042123 - Northern California Edition

Most CA taxpayers have until Oct. 16 to le taxes

APRIL 18 marked the 2023 Tax Day around the United States, but this year, some taxpayers across California have several months to file and pay their taxes.

The IRS previously announced an extended deadline for Californians to October 16, 2023 due to the damages from the storms in December 2022 and January 2023. The state of California also extended the state tax filing and payment due dates to the same October date.

The following counties are eligible for this extended tax relief, per the IRS announcements.

Residents and businesses in Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Inyo, Kings, Lake, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Placer, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito,

Group urges Biden to include issue of Filipino Amerasians in EDCA terms

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A group of former U.S. service members and Filipino American community advocates released an open letter to President Joe Biden, urging that the issue of abandoned Amerasian children be included in the terms of the U.S.-Philippine Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, as “a surge of new Amerasian children can be expected in future years” with expanded U.S. troop access to Philippine military bases.

Amerasians are abandoned children of American military fathers who served in the Philippines during the Cold War and the war in Vietnam.

“These Filipino Amerasians faced widespread discrimination, underemployment, poverty, domestic violence and sexual abuse, according to a 1999 study by a Pearl S. Buck foundation. Sadly, the United States Government short changed them. Fortunately, they have received sympathetic world-wide media attention,” the letter released by the Filipino Amerasians Reunification Coalition said.

US allots more than $100 million for

MANILA — The United States has now allotted more than $100 million for the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday, April 19.

DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo said the U.S. pledged another $18 million on top of the initial $82 million for EDCA during the recent 2+2 ministerial meeting between Manila and Washington.

“To date, the U.S. allocated a total of over 100

million U.S. dollars to EDCA projects, including additional 18 million U.S. Dollars announced during the third 2+2 ministerial dialogue last weekend in Washington,” Manalo said during an inquiry of the Senate Commnittee on Foreign Relations.

“This would cover projects in both existing and new agreed locations,” he added.

Currently, there are five existing EDCA sites located at Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, which is closest to the Kalayaan Group of Islands; Basa Air Base in Pampanga, the home of the Philippine Air Force’s fighter planes; Fort Magsaysay

Romualdez says PH-US ties reaching ‘new heights’ after lawmakers meet

by GABRIEL PABICO LALU Inquirer.net

MANILA — The relationship between the Philippines and the United States is reaching new heights under the administration of Presidents Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Joe Biden, said House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez after a meeting with their U.S. counterparts in Washington D.C.

This was the takeaway of Romualdez and the rest of the Philippine House of Representatives delegation after their meeting on Wednesday, April 19 with U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise at the Office of the Majority Leader in the U.S. Capitol, Washington DC.

Scalise represents Louisiana’s 1st congressional district.

The Speaker said strategies to strengthen economic cooperation,

Albert Del Rosario, ex-top diplomat who won Philippines’ maritime case vs China, dies at 83

by KAYCEE VALMONTE Philstar.com

MANILA — Former Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario — who played a key role in securing the landmark Hague ruling that invalidated China’s expansive claims in the West Philippine Sea — has passed away. He was 83 years old.

The Management Association of the Philippines, a business group, announced the passing of its former president on Tuesday, April 18. Del Rosario — also a businessman — was a MAP

member for 45 years.

Prior to his appointment as foreign affairs secretary under the late Benigno Aquino III, Del Rosario served as Philippine Ambassador to the United States under former President Gloria Arroyo’s administration.

“He was a consummate diplomat and an inspiring leader who led the DFA with integrity and unwavering commitment to public service,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said in a statement on Tuesday.

“You will be missed, Mr.

in Nueva Ecija, the country’s largest military camp and a frequent location of Philippine-U.S. military exercises; Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu; and Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City.

Malacañang has recently announced four additional EDCA sites, which include the Camilo Osias Naval Base in Sta. Ana town and Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo town in Cagayan province; Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac, the southernmost island in Palawan province.

According to Manalo, there had been significant

Fil-Am couple sheds light on hate incidents following assault in Sacramento

by DONNABELLE GATDULA-AREVALO AJPress

WHEN Filipino American veteran photojournalist Nicanor “Nikki” Arriola and his wife Julienne were attacked and assaulted in front of the California state Capitol in Sacramento, he knew it was a calling to speak out against hate incidents.

“It’s like a storyteller becomes a story,” said Nikki Arriola in an interview with the Asian Journal, recounting how he has usually been behind the camera in reporting anti-Asian attacks.

The couple was visiting relatives in Sacramento, with the photojournalist equipped with his two cameras during a stop at the Capitol to “take some human interests photographs that I could use for my work and my advocacy.”

However, the tourist experience took a turn and months later, the couple is determined to take action to prevent more hate crimes and incidents.

“This is definitely an eye-opener, not only for us, but for the entire society. We have to stand firm in letting the authorities know that we cannot just let these incidents pass and stay unnoticed. We should, as a society, also

Marcos liable if new EDCA sites cause war – expert

by CATHERINE S. VALENTE AND JAVIER JOE ISMAEL ManilaTimes.net

POLITICAL analyst Romulo

“Bobby” Tuazon said on Saturday, April 15 that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. could be held accountable in the event the Philippines was dragged into the Taiwan Strait conflict resulting from the country’s hosting of more American military installations under its Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States.

“I don’t believe in the statement of Bongbong Marcos that the EDCA sites will not be used against China because, in fact, he also said that if the Philippines needed help then the EDCA sites can be used, which means that any time those sites can be used

not only over the tensions in the Taiwan Strait against China but also the maritime disputes in the South China Sea also against China,” Tuazon said in The Alphan Forum.

“So, it is possible that Marcos will not only be in violation of the One China policy, but he can be made accountable for violating the constitutional provision providing for an independent foreign policy because this whole fact right now is a pivot to the U.S., in contrast to the previous friendly pivot to China adopted by the Duterte administration,” he added.

Tuazon, director for policy studies of Center for People

Albert del Rosario, a businessman, served as Foreign Affairs secretary of the Philippines under the administration of President Noynoy Aquino. Philstar.com photo

Romualdez says PH-US ties reaching...

defense, and security engagements, along with bilateral strategic dialogue were discussed during the meetings.

“We, from the House of Representatives in Manila thank Majority Leader Scalise for his warm welcome, his kind words, and most importantly his commitment to further strengthening Philippine and U.S. ties in various aspects,” Romualdez said.

"It was a fruitful and engaging meeting, to say the very least, and I feel that we are reaching new heights and levels of understanding,” he added.

According to Romualdez, legislators from both sides agree that they would do necessary work that would ensure that each country benefits from the “dynamic relationship”.

“This solidifies the good working relationship between President Marcos and President Biden. Rest assured that legislators from both sides of the fence will follow through with the necessary work so that the benefits of this dynamic relationship would become more tangible tenfold,” he said.

relations [with the] U.S. to provide stability, peace, and prosperity, especially in enhancing our capability for defense and stronger economic security,” he added.

Several lawmakers and officials including Scalise’s counterpart, Majority Floor Leader and Zamboanga City 2nd District Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe, joined Romualdez in the meeting:

- Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr.

- Navotas City Rep. Tobias

Tiangco

- Agusan del Norte 1st District Rep. Jose Aquino II

- Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez

- House Secretary General Reginald Velasco

- House Sergeant-at-Arms

Napoleon Taas.

Aside from Scalise and U.S. Rep. Young Kim (California-40) whom the Philippine delegation met on Tuesday, Romualdez and the said officials also talked to U.S. Reps. Darrell Issa, Ami Bera, Mike Rogers, Christian Stewart, and Utah Attorney General Sean David Reyes who happens to be a Filipino American.

totaled around US$1.8 billion from 2002 to 2021. Romualdez’s office also highlighted that the U.S. was an important ally, as evidenced by the strong economic partnership despite the crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With our strong economy, we invited the U.S. to increase and expand its investments. Just recently I was with the economic team of President Marcos to help generate more investments during the 2023 World Bank GroupInternational Monetary Fund (WBG-IMF) Spring Meetings,” the Speaker said.

“Now the congressional delegation of the House leadership is engaging their counterparts in the U.S. Congress. We are working all out with our strong message to come to the Philippines and invest there,” he added.

This is not the first time that the Speaker said that the two countries are in for stronger ties under the Marcos administration. Last August 2022, Romualdez said during the visit of U.S. lawmakers that the long-standing relationship between the two nations is only growing stronger.

DFA: US allots more than $100...

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project at Basa Air Base, the storage facility at Mactan Air Base, and the Humanitarian Disaster Relief warehouse in Fort Magsaysay.

“The majority leader [was] delighted to see the delegation.

The Philippine government under President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has reintegrated

According to Romualdez’s office, the Philippines has received substantial defense aid from the U.S., both in terms of training and the acquisition of defense equipment — which

Most CA taxpayers have until Oct. 16 to...

Romualdez also assured U.S. officials in October 2022 that the House will support bilateral cooperation, especially in the realm of health, security, and environment. g PAGE 1

San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura, Yolo, and Yuba counties who have been affected by severe winter storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides are eligible for tax relief.

