032322 - Southern California Midweek Edition

MARCH 23-25, 2022 Volume 32 - No. 23 • 14 Pages

Duterte’s party endorses Marcos Jr. for president

by CATHERINE

S. VALENTE ManilaTimes.net

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte's party endorsed Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. as its presidential candidate for this year's national elections.

The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDPLaban), chaired by Duterte, adopted a resolution on Monday night to formalize its endorsement of Marcos.

In the resolution, the PDPLaban described Marcos as the candidate whose platform is most aligned with the party's 11-point

agenda.

"After careful and exhaustive deliberations, the National Executive Committee endorses the candidacy of Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. for President of the Republic of the Philippines in the forthcoming 2022 national elections," it said.

Victor Rodriguez, spokesman of Marcos, thanked the PDPLaban's "kind endorsement" of Marcos, saying "the trust it placed in him inspires us beyond measure, for it signals that our message of national unity is gaining ground."

USA

DATELINE Pfizer CEO pushes yearly shots for COVID. Not so fast, experts say FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

WHEN Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said March 13 that all Americans would need a second booster shot, it struck many COVID experts as a self-serving remark without scientific merit. It also set off spasms of doubt over the country’s objectives in its fight against the coronavirus.

The decision on how often and widely to vaccinate against COVID-19 is part science, part policy, and part politics.

Ultimately it depends on the goals of vaccination at a time when it’s becoming clear that neither vaccines nor other measures can entirely stop the viral spread.

On March 15, Pfizer made a more limited request of the FDA, seeking authorization of a second booster only for people 65 and older. Advisers for the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are likely to approve a

"We are glad the PDP-Laban has joined the bandwagon of support for the BBM-Sara UniTeam of major political parties in the country. It is truly reassuring, but at the same time challenging us to be even more prepared and vigilant in light of growing rumors of possible poll fraud in the coming elections," Rodriguez said in a statement.

"All the national surveys indicate a runaway advantage for Marcos Jr., but we cannot be complacent as the forces that try to put him down ever since, has not cease, and apparently

With gradual increase of new variant PH bound by treaty to side with US if Putin destruction of Ukraine spreads in Los Angeles County, layering of safety protections critical for residents

by CRISTINA

ELOISA Inquirer.net

by AJPRESS

AS multiple COVID metrics continue to decline, the state is lifting the requirements for vaccine and test verification at indoor mega events starting April 1.

LA County will align with the state and post an updated Health Officer Order later this week. While we’re encouraged with the progress made, as the BA.2 subvariant gradually increases in LA County, layering in safety measures remains important for

protecting residents and workers at elevated risk of severe illness.

For the latest measurement period, the week ending February 26th, 6.4% of all sequenced specimens in LA County were identified as the BA.2 subvariant, an increase from the week prior when 4.5% of specimens were identified as BA.2.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the BA.2 subvariant now accounts for 23% of all sequenced specimens

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Telco, airlines now open to full foreign ownership

by LEILA B. SALAVERRIA ROY STEPHEN C. CANIVEL Inquirer.net

MANILA — Telecommunications, airlines, expressways and tollways, railways, and shipping in the country will now be open to full foreign ownership after President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday signed into law Republic Act No. 11659 amending the 85-year-old Public Service Act (PSA).

The amendment excluded these economic  PAGE 3 sectors from the definition of public utility in the PSA and are thus no longer subject to the 40-percent foreign ownership cap on public utilities under the 1987 Constitution.

The amended PSA limits public utilities to the distribution and transmission of

Can K-6 grade children safely return to school without masks

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WARM WELCOME. Candidates of UniTeam led by presidential bet Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and running mate Sara Duterte receive a warm welcome during the campaign in Barangay San Juan, Paliparan 3, Dasmariñas City on Tuesday, March 22. The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi earlier endorsed Marcos Jr. as its presidential candidate for the May 2022 polls.

PNA photo by Avito Dalan

electricity, petroleum and petroleum products pipeline transmission systems, water pipeline distribution and wastewater pipeline systems, seaports, and public utility vehicles.

The president thanked Congress for approving the measure that he said would help lead the country toward economic recovery amid the pandemic.

“I believe that through this law, the easing of foreign equity restrictions, we will attract more global investors, modernize several sectors of public service, and improve the delivery of essential services,” Duterte said.

“It is also expected to generate more jobs for Filipinos, improve basic services for Filipino consumers, and allow for the exchange of skills and technology with the

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BACLIG

MANILA — As the destruction of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin’s military unfolds before the eyes of millions, the United States went all out in its support for the former Soviet republic, drawing reactions from world leaders, including Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

But where Duterte stood in the conflict is still murky although the Philippine ruler has dropped hints.

On March 4, Duterte said he believed that the Philippines has to remain neutral but “in the end,” may have to choose sides between Russia and Ukraine.

“For me, we should stay neutral.

But reality tells me that in the end, we’ll just have to select which side we will be,” Duterte said.

While Duterte has yet to be categorical on which side the Philippine government will be, a more recent statement by Manila’s top diplomat to Washington seemed to unveil plans to support one of the countries involved in the war.

The country, however, was neither Ukraine nor Russia.

Instead, it was the United States, a longstanding ally of the Philippines and now an important supporter of Ukraine.

‘If push comes to shove’ According to Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Romualdez, Duterte said the Philippine government may open its facilities to the U.S. if Putin’s quest to destroy Ukraine spilled over to Asia.

“He [Duterte] says he might not be able to go [to the U.S.] but to give them the assurance that if ever it is needed, the Philippines is ready to offer whatever facilities, or whatever things that the United States will need, being a major, our number one ally, in using the facilities in the Philippines, without any restrictions,” said Romualdez.

“He says if they are asking for the support of the Philippines, he was very clear if push comes to shove, the Philippines would be ready to be part of the effort especially if this Ukrainian crisis spills over to the Asian region,” he added.

According to Romualdez, Duterte’s assurance is that the Philippines will honor its Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the United States if the situation warranted it.

The MDT, signed between the two nations in 1951, calls for both nations to come to each other’s

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Leni-Kiko Pasig rally draws biggest crowd so far

CHILDREN ages 5-11 have one of the lowest vaccination rates of any group but are now returning to elementary schools which have no masking requirements and do not require them to stay at home if a classmate is infected.

“2022 could well be the worst year of the pandemic for children,” said Beth Jarosz, Deputy Director, and Program Director of U.S. Programs for Kids Data, at a March 16 news briefing organized by Ethnic Media Services, in collaboration with the California Department of Public Health’s Vaccinate All 58 initiative. The briefing was held during the CDPH’s “Week of Action.”

Alarmingly, more than 30 percent of child COVID deaths across the whole pandemic in California have happened just in the first two and a half months of 2022, noted Jarosz.

Less than one-third of 5 to 11-year-olds

MANILA — A Pasig River wave of pink washed over Emerald Avenue in Pasig City as early as noon on Sunday, March 20 that saw skyscrapers with splashes of presidential candidate Leni Robredo’s color.

A predominantly young crowd of at least 137,000, according to the Pasig City police, spilled over to Edsa and adjoining streets from the entire stretch of Emerald at the Ortigas business district. The crowd estimate was later placed by organizers at 180,000.

The grand people’s rally, held 50 days before Election Day, was the largest crowd the ticket has gathered so far.

Crafting a so-called Pasig River wave, starting from the main stage, the tail end of the wave could barely be seen from its starting point.

The crowding prompted program hosts to remind the audience to strictly observe health protocols and to make sure to call the attention of medics should they feel nauseous due to the warm weather.

The PasigLaban grand rally also saw the birth of a “Leni-slide” dance Tens of thousands of supporters of Vice President Leni Robredo surge like a wave on Emerald Avenue in Pasig City during move, to supposedly usher in a win for the presidential candidate.

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by JEANNETTE

Sunday’s “PasigLaban” grand people’s rally. It was by far the largest crowd her ticket has gathered 50 days ahead of the May 9 vote.

Inquirer.net photo by Elmer Gatchalian

I. ANDRADE, KRIXIA SUBINGSUBING Inquirer.net

2 MARCH 23-25, 2022 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL

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From the Front Page

Duterte’s party endorses...

PAGE 1

has even intensified their gutter ways," he added.

Marcos, running mate of the President's daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, is running under the Partido

Federal ng Pilipinas party.

The duo's campaign has centered on unity, saying it is the first step to overcome the crisis brought about by the pandemic.

As part of its COVID-19 pandemic recovery plan,

the UniTeam has pledged to revive the agriculture sector and continue President Duterte's "Build, Build, Build" infrastructure program to generate jobs and jumpstart the economy. g

PAGE 1 Senators in the tandem of Robredo and Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan delivered their campaign speeches, with Robredo finally addressing the crowd late in the evening. The grand rally ended at 8:45 p.m.

False bomb threats Meanwhile, the last surviving members of the 1971-1972 Constitutional Convention assembled under the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos regime on Sunday came out in support of Robredo.

The 13 signatories — which include Sen. Richard Gordon, Chief Justice Hilario Davide, and lawyer Lilia de Lima — said “only Leni Robredo … meets and fits the highest credentials for the presidency.”

“To address and face up to these formidable challenges [facing the country], we need a tried and tested leader who is capable, caring, sincere, focused, and most

of all godly, who does not steal and does not lie,” they added.

In supporting Robredo, the 13 delegates cited her concrete action programs, unblemished track record, and her long public service in marginalized sectors of the country as proof that she was more than qualified for the presidency.

Gordon, the youngest delegate in the convention, is also a guest candidate on Robredo and Pangilinan’s ticket.

On Sunday, the Philippine National Police warned persons posting bomb threats on social media that they could be held liable under a Marcos law punishing false bomb threats.

The Facebook page of a group organizing the grand rally in Pangasinan for Robredo and Pangilinan was hounded by bomb threats, possibly from supporters of rival candidates.

Col. Jean Fajardo, spokesperson for the PNP, said in a message on

Sunday that false bomb threats included those posted on social media.

“The law is clear on this,” she said, referring to Presidential Decree No. 1727, which was signed into law by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1980.

Fajardo particularly cited a provision where the law explicitly provides sanctions for “lawless elements and other persons popularly known or described as ‘pranksters,’ having been conveying, propagating or otherwise disseminating false information or willfully making threats regarding the alleged presence of bombs, explosives, incendiary devices, or any similar device or means of destruction in buildings, tenements, and other places, by word of mouth or through the use of telephones, telegraph, the mail, and other means of communication, for the purpose of causing or creating public confusion and disorder.” g

Leni-Kiko Pasig rally draws biggest crowd...

