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MAY 20-26, 2022 Serving San Diego Since 1987 • 14 Pages

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

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Supermajority, family ties shape new Senate DATELINE USA

by Dona Z. PaZZibugan, Melvin gascon, Tina g. sanTos

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

New York City enters ‘high’ COVID-19 alert level

THE New York City Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene on Monday, May 16 issued an advisory strongly recommending that all New Yorkers wear masks in all indoor public settings as the city approaches the ‘high’ alert level.

NYC health officials are asking individuals, regardless of vaccination status or past COVID-19 infection, to wear a mask at all times when indoors and in a public setting, including at groceries, building lobbies, offices, stores, and other common or shared spaces where individuals may interact such as restrooms, hallways, elevators, and meeting rooms.

A high alert level means that there is high community spread, putting substantial pressure on the health care system as case and hospitalization rates

Inquirer.net

MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday, May 18 proclaimed the 12 winners in the senatorial race, including four reelectionists, three first-timers, and five former senators.

With only one reelectionist senator and another still keeping his seat in the chamber, who both are not backed by either outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte or the incoming presumptive President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Senate will have a formidable bloc that the country’s new leaders can rely upon for their legislative program.

Also, for the first time in Philippine Senate

history, there will be three sets of family members serving together as senators — two siblings, two half-brothers, and a mother and her son.

The new senators ranked according to the number of votes they received are former action star Robin Padilla, Antique Rep. and former Sen. Loren Legarda, broadcaster Raffy Tulfo, reelected Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, Sorsogon Gov. and former Sen. Francis Escudero, former Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Taguig Rep. and former Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, reelected Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, reelected Sen. Joel Villanueva, former Sen. JV Ejercito, reelected Sen. Risa Hontiveros and former Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.

Of the winners, Padilla, Tulfo, Cayetano, and Ejercito got the support of the president while

by cecille

suerTe Philstar.com

CA lawmakers push to tighten licensing at nursing homes

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12 SENATORS PROCLAIMED. The National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) proclaims the “Magic 12” senators at the PICC Forum Tent in Pasay City on Wednesday, May 18. The 12 senators who won in this year’s elections are actor Robin Padilla, former Antique Representative Loren Legarda, broadcaster Raffy Tulfo, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, former Sorsogon Governor Chiz Escudero, former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar, former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, Senator Miguel Zubiri, Senator Joel Villanueva, JV Ejercito, Senator Risa Hontiveros, and Jinggoy Estrada.

PNA photo by Avito Dalan

Torres-TuPas Inquirer.net

MANILA — Civic leaders on Tuesday, May 17 have asked the Supreme Court to stop the Senate and House of Representatives from canvassing the votes cast for former senator and presumptive president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. The prayer for a restraining order was contained in a petition to reverse the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) dismissing the bid to cancel Marcos’ certificate of candidacy (COC).

“The injunctive relief sought is clearly urgent. Petitioners respectfully ask this Court to act without any delay in considering this application,” the petition stated.

The petitioners were referring to the Comelec’s January 17 resolution and Comelec’s en banc ruling dated May 10.

FeliPe

MANILA — The proclamation of the winning president and vice presidential candidates can be done immediately or no later than May 25 as the Senate and the House of Representatives sitting jointly as the National Board of Canvassers see no major issues hampering the canvassing, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said on Saturday, May 14.

In an interview over dwIZ, Zubiri said an early proclamation would allow the senators to continue their legislative work and pass some local bills under the 18th Congress.

“I feel the proclamation can be expedited. If I have my way, we will proclaim the new president and vice president in the afternoon. But we will allow time for our colleagues both in the majority and the minority to give their privilege speeches, and eventually we will proclaim. Maybe the latest is May 25,” he said.

Zubiri expressed belief that there would be no major issues or motions to be raised during the canvassing, considering the wide leads of presumptive president

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Over 3M Filipinos based abroad went back home because of COVID

MANILA — Over 3.11 million Filipinos previously based abroad have come home because of the pandemic as of May 13, more than the 1.77 million estimated number of overseas Filipino workers in 2020 reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

According to the Task Group on Management of Returning Overseas Filipinos, nearly 2.067 million of the 3.11 million were previously OFWs, while 724,361 were non-OFWs and 313,205 were

Petition to reverse Comelec decision on Marcos’ disqualification case reaches SC

by TeTch

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Winning president, vice president may be proclaimed by May 25

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SACRAMENTO — When Johanna Trenerry found a nursing home for her husband after his stroke, she expected his stay would be temporary.

He never came home.

Arthur Trenerry died at Windsor Redding Care Center in Northern California in October 2020. The 82-year-old great-grandfather is among more than 9,900 California nursing home residents who have died of COVID-19.

The nursing home where Trenerry died is licensed by the state, but not under its current owner, Shlomo Rechnitz. The state denied Rechnitz a license, citing at least one death and multiple cases of “serious harm” at other nursing homes he owns or operates. To get around that, Rechnitz formed a business partnership with one of the home’s former owners, who continues to hold the facility’s license.

Some California lawmakers want to put an end to those types of business arrangements and ban people or entities from buying or operating nursing homes unless they have a license — which is the situation in most states. They’re also proposing an overhaul of the licensing process to reject applicants

Marcos supported Estrada and Escudero, who was also a guest candidate of the opposition led

by Vice President Leni Robredo.

The candidates who were supported by both Mr. Duterte and Marcos were Legarda, Gatchalian, Villar, Zubiri, and Villanueva.

All of them can expect solidarity from most of the 12 pro-Duterte senators who were elected in the 2019 midterm elections, including Marcos’ elder sister, Sen. Imee Marcos.

Malacañang said Filipinos elected “old and new faces” in the Senate and that there was now a “sense of hope and optimism with the new set of lawmakers.”

“It is now time to move forward after a divisive

The Senate and House of Representatives will convene on May 23 to canvass the votes cast for President and Vice President.

‘Only remedy available’ In their petition before the high court, the petitioners said: “A temporary restraining order is the only remedy available to enjoin and restrain the Congress of the Philippines from rendering this Petition moot and, in the event this Court rules in favor of the petitioners, allowing a candidacy that should never have been to ripen into a presidency of an ineligible candidate.”

If the SC would grant their petition for a restraining order, they said it can exclude only the votes cast for Marcos Jr., leaving the unaffected votes for the other candidates.

“It is not petitioners’ desire to impede the Congress of the Philippines from

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listed as foreign nationals.

“A total of 6,523 deceased returning overseas Filipinos had arrived in the country from July 7, 2020 to May 14, 2022. Of which, 640 died due to COVID-19,” the task group said in its report dated May 14.

The pandemic brought the world to a halt in the first half of 2020, pushing OFWs and other overseas Filipinos to either seek refuge in their host countries or be repatriated.

u PAGE 2 Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro announced May 19, 2022, the naming of a future Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer as USS Telesforo Trinidad (DDG 139). Telesforo de la Cruz Trinidad, the ship’s namesake, is the only Filipino in the U.S. Navy to be awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in 1915 aboard USS San Diego (ACR 6), where he risked his own life to save two of his shipmates during a boiler explosion.

U.S. Navy graphic by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class T. Logan Keown

With cases and hospitalizations increasing, LA County residents encouraged to US Navy ship to be layer safety protections named for Filipino WITH the highly infectious BA.2 subvariant and sub-lineages fueling case and hospitalization increases, Los Angeles County residents are encouraged to layer safety protections such as masking, testing, and staying away from others when sick.

For the week ending April 23, Omicron once again accounted for 100% of all positive cases that were sequenced, with the BA.2 lineage and sub-lineages accounting for about 97% of these positive sequenced specimens in LA County.

While BA.2, excluding BA.2.12.1, continues to be the predominant subvariant, accounting for about 85% of

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sailor Telesforo Trinidad U.S. Navy to be awarded the Medal of Honor.

“Since being sworn in as UNITED States Secretary secretary, I have wanted to of the Navy Carlos Del Toro honor his heroic actions by announced Thursday, May 19 naming a ship after him,” said that a future Arleigh Burke-class Del Toro. “This ship and her guided-missile destroyer will be future crew will be a critical named USS Telesforo Trinidad piece in strengthening our (DDG 139), honoring the maritime superiority while bravery and heroism of Fireman also emphasizing the rich 2nd Class Telesforo De La Cruz culture and history of our naval Trinidad, the only Filipino in the u PAGE 3

by MoMar

g. visaya

AJPress

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MAY 20-26, 2022 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

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

From The FronT Page

United States, ASEAN commit to non-militarization in disputed sea

by Pia Lee-Brago Philstar.com

OLD-FASHIONED ROLLING STORE. A white bull pulls a carriage loaded with various household items including brooms along Aurora Boulevard near Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City on Thursday, May 19. This old-fashioned rolling store is very common in the past moving around residential areas selling native household products.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Over 3M Filipinos based abroad went...

PAGE 1 As of Monday, May 16, reported COVID-19 infections have ballooned to 521.476 million across the world according to Johns Hopkins University data. In the Philippines, COVID cases have already reached 3.68 million.

The task group also reported that 32,594 of the returning overseas Filipinos tested positive for the virus during their quarantine upon arrival. Only 50 remain admitted at 11 quarantine facilities, while 32,515 have since recovered. The death toll stands

at 29.

Meanwhile, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration has also reportedly given COVID-19 assistance to OFWs by helping 802,538 to return to their home regions. Another 829,067 availed of “OFW Kalinga,” which is a program for repatriated OFWs. Nearly 1.024 million OFWs, meanwhile, have availed of the One-Stop-Shop for the Management of Returning Overseas Filipinos “Balik Probinsya and Uwian Na” program. n

MANILA — The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United States have reaffirmed their commitment to ensure maritime security and safety, freedom of navigation, non-militarization and self-restraint in the conduct of activities in the South China Sea. “We are dedicated to maintaining peace, security and stability in the region and to ensuring maritime security and safety, as well as freedom of navigation and overflight and other lawful uses of the seas as described in the 1982 UNCLOS,” the ASEAN-US Special Summit 2022 Joint Vision Statement read, referring to the United

Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The statement, crafted in Washington late last week, also called for “unimpeded lawful maritime commerce.”

The two sides noted the United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/75/239 emphasizes how the UNCLOS sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out.

UNCLOS is of strategic importance as the basis for national, regional and global action and cooperation in the marine sector, and its integrity needs to be maintained, the parties said.

“We are committed to advancing our cooperation in the maritime domain through

ASEAN-led mechanisms,” the statement read.

ASEAN and the U.S. plan to forge new ties and promote cooperation and coordination among relevant agencies, including maritime law enforcement agencies, to collaborate to improve maritime domain awareness, search and rescue, maritime security and to curb illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing through sharing of information, best practices and expertise, including technical assistance, which will complement and not duplicate existing mechanisms.

The two sides also committed to continuing efforts to protect, restore and sustainably manage the marine environment.

“We recognize the benefits

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Winning president, vice...

PAGE 1 Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and presumptive vice president Sara Duterte-Carpio over their rivals in the race.

As of Monday, May 16, partial and unofficial counting of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) indicated that Marcos garnered more than 31 million votes as against the over 14.8 million votes for Vice President Leni Robredo.

