041522 - Northern California Edition

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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Volume 21 - No. 15 • 14 Pages

T HE F ILIPINO A MERICAN C OMMUNITY N EWSPAPER

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APRIL 15-21, 2022

Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, SAN DIEGO, LAS VEGAS, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY

Philippine Consulate in SF begins CA museum launches overseas voting for 2022 election digital archive on DATELINE USA FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Filipino pioneers

SANTA CRUZ — A digital archive on the lives of Filipino pioneers in California’s agricultural Pajaro Valley was launched April 9 at this city’s Museum of Art and History.

The “Watsonville Is in the Heart Digital Archive” preserves documents on the first wave of Filipino immigrants (the Manong generation) that came to America during the 1920s and 1930s as farm workers. ” Filipinos who came in the 1920’s struggled quite a bit and had to suffer a lot of issues with racism,” said Steve McKay, University of California Santa Cruz faculty co-organizer of the “Watsonville is in the Heart” research initiative.

Although the archive is still in its developmental stage, the launching was meant to encourage contributors to its collection.

The archive includes information on the 1930’s Anti-Filipino Race Riots in Watsonville, when Filipino farm workers were violently attacked by the local residents who opposed

Over 12,000 ballots mailed to eligible voters in 10 states under Consulate jurisdiction

by AJPRESS

ELIGIBLE Filipinos voters in the United States can now cast their votes in the 2022 Philippine national elections.

The month-long voting period began on April 10 national candidates – president, vice president, senators, and party-list groups. and will end on May 9.

Registered Filipino voters abroad will be voting Over 1.6 million Filipinos are registered to vote personally or via mail at their respective Philippine overseas, according to the Commission on Elections embassies and consulates. They will vote for their  PAGE 2

‘Impunity remained’: US report shows drug-related killings continue in PH

by PATRICIA LOURDES Philstar.com

 PAGE 5

Fil-Am supporters flock to HiFi for BBMSara Duterte rally LOS ANGELES — Some 300-strong Filipino American supporters of Uniteam “Sama-samang Babangon Muli” presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (BBM) and his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio are optimistic that this “most qualified tandem” would win in this coming May 2022 elections.

Uniteam, in cooperation with BBM 2.0 (USA), held a grand rally last Saturday, April 9 at the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) in Los Angeles's Historic Filipinotown.

BBM 2.0 (USA) is the U.S.-based counterpart of BBM 2.0, which is an application (app) created by BBM-Sara party national chairman Jonathan “Atan” Bocaling to effectively monitor the number of tandem’s supporters all over the world. This app also includes the list of all volunteer campaign managers who are tasked to administer and oversee the BBM 2.0 app in their respective jurisdictions.

Tancredo Guray Jr., BBM 2.0 (USA)

 PAGE 7

COPS JOIN MORIONES PARADE. Marinduque police personnel join the Moriones Festival parade in Boac, Marinduque on Wednesday, April 13. Moriones is a lenten festival held annually during Holy Week in the island of Marinduque.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

by DONA

ELEVEN individuals attached to a California-based “marriage fraud ‘agency’” have been charged for allegedly arranging hundreds of fraudulent marriages to bypass legal immigration channels, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), confirmed in a statement released on Thursday, April 7.

 PAGE 2

Z. PAZZIBUGAN, MELVIN GASCON, TINA G. SANTOS Inquirer.net

MANILA — Two senators on Monday, April 11 called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to investigate the alleged disorder that marred the first day of absentee voting abroad, mainly in Hong Kong.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, chair of the Senate committee on foreign relations, said the Comelec should tweak its policies and instructions to its personnel and put in place an immediate solution to improve the current system.

“My heart goes out to those (overseas Filipino workers or OFWs) who were ready to vote but had to be turned back and would

have to return to cast their vote,” Pimentel said.

But Pimentel expressed optimism that the Comelec still has enough time to remedy the

by ZACARIAN SARAO situation.

Inquirer.net Sen. Imee Marcos, chair of the Senate committee on electoral reforms, suggested MANILA — Returning Filipinos that the Comelec extend voting hours at are no longer obligated to fill Philippine embassies and consulates to out and submit disembarkation ensure that OFWs are able to cast their votes.

The Comelec earlier admitted that the start of the monthlong overseas absentee voting in five Philippine foreign posts was delayed

 PAGE 7

Eleven individuals in total have been charged for illegally circumventing immigration laws from 2016 to 2022 MEDENILLA AJPress

MANILA — Unlawful killings linked to the Duterte administration's campaign against illegal drugs continue, according to a report from the United States Department of State.

The U.S. State Department's 2021 Country Report on Human Rights Practices listed significant human rights issues in the Philippines, including unlawful or arbitrary killings, reports of forced disappearance, torture by and on behalf of the government and non-state actors, among others.

Unlawful or politically motivated killings The report pointed out that there were numerous reports of killings of activists, judicial officials, local government leaders, and journalists by government allies, antigovernment insurgents, and unknown

Probe absentee voting mess, senators ask Comelec Returning Filipinos no longer required to fill arrival cards at PH airports

Several Filipinos in California charged in sham marriage, fraudulent green card operation

by KLARIZE

VIRAY

At least six of the 11 alleged fraudsters are Filipino nationals and based in Los Angeles: Marcialito “Mars” Benitez, 48; Engilbert “Angel” Ulan, 39; Nino Reyes Valmeo, 45; Harold Poquita, 30; Juanita Pacson, 45; and Felipe Capindo “Pilipi” David, 49.

The other individuals attached to the “large-scale” conspiracy who were charged include Peterson Souza, a 34-year-old Brazilian national living in Anaheim;

26-year-old Devon Hammer of Palmdale; 25-year-old Tamia Duckett of Lancaster, Palmdale, and Inglewood; 24-year-old Karina Santos of Lancaster; and 33-yearold Casey Loya of Lancaster and Palmdale.

According to the release, Benitez was the alleged leader of the so-called agency, which arranged sham marriages between U.S. citizens and foreign nationals for at least 400 clients between

October 2016 and March 2022.

According to the DOJ, eight of the alleged conspirators, including Benitez, were arrested on Thursday in California.

“This case is a prime example of multiple agencies working as a team to uphold and protect our [country's] lawful immigration system,” said Alanna Ow, Director of U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, San Diego District.

 PAGE 7

cards upon arrival at airports in the country, said the Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Tuesday, April 12.

“This move is part of BI’s efforts to ease its travel requirements for

 PAGE 5

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From the Front Page

Philippine Consulate in SF begins...

PAGE 1 (Comelec). The number has dropped since overseas absentee voting was first held in 2004 as hundreds of thousands of Filipinos returned to the Philippines due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The United States has a total of 198,935 registered voters, making it the third country with the most registered voters after the United Arab Emirates (290,182) and Saudi Arabia (282,605). Hong Kong and Canada round up the top five countries.

On May 9, 65.7 million Filipinos will go to their local polling precincts in the Philippines.

The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco said it has mailed over 12,000 ballot

packets to voters under its jurisdiction: Alaska, Northern California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Northern Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, and Utah.

The Consulate General’s mode of voting is postal voting, which involves the Consulate sending to registered overseas voters election packets that contain the official ballots. The Consulate has been sending the election packets to registered overseas voters.

“I wish to encourage those who have received their ballots to fill out the same and send back to the Consulate as soon as possible using the ballot envelope with prepaid postage stamps. They may also drop off their ballots

at the Consulate during office hours,” said Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Frank R. Ferrer.

The completed ballots must be mailed back to the Consulate in San Francisco before the close of the overseas voting period, which will be May 9, 2022 at 4 a.m.

(Pacific Time). Voters are also able to drop their ballot envelopes at the Consulate lobby until the deadline. Any ballots received afterward will be considered invalid and will not be counted.

The public is advised to check their names in the Certified List of Overseas Voters for the 2022 National Elections at https:// pcgsanfrancisco.org/certified-listof-overseas-voters-clov-2022/. g

human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch described widespread impunity for killings.

There were no prosecutions or convictions for extrajudicial killings in the year to October and three since the start of the drug war in 2016," the report said.

President Rodrigo Duterte's so-called narco-list was also mentioned in the report. In June 2021, former Talitay, Maguindanao mayor Montasser Sabal, who was on Duterte's list, was killed after reportedly grabbing the firearm of a police escort while being transferred to Camp Crame following his arrest.

Disappearance, torture The U.S. state department noted that while the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Center for Law of Armed Conflict did not report any case of forced disappearance linked to the military from January to July 2021, the CHR reported eight victims of abduction and forced disappearance from January to August.

"Armed forces members perpetrated two of these cases; communist insurgents, another two; national police members, one; alleged members of the National Bureau of Investigation, one; and those responsible for the remaining cases were unidentified," the report read.

The reported highlighted the case of farmers' group organizer Elena Tijamo, who was found in

Manila in September 2021. She was abducted in her home in Bantayan Island, Cebu in June 2020.

After her abduction, Tijamo told her family that her kidnappers would release her after the COVID-19 lockdowns ended.

According to the report, the CHR had received reports of security forces and police accused of routinely abusing and sometimes torturing suspects and detainees.

"As of August, the CHR had investigated 21 cases of alleged torture involving 25 victims; it suspected police involvement in 17 of the cases," it said.

There were also reports of rape and sexual abuse of women in police custody, such as the rape of two women detained at the Cebu City police station. Eleven police officers were accused of robbery, extortion and rape during this incident.

The U.S. State Department noted that impunity was a significant problem in the security forces, particularly the Philippine National Police.