CELEBRATION. Colorful confetti rain on couples after their mass wedding at the Caloocan Sports Complex on Sunday, March 20. A total of 700 pairs took advantage of the free ceremony initiated by the local government and Philippine Statistics Authority.

PNA photo by Ben Briones

PH bound by treaty to side with US if...

PAGE 1

defense in case of an armed attack.

“I’m pretty sure that the President meant this to be an emergency situation where—let’s pray that it doesn’t happen—but if this spreads out into our part, the Asian region, for some reason or another, the President obviously sees the need for us to make a choice and our choices, obviously, since we have an MDT with the United States, we have this special relationship, our military alliance,” Romualdez said.

Possible locations Duterte, according to Romualdez, has mentioned that the Philippines would be “ready to open its doors” and allow the U.S. to use facilities that might be needed if an “emergency situation” breaks out.

In a more recent statement, Duterte said if Putin launched nuclear weapons to achieve his goal of destroying Ukraine, China, a Russian ally, could start the invasion of the Philippines.

According to Romualdez, some of the facilities which the Philippines might allow to be used

by U.S. forces could include the former American air and naval bases in Subic, Zambales and Clark in Pampanga.

“He said that he is allowing the use of facilities, which I assume would be the use of Clark for instance, for some of the aircraft that the United States may need,” said Romualdez.

“And perhaps Subic. We have a repair facility there that is going to be used not only by the United States but by other countries, Japan, Australia, and other countries. It’s a commercial business. Hanjin is now ready to be opened again for use by many of the ships, both private and military ships or Navy ships that may want to use it for repair or for other activities,” he added.

The United States maintained a naval base in Subic until 1991 when the Philippine Senate refused to renew a military bases agreement between the two countries. The Philippine decision also led to the dismantling of a U.S. airbase at Clark, Pampanga province.

Subic and Clark have since been redeveloped into free ports, bustling economic hubs that have withstood the pandemic.

However, Romualdez clarified

that while the Philippine government has expressed its willingness to lend its facilities to the U.S., there is no need to craft a new treaty—which would allow the U.S. to establish military bases in the country.

“The bases are no longer there.

In other words, if the U.S. will need our facilities, it will only be temporary,” he said in an interview over radio station dzBB last March 14.

“Most likely it’s only for their supplies or an area in Subic where they can repair their ships,” he added.

Divided views Duterte’s statement expressing possible support to the U.S. amid Putin’s destruction of Ukraine, however, was met with mixed reactions.

In a statement, Sen. Leila de Lima slammed what she described as “an irresponsible and premature statement” on the Philippines’ supposed role should Putin’s destruction of Ukraine spill over to Asia.

According to De Lima, such a statement “engenders an escalation in the language of the conflict” and such is not yet being discussed by leaders of Europe and the U.S. “The Philippine government should not be issuing statements that are counter-intuitive to conflict resolution and which almost amount to sabre-rattling.

The call of NATO and the U.S. is for peace and the withdrawal of Russian forces,” the senator said.

“For the Philippines to be talking about its role in the event of the expansion of the conflict, while NATO is even steadfast in its own outright refusal to put NATO boots on Ukrainian soil, only reflects Duterte’s ‘utak pulbura’ world-view,” she added, using a Filipino term for war freak.

De Lima, a staunch critic of Duterte, also said that by issuing the statement, Duterte might be putting the U.S. on the spotlight if indeed the U.S. is also projecting a worldwide conflict arising from Putin’s aggression.

“Of course, the U.S. is not expected to respond to Duterte’s invitation, premature and irresponsible as it is in light of the critical nature of the U.S. relations with Russia as of present,” said De Lima.

“Southeast Asia as of now is

still very remote from the conflict, other than feeling the war’s economic repercussions,” she continued.

“To talk about Philippine involvement means that the conflict has already expanded to other parts of NATO Europe and the U.S., for the Philippines to be taking into consideration its defense arrangements with the U.S. This also means that the conflict has approached a global scale, heading towards a third world war,” she added.

On the other hand, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said he believed that the Philippines must be “fully prepared” for a possible spillover of Putin’s aggression to Asia.

Lacson said the Philippines must walk the talk, given that the Philippines has already supported the United Nations General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“We signed the UN General Assembly resolution condemning the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

So we should walk the talk. If our facilities are needed whether it be on land, sea or air, that is but proper,” Lacson said in an interview on radio station dzRH last week.

“It is better to be prepared than be surprised,” the senator said, adding that the Philippines “must be consistent—we must maintain close ties with allies who will help ensure our security from external threats.”

Aside from the economic consequences of Putin’s aggression—which are already being felt in the Philippines through oil prices–it is not yet clear what consequences the Philippines might suffer once the U.S. finally uses facilities in the country, as Duterte has stated.

However, early on, Putin has already made a clear and chilling warning against countries that will provide aid and support to Ukraine as his forces push forward to the former Soviet republic as part of what the dictator described as a “special military operation.”

“Whoever tries to hinder us, or threaten our country or our people, should know that Russia’s response will be immediate and will lead you to consequences that you have never faced in your history,” Putin said in a televised PAGE 5

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Pfizer CEO pushes yearly shots for COVID...

PAGE 1

fourth shot for people in that age group because they’re the group most likely to be hospitalized or die of COVID. Pfizer competitor Moderna on March 17 also filed for a second booster shot, although its application extended to all adults.

The vaccines’ protection against COVID infection generally wanes within several months in all age groups. But experts disagree on whether frequent boosters, especially for younger people, can do anything about that. Two or three vaccinations protect most people from serious disease — but do relatively little to prevent infection, which is generally mild or asymptomatic, after three or four months.

Statements like Bourla’s create public pressure for a fourth dose that could force the Biden administration’s hand before government experts have time to assess the evidence, said John Moore, professor of microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medical College.

It appears to be based on a yet-to-be-peer-reviewed Israeli study that examined patients only a few weeks after they had received their fourth dose of vaccine. The limited scope of the data raises questions about the duration of that protection, said Dr. Phil Krause, a former deputy director of the FDA’s biologics center. Krause helped lead the agency’s COVID vaccine reviews before resigning last fall.

Throughout the pandemic, repeated public proclamations by pharmaceutical company executives — broadcast widely via the media, often without supporting data — have created pressure for politicians and their scientific advisers to act.

Last summer, Bourla announced the likely need for an initial booster in April 2021, then, in August, President Joe Biden promised the first booster shots would be available to all adults starting the following month. “That created an expectation that everyone would get their slice of yummy chocolate cake,” Moore said. “Who wants to be ‘the cake nazi’ and say, ‘No cake for you?!’”

Although FDA and CDC expert panels, and some federal

scientists, were hesitant about recommending the first booster for younger populations, the agencies overrode their advice and approved boosters for everyone 12 and older. That continues to be a sore point with many immunologists and infectious disease specialists. ‘’The last thing we need is to have corporate CEOs in March saying this is what you need in December because ‘we know,’” Moore said. “How do you know?” CEO announcements have often been made before scientific evidence supporting the claims has been publicly released, meaning scientists have not had time to evaluate their validity.

The desire to react to growing signs of infection is understandable but may be futile in the face of a virus that seems to infect even the wellvaccinated. If we keep chasing the virus with boosters, “we’re going to be making the drug companies very happy, since our antibodies will go down every four months,” said Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

But whether those levels are a good measure of protection — especially against serious disease, and in which populations — is an open question. The answer is important because, like all vaccines, there is a small risk of adverse reactions from each shot.

There’s some disagreement among experts on how well COVID vaccines to date have prevented serious disease in healthy young people, and whether and how often they should be boosted.

While a recent CDC study showed an increased risk of hospitalization among people ages 18 to 49 several months after second and third vaccine doses, the data categories in the study aren’t fine-grained enough to show whether many of those who suffered severe disease had comorbidities such as chronic disease or obesity, Offit said.

But others argue there’s enough evidence to show that yearly vaccines, perhaps in combination with influenza vaccinations, would be the best solution. “Given how safe the vaccines are and how effective

they are, I think it probably does make sense for people to get a booster, and the most convenient would be once a year,” said Dr. Otto Yang, an infectious disease specialist at UCLA. If COVID turns out to be seasonal, peaking in winter months, vaccination in the fall would provide decent protection, he said.

“We are bound to need another booster. We just don’t know when or for which variant,” said Dr. Daniel Douek, chief of the human immunology section at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

The coronaviruses that cause about a third of all common colds appear to infect people as frequently as once a year on average, said Stanley Perlman, a coronavirus expert at the University of Iowa. Vaccines could never prevent all those infections, yet the federal approach has largely acted as if this were feasible, Offit said.

“We’re coming off two years where we treated this virus like smallpox, isolating anyone with mild illness, even asymptomatic people,” he said. “That’s going to have to change. Because neither vaccination nor natural infection is going to protect you from mild illness for a longer period of time.”

It’s important for U.S. health officials to have and share with the public some clarity about the goals of the vaccination program, said Dr. Luciana Borio, a former FDA and National Security Council official who is now a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations.

“We need people to understand that protection against all illness is not long-lasting, instead of thinking the vaccine is not working.”

“The goal is not to stop transmission, it’s mainly to protect the vulnerable at this point,” said Dr. Norman Hearst, a family physician and public health researcher at the University of California-San Francisco.

How, in the absence of perfect vaccines, we will protect the vulnerable remains a conundrum. Borio argues that we need systems to rapidly test elderly and immunocompromised people for COVID and quickly give PAGE 5

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With gradual increase of new variant...

PAGE 1 nationally, with the Northeast region seeing higher percentages than other regions. For example, New York City reported that the Omicron subvariant BA.2 accounts for nearly 30% of cases.

The BA.2 subvariant also accounts for over 20% of the cases in the Midwest, with 20% identified as BA.2 in Chicago.

Although LA County has identified a lower percentage of cases to date associated with BA.2 when compared to some other cities, this is a similar pattern as seen with previous new virus strains and residents should be prepared to mitigate the risk of increased transmission associated with this more infectious subvariant.

Efforts to slow transmission remain a priority, particularly by increasing vaccination and booster coverage, as data has shown that these approved vaccines provide significant protection against variants.

As of March 17, 83% of LA County residents ages five and older had received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine and 75% were fully vaccinated.

Additionally, 57% of eligible residents ages 12 and older received the additional protection of a booster. This leaves about 2.6 million booster-dose eligible residents not benefiting from the extra protection of a booster dose.

With gaps in coverage by race/ethnicity, age groups, and geography, there are many pockets of vulnerability across the county.

