041523 -Los Angeles Weekend Edition

Filipino family hurt in Los Angeles hate attack demands justice

LOS ANGELES – After almost a year of waiting, a Filipino family that was verbally and physically assaulted in a popular fast food restaurant last year finally had preliminary hearings April 4 to 6 to determine whether the case against their assailant will proceed to trial.

However, the Roque family had to endure “hurtful and insulting” questioning by their assailant’s lawyer, including the insinuation that they had ill-intentions for raising awareness of anti-Asian hate.

At the hearings, members of the Roque family recounted the attack.

On that night of May 13 last year, a Jeep driven by Nicholas Weber bumped the rear of 47-year-old Nerissa Roque’s car while she and her daughter, Patricia, 19, were in the drive-thru lane of a McDonald’s on Victory Boulevard in North Hollywood.

Weber allegedly hurled anti-Asian invectives at the two women, appeared to grab Nerissa’s

Most Americans say they or a family member has experienced gun violence

A MAJORITY of Americans say they or a family member has experienced gun violence, such as witnessing a shooting, being threatened by a person with a gun, or being shot, according to a sweeping new survey.

The national survey of 1,271 adults conducted by KFF revealed the severe physical and psychological harm exacted by firearm violence, especially in minority communities.

Nearly 1 in 5 respondents , including 34% of Black adults, 18% of Hispanic adults, and 17% of white adults, said a family member had been killed by a gun.

The survey “confirms that firearm-related injuries are ubiquitous,” said Dr. Selwyn Rogers, a surgeon and founding director of the UChicago Medicine trauma center. “For every person killed, there are two or three people harmed. These are people who have had fractures, who may have been paralyzed or disabled.”

Beyond causing physical injuries, gun violence has left many Americans living with

Philippines, US boost military alliance

by BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO ManilaTimes.net

THE United States and the Philippines “redoubled” their commitment to boost their alliance as they reaffirmed that the Mutual Defense Treaty remains the “bedrock” of their cooperation. Top U.S. and Philippine foreign affairs and defense officials on Tuesday, April 11, held the 2+2 Ministerial

Dialogue in Washington D.C. to “reforge” their alliance.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Defense chief Carlito Galvez Jr. and their American counterparts Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III shared the need to modernize relations between Manila and Washington.

“Our security alliance is an enduring source of

Immigration bureau says e-Travel system full rollout to start on April 15

MANILA — The full deployment of the e-Travel System will begin on April 15 for inbound and outbound passengers, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Friday, April 14.

E-Travel System is an online site where travelers can declare their arrival and health information, which aims to streamline traveling to and from the Philippines. It was initially launched in December 2021.

The BI said this new system would replace traditional paper-based registrations in Philippine airports for local and international travel.

“Not only does this speed up immigration clearance, [but] this initiative also ensures

interoperability among border management agencies and saves government resources,” BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said in a statement. Under the e-travel system, arriving passengers must register to the portal within 72 hours before their scheduled arrival time.

Departing passengers must also register within 72 hours but not less than 3 hours from their scheduled departure.

Tansingco reiterated that paper-based registration would only be offered to passengers incapable of using the e-travel system in case the portal is inaccessible. He also noted that the e-Travel portal is free of charge. (Maria Liezl Projella/Inquirer.net)

DOJ chief: ICC probers to be barred from Philippines

MANILA — If prosecutors from the International Criminal Court (ICC) dare step on Philippine soil to interview drug war victims or gather evidence to support a possible case of crime against humanity against former president Rodrigo Duterte, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said he would personally force them onto “the first plane out” of the country. Remulla made this clear to “The Chiefs” on Thursday, April 13 on Cignal TV’s One News, saying he would personally meet the ICC probers at the airport to block them and “accompany them on the trip back.”

The Office of the Solicitor General, on the other hand, has asked the ICC appeals chamber for leave to reply to ICC prosecutor Karim Khan’s latest response to the OSG’s appeal brief against the resumption of the probe. In the request dated April 11, government lawyers led by Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said the government “proposes to file a focused reply at a date to be determined by the Appeals Chamber.” It argued that the Philippines “has not been afforded the same opportunities made

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strength for both of our nations,” Blinken said in a joint press conference with Manalo, Austin and Galvez.

“Today we focused on ways to continue our close partnership under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) so that our forces can work even more closely together,” Blinken said.

“Secretary Austin and I also reaffirmed the United  PAGE A2

PH envoy to US backs Marcos’ foreign trips: It’s only way to tell world who we are

by BEATRICE PINLAC Inquirer.net

MANILA — “It’s really the only way to tell the world that we’re on business,” Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said on Friday, April 14 as he defended President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s string of foreign trips less than a year since assuming the presidency.

Romualdez said Marcos, who has vowed to travel less this year, is “trying to be sensitive” to criticisms of his many travels abroad.

Romualdez, however, argued that these presidential trips are important.

“It’s different when a head of state meets or gets to go to a country rather than a Cabinet Secretary or representative. I’ve seen it so many times. It’s so effective. It’s really the only way to tell the world that we’re on business. [Or] who we are. It’s important,”

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China hits US, Philippines over ‘false’ accusations

by PIA LEE-BRAGO Philstar.com

MANILA — China has expressed strong disapproval of the Philippines’ issuing a joint statement with the United States condemning Beijing’s activities in the South China Sea, and warned that “pandering” to forces outside the region, like giving U.S. troops access to more locations in the country under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), could backfire on Manila.

The joint Philippine-U.S. statement emerged as the two countries’ diplomatic and defense officials convened the third U.S.-Philippines 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Washington.

The meeting came as the Balikatan exercise – the largest so far between the countries involving some 17,000 military personnel – officially began early this week. It will conclude on April 28.

“Let me point out first and foremost that China is gravely concerned over and strongly disapproves the joint statement of the U.S. and the Philippines,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a press conference on Wednesday, April 12.

“The joint statement of

the U.S. and the Philippines misrepresents and discredits the legitimate and lawful maritime law enforcement activities of the Chinese side and even makes false accusations against China. We strongly oppose this,” he said.

“We would like to once again remind the relevant country in the region that pandering to forces outside the region will not bring greater security, but will cause tensions, put regional peace and stability at risk and eventually backfire,” Wang stated.

“We also noted that Philippine President Marcos said China’s reaction over the expanded military deal was ‘not surprising,’” Wang said.

In their joint statement, the Philippines and the U.S. emphasized their strong objections to Beijing’s unlawful maritime claims, its militarization of reclaimed features, as well as provocative activities including its recent attempts to disrupt the Philippines’ lawful operations to resupply its military outpost in the vicinity of Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal. Manila and Washington also denounced the swarming of Chinese vessels around islets and land features within the Philippine exclusive economic zone, and called on

Philippines, US boost military...

States’ unwavering commitment to standing with the Philippines against any intimidation or coercion, including in the South China Sea and to preserving a region that’s governed by international law, where goods and ideas and people can move freely,” he added.

Austin said, “We all reaffirmed today that our Mutual Defense Treaty remains the bedrock of our cooperation.”

“As Secretary Blinken and I have said clearly and repeatedly, the Mutual Defense Treaty applies to armed attacks on either of our armed forces or aircraft or public vessels, including our Coast Guard anywhere in the South China Sea,” he said.

Galvez, on the other hand, said the Philippine-U.S. partnership has “weathered many challenges in the past and continues to stand strong today.”

“We reaffirm our commitment to the Mutual Defense Treaty, which is our cornerstone of our partnership,” Galvez said.

Manalo confirmed that during the meeting, “we redoubled our commitment to modernizing

the Philippine-U.S. alliance, recognizing that our partnership will need to play a stronger role in preserving an international rulesbased order.”

He said the Philippines welcomes the U.S.’ pledge to “fast-track and drum up support” for the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as well as the implementation of EDCA projects and investments. There are now nine sites that will house U.S. troops and equipment under EDCA.

Both countries plan new exercises in the South China Sea later in the year that will include other countries, Austin said. Asked if the Philippines worried about China’s reaction, Galvez said, “We don’t expect any violent reaction considering that this exercise is intended for our collective defense.”

In a joint statement later released by the U.S. Department of State, the officials reaffirmed their shared determination to defend against an external armed attack in the Pacific, which includes the South China Sea, in accordance with the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, the 1998 Visiting

Forces Agreement, and 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.

Both sides said they look forward to continuing discussions regarding the nature of threats that “may arise in different domains — including land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace — and effective responses.”

Blinken said they also discussed to deepen the “robust economic ties” through the IndoPacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) which aims, among others, to increase economic opportunities for women and girls in the Philippines.

“We’re providing training in growing industries like data science and artificial intelligence, where women have been underrepresented, and boosting digital literacy rates,” he said.

Manalo said their discussions were “aligned with the Philippines’ priorities on agriculture, food security, promoting energy security as we transition to clean energy, boosting trade, and building resilience of our supply chains, as well as enhancing connectivity and digitalization.” 

PH envoy to US backs Marcos’ foreign trips...

Romualdez said over ABS-CBN News’ Headstart.

He recalled witnessing how effective it is when a chief executive travels to other countries when he joined former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III during their business trips abroad.

Marcos is set to fly to Indonesia in May for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit. This, after he and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos attend the coronation of King Charles in the United Kingdom.

Romualdez particularly noted that Marcos’ Asean trip is of importance.

In addition, Romualdez said there are “many other obligations [Marcos] has to do on a personal basis because it’s good for our relationship with other countries.”

Romualdez said he had even advised Marcos to visit the United

States three times a year, saying there is “so much potential” in doing so. But he quickly took note that it was not possible.

Earlier, Romualdez said Marcos will visit the United States at least two times in 2023.

A slew of criticisms had been thrown at Marcos for his many

DOJ chief: ICC probers to be barred...

available to other States at either the article 15 ot article 18 stage.”

“As a result, the material and submissions it has provided have often been overlooked or misrepresented despite the fact that this litigation goes towards preserving its sovereignty rights.”

Guevarra had previously told

The Chiefs that the government would not stop ICC prosecutors from entering the Philippines.

Remulla, however, said, “My position (in that matter) is I will meet them so they can take the first plane out. I will tell them: go home! You will do nothing in this country. If you have complaints, file it with us.”

The Philippine government’s main appeal, which is its last resort to stop the ICC investigation, is still pending with the Appeals Chamber. The main appeal hinges largely on the country’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute as it claims that the ICC no longer has jurisdiction over the Philippines.

While Remulla underscored that civilians may speak to Khan and his team, doing so in the context of an investigation into the drug war would be considered “usurpation of authority” punishable in the Philippines under the Revised Penal Code.

“Well, it will lead to nowhere. Walang pupuntahan yon. What legal system will they use when they try to talk to our people? They will use the Philippine legal system? As far as the Philippine legal system is concerned, they’re not the ones who are authorized to ask those questions… They will be committing usurpation of authority,” Remulla said.

foreign travels, but he has since defended himself as he argued that the Philippines would need to introduce itself to potential investors abroad. His ninth and latest official overseas trip since assuming the presidency was for a five-day state visit to Japan last February. 

The justice secretary, who appears to be the most vocal critic of the ICC in the Marcos administration, maintained that allowing ICC prosecutors to investigate Duterte and other officials on Philippine soil would be an insult to the local justice system.

He made the pronouncements a day after ICC prosecutor Karim Khan’s court filing was made public.

In his submission before the ICC, Khan stressed that the alleged crimes, including the killings, are not of “marginal gravity” as claimed by the Philippine government and thus should be considered by the ICC Appeals Chamber in dismissing efforts to stop the investigation.

The justice secretary is referring to what he earlier said could be a “takeover” of the Administrative Order 35 Task Force’s investigation into drug war killings – an undertaking already declared by the ICC last year as one that can’t match the investigation of its prosecutors.

AO 35 was issued by the DOJ in 2012 to address accusations against government and private actors who wreak political violence in the form of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other grave violations of the right to life, liberty and security of persons.

In 2018, the Duterte administration initiated the withdrawal from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, after former prosecutor Fatou Bensouda announced the start of a preliminary examination into the drug war. Under the statute, the international court retains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed when the country was still a state party.