"Human rights groups continued to express concern about abuses committed by the national police and other security forces and noted little progress in reforms aimed at improving investigations and prosecutions of suspected human rights violations," the report said. g

‘Impunity remained’: US report shows...

PAGE 1

assailants over the past year.

"The reported number of extrajudicial killings varied widely, as the government and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) used different definitions," the U.S. State Department reported.

Government data from January to August 2021 showed that: • Law enforcement authorities conducted about 20,000 drug operations.

• The government's RealNumbersPH platform reported 180 suspects killed and 34,507 arrested during drug operations.

• The Commission on Human Rights said it had investigated 100 new complaints of alleged extrajudicial and politically motivated killings.

• The commission investigated 130 victims allegedly perpetrated by 39 police personnel, eight military personnel, five insurgents, three local government officials and 45 unidentified persons.

• The CHR also investigated 49 drug-related killings with 53 victims with suspected police or Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency involvement.

The U.S. report also mentioned the "Bloody Sunday" raids in Laguna, Rizal and Batangas, where nine human rights activists were killed and six arrested in police operations.

"Local and international

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CA museum launches digital archive on...

PAGE 1

Da te lin e USa

immigration and socializing between Filipino men and white women.

“Filipinos have been in Watsonville since that time, but today there isn’t a single historical marker that Filipinos have played a role in Watsonville,” said McKay.

Included in the archive are photos, family heirlooms, handwritten letters, newspaper clippings and oral histories from the descendants of the farm workers.

It is a joint initiative of The Tobera Project and UCSC “Watsonville is in the Heart” research initiative. Fermin Tobera

was the Filipino farm workers who was killed during the Watsonville anti-Filipino race riots.

The project plans to make the archive a part of the curriculum for the Pajaro Valley School District. A large exhibit on Filipinos in Pajaro Valley will held at the Museum of Art and Hisory in 2024. (Inquirer.net)

PAGE 1 arriving Filipinos and facilitate their fast and hassle-free entry into their own country,” BI Port Divisions chief Carlos Capulong said in a statement.

Capulong explained that the said policy was implemented following the decline in the number of COVID-19 infections

in the country — which he said makes filling out disembarkation cards to the BI no longer necessary for arriving Filipinos.

“We required the submission of these disembarkation cards by arriving Filipinos to help the government in its contact tracing efforts at the height of the pandemic. Now that COVID

cases are declining, these cards can now be dispensed with,” Capulong said.

The adjustment, according to Capulong, will significantly lessen the requirements and processing time of arriving Filipinos.

The policy had also been approved by BI Commissioner Jaime Morente. g

Returning Filipinos no longer required to fill...

Starfleet Innotech launches digital ads on Nasdaq building and across Times Square, New York City “WE’RE thrilled to be telling this story through our placements at Times Square, signaling to our team, our business ecosystem, and our community that Starfleet is blasting off.”

Starfleet Innotech, Inc. (OTC Pink: SFIO) (“SFIO” or “The “Company”) this week launched a digital campaign promoting the company and its projects through electronic billboard placements on the Nasdaq Building and on select streetlevel screens across Times Square in New York City.

These digital placements complement SFIO’s ongoing expansion plans, in collaboration with media partner FMW Media.

The 15- and 30-second ads highlight the conglomerate’s core divisions, key businesses, and growth roadmap. Starfleet Innotech, Inc. is a global investment holding company focused on innovation through disruptive collaborations across its three key industries: Food and Beverage (F&B), Real Estate, and Technology. With a strong presence across New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and the Philippines, SFIO makes strategic investments in highgrowth businesses, building synergies across its diverse portfolio to provide maximum shareholder value.

The ads communicate SFIO’s core strategy of cross-divisional

collaborations. In broad strokes: • SFIO strategically enters new markets through its F&B businesses, led by their flagship brand, Epiphany Cafe.

• They fund this growth through high-yield, wellness tourism real estate development projects, spearheaded by Moraya, the premier real estate brand for technology-driven and wellness-oriented communities.

• They augment operations and unlock new opportunities through its technology division, LNS+.

• And supporting this ecosystem are backbone businesses ranging from education to accounting, digital marketing, architecture and engineering, website development, and hosting.

SFIO’s digital ads will soon be running on rotation above the entrance to the Nasdaq building on 4 Times Square, New York City. Currently, pedestrians will already see SFIO’s ads on street-level digital signage, the LinkNYC hubs, along surrounding high-traffic areas.

“Thanks to the fantastic team of leaders we’ve gathered to lead SFIO, our community has grown tremendously over the past year,” said SFIO CEO Jeths Lacson. “Today SFIO is truly a global company with teams innovating across markets and industries. While growth is our primary focus over the next few

years, our main goal has always been to create pathways to the global stage—such that the truly world-class business leaders we have across our key markets find the global opportunities they deserve, and are equipped with the knowledge, resources, and community that they need to build the futures of their industries. That is our mission at SFIO. That is our journey.”

“Here at the financial heart of the world, we’re waving our banner for all hypergrowth businesses. In terms of timing, this coincides perfectly with the work we’ve been doing to bolster our presence in the United States,” he added.

“We’re thrilled to be telling this story through our placements at Times Square, signaling to our team, our business ecosystem, and our community that Starfleet is blasting off.”

Chief Operating Officer Mark Epifanio recently shared that SFIO’s F&B division will soon be selling its Gorgeous Coffee-brand instant coffee and Epiphany Manuka honey products in the United States through partner platforms like Amazon. As the digital ads on Times Square roll, SFIO is laying the groundwork for a brick-andmortar entry into the US market in the near future, beginning with its flagship F&B business, Epiphany Cafe.

(Advertising Supplement)

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 15-21, 2022

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Dateline USa

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Several Filipinos in California charged in sham...

PAGE 1

A sea of red took over the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) building in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipinotown as over 300 Fil-Am supporters of Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte convened for a rally on Saturday, April 9.

AJPress photo by Donnabelle Gatdula-Arevalo

Fil-Am supporters flock to HiFi for BBM-Sara...

PAGE 1

president for California, told the Asian Journal at the group’s last rally in the Southern California leg, that all of their members are rooting for Bongbong Marcos and DuterteCarpio to take the next top two posts of the Philippines.

“We believe that he is the most qualified and more experienced (among all the other presidential candidates) being able to serve the government as governor, congressman, and senator. To us, he’s the right person to lead our country,” Guray, who has always been an avid supporter ever since BBM ran for the vice presidency in 2016, said.

According to Guray, with Marcos and Duterte-Carpio’s leadership, there would also be a continuity of programs of the present administration.

“I also believe that BBM will continue the programs of President (Rodrigo) Duterte.

We need to continue carrying out all these good programs and reforms of President Duterte,” Guray said.

Guray said they have participated in more than 10 rallies and caravans for the Uniteam. To date, the BBM 2.0 (USA) has members in California, Las Vegas, New York, Florida, and other U.S. states.

BBM 2.0 (USA) vice president for California Philip Jaramilla, for his part, believed that Marcos’ commitment to enhancing measures that would ease up doing business in the Philippines and restore investors’ confidence, has made him and his family want to vote for Marcos.

Jaramilla, who owns

a biotechnology and pharmaceutical components and fabrication manufacturing company, Fluid Line Technology, said there are a lot of investors who would want to do business in the Philippines but are wary about several business obstacles such as higher taxes, corruption, peace and order, and lack of efficient supply of electricity and water.

“We need a leader who would address all of these concerns in the business sector,” Jamarilla said, noting that BBM reportedly has the potential to do great in implementing key reforms in the business industry.

In an earlier statement issued in reaction to the latest World Bank’s Doing Business report in 2020 where the Philippines ranked 95th, an improvement from the previous rank of 124th in 2019, Marcos was quoted as saying that “jumpstarting our economy would be a top priority for us, should we be given the mandate by the people in this year’s elections.”

“It only means that businesses will need to focus on being efficient. The government can help by instituting policies that will make it easier for them to do this,” Marcos earlier said.

Husband and wife Ron and Jocelyn Fernando, in an interview during the rally, said they never doubted BBM’s capability to “bring greatness back to the Philippines." Ron works at Sync Brokerage, a boutique real estate firm with offices in Los Angeles and Miami, specializing in luxury and commercial real estate markets.

“Bongbong Marcos comes

from the Marcos legend, and the (Marcos) family when it comes to politics, they are really good.

I think, moving forward the Philippines will be in good shape under his helm if he wins this election,” Ron Fernando said.

“Sara Duterte, with her background in Davao, I’m sure she would be a good support for Bongbong,” Fernando opined.

In a video message played during the rally, Marcos thanked all his supporters in Southern California.

“I would like to congratulate you and thank you for the efforts that you have done to help our campaign and to continue to spread the message of unity that is the message of our campaign.

Thank you for all that you have done and until we succeed in victory,” Marcos said.

Actress Jobelle Salvador, who flew in from Las Vegas, attended the rally.

The rally was also done in partnership with Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) under its Philippine coordinator and former congresswoman Maite Defensor. Other rally coordinators are Uniteam overall coordinator for USA/Canada Chona Verona Lopez Galvez; BBM 2.0 (USA) vice president for Media Affairs Larry Pelayo; and Barbie Sanchez and Luzviminda Marcos, Marcos’ close relatives who are based in California.

Last March, Historic Filipinotown was the site of a pink caravan for Fil-Am supporters of Vice President Leni Robredo and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan’s bid for the presidency and vice presidency of the Philippines. (Donnabelle Gatdula-Arevalo/AJPress)

“Protecting America’s promise is at the core of what we do and I’m very proud of our Fraud Detection and National Security unit for the steadfast work they do to fulfill the agency’s mission on a daily basis.”

