050622 - Northern California Edition

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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Volume 21 - No. 18 • 14 Pages

T HE F ILIPINO A MERICAN C OMMUNITY N EWSPAPER

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FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

New call center launched to answer COVID-19 questions from Fil-Am community’s most vulnerable members LOS ANGELES — In an expansion of its COVID-19 resources, the Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO), through its Tayo project, announces the launch of a call center to assist community members with their pressing pandemic-related questions.

Beginning as a virtual help desk in the fall of 2020, Tayo has since continuously diversified its culturally tailored offerings to connect Filipinos with vital information and services, battle misinformation, and improve the collection of data through initiatives like educational webinars, surveys, public service announcement campaigns, and health clinics.

On May 4, 2022, Tayo will bolster its help desk capabilities by piloting a dedicated hotline to address the needs of Filipinos in the diaspora who may not have adequate access to trustworthy and reliable COVID-related information online.

“Creating this call center is a natural

MAY 6-12, 2022

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

Fil-Am group launches ‘troll exposer’ website to combat disinformation ahead of May 9 polls MANILA — With the May 9 polls drawing closer, a group of dual citizens of the Philippines and the United States has launched a website “exposing trolls” at the forefront of widespread disinformation heavily influencing the elections.

In a statement sent to reporters, the U.S. Filipinos for Good Governance on Monday, May 2 launched TrollExposer.com, a website dedicated to exposing troll pages, accounts, and groups on Facebook.

Through its website, the group said that it “exposed” a hundred Marcos trolls, who have coordinated with each other through fake accounts, to spread fake news in sustained malicious attacks against the leading opposition presidential candidate, incumbent Vice President Leni Robredo.

“Our country has become extremely polarized through vigorous troll activity... We hope it is not too late to detoxify the minds and hearts of our

LOS ANGELES — XPO Logistics Inc., one of the biggest truck companies in the United States, has agreed to pay $20 million to 561 drivers misclassified as independent contractors in a major class action suit handled by a group of lawyers, led by Filipino-American attorney C. Joe Sayas Jr. XPO additionally paid $1.56M to cover taxes, resulting in a total company payout of $21.56 M. Under the terms of the settlement agreement reached at the 11th hour before jury trial., the drivers were paid an average share of nearly $27,000, with the highest individual share estimated at $69,000.

The settlement, one of the highest perworker settlement average involving misclassification of employees as independent contractors, was featured as the Top Verdict in the Daily Journal, California’s premier newspaper source of the legal community XPO Logistics Inc, is a major trucking firm that transports containers to and from shipping and railway terminals in North America. XPO

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Publishing survey results close to polls not prohibited – Comelec

by EVELYN

MACAIRAN Philstar.com

VCM TESTING, SEALING. Rhea Cayabyab-Fortich (2nd from left), member of the Electoral Board (EB), conducts final testing and sealing of vote counting machines (VCMs) to be used for the May 9 elections while members of Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting and poll watchers witness the event at Dr. Jose P. Rizal Elementary School in Barangay Sto. Cristo, Dasmarinas City on Wednesday, May 4.

During the testing, 10 ballots will be manually verified and the results will be compared with the result from the machine to ensure their accuracy.

PNA photo by Gil Calinga

MANILA — Survey firms are not prohibited from publishing survey results close to election day, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Tuesday, May 3.

This was the reply of Comelec spokesman James Jimenez when asked on Twitter if the publication of Pulse Asia’s survey less than 15 days before the election

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California opens Medi-Cal to older unauthorized immigrants Starting May 1, expansion covers low-income unauthorized immigrants over 49

ON Sunday, May 1, California opened Medi-Cal to older immigrants residing in the state without legal permission.

Unauthorized immigrants over age 49 who fall below certain income thresholds are eligible for full coverage by Medi-Cal, California’s version of Medicaid, the federalstate partnership that provides health insurance to low-income people.

Unauthorized immigrants of all ages account for 40% of the state’s approximately 3.2 million uninsured residents. Official

estimates put the number of newly eligible people as high as 235,000. Those who sign up will join more than 220,000 unauthorized immigrants ages 25 and under already enrolled in Medi-Cal. And if Gov. Gavin Newsom gets his way, which seems entirely plausible considering Presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos the state’s rosy financial outlook, California could allow all remaining low-income unauthorized immigrants — an estimated 700,000 people — to join Medi-Cal by 2024, or sooner.

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Locsin to represent PH at US-Asean summit MANILA – Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. will represent Manila in a leaders’ summit between the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) next week, Philippine Ambassador to U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez confirmed.

The envoy said the top diplomat would attend on behalf of President Rodrigo Duterte, who opted not to attend as the summit falls on a date when the country would have already named its president-elect.

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Composite campaign photo of top five presidential candidates for the May 2022 elections.

Philstar.com photos

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Fil-Am attorney leads class action team, gets $21.56M payout to drivers

people,” said Eric Lachica, USFGG Washington DC Coordinator.

“Trolls have found fertile ground in weakly regulated social media to saturate the public with disinformation.

These lies have been allowed to spread through Facebook for years. Having the presidency decided based on lies that re-write history and hide the fact that much of this troll activity is state-sponsored would

“It is unfortunate that the summit is scheduled for May 12 shortly after our elections, that is why I totally understand why President Duterte cannot attend it. As the President pointed out, we will definitely have a president-elect by then, so he was being prudent, opting not to attend out of delicadeza, and avoid making decisions or commitments at the summit that might not be aligned with the policies of our next president,” Romualdez wrote in a Labor Day column on Philstar.

“Secretary Teddy Locsin will

represent the President,” he added.

The envoy said Manila’s participation in this special summit is important because the discussions are expected to center on a wide range of areas of mutual interest and concern.

Among them are defense and security, future pandemic response, climate change, maritime cooperation, economic engagement, energy, digital technology and strengthening people-to-people ties, among others.

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Philstar.com photo

Iglesia ni Cristo endorses Marcos for president

MANILA — Leadership of the influential Iglesia ni Cristo has announced its decision to formally endorse the presidential candidacy of former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Their official announcement came Tuesday afternoon, May 3 over Net25, owned by Eagle Broadcasting Corp. whose primary stakeholders hold key positions within the powerful church group.

The religious group also announced its Senate slate, which includes: • Former PNP chief Guillermo Eleazar • Actor Robin Padilla • Former DPWH secretary Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. Inquirer.net file photo Mark Villar

• Former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano • Antique Rep. Loren Legarda • Former senator JV Ejercito • Sorsogon Gov. Chiz Escudero • Former senator and plunder convict Jinggoy Estrada • Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian • Sen. Joel Villanueva • Sen. Migz Zubiri The INC has an estimated 3 million members in the Philippines and in over 150 countries and territories overseas. It was founded

by Felix Manalo who served as the first Executive Minister of INC. The religious group has historically announced its choice of candidates to support

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MAY 6-12, 2022 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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Publishing survey results close to...

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is a violation of Republic Act (RA) 9006 or the Fair Election Act. “No. The provision being cited – Sec. 5.4 of RA 9006 – was struck down by the Supreme Court (SC) for being unconstitutional. SWS v. Comelec GR No. 147571 May 5, 2001,” Jimenez said referring to Social Weather Stations, one of the survey firms in the country.

Section 5.4 of RA 9006, which was declared unconstitutional by the SC, states that surveys affecting national candidates shall not be published 15 days before an election, and surveys affecting local candidates shall not be published seven days before an election.

Pulse Asia’s latest survey for the presidential, vice-presidential and senatorial candidates was made public last Monday.

The survey was conducted from April 16 to 21, involving 2,400 respondents nationwide.

In the latest survey, the tandem of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-

Carpio emerged at the top of the presidential and vice presidential race.

Meanwhile, senatorial aspirants who made it to the Magic 12 are broadcast journalist Raffy Tulfo, former senator Loren Legarda, actor Robin Padilla, Taguig City-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, Sorsogon Gov. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, former public works secretary Mark Villar, former senator JV Ejercito, former vice president Jejomar Binay, Sen. Risa Hontiveros and former senator Jinggoy Estrada.

In a related development, Pulse Asia president Ronald Holmes on Tuesday defended the sampling of respondents that his survey firm used for its preelection surveys.

Responding to concerns that there were under or oversampling of some respondents in some segments, Holmes explained the surveys are representative of the overall population of the country.

“Our sampling method secures

From the Front Page

that there is representation and that the total survey results would be the representative of the entire country,” he said in an interview with CNN Philippines.

“We’ve done the surveys and we feel that it is nationally representative,” he added.

Former National Statistical Coordination Board secretary general Romulo Virola had earlier noted that some segments – particularly the youth and those who reached college – were underrepresented in the surveys conducted by Pulse Asia.

Virola also cited the lack of respondents from classes A and B, which he said could have an impact on the survey results.

Holmes said he would verify if the supposed under or overrepresentation in some segments would have an impact on the overall results.

“Whether there’s an undersampling of age group, I need to check whether this is something within the margin of error for that particular segment,” he said. g

Fil-Am group launches ‘troll...

PAGE 1 be a tragedy.”

Why does this matter?

Academics have labeled the Philippines as the “patient zero” for digital disinformation, pointing to the disproportionate growth of disinformation operations in the Philippines in recent.

According to the preliminary findings of Tsek.ph, a factchecking initiative involving the academe and mainstream media, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the son of the late ousted dictator, has been the beneficiary of positive but misleading messaging on social media ahead of the 2022 elections.

On the other hand, Philstar. com’s own fact-checking initiative has observed that Robredo has been on the receiving end of false claims seeking to discredit her as a candidate.

The USFGG on Monday said that corrupt, powerful, and wealthy politicians have financed troll armies for this upcoming election, “frequently with the help of the Philippines government and foreign state sponsors, such as China.”

While the rampant disinformation clearly favors him, presidential aspirant and son of the former dictator, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. continues to deny he has trolls and has even challenged the public to find a single troll of his.

“Fact-checkers and efforts by social media platforms to limit disinformation have not been enough to stop it. Troll Exposer

is a new weapon in the arsenal against disinformation.” said Liz Derr, founder of Troll Exposer.

“Rather than focusing on content, Troll Exposer publicly exposes the social media accounts that are spreading this harmful disinformation so everyone can see who these liars are,” she said.

How does it work?

TrollExposer.com provides analysis of the troll networks and activities, and the direct links to the troll Facebook accounts so that the public can explore the pages of the trolls themselves.

“Now people don’t need to trust sources they might view as biased,” the group’s statement reads.

“People are desperate to understand what news can be trusted, who they can believe, and what can be done to save our democracies from further division.”

