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MAY 6-12, 2022 Serving San Diego Since 1987 • 12 Pages

T h e F i l i p i n o –A m e r i c A n c o m m u n i T y n e w s pA p e r

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Fil-Am group launches ‘troll exposer’ website DATELINE USA to combat disinformation ahead of May 9 polls Fil-Am attorney FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

leads class action team, gets $21.56M payout to drivers

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 per-

by Franco Luna Philstar.com

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

“Trolls have found fertile ground in weakly

by Daniza

FernanDez Inquirer.net

PH Consulate allows in-person voting on May 7 for voters who have not received their ballots

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VOTE COUNTING MACHINES. Members of the Electoral Board (EB) and other poll workers carry vote-counting machines (VCMs) to be used for the May 9 elections for final testing and sealing at Dr. Jose P. Rizal Elementary School in Brgy. Sto. Cristo, Dasmarinas City, Cavite on Wednesday, May 4. The final testing and sealing (FTS) will be done by EB members and will be witnessed by the poll watchers of candidates.

PNA photo by Gil Calinga

Katreena Philstar.com

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.

cabico

The religious group also announced its Senate slate, which includes: • Former PNP chief Guillermo Eleazar • Actor Robin Padilla • Former DPWH secretary Mark Villar • Former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano • Antique Rep. Loren Legarda • Former senator JV Ejercito • Sorsogon Gov. Chiz Escudero

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New call center launched to answer COVID-19 questions from Fil-Am community’s most vulnerable members

MANILA — Sen. Manny Pacquiao placed third in the

by Kristine Joy PataG latest Pulse Asia survey released Philstar.com Monday, May 2, overtaking LOS ANGELES — In an expansion of Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko its COVID-19 resources, the Filipino Young Moreno” Domagoso.

Leaders Program (FYLPRO), through its In a survey published just Tayo project, announces the launch of a call one week before the May 9 polls, center to assist community members with Pacquiao ranked third, with a voter their pressing pandemic-related questions. support of 7%. The boxer-turnedBeginning as a virtual help desk in the politician gained one point from his fall of 2020, Tayo has since continuously rating in March. diversified its culturally tailored offerings to Moreno dropped to fourth place connect Filipinos with vital information and after suffering a four-point loss. services, battle misinformation, and improve UP Political Science professor Jean Franco told Philstar. Manny Pacquiao, Philippine boxing legend and presidential candidate, the collection of data through initiatives like

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MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, May 3 assured the public of an “orderly, clean, and honest elections” on May 9.

In his taped public address, Duterte said he urges the government to be “conscious” of this goal and work at it “towards the end.”

“I urge the government to be conscious of this because everybody will be working towards the end. I would emphasize that the military and the police focus on this event because we want an honest election,” he said.

“Sinasabi ko lang as President, I guarantee that we will do everything to ensure that the election is free from violence and the people are not intimidated in any way to exercise their right to

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Iglesia ni Cristo endorses Marcos for president

Pacquiao overtakes Isko in latest Pulse Asia survey

by Gaea

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Duterte vows orderly, clean, honest elections on May 9

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OVERSEAS voters registered with the Consulate General of the Philippines in New York who have been sent postal voting packets but have not received their ballots may personally visit the Consulate on Saturday, May 7, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. to cast their votes.

This was announced by the consulate on Monday, May 2 through its social media accounts, citing a Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Letter No. OFOV-2022-0942 dated 29 April 2022.

Registered voters must provide some documents to be able to vote in person, including a duly accomplished notarized affidavit/undertaking and the Overseas Voting Form, along with a copy of Philippine passport or Philippine citizenship reacquisition documents and a copy of proof of change address or current address (e.g., utility bill, driver’s license).

These voters must accomplish the ballot on the Consulate’s premises and drop the

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 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.

speaks during a campaign stop ahead of the May 9 presidential election.

Philstar.com file photo

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Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.

Inquirer.net file photo

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.

“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

Locsin to represent PH at US-Asean summit

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MAY 6-12, 2022 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

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From The FronT Page

Fil-Am group launches ‘troll exposer’ website to combat...

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

Facebook photo

$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 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) n

PAGE 1 According to the preliminary findings of Tsek.ph, a fact-checking 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.

PH Consulate allows in-person voting on May 7 for...

PAGE 1 ballot in the designated drop box on the above-stated date and time.

The affidavit states that the voter should send the election packets back to the consulate when they receive them because the unauthorized keeping of an official ballot constitutes a criminal offense for violation of the Omnibus Election Code.

A previous consulate advisory said that the last batch of election packets was mailed on Saturday, April 23.

“Please also make sure your name is in the certified list of voters and if it is for you to also

check the list of voters whose ballots have been sent back to us

by USPS,” said Consul General Elmer G. Cato. “Both lists can be accessed through the overseas absentee voting button at www. newyorkpcg.org.”

As of Wednesday, May 4, there are still comments left on the consulate’s Facebook page about voters not receiving their election packets yet.

Vote counting machine failure The consulate also announced that ballot feeding operations have resumed in full blast following the successful troubleshooting of two of three

Duterte vows orderly...

SUMMER TREAT. Children line up for free ice cream during the Eid al-Fitr celebration in Barangay Culiat, Quezon City on Tuesday, May 3. The free treats were courtesy of the city government.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

“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.” n

PAGE 1 vote and choose their whoever,” he added.

Duterte earlier said his administration will enforce the law and not allow terrorism during the May 9 polls.

This is why he chose not to endorse any presidential candidate so that he could remain “neutral.”

Duterte said he will not endorse any presidential candidate “now until December” and he requested his Cabinet members also to not openly endorse any candidate. n

Vote Counting Machines (VCMs) that had earlier been rendered inoperable due to technical issues.