The operations were allegedly carried out of physical offices in Los Angeles, where Benitez employed the reported coconspirators as agency staff.

According to the DOJ, four of the Filipinos — Pacson, Poquita, Ulan, and Valmeo — falsified and submitted tax returns and other immigration documents for the agency’s clients.

Meanwhile, Ducket, Hammer, and Santos, recruited U.S. citizens who were willing to marry the agency’s clients in exchange for money — an upfront fee and monthly fees — from their undocumented spouses. These payments were to keep the U.S. citizen quiet and “cooperative”

until their undocumented spouse gained lawful permanent resident (LPR) status, the DOJ said.

The agency would then stage weddings in chapels, parks, and other locations and hired officiants.

They would stage photoshoots in front of wedding paraphernalia to include in fraudulent immigration petitions that would allegedly be sent to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the federal agency in charge of grinding LPR status.

If the U.S. citizen became uncooperative during the interim before LPR status was granted, Benitez and his co-conspirators would then allegedly assist their clients with obtaining green cards under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), falsely claiming that the undocumented individuals had been abused by their American spouses, the indictment read.

Among other things, the VAWA

— which was enacted in 1994 — has a special provision that allows non-citizen victims of spousal abuse to apply for LPR status without involving the spouses.

“These defendants’ alleged exploitation of this system for profit is an affront to our nation’s tradition of welcoming immigrants and prospective citizens,” U.S. Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. said. “Their alleged fraudulent behavior makes things harder for the vast majority of immigrants who follow the law and respect our immigration system. Beyond that, by allegedly submitting false applications that claimed domestic abuse, these charged defendants did further harm, this time to real victims and survivors of domestic violence.”

Anyone who is charged with marriage fraud is typically fined $250,000 and sentenced to up to five years in prison and three years of supervision after release. 

PAGE 1 due to problems in the shipping of election materials. These are the Philippine embassies in Wellington, New Zealand; Islamabad, Pakistan, and Dili, Timor-Leste, as well as in the Philippine consulates general in Milan, Italy, and in New York.

On Monday, however, Election Commissioner Marlon Casquejo, who is in charge of overseas voting, said these “logistical issues” would be resolved soon.

He said five more votecounting machines (VCM) would be deployed to the consulate in Hong Kong to bring the total number of machines to 10 to accommodate the huge turnout there.

He said VCMs would arrive soon in the consulates in New York, Wellington, and Milan, although the ballots have already been sent by post to the registered voters.

The election materials for 564 voters registered with the embassy in Islamabad held up by Pakistan customs were expected to be released the same day, according to Casquejo.

He said the election materials for the embassy in TimorLeste with 706 voters would be deployed upon the next flight availability, which is expected on Thursday.

Also on Monday, Philippine Consul General in New York Elmer Cato said boxes containing

election paraphernalia had arrived in Memphis, Tennessee, from Alaska.

Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand Gary Domingo also said in a Twitter post that boxes containing ballots for the elections had arrived at the Philippine Embassy in Wellington.

Problems Meanwhile, Migrante International lamented that out of the 93,000 registered voters in Hong Kong, only 35,000 to 40,000 might be able to vote if the number of VCMs remained at five.

It pointed out that most OFWs could vote only on Sundays.

During the first day of overseas absentee voting on Sunday, only 3,285 OFWs were able to cast their votes compared to 6,000 to 7,000 who were accommodated in one Sunday during previous elections when there were 10 VCMs in use, the group said.

In Dubai, Migrante said there were long lines of voters waiting two and a half to five hours to vote because of the small polling precinct at the Dubai consulate.

In Saudi Arabia, no indelible ink was available after voting, Migrante said, citing reports to the group.

Migrante said they also received reports of delays in ballot distribution in Japan and in Bologna and Milan, Italy.

“Voters who went to their

consulates in person were told ballots have not arrived yet,” the group said.

Senator Marcos said her office also received complaints of disorder in the conduct of overseas voting in Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom.

The Philippine Embassy in Singapore on Monday, likewise, confirmed an incident wherein a “spoiled” ballot was “inadvertently and unintentionally” given to a voter.

The embassy stressed that it was an isolated incident.

Election Commissioner George Garcia downplayed claims that some overseas voters received pre-shaded ballots at the start of the overseas voting.

“Don’t believe claims of preshading (of ballots). It’s very easy to find out if that’s true,” Garcia said in a media briefing at the Comelec headquarters on Monday.

Garcia also dismissed claims that exit polls conducted in Hong Kong showed that a certain candidate was leading.

He said the Comelec could not ban exit polls since these have been upheld by the Supreme Court.

“But if the exit polls will undermine the integrity of the entire process, then that will be subject to investigation” of the Comelec task force against fake news, said Garcia, who heads the task force. 

Probe absentee voting mess, senators ask...

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

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Bracing for disasters JUST when people thought it was safe to travel again for the Holy Week break after two years of COVID lockdowns, the first tropical cyclone of the year hammered parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.

As of late Monday afternoon, April 11, at least 22 people were reported killed in landslides and floods spawned by Tropical Depression Agaton in Baybay, Leyte, with three more fatalities reported in Monkayo, Davao de Oro and in Cateel, Davao Oriental. Thousands of ship passengers were stranded in different ports.

Another cyclone was spotted on Monday afternoon approaching Mindanao, prompting Signal No. 2 to be hoisted over Surigao del Sur. Tropical Storm Basyang was expected to make landfall in Caraga region on Tuesday, April 12.

The two cyclones hitting in the peak of summer provide a timely reminder about the need to prepare for this year’s typhoon season. People living in areas at high risk for landslides and torrential flooding must be prepared for rapid evacuation. This is not as simple as it sounds especially in small-scale mining areas.

Sufficient facilities particularly for evacuation

OpiniOn & Features

and relief efforts must be in place to prevent COVID infection and outbreaks of other diseases. But local governments, which are on the front lines of disaster response, are currently distracted by the election campaign.

As Agaton prepared to exit and Basyang approached on Monday, over 13,000 people affected by heavy rainfall, landslides and torrential flooding were housed in 71 evacuation centers in the Visayas and Mindanao, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

The evacuation centers are mostly in school compounds. With face-to-face classes expected to resume in the next school year, and with several school facilities still being used for COVID vaccination, there will be fewer areas available to house evacuees during typhoons this year.

For evacuation centers without modular tents, there must be dividers between families. Water and sanitation facilities must be adequate. Masking, distancing and hand hygiene must be strictly enforced for all ages.

Authorities must ensure that disaster preparedness and response will not be neglected even as the country is preoccupied with the elections and

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Editorial

Philstar.com photo

upcoming change of leadership. COVID has made

disaster response riskier and more complicated.

‘Bakit si Leni?’ She is the best candidate for president in this defining moment in our nation’s history and identity

The Fil-Am Perspective

GEl SaNtoS-rEloS LENI Robredo’s humble beginnings would not give us a clue that she would one day be running for president. The eldest daughter of a Regional Trial Court judge and a teacher in Naga did not come from a rich family nor a political dynasty, nor from showbiz as many people in politics do. She and her siblings were raised in a simple frugal family that valued faith, hard work, education, integrity and service as more important than earthly riches.

These were the core values that guided Leni Robredo all her life, that made her dreamt of being a lawyer like her esteemed father.

And if you believe in God’s divine plan, this serendipitous meeting and convergence of the paths of Leni and Jesse Robredo in a job she took just before going to law school materialized because they both, knowingly or unknowingly, saw themselves in each other — the better self they want to be in fulfillment of their sense of purpose.

Leni learned much about good and honest governance from Jesse when he was elected Mayor of Naga, while Jesse said Leni was his conscience who kept him grounded and true to his calling.

This was a synergy of forces of two people driven by service for others instead of the feeling of entitlement.

It was through the difficulties and challenges of their journey together that helped made Leni who she is. Because Jesse was not corrupt, Leni had to work parttime while being a mayor’s wife and a mother to help pay for her tuition because Jesse’s meager salary wouldn’t be enough to pay for the needs of their growing family.

With her determination and tenacity, she obtained her law degree and passed the bar exams after two attempts. It was through this challenging journey that made her realize how blessed she had been to fulfill her dream to be a lawyer and keep the promise she and Jesse gave to her parents before they received their

blessing for their marriage.

This realization and sense of gratitude sealed Leni’s decision to use her profession not to enrich herself but instead, use her being an attorney to serve the needy and the less privileged.

She did this by representing them as their lawyer working for the Public Attorney’s Office and a non-government organization to inspire and lead other young attorneys to help the poor in remote areas of the Bicol Region have access to lawyers. She also founded an NGO that empowered women to be entrepreneurs by giving them access to training and funding to help fulfill their dreams for themselves, their families and community.

Jesse Robredo entered the national stage when he was appointed Secretary of Interior and Local Government under the Noynoy Aquino Administration in 2010. However, his life was cut short by a plane crash in 2012. Mourning this sudden loss while carrying the load of raising their three daughters as a single parent, Leni was also called to continue the legacy of good and honest governance Jesse left behind, amid the grip of corrupt political practices of a family dynasty in their province.

Leni Robredo ran and won a seat in Congress to represent the Third District of Camarines Sur. Her committee leadership and membership were in congruence with her lifelong advocacies: she was Vice Chairman of two committees: Committee on Good Governance and Public Accountability, and Committee on Revision of Laws. She was also part of the Committee of Appropriations; Bicol Recovery and Economic Development; Climate Change; Human Rights; Land Use; Local Government; People’s Participation; Rural Development; Suffrage and Electoral Reforms; Welfare of Children; and Women and Gender Equality.