Only 30% of children ages 5-11

are fully vaccinated, the lowest of any age group, compared with 85% fully vaccinated youth ages 12-17.

As of March 13, 55% of Black residents and 59% of Latinx residents are fully vaccinated, compared with 73% of White residents and 82% of Asian residents.

There are also certain geographic regions with lower vaccination coverage than others, including parts of the San Gabriel Valley, South Central LA, and the Antelope Valley. As of February 27, there were also significant gaps in booster coverage with only 31% of residents five and older living in low-resourced communities receiving a booster dose, compared with 43% of residents five and older living in better resourced communities.

“As always, we extend our deepest sympathies to everyone mourning the loss of a loved one from COVID,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of public health.

“The increasing presence of the highly transmissible BA.2 subvariant in many regions of this country reminds us that we need to remain vigilant and prepared for the possibility of more cases in the near future.

And while discouraging to face this possibility, the best way to blunt another surge in cases from increasing hospitalizations and deaths is to increase vaccination and booster coverage. Given the compelling evidence that the vaccines continue to protect against all variants, and their wide availability, residents and workers

are urged to use the next couple of weeks to get to up to date on their vaccines. Waiting until we start seeing increases in cases is not optimal, since once there are more people testing positive, there is already more community transmission.”

Public Health reported 565 new positive cases on Sunday, with an additional 370 positive cases today, and 29 new deaths for Sunday and today. Today’s case and death numbers reflect delays in weekend reporting. Of the 29 new deaths reported today, one person was between the ages of 30-49, six were between the ages of 50-64, six were between the ages of 65-79, and 16 were aged 80 years or older. Of the 29 newly reported deaths, 27 had underlying health conditions. To date, the total number of deaths in LA County is 31,491.

Public Health has reported a total of 2,825,423 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of LA County. Note that 1,157 additional cases have been added to the cumulative total of positive cases due to a backlog of cases from the surge. Almost all of the backlog cases these past two weeks have been reported from two labs. The California Department of Public Health is aware of these reporting delays which affect case counts across many parts of the state.

Today’s positivity rate is 0.6%.

There are 404 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized.

Testing results are available for more than 11,615,300 individuals, with 22% of people testing positive. g

PH bound by treaty to side with US if...

PAGE 2 broadcast last Feb. 24.

“We are ready for any turn of events. All necessary decisions in this regard have been made.

I hope that I will be heard,” he added.

Despite Putin’s warning, however, U.S. President Joe Biden and U.S. allies imposed a series of swift and sweeping sanctions against Putin and Russia for the invasion of Ukraine. These tough penalties by the U.S., as well as its Western allies, aimed to impose extreme economic costs on Russia and its people.

Last March 17, Biden approved an additional P41.9B ($800M) for its military aid package to Ukraine, bringing the cost of total U.S. security aid to Ukraine since the Putin invasion began to P52B ($1B).

The lethal aid included sophisticated weapons like the Javelin shoulder-fired anti-tank missile system and the Stinger shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missile system. Both weapons systems had been described as “fire and forget” because of the ease with which these could be launched by a single soldier and their accuracy.

For the first time, Biden also called Putin a “war criminal.”

A few days earlier, on March 11, the U.S. Senate approved the P712B ($13.6B) emergency military and humanitarian aid package for Ukraine and its European allies—P340B will be given to the Pentagon while P350B will go to care for refugees.

So far, Russia has only produced and approved a list

of countries and territories that have conducted “unfriendly actions” against Russia and its citizens over Putin’s bid to destroy Ukraine.

On the list, according to a report

by Al Jazeera, were Albania, Andorra, Australia, Great Britain, including Jersey, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Gibraltar, European Union member states, Iceland, Canada, Liechtenstein, Micronesia, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, San Marino, North Macedonia, Singapore, United States, Taiwan, Ukraine, Montenegro, Switzerland, and Japan.

Tension continued to escalate between the Russian government and the U.S. as concerns were expressed over Chinese military aid to Putin, a close ally of Chinese President Xi Jinping. g

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Pfizer CEO pushes yearly shots for COVID...

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them treatment if their results are positive.

But this is more easily said than done, Hearst said, since people rarely seek medical help for upper respiratory diseases until the illness is too developed for antiviral drugs to work; antivirals generally work best, sometimes only, if they are taken within a few days of onset of symptoms.

For the time being, all debate on a second booster is moot, said John Wherry, chair of the Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics at the University of Pennsylvania. Unless Congress reverses itself and decides to give the administration more money to fight COVID, there won’t be any free vaccines — or free COVID treatments — available to the public next fall.

“We have an acute budgetary problem and we’re not yet out of the woods,” Wherry said. COVID numbers are spiking in Europe again, and concentrations of the virus in wastewater are starting to multiply in some areas of the U.S., indicating that a loosening of COVID restrictions may be causing spread among those who weren’t infected during the

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL RAIL AUTHORITY RFP No. SP580-22 Mobile Ticketing Application The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) is seeking proposals to develop a Mobile Ticketing Application solution for Metrolink customers to purchase tickets and manage rides. RFP documents may be obtained at https://metrolinktrains.com/ doing-business (free registration). Electronic Proposals are due at 2:00 p.m. (PT) on April 13, 2022. For further information contact: Brian Jacob, Senior Contract Administrator at 213.452.0316 or email jacobb@scrra.net.

3/23/22 CNS-3566838# ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)

omicron wave in December and January.

Offit, a vaccine inventor and longtime champion of vaccination, cautions against leaning too hard on COVID boosters for answers.

“What’s our response going to be if we have another variant like omicron that sweeps across people who got two or three doses?” he asked. “Will we accept this, and say, ‘OK, calm down?’”

(Arthur Allen/Kaiser Health News)

PAUNAWA NG PAMPUBLIKONG PAGDINIG Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Ang Independent Citizen’s Advisory and Oversight Committee (ICAOC) ay magsasagawa ng pampublikong pagdinig sa Abril 25, 2022 sa ganap na ika-9 ng umaga. Ang mga miyembro ng publiko ay maaaring makinig sa pamamagitan ng pagtawag sa: +1 (877) 422-8614 at pagpasok ng extension ng pulong 3788155#.

Ang ICAOC ay hinirang sa ilalim ng Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Reform and Accountability Act of 1998, na inaprubahan ng mga botante noong Nobyembre 1998. Ang pagdinig ay ginaganap alinsunod sa mga kinakailangan ng pederal na pampublikong pagdinig na naka-outline sa Seksyon 9 (e) (3) (H) ng Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982, na binago, at mga alituntunin sa pampublikong pagdinig na pinagtibay ng Lupon ng mga Direktor ng LACMTA noong 1993, na binago.

Layunin ng pagdinig na ito ang makatanggap ng mga pampublikong komento sa resulta ng independiyenteng pag-audit na isinagawa para sa mga kita at gastusin sa mga buwis ng pagbebenta sa sa ilalim ng mga ordinansa ng Proposisyon A at Proposisyon C mula Hulyo 1, 2020 - hanggang Hunyo 30, 2021.

BACKGROUND Ang Proposisyon A at Proposisyon C ay mga ordinansang inaprubahan ng botante na nagbibigay ng kalahating porsyentong buwis sa pagbebenta sa County ng Los Angeles, ang mga nalikom nito ay gagamitin para sa mga layunin ng transportasyon gaya ng tinukoy sa dalawang ordinansa.

Inaprubahan ng mga botante ng Los Angeles County ang Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Reform and Accountability Act of 1998 (ang Act) noong Nobyembre ng 1998. Ang layunin ng Act ay ilahad kung magkano ang mga gastusin ng Proposisyon A at Proposisyon C sa mga kita sa buwis ng pagbebenta sa pamamagitan ng taunang independiyenteng pag-audit ng mga gastusin sa buwis ng pagbebenta sa transportasyon, ang paggawa ng Independent Citizen’s Advisory and Oversight Committee, at mga pampublikong pagdinig sa mga independiyenteng ulat ng pag-audit. Ang Act ay nangangailangan ng taunang independiyenteng pag-audit ng Mga Proposisyon A at C sa Mga Kita at Gastusin sa Mga Buwis ng Pagbebenta.

Ang Independent Citizen’s Advisory Oversight Committee alinsunod sa Act ay nagbibigay ng buod na ito ng independiyenteng pag-audit para sa taon ng pananalapi na magtatapos sa Hunyo 30, 2021.

ESPESYAL NA AUDIT SA MGA PONDO NG KITA Ang Ulat ng Independent Auditor ay nagbibigay ng mga iskedyul ng mga kita at gastusin para sa Mga Proposisyon A at C sa taon ng pananalapi na magtatapos sa Hunyo 30, 2021, na nagpapakita ng mga halaga ng mga kita sa buwis sa pagbebenta sa transportasyon na natanggap at ginastos ng LACMTA. Ang mga iskedyul ng Proposisyon A at C na ito ay ginawa ng LACMTA at in-audit ng independiyenteng accounting firm na BCA Watson Rice, LLP (BCA). Isinagawa ng BCA ang pagaudit ng mga iskedyul ng pananalapi ng Proposisyon A at C alinsunod sa karaniwang tinatanggap na auditing standards sa United States of America.

Opinyon ng Auditor sa Presentasyon ng Iskedyul sa Pananalapi Ang Ulat ng Independent Auditor ay nagbibigay ng opinyon para sa taon ng pananalapi na magtatapos sa Hunyo 30, 2021, ang mga iskedyul ng mga kita at gastusin ng LACMTA para sa Proposisyon A at C ay nagpapakita ng patas, sa lahat ng materyal na aspeto, ang mga kita at gastusin ng kita sa pagbebenta ng buwis ng Proposisyon A at C. Ulat ng Auditor sa mga Internal Controls sa Pag-uulat sa Pananalapi Ang ulat sa mga internal control sa pag-uulat sa pananalapi ay nagsasaad na bilang bahagi ng pag-audit, ikinukunsidera ng BCA ang internal control ng LACMTA sa pag-uulat sa pananalapi upang malaman ang mga pamamaraan sa pag-audit na naaangkop sa mga pangyayari para sa layunin ng pagpapahayag ng kanilang opinyon sa mga financial statement. Walang natukoy ang BCA ng anumang kakulangan sa internal control sa pag-uulat sa pananalapi na itinuturing ng BCA na mga materyal na kahinaan.