“With technical support guidance from the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), the Consulate was able to fix the malfunctions and ran full diagnostics on the two VCMs. As a result, the second Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI) was able to resume the feeding of ballots from kababayan in the United States northeast,” the advisory read.

To ensure that the votes of Filipinos in the Northeast are counted, the Consulate had

been finding ways to address the technical issues involving the VCMs. It had dispatched a member of the consular staff to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday morning, May 3 to borrow a spare unit to allow full ballot feeding operations to resume.

To ensure the timely counting of all ballots, the consulate began conducting daily ballot feeding on Monday, May 2, until Friday, May 6, starting at 9:00 a.m. at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center. The ballot feeding is streamed live on the Consulate’s Facebook page. (By Momar G. Visaya/AJPress) n

Locsin to represent...

PAGE 1 technology and strengthening people-to-people ties, among others.

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) n

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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 ended on Monday.

PNA photo by Avito Dalan

Experts await data on Moderna’s vaccine for kids THE medical community is celebrating drug maker Moderna’s recent announcement that it is seeking FDA approval for its COVID-19 vaccination for younger kids, though experts add they are “anxiously” awaiting further data on its efficacy and safety.

“We have seen that our youngest patients are getting sick and hospitalized with COVID… even previously healthy kids can develop complications,” said Pediatric Pulmonologist Dr. Manisha Newaskar with Stanford Children’s Health during an April 29 press briefing hosted by Ethnic Media Services.

“The data still needs full review, but we have to educate our families and encourage them to get their young ones vaccinated,” Newaskar added.

The vaccine will require two doses one month apart and is expected to be authorized by the FDA in June. Parents have been hesitant about shots for their kids in part due to the risk of myocarditis—an inflammation of the muscles around the heart— though experts note the risk decreases for younger patients.

“Schools may have a role to play in getting the vaccine out there,” said Dr. Ben Neuman, professor of Biology and chief virologist with the Global Health Research Complex, Texas A&M University.

“There are 500 deaths per year from bacterial meningitis, and that is one of the things that schools would normally require vaccination against,” explained Dr. Neuman. “COVID-19 is around 350 deaths in the same age group in roughly the span of a year. This needs to be one of the vaccines to make school work.”

Moderna previously requested FDA authorization for its vaccine for kids ages 6 to 11 and ages 12 to 17. It expects to submit data on the efficacy of these vaccines by May 9.

The news comes as Moderna also announced progress on a “bivalent” vaccine that would provide immunity to the original COVID-19 strain along with newer variants.

“Each year we update our influenza vaccine and it’s now a quadrivalent vaccine. It has four different antigens in it. So, the thinking among vaccine scientists is to do something quite similar with COVID,” explained Dr. William Schaffner, professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

“Expanding the antigens in the vaccines, we get broader coverage against this array of variants going forward,” Schaffner noted.

The speed at which variants of the COVID-19 virus are appearing, along with their relative transmissibility, calls for the development of multivariant vaccines, speakers said. The BA2 Omicron variant, which emerged in late November in the United States, is almost gone but has been replaced by a subvariant that is even more contagious: the BA.2.12.1 “We need to advocate the FDA to update the vaccines more quickly considering that we’re just tweaking the spike protein a little bit,” said Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding, co-founder of the World Health Network and chief of the COVID Task Force at the New England Complex Systems Institute. “We should be able to do a phase two (of approval), and then allow these brand-new phases to adapt the vaccines pretty quickly…”

Experts also weighed in on the removal of mask mandates on public transportation which several U.S transit systems, including airlines, have already adopted.

“We don’t just stop wearing helmets, unbuckle our seatbelts, and allow drunk driving because hospital beds are not full. I think the CDC is forgetting prevention (strategies) in trying to push for a return to normal,” added Dr. Feigl-Ding, who highlighted the fact that even for people who are boosted, the protection against hospitalization and death is 90-95%, but the protection against infection is only about 45%.

“Adults now are going out to gatherings, parties, bars, restaurants, nightclubs… so the likelihood of transmission is higher,” continued Dr. Feigl-Ding, “and someone may have immunocompromised children at home or family members who could actually have a severe outcome (from infection).”

Dr. Schaffner agreed that the ending of the mask mandate might increase the vulnerability of already fragile people and suggested that people consider their personal circumstances when deciding to leave the mask at home. “Are you older? Do you have an underlying illness, heart disease or lung disease? Are you immune-compromised? Are you a person that’s providing care for someone?

Continue to be very careful.”

The speakers emphasized that vaccination is safe and that boosters are essential to strengthen immunity against COVID-19 and its longterm effects such as headaches, fatigue, sleep disturbance, stomach aches, chest tightness, and loss of appetite among others. (Jenny Manrique/ Ethnic Media Services) n

SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 6-12, 2022

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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 low-income 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 seven-fold 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 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

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Fil-Am attorney leads class action team, gets $21.56M...

PAGE 1 worker 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 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) n

Iglesia ni Cristo endorses Marcos for...

PAGE 1 • 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 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

Presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos

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

Philstar.com photo

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) n

DONATIONS. Quezon City Police District chief, Brig. Gen. Remus Medina (center), leads the turnover of 3 of 10 goats to the Muslim community during the Eid al-Fitr celebration at Salaam Compound covered court in Barangay Culiat, Quezon City on Tuesday, May 3. The police also gave away 200 packs of dressed chicken during the event that coincided with the signing of a peace covenant for a peaceful election. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

New call center launched...

PAGE 1 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 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 SimbaMedel.

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. n

Pacquiao overtakes...