The group said this methodology allows readers to do their own research to discover the activities of the trolls, and find out if the content they view online is actually the result of a covert influence operation, rather than authentic narratives from real people.

Accountability from social media owners sought “If we can’t get social media platforms to enforce their own community standards, then we need to act ourselves. It is the right of every person to defend themselves from being manipulated by false information,” said Loida Lewis, US Filipinos for

Good Governance National Chair.

“The spread of harmful disinformation, manipulated narratives, and false propaganda needs to stop,” she said.

“We’re calling on Mark Zuckerberg and Meta/Facebook to immediately take down these fake posts and disable the trolls identified in TrollExposer.com to reduce the disinformation on his platform in the lead up to the May 9th election.”

Trolls weaponized to weaken democracies The false narratives and propaganda that get spread by trolls on social media allow dictators and kleptocrats to weaken democracies around the world, USFGG said Monday afternoon.

“We’ve seen how dangerous disinformation and conspiracies can be in the US. In the Philippines, the danger is great and the need for action is urgent,” the group said.

The group went as far as saying that the political environment resulting from the efforts of trolls opens the possibility of a repeat of the United States Capitol attack in the Philippines.

“The vitriol and divisiveness created by these trolls is making a January 6th-type event in the Philippines more and more probable, regardless of the outcome of the election. Meta/ Facebook must act immediately to help protect our democracy by removing the lies that have divided us.” (Franco Luna/ Philstar.com)

Iglesia ni Cristo endorses Marcos for...

PAGE 1 a few days before election day.

Its support for Marcos was long rumored among pundits but was only explicitly confirmed Tuesday.

To recall, Marcos’ proclamation rally in February was held at the Philippine Arena, which is legally owned by the religious group.

Marcos’ camp at the time denied that they obtained endorsement from INC. The religion is known for its practice of “bloc voting” during elections, where its members are encouraged to vote for whoever their leadership will support.

Other presidential bets,

including Manila City mayor and Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer Isko Moreno have expressed hope that they would get the religious group’s endorsement.

In a statement later Tuesday evening, Marcos said his camp was “very happy and wholeheartedly grateful” for the endorsement.

“We will strive that the trust granted by the Iglesia Ni Cristo fraternity will result in the true unity of Filipinos who love the Philippines and will undoubtedly face the challenges that will come together in preparing for a better tomorrow for our youth,”

he said.

Marcos Jr. is gunning for the country’s highest seat in the land, marking his family’s second attempt to return to Malacañang after the ouster of the clan patriarch.

The two-decade rule of the clan patriarch was marked by outright abuse of human rights and massive plunder of state coffers. Rights group Amnesty International estimated that 70,000 people were imprisoned, 34,000 were tortured and 3,240 were killed during Martial Law. (Kristine Joy Patag/Philstar. com)

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 6-12, 2022

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California opens Medi-Cal to older...

PAGE 1 As I have explained previously, Medi-Cal has some well-known problems. But it is still far better than no insurance at all. Read on to learn about the new benefits and how you can enroll if you are eligible.

Under current law, all unauthorized immigrants who meet the financial criteria can get limited Medi-Cal coverage, including emergency and pregnancy services and, in some cases, long-term care. But when they sign up for full MediCal, they get comprehensive coverage that includes primary care, prescription drugs, mental health care, dental and eye care, eyeglasses, and much more.

That’s no small thing for people who are getting gray.

“This is a key moment when you want to incorporate all these aging undocumented immigrants into the health care system,” says Arturo Vargas Bustamante, a professor of health policy and management at UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health. If you let their chronic conditions go unattended, he says, they’ll just end up in the emergency room and be more expensive to treat.

He calls it “a responsible way of investing.”

As Bustamante points out, it’s no longer the case that immigrants come to work temporarily in the United States and then return to their home countries. They are staying, raising families, and growing old in this country. And unauthorized immigrants play an important role in the labor force, paying an estimated $3.2 billion in state and local taxes a year in California and $11.7 billion nationally. Nobody benefits if they’re too sick to work.

While it will take time to roll out the new benefits, the task will be made easier by the fact that the vast majority of unauthorized immigrants who will become eligible for full coverage are already signed up for limited Medi-Cal benefits — so the state has contact information for them.

Those already in limited MediCal will be automatically upgraded to full-scope Medi-Cal. Assuming their contact details are current, they will receive packets in the mail explaining their expanded benefits and prompting them to choose a health plan and a primary care provider.

“We expect to see people who are already enrolled in restrictedscope Medi-Cal go into full-scope Medi-Cal right away,” says Ronald

Coleman, managing director of policy at the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, a nonprofit that promotes health access for communities of color. “The question is: Will they understand their benefits and know how to navigate the system?”

Those who are not signed up for restricted Medi-Cal may not be easily identified and, given cultural and language barriers, could be difficult to convince.

The Department of Health Care Services, which administers Medi-Cal, is working with county officials, consumer advocates, and the state health insurance exchange, Covered California, to reach eligible immigrants. It has published notices with frequently asked questions in multiple languages. And the agency has an “older adult expansion” page on its website, available in English and Spanish.

Advocates have also been gearing up. The California PanEthnic Health Network, for example, is sponsoring legislation, AB 2680, which would direct $30 million to community groups to conduct outreach and enrollment for people in underserved communities who are eligible for Medi-Cal. A similar program expires in June. Separately, the network is seeking an additional $15 million specifically for unauthorized adult immigrants, says Monika Lee, a spokesperson for the organization.

Even as advocates and health officials spread the word about the new eligibility rules, they expect to encounter deep distrust from immigrants who vividly remember the Trump administration’s public charge rule, which stoked fear that applying for public benefits might harm their immigration status or even lead to deportation.

With elections looming, many fear those days are not entirely in the past.

“What advocates are trying to do on the ground is explain what county offices do with their information. It’s not shared with immigration,” says Tiffany Huyenh-Cho, a senior attorney at Justice in Aging. “We’re really trying to allay some of those concerns people still have.”

Modesto resident Alina Arzola, a 64-year-old unauthorized immigrant who came from Guanajuato, Mexico, says she is not afraid of the immigration police. She is hesitant to sign up for Medi-Cal for a different reason: She fears the quality of the care is not very good.

Dateline USa

“Economically, perhaps it would help me,” she says. But she says she has not heard good things from her 87-year-old mother, who is a U.S. citizen and a MediCal enrollee. In December 2020, her mom had surgery scheduled to remove her cataracts. It was all confirmed, Arzola recalls, but when her mom arrived, the doctor wasn’t there. He never showed up.

Arzola, who has diabetes, gets primary care at St. Luke’s Family Practice, a clinic in Modesto that treats uninsured people at no charge. But the clinic is not allowed to provide free care to people who are able to obtain affordable insurance — and that means that sometime after May 1, Arzola will no longer be able to go to the clinic, which she deeply regrets.

So she will likely bite the bullet and sign up for Medi-Cal. “I’m sure it wouldn’t be convenient for me to be without medical care,” Arzola says, “so I don’t have any alternative.”

The Department of Health Care Services and other resources are available to help you or a loved one learn about the new MediCal benefits for older immigrants, including how to sign up and how to choose a health plan and provider.

The Health Consumer Alliance (8888043536 or www. healthconsumer.org) provides free consultations and has offices across the state. It also has a fact sheet — available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and multiple other languages — that explains the Medi-Cal expansion to older adults. It provides contact information for enrollment, whether through your county welfare office, Covered California, or your local community clinic.

The Latino Coalition for a Healthy California (916-4483234 or www.lchc.org) offers a toolkit and fact sheets in English and Spanish. The advocacy groups Health Access and the California Immigrant Policy Center have put out a joint FAQ in English and Spanish. (Bernard J. Wolfson/ Kaiser Health News) This story was produced by KHN (Kaiser Health News), a national newsroom that provides in-depth coverage of health issues and that is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KHN is the publisher of California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. g

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Locsin to represent PH at US-Asean...

PAGE 1 The special summit, hosted

by U.S. President Joe Biden, will run from May 12 and 13 in Washington, DC.

According to the State Department, the meeting would demonstrate the United States’ commitment to serving as a “strong, reliable partner” in

Southeast Asia and advancing an Indo-Pacific that is free and open, secure, connected, and resilient. (Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA)

New call center launched to answer COVID...

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extension of the work and mission of Tayo - to empower our community by meeting them where they are at and providing them with essential information,” said Leezel Tanglao, Tayo project director and president of FYLPRO. “It’s truly going full circle as we leverage our network and resources both here in the United States and in the Philippines to bridge the gap.”

More than ever a resource like this is needed to ensure accurate and culturally tailored information is available to all members of the Filipino community as the pandemic continues to evolve while official guidance can run counter or is often confusing.

FYLPRO was inspired to develop the call center after evaluating insights gleaned from users of Tayo’s web-based platform and determining that seniors in particular felt more comfortable talking to someone on the phone rather than searching through a website for information.

The call center operates from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time and is available in English and Tagalog.

Callers can call 1 (800) 8995090 to reach a representative who can address questions on where to get a booster shot or to find a COVID-19 test.

The call center pilot is made possible by a grant from the Booz Allen Foundation, which also funded the initial launch of the virtual help desk (tayohelp.com).

“We’re proud to have played a part in supporting FYLPRO’s work to use innovation and technology to make such a positive difference for the Filipino community,” said Christine Hoisington, Executive Director of the Booz Allen Foundation. “We’re impressed with their efforts and impact.”

The call center pilot will run for 3 months.

The call center launch team includes a diverse multidisciplinary team from across the United States: Tayo project director Leezel Tanglao, project

manager Brian Tajo, product counsel Mark Calaguas, medical advisor Dr. Melissa Palma, technologist and special project manager Jobel Vecino, fellowship director Krystle Canare, and risk mitigator/creative consultant TJ Simba-Medel.

Operations manager Joselito Alampayan and call representative Dhian Perez are based in the Philippines.

“The insights and learnings from this pilot will help inform how we better serve our community and as we continue to navigate life with COVID-19,” said Tanglao. “This is to ensure no one is left behind just because they don’t have access to technology.”

Tayo, a project of the Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO), is an innovative data hub that empowers Filipinx/a/o communities by collecting data, fostering partnerships, publishing culturally relevant insights, and developing leaders to create an equitable and sustainable future. g

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$10K reward offered in case of Fil-Am woman missing since January THE city of Oakley, California announced a $10,000 reward for information in the case of a missing 24-year-old Filipino American woman as the police chief, mayor and her parents appealed for the public’s help in finding her.