Aside from the drug war killings, the investigation also covers the killings in Davao area – allegedly by the so-called Davao death squad – between Nov. 1, 2011 and June 30, 2016 when Duterte was either the mayor or vice mayor of Davao City.

On June 24, 2022, Khan asked the ICC judges to authorize the resumption of the investigation, noting that the “deferral requested by the Philippines is not warranted.” His request was granted on Jan. 26, prompting the Marcos administration to file an appeal before the ICC Appeals Chamber.

Remulla said Khan’s submission no longer merits a response, as “we’re not dealing with the ICC anymore.”

It also created an inter-agency task force headed by the DOJ that serves as the government’s institutional machinery to resolve unsolved cases of political violence, whether through EJKs, enforced disappearances, torture and other cases of human rights violation.

China hits US, Philippines over ‘false’...

Last March 27, the Appeals Chamber denied the Philippine government’s request for suspension of the investigation while the appeal is pending.  PAGE

China to fully comply with the legally binding 2016 ruling of the international arbitral court based in The Hague invalidating China’s massive maritime claims.

Apparently addressing the Philippines, Wang noted that the region’s peace and stability hinge on trust, solidarity, and cooperation and that countries concerned should “take our security firmly in our own hands.”

Wang also claimed the arbitral ruling violates international laws, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

He also slammed the designation of new sites under EDCA. “Judging from the locations of the new military bases, the intention behind those sites is more than obvious,” Wang said.

“The U.S. and the Philippines have just added a footnote to their intention by stressing in the joint statement that they will ‘support swift operationalization of the four new sites.’ It seems there is no need for China to provide any additional analysis or interpretation of that. So indeed there is nothing to be surprised about when it comes to China’s response,” he added.

Galvez at Pentagon

In a statement welcoming his Philippine counterpart Carlito Galvez Jr. to the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia on Wednesday, U.S. defense chief Lloyd Austin III again slammed the Chinese’ increasing aggressiveness in the South China Sea.

He also reassured Manila of U.S. commitment to defend the Philippines against any armed attack under the Mutual Defense Treaty.

Austin said the U.S. and the Philippines shared a vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific grounded in transparency, freedom of navigation, the rule of law, respect for sovereignty and the peaceful resolution of

A U.S. soldier fires a Javelin anti-tank missile during a live-fire exercise at Fort Magsaysay

disputes.

“Now those principles have faced growing challenges lately. We’ve seen a troubling increase in coercion and dangerous operational behavior, including in the South China Sea. And we remain deeply committed to our alliance obligations,” he said.

“And as we’ve made abundantly clear, the mutual defense treaty applies to armed attacks on either of our armed forces, our public vessels or aircraft anywhere in the South China Sea,” Austin pointed out.

He said he is proud of the rapid strides that the Philippines and the U.S. have made to modernize their alliance and bolster the capacities of their armed forces “to resist coercion and gray zone aggression.”

He said the U.S. and the Philippines are “close to finalizing a security sector assistance roadmap that charts a path forward to strengthen deterrence and align our defense investments with the evolving security environment.”

“And as we discuss yesterday, we’re also expanding our cooperation under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, which will make our armed forces more flexible and more resilient. And support our ability to train and operate

together,” Austin said.

“And we’re very pleased to have announced the locations of these four new sites recently. And finally, I want to affirm our commitment to strengthening interoperability across all domains, including space and cyberspace,” he added.

Galvez, in response, said the security meeting “is a good opportunity to build on our discussions during your visit in the Philippines… and reaffirm our commitment to the Philippines-U.S. mutual defense treaty.”

“Our regular exchange and close coordination demonstrate the extent of our defense relationship. And I have mentioned on several occasions that the importance of our Philippine-U.S. defense cooperation in the region, especially at this time when significant challenges are becoming increasing complex and evolving,” he said.

“As I have said yesterday, is that our alliance is for peace. Our defense alliance is critical in assuring the safety and security of our citizens, and we continue to work together to enhance our capabilities to meet the current and future security challenges, including disasters,” Galvez said. 

PAGE A1

DAILY VACCINATION. A local government employee shows the Sinovac vaccine she administers at People’s Park, Davao City, on Friday, April 14. The site inoculation daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez Inquirer.net photo by Marianne Bermudez

in Nueva Ecija as part of the annual Balikatan on Thursday, April 13. Philstar.com photo

For uninsured people with cancer, securing care can be like spinning a roulette wheel

by CHARLOTTE HUFF KFF Health News

EIGHTEEN months after April Adcox learned she had skin cancer, she finally returned to Charleston’s Medical University of South Carolina last May to seek treatment.

By then, the reddish area along her hairline had grown from a 2-inch circle to cover nearly her entire forehead. It oozed fluid and was painful.

“Honestly, I was just waiting on it to kill me, because I thought that’s what was going to have to happen,” said the 41-year-old mother of three, who lives in Easley, South Carolina.

Adcox had first met with physicians at the academic medical center in late 2020, after a biopsy diagnosed basal cell carcinoma. The operation to remove the cancer would require several physicians, she was told, including a neurosurgeon, because of how close it was to her brain.

But Adcox was uninsured. She had lost her automotive plant job in the early days of the pandemic, and at the time of her diagnosis was equally panicked about the complex surgery and the prospect of a hefty bill. Instead of proceeding with treatment, she attempted to camouflage the expanding cancerous area for more than a year with hats and long bangs.

If Adcox had developed breast or cervical cancer, she likely would have qualified for insurance coverage under a federal law that extends Medicaid eligibility to lower-income patients diagnosed with those two malignancies. For female patients with other types of cancer, as well as pretty much all male patients, the options are scant, especially in South Carolina and the 11 other states that haven’t yet implemented Medicaid expansion, according to cancer physicians and health policy experts who study access

to care.

In the face of potentially daunting bills, uninsured adults sometimes delay care, which can result in worse survival outcomes, research shows. The odds of patients getting insurance to help cover the cost of treatment play out a bit like a game of roulette, depending upon where they live and what type of cancer they have.

“It is very random — that’s, I think, the heartbreaking part about it,” said Dr. Evan Graboyes, a head and neck surgeon and one of Adcox’s physicians. “Whether you live or die from cancer shouldn’t really be related to what state you live in.”

The Affordable Care Act gave states the option to expand Medicaid eligibility and cover more people. Shortly after the law passed, just 2.6% of adults ages 18 to 64 with a new cancer diagnosis lacked insurance in Medicaid expansion states versus 7.8% in nonexpansion states, according to a study published in JAMA Oncology in 2018. Researchers at the American Cancer Society, who conducted the analysis, estimate that about 30,000 uninsured people are diagnosed with cancer each year.

But in all states, lower-income uninsured patients with breast or cervical cancer may have another route for coverage, even if they don’t otherwise qualify for Medicaid. Adults with cancer detected through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program can enroll in Medicaid for the duration of their cancer treatment, as a result of advocacy efforts and federal legislation that started more than three decades ago.

In 2019, 43,549 breast and cervical cancer patients were enrolled, according to a Government Accountability Office report published in 2020.

“If you’re lucky to be diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer, you’re good,” said Dr. Fumiko Chino, a radiation oncologist at

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, who studies cancer treatment access and affordability. “But otherwise, you may have some significant obstacles.”

The total amount billed to the insurer during the year following a cancer diagnosis can be steep. For instance, costs in 2016 averaged $168,730 for lung cancer and $137,663 for colorectal cancer, according to a 2022 study that calculated insurance claims for several common malignancies diagnosed in privately insured patients.

Since uninsured adults can struggle to afford preventive care, their cancer may not be identified until it’s more advanced, making it costlier for the patient and the health system, said Robin Yabroff, an author of the study in JAMA Oncology and a scientific vice president at the American Cancer Society.

Patients who can’t get financial assistance through a safetynet facility sometimes rack up medical debt, use credit cards, or launch fundraising efforts though online sites, Yabroff said. “We hear stories of people who mortgage their homes to pay for cancer treatment.”

Cancer patients can purchase insurance through the ACA health insurance marketplace. But they often must wait until the regular enrollment period near the end of the year, and those health plans don’t become effective until the start of the next calendar year.

That’s because the federal law was designed to encourage people to sign up when they are healthy, which helps control costs, said MaryBeth Musumeci, an associate teaching professor of health policy and management at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. If a new diagnosis were a qualifying event for new coverage, she said, “then it would incentivize people to stay uninsured while they were healthy

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PAUNAWA NG PAMPUBLIKONG PAGDINIG Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Ang Independent Citizen's Advisory and Oversight Committee (ICAOC) ay magsasagawa ng personal na pampublikong pagdinig sa Mayo 16, 2023, sa 11:00 a.m. Ang mga miyembro ng publiko ay makakalahok nang personal sa One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012 o maaaring makinig sa pamamagitan ng pagtawag sa: 888-251-2949 at pagpasok sa extension ng meeting sa 8231160#.

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

Ang layunin ng pagdinig na ito ay makatanggap ng mga pampublikong komento sa resulta ng independiyenteng audit na isinagawa sa pananagutan ng mga kita at paggasta sa buwis sa pagbebenta sa ilalim ng mga ordinansa ng Proposisyon A at Proposisyon C mula Hulyo 1, 2021 - hanggang Hunyo 30, 2022.

BACKGROUND

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

Inaprubahan ng mga botante ng Los Angeles County ang Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Reform and Accountability Act of 1998 (ang Act) noong Nobyembre ng 1998. Ang layunin ng Act ay magbigay ng pananagutan sa paggasta ng mga kita sa buwis sa pagbebenta ng Proposisyon A at Proposisyon C sa pamamagitan ng taunang independiyenteng audit sa mga paggasta sa buwis galing sa pagbebenta sa transportasyon, ang paglikha ng isang Independent Citizen's Advisory and Oversight Committee, at mga pampublikong pagdinig sa mga independiyenteng ulat ng audit. Ang Act ay nangangailangan ng taunang independiyenteng audit ng Mga Proposisyon A at C sa Mga Buwis sa Pagbebenta ng Mga Kita at Paggasta.

Ang Independent Citizen's Advisory Oversight Committee alinsunod sa Act ay nagbibigay ng buod na ito ng independiyenteng audit para sa taon ng pananalapi na magtatapos sa Hunyo 30, 2022.

ESPESYAL NA PAG-AUDIT SA MGA PONDO NG KITA

Ang Ulat ng Independent Auditor ay nagbibigay ng mga iskedyul ng mga kita at paggasta para sa Mga Proposisyon A at C para sa taon ng pananalapi na magtatapos sa Hunyo 30, 2022, na nagpapakita ng mga halaga ng mga kita sa buwis sa pagbebenta sa transportasyon na natanggap at ginasta ng LACMTA. Ang mga iskedyul ng Proposisyon A at C na ito ay inihanda ng LACMTA at in-audit ng independiyenteng accounting firm na BCA Watson Rice, LLP (BCA). Isinagawa ng BCA ang audit ng mga iskedyul ng pananalapi ng Proposisyon A at C alinsunod sa generally accepted auditing standards sa United States ng Amerika.

Ang Opinyon ng Auditor sa Paglalahad ng Iskedyul ng Pananalapi

Ang Ulat ng Independent Auditor ay nagbibigay ng opinyon para sa taon ng pananalapi na magtatapos sa Hunyo 30, 2022, ang mga iskedyul ng mga kita at paggasta ng LACMTA para sa Proposisyon A at C ay nagpapakita ng patas, sa lahat ng materyal na aspeto, ang mga kita at paggasta ng kita sa buwis sa pagbebenta ng Proposisyon A at C.

Ulat ng Auditor sa Mga Panloob na Kontrol sa Pag-uulat sa Pananalapi

Ang ulat sa mga internal control sa pag-uulat sa pananalapi ay nagsasaad na bilang bahagi ng audit, isinasaalang-alang ng BCA ang internal control ng LACMTA sa pag-uulat sa pananalapi upang matukoy ang mga pamamaraan ng pag-audit na naaangkop sa mga pangyayari para sa layunin ng pagpapahayag ng kanilang opinyon sa mga financial statement, ngunit hindi para sa layunin ng pagpapahayag ng opinyon sa pagiging epektibo ng internal control ng LACMTA. Hindi natukoy ng BCA ang anumang mga kakulangan sa panloob na kontrol sa pag-uulat sa pananalapi na itinuturing ng BCA na mga materyal na kahinaan.