PAGE 1 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 Duterte-Carpio 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%. n

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Dateline PhiliPPines

5

Release De Lima – Robredo

by Ma.

reina leanne TolenTino , Francis earl cueTo

VICE President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo called for the freeing of Sen. Leila De Lima from detention after former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officer in charge Rafael Ragos recanted his testimony against the senator.

Ragos was the second individual to disavow his testimony against the senator after self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa.

“Patunay lang ito ng katotohanang matagal ko nang iginigiit: Walang kaso laban kay Sen. Leila De Lima. Ang tanging kasalanan niya ay ang magsabi ng totoo at ipagtanggol ang karapatan ng mga kapwa natin Pilipino (This is proof of what I have been asserting all Vice President Leni Robredo during the Tagayan, a ritual sealing the “Quezonduan” between presidential candidate and the people of Quezon along: There is no case against on April 28, Thursday at the Quezonduan: Grand People’s Rally in Lucena City, Quezon.

Inquirer.net photo Sen. Leila De Lima. Her only fault was telling the truth and defending the rights of our fellow

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

by Gabriel

Pabico Inquirer.net

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 house-to-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. n

ManilaTimes.net

Filipinos),” Robredo, a candidate for president in May, said in a statement Monday, May 2.

De Lima has been detained since 2017 on drug-related charges.

Last year, one of the three cases filed against her was dismissed.

Ragos said that he was “forced” to execute affidavits “due to threats of being detained... for the crime of engaging in the illegal drug trade that I did not commit.”

Earlier, the Department of Justice said Espinosa’s retraction will not affect the two remaining cases against De Lima. It said that his statements were not used by the prosecution as evidence in any of the cases.

Also on Monday, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Dionardo Bernardo Carlos said he has ordered an inquiry

and

JoMar canlas

into Espinosa’s claim that he was threatened by police into implicating De Lima.

Carlos said in an interview that the Internal Affairs Service and the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management will investigate the matter.

But he said that Espinosa’s statement is not the only basis of the senator’s case.

De Lima was accused of using contributions from the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison to fund her 2016 Senate run.

“There are other evidences and affidavits that are part of the proceedings,” Carlos said.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that like Espinosa, Ragos could face perjury charges for lying about the “moneymaking” schemes at the BuCor

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MAY 6-12, 2022 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

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OpiniOn

Social problems

Features Philstar.com photo

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 operations. Actual cockfights are under the be suspended until clear regulations are in place Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. has supervision of local government units. With every or the President decides to abolish the online no authority to issue franchises to online gaming aspect of e-sabong messed up, it should at least games. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

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 DuterteMarcos 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% pro-Marcos 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 pro-BBM. We’ve noticed a targeted effort to “red-tag” Leni Robredo as a communist terrorist. This

has grown out of a Duterte-era red-tagging 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: state-sponsored 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. 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

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 IndoPacific,” 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-

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!” ***

Pacific and Indian Ocean regions or the Indo-Pacific.”

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 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

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

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

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Tulfo, Legarda share top spot in Pulse Asia survey for senator

by Daniza

FernanDez Inquirer.net

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, May 2 – 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

FULL SWING. A boom lift carries a worker of the Metro Rail Transit-7 (MRT-7) while another man measures the water pipe placement along North Fairview, Quezon City on Monday, May 2. Eyed for partial operations late this year, the 22.8-kilometer elevated railway will have 14 stations from North Avenue, Quezon City to the City of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.

PNA photo by Oliver Marquez

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

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. n

Release De Lima – Robredo...

PAGE 5 and the New Bilibid Prison.

Ragos alleged he was coerced by then-Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre into giving false testimony against De Lima.

Guevarra said he has not seen Ragos’ statement, but the former BuCor official could be charged with perjury for retracting his

testimony.

“When a person willfully declares a false statement under oath, and another statement under oath nullifying the other sworn statement, one of these statements is obviously untrue and subjects the declarant to a possible charge of perjury,” he said.

LEGAL SERVICES SUMMONS(SUM-100) CASE NO. 37-2021-00020014-CU-COCTL

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DAYS after this summons and Si no presenta su respuesta a legal papers are served on you tiempo, puede perder el caso to file a written response at this por incumplimiento y la corte le court and have a copy served on podra quitar su sueldo, dinero y the plaintiff. A letter or phone call bienes sin mas advertencia. will not protect you. Your written Hay otros requisitos legales. response must be in proper Es recomendable que llame a legal form if you want the court un abogado inmediatamente. to hear your case. There may Si no conoce a un abogado, be a court form that you can puede llamar a un servicio de use for your response. You can remision a abogados. Si no find these court forms and more puede pagar a un abogado, information at the California es posible que cumpla con los Courts Online SelfHelp Center requisitos para obtener servicios (http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ legales gratuitos de un programa selfhelp), your county law library de servicios legales sin fines de or the courthouse nearest you. If lucro. Puede encontrar estos you cannot pay the filing fee, ask grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio the court clerk for a fee waiver web de California Legal Services, form. If you do not file your (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), response on time, you may lose en el Centro de Ayuda de las the case by default, and your Cortes de California, (www. wages, money and property sucorte.ca.gov ) o poniendose may be taken without further en contacto con la corte o el warning from the court. colegio de abogados locales.

There are other legal AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene requirements. You may want derecho a reclamar las cuotas y to call an attorney right away. los costos exentos por imponer If you do not know an attorney, un gravamen sobre cualquier you may want to call an attorney recuperacion de $10,000 o referral service. If you cannot mas de valor recibida mediante afford an attorney, you may be un acuerdo o una concesion eligible for free legal services de arbitraje en un caso de from a nonprofit legal services derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el program. You can locate gravamen de la corte antes de these nonprofit groups at the que la corte pueda desechar el California Legal Services Web caso. site (www.lawhelp california.

