033022 - Southern California Midweek Edition

MARCH 30 - ARIL 1, 2022 Volume 32 - No. 25 • 12 Pages

BA.2 COVID variant now accounts for more DATELINE USA US, Philippines kick off than one third of new infections, says CDC largest war exercises FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

by SUNITA

CLOSE to 9,000 soldiers will take part in the "largest-ever" war games between the Philippines and the United States which opened Monday, March 28 in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. The exercises will take place across Luzon from March 28 to April 8.

The two-week military exercises, dubbed as Balikatan 2022, will focus on maritime security, amphibious operations, livefire training, urban operations, aviation operations, counterterrorism, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Lt. Gen. Andres Centino led the opening ceremony.

In his speech, Centino cited the importance of the war exercises "in light of the domestic landscapes as well as in the international environment." "In light of the volatile, uncertain and ambiguous nature of the security setting that we are faced and the fast-changing advancements in warfare, it has indeed been a shared responsibility to address our vulnerabilities and ensure that

SOHRABJI Ethnic Media Services

THE BA.2 variant of Omicron now accounts for 35 percent of new COVID infections in the U.S., and more than 50 percent in New York and New England.

But experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that cases overall will be less severe.

“As we’re learning from our colleagues in Europe, Asia and South Africa, the BA.2 has resulted in varied peaks of cases. But there is no evidence that the BA.2 variant results in more severe disease, nor does it appear to be more likely to evade immune protection,” said Dr. John Brooks, senior science adviser to the CDC’S COVID-19 Emergency Response team.

LOS Angeles County will start administering second booster doses of a COVID-19 vaccine to eligible adults following the United States Food and Drug Administration’s authorization this week.

Individuals 50 years and older will be eligible for another booster dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines at least four months after they received their first booster dose.

"Current evidence suggests some waning of protection over time against serious outcomes from COVID-19 in older and immunocompromised individuals. Based on an analysis of emerging data, a second booster dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine could help increase protection levels for these higherrisk individuals," said Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, in a news release.

"Additionally, the data show that an initial

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Marcos Jr. still hopeful of Duterte’s endorsement

by DAPHNE

GALVEZ Inquirer.net

 PAGE 2

Eligible LA County residents 50 and older can receive second booster shot

Brooks and Dr. Shannon Stokely, co-lead of the Vaccine Task Force at the CDC’S COVID-19 Emergency Response team, spoke March 25 at a news briefing organized by Ethnic Media Services, in collaboration with the CDC. Brooks cautioned that the BA.2 variant does have an increased rate of transmission in comparison

IT’S ON. Philippine and U.S. officials attend the opening of the Balikatan exercises on Monday, March 28. In photo are Philippine Navy MGen. Charlton Sean Gaerlan, PH Exercise Director Gen. Andres Centino, United States Charge d’ Affaires to the Philippines Heather Variava, Department of National Defense Undersecretary Cardozo Luna, U.S. Marines 3rd Division Commanding General Maj. Gen. Jay Bargeron and Armed Forces of the Philippines Deputy Chief of Staff for Education, Training and Doctrine Commodore Donn Anthony Miraflor during the opening ceremony of the Philippines-United States Exercise Balikatan 2022 at the AFP headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, on Monday.

ManilaTimes.net photo by John Orven Verdote

MANILA — Presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, March 29 said he is still counting on the endorsement of President Rodrigo Duterte despite the support he has obtained from the PDP-Laban faction led by the Chief Executive.

“Alam mo naman si President, he keeps us on our toes. I hope so, I hope so,” he said in a chance interview when asked if he expects Duterte’s support for his candidacy.

The PDP-Laban wing formed by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and backed by Duterte has earlier announced their endorsement of Marcos Jr. and the president’s daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio, who is running for vice president in tandem with the late strongman’s son.

But Duterte has yet to reveal his personal choice for the next president.

According to him, an ideal president should be a decisive, compassionate lawyer. Marcos Jr. is

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DFA: Nearly 400 Filipinos from Ukraine now in PH

by CHRISTIA

MARIE Inquirer.net

RAMOS

MANILA — Close to 400 Filipinos have been repatriated from Ukraine to the Philippines since conflict broke out following Russia’s invasion in late February.

So far, 394 Filipinos have been flown back to the Philippines, according to a repatriation update shared on Tuesday

by Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola online.

Among the latest batch of repatriates included 30 seafarers from Ukraine who arrived in the country in the last three days. Some of them arrived at the Clark

International Airport on Tuesday, Arriola said.

These seafarers manned the MV Ithaca Prospect, MV Filia Joy, and MV Nord Virgo. They arrived in the country via Bucharest, Romania. In total, 350 seafarers have already been repatriated, according to the DFA. Meanwhile, 40 other Filipinos have so far been evacuated from Ukraine to neighboring countries, it added.

It was on March 7 that the Philippine government ordered the mandatory evacuation of Filipinos from Ukraine, which Russia started to invade on February 24. At the time, only more than 30 Filipinos had returned to the Philippines. n

Ninoy Aquino International Airport

Philstar.com file photo

Philippine airport projects COVID-19 is third leading cause of death in 2021, says PSA face lingering pandemic risks  PAGE 3

by ZACARIAN

SARAO

Inquirer.net

MANILA — The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Tuesday, March 29 said that COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death in the Philippines in 2021.

The severe respiratory illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the PSA added, followed ischemic heart diseases and cerebrovascular diseases, which are ranked first and second, respectively, in the list.

PSA said 74,008 or 9.7 percent of all the recorded deaths from January to December 2021 were An airport worker disinfects boxes containing the 1.2 million doses of Pfizer vaccine that arrived at the NAIA Terminal 3 on Saturday, March 26.

PNA photo by Rico H. Borja due to COVID-19.

“Deaths due to COVID-19 virus identified were the third leading cause which accounted for 74,008 deaths (9.7% share), rising from rank 14 with 9,316 deaths (1.5% share) in the same period of 2020,” it noted in its report.

Among the country’s 17 regions, Calabarzon registered the highest number of COVID-19 deaths with 21,165 (20 percent) trailed by the National Capital Region (NCR) or Metro Manila with 20,924 (19.8 percent) and Central Luzon with 18,828 (17.8 percent).

ARMM, on the other hand, recorded the least number of

 PAGE 3

MANILA — Airport projects in the Philippines could face potential delays and even cancellations in the near-term as recovery of travel demand may take a while due to the lingering pandemic.

This could also be the case for other airport projects in Asia, which hosts over $220 billion worth of airport infrastructure projects based on data from Fitch Solutions released Tuesday. This is because many of these projects are still at pre-construction phase, Fitch Solutions explained, making them vulnerable to sudden changes that could be triggered by the pandemic.

Based on Fitch Solutions’ monitoring, the Philippines

accounts for a large share of airport projects in Asia at $33.9 billion. Of those airports in the pipeline, projects valued at $18.2 billion are still at “planning stage”, representing 69% of the total line-up.

Such risks have already materialized for some projects.

At the onset of the pandemic, the much-awaited rehabilitation of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the country’s premier gateway, was stalled after a group of tycoons that offered to take on the project backed out when the government rejected their proposed tweaks to the deal.

The so-called “NAIA Consortium”, which groups

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From the Front Page

BA.2 COVID variant now accounts...

PAGE 1 to the first variant of Omicron that arrived in the US last winter and caused peaks in infections throughout the country.

The CDC is watching closely the rise of infections in the Northeast to determine if there is also an uptick in the severity of the disease, said Brooks.

The agency has pivoted to monitoring potential increases in cases and transmission through its COVID-19 Wastewater surveillance system. Over the past two weeks, the CDC has seen increasing wastewater signals in New York City and parts of New England and a correlating increase in the number of new infections, as well as some increased hospitalizations, he reported.

The CDC is also looking at any changes in genomic surveillance that monitors for circulating variants.

“I would like to emphasize that if cases rise from the Omicron variant or for any other variant, we have the tools, we have vaccines, we have testing, and we have Therapeutics and we are prepared to react,” concluded Brooks.

Stokely noted that the US thus far has administered 159 million

doses of the available COVID vaccines, nearly three times the number administered during a typical flu season. The majority of vaccines distributed in the U.S. are the mRNA-based Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. “These vaccines have been proven safe and effective at preventing complications from COVID-19, including severe disease, hospitalization and death.”

Pivoting to the question on the minds of parents with young children, Stokely addressed the issue of when vaccines might become available for children under 5-years-old. She noted there are multiple manufacturers that are conducting clinical trials to assess the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine for very young children.

The results of the rigorous clinical trials must then be presented to the FDA for emergency use authorization before the vaccine can be administered to under-5s.

The trials will take into account the side effects of the vaccine in young children, including fatigue, soreness at the injection site, and myocarditis, a rare symptom for some young people.

“We are in a much stronger

position than we were two years ago with the tools we need, including vaccines and boosters, that are protecting people from hospitalization and death, said Stokely.