In the vice presidential race, Duterte-Carpio got over 31.5 million votes as of Monday afternoon, compared to Sen. Francis Pangilinan’s more than 9.2 million votes.

Zubiri said session is set to resume on May 23 with the Senate’s approval of the resolution convening the National Board of Canvassers with Senate President Vicente Sotto III and seven senators to represent the Senate.

To represent the chamber, aside from Zubiri, are Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Grace Poe, Aquilino Pimentel III, Pia Cayetano, Imee Marcos and Francis Tolentino.

The two chambers will check the certificates of canvass submitted manually to the

PPCRV volunteers count votes in the partial unofficial tally in the Quadricentennial Pavillion, UST, May 11. Bongbong Marcos Jr. leads the polls.

Philstar.com by Jazmin Tabuena

Senate and electronically to the House.

“We will convene by May 24…if they match and no other differences or erasure, we will canvas immediately and proclaim the elected president and vice president,” Zubiri added.

“I’m confident that in this case, with the huge mandate given to the president and vice president, the margin from the second, third and fourth are so wide, no one will ask too many questions,” he added.

He, however, stressed that

motions would still be entertained during the canvassing.

Zubiri declined to comment on the possible choices for the next Senate president, saying they would rather focus on the tasks left for the current congress, which adjourns on June 3.

The reelectionist senator ranked eighth in the Senate race, as of Sunday, May 15.

“In the meantime, there is still much work to be done. We are still in the middle of a pandemic and we must focus our energy on current challenges the country is facing,” Zubiri pointed out. n

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US Navy ship to be named for Filipino...

With cases and hospitalizations...

PAGE 1 positive sequenced specimens, LA County is seeing slight upticks in the more transmissible sub-lineage, BA.2.12.1, with about 12% of positive sequenced samples identified as BA.2.12.1 for the week ending April 23. For the week ending April 23, 9.1% of sequenced samples were identified as sub-lineages, BA.2.3 or BA.2.3x, thought to be more infectious than BA.2. The CDC estimated that, for the week ending May 7, BA.2 accounted for 56% of sequenced samples and BA.2.12.1 accounted for an increasing proportion of sequenced specimens in the U.S.: 43%, compared to 37% for the prior week.

With these highly infectious subvariants and sub-lineages in circulation, cases continue to increase in LA County. The average number of daily new cases reported over the last seven days increased to 2,944 compared to the 1,071 reported one month ago, an increase of 175%.

The higher case numbers are beginning to translate to small increases in hospitalizations, as they typically follow case increases. Over the last seven days, the average number of hospitalized cases per day was 288, an increase of 14% from one month ago when the average number of hospitalized cases per day was 253.

Fortunately, deaths, which typically lag hospitalizations by several weeks, remain stable and decreased from one month ago. Deaths decreased to an average of six deaths reported per day this past week, a 45% decrease from one month ago when an average of 11 deaths were reported per day.

“As always, we extend our deepest sympathies to everyone mourning the loss of a loved one from COVID,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Director of Public Health. “With the proliferation of highly infectious sub-lineages of Omicron, it is easier for infected individuals to unknowingly pass along the virus, resulting in many of us experiencing more spread associated with our gatherings and travel. And while it is reassuring to note the relatively low rates of hospitalizations and deaths, getting infected for many is still very risky and something to be avoided wherever possible.

As has been true throughout the pandemic, keeping others safe often requires that many of us align with sensible safety measures. For those who aren’t particularly concerned about their own health or that of their family members, we ask that you please be mindful of the cumulative risks faced by many in the workforce, at our schools, and in congregate living facilities.

With good access to many tools that help us layer in protection for those most vulnerable, we hope that more individuals will take the step of putting back on well-fitting, high filtration masks when using public transit and in transportation hubs, indoor spaces at schools and congregate living facilities, and when inside stores and workplaces. This would give us a chance at slowing down spread while we continue to increase the numbers of residents and workers up to date with their vaccinations since vaccines give us the most protection from severe illness and death.”

On Monday, May 16, Public Health reported 15 additional deaths and 3,489 new positive cases Saturday, 2,707 new cases Sunday and 1,941 new cases today. The number of cases and deaths are likely to reflect reporting delays over the weekend.

Of the 15 new deaths reported since Saturday, one person was between the ages of 30-49, one person was between the ages of 50-64, five people were between the ages of 65-79, and seven people were aged 80 years or older. Of the 15 newly reported deaths, all had underlying health conditions. Information on the one death reported by the city of Long Beach is available at longbeach.gov. longbeach.gov. To date, the total number of deaths in LA County is 32,037.

Public Health has reported a total of 2,915,694 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of LA County. The positivity rate is 2.6%.

There are 312 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized.

Testing results are available for more than 11,936,751 individuals, with 22% of people testing positive. n

PAGE 1 heritage.”

The Navy secretary shared that the first time he learned about Petty Officer Trinidad’s story was as a midshipman at the Naval Academy.

Trinidad was born Nov. 25, 1890 in Aklan.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy after the United States took possession of the archipelago in the wake of the Spanish-American War. Community Initiative An initiative led by the USS Telesforo Trinidad Campaign (USTTC) has been working to make this dream of memorializing Trinidad’s selfless dedication to the Navy and the country a reality. The group is composed of serving and retired U.S. Armed Forces, community and civic leaders, academics, corporate executives, and veterans’ families.

The USTTC was founded in 2020 by Col. Nonie C. Cabana, USAF-Ret, who serves as its Executive Director, and chaired by Captain Ronald Ravelo, USN (Ret), the first Filipino American to command a nuclearpowered aircraft carrier. USTTC garnered massive support across the country led by veterans’ and civic organizations, local, state, and national legislators, and grassroots support from many individuals.

“Filipinos and Filipino Americans have waited over 107 years to see this watershed moment happen. We realize that building grassroots and ground swelling support is the key to sustain momentum in convincing Honorable Secretary Del Toro to make this seminal decision as part of our Nation’s history,” Cabana said.

Ravelo echoed Cabana’s sentiments and added, “Naming a ship after Trinidad sends a strong message that America embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion. The old and new generations of Americans of Filipino descent who served and continue to serve our military would keep their heads raised high

knowing their contributions are embodied through the USS Telesforo Trinidad.”

Multiple organizations such as the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) and the Philippine Nurses Association of America sent letters to President Joe Biden requesting support for the campaign.

Some community leaders and family members including Telesforo’s grandchildren have expressed their elation about this news.

“Our family is extremely grateful to everyone that worked so hard to make this happen! My dad couldn’t believe the news and was so extremely excited that what he wanted for so long is finally coming to light,” shared Michelle Trinidad Villarroel on social media.

“The naming of the USS Telesforo Trinidad validates 121 years of loyal and faithful service by generations of Filipino American families in the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Armed Forces and the seminal role that Filipino Americans hold in U.S. history,” Cecilia Gaerlan, executive director of Bataan Legacy Historical Society told the Asian Journal.

“This announcement will inspire current and future generations to emulate the heroic deeds of Fireman Second Class Telesforo Trinidad not only during times of war but every day that they serve.”

Bravery & Heroism On Jan. 21, 1915, Trinidad was serving aboard USS San Diego when the captain decided to conduct a four-hour full-speed and endurance trial to determine if the ship could still maintain its officially rated flank speed.

Following the trial, an obstructed tube in one of the ship’s boilers gave way, creating a chain reaction. Trinidad re-entered the closed space to the No. 2 boiler to save Fireman 2nd Class R. W. Daly.

As he was carrying Daly through the No. 4

fireroom, an explosion of the No. 3 boiler hit Trinidad, which burned him in the face. After seeing Daly to safety and despite his injuries, Trinidad then assisted in rescuing another injured shipmate from the No. 3 fireroom.

For his bravery, the U.S. Navy awarded him the Medal of Honor and a $100 gratuity.

Trinidad died in 1968 at the age of 77 in Imus, Cavite. He was among the more than 250,000 Filipino soldiers who served in World War II, including thousands who died during the brutal 1942 Bataan Death March in the Philippines.

“I am pleased to honor Trinidad’s life and legacy today — especially during Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month,” said Del Toro. “Having a ship named after such a significant figure highlights our diverse culture and that our people will always be our strategic advantage against any adversary. I hope the naming of this ship is a beacon for not only Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders but for all our Sailors, Marines, and civilians who serve across the Department of the Navy. The service and sacrifice of these men and women have made our military and our nation stronger and better.”

According to the Navy announcement, Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are the backbone of the U.S. Navy’s surface fleet providing protection to America around the globe. These highly capable, multi-mission ships conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence to national security, providing a wide range of warfighting capabilities in multi-threat air, surface, and subsurface domains. These elements of sea power enable the Navy to defend American prosperity and prevent future conflict abroad.

Tens of thousands of Filipinos and Americans of Filipino descent have served in the U.S. Navy since 1901 when the Philippines was a United States territory. n

New York City enters ‘high’ COVID-19 alert... more New Yorkers out of the PAGE 1 while community escalate. These heightened hospital precautions will help slow the spread remains high.

The World Health spread of COVID-19 and keep

MEDICAL MISSION. Dr. Julius Marasigan (left) examines 11-month-old baby Yvone Zeara Encina who has fever and cold, while held by her mother Mary Joy Villanueva (partly hidden) during a medical mission in Barangay 176, Phase 4 Package 3, Bagong Silang-Kanan, Caloocan City on Wednesday, May 18. The city government launched the activity to provide free consultations, medicines and vitamins for the residents. PNA photo by Ben Briones

Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have also advised all individuals to take measures to reduce their risk of COVID-19, especially the Delta and Omicron variants and subvariants, including proven public health and social measures such as wearing wellfitting masks, hand hygiene, physical distancing, improving ventilation of indoor spaces, avoiding crowded spaces, and getting vaccinated.

The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene also urges all residents to use high-quality masks such as KN95 and KF94 masks and N95 respirators.

Their advisory further notes that individuals at high risk of severe illness – those who are over 65 or who are

unvaccinated –should avoid crowded settings and limit gettogethers In addition, the advisory notes that the impact of COVID-19 transmission is higher in settings with a high number of unvaccinated people.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Monday, May 16 said that the city is not ready to reinstate its indoor mask mandate, saying that he is watching the situation closely.

“We’re not at the point of doing anything other than urging New Yorkers while you’re indoors in large setin social settings. We’re not going to panic. We’re going to continue to be prepared,” Adams said. (By Momar G. Visaya/AJPress) n

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MAY 20-26, 2022 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

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

Supermajority, family ties shape new...

PAGE 1 election campaign and begin the daunting task of speeding up our economic recovery affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Let us work closely together and pray for our nation’s success,” acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar said in a statement.

For the first time, the two estranged sons of former President Joseph Estrada — JV and his half-brother Jinggoy — will be serving together as senators. Cayetano will again be working alongside his sister, Pia. The two Villars will be the second mother-son team in the Senate after Jinggoy served with his mother, Loi EjercitoEstrada from 2004 to 2007.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III said the new set of proadministration senators must give their minority colleagues the freedom to choose their own leaders after word spread that the majority held a caucus and considered Cayetano as head of the minority bloc.

‘Real minority’ “They shouldn’t do that,” Pimentel said in a forum, adding that the Senate should not become a “rubber stamp” of the president.