The name, address and org) the California Courts Online telephone number of the court SelfHelp Center (http://www. is (El nombre y direccion de la courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by Corte es:) Superior Court of contacting your local court or California, County of San Diego, county bar association. NOTE: 330 West Broadway, San Diego, The court has a statutory lien for CA 92101 waived fees and costs on any The name, address and settlement or arbitration award telephone number of plaintiff’s of $10,000 or more in a civil attorney or plaintiff without case. The court’s lien must be an attorney, is (El nombre, la paid before the court will dismiss direccion y el numero de telefono the case. del abogado del demandante, AVISO: Lo han demandado. o del demandante que no tiene Si no responde dentro de 30 abogado, es): dias, la corte puede decidir Law Offices of Jay W. Smith en su contra sin escuchar su Esq. Sbn: 150113 and Nancy A. version. Lea la informacion a Young, Esq. Sbn: 183328 continuacion. Tiene 30 DIAS 6644 Valjean Avenue #200 DE CALENDARIO despues Van Nuys, CA 91406 de que le entreguen esta Phone: 818-709-2556 citacion y papales legales DATE: 05/06/2021 AJ 939 04/29, 05/06, 05/13, para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y and 05/20/2022 AJSD#939

Prosecutor General Ben Malcontento has revealed that Espinosa is no longer a state witness after he was dropped from the Witness Protection Program of the Justice department for trying to escape from the National Bureau of Investigation’s holding facility last January. n

PAGE 4 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

a. Bonita Driving School located at 971 Swaying Palms Way, San Diego, CA 92154. b. Aguilar Driving School located at 971 Swaying Palms Way, San Diego, CA 92154. c. Aguilar Drivers ED located at 971 Swaying Palms Way, San Diego, CA 92154. d. Bonita Driver ED located at 971 Swaying Palms Way, San Diego, CA 92154. e. Eastlake Drivers ED located at 971 Swaying Palms Way, San Diego, CA 92154. f. Eastlake Driving School located at 971 Swaying Palms Way, San Diego, CA 92154. g. Imperial Beach Driving School located at 971 Swaying Palms Way, San Diego, CA 92154. h. Olympian Driving School located at 971 Swaying Palms Way, San Diego, CA 92154. i. Otay Ranch Driving School located at 971 Swaying Palms Way, San Diego, CA 92154. j. Southbay Driving School located at 971 Swaying Palms Way, San Diego, CA 92154. k. Southwestern located at 971 Swaying Palms Way, San Diego, CA 92154.

Registrant: Carlo Joseph Aguilar, 971 Swaying Palms Way, San Diego, CA 92154.

This business is conducted

by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 01/25/2017.

Signature Carlo Joseph Aguilar.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 04/07/2022.

AJ 931 04/15, 04/22, 04/29, and 05/06/2022.

AJSD#931

EMPLOYMENT

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 was scheduled for May 3 in Sacramento. n

The importance of the US-ASEAN...

PAGE 6 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 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.

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.

LEGAL SERVICES FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9008293

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

7

Just before we relinquished our chairmanship of the ACW last January, we had successful meetings with U.S. 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.

*** Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com

EMPLOYMENT

8

MAY 6-12, 2022 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (619) 474-0588

LEGAL SERVICES CASE NUMBER: 37-2022-00012029-CU-PT-CTL

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner James Kenneth Pittman AKA James Kenneth Worthy filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. James Kenneth Pittman AKA James Kenneth Worthy to James Kenneth Worthy.

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 05/17/2022 Time: 8:30 AM Dept. C-61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. 61 San Diego, CA 92101 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county.

Asian Journal: APR. 01, 2022 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Michael T. Smyth Judge of the Superior Court AJ 930 04/15, 04/22, 04/29, and 05/06/2022.

ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120) NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date.

Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court.

AJSD #930

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9007012

a.

Chesrown Automotive Sales Leasing located at 3040 Clairemont Drive Build. A-3, San Diego, CA 92117. b. Chesrown Auto Transport located at 3040 Clairemont Drive Build. A-3, San Diego, CA 92117. c. Chesrown Financial located at 3040 Clairemont Drive Build.

A-3, San Diego, CA 92117. d. Chesrown Rent A Car located at 3040 Clairemont Drive Build. A-3, San Diego, CA 92117.

Registrant: Chesrown Automotive Group, 5755 Oberline Drive, STE 30, San Diego, CA 92121.

This business is conducted by Limited Liability Company.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 10/08/2016.

Signature: Jeffrey James Chesrown.

Statement filed with Recorder/ County Clerk of San Diego County on 03/24/2022.

AJ 932 04/15, 04/22, 04/29, and 05/06/2022.

AJSD#932

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9009382

a. Pacific Wind Apartments located at 3703 Harding St., Carlsbad, CA 92008. b. Harding Street Neighbors, LP located at 14211 Yorba St. Ste #200, Tustin, CA 92780.

Registrant: A. C&C Harding Street, LLC, 14211 Yorba St. Ste #200, Tustin, CA 92780.

B. IHO Harding Street, LLC, 501 N. Golden Circle, Ste. #100, Santa Ana, CA 92705.

This business is conducted

by Limited Partnership.

REGISTRANT HAS BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE ABOVED NAME(S) AS OF 03/15/2022.

Signature Barry Cottle, Member.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 04/21/2022.

AJ 944 04/29, 05/06, 05/13 and 05/20/2022.

