040823 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

Fil-Am among Democrat lawmakers expelled by Tennessee House

ONE of the two Democratic lawmakers expelled by Tennessee’s Republicandominated state legislature for leading protests that called for stricter gun laws is a Filipino American.

The Tennessee House voted on Thursday, April 6 to expel Justin Jones—who is of Black and Filipino descent—and his colleague Justin Pearson after leading protesters in calling for gun control at the state capitol in the wake of a shooting that left three students and three staff dead at a Christian school in Nashville.

A vote to expel another Democrat, Gloria Johnson, failed as expulsion requires a twothirds majority of the 99-member House.

With the expulsion of Jones and Pearson, Republicans ousted two of the youngest Black lawmakers in the legislature.

“A week after a mass shooting plagued our community, the most direct action this

PH, US set course for defense alliance

by FRANCO JOSE C. BAROÑA ManilaTimes.net

THE Philippines and the United States will set the long-term direction of their security and defense alliance with the holding of the Two-Plus-Two (2+2) Ministerial Dialogue in Washington, D.C. next week.

The high-level meeting between the Defense and Foreign Ministers of the U.S. and the Philippine governments will be held on Tuesday, April 11, Senior Undersecretary Carlito Galvez Jr., Department of National Defense officer in charge,

said on Tuesday, April 4 during The Manila Times roundtable.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo will meet with his American counterpart U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, while Galvez will have a bilateral dialogue with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin 3rd. This year's dialogue will be the third such meeting after the earlier meetings in 2012 and 2016.

"For a long time, we suspended the 2+2 dialogue. This will be the third such meeting after seven years

with the first two held during the administration of President [Benigno] Aquino 3rd," Galvez said.

He added that the 2+2 will set the direction of the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB), which coordinates a framework for defense and security cooperation between the U.S. and the Philippines.

Galvez said the MDB-SEB will line up all the joint activities that will be undertaken by the U.S. and the Philippines including joint maritime patrols, inter-service training with coast guards and navies and people-to-people engagement, among others.  PAGE A2

Palace: Contemplate Jesus cruci xion on Good Friday

by DAPHNE GALVEZ Inquirer.net

MANILA — Malacañang enjoined Filipinos to reflect on the value of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on Good Friday, April 7.

Good Friday is when the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ are commemorated.

“Ang Biyernes Santo ay araw para sa ating mga kapatid na Katoliko ng pag-alala sa sakripisyo na ginawa ni Hesus sa krus,” the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a Facebook post.

(Good Friday is when Catholic Filipinos commemorate Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.)

“Sa araw na ito, nawa’y makapaglaan tayo ng panahon na magnilay-nilay tungkol sa kahalagahan ng sakripisyo at magpasalamat sa biyaya at awa na ipinagkaloob sa atin ng Diyos,” it added.

WHEN a federal judge in Texas declared unconstitutional a popular part of the Affordable Care Act that ensures no-cost preventive care for certain services, such as screening exams for conditions such as diabetes, hepatitis, and certain cancers, it left a lot of people with a lot of questions.

On the face of it, the March 30 decision could affect ACA and job-based insurance plans nationwide and a host of medical services now free for patients.

What does this mean, really, for people with insurance? Policy and legal experts say there are some unanswered questions and a whole lot of nuances.

First, some background. The case, the latest legal challenge to the ACA, was brought by several individuals and an employer in Texas who argued the law’s requirement of free preventive care is unconstitutional, and also contended that requiring coverage of HIV prevention treatment can violate employers’ religious rights.

China: ‘Think carefully’ about increased US military role in South China Sea

MANILA — Nations around the South China Sea should “think carefully” about the increased presence of the United States military in the region following the expansion of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with the Philippines, Beijing said.

The addition of four military bases that the U.S. will get access to comes at a time of growing concern over China’s conduct in the South China Sea, including the parts claimed by the Philippines, and its growing assertiveness over self-governed Taiwan.

“Will increased U.S. military deployment

in one’s country or the region truly help protect sovereignty and security as well as regional peace and stability or rather cause grave irreparable consequences?” China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in a briefing on Thursday, April 6.

“Regional countries need to think carefully about this,” she added.

Mao made the remark when asked to comment on Defense Senior Undersecretary Carlito Galvez Jr.'s statement that the addition of four EDCA sites will boost Manila’s capabilities to protect national

Pentagon: New EDCA sites for ‘regional readiness’

by FRANCES MANGOSING JACOB LAZARO Inquirer.net

The U.S. Department of Defense said the new sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the Philippines were aimed at “regional readiness” to address “a range of shared challenges in the Indo-Pacific region” amid concerns over China’s continued assertiveness in the South China Sea and its potential invasion of Taiwan.

The Philippines and the United States on Monday, April 3 identified four additional locations — including three facing Taiwan and one near Chinese artificial military outposts in the West Phil-

ippine Sea — that would allow an expansion of American military presence from the five existing sites under the defense pact signed in 2014.

“These new locations will strengthen the interoperability of the [U.S.] and Philippine armed forces and allow us to respond more seamlessly together to address a range of shared challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, including natural and humanitarian disasters,” Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said in a press briefing in Washington on Monday.

The four new sites are the Camilo Osias Naval Base in Santa Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport also in Cagayan; Camp Melchor dela

Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan.

The Pentagon official stressed that the United States was not seeking permanent basing, pointing out that “this is really about regional readiness.”

“So you’re going to see an increase of rotational forces in the region, but this is more about supporting combined training, being able to respond to natural disaster, humanitarian disasters in the region,” she explained.

The United States will be pouring more funds into the new Edca sites on top of the $82 million already allocated to the existing ones, namely Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Lumbia Air Base

in Cagayan de Oro City, Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, and Benito Ebuen Air Base in Mactan, Cebu.

The Pentagon said the U.S. defense department would work closely with its Philippine counterpart to pursue modernization projects in the new locations.

But Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, at a press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday, said the U.S. action “would only lead to more tensions and less peace and stability in the region.”

“Facts are very clear that the U.S. has been increasing its military deployment in the region

(On this day, may we devote some time to reflect on the value of sacrifice and be grateful for the blessings and mercy that God has granted us.) 

Real estate and retail tycoon Manuel Villar, headlining the list as the wealthiest in the country, saw his net worth balloon to $8.6 billion in 2023 from $8.3 billion a year ago.

Photo from Facebook/MannyVillar

Some Filipino tycoons fell o Forbes’ 2023 richest list

MANILA — Forbes’ annual list of the wealthiest Filipinos saw some movement in 2023, as mainstays lost some of their glimmer in the new ranking.

Noticeable in the new Forbes ranking was the absence of the Uys of Converge ICT wealth, Betty Ang of food giant Monde Nissin Corp., and the late Roberto Ongpin.

Dennis Anthony Uy and wife Maria Grace Uy, who runs publicly-traded broadband provider Converge, and Ang, co-founder of Monde Nissin, joined the list in 2022.

A Zobel made the list, however. Inigo Zobel, a cousin

of Jaime Zobel de Ayala, and whose wealth came from a stake in Ang-led San Miguel Corp., eked out a net worth of $1 billion based on the list. The list was built and compiled using stock prices and exchange rates from March 10. Besides that, some mainstays saw their fortunes seesaw in the new list.

Real estate and retail tycoon Manuel Villar, headlining the list as the wealthiest in the country, saw his net worth balloon to $8.6 billion in 2023 from $8.3 billion a year ago. Ports and casino tycoon

No-cost preventive services are now in jeopardy

China: ‘Think carefully’ about increased...

interest, contribute to collective defense in the region, and protect busy sea lanes of commerce.

Mao said that some Filipinos are concerned about the Philippines being drawn into “the whirlpool of a potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait.” Activist groups like Bagong Alyansang Makabayan have been warning that additional U.S. presence in the Philippines actually puts the country in more danger.

“We hope regional countries could see clearly who is fueling

tensions across the Taiwan Strait for what purpose and will not pull someone else’s chestnuts out of fire at their own expense,” Mao said.

Signed in 2014, EDCA allows U.S. troops to rotate through the bases, and store defense equipment and supplies.

The additional sites are the Camilo Osias Navy Base and Lallo Airport in Cagayan province, Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Isabela, and the island of Balabac off Palawan.

The first five EDCA sites are

located in Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Nueva Ecija, Palawan, and Pampanga.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said EDCA will lead to the construction of facilities and infrastructure upgrades that contribute to the enhancement of the Philippine military.

The U.S. Department of Defense also said the expansion of the agreement will “spur economic growth and job opportunities” in host provinces. (Gaea Katreena Cabico/Philstar.com with reports from Agence France-Presse)

Some Filipino tycoons fell o Forbes’ 2023...

Enrique Razon Jr saw his fortunes turn for the better this year as well. His net worth, estimated at $7.3 billion, grew from $6.7 billion a year ago.

Ramon Ang of San Miguel Corp. posted a net worth of $3.4 billion in 2023, larger compared to his $2.45 billion wealth in the previous outing. He bested the Sy family and Andrew Tan of Alliance Global Group Inc. in the

2023 ranking. The Sys, topbilled by Henry Sy Jr., ranked fourth in country in 2023. His net worth slid down to $2.5 billion from $2.8 billion a year ago. His family saw their wealth slid down in the same period as well.

Tycoon Lucio Tan saw his net worth double to $2.4 billion in 2023 from $1.2 billion in the previous outing. The net worth of Lance

Gokongwei of conglomerate JG Summit retreated in 2023 as well. His wealth stood at $1.4 billion, a far cry from the $1.6 billion a year ago.

Tony Tan Caktiong, founder of global fast-food giant Jollibee Foods Corp, suffered a similar fate. His net worth in 2023 slid down to $1.2 billion from $1.3 billion in the previous list.

(Ramon Royandoyan/Philstar. com)

Fil-Am among Democrat lawmakers expelled...

legislative body takes or should I say my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are taking is to expel us for speaking about the issues of weapons of war on our streets,” the 27-year-old Jones said in a video posted by media outlet NowThis prior to his expulsion.

U.S. President Joe Biden said the move against the lawmakers is “shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent."

School shootings are strikingly common in the United States, as are calls in the aftermath for action on gun control, a hot-button political issue in the country.

Activist

Jones was elected to represent House District 52 in November 2022.

Jones is a vocal advocate for free speech, voting access, expansion of healthcare services, and representation of minority groups. He led protests in response to the police murder of George Floyd.

According to an article published on Positively Filipino, a digital magazine focused on stories of Filipinos in the diaspora, Jones’ grandmother is Ibanag and his grandfather is Aeta. He grew up in Oakland and East Bay in California, and moved to Nashville.

Jones’ political awakening began in middle and high schools, and the killing of African-Americans Oscar Grant in 2009 and Trayvon Martin in 2012.

“His English teacher inspired him to not be complicit with injustice; to speak up and stand up. Environmental issues, social justice and civil rights became central to his passions and concerns,” read the article written by Leny Mendoza Strobel, professor emerita in American Multicultural Studies at Sonoma State University.

Jones’ passion for activism “came from hearing of his lola’s stories about the People Power protests.” He also heard stories of the civil rights movement

PH, US set course for defense...

from his African-American grandmother.

Jones was arrested over a dozen times for nonviolent protests and is a recipient of various awards such as those from the Tennessee Human Rights Commission. He went to Fisk University, a historically Black university in Nashville where he received the John R. Lewis Scholarship for Social Activism, and is currently completing his Master of Theological Studies at Vanderbilt University

According to a USA Today report, Jones sponsored bills to allow student IDs for voter identification, to eliminate qualified immunity protection for law enforcement, to require police to only use marked vehicles for non-emergency traffic stops, and to impose a 4% tax on Tennesseans’ non-retirement financial securities purchases. (Gaea Katreena Cabico/Philstar. com with report from Agence France-Presse)

"There are hundreds of activities that we have to line up every year and the 2+2 dialogue will be the one that will set the direction," the Defense OIC added.

"We are now setting a longterm direction, meaning for this administration until 2028. We really need to line up our activities," he said.

The first dialogue will be hosted by the U.S. State Department to be followed by a bilateral meeting with the Defense ministers.