Alexis Gabe has been missing since Jan. 26. Her last known whereabouts were on Benttree Way in Antioch. Her family found her car with the keys in the ignition, abandoned on Trenton Street and Carrington Drive in Oakley.

A surveillance video was taken at the corner of Oakley Road and Beldin Lane, about five minutes from where Gabe’s abandoned car was later found.

It shows a person of interest in the case near Gabe’s car.

The video showed a man 5’11 to 6 feet tall, slim build, dark skin, wearing a large jacket, a beanie, or a cap, with his face covered by an N95-style face mask with a beard showing from underneath.

“It’s been three long, excruciating months since Alexis’s disappearance,” said Gwyn Gabe, Alexis’s father, who spoke out for the first time since the disappearance during a news conference Thursday.

“Since the day our daughter went missing, we’ve questioned our faith, have been completely

Alexis Gabe, 24, has been missing since Jan. 26. Oakley, California police suspect foul play.

Facebook photo

overwhelmed and filled with doubt.”

Oakley police investigators have held interviews and executed search warrants in hopes of finding Gabe. Community search parties have also looked for her. Police strongly suspect foul play.

Oakley Police Chief Paul Beard said the investigation is the biggest case in the history of the department. (Inquirer.net)

Starfleet Innotech cements US roadmap with series of investor meetings, strategic partnerships STARFLEET Innotech, Inc. (OTC Pink: SFIO) announced a series of strategic meetings to cement its expansion roadmap in the United States.

Over the next two months, representatives of the company will be traveling across the U.S. to meet with strategic partners, fund managers, institutional investors and family offices across Las Vegas, San Francisco, and New York.

Kicking off this leg of their global roadshow, Chief Investor Officer Richard De Lima and General Manager for Communications Santiago Arnaiz will be presenting SFIO at the upcoming Planet MicroCap Showcase. The conference will be taking place between May 3 to 5, 2022 in Las Vegas, bringing together promising companies and top dealmakers in microcap finance for three days of company presentations, one-on-one meetings, and educational panels.

Meanwhile, Chief Technology Officer Richard Prodigalidad is slated to meet with potential partners in Silicon Valley to

expand SFIO’s global network of innovators across tech.

Among these is a meeting between San Francisco-based health wearable developer NeuroSky and community health dashboard startup Project Fort.

Stemming from SFIO’s strategy of collaborative innovation, this partnership will see the two companies – both recent additions to the SFIO portfolio – kicking off a codevelopment roadmap for the digital health systems that will power SFIO’s wellness township projects in the Philippines, under the Moraya brand.

In addition to this partnership, Prodigalidad will be establishing pathways to connect the increasing demand for tech talent across Silicon Valley with highly-skilled developers and designers based in the Philippines – positioning SFIO as the central hub in a global innovation ecosystem.

Over the next two months, the company’s team will also be engaging in similar talks with New York-based partners towards the end goal of solidifying SFIO’s portfolio businesses, such as Epiphany Cafe, in the United States.

(Advertising Supplement)

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CA bill seeks to end 300-year-old foreclosure practice

by Peter

Schurmann Ethnic Media Services

A NEW bill set to be introduced next week in California’s legislature seeks to address a major yet overlooked cause of racial wealth disparities across the nation. If passed, it would amend California’s foreclosure process to ensure homeowners keep their equity.

According to housing rights experts, SB 1323’s passage could keep billions in California’s lowincome communities of color.

“What we see is an increase in black home ownership… and black neighborhoods are appreciating at the same rate as white neighborhoods,” says Sil Vossler, a consumer protection attorney who specializes in foreclosure cases and who authored the language in the bill.

“At the same time,” he adds, “there’s been a decrease in black wealth relative to white people. So, what we’re seeing is basically the disparity between black people and white people to realize their housing gains.”

A major reason for this, according to Vossler, has to do with the foreclosure process,

where distressed homes are put up for auction by lenders at below-market rates.

Between 2017 and 2020, there were 65,000 foreclosures in California, a majority of them impacting elderly homeowners and people of color, according to Francis Wong, a postdoctoral fellow with the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Together with researchers from UC Berkeley, Wong authored a recent study that found on average foreclosed properties sold at a 22 percent discount below their market value.

“Relative to white homeowners, the annual unlevered returns realized by black homeowners living in the same county are 3.7 percentage points lower, while those realized by Hispanic homeowners are 2.0 percentage points lower,” the study notes.

The result is an estimated net loss of roughly $115,000 per homeowner for each of the 65,000 foreclosed homes, or roughly $7.5 billion in lost accrued generational wealth, says Vossler. Nationally, the figure balloons to more than $67.7 billion.

“Communities are losing

so much wealth through this process that it is actually a driving cause of the racial wealth gap,” he notes.

And that gap could widen further as foreclosure rates begin to tick up nationally, with a sevenfold increase between December of 2020 and January of this year, and a 40 percent increase in the first quarter of this year compared to the previous quarter.

SB 1323 was introduced by Senator Bob Archuleta (D-Pico Rivera), whose office released a statement noting, “California’s foreclosure process obscures and legitimizes the large-scale extraction of billions of dollars of wealth from low-income communities.”

The “loss of even a single dollar of this equity,” the statement continued, “is irreplaceable, putting the consumer at increased risk of poverty and homelessness.” It called current foreclosure procedures “inhumane.”

Under existing law, lenders – eager to recoup their loans as quickly as possible – are not required to list repossessed homes on the market, instead u PAGE 7

HOLY DAY. Filipino-Muslims perform in unison a Salat al-Eid or Eid prayer near the Golden Mosque in Quiapo, Manila on Monday, May 2. The month-long Ramadan of fasting and praying ends Monday.

PNA photo by Avito Dalan

Fil-Am attorney leads class action team...

PAGE 1

regularly hires drivers to move cargo. The main plaintiff, Angel Omar Alvarez, and other drivers were required to sign a contract where they purportedly agreed to work as contractors.

However, despite being labeled as independent contractors, XPO required its drivers to undergo an employment application process.

XPO also controlled the days and hours worked, and imposed various policies that the drivers must adhere or face disciplinary action.

Alvarez and several other drivers filed a class action suit against XPO, arguing that the defendant’s policy of misclassifying its drivers as independent contractors violated California’s employment law.

They also contended that XPO’s deductions of fuel, insurance, and other business expenses from their wages violate the Labor Code. The drivers demanded reimbursement of the amounts deducted plus legal interest.

The class action suit was litigated for almost four years before the U.S. Central District Court. XPO sought to elevate the class certification issue with the U.S. Court of Appeals. However, Sayas and his team prevailed in maintaining the class action status of the case. XPO was represented by major defense firms, initially

by DLA Piper, and subsequently by the O’Melveny and Myers firm.

The drivers’ attorneys, with Sayas as lead class counsel, contended that the drivers were employees as their driving work was an integral part of XPO’s operations. They also argued that

XPO retains control over drivers’ wages, hours and working conditions, the manner and means of drivers’ work, including control over their trucks and other equipment used to handle cargo.

California adopted the ABC standard for properly classifying a worker as an independent contractor. The three criteria are: • The worker must be free from the control and direction of the company in how he does his work; • The worker is doing work that is outside the usual course of the company’s business; and • The worker must have his own business or established trade or occupation that he normally does which is the same type of work performed for the company.

Sayas argued that XPO could not establish under criteria B that the drivers are doing work outside of the company’s normal course of business. He said neither can XPO establish under criteria A that drivers are free of control and direction.

The defendants argued that the contract signed by the drivers allow them the freedom to run their own businesses, and that the evidence shown by the plaintiffs were only indicative of its efforts to comply with government regulations, and that none of these establish control.

The first mediation failed to reach an agreement. However, as the attorneys of both sides prepared for trial, both parties agreed to engage in a second mediation before retired federal magistrate, Judge Jay Gandhi, during which they agreed to a tentative settlement of all class

claims for $20 million, plus payment of taxes.

On Jan. 10, 2022, U.S. District Court Judge Klausner granted final approval of the settlement.

The court-appointed class administrator has commenced distribution of the funds this month.

“Misclassification of workers as independent contractors deny them those important legal protections such as the rights to be paid for each and very hours worked, overtime, and protection against unlawful wage deductions,” Sayas said.

“This is a fight that my firm has litigated in other cases for years now. Every class action victory not only results in beneficial impact to many employees. These cases provide notices to employers to conform their business practices with employment laws,” Sayas added.

In a prior case, Sayas won summary judgment in federal court against another company resulting in reclassification of workers as employees. In that case, he obtained a recovery of $11.04 M for the employees. With reclassification, the employees thereafter obtained and continued to obtain employment benefits, including health insurance, retirement, payment for all hours worked, and Workers Compensation coverage.

Sayas was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, a Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine for 10 years running, and is a past Presidential Awardee for Outstanding Filipino Overseas. (By Val Abelgas)

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

Dateline PhiliPPines

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 6-12, 2022

7

Leni Robredo’s people’s campaign would prevail on D-Day despite surveys, says spox

by Gabriel

PabiCo Inquirer.net

Manny Pacquiao, Philippine boxing legend and presidential candidate, speaks during a campaign stop ahead of the May 9 presidential election.

Philstar.com file photo

Pacquiao overtakes Isko in latest Pulse Asia survey

by Gaea

Katreena Philstar.com

CabiCo

MANILA — Sen. Manny Pacquiao placed third in the latest Pulse Asia survey released Monday, May 2, overtaking Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso.

In a survey published just one week before the May 9 polls, Pacquiao ranked third, with a voter support of 7%. The boxerturned-politician gained one point from his rating in March.

Moreno dropped to fourth place after suffering a four-point loss.

UP Political Science professor Jean Franco told Philstar.com that Pacquiao’s sincerity and consistency during the campaign could have contributed to this development.

"The presscon of Isko also turned people off," Franco added.

'Disastrous' Easter presser The survey period from April 16 to 21 covered the Easter Sunday press conference at the Peninsula Manila Hotel, where the Manila mayor called on Vice President Leni Robredo to withdraw her candidacy as he criticized attempts to get other aspirants quit the high-stakes presidential race.

Pacquiao was supposed to participate in the press conference also attended by Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and former Arroyo Cabinet member Norberto Gonzales, but he missed it due to flight delays.

Some volunteer groups that backed Domagoso recently

announced their support for Robredo.

Pacquiao’s latest numbers in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon and Visayas were unchanged, but he gained three points in Mindanao.

Domagoso dropped by two points in the capital region and in Balance Luzon, by five points in Visayas, and by six points in Mindanao.