She also authored and passed bills that mandates transparency and accountability in government, empowered the youth and women, teachers, and voters, as well as improved

access of her constituents to better infrastructure, health care, education and justice.

Yet in 2016, she was called to serve not only her constituents in Bicol but the Filipinos all over the nation during the time that Bongbong Marcos, the son of the dictator who we ousted via the 1986 People Power, wanted to go back to power as Vice President.

Leni won the VP race and the Supreme Court affirmed the legitimacy of her victory three times when Bongbong Marcos accused her of cheating and demanded for recount three times, only to lose over and over again to Leni. Had Leni not won, it would have been a DuterteMarcos government.

Early on in the Duterte Administration, Leni fulfilled her constitutional duty of checks and balances, calling out Duterte for extrajudicial killings in his war on drugs. This was easily deemed as “paninira” by Duterte that has stoked his vindictive nature.

He did not appoint Leni to any cabinet position, and in spite, challenged her to take charge of the war on drugs which she accepted. As her bio stated, Leni “relentlessly sought to steer the anti-illegal drug campaign to a more holistic, data-driven, and humane approach, believing that the fight against illegal drugs is not only the fight of government, but of every community and every Filipino.

Leni went on to release a report, which detailed the current state of the anti-illegal drug campaign, and the various gaps that need to be filled and proposed solutions to these”. As Leni asked for access to information pertaining to the big fish she had to run after, Duterte fired her from that job after 18 days, saying he did not trust Leni.

Leni did not wait for any more appointments from Duterte to serve the people for the position she was elected to. With a very limited budget, her bio said: “Leni led the crafting of its flagship anti-poverty program, Angat Buhay – an endeavor inspired by six key advocacy areas; namely, food security and nutrition, women empowerment,

education, healthcare, rural development, and housing. It has reached out to poor communities around the country, through the generosity of partnerorganizations and individuals, most of whom are from the private sector.” Yes, that was the start of the “Angat Buhay Lahat’ we have been hearing about these days.

Leni was also the ever-present proactive leader who helped our kababayans navigate our way through the coronavirus pandemic. Her bio stated that “despite limited resources, the Office of the Vice President launched many initiatives, through the help of many partners and donors, aimed at filling in the gaps found in terms of supporting frontliners and communities in need during this time—from providing PPE sets, locally produced protective suits, and medical supplies to frontliners across all regions of the Philippines; to providing free shuttle service and dormitories for frontliners in Metro Manila”.

The Office of the Vice President, as stated in her bio, went on to “distribute relief packs, hot meals, and other assistance to communities; helping locally stranded individuals return to their respective provinces; giving market vendors and tricycle drivers a platform to boost their livelihood anew through community marts; giving livelihood opportunities and assistance to individuals, communities, and sectors who lost their jobs and sources of income; providing distance learning support for students, teachers, and their families; promoting mass testing and vaccination efforts; and providing free medical teleconsultation services to patients, among others”.

Leni and her team were also ever-present and proactive during disasters and tragedies.

She was among the “first in government to visit hard-hit areas, including those in the Bicol Region and the provinces of Isabela and Cagayan.

Fostering her office’s culture of swift and strategic response,

alongside the Filipino Bayanihan spirit, the OVP was able to bring relief assistance to many affected communities and, eventually, also start rehabilitation efforts through the BAHAYanihan housing initiative”.

Leni has said in interviews before that she had no plans of running for the presidency. This had to change when Bongbong Marcos announced he was running for president. Leni had a long talk with her daughters who wished they would just all live a normal life.

“Paano na ang sinimulan ni Papa,” was Leni’s response, thinking of the legacy of her husband, and the calling in her own life that was begging to be heeded. She knew she was able to beat Bongbong in 2016. She knew she had to step in faith and do what she can to save our democracy from the Marcos family’s culture of corruption and impunity.

And so VP Leni Robredo ran for president and selected Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan to be her vice president. Both of them have lived their lives as true public servants with no history of corruption and moral turpitude. In fact, the Commission on Audit has given the OVP “an unqualified opinion — considered the highest rating from state auditors — for its financial reports in 2018, 2019, and 2020”.

This is important because Leni and Kiko are running on the promise of transforming the corruption-plagued government into “gobyernong tapat”, and leadership by example is of paramount importance to deliver on this promise -- Transparency, accountability and participative government of the people, by the people for the people.

Leni and Kiko know they need to win back the trust of the people in the government to empower them and help bring out the best in them, reminding us citizens that we all are the answers to our prayers for as long as we all work together for the greater good, abiding by the rule of law, lifting each other up, especially the poor and the marginalized

people of society.

The Robredo-Pangilinan team offers a platform that will give opportunities to all Filipinos to uplift our families from poverty through health care, education, and equal opportunities for all, and not just for the rich and well connected.

Leni would tell her supporters in campaign rallies that should she be given the privilege of serving them as President, to not be afraid to speak up and call her out if she has not been governing according to what she promised, according to the oath she would be taking as president, without fear of retaliation.

In this campaign we have seen Leni and Kiko inspire hope in people, bring out volunteerism and the mindset of how we all can contribute according to our gifts and talents to help each other and lift each other up for the good of the country.

“Gobyernong tapat”. This elusive dream will be a reality.

We have the best candidates, the best public servants that our country needs so badly to help transform not only the government but us, the Filipino people, to be the citizens who deserve the government we have been praying for.

We will use the power of our vote to make Leni Robredo and Kiko Pangilinan lead us toward a brighter, better, stronger Philippines. With the victory of Leni and Kiko in the polls on May 9, the Philippines wins. The Filipinos win. Indeed,” kulay rosas ang bukas”. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

*** Gel Santos Relos has been in news, talk, public service and educational broadcasting since 1989. She was a news anchor, TV host and radio commentator and public service host for ABS- CBN and DZMM. She is now working on her advocacies independently, serving the Filipino audience using different media platforms. You may contact her through email at gelrelos@ icloud.com, or send her a message via Facebook at Facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos. Also on Twitter, Instagram: Gel Santos Relos

Legal sports betting in California would threaten cardroom employees

Commentary

Nary ChiN

Cardroom EmployEE WHEN I first immigrated to the United States from Cambodia in 1984, I had little education, did not know English and had very few job prospects that offered any type of a future for me or for my growing family. I heard that a cardroom was opening in the City of Hawaiian Gardens that offered good pay and opportunities to grow and needed workers. I showed up to apply in person thinking only that I needed a paycheck. Little did I know that the Gardens Casino would

transform my life and open up a new world of possibilities for my children and me.

But now I hear that the road to opportunity paved for me and countless others by cardrooms could be eliminated under a ballot initiative coming this November that would expand sports betting in California at the expense of workplaces and communities like mine.

My life before the cardroom was difficult. I had life problems and was out of a job. I was getting kicked out of place after place because I could not afford rent, forcing my family to keep moving.

I was a single mom of four with broken English. I had nowhere to turn to. Life before the cardroom

was very bad for me and my kids, and I don’t want to go back.

It was hard for me to make good money to support my family the way that I do now in the cardroom club. The only time I escaped from all of that is having a cardroom to work at.

The cardroom has changed not just my life but also my family’s.

Today, I don’t have to worry that one day I will be kicked out of my home. I do not want to go back to the days of waking up and stressing out that I do not have a job to go to.

My first job in the cardroom was working in food service. Now, 24 years later, I am a dealer – a lucrative career path that provides enough money for me as a single

parent of four children to be the sole breadwinner and allow my children to be children, without them having to pick up work to help with expenses.

This is a generational shift from when I was growing up, and is a gift of my employment at the cardroom. I did not learn English in school, I learned English working at the cardroom. My coworkers at the cardroom helped me to apply for citizenship and navigate my children’s schooling. Today, I am proud to be a citizen of the United States of America, all because of the cardroom.

I remember when the neighborhood was unsafe, people would get beat up. But I have

been here and seen how much the cardrooms have given to the community, to schools, to improving the streets. I look out the window and now suddenly there are palm trees. The city never had those before.

This is not just my experience, but hundreds if not thousands of workers from immigrant backgrounds like me have been able to build better futures and a brighter life through our jobs at the cardrooms. My prayer for my daughter is for her to work in the cardroom when she turns 21, because I know it will give her a life of financial independence.

My cardroom is my family.

When my life was completely down, with nowhere to turn, I had

the cardroom to come to. I needed a friend more than anything. The cardroom worked with me to overcome life challenges and continued to give me a chance when other places may have let me go. I call the cardroom my home because that is what it feels like.

I urge all Californians and especially immigrant communities of color to stand with workers and reject the qualified tribal gaming measure this November. It is a direct attack on our futures. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

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

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Wells Fargo, Operation HOPE team up to accelerate financial inclusion Wells Fargo, Operation HOPE team up to accelerate financial inclusion

NEW YORK – Wells Fargo and Operation HOPE, Inc., a national non-profit dedicated to financial empowerment for underserved communities, on Tuesday, April 12 announced plans to introduce HOPE Inside centers in 20 markets that will serve as many as 150 Wells Fargo branches and their surrounding communities across the United States by the end of 2023. The new HOPE Inside centers will feature Operation HOPE financial coaches who will help empower community members to achieve their financial goals through financial education workshops and free one-on-one coaching.