“Structurally, we must have a real minority in the Senate to check on the majority, to make sure there will be no tyranny of numbers,” he said. “We must be careful not to have a government that allows only for a monolithic thinking.”

As a rule, senators who did not vote for the winning Senate president will comprise the minority, who in turn, will choose among themselves their minority leader, Pimentel said.

Pimentel was a former Senate president and he headed the Partido Demokratikong PilipinoLakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), whose faction lost recognition from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to its Duterte-backed rival led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

At this point, only he and

Hontiveros can be considered the real opposition in the Senate.

Pimentel said the minority’s role will be mainly to see to it that all laws passed by the senators conform with Senate rules and the 1987 Constitution.

According to Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, the goal of pro-administration senators is to establish a “supermajority,” and a Senate president with an assured backing of at least 16 of the 24 senators.

He said Zubiri and the elder Villar were supposedly interested in becoming Senate president and that the presumptive president’s sister and Legarda were rumored to be among those seeking the position of Senate president pro tempore.

“Our hope is that the supermajority bloc will not break up and the groups will eventually agree because we need to have a Senate that will work well together,” he said.

No one has signified interest in heading the powerful Senate committee on good government and accountability, or the Senate blue ribbon committee, which is generally handled by a lawyer. The committee led the Senate investigation of the Pharmally scandal.

Six lawyers The new Senate will have six lawyers — Pimentel, Angara, the Cayetano siblings, Sen. Francis Tolentino, and Escudero.

Hontiveros said she was willing to cooperate with other senators “to fight for a society with dignity, justice, and equality.”

“I look forward to working with everyone,” said Hontiveros, who won with 15,420,807 votes.

Hontiveros, who was the only opposition senatorial candidate who won in this year’s elections, was emotional.

“I can’t help but think that it’s almost a miracle that I’m standing before you today,” she said, thanking her family

and supporters and “all of us Filipinos dreaming of a better life.”

“We always said during the campaign we were just heading to the ‘exciting part.’ I think nobody knew that it would be this exciting. Now it’s not only the exciting part but also the next six years.

Now we’re off to more exciting parts,” Hontiveros said.

“It’s an honor to be given this new mandate … let’s look after each other, no one should be left behind. The fight continues,” she added.

Open to be minority Villanueva, who took the ninth spot with 18,486,034 votes, said he was open to be part of the minority.

He handled the Senate’s labor and technical and vocational education committees in the 18th Congress.

He was accompanied by his wife, Gladys, and his father, evangelist Eddie Villanueva.

He said that although he experienced a drop in the preelection surveys, he said it did not deter him from seeking reelection as “my solid track record will speak for itself.”

Padilla, who has embraced Islam, said his victory was a symbol of unity between Muslims and Christians.

He called on newly elected officials and senators to give reforms in the Constitution a chance. He had attributed his victory to his push for federalism and Charter change.

“The people’s gripes about salary, unemployment, education… all of these will be addressed if we tackle reforms in the Constitution,” he said in Filipino.

Cheers, shrieks Cheers greeted Escudero, who came with his wife, actress Heart Evangelista, although louder cheers and shrieks welcomed Padilla when he entered the PICC Tent.

Escudero appealed for unity.

“I hope that healing will start today,” he said. “Whatever

colors we bannered during the elections, I hope we all change them to red, blue, white, and a little yellow. I hope we carry only the colors symbolizing our flag, because in the end, we’re all Filipinos and we’re all in one boat called Philippines.”

Zubiri called for a stop to “all the bickering.”

“Let us all work together, united as one family, as one country. We need to end poverty and now is the time to do it. We must unite as a people,” he said.

The elder Villar and her husband, former Sen. Manny Villar, were there for their son, Mark, while Pia accompanied her brother, Alan Peter, to the proclamation program.

‘Martial law babies’ The majority of the new senators-elect are so-called “martial law babies” who were born around the time Marcos Jr.’s father, the late ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos, began his nearly 21-year rule before a popular revolt ended it in 1986.

Five of them were born in 1969 when Marcos Sr. won a second four-year term.

Padilla, Escudero, Zubiri, Estrada and Ejercito are either 53 years old or turning 53 this year.

Cayetano is one year younger as he was born in 1970 when anti-Marcos protests were spreading across the country.

Gatchalian, 48, Villanueva, 45, and Villar, the youngest who will turn 44 this year, were all born after the 1972 declaration of martial law by Marcos Sr. Hontiveros is 56 years old.

Legarda and Tulfo are both 62 and born in 1960 before Marcos Sr. was first elected president in 1965.

Legarda said the problems of the country in 1998 when she was first elected to the Senate “are still here.” The country should address the “twin crises” of the pandemic and climate change, she said.

—With reports from Jerome Aning and Inquirer research n

Petition to reverse Comelec decision on Marcos’...

PAGE 1 performing its constitutional duty; it is rather petitioners’ desire to ensure that Congress, in performing this duty, does not end up performing it in vain,” petitioners said.

The case A complaint was filed against Marcos before a Quezon City court for violating the National Internal Revenue Code. Specifically, Marcos was sued for breaching the 1977 Internal Revenue Code as he failed to file income tax returns (ITRs) from 1982 to 1985 and did not pay the income taxes due.

In 1995, the Quezon City court found Marcos guilty and imposed nine years imprisonment as a penalty. The court also directed Marcos to pay a fine for his failure to file his ITRs and pay the taxes due. The case was elevated to the Court of Appeals.

Two years later, the Court of Appeals affirmed the lower court’s ruling and ordered Marcos to pay the deficiency income taxes due with interest, a total of P36,000 fine for non-filing of income tax returns from 1982 to 1985.

Marcos took the case to the Supreme Court but eventually withdrew it, making the decision of the Court of Appeals final and executory.

2022 presidential elections Marcos filed his COC to run for president in the 2022 elections. In his COC, he declared that he is eligible to run for President of the Philippines and he answered “no” to the question if he has been found liable for any offense, which carries the penalty of perpetual disqualification to hold public office.”

Last January, the Comelec dismissed the petition to cancel Marcos’ COC, saying the Court of Appeals affirmed Marcos’ conviction to file income tax returns but not for failure to pay taxes. The Comelec also said that the Court of Appeals did not specifically mention

that Marcos is perpetually disqualified from holding public office.

The Comelec added that the 1977 Internal Revenue Code does not require mandatory prison time and does not impose automatic perpetual disqualification to hold public office for offenders.

The Comelec en banc affirmed the January ruling of a poll body division, prompting petitioners to take the case to the Supreme Court.

Arguments before the Supreme Court The petitioners said Comelec committed grave abuse of discretion when it refused to cancel Marcos’ COC, which is actually void from the beginning.

“With Marcos, Jr.’s void COC, the eligible candidate with the next highest number of votes should be proclaimed,” read the petition.

The petitioners also asserted that the Comelec has excluded Marcos from the coverage of the 1977 tax code. They explained that the Court of Appeals did not explicitly mention that Marcos is perpetually disqualified from holding public office “because the Court of Appeals did not have to do so.”

Section 286 of the Tax Code states that “any person convicted of a crime penalized by this (NIRC) Code shall, in addition to being liable for the payment of the tax…if he is a public officer or employee…he shall be dismissed from the public service and perpetually disqualified from holding any public office, to vote, and to participate in any election.”

“Thus, by operation of law, and regardless of whether such disqualification was expressly directed in the judgment of conviction, the consequence of perpetual disqualification is deemed imposed upon the final conviction of Respondent Marcos Jr.,” the petitioners said.

The petitioners also cited the case of Romeo Jalosjos Sr., where a high court

ruling states that disqualification under the law “is deemed part of the final judgment of conviction. In fact, perpetual special disqualification takes effect immediately once the judgment of conviction becomes final.”

On the question of whether Marcos was a public officer or not when the supposed tax offense was committed, Comelec’s 2nd division said Marcos was not. This was later affirmed by the Comelec en banc.

The Comelec’s decision in January cited the case of Republic vs. Sandiganbayan as its basis for saying that Marcos was no longer a public officer upon his departure for Hawaii in 1986, the last day for him to file the ITR for the taxable year 1985.

Comelec said Marcos’ departure is deemed as an abandonment of his post as governor of Ilocos Norte.

But the petitioners asserted that the same ruling mentioned Provisional Constitution which provides that “all elective and appointive officials and employees under the 1973 Constitution shall continue in the office until otherwise provided by proclamation or executive order…”

Besides, the petitioners added, Marcos himself did not deny the allegation that he was a public officer during the questioned year.

SC action The high court is currently on a decisionwriting break but under its rules, the case will be raffled to a justice-in-charge.

The justice-in-charge can recommend to the Chief Justice an action on the petition specifically on the plea for a temporary restraining order. If approved, a restraining order may be issued.

However, it would immediately be subject to confirmation by the Court en banc (full court). If confirmed, the restraining order will be enforced. n

FIRE VICTIMS. Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go (right) visits the 62 families or 229 individuals who were affected by the fire at the Barangay 310 covered court in Sta. Cruz, Manila on Wednesday, May 18. The Department of Social Welfare and Development distributed food packs and cash assistance while the Department of Health gave medicines to the affected families.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

CA lawmakers push to...

PAGE 1 with poor performance and those without adequate experience or financial resources.

The ambitious effort, which the industry considers an overreach, could make California’s oversight the gold standard and a model for other states trying to improve nursing home care. Nationwide, more than 152,000 residents of nursing homes have died of COVID during the pandemic, according to federal data.

“The public health emergency that we’ve experienced could be something that becomes a catalyst for making real change,” said Dr. Debra Saliba, a UCLA professor of medicine who served on a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine committee that released a comprehensive report on nursing homes in April. “One of the things that we have right now is the determination, the resources to make things happen.”

In his State of the Union address in March, President Joe Biden said the quality of care had declined in nursing homes taken over by investors — and vowed to set higher federal standards. In anticipation of the speech, the White House released a proposal calling on Congress to boost funding for nursing home inspections and to give federal regulators the authority to deny Medicare funds to underperforming facilities. The administration also directed the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to propose minimum staffing standards within a year.

States are also taking steps to improve quality. New Jersey, for example, this year adopted a law that toughens penalties for health violations and requires nursing homes to disclose financial records.

In California, lawmakers are considering several proposals, including the changes to nursing home licensing rules.

Companies and individuals can buy or run nursing homes in California before they get a license, a process that even an industry lobbyist described at a legislative hearing this year as “backward” and unique to the state.

“In California, nursing home owners and operators can operate without a license even after they’ve been denied a license,” said state Assembly member Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance), author of AB 1502. “Many of these owners and operators have, unfortunately, an extensive history of neglect and abuse.”

Muratsuchi’s bill would require an owner or company to apply for a license 120 days before buying or operating a nursing home and include financial records that contain the names of all owners and investors. The state would reject applicants who fail to meet standards for character, performance in other homes, and the financial ability to run the home. Homes operating without a license would lose Medicaid funding and couldn’t admit new residents.

The powerful California Association of Health Facilities, which represents more than 800 nursing homes, has blocked previous licensing legislation and has set its sights on Muratsuchi’s bill. The group is led by Craig Cornett, a veteran of the state Capitol who has worked for four Assembly speakers and two Senate leaders.

