031922 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

MARCH 19-22, 2022 Volume 32 - No. 22 • 2 Sections – 18 Pages

DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Elderly Filipina assaulted in New York recovering well, says consul general THE 67-year-old Filipino woman who was punched and kicked over 125 times by a male assailant in New York has been released from the hospital and is recovering well, Philippine Consul General Elmer Cato said.

“Na-release na sa hospital yung ating kababayan at kausap namin yung kanyang anak at sinabi sa amin na OK naman yung mother niya, she’s recovering well. Nakakakain na raw (She was already discharged from hospital and we were able to talk to her child who said that she’s recovering well. She is now able to eat),” Cato said in a Teleradyo interview.

“Although nagpapahinga na, hindi pa sila ready na makiharap pa sa amin at this point (Although she is already resting, her family is still not ready to face us at this point),” he added.

Cato said the Philippine Consulate General in New York has offered to extend assistance to the victim, who is a dual citizen and hails from the Ilocos region.

New survey: LA County AAPI residents fear racial attacks

by AJPress

THE Asian American and Pacific Islander community in Los Angeles County holds deep fears of racial attacks, according to a new survey released by the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs at Cal State LA and the California Community Foundation.

Nearly a quarter of the 1,500 AAPI residents who were surveyed reported being a victim of a physical or verbal attack because of their race or ethnicity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two-thirds said they are worried about being a victim of a hate crime, and 80% said they believe anti-Asian racism has been a serious problem during the pandemic. Half of the

Media watchdog raises alarm on attacks vs journos as polls near

by Kristine Joy

Philstar.com

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County safer at work program saves LA businesses millions

IN Los Angeles County, programs that have already saved small businesses millions during the COVID-19 pandemic are looking for ways to expand their outreach into underserved communities.

Safer At Work Los Angeles (saferatwork. la), working with partners such as PPE Unite, have provided basic support, such as communication assets for business store fronts, personal protective equipment for employees, test kits, vaccinations, and in-language information, that have helped businesses meet the challenges of the pandemic, stay open and protect workers and the public At a press briefing organized by the county’s Safer At Work LA program and Ethnic Media Services on March 16, Kelly LoBianco, county Economic and Workforce Development director, was joined by three small business owners and Jay Tsao and Tova Mac, themselves small business proprietors and, in late 2020, co-founders of the nonprofit PPE Unite.

They noted the ongoing need for business support.

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survey respondents said they have experienced racial discrimination in public spaces.

The survey comes a year after the killing of six Asian women in Atlanta, Georgia, and following a marked rise in anti-Asian hate incidents across the U.S. since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey u PAGE A2

BACK TO SCHOOL. A school personnel checks students’ temperature at the gate before letting them into Pambuan Elementary School in Gapan City in Nueva Ecija on Friday (March 18, 2022). Students have been told by the school administrators to follow safety health protocols every time they are on school premises.

PNA photo by Oliver Marquez

Patag

MANILA — A media watchdog raised alarm on increasing attacks on members of the Philippine press as the 2022 national elections come near.

Center for Freedom and Responsibility Executive Director Melinda Quintos De Jesus told ANC’s Rundown on Thursday, March 17 that the interaction between the media and the government, as well as with candidates, stem from what was experienced in the last six years where the Duterte administration has “always been hostile unless you are friendly media.”

“That level of hostility will provoke more incidents as we move nearer elections. That level, the starting level when the gun says ‘go it’s the campaign,’ if you have a level of hostility already shown,” she added.

De Jesus noted that the National Task Force to End Local Communist Task Force has not stopped redtagging journalist, which in turn would make people identify them as their enemies.

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First of its kind, a new digital bank caters to the financial needs of growing Filipino American population in US

by Donnabelle

AJPress

aravelo

FILIPINO Americans can now sign up for the first-ever digital bank built with their cross-border financial responsibilities in mind.

BayaniPay has tied up with Californiabased East West Bank to launch a pioneering neobank that will cater to the banking needs of more than 4 million Filipinos based in the United States.

A neobank, also referred to as a challenger bank, is a financial technology firm that partners with a traditional bank to provide federally insured banking services.

Launched on March 16, BayaniPay’s neobank services will include the Easy Digital Checking Account powered by East West Bank, a Visa Debit Card, and zero-fee, faster remittances to the Philippines.

Powered by East West Bank, the largest BayaniPay announced a partnership with East West Bank to bring the first-ever Filipino publicly traded bank headquartered in American neobank to market, offering a digital checking account, a co-branded Visa debit card u PAGE A2 and a lineup of financial services, like zero-fee remittances to the Philippines.

Pres. Duterte: Philippines should maintain Marcos Jr. claims ‘fake news involved’ neutrality amid Russian invasion of Ukraine in ill-gotten wealth, estate tax cases by daniza

Fernandez Inquirer.net

MANILA — The Philippines should maintain its neutrality amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated on Thursday, March 17.

“Other countries, Europe will die if Russia wreaks havoc. So we better — we better maintain our neutrality. Let’s avoid meddling in it so that we won’t get involved,” Duterte said in Visayan language during the inauguration of the New Leyte Provincial Government President Rodrigo Duterte

Malacañang file photo

by neil

arwin Mercado Inquirer.net

MANILA — Despite amply verified pieces of evidence, as well as numerous court convictions and decisions, regarding the illegally acquired assets of the Marcos family, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday, March 16 claimed that “there’s a lot of fake news involved there.”

But the Marcos scion and namesake of the former dictator did not specify which detail about their ill-gotten wealth Bongbong Marcos Jr. Inquirer.net file photo u PAGE A5

and estate tax cases are “fake” during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.

“There’s a lot of fake news involved there, let’s leave it to the lawyers to discuss it because the so-called facts that they quote are not facts at all,” he said.

“They are just presumptions, they are not familiar with the cases or they choose not to be familiar with the case so, it’s in the courts. In my case whatever the court orders me to do, I will do,” he added.

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New survey: LA County AAPI...

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results provide in-depth insight into the views and experiences of AAPI residents, both voters and nonvoters, who make up about 15% of L.A. County’s population.

“It is rare to have a survey with such a large sample of AAPI residents in a single geographic area, allowing an unprecedented deep dive into the challenges, hopes and aspirations of the fastest-growing demographic group in America,” said Raphael J. Sonenshein, executive director for PBI. “The intensity of the community’s concerns about antiAsian speech and action, and about discrimination, is particularly timely on the first anniversary of the horrific murders in Atlanta.”

“With election campaigns underway in L.A. city and throughout L.A. County, the survey can help open the door to greater and more productive engagement by candidates and parties with the AAPI community,” Sonenshein said.

The survey was conducted by research and polling firm BSP Research from Nov. 8 to Dec. 24, 2021, under the direction of veteran researcher Matt Barreto of BSP Research in association with PBI research associate Nathan Chan, and with funding from CCF. The results were released during a webinar held on March 15, the second in a two-part Voices of L.A. survey series from PBI and CCF. The results from the first survey of Latina/o residents were released earlier this month.

During the webinar, Chan outlined key findings and Sonenshein moderated a panel discussion with Manjusha P. Kulkarni, executive director for the AAPI Equity Alliance and cofounder of Stop AAPI Hate; Lian Cheun, executive director for Khmer Girls in Action; and Frank Shyong, a columnist for the Los Angeles Times.

The survey found that AAPI residents who reported experiencing racial discrimination were more active in political activities, including contacting elected officials, discussing politics with friends or family, signing petitions, donating and volunteering on campaigns.

“The AAPI community has not been silent,” said Chan, who is a Ph.D. candidate in

political science at UCI and an expert in AAPI public opinion and voting behavior. “The AAPI community has responded to racial discrimination with even more involvement in politics, making their voices heard. The era of COVID-19 and anti-Asian hate has the potential to usher in a contemporary wave of AAPI political activism.”

The survey also explored the AAPI community’s views on key issues facing Los Angeles, such as homelessness and the pandemic.

More than half of respondents said they would support new ballot measures providing funding to address homelessness in Los Angeles, similar to Proposition HHH and Measure H, which were passed by voters in 2016 and 2017.

During the pandemic, 36% of all respondents—and 48% of 18to 34-year-olds—said they lost their job or had their hours cut.

Most respondents indicated that police funding should remain the same or increase, with 42% reporting it should not change.

However, views varied by national origin, with Indian Americans and Chinese Americans being most likely to favor status quo funding levels at 50% and 48% of respondents, respectively, and 37% of Korean Americans and 39% of Vietnamese Americans favoring a slight increase in funding.

Half of the AAPI residents leaned Democrat and 35% of respondents identified as Independent or with neither party.

Nearly 60% of respondents hold unfavorable views of former President Donald J. Trump and generally approve of Democratic leaders like President Joe Biden, Gov. Gavin Newsom and Mayor Eric Garcetti.

An overwhelming majority of respondents—92%—reported being enthusiastic about participating in the 2022 midterm elections. Nearly 85% said having an Asian American elected official representing them was very or somewhat important.

The survey also pointed to potential gaps in current political outreach efforts to AAPI voters, with 58% of respondents saying they have not been contacted about registering to vote or voting in the last two years. The

First of its kind, a new digital bank caters to...

PAGE A1 Southern California, BayaniPay users can apply and open a checking account, which will be insured by Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) up to $250,000. It has no minimum deposit or balance maintenance requirements.

Associated with the Easy Digital Checking Account, BayaniPay will also offer an East West Bank cobranded Visa debit card that can be used at retailers and in-network automated teller machines (ATMs) across the U.S. The company said soon, the debit card will provide cash back and other rewards on purchases.

Many immigrants continue to choose to keep their funds in cash because of the barriers associated with traditional banking, including high fees and paperwork-heavy application processes.

The latest data shows that the estimated 4.2 million U.S.-based Filipinos account for $145 billion or 14.4% of the $1.3 trillion Asian American spending power in the U.S. “Despite their significant market size and buying power, no bank has catered to their financial needs and responsibilities both here and in the Philippines,” BayaniPay chief executive officer Winston Damarillo said during the company's press launch on Wednesday, March 16 in Los Angeles.

Damarillo, a serial entrepreneur with three Silicon Valley exits, shared how BayaniPay came about based on his experience migrating to the United States and having to adapt to the country's banking system.

percentage who reported not being contacted was even higher for foreign-born respondents at 65%.

During the discussion of the findings, Cheun said the high enthusiasm for voting, the substantial number of respondents who did not identify with either major political party, and the low levels of outreach reported in the survey indicate that there is untapped potential for candidates to connect with AAPI voters in Los Angeles.

“For a community that often feels invisible in the BayaniPay CEO Winston Damarillo speaks to his experience immigrating to the United States political landscape, the data and how it helped create the company, which is now the first-ever neobank for Filipino that we are seeing today really Americans through East West Bank’s digital banking services. He was joined on stage during show a community worthy of the company’s press launch by BayaniPay board vice chairman Phillip Thong (center, back) engagement,” Cheun said. “… and Parker Shi, East West Bank Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (right).