Ulat ng Auditor sa Pagsunod sa mga Kinakailangan sa Proposisyong A at C Ang Ulat ng Independent Auditor ay nagbibigay ng opinyon na sinunod ng LACMTA, sa lahat ng materyal na aspeto, ang mga kinakailangan sa pagsunod na inilarawan sa MTA Reform and Accountability Act of 1998 at ang mga Ordinansa na maaaring magkaroon ng direkta at materyal na epekto sa Proposisyon A at Proposisyon C na mga kita at mga gastusin para sa taon ng pananalapi na natapos noong Hunyo 30, 2021.

MGA AUDIT NG PAGSUNOD NG MGA LUNGSOD AT COUNTY Isinagawa ng Vasquez and Company (Vasquez) at Simpson and Simpson (Simpson) ang pagaudit ng pagsunod alinsunod sa auditing standards na karaniwang tinatanggap sa Estados Unidos ng Amerika at ang mga pamantayang naaangkop sa mga pag-audit sa pananalapi na nakapaloob sa Pamantayan sa Pag-audit ng Pamahalaan, na inisyu ng Comptroller General ng United States. Ang mga pamantayang iyon ay inatasan ang mga independiyenteng auditor na magplano at magsagawa ng pag-audit upang makakuha ng makatwirang katiyakan kung may nangyaring di-pagsunod sa mga kinakailangan sa mga Ordinansa at Mga Alituntunin sa Local Return ng Proposisyon A at Proposisyon C na maaaring magkaroon ng direkta at materyal na epekto sa Proposisyon A at Proposisyon C na programa ng Local Return.

Napagpasyahan ng Vasquez at Simpson na ang County at mga Lungsod ay sumunod sa lahat ng materyal na aspeto, kasama ang mga kinakailangan sa mga Ordinansa at Mga Alituntunin sa Local Return ng Proposisyon A at Proposisyon C na naaangkop sa programa ng Proposisyon A at Proposisyon C na Local Return para sa taon ng pananalapi na natapos noong Hunyo 30, 2021. Ang mga pag-audit ng pagsunod sa Mga Alituntunin sa Local Return ng County at ng 88 Lungsod ay nakakita ng 29 na lokal na hurisdiksyon na may mga isyu sa pagsunod. Ang lahat ng mga natuklasan ay naresolba na o nasa proseso ng pagreresolba.

Ang mga nakasulat na komento sa usaping ito ay tatanggapin hanggang Abril 24, 2022 ng 5PM. Maaaring i-email ang mga komento sa BoardClerk@metro.net o ipadala sa: Board Administration, LACMTA, One Gateway Plaza, Mail Stop 99-3-1, Los Angeles, CA 90012-2952.

Ang mga kopya ng Ulat ng mga Independent Auditor sa Iskedyul ng Mga Kita at Gastusin para sa Proposisyon A na Kita sa Buwis ng Pagbebenta at ng Proposisyon C na Kita sa Pagbebenta ay makukuha mula sa Records Management Center sa LACMTA Plaza Level sa (213) 9222342.

CNSB#3566363

6 MARCH 23-25, 2022 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL

Double Barrel Finale

OpiniOn & Features

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

WITH pandemic restrictions eased last year despite two deadly COVID surges, the Philippines improved a notch in the latest World Happiness Report of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

The rankings are not based on cheerfulness and the ease by which people find happiness, but on quality of life indicators using three-year data from the Gallup World Poll: gross domestic product, life expectancy, generosity, social support, freedom and corruption.

With the pandemic dragging the country into its worst recession, the Philippines fell from 52nd place in the 2020 report to 61st in the 2021 rankings, improving slightly to 60th this year among 146 countries.

Not surprisingly, the advanced economies have consistently led in the World Happiness Report.

This year, Finland maintained its top ranking, followed by Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Rounding out the top 10 are Luxembourg, Sweden, Norway, Israel and New Zealand.

At the bottom of the list is Afghanistan. The

rest of the 10 least happy countries are Lebanon, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Botswana, Lesotho, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia.

In Southeast Asia, the Philippines at least ranked second after Singapore, which placed 27th.

Thailand followed the Philippines closely at 61st place, ahead of Malaysia (70th place), Vietnam (77th), Indonesia (87th), Laos (95th), Cambodia (114th) and Myanmar at 126th. Brunei was not included.

Considering the hardships caused by the pandemic, 60th place is not too bad. The Philippines has a strong social support network, which helped people cope with the pandemic. Filipinos, however, also face serious and long-entrenched problems such as corruption and human rights issues, including the killings of thousands of drug suspects and the murders – many unsolved indigenous groups and environmental advocates.

– of militants, journalists, legal professionals, The COVID pandemic highlighted the weaknesses

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

of public health care. The country cannot rest at 60th place; it can still do better. (Philstar.com)

The ‘pink wave’ springs forward in the Philippines as Filipino activism blooms with Leni-Kiko The Fil-Am Perspective Gel SantoS-ReloS MARCH 20 marked the eve of the changing of seasons.

Winter gave way to spring as activism and volunteerism saw a renaissance in the growing number of Filipinos now invested in the campaign of Leni Robredo for president and Kiko Pangilinan for vice president.

From the Peoples’ Rally and caravan that kicked off the campaign season for the LeniKiko Team in Leni’s hometown in Naga, we have seen the rising of peoples’ enthusiasm as the campaign moved from town to town and city to city in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

We have witnessed more and more people in attendance, with Leni-Kiko supporters from the grassroots sharing their time, talents, effort to show their vote of confidence for “Gobyernong Tapat,” and hope springs eternal for a “Kulay Rosas ang Bukas” and “Angat Buhay Lahat”— a testament to the people’s faith and trust in VP Leni Robredo and Senator Francis Pangalinan.

137,000 Filipinos went to Emerald Avenue in Ortigas Center, Pasig and the pink crowd just filled the adjacent streets for a dazzling display of how these people are so committed in making the change they want to see really happen in the corruption-plagued government in the Philippines.

Such astounding show of activism was noted by no less

than Ariana Grande sharing video of massive Leni-Kiko Pasig Rally singing her hit song “Break Free”on social media.

Billboard even described it this way: “While showing their support, the group began to sing Ariana Grande’s 2014 hit, “Break Free,” and the highenergy moment was captured in a video that went viral on social media. Soon enough, the clip made its way to Grande herself, who shared the aerial view of the crowd to her Instagram Stories.”

The word “high energy” cannot even capture the spirit of the people — young and old — in Pasig, and in the other LeniKiko People’s Rallies before this event. One thing is for sure, it is such a powerful feeling of love for the country and hope for the future that make people in the event tear up, including more than 350,000 of us who were with them virtually as we witness the unfolding of this special celebration of people united by one common aspiration.

The attendees started filling up Emerald Avenue in the morning, enduring the sweltering heat, and no bathroom breaks as the crowd got bigger ahead of the day-long celebration of music, chanting, dancing, picnics, camaraderie, climaxed by the speech of Leni Robredo at night.

Let me share some of the insights and experiences of these people as shared on social media: “I cannot imagine I will be signing the National Anthem with more than 100,000 people today.” - Jes Mirasol “Ang mamatay ng dahil sa iyo #PasigIsPink…” - Jun Robles Lana as he posted aerial shots of event “Tuwing naiisip ko si VP Leni,

sumasagi sa isipan ko ang dami at lawak ng mga posibilidad na mabago at mapaunlad ang Pilipinas”. - Miyake Izabel “All it takes is a single voice. A single voice loud enough for other people to hear. A single voice that’ll encourage others to use theirs as well. A single voice that can spark a movement.” - Jessika “Sobrang na-feel ko kung gaano siya ka-dedicated at kawilling to serve the people. Kung narinig niyo yung speech niya, mas marami pa ang pag-endorse niya kay VP kaysa sa sarili niya” Renz Saavedra “EXTREMELY PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS HISTORIC EVENT!” - J.M. Dangane ,MD “For a gov’t with a concrete pandemic response and economic recovery plan, push for a good int’l image, and most of all, uplift lives of Filipinos so they can fulfill their needs and even have extra to enjoy things that make them happy!” – BB Kudos, VP @lenirobredo& Pasig Kakampinks, for an epic #PasigLaban! Together, we defied fake news and redtagging. Together, we can do more and win. If we expand our reach and level-up our unity, NCR can become “National Capital for Robredo”. Yes we can #MakabayanForLeniKiko - Elmer Labog “The best man for the job is a WOMAN Pink Movement Happening Today In Pasig…

Responsible Universities and Educators Trust the Movement I haven’t felt this good in years even if I stood for 7-8 hours!

Maraming salamat Team TRoPa for inspiring many of us to come out and support you all! You have brought out the best in Filipinos #IpanloNa10To #PASIGLaban” Jade Therese

Family business

Demand and Supply Boo ChanCo THERE was this story about a politician who was told by his son that he wanted to take up engineering as a career. The politician objected and told his son he should take after him because politicians make more money. Besides, who will inherit the family business?

A powerpoint presentation by UP professors (Tadem and Tadem) revealed that out of the 200 elected House of Representatives, 169 (84.5 percent) were members of pre-1972 traditional families.

This signified the continuing general trend in Philippine politics whereby 70 percent of the 15th Philippine Congress is dynastic.

It is not any better now, and most likely it is worse. Political dynasties used to infest LGUs and the lower house of Congress. But now, it is at the Senate too.

The next Senate is likely to have a mother and son, a father and daughter, a brother and sister and two half brothers. Why should four families be over represented at the Senate?

Academics trace our political dynasties to the Spanish era.

Traditional political families have ruled in local governments where they monopolize political power and public offices from generation to generation, and treat the public elective office almost as their personal property.

To a great extent, the perpetuation of poverty and underdevelopment, socioeconomic inequality, and the continuing prevalence of massive corruption can be blamed on political dynasties.

The families have no incentive to do good. They have locked in political power forever.

It is not just in rural areas. Cities within Metro Manila suffer from political dynasties too. One city has a husband as congressman in one district, his wife in another, the brother is mayor and a sister is senator.

Many cities in NCR have not had a mayor with a different surname for decades. These personal political fiefdoms explain the strong resistance to an elected Metro Manila government that could better manage the whole region.

For this year’s presidential election, Julio C. Teehankee, a

political science professor at De La Salle University, noted the creation of an alliance of powerful families. This marks the peak of dynastic politics, Teehankee said.

It seems to be aimed at protecting them from lawsuits and political persecution.

Another study noted that a majority of the positions in government are held by politicians who are members of political dynasties. When incumbents can no longer run due to term limits, those who would take their place may even have no previous political background or experience except their family connections.

In a study done in 2012 by economists Beja, Mendoza, Venida, and Yap, it was estimated that 40 percent of all provinces in the Philippines have a provincial governor and congressman who are related in some way.