To help alleviate some of the hardship many have endured during this trying period, the FTB has extended the filing and payment deadlines for

individuals and businesses in California until October 16, 2023. This relief applies to deadlines falling on or after January 8, 2023, and before October 16, 2023, including the 2022 individual income tax returns due on April 18 and the quarterly estimated tax payments, typically due on January 17, 2023 and April 18, 2023. Those payments were previously extended to May 15, 2023 for those impacted by winter storms. The IRS announced tax relief for Californians affected by these winter storms. Taxpayers

affected by these storms qualify for an extension to October 16, 2023 to file individual and business tax returns and make certain tax payments. This includes:

• Individuals whose tax returns and payments are due on April 18, 2023.

• Quarterly estimated tax payments due January 17, 2023, April 18, 2023, June 15, 2023, and September 15, 2023.

• Business entities whose tax returns are normally due on March 15 and April 18.

• PTE Elective Tax payments due on June 15, 2023. (AJPress )

progress in eight of 16 projects in the initial five Edca locations. Of the eight projects, six are estimated to be completed this 2023, including the runway

The EDCA, signed during

the administration of the late President Benigno S. Aquino III in 2014, allows U.S. troops access to and to store defense equipment and supplies in Philippine military bases. g

Marcos liable if new EDCA sites cause war...

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Empowerment in Governance, called on the Philippine government to review its “proU.S. policy” to avoid repeating the mistakes that have been made in the past.

“With the increasing presence again of military forces in the Philippines, I will not be surprised if the same atrocities that were committed against Filipino civilians in the light of the presence of the military bases of the U.S. before will be repeated soon,” he said.

“So that is, in fact, a call for the Philippine government officials to rethink and review its pro-U.S. policy,” Tuazon added.

Signed in 2014, EDCA grants U.S. troops access to designated Philippine military facilities, build facilities, as well as pre-position their equipment, aircraft and

vessels. Permanent basing is prohibited.

The five current locations of U.S. military installations under EDCA are Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija; Basa Air Base in Pampanga; Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan; Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu; and Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City.

The new EDCA sites approved under Marcos will be established at the Naval Base Camilo Osias in Santa Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan; Camp Melchor F. Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan.

Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian remains hopeful that the Philippines and China will continue to peacefully coexist.

“Indeed, there are differences

between China and the Philippines on the South China Sea issue. However, as neighbors across a narrow strip of water, relations between China and the Philippines are more defined by peaceful coexistence for over a thousand years and will continue to be so in the future. Friendship is always the main stream of our bilateral relations,” Huang said during the 8th Manila Forum for Philippines-China Relations at the Astoria Plaza Hotel in Pasig City on Friday, April 14.

“We each have our respective claims and positions regarding the South China Sea. Differences thereof should be resolved by parties directly involved through dialogues and with mutual respect. That is why China is committed to strengthening dialogue mechanisms between us,” he added. g

SPECIAL GUEST. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (right) and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos flank Czech Republic Prime Minister Petr Fiala during an official dinner at Malacañang Palace in Manila on Monday, April 17. Fiala arrived Sunday, April 16 and capped his official visit with a wreath-laying ceremony at Jose Rizal’s monument on Tuesday, April 18. PNA photo by Rolando Mailo

Fil-Am couple sheds light on hate incidents...

be vigilant against these types of crimes,” Arriola said, who noted that similar cases in the past have been left unresolved as most of the victims often opted to let them slide due to the fear of retaliation from assailants and possible immigration-related repercussions.

“We have met actual people who have experienced the same fate but who remained mum. They thought it’s just going to be a waste of time and the case will not prosper at all. Some of these people were ‘undocumented’ and they fear that coming out in the open and telling their ordeal will adversely affect their stay in the U.S. But we explained to them that [immigration] and police matters are totally different,” he added.

On February 1, while Arriola, who was wearing his press badge, and his wife Julienne were strolling and taking pictures at the Sacramento State Capitol, a 6-foot man believed to be in his 30s tried to grab Arriola’s camera.

When the couple struggled, the assailant kicked, punched and dragged them toward his getaway car. This incident reportedly happened in front of a crowd of witnesses.

“He didn’t hesitate. I was even wearing my press ID. He knew there were a lot of people taking videos and pictures of him. We knew it was not random. He had got his prying eyes on us before he decided to attack us,” Arriola recounted.

The suspect, identified as Keylen Xavier Lee Farley, was charged with three felony counts by the Sacramento District Attorney, according to reports.

The counts include two for robbery of the second degree and

aggravated assault and a third count for elder abuse.

Arriola said their case is not considered a hate crime since there were no racist slurs involved during the incident.

Arriola, 63, suffered six broken ribs, head concussions, and abrasions all over his body while Julienne, 65, had knee and other bone injuries. Both were confined at the University of California Davis Medical Center for several days after the assault.

In the weeks following the assault, the Arriolas have actively been engaging themselves in the community and church groups to retell their story and let the public learn from their experience.

The assailant, who is now in jail, is awaiting a preliminary hearing on May 1.

“We can forgive him (the assailant) as God has told us offenders can change if given a chance, but we cannot let him get away with what he has done to us. We have the law. We have to let the law do its work,” said Arriola.

For her part, Thelma Sugay, president of the Fil-Am Press Association of California said they recently learned that police are now investigating a “person of interest” as the driver of the getaway vehicle.

Sugay is also helping the Arriolas with their next plan of action. “According to Nikki, his plan is after he goes through with this, he could come up with a manual to serve as some sort of guide for [future] hate crime victims. He would try to learn the process and he would share all his knowledge and the pitfalls so it could be expedited for the next one,” she said.

“I think, this is a very noble (move on the part of Nikki).

I think he does not want this

incident that almost cost his life to be insignificant. He just wants to help people to go through or those who might be going through this process to learn how to deal with it and don’t be afraid,” said Sugay.

According to Nikki, they are also planning to hold a series of anti-hate forums and symposiums on this matter to help educate the public.

“We will never stop until we get justice. We’ve been badly hurt. We are still suffering up to now from our injuries. We’ve been traumatized. We thought that will be the end of us and we’ll just die there,” Arriola lamented.

“The wounds may heal but the trauma will still be there for God knows how long. Sometimes, I will just find myself crying. We cannot even go back to our normal jobs,” Julienne said.

Since last month, Arriola had been in and out of the emergency room due to continued swelling and inflammation from his broken ribs. His wife, who had been diagnosed with osteoporosis, is still hurting and sometimes needs assistance when walking and standing up.

Since they migrated to the United States in 2001, caregiving has been the Arriolas’ main source of income. However, they can barely cope with their daily finances since their injuries are preventing them from carrying out their normal work routines, which require heavy lifting and standing for long periods.

Despite the ordeal that they went through, the couple still believes in the goodness of society.

They credit the witnesses who were able to get the plate number of the getaway car and those who tried, in a way, to stand between Arriola and the assailant.

“I would like to thank all the people who’ve extended help and those who are helping us go through this situation. My fellow journalists both here and in the Philippines, my churchmates, the Fil-Am community, my family and I are very grateful for all your support,” Arriola said.

Fil-Am groups have created GoFundMe initiatives for the Arriolas. The fundraiser, organized by the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) member organizations, LA Kalusugan Collective (LAKAS) and the Filipino Migrant Center, can be found at http://tinyurl.com/ helpthearriolas. The National

Watch for the yellow envelope – 15 million CA MediCal enrollees’ eligibility under review

by Mark Hedin Ethnic Media Services

MEDICAL enrollees are encouraged to update their information to keep their status as the state reviews eligibility for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the first time in three years, an estimated 80 million Americans whose health care is through Medicaid will have their eligibility for it checked.

If you’re one of those people and live in California, keep an eye out for a yellow envelope appearing in your mailbox, state Department of Health Care Services officials said at an April 12 press briefing hosted by Ethnic Media Services and California Black Media.

2020’s Families First Coronavirus Response Act required Medicaid programs nationwide to keep everyone enrolled during the COVID-19 public health emergency, suspending the “redetermination” process.

But with that emergency now considered over as of March 31, states have to confirm everyone’s eligibility again.

California’s Medicaid program, MediCal, is the country’s largest,

serving about 15 million people – including 5.7 million children, 70% of them nonwhite. Over the next 14 months, the state will be reviewing accounts to make sure contact information is up to date and that everyone enrolled is still eligible.

The yellow envelopes that began going out earlier this month in the mail indicate that DHCS is requesting additional information.

If you get one of those, DHCS

Assistant Deputy Director Yingjia Huang said, reply within the deadline it states, usually about 45-60 days.

But people can also check their coverage status online and over the phone.

Huang also estimates that 30% of Medi-Cal recipients will receive notices that they’ve been automatically renewed for a year.

Health care for undocumented immigrants

On top of that, she noted, California has become the first state in the country to allow undocumented 26- to 49-yearolds to enroll in its Medicaid program.

Mayra Alvarez, Executive Director of Children’s Partnership, a national children’s advocacy agency, added that the state has

extended its policy of providing “continuous coverage” for children up to 5 years old. The full breadth of medical services on the table includes everything from typical medical and preventive care to dental care and prescription coverage. You don’t have to indicate your citizenship status when applying for MediCal, Alvarez said, and furthermore, she explained, undocumented Californians also need not worry that using MediCal will impact their applications for a green card under “public charge” rules, a widespread, longstanding fear.