The problem here is that there is Photos courtesy of BayaniPay simply not enough investment put their lifestyle. This partnership “As an immigrant myself, I’ve into talking and outreaching to had firsthand experience with enables fintech providers like our communities.” how financial services for global BayaniPay to embed our products Overall, 70% of respondents professionals were solely lacking and services to serve a whole new completed the survey online and or came with high fees. That’s why group of customers.”

30% were interviewed by phone.

Moreso, BayaniPay customers we created BayaniPay," he said.

Participants were able to complete can also continue to enjoy its East West Bank executive vice the survey in their preferred president and chief operating core features — market-leading language among English, officer Parker Shi said this is exchange rates and zero-fee Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog and the first time that the bank will remittances, now completed in Korean. The poll’s margin of error make its digital banking platform real-time — when they apply and is ± 2.5%. available to enable banking as a are approved for the Easy Digital View the survey results and Checking Account. service. the key findings on the PBI Offering competitive exchange “As a premier financial bridge website. rates, Damarillo said, is a between the United States and The Voices of L.A. survey Asia, we have developed robust commitment made possible by series is part of agroundbreaking digital banking capabilities to BayaniPay’s strategic partnership multiyear PBI project to survey meet our customers’ cross- with East West Bank and BDO four major racial and ethnic border needs,” Shi said. “We Unibank Inc., the largest universal populations in Los Angeles introduced direct-to-consumer bank in the Philippines, through County: the Asian American and digital banking services to provide its subsidiary BDO Remit (USA) Pacific Islander, Latino, Black, customers around the world with Inc. By connecting two banks, and Jewish communities. comprehensive solutions that fit BayaniPay is able to take out the “I’m just so thrilled for the middlemen common in many California Community Foundation remittance services, Damarillo to have an opportunity to partner added. with the Pat Brown Institute’s There’s the agent that collects polling series, which for years the cash, the bank that stores it, has been helping to uplift the and somebody in the middle in critical voices that make up our the forex and the other side in multiracial democracy here in L.A. the Philippines that you pay for County,” said Efrain Escobedo, distribution. If you limit that to vice president of public policy and East West Bank in the U.S. and civic engagement of CCF. BDO in the Philippines, it’s pointPBI and BSP Research plan to-point," Damarillo said. to continue to analyze the survey BayaniPay is able to offer zeroresults, examining the findings fee remittances because "the based on factors such as gender, customer now is doing everything national origin and age, and will themselves, by using their apps. make the continued analysis Now our job is to bridge the available to the public. two banks and provide the very “In our view, this is the powerful and secure application," beginning of a conversation, he added. not the end of a conversation,” In line with this, BayaniPay Philippine Consul General Edgar Badajos speaks at BayaniPay’s press launch in Los Angeles Sonenshein said. n on Wednesday, March 16.

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Elderly Filipina assaulted in New York recovering... Marcos Jr. claims ‘fake news involved’ in ill...

PAGE A1 “Sinabi naman sa atin na sasabihin naman nila kung ano yung maaaring maitulong natin sa kanila (They told us that they will inform of any assistance they may need),” he added.

According to Cato, the suspect responsible for the attack was immediately arrested after the incident.

“Yung suspect is staying in the same building, same apartment building at ito ay may criminal record at may history rin ng mental health problems (The suspect is staying in the same building, same apartment building and he has a criminal record and has a history of mental health problems),” he said.

Earlier, Cato described as an “unspeakable act” this latest incident of Asian hate crime in New York.

There have been 26 antiAsian attacks involving Filipinos in New York and surrounding areas in the past year, Cato said.

While authorities in the United States are “doing their best” to address the rise in Asian hate crimes, “they cannot be everywhere,” said Cato.

“We don’t know kung saan yung next incident [where the next incident will happen],” he added.

Cato then advised Filipinos to exercise caution, especially when taking the subway.

“Because marami pa ring mga homeless, maraming mga mentally disturbed individuals, maraming individuals with criminal records na pakalat kalat pa rin sa siyudad (Because there are still a lot of homeless people, mentally disturbed individuals and many individuals with criminal records roaming the

city),” he added.

For Filipino tourists in New York, Cato also reminded them to be “extra vigilant, especially when [they’re] out there on the streets.”

“Even here in Manhattan na sentro ng New York City, marami ring nagaganap na mga Asian hate crimes. They should be aware of their surroundings and use common sense (Even here in Manhattan, which is the center of New York City, a lot of Asian hate crimes have occurred, so they should be aware of their surroundings and use common sense),” he said.

Cato said the consulate together with the Filipino community will hold a webinar next Monday to teach Filipinos about basic and practical selfdefense skills. (Christia Marie Ramos/Inquirer.net)

Pres. Duterte: Philippines should maintain...

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Complex and lot title distribution to former rebels.

The President added that he would not allow Filipino soldiers to fight, should the Americans engage in war.

“I won’t commit. If the Americans engage in a war and they’re here, why will I send my soldiers?

It’s not our battle to fight,” he ex-

plained.

“If the violence spills over and the war somehow gets here, that will be very difficult. I won’t, I really won’t. For as long as I’m President, I won’t send a single soldier of mine to go to war,” continued Duterte.

Early this month, the chief executive raised that the country should remain neutral amid the

conflict between the two foreign nations, expressing concern if the situation escalates to a nuclear war.

In February, Russia launched an invasion on Ukraine, amassing 150,000 to 200,000 troops along the latter’s borders.

The Palace then assured that Duterte’s main concern is the safety of Filipinos in Ukraine. n

Media watchdog raises alarm on attacks...

PAGE A1 The Duterte administration also saw the shutdown of media giant ABS-CBN after it failed to renew its legislative franchise at the Congress.

Continuous red-tagging is not the only challenge that members of the press face amid the elections season.

The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism earlier this week reported that since the start of the filing of candidacies in October 2021, two journalists have Philstar.com file photo been killed, and at the start of the File photo taken during media coverage at Makati City hall. least allow the media to do the job campaign period, three journalists can diminish one’s sense of self.

“The danger is higher. The they are assigned to do because have been barred from coverage.

At least nine news organizations danger of that action becoming that is how the system has been also continue to experience DDoS violent is certainly a reality more designed to work.”

According to the Committee attacks that make their websites— than it has been just because and news reports—inaccessible social media has always been to Protect Journalists’ global to the public. Online harassment chosen by this administration as rankings report in 2021 it has and red-tagging also continue, the part of propaganda to attack those monitored 13 unsolved murders they are not pleased with,” she of journalists in the country PCIJ said in its March 15 report. between Sept. 1, 2011 and Online harassment can also be added.

De Jesus stressed: “We must at Aug. 31, 2021. n demoralizing to a journalist and

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Based on the accomplishment report of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), the government is still trying to recover more than P125 billion worth of Marcos assets that are allegedly part of the family’s illgotten wealth.

Also, the Marcos family has a pending unsettled estate tax amounting to around P203 billion.

Atty. Vic Rodriguez, Marcos

Jr.’s spokesperson earlier claimed that the estate tax of the Marcos family remains unpaid because the properties linked to the case are still under litigation.

“In fact, even BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) and the PCGG have arrived at an agreement for the BIR to wait for the decision on the said case before any collection enforcement activities and to establish ownership of the subject properties with

certainty to determine with accuracy the fair and just tax base to be used in computing estate taxes, if any,” Rodriguez said.

But the PCGG belied this in a letter dated March 11, stressing that the Bureau of Internal Revenue “already executed its final assessment” on the involved properties as early as 1993 and that “as early as 1997, the judgment on the tax case had become final and executory.” n

County safer at work program saves LA...

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“Our smallest businesses are the life source of our communities and also have been hardest hit by the pandemic and have a harder time accessing some of the information and resources they need to stay afloat,” LoBianco said.

“We’re in a very very temporary lull here,” Mac said.

“The goal is to build economic recovery, but as the masks go off for customers, we want to ensure that the workers stay safe.”

“So that’s what our mission is here, to continually provide resources to stay safe at work, but also ask, ‘What else do you need?'”

In the early months of the pandemic, 700,000 Angelenos lost their jobs and thousands of businesses struggled to stay open or simply closed.

In a county of 10 million people, Tsao said, PPE Unite provided 50 million-plus units of PPE, protecting more than a million workers.

Those small business clients, Tsao said, are 61% minorityowned, 40% women-owned and 65% are micro-businesses — having fewer than than 10 employees.

But, he said, “our efforts now transcend just providing PPE to really listening to the community and helping provide additional health and business resources and access, which is superimportant.”

PPE Unite also hosts popup events to further establish ties to Los Angeles’ diverse communities.

At one, in Arcadia, Tsao said, more than a million units of PPE were distributed, mostly to Asian American owned businesses.

Supervisor Judy Chiu, Tsao noted, has been especially

supportive, and PPE Unite has produced informational material in Korean, Japanese, Chinese and Vietnamese, along with English and Spanish.

Given their background advising small businesses, Tova Mac said, it was clear early on that having access to PPE would be critical for small businesses to stay safe and open. The current push, she said, is for testing kits to free up the time that appointments take.

Contributions to PPE Unite’s work by partnerships with private donors and the state of California have spared the county much of the costs, Mac said. She pegged the value of the PPE distributed so far at $100 million.

“This program has helped my business tremendously,” said restaurateur Miguel Alfaro, who had the misfortune to open Mi Lindo Guanajuato just two weeks before COVID shutdown orders took effect.

He had to close down for two months and his staff weathered successive COVID infections, but he managed to persevere, with help and support — financial, coping strategies and marketing — from friends, a nonprofit, and the city and county.

Safer at Work and PPE Unite’s help came “right when we needed it,” recalled Sandra Vasquez, office manager of Legacy Tree Care, who remembered how hard it had been to find PPE or tests in sufficient quantity. “It was becoming impossible,” she said.

Edy Valdivia, of Earthy Corazon, concurred about the value of being provided tests she could administer on-site, rather than having to take time away from work to keep a hard-to-get

appointment.

Businesses can request PPE Unite’s help through ppeunite. org, or by calling (833) 7738648, which has bilingual (Spanish and English) staffing.

The organization typically provides a month’s supply of personal protective equipment per employee. Businesses can also visit SaferatWork.la for posters and social media assets to help communicate LA County current safety precautions with their staff and the public.

(By Mark Hedin/Ethnic Media Services)

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL RAIL AUTHORITY IFB NO. EP217R-22 AMF Electric Forklift The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) is seeking Bids for an Electric Forklift. Bid documents may be downloaded at SCRRA’s website at http://www.metrolinktrains.com/contracts.

Select Vendor Portal. Bids are due on April 4, 2022. The contract to be awarded will be funded in part by grants under the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transportation Administration and is subject to an DBE Participation Goal of 0%.

For further information contact: Dorothea Cantero, Contract Administrator, at canterod@scrra. net.

3/19/22 CNS-3565324# ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)

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OpiniOn

Features

Compressed workweek

WITH fuel prices still skyrocketing due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the International Energy Agency urged governments worldwide on Friday, March 18 to implement immediate measures to cut demand for crude oil.