Former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio remained the top pick for president and vice president of many Filipinos. Marcos maintained a voter support of 56%, while his rival Robredo dropped by one point to 23%.

Lacson still placed fifth with only voter support of 2%. g

Tulfo, Legarda share top spot in Pulse Asia survey for senator MANILA — Broadcast journalist Raffy Tulfo and Antique Rep. Loren Legarda shared the top spot in the senatorial race in the recent Pulse Asia survey.

The survey — conducted on April 16 to 21, while results were released Monday — showed that more than half of the probable winners in the May 9 polls are former or incumbent legislators.

“Currently sharing the top spot are Mr. Raffy Tulfo (50.4%) and Antique Representative Loren Legarda (49.4%), both of whom have a statistical ranking of 1st to 2nd places,” Pulse Asia said in a statement.

Actor Robin Padilla is in third to

fourth places with a 42.9-percent voter preference while Taguig City-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano’s 42.3-percent voter preference puts him in third to fifth places.

Former senator and incumbent Sorsogon Governor Francis Escudero received 38.6 percent which sets him to a ranking of fourth to eighth.

Reelectionists Sherwin Gatchalian and Juan Miguel Zubiri are settling in the fifth to ninth places, both having 37 percent.

Former Public Works and Highways chief Mark Villar got a voter preference of 35.9 percent, landing him in the fifth to 12th

places.

Backed by 34.3 percent of likely voters, former Senator JV Estrada Ejercito ranked sixth to 12th.

Former Vice President Jejomar Binay, reelectionist Risa Hontiveros, and former Senator Jinggoy Estrada all placed eighth to 12th.

Binay got 32.5 percent while Hontiveros and Estrada both received 32.3 percent.

Pulse Asia noted that 41 percent of the voters have a complete slate for the upcoming elections. It added that 2.8 percent did not support any of the 64 senatorial hopefuls. (Daniza Fernandez/ Inquirer.net)

PAMPUBLIKONG PAGDINIG NG LUNGSOD NG ALAMEDA TUNGKOL SA PLANONG AKSIYON NG CDBG SA FY 2022-23 Ang Lungsod ng Alameda (Lungsod) ay isang Lungsod ng Karapatan sa Programang Blokeng Gawad sa Pagpapaunlad ng Komunidad (Community Development Block Grant, CDBG) ng Kagawaran ng Pabahay at Pagpapaunlad ng Kalunsuran (Housing and Urban Development, HUD) ng U.S. Sa ika-7 ng Hunyo, 2022, susuriin ng Konseho ng Lungsod ang iminumungkahing Planong Aksiyon ng FY 2022-23. Ang Taunang Planong Aksiyon ng FY 2022-23 ay nagtatatag ng plano ng Lungsod para sa pagtugon sa Mga Pangangailangan ng Pabahay at Pagpapaunlad ng Komunidad kabilang ang paggamit ng mga pondo ng CDBG at Programa sa Mga Pakikipagsosyo sa HUD ng HUD (HOME). Ang mga ispesipikong layunin para sa darating na taon ay tutugunan sa Planong Aksiyon na sasaklaw sa panahon na ika-1 ng Hulyo, 2022 hanggang ika-30 ng Hunyo, 2023. Ang iminumungkahing Planong Aksiyon ng FY 2022-23 ay maglalaan ng humigit-kumulang sa $1,100,000 sa Mga Pondo ng Karapatan ng CDBG at tinatantiyang $72,000 na Kita ng Programa ng CDBG at humigit-kumulang $500,000 ng mga pondo ng HOME. MAKUKUHA PARA SA PAGSUSURI NG PUBLIKO Simula sa ika-5 ng Mayo, 2022, ang Planong Aksiyon ng FY 2022-23, kabilang ang mga detalye ng pagpopondo, sa website ng Lungsod ng Alameda sa www.alamedaca.gov.

lalu

MANILA — Even if there was little movement in Vice President Leni Robredo’s survey numbers as of April, her spokesperson said on Monday, May 2 that they are confident that the people’s campaign would emerge victorious come May 9, election day.

In a statement, Robredo’s spokesperson Barry Gutierrez said that despite her losing one percentage point in Pulse Asia’s latest polls, the numbers confirm Robredo’s upward trajectory — adding that the house-to-house campaign has shown how many people are now supporting the Vice President.

“The latest Pulse survey conducted last April further confirms Vice President Leni Robredo’s upward trajectory and momentum […] The remaining weeks of the campaign have seen intensified efforts at houseto-house, person to person

campaigning by thousands of volunteers, which we believe will translate to support on election day,” Gutierrez said.

“This has truly become a people’s campaign, a grassroots movement of Filipinos from all walks of life and from all over the Philippines. We put our trust that this people’s campaign will win the day on May 9,” he added.

Gutierrez claimed that the survey has not captured the 412,000-strong rally in Pasay City for Robredo’s 57th birthday last April 23 — as Pulse Asia conducted the study from April 16 to 21.

A lot of the country’s A-list celebrities showed up to endorse Robredo in the Pasay grand rally — among them Maricel Soriano, Vice Ganda, Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid, Janno Gibbs, Gary Valenciano, and John Arcilla all supporting Robredo.

“Her numbers remain encouraging, even if the survey does not yet capture the series

of massive rallies from mid April onwards, including the record breaking 400k+ Pasay Rally on April 23,” he added.

In April, Pulse Asia’s survey showed Robredo still being a far second to frontrunner and former senator Bongbong Marcos. Robredo’s voter share was at 23 percent, while Marcos kept his 56 percent share since last March.

This is not the first time that Robredo’s camp expressed confidence in their chances despite the huge gap between her and Marcos. Last March 14, when Pulse Asia data showed Robredo only having 15 percent of the votes, Gutierrez said that the survey did not capture the big rallies held by the opposition — including the PasigLaban sortie which drew over 137,000 attendees.

Then, when Robredo’s survey numbers increased, Gutierrez said that the surveys are starting to reflect the massive groundswell already. g

CA bill seeks to end 300-year-old foreclosure...

PAGE 6

putting the properties up for auction, where cash-rich investors purchase the homes for prices far below their market value. As lenders are only able to recover the remaining balance on the loan, bidding typically starts there, regardless of the actual value of the property.

The result often means catastrophic losses for homeowners who have in many cases spent years paying down their mortgages.

Vossler points to a recent client in San Francisco – an elderly immigrant mother on a fixed income with a dependent adult daughter – who purchased her home in 1994. After 24 years of making regular payments, the mother’s finances took a turn for the worse and she began to miss payments. The home was eventually repossessed and sold by the lender for just over $50,000, resulting in a loss of the mother’s home and some $750,000 in accrued equity.

“Every dollar an investor saves

in the purchase is a dollar lost by the homeowner,” says Vossler, adding that after the foreclosure crisis of 2010, “everyone focused on foreclosure prevention. No one looked at how harmful the actual foreclosure process is to the homeowner.”

SB 1323 is the first bill in more than 300 years — when the practice of selling foreclosed mortgages through auction was first established — that looks to amend the process.

If passed it would require lenders to post foreclosed homes on a multiple listing service (MLS), working with realtors to sell the secured property for its appraised value. This would open the sale of the home to anyone with access to financing, as opposed to auctions that are prone to fraud and tend to favor corporate investors with ready cash.

Anything over the value of the loan derived from the sale, meanwhile, would go to the homeowner, ensuring they retain their equity. The bill would also allow lenders to periodically

reduce the sale price for homes not sold and to eventually turn to auctions after six such price reductions.

The growing list of supporters for the bill includes: the National Consumer Law Center, California Elder Justice Coalition, Justice in Aging, Center for Responsible Lending, Housing and Economic Rights Advocates, California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform, and the Consumer Federation of California (CFC), which sponsored SB 1323 and describes the bill as a “market-based solution” to the issue of foreclosure-driven wealth depletion in vulnerable communities.

In a letter to the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, CFC Executive Director Robert Herrell said that the foreclosure process as it now exists “inhibits the social mobility of low-income families and serves to perpetuate the racial wealth gap in California.”

A hearing for the bill is scheduled for May 3 in Sacramento. g

o t k l a T ! c o D r u o y

PAGKAKATAON NA MARINIG Ang publiko ay hinihimok at iniimbitahan na lumahok sa Planong Aksiyon na proseso ng pagpopondo ng CDBG/HOME at upang magkomento sa pabahay at pagpapaunlad ng komunidad, nang pabigkas o nakasulat, sa mga sumusunod na nakatakdang Pampublikong Pagdinig: 6/7/2022

7:00 p.m. Pulong ng Konseho ng Lungsod: , Pampublikong pagdinig na nauukol sa FY 2022-23 na Iminumungkahing Planong Aksiyon para sa mga Pederal na pondo ng CDBG at HOME. Para mapanood ang pampublikong pagdinig, bisitahin ang website ng Lungsod ng Alameda sa: https://alameda.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

Puwedeng isumite ang mga komento tungkol sa iminumungkahing sa Plano ng Pagkilos kay Lisa Fitts sa (510) 747-6884, (510) 522-7538 (TYY), o clerk@alamedaca.gov (email). Pakibigay ang mga komento bago ang 4:00 p.m. sa Hunyo 7, 2022. Pakikinggan ng Konseho ng Lungsod ang mga komento at isasaalang-alang nito ang pagpapatibay sa sa Plano ng Pagkilos sa regular na pagpupulong nito nang 7:00 p.m. sa Hunyo 7, 2022. Hinihikayat ang publiko na dumalo at makilahok.

MGA TULONG PARA SA MGA TAONG MAY KAPANSANAN Kung ang sinumang taong interesado sa paglahok sa nabanggit na pederal na programa ay isang taong may kapansanan tulad ng tinutukoy sa Seksyon 504 ng Rehabilitation Act of 1974, at nangangailangan siya ng tulong para makalahok o makialam, puwedeng humiling para sa tulong kay Lisa Fitts sa (510) 747-6884, (510) 522-7538 (TYY), o sa pamamagitan ng email sa lfitts@ alamedaca.gov. Kasama dapat sa nasabing kahilingan ang paglalarawan ng hinihinging tulong, kasama ang paghahayag ng kapansanang dahilan ng pangangailangan ng tulong. Susuriin ang anumang kahilingan para sa tulong at may sagot na ibibigay sa loob ng limang araw ng negosyo mula sa pagtanggap ng nasabing kahilingan. Agad na ibibigay sa humiling ang abiso ng anumang ibibigay na tulong.

COVID-19 vaccines help PREVENT “long COVID.”

