061023 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

ABOUT 810,000, or 1 in 10, Los Angeles

County adults together owe more than $2.6 billion in medical debt as of 2021, a new analysis has found — a staggering sum that suggests extending health coverage to more people doesn’t necessarily protect them from burdensome debt.

The report from the county Department of Public Health, entitled “Medical Debt in LA County: Baseline Report and Action Plan,” said medical debt disproportionately affects the uninsured and underinsured, low-income residents, and Black and Latino populations. It said the consequences are alarming, noting that debt negatively impacts factors that determine future health outcomes, such as housing, employment, food security, and access to prescriptions and health care.

Naman Shah, the director of medical and dental affairs at the public health department and a co-author of the report, said he was particularly struck that medical debt affects approximately

Marcos cites need for constant dialogue between Philippines, China

by ALEXIS ROMERO Philstar.com

MANILA — Contrary to the views of some people, the Philippines is not shifting away from China, President Marcos said on Thursday, June 8, as he

stressed the need for a “good communication” and “constant dialogue” between the two countries despite their differences.

In his speech during the Award for Promoting Philippines-China Understanding in Manila, Marcos vowed to exert efforts to strengthen the ties

between the two countries and to make them more comprehensive and strategic.

“Some people have said that the Philippines has shifted its policy away from the People’s Republic (of China) to (another) power...that is certainly

IT was a late-spring House of Representatives hearing, where members of Congress and attendees hoped to learn lessons from the pandemic. Witness Marty Makary made a plea.

“I want to thank you for your attempts at civility,” Makary, a Johns Hopkins Medicine researcher and surgeon, said softly. Then his tone changed. His voice started to rise, blasting the “intellectual dishonesty” and “very bizarre” decisions of public health officials. Much later, he criticized the “cult” of his critics, some of whom “clap like seals” when certain studies are published. Some critics are “public health oligarchs,” he said.

Makary was a marquee witness for this meeting of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. His testimony had the rhythm of a two-step — alternating between an extended hand and a harsh rhetorical slap. It’s a characteristic move of this panel, a Republican-led effort to review

Marcos to present some ‘progress’ in 2nd SONA

by CATHERINE S. VALENTE ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has expressed confidence that he would be able to report some progress when he delivers his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the awarding ceremony of the Award for Promoting Philippines-China Understanding (APPCU) on Thursday, June 8, the president said he would give an update on what happened to the plans and projects that he

mentioned during his SONA last year.

"Like any SONA, it will be a report to the nation as to what the situation [is], what happened in the last year since the last SONA, where we are now, what we have managed to do and where we still have work to do. That is essentially the template that we're going to use," Marcos said during a media interview. But the president said he is still in the process of completing his speech.

"The truth of the matter is we're still preparing everything, all the materials that we're going to put together," Marcos said.

Sara Duterte says Imee Marcos, not Romualdez, pushed run for VP

by GABRIEL PABICO LALU Inquirer.net

MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte belied claims that Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez was a big factor in her decision to run for her current office in the 2022 national elections, saying that it was Senator Imee Marcos — the sister of the president — who urged her. Duterte made these claims on Wednesday, June 7, supposedly in reply to Cavite 4th District Rep. Elpidio Barzaga who supposedly said that Romualdez played a huge part.

According to the vice president, it is an insult to thousands of people and groups who urged her to seek the country’s second high-

est office and partner with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“Speaker Martin Romualdez had absolutely nothing to do with my decision to run for vice president. To say that he ‘tremendously helped in pushing for’ my vice presidential bid is acutely inaccurate — an insult to thousands of groups and individuals who incessantly implored me to reconsider an earlier decision not to join national politics,” Duterte said.

“And it was Senator Imee Marcos who eventually persuaded me to run as vice president — and it was a decision sealed only after President Bongbong Marcos agreed to the conditions I set before running for

‘Hazardous’

Mayon eruption looms; locals told to leave

by ABBY BOISER, MA. APRIL MIER-MANJARES Inquirer.net

THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Thursday, June 8 warned that a “hazardous eruption” of Mayon Volcano could be weeks or days away, prompting the local government of Albay to order the mandatory evacuation of residents inside the 6-kilometer radius permanent danger zone.

Phivolcs said it observed three fast-moving avalanches of volcanic ash, rock, and gases, known as pyroclastic density currents (PDCs), on Mayon’s slopes on Thursday.

There are “increased chances of lava flows and hazardous PDCs … and of potential explosive activity within weeks or even days,” the agency said, raising the alert level from two to three on a scale of zero to five.

Phivolcs recorded a total of 267 rockfall events and two volcanic earthquakes from June 5 to June 8,

photo

What’s the state of Philippine human rights under Marcos?

by CECIL MORELLA Philstar.com

MANILA — When Philippine

President Ferdinand Marcos was swept to power in 2022, human rights activists feared the worst.

Marcos had been a vocal supporter of his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte's drug war that killed thousands of people, and publicly praised his dictator father's rule.

But, as he seeks to strengthen ties with Washington and attract foreign investment, Marcos has presented himself as more

moderate than Duterte, who threatened to kill people and repeatedly disparaged human rights.

In reality, nearly a year into Marcos's term, activists say little has changed on the ground.

After a judge's decision on Wednesday, June 7 to reject jailed Duterte critic Leila de Lima's bail application, AFP looks at the state of human rights under Marcos. Is there still a drug war?

During Duterte's six-year drug war, thousands of mostly

How the mixed messaging of vaccine skeptics sows seeds of doubt

What’s the state of Philippine human...

poor men were killed and an international investigation was launched into a possible crime against humanity.

Marcos has continued the crackdown but has pushed for more focus on prevention and rehabilitation.