New rules in late 2022 barred any past, current or future use of public safety net protections, such as Medicaid, but also including housing, food and tax credits, from being deemed a “public charge,” and jeopardizing immigration applications. Nor does signing up your child for benefits count against you.

2-3 million could lose benefits

Nonetheless, Huang said, the state expects between 2 million and 3 million Californians will lose their benefits, many others may become newly eligible.

People who have been hired PAGE 4

Filipino American veteran photojournalist Nicanor “Nikki” Arriola (pictured) and his wife Julienne were attacked in broad daylight during a visit to the California state Capitol in Sacramento last February. In the months following the attack, they are still recovering from their injuries and are making it their mission to speak out against hate incidents.

Group urges Biden to include issue of Filipino...

The coalition asks for a humanitarian executive order “that would protect the rights and welfare of current and future Filipino Amerasian children and adults by including them in the U.S.-PH EDCA Agreement terms of engagement. This would heal this festering wound between the Filipino and American People.”

The EDCA terms of engagement are being negotiated by Secretary of State Blinken and Defense Secretary Austin with their PH counterparts in 2+2 meetings in Washington. Earlier, they have agreed to increase the number of PH military-run joint bases to nine.

“Your Amerasian executive order will be timely in light of the 15,000 visiting U.S. troops now in “Balikatan” training with Filipino soldiers. A surge of new Amerasian children can be expected in future years,” the letter states.

The coalition urged Biden to support Filipino Amerasian legislation in the U.S. Senate and House (“Uniting Families Act of 2021” (H.R. 4522 in www.congress.gov) that wold reunite Amerasians with “their fathers and/or American siblings who have accepted financial responsibility for them since they have proven through their DNA to be the offspring of the American service member.”

The coalition also asks the Biden administration to “seriously promote democracy and protect human rights” with the government of President Marcos Jr. “Your reasonable increases of mutual defense funding, trade and

Amerasians are abandoned children of American military fathers who served in the Philippines during the Cold War and the war in Vietnam. Photo courtesy of UPA

Albert Del Rosario, ex-top diplomat who won...

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economic incentives to the PH would assure peace in the West Philippine Sea and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. We believe EDCA will protect the Filipino People’s sovereignty from outside aggression and intimidation,” the letter says. The letter was signed by Loida Nicolas Lewis, National Chair (NY) U.S. Filipinos for Good Governance (FB.com/

Contributed photo

USFGG) & convenor Filipino Amerasians Reunification Coalition; John Haines, USN Ret. (WI) and Chad Southard ,USMC Ret. (GA), Fathers of Filipino Amerasians (FAFA) founders; Angela Aquino, founder chair, EqualRightsforChildren.org (NY); Christopher Lapinig, Esq, FARC Legal Counsel (CA); Eric Lachica, coordinator USFGG & FARC (Washington DC). g

Secretary,” Manalo said of his former boss. Del Rosario, the diplomat Del Rosario served as the secretary of foreign affairs beginning February 2011 before resigning in March 2016 due to health reasons. His term was supposed to end in June, the same time as Aquino’s.

The DFA described him as a “staunch advocate” of protecting Filipinos here and abroad. Under his term as foreign affairs chief, Del Rosario led the evacuation of Filipinos working in wartorn countries such as Libya

and was also on the frontline of negotiations for the case of Mary Jane Veloso, an overseas Filipino worker who was put on death row in Indonesia after being caught smuggling heroin into the country.

The Philippines filed its case to invalidate China’s expansive claims across the South China Sea at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2014. The court’s decision on the case was released months after Del Rosario’s resignation in May 2016.

Despite stepping down from the post, Del Rosario continued to actively engage in discussions on the West Philippine Sea. He also criticized the foreign policy thrust of President Rodrigo Duterte – whom Del Rosario said left a “shameful legacy” after Duterte “quickly shelved the Arbitral Award” in exchange for Chinese investments.

As the country’s envoy to the U.S, a position he held beginning 2001, del Rosario secured a $1.2 billion funding assistance to the Philippines along with other

business opportunities such as investments into the country’s Business Process Outsourcing Industry, among others. He was reportedly recalled after disagreements with Arroyo.

Del Rosario, the businessman Del Rosario has a vast experience in the private sector. Stratbase ADR Institute notes that before he entered public service, Del Rosario was on the board of directors of “over 50 firms.”

Aside from his company Gotuaco, del Rosario Insurance Brokes, he was chairman of Stratbase and the Makati Foundation for Education. He also served as president of the Philippine Telecommunications Investment Corp. He was MAP President in 2007, while he was also conferred the MAP Management Man of the Year in 2014. Del Rosario graduated from New York University with a Bachelors Degree in Economics. He is survived by his wife, Gretchen de Venecia, and their five children. g

Watch for the yellow envelope...

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at jobs where health insurance is included may lose their eligibility for MediCal. Others may now be earning enough that they will be shifted from Medi-Cal coverage to the Covered California program, which subsidizes people’s health care on a sliding scale.

“For families on Medi-Cal, it may have been a long time since they last renewed their coverage,” Alvarez noted.

She said that her biggest fear is that people who are still eligible for MedicaidCal will lose their coverage in this “unwinding” process, simply because the state can no longer find them.

“If, for example, a termination notice is sent to an old address, they may never get that information, and those who actually might still be eligible may end up losing their coverage.

Families need to know that if they’ve moved since March 2020, they need to update their contact information,” she emphasized. This “redetermination” won’t happen overnight, and the yellow envelope DHCS officials mentioned is only one of several ways to find out about your eligibility status.

Community outreach

You can also call or email your county office. The contact information for all 58 California

counties can be found here. Or you can check on your account online. That page will direct you to one of two web pages, benefitscal. com, that applies to 45 California counties, or mybenefitscalwin. org/#/home for the other 13, where you can see if you’re eligible, apply for benefits, report changes and more.

On top of all that, Huang said, the DHCS is devoting “a huge budget” for partnerships with community-based organizations to hire trusted messengers in the community to augment its own 1,700 “coverage ambassadors” to help people get or stay insured. Another thing to take into consideration is if there are new members of the family who hadn’t been born at the time of the last eligibility check, or if you’ve assumed new caretaking responsibilities.

“Now is the time to make sure we’re taking the necessary steps to keep our coverage,” Alvarez said. “Anybody, regardless of their immigration status, regardless of their income, can apply for MediCal.”

“This is especially important for people of color, who are more likely to rely on MediCal for coverage, and more likely to be at risk of losing that coverage.”

“It’s a lifeline for so many in our communities.” g

Fil-Am couple sheds light on...

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Federation of Filipino American Associations Greater LA has also started a GoFundMe page at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/ vf6zak-fight-for-justice-elderlyfilams-attacked.

“We implore you to join us in calling for justice. As an organization, NaFFAA GLA, we

strongly condemn this brutal act of violence and demand that California Attorney General Rob Bonta investigate this crime as a potential Anti-Asian hate crime. We must hold the attackers accountable for their actions and ensure that justice is served,” the organization wrote on the GoFundMe page. g

were

NATURE TRIP. The Senate Committees on Tourism, led by Sen. Nancy Binay (front), and Sustainable Development Goals, Innovation and Futures Thinking conduct an ocular inspection on the Masungi Georeserve conservation area in Tanay, Rizal on Tuesday, April 18. Binay said it is better as an ecotourism site and vowed to oppose the construction of any facility not related to tourism or those that will harm the environment.

Dateline PhiliPPines

PH not meddling in Taiwan affairs

by Franco Jose c. Baroña, Bernadette e tamayo and Kristina maralit ManilaTimes.net

THE Department of National Defense (DND) has denied that the Philippine government is meddling in China’s dispute with Taiwan.

“We reiterate that our primordial concern in Taiwan is the safety and well-being of the Filipinos living and working on the island,” DND spokesman Arsenio Andolong said in a statement.

Andolong was reacting to the statement of Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian that the safety and welfare of the thousands of Filipinos working in Taiwan could be jeopardized if Manila continues to recognize the independence of the island nation.

Beijing has long claimed that Taiwan is a province of China.

Andolong also disagreed with Huang that the situation in Taiwan is similar to Manila’s security concerns in Mindanao.

Day One of e-Travel smooth – BI

by EvElyn Macairan Philstar.com

MANILA — The full implementation of the e-Travel system that required the online registration of all departing and arriving air travelers was “very smooth, with no glitches,” the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported on Sunday, April 16.

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the BI’s single data collection platform for integrated border control, health surveillance and economic data analysis of all passengers through the airport that began last Saturday was a success.

In a statement, Dennis Javier who heads the Technical Working Group of the e-Travel System said, “So far, the implementation remains very smooth, with no noted glitches or issues.”

Tansingco expressed satisfaction that this online registration for airport procedures is now at par with systems being used by other countries for their arrival and

departure data.

“Modernization of the bureau is really one of the priorities of the BI. This is but the first step in many technological improvements in immigration,” he said.

The commissioner added that more than 32,000 arriving foreigners and Filipinos have registered in the system, while more than 14,000 departing Filipinos had logged in at the site.

The platform, which was initially launched in December to cover only arriving passengers, has now expanded to include departing travelers for a full system rollout.

Last April 14, a virtual orientation and questionand-answer session was conducted with the Airline Operators Council to address various inquiries from airlines participating in the system’s implementation, said Javier.

They also held a meeting with BI terminal heads and immigration officers and addressed operational concerns.

