051223 - San Diego Edition

Medi-Cal enrollees in California: Here’s how to verify your eligibility

IF you are enrolled in Medi-Cal, as more than one-third of Californians are, make sure your county knows how to reach you, or you could lose your health coverage unnecessarily.

You will likely hear and see public messages over the coming weeks urging you to update your contact information. Heed them.

Then, sometime between now and next spring, you’ll probably receive mail from the agency that administers Medi-Cal in your county telling you if you are still eligible for the safety-net health insurance program or asking for more information about your employment status, income, and household size. An information request

Vice President Kamala

Harris headlines White House celebration of AANHPI Heritage Month

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A packed auditorium stood up and cheered for a long moment as Vice President Kamala Harris took the stage May 3 at George Washington University here, during the White House celebration kicking off Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

The theme of the event was “Visible

Together.” AANHPIs have long been in the shadows of American society, though they are the fastest-growing immigrant population.

In her remarks onstage, Harris said that at many junctures in her career, she has felt like the only person of color in the room. “My mom used to say to me: ‘Kamala, you may be the first to do this, but make sure you’re not the last,’” said Harris, who is the first Indian American, Black, and first female Vice President in the U.S.

“You may find when you walk into a room that you are the only one who looks like you or has your lived experiences,” said Harris. “My message is: walk in with your chin up, shoulders back, knowing that you are representing the voices of so many people who are proud that you’re in that room.”

“We are all in that room with you. You are not walking in that room alone,” she said, to cheers from the audience of more than 1,300 people. United States Trade Representative

US: Talks on details of possible joint maritime activities still ongoing

MANILA — Discussions on the specifics of the joint maritime activities between the United States and the Philippines are

may begin as soon as third quarter this year.

“Our conversations on combined maritime activities with the Philippines are continuing, and our planners are working hard on specific issues such as timing, assets, and logistics,” the embassy said in a statement on Tuesday. Manila and Washington “agreed to restart joint maritime patrols” in the South China Sea when

Gov’t debt soars to record P13.8T

by Niña Myka PauliNe arCeo ManilaTimes.net

CONTINUED borrowings and an anemic peso pushed the national government’s debt to a new high of P13.86 trillion in March, the Bureau of the Treasury said on Monday, May 8. In that month alone, P104.15 billion was added to the total outstanding debt. This is 0.8 percent higher than the previous month’s P13.75 trillion, owing to the “net issuance of domestic and external debt,” the bureau said.

As of end-March, local borrowings were at 68.7 percent and external debt at 31.3 percent.

The domestic debt surged to P9.51 trillion, P71.00 billion or 0.8 percent higher than the end-February’s P9.44 trillion.

“In March, the P72.87 billion net

issuance of domestic securities outweighed the P1.87 billion effect of local currency appreciation against the US dollar on onshore foreign currency denominated securities,” the Treasury said.

From the end of December 2022, domestic debt rose by 3.3 percent, or P304.78 billion.

External debt ballooned to P4.34 trillion, P33.15 billion more than the P4.31 trillion in the previous month.

The Treasury attributed the drop in external debts to “the P84.26 billion net availment of foreign loans and P18.53 billion impact of third-currency adjustments against the US dollar.”

“These more than offset the P69.64 billion effect of local currency appreciation against the U.S. dollar,” the bureau said.

Compared to the end of December 2022,

u PAGE 4

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visitied Manila to meet his counterpart, Carlito Galvez Jr., in February.

A month later, the Department of Foreign Affairs said that the government already kickstarted creating guidelines for combined maritime activities in the West Philippine Sea.

Dismiss 4 top cops linked to drugs, Bongbong Marcos asked

by Dexter Cabalza Inquirer.net

“I KNOW it’s a bitter pill to swallow. This will be a painful situation at first, but for me this will lead to a better and renewed police force that is united in fighting illegal drugs.”

The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has asked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to accept the resignations of two generals and two colonels for their involvement in illegal drugs.

The recommendation followed the investigation of 953 officials of the Philippine National Police who filed their courtesy resignations last January as part of government efforts to cleanse the police force of the “deeply entrenched” illegal drug problem.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, who sits as ex officio chair of Napolcom, declined to disclose the names of the four officials pending the official u PAGE 4

Marcoses meet Charles at Buckingham Palace WHO’s declaration on COVID-19 to help sustain PH economy’s growth – Romualdez

President’s trip to US shows PH has ‘powerful friends’ – expert

by HeleN Flores Philstar.com

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos was among the world leaders who witnessed the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla at Westminster Abbey in the United Kingdom on Saturday, May 6 highlighting the deep ties between the Philippines and the European nation.

Marcos, who was accompanied by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, arrived at the Gatwick Airport on Friday, May 5 from Washington D.C.

The president and his

u PAGE 2

by FaitH argosiNo Inquirer.net

MANILA — The World Health Organization (WHO) declaring that COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency would help the country boost its economic activities and sustain its growth, House Speaker Martin Romualdez said on Sunday, May 7.

“The decision shows that countries around the globe, including the Philippines,

by FraNCes MaNgosiNg, JeroMe aNiNg Inquirer.net

THE reaffirmation of Manila’s ties with Washington during President Marcos’ visit to the United States last week sends a “stronger message” to China that the Philippines has “powerful friends” it could count on, a maritime law expert said at a government briefing on Monday, May 8.

“Of course, China will be concerned because they will see that we are not just a small country, but a country with many powerful friends. And, hopefully, because of that, they might think a bit that we cannot just

be cast aside, especially when it comes to the West Philippine Sea,” lawyer Jay Batongbacal said at the Laging Handa public briefing.

Yet China is still “expected” to continue testing the Philippines’ resolve in defending its maritime claims, said Batongbacal, director of the University of the Philippines-Institute of Maritime Affairs and the Law of the Sea.

“But because the message has become stronger that we have powerful friends, maybe they will change a little in their

u PAGE 7

still ongoing, the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines said on Tuesday, May 9. Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez told CNN Philippines on Monday, May 8 he expects that the exercises

ALLIES. United States Army chief of staff Gen. James McConville exchanges pleasantries with Filipino soldiers at the Philippine Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Wednesday, May 10. McConville paid a courtesy

Brawner Jr.

photo by Joan Bondoc

MEETING WITH KING CHARLES. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos met King Charles III in Buckingham Palace in London ahead of the monarch’s formal coronation on Saturday, May 6. The encounter between the Macroses and King Charles III happened during the reception for heads of state and other visiting dignitaries in Buckingham Palace on Friday, May 5. Malacañang photo

NEW SEA ASSETS. Two Fast Attack Interdiction Craft platforms of the Philippine Navy are christened during a ceremony at Naval Station Pascual Ledesma in Cavite City on Monday, May 8. These new patrol assets from Israel—BRP Gener Tinangag (PG 903) and BRP Domingo Deluana (PG 905 —were named after Philippine Marines Corps heroes. Inquirer.net photo by Richard A. Reyes

Marcoses meet Charles at Buckingham...

delegation were welcomed by Richard Kleinwort, special representative of King Charles, and Georgina Butler, special representative of the foreign secretary, at the airport.

“Honored to have been greeted by a representative of the royal court upon our arrival in the UK for the coronation of King Charles III,” the president said in a post on Twitter.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) also shared on Facebook photos of

Marcos’ arrival as well as his meeting with airport officials.

According to reports, Marcos’ children, Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, Simon and Vincent were also in London.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, the president’s cousin, and Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista were among the officials in the president’s delegation to the UK.

The president and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak were expected to have a “very casual” meeting on the sidelines of Charles’

coronation as part of efforts to deepen Manila and London’s trade partnership.

“I can’t think of a single instance where the Philippines and the UK ever disagreed. It’s been a continuing friendship and now I hope under a president, who to some extent had his character formed with the British experience, will go deeper,”

Philippine Ambassador to the UK and Northern Ireland Teodoro Locsin Jr. said in a media interview in London on Friday.

Marcos received a special diploma in social studies from the Oxford University in England in 1978. He also went to Worth School, also in England, from 1970 to 1974.

On Twitter, British Ambassador Laure Beaufils posted a photo of the First Couple chatting with Charles during a dinner at the Buckingham Palace on Friday for overseas representatives. The president wore a barong, while the First Lady donned a Filipiniana outfit.

“Deeply honored to attend the royal reception with First Lady Liza Marcos at Buckingham Palace,” Marcos tweeted on Saturday, May 6.

“We underscore the thriving relationship between the Philippines and the United Kingdom, which has been promising in increasing trade, investment and cultural exchanges for the Filipino people,” he said.

Marcos’ visit to the UK followed a fiveday official visit to the U.S., where he met with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and top military officials.

In an interview in Washington on Thursday, May 4, Marcos said he personally knows Charles. The King is the UK head of state although his powers are symbolic and ceremonial.

The president failed to attend the funeral of Charles’ mother, Queen Elizabeth, in September last year and was represented by his sister Irene. n

US: Talks on details of...

PAGE 1

DFA Spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza told reporters in March that “operational details, including on the possibility of engaging other regional partners, will be part of Philippine-U.S. discussions within the framework of the [Mutual Defense Board and Security Engagements Board].”

The DFA has yet to respond to Philstar.com’s request on Tuesday for an update on the guidelines.

Officials have floated that a trilateral mode of cooperation may be pursued for joint maritime activities, engaging countries such as Japan and Australia.

The U.S. Embassy on Tuesday pointed out that the end-goal of the planned combined maritime activities “would be to support the Philippines [in] exercising its lawful sovereign maritime rights under international law.”

Among key issues faced by Manila is Beijing’s constant harassment in the West Philippine Sea. China considers a 2016 ruling at the Permanent Court of Arbitration “illegal, null, and void” as it invalidates its claims over areas within its so-called nine-dash line, which includes parts of Philippine waters. (Philstar.com) n

Vice President Kamala...