Ulat ng Auditor sa Pagsunod sa Mga Kinakailangan sa Proposisyon A at C

Ang Ulat ng Independent Auditor ay nagbibigay ng opinyon na sinunod ng LACMTA, sa lahat ng materyal na aspeto, ang mga kinakailangan sa pagsunod na inilarawan sa MTA Reform and Accountability Act of 1998 at ang mga Ordinansa na maaaring magkaroon ng direkta at materyal na epekto sa mga kita ng Proposisyon A at Proposisyon C at mga paggasta para sa taon ng pananalapi na natapos noong Hunyo 30, 2022.

MGA AUDIT SA PAGSUNOD NG MGA LUNGSOD AT ANG COUNTY

Isinagawa ng Vasquez and Company (Vasquez) at Simpson at Simpson (Simpson) ang pag-audit ng pagsunod alinsunod sa mga auditing standards generally accepted sa United States ng Amerika at ang mga pamantayang naaangkop sa mga pag-audit sa pananalapi na nakapaloob sa Government Auditing Standards, na inisyu ng Comptroller General ng United States. Ang mga pamantayang iyon ay nangangailangan na ang mga independiyenteng auditor ay magplano at magsagawa ng pag-audit upang makakuha ng makatwirang katiyakan tungkol sa hindi pagsunod sa mga kinakailangan sa mga Ordinansa at sa Proposisyon A at Local Return Guidelines ng Proposisyon C na maaaring magkaroon ng direkta at materyal na epekto sa Proposisyon A at ang programang naganap sa Proposisyon C na Local Return.

Napagpasyahan ng Vasquez and Simpson na ang mga Lungsod ay sumunod sa lahat ng materyal na aspeto, kasama ang mga kinakailangan sa mga Ordinansa at ang Proposisyon A at Local Return Guidelines ng Proposisyon C na naaangkop sa programa ng Proposisyon A at Proposisyon C ng Local Return para sa taon ng pananalapi na natapos noong Hunyo 30, 2022. Ang mga audit ng pagsunod sa Local Return Guidelines ng County at ng 88 Mga Lungsod ay nakakita ng 31 lokal na hurisdiksyon na may mga isyu sa pagsunod. Ang lahat ng mga natuklasan ay nalutas na o nasa proseso ng pagresolba.

Ang mga nakasulat na komento sa usaping ito ay tatanggapin hanggang Mayo 15, 2023 ng 5PM. Ang mga komento ay maaaring ipadala sa email sa BoardClerk@metro.net o ipadala sa koreo sa: Board Administration, LACMTA,

Most Americans say they or a family member...

trauma and fear, Rogers said.

Just over half of adults say gun-related crimes, injuries, and deaths are a “constant threat” or “major concern” in their communities. Black and Hispanic adults were more likely than white adults to describe gun violence as a constant threat or major concern. About 3 in 10 Black or Hispanic adults say they feel “not too safe” or “not safe at all” from gun violence in their neighborhoods. (Hispanics can be of any race or combination of races.)

Women also reported high rates of concern about firearm violence, with 58% saying gun-related crimes are a constant threat or major concern, compared with 43% of men. More than half of intimate partner homicides are committed with guns.

Parents are worried about their children as well.

About 1 in 4 parents of children under 18 say they worry daily or almost daily about gun violence, the KFF survey found, and 84% of adults report having taken at least one precaution to reduce their family’s risk from gun violence. More than one-third of adults say they have avoided large crowds, such as at music festivals or crowded bars, for example.

Gun violence surged during the pandemic. There were a record 48,830 firearm-related deaths in 2021, an increase of 23% from 2019, according to an analysis by the Pew Research Center. The increase among children was even sharper. Firearm deaths among Americans under 18 — which include those due to homicide, suicide, and gun-related accidents — increased 50%, from 1,732 in 2019 to 2,590 in 2021.

Guns have become the leading cause of death among children and adolescents ages 1 to 19,

according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The pandemic also coincided with a huge increase in gun purchases, which grew an estimated 64% from 2019 to 2020.

According to the KFF survey, 29% of adults have purchased a gun at some point to protect themselves or their families, with 44% of parents of children under 18 keeping a gun in the home. Yet 78% of parents in gunowning households fail to follow safety recommendations, such as locking guns and ammunition, storing guns unloaded, and storing guns and ammunition separately, practices that have been shown to reduce the risk of thefts, accidents, and suicides.

Dr. Abdullah Pratt, an emergency physician at the UChicago Medicine trauma center, has lost a dozen close friends to gun violence, including his brother. His father never recovered from that loss and died about seven years later, at age 64.

“As soon as my brother got killed, he stopped taking his medications and started chainsmoking out of nowhere,” Pratt said.

Gun violence also wears away communities, Pratt said.

In neighborhoods with high crime rates, the daily drumbeat of loss can lead residents to conclude there’s no point in voting, going to school, or trying to improve their lives. “They think, ‘What am I voting for if I can’t have basic access to safety on a day-today basis?’” Pratt said.

And while mass shootings and homicides grab headlines, Rogers, the surgeon, noted that suicides account for more than half of firearm-related deaths in the U.S. and cause ripples of grief throughout a community.

Researchers estimate that every suicide leaves at least six people

in mourning.

Pratt said he feels guilty he wasn’t able to help a close friend who died by suicide with a gun several years ago. The man had recently lost a job and had his car repossessed and came to Pratt to talk about his troubles. Instead, Pratt spent the visit asking for parenting advice, without realizing how much his friend was hurting.

“There were no red flags,” Pratt said. “A couple days later, he died.”

Gun violence has also shaped the trajectory of Bernice Grisby’s life.

Grisby, now 35, was shot for the first time when she was 8, while playing on the swings at her school in Oakland, California. She was shot a second time at age 15, when she was talking to friends after school. One of her friends died that day, while another lost an eye; Grisby was shot in the hip and experiences chronic pain from the wound.

Two of her brothers were fatally shot in their 20s. Her 15-year-old daughter was recently robbed at gunpoint.

Rather than leaving Oakland, Grisby is trying to save it. She works as a street counselor to young people at high risk of gun violence through Oakland’s East Bay Asian Youth Center, which aims to help young people living in poverty, trauma, and neglect.

“My life is a gift from God,” Grisby said. “I am happy to be here to support the youth and know that I am making a difference.” (Liz Szabo/Kaiser Health News)

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.

Filipino family hurt in Los Angeles hate...

neck, in the process hitting her in the chest, and then punched 62-year-old patriarch Gabriel Roque when he tried to stop Weber from opening the door of the women’s car. Gabriel fell to the ground, suffering broken ribs and a bruised left arm.

An important evidence was Patricia’s video of the actual attack. She started filming to get Weber’s license plate number before the attack ensued.

The family members said they were deeply traumatized by the incident and needed counseling. Nerissa Roque stated that she didn’t want the same thing to happen to another Asian family.

Weber is charged with two counts of felony battery for the attack on Gabriel and Nerissa Roque as well as a hate crime allegation stemming from the physical assault, verbal harassment through racist remarks and threats of violence, and property damage.

Defense questioning

The Roques complained that at the preliminary hearings they were barraged with questions and statements from the defense that dismissed the validity of their experience, twisted their testimonies and painted a false narrative of the Roque family’s motive for pursuing the hate crime allegation.

Patricia Roque is optimistic that her family will get the justice, owing to the evidence against a hate crime suspect and the support they are getting from the community.

“The first day I got so emotional with my sister, I was trying to hold it back,” another Roque daughter, Ysabel, said. “I just couldn’t see how they push something that’s way far from the truth.”

The court is currently, on recess as evidence review takes place. The judge is anticipated to decide on whether the case will go to trial on the upcoming April 17 court date.

Community support

About a hundred Asian American, Filipino, and other community organizations including Filipino Migrant Center, Progressive Asian Network, rallied outside the Los Angeles Superior Court in Van Nuys. Many took time off work, skipped classes and drove for over an hour to lend their support to the Roque family.

Patricia Roque, a University of California Irvine sophomore, who is in the forefront of her family’s campaign for justice, expressed optimism in an exclusive INQUIRER.net interview, but was still pained by their experience.

“Even on that night, the Los Angeles Police took more than an hour before they arrived at the scene when damage and attacks, both verbally and physically, had been done,” she recalled.

“The LAPD also discouraged us from filing a lawsuit against Weber when we first reported the hate crime That alone shows you how little support victims get when it comes to authorities,” rued Patricia. “Add to this, my Dad had to wait at the emergency room for six hours just to get checked.”

Her optimism is buoyed by the support from members of the community, Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike, including the numerous student organizations who have been with them since

the start.

Hopeful

“I am hopeful that our case will go to trial and hopefully the evidence that will be shown in court is enough, as I am 100 percent sure it is. It will be a victory if our case will go to trial,” Patricia shared.

“But, unfortunately, the actual trial could take another year. That is how the court system and process go which is something very disheartening to us victims because at the end of the day, all we want is justice for what has happened to us.”

A personal silver lining for Patricia is that she has been more vocal; she has been the public speaker for her family.

“My mom was against that at first fearing for my safety. I disregarded that, because I feel that it is very important as victims to speak, to be a voice not only for my family but also for other fellow victims who may not have the courage to speak up for what they have experienced. It is not just my family who is waiting. It is the entire the community,” she stressed.

Her mother, Nerissa, agreed,

“It is not just for the Roque family but other working-class migrant families who might have experiences like this and might not have the resources the same support to come forward and actually seek justice.” (Jun Nucum/Inquirer.net)

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RACE AGAINST TIME. Telecommunications staff assist residents in registering their SIM (subscriber identity module) cards in Barangay Immaculate Conception, Quezon City on Friday, April 14. The deadline for registration is on April 26, after which unregistered SIM cards already in use will be deactivated in compliance with Republic Act No. 11934. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

Nearly a hundred supporters from Filipino community members and student organizations rally in solidarity with the Roque family in their quest for justice. Inquirer.net photo by Jun

For uninsured people with cancer, securing...

PAGE A4

and they didn’t think they really were going to need coverage.”

Meanwhile, the on-ramp to Medicaid coverage for lowerincome patients with breast and cervical cancer is a story of successful advocacy, dating to a 1990 law that created the national breast and cervical screening program. Mammography started to be widely recommended in the 1980s, and advocacy groups pushed to reach more underserved individuals, said Katie McMahon, a policy principal at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the organization’s advocacy arm.

But research showed that some uninsured adults struggled to get care for those cancers detected through the screening program, McMahon said. A 2000 law allowed states to extend Medicaid to them, and by 2008 all 50 states and the District of Columbia had done so, according to the 2020 GAO report.

For other cancer patients, one of the remaining avenues to coverage, according to Chino, is to qualify for disability through the Social Security Administration, after which they can apply for Medicaid. The federal agency has a lengthy list of criteria for cancer patients. It also has a Compassionate Allowances program, which offers faster reviews for patients with certain serious medical conditions, including advanced or aggressive

cancers.

Although the rules vary, many patients don’t qualify until their disease has spread or the cancer requires at least a year of intense treatment, Chino said. That presents an inherent catch-22 for people who are uninsured but have curable types of cancer, she said.

“To qualify for Medicaid, I have to wait for my cancer to be incurable,” she said, “which is very depressing.”

For example, the Compassionate Allowances program doesn’t list basal cell carcinoma, and it covers head and neck cancer only if it has spread elsewhere in the body or can’t be removed surgically.

Adcox said that before her 12-hour operation last June, her financial assistance application with the Medical University of South Carolina was still pending. Someone from the hospital, she recalled, estimated the bill would be $176,000 and asked how much Adcox could put down. She cobbled together $700 with the help of loved ones.

But she did qualify for financial assistance and hasn’t received any bills, except from an outside lab services provider.