It’s okay to have questions about COVID-19 vaccines for kids.

Feel good about the facts.

COVID-19 vaccines LOWER the risk of heart inflammation.

MGA TULONG PARA SA MGA RESIDENTENG HINDI NAGSASALITA NG ENGLISH Ang Lungsod ng Alameda ay may network ng mga empleyadong nagsasalita ng 45 wika na puwedeng magsilbing tagapagsalin para sa mga residenteng nanghihingi ng impormasyon tungkol sa mga programa ng CDBG/HOME. Kung maaabisuhan nang maaga nang dalawang araw ng negosyo, maghahanda ang Lungsod ng tagapagsalin. Makipag-ugnayan kay Lisa Fitts sa (510) 747-6884, (510) 522-7538 (TYY), o sa pamamagitan ng email sa lfitts@alamedaca.gov.

COVID-19 vaccines DO NOT cause infertility in children.

PATAKARAN SA HINDI PANGDIDISKRIMINA Hindi nandidiskrimina ang Lungsod ng Alameda ng sinumang tao batay sa lahi, kulay, relihiyon, pinagmulang bansa, ancestry, biyolohikal na kasarian, kinikilalang kasarian, katauhang pangkasarian (gender identity), ikinikilos na kasarian (gender expression), sekswal na oryentasyon (sexual orientation), marital status, familial status, pinagmumulan ng kita, genetic na impormasyon, medikal na kundisyon, kapansanan sa pangangatawan o pag-iisip, o anupamang kategoryang pinoprotektahan ng batas.

VaccinateALL58.com

8

MAY 6-12, 2022 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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

Social problems FILIPINOS must be at least 21 years old to play in a casino. But there are no age restrictions for online gaming and the numerous numbers games such as jueteng and masiao that are illegal but continue to proliferate, because some of the biggest operators are local political kingpins.

So even adolescents, most of whom are familiar with gadgets, can gamble online, with cockfighting among the most popular. Online cockfighting or e-sabong has become a multibillion-peso enterprise, with little state regulation except for the need to secure a franchise and pay taxes.

A good indication of the lucrativeness of the enterprise is the reported involvement of police officers, whether retired or in active duty, in the operations. Government personnel are prohibited from playing in casinos and other gambling establishments, but such rules are vague when it comes to online gaming.

Cops are suspected of involvement in the disappearance of over 30 e-sabong aficionados in Metro Manila, Bulacan and Laguna since last year. Probers suspect that the kidnappings, several of which were caught on surveillance video, could be linked to cockfight game fixing.

Addressing the issue over the weekend, President Duterte expressed suspicion that the

missing men had been killed and their remains burned. The President mentioned this as he acknowledged the “social problems” arising from a poorly regulated gambling activity.

He said he had ordered the Department of the Interior and Local Government to study the matter and come up with recommendations on what to do with e-sabong, which he has refused to stop, saying the government needs the P640 million in annual revenues collected from the games. If the earnings cited by the country’s e-sabong operators are accurate, however, that P640 million is a gross underpayment of what is due the government.

The President had cited the same need to collect taxes for rejecting calls, including requests from Beijing, to stop offshore gaming operated in the Philippines by Chinese firms and catering mostly to overseas Chinese, who are banned in their own country from online gambling.

Some lawmakers have pointed out that the

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. has no authority to issue franchises to online gaming operations. Actual cockfights are under the supervision of local government units. With

every aspect of e-sabong messed up, it should at least be suspended until clear regulations are in place or the President decides to abolish the online games. (Philstar.com)

US Filipinos for Good Governance exposes Duterte-Marcos trolls on new tracker to fight against disinformation ahead of the May 9 elections

The Fil-Am Perspective Gel SantoS-ReloS “TROLLS? Show me one, they don’t exist,” Bongbong Marcos repeatedly claims.

Well, he is lying and here is very solid concrete evidence that you can see with your own eyes.

The Fil-Am group U.S. Filipinos for Good Governance (USFGG) exposes Duterte-Marcos trolls through the website TrollExposer. com.

According to USFGG, Troll Exposer is a new weapon in the arsenal against disinformation.

Rather than focusing on content, Troll Exposer detects and publicly exposes the social media accounts that are spreading this harmful disinformation so everyone can see who these liars are.

Quoting the website: “Part of this denial may be a misconception that trolls operate in large buildings similar to a call center. While that does happen, trolls are quite capable of doing their work remotely, and some of the trolls we’ve discovered appear to work remotely and are spread throughout the world. There is also the likelihood that foreign troll ‘farms’ are being used by some candidates, which would make it hard for them to find.”

How to spot a stealthy troll Sometimes fake accounts and trolls are easy to identify. In some of our other investigations, we were able to quickly spot obvious fake accounts and obvious troll behavior. Spotting BBM trolls is more difficult, and that may explain his confidence in insisting that there aren’t any.

One of the difficulties in finding

trolls is that they are hard to distinguish trolls from “super fans.” There are ardent fans that follow multiple Bongbong Marcos Facebook pages and groups, and share and comment on the posts there. For an authentic user, doing authentic social interaction, that activity would be mixed in with other day-to-day social interactions and interests, and would likely be sporadic, rather than appearing to be a full-time job.

In our analysis, we’ve looked at sharing and commenting behaviors, and whether we can classify trolls as distribution trolls (sharing from a source page to multiple destination pages), commenting trolls (enhancing the perceived popularity of a post by increasing its comments), and fake accounts dedicated to filling their profile posts with 100% proMarcos content.

We include anti-opponent content in the same category with pro-Marcos content. Very few accounts specialize in only positive or only negative messaging.

The negative messaging usually involves insults to Leni Robredo’s intelligence, minimizing her accomplishments, criticizing the behavior of her supporters, accusing her of corruption, and fear-mongering about election tampering and what the country would be like under a Robredo presidency.

Political cartoons with these themes are commonly shared on pages and accounts that are proBBM. We’ve noticed a targeted effort to “red-tag” Leni Robredo as a communist terrorist. This has

grown out of a Duterte-era redtagging effort overseen by the Strategic Communications Cluster of the NTF ELCAC. The entire troll network is dedicated to attacking Leni Robredo and Maria Ressa, founder of the news site Rappler and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. We have issued a separate report on this troll network: statesponsored red-tagging of Leni Robredo on Facebook.

We recognize that there is a level of this activity that is normal for a Marcos supporter. So, when we identify a troll, we take a wholistic view. We look at the authenticity of the account, any troll-like behaviors of the account, and evidence of coordination with other accounts to spread propaganda.

First, we look for evidence that the account isn’t authentic. If the account is a troll, there is often some evidence that the account is fake, i.e. lack of full facial photos and About information that could be used for identification. Trolls generally want to stay anonymous and so don’t reveal information that could tie the troll activity to the actual person performing it.

“Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior” is prohibited on Facebook. Frequently this means fake accounts using automation and acting together on posts as soon as they are posted. It is possible for authentic accounts to participate in coordinated inauthentic behavior. For example a volunteer could use their own Facebook account to perform coordinated troll activities.

Secondly, we look for excessive troll behaviors. Sharing a few posts to your page is normal.

The importance of the US-ASEAN Special Summit Babe’s Eye View BaBe Romualdez AT the conclusion of the 2020 U.S. elections, we immediately reached out to Antony Blinken, who is now Secretary of State, and other advisers such as Deputy Assistant to the President and White House National Security Council Coordinator for IndoPacific Affairs Kurt Campbell and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Dr. Ely Ratner.

We were pleased that shortly after taking office in January 2021, the administration of President Biden set the wheels in motion to reach out to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) through the ASEAN Committee in Washington (ACW) composed of ASEAN ambassadors to the U.S. The ACW diplomats regularly engage with the White House, U.S. congressmen and senators,

key government officials as well as private sector groups to elevate the profile of the regional bloc and bring focus on issues of concern.

Aside from trade and investments, among the predominant topics of course include the COVID-19 situation and the hate crimes being perpetrated against Americans of Asian descent.

Reaching out to ASEAN is something we appreciate from the Biden administration, and scheduling the US-ASEAN Special Summit in Washington, D.C. this May is not only timely but important as well in underscoring the continued importance that the United States places on the region amid the growing crisis in Ukraine.

The special summit is being held to coincide with the 45 years of relations between the US and ASEAN, and is an opportunity to reinforce the important role that Southeast Asia plays in the IndoPacific region as highlighted in the concept of ASEAN “centrality.”

This is enshrined in the organization’s charter and is based on the principles of openness, transparency and inclusivity in dealing and cooperating with

external partners.

This centrality was explained in the statement issued by ASEAN leaders in June 2019 following the 34th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok.

Titled “ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific,” the statement took note of the “geopolitical and geostrategic shifts” happening in the Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean regions, with Southeast Asia “at the center of these dynamic regions.”

In short, ASEAN plays a central and strategic role and, as such, it is in the interest of Southeast Asian nations to “lead the shaping of their economic and security architecture and ensure that such dynamics will continue to bring about peace, security, stability and prosperity for the peoples in the Southeast Asia as well as in the wider Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions or the IndoPacific.”

The statement, which enumerated a broad range of areas of cooperation that include peaceful settlement of disputes, promoting maritime safety and security as well as connectivity, stressed ASEAN’s intention to “strengthen and give

Sharing them multiple times in a row, sharing a dozen per day, or sharing hundreds is not. Sharing hundreds of posts to other pages without sharing any to your own is also not normal authentic behavior. Commenting on a post with an authentic opinion expressed in words is normal.

Commenting 10 times in a row on the same post is not. Commenting on posts with a propaganda image or a simple phrase like “solid BBM” or only slightly varied, i.e.

“SOLID BBM” can be authentic if not done to excess.

Our findings The BBM social media presence is vast and has been created over more than six years (it started before his vice presidential bid in 2016). Our analysis covers a sample of the BBM-dedicated Facebook pages and groups. It cannot be considered complete.

We firmly believe that there are more BBM trolls than those we are exposing here.

Our analysis is based on public information. We did not examine or infiltrate private groups or private posts. This limits our ability to detect overt coordination which may be happening in private groups. Still, a troll’s job is to make sure people see the propaganda they are in charge of spreading, so not being able to view private activity does not prevent us from identifying trolls. People can keep all their Facebook activity private if they choose, and those people are not likely to be trolls.

Today we expose 100 BBM trolls. In our interactive BBM troll network report, we list each of the trolls and provide our analysis on

why we identify them as trolls, and a link to their Facebook profile so that you can see for yourself. You don’t need to take our word for it.“ According to USFGG, Marcos’ trolls are sophisticated in comparison to the other trolls we’ve found in this election. Their accounts very often look and may be authentic.