He told police to go after major drug dealers and not "the kid who makes 100 pesos ($2) a week selling weed".

Yet the bodies keep piling up.

More than 300 drug-related killings have been recorded since Marcos took office last June, according to figures compiled by Dahas, a University of the Philippines-backed research project that keeps count of drugrelated killings.

That includes 175 in the first six months of Marcos's presidency.

In November, police acknowledged that 46 drug suspects had been killed since he took office.

Does Marcos oppose ICC probe? Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the International Criminal Court in 2019 after the Hague-based tribunal started probing allegations of human rights abuses committed during his anti-narcotics campaign.

Marcos, who has been careful to avoid explicitly criticising his predecessor's policies, has ruled out rejoining the court.

His government has opposed the ICC's investigation, insisting it has no jurisdiction and that the Philippine justice system

is capable of investigating the alleged crimes.

Under pressure from the UN Human Rights Council, the Duterte government began examining hundreds of cases of drug operations that led to deaths.

That probe has continued under Marcos, but there has been little progress.

Only four police officers have been convicted for killing drug suspects in two separate cases since the start of the crackdown in 2016.

Rights groups estimate tens of thousands of people were killed during Duterte's drug war.

Marcos told a democracy summit hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden in March that Manila was committed to "fight impunity" and prosecute crimes, including those allegedly committed in the drug war.

But activists accuse Marcos of paying lip service to human rights during meetings with foreign diplomats, pointing out that he has not explicitly ordered police to end the violence.

Does 'red-tagging' still happen?

A decades-old strategy to smear or silence critics in the Philippines has been to link the person or group to communist rebels trying to overthrow the government.

The practice, known as "redtagging", can result in the arrest, detention or even death of the person targeted, and it exploded under Duterte.

A multi-agency task force set up

by Duterte to end the insurgency frequently accused government critics of being communist sympathisers, without providing any evidence.

Hundreds of activists, journalists and lawyers were killed during Duterte's term, many of them after being redtagged, rights groups say.

Red-tagging has continued under Marcos, who has "not said anything explicit" against the practice, said Carlos Conde of Human Rights Watch in the Philippines.

Vice President Sara Duterte, daughter of the former president and an alleged red-tagger, was recently appointed co-vice chair of the anti-communist task force.

Is it still dangerous for journalists?

The Philippines remains one of the world's most dangerous countries for journalists and scored below Mexico and Thailand on Reporters Without Borders' latest press freedom index. Three journalists have been killed since Marcos took power, including a popular radio broadcaster in Manila that drew international concern and unusually quick action by authorities to find the culprits.

During his term, Duterte went after local broadcaster ABS-CBN and online news site Rappler over perceived slights and alleged "fake" news.

ABS-CBN lost its free-to-air license after Congress refused to renew its franchise, while Rappler and its co-founder Maria Ressa have been fighting charges of tax evasion and cyber libel.

Many journalists feared Marcos would adopt Duterte's hostility towards them after he largely shunned mainstream media on the campaign trail. Since taking office, however, he has been more open to answering questions from reporters, though one-on-one interviews are still rare.

Ressa, meanwhile, was cleared of tax evasion in January, her first acquittal since Duterte's government began filing charges against her.

She still faces potential prison for a cyber libel conviction, while the future of Rappler, which she co-founded in 2012, remains uncertain. 

Marcos cites need for constant...

not true. We have not shifted away from China in any way or whatsoever,” the president said in an interview after the event.

“As a guiding principle, we will pursue constant dialogue in an amicable approach to our decisionmaking and the resolution of issues,” Marcos said.

“Being a peace-loving nation, we will adhere for all intents and purposes to the fundamental adage that good communication is the key to a good relationship,” he added.

Noting that China is the Philippines’ top trading partner and import source, Marcos said

Manila would depend on the relationship “more than ever” as they push towards a half century of their diplomatic relationship.

“We continue to foster the friendship, relationship, the partnership that we have been developing with China since 1974 and 1975 when it became official.”

Marcos said the innate differences should not define the relationship between Manila and Beijing.

“It is something that we will continue to work on, to resolve and make sure that the peace and the safe passage across the South China Sea and the West

Philippine Sea is ensured,” he added.

The Philippines and China are embroiled in a longstanding maritime row over parts of the South China Sea, a strategic waterway where more than $5 trillion in shipments passes through every year.

In 2013, the ties between the two countries were strained after the Philippines questioned China’s expansive claim in the resource-rich area. Three years later, a Haguebased arbitral court voided China’s claim but the Chinese government refused to recognize the ruling. 

‘Hazardous’ Mayon eruption looms...

more than the 54 rockfall events recorded from June 1 to June 4.

Paul Karson Alanis, resident volcanologist at the Phivolcs office in Legazpi City in Albay, said at least three rockfall events generated PDCs on Thursday morning.

“There are continuous rockfall events from the lava dome, the remnants of the 2018 eruption. This 11 a.m. (Thursday), the big rocks that were creeping down the slopes generated PDCs,” Alanis said during an emergency meeting at the Albay capital.

Two ways

There can be two ways that the “hazardous eruption” may take place, said Phivolcs volcano monitoring head Maria Antonia Bornas.

First would be similar to the 2018 Mayon eruption in which rockfall events progressed into “significant magmatic eruptions with lava flow, lava fountaining and minor explosion events.”

Mayon Volcano last erupted on Jan. 13, 2018, affecting thousands of families from the towns of Guinobatan, Camalig, Daraga, Bacacay, Malilipot and Sto. Domingo, and the cities of Ligao, Legazpi and Tabaco. The volcanic activity that lasted until March of that year led to the declaration of a state of calamity in Albay.