In the Philippines, motorists burdened by the dizzying pump prices are already cutting down on fuel consumption, scrapping plans for leisurely long drives, minimizing trips even to malls and shifting to bicycles where possible. Jeepney drivers are cutting the number of times they ply their routes, preferring the morning and evening rush hours to maximize each trip.

For its part, the National Economic and Development Authority has proposed a fourday workweek to conserve energy, starting with government offices. This was done during the energy crunch in 2008 and the Gulf War from 1990 to 1991, according to NEDA, as it urged the private sector to also consider the scheme.

If the government approves the shift, it should remember the issues raised by organized labor whenever the compressed workweek is proposed.

In March 2006 when it was raised as part of austerity measures during the Arroyo administration, the moderate Trade Union Congress of the Philippines and militant labor groups expressed concern over a reduction in earnings especially for non-regular

workers and daily wage earners.

The groups stressed that payment for overtime work could not be waived under the law, and working for 10 hours straight could be exhausting and diminish productivity. In the proposed revival of the scheme, the TUCP and Partido ng Manggagawa stress that only workers can waive their right to an eight-hour workday.

In case the scheme is implemented in the private sector, workers must voluntarily agree to it in writing, with the agreement submitted to the Department of Labor and Employment, the TUCP said. Some employers have expressed reservations about the proposal, noting that it could mean additional costs in terms of overtime pay.

With even the International Energy Agency now sounding the alarm, the government may have to push ahead with the proposal, until the Ukraine crisis is resolved. For the private sector, the scheme will be purely voluntary. Whether in the private or government sector, the welfare of ordinary workers must be a key consideration.

(Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Bongbong Marcos professes he is running for president to ‘serve’ amid his tax evasion conviction and the Marcos family’s ill-gotten wealth and P203 billion unpaid estate tax The Fil-Am Perspective Gel SantoS-ReloS ARGUING in favor of keeping family dynasties alive and kicking in Philippine politics, the son and namesake of the deposed dictator Ferdinand Marcos says he wants to "serve", sister Imee wants to "serve", his son Sandro also wants to "serve" and is “very qualified” to run for Congress.

It seems the word “serve” has been used and abused by politicians especially during election season.

The Oxford Dictionary defines the word “serve”: perform duties or services for another person or an organization.

In the context of politics, to serve is more of “giving” of one’s self for the greater good, offering one’s time, effort, even resources and denying one’s own needs and wants to fulfill the solemn vow of “serving” the people.

Public office is actually a position of “service” — elected officials earn meager salaries and are held up to a higher standard of ethics and morality because public office is accorded with public trust in governing the country and managing hard earned taxpayers’ money that is used to finance all government spending to provide service to

Flea Market of Ideas Joel Ruiz Butuyan THE presidential candidates battling in the coming elections are figureheads in multiple battles taking place in our country. The level of polarization among our people is unprecedented because of these conflicts, and the results of these skirmishes will decide who will be our next president.

This is the fourth of a series of articles where I discuss these multiple battles raging in our country.

For the longest time, the bag of tricks kept by unscrupulous politicians in our country only contained three magic wands.

These are the magic wands of guns, goons, and gold. These

the people. Public servants are also role models of abiding by and defending the Constitution and the rule of law.

This is where I am having difficulty swallowing and digesting Bongbong Marcos’ claim that he is running for President to “serve’, especially in light of his record of breaking the law and serving his own needs above the needs of the people he professes to want to serve.

Bongbong Marcos was convicted in 1995 of failing to file his income tax returns for several years while he was supposedly “serving” the people of Ilocos Norte as their Vice-Governor, and later as Governor. Bongbong broke the law enacted by his own father Ferdinand when he was the country’s president.

On top of Bongbong's income tax delinquency, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Philippine Commision on Good Governance (PCGG) confirmed that the Marcos Family owes the Philippines a whopping P23 Billion in estate tax (inheritance tax) that has ballooned to P 203 Billion, including interests and penalties, for failure to pay their obligation to the country in violation of Philippine laws.

BIR chief Caesar Dulay said “the BIR did send a written demand to the Marcos heirs on December 2, 2021 regarding their tax liabilities,"disputing Bongbong Marcos’ claims that this case was still pending and that this report was fake news.

Bongbong is fully aware of

these obligations. This man who wants to be President is “not only aware of his family’s stolen wealth but has also been a key administrator of the Marcos estate since his father, the dictator Ferdinand Marcos, died in exile" in 1989, according to Ruben Carranza, a former commissioner of the PCGG..

"That P203 billion, if you do not collect that in five years, you do not even send a demand letter that prescribes, hindi mo na makolekta yan (you can no longer collect that),” Carpio warned in a report by the Inquirer.

Add to that P125 Billion in ill-gotten wealth. "That’s really the problem. If Bongbong Marcos becomes president, I do not expect the P125 billion to be recovered anymore. He’ll probably abolish the PCGG,” Carpio added. True enough, Bongbong said he was ‘open” to "recreating" the PCGG so it would not be “anti-Marcos” as he alleged it was created postPeople Power Revolution of 1986. Read that as "goodbye P125 Billion dollars".

The P328 billion worth of “ill-gotten” wealth and unpaid taxes from the Marcos family may no longer be recovered if former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. gets elected as president, Carpio warned.

THAT is a LOT of taxpayers’ money that is supposed to go toward services for the needs of the Filipino people especially during these challenging times.

Just how much is that money?

In President Rodrigo Duterte’s 2022 budget, the Department of Education got P36.8 billion. The Department of Health was given P188.3 billion.

Rappler reported that “to provide support for the most vulnerable sectors of society who took a hit from the pandemic’s impact on the economy, P5 billion has been allocated for the government’s social amelioration program while P25.02 billion is going to social pension for indigent senior citizens” Furthermore, the budget provided for the program called “Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (under the social welfare department) gets P39.87 billion. The conditional cash transfer program for poor households, called the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, was given P107.67 billion”.

DO YOU SEE how much the Marcoses willfully stole from us and deprived the Filipino people of the much-needed help we need by choosing not to pay their debts and taxes?

These are the basic services needed by the poor Filipinos for education, health, amelioration services alone in one year?

How many lives could have been saved? How many more children could have been sent to college to fulfill their dreams of saving their families from poverty? How many parents could have chosen to stay in the Philippines instead of

leaving their children so they could work abroad to support their families? How many farmers and fishermen and small businesses could have been helped to recover from their losses?

And this Bongbong Marcos wants to be President to “serve”? I read from social media: If Bongbong really wanted to serve, he and his family could have paid their taxes and obligation in a timely manner! But they chose to wait and wait and wait until these debts prescribed. Poor Filipinos got conned by the Marcos family!

WHY is Bongbong running for President?

Reuters reported: “Political analysts say at 64, his run could be the family's last chance to return to the Presidential Palace. Mother Imelda, a formidable force behind the Marcos political machinery, is 92”.

The Marcos family hired the services of Cambridge Analytica, a British political consulting firm “to erase the 1986 (people power) revolution, and to restore the glory and fully rehabilitate the image of the Marcos regime.”

This in included inundating us with the toxicity of fake news and troll farms.

“His push for the presidency has been aided by what political analysts say has been a decades-long public relations effort to alter public perception of his family and supporters.

Critics accuse the Marcoses of attempting to rewrite history,”

Reuters reported.

This is also why Bongbong Marcos is shunning the debates. He complained the same questions are being asked all the time. Certainly he did not want to be transparent and accountable, nor did he want to apologize for his and his family's transgressions against the Filipino people.

They invested a lot of money in brainwashing the Filipino people, after all.

"Perception is real. Truth is not," Imelda Marcos said in an interview with Lauren Greenfield in the docu-movie "The Kingmaker". The Marcos mantra.

Money.

Power.

Marcos Family brand. And Sandro, Bongbong’s son, is next in line to continue “serving”, unless we, the Filipino people, break this Marcos curse with the power of our vote. *** 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

An election battle between truth and lies wands have been helping unqualified politicians win in our elections, and they’re the reasons why the best and brightest of our race have been losing.

However, a leader who’s one of our most qualified and most upright has emerged and she’s been winning in her elections.

She has shown immunity to the three magic wands, no matter how vigorously they’re swished and swooshed against her.

But at the same time that this new leader has emerged, roguish politicians have discovered a more powerful fourth wand, and whose potency they’ve been harnessing to the hilt to hijack a win in the coming elections.

This is the magic wand of lies.

This new wand makes lies appear as truth, it cloaks evil in the garb of good, it disguises

incompetence with the sheen of competence, and vice versa.

Because of this new wand, one of the biggest battles happening in the campaign is the immense war between truth and lies. It is the most crucial battle in the elections because so many of our people have been brought under the spell of the wand of lies. Our country is on the verge of electing or un-electing our next president almost entirely because of its dreadful powers.

As a matter of fact, devious individuals have massproduced this magic wand of lies and distributed them to an army of trolls. Because of the massive spread of lies by these trolls, so many of our people now have warring moral values, divergent concepts of a model leader, conflicting dreams for our country, and—horror

of horrors—even completely opposite versions of reality.

A group of journalists has set up Tsek.ph in order to factcheck the spread of lies. Their investigation shows for whose benefit the magic wand of lies is being used. Their findings reveal that Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is the biggest beneficiary of “disinformation” while Vice President Leni Robredo is the biggest victim.

The head of Tsek.ph, Yvonne Chua, said, “(e)very week (Robredo) is the biggest victim of disinformation or negative messaging … with all sorts.”

In contrast, Chua revealed that “a substantial volume of false or misleading claims about the presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in which case these are largely positive, in his favor, seeking to promote him.”

The wand of lies has twisted the Marcos martial law period as our “golden age,” instead of being one of the darkest periods of our history when hunger, human rights violations, and corruption were widespread; has portrayed Marcos Jr. as a victim of unfairness instead of being the huge beneficiary of horrific injustices in our country, and; has depicted Marcos Jr. as chivalrous, even when an army of trolls operates for his benefit, attacking his opponents with brazen lies.

The wand of lies has portrayed Robredo as a weak leader, even when she has displayed grit in the face of six years of bullying by President Duterte and by Duterte and Marcos Jr. minions; as having accomplished nothing, even when she’s worked tirelessly, coming up with livelihood and

disaster-response programs with the measly budget she’s given; and as an elitist even when she’s been walking in rice paddies, trekking to mountain barangays, and riding bangkas to interact with poor communities years before she entered the presidential race.

The coming elections lead us to a forked road. We will elect as our next president either a leader who stands on the strength of truth or a ruler who will sit on a throne of lies.

(Inquirer.net) *** 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.

*** Comments to fleamarketofideas@gmail. com

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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Dateline PhiliPPines

Fact check: De Lima is alive and still running for senator

by Kristine Joy

Philstar.com

Patag

MANILA — A YouTube video is claiming without basis that opposition Sen. Leila De Lima, who is seeking re-election in the May polls, has passed away.

CLAIM: YouTube channel Banat Trending News posted a video with the title: JUST IN! SAWAKAS PDUTERTE! SEN. DELIMA CONFIRMED! PUMANA4AW NA? RATING: This is false.