“If you are boosted, you are 21 times less likely to die from COVID-19. So the vaccination Remains the most effective and safest way to prevent COVID-19.

And I encourage everyone to remain up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations,” she said.

Brooks addressed the issue of global vaccine equity. Currently, less than 7 percent of the developing world has received a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“We live in one world, and we’re only as safe as a plane ride away,” he said, “So it’s important that we protect everyone in our world community.”

“Untreated COVID-19 infections are the source of new variants. People who are not vaccinated and become infected can become the source of new emerging variants,” added Brooks. “By preventing infection, we prevent the emergence of new variants, and reduce the threat of COVID worldwide.” g

Philippine airport projects face lingering...

PAGE 1

six conglomerates, said the proposed changes to their plan would make NAIA “bankable” and “viable” considering the pandemic’s impact on tourism.

Listed builder Megawide and its Indian partner offered to take over the project from the NAIA consortium, but their proposal was also turned down by regulators who were unimpressed with the duo’s financial capability.

The Duterte administration had said it would no longer entertain proposals from the private sector and that the government would rehabilitate NAIA on its own.

“That said, we caution downside risks towards the potential for delays in project time frames, or even suspensions and cancellations

over the near-term, due to the uncertainty amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the possibility of re-assessing business cases for some airport infrastructure developments,” Fitch Solutions said.

“Investment into airports may be shifted back or postponed as operators look to align investments with recovering passenger demand, which is likely only going to return to pre-pandemic levels post2025,” it added.

‘Bearish’ The Fitch unit said it was particularly “more bearish” on small-sized airport projects located in provinces, which have niche demand that is usually dependent on tourism or limited domestic travel.

“As recovery of the aviation sector is expected to take a

while, plans for these smaller projects, be it the construction of a new airport or the expansion of existing facilities, could be delayed in the shortterm,” it said.

Elsewhere in Asia, Fitch Solutions said airport projects in markets such as Papua New Guinea and Myanmar are at risk due to their political environment, opaque business environment and a lack of strong legal and financial institutions.

In contrast, Hong Kong has the most favourable airport pipeline profile. The completion of the construction of a third runway at Hong Kong International Airport in September 2021 is “a positive milestone in the expansion of Hong Kong's transport infrastructure,” the Fitch unit said. (Ian Nicolas Cigaral/Philstar.com)

BANTAYOG NG BAYANI. American troops take photos of the “Bantayog ng Bayani” (Heroes Memorial) after the opening ceremony of the Balikatan 2022 at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Monday, March 28. The Bantayog ng Bayani is dedicated to all soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defending the country.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

US, Philippines kick off largest war...

PAGE 1 both our armed forces are able to promptly and effectively respond to any crisis or emergency under all circumstances," Centino said.

"The Balikatan exercise truly embodies the friendship and alliance between our two countries, after all Balikatan from the Filipino word balikat means shoulder to shoulder, thus as we continuously shoulder to shoulder this exercise shall certainly strengthen the interoperability of both of our armed forces for mutual defense, humanitarian assistance and disaster response and decisively contribute to the peace and stability of the IndoPacific region," he added.

Of the total number of troops, 3,800 are from the Philippines while 5,100 are from the United States. "I urge all the Filipino and American soldiers who are taking part in this year's Balikatan exercise to embody professionalism, excellence and camaraderie as we maximize the opportunities offered to us in these events. Please take advantage of this exercise to learn from each other, foster teamwork and improve all your individual proficiencies. I am confident that both of our armed forces shall reap immense benefits from this exercise as we continue to pursue our shared goals of regional peace,

ALLIES. Maj. Gen. Charlton Sean Gaerlan (2nd from left), exercise director of the Balikatan 2022 for the Philippines, and his US counterpart Maj. Gen. Jay Bargeron (center) lead the unfurling of the Balikatan flag at the start of the annual joint military exercises in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Monday, March 28. This year's exercise will run until April 8.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

security and stability," Centino said.

US Embassy to Manila Chargé d'Affaires ad interim Heather Variava said this year's Balikatan also includes a command post exercise that tests the AFP and US forces' ability to plan, command and communicate with each other in a simulated environment. The AFP and US military will also conduct multiple humanitarian and civic assistance projects, including the renovation of four elementary schools, multiple community health engagements and the exchange of advanced emergency rescue and lifesaving techniques.

These construction projects, health engagements and

community relations events improve local infrastructure, facilitate the exchange of lifesaving medical skills and strengthen ties between Philippine communities and Philippine and American military forces.

"Our enduring alliance and deep bilateral military cooperation that we have built over the past seven decades and longer plays a key role in sustaining peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region... to reaffirm our commitment to even more robust ties and to our relationship that remains highly relevant as the world faces new and continuing challenges," she said. (Francis Earl Cueto / ManilaTimes.net)

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USS Abraham Lincoln arrives in Manila with proud Fil-Am sailors

PASSENGERS QUEUE. Southbound passengers' long queue from the footbridge on EDSA Congressional Avenue up to the Roosevelt Station, EDSA-Carousel bus station in Quezon City on Monday, March 28. Public utility vehicle drivers, operators, and commuters will soon be able to enjoy the benefits of the government’s Service Contracting Program once the Commission on Elections exempts the program’s disbursement during the 2022 election season.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Eligible LA County residents 50 and older can...

PAGE 1 booster dose is critical in helping to protect all adults from the potentially severe outcomes of COVID-19. So, those who have not received their initial booster dose are strongly encouraged to do so."

LA County Department of Public Health vaccination sites will start administering the doses to eligible residents starting Wednesday, March 30.

The sites include Obregon Park (East Los Angeles), Ted Watkins Park (South Los Angeles), Balboa Sports Complex (Encino), Commerce Senior Citizens Center (Commerce), Market Street Center (Santa Clarita), Palmdale Oasis Recreation Center (Palmdale), and the Norwalk Arts and Sports Complex (Norwalk).

Visit VaccinateLACounty.com for more information.

Eligible residents can also

check with other vaccination sites about the availability of the second booster dose.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) likewise updated its recommendation to allow certain immunocompromised individuals and people over the age of 50 to receive their second booster shot.

Further, based on newly published data, adults who received a primary vaccine and booster dose of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine at least four months ago may now receive a second booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

"Boosters are safe, and people over the age of 50 can now get an additional booster 4 months after their prior dose to increase their protection further. This is especially important for those

65 and older and those 50 and older with underlying medical conditions that increase their risk for severe disease from COVID-19 as they are the most likely to benefit from receiving an additional booster dose at this time. CDC, in collaboration with FDA and our public health partners, will continue to evaluate the need for additional booster doses for all Americans,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in the statement.

As of Tuesday, March 29, Public Health released the latest data on COVID-19: 541 New COVID-19 cases (2,831,655 cases to date); seven new deaths due to COVID-19 (31,626 deaths to date); 321 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19; more than 11,675,000 individuals tested; and 22% of people tested positive to date.

(AJPress)

COVID-19 is third leading cause of death...

PAGE 1

COVID-19 deaths with 162.

“In NCR, Quezon City reported the highest number of deaths due to COVID-19, with 4,660 deaths or 22.3 percent of the total COVID-19 deaths in the region from January to December 2021,” PSA said.

“This was followed by the City of Manila and City of Pasig with 2,976 (14.2%) and 2,075 (9.9%) COVID-19 deaths, respectively,” it added.

The PSA data showed that

ischemic heart diseases were the leading cause of death in the country last year with 136,575 (17.8 percent), higher by 29.7 percent from the 105,821 (17.1 percent) deaths it caused in the same period in 2020. Ischemic heart diseases are more commonly known as coronary heart disease (CHD).

Cerebrovascular diseases came in second place as they caused the passing of 74,262 people (9.7 percent) in 2021.

This was 15.3 percent higher

MANILA — The United States Navy continues to foster its ties with the Philippines and its other allies by conducting military exercises, showing off jointcapabilities with the arrival of USS Abraham Lincoln that’s manned by several Filipino American sailors.

“Our commitment to allies and partners and friends has never been more important to this region than right now,” Rear Adm Jeffrey T. Anderson said on Thursday, March 24.

Select representatives of the media were brought to the aircraft carrier that was in the middle of the West Philippine Sea via a CMV-22 Osprey last week.

Among USS Abraham Lincoln’s 5,000 crew members are Filipinos, some of whom have not been home in years.

“Ang total mission ng barko is makapag-launch ng mga eroplano kung kailangan. Kada isa sa amin may role kami dun sa sa big, overall picture ng condition na makapag-launch siya ng eroplano,” Logistics Specialist Senior Chief Petty Officer Rommel Pasive said.

(The ship’s total mission is to launch aircraft when needed.

We each have a role in the big, overall picture of having it conditioned to be able to launch an aircraft.)