The second one, which Bornas said was more likely to occur, would be an eruption consisting of a continuous lava flow.

"The dome will continue to grow and shed a short lava flow, some rockfall but just that,” Bornas said.

In the latter scenario, the eruption would be similar to what happened in 2014 in which Mayon “very quietly” withdrew lava flow.

President Marcos on Thursday said the government has been closely monitoring the volcanic activities both in Mayon and in Taal, assuring Filipinos that the government was on top of the situation.

Speaking to reporters after an event in Manila, the president

noted that Mayon was already “advanced” in terms of volcanic activity.

“If the lava flow starts, that’s when we really have a disaster,” Mr. Marcos said.

Preparations

Phivolcs urged people residing within the permanent danger zone to immediately evacuate due to the danger of lava flows, rockfalls, and other volcanic hazards.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Thursday afternoon said it conducted preparedness and coordination conferences with other concerned government agencies.

The OCD also reached out to local disaster units in Bicol Region and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) for possible evacuation once the situation worsens.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines also issued a notice barring planes from flying within 10,000 feet above the surface of Mayon.

18,000 must leave

In Legazpi City, the provincial government of Albay ordered the mandatory evacuation of more than 18,000 residents inside the permanent danger zone.

Eugene Escobar, chief of the research division of the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (Apsemo), said the evacuation in the towns of Daraga, Malilipot, and Camalig, and the cities of Ligao and Tabaco was to start on Friday morning, June 9.

As of this month, Apsemo recorded 4,749 families, or 18,184 people, living in 14 villages inside the permanent danger zone.

Escobar said an additional 5,817 families, or 21,717 people, from the 7-kilometer radius would also be evacuated if the activity of the volcano escalates and the alert level is raised to 4, which means a hazardous eruption is imminent.

He added that of the province’s P42-million quick response fund, P30 million would be allocated for the evacuation operation,

which might not suffice the needs of the evacuees if Mayon’s restiveness would take long.

Class dismissal

All human activities inside the danger zone would likewise be prohibited, including farming and recreational activities.

Camalig Mayor Carlos Irwin Baldo Jr. on Thursday ordered the early dismissal of classes in the villages of Tumpa, Quirangay, and Cabangan, areas inside the 6- to 7-km radius of the volcano. Baldo, in a statement, also ordered the suspension of quarrying activities within the 7-km radius.

Meanwhile, Guinobatan Mayor Paul Chino Garcia told the Inquirer that they would prioritize the 2,000 individuals living in two villages within their danger zones.

“The shelter and food are ready. The only thing they should do is follow so that [we] will attain the zero casualty [goal],” Garcia stressed.

Lovella Guarin, information officer of the Department of Agriculture in Bicol, said in an interview that they have already prepared the evacuation center for the animals owned by farmers at the Albay Breeding Center in Camalig town.

Pancho Mella, chief of provincial veterinary services, said about 10,000 animals would be evacuated from 42 villages in the danger zone.

Alvin Cuz, the disaster risk reduction and management coordinator of the Department of Education Albay division, said they already identified 39 schools that could be used as evacuation centers, but they would need temporary learning spaces and a shift to blended learning.

“If the schools will be used by the local government units, we need temporary learning spaces for the continuous learning of the students,” Cuz noted.

Office of Civil Defense Bicol Director Claudio Yucot said they would coordinate with some colleges for their buildings to be used as additional evacuation centers. 

Sara Duterte says Imee Marcos, not...

VP,” she added. “There was no Speaker Romualdez in the picture.”

Duterte said Barzaga may have been badly informed about the story.

“Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga

Jr. was obviously badly informed or made to believe a lie,” she said.

“Meanwhile, a person who cannot distinguish between attack and humor has no place in politics — especially if one fails to understand that political bickering is just a facet of democracy and should not be used to equate with governance. On the one hand, how the recent political developments have become an opportunity for sycophants is quite amusing,” she added.

Duterte ended by saying that

Marcos’ administration still has her support, and that it remains “strong and stable.”

“Let me reiterate this, however — the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is stable and strong. It has my all-out support and the support of the majority of the Filipino people,” she added.

It is unclear what caused a rift between the two leaders, but Romualdez and Duterte have been key fixtures during the presidential campaign of Marcos — with the now-Speaker acting as the vice president’s campaign manager.

In a video recorded during Romualdez’ oath-taking ceremony of Romualdez last June 2022, Duterte thanked Romualdez for “taking” her into Lakas-CMD, and accepting the challenge to manage her campaign.

“I would like to personally thank, publicly thank Congressman Martin Romualdez for taking me in in Lakas-CMD, and accepting the challenge to be one of my two campaign managers during the last elections. It was not without irritations and challenges but you did very well, 32.2 million votes, you did it all,” Duterte said in her speech.

It could be recalled that after close ally and Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was removed as a senior House deputy speaker, Duterte bolted out of the Lakas-CMD party. Arroyo, who was replaced by Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr., said that her actions were misconstrued to be part of a coup attempt against Romualdez. 

How the mixed messaging of vaccine skeptics...

the response to the pandemic.

Both sides of the aisle join in the dance, as members claim to seek cooperation and productive discussions before attacking their preferred coronavirus villains.

One target of the subcommittee’s Republican members has drawn concern from public health experts: COVID-19 vaccines. Because the attacks range from subtle to overt, there’s a fear all vaccines could end up as collateral damage.

During that May 11 hearing, Republican members repeatedly raised questions about coronavirus vaccines.

Right-wing star Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) emphasized the vaccines were “experimental” and fellow Georgia Republican Rep. Rich McCormick, an emergency room physician, argued the government was “pushing” FDA-approved boosters “with no evidence and possible real harm.”