AJSD#944

LEGAL SERVICES

CASE NUMBER: 37-2022-00013367-CU-PT-CTL

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Brittany Mitchell and Mathew Mitchell on behalf of a minor child filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Brittany Ciulla Mitchell to Mia Ciulla Mitchell.

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 05/31/2022 Time: 8:30 AM Dept. 25 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego North County Division 325 S. Melrose Dr. Vista, CA 92081 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county.

Asian Journal: APR. 11, 2022 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT JAMES E. SIMMONS JR. Judge of the Superior Court AJ 933 04/15, 04/22, 04/29, and 05/06/2022.

ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120) NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date.

Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court.

AJSD #933

CASE NUMBER: 37-2022-00013372-CU-PT-CTL TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Nazir Samadi filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Nazir Samadi to Adam Crow.

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 05/31/2022 Time: 8:30 AM Dept. 25 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego North County Division 325 S. Melrose Dr. Vista, CA 92081 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county.

Asian Journal: APR. 11, 2022 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT JAMES E. SIMMONS JR. Judge of the Superior Court AJ 934 04/15, 04/22, 04/29, and 05/06/2022.

ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120) NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date.

Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court.

AJSD #934

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9009124

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9008919

Pacific Auto Upholstery located at 2904 Lytton St., San Diego, CA 92110.

Registrant: a. Carlos Antonio Zabala, 2351 Arbor View St., Chula Vista, CA 91915. b. Delia Adelina Zabala, 2351 Arbor View St., Chula Vista, CA 91915.

This business is conducted by Married Couple.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 04/01/1984.

Signature Carlos Antonio Zabala.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 04/19/2022.

AJ 936 04/29, 05/06, 05/13, and 05/20/2022. AJSD#936

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9009922

My Why Realty located at 7710 Hazard Center Dr., Ste E535, San Diego, CA 92108.

Registrant: My Why Realty Corp., 7710 Hazard Center Dr., Ste E535, San Diego, CA 92108.

This business is conducted

by Corporation.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVED. Signature Steven Doria Kilgore.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 04/28/2022.

AJ 945 05/06, 05/13, 05/20, and 05/27/2022.

AJSD#945

LEGAL SERVICES

CASE NUMBER: 37-2022-00013648-CU-PT-CTL

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Peter D. Chu, Esq. State Bar# 98935 Attorney For: John Huang filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. John Huang to Ruohan Huang.

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 05/26/2022 Time: 8:30 AM Dept. 61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. 61 San Diego, CA 92101 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county.

Asian Journal: APR. 13, 2022 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Michael T. Smyth Judge of the Superior Court AJ 935 04/22, 04/29, 05/06, and 05/13/2022.

ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120) NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date.

Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court.

AJSD#935

Islander Realty located at 1047 B Avenue, Coronado, CA 92118.

Registrant: Joe Eco Real Estate Broker Inc., 1047 B Avenue, Coronado, CA 92118.

This business is conducted by Corporation.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 03/25/2014.

Signature Joseph Peter Economou.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 04/15/2022.

AJ 937 04/29, 05/06, 05/13, and 05/20/2022.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9009254 J & L Painters located at 8462 Summerdale Rd. Unit D, San Diego, CA 92126.

Registrant: Jose Huaracha, 8462 Summerdale Rd. Unit D, San Diego, CA 92126.

This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVED .

Signature Jose Huaracha.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 04/20/2022.

AJ 938 04/29, 05/06, 05/13, 0520/2022.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9009918

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9010214

AJSD#937

Symbol Of Open Arms located at 521 Valencia Parkway, San Diego, CA 92114.

Registrant: Jonathan Patron Molina, 521 Valencia Parkway, San Diego, CA 92114.

This business is conducted

by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 04/28/2022.

Signature Sang Soo Bae. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 04/28/2022.

AJ 946 05/06, 05/13, 05/20, and 05/27/2022.

AJSD#946

AJSD#938

a. Idso located at 1875 S. Centre City Pkwy., Escondido, CA 92025. b. Andre Idso located at 1875 S. Centre City Pkwy., Escondido, CA 92025.

Registrant: Andre John Lagario Idso, 280 Via Magia, Carlsbad, CA 92010.

This business is conducted

by Individual.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE. Signature: Andre Idso.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 05/02/2022.

AJ 947 05/06, 05/13, 05/20, and 05/27/2022. AJSD#947

CASE NUMBER: 37-2022-00014950-CU-PT-CTL

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Peter D. Chu, Esq. State Bar# 98935 Attorney For: Jordan Pascal Eddy Picard filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Jordan Pascal Eddy Picard to Jordan Swan.

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 06/09/2022 Time: 8:30 AM Dept. 61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. 61 San Diego, CA 92101 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county.

Asian Journal: APR. 22, 2022 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Michael T. Smyth Judge of the Superior Court AJ 942 04/29, 05/06, 05/13, and 05/20/2022.

ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120) NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date.

Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court.

AJSD#942

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9008363

Cabinet Expo located at 6784 El Cajon Blvd., Ste F, San Diego, CA 92115.

Registrant: Marc Koesema, 2358 University Ave., #704, San Diego, CA 92104.

This business is conducted

by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 04/08/2022.

Signature: Marc Koesema.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 04/08/2022.

AJ 940 04/29, 05/06, 05/13, and 05/20/2022.

AJSD#940

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-90010435

Lett’s Notarize located at 341 Sweetwood Street, San Diego, CA 92114.

Registrant: Letsada Phommavong, 341 Sweetwood Street, San Diego, CA 92114.

This business is conducted

by Individual.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE. Signature: Letsada Phommavong.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 05/04/2022.

AJ 948 05/06, 05/13, 05/20, and 05/27/2022.