Another 2014 study done by Querubin of the Department of Politics in New York University estimates 50 to 70 percent of all politicians are involved or associated in a political dynasty within the Philippines.

The same study concluded that approximately 70 percent of all jurisdiction-based legislators in

“With my wife attending the #PasigLaban . In 2016 both of us voted for Leni but since I came from Mindanao, I voted for D30.

3 months after the election, I realized I made a mistake. 2022 is different! Solid ka tropa.” 3Poms “Mom/dad always talked about the people power revolutions before as if they were dreams… went to #PasigLaban today. Now i understand”. -Jenju Sa lakas na pinaramdam ng Pasig, damang dama na natin ang pag asa. Salamat, Pilipino!

Ipapanalo natin ‘to! Yung pink rallies, may Lost and Found na booth. Yung unity rallies, may paannouncement ng mga nanakawan ng wallet at cellphones na nagmamakaawa na ibalik na. Rallies palang laki na ng pagkakaiba. - Wonderwoman “Nagulat ako when I saw Nanay and Tatay! Ipapanalo po natin to! Ipapanalo po namin kayo! #LeniRobredo2022 #PasigLaban #PasigForLeniKiko #PasigisPink” - Ron Li “I was a DDS and voted for Bongbong Marcos for vp in 2016.

Today, I’m proud to say that I will never be a “mangmang” voter again. My character development slayed! Doon tayo sa TOTOO at TAPAT!!! My vote is for you mam @lenirobredo” - Kevin Villena OMG WALA KAMING MASAKYAN NA GRAB SO ABANG ABANG KAMI NG JEEP TAPOS MAY TUMIGIL NA RANDOM KOTSE SAMIN KASI NAKITANG NAKA PINK KAMI TAPOS TINANONG KUNG PAPUNTA RAW KAMI ORTIGAS, ISABAY NA RAW KAMI SINCE PUNTA RIN SILA SA RALLY HUHUHUHU GRABEEE!!!! #PasigLaban #PasigIsPink” -Grey “So nalaglag ng sister ko yung

driver’s license and SSS ID nya during the #PasigLaban rally and true to the values espoused by the pink revolution, naisoli sa kanya after the event. Leni brings out the best in us at a time when the current establishment brings out the worst” - GisingPH “My nieces was narrating what happen to them yesterday. She mentions dami daw namimigay ng food. Ubos n daw tubig nila, uhaw na uhaw na daw sila.

Ginaya nya daw ginawa ng iba, she raised a placard with note asking for water. Dumarating daw ang tubig pasa pasahan from the people.” - Ana Trecia Bantigue “Ang tagal ko nang ‘di kinikilabutan nang ganito sa nakikita ko. At ang kilabot na ito, hindi na dala ng takot. Kay tagal kong naghintay.” – Chiara Zambrano “GOOSEBUMPS WHEN BEN AND BEN STARTED SINGING SABEL SINCE IT’S A SONG FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND LENI ROBREDO IS AN EPITOME OF AN ENPOWERED WOMAN!” - Chad “Amazeball talga ang mga kakampink. Pag may nangangailangan ng medic, the crowd chant all together “MEDIC” to get attention.

Graaabe! Concern for others, iba talaga ang pluwensya ng mabuting lider!” - Sumshine “This picture (of Leni hugging children) speaks so much! May this be a reminder for us to vote very very wisely not just for us but for the future of our children.

Our children deserves a good governance. They deserve a good future. Let’s win this battle for them.” - Anj “Today, we pushed back against red-tagging and attempts at disunity, we showed up with

a GIGANTIC mob w/ recordbreaking (near regime-ousting) numbers, and demonstrated true unity based on our desire for better governance.” - Rey Kayang kaya natin ‘to. Ipanalo natin ‘to! #PasigLaban “Someone said, “This is no longer a rally, this is history.” We are fighting not only for the present generation but also for the next ones that will carry this remarkable bravery to fight for what we deserve. What a night!” - Kiel “Sana lang huwag matulad sa Edsa, that people felt it was the end. It was just the start. May mga kasama tayo na ganun ang isip, sinisi pa ang Edsa. Di nila naintindihan, Edsa was about us, people power. As Leni says, “we are the answer to each one’s prayer.”- Manny “Yes, Leni Robredo’s middle class base showed up in this behemoth rally at #PasigLaban.

The real challenge now is to translate this immense political energy be co-owned by the basic masses, which is morally yearning for genuine change .

Abutin ang mga tunay na nasa laylayan.” - Hadji Balajadia ***

the current Congress are involved in a political dynasty, with 40 percent of them having ties to legislators who belonged to as far as three Congresses prior.

It is also said that 77 percent of legislators between the ages of 26 to 40 are also dynastic, which indicates that the second and third generations of political dynasties in the Philippines have begun their political careers as well.

The term “relative” refers to anyone with a family connection such as a wife, a son or daughter, a cousin, etc. Sometimes, even a mistress.

The party list system should have alleviated the problem somewhat. But the political dynasties managed to use it as well to expand their representation in the lower house of Congress.

The current Constitution has a provision that calls on Congress to pass an anti-political dynasty law.

Of course that never happened.

Over the last 35 years, Congress simply ignored the Constitutional mandate. The old ruling elite, national and local, has succeeded in perpetuating power in their hands.

This also explains why there is no fear of anti-corruption laws because the next administration is likely to be headed by a family

member. There is no danger of being held accountable for corrupt acts.

That makes a public office nothing more than a family business. A mayor’s relatives set up construction, office supply, and other businesses that can corner contracts from the LGU. There is little distinction between the money of taxpayers and that of the ruling families.

No wonder sons and daughters of powerful dynastic officials do not have to sweat it out in a real productive job outside of government. Genetics provide them a guaranteed means of supporting themselves from cradle to grave.

Yet, there are dynastic politicians who first did well in private business. But they still get wives, sons, and daughters into politics to protect the business.

This gives them an unfair advantage through influence in government decision making.

The people have the power to stop this debilitating characteristic of our democracy.

We can end political dynasties through the ballot. But our social and economic circumstances make that impossible. The poor are particularly indebted many times over to these families one way or another.

One study I read classified

political dynasties two ways: the thin dynasty and the obese dynasty. In the thin dynasty, family members take turns in serving. In obese dynasties, they take all the positions they can at one time, as in the case I cited earlier.

Those of us who can, should start to do our nation a favor and simply not vote for any candidate who is part of an obese dynasty. Serving one after another is probably alright under our circumstances. But there are more than enough qualified independent candidates to vote for instead of members of obese family dynasties.

In a properly functioning democratic government, public office is a public trust, an opportunity to serve the common good. Given a public servant’s salary, a true public servant should leave public office poorer rather than richer.

Getting rich in public office is a sure sign of corruption, a betrayal of the public trust. (Philstar.com) ***

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

*** 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

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.

*** Boo Chanco’s email address is bchanco@ gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @boochanco

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Telco, airlines now open to full...

PAGE 1

country’s foreign partners,” he added.

Ranked as the third most restrictive economy in the world based on the 2020 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report, the Philippines will benefit from the amended PSA as it will attract foreign capital, generate more jobs, and introduce innovation that can lead to improved quality and lower prices of public services.

More jobs, lower prices The American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) on Monday said the signing of the amended PSA, as well as the earlier enactment of investment-easing measures, made the Duterte administration “very business-friendly.”

“AmCham is thrilled that the bill is being signed today. It is a major legislation that will further open up the Philippines for more foreign investment which will create jobs,” AmCham executive director Ebb Hinchliffe said in a Viber message to the Inquirer.

“There are several US companies [which I’m] not at liberty to name at this time that are waiting for the bill to be signed. Add this to the CREATE

(Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises) bill, retail trade bill, the amendments to the FIA (Foreign Investments Act), and now PSA, this has been a very business-friendly Congress and administration,” he said.

The Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC), which groups nearly all foreign companies operating in the country, has described the amended PSA as a gamechanging law.

According to JFC, this would match the foreign investment policies of Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.

It also complies with commitments the Philippines made in the Asean Comprehensive Investment Agreement to open investment in services to other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) as part of the Asean Economic Community.

“We pledge our efforts to bring the reform to the attention of firms in our membercountries in the United States, Australia-New Zealand, Canada, Korea, Japan and Europe. We will encourage them to invest in the Philippines and support better public services for the

Filipino people with capital and technology,” JFC earlier said.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, who is also chair of the Board of Investments, had also said that such an amendment to the PSA would pave the way for more foreign investments in the Philippines.

“Foreign equity restrictions will be eased, which will attract more global players that will modernize several sectors such as telecommunications, shipping, airlines, railway, and subways. Similarly, there will be increased competition in terms of services and products which will generate better quality of services and competitive pricing to the benefit of the consumers.

Higher investments will also generate more jobs and income for the people,” Lopez said.

“I am confident that we can make economic recovery happen in the Philippines this year. With the amended [PSA], we expect the entry of new foreign investors and the introduction of modern and new technologies in these sectors,” he said.

Retail trade easing The amendment of the PSA completes the three foreign  PAGE 8

Can K-6 grade children safely return to school...

PAGE 1 in California are fully vaccinated, she said. One of the bright spots in the state is Imperial County, a largely agricultural region where 58 percent of 5 to11-year-olds have been fully vaccinated, said Jarosz. She credited trusted partners and community-based organizations for getting the word out about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine for children.

“A lot of people believe that kids don’t get COVID. But what we find is that they are getting it, but it’s not as severe as in adults. But thousands of children have been hospitalized with COVID, and hundreds of children have died from COVID,” said pediatrician Dr. Jennifer Miller of the Oakland-based East Bay Pediatrics.

Parents who are vaccinated themselves are often reluctant to get their younger children vaccinated. “They’re not sure that the disease is severe, they’re not sure that they believe that the kids are going to get that sick,” said Miller, drawing upon her

own experience with the parents of her patients.

“Some families worried that the vaccine affects fertility in their reproductive years,” or that “corners were cut in the production of this vaccine” which could lead to longer-term consequences.

“There’s no data that shows this at all,” Miller stressed.

“In fact, the data suggests the opposite… that this vaccine is safe and effective. It’s been rigorously tested. No corners were cut, and no steps were skipped in the approval of this vaccine.”

Dr. Sohil Sud, who leads the Safe Schools for All initiative of the California Department of Public Health, pointed to downward trends in the numbers of new infections, hospitalizations, and deaths.

At the peak of Omicron last year, one out of every four tests administered for COVID was positive; that number is down to 1 out of every 100.