Some Republican members, who have been investigating for months various pandemicrelated matters, are keen to say they’re supportive of vaccines — just not many of the policies surrounding covid vaccines.

Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio), who chairs the subcommittee, has said he supports vaccines and claimed he’s worried about declining vaccination rates.

During the May hearing, he also two-stepped, arguing the covid shots were “safe as we know it, to a certain point.” He questioned the government’s safety apparatus, including VAERS, the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, a database that receives reports potentially connected to vaccines. He said the committee would be “looking” at it “to make sure it’s honest and to be trusted.”

It’s this two-step — at once proclaiming oneself in favor of vaccines, while validating concerns of vaccine-skeptical audiences — that has sparked worries of deeper vaccine hesitancy taking root.

“It seems to me to be implying the government knows the vaccine to be unsafe” and that it’s “covering it up,” said Matt Motta, a political scientist at Boston University specializing in public health and vaccine politics. The implication validates some long-held fringe theories about vaccinations, without completely embracing “conspiracism,” he said.

Vaccine skeptics run the gamut from individuals with scientific credentials who nevertheless oppose public health policies from a libertarian perspective to individuals endorsing theories about widespread adverse events, or arguing against the need for multiple shots. VAERS is a favorite topic among the

Personal medical debt in Los Angeles...

latter group. When one witness testifying during the May 11 hearing attempted to defend covid vaccination policies, Taylor Greene cited the number of reports to VAERS as evidence of the vaccines’ lack of safety.

That muddles the purpose of the database, Motta said, which gathers unverified and verified reports alike. It’s a signal, not a diagnosis. “It’s more like a smoke alarm,” he said. “It goes off when there’s a fire. But it also goes off when you’ve left an omelet on the stove too long.”

In a March hearing focusing on school reopening policies, Democratic members of the panel and a witness from a school nurses association frequently touted the important role covid vaccines played in enabling schools to reopen. Wenstrup offered generalized skepticism. “I heard we were able to get more vaccines for the children,” he said. “We didn’t know fully if they needed it. A lot of data would show they don’t need to vaccinate.”

Witnesses can eagerly play into vaccine-skeptical narratives. After a question from Taylor Greene premised on the idea that the covid vaccines “are not vaccines at all,” and alleging the government is spreading misinformation about their effectiveness, Makary suggested that while he was not anti-vaccine, it was  PAGE A4

the same percentage of Angelenos as other public health concerns do, such as diabetes and asthma.

“We try to look at factors that affect people’s lives that are widespread, preventable, and impact not just our physical health but our mental and social health,” Shah said. “This makes medical debt one of the top public health problems.”

Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program, has expanded coverage in recent years, notably to residents living in the county without legal permission. By 2024, approximately 92% of Californians under age 65 will be insured, the University of California-Berkeley Labor Center projected. Yet L.A. County’s study revealed that despite expanded insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act and the covid-19 emergency, the prevalence of medical debt remained unchanged from 2017 to 2021.

Researchers cited an investigation by KFF Health News, “Diagnosis: Debt,” which discovered that more than 100 million of Americans, 41% of adults, are saddled with medical bills they cannot pay. That investigation drew largely on a nationwide poll designed to capture not just bills patients couldn’t afford, but other borrowing used to pay for health care as well.

By contrast, the county report analyzed an annual survey of Los Angeles County residents who

reported having problems paying medical bills for themselves or anyone in their household in the prior 12 months.

The medical bills are often relatively small, but they can be burdensome for struggling households. In 2021, roughly 30% of adults with trouble paying medical debt owed less than $1,000. About half of those who took on credit card debt to pay off the bills or were unable to pay for necessities owed less than $2,000.

To alleviate the problem, the report recommends collecting and sharing data related to medical debt, enforcing fair billing and collection laws, and improving financial assistance programs where qualified patients can access free or discounted care. One idea is for the county to partner with debt relief organizations to buy up residents’ medical debt and retire it.

One such organization, the nonprofit RIP Medical Debt, buys medical debt for pennies on the dollar to provide rapid debt relief. Shah said the county could fund a program with RIP Medical Debt or one of its peers.

County supervisors are still being briefed on the report, said Becky Schlikerman, a spokesperson for the public health department.

Will Nicholas, the primary author of the report and director of the public health department’s Center for Health Impact Evaluation, noted that one of the biggest predictors of medical debt is a person’s health status. Those

in poor health who have trouble paying medical bills are almost three times as likely to accumulate debt as their peers with excellent health, the report found.

“Just because someone happens to be sick and needs medical care, why should they suffer disproportionately from medical debt?" Nicholas said. “That seems like an injustice.”

While the uninsured bore the greatest burden, with about 26% facing medical debt, many insured patients also have debt. Nicholas said privately insured patients are financially vulnerable due to high out-of-pocket expenses, including copays and the share of bills not paid by insurance, which can be exorbitant for hospital stays and other services. Medi-Cal enrollees may accumulate debt by unknowingly accepting services not covered by the safety-net program, Nicholas said.

Shah said medical debt troubles him as a physician.

“I will say that it's incredibly concerning to me as someone who's taken an oath to do no harm that sick patients who are seeking health care to get better are being made sicker by the care they receive when they accrue medical debt,” Shah said. (Molly Castle Work/KFF Health News)

KFF Health News senior correspondent Bernard J. Wolfson contributed to this report.

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

LOCAL COLORS. Philippine-made products are on display at a mall lobby in Antipolo City on Friday. June 9 ahead of the 125th Independence Day commemoration on June 12. There are native bags hand-painted with Filipino scenes, Filipiniana clothes and a giant replica of the jeepney, the so-called King of the Road. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc

Marcos to present some ‘progress’...