"It is a very significant meeting because we were able to regain our relationship with the U.S. and we were able to collectively design our future engagement," Galvez said.

Quoting Austin, he said the dialogue is a huge step toward "modernizing" the U.S.Philippine alliance.

"We will elevate our alliance to a higher position, wherein we can have that kind of collective, mutual interest," he added.

Austin had said the full range of U.S.-Philippine maritime cooperation will also be reviewed during the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.

Galvez said talking points are "very important" in terms of discussing the current security arrangements between the Philippines and the U.S. and also their future coalition with Japan and also Australia.

The Philippines already expressed support for Aukus, a trilateral security pact among Australia, the United Kingdom and the U.S. "We are one of the countries that will support the Aukus," Galvez said. "What is good for our allies is also good for us."

Under the pact, which will focus on military capability, the U.S. and the UK will assist Australia in acquiring nuclearpowered submarines.

The pact also includes cooperation on advanced cyber mechanisms, artificial intelligence and autonomy, quantum technologies, undersea capabilities, hypersonic and counter-hypersonic, electronic warfare, innovation and information sharing.

The holding of the 2+2 dialogue is synchronized with the opening of the 38th iteration of bilateral U.S.-Philippine Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) exercises.

"Both the start of the dialogue

and the opening of the Balikatan will happen on the same day, April 11," Galvez said. Balikatan exercises are annual war games between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the U.S. Armed Forces' Indo-Pacific Command geared at enhancing both forces' interoperability.

The 2023 iteration of Balikatan is projected to include field training exercises composed of combined and live fire exercises and military operations in urban terrain.

Galvez said Balikatan 38-2023 Balikatan will be the largest ever iteration of the Philippine-led annual exercises with a total of 12,000 U.S. military personnel, 5,000 members of the AFP and also 11 Australian forces.

"This is the first time that Australia is getting involved in the Balikatan," he added.

Dozens of foreign military observers including from seven Asean member countries will also be part of the exercises, Galvez said.

"In the future, other allied countries can join the exercises, especially the navy-to-navy and air force-to-air force engagements," he added. 

SACRIFICE. A man portrays Jesus Christ during the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) of the Moriones Festival in Boac, Marinduque on Good Friday, April 7. The devotion recalls the last stage of Jesus Christ’s time on Earth, from the time He and His disciples left Mount of Olives until His burial in a sepulcher. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

No-cost preventive services are now...

U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor agreed with some of their arguments, declaring unconstitutional one way the recommended tests are chosen, and agreeing that requiring employers to offer preexposure prophylaxis treatment for HIV, known as PrEP, violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. But O’Connor disagreed on other points that could have eliminated no-pay coverage for such things as contraceptives and vaccines.

Despite the ruling, nothing much is likely to change for enrollees in the short term, as insurers and employers are expected to be reluctant or even unable to immediately begin charging copayments or deductibles for the affected preventive care.

But as the case makes its way through the court system — both the Department of Justice and the plaintiffs have filed notices that they would appeal — here are four things to keep in mind:

1. A lot remains uncertain

Because of the ACA, most insured people currently get preventive care that includes screening tests like mammograms and colonoscopies — along with other exams, such as checks for bone thinning in older women, depression in adults, or obesity in children — without being charged a copay or money toward a deductible. There’s a long list of qualifying services, including all those that get a top “A” or “B” recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, or USPSTF, an independent group of volunteer experts.

But O’Connor, of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, said members of that volunteer task force, who are appointed by the director of a federal agency, are “‘officers’ of the United States” and therefore need to be appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Because they are not, he ruled that the use of their recommendations to set free preventive services under the ACA is unconstitutional.

Here’s where things get confusing, because not all of the more than 50 task force recommendations would necessarily be affected if the ruling stands.

Some policy experts said certain services would remain free of copayments or other cost sharing for patients, partly because certain tests or treatments are also recommended under guidelines from other federal agencies and are therefore not affected by the ruling.

The federal Health Resources and Services Administration, for example, sets preventive care guidelines for a host of women’s health issues, including mammograms and contraception, although there is an exemption for religious employers. Additionally, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory committee recommends certain vaccines for children and adults. Further, cost sharing might not apply to some services because many experts expect the ruling will not impact tests or treatment recommendations made before 2010, the year the ACA went into effect.

“The idea is that when Congress passed the ACA, it adopted all the recommendations from the USPSTF prior to 2010, but anything since then the judge says is not constitutional,” said Timothy Jost, law professor emeritus at Washington and Lee University School of Law, who closely follows the ACA.

2. What is certain

One problem, though, is most of the recommendations have been revised, part of the task force’s ongoing work to update recommendations as new scientific evidence arises.

A recent addition, for example, made in 2021, was to recommend that adults ages 45 to 49 get

screened for colorectal cancer.

Prior to that, the screening was aimed mainly at adults 50 and older.

One possible effect of the judge’s ruling, if it’s not overturned on appeal, is that people ages 45 to 49 might no longer be guaranteed no-copay colon cancer screenings.

But the changes could be broader.

That’s because it isn’t clear how the ruling would affect recommendations that have been revised since 2010. For instance, would any revision or update made by the task force since 2010 make the entire recommendation subject to the ruling, Jost asked, or would the ruling apply only to the change made, such as the expansion of the age for colon cancer screening?

“Is everything the USPSTF touched since 2010 now unconstitutional?” asked Jost.

There may be only two pre2010 recommendations that are unchanged since then, and both involve tests done during pregnancy to see if the blood of mothers and babies is compatible, said Dr. A. Mark Fendrick, director of the Center for ValueBased Insurance Design at the University of Michigan.

New or updated recommendations include: A 2019 recommendation that PrEP be offered to people at high risk of getting HIV, a 2021 update for annual lung cancer scans for certain current or former smokers, and screening for hepatitis C in adults ages 18 to 79, updated in 2020.

3. It will depend on your coverage and your geography

Each insurer and self-insured employer will decide whether to reinstate copayments or other cost sharing for these services. Even if they do, it may take time for them to go into effect, especially given that policies are now in the middle of a plan year, making them contractually hard to change.

“It will depend on your employer and what they want to do, and depend on whether you have a collective bargaining agreement and a whole lot of other variables,” said Sara Rosenbaum, a professor of health law and policy at George Washington University.

That type of varying coverage was “exactly what the ACA was designed to get away from, in order to make this more uniform for all of us,” Rosenbaum added.

Even with the ruling, at least 15 states have laws requiring coverage of preventive services without cost sharing, according to an analysis by researchers at Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms.

But state rules apply only to ACA plans and job-based plans offered by employers who buy coverage from an insurer. Most large employers — and a growing number of smaller ones — selfinsure and are not subject to state coverage rules.

4. What happens next?

Congress could resolve the matter with a simple fix to the ACA, says Fendrick, of the University of Michigan. “Give the task force recommendations approval by the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and it’s done,” he said.

Still, even though the preventive services coverage is very popular with consumers, the politics of changing the ACA are challenging, especially in a sharply divided Congress.

In the meantime, the case will go through the appeals process, and a final resolution could take months or even years.

The Department of Justice will seek to overturn the ruling, while plaintiffs will likely seek to broaden it, by challenging the parts of the judge’s ruling that went against them.

Specifically, the individuals and employer who brought the case wanted the ruling also to cover recommendations made by other agencies, including the set of women’s health

recommendations that include

contraceptives.

“Everything as far as we are concerned is in play,” Rosenbaum said. (Julie Appleby/Kaiser Health News)

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

Pentagon: New EDCA sites for...

driven by a zero-sum mentality in pursuit of selfish interests… Regional countries need to think about what is right for the region and mutually beneficial so as to make a choice that serves regional peace and stability as well as their own interests,” Mao said.

Military drills

On Tuesday, April 4. the armies of the Philippines and the United States wrapped up the first phase of a major exercise that focused on what an Army official had earlier described as a “defense of the archipelago from potential foreign aggressors.”

“We don’t want to have any conflict against anyone. But nevertheless, we should always be prepared should there be one,” the Army’s 5th Infantry Division commander, Maj. Gen. Audrey Pasia, said in his speech at the closing ceremony of the first phase of the Salaknib joint drills, an army-level exercise of the two allies.

“We all live in this tumultuous world where friendship and alliances are still maintained for survival and for the protection of their mutual interests. Let that mutual interest bind us together as we move forward,” he said.

The Salaknib drills are a prelude to the biggest-ever Balikatan joint military exercises set to begin next week with more than 17,000 participating troops.

According to the U.S. Embassy, some 5,400 members of the AFP and 12,200 U.S. military personnel will be part of the 38th Balikatan from April 11 to 28.

During the nearly monthlong

exercise, American and Filipino soldiers will be developing interoperability and improved capabilities in the areas of “maritime security, amphibious operations, live-fire training, urban and aviation operations, cyberdefense, counterterrorism, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness.”

“The Balikatan Exercise enhances both the AFP and the U.S. Armed Forces’ tactics, techniques and procedures across a wide range of military operations,” said AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar. Pretext

“It increases our ability to work together effectively and efficiently in response to various crisis situations,” he added.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) described the four new Edca sites as proof of the “robust commitment” between the Philippines and the United States in facing “emerging security challenges in the region.”

“Edca will lead to the construction of facilities and infrastructure upgrades that directly contribute to the enhancement of the capabilities of the [AFP],” the DFA said in a statement.

Former Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario also welcomed the addition of more Edca sites, saying it would help in the enforcement of the rule of law in the South China Sea where there has been an increased presence of Chinese maritime militia vessels even in the waters covered by the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

“With the help of our ally, this

will also enhance our capabilities to deter aggression against our sovereignty,” Del Rosario said in a statement.

The provincial government of Palawan on Tuesday also adopted a resolution supporting the expansion of Edca to include the town of Balabac “to promote peace security and humanitarian assistance in the Philippines.”

Provincial Board Member Ryan Maminta said Edca had proven to be favorable to the province in terms of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

In Congress, a Makabayan lawmaker warned that the Philippines was now turning into a base of the United States with the expansion of Edca sites.

“There are nine Edca locations which are also bound to increase using whatever pretext like prepositioning, disaster preparedness and the like, inevitably trampling on our sovereignty,” said House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro.

She cited Article 3, Paragraph 2 of Edca, which stated that “when requested, the designated authority of the Philippines shall assist in facilitating transit or temporary access by [U.S.] forces to public land and facilities (including roads, ports and airfields), including those owned or controlled by local governments, and to other land and facilities (including roads, ports and airfields).”

“In other words, we cannot refuse if the U.S. requests access to utilize whatever land or facilities, wherever in the country, including private property,” Castro noted. 

OUT TO SEA. The Torrijos White Beach in Marinduque is filled with tourists on Maundy Thursday, April 6. The Catholic church reminds the faithful to reflect on the sacrifices of Jesus Christ even while enjoying the Lenten break. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Exhibit of ‘banned PH martial law photos’ opens in Los Angeles

by WALTER ANG Inquirer.net

LOS ANGELES — Photographs that were reportedly suppressed during the martial law years in the Philippines can now be seen in an exhibit in Los Angeles.

“Golden Years: Weighing Philippine Martial Law 19721981” will feature images depicting Philippine events during those decades.

Most of the photos in the exhibit, according to curator Victor Barnuevo Velasco, were suppressed in the Philippines by the Marcos government but appeared in American news sources and are primary sources of information.

Showcased are around 90 vintage photographs collected from the archives of U.S. newspapers. Some bear notes by photo editors and all have original captions included.

Velasco said, “The show’s title is an ironic take on how the Marcos family labeled their rule as the ‘golden age of Philippine economy and society.'”

The exhibit aims to “examine the malleability of perception, the elasticity of reality, and the vulnerabilities of individual and national memory.”

It will be held at Avenue 50 Studio in Highland Park, Los Angeles. An opening reception

will be held on April 8 featuring poetry and music. Poets, writers and artists who will be featured at the opening reception include Carol Ojeda, Cynthia Buiza, Lyn Pacificar and Zosimo Quibilan, Jr.