Hospitalization and death rates from COVID mirror that trend,

said Sud, who is a pediatrician with two children in the 5 to 11 year range . Given the dramatic drops, California has changed its policy guidelines for schools, he said.

As of March 12, students in California are no longer required to wear masks in schools; the state has transitioned from a mask mandate to a “strong recommendation.”

“This means we are still asking students and staff to continue wearing, just as we stated for the general public a few weeks ago. But the state no longer requires that schools track and enforce this,” said Sud, adding that school districts can still choose to make a local masking requirement: the state has released guidelines on how to effectively do so.

The state is also encouraging school districts to use a notification based model for managing students exposed to COVID-19 at school, instead of a quarantine based model. Sud explained that if someone in  PAGE 8

COVID-19 vaccines are brand new BASED ON DECADES OF RESEARCH. SHARE THE FACTS, NOT THE VIRUS. MyTurn.ca.gov | 833-422-4255

DATELINE PHILIPPINES

‘PH economy to grow fastest in Southeast Asia in 2022’

by BEN

O. DE VERA Inquirer.net

MANILA — The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) of rich nations expects the Philippine economy to grow fastest in Southeast Asia this year, even as its labor market could take time to recover due to the scarring inflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In its “Economic Outlook for Southeast Asia, China and India 2022” report launched on Tuesday afternoon (Manila time), the OECD projected 7-percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth for the Philippines in 2022, at the lower end of the government’s 7 to 9 percent target.

“The outlook is for robust growth. A faster implementation of investment projects in infrastructure, plus the recovery in cash remittances by overseas Filipino workers constitute upside risks to the forecast,

although pandemic-related uncertainties continue to tilt the risk balance to the downside,” the OECD said.

The OECD’s estimated real GDP growth in the Philippines this year outpaced the forecasts of 5.2-percent expansion for Indonesia, 6-percent growth for Malaysia, 3.8 percent for Thailand, 6.5 percent for Vietnam, 3.5 percent for Brunei Darussalam, 4 percent for Singapore, 5.6 percent for Cambodia, and 4.6 percent for Laos. Myanmar’s GDP, on the other hand, was forecast by the OECD to shrink by 0.3 percent.

Including other emerging Asia economies, the Philippines’ estimated economic growth this year would also outpace China’s 5.1 percent, but below India’s 8.1 percent.

For 2023, the OECD projected the Philippine economy to grow by 6.1 percent, also within the government’s 6 to 7 percent goal.

However, the OECD said

the COVID-19 pandemic “inflicted substantial damage on labor markets in emerging Asia — this deterioration has been particularly acute in the Philippines and Vietnam.”

Last week, the government conceded that while the 6.4-percent unemployment rate last January dipped to its lowest during this prolonged pandemic, the number of jobless Filipinos would have been smaller than the 2.93 million at the start of this year if not for the stricter restrictions imposed during the Omicron-induced surge in infections.

“In terms of individual sectors across emerging Asia, the impact has been especially heavy for the micro-, small- and mediumsized enterprises. Sectors of the economy that are especially cyclical, and indeed those that rely on face-to-face interactions, have endured the gravest job losses since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis,” the OECD said. 

8,900 US and PH troops join forces for Balikatan

by JOHN

ERIC MENDOZA Inquirer.net

MANILA — A total of 8,900 members of the Philippine and American military will join forces for the upcoming Balikatan exercises this year, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Tuesday, March 22.

The largest military exercises of the two longtime allies will take place over Luzon from March 28 to April 8, the AFP said in a statement.

AFP said some 3,800 military personnel and 5,100 U.S. military forces will train to “to expand and advance shared tactics, techniques, and procedures

that strengthen our response capabilities and readiness for real-world challenges,” according to Major General Jay Bargeron, 3rd Marine Division Commanding General.

This year’s Balikatan is much bigger than 2021, which only saw some 1,000 Filipino and American troops. 

U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Ospreys assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 363 (VMM-363), 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, arrive at Subic Bay International Airport ahead of Balikatan 22 in the Philippines.

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Embassy in Manila

8 MARCH 23-25, 2022 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL

EMPLOYMENT

Dateline PhiliPPines

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

EAT MY DUST. Carabaos (water buffalo) geared with carts purposely made for racing run against other carabaos on a makeshift dirt track towards the finish line in Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija on Monday, March 21. Carabao racing, a common spectacle during fiestas, is a popular sport among farmers and carabao enthusiasts.

PNA photo by Oliver Marquez

Telco, airlines now open to full...

PAGE 7

investment liberalization bills pushed by the Duterte economic team instead of amending the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution, which would have taken a longer time and has been controversial despite attempts to amend only its economic provisions—among the most restrictive in the world that has made the Philippines a laggard in attracting foreign investments in Asean.

In April last year, President Duterte urged Congress to fast-track three bills that would further open up the economy to more foreign investors and,

according to his economic managers, help the economy recover from pandemic-induced recession.

In an April 12, 2021, letter to Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, the president said he certified the immediate passage of amendments to the PSA, the FIA, and the Retail Trade Liberalization Act. The team had argued that foreigners’ bigger participation in local industries would not only further promote domestic competition but also create more jobs.

The amended FIA is

positioned to attract more foreign investments amid the COVID-19 pandemic as it provides less stringent requirements for potential foreign investors to enter the Philippine market.

The proposed amendment to the retail trade law seeks to bring down the ceiling for the capital required of foreign-led retailers to set up shop in the Philippines.

Duterte signed RA 11595 amending the Retail Trade Liberalization Act of 2000 in January 2022, while RA 11647, which amended the FIA of 1991, was signed last March 2. g

Can K-6 grade children safely return to school...

PAGE 7

class has COVID, they should isolate at home. But others exposed to that individual can and should stay in school, wearing a mask, and being on high alert for symptoms.

The state also aims to get more children vaccinated by providing vaccine clinics at school sites and providing test kits for students to take home.

“I think we’re taking steps in the right direction. We’ve come a long way since schools were first shut down two years ago,” said Sud. Dr. Veronica Kelley, chief of mental health services at

EMPLOYMENT

the Orange County Health Care Agency, spoke about the profound mental health impacts of COVID isolation on K-6 grade children. “They’re sitting at a kitchen table with Zoom for school, and they aren’t surrounded by their friends.

They interact with their friends and other adults differently,” she said.

In 2021, children’s hospitals in California reported a 14 percent increase in mental health emergencies, and a startling 42 percent increase in self-harm, which included suicide attempts.

“Our kids have experienced many losses, including missing

EMPLOYMENT

the first day of school, missing graduation, participating in sports and ceremonies like Quinceañeras and baptisms,” said Kelley. She noted that an estimated 167,000 children in the state have lost a parent or caregiver to COVID. Distress in kids can show up as irritability, anger, changes in behavior and sleep patterns.

“So, if you see something, let your kid know that you are there, and don’t be afraid to ask a health professional for help.

There are a lot of free resources available through every county,” said Kelley. (Sunita Sohrabji/ Ethnic Media Services)

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Wednesday MARCH 23, 2022

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Martha Millan grabs the spotlight as an undocumented Filipino character in ‘The Cleaning Lady’ M

by MoMar

G. Visaya / AJPress

EET Martha Millan, a Filipino actress who recently made a splash in the barrierbreaking and history-setting Fox series The Cleaning Lady as Fiona de la Rosa, an undocumented immigrant in America.

The Cleaning Lady’s diverse cast is led by FrenchCambodian Elodie Yung who fans might recognize as Elektra on the Netflix series Daredevil.

The show has broken barriers by having Southeast Asian leads and a core storyline as it celebrates diversity, not just in the cast and the issues it tackles but also in the people involved in it, from the writers, producers, editors, and directors. The series premiere became the highest-rated new drama debut in two years for Fox. It’s not every day that Filipinos are treated to a mainstream series (or a Spiderman film, hello Ned’s Lola) where we can hear the characters converse in Filipino so when we see it happen, we rejoice.

“It’s wonderful. I mean, to be honest with you it is the first time I get to dive into a role completely as Filipino and flesh it out over a season,” Millan told the Asian Journal. “So it’s just been an incredible ride and my family who is also Filipino are eating it up because they

plateaued. They shot the pilot pre-vaccine and she remembers flying in from New York to Albuquerque to shoot it and to be on the set where everybody was masked.

“We’ve been so blessed that everybody on set is just so lovable. I mean, we’re all like family off the set. The children who play my kids - Sean Lew, who plays Chris and Faith Bryant, she plays my daughter Jazz - they’re just so down to earth and so just real and loving,” Millan said. “Elodie and I have become very close off set as well. So that also transcends through the screen.”

She first met Elodie through Zoom and felt the chemistry Elodie Yung and Martha Millan play cleaning ladies in the Fox series. Yung is Thony right away. The relationship has dela Rosa, a Cambodian doctor married to a Filipino while Millan is Fiona dela Rosa, an undocumented immigrant and Thony’s sister-in-law.

Photos evolved into a deep friendship similar to their characters on the show. teaching acting workshops see all the references here and “She was so lovely and there, and obviously, my accent online at the time because she had her props ready. And there was no work. Her is slightly Filipino, Filipino we were just really bonding manager asked her to do a enough for them to enjoy.” online. It was just an amazing self-tape for an audition which Millan describes her kind of process to experience was then sent to the casting experience doing the show as especially since normally you’re “an amazing journey right from directors. in the room with people and She got a callback and the beginning.” this is the first time that it was eventually booked the job as The global pandemic all through Zoom and yeah, the pandemic peaked and has just started and she was

Martha Millan plays the role of Fiona dela Rosa in the Fox series ’The Cleaning Lady’

it was just magical,” Millan shared. “And now it being out there, the response has been so positive, and you just never know shows have been taken by the viewers and especially this being such a groundbreaking show.”

Filipino stuff Bits and pieces of Filipino culture and issues make it to the show.

From an episode title (“Kabayan”) to a Filipino movie or teleserye playing on the background to the names on the end credits - an editor by the name of Diva Magpayo, music by Ruby Ibarra, an episode directed by Marie Jamora - to the numerous

Tagalog words blurted by the characters, there definitely was no shortage.

And then there’s Lou Diamond Phillips in a guest role.

“It was extremely intimidating. I mean, not because of him, just me because he was…it was our first movie as a family that we saw in the cinema - La Bamba,” Millan recalled.

She remembered feeling so nervous that she was actually going to be acting with him that she couldn’t get her first line out.