Under the new system, all

passengers and crewmembers arriving in the Philippines are required to register through etravel.gov.ph not earlier than 72 hours from their intended arrival.

Those who fail to register through e-Travel will be assisted by the airline staff upon arrival and before assessment by the quarantine office.

As a replacement of the paperbased departure cards, only outbound Filipino passengers are required to register in the system at least 72 hours, but not less than three hours, from their scheduled departure from the Philippines. Departing Filipinos who fail to register or update their e-Travel record may do it before the immigration inspection or may fill out departure cards, which are readily available inside the immigration area.

Registered passengers may update their status under the “Edit Registration” tab and the crew, under the “Registered Crew” tab. The registering and updating of records are free of charge. g

“We wish to emphasize that the issues are different from each other. The whole context and rich experience of our peace process in Mindanao, which allowed the participation of the international community, is aligned with the Philippines’ position of resolving disputes peacefully,” he said.

Andolong stressed that the DND “deems it prudent to prepare for any contingencies to ensure the safety of Filipinos overseas, especially those based in Taiwan.”

He said that considering the complex regional security landscape, the DND seeks to improve the Philippines’ defense capabilities “through all the means available to us.”

Andolong made it clear the implementation of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the United States “is not directed against any country and is in line with our efforts to modernize our alliance and enable collective defense and peace, promote our national interest, protect our national sovereignty, ensure the livelihood and welfare of our fisherfolk and communities, and enhance our capability to

respond to emergencies and disasters, as well as provide humanitarian assistance.”

He renewed the appeal to all concerned parties and states “to adhere to the rule of law and diplomacy in managing differences.”

Speaking at a forum on Friday, April 14, Huang advised the Philippines to “unequivocally oppose Taiwan independence rather than stoking the fire by offering the U.S. access to the military bases near the Taiwan Strait if you care genuinely about the 150,000 [overseas Filipino workers].”

On Sunday, April 16, Sen. Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros demanded that Beijing recall Huang over his “threatening” statements. Hontiveros said if China has issues with the U.S., he should “not drag the Philippines” into their fight.

Beijing has accused Washington of creating tension in the region by expanding its military presence.

Huang said the Philippines is “stoking the fire by offering the U.S. access to the military bases near the Taiwan Strait” referring to the bases designated as EDCA sites.

Two of the four new sites — which will house visiting U.S. troops and their equipment — are in Cagayan province which is near Taiwan.

“These are truly disgraceful statements from Ambassador Huang Xilian. How dare he threaten us,” the senator said.

“Our OFWs in Taiwan will continue to work where they work. End of story. Filipinos will thrive and make a living according to our wishes,” she stressed in a statement.

“The Palace should tell Beijing to recall their representative in Manila as soon as possible,” Hontiveros said.

She said Huang “has no business being a diplomat if he is unable to engage with us in a respectful and dignified manner.”

The Philippines, she said, will never interfere with the issue of Taiwanese independence. “That is exclusively for the people of

Taiwan to tackle.”

She said it was China “who has been stoking tensions in the region, claiming territories that aren’t hers.”

“It is China who continues to bully, harass, and intimidate other smaller nations in the region. It is China who is making all this mess,” Hontiveros said, Hontiveros said Huang “along with his country’s ships and artificial islands in the West Philippine Sea, should pack up and leave.”

“We, in the Philippines, respect the right of the Taiwanese people to selfdetermination, and this right must be upheld by all other nations that share this planet, even including the autocratic regime of China,” she said.

The U.S. Embassy in Manila, in a text to reporters, said it has “no specific response to Ambassador Huang’s comments, other than to say what we have said repeatedly: EDCA sites will support combined training exercises and interoperability between U.S. and Philippine forces to ensure that we’re even better prepared for future crises.”

“EDCA is a key component of the U.S.-Philippine alliance, and is not about any other third country,” the embassy said.

In a statement over the weekend, National Security Council Assistant Director General and spokesman Jonathan Malaya reacted strongly to Huang’s insinuation that the Philippines is a willing participant in the attempt of the U.S. to push its “anti-China agenda” by adding four more EDCA sites.

“National Security Adviser Eduardo M. Año has made our position clear that the increased security cooperation between the Philippines and the United States is meant to develop and strengthen the capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to enable it to protect and defend the territory of the Philippines and is not meant to contain or counter any nation in the region or to interfere in another nation’s u PAGE 7

A worthwhile campaign vs malnutrition, child stunting

THE Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) has just launched a campaign against malnutrition and child stunting in the country through initiatives that will complement the government’s Philippine Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Project.

This comes after a study by the World Bank showed that the country has one of the worst cases of child stunting in the world. The Philippines ranked fifth with the highest stunting prevalence among countries in the East Asia and Pacific Region. It is also among the top 10 worst countries in the world. In last week's editorial, we traced malnutrition as one of the causes why Filipino elementary-school students got very low marks in science, mathematics and English proficiency in Southeast Asia. According to the World Health Organization, stunting is a growth and development impairment of children resulting from poor nutrition, repeated infection and inadequate psychosocial stimulation.

Editorial

According to MAP President and BDB Law founding partner Benedicta Du-Baladad, the group's presence in the food, retail, health care, education and logistics industries, as well as other sectors, would help leapfrog progress in resolving malnutrition through sustainable and effective interventions and actions.

Rightly so; the MAP will broaden its role beyond fund generation and philanthropy to a shared responsibility in addressing malnutrition in the country. Henceforth, it will actively participate in the programming and governance of nutrition strategies and interventions, using the much-vaunted project management skills of its members.

Dr. Cielito Habito, governor in charge for the MAP Cluster on Resilience and Recovery, said MAP's

Babe’s Eye View

BABE ROMUALDEZ

THE Philippine Economic Briefing (PEB) we hosted at the Fairmont Hotel in Washington, DC was extremely successful and attended by close to 170 top business executives from various American companies and organizations. Our team of economic managers led by Finance

Secretary Ben Diokno, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Felipe Medalla, Budget Secretary

Amenah Pangandaman and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)

Secretary Arsenio Balisacan gave their presentations during the PEB that was held on the sidelines of the seven-day International Monetary FundWorld Bank (IMF-WB) Annual Spring Meetings in Washington.

Joining the economic team managers during the briefing were Foreign Affairs Secretary

Ricky Manalo, Information and Communications Technology

Secretary Ivan Uy, Congressman Mujiv Hataman of Basilan, GSIS president and general manager

diverse ecosystem would muster the strength of the private sector to mobilize and help the government achieve its nutrition's objectives. He said child stunting is a "major threat" to the country's future.

If the problem is not addressed in an urgent and decisive manner, we will be placing our country's future in the hands of stunted children who will become adults with limited capacities to be productive, competitive and creative. Its exponential effect on national development and progress will be calamitous.

The MAP will collaborate with the Department of Health, National Nutrition Council, and Department of Social Welfare and Development. It will also ask the government to declare stunting as a priority national agenda. Beyond words, concrete actions should be cascaded to the community level. This would allow the local government units to allocate funds for feeding programs with emphasis on maternal nutrition, babies and toddlers. Vegetable farms in the communities and vegetable gardens in the elementary schools should be encouraged again.

According to the Global Nutrition Institute, schools and educators have a role to play in reducing malnutrition around the world. They can do these through various ways.

First, girls' participation in schooling can be improved. Girls' schooling can reduce adolescent pregnancy — a risk factor for small birth size — as well as raise the age of marriage and reduce total

fertility. Clearly, in the long run what girls learn in school is even more important. This is not just basic literacy and numeracy, but also information on health and nutrition.

Second, the school can serve as a platform for nutrition education and other nutrition-related services. There is evidence on school-based modules for nutrition education, particularly in encouraging healthy eating and promoting exercise to curb obesity. Hygiene and handwashing should also be encouraged, well as the teaching of modules addressing risky activities linked to adolescent pregnancies.

Third, make school meals a nutrition intervention and use school feeding as a potential support to agricultural development. In addition to its nutrition,

education and social protection objectives, school feeding is increasingly asked to support agricultural development through homegrown school feeding programs.

Adding a new objective increases the trade-offs that must be considered. In the case of homegrown school feeding, decentralization makes fortification — one means by which school meals can reduce micronutrient deficiencies — more challenging, but not impossible. Over time, however, homegrown school feeding may improve dietary diversity and increase food security among low-income producers. These are doable and concrete measures that the schools can do and that the MAP should encourage. The future of a stunted Filipino nation is difficult to contemplate. (ManilaTimes.net)

Philippine economy on an upward trajectory

Wick Veloso and SSS president and CEO Rolando Macasaet. We have had numerous economic briefings in Washington in the past, but I must say that the one we held last Wednesday, April 12 was the best I have ever seen in all my years, as the presentations highlighted the Philippine economy to be dynamic, as well as responsive and adaptive to challenges and opportunities.

There is no doubt that our security alliance with the U.S. played a key role, but it is clear that ensuring economic security is equally critical in order to build a resilient and inclusive economy that will strengthen both the Philippines and the United States. Solidifying our alliance through more trade and investments can increase commerce, empower our people and ensure a peaceful, secure and prosperous environment for all of us.