The organization has made just over $2 million in political contributions and spent $5.9 million lobbying lawmakers from Jan. 1, 2011, through March 31, 2022, according to records filed with the California secretary of state’s office.

The bill fails to consider the state’s “complex regulatory environments” and would create “extensive” disclosure requirements on ownership applications that “in many cases would fill an entire room with boxes and boxes of paper,” Jennifer Snyder, a lobbyist for the association, told lawmakers in January.

The measure would “eliminate the ability for most current owners in California to actually apply or even apply for a change of ownership,” she added.

But this year, the industry faces an altered political landscape.

COVID has pushed lawmakers to act — and Muratsuchi has gained a valuable co-sponsor for his bill, Democratic state Assembly member Jim Wood, head of the Assembly Health Committee. Wood has condemned nursing homes for not doing enough during the pandemic and has directed state regulators to conduct stricter oversight.

Muratsuchi’s measure has cleared the state Assembly and awaits a hearing in the Senate.

Investigations by news organizations CalMatters and LAist last year found that at least two California nursing home operators without licenses were running dozens of facilities even though officials at the state Department of Public Health had declared them unfit to do so.

The homes remain open, in large part because finding another nursing home for residents is incredibly difficult.

In July 2016, state regulators denied a license to Rechnitz — who had purchased the Windsor Redding Care Center, where Arthur Trenerry died — citing 265 health and safety code violations at his other facilities in the previous three years. Nevertheless, Rechnitz continues to operate the home in partnership with a former owner, Lee Samson, who is listed as a license holder in state records.

Mark Johnson, a lawyer who represents Rechnitz and his company, Brius Healthcare, said that Windsor Redding Care Center’s “license is in good standing” and that Rechnitz is managing the facility under

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Starfleet Innotech leadership mobilizes across North America with strategic meetings in US, Canada STARFLEET Innotech, Inc. (OTC Pink: SFIO) (“SFIO” or “The Company”) capped off the first leg of its United States roadshow with a successful showing at the Planet MicroCap conference in Las Vegas, Nevada and strategic meetings with Silicon Valley partners in Palo Alto, California.

Towards the end of the month, executives from the global conglomerate will be congregating in New York to cement the agreements necessary to establish a more concrete presence in the U.S. “While we already have a presence in the United States through our office, key personnel, and strategic partners, our showcase in Las Vegas formally kicks off the next phase of our growth as a conglomerate,” said Santiago Arnaiz, General Manager of Communications at SFIO. “We recognize the crucial role that North America plays as fertile grounds to stage our global expansion. There are incredibly exciting projects being launched across the SFIO ecosystem – in the Philippines, Dubai, Malaysia, and beyond – all vital parts of our growth journey. Our job here in the U.S. is to find partners interested in joining us on that journey.

The reception so far has been promising.”

As a global investment holding company, SFIO is focused on innovation through disruptive collaborations across its three key industries: Food and Beverage (F&B), Real Estate, and Technology. This translates to making strategic investments in high-growth businesses and building synergies across its diverse portfolio in order to provide maximum shareholder value.

SFIO currently maintains offices across New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines, and the United States.

Over the next few months, the SFIO team will be mobilizing across North America, building on its momentum in Las Vegas and San Francisco towards establishing a more concrete presence in the region.

Recently, both Arnaiz and Chief Investor Officer Richard De Lima presented SFIO at the Planet MicroCap showcase to an audience of investors, fund managers, and family offices.

In Toronto, CEO Jeths Lacson mobilized a signed partnership with the company’s Canadian distributor for Gorgeous Coffee and Epiphany Manuka Honey products. Under this agreement, the company’s F&B products will be made available for purchase online through Amazon, and eventually through major retail outlets across North America.

Meanwhile, Chief Technology Officer Richard

Prodigalidad met with technology partners in San Francisco and Palo Alto, including biotech wearable developer NeuroSky. Wearables developed by NeuroSky are set to be integrated into SFIO’s real estate projects under the Moraya brand of wellness-oriented, t e c h - e n a b l e d townships. Deployed through Project Fort, a community health dashboard service and subsidiary of SFIO, these wearables will gather the data necessary to pioneer entirely new approaches to proactive community care.

In addition to ecosystem partners, Prodigalidad secured commitments to connect the increasing demand for tech talent across Silicon Valley with highly-skilled developers and designers based in the Philippines – positioning SFIO as the central hub in a global innovation ecosystem. More details on this new initiative will be shared in the months to come.

“The work continues in connecting with investors and other growth enablers to take SFIO to the next level. We have a full lineup of meetings over the next few weeks, ranging from exploratory chats, follow-up sessions stemming from our recent participation at Planet MicroCap, and deep-dives into partnership agreements,” said Arnaiz. “It was exciting to get to sit down with our partners in Silicon Valley to kick off our co-creation efforts in technology.

I’m looking forward to doing the same in New York, representing our businesses like Epiphany Cafe with potential F&B partners.”

Among these potential partners are major distributors, retail stores, manufacturers, and cafe franchises – with whom SFIO hopes to bring its F&B businesses like Epiphany Cafe and Gorgeous Coffee into the country. To support these growth efforts, the company will be engaging with a U.S.-focused IR firm to bolster its traction in this crucial market.

“Our goal at SFIO is to bridge promising businesses from emerging economies with crucial growth enablers, many of which are based in the United States,” said Arnaiz. “Over the last year or so, we’ve been hard at work championing those promising businesses. Now we’re shifting our focus to the U.S., to build the other side of that global infrastructure.

While here, we’ll be looking to accomplish three things: strike strategic partnerships with institutional players, increase visibility on our global businesses, and gather the resources we need to get Starfleet soaring.”

(Advertising Supplement)

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MAY 20-26, 2022 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

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OpiniOn

A continuing war

Features Philstar.com photo

THE spokesperson for the Philippine National Police dismissed the words as hyperbole. With President Duterte, however, warnings to kill drug traffickers are rarely empty threats.

Meeting with some Cabinet members last Wednesday night, May 11, Duterte again defended his brutal war on drugs, and said that before stepping down on June 30, he wanted to see three or five more drug lords fight it out with the police and be killed.

Duterte was borne to power on an anti-crime platform, memorably promising to end the drug menace in six months. Six years later, with over 6,000 drug suspects killed in police anti-narcotics operations, the President himself has admitted that he has yet to fulfill his promise. Throughout his bloody campaign against drugs, shabu continued to be smuggled into the country by the ton.

Despite a possible investigation by the International Criminal Court, the President says he has no regrets and sees no reason to apologize for his methods in fighting the drug menace. At the start of his presidency, he had said that the involvement even of local government executives, police generals and barangay officials complicated efforts to fight the drug menace. Several local government officials and dozens of barangay captains were among those killed in his war.

In his speech, he noted that the lieutenants of slain drug lords simply took over the lucrative operations. He expressed hope that the incoming administration would continue his war on drugs. Being a former city prosecutor, he also offered to provide legal assistance to law enforcers who are sued for carrying out the campaign against illegal drugs.

It is unclear if the incoming Marcos administration will have the same brutal approach to the drug menace. The persistence of the problem shows that the drug killings have not provided sufficient shock and awe to deter drug dealers from engaging in one of the most lucrative although illegal enterprises.

President Duterte’s war has also been deficient in addressing the other major aspect of the illegal drug scourge: the demand. This is a far more complex element that calls for a multipronged approach involving families, the community, schools, civil society and the religious sector.

Perhaps the incoming administration will have a deeper grasp of the problem, and a better tack in addressing both supply and demand. (Philstar. com)

Editorial

Where do you stand? Christian love, forgiveness and justice in the age of fake news, disinformation and deceit

The Fil-Am Perspective Gel SantoS-ReloS IF we think that the U.S. and Philippine elections were the worst times we as citizens of both countries would have to endure, the lowest pit our people could find ourselves in, the May 9, 2022 Philippine elections was a sober and scary reminder that the worst is upon us: the regime of deposed President Ferdinand Marcos and the outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte lives on in their children at the same time, along with an ever growing list of political dynasties and convicted plunderers and abusers of power in Philippine history.

The recent election in the Philippines had left us all so exhausted and exasperated with the division we have found ourselves in – them vs us, red vs pink – which sadly made us feel, at some point, “Mahirap mahalin ang kapwa Pilipino”, “Mahirap maipagmalaki na ako ay isang Pilipino”.

But we press on, move forward, hoping against all odds that somehow the majority of us would prove that in the end we will prove them all wrong, and that majority of us will decisively choose the truth over lies, the good versus evil, the greater good of all over

personal interests.

Our natural human reaction is to hate and curse those who chose the lies, the evil, and the personal interests, but then again, we needed the divine grace to realize that they, too, – most of our kababayans – were victimized and robbed of the truth and the facts they needed to make informed and conscientious decisions.

How do we heal as a nation?

How do we go back to our core values and come together as one people? How do we hold on to our faith, our concept and belief of what is good and bad in us and in other people? How do we raise our children in this age of lies and disinformation when the world we are raising them in appears to reward these and demonize the truth warriors?

I want to share this Open penned by Christina Astorga, a former faculty member of Ateneo de Manila University and order chair of the Theology Department of Christian University founded on the principle espoused by St. Ignatius: to educate its students to be “Man for Others” for the “Greater Glory of God”.

May it help us all reconcile the conflicting values we now face as a nation: A RESPONSE TO NIKKO BUENDIA’S OPEN LETTER TO THE ATENEO DE MANILA

UNIVERSITY Dear Nikko, I am a former faculty of the Ateneo de Manila University, and former Chair of the Theology Department. I am not responding to you on behalf of the Ateneo de Manila University, but as a Filipino citizen and as an educator.

I would be the first one to tell my students to stand up for the truth, to speak the truth, but always in love. “Veritas in Caritate” — truth in love. And if what you said about how they behaved towards others of opposite belief is true, then I would agree that they should be reminded of speaking truth in love.

VP Leni has always reminded her supporters of relating with those with opposite belief with respect. She says that we focus on actions, not on persons. To condemn lies, defamations, fake news, but not to attack and bully persons.

If the students have failed in love, then they must be reprimanded, reminded, be told to do better next time.

But we were young once, and we know how our passions can be combustible, when our outrage can get the better of us.

But between those without any moral outrage over the Marcos atrocities, and those with moral outrage that may

US-ASEAN Summit in Washington

Babe’s Eye View BaBe Romualdez THERE is no doubt President Joe Biden and his White House team went all out, laying out the red carpet for the US-ASEAN Special Summit in Washington, DC. The atmosphere during the intimate dinner hosted last Thursday, May 12 by President Biden for the ASEAN heads of state at the White House was extremely cordial. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Locsin and I engaged freely with President Biden on an informal basis.

In sum, the discussions during the two-day summit were substantive. At the US-ASEAN Business Council lunch, senior U.S. officials led by Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai were joined by U.S. business leaders to exchange views on economic cooperation, the digital economy, sustainability, health care and supply chain resilience on the first day.

The meetings continued the next day with Vice President Kamala Harris leading the discussions.

Special Envoy on Climate John Kerry, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm also held dialogues on climate change, regional transition to clean energy and sustainable infrastructure. President Biden came to the State Department later in the afternoon to talk with the ASEAN leaders about regional stability, maritime security and cooperation as well as post-pandemic recovery.