“He is so gracious and humble, and just so much Continued on Page 10

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entertainment

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 23, 2022

Remembering Susan Dilkes 1949-2022

SUSAN Espiritu Dilkes died on March 2, at her home, surrounded by family and friends. She was 72 years old. She was a mother, a wife, a grandmother, and a community leader; she had struggled with metastatic colon cancer for seven years.

Susan was born in 1949, in Cebu City, in the Philippines. Later, the family moved to Loay, a tiny fishing village on the island of Bohol. Her father died when Susan was 12. Susan always made her own decisions, so when her mother moved the family to Manila, Susan insisted on staying in Bohol to finish the school year. She was the first “working student” in Holy Trinity School, and lived with an aunt, so that she could graduate from elementary school in Bohol. Only then, did she move to Manila, to join the rest of her family.

In Manila, she went on to obtain a degree in accounting from the University of the East.

Although she had lived in Cebu or Manila for most of her childhood, she cherished her roots in Bohol, and always regarded herself as a Boholana.

In 1973, Susan came to California. Three days after she arrived, she had a job as a bookkeeper for an insurance company. She married Antonio Maquindang and raised 3 children. She also discovered she was a natural leader and rose to be the President or Chair of several organizations that served the Filipino immigrant community, including the Boholanos of Southern California, Inc., which specifically helped immigrants from Bohol.

Susan hated accounting but had discovered that she loved public service, so in 1994, she took a job as Executive Director of the Filipino American Service Group, Inc.(FASGI) in Historic Filipino Town.

Under her leadership, FASGI built a 26-bed residential facility, and, for the next 21 years, she provided community food programs, a medical service program , immigration aid, and many other services to the Filipino American community.

She also enrolled in the Executive Leadership Program at CORO Southern California. That training proved to be the springboard to her future legislative successes.

In the beginning, many of the participants in FASGI’s programs were WWII Veterans from the Philippines. They had been sworn into and then served in the US Army, during the war, but were denied the post war benefits that were so freely provided to other American GI’s, including some from foreign countries. Susan was outraged by this injustice. She joined several existing organizations that had tried to get Congress to redress this problem but had been unsuccessful. Susan helped them work

together and, discovered that she was a legislative tactician of remarkable skill. In fact, she soon found herself advising Filipino Veterans’ organizations, all over the country.

Susan organized and published the first health study of Filipino Veterans and used the data from that study as the basis for her testimony before Congress.

Armed with real data, her testimony was one of the major influences that ultimately secured VA medical services for the Filipino Veterans in the US. In 1998, she stood next to President Clinton when he signed a Proclamation that recognized the service of the Filipino American WWII Veterans. The VA health program was enacted in 2004, and in 2009, Susan saw President Obama sign legislation that provided compensation to the Filipino American WWII Veterans. The picture above is of a proud Susan Dilkes, sitting in the airport, heading back after the bill was signed into law.

Susan stayed on at FASGI for 6 more years; running a social service network and forming FilVote, to encourage greater political participation by Filipino Americans.

She made the FASGI residential facility available to a group of Thai workers who had been rescued from enslavement in El Monte and took in several “Trafficked Women,” who had been smuggled to the US sex trade.

Despite these successes, she regarded her services to the Filipino American Veterans as her most important accomplishment.

In retirement, Susan learned to scuba dive, with her second husband, Edward Dilkes, and logged more than 60 dives, all over the world. Unable to stop being a community leader, in 1918, she became President of Kalayaan, Inc. the organization that sponsors the annual Philippine Independence Day Gala and remained a political advisor and mentor to social activists and elected officials throughout the state.

She is survived by her second husband, Edward Dilkes and by her sons, Romel Maquindang (Maybel), of West Covina and Ronel Maquindang, of Las Vegas, NV., and by her daughters Jennifer Maquindang and Kiana Dilkes. She is also survived by 3 granddaughters, Jenel Maquindang, Emma Maquindang and Olivia Maquindang, and many nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Mass will be held at Our Mother of Good Counsel Catholic Church, on March 26 at 10:00 a.m. A graveside service, on a later date, will be for family members, only.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to either Our Mother of Good Counsel Catholic School, or The Cheremoya Elementary School Foundation.

3RD DISTRICT MEETING LIONS CLUB INTERNATIONAL. (From L-R) 2nd Vice Gov. Lily Harris, Awardee Lion President Charlie Bonilla, current District Gov. Lion Bong Garcia, Lion Vangie and Lion Nick on March 12, 2022 at Our Mother of Good Counsel Catholic Church.

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY GOLF TOURNAMENT. (From L-R) Mr. Pinlac Macky Fortu, Class A Champion Wilson Rana, Ben Nabong, Benjie Gonzalez, Kishu Punjabi, Lito Sapiandante, Noel Alonzo, Romil Angcaco, Frank Vergara and Alex Torio on February 26, 2022 at the Montebello Country Golf Course.

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MOTHER Movement celebrates International Women’s Day

EMOTIONS ran high at the International women’s day annual celebration by the women empowerment group MOTHER held last March 8 do. So, yeah, they’re very proud though. They’re which was attended virtually by so supportive. I mean, every week I get feedback members of the organizations and reviews from them.” from different parts of the Creating Fiona world. The international “Initially I thought that I was very different MOTHER Movement, In line from her but now watching it, I’m like, ‘Oh with its women empowerment my goodness. I think there are too many goal highlighted the significant similarities,’” she said. “She is a very strong contributions of women who woman, but at the same time, in the way she make the world a better handles her situation of being undocumented, place, throught rheir time, a single mother and these are all extraordinary actions, talent, dedication and situations, that her Filipinoness of being lightacknoweleged the compassion hearted - always finding a way to kind of dance, service passion and eat, laugh through those times, I think was unselfishness of its members in essential to her character.” heoping the kababayans during Millan said she wanted to amplify those the past year. extend assistance things about her that she knew growing up were through the MOTHER very important as Filipinos. She related with the Movement to the less fortunate fire that Fiona had and her resilience and wove it kababayans in the Philippines into the way she attacked the role. who were adversely affected She knew that the character was complex by the pandemic, and the enough for her to shift from strong and feisty latest supertyphoon Odette to caring and vulnerable, approaching it with a that impacted the members nuanced and tempered perspective. of the organization who lived “For me, I knew that this was reality for in Surigao, Cebu, Bacolod many people in terms of being undocumented, and San Carlos City in Negros a single mother, and I wanted to be careful in Occidental.. how I portrayed that because these are human With the theme Celebrating beings dealing with emotional and extraordinary inner beauty strength of circumstances.,” she said. character, leadership from From Rejection to Representation within and other traits rolled Millan has been working as an actor for 25 into one: a Woman, twentyyears now. Eagle-eyed fans might recognize her five awardees from various for her stint in HBO shows such as Entourage parts of the world received the and Succession. accolade Woman of the Year.

As someone in the industry, she knows all too From Manila, Director Dyan well that there’s so much rejection to deal with in Kristine Miranda Pastrana show business that she learned to build a certain (Manila) of the DFA Consular layer so she could move forward and continue Services Authentication to fight.

Division Office, delivered She has faced multiple rejections in her the welcome address as the career, not because she couldn’t act but because Global honorary chairwoman she was either “too Asian” or “not Asian of the MOTHER Movement. enough” for the token Asian role that she was She commended Perla Santos, up against other Asian American talents. founder of the humanitarian “And you know, back then 25 years ago, the group and expressed her roles were very limited for Asians in general, appreciation saying that she is and then to be specific for Filipinos. You end and inspiration to many and up playing stereotypes, but in a way that you a blessing to everyone….. couldn’t show the humanity, it was very just like a Guest speaker Consul Alnee two-dimensional portrayal,” she revealed.

Gamble of the LA Consulate That is why she appreciates that showrunners General of the Philippines, Miranda Kwok and Melissa Carter wanted to delivered an inspirational talk create a platform for marginalized people and and praised the Filipinas of show the humanity in them. today for their high quality “So, for me, the representation is necessary services and contributions only because the world is changed in how we that have created a popular see ourselves, we’re constantly on social media demand in many countries where we are exposed to so many cultures,” nowadays; women in various she explained. “To ignore that, for the media to professions, businesses and ignore that is a disadvantage in not representing jobs as teachers, nurses, those cultures because that’s what people want caregivers, and leaders and are to see now in terms of different content.” occupying positions which were

Martha Millan grabs the...

From Page 9 fun on set and giving as an actor. It was just an amazing experience to work with him. And then on top of that, his real daughter plays his daughter on there. So it’s kind of family feeling on set and it was very touching to see them work together as father and daughter but it was an incredible experience.” she said.

Episode 6 was directed by Marie Jamora, a Filipino American director and writer. Millan describes her as amazing and working with her is a real honor.

“She communicates with the actors in a very nurturing way and it allowed me just to be safe and comfortable to explore all sides of the scenes whenever we’re working,” she shared.

“She has so much energy and she’s just so sweet as well. At the end of the shoot, she brought in all these Filipino treats like bibingka and ube for everybody to eat and sugar up.

Journey to Down Under Millan’s family immigrated from the Philippines to Australia when she was only four years old. Her mother is from Pampanga while her father is from Cantilan, Surigao del Sur. They’re still based down under and Millan gets to go home and visit them once in a while.

“My mother, she’s the matriarch of the family.

She’s the first one that actually immigrated there and then brought her whole family, eight brothers, and sisters over to Australia and it was something very special to me, obviously with the show,” she shared. “I can relate a lot of my experiences, of the transitions that my family had, to the experiences that Fiona is having with her children as well.”

She admitted that she saw herself in the fights that her character Fiona had with her son Chris.

“I saw myself as Chris and I was like, ‘Oh my God, I was such a little brat.’ I know who he is and that was me. So I really empathize with my parents, I probably put them through hell growing up,” she said laughing.

Millan’s parents thought that her dream of becoming a performer was just going to be a phase especially since she was already accepted at the University of Sydney where she was going to take either business, law, or communications.

“And then I ended up doing English history, Greek mythology, and stuff. I needed to take a break and my mother was ‘Well, you can’t just go gallivanting around this joy courses’ and I said, ‘Okay, fine. I’m going to take a summer course in acting in LA’ so I actually took it and I loved it,” she shared.

When she visited some family in New York, she applied to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and got accepted.