Historical context

Velasco emphasized the role of the press in documenting that point in time.

“First published in the U.S. papers, these photographs are source documents, away from the censorship, intervention, and influence of the Philippine government at that time. They are snapshots of history as they happened. The distance of the publication from the location of the events offered objectivity that normally only came with the passage of time.”

A majority of the photos were transmitted from the Philippines to press agencies via wire or radio telegraph with a considerable number printed in the studios of the photographers.

Accompanying the photos are infographics and timelines that provide context to this period in Philippine history.

The photographs are part of a private collection promised to the Albay Arts Foundation in the Philippines, of which Velasco is a founding member.

Velasco’s prose and poetry have been featured in print

and online journals such as Ani, Bicol Journal of Literature, Graphic Reader, Impossible Archetype, The Kuwento Book, An Anthology of Filipino Stories+Poems, Migozine, and others.

Opening reception

The exhibit was launched last year at Florida International University in Miami to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the declaration of martial law in the Philippines. It kicked off its national tour at Bliss on Bliss Arts Project in New York.

This year, it has toured San Jose State University, A Reason to Survive Gallery and California State University. It is slated to tour Rice University in Houston, Texas.

The photo exhibit at Avenue

50 Studio is presented by the Association of Feminists Fighting Fascism, Imperialism, Refeudalization, and Marginalization (AF3IRM), an organization of women dedicated to the fight against oppression in all its forms. AF3IRM’s diverse, multi-ethnic membership is “committed to militant movement-building from the United States and effects change through grassroots organizing, trans-ethnic alliance building, education, advocacy and direct action.” 

Claremont Councilor Jed Leano running for California State Assembly in ‘24

CLAREMONT, California Councilmember Jed

Leano, the city’s second Filipino American mayor in history, threw in his hat for the 41st State Assembly seat in 2024, as longtime Assemblyman Chris Holden terms out.

Leano will run against Pasadena City Councilor Felicia Williams and former Pasadena Police Lt. Dr. Phlunté Riddle.

Leano was elected to the council in 2018, and in 2021 became Claremont’s second Filipino mayor.

“As Mayor during the pandemic, I fought for small business owners, renters, home owners, and seniors during this time of crisis,” Leano said in a video release. . He said his priorities would be mental health issues and affordable housing.

“Too many Californians live on the edge,” he said. “People are working harder than ever, but can barely keep up – let alone get ahead. Wages have hardly risen as prices skyrocket, especially rents. It’s hard to pursue the American Dream when you’re struggling to keep a roof over your head.”

Leano is the chair of the San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust Board and the Tri-City Mental Health Board, which partnered with the

Claremont City Councilmember Jed Leano will be in a three-way race for the State Assembly. Photo by City of Claremont Claremont Police Department in 2021 to create a team of psychiatric first responders, the Whittier Daily News reported.

Leano is a longtime Pasadena, California immigration lawyer specializing in defending deportation cases of people seeking refugee protection. (Inquirer.net)

doing business with @walgreens

quietly backed away.”

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom declared last month that California was “done” doing business with Walgreens after the pharmacy chain said it would not distribute an abortion pill in 21 states where Republicans threatened legal action. Since then, KHN has learned that the Democratic governor must compromise on his hard-line tweet.

California is legally bound to continue doing business with Walgreens through the state’s massive Medicaid program, health law experts said. And according to a public records request, the state paid Walgreens $1.5 billion last year.

Newsom’s administration confirmed it will “continue to comply” with federal law by paying Walgreens through Medi-Cal, which provides health coverage to roughly 15 million residents with low incomes and disabilities. Were California to stop covering Medi-Cal prescriptions filled at Walgreens stores, legal scholars warned, the state would run afoul of federal law, which allows patients to get their medications at any approved pharmacy.

“California has no intention of taking any action that would violate federal Medicaid requirements, or that could undermine access for lowincome individuals,” said Tony Cava, a spokesperson for the California Department of Health Care Services, in a statement.

Newsom spokesperson Anthony York said, “Tweeting is not policy.” He added the governor will not “take any action that hurts people who need access to care.” Walgreens has even been reinvited to apply for a specialty drug contract that Newsom pulled back on renewing last month, York said. Walgreens has received about $54 million from the state under the contract.

The dust-up with the Illinoisbased pharmacy chain illustrates Newsom’s panache for sweeping announcements on social media, where he garners national headlines but offers few specifics and little follow-through, political strategists said. Newsom has raised his national profile — and speculation of a presidential bid — by traveling to red states and launching a new political action committee.

“It’s much more about appearances and style and approach than it is about substance,” said David McCuan, political science department chair at Sonoma State University. Newsom and his administration “oversell their pronouncements and don’t actually deliver.”

On March 6, the governor tweeted “California won’t be

— or any company that cowers to the extremists and puts women’s lives at risk,” after the second-largest U.S. pharmacy chain said it would not dispense mifepristone in states where it is illegal to dispense the pill or where the company faced potential lawsuits if it did so.

Democratic strategist Steve Maviglio said continuing to pay Walgreens through MediCal doesn’t take away from Newsom’s support of abortion rights.

“He’s going to get the headline for protecting abortion rights, and this he can chalk up to a technical difficulty,” Maviglio said. “He will be rewarded for standing up to a corporation.”

Federal law is designed to ensure Medicaid patients have choices in where they get health care, including prescriptions. Approved providers like Walgreens are protected by Medicaid statute, which states that no health plan or entity can “restrict the choice of the qualified person from whom the individual may receive services.” Legal and Medicaid experts said that makes it extremely difficult for the Newsom administration to disqualify Walgreens.

“As long as Walgreens is performing for Medicaid beneficiaries as it should, dispensing all legal drugs in a manner that is consistent with permissible pharmacy practice, then I don’t see the basis for excluding them,” said Sara Rosenbaum, a professor of health law and policy at George Washington University.

The federal regulations that protect Walgreens are the same that have allowed Planned Parenthood to offer health care services to Medicaid enrollees in conservative states, where leaders have sought unsuccessfully to exclude the network of clinics from receiving taxpayer funding.

An approved pharmacy company can be excluded from state networks only if it has committed fraud or other contract violations, added Edwin Park, a research professor at Georgetown University with expertise in Medicaid law.

“Certainly, that wouldn’t be the case for Walgreens,” Park said.

It’s unclear whether Newsom was aware of how difficult it would be for California to unwind its Medi-Cal provider agreement with Walgreens, said Daniel Schnur, a Republicanturned-independent strategist who also teaches political science at the University of Southern California.

“The original announcement sounded like a seminal step for the state of California to take on principle, even at great financial expense,” Schnur said. “They’ve

Through a records request,

KHN learned the state paid Walgreens $1.5 billion last year to buy and dispense prescriptions to Medi-Cal enrollees. The bulk of the payment, $1.4 billion, reimbursed Walgreens for the prescriptions it distributed. And the remaining $123 million went to dispensing fees, a payment to pharmacists for each prescription they fill. The federal government covers at least half the state’s payments, which are also offset by rebates from drug manufacturers.

A Walgreens spokesperson declined to comment on its business with California, referring to the same statement it issued in March: “Providing legally approved medications to patients is what pharmacies do, and is rooted in our commitment to the communities in which we operate.”

Walgreens said it plans to dispense mifepristone “in any jurisdiction where it is legally permissible to do so.” The company was responding to an FDA rule finalized in January that allows certified pharmacies to dispense the abortion pill, which is the most common way people terminate pregnancies. Walgreens isn’t proposing to limit abortion pill sales in California or other states where abortion is legal and pharmacies are allowed to dispense it.

Democrats have urged pharmacy chains to sell the abortion pill even as GOP attorneys general threaten legal action. But many, including Walmart, Costco, Albertsons, and Health Mart, have not waded into the fight. Only Rite Aid and CVS have said they plan to begin certification to dispense the pills.

Had Newsom been able to sever Medi-Cal’s relationship with Walgreens, he would have contradicted one of his signature health initiatives. When he took office in 2019, Newsom proposed the state take over prescription drug coverage for Medi-Cal patients, many of whom had been covered through managed-care plans.

Part of Newsom’s pitch: Patients could go to nearly any pharmacy in California.

This story was produced by KHN, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.

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

by SAMANTHA YOUNG Kaiser Health News

Gov. Newsom wanted California to cut ties with Walgreens. Then federal law got in the way.

UN Protest (Keystone Press Agency, Inc.; 1977) “Anti-Marcos demonstrators in front of the U.N.”

‘FATHER, WE HAVE SINNED’. A group of self-flagellants make their way to Santo Domingo Church along Quezon Avenue in Quezon City on Good Friday, April 7. Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Public Affairs Committee, said feeding the hungry, giving charity to the poor, and serving the sick are better ways to imitate the passion and death of Jesus Christ, instead of undergoing extreme sacrifices. PNA photo by Yancy Lim

DATELINE PHILIPPINES

Filipinos 3rd top socmed users in the world

by JING GARCIA ManilaTimes.net

FILIPINOS spend an average of 554 minutes or 9 hours and 14 minutes every day browsing the internet, placing them third behind South Africans and Brazilians, according to a virtual private network app provider.

Atlas VPN reported that based on data it gathered in 2022, the global daily average for internet usage was 397 minutes (6 hours and 37 minutes). That translates to around 2,415 hours yearly, or nearly 30 percent of an average person's time, Atlas VPN said.

Ranked number one were South Africans, described by the report as the "most internetaddicted," averaging 578 minutes (9 hours and 38 minutes) spent online each day, or three hours

more than the global average. Brazilians came in second with 572 minutes (9 hours and 32 minutes).

Ranking right below Filipinos are Argentinians and Colombians, both with 541 minutes (9 hours and 1 minute).

Other countries whose population spend an aboveaverage amount of time online are the United States with 419 minutes (6 hours and 59 minutes) which is practically the same as those living in Singapore. Canadians spend slightly less time with an average of 395 minutes (6 hours and 35 minutes).

East Asian countries have one of the lowest average daily internet usage. In China, people spend 325 minutes (5 hours and 25 minutes) online, followed by South Korea at 321 minutes

(5 hours and 21 minutes), and Japan with only 225 minutes (3 hours and 45 minutes).

In contrast, Taiwan has an average daily internet usage time of 434 minutes (7 hours and 14 minutes).

Atlas VPN said European countries spend significantly less time online than the global average. Austrians logged 322 minutes (5 hours and 22 minutes), while Germans had 312 minutes (5 hours and 12 minutes). Denmark has the least amount of time staying online with 298 minutes (4 hours and 58 minutes).

Despite the world's daily internet browsing, time spent online was actually lower by 4.8 percent or 20 minutes than in 2021 as the world gradually recovered from the coronavirus pandemic, the report said. 

Cardinal Advincula urges faithful to make sacri ces for others

MANILA — Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula on Friday, April 7 asked the Catholic faithful to be willing to make sacrifices for others as Filipinos commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ.

In his homily, Advincula called on the faithful to respond to God’s immense love with gratitude and humility.

“We must also remember that we are called to love one another as Jesus loved us. This means that we must be willing to make sacrifices for the sake of others just as Jesus did for us,” he said.

Advincula cited parents sacrificing their personal time to attend their children’s activities, siblings sharing their belongings, children taking on extra responsibilities to help their parents, and spouses putting their career goals on hold to support their partners as examples.

“These may seem small but they show a willingness to prioritize the needs and wellbeing of loved ones above one’s own desires and interests,” Advincula said.

“In the midst of our own sufferings and struggles, we can take comfort in the fact that we are never alone… He knows our

pain and sorrow, and he is always with us even in the darkest of moments,” he added.

Most people in the religious, Catholic-majority Philippines spend Good Friday attending Mass or visiting different churches.

Some, however, go to extreme lengths by having themselves nailed to a cross or flogging themselves with bamboo whips, believing these practices would cleanse sins and grant wishes. (Gaea Katreena Cabico/Philstar. com)

Manila Archbishop Jose F. Cardinal Advincula washes the feet of 12 Catholics representing the different sectors of society during the Last Supper Mass at The Manila Cathedral on Holy Thursday, April 6, 2023. This act of humility commemorates what Jesus Christ did to his 12 disciples before he was betrayed by one of them. ManilaTimes.net photo

Water resource development

THE country observes Holy Week as the heat index soars and water supply becomes intermittent in large swathes of Metro Manila. The situation could persist as meteorologists warn of a possible strong El Niño phenomenon this year that could lead to a prolonged dry spell.