PAGE 1

Katherine Tai, who also delivered remarks onstage, noted that the gathering was the largest participation of AANHPIs of any administration. “Bigotry and violence have threatened to ravage our communities for decades. Many of us feel like we are invisible. But our administration sees you. Your voices help drive our agenda,” she said.

Before beginning her onstage conversation with Harris, actress Poorna Jagannathan — who plays a doctor coming to terms with the unconventional lifestyle of her teenage daughter in Mindy Kaling’s hit television series “Never Have I Ever” — shared her story of invisibility. “My heritage always made me feel like a bit of an outsider, yet suddenly it is a thing. So many incredible stories of the diaspora come from it. And it has brought me all the way to you today. So what a gift.”

Also sharing the stage was Jerry Won, producer of the popular podcast “Dear Asian Americans.”

Many of the most visible members of the community attended the star-studded event, including actors Daniel Dae Kim — Lost, Hawaii Five-O — and Kevin Kreider, whose credits include The Ugly Model and Bling Empire. Singer Eric Nam shared a videotaped conversation with US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy: in a lighthearted moment, the two pondered the name of their possible IndoKorean fusion band.

Other singers included MILCK — who sang her emotionally-raw anthem “I Can’t Keep Quiet,” which focuses on sexual abuse — Wolftyla, Sonny Singh of the Red Baarat Band, and Keilana.

News anchors Lisa Ling of CNN and Richard Lui of MSNBC moderated panels during the daylong event. Several members of the Biden-Harris administration were also featured, including Neera Tanden; two days later, President Joe Biden announced that Tanden will serve as the next head of his domestic policy council, replacing Susan Rice, who is stepping down June 1.

The crowd also went wild as Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, spoke of the need to confirm Julie Su as Labor Secretary. Su — who would be the first AAPI woman to serve in that role — is facing an uphill battle for confirmation.

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia has said he will not vote for Su, who has faced opposition from several corporations for her pro-worker stance.

Rep. Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Sethuraman Panchanathan, director of the National Science Foundation, and Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, appeared via video. Health and Human Services

Secretary Xavier Becerra took to the stage to advocate for disaggregated data, and inlanguage access for all public documents. “On behalf of all of us working in this administration, we want you to understand that, with you, we will make a

difference,” he said.

“Thanks to President Biden, our community has become more visible than ever before. We have an unprecedented AANHPI representation in the Administration,” said Erika Moritsugu, Deputy Assistant to the President and AANHPI Senior Liaison at the White House. Gautam Raghavan, Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, said during a panel discussion: “President Biden has comprised the most diverse administration in history. Half of our appointees are people of color, and 14% are AAPIs.”

“He has said: ‘Build me an administration that looks like America.’ And across America, people who thought they could never serve at the White House have joined the administration,” said Raghavan, who also served in the Obama administration and as Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s chief of staff.

In her onstage conversation with Jagannathan and Won, Harris spoke about abortion rights, noting that 74% of AANHPIs believe abortions should be legal. “We need to have a Congress that will put the protections of Roe vs. Wade into law,” she said, adding: “My mom always fought for women’s health.”

The late Dr. Shymala Gopalan, Harris’ mother, was a breast cancer researcher who worked with the National Institutes of Health for much of her career. “We cannot be telling women what they cannot do with their bodies. It’s immoral,” said Harris. Harris also spoke about the need for a ban on assault rifles. She noted the spate of mass murders at primary schools and said kids are afraid to attend classes. “We need to have the courage to end gun violence,” she stated.

The vice president also spoke about the alarming spike in hate crimes against the Asian American community. The web portal Stop AAPI Hate has logged over 11,000 self-reported hate incidents and crimes over the past three years.

Vanita Gupta, Associate Attorney General at the Justice Department, noted that hate crimes against Asian Americans have risen by 167%, but are nevertheless under-reported. “Under collection is a real problem,” she said.

“Enforcement is just one piece of this puzzle. We are training law enforcement to be more responsive, helping to create greater access to anti-hate hot-lines, and creating better methodology for data collection,” she said.

In a deeply-moving moment, Canadian poet Rupi Kaur read her poem “Broken English,” which she dedicated to all immigrants. Kaur’s book of poetry, “Milk and Honey,” is one of this year’s most-banned books, according to a list released by PEN America.

“They had no family, they had no friends…two university degrees that meant nothing,” chanted Kaur. (Sunita Sohrabji/ Ethnic Media Services) n

SAVING ON WATER EXPENSES. Rina Fe Carcaylas does her laundry at a river near her residence in Toril District, Davao City, on Thursday, May 11. She said she does not normally worry about her water bill since the river provides all the water they need for sanitation and maintaining a healthy home. PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos

Malacañang photo

Gov’t debt soars...

PAGE 1

external debt went up by 3.2 percent or P133.27 billion.

Guaranteed obligations, meanwhile, shrank by P3.07 billion month over month to P384.12 billion.

The drop was attributed to the net repayment of domestic and external guarantees amounting to P0.01 billion and P1.52 billion, respectively.

“The net appreciation of the peso relative to the U.S. dollar further trimmed P2.99 billion,” the Treasury said.

“These were tempered by the net appreciation of third-currency denominated guarantees against the U.S. dollar amounting to P1.45 billion,” it added.

Guaranteed debt was down by 3.7 percent or P14.93 billion from December 2022.

China Banking Corp. chief economist Domini Velasquez said that “slow and offsetting growth rates in revenues and expenditures have kept deficit, and consequently resulting debt, in check.”

“However, to be prudent, the government should fast-track revenue-generating measures to aptly finance planned expenditures, particularly its infrastructure program, without resorting to a large accumulation of debt,” Velasquez said.

He said measures that the government could consider include “administrative efforts, digitization among revenue agencies, and planned revenue-enhancing legislation such as PIFITA, tax on single-use plastic, digital tax, revision of the motor vehicle users charge, and sweetened beverage tax.”

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said the debt figures reflect the need for the government to finance the relatively wider budget deficits in recent months.

Ricafort also cited reasons such as high inflation and interest rates that added to the government’s debt servicing costs, and still relatively weaker peso exchange rate against the U.S. dollar that increased the peso equivalent of the national government’s outstanding debts.

He said “a new record high for the outstanding national government in peso terms is still possible, in view of the upcoming U.S. dollar-denominated or euro-denominated retail bond issuance in May 2023.”

On the other hand, the debt could still rise, noting the government borrowings are “frontloaded again at the early part of 2023 to finance the budget deficit, starting with the scheduled foreign borrowings in 1H (first half of) 2023,” he said. n

Dismiss 4 top cops linked to drugs, Bongbong...

transmittal from Malacañang of the President’s action as well as the conclusion “in two to three weeks” of the precharge investigation to determine the criminal and administrative cases to be filed against them.

Abalos added that the police officers were not yet informed of their fate.

During his visit to Washington last week, Mr. Marcos had said that he already accepted the resignation of the two police brigadier generals, as he acknowledged that some government personnel committed abuses during the previous administration’s bloody war on drugs.

While the president did not mention the fate of the two colonels, Abalos said they issued a resolution on Monday, May 8 to proceed with the precharge investigation against them.

“Napolcom will recommend to the president that he accept these two colonels’ courtesy resignations as well, without prejudice to their administrative liability,” Abalos said during a press conference attended by five members of Napolcom at the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) head office in Quezon City on Monday.

The penalties for these grave offenses are dismissal from service, forfeiture of benefits, and perpetual disqualification from any public office.

Criminal cases, meanwhile, would be handled by the Deputy Ombudsman for Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices.

Newly installed PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr., an ex officio commissioner of Napolcom, said that the four were under floating status in

commanders heading drug enforcement units (DEUs)— from the station level up to the national headquarters—may now be dismissed from service for failing to investigate their personnel who might be involved in illegal drugs.

Acorda said he had implemented a “stricter” background check among all current and incoming antinarcotics police officers as an offshoot of the controversy involving PNP officials in illegal drug trading and recycling.

grave neglect of duty cases. Inquirer photo by Grig C. Montegrande the Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit and “are not holding any key positions.”

Napolcom vice chair Alberto Bernardo confirmed that all four officials had been previously assigned at the Drug Enforcement Group (DEG), the PNP’s main antidrug unit.

917 cleared Napolcom’s decision essentially adopted all the recommendations of a fivemember advisory group, headed by former PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr., constituted to review the profiles of the police officers who submitted their courtesy resignations.

It also followed the recommendation of the independent panel that the courtesy resignations of 917 officials be rejected by the president, effectively clearing them of any involvement in illegal drugs.

Meanwhile, for the 32 remaining generals and colonels, the DILG chief noted that “more investigations are necessary…

because it will be a difficult situation if an innocent officer will be wrongly implicated.”

“Rest assured that the Napolcom will carry out its sworn duty to supervise and strengthen our police force,” Abalos pointed out, with the commission’s recommendation to the president finally putting a “proper and clean” ending to one of the government’s biggest internal cleansing of the police force.

Acorda said the PNP respected Napolcom’s decision on the fate of some of its personnel, and assured the 228,000-member police force that the current internal cleansing would be for the good of the organization.

“I know it’s a bitter pill to swallow. This will be a painful situation at first, but for me this will lead to a better and renewed police force that is united in fighting illegal drugs,” Abalos added.

Stricter vetting

Aside from the purge of the police force of scalawags,

“The anti-illegal drug campaign shall be done by ensuring the proper vetting of DEG and DEU personnel to make sure that only those who have successfully undergone an honest vetting process will be assigned to anti-illegal drug units,” he told reporters at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

According to PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo, background checks would no longer be just verbal reports but would be done in writing, with field commanders ordered to officially sign background checks.

“This is to ensure that should problems arise later on, we will hold them accountable for why they recruited antidrug personnel with information linking them to illegal drugs,” she said. “Gone are the days that our background investigations are not given equal importance [in vetting DEU personnel].”