There are three types of troll activity: distribution, commenting, and filling up profiles and pages with Marcos content. Some trolls shared hundreds of Marcos posts to their own pages, making their user profile posts look similar to a dedicated Marcos page.

Distribution (taking posts from one page and sharing them to multiple other pages) and commenting (frequently with a propaganda image or a short phrase) don’t show on an account’s profile, so spotting a Marcos troll without knowing what they have been doing on other pages is difficult.

Go to: www.TrollExposer.com.

Click “explore Bongbong Marcos Trolls” and you can actually track these trolls. They are named. You see their posts.

One of the many disinformation campaigns using trolls is to redtag Leni Robredo. This is the President and the National task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) publicly sponsored red-tagging that according to the website, has expanded its charter to include a massive effort to brand Leni Robredo as a communist traitor. You see the diagram with circles that reveal the network of trolls, their fake news posts.

And taxpayers’ money is being used for this dirty political tactic to deceive you and dissuade you from voting for Leni. There are more. Check out the website.

REPORT them. They are toxic.

They pollute our minds with toxic lies for money! They are traitors just like Marcos and Duterte in doing this. Report them and ask Facebook to shut down these accounts NOW! FIGHT against disinformation peddled by Marcos and Duterte and their minions.

Soldier on for the Truth.

Marcos and Duterte have been robbing us of the TRUTH and our right to important information that is important for us to make informed conscientious decisions.

Our sacred election is the bedrock of our democracy.

Protect our democracy, our freedom, our right to have clean, honest, orderly and peaceful election that will reflect the true WILL of the Filipino people. Fight for our right to have “Gobyernong Tapat!” ***

new momentum for existing ASEAN-led mechanisms to better face challenges and seize opportunities arising from the current and future regional and global environments.”

Analysts have long recognized the importance of Southeast Asia relative to the national security strategy of the United States in the Indo-Pacific, and in light of the growing prominence of China.

U.S. policymakers must navigate the challenge of sustaining foreign policy commitments that would uphold U.S. interests while also serving the needs of the region.

Last February, the White House released the Indo-Pacific Strategy of the United States, recognizing the “undeniable reality” that the Indo-Pacific is the most dynamic region in the world and that its future affects people everywhere. Aside from advancing a free and open IndoPacific, the strategy also aims to drive prosperity in the region, with the U.S. remaining as the “number one investment partner in ASEAN member-countries.”

Connectivity is also highlighted, with the U.S. set on building collective capacity within and beyond the region through several initiatives, including the deepening of regional treaty

alliances with Australia, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Thailand.

As a member of ASEAN, it is important for the Philippines to play a major role in shaping future policies that would sustain economic growth while boosting human development to fight poverty and uplift the lives of people in the region.

It is unfortunate that the summit is scheduled for May 12 shortly after our elections, that is why I totally understand why President Duterte cannot attend it. As the President pointed out, we will definitely have a presidentelect by then, so he was being prudent, opting not to attend out of delicadeza, and avoid making decisions or commitments at the summit that might not be aligned with the policies of our next president.

Secretary Teddy Locsin will represent the President. I have no doubt our participation at the summit will be very important for us since discussions will center on a wide range of areas of mutual interest and concern such as defense and security, future pandemic response, climate change, maritime cooperation, economic engagement, energy, digital technology and

strengthening people-to-people ties, among others.

Just before we relinquished our chairmanship of the ACW last January, we had successful meetings with US officials that included Ely Ratner and White House National Security Advisers.

We also had meetings with U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and just recently, we met with U.S. Transcom Commander Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost at the Philippine embassy in Washington.

The US-ASEAN Special Summit in May and our National Day celebration in June will be two of the last significant events I will be attending before the end of my term in Washington, DC. It’s not only been an honor to represent the President in such an important post but, more importantly, it’s been a privilege to serve our country and the Filipino people. (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.

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

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

*** Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com

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THE ASIAN JOURNAL

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Friday, May 6, 2022

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LIFESTYLE • CONSUMER GUIDE • COMMUNITY • MARKETPLACE

CAAMFest40 celebrates SOMAPilipinas Filipino Cultural Heritage District SAN FRANCISCO – On the 40th anniversary of CAAMFest, the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) is excited to spotlight the SOMA Pilipinas Filipino Cultural Heritage District and Filipinx films and filmmakers. CAAMFest40, which takes place May 12-22, 2022, will hold in-person and virtual events in celebration of Asian and Asian American voices.

“We have always been centered in Japantown and Chinatown during CAAMFest, but the pandemic really gave us an opportunity to reflect more on how we can increase the visibility in other communities throughout the Bay Area,” says Don Young, Director of Programs at CAAM. As a Filipinx American, Jo Boston, CAAM Events Production Manager, recollects the historical importance of the SOMA Pilipinas Filipino Cultural Heritage District.

“San Francisco is a hub where many Filipinos have landed — it is a gateway to possibilities for Filipinos,” she says. Though, the redevelopment of Manilatown and South of Market in the 1960s and 1970s displaced many Filipino families. Boston adds, “This is history that brings us together and strengthens our Filipino community in the district and beyond.”

In correlation with this new emphasis, Thúy Tran, the new Festival and Exhibitions Director at CAAM, is excited to bring programming that parallels and intersects with what community partners are already doing in the neighborhood. Programs that highlight Filipinx culture and/ or artists as well as the SOMA

Pilipinas Filipino Cultural Heritage District are noted below.

In-person events Saturday, May 21, 2022 • SOMA Pilipinas Community Engagement 12:30PM | Yerba Buena Gardens, Free Event Thúy Tran, Festival and Exhibitions Director at CAAM, introduces our spotlight for CAAMFest40 on the SOMA Pilipinas Filipino Cultural Heritage District. A celebration of the generations of Filipinos throughout San Francisco and beyond, the event partners with community organizations such as Bindlestiff and Balay Kreative.

SOMA Pilipinas Filipino Cultural Heritage District organizations and supporters are invited to participate in creating the art installation that will find a home later in the district.

• DIRECTIONS IN SOUND: Pinays On the Rise 1:00PM | Yerba Buena Gardens, Free Event Following the introduction of the SOMA Pilipinas Community Engagement, and, in partnership with the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, revel in an outdoor music showcase featuring emerging Pinay voices. Up-and-coming turntablist and SOMA resident, DJ Bitesize, will start the event by spinning and scratching party tunes. Ouida, named one of Nylon Magazine's rising musicians, blends catchy pop melodies with jazz, R&B, and blues. Closing out the concert will be Union City’s own singer-songwriter Kiyomi, who brings R&B stylings based on personal experiences.

Artists Kiyomi, Ouida, and DJ Bitesize are all Filipinx and originally from the Bay Area • CENTERPIECE PRESENTATION, NARRATIVE FILM: LEONOR WILL NEVER DIE* 5:30PM | SFMOMA Phyllis Wattis Theater Directed by Martika Ramirez Escobar What if you could change what was happening before your very eyes? Genres collide in this wild tale of an aging filmmaker who becomes the hero of her own unfinished script, after she's knocked into a coma by a television.

Filmmaker Martika Ramirez Escobar is Filipinx Actors Sheila Francisco, Bong Cabrera, Rocky Salumbides, Anthony Falcon are Filipinx The film was acquired by Music Box Films and won the Special Jury Prize for Innovative Spirit at Sundance, making filmmaker Martika Ramirez Escobar the first Filipinx feature director to win an award *screener available Sunday, May 22, 2022 • LOVE & CORONA*, directed

by Nicole Maxali Part of the Shorts Program: HOMEGROWN 2:30PM | New Parkway Theater 1 After losing her job during the pandemic, an energetic wallflower conducts virtual dates on a subscription service site — and perhaps love will go from URL to IRL along the way.

Filmmaker Nicole Maxali is Filipinx and local to Daly City.

Nicole is also Program Manager of Balay Kreative, a Filipino Arts Accelerator in SOMA. Actors Kristiana Torregosa, Francis Lansang, Jeff Francisco, and Giancarlo Cariola are Filipinx. Giancarlo is also an active member of the local SOMA theater company, Bindlestiff. *screener available Virtual Programming (available on-demand during the festival) • ALL I WANT IS EVERYTHING, directed by Alexandra Cuerdo Part of the Shorts Program: GREAT EXPECTATIONS When being “good” isn’t good enough, a fiercely driven teenager indulges in the bad to reach her goals in New York City’s wild underground rave scene.

Filmmaker Alexandra “Allie” Cuerdo is Chinese/Filipinx. She was also named one of the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women In the World by the Filipina Women's Network.

• DELIKADO*, directed by Karl Malakunas Documentary Feature Palawan, a tropical island in the Philippines, is a tourist's dream— white sand beaches, clear blue waters, and lush, diverse forests. It is also one of the most dangerous places for an environmental crusader.

Film takes place on the island of Palawan in the Philippines Producer Marty Syjuco of Call Her Ganda is Filipinx Film features Nieves Rosento, former mayor of El Nido town on Palawan island Film features Atty. Bobby Chan of the Palawan NGO Network, Inc.

(PNNI) *screener available • DEAR NANAY*, directed by Frances Grace Mortel Part of the Shorts Program: BOUNDLESS A love letter to her grandmother, this experimental documentary explores the filmmaker’s early memories in the Philippines and her search for refuge from pandemic anxiety and domestic claustrophobia.

Filmmaker Frances Grace Mortel is Filipinx. *screener available • RECORDING FOR DODIE, directed by Frances Rubio Part of the Shorts Program: ASIAN AMERICAN STORIES OF RESILIENCE AND BEYOND After fourteen months physically apart, a Filipino daughter struggling with depression finally reunites with her COVID-survivor father at his nursing home.

Filmmaker Frances “Frankie” Rubio is Filipinx.

• RIVER OF SMALL GODS*, directed by Bradley Tangonan Part of the Shorts Program: PACIFIC SHOWCASE On the brink of eviction, a Hawaiian woman takes a job from a mysterious sculptor to retrieve stones from a riverbed deep in the forests of northern O‘ahu.

Filmmaker Bradley Tangonan is mixed-race Filipinx. *screener available • OPENING THE GATES: ACCESS IN ASIAN HOLLYWOOD On-Demand Panel Presentation Authentic representation is great, but who defines what “authentic representation" is – in and outside Asian Hollywood?

Dino-Ray Ramos, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of DIASPORA, holds an unapologetic roundtable conversation with Asian American leaders in Hollywood as they discuss the challenges that marginalized voices face in the film and TV industry and how it has impacted the Asian American community.