Starting in April, the first HOPE Inside centers will be launched in the Atlanta, Houston and Oakland markets. By the end of 2022, HOPE Inside centers will be expanded to Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, Newark, N.J., Camden, N.J., Phoenix and Gallup, N.M. HOPE Inside is part of Wells Fargo’s Banking Inclusion Initiative to help more people who are unbanked gain access to affordable, mainstream banking products, and help remove barriers to financial inclusion for Black and African American, Hispanic, and Native American/ Alaska Native households, which account for more than half of unbanked households in the United States.

“We know from our outreach and work with national and community stakeholders that financial education and guidance, and an individual’s sense of inclusion and trust, are all important factors in

bringing more people who are unbanked into the formal banking system,” said Darlene Goins, head of Wells Fargo’s Banking Inclusion Initiative. “Working with Operation HOPE is one important way that we can remove barriers to financial inclusion and help empower people with education, resources and tools to manage their money, improve their credit and achieve their financial goals.”

“The Wells Fargo HOPE Inside centers mark a significant step forward in addressing barriers to financial wealth in diverse communities by offering a welcoming space, access to financial coaches, and expanded resources that support the financial goals of individuals with the greatest needs,” said John Hope Bryant, Chairman and CEO, Operation HOPE, Inc. “This collaborative effort can drive meaningful change and ultimately help address the deeply rooted barriers to financial empowerment in underserved communities.”

Introducing redesigned community branches Along with the HOPE Inside launch, Wells Fargo is redesigning branches in select lowand moderate-income (LMI) areas throughout the United States to better meet the needs of the community. The updated community branches will offer spaces for financial health seminars, and individual consultations, such as those offered by Operation HOPE. Employees in these branches reflect the diversity and cultures of the communities and offer

in-language service. New tools will be available to inform and empower customers about digital features that help make banking easier, like mobile check deposit.

The first redesigned Wells Fargo community branches are expected to be completed in 2022 in Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Camden, N.J., Newark, N.J., New York City, San Francisco Bay Area, Phoenix metro areas, Arizona and New Mexico border region communities.

Banking Inclusion Initiative progress Since introducing the Banking Inclusion Initiative in May 2021, Wells Fargo has organized the National Unbanked Task Force and collaborated with multiple national and community stakeholders to pursue solutions that increase access to affordable products, digital banking and financial guidance within unbanked communities.

Wells Fargo has teamed with the Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE) Fund and its local Bank On coalitions in Atlanta and Houston to test new strategies and approaches that increase access to affordable banking products.

Starting in late 2021, Wells Fargo and the CFE Fund have pursued new marketing approaches to reach unbanked consumers and increase awareness of the value and safety of mainstream banking in LMI areas of Atlanta, Houston and Philadelphia. The initial campaign included paid social media posts, videos and advertising in each market.

PAGE 11

WATCH THIS SUCCESS STORY ON HOW A DENIAL WAS TURNED AROUND THROUGH A FRAUD WAIVER THIS SUNDAY ON CITIZEN PINOY. Jester (left) overstayed his tourist visa, but his mother, Jenny (center), was still able to file a petition for him. In 2017, when his primary date was current, Jester applied for a Provisional Waiver, which was approved. His first lawyer told him to return to the Philippines to be interviewed for his green card. During the interview, Jester casually mentioned to the consul that he took English lessons when he was still a tourist in 2014. His visa was denied, and he was accused of fraud. Leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (right) was able to help Jester finally get his green card through a fraud waiver. Watch this success story on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, April 17 at 7:00 PM PT (10:00 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo.

(Advertising Supplement)

Fraud waiver reunites mother and son on this Sunday’s Citizen Pinoy JESTER entered the U.S. as a tourist and overstayed. Despite his status, his mother, Jenny, was still able to file a petition for him.

In 2017, Jester applied for a Provisional Waiver which was approved. His lawyer had him return to the Philippines to be interviewed for his green card.

However, during the interview, Jester casually mentioned to

the consul that he took English lessons when he was still a tourist in 2014. Jester’s visa was denied, and he was accused of fraud for having studied in the U.S. on a tourist visa.

His mother immediately hired leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel who helped Jester finally get his green card through a fraud

waiver.

Watch this success story on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, April 17 at 7:00 PM PT (10:00 PM ET thru select Cable/Satellite providers), right after TV Patrol Linggo.

Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download free app.

(Advertising Supplement)

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APRIL 15-21, 2022 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

Holy Week traditions leading up to Easter Sunday by

AJPress

THOSE of the Christian faith will mark the end of the 40-day Lenten season with Easter, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. While the day is widely symbolized by the Easter bunny, dyed eggs, and chocolate, there is more to the holiday and the traditions associated with it.

For Filipinos, Holy Week (Mahal na Araw) — known as the days leading up to Easter — is a significant observance, given that the Philippines still holds a Catholic majority of 80% of the country’s population. For Filipinos around the world of this faith, they carry these religious practices with them as they remember Christ’s passion and resurrection.

Holy Week kicks off with Palm Sunday and lasts until Easter Sunday. For 2022, the week runs from April 10 to April 17. Here are some observances and traditions during this solemn observance: Fasting and abstinence Ash Wednesday (the beginning of Lent) and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. On the Fridays during Lent, many refrain from eating meat. During Holy Week, Catholic faithfuls may observe fasting by reducing the number of meals eaten each day. “If possible, the fast on Good Friday is continued until the

Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday night) as the “paschal fast” to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus and to prepare ourselves to share more fully and to celebrate more readily his Resurrection,” according to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Veiled images If you visit a church during Holy Week, beginning on Palm Sunday, some churches will cover religious artwork and statues with purple cloth as a somber ritual. “Crucifixes are unveiled after the Good Friday ceremonies and all other images just before the Easter vigil Mass on Holy Saturday,” according to the Catholic News Agency.

Visiting seven churches Visita Iglesia is a Lenten practice to visit seven churches either on Maundy Thursday or Good Friday and recite the Stations of the Cross, which are the events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion. The tradition is said to have started in the 16th century.

Good Friday In the Philippines, Good Friday, considered a public holiday, is marked with ritual crucifixions and public reenactments of Jesus’ suffering. Most Catholics will observe this day by refraining

Milo severo Philstar.com

Jennylyn Mercado is in her 34th week of pregnancy.

Photo from Instagram/@mercadojenny

KAPUSO actress Jennylyn Mercado stunned her fans by sharing her Goddess-themed maternity shoot.

In her Instagram account, Jennylyn posted photos from her shoot with photographer BJ Pascual.

In his YouTube vlog, BJ said the theme was inspired by French painter Jean-AugusteDominique Ingres.

"For this shoot, actually, drinawing ko na yung mga layout before today para maprepare yung outfits for the specific pose and everything.

And today's shoot is kind of like a mishmash of different ideas because initially, I just wanted a lot of volume and romanticism, ganyan,” he said.

"And parang gusto ko lang

Baron ‘relapsing’ into alcohol addiction, wife says

by Anne

PAsAJol Inquirer.net

AJPress illustration by Jillian Peñalosa

from eating meat and focusing on fasting and prayer.

Salubong on Easter Sunday While modern-day Easter celebrations are associated with gatherings, egg hunts and other family-friendly activities, in the religious sense, it is the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection and the end of the 40-day Lenten sacrifice. Easter Sunday begins with salubong before

dawn, when the Virgin Mary meets Jesus who comes back to life. Parishes will have a ritual procession with a statue of Mary in mourning, which is carried by women along a route, while men carry the statue of the Risen Christ. Both processions follow separate routes until the images meet. After the procession, churches will continue with Easter mass.

Jennylyn stuns fans in maternity shoot

by JAn

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

siyang magmukhang painting, para classic lang siya para yung puwede mo i-frame, di ba?" he added.

Jennylyn shared in the vlog that she was not sure if that she could pull off the concept.

"Yung concept, sabi ko, parang, 'Kaya ko ba 'to?' Kasi ang hirap, e. Di ba parang pag buntis ka 'tapos kailangan mong... Sabi ko, 'Masyadong glam yata ito para sa akin.' Pero kinaya ko kasi napaka-ano naman, napaka-bilis na katrabaho ni BJ," she said.

The actress also shared updates on her pregnancy, saying this current one is more challenging than the first one.

"Yung first pregnancy ko, parang alam mo yun, dahil 21 pa lang ako nun, parang dumaan lang siya. Hindi ako nahihirapan.

Nagda-drive lang ako everyday.

Pinupuntahan ko yung best friend ko sa Las Piñas, gabi

BARON Geisler has been having a hard time managing his drinking habits again, his wife Jamie Evangelista stated.

Evangelista reached out to talent manager-comedian Ogie Diaz and gave her statement regarding a now-deleted video of herself and Geisler, as per Diaz’s YouTube channel today, April 11. In the said video, Evangelista appears to be confronting Geisler, then she threw at him a container with liquid on it, which spilled all over Geisler who was lying in bed.

“Grabe pag-relapse niya lately.

Last December medyo traumatic for the kids so I told him, ”Pag iinom ka, ‘wag dito sa bahay,'” Evangelista, a psychologist, said.

(His relapse has been serious lately. Last December was a bit traumatic for the kids so I told him, “If you’re going to drink, do not drink here in our house.”)

Evangelista recounted how she went to a hotel to pick up Geisler for their flight to Manila, only to know that he was still drinking when she came. Evangelista then apologized for how she reacted, explaining that she was not able to control her emotions at the time because she had enough of his actions.

“I’ve been very patient and forgiving for how many years so napuno na siguro ako. Tumawag

na ako umuuwi. Ganun lang, parang wala lang. Pero bigger ako nun, mas malaki. Talagang pinabayaan ko yung diet ko.