Should records show that a field commander has approved the recommendation and transfer of assignment of any DEU officer within his direct command, then he or she “will be definitely liable… under the doctrine of command responsibility.” n

WHO’s declaration on COVID-19 to help...

have succeeded through a collaborative effort in fighting the highly infectious novel coronavirus and its variants, though they remain a threat to public health,” said Romualdez in a statement.

However, he said that locals should still practice minimum public health and safety protocols such as wearing their masks, washing their hands, and observing physical distance.

He also urged the Department of Health (DOH) and the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to prescribe health protocols to help WHO

strengthen its move to lift the global health emergency declaration.

DOH and IATF-EID on Saturday, May 6 said they would meet to discuss and reassess pandemic policies and guidelines.

“I think our people have learned to live with the virus. Though there is no wearface-mask mandate, many of them continue to wear masks and observe physical distancing. They are aware of the residual threat, and they are not letting their guard down,” he said.

Romualdez also pointed out that WHO’s move “should pave the way for us to sustain our economic growth or even take the

economy to a higher growth path for the benefit of our people, especially the poor.”

“It should translate to increased mobility, more economic activities, and therefore additional job and income opportunities for our workers and their families,” he explained.

Romualdez added that the decision could also result in more tourist arrivals in the country.

“Let the concerned government agencies and sectors of the economy prepare for this possibility, which will benefit tourist destinations and local communities,” he said. n

misconduct and

SHOEMAKERS. Employees produce hand-made shoes in a shoe factory in Marikina City on Thursday, May 11. The Senate Committee on Labor has approved “in principle” a proposal for a P150 across-the-board daily minimum wage hike. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Comelec ready for barangay polls

by WilliaM B. Depasupil ManilaTimes.net

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Wednesday, May 10 all is ready for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) slated on October 30 this year.

“Comelec is 100 percent ready for the October 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections,” said Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco at the weekly Laging Handa Briefing.

Laudiangco added that 91 million ballots have already been printed, including election returns, statements of votes and certificates of proclamation.

“What is left to be printed are 1.6 million additional ballots for the newly registered voters

and for those reactivated voters, which the Comelec can easily finish in three days,” he said.

Laudiangco added that two months before the elections, Comelec will deliver the ballots and other election paraphernalia to their intended destinations in various parts of the country, and conduct training for teachers who will serve as members of the Electoral Board.

Historically, the printing of ballots is completed a month before the scheduled elections.

Of the 91 million ballots already printed, 25 million are for the SK election and 66 million for the regular voters.

Laudiangco said those ages 15 to 30 years old can vote for the SK elections, while those who can vote for the barangay elections are those ages 18

years old and above.

“Even if you are not yet 15 years old now, by October 30 you are 15, you can already register for the SK elections. Also if you are 18 years old now but you will become 18 on October 30, you can register and vote for the barangay elections,” he added.

Laudiangco said the sixday filing of certificate of candidacy (CoC) for the BSKE would be held from August 20 to September 2, noting that the Comelec would utilize off-site venues in areas where there are more CoC filers.

“This early the commission has already issued an order directing all election officers to look for appropriate venues that can accommodate the volume of people during the six-day filing of CoC,” he said. n

Equitable distribution of doctors, nurses sought

MANILA — While there is an obvious shortage of health workers in the country, a doctorlawmaker has stressed the need for an “equitable distribution” of doctors and nurses, especially in the grassroots.

“Almost all doctors are in urban areas,” Rep. Anthony Golez Jr. of party-list Malasakit at Bayanihan said, citing the need for “underserved areas” to be filled up to achieve a genuine Universal Health Care (UHC) Law that will benefit all Filipinos.

Representatives told The STAR that Golez might be appointed by President Marcos as chief of the Department of Health, which is currently headed by Maria Rosario Vergeire in an acting capacity.

Meanwhile, former senator Richard Gordon stressed the need for foresight and preparedness in dealing with diseases to prevent a COVID pandemic-like situation from happening in the future.

better moving forward.

Gordon said the country should not be complacent even as the World Health Organization has lifted the global health emergency on COVID-19. (By Delon Porcalla/ Philstar.com) n

NOTICE TO PROPOSERS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN

that the City of San Diego (City) is seeking to receive Electronic Proposals for the below named Request for Proposal (RFP).

47% say ‘dangerous’

to publish anything critical of government

by Janvic Mateo Philstar.com

MANILA — Several months into the second Marcos administration, about one in every two adult Filipinos still thinks that it is dangerous to publish or broadcast anything critical of the government, a survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS) at the end of 2022 showed.

Results of the Dec. 10 to 14, 2022 survey released a week after World Press Freedom Day on May 3 showed that 47 percent of respondents agreed with the statement, “It is dangerous to print or broadcast anything critical of the administration, even if it is the truth.”

This figure is comprised of 19 percent who said they “strongly agree” with the statement and 28 percent who said they “somewhat agree.”

Some 26 percent of respondents disagreed (14 percent “somewhat disagree,” 12 percent “strongly disagree”), while 27 percent were undecided. Those who believe it is dangerous to publish

information critical of the administration barely moved from the 46 percent obtained in a similar survey December 2021 (13 percent strongly agree, 34 percent somewhat agree), when the government was still headed by former president Rodrigo Duterte. SWS data showed that it went as high as 65 percent in November 2020, before dropping to 42 percent in May

2021 and 45 percent in June and September 2021.

Meanwhile, the number of those who think that it is not dangerous to publish information critical of the government increased from 19 percent in September 2021 (12 percent somewhat disagree, six percent strongly disagree) to 22 percent in December 2021 (16 percent somewhat disagree, five percent strongly disagree). n

“The most important thing about this bill is we will equitably distribute our doctors to areas that do not have them,” he said, noting the reality about the “insufficiency of medical professionals in the country despite the UHC’s Mandatory Medical Service Bill.

“For Universal Health Care to be successful, we need to have doctors in far-flung places, in our barrios and rural communities, so we can equitably provide our services,” Golez said. Golez is a former barrio doctor who served the public for more than 20 years.

Sources from the Department of Health and the House of

During the Wednesday, May 10 Kapihan sa Manila Bay press briefing, Gordon said authorities should be on the lookout for diseases, both old and new, that could trigger a pandemic.

“Moving forward, you really have to practice and practice your intelligence gathering for whatever diseases there are that can be of pandemic proportions,” Gordon said.

“That should be dealt with, this early,” he added.

He pushed for the establishment of a center for disease control.

“A bill has been filed before the Congress. What it will do is it will set us up for protection for new diseases,” Gordon said.

He said the government should learn from past mistakes and be

SD#0237

Request for Proposals (RFP)

On-Call Legal Services - Employment Law

The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is seeking proposals from qualified attorneys to provide outside legal services on an as-needed basis for matters related to employment law and regulations. A copy of the Request for Proposals (RFP) and related informational documents can be accessed from the SANDAG website at www.sandag.org/contracts or by contacting: Gabriella LeRoy, SANDAG, 401 B Street, Suite 800, San Diego, CA 92101, gabriella.leroy@sandag.org All other details are available on Bidnetdirect.com\sandag

RFP Title: As-Needed Construction Management Services - Federal Contract Numbers: H2326236, H2326237 & H2326238

The solicitation may be obtained from the City’s website at: https://www. sandiego.gov/cip/bidopps

It is the policy of the City of San Diego to encourage equal opportunity in its Construction and Consultant contracts. Bids or proposals from local firms, small, minority-owned, disabled, veteran-owned, and women-owned businesses are strongly encouraged. Consultants are encouraged to subcontract with and/or participate in joint ventures with these firms. The City is committed to equal opportunity and will not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, gender expression, gender identity, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, or disability; and will not do business with any firm that discriminates on any basis. Proposals shall be received no later than the date and time noted in the solicitation which can be found at the following site:

City of San Diego’s Electronic Proposal Site – PlanetBids at: https://www.planetbids. com/portal/portal. cfm?companyID=17950.

Claudia Abarca, Director Purchasing & Contracting Department Thursday, May 11, 2023 5/12/23

CNS-3698575#

Majority of the shoppers at a public market in Marikina City wear their face mask while others take them off. Philstar.com photo by Walter Bollozos

Not yet over

THE World Health Organization has announced that COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency, but stressed that the pandemic is not yet over. This announcement could prove to be as confusing as the WHO’s declaration of COVID as a public health emergency of international concern or PHEIC on Jan. 20, 2020.

The PHEIC is supposed to be the highest alert level that the WHO can declare, but the term and the acronym were gobbledygook for many governments, which waited for a clear pronouncement about a pandemic. This came only on March 11, over a month after the Philippines recorded its first two COVID-19 patients. These were tourists from the Chinese city of Wuhan, Ground Zero of the disease, with the man becoming the first COVID-19 fatality outside China and the first in the Philippines. Days later, the Duterte administration placed Metro Manila, and then the entire Luzon, under strict lockdown. No one wants to return to those lockdowns, meant to prevent the spread of the lethal virus at a time when there was still no vaccine in sight, but which put the economy on the path to its worst recession since World War II. Today there is a debate even over continued masking in public places. While the Inter-Agency Task Force has said there is no need to restore

Babe’s Eye View

BaBe Romualdez

THE last time a sitting Philippine president visited Washington, D.C. was more than a decade ago. Being fortunate to be in the front seat as the Philippine Ambassador to the United States, we were all extremely pleased that the visit of President Marcos Jr. was highly successful on behalf of the country and our national interest. Neither the president nor anyone of us are expecting accolades for the visit’s success; everyone who participated in this event simply believed in just how important the relationship is between the Philippines and the United States.