"So, the things that I mentioned in the first SONA, we will have a look and see ano na nangyari doon sa mga ating mga pinagusapan nung unang SONA. At sa palagay ko naman, meron naman tayo ipapakita (what happened to the plans we mentioned during my first SONA. I think, we will be able to report some progress) and that's what the content of the SONA, I think, will probably be," he added.

To recall, it was Marcos who drafted his first SONA delivered at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on July 25, 2022.

In his first SONA, Marcos laid down his plans in addressing various issues in the country such as the state of local agriculture, energy, infrastructure, technology, tourism industry, education, tax system, health, among others.

The president also listed 19 priority bills for the incoming Congress, including the mandatory Reserve Officers Training Corps for senior high school students, bureaucracy rightsizing, and e-government. His speech, which lasted for one hour and 14 minutes, also gave a

clearer direction on his campaign promises. In his first SONA, Marcos reported that the state of the nation is "sound," as he had assembled the "best" Filipino minds to help navigate the pandemic.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has begun its preparations for the President's second SONA. The Batasan Complex in Quezon City where the House of Representatives is located is the

Howthe mixed messaging of vaccine skeptics...

understandable others were.

“I understand why they are angry,” he said, in response. “They’ve been lied to,” he said, before criticizing evidence standards for the newest covid boosters, tailored to combat emerging variants.

traditional site of the Philippine president's annual speech.

Article 7, Section 23 of the 1987 Constitution requires the president to "address the Congress at the opening of its regular session".

The Philippine president delivers the SONA every year, usually held every last Monday of July, to report the state of the country, unveil the administration's agenda for the coming year, and ask Congress to pass priority legislative measures. 

The signals aren’t lost on audiences. The subcommittee has, like most congressional panels, posted important moments from its hearings to Twitter. Anti-vaccine activists and other public health skeptics reply frequently. “It’s hard for me to think of a historical analogue for this — it’s not often that we have a Congressional committee producing content that has its fingers on the pulse of the anti-vaccine community,” Motta wrote in an e-mail, after reviewing many of the subcommittee’s tweets. “The committee isn’t expressly endorsing anti-vaccine positions, beyond opposition to vaccine mandates; but I think it’s quite possible that anti-vaccine activists take this information and run with it.”

Motta’s concern is echoed by the panel’s Democratic members. “I pray this hearing does not add to vaccine

hesitancy,” said Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.), who represents Baltimore. One witness reiterated that point. Many members “have a lot of skepticism about vaccines and were not afraid to express that,” Tina Tan, a specialist in pediatric infectious diseases at Northwestern University, told KFF Health News. She testified at the hearing on behalf of the minority.

Polling is showing a substantial — and politically driven — level of vaccine skepticism that reaches beyond covid. A slim minority of the country is up to date on vaccinations against the coronavirus, including the bivalent booster. And the share of kindergartners receiving the usual round of required vaccines — the measles, mumps, and rubella, or MMR, inoculation; tetanus; and chickenpox among them — dropped in the 2021-22 school year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Support for leaving vaccination choices to parents, not as school requirements, has risen by 12 percentage points since just before the pandemic, mostly due to a drop among Republicans, according to a recent poll by the Pew Research

Center. And vaccine skepticism is resonating beyond the halls of Congress. Some state governments are considering measures to roll back vaccine mandates for children. As part of a May 18 procedural opinion, Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch cited two vaccination mandates — one in the workplace, and one for service members — and wrote that Americans “may have experienced the greatest intrusions on civil liberties in the peacetime history of this country.” He made this assertion even though American military personnel have routinely been required to get shots for a host of diseases.

“We can’t get to a spot where we’re implicitly or explicitly sowing distrust of vaccines,” cautioned California Rep. Raul Ruiz, the Democratic ranking member of the coronavirus subcommittee. (Darius Tahir/ KFF Health News)

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

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his 2022 State of the Nation Address. Malacañang file photo

PIETY. Devotees brave the elements outside the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene - St John the Baptist Parish, better known as Quiapo Church, to attend the 6 a.m. Mass on Friday, June 9. The church was conferred the title Archdiocesan Shrine of the Black Nazarene in a decree dated May 10 for being a prominent place of worship and pilgrimage for a special reason of piety. PNA photo by Ben Briones

95% digitalization

THE world is headed inexorably toward digitalization, so it’s good to hear President Marcos laying down a target of digitalizing 95 percent of government processes. Apart from speeding up transactions with the government, the shift to e-governance is meant to cut red tape and consequently opportunities for corruption.

E-governance, however, does not mean merely installing computers and inputting data in government offices. Procedures must also be streamlined and overhauled to eliminate redundancies. Red tape, which opens the doors to the payment of so-called facilitation fees, can still be designed into digital processes in doing business with the government.

Transitioning to e-governance will also require sufficient digital infrastructure. This is one of the weaknesses in this country, which has one of the slowest internet speeds in the region, and where heavy rainfall or a strong thunderstorm can easily disrupt telecommunications signals. Security problems and right-of-way issues have set back the expansion of telco facilities in many parts of the country. The government must work closer with the private sector in resolving such issues.

Shifting to e-governance also requires training and upskilling of the workforce. Even public school teachers couldn’t be upskilled

Commentary

THE National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA), a nonprofit focused on improving the life of Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander older adults and their families, recently received questions from readers. Here are a few of the questions, and NAPCA’s answers:

1. Do I still need to get the COVID-19 vaccine? COVID is still with us. In late March the U.S. still averaged 19,500 cases per day, 585,000 per month. For older adults, COVID is still dangerous. The risk of severe cases that require hospitalization is pretty low for people under 18. If you are 65 and over, the risk is 36 times higher and the older the higher. So older adults are strongly recommended to stay up to date with the most current vaccine. If your last shot was before Sep. 2022, you should get an updated bivalent vaccine and then it provides protection against both the original COVID virus and the Omicron strains that are infecting people right now.

quickly and efficiently enough when the country was forced to shift to remote learning at the height of the COVID pandemic.