AJSD#948

AMENDED CASE NUMBER: 37-2022-00002739-CU-PT-CTL

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Keila Gaxiola Lucero filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Keila Gaxiola Lucero to Keila Gaxiola Hernandez.

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 06/08/2022 Time: 8:30 AM Dept. 61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. 61 San Diego, CA 92101 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county.

Asian Journal: ARP 21, 2022 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Michael T. Smyth Judge of the Superior Court AJ 943 04/29, 05/06, 05/13, and 05/20/2022 ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120) If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One certified copy of the Order Granting Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the Court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If timely objection is filed, the Court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE, MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date.

Any Petition for the name change of a minor, that is signed by only one parent, must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other, non-signing parent, and proof of service must be filed with the Court.

AJSD#943

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9009590

Crossroad Fellowship Grace International located at 9132 Cambon St., Spring Valley, CA 91977.

Registrant: Meafua Poumele, 9132 Cambon St., Spring Valley, CA 91977.

This business is conducted

by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 04/20/2022.

Signature: Meafua Poumele.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 04/08/2022.

AJ 941 04/29, 05/06, 05/13, and 05/20/2022. AJSD#941

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9010175

NARU Market located at 6435 Olea Lane #201, Carlsbad, CA 92011.

Registrant: Allison Yunkyung Kang, 6435 Olea Lane #201, Carlsbad, CA 92011.

This business is conducted

by Individual.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE. Signature: Allison Yunkyung Kang.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 04/29/2022.

AJ 949 05/06, 05/13, 05/20, and 05/27/2022.

AJSD#949

SAN DIEGO

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SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 6-12, 2022

JOURNAL

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M AY 6 , 2 0 22

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

by Klarize

Medenilla / AJPress

A

LIGNING 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.

Bella Poarch Photo from Instagram/@bellapoarch

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

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

Hailee Steinfeld Photo from Instagram/@haileesteinfeld

Jo Koy

Photo from Instagram/@jokoy

Lee Kiefer Photo from Instagram/@leetothekiefer

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 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 chart-toppers 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 Oscar-nominated 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.

The list honored Filipinos in 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

Olivia Rodrigo

Silk Sonic

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

Photo from Instagram/@oliviarodrigo

Photo from Instagram/@brunomars

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

Bretman Rock Photo from Instagram/@bretmanrock

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

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MAY 6-12, 2022 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

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San Diego’s ‘SD Access 4 All’ program wins award from taxpayer watchdog City partnered with Cox Communications and AT&T to help close digital divide, expand public wi-fi

Carissa Moore Justine Wong-Orantes Photo from Instagram/@rissmoore10 Photo from Instagram/@jwongorantes

Olivia Rodrigo, Bruno...

PAGE 9 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 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

Jalen Green

Photo from Instagram/@jalen

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.” n

Jordan Clarkson Photo from Instagram/@jordanclarksons

SAN DIEGO – The City of San Diego’s SD Access 4 All initiative to expand public Wi-Fi to over 300 locations citywide won the Public-Private Partnership Watchdog Award this past week at the San Diego County Taxpayers Association’s 26th Annual Golden Watchdog and Fleece Awards.

The city partnered with AT&T, Cox Communications, the San Diego Parks Foundation and the San Diego Public Library Foundation to help close the digital divide that has left an estimated 53,000 San Diego households without internet access.

More than 200,000 unique users have used the expanded public Wi-Fi and logged on over 1.4 million times in the first year of the initiative.

“We launched SD Access 4 All with the goal of creating more opportunities for San Diegans to access the internet and it’s been hugely successful,” said Mayor Todd Gloria.

“Closing the digital divide is difficult work and we are grateful to our many partners who helped us expand public Wi-Fi and

provide new tools at libraries – from laptops to mobile hotspots – to help residents get connected. This award belongs to the many hardworking City employees across several departments who worked collaboratively to get the job done for the public we proudly serve.”

Launched in April 2021 with a $500,000 annual budget, the SD Access 4 All initiative is a collaboration between the private sector and several City departments, including Economic Development, Human Resources, Information Technology, Library and Parks and Recreation.

In addition to the public Wi-Fi expansion, the city also purchased hundreds of new laptops and 2,000 new mobile hotspots that patrons can check out from libraries.

Mobile hotspots are easy to use and provide free at-home internet service.

SD Access 4 All benefited from several community partners to provide this public service. The San Diego Parks Foundation helped support public Wi-Fi at two dozen parks locations while the San

Diego Public Library Foundation supported the Library’s 10 outdoor community computer labs and laptop expansion.

In addition, the city reached an agreement with Cox Communications on neighborhood Wi-Fi hotspots and with AT&T on the mobile hotspots – with both companies providing discounts on each service.

For more than two decades, the San Diego County Taxpayers Association (SDCTA) has annually recognized the best and worst in local government with the Golden Watchdog and Fleece Awards, also known as “The Goldens.” The 2022 awards ceremony was held on Thursday, April 28.

The SDCTA is a nonpartisan association of individuals, businesses and organizations that promotes effective and efficient government on behalf of all San Diego County taxpayers. The association engages civic leadership as well as the public to develop and promote well-researched policy solutions.

(City of San Diego Release) n

City of San Diego celebrates 100th year of Barrett Reservoir Fishing season opened to the public May 4, reservations available SAN DIEGO – This year marks a century of Barrett Reservoir playing an important part of the City of San Diego’s water supply.

Barrett is one of nine reservoirs that make up part of the city’s vast water system. Fishing season opened at Barrett on Wednesday, May 4.

Barrett Reservoir was created with the completion of Barrett Dam in 1922 after about three years of construction. Named after George Barrett who owned the land at one time, the reservoir is located at the confluence of Cottonwood and Pine Valley creeks.