Filipino crew members will be given a chance to take a quick break while in the Philippines, with some of the sailors expressing excitement to spend time with their friends and family.

They said sailors on board are often busy with the tasks assigned to them, but FilipinoAmerican sailors said they find time to bond with one another when sharing meals or by having small get-togethers.

The Fil-Am crew said they were able to create a community that feels like

than the 64,381 deaths it caused in the same period the year before when it was ranked third.

The fourth leading cause of death last year was neoplasms or “cancer” with 54,853 while diabetes mellitus was ranked fifth with 44,491 deaths.

Other diseases in the Top 10 causes of death in 2021 PAGE 1 were hypertensive diseases, pneumonia, COVID-19 virus not not a lawyer and Duterte has identified, other heart diseases, previously said that Marcos Jr. and chronic lower respiratory is a “weak leader.”

According to Duterte’s longdiseases, according to the PSA. g

home. Petty Officer 2nd Class Danmichael Canta said: “Kulang lang talaga is ‘yung lutong bahay.” (The only thing missing is homemade food.)

Around 80 aircraft onboard The ship is the United States’ fifth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. It can accommodate around 80 aircraft, which can be deployed both day and night and in all types of conditions.

This is not her first time in the Philippines. USS Abraham Lincoln’s first deployment was in the region, executing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief when Mt. Pinatubo exploded in 1991.

Last week, USS Abraham Lincoln Commanding Officer Capt Amy Bauernschmidt said it can do “pretty much anything that [it is] tasked to do by [its] government.”

The crew went through a “rigorous nine-month training cycle” before the ship departed its home port in San Diego earlier this year, January 3. USS Abraham Lincoln has traveled over 24,000 miles and performed 15 replenishments at sea since.

“Since leaving San Diego, we’ve executed about 5,192 hours of flight operations, watching and recovering aircraft both day and night everywhere from San Diego over to the South China Sea,” Bauernschmidt said.

The crew also went through carrier interoperability exercises as well as double fusion and jungle warfare while at the West Philippine Sea. “We are here to help build interoperability, capacity, and capability throughout the region with both our allies as well as our partners in order to provide reassurance as well as to deter our adversaries and should deterrence fail, we’re here to fight and win,”

Anderson said.

Filipinos on board said they are trying to do their best to fulfill their mission, hoping to best represent the country even while they are away from home.

“Ang mindset ko ay kung ano po ang misyon ang pinapagawa po nila sa amin, nandito po kami para gawin iyon. So as a parang representative ng mga Pilipino, gagawin po namin ang aming makakaya para ma-fulfill ang aming mission,” Romero said.

(I put on the mindset that whatever the mission they are asking us to do, we are here to do it. So as a somewhat representative of the Filipino people, we will do our best to fulfill our mission.)

Meanwhile, the Philippines and the United States are set to begin the largest joint military drills in the country this week. War games are expected to last 12 days near the Luzon islands.

Exercises include maritime security, live-fire training, counterterrorism, as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

“This year’s way more robust, it’s somewhere on the order of over 5,000 U.S. service members and somewhere on the order of over 3,500 Philippine service members, so a lot more robust exercises than it has been in the past,” Anderson said.

“I think it underscores those strong military-to-military ties that we possess between the United States joint force and the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he added.

Anderson said they did not need to shift the ship’s operations or exercises due to the pandemic. Its strike group is 100% vaccinated, while a vast majority of their service members have received their booster shots. (Philstar.com)

Marcos Jr. still hopeful of Duterte’s... time assistant Senator Bong Go, the President met with Marcos Jr. a few days before the PDP-Laban faction openly endorsed his candidacy.

Go said the two had a “productive” meeting, where Duterte shared his experiences and even gave advice on being president. g

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Duterte’s birthday wish: Clean, BBM: Boost US ties amid ‘new world order’ fair, honest 2022 elections

by Zacarian

Sarao

Inquirer.net

MANILA — All President Rodrigo Duterte wants for his birthday is a “clean, fair, and honest” election in the May 9 polls, said the Malacañang on Sunday, March 27.

“We join all our countrymen in wishing our beloved President Rodrigo Roa Duterte

a happy 77th birthday on March 28,” Acting Presidential Spokesperson Martin Andanar said in a statement.

Andanar said Duterte will hold only a simple and quiet birthday celebration in Davao City.

“His birthday wish for this year is to have a clean, fair, and honest election in May 2022, as he has time and again

underscored the importance of a peaceful transfer of power as part of his enduring legacy,” said Andanar.

He then expressed gratitude to the President for “inspiring” other government officials and wished him good health so that he may continue “serving the interest of and bringing betterment to the lives of Filipinos.” g

Starfleet Innotech partners with startup Luyten to enter $19-M global 3D printing construction market STARFLEET Innotech, Inc. announced a new strategic partnership with Australiabased 3D concrete printing startup Luyten.

The exclusive agreement will see Luyten’s revolutionary construction technologies utilized across SFIO’s real estate projects in the Philippines, towards the conglomerate’s goal of building a more sustainable, equitable future for community living.

As SFIO continues growing its portfolio of development projects through its real estate division, led by premiere wellness tourism brand Moraya, Luyten will play a pivotal role in championing Moraya’s mission of wellness through purposeful innovations.

According to Grand View Research, the global 3D printing construction market is estimated at roughly $19 million and is expected to reach almost $5 billion by 2030. Using their own 3D printing devices and proprietary mixtures, Luyten is able to complete construction projects with 60% less waste, 70% less production time, and at only 20% of the labor costs of traditional means. According to the startup, walls for a two-bedroom home can be printed in as little as two days. Optimized for quick deployment, Luyten’s devices can be mobilized and operational in hours, as opposed to the multiple days it takes to set up traditional machinery. Through their robotic systems, Luyten can remotely control their machinery from anywhere in the world. These innovations translate to more productive, and therefore more cost-effective, construction

periods.

Over the next few years, Luyten will be providing the machinery and materials needed to augment SFIO’s real estate developments— an exclusive arrangement in the Philippines, where a majority of the Moraya developments will be placed. Under this agreement, SFIO will have exclusive distribution rights to Luyten’s devices in the Philippines and projects to sell at least fifty units of 3D concrete printing machinery to other developers and organizations over the next 12 months, following regulatory approvals.

“Our partnership with Luyten stems from our commitment to invest in the futures of the industries we operate in,” said Starfleet Innotech CEO Jeths Lacson. “Joining Moraya’s divisional ecosystem, Luyten will play a key role as an enabler for our various real estate initiatives. Their affordable, sustainable offerings will allow us to build exciting projects that champion both the new communities we hope to build, as well as the existing communities we hope to serve.”

In addition to augmenting Moraya’s current township developments, this partnership will see up to 500 low cost housing units constructed across the Philippines over the next two years. Through this exclusive agreement in the Philippines, SFIO will also be able to distribute Luyten’s machinery to local government units and nonprofit organizations seeking more affordable means to build quality, resilient homes.

(Advertising Supplement)

THE Philippines needs to strengthen its alliances and partnerships with the United States amid a looming "new world order" following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Saturday, March 26.

During the SMNI Presidential Candidates' interview on Saturday, Marcos believed that the Philippines should honor its Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the U.S. if the situation warranted it.

The MDT, signed between the two nations in 1951, calls for both nations to come to each other's defense in case of an armed attack.

"We have a very special relationship with the United States, and it is something that we have had developed over a hundred years, starting from being a colony to a very strong partner here, especially in this part of the world in the region.

That, I think, has been a good thing for both countries, both for the United States and for the Philippines. I think we can still depend on that," Marcos said.

In geopolitics today, Marcos said that "we are lucky because we are important strategically, we are unlucky because we are important geopolitically, and we become a bit of a hot potato when it comes to that."

"So, we definitely have to consider what is best for the Philippines and how do we achieve that, with our existing partnerships, alliances, as they stand now with what will be a new world order. Will it be a very big change, will it be a small, slight change, will it be a big change for Russia or a small change for everybody else — there are many moving parts to this thing and it's not something that is easily definable," he said.

"But I think once the peace agreement is made [between Russia and Ukraine], we will study it very, very closely and we will ask our very best experts to determine what is the effect on other countries," Marcos said.

Cut diplomatic ties with China Presidential candidate Dr.

Jose Montemayor Jr. shared Marcos' view, saying the Philippines should honor its MDT and the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with its "friend" the U.S. He stressed, however, on the need to establish alliances with other countries.

He vowed to personally "shoot point blank" any foreign encroachers in Philippine waters.

When asked about his stand on the West Philippine Sea and China's repeated incursions, Montemayor said he was willing to cut diplomatic ties with the communist country but added that it would only be for "six months."

Policy of negotiation While Leodegario "Ka Leody" de Guzman shares a similar view with Montemayor in dealing with China, his solution isn't as drastic.