“It’s over,” Adcox said. She’s since undergone radiation and will have more reconstructive surgeries. But she’s cancer-free.

“It didn’t kill me. It didn’t kill me.”

Still, not everyone finds a safety

net. Brian Becker, of El Paso, Texas, was uninsured and not working when he learned he had chronic myelogenous leukemia in summer 2021, said Stephanie Gamboa, his ex-wife and the mother of their young daughter. His cancer physician required an upfront payment, she said, and it took several months to borrow enough money.

He started chemotherapy the following year, and over months lost weight and became weaker, returning to the emergency room with infections and worsening kidney function, Gamboa said. The last time their daughter saw her father, “he couldn’t get out of bed. He was literally skin and bones,” Gamboa said.

Becker started the process to request disability benefits. The text he sent Gamboa, which she shared with KHN, stated that review of his application began in June 2022 and was expected to take six months.

The denial letter, dated Feb. 4, 2023, arrived more than a month after Becker’s death in December at age 32. It read in part: “Based on a review of your medical conditions, you do not qualify for benefits on this claim.”

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.

General Gregorio Catapang Jr. installed 335 new jail guards at the NBP’s Maximum Security Compound

Insp. Purificacion Hari as superintendent, replacing Chief Insp. Lucio Guevarra. PNA photo by Avito Dalan

Cutting red tape, again

THE Anti-Red Tape Act, Republic Act 9485, was passed way back in 2007. The law was fine-tuned over a decade later, with the signing of RA 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business Act on May 28, 2018 by then president Rodrigo Duterte. RA 11032 paved the way for the creation of the Anti-Red Tape Authority.

ARTA had announced back in September 2020 that it was working with local government units for a nationwide full rollout of online one-stop shops for business-related permits. From the start of his presidency, Duterte had given priority to cutting red tape, but even the fear factor engendered by his approach to governance apparently was not enough to achieve his objective.

Editorial

Last Tuesday, April 11, it was President Marcos’ turn to direct ARTA to simplify LGUs’ business processing and licensing systems as well as the electronic business one-stop shops or eBOSS, which is provided for under RA 11032.

The eBoss acronym is catchier than CHECC, which stands for ARTA’s “clean, honest, efficient and customer-centric” program that is a component of its ease of doing business strategy. Another component is the implementation of TradeNet. This is the manual for the reengineering of LGU systems for business permits and licensing. It also contains guidelines for the issuance of

permits, licenses, and certificates for the construction of shared passive telecommunications tower infrastructure. It’s time for the government, however, to go beyond coining catchy acronyms and to get serious about cutting red tape. LGUs are particularly notorious, with red tape starting at the barangay level. Barangay officials have become masters in concocting every imaginable excuse to collect a fee from anyone trying to do business or earn a living in this country. Every fee means a layer of red tape that keeps piling up all the way to the top levels of the LGU. In the first month of this year, net foreign direct investments in the Philippines plummeted to a 20-month low of only $448 million – a 45.7 percent drop. Despite existing laws and executive orders, the country continues to rank low in ease of doing business, from starting to operating to even closing an enterprise. The business community has also cited the weakness of the regulatory environment and failure to enforce contracts as disincentives to

investments. These are weaknesses that cannot be cured by amending the Constitution. The country can only

hope that in the latest effort to cut red tape and make doing business easier, the new administration truly means business. (Philstar.com)

American Brand in the Philippines

HIS Excellency Ambassador Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez is on point when he described our relationship with the U.S. as being in “high gear.” Indeed, it’s a busy time for both countries as the two nations strengthen economic, diplomatic and security ties.

As our indefatigable ambassador to the U.S. said, this week is especially a busy time in Washington with the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue and the Philippine Economic Briefing.

During the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue this week, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed their support for “unimpeded lawful commerce and full respect for international law, including freedom of navigation, and overflight and other lawful uses of the sea.”

They exchanged views on key regional and global developments that threaten global peace and the international rules-based order.

A major part of the dialogue is the mutual understanding of accelerating the implementation of EDCA projects and increased

investments in EDCA Agreed Locations to further support combined training and exercises between the U.S. and Philippine Armed Forces. The secretaries also committed to advance the “shared agenda for inclusive and sustainable economic growth through the modernization of infrastructure, the digital economy, enhanced agricultural productivity, promotion of renewable energy and green technologies and enhanced food and energy security; “Further collaborate in resilient supply chains and safeguarding critical and emerging technologies. This includes working together to develop and build the resilience of the Philippine and U.S. semiconductor industries.”

Philippine economic briefing

Apart from the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, there’s also the Marcos administration’s Philippine Economic Briefing, which is expected to have been concluded by the time this column is published.

The briefing focuses on the economic performance and key economic liberalization reforms the Philippines has done in a bid to encourage foreign investments in different sectors of the country.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) organized the economic briefing in partnership with the Philippine embassy and Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Washington, with the support of partner banks such as HSBC, UBS, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, BofA Securities, Standard Chartered Bank and Morgan Stanley. Carrying the theme, “Think Growth, Think Philippines,” the Philippine Economic Briefing serves as an avenue for the country’s economic managers to discuss investment opportunities in the Philippines.

Trade winds

Against this backdrop of strengthening Philippines-U.S. relations, it’s no surprise that the U.S. has resumed its flagship overseas trade promotion program Trade Winds here in the country.

I had the pleasure and honor of attending the Trade Winds ASEAN 2023 reception at the U.S. Ambassador’s residence last month, during which Her Excellency Ambassador MaryKay Carlson said many companies and individuals are interested in expanding the U.S.-Philippines trade and investment relationship.

“Trade Winds is the U.S. Department of Commerce’s

flagship overseas trade promotion program. It’s hard to believe, but it has been more than 10 years since Trade Winds visited the Philippines. Now that the world is emerging from the pandemic, it is exciting to see the Department of Commerce focusing on Southeast Asia to kick-start its return to faceto-face trade missions and peopleto-people engagement,” she said during last month’s event.

Best of America

That night I had a chance to chat with officials from some of the U.S. companies interested in expanding to the Philippines – from Duck Donuts to Coursera Inc.

“The U.S. companies here tonight as part of the Trade Winds mission represent the best of America, from innovative technology, an interest in partnerships with local Filipino companies and a willingness to collaborate around shared values,” Ambassador Carlson said.

Aside from Duck Donuts and Coursera, other companies that were part of the trade mission and are interested in doing business in the Philippines are Global Accounting, Rife International, Thales Defense & Security Inc., Astranis Space Technologies Corp., UniXporter

LLC, Vibrac, Key Resin Company and Dermaesthetics Beverly Hills

Formula USA. Trade Winds conducts trade missions annually, said U.S. embassy in the Philippines senior commercial officer Paul Taylor.

And what do U.S. companies like in the Philippines? Taylor said they’re looking at ease of doing business and an efficient workforce.

That night, Ambassador Carlson also urged Filipino companies to work with American companies and tap the potential of vibrant bilateral trade and investment ties. In 2022, trade between the Philippines and the U.S. exceeded $33 billion.

In all, the U.S. envoy to the Philippines said: “Commercial engagement between Americans and Filipinos is a key component of our relationship as friends and partners. The consumer products and services we use every day and the brands that have become part of our lives, frequently define our understanding of another country.

“This is both a significant opportunity and a major responsibility for the American companies with us tonight. You play an important part in defining the American Brand here in the Philippines.”

Selling the Philippines abroad

Bank (ADB).

THE Philippine economic team winds down this week its mission to sell the country as a destination for business and foreign investments. The sales pitch is that the Philippines have better business and investment environment currently being put in place by the new administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., or PBBM for short.

The economic team led by Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno flew last week to the United States to attend the annual Spring Meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (WB-IMF) in Washington. Diokno was joined by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Felipe Medalla, National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, and Information and Communications Secretary

Ivan John Uy.

“Our discussion with WB and IMF is part of the consultation process. Both institutions want an update of the economic

situation from the lens of policymakers,” Diokno disclosed in viber messages sent to me in between his meetings. “While the whole world was preoccupied with COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippines transformed its economy by passing pathbreaking measures such as the Public Service Act which opened to foreign ownership new sectors such as telecommunications, airports, seaports, and toll roads. Renewable energy (wind, solar, geothermal, ocean, etc.) was also opened for full foreign ownership,” Diokno cited.

While in Washington, the Philippine economic team also met and reached out to some 180 senior executives and representatives of large U.S.based businesses such as Boeing, Carroll, GeoX, FedEx, Visa and Ford, industry associations and financial communities. They impressed upon their international business audience that the timing is perfect to join the Philippines in its economic take off from this part of the world coming out from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The message is one of optimism: how the Philippines has transformed itself into one of the fastest growing economies

in the fastest growing region in the world,” Diokno added. At the same time, they unveiled the many business opportunities during the Philippine Economic Briefing, or PEB and explained to potential investors the economic opportunities offered by the country.

“We are competing with other countries, of course. But we have a good story to tell,” Diokno enthused.

“Our biggest advantage is our young population (median age 25), tech savvy, most are English speaking. In an aging world that’s an enviable asset. We have a political system that is democratic and stable,” he stressed.

Among the most significant “strong economic story” they presented are, as follow:

• The Philippine economy grew by 7.6 percent in 2022, the highest in 46 years, exceeding the growth assumption of 6.5-7.5 percent by the Cabinet economic cluster.

•The 2022 GDP (gross domestic product) growth exceeded the 7.5 percent median forecast of local private sector analysts; 6.5 percent economic projections by the IMF; the 7.2 percent by the WB; and the 7.4 percent by Asian Development

• Growth was broad-based, with all sectors growing despite the increase in world and domestic commodity prices. Services grew by 9.2 percent, industry by 6.7 percent, and agriculture by 0.5 percent. The growth drivers on the demand side include household consumption, government spending, investment, and net export.

• Infrstructure programs are expected to accelerate with the support of public-private partnership (PPP) mechanism; implementation of investment inducing reforms such as amendments to the Public Service Act, Foreign Investment Act, Retail Trade Liberalization Act and the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE); wider financial inclusion; greater adoption of e-commerce; more investments into modernization and agribusiness.

• Net exports are expected to improve with the diversification of markets to expand opportunities for exporters, the approval of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), negotiation of more trade agreed, and improved production

ecosystem. Also held alongside with the WB-IMF Spring Meeting, Diokno shared his discussions as First Vice-Chair of G-24 Ministerial Meeting. “I talked about the importance of heightened, more focused support from the World Bank and at the IMF to address the global polycrisis which threatens to reverse the years of progress we’ve made towards poverty reduction and shared prosperity,” Diokno disclosed. “I underscored that global cooperation is necessary to address vulnerabilities from climate change, high inflation, and debt distress, among other risks to development,” he added.

Among the major challenges the Philippine economy faces, Diokno conceded as problematic the rising prices of basic goods and services as measured in terms of inflation rate. It came as a bit of relief when the average inflation rate “cooled down” to 7.6 percent in March 2023 from 8.6 percent in February this year. The main sources of the decline in headline inflation was the lower contribution to overall inflation during this period on the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages, transport, housing, water, electricity, gas and other

The strong – or, more accurately, stronger – PhilippinesU.S. relations now under the Marcos administration is no surprise, given the history of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. with Uncle Sam. It was in 1979 when the elder Marcos stressed the need for a Philippines-U.S. alliance. We will now have to wait and see how these stronger relations, in high gear as Ambassador Romualdez puts it, would translate to better economic ties between the U.S. and the Philippines. I hope to see more jobs for Filipinos if these U.S. companies set up shop in our country – without displacing local industries, of course. We have much to offer, indeed. The Philippines is in a strategic place in Asia and the Filipinos are among the best in the world.

But more importantly, I look forward to mutually beneficial and enhanced relations between the two nations. (Philstar.com) * * *

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

* * *

Email: eyesgonzales@gmail.com. Follow her on Twitter @eyesgonzales. Column archives at EyesWideOpen on FB.

fuels.