“For 100 years, Barrett Reservoir has served as an integral part of our drinking water system and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future,” said Juan Guerreiro, Interim Director of the City’s Public Utilities Department. “Barrett is also a popular recreation area that San Diegans enjoy.”

Barrett captures rainwater runoff only and is not fed by imported water. The reservoir’s water storage capacity is more than 34,800 acre feet. Water

from Barrett is transferred to the Lower Otay Reservoir via the Dulzura Conduit before it is treated at the City’s Otay Water Treatment Plant for distribution to customers.

Public access to Barrett has been offered on a limited basis by reservation only since 1994.

Fishing season runs from May to September, and waterfowl hunting is allowed from midOctober through January.

Visitors can enjoy boating,

kayaking and float tubes, and the recreation area includes picnic areas, barbecues and restrooms.

Fishing reservations are on sale through Ticketmaster. You must buy your ticket at least one day before your fishing day. A valid California Fishing License is required for anglers 16 years of age or older. California Department of Fish and Wildlife Freshwater Sport regulations and City regulations are strictly enforced. Fish available at

Barrett include largemouth bass, bullhead catfish, crappie and sunfish.

Reservations for waterfowl hunting at Barrett are sold in advance via a lottery draw method in October.

Barrett Reservoir is located at 19886 Japatul Lyons Valley Road in Jamul. More information about Barrett and other City reservoirs is available at sandiego.gov/ reservoir-lakes.

(City of San Diego Release) n

Clark County population expected to grow by 1M in 2060

By RealtoR

Fely Quitevis-Bateman

MORE and more people are expected to flock into Clark County in Nevada as construction and development continue to come into the area.

In a recent study done by the University of Nevada Las Vegas’ Lee Business School’s Center for Business and Economic Research cited by the Las Vegas Review Journal, Clark County is estimated to add about 1 million more residents to its fold by 2060, putting the population by that time to about 3.38 million.

Currently, Clark County was estimated to have a population of about 2.38 million in 2020. It is estimated to grow by 2.2% in 2022, putting the estimate to around 2.47 million by year’s end.

More than half of Clark County’s population live in Las Vegas, which is the seat of the county.

The same study, which was commissioned for a few Southern Nevada agencies and members of the Forecasting Group, show growth in Clark County hovering between 2.4% to 1.0% from 2023 to 2035. From 2040 to 2060, population growth is estimated to be from 0.2% to 0.7%.

Clark County has certainly come a long way from its roots, having only been established in 1909, and was formed when the Nevada Legislature split off a portion of Lincoln County.

In 1910, its population was placed only at 3,321.

A few major dates for the county included the incorporation of cities like Las Vegas (June 1911), North Las Vegas (May 1946) and Henderson (April 1953). Over the years, its population steadily increased, fueled by steep increases in the mid-80s to late 2000s.

Las Vegas houses Clark County’s largest population, with an almost 1.8 million people living in Las Vegas Census County Divisions (as of the 2010 Census). Las Vegas city by itself is estimated to have nearly 650,000 residents, placing it 26th among largest cities in the United States and first in the State of Nevada.

Billed as the gambling and entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas has been thoroughly developed, with sprawling

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (foreground) with a group of Filipino Americans at an event in Nevada. Fil-Ams are the largest Asian group in Clark County.

communities and master-planned developments moving outward to satisfy the demand from the population.

Communities like Green Valley, Summerlin, Red Rock, Mountain’s Edge, Inspirada, Providence, and Cadence are now well-known to residents, realtors and astute property buyers.

And more development is underway, perhaps

With Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (extreme left) in photo are (from left) Johnny and Grace Rustia of New Jersey, and Joannie Feliciano and nephew Aldo from Orange County. Quitevis-Bateman’s clients are scouting for a place to retire.

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman with Ron Quilang from Henderson, NV who is running for Assemblyman for District 21. As the largest Asian American group in Clark County, Quitevis-Bateman believes there should be an elected Fil-Am in government.

fueled by a good network of freeways and roads, as well as interest from many sectors keen on gaining a foothold in the city and the state.

The LVRJ article stated that although there may be a limitation to how far the boundaries for future master-planned communities may go, there is still a hot demand for real estate and properties in Las Vegas. Residential developers are still buying land for new projects, and house hunters are buying in new subdivisions throughout the valley, per the article.

Currently, in Las Vegas, there are multiple offers for properties who normally close at higher than asking prices. Plus, it is not

uncommon for buyers to be put on a waiting list in order to secure a bid for one of the more affordable properties in the market.

This only means one thing for Las Vegas and neighboring regions – there will be demand for more housing, particularly affordable housing.

There is already interest from real estate developers looking at other areas close to Las Vegas where they can develop communities to address the needs of a booming population.

Areas like Pahrump, Nevada, which is located in Nye County and is only about 62 miles west of Las Vegas, are being looked at by the propertysavvy due to affordability and proximity advantages. With about a million more people estimated to make their way to Clark County – and in particular, to Las Vegas – there is more of a probability for outward development to outside regions.

And now is the time, more than ever, to take a look at those golden opportunities – be it in Las Vegas or in neighboring cities like Henderson, Boulder or Mesquite, and towns like Pahrump.

More affordable prices, better quality of life, ease of traffic and less crime may be some of the reasons why areas outside of Las Vegas may spark interest to property hunters.

Moreso, there are many advantages to buying land or property in Nevada, or even becoming a resident of the state: a competitive business state tax, a county sales tax of 6.75% (not on food items), and no taxes associated with estate/ inheritance, franchise, gift, inventory/interstate commerce, corporate income and personal income.