FACTS: What the post claims The video started with an unnamed narrator claiming that posts of De Lima passing away is "viral and trending" on social media, although it did not attach specific posts on it.

The narrator instead said videos of De Lima, which are part of campaign ads, showed that she has lost weight and may be sick.

This prompted social users to supposedly say they are saddened of news of De Lima’s passing is true but thought she deserved it her “karma” for her what “bad things” she did in the country, although no incident was cited.

What it left out De Lima's chief of staff and deputy campaign manager

Fhillip Sawali branded this as fake news. "The senator is alive and well. In fact, she was just interviewed by three media outlets yesterday (Tuesday) at the PNP Custodial Center, Camp Crame," he told Philstar.com.

De Lima has regularly been sending hand-written dispatches from her detention cell in Camp Crame. She sent out a dispatch on March 15 on the red-tagging of supporters of Vice President Leni Robredo.

Her team also continues to campaign for her in campaign caravans as part of the slate of Robredo and Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan.

Essential context De Lima is a staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte.

She has been in detention since February 2017 over three drug charges filed against her over her alleged hand in the proliferation of narcotics trade at the New Bilibid Prison during her sting as justice secretary.

De Lima asserted that these are politically motivated — an allegation the Palace has long denied. She has since been acquitted in one charge and has pending two conspiracy to commit drug trade before the Muntinlupa court.

In April 2021, De Lima was brought to the hospital for a

three-day medical checkup, although test results showed no signs of stroke.

Curiously, the video focused on De Lima but halfway through, the narrator quoted a social media post that started with shock of De Lima’s passing and then went to say that good always trumps evil.

The social media user then thanked Duterte for “cleaning the government and developing the country” and they believe that presidential bet Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is the only candidate who is smart brave and with love for country, like the incumbent president.

Why does it matter?

Just a day since the video was posted, it already earned 93,000 views on YouTube, with 1,700 likes. The video landed on Philstar.com’s monitoring of YouTube channels that have been flagged for sharing misinformation, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez also earlier said the poll body is monitoring attempts at voter suppression, such as making the voter believe that one candidate has died, has backed out, has been disqualified or otherwise out of the running.

De Lima is not the first candidate to mount an election campaign from detention. n

This photo taken on February 8, 2022 shows Philippine Vice President and opposition presidential candidate Leni Robredo (R) speaking as she endorses the senatorial candidacy of detained senator Leila de Lima next to a large cardboard cut out of de Lima (C), while de Lima's spokesperson Dino de Leon (L) looks on, during a campaign rally in the city of Naga, Camarines sur province, south of Manila. From behind bars, Philippine senator and human rights campaigner Leila de Lima is running for re-election in an against-the-odds campaign that gives her the chance to once again "go after" President Rodrigo Duterte.

Philstar.com file photo

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 19-22, 2022

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Dateline PhiliPPines

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Robredo spox says no ‘official’ emissary sent Sec. Duque: PH likely under Alert to mediate with other presidential bets Level 1 until Duterte’s term ends

by GAbRiel

PAbiCo Inquirer.net

lAlu

COTABATO CITY — Vice President Leni Robredo’s camp has not officially sent out emissaries to mediate with other presidential candidates for a possible unification scenario, her spokesperson clarified.

Lawyer Barry Gutierrez said this in a statement on Wednesday, March 16, after Senator Panfilo Lacson who is also seeking the presidency in the 2022 national elections claimed that the Robredo camp has fielded a mediator to send feelers about possibly uniting against another presidential bet.

“The campaign has not officially sent any ‘emissaries’ to other candidates,” Gutierrez said.

However, he also noted that “several groups and individuals” are keen on seeing a united slate for the opposition — just as Robredo envisioned it before the filing of certificates of candidacy last October 2021.

Gutierrez said Robredo remains open to possible talks about a unity slate.

“There have been several groups and individuals that have been working towards some form of unification, and

the VP has always maintained that she remains open to these conversations,” he added.

Lacson said last Monday, March 14 that a mediator has been deployed from Robredo’s side to talk about uniting against former senator Bongbong Marcos, who is, so far, the overwhelming favorite in recent surveys.

Robredo is second behind Marcos, but the gap between their ratings are wide; Marcos got 60 percent of the votes according to Pulse Asia, if elections were held from February 18 to 23. The Vice President, on the other hand, only got 15 percent.

However, Lacson was adamant that he and his running mate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, will not back down from their respective bids.

Lacson did not mention any individual behind the supposed ‘feelers’.

However, this is not the first time that a possible united slate was brought up again, after failed talks between the two camps: on Monday also, fellow Senator Franklin Drilon said that if Robredo’s numbers start rising, other candidates may have to start thinking about giving way and having one can-

didate to fight the administration.

“This brings me to the point, if indeed it is confirmed that the numbers of Vice President Leni have substantially increased as indicated in the rallies, then maybe it’s about time that the three other presidential candidates should start thinking and think in terms of unifying and having only one candidate to fight the administration candidate,” Drilon said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.

“With all due respect, the other candidates should now start examining where they are if they have not even gotten to double figures. Kung mas mababa pa sa 10 percent, there’s no sense,” he added.

Drilon was also key in the pre-campaign meetings between Robredo and Lacson.

However, the Minority Floor Leader was accused of trying to set-up a Robredo-Sotto tandem by pointing his fingers to the two officials — something that Lacson said he felt insulted about.

Drilon on the other hand stressed that if he really wanted to set Lacson aside, they could have just met with Sotto alone. n

DFA to file diplomatic protest over incursions in Philippine Rise - Palace

by Alexis

RomeRo Philstar.com

MANILA — The government is expected to protest the incursions in the Philippine Rise, an area off the province of Aurora that is part of the Philippines' continental shelf.

"When it comes to the Philippine Rise, the Department of Foreign Affairs will take the necessary course of action which is to file a diplomatic protest," acting presidential spokesman Martin Andanar said at a press briefing on Wednesday, March 16.

Andanar was asked to react to the statement of National Security Council deputy director general Rufino Lopez, who had revealed that Chinese ships

have been intruding into the Philippine Rise.

During a Senate hearing last Tuesday, March 15, Lopez was asked whether there are incursions in the Philippine Rise that are similar to the incidents reported in 2018.

Lopez said there are still incursions in the area and that the Navy and the Coast Guard are "trying their best to conduct proper reports of all of these incursions.”

Formerly called Benham Rise, the Philippine Rise is a 13-million hectare submerged continental shelf off Aurora. The Philippines has sovereign rights over the area, which means that the country has the exclusive right to explore and exploit the natural and non-living resources

INQUIRE NOW! +63 917 311 7246 /+1 858 229 9858

found in it.

The United Nations declared the underwater plateau as part of the country's continental shelf in 2012.

The undersea landmass was renamed to Philippine Rise through Executive Order No. 25 signed by President Duterte in 2017.

The Philippines and China are embroiled in a maritime dispute over some parts of the South China Sea, a busy sealane where more than $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes through every year.

In 2016, a Hague-based arbitral court voided China's wide-reaching claim in the South China Sea but the Chinese government refused to recognize the ruling. n

by GAeA

KAtReenA Philstar.com

CAbiCo

MANILA — The Philippines will likely keep Alert Level 1 as the lowest tier in its pandemic response system until the term of President Rodrigo Duterte ends in June, the country’s health chief said Thursday, March 17.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said authorities are still studying the possibility of further lowering the country to "Alert Level 0."

"Wala pang nabubuong policy patungkol sa Alert Level 0 at dahil marami pang mga lugar ang nasa Alert Level 2, ‘yun muna ang inaatupag natin ngayon: tulungan sila para ma-de-escalate to Alert Level 1," Duque told

state broadcaster People’s Television.

(We have yet to create policies for Alert Level 0. Since there are still a lot of areas under Alert Level 2, we will focus on helping those areas de-escalate to Alert Level 1.)

"Alert Level 1 muna tayo malamang hanggang sa katapusan ng termino ng ating Pangulong Duterte," he added.

(We’ll likely stay at Alert Level 1 until the end of President Duterte’s term.)

Metro Manila and 47 other areas are under Alert Level 1 until end-March. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority earlier said mayors of the capital region are ready for the further easing of pandemic curbs.

The health chief also stressed that it is not yet time to remove the mask mandate even as COVID-19 cases continue to decline.

"Tingin ko hindi pa panahon para magtanggal ng face masks. Matuto tayo sa karanasan ng iba’t-ibang bansa sa Europe," Duque said.

(I think it’s not yet time to remove face masks. Let’s learn from the experience of countries in Europe.)

"Let us be prudent. Let us be guided by data and science through our expert panel," he added.

The Philippines has confirmed over 3.67 million COVID-19 cases since the pandemic started, with 57,735 deaths. n

First of its kind, a new digital bank caters to...

PAGE A2

has also partnered with Seafood City, the largest Filipino-run supermarket chain in the U.S. with an average of about 1 million visits from customers every week. The startup currently has activation booths in stores across California with ambassadors who are helping customers sign up with their accounts.

With a minimum remittance of $99 and maximum daily transaction of $1,999, remittances through BayaniPay can be received within 24 hours or less — or 12 hours or less with the digital bank account.

Remittances can be claimed through major Philippine banks or any 1,400 BDO branches, 4,400 BDO Unibank ATMs, or over 8,000 BDO Cash Agad outlets; plus rural banks, pawnshop partners, and Cash Pick UP Anywhere locations including: BDO branches, SM Forex, Business Centers, PinoyCenters, Palawan Pawnshop, Banko Mabuhay, Villarica Pawnshop, RD Pawnshop, Card Bank, Bank of Florida, QCRB and Rang-ay Bank.

Asked how fool-proof is their system, Damarillo assured that all BayaniPay services will undergo a rigid KYC (know your customer) safety check to ensure seamless and secured digital banking transactions for all app users.

“We are backed by two big banks. On the US side, its FDIC insured up to $250,000 and in the Philippines, its Bangko Sentral ng

BayaniPay CEO Winston Damarillo shares the vision of the fintech startup in reaching global professionals, starting with the sizable Filipino American market, during a press launch on Wednesday, March 16 in Los Angeles, where the company is headquartered.

Photo courtesy of BayaniPay

Pilipinas (BSP) insured. At the two ends, it’s highly secured to begin with and guaranteed by the federal governments,” he said.

“The transmission is between a bank and a bank and the likelihood of the money going away is very less. In addition to that, we’ve shown you the biometric KYC that makes it more secure because of the facial recognition.

No remittance companies do that, I think we’re one of the first ones that had it,” he added.

Asked about their future expansion plans, Phillip, Thong, vice chairman of the BayaniPay board, said after saturating the US market, they would eventually offer their digital platform services to other countries with large Filipino immigrant populations like Canada.

BayaniPay, which entered the market in November 2021

offering remittances, was formed in partnership with Talino Ventures Labs, the Asian Journal, and Wavemaker Partners. (The Asian Journal is a partner of BayaniPay but maintains editorial independence.)