“President Marcos Jr. remains on top of the situation as his administration continues to adopt a whole-of-government approach to tackle inflation,” Diokno assuaged the public. Direct measures to address inflation are also being pursued through the Inter-Agency Committee on Inflation and Market Outlook (IAC-IMO), the Finance Secretary pointed out. This group serves as an advisory body to the Economic Development Group (EDG) headed by Diokno that handles measures to fight inflation and ensure food and energy security while balancing the interests of producers, consumers, and the economy.

“This is an exciting time to do business in the Philippines,” the Finance chief touted. For the many hard-up Filipinos, selling the Philippines abroad offers no immediate relief to them, except looking at rosy economic picture to awe investors. (Philstar.com)

* * *

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

US raising processing fees for non-immigrant visas by May 30

MANILA — The U.S. State Department has raised processing fees for some categories of non-immigrant visas, the U.S. Embassy in Manila announced Thursday, April 13, adding the new fees will be effective from May 30.

The fee for business and tourist visitor visas (B1/B2) and other non-petition based visas like student and exchange visitor visas will be $185 from $160 at the end of May.

Meanwhile, the visa processing fee for temporary workers in the following categories will be raised to $205 from $190:

H-1B: Person in Specialty Occupation

H-2A: Temporary Agricultural Worker

H-2B:

L:

O:

P-1:

Q-1: Participant in an International Cultural Exchange Program

R-1: Temporary religious worker

"Other consular fees remain the same, including the waiver of the two-year residency required fee for certain exchange visitors," the U.S. Embassy said.

"Applicants who have already paid a visa application fee that is currently valid and non-expired, but who have not yet appeared for their visa interview or are waiting for their case to be processed, will not be charged any additional fees." (Philstar.com)

‘ASEAN must address brain drain in healthcare sector’

MANILA – Southeast Asian countries must adjust and find ways to address human capital flight, particularly in the healthcare sector for the benefit of the region, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Thursday, April 13. The issue on brain drain in the region’s health sector, particularly the emigration of nurses and doctors, was discussed during the President’s meeting with Temasek Foundation executives at Malacañang Palace.

“We are very proud of (our nurses and doctors) and the role they play during the height of the pandemic but as I said, we are a victim of our own success,” President Marcos told Temasek officials led by its chair Ms. Jennie Chua Kheng Yeng.

“But you know, we have to adjust and find other ways. We have to give them at least equal opportunities at home. It is very clear that most Filipino overseas workers are willing to take less in

terms of pay so long as they can stay here," Marcos pointed out.

If Singapore can find a solution to that problem, it would immensely help the Southeast Asian region’s healthcare sector, the President said.

Ms. Jennie Chua said the Singapore nursing association has agreed to register nurses in Singapore to arrest human capital flight in the sector after the country lost 400 nurses to New Zealand, which offered permanent residency (PR).

Under New Zealand’s PR, nurses can bring their families with them, allow their children to go to local schools, and apply for housing.

The Temasek Foundation International chair said Singapore does not want to give Filipino nurses citizenship unlike what is being offered by the USA, Canada and New Zealand so they can go back and forth during their working years.

Chua commended the Philippines for producing good nurses and doctors, noting Singapore’s emergency room doctors are mostly Filipinos, and praised their training based on life experience. Temasek Foundation, a Singapore-based non-profit philanthropic organization, is an arm of Singapore’s state sovereign fund Temasek Holdings.

The foundation funds and supports programs aimed at building community capabilities in Asia and beyond through philanthropic endowments.

The foundation forged agreements with the Philippines to enhance competencies across industries, through the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) (Digitalization and Industry 4.0) Program, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) with Design Thinking Programme, and Health Care Management Program. (PNA)

Be good lawyers, Romualdez tells Bar passers

MANILA – House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Friday, April 14 enjoined the 2022 Bar passers to be “good lawyers" in the service to the nation, and even handle and prosecute cases without fear or favor.

The Speaker was referring to the 3,992 successful candidates who hurdled the last Bar Exams, out of a total 9,183 examinees. Though considerably high as compared to most of the previous years’ Bar results, only

by GAEA KATREENA CABICO Philstar.com

MANILA — The Philippines has detected cases of Omicron subvariant XBB.1.9.1, which is classified by the World Health Organization as a variant under monitoring.

According to the Department of Health’s latest COVID-19 biosurveillance report, the country has 54 XBB.1.9.1 cases.

Thirty-nine XBB.1.9.1 cases— mostly locals—were detected out of the 199 samples sequenced by the University of the Philippines-

43.47 percent made it this year.

“You should be good lawyers by serving the poor and the underprivileged,” he said.

"Ensure that justice is served without fear or favor," Romualdez added. "Be a catalyst for change and uphold the standards of public service excellence in the practice of our noble profession."

Romualdez is himself a lawyer, an alumnus of the UP College of Law, from which 11 of this year’s 30 top notchers came from. The

Philippine Genome Center from April 3 to 11.

“The variant was initially flagged due to its increasing global prevalence and higher growth advantage,” the DOH said. The Omicron subvariant has been detected in 63 countries.

“However, currently available evidence for XBB.1.9.1 does not suggest any differences in disease severity and/or clinical manifestations compared to the original Omicron variant,” the agency added. The country’s genome center also detected 30 XBB.1.5 cases,

House leader is the president of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa). He said the new entrants to the law profession should help improve the judicial system by representing those who cannot afford legal services.

“They should contribute to the delivery of fair, impartial and speedy justice,” Romualdez said.

The new lawyers are set to have their oath taking and roll signing on May 2, 2023. (PNA)

70 BA.2.3.20 cases, two XBC cases, one CH.1.1 case, one BQ.1 case, and one BA.2 case. As the government expands the rollout of second booster shots against COVID-19 to the general adult population, Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire stressed that vaccines are safe and effective against all versions of the virus.

The Philippines has confirmed over four million COVID-19 cases, including 66,433 deaths, since the pandemic started in early 2020.

PAUNAWA NG PAMPUBLIKONG PAGDINIG SA LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY SA IMINUNGKAHING BADYET SA FY24

Ang Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority ay magsasagawa ng pampublikong pagdinig sa Iminungkahing Badyet sa FY24 (Hulyo 1, 2023 – Hunyo 30, 2024) sa ika-1:30 ng hapon sa Miyerkules, Mayo 17, 2023. Ang pagdinig na ito ay magaganap nang personal. Ang pampublikong komento ay maaaring ibigay nang live ng personal o sa pamamagitan ng telepono. Ang link upang i-stream ang pagdinig at makita ang mga presentasyon na gagawin sa pagdinig ay ilalagay sa loob ng agenda ng pampublikong pagdinig na ipo-post nang hindi bababa sa 72 oras bago ang petsa ng pagdinig. Magagamit din ang link para mapanood ang pagdinig nang live sa metro.net/about/board/ board-directors-meetings-audio-archive/. Ang mga interesadong miyembro ng publiko ay hinihikayat na lumahok at dumalo nang virtual sa paparating na pampublikong pagdinig upang magbigay ng testimonya. Ang mga taong hindi makalahok ay maaaring magsumite ng nakasulat na testimonya na naka-postmark o ipinadala hanggang 5 ng hapon ng Mayo 16, 2023. Ang mga komento ay maaaring isumite sa elektronikong paraan sa BoardClerk@metro.netat dapat

i-address ang sulat sa koreo sa:

Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority

One Gateway Plaza, M/S 99-3-1

Los Angeles, CA 90012-2932

Attn: Klerk ng Board

Upang humingi ng karagdagang input mula sa publiko at mga stakeholder tungkol sa taunang badyet, ang mga workshop/pagpupulong sa badyet ay naka-iskedyul sa Abril at Mayo kasama ang Metro Regional Service Councils, Policy Advisory Committee, Community Advisory Council, San Gabriel Valley COG-Transportation Committee, South Bay Cities COG -Transportation Committee, Valley Industry & Commerce Association, Accessibility Advisory Committee, Technical Advisory Committee, Bus Operations Subcommittee, Streets & Freeways Subcommittee, Accessibility Advisory Committee at Local Transit Systems Subcommittee. Para sa karagdagang impormasyon sa proseso ng Iminungkahing Pagbuo ng Badyet ng FY24, upang makita ang mga resulta mula sa survey ng badyet ng FY24, mga iskedyul ng pagpupulong ng stakeholder at iba pang mga detalye ng pagbuo ng badyet, mangyaring bisitahin ang www.budget.metro.net.

Ang mga kopya ng dokumento ng badyet ay ipamamahagi sa pampubliko 15 araw bago ang pagdinig at maaaring makuha sa Records Management Center (RMC) sa pamamagitan ng email request sa RMC@metro.net. Ang mga kopya ng dokumento ng badyet ay maaari ring kunin sa RMC sa antas ng Plaza ng Gusali ng Gateway o tingnan sa online sa www.metro.net.

Ang paparating na pampublikong pagdinig ay gaganapin alinsunod sa mga kinakailangan ng pederal na pampublikong pagdinig na nakabalangkas sa Seksyon 5307 (b) ng Titulo 49 U.S.C., at mga alituntunin sa pampublikong pagdinig na nakabalangkas sa Seksyon 2-50-025 ng Administrative Code ng Metro, gaya ng sinusugan.

MGA KINAKAILANGAN SA ADA: Kapag hiniling, ang interpretasyon ng sign language, mga materyales sa mga alternatibong pormat at iba pang mga akomodasyon ay magagamit ng publiko para sa mga pagpupulong at kaganapan na inisponsor ng Metro.

LIMITADONG KAALAMAN SA INGLES: Kapag hiniling, ang mga tagasalin ng wika ay maaaring magamit ng publiko para sa mga pagpupulong at kaganapan na inisponsor ng Metro. Ang mga agenda at minuto ay magagamit din sa ibang mga wika kapag hiniling. Ang lahat ng mga kahilingan para sa mga makatwirang akomodasyon, mga serbisyo ng pagsasalin ng wika at mga materyales sa ibang mga wika ay dapat gawin nang hindi bababa sa tatlong araw ng trabaho (72 oras) bago ang nakatakdang petsa ng pagpupulong. Mangyaring magsumite ng mga kahilingan sa pamamagitan ng pagtawag sa (213) 922-4600 sa pagitan ng 8 a.m. at 5 p.m., Lunes hanggang Biyernes. Ang aming TDD line ay (800) 252-9040. Ang mga indibidwal na may kapansanan sa pandinig o pagsasalita ay maaaring gamitin ang California Relay Service sa 711 + Metro numero ng telepono.

BRAIN DRAIN. Executives of Temasek Foundation pose for photo opportunity with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos during a courtesy call at Malacañan Palace on Thursday (April 13, 2023). Marcos said Southeast Asian countries must adjust and find ways to address human capital flight, particularly in the healthcare sector for the benefit of the region. Malacañang

Asian Journal WKND

Success story reveals the benefits of hiring an immigration attorney vs doing it on your own, on Citizen Pinoy this Sunday

AFTER living in the U.S. for over 20 years, Kristan tried to obtain his green card by filing paperwork on his own, instead of hiring an immigration lawyer.

rejected. On another occasion, Kristan filed for adjustment of status based on his father’s petition, as a minor child of a U.S. citizen, even though he was over 21 years old.

when Kristan received

Ai-Ai, Gerald celebrate 9th anniversary

AI-AI delas Alas celebrated her nine-year relationship with her husband Gerald Sibayan.

In her Instagram account, Ai-Ai posted a series of photos showing their love through the years.

“Happy 9th year anniversary as a couple my darling ko... May our marriage be blessed with love, joy and companionship for all the years that we will be sharing,” Ai-Ai wrote.

Ai-Ai said that Gerald broke her myth that there’s no perfect guy.

“I always thought that a perfect husband is a myth, kathang isip lang .. sabi sabi .. kwento kwento kasi dati ang lalaki saken toxic ...aba nag babago pala ang pananaw... totoo pala na may lalaking maayos, may asawang mabait meron palang forever...” she wrote.

Akala ko bilihan lang damit ang may forever (21)... thank you very much for being my husband, my partner, my boyfriend, my friend my ka tsismisan at ang importante sa lahat my provider ang nag papakain saken... @gerald_sibayan – i love you so much my darling ko yes looking forward sa 10 years naten next year,” she addded.