In his presentation, Secretary Diokno emphasized that infrastructure spending is front and center of the Philippines’ growth strategy, with the government committed to reverse the under-investment in infrastructure that has been going on for more than a decade, averaging at only two percent of

gross domestic product (GDP) growth.

This focus on infrastructure spending was echoed by Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, who disclosed that the Philippines is determined to maintain infrastructure spending at 5-6 percent of GDP in the medium term, knowing full well that infrastructure is “the backbone of the economy.”

American investors were also pleased to know that the bulk of the administration’s infrastructure budget is aimed at improving physical connectivity throughout the Philippines through the construction of accessible road networks, railways, buildings and flood control infrastructure, among many others.

Improving the country’s digital infrastructure was also a priority as this will help ensure that the Philippines continues to be a viable investment destination, with P24.13 billion or $434.3 million allocated to accelerate the country’s digital transformation, Secretary Pangandaman disclosed.

Secretary Diokno also bared that the “economic liberalization measures that the Philippine government has enacted in recent

years have opened up key highgrowth sectors to international participation,” outlining the reforms such as the amendments to the Retail Trade Liberalization Act (RTLA), Foreign Investments Act (FIA) and the Public Service Act (PSA) that relaxed foreign restrictions on investments in the Philippines.

“Companies engaged in solar, wind, hydro and tidal energy are also welcome to invest in the Philippines’ renewable energy sector now that it has been opened up to full foreign ownership,” Secretary Diokno told the businessmen present. As I explained to the attendees, our economic managers, in partnership with the legislature, the private sector and other stakeholders, are making changes to improve infrastructure and establish game-changing measures that will facilitate not only more economic activities for the Philippine business sector but also more foreign investments. But what struck me most during the briefing were the extemporaneous remarks of Ndiamé Diop, the World Bank’s Country Director for the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Brunei. In my experience as a news reporter, I know for a

fact that when a person speaks extemporaneously, it means that he has real knowledge on what he is talking about, compared to someone who totally reads from his prepared remarks.

Mr. Diop noted the Philippines’ “remarkable growth story” and how it rebounded very strongly from the COVID-19 pandemic with 7.6 percent growth. He agreed with the interconnected structural reforms mentioned by Secretary Diokno, adding that “prudent macro-fiscal and macro financial management” is also behind the resilience of the country’s growth and macro stability.

The country’s push for infrastructure could really accelerate the transformation of the Philippine economy in the next decade. Recalling a World Bank analysis almost a decade earlier showing that productivity loss due to lack of infrastructure was around $54 million every day or about $80 billion a year, lifting the infrastructure spending to 5 percent is therefore a “game changer,” the WB executive said. He also noted that the investment regime of the Philippines has for a long time been “one of the most restrictive in the region,” but what the

government has been doing over the last few years to open up these infrastructure services to foreign direct investment and all types of investment is “very significant.”

We are the fastest growing economy right now in our part of the world, a fact affirmed by many, including the IMF that expects the Philippines to record the fastest economic growth in Asia. Having ended 2022 with the fastest growth in the last 40 years, things are really looking good, especially with the recently concluded 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue that has made American investors feel more reassured due to the strengthened relations between the Philippines and the U.S.

As I told the briefing attendees, investing in the Philippines is both a smart and strategic economic decision. By supporting the growth and development of our country, they are contributing to the stability and prosperity of the region. (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.

* * * babeseyeview@gmail.com

Explaining the popularity of Duterte and Marcos

WHEN Pulse Asia released its latest approval rating for our top political leaders based on interviews with 1,200 randomly selected respondents across the country between March 15 and 19, the partisan reaction was excruciatingly predictable.

On one hand, impresarios and diehard supporters of the House of Duterte and House of Marcos were ecstatic. Their leaders’ apparent popularity, per the survey, was taken as an unquestionable reaffirmation of their unshakable belief in the magical powers of their patrons.

Meanwhile, some supporters of the opposition reverted to a familiar playbook: shooting the messenger! Per tradition, “False Asia” began to trend anew on Twitter, the one social media

platform that is not dominated by far-right influencers, who tend to be wit-shy. A familiar coterie of intellectual charlatans leaned on their art of nitpicking to expose supposed flaws in either the survey design or the very integrity of the polling agency.

Right off the bat, let me make this crystal clear, dear readers: Both sides are wrong.

To begin with, baselessly questioning the integrity of authoritative survey agencies such as Pulse Asia, which is led and staffed by folks of utmost professionalism, is deeply unethical. Mind you, mindless attacks on credible institutions—in favor of dodgy “analytics”—constitutes its own form of disinformation.

To understand the apparent popularity of President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte, there are three data sets and factors to keep in mind. First of all, a cursory look at the Social

Weather Stations’ surveys in the post-dictatorship shows that all Filipino presidents, with the notable exception of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, had extremely high net satisfaction ratings in their first year in office. In fact, the late President Fidel Ramos, arguably our most competent by our admittedly humble standards, started at close to +70 net satisfaction rating.

Second, the popularity of both House of Marcos and House of Duterte reflects a more fundamental structural reality, namely widespread dissatisfaction with our broken democratic institutions, which failed to uplift the vast number of Filipino people out of destitution three decades after the fall of a kleptocratic dictatorship.

After all, how on earth can we call ours a democratic system when up to 90 percent of legislative offices are dominated by political

The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do

dynasties, while 40 richest families have been gobbling up the bulk of newly created growth in recent memory? Not even Latin American nations have such a comprehensive oligarchic system! Mind you: the concentration of power in the hands of dynasties was even exacerbated during reformist presidencies, with close to 80 percent of congressional seats in the hands of few families by the mid-2010s.

No wonder then, all reputable global surveys show that only a minority of Filipinos are fully committed to liberal democratic politics. To put things into perspective: A 2017 Pew Research Center survey, confirming an earlier World Values Survey in the early2010s, showed that more than eight out of 10 Filipinos were either supportive of or open to an authoritarian system. In 2020, another Pew Survey showed that almost half of

Filipino respondents said “most elected officials do not care” about the welfare of ordinary citizens.

The political scientist

Adele Webb described this phenomenon as “democratic ambivalence.” I described it earlier as nothing less than “democracy fatigue,” even if we never truly had a democracy. In short, our oligarchs gave a bad name to democracy.

And this brings us to the third factor: The return of what German sociologist Max Weber described as “charismatic” leadership, namely political figures who are, in the eyes of their diehard supporters, “endowed with supernatural, superhuman, or at least specifically exceptional powers or qualities.” By all accounts, both Mr. Marcos and Duterte are primarily charismatic leaders, thus beneficiaries of what can be best described as “asymmetrical accountability”:

When things go wrong, it’s always the fault of their underlings or institutions under their watch, but when things go right, the credit goes to the charismatic leader. The concept of command responsibility is nonexistent. It’s all about faith in political will. This partly explains why our top two leaders enjoy extremely high approval ratings even if all reputable surveys show low confidence in either the presidential Cabinet or, more specifically, the Department of Education, which is run by the Vice President. In Philippine politics, subjective charisma trumps objective competence. (Inquirer.net)

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

Cagayanos hold rally vs 2 EDCA sites

ABOUT 7,000 people gathered at the Rizal Park in this city to convince President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to change his mind on designating two military camps in Cagayan province as Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites.

"We are asking for a miracle that the President will change his mind about EDCA," Tuao, Cagayan Mayor William Mamba told the participants of the prayer rally.

Clarita Lunas, retired regional supervisor from the Department of Education and a provincial consultant on education, said the concept of the prayer rally started after The Naval Base Camilo Osias in Santa Ana and the Lal-lo Airport have been selected as locations where the U.S. military can stock weapons and equipment under the EDCA.

Seven other sites have been named in other parts of the country.

Lunas, one of the convenors of the prayer rally, told The Manila Times "the only weapon we have, during our meeting [with other convenors] is prayer."

Lunas said the EDCA sites are "clear areas where American forces will launch their impending war because of China's plan to recover Taiwan.

She said it is a conflict "that Cagayan has nothing to do with."

"Because of this, many lives will surely be lost and properties damaged," Lunas said.

She made it clear that Cagayan is not against President Marcos, "neither are we against the national policy."

"What we are fighting is the establishment of two EDCA sites in our province," she said. "It is the duty of our leaders to protect the Cagayan people from the hardship and suffering brought about by a potential war between

the U.S.-China over the Taiwan issue."

In his speech during the rally, Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba said that for him, "EDCA is simply war."

"Additional EDCA sites are an obstacle to the economic development of Cagayan. Foreign investors from China, South Korea, Japan and even Taiwan will be afraid of Cagayan because of the fear that Cagayan will become a stronghold in America's war," said Mamba.

He said the presence of the EDCA sites will be an obstacle to the realization of the Cagayan Development Agenda 2025 and the Cagayan International Gateway Project (CIGP) which aims to open the international airport in Piat, Cagayan, and the international seaport in Aparri.

"A peaceful and productive relationship with our Asian neighbors will bring prosperity to Cagayan. We want Cagayan to be the center of agro-industrial hubs in the international port, and not the center of foreign military bases whose clear objective is to enable war between America and

Immigration bureau: New trafficking scheme uses pilgrimage as cover

MANILA — A new trafficking scheme targeting Filipinos who want to work abroad as household workers has them trying to leave the country by claiming to be religious pilgrims.