In 2019 as a mild El Niño reduced water levels in Angat, Ipo and La Mesa dams, the main sources of water supply for Metro Manila, the region experienced a water crisis particularly in the eastern concession area where development of the Cardona water treatment plant had been delayed. Supply was inadequate and water turbidity required increased treatment before distribution to customers.

A belated approval by the National Water Resources Board or NWRB of the rehabilitation and construction of deep wells, combined with the reduction of water pressure in many areas and ramped-up work on the Cardona treatment plant provided relief until the rainy season arrived and replenished the reservoirs.

As the crisis ended, the two water concessionaires stressed the urgency of developing new water sources for the National Capital Region to avoid a repeat of water shortages. This was before the COVID-19 pandemic. Four years later, the NCR is still waiting for new water sources to come

onstream. The concessionaires have pointed out that while their customers have increased exponentially in the country’s most densely populated region since water distribution was privatized, no new major source of fresh water has been developed.

Laguna de Bay and Marikina River are now being tapped to a limited extent to augment the water sources for the NCR. Water from these sources, however, tends to require more treatment because of siltation and pollution compared to water from the dams.

In the current dry season, the NWRB has approved an increased water allocation of 50 cubic meters per second from the previous 48 for the two water concessionaires – lower than the 52 cubic meters requested.

Since 1979, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System has been trying to get the Laiban dam project off the ground for Metro Manila and neighboring service areas. Both the Laiban and

Kaliwa dam projects, however, have faced issues involving environmental and social concerns. The Marcos administration will have to confront these

issues, or else find new water sources and develop them ASAP, if it wants to ensure water security. (Philstar.com)

PH amid looming US-China con ict

nonarmed attacks.

THE Marcos administration announced an additional four new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) sites where United States military forces will be stationed on rotation in our country.

Three of the new sites are in the Northern Luzon provinces of Cagayan and Isabela; locations obvious in their proximity to Taiwan, which is a looming source of military conflict between the U.S. and China.

One new site is in Palawan, which is near the sea territory disputed between China and the Philippines. With these new locations, there will be a total of nine Edca sites in our country. The disclosure of the new sites brings to the spotlight

again the issue of where does our country’s interest lie in the evolving conflict between China and the U.S. Stripped of sugarcoating, both the Philippines and the U.S. have their respective self-interest in mind as reason for wanting U.S. military forces in our country. The U.S. self-interest is to stop China from invading Taiwan and from limiting freedom of navigation and overflight in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

The Philippine self-interest is to deter China from controlling the vast sea territory and islets that comprise our exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and which is within the WPS. Do these self-interests converge at any level? Will the U.S. desire to maintain freedom of navigation in the WPS help the Philippines in preventing China from annexing our EEZ?

The U.S. has affirmed that it will defend the Philippines

Public schools can count on

MORE than 140 millionaires were minted through California Lottery game play in the past year, but they aren’t the only ones celebrating their good fortune in the Golden State.

While big jackpot payouts always capture attention for their life-changing impacts, just as significant is the more than $41 billion the California Lottery has delivered to the state’s K-12 public schools, colleges and universities since the first lottery ticket was sold here in 1985.

True to its mission, the Lottery, a self-supporting state agency, has delivered at least $1 billion to public schools annually over the last 22 consecutive years through drawings and Scratchers® ticket sales. This supplemental funding has risen to record levels – an estimated $2 billion in the most recent year.

Local school officials have discretion to use the extra cash they receive quarterly to uplift education, from propping up teacher salaries and buying instructional materials, to sustaining arts and sciences programs. In communities across California, the money is making an important difference in enriching learning environments.

In Monterey County, Lottery money has helped finance new

if our military forces come under “armed attack.” The U.S. commitment does not extend to China’s occupation and building of military installations within our EEZ, however, because our EEZ is not legally part of Philippine territory but merely an area over which we have sovereign rights to exploit. China has also so far confined its harassment against our security forces by using water cannons, laser beams, as well as shadowing and doing illegal maneuvers against them. Unlike its violent attack against Vietnamese forces when it seized control of the Paracel islands, China has limited itself to nonarmed attacks against the Philippines, depriving the U.S.—and giving the U.S.— an excuse not to fulfill its treaty obligation to defend the Philippines. China has learned that it still gets all that it wants from us by merely resorting to

the California

computer purchases for students.

In Ventura County, it has revived a middle school music program. New textbooks paid for with Lottery money have elevated foreign language programs for students in Contra Costa County. At Long Beach City College, Lottery money funds an entire program to train medical assistants, opening the door not just to jobs, but careers.

This is why we do what we do.

A Lottery that reliably raises supplemental funding for public schools is what voters intended when they approved the California State Lottery Act in 1984. This mission is the foundation of every decision we make and every piece of our operation.

In that time, the California Lottery has grown into one of the top three lotteries in the United States with more than $8.8 billion in sales in the most recent completed fiscal year. In all, more than 95% of revenue flows back into the community through prize payouts, publicschool and college funding, and compensation for our 23,000 participating retailers which sell our lottery tickets.

As an audited state agency, maintaining the integrity of our operations is fundamental. So, too, is our duty under state law to maximize supplemental funding contributions to public education. We do it by optimizing the entertainment appeal and prize payouts that increase participation, which in turn leads to improved sales that spin off this money.

For multi-state drawings like Powerball or Mega Millions,

China’s nonarmed attack tactics and its occupation of WPS islets will not likely be the trigger that will make the U.S. come to our aid. These tactics will only prompt U.S. intervention if and when they become so expansive as to inhibit freedom of navigation and overflight of the U.S. and its close allies in the WPS.

What about aligning ourselves closer to China in order to nudge the latter to avoid hostility against us?

We’ve seen how disastrous that option has been when the Duterte administration ended up with nothing to show for its fawning behavior toward China. The Middle Kingdom continued to antagonize our fishermen and security forces in our EEZ.

What about officials who are against the new Edca sites because they want to attract more Chinese

government investments?

With China’s misdeeds in our EEZ, these officials are like a businessperson who still eagerly invites China to be his business partner in a new warehouse facility even while China has stolen possession of an existing warehouse exclusively owned by the businessperson. To be more graphic, it’s like a father who wants to expand business with someone who is raping his daughter.

If China invades Taiwan, will it attack the Edca sites just like what Japan did to U.S. military stations in our country during World War II? Or will China be like Russia in its ongoing war in Ukraine, which has confined its military campaign on Ukrainian soil, and has desisted from attacking neighboring countries that supply weapons to Ukraine?

With the current economic and political turmoil already being caused worldwide by the

Russia-Ukraine war, do the U.S. and China have an appetite to foment another war that will cause even more hardship and chaos around the world?

Our government faces a very difficult task as it maneuvers to assert our nation’s welfare in the midst of the colliding selfinterest of the two superpowers. We play a unique role that has the potential of helping tip the balance between the two. Even with the risks involved, we face an opportunity camouflaged as a crisis that can improve our country’s lot if our government strongly asserts our country’s interest. (Inquirer.net)

* * *

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

* * * Comments to fleamarketofideas@ gmail.com

Lottery Upholding the rule of law

each ticket sold in the Golden State means about 80 cents to California public schools. The recent $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot generated $156 million alone for public schools in California.

The State Controller’s Office divides up Lottery money that goes to public education. This funding is then distributed based on average daily attendance formulas for K-12 and community colleges and by full-time enrollment for higher education and other specialized institutions. Local and higher education administrators, along with elected school boards, decide how the Lottery funds are distributed and spent within their school systems. People can see how many dollars have been distributed at the local level – by district or county –using the interactive map on the California Lottery website (https://www.calottery.com/whobenefits).

As we have for nearly 40 years, the Lottery will continue to mint new millionaires – sometimes instantly – changing lives for the better.

Yet the larger hope driving our mission is that the supplemental funding we generate, while just over 1% of the overall state education budget, can continue to make a difference in elevating public education and improving the prospects for students across California.

* * *

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.

LAST Friday, March 31, 2023, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared that the Government was “very serious” about upgrading our defense capabilities in “response to the growing complication of the situation” in the West Philippine Sea.

President Marcos Jr. further said that “we cannot say that this situation is cooling down. Perhaps, the best that we can hope for is to keep it as it is and, hopefully, continue to lessen the tension.”

We believe that any Filipino leader inevitably has to confront the serious and critical challenges confronting our nation with respect to the West Philippine Sea.

Nonetheless, as we have said before, there is but one anchor that will guide us in successfully resolving the situation, and that is the Rule of Law.

By faithfully abiding by the Rule of Law, one can only do right because a choice pursuant to the Rule of Law is supported by the Filipino people, the international community and our national interest.

The President has been taking proper steps in addressing the situation in the West Philippine Sea and we fully encourage him to continue to do so.

First, the President should

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Malacañang photo

continue in implementing the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the Philippines and the U.S., by establishing the additional locations for defense cooperation in the Philippines. This will help in strengthening our security alliance with the U.S. to advance a rules-based international order.

With the help of our ally, this will also enhance our capabilities to deter aggressions against our sovereignty.

Second is the pursuit of joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea with likeminded allies like the U.S., Japan, Australia and members of the European Union.

Joint patrols in our waters enforce the 2016 Arbitral Award by upholding freedom of navigation and overflight, and they show the world that China does not own the West Philippine Sea.

Third is to continue building our country’s defense posture by acquiring defense assets and exploring our recommendation of the operational lease of defense

assets, as a cost-efficient means in building our country’s credible defense posture.

Fourth is a respectful recommendation for the President to include, as a consistent agenda in his foreign trips, to invite leaders of other countries in supporting the 2016 Arbitral Award, to show the world that no nation, however powerful, can unilaterally take over a territory or a body of water, contrary to international law.

Fifth is for our leadership to prepare for the United Nations General Assembly this coming September 2023 and take steps in sponsoring a resolution supporting the 2016 Arbitral Award. With the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and the continuing Chinese aggressions in the South China Sea, the need for the international community to uphold the Rule of Law has become increasingly important. We would like to state that there are no petty politics involved in pursuing these steps to address the “growing complication” in the West Philippine Sea, as these steps advance our national interest and are genuinely supported by the Filipino people. As we have said before, follow the Rule of Law, Mr. President. You can be sure that Filipinos will be with you. (Philstar.com)

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

* * * Ambassador Del Rosario is chair of the Stratbase ADR Institute and former secretary of foreign affairs.

President

US Navy sailor from La Union says he learned value of hard work back home

A U.S. Navy aviation machinist's mate credits from La Union credits lessons learned back home for helping serve Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28, which flies MH60S Seahwaks for missions like air assaults and search and rescue.

According to a U.S. Navy release, Petty Officer 3rd Class Patrick John Braga has helped maintain the squadron's helicopters since joining the Navy two years ago.

"Back home, I learned to be a hard worker and to treat everyone with respect no matter how young or old they are," Braga is quoted as saying. "When you treat people with respect, you get respect back."

Braga was recently recognized for excellence at his job.

Fil-Am So a Roman relishes return to Gilas women program

by LUISA MORALES Philstar.com

MANILA — The Gilas Pilipinas women's team has added a crucial piece when it comes to veteran leadership as Sofia Roman was named to the pool for the upcoming 32nd Southeast Asian Games to be held in Cambodia next month.

Roman last saw action with the national team back in 2015. As she makes a comeback with a three-peat seeking Philippines side, the 28-year-old looks to make most of the opportunity.

"I'm super grateful that I can still do this and I'm given the opportunity to showcase what I still have. So I'm just really happy to be back on the court," she added.

Roman joins a bevy of national team mainstays and some fresh faces in the pool, with the likes of Jack Animam, Afril Bernardino, Ella Fajardo, Camille Clarin, and Trina Guytingco also in the team. As she jockeys for position in the final roster for head coach Patrick Aquino, Roman believes she has a lot to contribute when it comes to leadership and commanding the team inside the court.