Whether you are looking to be gainfully employed, retire or just own a second home or land as an investment, Las Vegas and Pahrump are great places to start your search, and I can help you. Having seen the growth of these communities since 1990s, I can assist you, my kababayans, in your search for the best opportunities.

My company, Precious Properties, is a fullservice 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.

Development going on in Las Vegas will bring more jobs and new residents to the area.

(Advertising Supplement)

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Community

City of San Diego, California Coast Credit Union deliver $120,000 in funding to local nonprofits

Ceremony marks investment in Project New Village and 8 other organizations benefitting federal promise zone SAN DIEGO – Nine local nonprofits are getting a financial boost to support their work in San Diego neighborhoods. On Tuesday, May 3, Council President Sean Elo-Rivera, Council President Pro Tem Monica Montgomery Steppe and Councilmember Vivian Moreno joined California Coast Credit Union (Cal Coast) President and Chief Executive Officer Todd Lane to provide critically needed funding to organizations serving residents within the San Diego Promise Zone and other under-invested communities.

A $13,650 check was presented to Project New Village at the Mount Hope Community Garden, which was established by the nonprofit to provide a community gathering space for residents to practice sustainable agriculture.

“San Diego has too many proud, hardworking neighborhoods that have been disinvested in and made to wait for things every community expects and deserves. We must act now to right those wrongs,” said Council President Sean Elo-Rivera.

“This grant will help build an agricultural space in Mount Hope, but it is also an investment in the people who live here, their education, their health and future opportunities, and I look forward to more of these funds coming to Promise Zones in the years to come.”

Project New Village is one of nine nonprofits receiving a total of $120,000 in microgrants from Cal Coast. The funding will be used to expand the capacity of these organizations to help improve the quality of life in Promise Zone communities and other areas in the city in need of additional resources. Funding was awarded based on the nonprofit organizations’ experience in serving disadvantaged neighborhoods, the need for the proposed service in the community and the ability to improve the lives of underserved residents.

Serving as the city’s financial partner, Cal Coast has also made a financial commitment to the Promise Zone for the remainder of its 10-year designation. The city’s official financial partner will continue to invest in the wealth of potential found in Promise Zone businesses and organizations that serve its residents.

“I’m very proud of the collaboration between California Coast and the San Diego Promise Zones in their commitment to improving the quality of life for historically under-resourced communities,” said Council President Pro Tem Monica Montgomery Steppe. “These grants provide an opportunity for

each of the recognized nonprofits to continue their valuable work in revitalizing our community.”

Additional awardees of Cal Coast funding are: • San Diego Habitat for Humanity - $17,100.

• Depositing Empowerment Through Outreach & Urban Redevelopment (D.E.T.O.U.R.) - $14,000.

• Leah’s Pantry - $14,000.

• Outdoor Outreach - $14,000.

• Project New Village - $13,650.

• San Diego Parks Foundation - $13,300.

• San Diego Futures Foundation - $12,000.

• San Diego Co-Harvest Foundation - $10,500.

• Logan Heights Community Development Corporation - $10,500.

“Cal Coast Credit Union is deeply committed to our partnership with the City of San Diego and supporting the people and businesses in the Promise Zone,” said Todd Lane, president and CEO of Cal Coast Credit Union.

“We are proud to contribute funding to micro grant awardees to further their efforts in addressing the underserved within their communities.

We also look forward to continuing our engagement in the Promise Zone by supporting their financial service needs and in making a positive impact in our region.”

As the backbone organization of the San Diego Promise Zone, the City of San Diego fosters partnerships with community-serving organizations, government agencies, and philanthropic, corporate and educational institutions under a collective impact framework to provide comprehensive support to over 80,000 residents living in the culturally vibrant neighborhoods of Barrio Logan, Logan Heights, Southeastern, Encanto, and East Village. For more information about the City’s Promise Zone Program, please visitsandiego.gov/ economic-development/sdpromisezone.

Established by San Diego teachers in 1929, California Coast Credit Union is the longest-serving financial institution based in San Diego County.

With more than $3 billion in assets, the credit union serves nearly 200,000 members through its local network of 26 branches and 60 shared branch locations, and 30,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide.

California Coast is not-for-profit, provides no-cost financial education for adults and youth, and is committed to improving the lives of its members and others in the community. Anyone who lives or works in San Diego or Riverside counties can be a member. For more information, visit www. calcoastcu.org or call 877-495-1600.

(City of San Diego Release) n

A $13,650 check was presented to Project New Village at the Mount Hope Community Garden, which was established by the nonprofit to provide a community gathering space for residents to practice sustainable agriculture.

SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 6-12, 2022

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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-onone 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 co-development 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)

Jona believes that singing is just like acting FOR singer Jona, performing through singing is more than how it is perceived, because it involves emotions, and therefore, a little bit of acting.

“You are using your voice to project the emotions [needed in the lyrics of the song],” Jona explained during the online press conference for the “The Broken Playlist” last April 26.

Jona explains how this is done by a singer. For example, when singing songs about being brokenhearted, the singer needs to one’s voice in such a way that it can sound like

Jona

Photo from Instagram/@jona

crying. There’s also a different approach when singing romantic or happy songs.

With that, Jona also feels that theme songs, whether for a soap opera or the movies, are very important in enhancing the scenes, or to convey emotions to the audience.

Meanwhile, Jona is grateful to perform the song “Tinatapos Ko Na” for the concert, as it came from Himig Handog 2018 and it became the first theme song of the Philippine airing of the “The World Of A Married Couple.”

(By Alex Brosas/ Inquirer.net) n

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MAY 6-12, 2022 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

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