This is the new scheme that the Bureau of Immigration uncovered after officers of their travel control and enforcement unit intercepted two women trying to fly out to Doha in Qatar.

In a statement on Monday, April 17, BI said the two trafficking victims, aged 36 and 37 years old, claimed to be Muslim pilgrims. They said they planned to travel by bus to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to participate in Umrah — a non-obligatory but important pilgrimage for Muslims.

They had also said that they recently converted to Islam and they planned to stay in Saudi for seven days.

"However, the officers noted numerous inconsistencies in their statements," BI said.

The two later on admitted that their documents were fabricated and that a woman recruited them,

Solons say divorce bill will help abused spouses start anew

MANILA – The Senate needs to pick up speed on the divorce bill for the sake of spouses who are victim-survivors of domestic abuse and after the House of Representatives already approved the measure “in principle.”

The Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, chaired by Senator Risa Hontiveros, conducted a hearing on Tuesday, April 18 on various bills about the dissolution of marriage. She particularly cited women who need legal recourse to get out of their marriage.

bill," Hontiveros said in her opening statement.

“Once you've realized you've made a mistake, the way out shouldn't be traumatizing to the average married Filipino -financially, psychologically, and socially. We all deserve a second chance at love and in life.”

The 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey by the Philippine Statistics Authority showed one in four married women aged 15 years to 49 years experienced spousal violence, whether physical, sexual, or emotional.

“The Senate must do the same. Past surveys have demonstrated that the majority of Filipinos favor divorce to be instituted in the country. We better listen to our people," Hontiveros said.

Senators Raffy Tulfo also invited anti-divorce advocates to attend the next hearing.

In February, the House Committee on Population and Family Relations approved House Bill 1593 (Church Nullity Act of 2022) and endorsed it to a technical working group tasked with crafting a substitute measure.

China," he said.

Mamba said that the presence of foreign forces in the province puts Cagayan in a "risky situation" if war breaks out between America and China.

"If the EDCA sites are meant to protect our territory in the West Philippine Sea against China, these sites should be established near the West Philippine Sea and not in Cagayan, a province in the North that is very far from the said Philippine territory," the governor said.

"The only military forces we want and need in Cagayan are our own Armed Forces of the Philippines," he said.

Mamba said armed conflict as a means of settling disputes between nations is unacceptable.

"Our strength is to be a friend to everyone and not an enemy to anyone," he said. (ManilaTimes. net)

"Some Filipino women have almost been killed by their own husbands. But most of them cannot leave their marriages because of the prohibitive costs of filing for an annulment. Bigyan na natin ang ating mga kababaihan ng pagkakataong makalaya sa masalimuot at abusadong pagsasama. Bigyan natin sila ng oportunidad na mahalin at magmahal muli. Ipasa na ang (Let us give them a chance to be free from a complicated and abusive union. Let us give them an opportunity to love and be loved again. Let us pass the) divorce

"When a marriage becomes irreparable, it is incumbent upon the State to not only provide relief to spouses, but also protect children from the pain, anxiety, and trauma of witnessing regular marital clashes. Let us give Filipino families the chance to let go of toxic relationships," Hontiveros said.

The House, she said, has been making moves to help the country catch up with the rest of the world.

The Philippines and the Vatican City are the only two places in the world where divorce is not allowed.

PH not meddling in Taiwan...

PAGE 5

affairs,” Malaya said. He noted that Año even had a meeting with Huang last week to assure the Chinese government that the Marcos administration is for the peaceful resolution of the Taiwan issue and the continued stability of the region.

“The identified EDCA sites are

Philippine bases which we want to further develop based on the requirements for strategic basing and development of the AFP. These were not U.S.dictated but identified by our armed forces,” Malaya said.

“By developing our military and base infrastructure, we are pursuing our national interest

Albay 1st District Rep Edcel Lagman said the divorce bill would give spouses, especially wives, the option of getting out of an "irremediably broken marriage" and a chance to start over.

"While it is said that marriages are solemnized in heaven, the fact is some marriages plummet into hell because of human frailty and imperfections. The Divorce Act seeks to redeem couples, particularly the abused or abandoned wives, from infernal agony," Lagman said in a previous statement. (Leonel Abasola/PNA)

and actually contributing to regional peace and stability,” he said. Malaya also maintained that the country observes the One China policy and subscribes to the principle of the Association of Southeast Nations “of noninterference in approaching regional issues.” g

via Facebook, and processed their visas and tickets. The victims said they were instructed to pose as Muslims to depart the country.

The two have since been turned over to the Inter-Agency Council against Trafficking for further investigation and to initiate cases against their recruiter.

Trafficking schemes on the rise

In March, the immigration bureau said it had noted an increase in n the number of young professionals – even "those with good travel records, gainfully employed and are graduates of good schools" — being deceived by cryptocurrency scams abroad that advertise false promises of high salaries.

BI officers have since resorted to conducting lengthy interviews to screen passengers.

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco last week said that eliminating human trafficking and illegal recruitment will require a concerted effort from all government agencies. (Philstar.com)

First salvo Cagayanos let their sentiments out during a rally at Rizal Park in Tuguegarao City on Monday, April 17. ManilaTimes.net photo by Franco Jose Baroña

Friday, April 21,

7’s Football League to host international tournament in the Philippines

BY DONNABELLE GATDULA-AREVALO / AJPRESS

THE 7’s Football League (7s FL), headed by Filipino American football icon Anton del Rosario, is kicking off two major first-of-its kind seven-aside football tournaments.

Del Rosario, in an interview with the  Asian Journal, said the league will hold its first international tournament in the Philippines from April 21-23, 2023, with title sponsor BPI AIA Life Assurance Corp.

The BPI AIA Asia 7s Football Championship, which will determine the best in the continent in terms of seven-aside football, will feature teams from the Philippines, India, Brunei and Japan.

Gaining popularity as more sports enthusiasts around the world are getting hooked to it, the seven-a-side football is one of the mini variations of football.

From the usual 11-a-side, it is played among seven players in each team consisting of one goalkeeper and six outfield players. The pitch of seven-aside football ranges from 50-65 yards in length and 25-50 yards in width, respectively. Another first-ever event with a hefty prize pot, he said, is going to be held in the United States.

“We also have a competition in the U.S. We are already preparing for it. It’s a $1 million winner-takes-all tournament,” he said.

This seven-a-side football tournment will be held in North

Carolina on June 1-4, 2023.

Around 32 teams from all over the world are expected to join in this exciting tournament. There will be a $20,000 registration fee each team.

Del Rosario is thrilled as this is going to be an event where a “very interesting community of football players getting together.”

“Our team will be consisting of captains and old national team players of countries across Southeast Asia. It will be composed of Filipinos and other Asian ethnicities, primarily Southeast Asian. Specifically, we will have three Filipinos, two Indonesians, one from Guam and another from Thailand,” he said.

Some of the teams that will be participating are top class, del Rosario said. One of which is owned by actor Ryan Reynolds. His team Wrexham, which has grown extremely popular from the Hulu documentary, “Welcome to Wrexham,” will be fielding their top team.

Eva Longoria will also be sending her team from Mexico’s top league, Necaxa.

We can also expect legends of the U.S. Men’s National Team and Legends of the U.S. Women’s National Team to participate.

“For this tournament, we are putting together a team of international players from across Southeast Asia to compete and win $1 million,

and to extend seven-a-side football across Asia. That’s our story and that’s our goal,” del Rosario said.

He is optimistic that this tournament will also gain a lot of support from sports and football enthusiasts as the players who would be participating are quite popular and have a lot of online followers in social media.

“All of these players are quite influential,” he said.

“Our player from Indonesia has 1.5 million followers. Our teammate from Thailand has 1.3 million followers. Our teammate from Philippines has 150,000 followers. Our teammate from Malaysia has 350,000 followers. So we are putting together a very special team with influential people from across Asia,” he said.

The tournament in the Philippines, on the other hand, will be a different set-up as participating teams will be representing their respective countries, he said.

“The teams competing in the Philippines are representing the countries itself. The one competing here in the U.S. will be representing all of Asia,” the football icon said.

He said they are planning to tap other Asian countries, not only Southeast Asia like Vietnam and Korea, to join this first-of-its-kind seven-a-side football tournament.

U.S.-based social impact and change-driven entrepreneur

Dion Ugbebor, who is a coowner and partner in 7’s FL, will also be helping in providing a positive platform for the youth to play and champion their love for football, and that love for sports can help them empower their way into the future: healthy, ambitious but joyful, positive risk takers. The 7’s football tournament in the Philippines will also be supported by Esdiac Calling App, TapGo, Ovation Productions and the City of BGC (Bonifacio Global City).  Esdiac will be providing free calling minutes to all international partners; TapGo will be in-charge of the streaming platform; Ovation Productions will be handling the festivities/concert; and the

City of BGC will serve as the host city/venue of the event.

Del Rosario said they have also coordinated with the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) as many foreign visitors will be flying in to the country to participate and/or watch the tournament.

According to del Rosario, these kinds of events may be used by the Philippines and the DOT as a possible avenue to promote the country’s sports tourism.

“We are already in talks with the DOT to be able to support the event and be a partner. They gave us their 100% support in this endeavor. We cannot discount the possibility of this, being the start of promoting the Philippines’ sports tourism

industry,” he said. For the upcoming Philippine competition, del Rosario, who is now based in Los Angeles, is encouraging Fil-Ams who are passionate in the game of football to visit their home country.