Curator and moderator DinoRay Ramos is Filipinx.

• IT TAKES THE HOOD TO SAVE THE HOOD, directed by Harvey Lozada Part of the Shorts Program: PEOPLE POWER This documentary short was created in partnership with San Francisco-based violence prevention and youth development organization UNITED PLAYAZ. This project explores UNITED PLAYAZ’s role in developing a coalition with community-based organizations PAGE 10

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Features

MAY 6-12, 2022 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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

Olivia Rodrigo, Bruno Mars, Bretman Rock and more Filipinos among Gold House’s most impactful APIs list by

Olivia Rodrigo

Bella Poarch Photo from Instagram/@bellapoarch

Klarize Medenilla / AJPress

ALIGNING with Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM), the Asian Pacific Islander (API) advocacy group Gold House released its yearly “A100” list, which honors the most impactful APIs in the culture over the past year.

Gold House, which describes itself as a “changemaker” in the API community that promotes all representatives of the vast API community, released the list on Monday, May 2.

Additionally, the organization announced its first ever Gold Gala, an inaugural in-person to Photo from Instagram/@oliviarodrigo take place on May 21 when the honorees on this year’s A100 list will be celebrated.

Among the esteemed list, this year, 13 Filipinos made the grade, including pop music charttoppers Olivia Rodrigo and Bruno Mars (honored with Silk Sonic collaborator Anderson. Paak), both of whom struck gold at the 2022 Grammy Awards.

In addition, comedian and showrunner Jo Koy and Oscarnominated actor Hailee Steinfeld also made the list, as well as popular internet personalities: influencers Bretman Rock and Bella Poarch and one of the leading video game streamers Rachelle “Rae” Hofstetter, aka Valkyrae.

Hailee Steinfeld The list honored Filipinos in Photo from Instagram/@haileesteinfeld

professional sports: Olympic gold medalists Lee Kiefer and Justine Wong-Orantes, Olympian surfer Carissa Kainani Moore, and NBA stars Jordan Clarkson and Jalen Green.

And, to honor her efforts in speaking truth to power in the motherland, Maria Ressa, journalist and founder of Rappler, was also on the list.

In addition to those on the broader list, Gold House also honored Grammy Award and Oscar-winning musician H.E.R. and businessman Manny Maceda to the organization’s Hall of Fame.

In a statement released by Gold House, the organization said, “The A100 List honors trailblazers who are at the forefront of this ‘New Gold Age.’ The honorees are selected across industry categories, and each category highlights an A1 who has demonstrated the most impact in their respective industries over the past year.”

The A100 list is voted on through a “rigorous and comprehensive process” conducted by a panel of several of the community’s top tastemakers, including celebrated Filipina singer-actor Lea Salonga.

Many might call the current moment an Asian renaissance, a period where Asians across all industries — particularly in entertainment, professional

Silk Sonic

Photo from Instagram/@brunomars

Rappler co-founder and chief executive officer Maria Ressa AJPress file photo

Jo Koy

Rachell “Rae” Hofstetter (aka Valkyrae) Photo from Instagram/@valkyrae

Bretman Rock Photo from Instagram/@bretmanrock

Lee Kiefer Photo from Instagram/@leetothekiefer

Carissa Moore Photo from Instagram/@rissmoore10

sports, business, science, and art — are thriving and making big moves in mainstream culture, and Filipinos are pivotal to that surge.

For the last two years, the API community has undergone several ups and downs, most notably the increase in violence against Asians amid the coronavirus pandemic. Those within the #StopAsianHate movement continue to advocate for better protection for the community, and for many, that starts with making

known the positive impact the API community across all industries.

A100 panelist Daniel Dae Kim said in a statement, “Though the news cycle may have moved on, it’s clear to anyone following that the challenges facing the AAPI community remain. It’s vitally important that we continue to reclaim our narrative by celebrating and honoring the achievements of those of us making a positive impact on our world today.”

PAGE 9 t in San Francisco’s South of Market (SoMA) neighborhood and providing mutual aid to those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. See firsthand how local s/heros continue to adapt and respond to the community’s needs while processing how the pandemic has personally affected them.

Filmmaker Harvey Lozada is Filipinx.

Subject, Aureen Almario, is the artistic director of Bindlestiff Studio.

The film title is the motto of the SOMA nonprofit United Playaz. United Playaz is a violence prevention and youth development organization that has worked in San Francisco for 25 years and is a vital organization in providing kids with a safe place.

Ticket information General admission tickets for virtual screenings and panels range from complimentary to $14.

Special presentations range from $20 - $65. For more information, visit the box ticketing information page at CAAMFest.com.

COVID safety CAAMFest will be taking guidance from local and federal safety guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID. For in-person events, CAAMFest requires proof of vaccination and will be checking guests upon arrival. Guests may also be required to mask while indoors. Please check CAAMFest. com for the most up-to-date details.

CAAMFest40 is made possible with lead support from Presenting Sponsors Comcast Xfinity and

Amazon. Additional support is provided by the Asian Art Museum; Bloomberg; Meta; Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, San Francisco; AARP; Motion Picture Association; Verizon; NBCUniversal; Warner Bros.

Discovery, Inc.; Pacific Islanders in Communications; San Francisco Symphony; The Gotham; Viki Rakuten; Film SF; Kaiser Permanente; POV; and America ReFramed. Special thanks to the following institutional funders and government agencies: Corporation for Public Broadcasting, San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development, San Francisco Grants for the Arts, Ford Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Asian Pacific Fund, Jessie Cheng Charitable Foundation, and APA Heritage Foundation. Thank you also to the following media supporters: KQED, KTSF, KTVU, SF/Arts, and AsAmNews.

Celebrating its 40th year in 2022, CAAMFest is the world’s leading showcase for new Asian American and Asian film, food, and music programs. CAAM (Center for Asian American Media) has been dedicated to presenting stories that convey the richness and diversity of Asian American experiences to the broadest audience possible. As a nonprofit organization, CAAM funds, produces, distributes, and exhibits works in film, television, and digital media. For more information about CAAM, please visit www.CAAMedia.org.

Photo from Instagram/@jokoy

CAAMFest40 celebrates...

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Features

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 6-12, 2022

11

Good things to come for eastern entrance to Pahrump

by RealtoR

Fely Quitevis-Bateman

DEVELOPMENT continues to take place in Pahrump, a town located some 62 miles west of Las Vegas, and one of the neighboring communities positively impacted by the great things happening in the gambling and entertainment capital in the western United States.

In a recent news development, a company named Adaven Management went before the Nye County Commission to provide an update on a development agreement that was approved more than two decades ago that, if things go according to plan, will see quite a change to the eastern entrance into the town.

What is planned is a construction of a roundabout on Highway 160 at Manse Road, something that the company has been working with the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT). According to a company official, the project is currently under review and it is expected to receive the green light to start on the project sometime in the near future.

Apart from construction plans for the roundabout, Adaven revealed in a recent Pahrump Valley Times report that it is being required “to provide rights of way necessary for the constuction of the roundabout, as well as to provide construction funds to build the roundabout.” It added that the company would like to

start the construction as soon as the NDOT will allow them.

The planned roundabout will provide access to a planned Common Interest Community dubbed “Mountain Falls South.”

The development agreement provides for the company and its associated parties to build around 5,160 residential units in the planned community. The subdivision’s location is on approximately 1,177 acres of land southwest of the intersection of Manse Road and Hafen Ranch Road.

And while it may be a bit of time before homes can be built on the site, other requirements set forth in the development agreement have taken place over the years, including the donation of a 12acre site for Floyd Elementary School, donation of water rights and necessary sewer connection, as well as coordination with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to help establish a church on Manse Road.

Additionally, there has been paving and curb and gutter work done on Manse Road, and installation of a fiber-optic line, which is in line with stipulations in the development agreement that called for certain improvements to be made to Manse Road from the highway to Hafen Ranch Road.

Currently, it is estimated that about $17 million has been invested by Adaven on

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (extreme right) attended a meeting with three Nye County commissioners who are leaning towards the approval of a glove factory on Mesquite/Avenue of the Stars in Pahump.

One of Realtor Quitevis-Bateman’s investors, Victor Covarubbias (left, seated), also a resident of Tower 2, Turnberry Place, visited Pahrump for a possible site of a Ford dealership. Mr. Covarubbias owns a Ford dealership in California. With Covarubbias in above photo are (from left) Realtor Quitevis-Bateman and another investor, Jennifer Benedict.

infrastructure; the roundabout is likely to cost another $1.5 million.

This certainly bodes well for the town of Pahrump as it continues on its way to progress. Originally inhabited by the Southern Paiute and mostly dotted with ranch-style holdings over 400 hectares in size, Pahrump has grown into a town that major retailers and real estate developers are taking a look at due to its proximity to Las Vegas.

In an article in the Las Vegas

Review Journal, it said that a broader acceleration for areas like Pahrump is seen in order to address the needs of homebuyers as real estate and property developers eye new regions where they can set up potential projects.

That means more housing in the future, and perhaps an exodus of people looking for the right opportunities in newer markets.

Plus, there’s the boon of the continued rise of real estate prices

From left: Jenny Truong, Ron Quilang and Alka Products CEO/President Andrew Hoang. Mr. Hoang is behind the proposed glove factory in Pahrump. Phase 1 of the project will reportedly provide 600 jobs in the area.

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman with Nye County Chief Planner Brett Waggoner, who confirmed about the two roundabouts coming on Highway 160.

in the town. Although land prices in Pahrump may not be as low as it was decades ago, it is still an affordable alternative to the rising real estate prices in Las Vegas, which has seen many duking it out for available affordable housing and potential for overbidding.

Real estate in Pahrump has appreciated about 155% over the last ten years alone, according to latest data available, which puts the unincorporated town in the top 10% nationally for areas whose real estate values have appreciated exponentially.

Due to this, many observers see Pahrump as being one of the best long-term investments that people can make in the United States over the past decade and into the future. Despite a downturn in the housing market, Pahrump’s real estate portfolio has continued to appreciate.

The roundabout is just one of the projects planned in Pahrump.

Millions of dollars in projects are being infused in infrastructure which will benefit the town in the long run.

While prices are still affordable, now is the time to look for opportunities in Pahrump and neighboring communities.

Whether you are looking to settle in a new place, find your own piece of retirement heaven, or just looking to own land or another property as an investment, Pahrump is a great find and I will help look for the best opportunities available in the market.