The four-day official visit was highlighted by the bilateral meeting between President Marcos Jr. and President Joe Biden at the Oval Office, which turned out to be fruitful and cordial. It was only natural that both leaders recognized the importance of such a meeting in revitalizing the alliance between our two nations, and the need

Virtual Reality

IT is now clear as a hot summer day the United States won’t pay direct compensation for the use by the U.S. armed forces of what is now nine Philippine military bases located from north to central to south of the 7,600-island archipelago.

The reason maybe is that some generals or naughty politicians could fritter away such sums ($500 million a year when President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos was in power), if they join the wrong side of history.

Instead, the U.S. government will invest money, by itself or jointly with large American companies or institutions, in people, in their wellbeing, education, livelihood, infrastructure, in their communities. The result is a better life for many Filipinos.

The May 1-4, 2023 official visit of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr., 65, and the deals he wangled from the administration of President Joseph Biden, 80, certify him as an American boy. But it does not mean BBM

mask mandates, it still bears noting that confirmed COVID cases and positivity rates have been steadily rising in the past weeks amid the detection of highly transmissible strains of the Omicron variant.

While Omicron has produced mostly mild symptoms especially among the vaccinated and boosted, it can still lead to infections that are serious enough to require hospitalization. It can still lead to death. Health experts have warned of waning immunity from vaccines and previous infection.

From May 1 to 7, daily COVID cases nationwide surged to an average of 1,352 – 112 percent higher than the 637 daily cases recorded from April 24 to 30, according to the Department of Health. In the first week of May, the DOH recorded 9,465 cases – the highest since November last year. As of May 7, the country had 410 severe and critical cases, with 346 occupying beds in intensive care units. Another 3,766 were in regular hospital beds. Nine COVID deaths were recorded in the first week of May, along with 50 additional and

severe critical cases.

Health officials previously said masking and other minimum health protocols such as hand and respiratory hygiene are minor sacrifices in avoiding a disease that can still cause

hospitalization and its attendant expenses, debilitation through long COVID and even death.

The WHO has said the pandemic is not over. The past three years have shown that it’s better to be safe than sorry. (Philstar.com)

A decade later: PBBM visit revitalized PH-US relations

for the relationship to evolve as we face “the challenges of this new century,” in the words of President Biden as he echoed the statement made by President Marcos during their first faceto-face meeting in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September last year. With remarkable candor, the U.S. president said he “can’t think of any better partner to have” than the Philippines.

The bilateral meeting at the Oval Office was followed by an expanded meeting at the White House Cabinet Room with key U.S. Cabinet secretaries and our own Cabinet secretaries led by Foreign Affairs Secretary Ricky Manalo, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Defense OIC Charlie Galvez and ICT Secretary Ivan Uy. Clearly, there was a lot of enthusiasm on both sides, underscoring the multifaceted nature of Philippines-U.S. relations.

The result of such meetings is the expectation of a lot more economic activities between our two countries, underscored by President Biden’s announcement that he will be

sending a first-of-its-kind, highpowered trade delegation with perhaps 100 or 200 top American companies to the Philippines, to be headed by U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. Secretary Raimondo is very enthusiastic at the prospect of visiting the Philippines and exploring investment opportunities in several sectors that include renewable energy, infrastructure and mineral processing. President Marcos Jr. and the First Lady were invited by the White House to be their guests at the Blair House but the president politely declined, opting instead to stay at a nearby hotel. Nonetheless, the White House graciously allowed us to use the historic landmark residence for meetings and events during the entire stay of the president and his delegation. The Blair House, or more popularly known as the President’s Guest House, is a complex made up of four separate homes, among them a property that was constructed in 1824 and named after its second owner, Francis Preston Blair, who was a journalist. Blair House has been described as

American boy

is now anti-China. Such disengagement (from Beijing), “is not an option,” he clarifies. Our president is practicing what his father espoused, a bold foreign policy. Some of the projects promised BBM by Biden himself:

• The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is launching a new partnership to scale up infrastructure development in the Philippines and support the construction of high-quality railways, ports and transport systems.

• In 2023, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency will leverage over $3 billion of public and private financing to strengthen the Philippines’ critical mineral supply chains, advance smart grid technologies and clean energy solutions, promote secure 5G deployment, strengthen airport security and maritime safety and support health care infrastructure across the Philippines.

• U.S. will spend $70 million to develop a new generation of PH leaders – 2,000 in 10 years.

• It will spend $30 million to improve the quality of PH universities.

Best of all, the South China Sea, or West Philippine Sea, is now reckoned as part of

the Philippine metropolitan territory in the implementation of the PH-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951. Under the MDT, if the Philippines or any part of its territory, vessels, boats, including those of the Philippine Coast Guard, is attacked with force, it will trigger an armed attack from the U.S. because such attack is as if the U.S. itself was attacked.

Biden reaffirmed the United States’ ironclad commitment to the defense of the Philippines, and the leaders discussed efforts to strengthen the longstanding U.S.-Philippines alliance.

On May 1, 2023, at the White House, President Biden reaffirmed the United States’ ironclad alliance commitments to the Philippines. An armed attack in the Pacific, which includes the South China Sea, on Philippine armed forces, public vessels or aircraft, including those of the Coast Guard, would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 MDT.

Biden and BBM agreed to deepen economic cooperation and promote inclusive prosperity, expand our nations’ special people-to-people ties, invest in the clean energy

“the world’s most exclusive and luxurious hotel” because it is where many heads of state have stayed like Queen Elizabeth, Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, among many others.

Following the meeting with the Filipino community was the dinner at the Blair House with Philippine Cabinet officials, State Secretary Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, NSA Director Jake Sullivan, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, Dr. Kurt Campbell of the National Security Council and American and Filipino businessmen that included Jaime Zobel de Ayala, Enrique Razon, Sabin Aboitiz, among several others.

It was the perfect setting for President Marcos Jr. to have an informal but substantive conversation with Secretary Blinken. I sat down with Secretary Austin and our good friend, Senator Bob Menendez, chairman of the U.S. Senate foreign relations committee. The ceremonial activities

transition and address the climate crisis and ensure respect for human rights. The leaders discussed regional matters and coordinated on efforts to uphold international law and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Biden and Marcos announced a number of new arrangements and initiatives to expand on the historic momentum in U.S.Philippine relations, including the adoption of Bilateral Defense Guidelines, President Biden’s dispatching of a Presidential Trade and Investment Mission to the Philippines, the launch of an Open RAN 5G interoperability lab in Manila and the establishment of a bilateral Labor Working Group.

The Philippines is the U.S.’s oldest ally in the Indo-Pacific. Since 1951, the U.S.-Philippines alliance has advanced peace, prosperity and security for the United States, the Philippines and the broader Indo-Pacific region, said a White House briefing paper.

The U.S. and the Philippines are modernizing the alliance and building a strong and resilient architecture that is designed to meet emerging challenges, while routinizing joint planning and improving interoperability.

On April 28, 2023, their armies concluded the largestever iteration of their flagship bilateral military exercise, Balikatan. “We are also

and subsequent meetings of the president were equally substantial and significant.

Needless to say, the full military honors he received –with a 21-gun salute and the playing of the Philippine and U.S. national anthems – at the Pentagon before the bilateral meeting with Secretary Austin was very impressive. I have to admit that even after seeing such events countless of times, I still get goosebumps. The visit to Arlington Cemetery was an especially touching ceremony where the president laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Capping the official activities of the president during his fourday visit to Washington was the policy speech he delivered at the ASEAN Leadership Forum of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a prominent think-tank which he described as “one of the world’s foremost policy institutions on national security and foreign policy issues.”

In his very well received speech, President Marcos Jr. spelled out how he sees the relationship between the Philippines and the U.S. to be

expanding cooperation among our coast guards to better address the challenges posed by illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and other unlawful maritime activities; when Vice President Harris visited Palawan in November 2022, she announced $7.5 million in new assistance to enhance the capabilities of Philippine maritime law enforcement agencies, as well as a new program to upgrade the Philippine Coast Guard’s vessel traffic management system,” said the White House paper. PH and U.S. have identified four new sites pursuant to the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which “will strengthen Philippine security and support the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernization goals, while driving U.S. investment to local communities across the Philippines and improving our shared ability to rapidly deliver humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.”

Other initiatives:

• Bilateral Defense Guidelines that institutionalize key bilateral priorities, mechanisms and processes to deepen alliance cooperation and interoperability across land, sea, air, space and cyberspace.

The Guidelines support the continued modernization of the alliance and ongoing efforts to

like in the next five to 10 years at the very least, underscoring the need to evolve the alliance and “make it more responsive to present and emerging challenges” because “national security is no longer about territorial defense. Economic security is national security.”

He was very specific on issues of vital importance regarding the economic aspect of the relationship, making a case for “forging closer economic ties because creating prosperity and realizing human potential will not only make the Philippines a more reliable partner for the United States” – but will also strengthen both countries’ democracies.

Being in the front seat, I can confidently say that this was an extremely successful and fruitful visit of the president – not to bask in the glory for himself but for our country. (Philstar.com)

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

* * * babeseyeview@gmail.com

adapt alliance coordination to respond to the evolving security environment. The two countries will advance efforts to deepen interoperability, particularly through enhanced bilateral planning; information-sharing; accelerated defense capability development and collaboration on emerging security challenges.

• The U.S. will transfer to the Armed Forces of the Philippines two Island-class patrol vessels, two Protector-class patrol vessels and three C-130H aircraft, pending applicable congressional notification requirements. Additionally, two Cyclone-class coastal patrol vessels were transferred to the Philippines in late April and are now en route to Manila. These transfers will support AFP’s modernization program by enhancing its maritime and tactical lift capabilities.

• At the nine EDCA sites, the U.S. will support health, education, environmental protection, economic growth and disaster preparedness. (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: biznewsasia@gmail.com

President’s trip to US shows...

attitude and position when it comes to us,” he said.

“They will see that they should not ignore us, they should really treat us seriously when it comes [to the West Philippine Sea],” he added.