Over the past four years of working in Washington with President Duterte guiding our foreign policy, I have come to the conclusion that our relationship with the United States has never been better, with the partnership getting stronger over the years despite the occasional bumps and regardless of who is in the Oval Office or who sits in Malacañang.

Overwhelming majority During the entire campaign period, I have purposely

stayed away from making any comments for obvious reasons.

Now that the people have spoken – giving Ferdinand Marcos Jr. a stunning majority with over 31 million votes equivalent to about 60 percent of all votes counted and the biggest margin ever in any presidential elections in the past three decades – we are hopeful that this overwhelming mandate could be translated into something positive for the country and would unite majority of Filipinos. We are told many of the other political colors have started to turn red shortly after the elections.

There is no doubt that the challenges that the incoming administration of presumptive president Bongbong Marcos faces will be tremendous, requiring remarkable attention and focus on critical issues such as postpandemic recovery and health care, unemployment, energy, infrastructure, agriculture, education as well as climate change. Of course, a priority will be economic recovery, and from what I am hearing, there is a good economic team being

have gone over the top, I will go for the latter than for the former.

You have spoken about our students’ failure in love, but I speak about your failure in truth.

Your letter is a subterfuge of historical revisionism.

You implied that Ateneo de Manila is teaching their own “version of truth” as if it is not the OBJECTIVE TRUTH, BASED ON EVIDENCE UPON EVIDENCE, that the Marcoses plundered the country, left it in shambles, and while they live extremely extravagant and opulent lives on STOLEN MONEY, thousands are eating “pagpag” from the garbage.

We still have to recover the accumulated plunder of $10 billion (U.S. dollars) and much of that must have been used for the massive hakot and vote buying in the last election, caught and recorded in many videos.

Imelda has been convicted of 7 counts of plunder, and while she lives like a queen in her mansion, Leila de Lima, who has been proven innocent by her own accusers, is still languishing in prison.

The Marcoses have still to pay the gov’t 203 billion in estate tax debt! They regard themselves as above the law.

They steal flagrantly, tell

lies to our faces, fail to pay their taxes repeatedly, violate electoral laws blatantly, because they think of themselves as the untouchables.

They are not accountable to anyone, not even to the law of the land.

The Marcoses have refused to apologize or even acknowledge the abuses against human rights during Martial law.

They, with Duterte’s approval, buried Marcos, Sr. the plunderer and human rights criminal, among our heroes, shaming our honorable past.

They are being held in contempt by a U.S. court for “contumacious conduct causing direct harm to a class of human rights victims, amounting to 353 million dollars.” Held in contempt by the court, they would be put behind bars, if they step on U.S. soil.

They have built the largest machinery of historical revisionism, fake history, and fake news to glorify the martial law regime as the golden age of the Philippines.

They used this same machinery to perpetuate fake news about VP Leni, to assassinate her character, rendering her as a victim of the largest disinformation never seen in this country.

You criticized Ateneo de Manila University for failing

to stand for the weak and downtrodden. That is the last thing to say of the University, even if their students may have been intolerant of the position taken by the CDE classes, who were the easy prey of the Marcos’ machinery of lies.

But have you condemned the plunder of the Marcoses of the money that was meant for the alleviation of poverty in our country?

Have you considered that it is they who have no heart for the weak and downtrodden, who look upon them only as votes to buy to keep them in power?

And have you thought that it is you, and people like you, who support the Marcoses, who are in collusion with them, who keep our people, poor and downtrodden?

You write and I quote, “your partisan stance has encouraged young impressionable minds to blindly take your ‘cause’ against the ‘enemy’.”

History has many instances that the youth are the easiest to be molded into a terrifying mob. And it is apparent what you… along with other Catholic institutions… are building. This road will not lead to heaven.

Truth is not partisan, but it is not neutral. Neutrality in the face of truth is collusion with lies and falsehood.

put together by the presumptive president, although so far no one specific has been named.

Needless to say, as expected after elections, so much jockeying for positions is taking place.

“The economic managers are going to be critical for the next several years because of the pandemic and economic crisis, so that is something that we are carefully putting together,” Bongbong Marcos said.

The members of President Duterte’s economic team led

by Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez have been doing an admirable job, navigating so many challenges that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the current situation in Ukraine. Despite that, we are seeing green shoots in the economy, with the country’s GDP growing at 8.3 percent in the first quarter of this year – faster than the 6.5 percent average forecast by analysts earlier.

According to Secretary Dominguez, talks are already starting regarding transition, and they have begun the briefing for the new economic team who I’m sure would be very responsive to the needs of these challenging and changing times.

Immediately after the congratulatory call from U.S. President Biden to presumptive president BBM, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s message followed shortly, both leaders expressing optimism about strengthened relations between the Philippines and their respective countries.

I’m told congratulatory messages from foreign leaders have started to pour in.

Understandably, there is still a lot of bitterness coming from some segments of society about the results but hopefully, they will have a different mindset once they see that the new administration is bent on doing good for the country. For the hardliners, however, nothing will convince them either way – an attitude that will eventually kill them because as my doctor said, “bitterness will only destroy you in the end.”

When I moved abroad to the U.S. after 1986, I was happy to help then-vice president Doy Laurel – a family friend – coordinate his official visit to Washington, DC where I arranged meetings for him at the U.S. Congress. In fact, that is when I first met then-senator Joe Biden.

Through the years, I joined business delegations of president

Ramos; president Estrada where I also helped coordinate his official working visit to Washington, DC; and then I also helped president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in more ways than one. I refused to indulge in bitterness and self-pity.

The Philippines is my country as much as it is theirs.

When Noynoy Aquino became president, I supported him and was part of his business delegation during his official visits to China, Japan and New Zealand. We exchanged text messages, and I very much appreciated it when he would call me back. PNoy also attended many of our PeopleAsia magazine events. In my book, he was a regular guy.

Bitterness should have no place if we really want to help the Philippines and its people, no matter who the president may be.

While I know there is a little more sensitivity to the current situation, at the end of the day – bayan pa rin natin ito! (Philstar.com) ***

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Dateline PhiliPPines

7

Over 1,000 academics vow to protect United States, ASEAN commit...

Martial Law history from revision

by AngelicA

Y. YAng

Philstar.com

MANILA — More than 1,000 academics and scholars have signed a manifesto committing to fight attempts to revise history, especially attempts related to erasing the memories of plunder and human rights abuses during the Martial Law period.

Those who signed the manifesto — both based in the Philippines and abroad — added that they will preserve all records related to the dictatorship.

This comes around a week after likely vice president Sara Duterte-Carpio agreed to take over the education department, prompting concerns that lessons about the dictatorship and Martial Law will be further diluted. Davao City Mayor Duterte has not mentioned anything about changing the curriculum.

“We pledge to combat all attempts at historical revisionism that distort and falsify history to suit the dynastic interests of the Marcoses and their allies and to fortify their power,” a manifesto written in defense of historical truth and academic freedom, read.

It explained that the

presumptive electoral victory of Bongbong Marcos and his running mate Duterte signals “the erasure of traumatic personal and collective memories of plunder and human rights violations under Martial Law”, and the rampant lies about the so-called “Golden Age” under the conjugal dictatorship of Bongbong’s father Ferdinand and his mother Imelda.

The manifesto, which has been signed by 1,100 individuals, was shared to reporters on Thursday, May 19 by teachers group Alliance for Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines.

They also declared that the signatories have vowed to oppose all forms of disinformation; and protect the integrity and independence of education, historical and cultural institutions, such as the Department of Education and state universities and colleges, among others.

They added that they will promote scholarly initiatives that protect Martial Law history “from the continued attempts of the Marcos family and their supporters to eradicate” it.

“We will undertake to preserve books, documents, records, artefacts, archives, and other source materials pertaining to the Martial Law

period and other aspects of the Marcos era,” they said in the manifesto.

In a statement, Ateneo De Manila University professor Oscar Campomanes, one of the nine initiators of the manifesto, said that they wanted to put out a strong statement in defense of historical truth against attempts to change what happened during Martial Law and the Marcos era.

Ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law through Proclamation 1081 on September 23, 1972. The actual proclamation is dated September 21, the commonly marked anniversary of that declaration.

During the nine years of military rule, around 72,000 were imprisoned, 34,000 were tortured and 3,240 were killed, according to estimates from UKbased Amnesty International, which has an office in the Philippines.

Now, his son Marcos Jr. is on track to be the country’s next president, after leading the polls by a wide margin of 31.10 million votes compared to his archrival Vice President Leni Robredo who has 14.82 million, based on the partial results reflected on the poll body’s transparency media server. n

CA lawmakers push to tighten...

PAGE 4 an agreement “that is customary in the skilled nursing facility industry.” Rechnitz has filed a new and updated license application with the state, Johnson said.

Johanna Trenerry said she had no idea Rechnitz had been denied a license. Had she known, she said, she would never have placed her husband of 60 years at Windsor Redding.

Even before her husband caught COVID, Trenerry and her children were trying to transfer him to another home because he seemed overly medicated, could no longer hold up his head, and fell numerous times trying to get out of bed, she said. Once, she recalled, the nursing home brought out the wrong person when the family visited.

They kept him “so drugged up,” said Nancy Hearden, one of the Trenerrys’ eight children.

“And I think it was just because it was easier for them. He wasn’t getting to go to his rehab. I felt,

‘We’ve got to get him out of this place.’”

Then he got COVID. Sixty of the 84 residents at the facility came down with the disease in September 2020 — and at least two dozen of them died. According to a lawsuit filed by family members of 15 residents who died, including the Trenerrys, employees of the home were forced to work despite having COVID symptoms. The lawsuit refers to state citations that found the home didn’t supply enough personal protective equipment to staffers, didn’t test staff, and placed COVID patients and untested patients in the same rooms with residents who weren’t infected.

Johnson denied the allegations. (Samantha Young/Kaiser Health News) This story was produced by KHN, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. n

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PAGE 2 of having the South China Sea as a sea of peace, stability and prosperity.

We emphasize the importance of practical measures that could reduce tensions and the risk of accidents, misunderstandings and miscalculation,” they said.

ASEAN and the U.S. stressed the importance of undertaking confidence building and preventive measures to enhance trust and confidence among parties.

They reaffirmed the need to pursue peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law, including UNCLOS. “We underscored the importance of the full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China

Sea in its entirety,” the joint statement read.

The need to maintain and promote an environment conducive to the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) negotiations was also emphasized as the two sides welcome further progress toward the early conclusion of an effective and substantive COC consistent with international law.

ASEAN member-states and the U.S. gathered for the ASEAN-US Special Summit, the first-ever to be held in Washington, on May 12 to 13.

At the working lunch hosted

by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris during the special summit on Saturday, May 14 (Manila time), the Philippines thanked the U.S. for being the most vocal partner in reaffirming the 2016 arbitral ruling.

In his speech, Foreign Affairs

Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., who represented President Duterte, said the benefit of the arbitral award is not exclusive to the Philippines as it provides legal clarity to all countries with similar problematic maritime features.

“The U.S. is our most vocal partner in reaffirming the 2016 Arbitral Award and upholding a rules-based international order.