“It is beneficial not only to overseas Filipino families but also to the Philippine economy. For all these things, the arrival of BayaniPay is such a wonderful thing. But what makes it more remarkable is that it was developed by Filipinos for overseas Filipinos," said Philippine Consul General Edgar Badajos during Wednesday's launch.

BayaniPay will initially be available to California residents sending money to the Philippines.

The company plans to offer its financial services to other states in the coming months. n

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Atty. Gurfinkel answers more immigration questions and concerns in part 2 of episode featuring the Fil-Am South Bay Community

PREVIOUSLY, viewers watched leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel meet with the Fil-Am South Bay Community of San Jose, California, where he highlighted the organization’s mission of supporting one another, especially during the challenging times of the pandemic.

In this second installment, Atty. Gurfinkel answers more immigration questions from the local community, like: • “Would expunging the felony conviction of a lawful permanent resident help him in renewing his expired green card?”

• “My brother was petitioned by our mother, but she passed away. Will he be able to immigrate to the U.S.?”

• “Our sister was previously charged with fraud. Is there still hope for her?”

• “Is there a way my son can come to the U.S. while waiting for his petition to be approved?”

These questions and more will be answered

by Atty. Gurfinkel in Part 2 of “Your Tanong, My Sagot” with the Fil-Am South Bay Community.

Other Fil-Am community organizations in the U.S. can get the chance to be featured on Citizen Pinoy. Visit the Facebook page of the Law Offices of Michael J. Gurfinkel and signify your interest by sending a private message via messenger.

Watch Part 2 of this community feature on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, March 20 at 7:00 PM PT (10:00 PM ET thru select Cable/Satellite providers), right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app.

LEADING U.S. IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL (3RD FROM LEFT) ANSWERS MORE IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS FROM THE FILAM SOUTH BAY COMMUNITY IN PART 2 OF “YOUR TANONG, MY SAGOT” WITH FILIPINO ORGANIZATION. Atty. Gurfinkel provides answers to questions like: “Our sister was charged with fraud. Is there hope for her case?,” “My brother was petitioned by our mother, but she passed away. Will he still be able to immigrate to the U.S.?,” “Can a tourist stay in the U.S. and wait for his petition to be current and adjust status in the U.S.?” and “Is there a way for my son to come to the U.S. while waiting for his petition to be approved?” Watch Part 2 of this special brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, March 20 at 7:00 PM PT (10:00 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo.

(Advertising Supplement)

(Advertising Supplement)

Bea on embracing femininity Paulo jokes about introducing and subverting pageant norms Janine as ‘nanay’ to son Aki

By Ayie licsi

By Anne

PAsAjol Inquirer.net

PAULO Avelino seems eager for actress Janine Gutierrez and his son Aki to meet, joking how he would introduce her to the boy as “nanay” (mother).

Avelino talked about his plans of visiting his son with exgirlfriend, actress LJ Reyes, in New York where Reyes and her children currently reside, during a virtual press conference for

the “OA sa Love in The USA” concert, as seen on singersongwriter Olgie Alcasid’s Facebook page on Monday, March 14. Avelino and Gutierrez will be joining Alcasid in the said concert.

“Namention ko na sa mommy niya, tinatanong na lang kung anong dates pero nandoon na rin ako, might as well see my son. I haven’t seen him since they left,” Avelino said.

(I already mentioned it to his

mom [Reyes]. I’m just asking for the dates but since I’m already there, I might as well see my son. I haven’t seen him since they left.)

The actor was teased if Gutierrez will be accompanying him to see his son, which led Avelino to ask Gutierrez if she wants to come. While Gutierrez just laughed it off, Avelino was then asked how he would introduce her to his son.

PAGE B2

Philstar.com

IN a room filled with eyecatching art pieces, Beatrice “Bea” Luigi Gomez easily stood out — not only because of her towering height but also her striking eyes. She had a meekness about her as she got in glam, but as soon as she walked in front of the camera, she lit up like a firecracker.

Posing and modeling seemed to come as natural as breathing

to the Cebuana beauty queen.

In between serving fierce faces, Bea would flash a friendly smile, and she was game for anything to get the perfect shot, whether it’s standing on a stool under the sun or walking down some stairs in six-inch heels.

As we sat down to talk, she was composed, poised. She took time to think about how she was going to answer, exuding the grace and wit instilled in her by her pageantry and military background.

But Bea isn’t your traditional beauty queen — there is power in her quiet strength which she attributes to her upbringing.

Embracing womanhood Raised by a single mother, Bea grew up in a household full of women. She learned how to be self-sufficient and responsible from her mom, grandmother, and sister.

“I love being a woman. When I was a young girl, I was exposed to Barbie dolls and fairy tales. I PAGE B2

B2 MARCH 19-22, 2022 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

EntErtainmEnt

Joshua on being compared to John Lloyd, learning from female costars, choosing his battles

By Marinel

Cruz

Inquirer.net

JOSHUA Garcia said he tries not to feel slighted whenever he is compared to John Lloyd Cruz or other talented actors that came before him. “I’ve heard of the same comment from a lot of people and I respect their opinion. Of course, I’m thankful because these actors are considered heavyweights in the industry; they are known for their talent in acting. I’m happy some people see me as their equal,” Joshua said at a recent press conference for his ongoing soap series “Viral Scandal.”

The actor also said he now prefers not to be part of any love team anymore. He plays leading man to Charlie Dizon in “Viral Scandal,” and to Jane de Leon in the TV adaptation of “Mars Ravelo’s Darna,” which is currently in production. He is also working closely with Janella Salvador—his partner Joshua Garcia Photo from Instagram/@garciajoshuae in “The Killer Bride”—in the

said series. Joshua used to be paired with Julia Barretto, who also became his ex-girlfriend, from 2016 to 2020.

“I learn from each actress I work closely with,” Joshua explained. “They don’t know this but they contribute to how my talent as an actor is honed.

This is because they each use different acting techniques. I simply adapt the techniques I see from them that I think best works for me.”

Joshua described the latest project with Charlie as a “serious and difficult” one. He added that he hoped to make a romantic comedy project with her in the future.

“I miss that. I also wish my character would be the funny one this time,” he declared.

Joshua, who joined showbiz years ahead of Charlie, has this advice: “Just enjoy everything, even though the project we’re doing currently is so serious.

Enjoy the journey. Personally, PAGE B4

Paulo jokes about introducing...

PAGE B1 “Diretso na, ‘Aki nanay mo,’” he joked. (I would go straight to the point, “Aki, your mom.”)

Avelino expressed his excitement to see his son, adding that Aki already started his schooling there.

Meanwhile, Avelino pointed out that he and Gutierrez are now focusing on their career as they both have work commitments on their own.

“Busy kami pareho ngayon e. May ginagawa akong project na medyo sikreto pa ngayon at si Janine katatapos lang gumawa ng isang IWant niya so ‘yun muna, work muna,” he said.

(We’re both busy now. I’m in the middle of making a project, which is still sort of a secret, and Janine just finished her IWant project so we’re prioritizing work first.)

Gutierrez, for her part, shared that she’s grateful for the bond she built with Avelino and the rest of the cast of the ABS-CBN TV series “Marry Me, Marry You,” which includes actors Edu Manzano and Cherry Pie Picache.

“Sa masayang level, happy lang. I’m really looking forward to this trip and happy ako na we’ve stayed in touch, even sila Tito Edu and sila Tita Pie and everyone,” she said.

(We’re on a happy level, we’re just happy. I’m really looking forward to this trip and I’m happy that we’ve stayed in touch even with Tito Edu and

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Incarnation Church celebrates 500 years of Philippine Christianity closing ceremonies

ON Sunday, March 27, Incarnation Church will celebrate the closing ceremonies of 500 years of Philippine Christianity.

A Eucharistic celebration will be held at 2 p.m. to be presided by the Most Reverend Alex Aclan, Auxiliary Bishop of San Fernando Region. The Closing Ceremonies will emphasize Prayer For World Peace as Ukraine-Russia Conflict continues. The faithful is asked to pray for reconciliation, resilience and compassion. The Filipino Ministry of Incarnation Church will prepare a meaningful event for parishioners and visitors.

Since March 2021, Incarnation Church has included in its monthly Filipino masses, the veneration for the Blessed Virgin Mary as part of its yearlong celebration of 500 Years of Philippine Christianity. Various images representing the Blessed Mother will be in procession.

These images are: Nuestra Senora De La Soledad, De Porta Vaga Da Cavite, Nuestra Senora Del Santissimo Rosario De Manaoag, Nuestra Senora De Los Remedios/ Nuestra Senora De Badoc, Our Lady of La Naval, Mahal Na Birhen ng Caysaysay, Taal, Batangas, Nuestra Senora Del Pilar De Morong, Nuestra Senora De Guadalupe De Cebu/ Santo Nino De Cebu and Nuestra Senora De La Candelaria De Jaro, Iloilo/ Our Lady of Candles.

Rosary will be held in Church at 1:30 pm to be led by 2000 Hail Marys’ Group of Incarnation.

Prelude of Sinulog, a ritual praise worship dance will be led by Our

Incarnation Church in Glendale, CA is slated to have a closing ceremony celebration of the 500 years of Philippine Christianity.

Photo courtesy of Josefina Solomonson

Lady of Fatima Rosary Crusade of Holy Family Church/ Glendale.

May Mallari, a parishioner from Incarnation Church commented: “The 500 Years of Philippine Christianity is significant in our lives and to make the Closing Ceremonies meaningful is something that we would like to remember. The theme: Gifted to Give makes us aware to be charitable and to keep God as the Center of our lives.”

In the 16th century, the first statue of Santo Niño was presented to Queen Juana, wife of King Humabon. She was overjoyed upon seeing the innocent and kind face of Baby Jesus. She was baptized and embraced Catholicism.

The natives were also baptized.

Ferdinand Magellan planted the Cross of Christianity on the day baptism occurred in Cebu. To this day, Filipinos from various

walks of life bring prayers to the Santo Nino. He is the protector and has power to grant and answer their prayers. Devotions to him are part of every parish’s life. Every Filipino home has an image of Santo Nino. The image is particularly revered by people from Cebu where Spaniards established the first colonial capital. The devotion to Christ Child Jesus has spread beyond that region. Santo Nino is the oldest Catholic icon, known for His miracles and Filipinos’ strong devotion to Him is very strong. He is the reminder of how Filipinos accepted Christianity 500 years ago. Everyone is welcome to attend this beautiful and special celebration.

For more information, please call Ben Aranda at (818) 4371406 and May Mallari at (323) 401-0886.

(Contributed by Josefina Solomonson) n

Bea on embracing femininity...

Janine Gutierrez and Paulo Avelino Photo from Instagram/@janinegutierrez

Tita Pie and everyone.)

Though Avelino and Gutierrez are yet to confirm the real score between them, fans speculate that they’re getting closer to each other as they were spotted in Palawan together with Manzano and Picache. Avelino also earlier revealed that he’s just waiting for the actress to be ready for him to court her. n

PAGE B1 had this idea of women not being viewed as brave unless they have a Prince Charming with them,” she remembered.

