie Garcia’s,” he said. “I still have a lot to prove. But I’m more confident now about my talent, about who I am and what I can do.” n

Lovi Poe

Inquirer.net photo

Elijah Canlas Inquirer.net photo

Kylie, Marco add lots of sexy to rom-com genre

TWO of today’s sexiest dramatic movie stars are excited over a different reunion on the big screen.

Kylie Verzosa and Marco Gumabao of 2021’s hit Vivamax movie, “My Husband, My Lover,” have been cast by award-winning and box office director Jason Paul Laxamana in a fun and romantic comedy that is expectedly super sexy titled, “Baby Boy, Baby Girl.”

At a media conference this week, Laxamana, who also wrote the movie’s script, opens the world of “Sugar Dating,” where romantic relationships proceed like transactions. Every expectation is laid out and agreed upon in this arrangement--and with a price. The film hopes to answer whether the setup is advisable, especially for those broken by love?

Gumabao plays Seb, who rose from rags to riches. How? He became a sugar baby. Working as a janitor wasn’t paying the bills, so he turned to sugar dating and took it seriously. Now, he’s looking very expensive. His extreme lifestyle change catches the attention of his ex-girlfriend, Josie.

Josie is Verzosa, a failed startup businesswoman now struggling in online selling and trying to earn from whatever side hustle she can find. When she learns about Seb’s success, she asks him to groom her for sugar dating. She’ll do everything to be good at it and never struggle financially again.

As Seb helps Josie achieve the “sweet life,” his feelings for her return.

Laxamana said he did a lot of research to be able to write the screenplay for “Baby Boy, Baby Girl.” He even made an account on one of those social media sites matching potential sugar daddies/mommies and sugar babies to discover the reasons why anyone would

com before. I’m happy to be paired with Marco again and most of all, I’m grateful to finally get the chance to work with direk JP,” the 2016 Miss International titleholder who has successfully transitioned into show business told The Manila Times Entertainment

Asked whether what many actors say is true — that it’s more challenging to make audiences laugh than to cry or scare — Gumabao replied thoughtfully and professionally. Recalling his first and very recent experience in a rom-com with Kylie Padilla in Viva Films’ “Spellbound” last February, he admitted, “There are times when I wasn’t confident I got the delivery [of punchlines] right, but I believe it’s really the editing that makes everything work. I’m sure it’s the same with this one.”

want such an arrangement.

“Of course, the movie’s also very sexy because si Kylie at si Marco nga ito,” the director added in presenting the premise and feel of the movie.

Meanwhile, the actors who have forged a friendship from previoulsy working together said “Baby Boy, Baby Girl” was fun to do.

“I’ve never done a rom-

Again, the pair credit their years of friendship for making them comfortable on the set, especially in their intimate scenes. Together, they promise “Baby Boy, Baby Girl” will not just entertain but will serve as an eye-opener to another kind of relationship.

Produced by Viva Films, the movie also stars Migo Valid, Yen Durano, Gino Roque, Andrea Babierra, Giselle Sanchez, Marnie Lapus, Gary Lim, Rey PJ Abellana, Marissa Sanchez and Yayo Aguila. It opens in cinemas nationwide on March 22. (ManilaTimes. net) n

FPJ series not among reasons behind Lovi’s...

style. He just enjoys what he is doing. When we exchange lines, it’s like I see Tanggol (Coco’s character) in flesh and blood. I enjoy that process, too.”

‘Kulitan’ scenes

Lovi then compared her career path to Coco’s. “He said he started with doing indies. Those were the kind of movies I did when I was starting as an actress, too. I think this is why we have a similar process when it comes to acting. It feels good that I’m now doing this project and that he is my leading man. I’m excited to know what we’ll do together for the show in the coming days, because, so far, we only got to tape our ‘kulitan’ scenes. I can’t wait to level up in my acting for the program because I know our characters still have a lot of exciting adventures together,” she declared.

Of their scenes together, Lovi said the most memorable for her, so far, was the one they did inside a jeepney. Tanggol

‘I am Hope’: Liza Soberano answers Boy Abunda Hollywood question

by Kathleen a llemit Philstar.com

MANILA — Without batting an eyelash and second thoughts, Liza Soberano immediately answered everyone’s hanging question on her quest for a career in Hollywood: What if she fails?

“At least I tried,” the 25-year-old actress answered.

Liza was a guest on “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda.” Her interview was a two-part special. The first part was aired on Friday, March 10, while the second part was aired on Tuesday, March 13.

left it happy. I left it fulfilled but that doesn’t mean I can’t want more. It doesn’t mean that people don’t change and don’t want growth and want new experiences,” Liza explained.

The actress said she continues to audition and shared that it is tough to get cast for a role because she is competing with a lot of people from other parts of the world.

volunteers to bring Mokang to school. They hail a jeepney, but belatedly realize that there’s only one vacant seat.

Tanggol tricks Mokang into sitting on his lap the entire ride.

“The scene came out cute, natural and funny. I don’t always get to play a character like this, and just as Coco said in an interview, we promise to offer a different Lovi through this series. I normally play characters that are very serious and a bit too sensual,” the actress pointed out.

Favorite movie

Lovi admitted to liking Coco’s unique way of directing the show—actors are not given any scripts and are encouraged to improvise. “I’m also not a fan of following the script completely. Just like in my other projects, if I want to add something that I know suits my character, I will add. Of course, there are some directors who want you to stick to the lines completely, I respect them,” she said. “I prefer to show

emotions that come from the heart. I will say what I want to say, but, of course, as an actor, I would also like to know the structure [of the show], as well as my character’s backstory. To be fair, we talk about these things on this show, as well.”

Lovi added that one of her favorite movies of her dad’s was actually “Batang Quiapo,” and so she was grateful to be part of its TV adaptation. She also pointed out that the project was never part of the contract negotiation for her transfer to ABS-CBN.

“We didn’t talk about me doing any FPJ series or film. However, it was my dream to be able to work with Coco. I admit to asking for Coco,” she said. “Not only do I get to work with him in ‘Batang Quiapo,’ but also with a wonderful cast. There’s nothing more I can ask for.”

“FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” airs on weekdays, 8 p.m., on the Kapamilya Channel, TV5 and A2Z. n

“At least, wala po akong regrets pagtanda ko na hindi ko man lang sinubukan ito. I didn’t give my all. I didn’t give myself a chance to discover what it is that makes me happy. What it is that I find fulfillment in,” she added.

Liza said her recent career change does not mean she was not happy with a 13-year career in the Philippines with ABS-CBN and her love team with real-life boyfriend, Enrique Gil.

“All those years na nakatrabaho ko ang ABS, si Tito Ogie (Diaz, former manager), si Quen (Enrique’s nickname), I experienced some of the best things in life because of that. I achieved everything that I had because of that and I

Liza also shared that she welcomes the change that she is experiencing in Hollywood, where her superstar status in the Philippines does not even mean a thing.

“Mahirap pero gusto ko. I like challenging myself. I love na nandoon ako Nobody is treating me with privilege. No one cares about the success that I have over here. I like that,” she said.

Boy asked Liza to describe herself “when no is watching.”

“I’m Hope. I’m actually very sensitive but I’m also a big dreamer. There’s a lot that I want for people. I just want the best for everyone. I want to create a good and safe world for everyone, not just for myself, not just for my loved ones but for everyone. Yeah, that’s me,” the actress said. n

Kylie Verzosa and Marco Gumabao Photo from ManilaTimes.net

Boy Abunda interviews Liza Soberano in an episode of “Fast Talk With Boy Abunda” aired on March 10, 2023. Screengrab from GMA Network YouTube channel