We deeply appreciate that. We most certainly welcome the U.S. Senate’s call for a common ASEAN approach to reaffirm the Award,” Locsin said.

The U.S. State Department said Washington will continue to stand by the historic South China Sea ruling despite earlier pronouncement of presumptive president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that he will shelve the decision and negotiate directly with China. n

Where do you stand? Christian love, forgiveness and justice in the age of...

PAGE 6 The Catholic Church has taken a stance against the Marcos atrocities, for it is a stance for truth and justice; it is a stance for the poor and downtrodden, who are victims of their abuses.

Had it played neutral, it could have stood against the very heart of the gospel.

The truth is under attack, now more than ever, and it is Ateneo’s obligation and that of all institutions of learning, to protect the truth.

If truth is not protected, and we live on lies and falsehoods, we will not only be on the road that leads to heaven, we will create hell on earth.

I praise our young for fighting for the truth, for putting themselves on the line for what they believe; for the moral outrage they have shown against lies and injustices.

They are the warriors of truth at the frontline of the battle – brave, unyielding, indomitable.

I salute them. But I exhort them once again to speak truth in love – “Veritas in Caritate.”

VP Leni has shown us what it means to fight in the spirit of radical love. In her speech in the thanksgiving rally, she said that she is launching the Angat Buhay, the largest volunteer network in the country this July.

She said that “tutulungan natin ang lahat.

Wala tayong pipiliin na kulay.”

When people accuse the pink movement of self-righteousness, of the “holier-than-thou,” of the disconnect with the least in society, the best argument to that accusation is VP Leni and her embodiment of radical love for the poorest of the

poor.

The image of VP Leni climbing mountains, crossing rivers, riding bancas and motorcycles, to reach our people at the laylayan, the least among us, and the opposite of the Marcoses among the elite in society, the oligarchs in their palatial homes and mansions, and at Amanpulo.

I exhort our students, to be inspired by VP Leni, and to become more and more like her, as bridges of love, solidarity, and compassion.

But radical love must be rooted in truth and justice. Love that is not rooted in truth is false sentimentalism.

Love that is not founded on justice is collusion with injustice.

I read a quote which spoke powerfully to me.

“I fight against you, because I am fighting for you, and for us.”

Is this self-righteousness or holier-than-thou?

It is, if it is not based on genuine truth and justice. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

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

8

MAY 20-26, 2022 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

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

More Filipinos fishing on Pag-asa Island

by Franco Jose

c. Baroña

ManilaTimes.net

WORK, WORK, WORK. Workers install steel bars for a concrete post at the construction site of the MRT-7 along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on Wednesday, May 18. The railway system is one of the flagship projects under the “Build, Build, Build” program of the national government.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

EMPLOYMENT

THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday, May 19 confirmed the increasing presence of Filipino fishermen on Pag-asa Island a year after the country lodged a diplomatic protest against China and demanded its withdrawal from the area.

Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu said the PCG fleet that installed the five 30-foot long navigational buoys in four critical islands in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) from May 12 to 14 monitored around 25 Filipino fishing boats on Pagasa Island.

Abu said that the significant increase of Filipino fishermen in the WPS proves that the PCG’s intensified presence “boosts their confidence and makes them feel safe and protected while fishing in these waters.”

EMPLOYMENT

Screengrab from Philippine Coast Guard Video

“Through our continuous modernization, we ensure that our kababayan can freely explore our marine resources while protecting our marine environment for the future generations,” he said.

In May last year, the Department of Foreign Affairs filed a diplomatic protest “against the incessant deployment,

prolonged presence, and illegal activities of Chinese maritime assets and fishing vessels in the vicinity of the Pag-asa Island.”

It reiterated that the island is “an integral part of the Philippines over which it has sovereignty and jurisdiction.”

Pag-asa Island is the largest island in the Kalayaan Island Group. It lies about 480

EMPLOYMENT

kilometers west of Puerto Princesa.

Abu said that in his visit to Pagasa Island on May 14 to assess the buoy laying operations, he saw five PCG ships anchored in the vicinity with several Filipino fishing bancas. He said several Vietnamese fishing boats, Chinese fishing vessels and China Coast Guard vessels were also in the vicinity “off Subi Reef.”

Satellite images taken last May 5 by US geospatial company Simularity showed that China is doing new construction work on the artificial island it had built on Subi Reef which is located just 25 kilometers west of Pagasa Island.

China claims the entire South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea. The Philippines, China, Brunei, Vietnam, Taiwan and Malaysia have overlapping maritime claims in these waters.n

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

LEGAL SERVICES

SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 20-26, 2022

LEGAL SERVICES

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

hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefonica no lo protegen. Su repuesta NOTICE TO DEFENDANT por escrito tiene que estar en (AVISO AL DEMANDADO): formato legal correcto si desea 1. NOEMY FARFAN BLANCO que procesen su caso en la a/k/a NOEMY BLANCO: corte. Es posible que haya un DOES 1 to 10, inclusive formulario que usted pueda YOU ARE BEING usar para su repuesta. Puede SUED BY PLAINTIFF (LO encontrar estos formularios ESTA DEMANDANDO EL de la corte y mas informacion DEMANDANTE): en el Centro de Ayuda de las 1.

NATIONWIDE Cortes de California (www.

INSURNACE sucorte.ca.gov), en la biblioteca NOTICE! You have been de leyes de su condado o en sued. The court may decide la corte que le quede mas against you without your being cerca. Si no puede pagar heard unless you respond within la cuota de presentacion, 30 days. Read the information pida al secretario de la corte below. que le de un formulario de You have 30 CALENDAR exencion de pago de cuotas.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AJSD#942

9

LEGAL SERVICES

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

CASE NUMBER: 37-2022-00017776-CU-PT-CTL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner Alexis Nichole Vaca filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Alexis Nichole Vaca to Alexis Dagny Kwon.

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

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 06/23/2022 Time: 8:30 AM Dept. C-61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. 61 San Diego, CA 92101 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county.

Asian Journal: MAY. 11, 2022 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Michael T. Smyth Judge of the Superior Court AJ 953 05/13, 05/20, 05/27, and 06/03/2022 ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120) NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

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

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

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

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

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

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9008363

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9009590

AJSD#943

AJSD#953

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9010131

Luckys Painting located at 6371 Seascape Dr., San Diego, CA 92139.

Registrant: Victor M. Robles, 6371 Seascape Dr., San Diego, CA 92139.

This business is conducted by Individuals.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 04/29/2022.

Signature: Victor M. Robles.

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

AJ 951 05/13, 05/20, 05/27, and 06/03/2022.

AJSD 951

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9009509

New Valley Landscaping Services located at 2551 1/2 Sumac Dr., San Diego, CA 92105.

Registrant: Ninrod Gudiel Ceron Sanchez, 2551 1/2 Sumac Dr., San Diego, CA 92105.

This business is conducted

by Individual.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE. Signature: Ninrod Gudiel Ceron Sanchez.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 04/22/2022.

AJ 954 05/20, 05/27, 06/03, and 06/10/2022.

AJSD#954

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9010464

JAMMING’S MOBILE GRILL located at 31405 QUARTER HORSE WAY, MENIFEE, CA 92584.

Registrant: a. Ann Marie Anntonette Barnett, 31405 QUARTER HORSE WAY, MENIFEE, CA 92584. b. Tajae Annieke Nelson, 31405 QUARTER HORSE WAY, MENIFEE, CA 92584.

This business is conducted

by Co-Partners.

REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE. Signature: Ann Marie Anntonette Barnett.

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

AJ 955 05/20, 05/27, 06/03, and 06/10/2022.

AJSD#955

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9009124

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

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

This business is conducted by Married Couple.

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

Signature Carlos Antonio Zabala.

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

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

AJSD#936

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9009922

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

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

This business is conducted

by Corporation.

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

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

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

AJSD#945

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9008919

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

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

This business is conducted by Corporation.

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

Signature Joseph Peter Economou.

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

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

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

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

This business is conducted by Individual.

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

Signature Jose Huaracha.

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

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

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9009918

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9010214

AJSD#937

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

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

This business is conducted

by Individual.

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

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

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

AJSD#946

AJSD#938

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

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

This business is conducted

by Individual.

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

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

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

AJSD#947

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

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

This business is conducted

by Individual.

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

Signature: Marc Koesema.

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

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

AJSD#940

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-90010435

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

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

This business is conducted

by Individual.

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

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

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

AJSD#948

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

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

This business is conducted

by Individual.

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

Signature: Meafua Poumele.

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

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

AJSD#941

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9010175

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

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

This business is conducted

by Individual.

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

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

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

AJSD#949

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9009382

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

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

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

This business is conducted

by Limited Partnership.

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

Signature Barry Cottle, Member.

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

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

AJSD#944

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9010245

Adame Paralegals located at 470 Third Ave., Suite 9, Chula Vista, CA 91910.

Registrant: Diana I. Adame, 1130 Sea Bird Way, San Diego, CA 92154.

This business is conducted

by Individuals.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 04/29/2022.

Signature: Diana I. Adame.

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

AJ 950 05/13, 05/20, 05/27, and 06/03/2022.

AJSD#950

10

SAN DIEGO

MAY 20-26, 2022 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

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

JOURNAL

10

M AY 2 0, 2 0 22

Alden Richards on his Stranger Things 4 World Premiere experience: ‘Surreal. So honored and happy’

by MoMar

G. Visaya / AJPress

S

TRANGER Things was one of the first Netflix series that Alden Richards watched so when the opportunity to attend and be a part of the show’s season 4 world premiere in New York presented itself, it was a no-brainer for the confessed fan.

The cast of Stranger Things 4

Noah Schnapp

On the red carpet, the Filipino matinee idol posed for photos and interviews with the international press. The premiere happened over the weekend at Netflix’s new 170,000-square-foot production studio in Brooklyn.

“It’s an honor because not all Filipino celebrities are given this opportunity and I think it’s just one for the books for me in my history as an actor,” he quipped, excitedly adding, “I can’t wait to watch the first episode in the exclusive screening later.”

Stranger Things became a global phenomenon and a major Netflix hit when it premiered in 2016. The 80s sci-fi series has gained a massive following around the world, creating breakout stars like Millie Bobby Brown.

Asked why Stranger Things became a big hit among Filipino fans like him, Richards said that the concept the show presented tickled the imagination of the viewers.

“Iba kasi yung concept niya, it is really something catchy and appealing for the young and the old market,” he shared.

He admits he got hooked because of how the show was written and how the actors gave life to their roles and characters, quickly naming the kids among his favorite characters.

“Will, Lucas, Mike, and Dustin, and of course si Eleven. Siya talaga ang favorite ko,” he said. “The way Millie Bobby Brown played the character is just flawless from the time she doesn’t know how to talk to Gaten Matarazzo, who plays the role of Dustin, the time that she was able to understand at the world premiere of Stranger Things 4 the full potential of her powers.” in Brooklyn.

Alden Richards, sporting a Dior suit at the Stranger Things 4 world premiere in Brooklyn.

Alden Richards

The 30-year-old actor said he felt surreal walking the red carpet along with the stars of a show he watched and followed from Season 1. “I just feel so honored and happy to be invited to witness this,” he said.