According to Batongbacal, the Philippines is now “catching up” on key areas in its security and defense, including its approval of more sites for U.S. forces in line with Manila’s Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with Washington.

He hoped that “China will see that it really has to change its policies and let [Filipino fishermen] peacefully fish in our own waters. That’s very important for us which is why it is good that we got assurances because we can really stand [up] to our [sovereign]… and legal rights there [in] the West Philippine Sea.”

Senate support

Meanwhile, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri has committed legislative support to procure “more ships and more planes” for the Philippine Navy as part of the military’s modernization program, amid renewed tensions with China in the West Philippine Sea.

“We commit to pursue Horizon 2 and Horizon 3 projects,” Zubiri said at the christening on Monday of two brand-new Acero-class patrol gunboats built by Israel Shipyards Ltd.

He was referring to the two of three stages of the modernization or capability upgrade program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“All the 24 senators are 101 percent committed to support the modernization of the Navy, particularly for more ships, more planes. We’re looking at antisubmarine planes… and warships, larger base ships for the West Philippine Sea,” the Senate leader said. “We’re ready to fund this.”

Zubiri said he had scheduled a meeting with Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman next week to discuss several issues, including the procurement plans for the Horizon 2 and 3 projects to be included in the national budget.

He also said the senators would ask the help of the Israeli government to supply the Philippines with armaments and missile systems. “What good is a brand-new boat without weapons? We are pushing for more budget for surface-to-air missiles, surface-to-ship missiles and other armaments that can be utilized by our Navy assets.”

‘Bully’ vessel Zubiri paid tribute to the Navy’s “selfless service to the country, … especially in these times of brewing conflict in our seas.”

He also recalled an incident last year when a “foreign nation” forcibly seized a rocket debris, apparently from China, being towed by the Navy off Pag-asa (Thitu) Island. “I was aghast and I told myself this must be exposed to the world… to show the bravery of the men and women of our Navy. They were just on a rubber boat going up against a foreign vessel, which was a bully,” he said.

He said he had taken up with the president the proposed submarine programs for a more capable Navy. The Philippines is currently looking at offers from France, South Korea and Spain to fulfill the Navy’s requirements for two diesel-electric submarines, he said.

In November last year, the Department of National Defense briefed lawmakers that it needed almost P300 billion to fund the backlog in the military’s modernization program.

The military failed to meet its Horizon 2 target acquisitions between 2018 and 2022. It entered the third stage or Horizon 3 this year, which should be ideally completed by 2028.

‘Credible defense posture’

Zubiri said his colleagues were “willing to make adjustments… to push for our advocacy for a more modern Navy,” in case the modernization projects would not be accommodated in the budget.

“We really need a minimum credible defense posture. This means we need to have equipment that can credibly defend our sovereignty not only in the West Philippine Sea but also due to internal factors,” he said.

Zubiri said the Senate was also hoping to pass the proposed Philippine Defense Industry Development Act “in a year’s time,” to give “preferential contracts” to companies in the defense sector that were willing to build plants for manufacturing arms, aircraft and vessels.

Such a contract was required in the P10-billion acquisition of nine Shaldag Mk. V fast-attack interdiction craft from Israel Shipyards.

Up to three Acero-class boats are expected to be built in the Philippines also as part of the contract, after the company upgraded the shipbuilding center at the naval base in Cavite City. n

Advertisement for Bids

Notice is hereby given that the San Diego Unified School District, acting by and through its governing board, will electronically receive bids for the furnishing of all labor, materials, transportation, equipment, and services for:

STADIUM DRAINAGE AND TRACK RESURFACING AT LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL

A mandatory site visit is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2023, outside the main office of Lincoln High School, 4777 Imperial Avenue, San Diego, CA 92113. Contractors and subcontractors must preregister with the District prior to attending the site walk at sandiegounified.org/sitewalks. The Bid and Contract Documents may be downloaded free of charge at the District’s new online Planroom at sandiegousdplans. com All bids must be received electronically at or before 1:00 p.m. on JUNE 8, 2023. Firms interested in submitting a bid package must go to tinyurl.com/SDUSD-PlanetBids then search under “Bid Opportunities” for “Invitation number” CC23-0956-23-00-00 Stadium Drainage and Track Resurfacing at Lincoln High School. For new vendors, please register under “New Vendor Registration.” The project estimate is between $1.4 million and $1.5 million. This is a PSA project and requires prequalification. The District requires that Bidders possess any of the following classification(s) of California State Contractors License(s), valid and in good standing, at the time of bid opening and contract award: A, or other appropriate license, subject to District approval. SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, Linda Hippe, Director, Purchasing and Contracts, Strategic Sourcing and Contracts Department CC23-0956-23-00-00

Medi-Cal enrollees in...

would likely come in a brightyellow envelope containing a roughly 20-page form about six weeks before the start of your renewal month. Be on the alert: Medi-Cal is warning about scammers who have been contacting enrollees and requesting a fee to help people renew coverage. Don’t fall for it. No payment is required to renew your coverage.

But be sure to open your mail and respond to any official request for personal information. And be aware that updating your information could push you off Medi-Cal if your income has risen or if you have access to other insurance.

If you need help with any of this, especially that daunting renewal form, keep reading.

Medi-Cal, the state’s version of the Medicaid health insurance program for low-income residents, has embarked on a 14-month effort to reexamine the eligibility of its nearly 15.8 million members. It is part of the massive “unwinding” being undertaken by all state Medicaid programs after three pandemic years during which their rolls swelled. States had agreed, in exchange for extra funding from the feds, not to boot anyone except in cases such as fraud, death, or a move out of state.

On April 1, Medicaid restarted the annual eligibility checks that had been the norm before the pandemic. It will be the biggest shake-up in U.S. health coverage since the Affordable Care Act, though it cuts the opposite way: Between 8 million and 24 million people will likely be bounced from Medicaid nationally, including an estimated 2 million to 3 million in California.

To minimize the number of enrollees dropped unnecessarily, California’s Department of Health Care Services, which runs MediCal, has launched a $25 million advertising and outreach campaign that will send messages in 19 languages. The department is enlisting the assistance of nearly everyone who has contact with Medi-Cal enrollees: county offices, health plans, medical providers, advocacy groups, and volunteers. And it got $146 million in supplemental funding

to help counties cope with the unprecedented number of renewal decisions.

But some patient advocates, health plan executives, and community clinic administrators worry it will not be enough to help all enrollees who could lose coverage if they can’t be reached or don’t respond — especially transient and homeless people and those with language or cultural barriers.

Less than two months before the start of the unwinding, multiple counties, including Fresno and Sacramento, reported staffing shortages and the need to train eligibility workers.

Laura Sheckler, deputy director of policy at the California Primary Care Association, which represents about 1,300 community clinics statewide, says the nearly $60 million in state funds earmarked for “navigators” to assist MediCal enrollees is not enough for her group’s members to provide all the help that will be needed. The association has asked lawmakers for another $60 million.

Some Medi-Cal members already know where they stand.

Anthony Kelley, a 53-yearold single dad, is one of them.

Kelley, who lives with his 14-year-old son, Nicholas, in Pacifica, California, temporarily lost his job as a driver for a concrete company in the early days of the pandemic and signed up for Medi-Cal. He got his job back about a month later, along with access to employersponsored health coverage, but he has stayed on Medi-Cal for the past three years. His son has been on Medi-Cal since he was born.

When San Mateo County sent Kelley a renewal form, he called and was told his $58,000 annual income likely meant he and his son would lose MediCal coverage. Now, he’s waiting for that to happen.

“It sucks for my son,” Kelley says, adding that he fears Nicholas could lose his doctors.

“But we’ll deal with it.”

If you are anxious or uncertain about what you need to do, don’t fret. Help is available.

You can call or visit your local Medi-Cal office to update your personal information or ask for assistance. The Department of Health Care Services (www.

dhcs.ca.gov) lists on its website all county Medi-Cal agencies, with addresses, phone numbers, and links. You can also call Medi-Cal’s help line (800-541-5555).

If you want to avoid potentially long lines or telephone hold times, consider signing up for an account at www.benefitscal. com or www.mybenefitscalwin. org. Doing so will allow you to update your personal and financial information online and find your renewal date.

Another great resource is the Health Consumer Alliance (888-804-3536 or www. healthconsumer.org), which can help you navigate the complexities of renewal, or contest a termination decision you think is unwarranted. Community clinics, which provide care for nearly onethird of Medi-Cal enrollees, often have navigators on-site who can help fill out forms and answer questions. L.A. Care, the largest Medi-Cal health plan, has 11 centers across Los Angeles County that will offer help to anyone who needs it, not just its members. Fresno County has 14 such centers. Check with your health plan for similar resources.

Under a state law, SB 260, if you are bumped off MediCal but still have income low enough to qualify for an insurance subsidy through Covered California, the state’s insurance marketplace, you will be auto-enrolled in a plan the exchange deems to be the best value at the lowest cost. Once notified of the plan selection, you will have 30 days to accept it, choose another plan, or decline coverage altogether.

“This doesn’t need to be all doom and gloom for people who have Medi-Cal,” says David Kane, a senior attorney at the Western Center on Law & Poverty. (Bernard J. Wolfson/ KFF Health News)

This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.

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

STRONGER TIES. President Marcos and U.S. President Joe Biden reaffirm the alliance between the Philippines and the United States during their meeting at the White House in Washington on May 1. Malacañang photo

SD#0240

ANNOUNCEMENT / LEGAL SERVICES / EMPLOYMENT

SD#0235

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

LEGAL SERVICES

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

Request for Proposals (RFP)

Construction Legal Services for Otay Mesa East Port of Entry Project

The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is seeking proposals from qualified firms to provide construction legal services for the Otay Mesa East Port of Entry Project. It is anticipated that one contract will be awarded as a result of this RFP.