E-governance also calls for a sophisticated cyber security system, especially with the dizzying evolution of artificial intelligence, which is facilitating the deployment of malware. Officials of the Department of Information and Communications Technology have pointed out that the government cannot recruit enough skilled workers to protect the state’s digital data systems from hackers. Government digitalization works best when properly linked and interoperable. This didn’t happen even at the height of the COVID pandemic lockdowns, when digital contact tracing efforts turned out to be a disaster. Little has changed since the lockdowns. Currently, different national government agencies and local government units are pursuing their own digitalization programs, with only a few having their data interlinked.

COVID-19 is still with us, dangerous for older adults

The COVID virus changes like the flu virus so it is important to get the most recent updated vaccine to get the best protection.

2. What type of COVID-19 vaccine should I receive? And how many times?

Because the protection provided by the COVID-19 vaccine fades much more quickly for people 65 and older and people who have underlying conditions, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) updated its COVID-19 vaccine recommendations to allow an additional dose of the updated (bivalent) vaccine for these populations.

No matter how old you are, if you have not gotten a shot since September 2022, you definitely need one!

If you are 65 or older or if you have underlying conditions, it may be a good idea for you to get an extra dose of bivalent vaccine. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to decide whether it makes sense for you.

3. What is Medicaid redetermination (Unwinding of the Medicaid Continuous Enrollment Provision) and how does it affect my Medicaid?

Medicaid eligibility is required to be renewed periodically, but

during the COVID public health emergency, Medicaid disenrollment has been paused in every state by federal provision. However, the continuous coverage requirement ends on March 31, 2023. Your state checks whether you still qualify for Medicaid coverage and will be able to resume Medicaid disenrollments starting April 1, 2023. The disenrollments will not occur all at once, as the process will be spread out across most of 2023 and the first part of 2024. To be prepared for Medicaid redetermination, make sure your contact information is updated so that you can receive any communications your state sends you. When you receive a Medicaid packet or letter in the mail, you need to fill out the renewal form and send it (with requested documents if applicable) to the address provided. If you are ineligible to renew your Medicaid, you will qualify for a special enrollment period to find and enroll in a new health insurance plan in time for your loss of Medicaid coverage.

4. What option do I have if I lose Medicaid after unwinding Medicaid continuous enrollment condition?

There will generally be three

options for those who are no longer eligible for Medicaid as the result of the Medicaid unwinding process.

Option 1: You can re-apply for Medicaid to find if you still qualify. If your income level or medical need changes, you might qualify for Medicaid in your state. You can apply any time, and there’s no limit to the number of times you can apply.

Option 2: You may be able to get low-cost, quality health coverage through the ACA Marketplace. Submit a new or updated Marketplace application and provide the proof of the last date of Medicaid between March 31, 2023 and July 31, 2024, then you will be eligible for this temporary Special Enrollment Period (SEP). You will have a 60 days’ window after you submit your application to select a Marketplace plan.

Option 3: You may be able to sign up for Medicare without paying a late enrollment penalty. If you now qualify for Medicare but didn’t sign up for it when you first became eligible, you have a limited time (SEP) to sign up without paying the usual penalty. Your SEP starts the day your state notifies you that your Medicaid coverage is ending and continues

for 6 months after your Medicaid coverage ends.

Plus, you can try to apply for Medicare Savings Programs to get assistance for your Medicare copays and/or deductibles.

5. I am eligible for Social Security retirement based on my 40 working credits and eligible for spousal benefits based on my husband’s Social Security credits. I am 62 soon and trying to claim spousal retirement which is higher than my worker’s benefit. How much would it be and how do I apply for it?

You could apply for spousal retirement benefit once you reach the age of 62 if your husband already started receiving his retirement. The rule is that depending on your age upon claiming, spousal benefit can range from 32.5% to 50% of your husband’s primary insurance amount (PIA), which is the monthly benefit the retiree is entitled to at full retirement age (FRA). When you apply for spousal benefit at 62, you will receive 32.5% of the husband’s PIA permanently. The longer you wait to claim the spousal benefit until your FRA, the bigger the monthly amount grows. The maximum amount you can receive is up to 50% of his PIA. If your husband

PH friendship with China, US

THIS week the Philippines and China mark the 48th year of formal diplomatic relations.

On June 9, 1975, President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Sr. and China Premier Chou En-lai signed in Beijing the agreement to establish formal diplomatic relations. Manila began recognizing only one China, the one based in Beijing, and forthwith broke ties with Taiwan, the Nationalist China based in Taipei.

In 1975, China’s was the biggest communist party in the world. It still is.

In 1975, the Philippines was a staunch anti-communist country. At the same time, Marcos Sr. had begun to question the value of American bases, particularly Clark and Subic, on Philippine soil. Eventually, Marcos Sr. shortened the lease on the U.S. bases from 99 to 25 years and demanded, and got, rental for the bases, in the billions of dollars.

Today, relations with China are strained. China has occupied at least six reefs in the South China Sea claimed by the Philippines

as part of its territory or of its Exclusive Economic Zone –Cuarteron (Calderon Reef), Fiery Cross (Kagitingan), Gaven (Burgos), Hughes (McKennan), Mischief (Panganiban) and Subi (Zamora Reef). It has reclaimed the reefs and built fortifications, missile systems and air strips, making them strategic military bases.