When asked the same question, de Guzman said negotiations with China would only be possible after it has withdrawn its claims to the West Philippine Sea. "[China] should first withdraw its claims to the West Philippine Sea. After it has pulled back, that's the time that we should agree to sit down and talk about mutually beneficial things," said de Guzman.

"It's hard to negotiate when you have a gun pointed at you," he added.

De Guzman said this can also be the same approach that he will follow when negotiating with two other world powers — Russia and the U.S. "Our policy in Russia can be the same: you withdraw from Ukraine first then let's talk about what you want from us and what return the Philippines can get from you. Still, both should be mutually beneficial," he said.

In contrast with Marcos, de Guzman said the country should "sever its military agreements with America before negotiating with them."

He said he was not "comfortable" with the Philippine-U.S. MDT and the joint military training being undertaken "because it's provocative in the current relations between America

and China. It can only further inflame the situation."

He said as president he will move to repeal the defense treaty with the U.S. using the people's initiative if this won't be approved by Congress.

The labor leader also said it was only right to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine but

u PAGE 7

LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (LACMTA) REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL LACMTA will receive Proposals for RFP No. PS84743 - ESFV Rail Maintenance & Storage Facility Solar &Energy Storage System P3 at the 9th Floor Receptionist Desk, Vendor/Contract Management Department, One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

A Pre-Proposal conference will be held on Monday, April 4, 2022, 10:00 a.m. Please e-mail the Contract Administrator at lopezlil@metro.net to register and receive access information for the Pre-Proposal Conference.

Request for registration should be submitted by close of business, March 31, 2022.

All Proposals must be submitted to LACMTA, and be filed at the reception desk, 9th floor, V/CM Department, on or before 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Monday, May 9, 2022.

Proposals received after the above date and time may be rejected and returned unopened. Each proposal must be sealed and marked Proposal No. PS84743.

For a copy of the Proposal/ Bid specification visit our Solicitation Page on our Vendor Portal at https://business.metro. net or for further information email Lily Lopez at lopezlil@ metro.net.

3/30/22 CNS-3570290# ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)

6 MARCH 30 - APRIL 1, 2022 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL

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

OPiniOn

FeatURes

Going to waste

AS BA.2, the more infectious “stealth” subvariant of the Omicron strain spreads in the United States, reports on Monday, March 28 said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration would approve a second booster or fourth dose of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID vaccines to ages 50 and older.

Israel, which began administering a second booster of the Pfizer vaccine early this year to ages 60 and above, reported over the weekend that the additional dose lowered the mortality rate in that vulnerable group by 78 percent. The report was based on a 40-day study among more than half a million people aged 60 to 100, conducted by Israel’s largest healthcare provider.

Last month, the United Kingdom also offered a second booster to ages 75 and above as well as anyone from age 12 up who is immunocompromised.

In the Philippines, the government wants people aged 60 and older as well as the immune suppressed and those with other serious health problems to get their booster shots against COVID. As of mid-March, however, only 13 percent of the targeted segment had received boosters. Even in Metro Manila, which has the highest COVID vaccination rate, the booster uptake is only 30 percent.

Scientists have said immunity to COVID

provided by vaccines wanes after a few months, and recommend a booster four months after the second primary dose. The additional protection is important as the stealth Omicron spreads in parts of Europe, the U.S., Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland.

On Monday, Shanghai began its most extensive lockdown since the start of the pandemic to contain a COVID outbreak.

The World Health Organization has repeatedly warned that the COVID threat is far from over, and might yet be entering a deadlier phase as restrictions are eased too quickly and vaccinations fall. The WHO warning is not being heeded in the Philippines, where the sight of large political gatherings for the election campaign is giving people the impression that the pandemic is over.

While the stealth Omicron threatens to push up cases again in the Philippines, pandemic response officials are lamenting that COVID vaccines available for boosters are set to expire by June. The country is buried up to its neck in debt to finance the pandemic response, particularly

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

for the procurement of vaccines. Every dose is precious and cannot be wasted, especially since there are still millions of Filipinos who have not received even their primary dose. The national and

local governments must not be distracted by the upcoming elections in carrying out the vaccination program. Otherwise, the country could face a renewed COVID surge. (Philstar.com)

If we want Leni Robredo’s ‘Gobyernong Tapat’ to succeed, we need to vote for Kiko Pangilinan as her vice president

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS THE Philippine election is less than six weeks away. The momentum has been shifting to the Leni-Kiko campaign as evidenced by the jam-packed political rallies in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, the growing number of endorsements that Vice President Leni Robredo gets from former government officials, military leaders, universities and colleges, businesses and business analysts, nongovernment organizations, and even more from sitting local officials in the towns, cities and provinces. However, there has been online buzz about pushing for an all-women power tandem with Leni Robredo-Sara Duterte Carpio. Sara is the incumbent mayor of Davao City, the daughter of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, sister of Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, preceded by the father, and succeeded by her other brother, Sebastian Duterte.

Fellow Filipinos: if we are truly sick and tired of chronic corruption in the Philippines, if we are truly done with family dynasties that perpetuate the cycles of corruption from generation to generation, if we are truly serious and committed to finally fighting for and getting the honest, clean, good government that we deserve, then we need to vote not only for Leni Robredo for president, but also for her chosen and trusted

public servant to be her vice president, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan.

This is one of the biggest and most consequential differences between the United States and the Philippines’ way of electing the top two positions of the Executive Office.

Here in the United States, we are voting for a ticket — a team.

A vote for the president is also a vote for the running mate for vice president.

According to the White House website: “The primary responsibility of the Vice President of the United States is to be ready at a moment’s notice to assume the Presidency if the President is unable to perform his or her duties.

This can be because of the President’s death, resignation, or temporary incapacitation, or if the Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet judge that the President is no longer able to discharge the duties of the presidency.”

“The Vice President also serves as the President of the United States Senate, where he or she casts the deciding vote in the case of a tie. Except in the case of tie-breaking votes, the Vice President rarely actually presides over the Senate,” WhiteHouse.gov added.

The U.S. president also has the prerogative to assign a special role or mission to the VP to help fulfill their campaign promises to the people.

WHY does the U.S. vote for

the President-VP as a team? Let us focus on the most important function/role of the VP that is true for both the U.S. and Philippine government: The VP is the second highest and second most powerful position in government, especially, God forbid, something happens to the president, the VP will take over as president.

Because the president and the VP are a team, then they share the same values and philosophy in governing, the same vision, platform and programs so that whatever happens to the president, the American people who have given them the mandate to govern will continue to fulfill the campaign promises the American people voted them for in the election.

Unfortunately, we do not vote the same way for our president and VP in the Philippines.

Sadly, too, we vote based on personality, instead of vision and ideology and programs.

This is exactly why it is so easy for parties to merge, collapse, be renamed, and for candidates to jump from one party to another. It is a batabata type of Padrino politics. It is driven by political expediency and survival based on who is more popular with name recall, including those who capitalize on the surname or family brand.

Think about this: Public officials earn meager salaries and yet most of them live questionable lavish lifestyle.

Why? There is money in politics, suggested by no less than the ousted dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos, shared on video “The Kingmaker” by Sandro Marcos, son of Presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos.

This is also why traditional politics and family dynasties are perpetuated, and those in power do not want to touch it because almost all of them benefit from this corrupt system. They already have their “people” in the corrupt system, they have protectors in the complicated labyrinth of those who serve not the people they vow to serve but their own personal interests — and they all benefit from it and would fight hard and break rules just to perpetuate the status quo.

You know how family dynasties work. They have been there for the longest time — generations after generations, doing the dizzying merry-goround and musical chairs of positions they hold, keeping power within the family in both the national and local levels.

Why? Because they are fully invested and reaping much return in this game of politics.

Perhaps most of them started with good intentions, but many of them end up being eaten up by the cancer of corruption in government because of the power vested upon them by the positions in government they hold.

That is the daunting part of Philippine political reality.

However, let us remember that there have been times in our political history when the people decisively chose to elect a new kind of politician — those who live up to their role as true public servants. On the local level, we have the likes of Vico Sotto of Pasig who has unseated the Eusebios.

The same is now true in our national election.

This is what this PINK wave is all about. It is Leni bringing forth to public attention that we still have people like her and her chosen VP Francis Pangilinan who have proven to be true and genuine public servants with proven integrity and excellence through their years in public service.

Leni and Kiko never compromised the honor and dignity of the position entrusted to them by the voters in exchange for money, power and political survival. This is why they are able to give hope to people that this time things can really change for the better. This is why they are able to inspire volunteerism and service because of their own leadership by example.

Because they bring out the best in people as they work toward a common goal.

Think about the importance of the choice of VP and how that may impact our collective aspiration to finally have a

good and honest government that will truly serve the Filipino people, work in the best interest of our people, be transparent and accountable to us, protect and defend the Constitution and abide by the rule of law, and end corruption that has been plaguing our government bureaucracy from top to bottom to the detriment of the quality of life of the Filipino people.