She also took swipe on her bashers when she revealed Gerald as her boyfriend years ago.

“Tarush te going strong !!!.. ang lungkot ng mga bashers at hater 9 years na e mali sila HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA... Seriously

The spectacular stage show Awakening is making waves at Wynn Las Vegas. This mythical, magic-filled production—driven by technologically advanced effects, dazzling costumes, expressive choreography, and outstanding sound design—is proving to be a new favorite in the Las Vegas entertainment scene. The show boasts of having a creative powerhouse at its helm. Best of all, global Filipino talent Ehrlich Marz Ocampo gets to showcase his leviwand expertise to help make the show truly unforgettable.

Way before his America’s Got Talent television debut, Ehrlich Ocampo had been innovating a performance art that has caught the attention of live entertainment creatives around the world. His leviwand presentations, a genre of object manipulation that integrates magic, dance, acrobatics, and technology, play to sold-out houses and receive standing ovations. “Leviwand lured me with its artistry, magic, and dance. And when we first danced together, it was like finding my long-lost soulmate,” he shares.

Awakening is Ehrlich’s latest addition to his growing performance portfolio. The grand 75-minute show conceived and created by Bernie Yuman, Baz Halpin, and Michael Curry, and narrated by

CONSUMER GUIDE COMMUNITY MARKETPLACE

Ehrlich

Actress Ai-Ai delas Alas and husband Gerald Sibayan renewed their marriage vows in the United States.

thank you LORD sa greatest blessing ng buhay ko,” she said.

Ai-Ai and Gerald became a couple in 2014 before tying the knot in 2017. (by Jan Milo Severo/ Philstar.com)

two-time Academy Award®winner Anthony Hopkins tells the love story between Darkness and Light and how relationships may shatter and get pieced back together.

Aside from being a featured performer in the show’s climax called The Confrontation, a fight choreography with his trusty leviwand on hand, he plays vital behind-the-scenes roles in the production. Aside from training and teaching fellow performers his techniques, he also shares his know-how of LED props including the required programming that helps bring the show to life. The work makes him giddy with excitement.

“Being here in Vegas is so surreal! It blows my mind to think I am a featured performer in the biggest, newest, most technologically advanced show in the entertainment capital of the world. From practicing on the streets in Manila to the Vegas stage, it’s hard to fathom sometimes.”

How does Ehrlich feel that his leviwand technique is vital to the show’s most crucial moment?

“All the years of hard work and commitment are paying off.

It’s a prominent ‘introduction’ of me as an artist and leviwand as an art to the Las Vegas entertainment scene. I feel the pressure to keep up the performance quality and even elevate it more.”

Awakening director and producer Baz Halpin shares the thought process behind the decision to cast Ehrlich. “In casting for Awakening at Wynn Las Vegas, we sought the best talent in the world—unique performers with abilities that not only were of the highest caliber but were such that you could not see them anywhere else. Awakening is the largest spectacle mounted in Las Vegas in the last 20 years. It comprises the highest form of excellence in staging, design, magic, technology, dance, and performance. We searched for a performer who could embody the impossibility of an illusion with the artistry of dance. Ehrlich Ocampo exemplifies the incredible ability and artistry that we were looking for. His ‘leviwand’ performance is magical and energetic and captivates the audience.”

In 2018, Cirque Du Soleil took notice of Ehrlich’s leviwand innovation, leading them to the decision to cast him in Syma: Sail Beyond Imagination, a touring production on MSC Cruise ships sailing the Mediterranean. He fondly remembers the moment he got the good news. “I was caught

By Anne PAsAjol Inquirer.net

DAVID Licauco recalled the car accident he and his friends figured in back in 2013, and the self-blame he experienced after he survived but lost his best friend.

In an interview with broadcaster Karen Davila, the actor narrated the unfortunate

incident which happened when they were heading home from Tagaytay. According to him, their vehicle hit a gas truck along South Luzon Expressway because the driver fell asleep while driving.

Licauco gave an account of the several moments prior to the accident that he considers as miracles, including a parking attendant telling him to fasten

his seatbelt and an apparent light that woke him up a few minutes before the crash.

“We were five and ‘yung best friend ko, namatay siya,” he told Davila, recounting how he tried to help his friends while being helpless himself. ([There were five of us during the accident] and my best friend died.)

“Medyo sinisi ko rin ‘yung

by surprise. I knew it would take a long time for me to get cast because it was such an unusual circus act, but I finally got a project with the biggest circus company in the world.”

He was given the role of The Stranger One, an eccentric outcast who mesmerizes the sailor Syma to further explore the depths of the island he is stranded on. The result was a breathtaking performance that merged makeup, acrobatics, and technology in an immersive experience that wowed audiences on the MSC Bellissima. David Poulin, Director for Creation of Cirque du Soleil at Sea gives him high praise, “Ehrlich is the dream artist any manager dreams of. He’s always professional, attentive to detail, and always working towards improving every aspect of his work. You truly believe he’s displaying superpowers.”

Riding on the success of his

America’s Got Talent audition

and with the judges’ unanimous opinion that “it’s an artwork we’ve never seen before”, it was not a surprise that producers and industry creatives sought him out. Giulio Scatola, Creative Director & Choreographer who happens to be his former boss shares, “When I saw Ehrlich perform, I was so impressed by the artistic and technical aspects of this art form. It was a very original combination of disciplines, bringing together dance, acrobatics, and magic.”

He performed and delivered a talk at the prestigious Blackpool Magic Convention in 2022, where he shared his expertise in leviwand artistry with the world’s leading magic community. This world-class performer is intent on sharing his talent with individuals interested in his performance style. “I’ve always been passionate about sharing my art with others. My mantra is to ‘make waves’ which means

I believe the work I do in this life must benefit not only me but also others. If other people hadn’t made waves that affected me, I wouldn’t be where I am today. And who am I not to share what I was given?”

Ehrlich Ocampo is a welcome addition to the Las Vegas entertainment landscape. His unique skills are imbued with kindness and generosity. He enjoys sharing his knowledge and talents with everyone, making him a valuable asset to an industry always looking for growth. With his creative drive, we are looking forward to seeing more of his contributions in Awakening and hope to see more of his magical work at Wynn Las Vegas

To see more of Ehrlich Ocampo’s work, visit his official website https://firechill.ph/. Follow and interact with him on his official social media channels in YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Tiktok.

Photo from Instagram/@

Ehrlich Ocampo’s Magical Vegas Awakening: The Journey of A Passionate Leviwand Artist

Ocampo is

services of leading Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel, who was able to demonstrate his client’s eligibility to adjust status in the U.S., despite being out of status. Kristan finally learned a valuable lesson: rather than guessing or trying to learn immigration law on his own, it is better to hire a seasoned attorney.

Watch this success story on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, April 16 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app.. (Advertising Supplement)

‘In My Mother’s Skin’ conjures a dark side to Beauty Gonzalez

By LaLa Singian Inquirer.net

IN a threadbare white nightdress, Beauty Gonzalez hunches over a dressing table, unkempt hair obscuring the expression on her face. In front of her, the mirror reflects a crucifix hanging on the wall. The small flame from an oil lamp is the only light source in the room, which is more than enough to expose the unnaturally large lump of flesh bulging on the back of her neck.

This is one of the preview images of “In My Mother’s Skin” which premiered at the Midnight Section of the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and is scheduled for release on Amazon

Prime. Set in an isolated mansion in Negros, the story (written and directed by Kenneth Dagatan and produced by the same production house behind “Train to Busan” and “Parasite”) follows the twisted adventure of the young Tala (Felicity Kyle Napuli) who cares for her severely ill mother Ligaya (Gonzalez).

Amid World War II, they wait for help to arrive, substituting medicines for prayers. With the lack of food, the young protagonist is forced to forage. Finding herself in a dim, overgrown clearing, she comes across a softly-smiling fairy who unbeknownst to her is a flesh-

eating fairy. Played by Jasmine Curtis-Smith, the

in a dress

clothes

statues. But as the story progresses, it becomes evident that this divine veneer is the only thing the fairy has in common with goodness. It is only a matter of time before Gonzalez becomes possessed by darker forces.

So far, the film has been described as a scarier “Pan’s Labyrinth” with Gonzalez herself referencing the underlit, longtake similarities with Guillermo del Toro’s 2006 fantasy horror

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film. While there are allegedly no jump scares, the fear goes deeper into the cultural psyche, exploring Biblical symbolism as well as the Gothic underbelly of Philippine folklore and history.

From her usual high-energy roles as the girlish friend or the vainglorious missus, Gonzalez is taking on a different role—where the only makeup she wears is the blood prosthetics. In her personal space, it’s easy to see the progression of Gonzalez into roles that have a “darker mystique.” Entering

A traditional freshener relies on the strength of the artificial fragrance it contains to hide odors. Instead of removing odors, it blends them with the unpleasant smell of chemicals. PURGGO is a car air purifier - it sucks up and removes problem odors instead of covering them. PURGGO’s bamboo charcoal is sourced from the most prominent producer in the world, and contains four times the pores of regular charcoal. Pores are important: they work like a sponge, attracting and trapping odor particles. The particles cling to the charcoal, eliminating odors from your car. On top of this, it lasts for 365+ days (longer lasting than any product available worldwide) and works continuously in the background! Recharging is simple: place PURGGO in the sun for one hour every month to two months. Allowing excess moisture to evaporate restores its ability to purify air.

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fairy hovers

akin to the bell-shaped

of Marian and santo (saint)

Kristan (left) learned his lesson and retained the services of Atty. Gurfinkel (right) who was able

Beauty Gonzalez has been praised for her frightful performance in her latest role in the Gothic Horror Fantasy film “In My Mother’s Skin.” Inquirer.net photo

Introvoys to headline 2nd annual

Mayfest in Carson on May 7

CARSON, CA – Awardwinning Filipino pop rock band Introvoys will headline Mayfest

2023 that is happening at the Carson Civic Center on Sunday May 7, at 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm. There will be two stages of amazing performances, a car show, a fashion show, games, awards, prizes and other fun activities, and all members of the community are welcome to join this fun-filled, family-friendly event. We will recognize caregivers, agencies and care providers who are exceptional leaders in care and whose services are valuable to the community. Admission to the event is FREE!

David admits blaming...

sarili ko kasi what if I didn’t sleep, what if sinamahan ko ‘yung driver. Pwede siyang maiwasan kung mas naging aware ako, kung mas naging wise ako in that situation,” he lamented.

(I somehow blamed myself because what if I didn’t sleep and I accompanied the driver [to stay awake]? It could have been prevented if I was more aware and wiser in that situation.)

Licauco then reflected on the realizations he had at the time he was bedridden, and how he came to value more his life as well the time he gets to spend with his friends and loved ones.

“Nung time na ‘yon, mas naging thankful lang ako, mas pinapasalamatan ko si God kasi kung ‘di dahil sa kanya baka wala na ako ngayon e,” he stated. “I also thanked him na parang meron pa akong purpose—maybe kaya ako hindi pa kinuha ni Lord is because I have a purpose pa in life.”

(That time, I became more thankful to God because I wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for Him. I also thanked Him because I feel like He did not let me die because I still have a purpose in life.)

Unexpected ‘magnitude of fame’ in showbiz

During his conversation with Davila, Licauco, who stopped pursuing his dream of becoming

a professional basketball player after the car accident, disclosed that entering the showbiz industry was an unexpected move for him.

“Bakit ka ba pumasok ng show biz? (Why did you enter show business?)” the broadcaster asked, to which he answered, “I would say because I failed in becoming a professional basketball player… I don’t know, it just really happened.”

Despite this, the actor noted that he is happy and overwhelmed by the support he has been receiving from his fans, saying he ”never really expected this kind of magnitude of fame.”

Licauco also spoke about the chemistry of his love team with “Maria Clara at Ibarra” co-star Barbie Forteza, which he thinks has been well loved by fans because the pair complement each other’s personalities. When asked about other actors he would want to work with in the future, Licauco revealed he is a big fan of Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, and that he would want to be in the same project with them.