In 2012, China seized Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag), a rock that is clearly part of Philippine territory, being just 120 nautical miles from Luzon. It is a rich fishing ground for Filipino fishermen but is now guarded by a constant Chinese Coast Guard presence. Of the six reefs, the largest in land expansion are: Mischief, 1,379 acres; Subic 976 acres and Fiery Cross, 677 acres – a total of 3,032 hectares of reclaimed land over which the Philippines has economic rights – the waters and any oil and minerals underneath, the land and the air above. Makati is only 1,000 hectares. So the Chinese occupied reefs can house three Makati cities.

In response to Chinese development or depredations in the South China Sea in the reefs and rocks claimed by the Philippines, President Ferdinand

Romualdez Marcos Jr. has made a sharp shift towards Washington. He has allowed access by U.S. troops to four additional bases or bases sites in the Philippines, on top of the five previously authorized in 2014 by the BS Aquino III administration.

The sites disclosed last April 2023 are: the Camilo Osias navy base in Sta. Ana and Lal-lo airport, both in Cagayan province, and Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela province and the island of Balabac off Palawan. Isabela and Cagayan face north to Taiwan. Palawan is near the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea where China has built artificial islands.

During President Marcos Jr.’s Washington visit in May this year, President Biden announced that any armed attack on any Philippine armed forces, vessels, aircraft, including those of the Philippine Coast Guard would be considered an armed attack on the U.S. and the latter would respond correspondingly, subject to an act or concurrence by the U.S. Congress.

Previously, the West Philippine Sea was not considered part of Philippine territory under the U.S.-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951. The Philippines is

the U.S.’s only and oldest treaty ally in Asia.

According to a White House paper, “since 1951, the U.S.Philippines alliance has advanced peace, prosperity and security for the United States, the Philippines and the broader Indo-Pacific region.” “Now the United States and the Philippines are modernizing the alliance and building a strong and resilient architecture that is designed to meet emerging challenges, while routinizing joint planning and improving interoperability,” said the paper.

On April 28, the Philippines and the U.S. concluded their largest flagship bilateral military exercise, Balikatan, with 17,000 Filipino and American troops participating.

Manila and Washington are also expanding cooperation among their coast guards “to better address the challenges posed by illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and other unlawful maritime activities; when Vice President Harris visited Palawan in November 2022, she announced $7.5 million in new assistance to enhance the capabilities of Philippine maritime law enforcement agencies, as well as a new program to upgrade the

Philippine Coast Guard’s vessel traffic management system.”

The four new sites pursuant to the U.S.-Philippines Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), the White House paper said, “will strengthen Philippine security and support the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernization goals, while driving U.S. investment to local communities across the Philippines and improving our shared ability to rapidly deliver humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.”

Welcoming BBM at the White House last May, President Biden reaffirmed America’s ironclad alliance commitments to the Philippines.

Meanwhile, during his state visit in Beijing last January 2023, President Marcos Jr. underscored the importance of increasing trust and cooperation with China and other nations for economic growth and sustainable development.

In that visit, BBM witnessed the signing of 14 memoranda of agreement. “These will directly result in more funds for our country and more jobs for our people,” he added.

Marcos secured $22.8 billion in investment pledges from Chinese investors.

took his retirement earlier than his FRA, your spousal benefit in turn will be counted based on his reduced amount.

When you apply for spousal benefit, you must apply for both your worker’s benefit and spousal benefit at the same time. Social Security pays worker’s benefit first, then adds enough of the spousal benefit to make up the difference and match the higher amount..

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

* * *

The National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of AANHPI older adults and their families. We operate a NAPCA Senior Assistance Center for Older Adults and Caregivers and is available in 5 different languages. If you have additional questions regarding the items discussed in the article, or around the topics of Medicare, Medicaid, Affordable Care Act or other senior benefits, there are 3 ways you can reach us: Call our Senior Assistance Center at: (English) 1-800-336-2722; send an email to askNAPCA@napca.org; or send via mail to NAPCA Senior Assistance Center, 1511 3rd Avenue, Suite 914, Seattle, WA 98101.

Aside from these pledges, Marcos and China leader Xi Jinping agreed to establish a “direct communications line” on concerns related to the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea to prevent any miscommunication between the two countries. Marcos Jr. vowed that the Philippines would value Philippines-China relations even more than it did nearly five decades ago.

The president said in China: “We will continue to value the relationship between the Philippines and China more than we have done in the past few decades for the interest of our people, for the welfare of our people.”

He reiterated that he considers strengthening ties between the two countries as both a “responsibility” and a “privilege.”

So Mr. President: Who is our friend? U.S., China, or both? (Philstar.com)

* * *

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

* * *

Email: biznewsasia@gmail.com

Setting a target of 95 percent digitalization in governance is a welcome development. But the government must be prepared to confront the challenges in getting there. (Philstar.com)

DATELINE PHILIPPINES

New rules ‘empower’ land-based OFWs

by CLAIRE MONDARES ManilaTimes.net

THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Friday, June 9 promulgated new rules and regulations governing the recruitment and employment of land-based overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Migrant Workers Secretary

Susan Ople said the new set of policies is intended to protect and promote the rights and welfare of OFWs.

"We aim for a rights-based approach and ease of doing business mindset to labor migration and migration governance. This new set of rights-based rules will ensure better protection and empowerment of our OFWs. Likewise, it will enable the industry to succeed and flourish," Ople added.

The new rules are a simplified version of provisions set by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration in 2016.

Marcos wants P5.768-T national budget for 2024

MANILA — The Marcos Jr. administration on Friday, June 9 said it would submit to Congress a P5.768-trillion budget proposal for next year.