Do not let any Trapo or member of a family dynasty like Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte Carpio corrupt this one chance we have in this generation because they will always be who they are.

Kiko Pangilinan is the only worthy VP to work with Leni Robredo to make #GobyernongTapat a reality, come what may. *** 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

Masking up helps, but getting vaccinated critical to keeping kids safe Commentary DR. JAY YEH

MEDICAL DIRECTOR, PEDIATRIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY LABORATORY, UC DAVIS HEALTH WHETHER or not kids should wear masks in school remains a heated topic with strong opinions on both sides. Adding to this conversation is the state’s latest masking guidance, which went into effect on March 12. Schools are no longer required to enforce a mask mandate and instead are maintaining masking as a strong recommendation to keep students, teachers and school staff safe. Some school districts have even chosen to continue to keep mask requirements in place, and masks continue to be

mandatory in certain high-risk settings like healthcare facilities and public transit.

Despite the latest guidelines and varying views, many families are choosing to continue to mask up to protect themselves against COVID-19.

While masking remains a key tool in protecting ourselves and our families against this deadly virus, as a doctor and parent myself, I think the big question to consider is: Have you and your kids been vaccinated yet?

The reality is, getting vaccinated offers the safest protection against contracting COVID-19. Children 5+ are eligible for vaccination, so if you have not yet done so, I strongly urge you to get your kids vaccinated today. And if they are 12+, make sure they get their booster when eligible.

Vaccines are overwhelmingly safe thanks to the rigorous safety trials that included people of different genders, ethnicities, ages and pre-existing conditions, as well as the ongoing efforts to monitor safety as millions of people receive the vaccine.

The pandemic is still here, and real-world evidence continues to show that the vaccine is preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death.

In fact, based on the latest data collected March 3, 2022, unvaccinated Californians are 17 times more likely to die and nearly nine times more likely to be hospitalized from COVID-19 than fully vaccinated and boosted Californians.

Generally, children may have lower rates of COVID-19 and are less likely to spread the virus than adults, but it is still

possible for children to become severely ill and experience serious complications from the coronavirus. It’s simply not worth the risk. Children eligible for the vaccine should get vaccinated as soon as possible to significantly reduce their risk of becoming sick or spreading the virus to someone else, including younger children or older relatives in the home.

If your children are vaccinated and you feel better keeping them masked up, follow your instincts and know that you are not alone. As a health expert, I strongly recommend keeping kids masked up if they feel comfortable doing so. Masking in schools has been a successful strategy to keeping schools open and our kids in the classroom for a better learning environment.

It’s worth noting that California

represents only 1 percent of the nation’s school closures despite educating 12 percent of the nation’s students.

Safe in-person instruction is essential, particularly for vulnerable populations. It is important to take the necessary steps to ensure that there is low risk of catching COVID-19 in school for students and staff alike. We must remain vigilant and prepared to adjust with conditions of the virus. If transmissions increase again, be prepared for schools to follow public health guidance around COVID-19 mitigation efforts including testing.

We may be in a new phase of the pandemic, but COVID-19 remains a threat. Schedule a vaccination or booster appointment today at Myturn. ca.gov or by calling 833-422-

4255. Support is available in over 250 languages via the state’s vaccination hotline.

Take precautions to protect yourself against COVID-19 and keep your family, friends and community safe and healthy.

Together, we will end the pandemic. *** 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.

••• Dr. Yeh is a board-certified pediatric cardiologist with advanced training in echocardiography. He specializes in diagnosis and treatment of congenital and acquired heart disease. He cares for a wide spectrum of patients ranging from newborns to adults with congenital heart disease. He has special clinical interest in pre-operative and postoperative care for congenital heart defects.

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

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Dateline PhiliPPines

SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 30 - APRIL 1, 2022

7

Human rights coalition wants sanctions for Duterte, other Philippine officials MANILA — A coalition of rights groups launched Tuesday, March 29 a campaign to urge foreign governments to impose sanctions on President Rodrigo Duterte and other Philippine officials for allegedly violating human rights.

The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines said in a statement that it will be working with the national governments of Australia, Canada, the U.S., the UK and the European Union for the imposition of Magnitsky sanctions on Philippine officials.

“In the absence so far of genuine accountability for these crimes through international mechanisms, such as the International Criminal Court and the UN Human Rights Council, ICHRP is launching a global campaign under national Magnitsky Acts to hold those responsible accountable for these widely documented crimes,” it said.

Countries that have Magnitsky laws may impose punishment, ranging from travel bans to financial sanctions, on foreign nationals responsible for human

rights violations or corruption in a foreign country.

The U.S. was the first to enact a Magnitsky law in 2012, three years after Sergei Magnitsky, a tax advisor who exposed corruption among Russian government officials, died while in prison.

Aside from Duterte, the coalition is calling for sanctions on Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, both of whom ICHRP described as “architects of the war on drugs and campaign of state terror.”

When he was Philippine National Police chief, Dela Rosa spearheaded the anti-illegal drugs campaign called “Oplan Tokhang,” which led to the deaths of thousands of drug suspects.

ICHRP also wants foreign governments to impose sanctions on leaders of the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, including Gen. Debold Sinas, Gen. Jose Faustino Jr., Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana and Interior Sec. Eduardo Año.

Likewise, the ICHRP wants Sen. Bong Go, former

presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Judge Cecilyn BurgosVillavert and Lorraine Badoy sanctioned for being “part of the infrastructure of terror in the Duterte administration and participated in the public orchestration of alleged state repression.”

“In the absence of justice, in the absence of domestic and international accountability, the proposed Magnitsky measures would afford some level of justice for those guilty of these heinous crimes,” former Australian Sen. Lee Rhiannon said.

In 2019, the U.S. enacted an entry ban on foreign government officials involved in the “wrongful imprisonment” of opposition Sen. Leila de Lima, who has been behind bars for five years over drug charges she said are trumped up.

POLL VIOLATORS. Several campaign posters and tarpaulins are displayed on a part of a bridge on Almaciga Street in Project 2, Quezon But for these sanctions to be City on Tuesday, March 29. Placing campaign materials on electrical posts and wires is prohibited as the Commission on Elections has implemented, the U.S. State designated areas for such purposes.

PNA photo by Rico H. Borja Secretary, who was Mike Pompeo at the time, had to come out with a list of people who would be targeted by the ban.

It is not known if Pompeo or PAGE 5 This comes after a French diplomatic pillars aside from his successor, Antony Blinken, court in March has ordered trade and tourism. the U.S. and the North Atlantic has done this. (Xave Gregorio/ Malaysia to pay the heirs of "Ang pwede nating gawin Alliance should not intervene.

Philstar.com) "We should tell [the] U.S. and the Sultan of Sulu around kasi.... imaximize natin 'yung NATO (North Atlantic Treaty $14.92 billion as claims for the entertainment, 'yung ating movie industry.... Pwedeng Organization) not to intervene annexation of Sabah.

"Atin po 'yun, dahil po sa magkaroon tayo ng tweaking and provide arms to Ukraine," relasyon natin sa Sultan of and streamlining (What we he said.

De Guzman, however, said Sulu at 'yung kanilang claims, can do is to maximize our for in the senatorial election. our movie Legarda also topped the Ukraine should have chosen so ang utos ko po d'yan is.... entertainment, awareness rating among the to be independent when it ituloy natin ang diplomatikong industry; we can tweak and candidates with 99 percent broke away from Russia and paguusap para makita natin streamline it), " he added.

A first world country along with Villar, Escudero, to not join NATO, which was a mamaximize 'yung claims natin sa lugar na 'yun (That is ours Former Defense secretary Tulfo, Cayetano, Ejercito, Binay "provocative" move.

Gonzales on Nevertheless, de Guzman because of our relations with the Norberto and Estrada.

Pulse disowns survey results said he approves of opening Sultan of Sulu and their claims, Saturday said he wanted the Meanwhile, polling firm up the Philippines for refugees so what I will push is to continue Philippines to be a first world the diplomatic discussions where country and believes that Pulse Asia disowned last night from Ukraine.

De Guzman identified we can maximize our claims in "a government model that the results of a presidential is comparable to France's, preference survey reportedly his foreign policy stance as that area)," Abella said.

He also said that he was open which is a combination conducted from March 10 to 15. "internationalist," which means presidential and “We have received numerous "my foreign policy focuses on to revisit the current Baselines of queries about alleged Pulse peace and cooperation with Law, or Republic Act 9522, parliamentary, but based on which includes Sabah as part of what the people desire" can Asia survey results being foreign countries."

Philippine territory by historic help achieve that target.

PH owns Sabah circulated on social media and Gonzales also said that Meanwhile, presidential right or dominion. through instant messaging "We need to revisit it, if there education plays a big part in Ernesto Abella applications. These survey candidate results are not ours,” the firm reiterated that the Philippines is anything where we need to attaining first world status.