A copy of the RFP (No. SOL1213194) and related documents/forms can be accessed from the vendor portal or by contacting Melissa Antonoplis, Contract Administrator, at melissa.antonoplis@sandag.org

Proposals are due by 5:00 p.m. PST on Wednesday, May 31, 2023.

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF

DAX G. PUCKETT.

CASE NUMBER:

37-2022-00025441-PR-LA-CTL

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: DAX G. PUCKETT A Petition for Probate has been filed by JOHN PUCKETT in the Superior Court of California, County of SAN DIEGO.

The Petition for Probate requests that JOHN PUCKETT be appointed as personal representative to administer with will annexed the estate of the decedent.

The petition requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.)

The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows:

Date: 06/06/2023

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Dept.: 504

Judge: Daniel S. Belsky

Address of court:

1100 Union Street, San Diego, CA 92101

Branch Name: Central, Probate

If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing.

Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Petitioner:

JOHN PUCKETT

303 E. El Norte Pkwy. Escondido, CA 92026 760-814-3046 05/12/2023, 05/19/2023, and 05/26/2023

AJ 1094 AJSD 1094

CASE NUMBER: 37-2023-00017598-CU-PT-CTL TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS:

Petitioner Karen Tiffany Donaldson filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

a. Karen Tiffany Donaldson to Mia Fukama. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9008530

Ivy Life Solution LLC located at 6546 Windward Ridge Way, San Diego, CA 92121.

Registrant: Ivy Life Solution LLC, 6546 Windward Ridge Way, San Diego, CA 92121.

This business is conducted by Limited Liability Company. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 04/18/2023.

Signature: Huiling Xia. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 04/18/2023. AJ 1162 04/21, 04/28, 05/05, 05/12/2023. AJSD 1162

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9008988

Crushed Ice Cream Era De Hielo located at 1993 Harrison Ave., San Diego, CA 92113.

Registrant: Ana M Martinez, 1993 Harrison Ave., San Diego, CA 92113. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 04/05/2023.

Signature: Ana M Martinez. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 04/24/2023. AJ 1166 04/28, 05/05, 05/12, 05/19/2023. AJSD 1166

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9009618

MMG Financial Services located at 1506 Oak Dr SPC 32, Vista, CA 92084.

Registrant: Marietta M Geronimo, 1506 Oak Dr SPC 32, Vista, CA 92084.

This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 05/01/2023.

Signature: Marietta M Geronimo. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 05/01/2023.

AJ 1171 05/05, 05/12, 05/19, and 05/26/2023.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9009360

a. Charm Bling located at 1895 Avenida Del Oro #4387, Oceanside, CA 92056.

b. Your Pretty Nails located at 1895 Avenida Del Oro #4387, Oceanside, CA 92056.

Registrant: Vanessa L Williams, 104 1/2 Clementine St., Oceanside, CA 92054.

This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 04/26/2023.

Signature: Vanessa L Williams. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 04/27/2023.

AJ 1175 05/12, 05/19, 05/26, and 06/02/2023. AJSD 1175

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9007622

Gel Touch Nail Spa located at 11948 Bernardo Plaza Dr., San Diego, CA 92128. Registrant: a. Lee Thai, 5510 Alexandrine Ct., Oceanside, CA 92057. b. Quoc Nguyen, 10158 Challenger Circle, Spring Valley, CA 91978. This business is conducted by Co-Partner. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.

Signature: Lee Thai. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 04/05/2023. AJ 1163 04/21, 04/28, 05/05, and 05/12/2023. AJSD 1163

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9009308

DH Haleness located at 815 Third Ave., Chula Vista, CA 91911.

Registrant: Horacio De La Cruz Rodriguez, 527 2ND Ave., Chula Vista, CA 91910. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.

Signature: Horacio De La Cruz Rodriguez. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 04/26/2023. AJ 1167 05/05, 05/12, 05/19, and 05/26/2023. AJSD 1167

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9009783

L ASHEDBYILIEZA located at 1178 Surf Crest Drive, San Diego, CA 92154.

Registrant: Ilieza Reyes Galdiano, 1178 Surf Crest Drive, San Diego, CA 92154. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.

Signature: Ilieza Reyes Galdiano. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 05/03/2023.

AJ 1172 05/05, 05/12, 05/19, and 05/26/2023.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9007626

Studio D Beauty located at 3356 Hancock St., Unit D, San Diego, CA 92110.

Registrant: Coraima Hurtado Favela, 1775 Oro Vista Rd., Apt 297, San Diego, CA 92154. This business is conducted by Individual.

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

Signature: Coraima Hurtado Favela. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 04/05/2023. AJ 1176 05/12, 05/19, 05/26, and 06/02/2023. AJSD 1176

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9009546

Eyes On Eastlake Optometry located at 1360 Eastlake Parkway, Chula Vista, CA 91915.

Registrant: Eyes On Eastlake Optometry INC, 2160 Bluestone Circle, Chula Vista, CA 91913. This business is conducted by Corporation. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.

Signature: Ailleen Jacob. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 05/01/2023. AJ 1179 05/12, 05/19, 05/26, and 06/02/2023. AJSD 1179

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9008039

PL Investments, LP located at 244-A Palomar St., Chula Vista, CA 91911.

Registrant: PW Inc., 244A Palomar St., Chula Vista, CA 91911. This business is conducted by Limited Partnership.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 05/14/2018.

Signature: Robert Pennell. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 04/11/2023. AJ 1164 04/21, 04/28, 05/05, 05/12/2023. AJSD 1164

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9009103

I Am Divine Boutique located at 4098 Boston Ave., San Diego, CA 92113.

Registrant: Clara Isidro Millan, 4098 Boston Ave., San Diego, CA 92113. This business is conducted by Individual. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.

Signature: Clara Isidro Millan. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 04/25/2023. AJ 1169 05/05, 05/12, 05/19, and 05/26/2023. AJSD 1169

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9009088

Changing Styles Hair Cuts And More located at 1625 Sweetwater Rd Ste E, National City, CA 91950.

Registrant: CME INC, 9270 Amys St Unit 26, Spring Valley, CA 91977.

This business is conducted by Corporation.

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

Signature: Carmen Araceli Rios.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 04/25/2023.

AJ 1173 05/05, 05/12, 05/19, and 05/26/2023.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9008430

Lobster Lab located at 890 Palomar Airport Rd., Carlsbad, CA 92011.

Registrant: Cosmos Burger LLC, 890 Palomar Airport Rd., Carlsbad, CA 92011. This business is conducted by Limited Liability Company.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 04/17/2023.

Signature: Zeki Eren Unur. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 04/17/2023. AJ 1177 05/12, 05/19, 05/26, and 06/02/2023. AJSD 1177

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9010203

Agape Consulting located at 9921 Carmel Mountain Rd, 309, San Diego, CA 92129.

Registrant:

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9006731

Via Camisia located at 2014 Mount Langley Street, Chula Vista, CA 91913.

Registrant: RNB Industries LLC, 2014 Mount Langley Street, Chula Vista, CA 91913. This business is conducted by Limited Liability Company. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.

Signature: Mauricio Marasigan. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 03/24/2023. AJ 1165 04/28, 05/05, 05/12, and 05/19/2023. AJSD 1165

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9009527 LEX Athleisure located at 405 Costal Hills, Chula Vista, CA 91914.

Registrant: LEX Enterprise LLC, 2127 Olympic Pkwy Suite 1006 #434. This business is conducted by Limited Liability Company. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.

Signature: Andrea Aguilar. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 04/28/2023. AJ 1170 05/05, 05/12, 05/19, and 05/26/2023. AJSD 1170

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9009553 a. Barnaby located at 2521 Palomar Airport Rd., Carlsbad, CA 92011. Registrant: Studio Big Whoop Corp, 155 Harriet St #12, San Francisco, CA 94103. This business is conducted by Corporation.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 03/16/2023.

Signature: Pete Nguyen. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 05/01/2023.

AJ 1174 05/12, 05/19, 05/26, and 06/02/2023.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2023-9008429 Cosmos Burgers And Beer located at 208 N Coast HWY, Oceanside, CA 92054. Registrant: Oceanside Cosmos LLC, 208 N Coast HWY, Oceanside, CA 92054. This business is conducted by Limited Liability Company.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 04/17/2023.

Signature: Zeki Eren Unur. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 04/17/2023. AJ 1178 05/12, 05/19, 05/26, and 06/02/2023. AJSD 1178

Fil Amm- owned small businesses thrive as street fairs make a comeback in New York Cit y

by MoMar G. Visaya / AJPress

THE history of street fairs in New York City can be traced back to the early 20th century when immigrant communities began organizing outdoor festivals to celebrate their cultural heritage.

These events, which feature food, music, and other forms of entertainment, were often held in public spaces like parks and plazas and provided an opportunity for new arrivals to connect with their fellow countrymen and share their traditions with the wider community.

Augelyn Francisco and her partner Joey Payumo recognized this and began hosting ministreet fairs outside their Kabisera Café in the Lower East Side. They gathered other small FilAm-owned businesses and staged these pop-up markets.

Through the years, their numbers grew. Today, as a group called Philippines Fest, they can occupy an entire city block as a part of the larger street fairs in the city. Among the OG members of the collective are VJ Navarro of So Sarap, Daniel Corpuz, Craig Nisperos, and Hatzumomo founder Paulo Manaid.

“There is a big world out there and they are waiting to know about Filipino food,” Francisco told the Asian Journal. “It is a proud moment to see all the Philippine flags out here on Sixth Avenue representing different kinds of small businesses.”

Street fairs have been a fixture of New York City’s cultural landscape for over a century, providing a platform for local businesses and artists to showcase their goods and talents to the public.

These events, which typically take place on weekends during the warmer months, have become an integral part of the city’s social fabric, drawing crowds from all over the five boroughs and beyond.