“But then my mom made me understand that in order to become a woman, you don’t need a Prince Charming. You can be strong as a woman, so I embraced womanhood.”

She learned that she was bisexual in high school, being in an all-girls section in a co-ed school. She came out to her sister and was met with a response alltoo-familiar with people in the LGBTQ+ community: “You’re still young and maybe you’ll change your mind when you grow older.”

But when her family saw that she was still the Bea they know and love, they accepted her with open arms.

“My mom saw that I didn’t change as a person. I was still an obedient daughter, I was still a good student, and I was still a responsible person. It didn’t matter to her, my family, and friends that I was into girls,” she shared.

Fast forward to 2020, she would come out proudly on the Binibining Cebu stage and a year later, represent the Philippines in the Miss Universe pageant as the country’s first openly bisexual candidate.

Setting an example On top of raising the LGBTQ+ flag, Bea is passionate about children’s rights, speaking about the youth with a glimmer in her eye. She talks openly about being bisexual because the queer kids that see her as an inspiration make it all worth it.

She muses about how she experienced discrimination in the pageant scene because of her sexuality. “There was one pageant that actually rejected me because I am part of the LGBTQ+ community,” Bea spilled about the first time she experienced discrimination in the pageant scene.

“But instead of feeling bad about it, I approached the committee and I told them that if they weren’t open about having an LGBTQ+ member in their pageant, I wouldn’t want to join anyways.”

“I still receive a few comments online about how I’m ‘sayang,’ how it’s such a waste for being an LGBTQ+ member,” she recalled.

“But when I receive messages from people who are grateful for me opening up, especially in a huge platform like Miss Universe and Binibining Cebu, and knowing that I’ve helped a lot of people through that, I don’t have any regrets opening up.”

“I really appreciate that (LGBTQ+ youth) try to reach out because one of the people who do not accept and understand them is their own family. I really appreciate that they open up about themselves through me because it’s very important that these youth are also noticed and heard.”

“I think it also helps them, especially since when you’re in your teenage years, you’re still trying to figure out who you are. When they’re able to talk

For Beatrice Luigi Gomez, Miss Universe 2021 Top 5 finalist, beauty is more than the physical.

She says, ‘Beauty is deeper and I’m very glad it is what is shown in beauty pageants because that’s what it should be.’

Philstar.com photo

to someone who understands and will help them understand about themselves, (they are able to) exchange ideas, thoughts, knowledge. It makes it easier for them to grow up and accept themselves,” she added.

Asked about her thoughts on Miss Universe Philippines opening its doors to trans women, she said it will take more discussion with the organization committees.

“MUPH has a requirement which says you have to be legally a female and I don’t think here in the Philippines we have a certain law that allows transgender women to be legally female. So for now, I think it’s impossible for them to join MUP. It will have to take more discussion,” Bea answered.

Facing pageant fears Curiously, Bea hasn’t actually watched clips of her Miss Universe journey. “First time ko lang makikita yung video,” she laughed as we showed her a highlight reel of the Eilat, Israel coronation night.

When she joined the Miss Universe Philippines competition, she was actually scared, expecting an “every queen for herself” dynamic. She was pleasantly surprised at the pageant scene she was welcomed into, albeit experiencing a part of it online.

“I heard that’s what pageants are like — that women bring other girls down — but when I saw and experienced it myself, I’m glad that women are changing how beauty competitions are like now,” she said, relieved. “Girls tend to help each other out and we’ve become closer that we tend to forget that we’re in a competition!”

But her MU journey wasn’t always smooth sailing. When it was time for her to represent the country on the international stage, she started to feel the weight of the competition on her shoulders.

“With my national experience, I just enjoyed the entire competition. Maybe one of the reasons was I wasn’t one of the frontrunners so I didn’t have much pressure on social media.

But during the MU competition, it was like everyone united to look at my social media profile and there was pressure on my performance because everyone was supporting me,” she said.

To deal with these pressures, the Cebuana beauty queen

would take time to breathe — her biggest takeaway from the pageant.

“It’s very important to listen to yourself, especially when there’s a lot of noise around you and you tend to lose focus. It’s very important to go back to your core and remember who you are and what your purpose of joining the competition other than meeting other people’s expectations about you,” Bea said.

“Check yourself from time to time if you’re still okay with what you’re doing, if you’re still on track with your goals and if you’re still enjoying and happy with what you’re doing.”

Celebrating deeper beauty In a competitive space like pageantry, Bea experienced getting compared to fellow beauty queens and was subject to criticism.

“I know I’m different from other pageant girls. I think it’s one of the things that made me stand out. I think that’s one thing beauty queens and pageant enthusiasts should really appreciate: each other’s uniqueness because that’s how we see that there are different kinds of beauty,” she boldly declared.

For Bea, beauty is more than the physical.

“I don’t see someone as beautiful just by looking at him or her. I have to get to know that person for me to call them beautiful,” Bea defined. “It’s more than aesthetics. Beauty is deeper and I’m very glad it is what is shown in beauty pageants because that’s what it should be.”

Her journey to the international stage also seemed to have made her wiser. Even though she only heard stories about the rich cultures of other countries’ Miss U delegates, Bea said that exchanging tales with them made her feel like she was able to visit their respective homelands.

“I’ve learned that in other countries, women are discriminated against and violated because they weren’t taught how to stand up for themselves, and I realize that it’s important that we teach each other to empower ourselves and other women. There is a continuous need to educate society about how women need to be treated,” she stressed.

All this proves that Bea is a woman of worth — not only by embracing womanhood, but also by being an inspiration to many others. n

LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 19-22, 2022 B3

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Downtown area offers great experience for Las Vegas visitors WHILE the Strip along Las Vegas Boulevard South seemingly offers boundless opportunities to explore for both tourists and residents, the downtown area is not far behind in offering fun and entertainment to those craving adventure.

The downtown area has not expanded as fast as its counterpart to the south, but things seem to be looking up for the area.

Years ago, the late Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh invested about $350 million of his money to revitalize the downtown area. Though it did not take off as Hsieh expected, the ambitious project had minor successes and resulted in local entrepreneurs taking a gamble and establishing their own roots in the area.

These days, a lot of great things are happening in the area.

First, construction is ongoing to rehabilitate and/or improve roadways, streetlights, driveways and off ramps.

Millions of dollars are being poured into these projects that will help improve traffic and pedestrial flow in this corridor.

The opening of both Resorts WorldLas Vegas and Circa Resort & Casino in 2020 breathed new life and employment for residents. Remodeling/expansion projects for the Sahara Las Vegas, the Strat, the Las Vegas Convention Center and Circus Circus, as well as new projects like Fountainbleau Las Vegas (opening in 2023), a planned hotel project just across the convention center and a good probability of an expanded convention center loop (courtesy of Elon Musk’s The Boring Company) that will bring people from the airport and south end of the Strip to the north end where the convention center is located, has many people excited.

The Fremont Street Experience, one of the bigger draws in the downtown area, made its own changes with the installation of the Viva Vision Screen.

The attraction, which has dazzled many spectators with its light shows through the years, offers a brighter and more colorful display, plus crystal-clear images and concert-quality sounds for viewers.

Thrill-seekers can ride the SlotZilla Zipline which takes high flyers through the Fremont Street Experience two ways – either from 77 feet high or from 114 feet high – and either halfway or all the way through the famous attraction.

The expanded Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino, bars like Whiskey Licker Up and Lucky Day for a sampling of

Dave McKeon (extreme left), who gives Fely updates on the Strip, with (from left) Realtor Quitevis-Bateman and her husband Russ.

The Batemans attending a Keystone Corporation luncheon where Precious Properties is a member. Keystone is a very powerful organization that gives Realtor Quitevis-Bateman information on who’s coming to town.

From left: Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman, Russ Bateman, former Nevada Senator Sue Lowden (who is also a former owner of Sahara Hotel and other hotels on the Strip), and John Moran of Newport Beach.

the area’s nightlife and bar scene, and giant screens at The D in Bar Canada and Circa’s Stadium Swim all give off a different vibe for tourists.

And Las Vegas is not just for gambling and fun… downtown Las Vegas has its Symphony Park Redevelopment, which has been at the forefront of the cultural and artistic resurgence of the city. So aside from all those shows you may be craving to go to at the hotel-casinos, you can also immerse in downtown offerings like the Smith Center for Performing Arts and the DISCOVERY Children’s Museum, as well as take a look at Project Enchilada, which aims to save iconic buildings and neighborhoods in the downtown area.

If you want to see live-action sports,

Realtor Quitevis Bateman (extreme left) and hubby Russ Bateman (extreme right) legal counsel and former Nevada Gaming Commissioner Atty. Joe Brown, who is one of the movers and shakers in the state.

Realtor Quitevis-Bateman with U.S. Congressman Mark Amodei who gives her updates on federal laws.

Vegas Lights FC (football) who play in downtown’s Cashman Field, and the Las Vegas Aviators (triple A baseball) who play at Las Vegas Ballpark.

Las Vegas and the communities that extend beyond it have a lot of things to look forward to. The major developments in Sin City will impact communities far beyond it, including Pahrump, which is located about 62 miles west of it. Better real estate prices, traffic ease and a quality of life unfettered by high crime and all the problems of a big city have people looking at places like Pahrump as their base or residence, or a location for a second home or property investment.

With home and property prices continuing on its upswing in Nevada and perks like having no personal income tax and lower property tax rate, many people are looking at Las Vegas and Pahrump for opportunities.

Precious Properties is a full-service company serving its clientele since 1992 and Fely Quirevis-Bateman can be reached at 775-513-8447, 805559-2476 and 702-538-4948 for more information. We have investors who buy houses in California and Nevada for cash and quick escrow in as short Realtor Quitevis-Bateman’s clients Tony & Nanette as 7 days. that’s not a problem. Professional sports teams have popped up in Las Vegas, including the Vegas Golden Knights (hockey) who play at the T-Mobile Arena, the Las Vegas Raiders (football) who play at Allegiant Stadium, the Las Vegas Aces (women’s professional basketball, or the WNBA) who play at the Mandalay Bay Arena, the Las

Suarez, who live in Mountain Falls, invested happily in Pahrump with their all-time fully booked Airbnb home.

(Advertising Supplement)

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Kylie no regrets over past Joshua on being... relationship: ‘We made two angels together’ By anne

PaSaJol Inquirer.net

Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo and actor Jeric Gonzales Photo from Instagram/@rabiyamateo

Rabiya reveals relationship with Jeric

By Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

MISS Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo revealed that she’s now in a relationship with Kapuso actor Jeric Gonzales.

In her Instagram account, Rabiya posted photos and a video of them getting cozy together in Bohol.

“Live. LOVE. Laugh. Thank you, Eric,” Rabiya captioned the post.

In the comments section, Jeric

EMPLOYMENT

replied: “Let’s be happy together.

I love you.”

He also posted more photos in his own Instagram account.

“To more memories with you @rabiyamateo I love you,” he said.