"All students should receive owns Sabah but wants to insist on. We need to know what said in a statement.

“Our organization releases have discussions with the is ours and what is not ours. the same level of education, our survey results only through stakeholders, including the We need to revisit the claim," whether they are in a private or said the former spokesman for public school. And my advice the Pulse Asia Research citizens of the island itself. is to aspire for excellence," Abella was responding to a President Rodrigo Duterte. website,” it added.

Abella said he was also open Gonzales said. (Franco Jose C. The latest presidential question on whether he was preference survey by Pulse Asia willing to pursue the country's to restructuring the country's Baroña , Moises Cruz , Christian was conducted from Feb. 18 to 23. claim to the island which is foreign posts and adding Crow Maghanoy , Red Mendoza cultural diplomacy as one of its /ManilaTimes.net) currently part of Malaysia.

It was released on March 14. g

Legarda tops OCTA survey; Pulse disowns poll

by Edu

Punay Philstar.com

MANILA — Former senator Loren Legarda topped the latest senatorial preference survey

by OCTA Research Group with about 40 days left before the May 9 elections.

Legarda was the choice of 69 percent of respondents nationwide in the survey conducted from March 5 to 10. She was followed by former public works secretary Mark Villar with 66 percent.

Reelectionist Sen. Migz Zubiri was third placer with 65 percent, Chiz Escudero in fourth place with 63 percent, broadcaster Raffy Tulfo in fifth place with 62 percent and former speaker and senator Alan Peter Cayetano in sixth place with 55 percent.

The other six senatorial candidates who made it to the winning circle of the OCTA survey are JV Ejercito and actor Robin Padilla tied in

seventh and eight places with 44 percent, followed by former vice president Jojo Binay and reelectionist Sen. Win Gatchalian in ninth and 10th places with 39 percent, Jinggoy Estrada in 11th place with 37 percent and reelectionist Sen. Joel Villanueva in 12th place with 33 percent.

Close behind the Magic 12 are reelectionist Sen. Risa Hontiveros in 13th place with 31 percent, former Quezon City mayor Herbert Bautista in 14th with 25 percent, Gringo Honasan in 15th with 24 percent, former defense secretary Gibo Teodoro in 16th with 23 percent, former presidential spokesman Harry Roque in 17th with 22 percent and reelectionist Sen. Dick Gordon in 18th with 20 percent.

A total of 1,200 respondents, who are all registered voters and from all social classes, were asked to choose up to 12 candidates who they will vote

BBM: Boost US ties amid ‘new world...

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Fil-Am fifillmmaker Ida Del Mundo’s new project ‘Never Forget’ explores historical revisionism amid a contentious Philippine election

The new short film, which is currently in production, boasts a majority Filipino cast and crew

I

by Klarize

Medenilla / AJPress

N the Golden Age of Asian American cinema and entertainment where the hunger for diverse stories is far from sated, the influx of filmmakers of color telling personal stories is certainly at an all-time high.

One such filmmaker, the Filipina American filmmakerto-watch Ida Anita del Mundo, is taking full advantage of the expanding cinematic landscape.

Del Mundo— who previously won the Special Jury Prize at the 2014 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival for her directorial debut, “K’na the Dreamweaver” — is currently working on a new short film called “Never Forget,” a deeply emotional story about family, history, and how Filipino American culture shapes the identity of the global Filipino community.

The film follows Vera, a 33-year-old Filipina American, who reconnects with her estranged father, Pablo, who is battling dementia. Vera, who is played by Filipina Japanese actress Mara Lopez (who previously starred in “K’na the Dreamweaver”), hires a caregiver for Pablo (played by the Filipino theater performer and educator Miguel Braganza, II).

In an interview with the Asian Journal, del Mundoexplains that on the story’s surface, the film explores a common Filipino custom: taking care of your parents when they get older. But as the characters develop throughout the story, the broader context of historical revisionism and family secrets — rooted in the tumultuous martial law era in the Philippines — start to emerge.

Filmmaking is in Ida’s blood. Her father is the Filipino screenwriter and filmmaker Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr., and her paternal grandfather, Clodualdo del Mundo, Sr., was an author, comic book artist, was a savant in Philippine arts.

However, del Mundowas reluctant to follow in their footsteps and had originally started out as a journalist, writing Philippine tourism pieces. But, it wasn’t until meeting the T’boli community in Southern Mindanao while traveling for work that the cinema bug bit her and inspired “K’na, the Dreamweaver,” released in 2014.

“I was actively trying to do

what happened but they still somehow embody the older generations and what they went through. And they say that they’re doing it every year until they get justice,” del Mundo said.

The film’s themes of historical revisionism speaks to current discourse on how we should remember geopolitical tragedies. del Mundo said that among their filming locations (which are largely centered in New York City) includes the statue of Christopher Columbus in Central Park, but the story plays into contemporary, Philippine issues, as well.

Del Mundo filming her first film, the feature-length picture “K’na the Dreamweaver,” which tells a story about the “When we [in the Filipino indigenous T’boli people in the Philippines. community] talk about historical revisionism, it’s often surrounding martial law and what actually happened and what people say happened,” del Mundo explained. “And it’s especially relevant now because it’s an election year in the Philippines, and the son of the dictator (Bongbong Marcos) is running, and a lot of what we know and don’t know in our history will inform how we vote.”

She describes the film as “a personal experience of historical revisionism. It shows how you can be affected by it directly and Del Mundo on set. For “Never Forget,” del Mundo recruited a majority Filipina crew. how it can make you question your identity and who are a media tour in the Philippines, other things besides filmmaking because history shapes all of us.” she visited a small town on the because of my family,” del Early scripts of “Never Mundosays, laughing. “I wanted 31st anniversary of the Escalante Forget” captured a more massacre. to do my own thing.” historical tone, but when she The tragedy — which “While on that early 2010s returned to New York City occurred on Sept. 20, 1985 in media tour in Mindanao, del (where she is based) to complete Escalante in Negros Occidental Mundo says she and her group her master’s in directing at the got stranded in the middle of the — was an attack by paramilitary School of Visual Arts, s shifted forces of the Philippine mountains when a local village the lens to a more Filipino government on civilians who welcomed them in and began American story. were engaged in a protest rally performing music and sharing The film was initially that commemorated the 13th their culture with them. imagined as a feature-length anniversary of the martial law “It was so welcoming and declaration. Twenty people died story, but the filmmaker I felt such a connection with ultimately decided to create a and 30 were injured, and every them,” she says of that on-theyear, the community reenacts the short film as part of her school’s fly experience. “So when I got directing program and to lay the incident as a way of preserving home, I realized I wanted to do groundwork for a later expansion history, and del Mundo got to something more than just write of the story. Del Mundo said that see the reenactment in 2016. an article about them.”

“I thought it was so impactful she would like to explore the The young journalist-turnedstory later on and would like to because every year, a younger filmmaker’s background in possibly shoot in the Philippines generation reenact what journalism also helped inspire and build upon the themes and “Never Forget,” she says, telling happened. And these young narratives in the short film. people didn’t actually witness the Asian Journal that while on

“Never Forget” challenges historical revisionism and how it affects future generations.

Del Mundo was awarded the Special Jury Prize at the 2014 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, a Manilabased awarding body that honors Filipino independent filmmakers.

As a Filipina filmmaker, del Mundo is proud of the strides the wider AAPI community has made for Asian filmmakers, but she hopes more Filipino filmmakers get their shine, too.

Without giving away too many spoilers, the film’s central narrative involves the characters grappling with the realization that her family is tied to the Escalante massacre and how generational trauma manifests itself, even after the family moves to a different country.

“The film is really about history, and our memories and how those shape our identity, and that informs who we are and how we think,” she explained.

For “Never Forget,” del Mundo brought together friends and past collaborators to work alongside her, making the cast and crew a majority-Filipino cadre.

“Representation in film shouldn’t only be on screen with the actors and the type of story you’re telling,” del Mundo said.

“I really wanted to have that Filipino crew, especially because the theme of the film is identity and history, which are universal themes, but for a film like this

I knew that having Filipinos on crew would be very meaningful for them as well.”

Because “Never Forget” is currently in production, no release date has been announced yet. But del Mundo’s work and her journey as a filmmaker is just beginning, and the landscape is ripe for pictures like hers.

But even though the demand for more Asian stories is louder than ever, del Mundo believes that Filipino American filmmaking still needs more of a push among not just AAPI entertainment but in entertainment, in general.

She says that “Asian films being recognized in Hollywood and all over the world and are really opening doors for us as filmmakers, but I think we need louder Filipino voices in there. There’s a lot of Korean, Chinese, and Japanese making their way, but we need more Filipinos.”