"I think overall, over the years, I've gained a lot of life experience that also can translate onto the court so, you know, when it comes to career, when it comes to just having had an ACL, and then kind of learning through that experience also, and then just playing competitively in the U.S., even if it's just an Urban league or something like that, I think I can showcase a little bit more of my IQ," said Roman.

"I think overall, I'm more selfefficient on the court, reading the defense, taking a little bit more time to read what's going

on and I think that helps the team and then also my shooting and defense," she added.

Also among vying for spots in the roster are Mai-Loni Henson, Kristan Yumul, Kacey Dela Rosa, Aurea Gingras, and Jhazmin Joson.

Roan will hope to make the cut for the biennial meet set May 5 to May 17.

After winning their first gold in the 5-on-5 back in 2019, the Philipines are now targetting to be the first-ever country to win three straight gold medals in the biennial meet. 

Group doubts EDCA bene t to local communities

MANILA — Urban poor group Kadamay on Friday, April 7 cast doubt on claims that the addition of four sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement will benefit local communities as government agencies touted the arrangement as a way to upgrade Philippine military infrastructure and provide jobs to communities near the facilities. The Armed Forces of the Philippines said earlier in the

week that EDCA "will give us the needed infrastructure to develop our force in line with our acquisition of modern equipment" while the Department of Foreign Affairs said implementation if the agreement will make the needs of local communities a priority.

But Kadamay said Filipino workers could just end up as cheap labor employed through third-party recruitment

agencies and without benefits or protections afforded to regular employees.

"The government says local communities in areas where the U.S. will set up will benefit because the infrastructure projects will create many jobs," Mimi Doringo, Kadamay secretary general, said in Filipino. "But it seems there are so many red flags here. What kinds of jobs will those be?" (Philstar.com)

PH Army troops attain professional growth in ‘Salaknib’ drills

MANILA – Philippine Army (PA) troops in this year's Salaknib" exercises have grown professionally after receiving advanced weapons training.

"This year’s iteration of Salaknib featured the live firing of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and the AT4-84 mm anti-tank weapon which provided an opportunity for PA soldiers to receive professional development and training on the use of these advanced weapons systems," Army spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad said in a statement on Wednesday, April 5.

The first phase of "Salaknib" exercises concluded on Tuesday, April 4 at the 7th Infantry Division parade grounds in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija. Trinidad said further development will be gained when PA and United States

Army Pacific troops meet again for the second phase in the second quarter of this year. 5th Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Audrey L. Pasia and Col. Michael A. Van Welie, the USARPAC's 25th Infantry Division deputy commander for interoperability, served as the closing ceremony's guests of honor and speakers.

The two senior leaders commended the 3,000 soldiers from the PA’s 5th Infantry Division, 7th Infantry Division, 1st Brigade Combat Team, and other enabler units; and USARPAC's 25th Infantry Division who trained side-byside in a spectrum of military operations.

"To our U.S. friends and counterparts, congratulations and thank you for sharing your time and skills with us during the almost three weeks of our combined training here at Fort

"I'm proud of being named 'Dragon Whale of the Week,' which is special recognition for doing a good job," he said. "I earned that distinction for finding an important piece that had fallen off a helicopter and reported it, which made us safer."

According to a June 2022 release by the U.S. Navy on a historical highway marker in Virginia Beach, Virginia to honor Filipinos who have served the U.S. Navy, Filipinos have been joining the navy since the U.S. Civil War.

"[They] began enlisting in larger numbers after the U.S. took possession of the Philippines following the Spanish-American War," it also said, referring to the U.S. colonial period in the Philippines that ended in 1946.

"Over the next four decades, about 35,000 Filipinos served in the Navy, initially as stewards and mess attendants. Eligible to serve in all enlisted and officer positions by the 1970s, they later rose to the Navy's highest ranks. Filipino American communities often developed near naval bases; one of the nation’s largest such communities is here in Hampton Roads."

"I know that serving in the Navy makes my family proud," Braga said. "I'm proud to uplift my family's name and leave a legacy we can be proud of."

Many families in the Philippines have relatives serving in the U.S. military and elsewhere abroad, which is seen as a means of leaving poorer economic and employment prospects back home.

The Philippines and the U.S. are kicking off the Balikatan joint military exercises — a set of drills to

enhance interoperability that the Visiting Forces Agreement allows — next week.

An enhancement of that agreement — which activist groups protest puts the Philippines at risk of being dragged into geopolitical conflict and have made the Armed Forces of the Philippines dependent on America — allows U.S. troops to preposition supplies

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL RAIL AUTHORITY

RFP NO. SP599-23

PASSENGER INFORMATION

MATERIAL DESIGN SERVICES

The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) is seeking proposals for a Vendor to supply Passenger Information Material Design Services for the Agency. Proposal documents may be downloaded at SCRRA's website at http:// metrolinktrains.com/contracts/ Select Vendor Portal. Electronic Proposals are due at 2:00 P.M. (PT) on April 18, 2023.

For further information contact: Melissa Cousart, Contract Administrator, at cousartm@scrra.net

4/8/23

for operations like humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in designated Philippine military facilities. 

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL

RAIL AUTHORITY

RFP No. E753-23

PTC COMMUNICATION & SIGNAL SYSTEMS

DESIGN & ENGINEERING SERVICES

The Southern California Region Rail Authority (SCRRA) is seeking proposals for PTC Communication & Signal Systems Design & Engineering Services. The Request for Proposals (RFP) may be obtained from SCRRA's website at http://www.metrolinktrains. com/contracts/. Electronic bids must be submitted on or before 2:00 PM (PST) on 5/12/2023. The contract to be awarded will be funded in part by grants under the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transportation Administration and is subject to a DBE Participation Goal of 6.12%.

For further information

contact: Sharon Williams, Sr. Contract & Compliance Admin. at williamsS@scrra.net 4/8/23 CNS-3685791#

Magsaysay. To the members of the PA who participated in Salaknib, congratulations also as we have also shared with our counterparts our skills in our own kind of operational environment," Pasia said.

"Salaknib", which means shield in Ilocano, is an annual Army-to-Army exercise geared at strengthening the interoperability of Filipino and American soldiers in various military operations.

The combined exercise also reinforces the PA's pivot from internal security operations to territorial defense operations.

"With the performance you’ve shown, I am confident that with the combat skills and knowledge we have acquired through this military exercise, we will be able to face the challenges that we may encounter in the future," 7th Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Andrew D. Costelo said. (PNA)

Marcos vows sustained drive to boost economy, Filipinos’ quality of life

MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has vowed to sustain his administrationís initiatives to further boost the nationís economy and uplift the quality of life of Filipinos as inflation rate in March eased to 7.6% from 8.6% in February. Unti-unti nang umiigi ang inflation rate sa bansa sa pagbaba nito sa 7.6% para sa buwan ng Marso mula sa 8.6% noong Pebrero, he said in a Twitter post on Wednesday,

April 5.

(Inflation rate is slowly easing in the country as it dipped to 7.6% in March from the 8.6% in February.)

Patuloy lamang ang mga inisyatibo ng pamahalaan para sa pagbangon ng ating ekonomiya at nang kalidad ng buhay ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino, Marcos added. (The government will continue its initiatives in reviving the economy and uplifting the lives of every Filipino.)

National Statistician Dennis Mapa earlier said the slowing of inflation in March was mainly due to slower price increases in the food and non-alcoholic beverages group of commodities as well as in transportation and housing, utilities and fuel.

The core inflation, however, which excludes items that are considered volatile like food and energy, rose again to 8% in March from 7.8% in February.

(Inquirer.net)

This handout photo shows Petty Officer 3rd Class Patrick John Braga, who is serving in the U.S. Navy after moving to the US from La Union province. Philstar.com photo

Sofia Roman Philstar.com photo

LEGACY OF VALOR. Filipino veterans get flowers from a staff of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines during the sunrise and wreath-laying rites in observance of the Philippine Veterans Week (PVW) at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Wednesday, April 5. Under Proclamation 466 issued in 1989, the PVW is held from April 5 to 11 of every year to promote, preserve, and honor the principles, ideas, and deeds of the war veterans to enhance patriotism and love of country, especially among the youth.

Asian Journal WKND

Success story: Triple triumphs scored for client on Citizen Pinoy this Sunday

PATRICK was petitioned for a green card by his aunt as a cook for her restaurant.

Interestingly, not many people are aware that family members can petition other family members for an employment-based green card, provided it is a real job and the employer is earning enough

Bimby shares updates about Kris Aquino’s health

By Kristofer Purnell Philstar.com

HOST-ACTRESS Kris Aquino is in a stable condition according to her youngest son Bimby, this as Kris continues to take treatment for several autoimmune diseases.

In a recent video upload on YouTube, talent manager Ogie Diaz recounted his visit to California on his way to New York with hopes of visiting Kris.

Unfortunately, the day Ogie was in California, Kris was undergoing numerous tests and needed to rest, so Bimby went in her stead. Bimby extended Kris’ apologies for not being able to meet Ogie and hoped he’d understand the situation.

Ogie then conversed with Bimby about their life in the United States, where Bimby happily said he’s there to take care of his mom, “I told nga Mama, my wife will be the love of my world but Mama [will be]

Jeremiah ‘dares to be different’ in debut concert

By Bot Glorioso Philstar.com

JEREMIAH Tiangco has realized that it is important to understand that each and everything in life has got its own timing.

my

just

the love of my universe.”

When Ogie asked how Kris was, Bimby said: “Okay naman, you know... stable, that’s a good word, stable lang. Of course, still beautiful, forever beautiful,”

adding that her weight has risen to 103 pounds.

Bimby continued that it was his duty as her son to look after Kris, calling himself the night

You see, the Sparkle GMA Artist Center talent was supposed to hold his first major solo concert last Feb. 11 and everything was already set — from the list of songs and guest performers down to the venue — when he received a notice that it

would be moved to April 15.

He admitted to having felt disappointment and even doubted if the concert would still push through.

“I’m the type who always looks at the positive side (of life) but since it already came out in the news that I (was) holding a concert on Feb. 11, of course, there was disappointment,” confessed Jeremiah in a recent virtual media conference.

“At first, I couldn’t process why it had to be postponed

“I didn’t shrink-

bunso

keeps growing taller,” Kris Aquino said about this photo with Bimby.

Photo from Instagram/@krisaquino

Sparkle GMA artist and The Clash Season 2 grand winner Jeremiah will hold his first major solo concert titled Dare to be Different. GMA photo

alien worker was approved. Patrick was also able to apply for lawful permanent status and was able get his green card in the U.S. without having to return to the U.S. Embassy in Manila, and his green card was approved without an interview.

Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, April 9 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app. (Advertising Supplement)

Richard on No. 1 fans, critics of ‘Iron Heart’ show

By nAthAlie M. toMAdA Philstar.com

RICHARD Gutierrez is one of the few stars schooled in the martial arts, making the stunt work and action in The Iron Heart as realistic as possible.

For the ABS-CBN primetime show, the actor is collaborating with action directors Lester Ong Pimentel, Wang Yan Bin and Team Action 360.

Direk Lester is a bemedalled martial artist trained in the Beijing institution that produced the likes of Jet Li. He started out as a stuntman and stunt choreographer before becoming action director. His other most recent work is One Good Day, starring Ian Veneracion, on the Amazon Prime Video streaming platform. Wang Yan Bin or director Ace, on the other hand, was behind international movies Ah Long PTE LTD and The Lion Men and part of, Ah Boys To Men and The Assassins.

The Iron Heart production takes pride in working on and delivering action that can rival that of international productions. “

Kaya siya with the right team and the right mindset,” Richard told The STAR recently in an exclusive chat, adding, “Masaya ako dahil extended din kami, nakita rin ng network yung potential ng show.”