Rabiya and Jeric sparked romance rumors when they were spotted by social media users in Enchanted Kingdom last December.

The couple starred together in a “Wish Ko Lang” episode last November. n

KYLIE Padilla does not regret her past relationship and would still go through it again despite knowing how it would turn out.

Padilla said this in response to a netizen asking if she would still choose “him” again if she ever knew how things would end. The query came from a question-andanswer session Padilla hosted on her Instagram Stories on Monday, March 14. Though Padilla did not name her estranged husband, actor Aljur Abrenica, she seemed to be pertaining to their two sons, Alas Joaquin and Axl Romeo, in her answer.

“Yes. We made two angels together. No regrets,” she said.

The actress also spoke about having “real closure,” in response to another netizen who asked about when did she realize that her feelings for her “ex” have

EMPLOYMENT

changed.

“When you have real closure. A real open and honest conversation about what happened. And through [that] you’ll find acceptance. I don’t believe you ever stop loving someone you loved before,” she stated. “But you understand that it is now the past and hopefully it becomes gratitude and something pleasant to remember.”

When asked about the status of her love life, Padilla answered that she “got a lot of self love.”

She also admitted that she’s not yet ready to fall in love again, but described the state of her heart as “calm.”

Padilla and Abrenica’s breakup was revealed to the public last year, after Kylie’s father Robin Padilla confirmed it to talent manager Ogie Diaz in a vlog.

Robin said the separation was PAGE B6

PAGE B2 I wasn’t able to process all the things I’ve experienced when I was just starting, but I was able to enjoy them. I have no regrets and I’m thankful that I’m still in showbiz despite the pandemic,” he began.

“Whenever I would reminisce, I would say, ‘At least I had a great time.’ Another piece of advice is that the people you meet in this industry who eventually become your friends, treasure all of them.”

On criticisms against him, the 24-year-old actor said: “The best way to handle negative issues is to not handle them at all. I’ve had so many experiences related to that. I’ve learned through the years that it’s better to simply ignore them because ‘handing’ them would just be a waste of energy.”

However, Joshua said he would still try to learn from those experiences so that they will not happen to him again.

“For me, the negative issues that went viral are as important as the positive ones. I will

EMPLOYMENT

FOR RENT

treasure them because they’re part of my journey as an actor.

I simply decide to choose my battles, to not exert effort on those that I know will not benefit me. It really depends on the situation,” he pointed out.

Joshua shared his thoughts on how to best react when you suspect that you’re the subject of a “blind item,” or a news bit in which the identity of the subject being discussed is obscured.

“That’s part of our job as celebrities.

There’s really nothing we can do to stop that, but how we react to blind items is what really matters.

I’ve experienced that before.

I wasn’t able to read the story but someone told me about it. I just said, ‘Hayaan mo na.’ You will only make more people curious about the story if you focus your attention on it,” he explained. “And if you do get to read it and find that you don’t agree with it, just let it be. Since it’s a ‘blind item,’ you’re not really 100-percent sure that it’s you. You could be mistaken.” n

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Thoughts on today’s issues Frequently asked questions about

Pastor’s Notes

reverend rodel G. BAlAGtAS NOWADAYS, people would tell me, “The world has so many problems, Father.”

“That’s right,” I would respond, “We’re living in a challenging and distressing time — the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the gas prices, the deep division in politics and society, and the secularism affecting our faith life.”

Then, I reflect on what to make out or make sense of these situations—these global issues.

Here are some of my thoughts: First, one thing is sure: it’s making this world a smaller place, which means that we’re more connected to one another than we think. One country’s problems become our problems.

We suffer when other people in the world suffer financially and spiritually. We grieve seeing cities in Ukraine being bombed, killing civilians, and destroying homes. A part of us dies when we learn that another family has perished. Indeed, deep inside us

is compassion for other human beings.

Second, the presence and force of Evil in the world is evident. From a Christian perspective, the source of these conflicts and problems in the world is the Evil One — the enemy of a loving, merciful, just, and compassionate God. Sadly, many people, including world leaders, have succumbed to the Evil’s wishes to destroy our peace, unity, and aspirations to provide decent, orderly lives for everyone.

Third, I firmly believe that the Almighty God will ultimately trample down these evil forces.

It’s what we firmly believe because of our faith in Christ’s Resurrection and Second Coming. And so, there is more reason for us to proclaim Christ to the world and the Gospel.

Incidentally, this Sunday’s (March 20) Gospel (Luke 13:19) tells us about God’s clamor for people to repent and the consequences of their response.

He’ll show mercy to those willing to turn away from their sinful ways and condemn those who refuse to follow His ways.

“If you do not repent, you will all perish as they did,” Jesus said to some people who related to him about the fate of the Galileans.

Fourth, as I mentioned, it is

even more urgent nowadays to proclaim and preach the Gospel of love, mercy, forgiveness, peace, and justice. While some people see the irrelevance of faith and church life, many feel called to be warriors for the Gospel of Christ — unyielding to the temptations of indifference, fear, sarcasm, and apathy to Christ’s commands. We know the true revolution that would save us all — it’s the revolution of Christ’s love, mercy, and justice for all peoples.

God intended our world to be a holy ground for all of us where we can live in peace and harmony. It should be a place where we feel his presence actively working in our midst according to what God told Moses that his name is “I am who am,” which implies immanence and presence.

Our task is to allow his presence and power to permeate the world. May we never despair to take up this challenge! *** 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. *** Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.

Jericho set to star in international action series ‘Sellblock’

JERICHO Rosales, who recently moved to the United States, has been chosen to headline the upcoming international prison-action series “Sellblock.”

Ruel S. Bayani, ABS-CBN’s head for international production and co-production, confirmed that Rosales will headline “Sellblock,” as per Variety on Wednesday, March 16 (March 15 in the United States). The series is produced by ABS-CBN and Manila-based BlackOps Studios Asia.

“ABS-CBN is excited to announce that ‘Sellblock’ will be headlined by our very own Jericho Rosales. In his nearly three decade-long career Jericho has earned the title of ‘Asian drama king’ and is one of our network’s finest homegrown

talents and country’s top leading men,” Bayani said.

Joining Rosales in the cast of the series are Tirso Cruz III, Cherry Pie Picache, Ronnie Lazaro, Rosanna Roces, Mon Confiado and RK Bagatsing. Plot details, further acting leads and the target release date for the series are yet to be announced.

“Sellblock” was first announced last month. It was included in BlackOps’ slate of projects with Philippines-based Psyops8, American production company Story Arch Pictures and Hong Kong’s Agog Film.

Rosales recently moved to his new home in New York City with his wife, model-stylist Kim Jones. He gave a glimpse of their new place last month while joking that he has been waiting for a taho vendor to pass by

Jericho Rosales Photo from Instagram/@jerichorosalesofficial

since moving in.

The actor also did not forget about his craft as he honed his skills in an acting workshop in the city. (Dana Cruz/Inquirer. net) n

California’s laws on breaks

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr. Q: I HAVE just entered the work force and I work in the service industry on 12-hour shifts. My supervisor says I am entitled to one 30-minute lunch break and two rest breaks of 10 minutes each. A co-worker said it should actually be two lunch breaks and three rest breaks because we work 12 hours. Is this right?

A: Your co-worker is right. Under California law, employers must provide a 30-minute uninterrupted meal period to employees for every 5 hours of work. Thus, if you work 12 hours in a shift, you are entitled to two 30-minute meal breaks. “Providing” a meal period means the employer must provide an offduty meal period.

“Off-duty” means employees are 1) relieved of all duty for an uninterrupted period of 30 minutes; 2) free to leave the workplace; and 3) not controlled by the employer as to their activities during the break.

Aside from meal breaks, employers must also authorize and allow employees a “net 10-minute” paid rest break for every four hours worked or major fraction thereof. The rest break should be in the middle of the work period. The rest period is defined as a “net” ten minutes, which means that the rest period begins when the employee reaches an area away from the work area that is appropriate for rest. Employers are required to provide suitable resting facilities that shall be available for employees during working hours in an area separate from the toilet rooms.

California’s Labor Commissioner issued more

updated information on key issues regarding rest breaks.

Below are some of the highlights: Can the employer require employees to stay on the work premises during the rest break?

No, the employer cannot impose any restraints not inherent in the rest period requirement itself.

The California Supreme Court has held that the rest period requirement “obligates employers to permit and authorize employees to takeoff-duty rest periods. That is, during rest periods employers must relieve employees of all duties and relinquish control over how employees spend their time.” As a practical

to breaks taken by employees to use toilet facilities. Allowing employees to use toilet facilities during working hours does not meet the employer’s obligation to provide rest periods required by law. Also, the law requires that “Suitable resting facilities shall be provided in an area separate from the toilet rooms and shall be available to employees during work hours.”

Can rest breaks be combined with meal breaks?

Meal and rest breaks are to be taken separately. These two breaks should not be combined to form one long break time.

The employer cannot give the employee a 1-hour break and count this as the employee’s meal and rest breaks.

If an employer does not authorize or allow a meal or rest break, the employer must pay the employee one hour of pay at the employee’s regular rate of pay for each workday that a meal period is not provided, and an additional one hour of pay at the employee’s regular rate of pay if a rest period is not provided. *** 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 Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at no-cost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www.joesayaslaw.com. [For more than 25 years, C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is a past Presidential Awardee for Outstanding Filipino Overseas.]

(Advertising Supplement)

“Off-duty” means employees are 1) relieved of all duty for an uninterrupted period of 30 minutes; 2) free to leave the workplace; and 3) not controlled by the employer as to their activities during the break. matter, however, if an employee is provided a ten minute rest period, the employee can only travel five minutes from a work post before heading back to return in time.

Can the employer require that employees keep in communications during a rest break?

No, on-call rest breaks are prohibited.

Requiring employees to be “on-call” while on their rest breaks is contrary to the requirement that employees be relieved of all work duties during their rest breaks.

Is the use of toilet facilities during work counted as part of the ten minute rest break?

No, the 10-minute rest period is not designed to be exclusively for use of toilet facilities. The rest period is not to be confused with or limited

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What are your options if you can’t pay your debts?

IF you’re traveling east on the 10 freeway from Los Angeles, eventually you will end up somewhere in Florida. It’s a long drive to cover about 2,800 miles, but that’s where the 10 freeway will bring you. I know it’s expensive right now to make this road trip because gas prices are very high, between $5 to $6 a gallon due to the war in Europe in the last 3 weeks, but my point is that if you get on that freeway, you are going to end up in Florida. If you don’t want to end up in Florida, then don’t take the 10 freeway, right?

This analogy is similar to your finances. If you’ve been borrowing too much money in the past, then eventually that conduct will lead you to a default situation with your debt. Just like being on the freeway, borrowing too much money will make you end up not being able to pay your debt back.

As the wise people say, it’s easy to borrow money, but it’s very difficult to pay it back. That’s just the way it works. So before you embark on the road to borrowing money, think twice.

If you are already in the situation of having too much debt leading to your inability to pay your debts timely, then what are your options?