Richards immediately posted about his red carpet appearance for his 3.9 million followers on Instagram and captioned it with “When a dream turns into reality.”.

The actor’s trip to New York was finalized last minute so he just squeezed

in a couple of days in his busy schedule because he did not want to miss what he called an opportunity of a lifetime.

He said he doesn’t have the luxury of time to visit his favorite NYC spots because he needs to fly back to Manila to resume shooting his new series Start Up with Bea Alonzo, the Philippine adaptation of the hit Korean series.

The first volume of Stranger Things Season 4 will premiere on May 27 while the second volume drops on July 1. n

Photo from Instagram/@aldenrichards02

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EntErtainmEnt

SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 20-26, 2022

11

How director Mae Cruz-Alviar knew Iñigo recalls audition for musical drama with Susan Sarandon KathNiel would go a long way

By Dana

Cruz Inquirer.net

By nathalie

tomaDa Philstar.com

BEFORE the premiere of Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla’s comeback series 2 Good 2 Be True, director Mae Cruz-Alviar was feeling equal measures of excitement and pressure.

Speaking recently to direk Mae in a one-on-one interview, it wasn’t hard to see what she meant. She previously helmed two of the Kapamilya stars’ box-office hits, namely, Crazy Beautiful You (2015) and Can’t Help Falling In Love (2017), plus their big-screen debut via the anthology film 24/7 In Love (2012). But 2 Good 2 Be True served as the reel-toreal tandem’s return to their romantic-comedy roots. It was also setting a record as the first Filipino series to be screened on the international streamer Netflix, 72 hours before airing on free TV and other platforms.

But as they say, success is worth any pressure. Following the May 13 debut, the ABS-CBN series has taken over the No. 1 spot in the list of most-watched TV shows on the OTT platform, as of writing. (The rest are K-dramas and a couple of Western content, although KathNiel’s old soap opera Pangako Sa’Yo — titled on Netflix as The Promise — is currently at No. 9.)

In 2 Good 2 Be True, Kathryn and Daniel play the nurse Ali and car mechanic Eloy, respectively.

A hotel heist in the pilot episode leads the two strangers to harbor suspicions and prejudices against each other. Ali tries her best to expose Eloy as the culprit and con artist, while the latter puts malice on her work relationship with wealthy, senior businessmen, including Hugo Agcaoili (played by veteran actor Ronaldo Valdez). As the show progresses, they will find out they are inextricably connected, more than they realize.

Direk Mae disclosed that Kathryn and Daniel had a hand in or inputs on the casting and character development, as well as conceptualization and creation of the series, which was two years in the making.

“They really want to do a rom-com. They really want to do something like a love story.

And they also want to do this for the fans because they know that there is a clamor for this,” she said. “When concepts were presented to them, they particularly liked this one and they had picked Ronaldo Valdez to be part of the show.”

Mae has a long history with KathNiel.

Besides movies, she got to direct them in the teleseryes Pangako Sa’Yo (2015) and La Luna Sangre (2017).

These TV projects allowed her to witness their growth as actors and not just as a love team. In fact, the first time she worked with them both, she had an inkling that they would go places in showbiz.

2 Good 2 Be True director Mae (center) is proud to have witnessed Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla’s growth as actors and not just as the love team KathNiel.

ABS-CBN photo

She recalled, “The first time I worked with them, which was 24/7 In Love, they were already a rising love team and hot na at that moment. Parang ako, I was wondering, ‘What is it about them that makes them hot or why are they so popular?’ And I can see why because they’re beautiful and they’re kilig together. So, when I saw how the crowd was reacting to them, I knew they would go a long way not only because of their physical appearance, but also their chemistry.

“When we did Crazy Beautiful next, I saw that DJ (Daniel’s nickname), especially, was asking more questions about his character, how to attack it and already thinking even how he’d look... I knew then that he had become an actor… Hindi na siya yung ‘just a love team.’ He was an actor playing a role. And I knew with that kind of attitude, he’d go a long way together with Kathryn because they were working so well together,” she added.

“Kath was also the same way.

She was also asking the right questions about her character, the story… And how they were going to attack it — as a couple they’d discuss it, too. So, with that kind of partnership, I knew that they would go a long way,” she reiterated.

For Mae, reuniting with KathNiel on 2 Good 2 Be True simply validated what she had seen all along.

“When I saw them again after all the projects that they’ve done, ah kaya andyan pa sila up to now. Na it’s because they have maintained that maturity, professionalism and love for the craft,” she shared.

What amused and surprised Mae though during the first few days of shooting 2 Good 2 Be True was how KathNiel was feeling nervous over this TV project.

“Kath was so nervous because it’s been a long time since (they did rom-com). They were doing mostly endorsements and they did a sitcom. They were so nervous because tinatanong nila, ‘Marunong pa ba kami umarte?

A view of the San Diego skyline at night.

Parang kinakabahan kami.’

“To think of their stature, that they would still feel that way, it’s good because you know that they are on their toes. It’s not that they’re relaxed na or sobrang kampante na… They were excited and nervous at the same time.

“And then, you can see that (acting) is something natural na sa kanila and that their experience showed even when they were nervous. Lalabas na kaya nila and of course, marunong sila umarte. They got the hang of it pa rin and nasanay ulit. Nanibago lang. But I saw that hindi nawala, from the first time that I saw them, that chemistry, charisma and professionalism,” said Mae. Nevertheless, the lady director admitted it was a huge challenge making sure that KathNiel, who has starred in some 15 onscreen projects together, could still offer something exciting and fresh in 2 Good 2 Be True.

“Such a big challenge actually, knowing that they have done so many love stories, so many kilig and romantic scenes together. In fact, when we do certain scenes, (we’d go), oh alam niyo na ‘to, ginawa niyo na ‘to,” she said.

“But then when I read the script as a creator, as a director, sa akin palang, sa level ko palang, ‘No, they’ve done this so many times’ or ‘No, we have to give them something different.’ It’s such a challenge not only for them as actors, but for us as creators to tell the story differently so that it would be kilig in a different way.”

Direk Mae boasts of a directing portfolio of successful romancedramas and romantic comedies, the most recent of which are Unbreakable, Four Sisters Before the Wedding and Love or Money.

When asked for her secret to not running out of inspiration for a well-worn genre, she said she’s always on the lookout for ideas from her own experiences and those of others.

“I love listening to the stories of other people. I always ask them what their love stories are, and I use that (as inspiration). So come on, tell me your stories, so I can show them,” she quipped. n

Internet photo/www.reddit.com

City of San Diego recognized for digitizing building permit process during COVID-19 pandemic

Statewide industry group highlights city’s ability to modernize, streamline and continue offering services SAN DIEGO – In recognition of its work to ensure building code compliance and adapt to virtual operations operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of San Diego received the Building Department of the Year award from the California Building Officials (CALBO) industry group. The city’s Development Services Department (DSD) accepted the honor during CALBO’s 60th annual business meeting in Rancho Mirage.

The recognition acknowledges DSD’s accelerated implementation over the past two years of technology and cloud-based tools to enforce building codes and standards, and its work with state and national code developers to ensure public health and safety requirements are met.

“Despite COVID-19-related challenges to our operations, we still needed to keep up with the permitting needs of the second-largest city in California,” said Development Services Department Director Elyse W. Lowe. “DSD issues thousands of approvals annually, and through resourcefulness and good governance, we leveraged technology

to seamlessly process, review, permit, and inspect projects throughout the city. We are now the largest municipality in California to have 100% digital permitting.”

CALBO, an organization of California building officials who have the authority to enforce building codes within their local jurisdictions, recognized how virtual inspections helped city staff adhere to physical distancing protocols and conduct more inspections each day. Additionally, going virtual helped employees avoid lost time in traffic driving to inspection sites, saving the city on fuel and mileage costs. These changes also support the city’s Climate Action Plan, which calls for slashing half of all greenhouse gas emissions in the city by 2035.

The technological innovations are part of #DigitalDSD, a department initiative to modernize all DSD workplace systems, increase productivity and improve service delivery to customers.

Additional enhancements include:

u PAGE 12

IÑIGO Pascual looked back at his audition for the Hollywood musical drama “Monarch,” in which he now stars with the Academy Awardwinning actress Susan Sarandon.

The actor-singer, who plays the 18-year-old Ace Grayson in the series, admitted he initially did not want to audition for “Monarch.” He said this in his conversation with celebrity doctor Vicki Belo, for the latter’s YouTube vlog on Thursday, May 19.

“It came out of nowhere. I wasn’t planning on auditioning at all. I was like, ‘I’m not gonna do it because I’m not gonna get it,’” he narrated.

Pascual was eventually convinced by his team to try for the role. They assured him that if he did not get the role, he would still have his career in the Philippines.

“I did it (audition), I was two weeks late for the audition and then I was in the top four after the audition. Then we did the callbacks. After two days, sabi nila (they said) ‘In a month’s time, you’re gonna have to move to Atlanta,’” he recounted.

Pascual also expressed excitement for his first “American project,” especially since his character is a Filipino.

“In a way, I’m kind of representing the Philippines. I’m playing a Filipino character. It just feels good to be able to do that, to be able to represent the Philippines and to be able to share my music through this project as well,” he said.

Inigo Pascual and Susan Sarandon Photo from Instagram/@inigopascual

When Belo pointed out that Pascual stars in the series with Sarandon and described her as “wonderful,” the actor agreed with a laugh.

“She’s amazing,” he told Belo.

“Monarch” follows the story of a “country music dynasty” in Texas, the Romans, headed by Dottie (Sarandon) and her husband Albie (Trace Adkins). Pascual’s character Ace is the adopted son of Nicky (Anna Friel) and grandson of Dottie and Albie.

The series is produced by Fox Entertainment. It will premiere in late 2022, as per a release by the network. n

Julia says she would say yes if Gerald proposes

By Kristofer

Purnell Philstar.com

“Yes,” Julia said, adding that she’s not at all scared at the idea but rather excited and curious about it.

JULIA Barretto opened up a Earlier in the video, Julia told bit further about her relationship Boy that she always tells Gerald with fellow actor Gerald how lucky she is to be with Anderson, saying that she would someone who can guide her in life, “To ground me, put sense in my head... I can talk to him about anything. He puts everything into perspective for me.”

Julia and Gerald went public about their relationship in March 2021. Later in August, Gerald told Boy in a different video that Julia is “the one” he would like to marry in the future.

In the same video about being open to a proposal, Julia reiterated her advice to her ex-boyfriend Joshua Dionisio not to have a girlfriend yet and enjoy single life; Julia and Joshua split in 2019, and two years later starred in the music video for Moira dela Torre’s Julia Barretto together with boyfriend Gerald Anderson Photo from Instagram/@juliabarretto “Paubaya.” n say yes if the latter proposed to her in the next few months.

Julia recently appeared in an episode of “The Boy Abunda Talk Channel” where the titular host asked her the hypothetical scenario of a proposal by Gerald.

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MAY 20-26, 2022 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

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

City of San Diego honors essential workers during National Public Works Week

‘Ready and Resilient’ theme pays tribute to employees who work on infrastructure projects across San Diego

File photo/www.countynewscenter.com

Voting by mail: Simple, convenient, secure AS ballots start showing up in mailboxes around San Diego County, the Registrar of Voters office is encouraging voters to vote early.