He reiterated that if given the right support, the future of the seven-a-side football is bright for all Filipinos wherever they are.  “I want the seven-a-side football to be started in the Philippines. I want it to be the origin country, the place where it took place. Later on, in the history books, sevenaside football, once it becomes a sport, I want the Philippines to be on that article,” he stressed.

Anji reinvents herself

by BOT GLORIOSO Philstar.com

ANJI Salvacion is saying goodbye to her sweet, bubbly image for a more sophisticated and alluring look that complemented the sound and feel of her new single titled “Paraiso.”

“This track will pave the way for new Anji — alluring, jaunty, immaculate,” enthused the Pinoy Big Brother Kumunity Season 10 grand winner who has become visible on screen as a singer, actress and host.

“I like to explore and experiment with different sounds. So, I believe that “Paraiso” is the perfect song to introduce the new me,” she added.

Released under Tarsier Records, “Paraiso” sees Anji creating a sound different from the ballads in her debut EP Kasingkasing Dalampasigan released last year. She is toning down the sound of heartbreak and turning up the volume of happiness and fun.

“I always sing heartbreaking songs. Everybody knows how I love to sing songs that break me. But now, I love to sing songs that really inspire me — my roots, everything about me,” declared the 20-year-old Kapamilya talent.

Composed by U.S.-based Filipina Annie Lennox and produced by Exale, “Paraiso” can make any listener grooving to its upbeat sound. That’s why, Anji agreed that the song can be a summer anthem.

“When I first heard the song, I felt excited because it’s really empowering and I really love the lyrics of the song,” she offered. “The beat always reminds me of the beach every time I listen to it on my laptop, naka-save na kasi ito even before its release (last April 14).

“It just made me dance, but at the same time, it made me so nervous because I was thinking, ‘Oh my god, the lyrics are so beautiful, the beat — everything was so beautiful,’ and I don’t know if I’m gonna deliver this well or (if I’m) good enough.”

Thus, Anji was elated no end when everything just worked out beautifully. “While we were recording it, I felt like the song made me confident about myself. It made me love myself even more. I just hope everyone will resonate with me when they listen to the song. I want

everyone to love themselves even more,” she offered.

Anji admitted to having felt butterflies in her stomach during the first day of the recording sessions with Annie and Exale.

“I was really nervous because it’s my first time working with different people. I used to only work with Sir Rox (Rox Santos, ABS-CBN Music head) and Sir Jo (Jonathan Manalo, ABS-CBN Music creative director). But I was so happy that everybody in Tarsier was so chill and so welcoming, especially Miss Annie, so I felt comfortable right away.”

Asked what she considers as her concept of paradise, Anji replied without batting an eyelash, “Of course, my home(town) Siargao. It has always been a paradise for me and growing up in such a beautiful place with beautiful memories, it’s amazing. I would always

choose Siargao and go back to Siargao.”

To recall, Anji was introduced as the Singing Sweetheart of Siargao when she entered PBB house as one of the housemates last year. She couldn’t help but recall her journey after her stint in PBB.

“Unti-unting na nga siyang natupad (pangarap). First, I was able to release my song Dalampasigan, then I felt so blessed when they offered me to do a concert — digital concert. I was so grateful for that.

“This time, my wish to be in a teleserye is also coming true.

To be an actress, to be given a chance, the opportunity to act with great, great people, great actors, great talents.”

Anji is also hoping to get international attention through “Paraiso”, “and this is the first step in realizing that dream with Tarsier releasing the song internationally.”

Kapamilya talent Anji Salvacion says her new single, Paraiso, will pave the way for her new image. The single, released under Tarsier Records, is now available in various music streaming platforms.

Photo from Instagram/@_anjisalvacion

The BPI AIA Asia 7s Football Championship will be held on April 21-23, 2023 in Manila and will feature teams from the Philippines, India, Brunei and Japan. Photo courtesy of the 7’s

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. In one instance, he tried to file

as a minor child of an immigrant (F2A), even though he was already an adult. His application was 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.

Finally, when Kristan received a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID), he finally retained the services

SALEM, OR – Philippine

Consul General in San Francisco

Neil Frank Ferrer paid a courtesy call on Oregon Governor

Tina Kotek at the Governor’s Ceremonial Office in the State Library on March 27, 2023.

ConGen Ferrer extended his congratulations to Governor Kotek on her successful election as Governor in November 2022.

The Governor warmly welcomed the Consul General to Oregon.

Ferrer and Kotek explored possible areas of cooperation between Oregon and the Philippines, particularly in expanding trade, investment, and people-to-people ties.

The two sides also discussed the contributions of the Filipino Americans in the state, and discussed ways on how to assist small businesses. Additionally, the two officials discussed challenges faced by the Filipino American community in Oregon

and possible ways to address these. Governor Kotek is the 39th Governor of the State

of Oregon. She was the longest serving speaker in Oregon’s history before running for Governor. (PCGSF Release)

FOR Enchong Dee, getting nominated as best actor for his performance in the 1st Summer Metro Manila Film Festival entry, “Here Comes the Groom,” was “a big step forward for my career and my body of work, as well.”

Chris Martinez’s comedy, reportedly the top-grosser during the first days of the festival’s two-week run, was declared second best picture at the Gabi ng Parangal

"I am filled with gratitude and happiness,” said Enchong as a reaction to the film’s box-office and critical acclaim.

“I also felt starstruck knowing that Ms Dolly [de Leon] is jury chair. To be nominated as best actor for a project that is meant to promote an ensemble cast

is already something else,” Enchong told reporters shortly before the awards ceremony held at New Frontier Theater in Quezon City.

Blessing Enchong said the offer to play Junior, a guy whose soul

gets magically swapped with that of a transgender woman’s a day before his wedding, was something he couldn’t say “no” to.

“I have always had a very good relationship with Atty. Joji (Alonso, producer). She presented the movie in such a way that I couldn’t resist. Also, its prequel, ‘Here Comes the Bride,’ opened so many doors for my friend Angelica (Panganiban). I want to be able to partake in that success. I consider this project a blessing,” Enchong said. The actor pointed out that was only one of several offbeat roles he’d be seen portraying this year. “Nakakasa na sila I’m excited for you to see them. The next one, which I’m still not allowed to reveal, is going to be shown in an international festival next month,” he said.

Honorary Consul to Oregon Enrico Tadeo and Janice Mason, president of Philippine American Chamber of Commerce in Oregon. San Francisco PCG photos

IN 2005, a 128-page report from the World Health Organization in Geneva stated that “nearly 400 million people will die from heart diseases, diabetes and other chronic ailments over the next 10 years, but many of those deaths can be prevented by healthier lifestyles and inexpensive medications.” Of the 40 million deaths per year in the world, 28 million would be in developing countries.

WHO director-general Lee Jong Wook commented that “the lives of too many people in the world are being blighted and cut short by chronic diseases. He cited the latest WHO report “to draw attention to the increasing threat from diseases that can be prevented in part by healthier diets and giving up smoking,” writes the Associated Press.

This recent report also was the first “to quantify the economic burden of treating such conditions in individual countries.” China, for instance, will be spending $588 billion in the next ten years, Russia, $303 billion, and India $236 billion, in managing heart disease, diabetes and strokes.

The co-author of the study, Robert Beaglehole, lamented that this epidemic is preventable because “we know what to do, how to do it, and preventions are very cheap,” and yet people die unnecessarily.

The WHO report highlighted the fact that heart-diseasesrelated mortality is down 70 percent in the United States, England, Australia and Canada in the last 30 years because of effective national prevention policies and campaigns in these industrialized nations that cut the death rates significantly.

Citing Poland’s statistics which showed reduced death rates among young adults by 10 percent in 1990, “in part by making fruits and vegetables more available, and removing subsidies on dairy products, like butter.”

Philippine statistics

The table in this column of the Leading Causes of Mortality (Number and Rate per 100,000 Population) in the Philippines will show we are part of this pandemic of preventable deaths

(see table). A major part of our unhealthy lifestyle as a people is our diet of high-saturated fat, high-cholesterol (red meats, processed delis, lard, dairy products), high-carbohydrate, low-fiber foods, and our sedentary life. Filipinos, in general, especially those who can afford, do not seem to care for vegetables, fruits, nuts and grains. It must be our culture. We train our infants and our young children to eat red meats and other high fat foods, believing these proteins are “good for their young body,” so when they grow up, they continue with the same unhealthy “habit” and remain “hooked” to red meats, eggs and other high cholesterol food items.

The fastfood chains all around us make matters even worse. Somehow, as parents, we have neglected to put more emphasis on fish, which is actually the superior source of protein, plus the added bonus of an ingredient in fish, Omega-3 fatty acids, the oil that protects the heart, besides the brain. And many of us do not seem to accept the fact that smoking maims and kills, alcohol damages our liver and brain, and that daily physical exercise, besides the low-fat, lowcholesterol, low-carbohydrate and high-fiber diet, is vital for a healthy lifestyle, to maintain good health and well-being.