Nag-gain ako ng 55 pounds, ganung level. Talagang ano lang, ine-enjoy ko lang,” she said.

“Ngayon, after almost 15 years, hay ang hirap! Ibang iba! Kasi ano siya, high-risk pregnancy ako. Simula pa lang nung first trimester ko, nagbleed ako, yung kelangan ko nakahiga lang, naka-upo, hindi masyado gumagalaw, di ba?

Kilala niyo ako, napaka-active ko, kung anu-anong ginagawa ko. So ngayon, wala akong magawa, yung nakahiga. 'Tapos, yung ultimong iihi ako, iihi ako sa tabi ng kama Yung ganung movement lang, yung konti lang.

'Tapos, ang bilis kong hingalin.

Kung alam ko lang, nung 20s pa lang, nag-anak na ako nang naganak!" she added.

ako ng taga-rehab para makadetox siya doon for a few days and ma-resched ang dubbing sa Manila but he got so paranoid,” she stated. “Nag-video siya I guess to seek sympathy.”

(I’ve been very patient and forgiving for how many years so maybe I had enough. I called someone from the [rehabilitation center] so he can detoxify there for a few days and reschedule his dubbing in Manila. But he got so paranoid and he took a video [of what happened], I guess to seek sympathy.)

“I’m still hoping and praying na ma-overcome niya talaga ang addiction niya sa alcohol in God’s perfect time,” she added. (I’m still hoping and praying that he really overcomes his addiction to alcohol in God’s perfect time.)

When asked by Diaz if Geisler drinks everyday, Evangelista clarified that the actor only drinks for three days every two weeks.

“So three days siya iinom then ‘pag huminto na, he gets depressed. Nasa kwarto lang siya for three to four days,” she said. (So he will drink for three days then when he stops, he gets depressed. He will stay in the room for three to four days.)

“I told him to learn to be independent kasi magfo-forty na siya,” Evangelista added.

“Intindihin na lang natin kasi may chemical imbalance na talaga siya pero he also has to help himself.”

Photo from Instagram/@baron.geisler

Catriona Gray tells netizens, pageant fans to celebrityworld stop pitting beauty queens against each other

By Ferdie Villar FORMER Miss Universe Catriona Gray (2018) issued a statement recently asking netizens to stop creating controversies or issues between her and fellow Miss Universe winner Pia Wurtzbach (2015) and other beauty queens.

In an article on PEP.ph, Gray agreed with comments made

by Wurtzbach in an earlier social media post where Pia vehemently denied that she and a team associated with her are responsible for unsavory comments and posts being thrown Catriona’s way.

“I love that she spoke up about it because, honestly, there’s no issue between us as individuals or even between other queens,” Gray said. “It’s just really unfortunate that other people are craving issues and comparisons, and kind of putting us at war with each other when, in reality, there’s no such thing. And it would be nice for that kind of perceptions or conversations [to stop and just] celebrate each other.”

Catriona added that pageant enthusiasts and beauty queen fans should follow the examples set by their pageantry favorites who all support each other.

“We all do celebrate each other. Maybe not in the most public of ways, but we’re all communicating with each other and we support each other. So, I think it’s just unfortunate that there continues to be that false narrative of, ‘Oh, because she didn’t like this post or because she didn’t speak on this...’ Or because of whatever reason that’s created, there’s this perception or this story or this narrative that they created that pits us against each other. And it’s completely false,” Gray was quoted as saying.

Instead of finding flaws in other beauty queens or creating face friction among their favorites, fans and followers should celebrate the successes and accomplishments of all pageantry contestants and winners as they are all determined to lift each other.

Popular actor Piolo Pascual is the leading man of the latest primetime teleserye of The Filipino Channel (TFC) entitled “My Papa Pi,” which started airing in March of 2022. The sitcom also stars Pia Wurtzbach and Pepe Herrera.

Photo from Instagram/@piolo_pascual

2018 Miss Universe winner Catriona Gray urged pageant enthusiasts and fans to celebrate the successes and accomplishments of pageantry candidates and winners instead of finding faults and creating fake controversies among beauty queens.

Photo from Instagram/@catriona_gray

2015 Miss Universe winner Pia Wurtzbach denied that she is behind unsavory posts or comments being directed at fellow Miss Universe winner Catriona Gray.

Photo from Instagram/@piawurtzbach

“I don’t think that’s what is about celebrating and lifting “It is never been about, ‘How pageantry is about. Pageantry up each other,” Gray explained. can I find the flaws in this person? How can I pull them down?’ It’s never been about that.”

She added: “Yes, it’s a competition, but the essence and the heart of pageantry is not about pitting women against each other. It’s about celebrating them.”

Catriona and Pia might see each other soon as Wurtzbach is set to be one of the cohosts of the Miss Universe Philippines 2022 coronation night on Saturday, April 30.

Gray has also received an invitation to attend the event which will be held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. *** Nadine Lustre has learned to love the internet title that her fans have given her, although she admits it took some time. It was reportedly started in 2017 as a joke among fans, dubbing her as the internet’s president.

In an article in Inquirer.net, Nadine admitted that she was Actress/singer Nadine Lustre, who used to get confused being at first befuddled being called called “President Nadine” by her fans, now feels that the Lelith Adriano, Filipino community leader in Daly City and internet title is an acknowledgement of her voice and the love administrative assistant at Health Perofessionals Inc., “President Nadine” in a recent of her supporters and fanbase. celebrated her birthday last Wednesday, April 13 with her interview with TV host Bianca Gonzales, but now feels as Photo from Instagram/@nadinelustreofficial family and close friends.

though it is an acknowledgment of her voice.

“Before, I really didn’t understand it. Every time people would call me that parang [I was like] ‘Why are people calling me that?’ I always found it so weird. Now, honestly it makes me feel loved,” Lustre was quoted as saying.

When asked on becoming used to the title, she answered: “Because every time people say that or every time people call me that, it’s a sort of acknowledgement that I’m someone people look up to, or someone that people listen to — that my voice is heard.”

Nadine also admitted to feeling some pressure over the internet title.

“There’s also a bit of pressure because I’m very vocal about a lot of things so I guess I have to think about what I tweet or what I say on social media, even with what I do,” the actress stated. “I mean, it’s not like I’m gonna do bad things but you get what I mean, there’s a bit of pressure. But I like it because ‘yun nga [like what I’ve said], I’m acknowledged.”

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11

$3B entertainment hub planned for south area of Las Vegas Strip Filipino foresters meet in Las Vegas

by RealtoR

THE Society of Filipino Foresters in North America (SFFNA) will bring together Filipino foresters from all over the world to its 9th Biennial Convention and Reunion on May 20-22, 2022 to be held at the Gold Coast Hotel (4000 W. Flamingo Road) in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The three-day gathering features a Meet-and-Greet Reception, a Gala Night, and a field trip/picnic at the Valley of Fire State Park.

A symposium focusing on the theme “SFFNA’s relevance to and involvement in local community development” is the main activity of the event.

According to Rudy M. Leal, SFFNA President, experienced individuals in forestry projects that benefit the rural or upland communities are invited to speak in the symposium. He added that the event will afford participants the opportunity to renew acquaintances and friendships they held during their student years in several forestry educational institutions in the Philippines.

Since its founding in 2004, SFFNA has held conventions/reunions in Seattle, Washington; Los Angeles, California; Auburn, Alabama; Las Vegas, Nevada; Honolulu, Hawaii; San Francisco, California; Surrey, British Columbia, Canada; and Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines.

For inquiries, contact Rudy Leal at rudymanatleal47@gmail.com; Abe Velasco at sr4str@gmail.com; Mike Marave at enex88@yahoo. com; or Ann Boado at annboado@gmail.com. g

Fely Quitevis-Bateman

IN major news announced recently, Las Vegas will add another jewel to the glittering skyline in the Las Vegas Strip’s southern part as a major player in building arenas in the United States unveiled plans to build a major arena, entertainment hub and casino.

The Oak View Group, according to reports, have acquired 25 acres in an area just minutes away from Harry Reid International Airport and will begin construction by next year.

As with other aspects of Sin City, this new development will cater an experience for those who can afford it.

Customers, reports claim, will be able to purchase a package for hotel and a live event, with their hotel suite key granting them access to a private club in the arena. The hotel is likely to be able to accommodate about 2,000 guests, while the 20,000-seat arena can host concerts for major music acts and even be a home to a professional sports team.

According to a Bloomberg article, Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke said that they are “going to go after every big event that exists” and described the experience they want their clients to have as “It’s exclusive, it’s highend and it will be built in a way where it’s the perfect experience for those willing to spend the money to have the greatest experience in live entertainment.”

It was revealed as well that the

arena will be built to the highest specifications of the National Basketball Association (NBA) as the league has indicated that it would consider adding a team in Las Vegas should the NBA decide to expand. The arena would be an option for the NBA, although the Oak View Group is well aware that nothing is set in stone yet.

Adding an NBA team would add to the allure of Las Vegas, which already is home to professional teams in sports like women’s basketball, football, hockey, soccer and baseball.

And adding another great arena in the ever-expanding landscape of Las Vegas would be beneficial as the city has become used to hosting big events in the last few decades. Las Vegas was host to the most recent Grammy Awards, which features the world’s greatest musical acts, and Sin City will host the Super Bowl in 2024.

Live entertainment will be a major calling card for the planned entertainment hub as one of its founders is music mogul Irving Azoff.