KC turns 38, mom Sharon wishes: ‘May you receive all of your heart’s desires’

by Anne PAsAjol Inquirer.net

KC Concepcion marked her 38th birthday with greetings from her friends and loved ones including her mom, Megastar Sharon Cuneta. KC gave a glimpse of how she celebrated turning a year older through her Instagram page on Friday, April 7, showing herself seemingly making a wish before blowing out the candle on her birthday cake.

“Enchanting to meet you, 38,” she captioned her post.

Cuneta then sent a birthday greeting to her daughter through an Instagram post, in which she dedicated to the younger actress the lyrics of the song “If I Could.”

“I’d have tried to change the world I brought you to / And there isn’t very much that I can do

/ But I would if I could,” a part of the song goes.

“Happy Birthday to my beautiful eldest, my first-born forever, Maria Kristina Cassandra Cuneta Concepcion,” Cuneta added. “May you always turn to God and receive all of your heart’s desires. I love you. Your Mama.”

In the comments section, fans greeted KC while also admiring the Megastar for being a “sweet and loving momma” to her daughter with her former husband, actor Gabby Concepcion.

Cuneta opened up last February about her mother-and-daughter relationship with KC, which the Megastar confessed to be her “biggest pain.”

Cuneta admitted she knows “very little” of her eldest daughter’s life because the latter does not open up to her.

Cuneta also stressed that although there are recurring rifts between them, she would never speak ill of KC. g

“Until when? That we don’t know yet. Yung initial kasi nagdagdag pa ng 15 weeks. But we’ll see.” Physically, Richard is living up to the image audiences expect of an action star. He appears to be at his fittest and best form yet, although he believes there’s still room for improvement.

“I don’t want to think of it that way (that I’m at my best form). Inisip ko parang starting point ko palang. I can still push myself harder if I stay consistent. I have been preparing for that. It takes months eh. It takes a long time to prepare so finally, it’s all coming together. I’m going to push harder pa. Dami pang kulang, dami pang pwedeng ma-improve and to work on.”

He further shared of his learnings from doing the show:

“Every project is a learning experience because you’re working with different people, different scripts so you keep evolving as an artist. For this, I learned to just embrace the experience and be open to your colleagues. Right now, I’m

always talking to the writers, producers, directors, and you get to see different sides. So, you just keep on being open and take the things that will benefit you,” he said.

Richard admitted to being sensitive to critical comments when he was younger.

“Right now, I’m open to criticism. As an actor, I always tell my directors, please tell me if something is not OK. I’m willing to retake scenes. Even with my co-actors (I’m open) if they suggest something, as all of us have a vision for the show, and sometimes, there are things that a director or a co-actor sees, but another person doesn’t. Nothing beats a collaborative (environment) or collaboration.”

Currently, Richard’s lead character Apollo continues to “collaborate” and partner with once-nemesis Eros (played by Jake Cuenca) to uncover The Iron Heart, the secret project of resident villain Priam (Albert Martinez). He forms a team called Apollo 5, which besides Eros, includes Juno (Meryll Soriano), Venus (Sue Ramirez) and Poseidon (Pepe Herrera).

The past few weeks also saw the special appearances of the likes of Ian Veneracion and Diether Ocampo. And it’s not strictly action with the growing romantic angle between Apollo and Venus.

The series has been filming entirely in Cebu. “We’re very well-supported in Cebu. Naestablish namin lahat ng locations dun. Yes, definitely we’re going to present new locations in Cebu because Cebu has so much to offer because the city is about 30 minutes to an hour from parang

Baguio ka na (Busay area) or a beautiful beach is like an hour away. Everything is there,” he said.

Richard’s wife Sarah Lahbati and their young kids Zion and Kai have been spotted with him in Cebu. He also brings his sons to the set. He said of his family, particularly his children, “Tuwang tuwa sila sa show, sila talaga yung supporters ko sa bahay kasi every night pinapanood talaga nila. They never miss an episode, they’re very honest with me kung meron silang hindi na gustuhan or something.

“They’re my critics. They’re my No. 1 supporters and critics. Si (mom Annabelle Rama) siya din, isa pa yun (laughs). Gusto ko yung ganun, yung may honesty talaga. So, I know what needs to be improved. And very happy sila sa show. Si Sarah, she keeps telling me ang ganda ng show and to keep it up. So nakakainspire,” Richard said. Is there a chance for Sarah to make an acting return via The Iron Heart?

Andun naman siya BTS (behind the scenes) hahaha! Ang hirap kasi ‘pag nagsabay kami kasi mga bata walang…very hands-on kasi si Sarah. Actually, both of us but since I’m busy now, she has to take over and it’s not easy taking care of two boys and then being a hands-on mom and ako wala. Siempre, maraming adjustments,” he said.

“So, I can’t imagine if sabay kami nagte-taping ni Sarah. But if there’s a chance for her to return to (acting) and then kung makapag-guest man siya, why not? Sobrang OK siya for us kasi pareho kami ng schedule. My kids might even go to school in Cebu (laughs). We’ll see.” g

John declares love for wife

By Anne PAsAjol Inquirer.net

DAYS after Priscilla Meirelles confirmed having marital problems with John Estrada, the actor professed his love to his wife whom he called his “one and only queen.”

John said this while showing himself snuggled up with

Meirelles through his Instagram page on Friday, April 7. In the other photo, he can be seen kissing the Brazilian beauty queen on her cheek.

“The love of my life, my wife, my one and only Queen,” he wrote in the caption, alongside hashtags “happy together,” “J [love] P,” “natural beauty” and “happy wife, happy life.”

The couple and their daughter Anechka also appeared to have gone on a trip with Moira, Kaila and Yuan Estrada, the actor’s children with his ex-wife, actress Janice de Belen. Inah, John and Janice’s eldest child who earlier sent love to Meirelles, was seemingly not with them.

After dropping a cryptic remark about a “female that entertains a married man” last March 28, Meirelles admitted that she and Estrada have been having marital problems caused by “many reasons.”

Meirelles did not further disclose the reasons, but she seemingly hinted that some women want to “destroy and steal” her family. The Brazilian beauty queen has since been making remarks about keeping her head up, and being “ready for war.” g

Bimby shares updates...

PAGE B1

duty person rather than a nurse as he sleeps beside his mom. He added these where Kris’ advice to him: “Be good, take care of yourself, take care of Mama when you’re older, and your brother [Josh].”

Bimby thanked Kris’ fans for

their support and prayers for his mother’s health, and as a word of assurance, he promised to do his best to take care of Kris.

Later in the video, Ogie believes Bimby and Josh are not in communication with their fathers James Yap and Phillip Salvador, respectively, as it is

enough for Kris that she is the singular parental figure in their lives.

Kris recently celebrated her 52nd birthday last February 14 and dispelled rumors that she was in a relationship with Batangas Vice Governor Mark Leviste. g

Jeremiah ‘dares to be different’ in...

PAGE B1

because lots of preparations had been done days before Feb. 11. So, noong sinabi na postponed, parang huwag na lang kaya. But later on, I used it as motivation na kailangan itong matuloy. I don’t want to fail my fans and my team.”

Jeremiah added that he later on realized that everything happens in God’s perfect timing “because the first big challenge for me, as one of the producers, was financial (aspect) kaya naniniwala ako in God’s perfect timing kasi ‘yun nga sabi ko parang hindi s’ya matutuloy kaya humingi talaga ako ng sign kung para sa akin ba talaga itong April 15 (concert date).

“Then, just recently, the Lord provided to cover for everything. Ngayon, ang laki ng pasasalamat sa puso ko sa lahat ng nangyari.”

Happy and grateful, Jeremiah promises to give a night of great music in his concert titled Dare to be Different set on April 15, 8 p.m. at the Music Museum in San Juan City.

“We will make sure that it’s going to be a fun night full of great music because we prepared well for this with direk Lee (Gasid). I want to show who I really am (as a performer) when I’m on stage

kasi siyempre sa AOS (All-Out Sundays), marami kami doon at hati-hati kami ng ginagawa (during production numbers) with my co-artists.

“In the concert, the focus is on me and at the same time, I will show a kind of performance that I’ve never done before.”

The audience can also expect Jeremiah in colorful attires that he described as “a fusion of colors and style. I’m going to be a bit fashionable, hahaha, parang Bruno Mars (style).”

Dare to be Different also offers an exciting lineup of performances from Jeremiah’s guest artists like Christian Bautista, The Clash winners Jessica Villarubin and Mariane Osabel, and The Clash finalists Garrett Bolden and Vilmark Viray. Also set to perform in the one-night concert are Ken Chan, This Band, Rob Deniel, Magnus Haven and The Viktor Project.

During rehearsals, Jeremiah said self-discipline and stamina came in useful. “We need to discipline ourselves sa pag-re-rehearse sa songs because apart from that, we also have tapings (for other shows) kaya dapat hindi namin masayang ang energy namin and at the same time, we need to take care of our voice.” g

KC Concepcion and Sharon Cuneta

Photos from Instagram/@kristinaconcepcion, @

Leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (right) was able to earn triple victories for Patrick (left) on a brand-new episode of Citizen Pinoy.

The Iron Heart lead star Richard Gutierrez has been trained in the martial arts since he was around seven years old. ABS-

Priscilla Meirelles and John Estrada Photos from Instagram/@

Tyson Venegas has Katy Perry in chills after Queen duet cover on ‘American Idol’

by Kristofer Purnell Philstar.com

Venegas continued his phenomenal run on the 21st season of the long-running musical competition show “American Idol” with a hair-raising cover of Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now.”

Tyson, who received a Platinum ticket during the auditions phase, the first of the season, teamed up with fellow Platinum ticket earner Kaylin Hedges to form “The Shenanigans” in Hollywood Week Duets.

Kaylin informed the judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan that she and Tyson would be performing Queen’s hit song, and Lionel expressed his excitment and interest as he noted both contestants earned Platinum tickets.

Tyson started the song and when Kaylin joined him in belting the first verse, Katy was visibly awestruck and showed off her goosebumps to Luke and Lionel.

Both contestants’ mothers were in the venue as Tyson and Kaylin belted the titular lyrics in extension, which had Katy pointing

in encouragement. The two picked up the faster beat but maintained their vocal prowess as they finished the chorus strong, and Lionel and Luke joined the other contestants in a standing ovation while Katy was still in disbelief at their performance.

On social media, Katy Perry posted a photo and video Luke had taken of her visible goosebumps, joking that she had herself diagnosed on Web MD for “good sangin”; meanwhile Luke called Tyson and Kaylin “showstoppers” that gave him “full body chills.”

In the audition phase that earned him a Platinum ticket, Tyson performed Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind” while playing the piano himself; Kaylin would later become the season’s second recipient of a Platinum ticket.

Tyson previously joined the second season of “The Voice Teens Philippines” in 2020 under Team apl.de.ap where he also performed “New York State of Mind” while blindfolded, however he left the competition before the Knockouts stage due to undisclosed reasons. g

Celebrities reflect on faith, life this Holy Week

By Anne PAsAjol Inquirer.net

CELEBRITIES may have different ways of spending the Holy Week but it has been a routine for most to use this time not only to enjoy vacations, but also to pause and reflect.

While taking a breather in this period, some of them have still made sure to connect to fans to not lose sight of the essence of the occasion.

Through her Instagram page, actress Julia Montes aimed to inspire others to live in hope as she spoke about the realizations she had after turning a year older last month.

“Let’s not start our day with the broken pieces of yesterday. Every morning we wake up, it is the first day of the rest of our life,” she said. “After my 28th birthday, [I] realized so many things in life and never been more grateful.”

“I promise it’s gonna be [closer] to You this time around,” she continued.

“Your plans, not mine. Lifting everything up to you Lord God.”

Singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid marked this time of

reflection by professing his faith in his two new songs entitled “ Panginoon Ikaw Lamang ” and “Jesus Lord We Praise You.” The two tracks are part of his upcoming EP “Praise and Worship” which will be released on Sunday, April 9. “We won’t be shaken by any storm for You are a fortress, a

cornerstone. Fear won’t ever break us down for You have conquered the world,” a part of the lyrics of “Jesus Lord We Praise You” went.