Option one is to pretend nothing is going on and nothing else will happen, and hope that creditors will just forget about you.

The problem with this option is that it doesn’t work. Once you are late in payments, your creditors will hound you day and night. They will pretend they care about you and offer you all kinds of payment plans. In other words, they still want to get paid. And when push comes to shove, they will start suing you to collect the money you owe them. If you are an ostrich, you will go for option one.

Even countries can default on their debts. Take Argentina for example. It has defaulted on its debt nine times since it became independent from Spain. The last default was in 2002. Creditors sued Argentina in New York and it came out with a payment plan. Now it owes more than $65B and it’s going to default soon again. Creditors will start suing again. Russia may soon default on its debts because the sanctions imposed by the West are crippling its economy.

Option two is to negotiate and settle your debts one by one.

Sometimes clients tell me that they feel guilty so they want to negotiate and settle. So I tell them, realistically, MasterCard and Visa don’t give a hoot if you live or die. They estimate that about 7% of their clients won’t be able to pay them back so that’s just added into their higher interest rates. So don’t feel that there’s some kind of love affair going on between your creditors

Debt Relief

Atty. LAwrence yAng and you. There is none.

Option three is to wipe out your debt with Chapter 7 or reorganize your debt and pay a portion of it in Chapter 13.

Chapter 7 is what’s called the “fresh start” without accumulated debt. You get to keep most, if not all, of your assets that you are able to exempt under applicable law, get rid of all debt so you can become a productive citizen again. Let’s say you owe $60K in credit card debt. You own a house with $400K of equity in LA county. You’re paying for two cars. You have 2 kids, ages 9 and 12. Your household income is $80K a year gross. Assuming you are otherwise eligible for Chapter 7, you wipe out $60K of credit card debt (they are discharged by

What is the current proof that God and Jesus are divine and all powerful? I refer you to exhibit A, the incorruptible body of Carlo Acutis!

Current ongoing physical proof God is almighty – Incorruptible body of Carlo Acutis who died in 2007 at age of 15: Look at the incorruptible body of the blessed Carlo Acutis who died at 15 in 2007. You can look at his body in Rome, Italy, now 14 years after his death. He looks like he’s just asleep in his jogging suit and rubber shoes! That is a perfect example of an ongoing sign on earth that the God of Moses, our God, my God, is almighty and allpowerful that He even suspends the natural laws of biology and physics without any effort. He resurrected His one and only beloved Son from death on the cross. Indeed, He has power over death.

I have actually thought, “What would the other religions believe if they actually saw the incorruptible body of the blessed Carlo Acutis? I think even Buddha, if he were alive today, would truly believe that Yahweh is the one True God.” No need to think about reincarnation and nirvana because his incorruptible body is available for all to see in Rome, Italy. We won’t need any kind of explanation on the efficacy of modern-day mummification. Come on, man, that’s all bull.

The truth is in plain sight. Believe your own eyes, that the one true God is all-powerful, and His name is Yahweh, “I am who am.” He is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end.

Seven of my high school classmates passed away in 2021.

They have all gone to meet their creator. I would like to mention their names here: Ricardo A, Victor Y, Jerry L, George C, Jimmy G, Edward N and Ricardo D. Three died of COVID, one slipped and fell in the bathroom, one of a heart attack, two of cancer. I pray all of them are in heaven with our Lord enjoying eternity with their loved ones.

“Don’t worry about anything.

Instead, pray about everything.”

Philippians 4:6. *** Disclaimer: None of the foregoing is considered legal advise for anyone.

There is absolutely no attorney client relationship established by reading this article. *** Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in Bankruptcy, Business, Real Estate and Civil Litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California. Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789 or 1000 S. Fremont Ave., Mailstop 58, Building A-10 South Suite 10042, Alhambra, CA 91803.

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Chapter 7 is what’s called the “fresh start” without accumulated debt. You get to keep most, if not all, of your assets that you are able to exempt under applicable law, get rid of all debt so you can become a productive citizen again. court order), keep your house and cars and everything else you own assuming they are exempt. Your income remains at $80K a year gross but you don’t have to pay the $60K credit cards anymore.

You get a “fresh start” and can start saving money again. You need $1,800 a month to keep $60K of cards current every month. After wiping the $60K out in Chapter 7, you don’t have to set aside $1,800 a month anymore to pay your cards, you give yourself $1,800 in savings every month instead.

On the other hand, if for some reason, Chapter 7 is not for you, then explore Chapter 13. In Chapter 13, you might only have to pay $100 a month for 60 months, or 10% of the $60K of credit cards. Every case is different. It may not apply to you depending on your circumstances. After paying $6K, the court will discharge the rest of the unpaid $54K. That’s still a great repayment plan, isn’t it?

Praying always helps It also helps to pray to our God, Jesus, and the Blessed Mother Mary for divine protection against the virus and financial problems because we have a God who loves us and showers us with infinite mercy. All we have to do is be humble ourselves and pray.

Save your small business without filing bankruptcy

RUNNING a small business can have its perks although it’s often an all-consuming endeavor. The owner often has to wear many hats – from being a marketer, manager, and yes, including the often most dreaded role of all – managing the finances of the business. The sad fact is that many businesses struggle, no matter how good things may look on the outside. According to the Small Business Administration, 50% of small businesses within the first 5 years.

I once had a client who owned a restaurant that I personally frequented. Every time I went there, the place looked packed and busy, and usually there was a long wait to be seated. When the owner came to see me one day about the debt problems that the business was having, I learned that the business had been in the red for more than 3 years and was simply surviving on loans to keep it going! He hadn’t paid himself a salary in years just to keep the business afloat so in essence, he had been working with no compensation and to make things worse, the business debts just kept growing. This is not uncommon, what you see is not always what you get.

Many businesses find it necessary to incur debt to finance their operations through bank loans, lines of credit and even credit cards. When servicing these debts becomes difficult based on the company’s incoming revenues, repaying becomes difficult or impossible. And as you know, cash is the lifeblood of

Minding Your Finances Atty. rAymond BULAon every business. Once you are out of money, you are practically out of business.

Filing bankruptcy is the last option for business owners and quite often, usually reserved for that time when they realize that their business is no longer viable.

Sometimes, this is the smartest thing to do- to cut your losses instead of throwing money into a business that has become more of a liability than an asset. Some owners come up with the wrong solutions to “fix” the problem.

They think that if they spend more money on marketing, more people, etc., or if they continue to borrow money to “expand”, things will somehow get better.

But this is rarely the case if the business is not profitable due to other reasons. I know this may sound simple in theory but difficult in practice: A business needs to spend less than it earns to be profitable. None of the “fixes” that owners have in mind can fix bad math.

Debt restructuring and settlement with creditors can be a good alternative to bankruptcy if it can alleviate the financial burden of the business and help the cash flow. For example, the interest rate can be reduced, the

loan term extended, the payments temporarily suspended, or settlement can be made for less than the full amount of the debt.

Any of the above is likely to be less costly, time-consuming, and difficult than filing bankruptcy or dealing with lawsuits filed by creditors.

Whatever the reasons are for your business’ financial struggles, if you can’t pay your creditors, it is just a matter of time before you face the risk of losing what may be the only source of income for your family. Dealing with problem business debts can be stressful especially if you have personally guaranteed the debts as the owner of the business as creditors can also sue you personally when the business default.

Be pro-active and take some time to explore your options before it’s too late. Debt restructuring and settlement is not always possible for every business but when it is, this could be what you need to save your business. Consult with a knowledgeable debt relief attorney who can review your business’ finances and cash flows and see if this may be the best solution for your business’ longterm financial well-being. *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray J. Bulaon has successfully helped over 6,000 clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call RJB Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-866477-7772.

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Do I have a community property interest in a house which my spouse acquired before our marriage?

Barrister’s Corner Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes GENERALLY, in California, property acquired by a spouse prior to marriage is considered separate property under family code section 770 while those acquired after marriage are considered community assets under family code section 760.

How do you characterize real property purchased prior to marriage but with the mortgage principal paid down using community income or funds during the marriage?

The community in this situation acquires a pro tanto interest in the ratio that the payments on the purchase price made with community funds bear to the total payments on the purchase price

and any appreciation should be apportioned accordingly.

Marriage of Moore (1980) 28 C3d 366, 371, 373, 168 CR 662, 664, 665. Other expenses associated with the property are not considered in the calculation such as mortgage interest, taxes, and insurance. In essence, the real property would accumulate both a separate property and a community property component by the date of separation.

The appropriate remedy in this situation where separate property is subsequently paid with community funds is “apportionment.”

The process of apportioning between the separate and community property component is laid out in the Marriage of Marsden.

In that case, the court determined the ratio or percentage in which the mortgage loan principal was reduced during the marriage and applied that percentage to the appreciation of the real property during the marriage.

The community property component would then consist of the reduction in the mortgage loan principal during the marriage plus the portion of appreciation during the marriage applying the ratio discussed above.

In the Marriage of Marsden, the real property was purchased by the husband for $38,300 prior to the marriage. The original mortgage was $30,000. By the time the husband got married, the house was now worth $65,000 while the mortgage has gone down by $7,000. Both the appreciation of $26,700 and the mortgage reduction of $7,000 would be separate property since it occurred prior to marriage.

Marriage of Marsden (1982) 130 CA3d 426, 181 CR 910.

During the marriage until the time of trial, the property has appreciated another $117,500 (property now valued at $182,500) while the mortgage has further declined by $9,200 up to the date of separation.

The ratio at which community funds paid down the mortgage ($9,200) during the marriage to the original purchase price ($38,300) amounts to 24.02%.

This percentage of the property appreciation during the marriage of $117,500 ($28,223.50) plus the reduction in mortgage balance during the marriage ($9,200) would constitute the community component of the real property. The rest was the husband’s separate property.

The husband in that case was awarded his separate property component of the real property

plus one half of the community property component.

The Marsden apportionment method is also applicable to situations where a community real property is later transmuted into one spouse’s separate property through execution of a quit claim by the other spouse but is subsequently paid using community funds.

Marriage of Broderick (1989) 209 CA3d 489, 257 CR 397. In litigation, the community interest in the situations mentioned about is proven through expert witness testimony typically by a forensic CPA. Since California case law allows the creation of a community interest in real property acquired prior to marriage, one has to consider vehicles to protect themselves if you own property and you are contemplating of getting married.

There are several ways of avoiding the creation of a community interest on your separate real property. One, you can sign a prenuptial agreement.

Two, the parties can execute a postnuptial agreement if the parties are already married.

Three, the parties can execute a transmutation agreement with a waiver of any family code section 2640 reimbursement claim.

If your divorce case involves complex issues of asset distribution, it is best to retain the representation of competent counsel. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APLC. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APLC is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010.

Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com.

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Kylie no regrets over...

PAGE B4 due to a supposed third party.

Abrenica was linked to actress AJ Raval at the time. Though Raval admitted that she and Abrenica are in the process of

“getting to know each other,” she denied that she’s the reason behind the split. Raval also recently told fans that she will inform them when the two of them become “official.” n

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