More than 1.9 million ballots for the June 7 Gubernatorial Primary Election were sent out to registered voters recently. If you haven’t received yours by Tuesday, May 17, contact the Registrar’s office.

“You don’t need to wait until Election Day to vote,” said Registrar of Voters Cynthia Paes.

“And the sooner we get your ballot back, the sooner we can start processing it. Your ballot can be in the first release of election night results.”

Voting by mail is: • SIMPLE: A ballot, instructions and an “I Voted” sticker are included in your official ballot packet.

• CONVENIENT: Make voting decisions and mark your ballot comfortably at home.

• SECURE: Sign and date your envelope, seal your completed ballot inside and return it postage free to a trusted source: Return your ballot through the mail. For a location near you, visit the U.S. Postal Service office or collection box website.

Return it to one of 132 official mail ballot dropoff locations around the county. Find the closest

one to you by visiting the Registrar’s online locator tool (https://gis-portal.sandiegocounty. gov/arcgis/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=b3796645c04d461eaf48413770587d17).

Check each location’s hours of operation before heading out.

Return it to the Registrar’s office where early voting is already underway. Hours run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Voters who return their mail ballot through the U.S. Postal Service can track it by signing up for “Where’s My Ballot?”

You can also choose to vote in person at any vote center.

Starting Saturday, May 28, select vote centers will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. including Memorial Day on Monday, May 30.

Then starting Saturday, June 4, over 200 vote centers will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

All vote center locations will be open on Election Day, June 7, when voting hours change to 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Learn more about voting in the June Primary Election at sdvote.com, call (858) 565-5800 or toll free at (800) 696-0136.

(Tracy DeFore/County of San Diego Communications Office) n

SAN DIEGO – On Tuesday, May 17 the San Diego City Council proclaimed May 15 to 21 as National Public Works Week in San Diego, joining cities across the country recognizing all essential public works employees who provide and maintain the infrastructure, systems and services that assure quality of life, public health and safety in all communities.

This year’s theme “Ready & Resilient” highlights the ability of these professionals to perform regular public works duties while also serving as first responders during natural disasters and overcoming challenges working in the field.

Mayor Todd Gloria recently proposed his “Ready to Rebuild” budget for fiscal year 2023, which includes a $809 million budget for the City’s Capital Improvements Program (CIP), the largest investment in infrastructure in the City’s history.

“We are committed to rebuilding San Diego by tackling long-delayed and critically needed infrastructure projects, and we can’t do it without the hard work of all our dedicated City public works professionals who are entrusted with the planning,

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

design and construction of these projects,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “Our amazing teams of City planners, engineers, inspectors, construction workers and supporting staff of professionals proudly work around the clock to help create a better future for all of us.”

Mayor Gloria’s proposed CIP budget aims to fund two new fire stations, improvements to neighborhood parks, Phase 1 of Pure Water, water and sewer infrastructure projects and help complete the construction of the new West Mission Bay Drive Bridge. This is one of the largest federally funded bridge projects in California and the largest ever undertaken by the City of San Diego. Once completed, two separate three-lane bridge structures will replace the existing four-lane West Mission Bay Drive Bridge, built in the early 1950s.

National Public Works Week was instituted as a public education campaign by the American Public Works Association (APWA) in 1960 to bring awareness of the importance of public works in community life. It takes place annually during the third week of May. “National Public Works Week helps us showcase the essential work of our dedicated City staff,” said City Engineer Rania Amen, Director of the Engineering and Capital Projects Department.

“Each year, staff rise to the challenge of the growing size and scope of the CIP, often outside of the public eye, continuously making our communities great for all San Diegans.”

This past year, several City CIP projects were recognized with industry or professional awards

at national, state and local levels, including: • The California Tower Seismic Retrofit Project received the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Region 9 Historical Renovation Award.

The project is the first phase of a multi-phase seismic retrofit of the 1915 California Tower in Balboa Park.

• The I-5/Genesee Avenue Interchange Project received the Caltrans 2021 Excellence in Transportation Award. The project widened Genesee Avenue to six lanes and added dual turn lanes with a 26-foot median on each side of the overcrossing.

• The Concrete Street Panel Replacement – Coast Boulevard Project received the APWA Green Category Project of the Year Award. This project replaced concrete panels on Coast Boulevard from Prospect Street to Girard Avenue and Cave Street. It also installed new curb ramps that facilitated access for persons with disabilities, driveways and parking spaces.

• The North Park Mini Park Project received an APWA Honor Award in the Small Parks category.

This new 21,780-square-foot park and plaza transformed an underutilized parking lot behind the site of the former historic North Park Theatre.

• The Villa Monserate Neighborhood Park Project received the APWA Project of the Year – Parks Award. Numerous improvements were made to the existing neighborhood park built in 1975, including the installation of two new playground structures, new picnic tables and seating areas, a picnic shelter and landscaping and irrigation improvements.

“The award-winning work of our dedicated professionals is undoubtedly inspiring,” said Strategic Capital Projects Department Director James Nagelvoort. “Delivering these complex and essential projects in the nation’s eighth largest city is only possible by working hand in hand with all of the other City departments and programs.”

As one of the largest employers in the region, the City of San Diego employs hundreds of engineers and thousands of public works professionals. The city is currently recruiting for engineering positions.

For more information on CIP projects visit the CIP website or search for projects throughout the city using the CIP Project Map Viewer at https://webmaps. sandiego.gov/cippublic/.

(City of San Diego Release) n

City of San Diego...

PAGE 11 • Free virtual over-the-counter online appointments with DSD staff.

• A new Zoning and Parcel Information Portal, making it easier to research zoning and property information.

• An online portal to assist local businesses with temporary outdoor permits. These permits aim to balance reduced indoor capacity as businesses recover from mandatory closures and economic hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

• The free Ask a CASp program that provides customers with technical assistance about construction-related accessibility design standards.

This year, permitting activity in San Diego has increased by 17%. To keep up with the increased demand for expedited permitting services, DSD has contracted with support teams to assist with permit review and processing. In addition, the city continues recruitment efforts to fill approximately 100 existing vacancies in DSD alone.

“Local Building Officials enforce state building codes, and our staff ensures the construction complies with all safety standards and regulations, primarily outside of the public’s eye,” said Deputy Director and City of San Diego Chief Building Official Kelly Charles. “This recognition from our colleagues at CALBO is significant and greatly appreciated by the team.”

DSD staff review, approve, permit and inspect more than 60,000 projects annually that help customers build new housing units and improvements, provide communities with 5G wireless, facilitate engineering for utilities and protect San Diego’s natural resources. For more information about programs and services, visit sandiego.gov/ DSD. (City of San Diego Release) n

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SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • MAY 20-26, 2022

13

Formula One racing to come to Las Vegas in 2023

By RealtoR

Fely Quitevis-Bateman

MANY Americans and people around the world love car racing.

Whether it’s in a racetrack or out in the elements, the thrill of cars and their drivers jockeying for position to outsmart each other and win the race is an attraction that many find enjoyable.

Las Vegas even has its own event in the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR), the South Point 400, which takes place at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in October (a new weekend for this race) in 2022.

Now comes news that another type of race will come to Sin City.

An announcement recently covered

by major news outlets revealed that Formula One, or F1, is coming back to Las Vegas in 2023. The Las Vegas Grand Prix will be one of three F1 events hosted in the United States, the other two being in the cities of Miami (Florida) and Austin (Texas).

There has not been an F1 race in the gambling and entertainment capital of the world since the days of the Caesars Palace Grand Prix in the early 1980s.

According to the F1 site, the race will take place at night on a Saturday sometime in November 2023, and “for the first time F1 cars will race on the iconic Las Vegas Strip, with the circuit sweeping past famous hotels and casinos.”

It also said that “the 14-turn track will run for 3.8 miles with top speeds expected to hit around 212mph” (miles per hour).

Of course, this is a perfect marriage – F1 and Las Vegas. To have worldclass drivers race at night on what is expected to become an iconic racetrack in Formula One racing is a vision that many racing spectators would like to see. With the neon lights and landmarks provided by the major hotel-casinos as backdrop, the designed racetrack features “three straights, a high-speed cornering sequence and a single chicane section, with the Grand Prix to be run over 50 laps.”

Already, many F1 drivers are excited at the prospect of racing in the Las Vegas Grand Prix, calling the event amazing, unbelievable, exciting and lots of fun. In a video at the F1 site, even-time champion Lewis Hamilton said, “That’s going to be a pretty hardcore event,” while AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly remarked, “That’s going to be insane.” Many of the drivers said that they probably will see each other inside the casinos as well.

F1 coming back to Las Vegas is certainly another feather in the cap of Las Vegas. The hard work of organizers, officials and organizations connected to the event means that this event will be done correctly, both for drivers and their teams, and the fans.

It will certainly attract racing fans from all over the world to Sin City, and bolster its reputation as an entertainment mecca. With countless shows, excellent dining, and, of course, a myriad of gambling choices, many of those who are coming to witness F1 racing at its best will not be wanting for activities.

As Las Vegas begins to attract many more events and opportunities to its fold, this bodes well for the city as it will raise employment and economic opportunities in the area. Las Vegas already is one of the largest cities in

Attending meetings at the Las Vegas Realtors Board has enabled Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman to be well-informed about real estate trends in Clark County and in the State of Nevada.

the west, even in the U.S., in terms of population, and the need for housing has seen real estate developers look to areas outside of Las Vegas to build master-planned communities that will address the expected need for housing.

With Clark County expected to add about 1 million people by 2060, companies are looking at ways to add to the current crop of housing opportunities for current residents and for those looking to make their start in the area.

It won’t be long before other established entities make their way to Las Vegas, like the National Basketball Association (NBA), which reports and podcasts have alluded to in the past.

A group recently announced that they secured 25 acres of land near the Strip to build what they see as a new sports and entertainment district that will feature an NBA-ready 20,000-seat arena.

And with activity in Las Vegas, comes many opportunities for neighboring areas. The potential added development in areas like Pahrump, Mesquite, Henderson, Indian Springs and North Las Vegas that will come as an offshoot of rapid development

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (left) gets market updates from Phil Klevorick (right), Economic Development Liaison of Clark County.

in Sin City is one good fortune that should not be overlooked.

This is a great time to look for real estate opportunities in Las Vegas and neighboring communities, while the prices are affordable and the market is rife with choices. My decades of experience living and working in these communities – and selling real estate – can help you, my kababayans, secure the right type of land/property investment, whether it’s as a new home, a rental (maybe for Airbnb), a second home, or purely an investment opportunity.

My company, Precious Properties, is a full-service company that has been serving its clientele since 1992. You can reach me at 775-513-8447, 805559-2476 and 702-538-4948 for more information. We have investors who buy houses in California and Nevada Photo above shows the projected race route for the Las Vegas Grand Prix that is scheduled to take for cash and quick escrow in as short as 7 days.

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman helps those who need business financing, including loans for small place on a Saturday in November 2023, which sweeps past famous hotels and casinos in the area.

(Advertising Supplement) businesses. For more information, call (702) 538-4948 or send email to fely@precious-properties.com.

Internet photo/www.formula1.com

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MAY 20-26, 2022 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

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