Richard Yap, for his part, underscored the importance of allotting time to God through prayers, and how it should be observed during this Holy Week. He also reminded fans

Alden Richards on his love life, ‘Eat Bulaga,’ shooting 2 movies abroad

by KAthleen A. llemit Philstar.com

IT’S a jampacked year for Alden Richards as he returns to “Eat Bulaga” and is set to do a new GMA show and two movies that will be shot abroad.

Alden sat with the press at the sidelines of the firstever Century Tuna Saving Our Seas Beach and Reef Cleanup Activity last March 25 in Batangas. The initiative aims to raise awareness on the problem and active participation of consumers in mitigating marine pollution.

The actor is an endorser of Century Tuna Superbods.

“Lumuwag nang matindi ‘yung schedule ko,” he said, referring to the time after his show “StartUp PH” ended last year.

recently returned as one of the hosts.

’Yun, kababalik ko lang din po sa ‘Eat Bulaga.’ So I see to it kahit papano ma-squeeze in ko rin siya kahit gaano po ka-busy ‘yung schedule,” the actor said.

Alden also said that he has plans for Myriad Corp., the production agency he put up last year. It is the same production company that staged the muchawaited “Eraserheads” reunion concert last December 22. With such a busy schedule, does the actor have time for love life? He gamely answered the question on being proactive about it.

of His sacrifices which the actor hopes to not be put in vain.

“Relax [and] recharge, spend time with your loved ones but don’t forget to pray. Pray that Jesus did not die on the cross for nothing, that evil doesn’t triumph over good, that honor and integrity will be more

“Itong first quarter ng 2023 was really about planning and plotting out what’s next for me for this year. Second quarter medyo dire-diretso na po eto kasi first with GMA, I’ll be having a new hosting show. I’ll be doing, for now, there are two confirmed movies that will be shot here and abroad,” Alden shared.

He also briefly mentioned “Eat Bulaga,” which he had been absent for a time and

“That really depends. Actually, ang love naman kasi, it depends on the person, how that person sees what needs to be done. Kung ikaw you’re very eager, kung ikaw ‘yun ‘yung priority mo. Kung eager ka to really find that someone for you and you feel like it’s about time na magkaroon ka naman.

“I think maybe bagay sa kanya ‘yung question mo, but with other people naman, siyempre may mga tao pa rin na naniniwala sa right timing. Hindi mo kailangan ipilit kasi minsan ‘yung mga bagay na pinipilit ‘yun ‘yung hindi natutupad e,” said Alden. g

Fil-Canadian Tyson Venegas

Photo from Instagram/@tysonvenegas

FILIPINO-CANADIAN teenager Tyson

Richard Yap, Richard Gutierrez, Julia Montes and Ogie Alcasid Photos from Instagram/@iamrichardyap, @richardgutz, @montesjulia08, @ogiealcasid

Alden Richards Photo from Instagram/@aldenrichards02

Piolo to star in ‘Ibarra’ musical, thriller film

by Kathleen a llemit Philstar.com

PIOLO Pascual is busy as a bee for 2023 with a musical, films, a tour and a series on the way.

The actor revealed that he recently finished doing a series with Alessandra de Rossi.

“Just finished doing a series with Alessandra. Come out on Netflix. It’s an eight-episode series, the first Filipino series that Netflix actually acquired,” said the actor at the recent launch of his newest project with his endorsement Sun Life.

He was the producer of two of Alessandra’s films with Empoy Marquez: the 2017 hit “Kita Kita” and the recently released film “Walang KaParis.”

This week, the full cast of “Ibarra” the musical has been released. Joining Piolo are Myramae Meneses (Maria Clara), Jeffrey Hidalgo (Elias), Floyd Tena (Padre Damaso), Carlo Mañalac (Padre Salvi), Nicole Laurel Asensio (Sisa), JD Tena (Basilio), Elian Santos (Crispin), Jon Joven Uy (Pilosopo Tasyo) and Carla Guevara

Jamie Rivera heads ABS-CBN’s new music label, drops another inspirational single

By Charmie Joy Pagulong Philstar.com

AFTER recording and releasing Heal Our Land, Jubilee Song, Only Selfless Love, Tell the World of His Love, We Are All God’s Children and We Give Our Yes, Jamie Rivera has penned and dropped another inspirational track titled 3 in 1 under ABS-CBN’s new music label, Inspire Music. She also serves as the head and creative consultant of the recentlyintroduced record label.

Jamie’s latest single features Imogen and The Voice Kids Philippines Season 5 contestant Fabio Santos. Released in time for Lenten reflections, the upbeat song with a tinge of reggae is about the joy of believing in God, three persons in one, referring to the Holy Trinity or God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

It was during the pandemic that she got to do more spiritual contemplation and was inspired to write the song. “I realized that during the pandemic, the only one that could really help us survive is God,” she said in a virtual call.

“And maraming nalilito na bakit, ‘O, magdasal ka sa Father, o magdasal ka sa Son, o magdasal ka sa Holy Spirit.’ They were really confused, especially the children.”

So, she thought of the song.

“I said it’s about time. It would

be nice and it’s about time to write and to inform the people or to remind them that there are three persons in one God,” she continued.

The Inspirational Diva dedicated the ditty specially to the children, saying, “Marami pa ring hindi nakaalam, that’s why I want the children to know this.”

Jamie made the track “very, very light” and “very understandable,” using simple words for the younger listeners, just like what she did in her previous songs Jubilee Song, Only Selfless Love and Heal Our Land.

“There’s a music video, hand

movements, ganyan na nakakarelate ang mga bata. So I said, uulitin ko yan. Sila yung mga gustong kong matuto because we, the older ones, somehow, we knew it already. We just have to be reminded,” she further shared.

“Most of the kids, nakulong sila, nasa computer lang sila. Unlike before na face-to-face, there’s so many opportunities to share this to the kids… I said we should teach the children about the Holy Trinity.”

She expounded that “God the Father is our Creator,” “God the Son is our Savior who died to save us,” and the “Holy Spirit is someone you will call when you

are confused or when you are about to do something that is not quite right.”

“You need guidance or meron kang hindi naiintidihan, you call on the Holy Spirit and you will be enlightened,” she added.

“But the wonder of it, all are in one. So hindi mo kailangan tawagin ng isa-isa lahat yan na God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The moment you say Lord, the moment you say God, please help me, sila na yun. To the rescue na silang tatlo.”

Meanwhile, ABS-CBN Music creative director Jonathan Manalo remarked that the vision of Inspire Music, as the title suggests, is to “inspire people.”

Jonathan shared that they want to uplift the listeners through the songs that will come out from the label. “We want to inspire them kahit ano man yung pinagdadaanan nila sa buhay (and) whatever is the context of their personal stories. There’s part of the lyrics na mag-miminister na kung ano man yung life journey nila at the moment,” he stated.

“If that will be the impact on the audience, we feel that we are successful because that is our goal, maging companion siya ng listeners in their own personal listening time. They are able to breathe and they will feel better by just listening to the songs under the Inspire (Music) label,” he added. g

Piolo Pascual Photo from Instagram/@piolo_pascual

Jamie Rivera

Sunshine Cruz says she, daughters didn’t get alleged airline VIP treatment

by Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

MANILA — Actress Sunshine Cruz called out a social media user for posting a blind item that made other netizens think that it was her and her daughters who caused trouble with an airline company.

In a now deleted post, a social media user posted that they were bumped off to a flight because the airline company gave their seats to a “celebrity family.”

Sunshine and her daughters are currently vacationing in Bali, Indonesia.

In her Facebook account, Sunshine clarified that it was not

When immigrant employees are threatened with deportation

them.

“Not us! Booked and paid since first week of March,” she said.

“My family and friends have tickets to Bali at nakasakay ka din naman pala girl. Hinayaan mo pang i-bash at guluhin kami ng mga tao sa insidente na wala kaming kaalam-alam at kasalanan. Ngayong lumaki ang issue deleted na ang post mo girl?!” she added.  According to the social media user, they were bumped off because the “celebrity family” doesn’t want to sit all the way to the back of the plane.

“From what I heard – one of these celebs bought an economy ticket and didn’t want to get seated all the way back or at the exit row…so PAL Supervisor decided to upgrade him. WOW.”

The Philippine Airlines, however, said that they have no policy to bump off passengers for high-profile travelers.

In the end, the social media user and her companion were seated on their original business class seats. g

Ruffa loses in labor complaint filed by former house helpers

by HannaH Mallorca Inquirer.net

RUFFA Gutierrez has reportedly lost in the labor complaint filed by two of her former house help who claimed to have been fired by the actress without giving their salaries, according to P3PWD Party-List Rep. Rowena Guanzon.

“Maging leksyon ito sa mga amo na ituring naman pong tao na may damdamin yung mga kasambahay ninyo. Sana po ay maayos na ito. Nananawagan ako kay Ruffa Gutierrez na ayusin na niya ito, i-settle na nya. Ang gusto lang naman ng mga kasambahay na ito ay makapagtrabaho ng maayos, at ituring ng maayos,” the partylist congresswoman said in the video. “

Kakampi ako ng mga inaapi, ng mga walang kalaban laban. Mga kaibigan, nanalo sa labor case ang dalawang kasambahay lanan kay Ruffa G. #p3pwdatyourservice,” she added.

The case stemmed from the complaint lodged by Gutierrez’s maids before the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) in July 2022, claiming that they were fired by the seasoned actress from her Ayala Alabang home without giving their salaries.

Guanzon first made public the case filed by the house helpers when she shared a screenshot of the “Notice of Conference” addressed to the “Maid in Malacañang” star on social media, despite her legal counsel dismissing the claims as “black propaganda.”

TV personality Ogie Diaz also shared on his Showbiz Update vlog, which was uploaded on his YouTube channel last Friday, March 31, a photo of the decision from the labor commission under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) dated September 2022.

Diaz also noted that the court ordered Gutierrez and her house helpers to come up with a compromise, but to no avail.

He also added that Gutierrez’s camp did not file an appeal to the decision, as she was ordered to pay an aggregate amount of P13,299.92, as well as unpaid wages and pro-rated 13th month pay within 10 days, “Nanalo ‘yung dalawang

Do threats constitute human trafficking or forced labor?

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights

Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr

Q: I WAS petitioned by my current employer to work in a residential care facility in the US. I work 6 days a week, and often on a 10-12 hour shift each day, but my employer does not pay overtime. When I asked for additional payment, my boss said that I should be thankful that I am working in the US, and not in the Philippines. He warned that if I continue to ask for more money, he would fire me. This means that I would lose my immigration status and can be deported. What rights do I have as an employee?

A: It is unlawful for any person to obtain labor or services by means of force, threat, or by any scheme or plan that would cause belief of harm on the worker. The offense is Human Trafficking or Forced Labor, which can hold an employer criminally or civilly liable under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (“TVPRA”). This federal statute has its state counterpart under California’s Trafficking Victims Protection Act (“TVPA”).

The use of force, or threat of force, to obtain the worker’s labor can either be physical or psychological. The physical force can consist of physical restraint, beating, sexual assault or physical confinement. An employer, however, can use non-physical ways to exert pressure on the employee to perform the work against the latter’s will, or acquiesce to exploitative conditions at work.

control.

This writer has served as counsel for human trafficking survivors and analyzed various court cases on this issue. Several other types of threats may be prohibited as means to obtain forced labor under the TVPRA. These may include abuse of legal process like an employer’s fraudulent visa applications or insinuations of deportation proceedings. Indeed, “any scheme” or “plan” by the employer that causes belief that the employee will suffer serious harm to obtain labor is a violation.