This is what makes it a good platform for these upand-coming small businesses to be exposed to a wider market and this is why vendors such as Michael Williams of Salamat Cookies do not mind the travel from Indianapolis to NYC.

Salamat Cookies, founded by Michael Williams, a secondgeneration Filipino American from Indianapolis, Indiana, has become a sensation, shipping

Meryll goes after her dream

By RonnIe CaRRasCo III ManilaTimes.net

AS the truism goes, “Life begins at 40.” And as far as her showbiz career is concerned, there’s no stopping Meryll Soriano from chasing her dream to direct a film once she reached that age.

Having turned a year older and wiser — as the clichè goes — Meryll swore that whatever it took: “I will direct at least one film.”

In fact, she had already hatched what her directorial debut would be like.

“Ten years ago, I wanted to tackle postpartum depression. But back then, nobody seemed to take me seriously. Perhpas, they thought I was only jesting when I said I want to direct something. But I told myself, how would I know if I could do it if I don’t try?”

Meryll’s firm decision led her to finding a writer with whom she could comfortably work.

“That’s also the reason why I enrolled in Ricky Lee’s writing workshop because I believed that for me to be able to direct, I should also be able to understand my scriptwriter.”

Meryll is also happy to have found the producers willing to bankroll her first ever directorial project. Does she see herself as the main character in her film?

“My friends are actually telling me to also act for the film but I also had to evaluate I could do two roles for the project.”

On her vlog with her aunt Maricel Soriano late last year, Meryll expressed her interest to have the former in a movie.

“Yes, I’d like us to be together in a film again because I was really young the last time we worked together in a comedy project. But directing her, why not? It’s just that I guess there’s gonna be a bit of nervousness. After all, she is the Maricel

direct at least one film in this lifetime.

from Instagram/@dearmamameme Soriano, the Diamond Star!”

Meryll, however, heaped praises on her tita Mary despite the latter’s intimidating facade.

“One thing nice about her is that she’s a generous person. I know she will guide me because she loves and trusts me. And I also witness how collaborative she is when it comes to work.”

If ever she becomes a full-fledged director, will Meryll consider directing her dad Willie Revillame?

“Ay, no! He might even be the one to direct me.”

Speaking of possible projects, does Meryl mind if her partner Joem Bascon is cast in one of those?

“He actually wants to. I don’t think he’ll feel intimidated at all to have me as his director. He knows we are different from who we are on the set and who we are at home,” Meryll said within Joem’s hearing distance.

At press time, Meryll’s postpartum-themed film has yet to be given a title.

But I’m just wondering how much of the movie is culled from Meryll’s experience. n

Matteo moves to GMA Network

By Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net

MATINEE idol Matteo

Guidicelli is officially a Kapuso after signing a contract with GMA Network on Thursday, May 11.

In a press conference, the 33-year-old said negotiations started last year but did not continue as he was doing other shows, including the nowdefunct noontime show “Tropang LOL,” which ended on April 29.

“It did not happen last year

because it was not at the perfect timing. I was doing another show and all other things aside so the negotiations were held back. But finally Ms. Anette Gozon (GMA Senior Vice President) said, ‘you know what, let’s sit down with boss Vic (del Rosario, Viva Communications Inc. president and CEO), and let’s finish this’,” Guidicelli said, quoting Gozon. “So we did, and after three hours, it was a done deal. As I’ve said, it’s like love. Good things happen to those who wait. I’m

to 49 out of the 50 states, five countries, and delivering over 150,000 cookies.

“Filipino Americans have been overlooked for far too long, and it’s an honor to be a part of the movement that celebrates and elevates our culture,” Williams told us. “We eat with our eyes first, and the vibrant colors of our cookies often catch people’s attention and draw them in to try new flavors.”

Celebrating Philippine culture through its cookies, the business started during the pandemic when Michael, who lost his job as a photographer, decided to learn how to bake cookies as a father who wanted to bring cookies to his son’s soccer practice. The venture started as a way to give cookies away as thank-yous and evolved into a business when someone asked if

they could buy them. The name Salamat” means thank you, reflecting the company’s origins.

As a Filipino American, Michael did not know what Filipino flavors tasted like, but his business now introduces Filipino flavors and culture through his cookies. The cookies have distinct flavors and colors, such as the vibrant purple from the ube, a purple yam, or green from the pandan leaves.

Salamat Cookies’ best-selling cookies include Space Jam, a cookie that is out of this world, and Salted Brown Butter Ube, a cookie that combines the rich flavor of brown butter with sea salt and the ube. The success of Salamat Cookies and Patok By Rach reflects the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit of people who turned adversity into opportunity. The pandemic has brought out the best in businessminded individuals like Michael, who, with his mother, started a cookie business that celebrates Filipino culture and flavors.

Hanna Abada and Rachel Saberon started Patok By Rach towards the end of 2020. Rachel has just finished culinary school and the pandemic was in full swing so it was tough all around. She developed the menu and began testing recipes which have become their bestsellers such as the rice balls, sisig and lechon belly.

u PAGE 10

Matteo Guidicelli

Photo from Instagram/@matteog

Augelyn Francisco of Kabisera, one of the founders of Philippines Fest AJPress Photos by Momar G. Visaya

The actress swears that whatever it takes, she will

Photo

Hanna Abada of Patok by Rach shares that they bring at least ten lechon bellies in every street fair they join and most of the time, they get easily sold out.

Daniel Corpuz showcases his chocolate creations at Philippines Fest

Michael Williams of Salamat Cookies is happy to share Filipino flavors like panda and ube in their cookies.

Oohlam NYC sells Homestyle Filipino Food

One of the longest lines at the Philippines Fest belonged to So Sarap NYC which showcases mostly Filipino street food favorites. At the street fair, they introduced grilled balut served with chili garlic, currently among the trendiest animist viral street food all over the Philippines.

Youth challenge invites submissions from artistic San Diegans

YOUNG San Diegans are invited to help raise awareness about opioid overdoses and the dangers of counterfeit and illicit opioids using their video and art skills.

The County’s current Scoop from You(th) Challenge focuses on the opioid crisis and will accept submissions from San Diegans ages 12 to 25 from May 9, in recognition of National Fentanyl Awareness Day, through July 11, in three categories:

• Tik Talk – Provide an overview on a topic related to the opioid crisis, such as illicit fentanyl or naloxone. Submissions must be 10 minutes or less and feature at least one resource for the community.

• Fast Facts – Create an original handcrafted or digitally designed piece of visual art that

Eraserheads rocks live at Pechanga Resort Casino on May 28

highlights at least one fact specifically about illicit opioids or naloxone.

• Real Reel – Create a 15 to 90 second video that provides a personal testimonial or public service announcement related to the opioid crisis. Submissions must provide a clear call to action.

The challenge, sponsored by Live Well San Diego partner Rescue Agency, will award one winner $1,200 and the opportunity to have their submitted content featured in awareness campaigns on County communication channels.

Six more age group winners will also receive gift card awards of $400 and $100 along with a signed certificate.

To see complete contest rules and enter to win, visit the LiveWellSD.org/ScoopFromYouth.

May 9 is National Fentanyl Awareness Day

The launch of this summer’s Scoop from You(th) Challenge coincides with National Fentanyl Awareness Day, which encourages everyone to get informed about the dangers of illicitly manufactured fentanyl, spread the word, and be prepared.

Illicit fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that can be lethal in tiny amounts, the size of three grains of salt, which users may be unaware is present in their pills.

County-wide in 2021, illicit fentanyl was a cause of death in 814 accidental overdoses, according to the Medical Examiner.

The County is making efforts to distribute naloxone, a lifesaving nasal spray that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, including those induced by fentanyl. The County’s Naloxone Distribution Program aims to disseminate 33,000 naloxone kits by June 30 in part through direct community outreach and even vending machines.

Naloxone is available for pick-up at all of the County’s Public Health centers and carried at many pharmacies.

More information about illicit fentanyl, including how to speak to youth about its risks, and a list of where to find naloxone near you is available on Up2SD.org.

Substance use treatment resources are also available by calling the County’s Access and Crisis Line at (888) 724-7240, calling 9-8-8 or 2-1-1. (Fernanda Lopez/County of San Diego Communications Office) n

Fil Am-owned small businesses thrive...

They pivoted and began joining street fairs and popups. Today, they’re also at Smorgasburg, Uptown Night Market, and Brooklyn Night Market, among others.

“When we started, we told ourselves that all we want to do is to showcase Filipino food and put Filipino food out there,” Abada said. “Other Asian cuisines like Japanese, Chinese, Thai, they’re all over New York. But Filipino food. they’re isolated in one spot. So it was one of our goals to have Filipino food put on the map for New York City.”

Fattened Caf, a small FilAmowned business from St. Louis City in Missouri helmed by the husband-and-wife team of Darren and Charlene LopezYoung sell Filipino barbecue in a brewery in St. Louis and their sausages are now in 80 grocery stores throughout Missouri and Southern Illinois.

Lopez-Young and Isabel Bakunawa were at the Philippines Fest a few weeks ago, joining a host of other small FilAm-owned businesses.

“We make it easy for people to make Filipino barbecue at home so that we normalize Filipino food culture and every household throughout the United States,” Lopez said. “Our Filipino barbecue sauce kind of mimics the banana ketchup, but we make it with real bananas. So we make it easy for people to want to base their meats with it, dip their meats in it and not just stick to the nostalgic dishes that we know.”

They also wanted their refrigerated delivery van to look like a Filipino jeepney so they had it painted and branded like a jeep and it has ‘Cubao Philippines’ emblazoned in honor of their families being from Cubao, Quezon City.

“We drove 16 hours from St. Louis to be here. We just really love the Filipino community and want to be around more Filipinos,” she shared.

The Young couple started Fattened Caf back in 2018 selling 60 plates in various farmers’ markets.