Pia and BFFs say no to cancel culture but yes to redemption culture

the queens. No issue is left unspoken between them and since it’s pageant season in the WE continue to up the ante Philippines, they talked about as Women’s Month comes to the blackfishing that went a close. This time, we had a down at the Miss Universe thorough conversation with Philippines. three super women — Miss Miss San Pablo, Laguna Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, Shaira Aliyah Diaz allegedly her best friends and former claimed that she is a black beauty queens Carla Lizardo woman and she was exposed and Bianca Guidotti-Santos,

by American pageant vlogger whom she shares a podcast Davonna Finley. Turns out with, Between Us Queens.

Shaira is purely Asian. With Within a year of doing the this, Pia tried to look for Shaira show and starting with pageant Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach (center) has been doing the podcast, Between Us Queens, with (from left) best online but her socials are related issues, they realized friends and former beauty queens Bianca Guidotti-Santos and Carla Lizardo. They have since expanded to launch deactivated already. that there is so much more to their first-ever vlog.

Philstar.com photo “She needs to be guided a be discussed as women. Just lot,” said she. “Honestly, it is this month, they expanded and focus on this. became close friends. difficult to be a candidate and launched their first-ever vlog.

As the years went by, they “I had to focus on there’s a tendency to overthink Aptly named The dreamt of doing projects this full-time because the on how you might stand out in Queens, the vlog is a passion together but could never workbooks we also created a sea of beautiful women.” project of the trio for their find the right one. Despite on our website took time and Pia also said that Shaira’s community to broadcast their careers leading them to we really want to grow the back story is worth a listen and women empowerment with different paths, The Queens — the bashing right now surely community. We realized that topics that range from beauty, as what the three of them are the content we created was is not good for her mental womanhood, friendship, collectively called — kept the just a conversation starter, but health. “Actually, medyo naawa relationships and current what was really important to us friendship alive and when the ako kasi masakit ma-cancel,” events. pandemic hit, things simply fell she added. was this community,” she said.

They also hold online into place.

Just a little backtrack on Circling back to the workbook sessions, so that As Pia put it, “The Queens trio, with issues such as their friendship, which formed they can answer and reflect became a safe space online during their pageant days, this, they also began the on the workbook topics along seven years in the making, and where you can be yourself.” #WeAreAllQueens social with their listeners.

Now, they are rebranding it all began at the Binibining campaign, the goal of which is Carla even took a break the whole ecosystem to “The Pilipinas 2014. The three met Continued on Page 11 from her Sports 5 reporting, to at the national pageant and Queens.” For the queens. By By

MJ Marfori Philstar.com

Photo courtesy of Kris Lawrence

American singer Keith Martin found lifeless in QC condo

AMERICAN singer-songwriter Keith Martin has died. He was 55.

According to reports, the “Because of You” hit maker was found lifeless in his Quezon City condominium on Friday.

Initial investigation found out that his neighbors alerted the property manager about a foul smell on the sixth floor.

Reports said that Keith had been dead for at least a week before he was discovered.

Kapamilya singer Kyla took to Twitter to pay tribute to the singer.

“In shock and in disbelief.. You will be missed, Keith Martin..

Thank you for the inspiration. You will leave a legacy of great music that is timeless and will always be remebered..” she wrote.

Sexy actress Sheree shared a series of posts for the singer on Facebook.

“Thank you for the friendship kikit. RIP,” she wrote in one of her posts.

“Damn…this news is shocking. Gone too soon Keith Eric Martin. You will be missed brotha. Your music will live in our hearts forever,” singer Kris Lawrence wrote on his Facebook account.

The cause of death has not yet been determined as of writing. (by Jan Milo Severo/AJPress)

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community Pahrump, areas outside Las Vegas eyed by home developers as land prices increase The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 30, 2022

By rEaLTor

fELY QUiTEViS-BaTEMaN

REAL estate in the gaming capital of the world, Las Vegas, continues on its upward trend as the area’s population continues to grow. With construction projects on the horizon and with it more jobs and employment opportunities, Las Vegas home buyers are feeling the crunch when it comes to searching for affordable homes.

The frenzy for home buying in the area has taken its toll on prospective homeowners as many compete for available, affordable homes. A recent article even stated that some builders have put buyers on waiting lists, and that buyers have had to contend with raising of prices, overbidding and lottery draws.

That is probably the reason why home builders will be looking at areas outside of Las Vegas to develop new homes, especially since per square foot costs in these areas are cheaper when compared to Las Vegas.

Take a look at Pahrump, which is about 62 miles west of Las Vegas.

Easily a drive of about an hour or less, it is an area where a person employed in the world’s gaming capital can drive to and from work, and still enjoy the comforts of a quieter, peaceful neighborhood, and far from bustling traffic, crime and other problems associated with big cities.

Today’s Pahrump is no longer a backwards place. Still an unincorporated town, Pahrump has currently an estimated population of

nearly 48,000 from the latest Census data (by comparison, in 2000, the town had an estimated population of just under 25,000), and has many major stores that can be seen in big towns like Walmart Supercenter, Albertson’s, Safeway, Home Depot and Dollar General, as well as a variety of businesses that serve its burgeoning population.

Aside from these, Pahrump is also site to the Front Sight Firearms Training Institute and Spring Mountain Motor Sports Ranch. It also has wineries, casinos, drugstores, many restaurants, and legal brothels.

Public education is administered by the Nye County School District.

Although land prices in Pahrump may not be as low as was decades

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman with Tim Lai (left), who is looking at parcels to build apartment units to meet the rental shortage in Pahrump.

From left: Atty. Jack Ross of Las Vegas, Gloria Estillore from Silicon Valley (who is eyeing to build assisted living facilities), Weenah Cadiz (considering Pahrump as her retirement destination) and Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman.

Jorge and Reggie Bondoc of Houston (extreme right and extreme left), the No. 1 top seller of Ritello USA in 2021, bought 3 lots last year on their first visit to Pahrump. They are in photo with Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (center).

Former Philippine President Fidel Ramos (extreme right, holding golf club) was impressed playing golf at Mountain Falls Golf Resort during his visit to Las Vegas many years ago. With former President Ramos in photo are Realtor Fely QuitevisBateman and her family.

ago, it is still an affordable alternative to the rising real estate prices in Las Vegas. Plus, real estate in Pahrump has appreciated about 155% over the last ten years alone, according to latest data available, which puts the unincorporated town in the top 10% nationally for areas whose real estate values have appreciated exponentially.

Due to this, many observers see Pahrump as being one of the best long-term investments that people can make in the United States over the past decade and into the future.

Despite a downturn in the housing market, Pahrump’s real estate portfolio has continued to appreciate.

Millions of dollars are being pumped into construction projects in Pahrump which will greatly benefit

Victor Covarrubias (left), owner of Ford dealership in CA, looking for his 2nd dealership in Pahrump with (from left) Realtor Fely QuitevisBateman and Jennifer Benedict, another investor in Pahrump.

the town. A glove factory on 10-acre parcel of land being developed by one of my investors Andrew Hoang, will create hundreds of jobs.

While the market is still affordable, now is the time to look for opportunities to invest in real estate in Pahrump and neighboring communities in Las Vegas.

Even the Las Vegas Review Journal, in a recent article, said that a broader acceleration in areas like Pahrump, Mesquite, Indian Springs, Moapa Valley and Laughlin may take place to address the needs of home buyers in the lower price ranges as residential developers eye other regions for potential projects.

Besides, for those looking to invest in real estate in Pahrump like some of my clients who are now reaping the benefits of their investments, settling in places like Pahrump in Nevada has distinct tax advantages, including a competitive

business state tax, a county sales tax of 6.75% (not on food items), and no taxes associated with estate/ inheritance, franchise, gift, inventory/ interstate commerce, corporate income and personal income.

‘Whether you are looking to be gainfully employed, retire or just own a second home or land as an investment, Pahrump is a great place to start your search, and I can help you. Having seen the growth of this community since 1992, I can assist you, my kababayans, in your search for the best opportunities.

My company, Precious Properties, is a full-service company serving its clientele since 1992 and you can reach me at 775-513-8447, 805-5592476 and 702-538-4948 for more information. We have investors who buy houses in California and Nevada for cash and quick escrow in as short as 7 days.

(Advertising Supplement)

Should I create a will and a living trust during this pandemic? the gross estate. The probate referee will have to be paid for appraising the assets of the estate. If it is necessary to post bond, the premium on the bond would have to be paid as well. There is also Atty. Kenneth the cost of administering the UrsUA reyes estate such as selling some of the assets to satisfy the THE COVID-19 pandemic estate’s obligations and to is a scary reality which affects divide the estate according to everyone globally and has shut the will or the intestate line of down the global economy. succession if there is no will.

Individuals over 60 years The entire process could take old and individual that are up years specially if certain immune compromised are beneficiaries and creditors file more at risk of having serious certain claims. The probate complications with this virus. court file would be public Individuals are dying all over record. the world in exponential On the other hand if you numbers. Although we cannot have a living trust, your estate completely control how our can avoid the entire court bodies and immune system system and court supervision. would respond to this virus, we In certain situations, the can prepare our finances and process may also save you estate in case the worst hapestate taxes which may be pens to make sure our loved substantial if your assets ones are properly provided for. exceed a certain threshold.