“I guess they just kind of had to give up on their idea of what I was supposed to be, especially since I already started working and financially supporting myself doing what I love to

AWARDING THE TROPHY. Awarded by the President of A & E Golf Club to Mr. Jig De Guzman class A. Champion from the Birdie Buddies 3RD DISTRICT MEETING LIONS CLUB INTERNATIONAL. Headed by Gov. Nick Delicana, current Club on February 26, 2022 at Our District Gov. Bong Gracia and hosted by Central Region, headed by Region Chair Lion Dr. Bob Mother of Good Counsel Catholic Mungcal on March 12, 2022 at Our Mother of Good Counsel Catholic Church.

traditionally exclusively for men in the past. She also invited the support of the community to help in reminding overseas registered voters who are based in LA to cast their votes this coming Philippine national elections in May. Bienvenida Batayola, (Michigan) fondly called Ningning by her friends, who is co-chair of program and events, as the Emcee, greeted the virtual participants in multiple times zones with good morning in the Philippines , afternoon in California, and good evening in the East Coast where awardees and participants hailed. In jest, she mentioned about having taken their breakfast, lunch and dinner in anticipation of the extended length of the program ahead of them. She described in a methaphor that men are the head of the family; women are the neck that enables that head to turn in a desired direction.

Teresita Nones (Los Angeles) sang the Star Spangled banner while Juanita Pableo (Negros Occidental) did an acapela of Lupang Hinirang. Winnie Marie dela Rosa (Quezon City) recited the Invocation; Technical Director Rosito Go (Panorama City) serenaded the women with the song “(Woman I will Love you) Always” by Marco Sison; the Forever Young Senior dancers (Negros Occidental) and awardees(multiple cities) performed a dance number to the tune of “Iam every woman”; Eusebio “Bing” San Diego recited his Tagalog composition “Ilaw ng Tahanan, Bayani ng Lipunan” Cres Go(Panorama) board secretary and co-chair programs and events, sang Whitney Houston’s “Iam a Woman”; and a dance performance by Elizabeth Magtoto entertained the guests.

The awardees who gave their acceptance speech during the program from their respective places of residence, included: Emmylou Condon (Palos Verdes); Bessie Caynan (Glendale); Winnie Marie dela Rosa; Terestita Everdone (Caloocan); Erlinda Frilles (Santa Clarita); Mayra

Gena (LA); Leonisa Labang (Hollywood); Anizette Lingad (LA); Erna Marasigan (Rowland Heights); Elizabeth Mendoza (LA) Rosanna Munoz (LA); Francesca Naris (Pangasinan); Teresita Nones (LA); Juanita Pableo (San Carlos); Remedios Pascual (LA); Araceli Riparip (Pangasinan); Elizabeth San Diego (LA); Fides Scassellati (Greensburg, Pennsylvania); Valentine Siega (Michigan); Cecilia Tinapay (San Carlos).

The awardees who couldn’t make it: Agnes Agbas (General Santos City); Nerissa Betran (Manila); Myndy Pascual (LA); Marietta Regalado (LA); Carmen Royeca (GenSan); and Filomena Sinogaya (LA).

With Santos as the resource person, a workshop on the MOTHER Self Protection techniques was conducted as a prelude to the program, in the light of the upsetting Asian hate crimes in the US. She emphasized the need to develop confidence and eradicate fear to be able to have a presence of mind in the event of any imminent danger. Technical Director and Taichi master Rosito Go provided the basic self defense moves and explained the importance of knowing the vital weak points of the body, the different kinds of “strikes”, when and where to effectively execute a defensive strike, how to buy time, and to run-and-call for help, as defense strategi. Based on the principle that self defense is an instinct that nees to be developed, the mission of MOTHER is to empower everyone, especially the women and girls to be able todefend themselves in the event of an imminent danger.

Its vision is to advocate that intentionally inflicted crimes such as domestic violence, human trafficking, bullying, sexual harassment including rape, will be things of the past.

Requests for workshop, awareness, education and training or to participate in the daily virtual recreational activities including karaoke, dance, taichi, bingo ayuda, may be requested by calling 213 268 3222 or emailing mother-pearl@hotmail.com.

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 World-Las 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,

11

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 23, 2022

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.

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, 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 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, 805-559-2476 and 702538-4948 for more information. We have Dave McKeon (extreme left), who gives Fely updates on the Strip, with (from left) Realtor Quitevis-Bateman investors who buy houses in California and and her husband Russ.

Nevada for cash and quick escrow in as 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 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

community

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.

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.

Dr. Irene Taburnal (left), one of Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman’s closest friends, bought several parcels of land that she can flip now should she desire so.

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 23, 2022

Immigrant Living: 101 and BeMonette AdevA MAglAyA STORIES have the power and influence to touch the heart that a cut and dried essay or a report does not have. Somehow the lessons and insights we learn from stories have a longer shelf life. They stick.

Along the way, I have met many whose stories seem like the stuff of fiction. Other stories are cautionary and some are horrific. A lot of what I write are stories told to me. I view them from my personal lens and filter.

I listen quietly, file them away and sort things out. I fictionalize story elements to protect their privacy and some elements, for purposes of conciseness and flow. Like the deft fingers of a tapestry maker, I hope to weave the colorful threads together, conjure a composite character from different, engaging people I have met. Hopefully these series warm and lift the heart just a tad. For as long as we live, we all need a boost daily.

Elaine placed sunflowers on her husband’s gravesite and quietly said a prayer. She stood alone on a gentle slope on the windswept hill. It was getting chilly and Elaine instinctively wrapped her shawl tightly about her.

It was early evening in late spring and the sun was beginning to sink in the horizon.

She knew she would have to leave soon. The memorial park will soon be closing its gates to visitors. She caught sight of the roving guards in their vehicle at the corner of her eye.

She took one last look at her husband’s gravesite and got into her car and drove down the meandering road downhill to go home before dusk finally sets in.

She needed to prep her mind and body for her work tomorrow as quality control chief of semiconductor parts, just as she had done so, for the last two decades in the company that valued and kept her as a great worker.

Once upon a time series

Meet Elaine, The Rock “…Opposites do attract but likes stay together…”

Elaine was a woman of great substance. She was loyal to the bone in both her home and work life. She did the best she could in every situation emptying herself in the process. She honestly thought everybody did so and was just like her. Elaine never considered herself a rarity — which she was. Elaine just was that kind of person.

It has been 12 years since her husband Neil passed away after a long bout with lung cancer. When the end came, she went through the motions of climbing the wall of grief that comes with permanent separation.

Elaine didn’t know at the time if she could handle the sole responsibility of bringing up their two young children as the surviving parent and the sole breadwinner. To Neil’s credit, he had the foresight to buy life insurance that proved to be of great help in the interim.

For that one act alone, Elaine remains deeply grateful to Neil’s memory. His foresight and love for their family ran deep.

Neil wasn’t perfect — not by a long shot — but then she realized, neither was she. It was a struggle during the early years and the recurring friction would sometimes be unbearable.

They were a study in contrasts. “Opposites do attract but likes stay together,” her mother used to tell her as a teen-ager. But she was too young, too naïve and very much in love with Neil to understand.

She was stubborn and headstrong. When the going got tough, as it often did early in their marriage, she wished bitterly she had the humility and the emotional smarts to remember her mother’s words of wisdom.

She remembered how their marriage was rough going for a while and they came very close

to calling it quits quite a few times. Their marriage counselor and even her confessor priest advised her that it may be in their best interest to go their separate ways.

The advice fell on deaf ears.

There were these two children whose well-being depended on them. She had this stubborn streak that kept her going.

She persisted. She prayed on her knees. And in God’s perfect timing, her prayers were answered. She has no regrets over the choices she made, even if sometimes, she had the nagging feeling, she chose poorly. Others would say, stupidly.

There were happy times too when the laughter rang out and she chose to dwell on them.

Elaine imagined herself to be like a film editor retaining and splicing together the reels of fun and gaiety they had.

She still smiles broadly recalling their wedding, two normal childbirths, flying kites in the open fields and on the beaches when the children were growing and just countless fun times they shared and recorded in fading photographs and video clips.

And like the editor of her life, she chose to gloss over and edit out the ugly parts and leave them on the cutting room floor, swept in a bin and zapped away from memory. Poof. Gone.

Forgiven and Forgotten.

This is just how I cope and how I choose to remember my life and times, Elaine thought.

(Continued next week…) ***

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.

***

To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com

Do I have a community property interest in a house which my spouse acquired before our marriage? 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 Atty. Kenneth Marsden, the real property was UrsUA reyes purchased by the husband for $38,300 prior to the marriage.

GENERALLY, in California, The original mortgage was property acquired by a spouse $30,000. By the time the prior to marriage is considered husband got married, the separate property under family house was now worth $65,000 code section 770 while those while the mortgage has gone acquired after marriage are down by $7,000. Both the considered community assets appreciation of $26,700 and under family code section the mortgage reduction of 760. How do you characterize $7,000 would be separate real property purchased prior property since it occurred prior to marriage but with the to marriage. Marriage of mortgage principal paid down Marsden (1982) 130 CA3d 426, using community income or 181 CR 910. funds during the marriage?

During the marriage until The community in this situation the time of trial, the property acquires a pro tanto interest has appreciated another in the ratio that the payments $117,500 (property now on the purchase price made valued at $182,500) while with community funds bear the mortgage has further to the total payments on declined by $9,200 up to the the purchase price and any date of separation. The ratio appreciation should be at which community funds apportioned accordingly. paid down the mortgage Marriage of Moore (1980) ($9,200) during the marriage 28 C3d 366, 371, 373, 168 to the original purchase CR 662, 664, 665. Other price ($38,300) amounts to expenses associated with the 24.02%. This percentage of property are not considered the property appreciation in the calculation such as during the marriage of mortgage interest, taxes, $117,500 ($28,223.50) plus and insurance. In essence, the reduction in mortgage the real property would balance during the marriage accumulate both a separate ($9,200) would constitute the property and a community community component of property component by the real property. The rest the date of separation. The was the husband’s separate appropriate remedy in this property. The husband in that situation where separate case was awarded his separate property is subsequently property component of the paid with community funds is real property plus one half “apportionment.” of the community property The process of component. apportioning between the The Marsden separate and community apportionment method is also property component is laid out applicable to situations where in the Marriage of Marsden. In a community real property that case, the court determined is later transmuted into one the ratio or percentage in spouse’s separate property which the mortgage loan through execution of a quit principal was reduced during claim by the other spouse but the marriage and applied that is subsequently paid using percentage to the appreciation community funds. Marriage of the real property during of Broderick (1989) 209 CA3d the marriage. The community 489, 257 CR 397. In litigation, property component would the community interest in the

Barrister’s Corner

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.

(Advertising Supplement)

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 23, 2022

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 23, 2022