Speaking about his real-life romance, 27-year-old Licauco confessed that he is not dating anyone at the moment and that he prefers to prioritize his career now, then settle down when he is 34. g

The premier provider of alternative platforms for musical acts Wish USA is bringing Introvoys to the Mayfest main stage this year. Now based in Los Angeles, California, the band is composed of Vic Carpio on guitars, Jj Buencamino on keyboards, Paco Arespacochaga on drums and Jonathan Buencamino on vocals. This multi-awarded band brought us chart-topping hits such as “Di Na Ko Aasa Pa,” “Will I Survive,” “However Which Way” and “Line to Heaven.” Their second album, Breaking New Grounds, achieved quadruple platinum status and earned the band the label “The No. 1 Band in the Land” in 1992. Their third album, Line to Heaven, carried the hit single of the same title, which was written after Arespacochaga suffered the

tragic loss of his parents and another hit song, “Kailanman.”

After a series of lineup changes and reunions, the band finds itself with its current roster in Los Angeles headlining a series of concerts celebrating Original Pilipino Music in The Biggest OPM Summer Fest starting at Anaheim in July of this year. Catch their special performance at Mayfest!

Local dance group iDance

Line Dancers, fitness enthusiasts Movessential Jump Crew and award-winning FilipinoAmerican rapper C-Tru who has collaborated with rappers DMX and Snoop Dogg are joining the lineup of new talents and some of the best performers in the community. Wish USA is bringing their world-renowned bus to the event. Aside from Introvoys, Wish USA artists such as Avon Rosales, R&B/ Rap duo Zupanova that will

be debuting their latest single in this event, and indie rock singer/songwriters Melody Del Mundo and Robin Nievera will be performing at the Mayfest indoor main stage and at the Wish USA Stopover Sessions outdoor stage.

This event is brought to you by W Group Foundation and Mic Diaz Presents with the support of co-presentors Wish USA, Asian Journal and Paco’s Place, and is sponsored by Winners Insurance and Financial Services, Ophir Administrative Services, Avanti

Home Doctors, Remitly, JM Homecare Solutions, Keller Williams Costa Mesa, Marketing in Care, Elegant Care Villa, WYCOTAX, Divine Care Services LLC, Accelerated Health Home Care Inc., Avalon Hospice Care, Inc., Zupanova, Miss Philippines USA, Movessential Studio and Joe Cobilla Photography.

This fundraiser event is for the

Ca Care Association, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of California’s most vulnerable residents in assisted living communities. They promote self-determined and person-centered home and community-based programs to preserve, develop and enhance licensed adult and senior care.

To show our appreciation for caregivers, agencies, and care providers, who make incredible contributions to individuals and the community, we are asking you to donate to the efforts of Ca Care Association by donating at www.mayfest. care/donate!

“It is an honor for Ca Care Association to be the beneficiary of Mayfest 2023! Proceeds of the event will improve the delivery of care for individuals and increase the quality skills of direct care workers. Our organizers will have entertainment and activities that include new talents, the best performers in the community, a car show, live music, dance performances and cultural or organizational talent demonstrations. WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE YOU

THERE!!,” said Mark John M Alipio, Executive Director of Ca Care Association. For information about the Mayfest event, sponsorships and donations, please contact event organizers, Wallace Goodwin of W Foundation at (818) 447-9374, and Mic Diaz of Mic Diaz Presents at (213) 677-9768. g

Nievera

PAGE B1

Introvoys

Zupanova

C-TRu

David Licauco with Karen Davila Photo from Instagram/@davidlicauco

Why these halfie celebs shouldn’t be accused of Filipino baiting

By MJ Marfori Philstar.com

WHILE being Filipino is very “in” right now, thanks to social media and the crusade for diversity, it seems unfair for many celebrities with Filipino roots to be judged by anonymous and random online trolls of Filipino baiting.

So, what is Filipino baiting?

Well, it is when one is accused of using one’s Filipino blood to gain clout online or in the real world. There are content creators who suddenly divulge that they are Filipino, especially when they want to get more likes or have more followers online.

While that can be very obvious, this also seems to be the judgement for Vanessa Hudgens, who visited the Philippines for the first time last week. Clearly, she came in for a job with PublicityAsia that has successfully brought in Hollywood stars in the past.

Vanessa also managed to score a Global Tourism Ambassador honor, thanks to Ten17Productions which is producing her documentary and has a government official at the helm of its production.

Up until this Holy Week, my interviews on the socials and television have been on fire because of some judgmental netizens shooting her visit down and a half of her fans finding

Vanessa real cute while singing Itsy Bitsy Spider flawlessly in Bisaya (one of the languages spoken in the Philippines) along with her mom Gina. Based on our experience, Vanessa was so professional, kind and poised during the whole press conference with the media. Me and my colleagues, who managed to have a one-on-one, also noticed this about her. Vanessa’s top was even similar to GMA 7’s Aubrey Carampel for its pearl embellishments and the actress

giddily bantered, “Oh, it looks like we got the pearl memo.”

As for us, she even asked for a retake of our selfie because she genuinely wanted a better one just like anyone else. To think, the local team was rushing her but during her interaction with us, Vanessa was making us feel like she was giving her all and her time, specifically for our interview. For the record, I am not the anonymous witness in an online article published by our Philippine STAR regarding

Maine fulfills flight attendant dream

by Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

ACTRESS Maine Mendoza fulfilled her dream of becoming a flight attendant.

In her Instagram account, Maine posted photos of her journey, which will be featured in the Season 3 of her lifestyle show “Maine Goals.”

“The path I was supposed to take 8 years ago. My teenage self would be so happy,” she captioned the post.

“Flight attendant training/ crash course for #MaineGoals Season 3 pilot week! Catch

us on @tv5manila Gandang Mornings weekdays at 8:30am and weeknights at 8pm on BuKo Channel @feelgoodsabuko. “Can’t wait for you to see what we have in store this season. Exciting goals ahead!” she added.

Before becoming a celebrity, Maine graduated with a degree in Hotel Restaurant and Institution Management (specializing in Culinary Arts) from De La SalleCollege of Saint Benilde. Recently, she and fiance Arjo Atayde went to Paris and Amsterdam for a romantic getaway. g

‘In My Mother’s

PAGE B2

what happened during Vanessa’s press conference, but I am sharing my experience on another angle to share how I also found the actress so endearing. Mind you, this is not the first time we interviewed Vanessa. We were able to have a oneon-one online chat with her over the lockdown for a film she produced and starred in, Princess Switch 2, on Netflix. There, she already talked about growing up with adobo, lumpia the room of what Gonzalez and her husband call their “halfway house” in the city, Jazzanova’s trip-hop track “Bohemian Sunset” plays in a steady downtempo, mixed with exotic bird calls that seem to lull us into a kind of trance. Her husband Norman Crisologo is a renowned curator, whose taste looms in large contemporary artwork that hangs on blood-red and deep purple walls. Furniture from their travels fills the room—from Rococo-like chandeliers from Europe to leather sofas found in nondescript stores in Kamuning. Beside the dining room table is a grand pieta of Bjorn Calleja from Art Fair Philippines 2022, with Christ and the Blessed Mother in misshapen forms.

An inner room with gray walls contrasts with the outside. Inside this room, The art is all black and white, some with paintings that show burn marks. Norman shows me a glass “Cabinet of Curiosities” full of anting-antings (amulets). I remember a past show he curated, “Bulong at Sigaw: Mga Kontemporanyong Kulam, Dasal Anting-Anting at Ritwal,” and recall that if you touch a certain amulet, you might just get pregnant. Clasping my hands behind my back, I pore over the other contents. We look at Akosan belts from Bontoc, which I had only ever seen in pictures. The magnificent indigenous heirloom belt is intact with the conical shells used by the ex-head hunters to transport their personal effects.

A collector of art and antiques, Gonzalez lights up as she tells us how “In My Mother’s Skin” was filmed in the original Gaston house in Negros, where the cinematic masterpiece “Oro Plata Mata” was set. “To be shooting in that house—Wow!” she exclaims. “That was what made me say yes.”

Born and raised in Dumaguete, Gonzalez shows a natural affinity for the film’s setting in nearby Bacolod. First known in showbiz as the “Sugarcane Princess,” she grew up surrounded by nature and ancestral houses until she joined the reality game show Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) at 17. As she speaks, it becomes clear she possesses that sense of warmth that is characteristic of her province as well as a definite kalog (a hyper, jolly kind of humor). Growing up in the province, she was surrounded by the folklore of aswangs (witches) and engkantos (nature spirits)

Happily, Gonzalez hints that she may be going back to Bacolod for another film this year.

Back in the living room, Gonzalez almost prances into poses—smiling, giggling and joking around. Her wardrobe pops with patterns that complement the multi-colored walls as well as her vivacious personality.

When our photographer starts shooting, her beaming grin quickly shifts into a sensuous, half-open smile. As she shifts into different poses, it’s evident that she’s comfortable in front of the lens. We watch entranced, as her star power radiates through the room.

Since her early, high-energy characters, Gonzalez shows a growing repertoire of roles— from her early characters as the best friend (remember her lamentations on love life as Wella in “Starting Over Again”?) to more recent horror roles like in Bobby Bonifacio’s “Hellcome Home” in 2019. For the “Kumbento” episode of the

Skin’...

2021 MMFF trilogy, “Huwag Kang Lalabas,” she took viewers by surprise with her subtle, restrained acting as a mildmannered nun. Besides these unique horror roles, she laments getting boxed into the “mother” role. “As a woman, it’s harder to get roles than men—there’s not a lot of choices for them. But for girls, there are a lot of choices and it’s hard competition… I tried to destroy that wall. It should be like in the U.S. They don’t look at your private life. They look at you and your body of work. They don’t look at your age or ask if you’ve had a child or you’re married. They look at you as a person, how you act, how you carry yourself.”

On the specificities of how she has diversified her acting portfolio, she lauds the scriptwriters: “Number one that matters is paano ka makisama sa mga tao mo (how you get along with other people).”

While she plays an unconventional kind of mother in the blood-soaked “In My Mother’s Skin,” she also tells us about the realities of being a mother in real life. Since marrying Norman, Gonzalez has blossomed with an inner glow, showing a sense of grace and pep in the way she moves. She makes sure to bring their daughter Olivia not just on fun trips but to different tapings around the country as well. “I want her to see I’m not just having fun, I’m working. I pay the bills and taxes.”

Upon hearing her name, Olivia peeks from behind the kitchen door. “I remember all the things my mom would tell me—lusot lang sa tenga ko (goes in one ear and out the other). With Olivia, I lead by example. I let her eyes see that’s what I’m trying to do every day. If she sees her parents and is like, ‘Tama na yan loving, loving!’ (Stop all that loveydovey!) Would you rather see us fighting? I would rather show it to her, and I hope I show nice things.”

While warm and friendly, there’s something about Gonzalez’s star power that is unnerving. Like you never know what she’s going to do next. We can only imagine what her life would have been like if she had never joined the momentous reality game show when she was 17. An early dream is telling: Starting a business designing coffins in Dumaguete—notably customized coffins, like a pencil box for a teacher or a rainbow design if you were LGBTQ+.

“That’s the one thing that never goes away—death and taxes. It’s not a bad thing, it’s beautiful. It means if you die now you’re going to go into a new life, another place, planet, or time. Maybe I’m in you and you’re in me. What’s important is what you left behind to the people that you love. I don’t find it scary. What’s only bad is the taxes.”

Despite a slew of offers for horror film roles, Gonzalez has a surprising secret. “I hate horror! Honestly, I don’t want to pay myself to get scared. But I end up doing this [“In My Mother’s Skin”] and enjoying the process. Instead of watching I read books—Stephen King, Ottessa Moshfegh, Lisa Taddeo. Mga baliw (The crazies).” Suddenly, she lets out a high-pitched scream, making us all jump a little in our seats. With this kind of star power, we can only imagine how strong her presence is in her latest movie. g

Maine Mendoza with her co-stars Photo from Instagram/@mainedcm

The author with Filipina American Hollywood star Vanessa Hudgens, who recently visited the Philippines for the first time. Philstar.com photo

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Pastor’s Notes

ReveRend Rodel G. BalaGtas

GREETINGS! We’re still in Easter! But Easter is not just a one-day celebration. It goes on until the day of Pentecost when we celebrate the full impact of salvation on the world and the outpouring of God’s life. And so, we still greet one another with Happy Easter!