Legally, there are several ways Basically, you and/or your you can do this. spouse can be named as the 1. Create a Living Trust initial trustee of the trust while If you pass away with at you are alive. The trustee is least $166,250 in gross assets the person who manages the and you do not have a living trust. This means you retain trust (even if you have a will), control of all your assets the your beneficiaries would have same way as if you never had to open up a probate case a trust. For revocable trusts, before title to the assets can you can later on, at any time pass to them. When I say during your lifetime, revoke gross asset, I mean regardless the entire trust if you change of how much debt you owe on your mind. them. For example if you own The assets held in your a house valued at $350,000 at living trust will be managed the time of your death, it does by the trustee and distributed not matter that your mortgage according to your directions balance is $300,000, a probate without court supervision and case has to be opened in order involvement when you pass to pass title to that property. away. This can save your heirs The same is true with other time and money. Since the types of assets such as owning trust would not be under the a business, a professional direct management of the practice, bonds, equities, etc. probate court, your assets This is a very low threshold to and their value and your exceed specially in California beneficiaries’ identities would where real estate prices, even not become a public record. after the economic crisis, Your heirs and beneficiaries remains in the upper end of would still have to be notified the curve among the 50 states. about the living trust and Commencing a probate advised, among other things, case is expensive and a very of their right to obtain a copy slow process. Someone of the trust. qualified will have to file a Having a trust is also Petition with the probate court beneficial in case you become to have someone appointed as incapacitated. The person you executor or administrator. The name as successor trustee Petitioner’s attorney gets paid can step up and manage the a statutory rate for attorney’s assets in your trust on your fees commencing with 4% of behalf.

Barrister’s Corner

EMPLOYMENT

2. Power of Attorney A power of attorney designates another individual the power to manage your financial affairs on your behalf.

You can limit this power and define what the scope of the power you are giving your attorney in fact. A power of attorney is also revocable if you decide to cancel the power you have given this individual. By giving another person the power of attorney, you do not lose the power to manage your financial affairs.

You can continue to make financial decisions on your own affairs.

3. Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare A Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare allows your to designate specific individual to have the power to make healthcare decisions on your behalf incase you no longer have the capacity to make decisions for yourself due to health conditions. You can define the scope of your agent’s authority. This is also revocable if you change your mind in the future. Your agent will have the authority to access and review your medical records and sign any authorization on your behalf.

This is helpful incase you are unable to make healthcare decisions for yourself.

4. Last Will and Testament A Last Will and Testament allows your to designate how your assets will be distributed after you pass away. This allows you to customize how your estate will be divided and distributed. In the absence of a Will, you would pass away intestate and the probate court would simply follow the California intestate succession laws which are in the probate code. *** 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, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified

EMPLOYMENT

community

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 30, 2022

10

ATTORNEY GENERAL ROB BONTA MEETS WITH FIL-AM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. The Fil Am Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles held its Horizon 2022 Gala Cruise aboard FantaSea One Yacht in Marina Del Rey with guest of honor Attorney General Rob Bonta, joined by Consul General Ed Badajos, Public Works Commissioner Jessica Caloza, Sierra Madre former Mayor Councilwoman Rachel Arizmendi, City of Carson Mayor Pro-Tem Jim Dear, City of Carson Councilwoman Arleen Rojas and many more. Congratulations to the new president Lois Klavir and all officers and Board of Directors.

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, APC

is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

EMPLOYMENT

LEGAL SERVICES FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-065384

The Better Baking Bubbles Baking Company located at 9525 Cozycroft Ave., Ste G, Chatsworth, CA 91311.

Registrant: The Hub Food Management Company, 9525 Cozycroft Ave., Ste G, Chatsworth, CA 91311.

This business is conducted by Corporation.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 03/08/2022.

Signature Leonard Dayao.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 03/24/2022.

LACA 35241 03/30, 04/06, 04/13, and 04/20/2022.

#35241

11

community

Pia and BFFs say no to...

From Page 8 to spread a powerful message.

That we are queens in our own right, regardless of titles or appearances.

We have our own crowns and therefore, we are all Queens. To amplify the stories of other women, those who share using the hashtag also get a chance to be featured on The Queens social media accounts.

In their first YouTube vlog, The Queens shared their thoughts on what this project means for them. For Carla, it’s about finding purpose and direction.

“It means the world to me because during the pandemic, differences that threatened I was feeling pretty lost. So, their marriage. it was great that I was able to Their two children connect with so many amazing turned out right and became people through this platform,” upstanding, caring young said Carla. “So, it’s just adults of strong Christian faith. something super special and For Elaine, it was all worth the I feel like it’s been years since struggle of keeping their family we’ve been wanting to work whole. on a passion project together.

Two years into her grief, And it was also the realization Elaine thought she was finally that it is actually something done with all her struggles. She that I want to do. I thought expected a season of calm. But that it would be a ‘side thing,’ fate had other plans. Life wasn’t but no, it actually grew to be done with her yet and another something that we are mainly curve ball was headed her way. focusing on, something that we Elaine’s younger sister, really, really truly care about, Joyce and her husband, Jerry, and something that we want to died suddenly, within months of grow in the years ahead.” each other, her brother-in-law, in To Pia, it’s the fulfillment a motor accident and her dear of doing something you’re sister, in a rare, aggressive form passionate about. of cancer that left two teen“It is a passion project agers — a girl and a boy — to that I’m really proud of, finally fend for themselves. for a while, for a few years,” Elaine had a huge heart and she shared. “I’ve been so she took the youngsters under focused on, you know, work her wing and helped them heal after the tragic loss of their parents. She helped them finish is certain. school and get onto meaningful Elaine didn’t accrue material career tracks. She became their things for herself. In fact, she mother and the two orphans gave them away as fast as she realized just how great Aunt could. Yet the one thing she Elaine was. They called her did have is a family cobbled Mom. Instead of two children, together by nothing more than now she had four who loved her steadfast love, kindness and dearly. a deep, unyielding faith in the As she looked back at her goodness of God. life, Elaine marveled at how Elaine knew she was going she had managed it all. She to be just fine no matter what. realized she was never alone She would be leaving a small yet during her seasons of struggle beautiful legacy. over darkness. There was *** always something guiding her The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the and protecting her – a bright author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and light that shone in her heart and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial is reflected in her being. God board and staff. and His angels have been with *** her every nanosecond of her To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ valiant, little life. Of this, Elaine asianjournalinc.com

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 30, 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.

(Continued from the previous week…)

There were happy times too and she chose to dwell on them.

Elaine imagined herself to be like a film editor retaining the reels of fun and laughter they had during the early years of their family life.

She smiles broadly recalling their wedding, two normal childbirths, flying kites in the open space 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.

Some couples are described as two peas in a pod. Elaine and Neil were more like two Mexican

Once upon a time series

Meet Elaine, The Rock (Conclusion of 2 parts)

“…Elaine and Neil were more like two Mexican jumping beans trapped in a pod.…” jumping beans trapped in a pod. She often gritted her teeth and bit back a retort when things got heated. She didn’t want the children to hear. She turned to prayer, first as an escape valve, and later as a real comfort and eventually, a deep, unfailing source of peace and strength.

With a solid faith in God ‘s mercy and love, peace did come to their home. A deep-seated respect for each other quietly slipped in during their mature and last few years together. Elaine placed everything in the backburner when she took care of Neil as he languished. She felt his pain and for his part, Neil began to see her in a different light.

Theirs was not an allconsuming love affair, which she sometimes thought was the stuff of Hollyweird garbage anyway, but they managed to work out their differences over time. As they mellowed, they became patient and kinder with each other. Eventually, love did come to dwell in their hearts. A sense of overwhelming peace washed over them in the few remaining years left.

During the critical times, Elaine learned to tough it out.

She stood her ground to keep her family together. And yet, she understood the frailty of unions which crack and fall apart at the merest hint of trouble.

Elaine decided early on that she would be the glue to hold her family together — no matter what. The only thing that would break her resolve would be if there was another woman involved. Thankfully, there wasn’t. More than anything, it was personality

like endorsements, and acting projects but I didn’t really have a personal project like a real passion project. And I’m really happy that I have this now because it feels very fulfilling.

I feel like I’m really doing something meaningful with my time. You know, it feels really nice to help and give back.”

Meanwhile, Bianca looks forward to sharing this passion project with all of the queens.

“It kind of feels like my

life’s work, honestly. I’m just so excited to be able to do it with two of my best friends and to be able to share it with Filipino women and hopefully, you know, women all over the world. It’s everything.”

This passion project is aimed at empowering queens all over the country and the world, and despite their busy schedules, the three say that The Queen’s community will be a top priority for them.

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - March 30, 2022

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