In the name of love

Some of us may be shortening the life of our children without realizing it, unintentionally, unwittingly, all in the name of love, but nonetheless

devastating to them when they reach middle age and beyond. Allowing them to live an unhealthy lifestyle, to be hooked on cigarettes, alcohol, soft drinks (which are poison), is loving our children to death.

“Love not our children to death” is the message in my coffee-table book on disease prevention published in the United States and in the Philippines, entitled “Let’s Stop ‘Killing’ Our Children,” which could be previewed on www. philipSchua.com.

Alarming statistics

Obesity in children has doubled the past couple of decades, and tripled the past 30 years. If the trend is allowed to continue through our parental neglect, inaction, or indifference, it is conceivable that obesity will quadruple in another ten years. And since obesity increases the risk for diseases like hypertension, diabetes and other metabolic illnesses, heart attack, stroke, and cancer, longevity would obviously suffer. All the gains mankind has achieved the past six decades through the advances in medical science and technology – preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic –could simply go to waste for this segment of the world population if wisdom does not prevail.

Today, among the affluent people around the world, including those in developing nations, obesity afflicts about 20 percent of children ages 6 to 11, and more alarmingly, about 10 percent of those ages 2 to 5 are obese. Among those between

Godofredo Ng, 85

GODOFREDO T. Ng, MD, FACS, a popular general surgeon, medical leader and missionary to the Philippines who has resided in Raleigh, North Carolina since 1967 died from a ruptured cerebral aneurysm on April 17, 2023. He was 85.

Dr. Ng was a 1962 medical graduate of the University of the Philippines and came to the United States soon after graduation with his wife Anita S. Chua, BS Zoology (UP), MS Cell Biology (De Paul University), and Advanced Doctoral (University of Delaware).

Dr. Ng was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the Society of Philippine Surgeons in America (SPSA), of

which he was one of the founders. He was an active medical and socio-civic leader in Raleigh. He was past president of the

Philippine-American Association of North Carolina and the Surgical Coordinator Carolina Medical Mission, doing countless annual medical missions in the Philippines since 1995.

Dr. Ng is the brother-in-law of Asian Journal weekly health columnist Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a past president of the SPSA.

This humanitarian Fil-AM surgeon is survived by his wife, Anita, and children, Peter Ng, MD, FACS (who took over his father’s multiple-surgeon practice group); Cheryl Ng O’Malley, a lawyer; David, MBA; Cindy, MSW; and Joseph, BS broadcasting; and 8 grandchildren.

MAYBE you’ve heard about someone who invested $1,000 in crypto and is now a millionaire. Or maybe you’re regretting not taking that chance to make some extra income. So, when someone offers you a can’t-miss investment opportunity, your first reaction might be to jump on it. But how do you tell the difference between a legitimate investment — and a scam? Investment scams are huge right now — with 2022 reported losses of $3.8 billion dollars — which is more than people lost to any other scam, and more than double the loss reported in 2021. (Thanks, crypto.) Investment scams often create the impression that you can "make lots of money" with "little to no risk." They often start on social media, online dating apps, or from an

unexpected text, email, or call.

To steer clear of investment scams, here are some things to know.

Don’t accept any unsolicited offers. If you get an out-ofthe-blue call, text, or e-mail about “an amazing investment opportunity,” it’s a scam. Hang up. Delete. Walk away. Especially if they want you to take money out of your 401(k) to invest. Reject the high-pressure pitch. Scammers try to plant an image in your head of what life will be like when you’re rich. Don’t believe it. They’ll say “this is a once-in-a-lifetime offer — and it will be gone tomorrow.” But legitimate investments let you take the time you need to investigate before spending any money.

Do your own research. Don’t

make any investment until you’ve checked it out. Research the investment and the person offering it. Search online for the name of the company plus “review,” “complaint,” or “scam.”

Don’t believe promises that you’ll make money or earn guaranteed returns. No one can guarantee you’ll make lots of money with little to no risk — anyone who does is a scammer.

Check out #FTCTopFrauds at the Federal Trade Commission website (https:// consumer.ftc.gov/system/files/ consumer_ftc_gov/images/ top_5_scams_blog_series_ topic_4_1200x630_en-04.jpg) to see more about top scams. Spotted a scam? Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

(Jim Kreidler/Consumer Education Specialist, FTC)

submitted online at: www.LaSalleSF.com during the open application period. Paper applications will also be made available for pick in person at the LaSalle Apartments Leasing Office located at: 30 Whitfield Court #1, San Francisco CA, 94124. Applicants with mobile restrictions can pick up the applications from the Bayview Apartments located at 5 Commer Court, San Francisco, CA. 94124 or Shoreview Apartments located at 35 Lillian Court, San Francisco CA 94124.

Completed paper applications must be returned by mail to: La Salle Apartments Leasing Office, 30 Whitfield Court # 1 San Francisco, CA 94124. Mailed applications must be post marked by May 5th, 2023 at 5 p.m. to be included in the application lottery. Applications received after this date and time will not be accepted.

Application information and our resident selection criteria is available at www. LaSalleSF.com or may be viewed at the address above. You may begin submitting applications starting April 21st, 2023 at 3pm (pst). The open application period will end on May 5th, 2023 at 5pm (pst). Please contact Related Management for building info at (415) 647‐0607 TTY 711 or email us at LaSalleApts@related.com

If you need help filling out an online application, you can contact a rental housing counselor. A list of names and contact numbers can be found at this link: https:// housing.sfgov.org/housing‐counselors.

We have language assistance available in other languages. Tenemos disponible asistencia en otros idiomas.

415‐647‐ 0607. Applicants may request a reasonable accommodation if one is needed to assist in completing an application by calling 415‐647‐0607 TTY 711 or by emailing LaSalleApts@related.com

PH consulate in SF visits Spokane Valley, WA for first-ever consular outreach in the inland northwest

SPOKANE VALLEY, WA – The

Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco held its second consular outreach for the year at Mirabeau Park Hotel in Spokane Valley, Washington on March 26-28, 2023.

Passport, dual citizenship, and overseas voting (OV) registration services were offered during the Consulate’s first-ever consular outreach held in the Inland Northwest Region, which covers Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho.

Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Ferrer said that the consular outreach in Spokane Valley is “in line with the Consulate’s continuing commitment to provide timely consular services to fellow Filipinos in the U.S. Pacific Northwest.”

A nine-person team traveled by land from San Francisco to Spokane Valley — providing a total of 790 consular services to Filipinos in Washington State, as well as the neighboring states of Idaho, Montana and Oregon.

The Consulate partnered with the Filipino American Northwest Association (FANA) and the Filipino American Association of the Inland Empire (FAAIE), for the conduct of the three-day consular outreach.

On March 25, a welcome dinner was held for the consular outreach mission at the FANA office. During the reception, Vice Consul Adrian Baccay presented a certificate of appreciation to Spokane Valley City Mayor Pam Haley, in recognition of the Spokane Valley government’s support for the consular outreach.

On March 27, the consular

outreach mission visited the newly opened FAAIE office in Spokane, Washington.

The next consular outreach in Washington State is tentatively scheduled in the Seattle Metropolitan Area in July 2023. The indicative schedule of the other consular outreach missions for 2023 is available on the Consulate’s official website: https:// pcgsanfrancisco.org/consularoutreach-missions/. (PCGSF Release)

Success story reveals the...

PAGE 9

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

PAGE 10

seasoned attorney. Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy”

Avoid dying early!

ages 12 and 19, 18 percent are also obese.

Benefits of exercise

The amazing benefits of regular physical exercise, even brisk or moderate walking (not jogging, which injures the joints in our hip, knees, and ankles), protect not only our cardiovascular system but also our brain (lowering the risk for Alzheimer’s). It also reduces our risk for cancer. The most fit animals in the wild are the ones who are physically most active. Those who are caged or who are in captivity are the ones prone to develop diseases like ours.

The Philippines is obviously not immune from these preventable deaths reported by the World Health Organization. It behooves our national, provincial and city governments to implement policies that will help cut down these deaths. It’s time we adopted one.

Equally essential, if not more, is for each and everyone of us to make that wise decision, the choice to live a healthier lifestyle.

* * *

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 main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health.

* * * Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He was a recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry Truman, President George HW Bush, Muhammad Ali, and Astronaut Gus Grissom (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.

Kristan (left) learned his lesson and retained the services of Atty. Gurfinkel (right) who was able to get his green card in record time.

The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco provided passport, dual citizenship, and overseas voting registration services during the consular outreach held at Mirabeau Park Hotel in Spokane Valley, Washington on March 26-28.

The Filipino American Community in the Inland Northwest gathered for a welcome dinner for the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco’s consular outreach mission, at the office of the Filipino American Northwest Association (FANA) in Spokane Valley, Washington on March 25. Seated alongside Vice Consul Adrian Baccay are Spokane Valley Mayor Pam Haley, and Spokane Valley Councilmember Tim Hattenburg. Johnny Stenberg photo

Vice Consul Adrian Baccay presents a certificate of appreciation from the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco to Spokane Valley Mayor Pam Haley, during a reception at the Filipino American Northwest Association (FANA) office in Spokane Valley, Washington. Also in the photo is Spokane Valley Councilmember Tim Hattenburg. San Francisco PCG photos

The consular outreach mission of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco visits the newly opened office of the Filipino American Association of the Inland Empire (FAAIE) in Spokane, Washington on March 27.