The planned arena is expected to attract many of today’s artists as the Oak View Group has ample experience in building venues. In fact the Oak View Group operates places in Seattle, New York and Austin, and plans to build at least a dozen more venues.

Actually, it used to be thought that when artists’ or performers’ careers were on a downward trajectory or if they are in the

Wells Fargo, Operation HOPE...

PAGE 9

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman inside the $1B Allegiant Arena in Las Vegas.

Russ Bateman at the Las Vegas Ballpark arena in Summerlin.

last legs of their musical journey, then they would start performing or getting residencies in Las Vegas. That is not the case today, as artists like BTS, Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Katy Perry, Celine Dion and Lionel Richie have performed in concerts or established residencies in the various major hotels in Las Vegas.

The demand fueled by the influx of tourists and money in Las Vegas will only make the city’s arenas more attractive to musical acts looking to touch base with their fans and bring an experience for them like no other.

The planned arena, according to the same Bloomberg article, will be at a reported cost of $1 billion, which is double what it took to make T-Mobile Arena, which is now the home of the Las Vegas Golden Knights hockey team.

With the renovations going on in the downtown area, and with this arena and other plans on the horizon for Las Vegas, it is a great time to consider investing in real estate property in Las Vegas and its surrounding neighborhoods.

Indicators are pointing upwards, in terms of growth and Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman with former Nevada State Senator Sue Lowden, one of the prices. The developments in Las owners of the 27 acres between Sahara Hotel and Turnberry Place where former NBA player Vegas will have great impact on outside neighborhoods, including Jackie Robinson will build his proposed All Net Resort & Arena along the Las Vegas Strip.

Pahrump, which is about 62 miles west of the gambling and entertainment capital of the world, as more people will be looking for affordable alternatives.

The state offers great opportunities for the savvy and forward-thinking – great returns on your investments in real estate and a host of tax benefits for Nevada residents (competitive business state tax, a county sales tax of 6.75% (not on food items), and no taxes associated with estate/inheritance, franchise, gift, inventory/interstate commerce, corporate income and personal income).

I can definitely help you look for the best opportunities for real estate in Las Vegas, Pahrump and other areas. Now is the time to take advantage of deals before prices get higher.

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

(Advertising Supplement)

Other actions Wells Fargo has taken in the first 10 months of the initiative include: • Announced the elimination of Overdraft Protection transfer fees and non-sufficient funds fees as well as additional account enhancements that will give customers more flexibility to meet their personal financial needs.

• Announced a new short-term loan of up to $500 that is expected to be offered by the end of the year to help customers with their financial needs.

• Expanded support for 13 Black-owned Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs) by offering access to a dedicated relationship team that’s working with each MDI on financial, technological and product development strategies to help strengthen and grow their institutions.

• Introduced Our Money Matters, a comprehensive financial wellness initiative for students of color at 14 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) who disproportionally face greater financial challenges and college debt. As part of the initiative, Wells Fargo collaborated with the HBCU Community Development Action Coalition to produce the “Funny Money College Tour” – a series of on-campus events at HBCUs and MSIs in which comedians and financial experts team up for an entertaining, interactive financial education program.

• Supported MoCaFi’s new

partnership with the City of Los Angeles’s Angeleno Connect card, enabling users to withdraw funds from Wells Fargo ATMs nationwide without incurring fees from Wells Fargo.

• Extended additional funding and support to expand the Credit Builders Alliance (CBA) low-cost, credit-building consumer loan program.

Learn more about Wells Fargo’s Banking Inclusion Initiative at: wellsfargo.com/ bankinginclusion.

[This news release contains forward-looking statements about our future financial performance and business. Because forwardlooking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding the future, they are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. Do not unduly rely on forward-looking statements as actual results could differ materially from expectations.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and we do not undertake to update them to reflect changes or events that occur after that date. For information about factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations, refer to our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the discussion under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website at www.sec.gov.] (Wells Fargo Release)

12

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http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

Democrats celebrate the appointment of City awarded $1.8M from Clean California Judge Jackson to US Supreme Court, historic to activate public space near Yerba diversity of Biden-Harris administration Buena/Moscone Center subway station

PRESIDENT Joseph Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Democrats are keeping their promise to the Filipino American community because they make the difference. The president helped get America back to work, provided funding to support Asian American families and small businesses, and got kids safely back to school. He’s creating a government that looks like America.

Starting at the top with the nation’s first Black and South Asian vice president, the BidenHarris administration nominated 16 Asian American federal judicial nominees, which represents 18 percent of all federal judicial nominees. President Biden has also placed Asian Americans in senior roles in the White House and the Cabinet. As Republicans stand in the way of progress for the American people, Democrats

continue to fight for a diverse America and deliver results that matter.

DNC Chair Jaime Harrison, DNC AAPI Caucus Chair Bel Leong-Hong, and DNC Women’s Caucus Chair Lottie Shackleford, issued the following joint statement regarding the confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson: “History has been made. The U.S. Senate voted in a bipartisan fashion to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. In doing so, they reaffirmed what millions across the country have seen: Judge Jackson is a brilliant, graceful, experienced, fair-minded jurist who will bring much-needed perspectives to our highest court.

The court would greatly benefit from the insight of a woman of color, a public defender, a judge

who has served at the district and appellate levels and clerked at the Supreme Court. It is staggering that Judge Jackson embodies all those perspectives and more.

Judge Jackson has shown girls — especially girls of color — how big they can dream and just how profound an impact they can have on our nation. Her story is uniquely American. She represents the best of us and our shared values. We are grateful to President Biden, Vice President Harris, and the senators who confirmed Judge Jackson for taking another important step to build a government that looks like America.

Today proves once again that diverse women can accomplish anything. They can be vice president. They can shape the future of our nation. And, they can serve on the Supreme Court.”

(DNC Release)

Filipino community in Bay Area mounts ‘Remember Bataan’ 80th anniversary exhibit at PH consulate in SF SAN FRANCISCO – To mark the milestone 80th anniversary of the Fall of Bataan and the Bataan Death March during the Second World War, the Filipino and Filipino American community in the San Francisco Bay Area came together at the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco to launch a visual exhibit, in honor of Filipino and American World War II veterans and civilians.

“Remember Bataan: The 80th Anniversary of the Fall of Bataan” Memorial Exhibit is a joint project of the Consulate, the Department of Tourism Office in San Francisco, the Filipino American Arts Exposition through its President Al Perez, the Bataan Historical Legacy Historical Society through its Executive Director Cecilia Gaerlan, and the Philippine Scouts Heritage Society through its National Assistant Secretary Rod dela Concepcion.

Filipino American community leaders and descendants of World War II veterans, including Rudy Asercion, Edgar de Leon, Mel Orpilla, and Rick Villarina, also shared part of their World

EMPLOYMENT

Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Ferrer (third from left) leads Filipino and American officials and leaders during the ribbon-cutting ceremony of “Remember Bataan: The 80th Anniversary of the Fall of Bataan” Memorial Exhibit at the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco’s Kalayaan Hall on 11 April 2022. Joining the Consul General are (from left) San Francisco District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safai, Daly City Councilmember Juslyn Manalo, Filipino American Arts Exposition President Al Perez, Bataan Legacy Historical Society Executive Director Cecilia Gaerlan, Philippine Scouts Heritage Society National Assistant Secretary Rod dela Concepcion, and San Francisco Public Library Chief Michael Lambert.

Photo courtesy of San Francisco PCG

War II collection to the exhibit.

The “Remember Bataan” Exhibit was officially opened on April 11, 2022 at the Consulate’s Kalayaan Hall, with Filipino and American government officials in attendance that included Philippine Consul

General in San Francisco Neil Ferrer, Californian State Treasurer Fiona Ma, Daly City Councilmember and former Mayor Juslyn Manalo, San Francisco District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safai, and San Francisco PAGE 13

EMPLOYMENT

Funds awarded to Yerba Buena Gardens Conservancy will provide new landscaping, public art, and additional cleaning, beautifying the surrounding public space SAN FRANCISCO — On Tuesday, April 12, Mayor London Breed, City Administrator Carmen Chu, Caltrans District 4 Director Dina El-Tawansy, and the Yerba Buena Gardens Conservancy celebrated a $1.8 million grant to activate and clean public space near the Yerba Buena/Moscone Center Station, scheduled to open this Fall. The grant, provided

by Clean California, a $1 billion Caltrans initiative to remove litter, create jobs, and beautify communities across the State, will be matched by Yerba Buena Gardens Conservancy, bringing the project’s total funding to $3.6 million.

“We know that clean streets and beautiful public spaces are essential to our city’s health and economic development, and as we continue to bounce back from the COVID pandemic, we need to ensure that we are making the necessary investments in all of our communities,” said Mayor Breed. “Thanks to the generosity of Caltrans and the work of the Yerba Buena Gardens Conservancy, residents, visitors, and convention-goers will have a new opportunity to experience what makes San Francisco so special.”

“The SOMA Transit Gardens Connection project is a win/ win for all of us. The Clean California Local Grant helps beautify the exterior of this space with drought-tolerant landscaping while connecting with the community through murals created by local artists drawing the public into the interior,” said Dina El-Tawansy, Caltrans District 4 Director.

The project design incorporates numerous features, including the planting of drought-tolerant landscaping along 3rd and 4th streets and two artist-led community murals painted along concrete buildings on 4th Street. Additionally, the funding will allow the Yerba Buena

Community Benefit District’s Clean Team to double their current frequency of cleaning and power washing of sidewalks throughout the broader area and will also be used to launch a new volunteer program to clear the streets of litter.