Many of my clients have reaped the benefits of their investments in land and property – you could be one of the many individuals and families who can grow their real estate portfolio and net worth by looking at what’s on the market.

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

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MAY 6-12, 2022 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

Features

Alice Dixson breezes through motherhood celebrityworld of her routine.

“Stress is not a consequence of work. Stress is the inability to manage your body, your emotions, your thoughts, your energy,” she stated, looking at stress as something that you can control.

Third and last, the “Dyesebel” actress takes care of herself through proper nutrition and exercise.

This means following a regular fitness regimen (going to the gym, swimming and playing tennis), and eating in moderation, as well as taking supplements that is good for her (in Alice’s case, she takes supplements that lower her blood sugar, is good for the heart and relieves symptoms of common colds; she also takes supplements that are branded as antioxidants).

“At this age, you really need to make an effort to stay fit and healthy,” she wrote on Instagram, according to the article, “while being mindful of proper nutrition and maintaining my blood sugar levels…”

Congrats to Alice, on being so well-grounded and enjoying motherhood in her 50s. *** Character actress Dexter Doria has participated in about 200 films and television programs in a career that has spanned almost five decades.

It was only recently, during the pandemic, that she was able to garner best supporting actress awards (Gawad Urian, FAMAS and Gawad Tanglaw) for

Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez had her birthday celebration at ABS-CBN’s “ASAP Natin ‘To” last Sunday, May 1.

Photo from Instagram/@reginevalcasid

Best Supporting Actress winner Dexter Doria is set to reunite with her “Memories of Forgetting” director Jay Altajeros in a new movie.

Photo from Instagram/@@iamdexterdoria

Primetime King Dingdong Dantes and Primetime Queen Marian Rivera are slated to star in a new sitcom series entitled “Jose and Maria Bonggang Villa,” which is a co-production of Agosto Dos and APT Entertainment.

Photo from Instagram/@marianrivera_dingdong

a terrific performance in the film “Memories of Forgetting.”

According to PEP.ph, Doria is poised to reunite with her “Memories” director Jay Altajeros in his new directorial vehicle, “Memories of a Love Story,” which will star Oliver Aquino and Migs Almendras.

“The fact that he gave me three best supporting actress awards, none of my previous directors were able to do that, and because of that I have the highest respect for him,” Dexter was quoted as saying when asked about her participation in the film.

“I cannot describe the fact that if is Jay who calls on me, I will be trembling [to accept the part],” added Doria.

In the past year, Dexter became a bit controversial when she declared that she was willing to go to all corners of the Philippines or the world to lay truth to what she witnessed during the martial law era.

However, in her personal life, Doria says that there are no controversies, and that she leads a “corny” life.

“Wow! What’s my wildest memories?” Dexter asked herself, when the question was asked during a recent presser. “None, as an artist I never became controversial. I just go to the set and do my work. I have nothing to hide, even if you try to think of whether I had a showbiz boyfriend. Nothing. My life is very corny.”

And the trick to her five-decade career?

“Getting along with other people is number one, although there are many divas in showbiz who have lasted very long because they are divas,” she answered. “It’s very tricky, too, because when have had a long career, people begin to respect you so you don’t have to act like a diva.”

“For me, you have to do your best in your work. That is expected. You do your best, and you not only get along with the director and producer, but with everyone including the utility [people] because feeling entitled won’t get you anywhere,” she continued.

“You need to be a regular fellow who is working, just like everyone else. Treat everyone as equals, that is the secret,” she added.

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

Alice Dixson is embracing motherhood wonderfully in her 50s, and her tips to a good lifestyle includes prioritizing, proper nutrition and exercise, and managing her stress levels. Alice and Baby Aura enjoy some beach time in above photo.

Photo from Instagram/@@alicedixson

Mayor Breed announces landmark pay raise initiative for early educators in city-funded programs $60 million in annual city funding through the Office of Early Care and Education will significantly raise educator wages as part of ongoing effort to strengthen and expand city’s support of young children and families

By Ferdie Villar SHOWBIZ star Alice Dixson seems to be doing well and adjusting to motherhood.

In an article in PEP.ph, Alice was shown in photos with her baby Aura, as they enjoy various activities together, including swimming, playing on the beach, reading and even feeding animals at a visit to Safari Hotel and Villas in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. Sometimes, she also has days or trips without a nanny, which she described as “not an easy task for a 52yo,” but she still managed to do it.

According to the article, Alice does three things that makes motherhood seem like an easy task for her.

First, Alice knows her priorities. And that means sorting through what may seem like a never-ending list of tasks and responsibilities and just prioritizing and being grateful and happy.

“I have too much going on in my life at this juncture. Some days I get so overwhelmed with my commitments; my business, our new home, moving, the baby, social media, creativity…,” she said in an Instagram post. “My to do list can be endless and never enough hours in the day really.

Yet, what to do?

Just breathe, prioritize, be happy, be grateful and most of all ‘take one precious day at a time.’”

Second, Alice knows how to manage her stress and that means doing meditation and having short breaks to clear her mind and get her balance as part

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

SAN FRANCISCO — On Thursday, April 28, Mayor London N. Breed announced a new initiative by the San Francisco Office of Early Care and Education (OECE) to invest up to $60 million annually to advance pay raises, increase benefits, improve working conditions, and support educational attainment for San Francisco's workforce of over 2,000 City-funded early educators. These programs serve over 6,500 children ages 0-5 every year.

This is the first early childhood educator wage initiative of its kind in the nation. This investment will enable educators to be more fairly paid for their crucial work, and also help attract new, quality educators to the field. It will raise each early educator’s salary by approximately $8,000 to $30,000 annually. By 2025, San Francisco intends to support a living wage of no less than $28 an hour for all early educators in City-funded programs. This program is funded by a Commercial Rent Tax that was passed by the voters in June 2018 with funds dedicated to serving early childcare programs in San Francisco.

“San Francisco needs to do more to support children and families, and that includes attracting and retaining the early educators who do the critical work of caring for our youngest,” said Mayor Breed.

“We know early childhood experiences lay the groundwork for later success in academics and beyond. This initiative, and all the work we are doing around transforming early childcare, is about providing the support for early childhood experiences that will help us improve our city's future and the lives of everyone here.”

“San Francisco is on its way to become one of the first major cities to offer a universal early care and education system.

Compensating early educators with fair, dignified wages is one of the basic building blocks to make our vision possible.

The future of our economic

recovery depends on the stability and strength of this essential workforce. While this initiative is long overdue, our commitment is stronger than ever,” stated Supervisor Myrna Melgar.

“San Francisco voters understand the important work our early care and educators provide for our children 0-5, yet are not unrecognized with the low wages they receive. That is why they voted to change this by passing the Proposition C, Early Care and Education for All Initiative, in 2018. This makes it possible today to increase compensation for these early care and educators, closer to what they deserve. I am proud to be a part of this effort that makes San Francisco a leader in the country to recognize the professionalism our early educators provide,” said former Supervisor Norman Yee. The city’s Office of Early Care and Education (OECE) and First 5 San Francisco will soon combine to form the San Francisco Department of Early Childhood (DEC). Through legislation being introduced at the Board of Supervisors, DEC will be enacted as the sole City department dedicated to the health and well-being of children from birth to age five, their families, and those who care for them.

“When early educators are fairly compensated and have the resources they need, children thrive,” says Ingrid Mezquita, Executive Director of OECE. “For too long, society has undervalued the critical role of early educators, a workforce primarily comprised of women of color. Increasing wages for early educators will ensure that the people who care for our youngest children can continue to provide them with highquality care and education.”

The Workforce Compensation Initiative is the culmination of a robust community engagement and co-design process centered on early educators' priorities and experiences. It builds on the success of its predecessor, OECE’s Compensation and Retention Educator Stipend

(CARES 2.0) program, which has provided $30 million in stipends to early educators working at city-funded Family Child Care programs and centers since 2019.

Alongside an increase in wages, the city will continue to provide funding to programs to improve workplace conditions for early educators, resulting in improved teacher job satisfaction and well-being. The City will also significantly expand eligibility for city-subsidized enrollment in high-quality Early Childhood Education programs serving children ages birth to 5, bringing greater opportunity and affordability to workingand middle-class families.

“From unifying all services and resources available for families with young children into one accessible department and prioritizing policies and investments that put resources in the hands of those who care for our city's children, this new plan to support the early childhood field takes San Francisco to the next level in wraparound services for our youngest residents and their parents,” said Theresa Zighera, Executive Director First 5 San Francisco. “San Francisco's Early Childhood strategy is a model for any City serious about making the early years matter.”

The first five years of life set children up for long-term success. The city will continue to advance its Early Childhood System to promote access to high-quality services and support for all families, focusing on those with the greatest need to ensure that San Francisco’s children, families, and providers have everything they need during these formative early years.

OECE will be reaching out to all programs eligible for the additional compensation to provide instruction about next steps and additional information. To find out if your program is a city-funded program, or to learn more about how to become a City-funded program, visit www.sfoece.org.

(SF Mayor’s Office Release)

Sarah, Matteo in first magazine cover as couple

by Anne

PAsAjol Inquirer.net

SARAH Geronimo and Matteo Guidicelli exuded romance in a nature-themed shoot for lifestyle magazine Tatler Philippines, which marked the couple’s first ever cover together.

Geronimo donned a white off-shoulder dress paired with black boots while riding a horse, as seen on photographer Mark Nicdao’s Instagram page on Monday, May 2. Guidicelli, wearing a green and brown jacket, white pants and black boots, stood beside Geronimo while holding her steed.

“The Guidicellis’ Matt and Sarah on [Tatler Philippines],” Nicdao said.

The couple also sat next to a stony brook, with Guidicelli hugging Geronimo from the back. The actress was wearing a checkered overall suit while the actor posed in a gray tank top and black boots.

Guidicelli then thanked the team behind the photo shoot, disclosing that it took them two years before finally shooting the cover, as per his Instagram page, also today.

“To this team that made the TATLER Cover come to life, thank you,” he said. “Let’s keep loving and protecting our beautiful land!”

Liz Uy, the couple’s stylist during the photo shoot, also showed behind-the-scenes moments of Geronimo and Guidicelli, via Uy’s Instagram Stories, also today.

Geronimo and Guidicelli recently celebrated their second wedding anniversary, with the actor

Sarah Geronimo and Matteo Guidicelli Photo from Instagram/@markednicdao

promising that they will be “partners for life.”

Geronimo also earlier marked her 19th year in show business.

EMPLOYMENT

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 6-12, 2022

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MAY 6-12, 2022 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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