“And then right before the pandemic we were able to sell

300 plates in two hours so we knew there was something that people in St. Louis were looking for and Filipino barbecue was leaving its mark in a town that was all about barbecue, right?

Like when you think about St. Louis or the Midwest, you think of barbecue, so people have embraced Filipino barbecue over there and enjoy it and love it.” Lopez added.

They were able to weather the pandemic by creating and selling their line of Filipino sausages through a small window outside a local brewery. The sausages were fully cooked, making them incredibly convenient for customers who could simply fry them up in a matter of minutes without having to boil them.

Word of their delicious sausages spread and soon enough, a grocery store approached them about carrying their product. They are now stocked in several grocery stores throughout Missouri and Southern Illinois.

“These are good and everyone can identify with longganisa like we all grew up with longganisa,” she shared proudly. “It’s so good and more people need to know about it so our goal is to be in more mainstream grocery stores.”

They also released their own “Sawsawan” line of sauces, marinades, and dips, complementing the distinct flavors of the sausages they sell.

Among the other vendors who participated were Washington DC-based Sari Kusina by chefpartner Paolo Dungca, Ooohlam; Gabi’s Goods, Logan and Co.’s Kalamansi Stand; Mansi, Hatzumomo’s Natibo ATBP, among others.

NYC’s cultural calendar Street fairs are a vital part of the city’s cultural calendar, providing a platform for emerging artists and entrepreneurs to showcase their work, and attracting tourists from around the world.

On a regular day, these street fairs generate about 10,000 to 12,000 visitors and tourists. From the Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy to the Smorgasburg’s multiple locations, each neighborhood has its signature event, reflecting the diverse cultural tapestry of New York City.

This early, Augee and her team have planned a calendar for the next few months – Park Slope on May 24, Ube Festival at Smorgasburg on June 10, and Times Square/Eighth Avenue on July 9. There are also plans to bring Philippines Fest to Virginia, Atlanta and Los Angeles.

These street fairs remain an important part of New York City’s cultural heritage, offering a unique opportunity for residents and visitors alike to experience the rich diversity and creativity that makes the city so special and it is something that Philippines Fest organizers are more than happy to take part of. n

ALTERNATIVE rock band

“Eraserheads,” one of the most successful and sought-after groups in the history of Filipino music, performs live in Pechanga Resort Casino on Sunday, May 28 at 6 p.m., in a series of world concert tours for the entire year.

Pechanga Resort Casino, conveniently located off Highway I-15 in Temecula Valley, referred to as Southern California wine county, is wellknown for hosting only the best and the brightest Filipino entertainers and performers aimed to provide the ultimate experience especially to its Filipino-American patrons.

Led by Ely Buendia, Rayms Marasigan, Buddy Zabala, and Marcus Adoro, the Eraserheads is best known for its 1995 hit song “Ang Huling El Bimbo,” that landed an International Viewer’s Choice Award for MTV Asia in 1997 and Awit (Song) Award for most downloaded song while also being nominated for best musical arrangement.

Ely is the lead vocals and rhythm guitarist, Rayms beats the drums, Buddy plays the bass, and Marcus is lead guitarist. Rayms, Buddy and Marcus also do backup vocals.

“Ang Huling El Bimbo (The Last Attractive Unintelligent Woman),” depicts an unreciprocated love story between childhood friends who grew up and grew apart, and only headed to a tragic end.

Often dubbed as “The Beatles” of the Philippines, the decadesold rock band formed in 1989 are credited for spearheading a second wave of Manila band invasions.

Four other soundtracks became successive hits – “Kailan (When),” “Magasin (Magazine),” Alapaap (High Clouds),” and “With Smile” – turned gold in a span of 30 days with 20,000 copies sold then later earned quintuple platinum with 220,000 copies sold.

The pop band went global performing concerts from Sentosa Pop Festival in Singapore to the United States at the Palace in Hollywood. At the Radio City Music Hall in New York, the group received the coveted “Moon Man” trophy for bagging the 1997 MTV Asia Viewer’s Choice Award, making Eraserheads the first-ever Filipino artists to win the award.

Eraserheads also performed live in Tokyo, Japan and from Oakland to Los Angeles, California, and as far as Dubai, HongKong, Sydney, Chicago, United Arab Emirates and London.

The band has also performed alongside the country’s topnotch rap singer the late Francis Magalona and famed singer Gary Valenciano. The Eraserheads concert may only strike once! Buy your tickets now from the Pechanga Box Office, or by calling 888-810-8871, or visit www. pechnga.com.

Pechanga Summit features a 40,000-square foot area for entertainers, concerts, live sporting events, trade shows, weddings, or any large groups to book. In total, Pechanga now

offers 274,500 square feet of indoor/outdoor contemporary meeting and event space, which significantly enhanced the amenities, space and visibility of Pechanga’s event offerings.

Pechanga Resort Casino offers one of the largest and most expansive resort/casino experiences anywhere in the United States. Voted the number one casino in the country by USA Today and rated a Four Diamond property by AAA since 2002, Pechanga Resort Casino provides an unparalleled getaway, whether for the day or for an extended luxury stay. Offering 5,400 of hottest slots, 152 table games, a 1,100 room and suite hotel, dining, luxury spa, and golf at Journey at Pechanga, Pechanga Resort Casino features a destination that meets and exceeds the needs of its guests and the community. Pechanga Resort Casino is owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians. For more information, call toll free (877) 711-2946 or visit www.pechanga.com. Follow Pechanga Resort Casino on Facebook and on Twitter @ PechangaCasino.

(Advertising Supplement)

Mayor Gloria announces tentative agreements with San Diego Municipal Employees Association, AFSCME Local 127

Deal negotiated with city employees continues investment in workforce to enhance city services

SAN DIEGO – Furthering his commitment to invest in the city’s workforce, fill vacancies, and enhance services to residents, Mayor Todd Gloria on April 28 announced that the city has reached a three-year tentative agreement with the labor unions representing 62 percent of its workforce: the San Diego Municipal Employees Association (MEA), which represents the City’s whitecollar workers, and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 127 (Local 127), representing bluecollar workers.

“Much like decades of deferred maintenance left our streets in terrible shape, years of no pay increases, low wages and benefit cuts took their toll on the City of San Diego’s workforce,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “This agreement is another step to reverse years of underinvestment in our employees that resulted in unfilled positions and delayed or diminished services for our residents. Fair and competitive pay will ensure we have the workers to provide the level of service San Diegans expect and deserve.”

Under the tentative agreements, all members of both unions will receive a series of pay increases over the next three years, starting with a 5 percent increase on July 1, 2023, and another 5 percent increase on Jan. 1, 2024. The employees will receive subsequent pay increases of 4 percent starting July 1, 2024; 2 percent on Jan. 1, 2025; and finally, an additional 5 percent starting July 1, 2025. In addition, the agreements provide equity adjustments, special assignment pays and certification pays for specialized skills and training.

“Our city workers are the city’s most important resource,” said Council President Sean Elo-Rivera. “After years

PAGE 9

of being overburdened, underappreciated, and scapegoated for many city leaders’ failures, San Diego’s city employees are finally being provided the dignity and respect of a contract consistent with their contributions. I am proud of the work the Council has done in partnership with the mayor to make San Diego a city that provides the world-class careers that will result in world-class services for our residents.”

The agreements further bolster Mayor Gloria’s efforts to address the high vacancy rate at the city, which has led to delays or reductions in city services.

More than 18 percent of the positions represented by both MEA and Local 127 are currently vacant.

A 2020 report by the City Auditor showed a major factor behind employee turnover was significant pay gaps compared with other California jurisdictions. Most city employees only received modest salary increases in the 2019 and 2020 fiscal years after more than a decade of stagnant wages.

The high vacancy rates and difficulty in hiring have had

noticeable impacts for residents, delaying or diminishing the level of service across city functions.

MEA represents dispatchers, pool guards, recreation center workers, code compliance officers and customer services representatives in the city’s Public Utilities Department – all functions that have suffered from unfilled positions. A major push to fill vacant Library Assistant roles is enabling the Library Department to begin re-opening libraries on Sundays after three years of Sunday closures due to lack of staff.

Local 127 represents employees who repair streets and streetlights, collect trash and remove litter, maintain city vehicles to keep them in service, keep city parks, libraries and beaches clean, and additional essential services the public relies on.

“As we move towards a structurally balanced budget, it is also essential we fill our vacancies while investing in competitive salaries to attract and maintain workers,” said Council President pro Tem Monica Montgomery Steppe, who chairs the Budget and Government Efficiency Committee. “This tentative agreement demonstrates our value for city workers and is a step toward living up to ‘America’s Finest City’ by providing quality services to our residents after years of divestment.”

The tentative agreements are a major step toward resolving the city’s longstanding underinvestment in the workforce and is an intentional effort to make San Diego a more attractive employer through competitive compensation and benefits. They will become final once the unions’ employee membership ratifies them and the City Council gives its final approval..

(City of San Diego Release) n

Matteo moves to GMA...

just very happy and blessed that GMA welcomed me here,” he added. As the newest Kapuso, Guidicelli will be part of the morning show “Unang Hirit” beginning Monday, May 15 where he will have his own segment. The actor, triathlete, and host will also be part of GMA Public Affairs’ upcoming action-drama primetime series “Black Rider” with Ruru Madrid and soon, a documentary special about nature.

Viewers should also watch out for Matteo’s upcoming shows in GMA, including exciting projects with GMA Regional TV and Synergy. Asked for his wife Sarah Geronimo’s reaction regarding this new chapter of his career, Guidicelli shared “[She] was happy. She said ‘Love, public affairs suits you.’ When I joined the army four years ago, I said I’ll pick every project given to me meticulously. In the future, I want my projects to represent the Filipino people. So she said our prayers are answered.” n

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria File photo/www.sandiego.gov