Utilized particularly against workers who have lost their status or are undocumented, as well as against many uninformed legal immigrants, this wide array of employer’s threats may include the following:

• Threats to report to the police or to the FBI that can throw the worker to jail;

• Threats to report to the immigration authorities that can lead to deportation. (In one case, the workers were threatened to be returned to the Middle Eastern country where they were trafficked from, and where they can be subject to flogging);

• Deceitful promises of immigration petitions and threatened withdrawal of these promises that can also result in deportation;

• Threats of harm to relatives in the home country;

• If employees signed loans in the home country, the threatened job termination would render them unable to pay the loans and can result in seizure of collateral properties connected with the loans;

liberties. Under the law, the victims are not only entitled to payment of back wages, legal interest, and penalties; victims also have the right to compensation for the more serious emotional and mental pains they suffered for being denied their fundamental human rights. They can recover punitive damages in certain situations. In California, these employees can recover treble the amounts of their compensatory damages. Both the TVPRA and the TVPA allow recovery of attorneys’ fees, so the filing of civil lawsuits to recover compensation for the workers can be done on a contingency (no recovery no fee) basis. This removes the usual impediment on workers’ access to employment counsel so that they can obtain relief in court. Employees who are caught in these situations are thus well advised to immediately seek consultation with experienced employment counsel. These consultations are confidential, and are generally at no expense to the employees. In most cases, coordination is made with immigration attorneys to protect the workers’ immigration status.

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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.

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kasambahay na pinaalis ni Ruffa Gutierrez sa kanyang Alabang house at nandoon ‘yung dalawa sa gate ng Ayala Alabang village. Noong September 2022 ay sinubukang pag-ayusin sina Ruffa at ang dalawang kasambahay pero parehong ayaw ng compromise kaya tinuloy ang kaso,” he said.

(The two former house helpers, who were kicked out by Gutierrez from her Ayala Alabang home, won the case. The [NLRC] ordered Gutierrez and the house help to reach a mutual compromise, but neither agreed to it. This is why the case continued.)

“Kilala ko naman si Ruffa. In fairness, mabait naman ang batang ‘yan. Ilang beses na kaming nagkakausap niyan at nakikita kong mabait si Ruffa pero siyempre, hindi naman ako ‘yung naging kasambahay. Sila ‘yung merong experience o kuwento about Ruffa at ngayon ay nabigyan ng pansin ng DOLE,” he pointed out.

“And I’m sure si Ruffa ay tutugon [naman] sa desisyon na ito at maliit na bagay at maliit na halaga para hindi tuparin ni Ruffa ang kanyang obligasyon doon sa dalawang kasambahay,” he further added.

(I know Ruffa. In fairness, she’s a kind person. We’ve talked to each other in multiple encounters and I see that she’s kind. But at the end of the day, I’m not her house help. They are the ones who experienced the mistreatment and it was brought to light by DOLE. And I’m sure Ruffa would respond to

the decision since the fees are considered to be small for her. It shouldn’t come as a surprise if she fulfills her fine.)

The talent manager also hoped that the labor complaint would serve as a lesson to Gutierrez to treat her house helpers better.

“Sana matapos na ito. At the end of the day, siguro gusto lang patunayan nang dalawang kasambahay na hindi totoo ‘yung mga ibinibintang sa kanila noong sila’y napalayas sa bahay nina Ruffa. [Para rin] nakakahinga na sila ng maluwag sa iisipin ng tao na sila’y may kasalanan o nagnakaw sa bahay ni Ruffa,” he said. (I hope the issue ends because at the end of the day, Gutierrez’s house helpers just want to prove a point. They deserve to live peacefully, without being accused of robbing from the actress.)

“Lesson na rin ito sa lahat maging sa akin na ang pag-trato sa mga kasambahay ay para ring kapamilya. At siyempre, sa mga kasambahay kapag itinuring kayong kapamilya, patunayan ninyo na kahit hindi kayo magkadugo, alam ninyong maasahan kayo ng inyong mga employer sa lahat ng bagay lalo na ang tiwala huwag ninyong sasayangin,” he further added. (It’s a lesson for us to treat our house helpers as if they are our own family. Of course, house helpers should prove that they’re worthy of their employers’s trust too.)

Gutierrez and her legal team have yet to respond to the reports, as of this writing. g

Piolo to star in ‘Ibarra’...

Laforteza (Doña Victorina).

“Ibarra” is an adaptation of Dr. Jose Rizal’s novel “Noli Me Tangere.”

Piolo said he’ll be busy with “Ibarra” when it comes out in June.

The actor will be jumping into another historical role in the film “GomBurZa.” It tells the story of the three Catholic priets, Mariano Gomez, José Burgos and Jacinto Zamora, who were executed during the Spanish occupation in 1872 on charges of subversion in relation to the Cavite mutiny in the same year.

Piolo will play the role of Pedro Pelaez, a contemporary of Mariano Gomez and who was known to have fought the rights of Filipino priests during the Spanish colonial period. The film stars Dante Rivero, Cedric Juan and Enchong Dee in the titular roles. It is scheduled to premiere in December this year. Also included in his 2023 project is the suspense-crimethriller tentatively titled “The Ride” with young star Kyle Echarri.

He’s also set to tour in July and do another film sometime in August or September.

“So it’s a pretty booked year,” said the actor. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit ko ito ginagawa,” quipped Piolo to a remark from the press on his busy year.

“Well, you know blessings keep coming up and I just take on the challenge and I always get inspired when you know I go to unchartered territory and challenge myself to you know come up with something that I’ve not done before. So I guess bottomline is just to really stay active. Keep on doing what you’re doing and doing what you know best,” he ended. g

Celebrities reflect on faith, life...

important than money and power,” he wrote.

“May our Lord Jesus’ sacrifice not be in vain.”

Richard Gutierrez, meanwhile, talked about trusting God and surrendering to His plans as

the actor declared his faith during his nature trip in an undisclosed location.

“There are no shortcuts to any place worth going. Trust the path He has laid out for you and you will be rewarded,” Gutierrez said. g

These subtle, non-physical threats on employees, for instance, may consist of warnings of job termination. The specter of deportation can then be used to enforce the employer’s demand. A typical example is the above immigration scenario where the employee’s U.S. visa petition is subject to the employer’s

• If the employee has signed contracts with US labor recruiters which require them to work for a minimum period for a particular employer, the job termination can expose them to lawsuits in the US demanding payment of excessive fines or penalties.

Labor Human Trafficking is wrong, as it denies individuals of their rights to their individual

The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at no-cost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www. joesayaslaw.com. [C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. is an experienced litigation attorney who has successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine for 11 years, and is a past Presidential Awardee for Outstanding Filipino Overseas.] (Advertising Supplement)

Ruffa Gutierrez

Photo from Instagram/@iloveruffag

Actress Sunshine Cruz in an image posted on Instagram on August 7, 2022.

Photo from Sunshine Cruz via Instagram

DEAR Attorney Tan, I was driving home and was at a complete stop when another driver rear ended my car. I was not feeling well after the accident, as my back seemed very tight and stiff. I took some days off from work. After a week, I contacted the other driver’s insurance to report the claim. The insurance adjuster for the other driver said they would fix my car, and offered me $500.00 for my injuries. Is that enough? I do not know where to go from here. –K.K.

Dear K.K.,

The first step is to make sure that any injuries that you have suffered in the accident are examined and treated. You can recover treatment costs since they are considered “economic damages” that you suffered due to the accident. You can also recover for time away from work as “economic damages,” even if you used paid time off or sick leave.

The term “economic damages” means “objectively verifiable monetary losses including medical expenses, loss of earnings, burial costs, loss of use of property, costs of repair or replacement, costs of obtaining substitute domestic services, loss of employment and loss of business or employment opportunities.”

Maximizing recovery in personal injury cases

Civil Code Section 1431.2(b)(1). A person’s claim for economic damages apart from medical expenses are often overlooked and not pursued by persons who settle their accident cases on their own, or with the assistance of inexperienced counsel.

Loss of earnings are often a significant part of an injured person’s claim for economic damages. Damages are recoverable for both past and future lost earnings. To recover for past lost earnings, a person must prove the amount of income or earnings that he/ she has lost to date. To recover damages for future earnings, a person must prove the amount of income or earnings that he/ she will be reasonably certain to lose in the future as a result of the injury. CACI No. 3903C.

How are past lost earnings proven? Medical records, which show the doctor authorizing a release from work or giving instructions to restrict

work activities, can support the time taken off from work due to the injury. For those selfemployed, medical providers typically do not provide a release from work; however, medical records should record work restrictions placed by the medical provider.

After showing that the time off was justified, the next step is to value the lost earnings. A letter from a person’s employer that outlines the amount of time that one has lost as a result of his/her injury, the loss of benefits, and the rate of pay during the time of loss is evidence of the value of one’s loss of earnings claim. Other supporting documents include pay stubs, time cards, and tax returns. The monetary value of sick leave and vacation time that are used due to the injury are also recoverable. For those self-employed, earnings history as reflected by tax returns and profit and loss statements can help prove the value of lost earnings. Similar

supporting documentation must be presented for future lost earnings.

Apart from economic damages, you can recover “general damages,” which are damages for the pain, suffering, and inconvenience due to the accident.

If you were suffered injury in an auto accident or someone’s premises, please contact our office to discuss your case. To maximize monetary recovery, it is important to have the assistance of an experienced attorney in presenting your personal injury claim.

* * * 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.

* * * Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles (CAALA) and American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). He is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Philippine American Bar Association (PABA). LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN, 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Tel: 323639-0277. Email: info@dtanlaw.com (Advertising Supplement)

Can I qualify for a green card despite the petitioner’s death?

Barrister’s Corner

CONSIDER this common factual situation. You are over 21 years old and your U.S. citizen parent petitions you while you are inside the United States. Since this is a preference category, you have to wait many years for your priority date to be current. As the years go by, your petitioning parent dies which in turn revokes the petition. Can you still apply for your green card when your priority date becomes current?

Under Section 204(l) of the immigration and nationality act, you may apply for a green card despite the death of the petitioner once your priority date becomes current as long as 1) you were in the United States at the time of the Petitioner’s death, and 2) you continuously resided in the United States until the present time when you apply for adjustment of status. This provision does not apply to beneficiaries that are outside the United States. This provision also applies to both approved and pending Petitions.

This avenue is available to all family based petitions as outlined in INA section 204(l)(2). This includes 1)immediate relative petitions and 2)preference family petitions such as unmarried sons and daughters of us citizens, spouses and unmarried sons and daughters of lpr, married sons and daughters of us citizens, and brothers and sisters of us citizens.

Derivative beneficiaries of pending or approved employment- based immigrant visa petitions are also covered by this section. This includes the spouse and unmarried children under age 21 of an individual who was sponsored under the employment-based category.

If you fail to meet the requirements of INA 204(l) because you did not continously reside in the U.S. since the death of the Petitioner, you may still try to reinstate the Petition under 8 CFR Sec. 205.1(a)(3) Humanitarian Reinstatement.

The DHS (Dept. of Homeland Security) may exercise discretion “for humanitarian reasons” to

reinstate the petition and to allow the Affidavit of Support requirements to be satisfied by the qualifying I-864 of a spouse, parent, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, grandparent, or grandchild or legal guardian of the beneficiary, as long as the petition was “approved” prior to the Petitioner’s death.

DHS discretion does not mean “guaranteed” approval. The case will be evaluated on a case by case basis. Some of the factors that the DHS may consider are

1) disruption of an established family unit;

2) hardship to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents;

3) beneficiary is elderly or in poor health; 4) beneficiary has had lengthy residence in the US; 4) beneficiary has no home to go to; 5)undue delay by USCIS or consular officer in processing petition and visa;

6) and Beneficiary has strong family ties in the United States. The beneficiary must be prepared to show proof of the original I-130 that was filed, proof of I-130 approval if approved, a copy of the Petitioner’s death certificate, proof of substitute sponsor’s relationship to the beneficiary, and meet all the I-864 requirements.

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Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice.  The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information.  This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed.  The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you.  This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APLC.  This article is not a solicitation.

* * * Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of the Family law section, Estates and Trust, and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APLC. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail Kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com. Web: kenreyeslaw. com. (Advertising Supplement)

“Loss of earnings are often a significant part of an injured person’s claim for economic damages. Damages are recoverable for both past and future lost earnings.”

“If you fail to meet the requirements of INA 204(l) because you did not continously reside in the U.S. since the death of the Petitioner, you may still try to reinstate the Petition under 8 CFR Sec. 205.1(a)(3) Humanitarian Reinstatement.”