What amazed me last Sunday (April 9) was the many people that came to all our Masses.

It defied all the statistical odds of Mass attendance that we read today. We still have people who believe in God and see the blessings of attending church. Many parishioners still have faith despite being called “cultural Catholics.” We’ll have to work harder to persuade other people to engage more in their Christian faith.

The church is alive because the Risen Jesus would never abandon his church. He told his disciples at the end of the Gospel of Matthew: “And

The church is alive!

remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

So, we don’t live our faith in desperation because we’re people of hope! It’s what the Resurrection is all about. As St. Paul says in Romans 6:8-11:

“If we have died with Christ, we believe we are also to live with him. We know that Christ, once raised from the dead, will never die again; death has no more power over him. His death was death to sin, once for all; his life is life for God. In the same way, you must consider yourselves dead to sin but alive for God in Christ Jesus.”

Indeed, we’re alive because we believe in the Spirit of Jesus that abides in us. His Spirit encourages,  inspires, renews, and awakens our faith. It’s His     Divine Mercy that brings joy and newness to our lives.

We’re not the doubting and pessimistic “Thomases” that hide desperately from other community members; it’s deadly to commit oneself to this isolated life. Instead, we’re the believing, hopeful, caring, and devoted “Thomases” who see the essence, joy, and meaning of being part of

a Christian community.

The faith we live, or practice depends not on “seeing” but on the whole experience of the sacramental signs and the loving and caring   Christian community. We try our best to observe the four components of the First Christian Community: fidelity in listening to the instruction of the apostles (priests and bishops), a life of familial  communion (koinonia), the breaking of bread (Eucharist), and common prayer (pietistic, devotional and liturgical life).

Hence, we cling to the words from the Gospel of John this Second Sunday of Easter: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

A Blessed Divine Mercy Sunday to all of you!

*

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

* * * Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.

Vilma, Christopher start filming reunion movie in Japan

TIRSO Cruz III is seen in a photo with fellow seasoned actors Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon while the pair was filming in Japan for their reunion movie “When I Met You in Tokyo.”

The three well-respected stars were in the photo with Cruz’s wife, Lynn Ynchausti. The snaps had the feel of springtime Japan.

Previously, the movie’s production company, JG Productions, posted photos of the cast leaving for Japan in the first week of April.

“It’s a love story na nasa edad namin Hindi kami magbabatabataan dito. It’s a good comeback for me after seven years of not being visible in showbiz… Yes, it’s a love story for all seasons. And I think yung team namin ni Boyet (Christopher) is a team for all seasons. And we’re very thankful for the trust,” the

actor-politician said during the film’s recent presscon. Vilma and Christopher are reunited after 2004’s “Mano Po 3.” They also starred in more

than a dozen films, including Sinasamba Kita” (1982), “Imortal” (1989) and “Dekada ‘70” (2002). (By Kathleen A. Llemit/Philstar.com)

Rights of injured or sick employees in the workplace

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights

atty. C. Joe sayas, JR

Q: WHILE driving back to the office from a work errand for my Manager, my car was rear ended. I sustained injuries as a result of which I underwent surgeries. I missed work for weeks but will need more time off for treatments.

I am afraid to tell my employer about my need for more time off because I might be fired. What should I do?

A: You do not have to inform the employer of the full extent of your injuries but you must immediately notify your Manager of the need for more medical treatments that may require employer accommodation. In this way, you are protected from any adverse action that may be taken against you at work. Your silence may work against you, Once notified of your need for more treatments related to a medical condition, including the submission of a medical certification, the employer is obligated by law to engage you in a timely, good faith interactive process to determine if reasonable accommodation can be made. Accommodation can consist of giving you additional leave to allow recovery or allow shorter work hours to accommodate your physical limitation.

There are several instances where an employee’s personal injuries (whether these injuries happened at work or outside work) lead to violations of the employee’s rights. Consider the following situations: The employer denied the employee’s request to take time off to undergo treatments. Employers with 5 or more employees are prohibited from denying the right to use medical leave, or for disciplining, discharging, demoting, suspending, or discriminating against an employee for using such leave for themselves (or to attend to an ill family member).

The employer denied the employee’s request for reasonable accommodation.

The employer must engage in a timely, good faith interactive process to determine if reasonable accommodation can be made for a disabled employee to accommodate restrictions. Sometimes, granting an additional shortterm extension of an approved leave may constitute reasonable accommodation.

After filing a request for family or medical leave (or after filing a worker’s compensation claim), the employee experiences an adverse employment action, such as demotion, decrease in pay, decrease of work hours,

Employees who have been seriously injured face difficult challenges, including having to miss work in order to get treatments. These efforts to get the employees’ health back to rejoin the workforce is protected by law.

loss of benefits, assignment to unfavorable tasks, suspension, or termination. Such actions violate California law.

The employer retaliates against the employee for filing a worker compensation claim, or some other claim, by withholding the payment of all the employee’s wages due on the last day of employment. The employer must immediately pay all compensation due, and ensure that the employee receives the payment.

After the employee requests intermittent leave or comes back from leave, the employee experiences an adverse employment action such as being assigned to unfavorable assignments, given difficultto-achieve deadlines, being written up, demoted, stripped of supervisory responsibilities, laid-off, or fired.

The employee was fired for “excessive absences” even though the employee provided doctor’s notes for these absences. Employees who have been seriously injured face difficult challenges, including having to miss work in order to get treatments. These efforts to get the employees’ health back to rejoin the workforce is protected by law. If the employee was fired based on a disability or medical condition, the employee can sue for wrongful termination. The employee may be entitled to the following: reinstatement, back pay, loss of earnings, damages for emotional distress, attorneys’ fees and costs, and punitive damages in certain instances.

The above claims are properly handled by an employment attorney. In this instance, however, you seem to have been injured while you were in the course and scope of your employment. You are entitled to additional rights under Workers’ Compensation laws. While this author is an experienced employment attorney, our law firm usually works with a Workers Compensation attorney to further assist and enforce the rights of the injured employee.

* * *

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

* * * The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at no cost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www.joesayaslaw.com. [For more than 25 years, C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine for 11 years, and is a past Presidential Awardee for Outstanding Filipino Overseas.]

(Advertising Supplement)

Tirso Cruz III (left) and his wife Lynn Ynchausti (far right) with the stars of “When I Met

You in Tokyo” Christopher de Leon and Vilma Santos. Photo courtesy of JG Productions

How filing for divorce can affect your green card and what you can do to protect it

Barrister’s Corner

DIVORCE is a difficult and emotional process that can have a significant impact on many aspects of a person’s life, including their immigration status. For individuals who have obtained a green card through marriage to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, a divorce can have serious consequences. There are many people in this situation specially in major metropolitan cities such as Los Angeles which is a melting pot of intercultural marriages.

When a foreign national marries a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and the marriage is less than two years old, the foreign national is granted a conditional green card. This conditional green card is valid for two years and must be converted to a permanent green card before it expires. To convert the conditional green card to a permanent green card, the couple must jointly file a petition to remove the conditions within the 90-day period before the expiration of the conditional green card. This requires the signature of both the US Citizen Spouse and the LPR spouse on

the I-751 form. If the couple is divorced before the two-year period is up, the foreign national may be at risk of losing their conditional green card. However, if the couple has already filed a joint petition to remove the conditions and the foreign national is divorced before the petition is approved, the foreign national may still be able to obtain permanent residency by converting the joint petition into a waiver. If the joint petition to remove the conditional lpr has not yet been filed, then the immigrant spouse may file for a waiver of the joint petition requirement.

leave the United States.

The process of obtaining a waiver can be complex and requires a significant amount of documentation and evidence.

It is important to consult with an experienced immigration attorney to ensure that all necessary documentation is submitted and that the waiver application is prepared properly.

When a foreign national marries a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and the marriage is less than two years old, the foreign national is granted a conditional green card. This conditional green card is valid for two years and must be converted to a permanent green card before it expires.

practices in the area of family law and immigration to understand how the divorce may impact your immigration status. An attorney can help you navigate the complex immigration laws and ensure that your rights are protected throughout the divorce process.

To obtain a waiver, the foreign national must prove one of three things: that the marriage was entered into in good faith but ended in divorce or annulment, that the foreign national was subjected to domestic violence or extreme cruelty by the U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse, or that the foreign national would suffer extreme hardship if they were forced to

In some cases, a divorce can also affect a foreign national’s ability to obtain a green card in the first place. If a U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse files for divorce before the foreign national’s green card application is approved, the foreign national may be denied a green card. This is because the U.S. government may view the marriage as fraudulent if the couple divorces before the foreign national’s green card application is approved.

If you are a foreign national who has obtained a green card through marriage and you are considering divorce, it is important to consult with an experienced attorney that

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

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

Maja to leave ‘Eat Bulaga’ due to upcoming wedding, ‘uncertainties’ involving noontime show

MAJA Salvador has confirmed that she would leave the noontime show “Eat Bulaga” due to her upcoming July wedding with fiancé Rambo Nuñez and “uncertainties” surrounding the noontime show.

Salvador’s departure from the noontime show was announced in an official statement by her talent agency Crown Artist Management on its official Facebook page on Thursday, April 13.

“Crown Artist Management would like to announce that with Maja Salvador’s upcoming wedding and with all the uncertainties surrounding ‘Eat Bulaga,’ she will be leaving the show for the time being,” the statement read.

The label also noted that while being part of the show has been the actress’ “dream,” she decided to “give it a pause” for now. “Becoming a Dabarkads was a dream of Maja that came true one and a half years ago, but for now, we have to give it a pause,” they said.

“This decision was already

communicated to their management, so we’re hoping for your utmost understanding. Maja wishes ‘Eat Bulaga,’ its hosts and staff, all the best! Maraming salamat (Thank you very much), Dabarkads,” the agency further explained.

The date of Salvador’s final episode with “Eat Bulaga” has yet to be disclosed, as of this writing.

The “Wildflower” star’s July wedding to her non-showbiz boyfriend was revealed by the former’s handler to TV host Boy Abunda at an episode of the show “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” in February 2023.

The actress’ departure comes a month after rebranding rumors hounded the noontime show that led to TAPE producer Tony Tuviera being “kicked out.” Meanwhile, EB mainstays Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon expressed their dismay over the incident.

However, Tito clarified at an April 2023 interview with Korina Sanchez that the noontime show “is here to stay.” (by Hannah Mallorca/Inquirer.net)

Why these halfie...

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pancit and all the relatable Filipino things. This was in 2020. The accusations of Filipino baiting Vanessa is receiving right now clearly shows that netizens who are accusing her did not do much research. Vanessa is just one of many Filipinos in Hollywood who are also finding out about their identity as they cruise through life just like you and me.

Another one is Miss Universe 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel. R’Bonney has been visiting the Philippines since she was little. She goes to Malate, sits through Manila traffic and goes bargain-hunting just like many of us when in town.

Though she grew up in Texas, she shared with us in a previous interview that her Filipino father and aunts have had an influence on her. She is coming over in May for the first time since 2019 and she is saying that she is indeed proud to be part-Filipina. Now, because of the sudden Pinoy bashers on her page, she has been extra-cautious about mentioning her Filipino heritage.

In the case of R’Bonney and Vanessa, the two clearly just had the spotlight on them to actually talk about that part in their lives. They are just doing their jobs that happen to make them share a part of themselves, which is being Filipino. Besides them, many Filipinos who are making a name for themselves abroad should be celebrated and not pulled down and apart. If we could also be kinder, it is certain that it would be easier for our people to fly high in the global scale of things. g

Maja Salvador, Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon Photos from Facebook/@Crown Artist Management, Facebook/@Eat