“As San Francisco emerges from the pandemic, the Moscone Center continues to play an important role in bringing visitors and economic activities back to our city. Investing in the neighborhood surrounding our convention facilities helps us stay vibrant and compete in the national and international convention market,” said City Administrator Carmen Chu. “We are honored to be part of this state-local-nonprofit partnership. It marks a big step forward in refueling our city’s once $10 billion tourism industry.”

“We’re honored to receive the grant, which was secured in partnership with the SFMTA, and with the support of the Mayor’s office, YBCBD, Moscone Center, neighborhood groups and many others. The beautification of the area, volunteer programs, public art and restoration will all be uplifting to the community,” said Yerba Buena Gardens Conservancy Executive Director Scott Rowitz. “As we emerge from the pandemic, beautification and cleanliness is more important than ever to make people feel safe and encourage their continued use of public transportation.”

“Yerba Buena/Moscone Station will create a daily impression about the neighborhood and our city for downtown workers, residents, and visitors. This grant provides basic, common-sense measures to ensure that cleanliness is a priority, so we create a welcoming gateway that is a source of pride,” said District 6 Supervisor Matt Haney.

Yerba Buena is home to renowned museums,

HOUSING

SERVICES

convention space, and public gardens, as well as residences, small businesses, dining, shopping and entertainment venues. The SFMTA submitted the grant application on behalf of the Yerba Buena Gardens Conservancy and the Yerba Buena Community Benefit District.

“Muni’s new Yerba Buena/ Moscone Station is at the center of a vibrant neighborhood that includes the Convention Center, thousands of low-to-moderate income residents, thriving senior housing, and the Filipino Cultural Heritage District,” said SFMTA Director Jeffrey Tumlin. “We’re so grateful for Caltrans’ support in beautifying the station area, and making it easier and safer for residents and visitors to walk to and from our station.”

Tuesday’s announcement builds on Mayor Breed’s commitment to attracting workers, visitors, and residents back to the City’s downtown core. As part of Mayor Breed’s Downtown Recovery Plan and Welcome Back to SF initiative, the city is working to provide a welcoming environment that offers a range of activities through the activation of public space. Additionally, through a $12.2 million investment by the city, Welcome Ambassadors have been stationed throughout San Francisco’s office core, including transit hubs, the Moscone Center, and popular congregation points, to provide a welcoming atmosphere for returning office workers, residents, and tourists.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) developed the Clean California Local Grant Program through which funds will go to local communities to beautify and improve local streets and roads, tribal lands, parks, pathways, and transit centers to clean and enhance public spaces. Through the combination of adding PAGE 13

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Why Cebuana fashion designer Mayeth Codoy is making waves in Europe with her ‘Filipiniana’ creations MAYETH Codoy, a Filipina fashion designer living in Norway, is one of the designers whose works will be showcased at Asia Pacific Fashion Week 2022 (APFW) – a global platform for emerging designers – in Los Angeles and Las Vegas on August 6 and 13, respectively.

Mayeth is the founder of MYET, a line of fashionable and luxurious clothing produced almost completely of abaca (Manila hemp) and pinya (pineapple), textiles that are unique to the Philippines.

Mayeth, who was born and raised in Cebu in the Philippines, began her inspiring journey at the age of 23 when she left her family to work as an au pair in Mayeth Codoy was invited to exhibit her ensembles made from Philippine fabrics at the French model Mamì Chula in a Mayeth Codoy asymmetrical dress Oslo.

Philippine Embassy in Oslo, Norway.

Photo courtesy of Philippine Embassy in Norway International Pinay designer Mayeth Codoy utilizes the fibers sourced made of fabrics sourced from pineapples (and pineapple-inspired While in Oslo, Codoy pursued from banana and abaca plant in the Philippines. Designs worn by models mini bag, to boot) at the Paris Fashion Week 2021.

Asia Pacific Fashion Week: A Roosevelt Hotel. her big dream by studying Abigail Gyamfi and Jannike Skien.

Photo by Joe Urrutia Photo by Artur Rocha The Los Angeles leg of global platform fashion design at the Esmod the Philippines famous for its Mayeth's trademark brand is The range of designs within APFW enjoys the support of International Fashion School in stunning white beaches on the slowly establishing itself in key the Filipino community is unlike Asian Journal Publications, Oslo, which is a subsidiary of island of Boracay.

European cities today. In 2022, any other. But what makes them Inc. Trending Beverages Inc., the prestigious Esmod Group in “All products with this she will debut her designs at extra special is the subtle nod Napa Valley Distribution Inc., Paris. garment will be produced in the APFW in Los Angeles, which they make to their culture.

Montemaria Cellars, House of Mayeth's Filipiniana-inspired Philippines, creating even more is regarded as the world's fifth Indeed, these designers are Pacquiao Wine, Individual Health works were notably featured on jobs,” she said. fashion capital after Paris, drawing well-deserved attention Care, Lombard by the Bay, MTS Esmod International's official Mayeth's creations were London, Milan, and New York. to Filipino glam – and Asia Law Firm, Premier Asia Pacific website last year. Her artistic featured in Paris Fashion Mayeth's artistic vision is very Pacific Fashion Week will be Real Estate & Development, and pieces, such as the Maria Clara Week in 2021, a testament to inspiring, and APFW believes she their newest global platform Tina Modeling. gown fashioned of pinya fiber, her brilliance, hard work, and exemplifies Philippine creativity to showcase the diversity of The Las Vegas edition is cothe same material used to unwavering resolve to achieve her and artistry. produced by InterEdx, a dba of Filipino-inspired fashions. produce the Philippine national goals. Mayeth's designs are able Mayeth's aim and ambition This inaugural edition of Dynasty Exchange Ltd. LLC., costume 'barong Tagalog,' carry to highlight the distinct beauty of to promote Philippine natural APFW is presented by the headed by Dr. Lee Dedicatoria, the cultural identity of traditional the Philippine fibers pinya and fibers to the European market Philippine Consulate General in in cooperation with Asia on Filipino clothes. abaca in such beautiful, modern is an expression of her love Los Angeles, DTI Los Angeles Earth, Dynasty Ventures, Club Mayeth graduated in 2020, and creations that are appropriate for for her homeland. She makes office, Center for International Paradisia, World Edoption, Royal has since founded MYET, a small both special events and everyday Filipinos happy to call themselves Trade Expositions and Missions Blue Staffing and Lend with Love. fashion company in Norway.

Filipinos. wear.

(APFW Release) (CITEM) and The Hollywood “The reason for starting this brand is to create something unique made with natural fabrics, produced by farmers in my home country. This as I can identify with their daily struggles to provide for Creating clothes with asymmetrical cuts is a their family,” the designer said fashion style that appeals heavily to Mayeth on her website www.myet.no.

Mayeth sourced the materials Codoy, a Filipina fashion designer based in Norway, and worn by model Antilda Coroma. for her garments from artisan Photo by Lluis Calm Vidal villages in Aklan, a province in

Pinay designer Mayeth Codoy, who runs her own atelier in Oslo named MYET, also develops accessories including footwear, purses, hair accessories and hats as worn by models Abigail Gyamfi and Jannike Skien.

Photo By Joe Urrutia

City awarded $1.8M from Clean California to activate...

PAGE 12

beautification measures and art in public spaces along with the removal of litter and debris, this effort will enhance communities and improve spaces for walking and recreation.

The mission of the Yerba Buena Gardens Conservancy is to program, operate, maintain, and improve the publicly owned open spaces, cultural facilities,

and related components of San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Gardens. The Conservancy works in conjunction with the Garden’s nonprofit cultural organizations, commercial tenants and the City and County of San Francisco, for the civic and public benefit and enjoyment by the City’s visitors and residents.

(SF Mayor’s Office Release)

Filipino community in Bay Area...

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City Librarian Michael Lambert.

In his remarks during the exhibit launch, Consul General Ferrer said that “it is only fitting that a visual exhibit of this kind is staged here in San Francisco,” adding that many Filipino World War II veterans migrated to the San Francisco Bay Area to rebuild their lives following the end of the war.

“As they start anew with their families here in the Bay Area, these veterans also sought official U.S. government recognition for their sacrifices during the Second World War, and fought for the compensation and benefits that were once promised to them when they enlisted to join the war effort,” Consul General Ferrer said.

During his speech, the Philippine Consul General cited the inclusion of Philippine World War II history in the California state curriculum and the conferment of the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal, America’s highest civilian award, to the more than 250,000 Filipino World War II veterans.

In staging the exhibit at the Consulate, Consul General Ferrer said that “it is incumbent upon us, the legacy bearers

of our World War II veterans, to ensure that their memory will never be diminished nor forgotten by future generations of Filipinos and Americans.”

The “Remember Bataan” Exhibit is divided into seven sections: timeline of World War II in the Philippines, from 1941 to 1945; the Fall of Bataan and Bataan Death March; the role of the San Francisco Bay Area in the Philippine campaign of the war; profiles of Filipino, Filipino American and American soldiers, and civilians; a video projection featuring the interviews of Filipino and American children who witnessed the war; key takeaways such as the lasting political and cultural impact of the war in the Philippines, and the legacy of Filipino Americans in the U.S. Armed Forces; and community engagement to support Filipino American veterans and their families.

The “Remember Bataan” Exhibit is open to the public from Mondays to Fridays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for three weeks, until April 30, 2022. Those who wish the exhibit on a weekend must make an appointment at http:// bit.ly/rememberbataan.

(PCGSF Release)

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APRIL 15-21, 2022 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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