The plan was revealed by Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman. If enacted into law, next year’s appropriations will be higher by 9.5% compared to the 2023 budget.

“The proposed national budget will continue to prioritize expenditure items that promote

social and economic transformation through infrastructure development, food security, digital transformation, and human capital development,” the economic managers said in a joint statement. While details remain scant, Pangandaman told journalists that the 2024 national budget will continue the government’s cash assistance program, which was present in the 2023 version.

The national budget is expected to come into further scrutiny, as a limited fiscal space could hamper the national government’s spending plans on crucial projects and programs. To this end, the DBCC noted that the 2024 National Expenditure program will include proposal from government agencies that are “implementation-ready.” (Ramon Royandoyan/Philstar. com)

US builds fully equipped disaster relief shelter in Palawan

MANILA – The United States formally turned over a fully equipped disaster relief shelter worth PHP17 million to Palawan, the U.S. Embassy in Manila said on Friday, June 9.

The multipurpose hall was constructed by U.S. Naval Engineers, also known as Seabees, for the residents of Barangay Luzviminda in Puerto Princesa City as part of Washington DC’s efforts to strengthen alliance and cooperation with the Philippines. The structure, which could also serve as a community center for elderly residents and persons with disabilities, was turned over to local officials led by Puerto Princesa City Mayor Lucilo Bayron and village chief Laddy Gemang at a ribbon-cutting ceremony last May 30.

The fully equipped facility is the barangay’s first designated disaster relief shelter and will enhance the community’s

resilience to natural calamities.

"Our collaborative effort with the Armed Forces of the Philippines in constructing the disaster relief shelter has yielded substantial results. It has bolstered engineering capabilities, enhanced interoperability, and played a pivotal role in providing essential support during natural disasters,” U.S. Navy Detachment Philippines Officer-in-Charge

ENS Huy Duong said.

Philippine Navy Western Command (WESCOM)

commander Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, for his part, said the shelter’s completion is a “significant milestone” in the two nations’ shared commitment to providing immediate and effective assistance to communities vulnerable to natural calamities and disasters.

“Disaster preparedness is a collective responsibility and we must work together across all

sectors to serve the community, build resilience, and enhance our capacity to respond effectively to any future disaster that may come our way,” he said. Bayron, meanwhile, extended his gratitude to the U.S. and welcomed the presence of the U.S. Navy Seabees in Puerto Princesa.

“You (U.S. Navy Seabees) are always welcome in Puerto Princesa. We look forward to your continued presence here,” he said. Alongside the shelter, the U.S. Navy also constructed a basketball court that the community can use for recreational activities.

The U.S. Embassy said the U.S. Navy Seabees will continue to collaborate with local government units on other infrastructure projects, including the construction of a classroom for the Carlos National High School in Brookes Point, Palawan. (PNA)

Teodoro: PH courting ‘non-traditional’ partners for national security, territorial integrity

by CATHERINE S. VALENTE ManilaTimes.net

NEWLY appointed Defense

Secretary Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. on Thursday, June 8 said the Philippines is courting "non-traditional" partners who "will jibe with our national security, territorial integrity and interoperability." Teodoro issued the statement

after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the former ambassador to look for nontraditional partners in the areas of trade and security and defense.

Speaking in Filipino, Teodoro said that "as of now, it is but natural to talk to our treaty ally, the United States. We also know, however, that we have been talking to Israel, Japan,

Korea and recently to Sweden with whom we signed an MoU that was signed by Secretary Galvez at the Shari-la dialogue."

"I think the marching order is to look for a proper fit whatever serves our needs and whatever will jibe with our national security, territorial integrity and interoperability with our present complement," he added. 

INTERPOL’s

MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration said on Friday, June 9 that INTERPOLs declaration of a "global human trafficking crisis" involving networks of scam syndicates reflects the escalating problem of Filipinos being trafficked through false job postings.

Echoing the international crime organization’s warning that the regional problem of trafficking has blown up to a global scale, BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the problem is “both severe and complex" that requires not just government action.

Preventing the trafficking of Filipinos needs the “collaborative efforts” of law enforcement agencies, nongovernmental organizations, intelligence units and the private sectors, Tansingco said.

This is because INTERPOL has found that the “Modus Operandi (MO)” is “escalating rapidly” and “taking on a new global dimension,” with criminals using more sophisticated techniques like Artificial Intelligence tools.

“To address this increasingly global threat, INTERPOL is calling for greater intelligence exchange between

law enforcement, nongovernmental organizations, financial intelligence units and relevant private sector companies to support the rescue of trafficking victims and dismantle the money laundering activities that facilitate these activities,” the organization said in a statement on Wednesday, June 7.

The INTERPOL notice described the rise of online scam centers as a "doubleedged crime threat” that victimizes both the trafficked individuals and a second set of victims targeted by online fraud.

“The trafficked victims endure forced labor, extortion, physical and sexual exploitation, and even organ harvesting. Simultaneously, the online scam centers perpetrate various fraudulent activities, such as investment scams, romance scams, and cryptocurrency-related fraud,” the BI said.

In March, the immigration bureau said it had noted an increase in the number of young professionals—even "those with good travel records, gainfully employed and are graduates of good

Ople said the new rules also provide a list of 20 "cardinal sins" that may lead to the cancellation of a recruitment agency's license.

The list of serious offenses was drawn up in consultation with various stakeholders, she added.

The list covers acts of graft and corruption including attempts to bribe DMW officials and personnel and to recruit and deploy minors and underaged workers.

"Now that the rules are simpler, the do's and don'ts are also now clearer for the recruitment agencies. They don't have to look for 'padrino' (godfather) inside and outside the department. Just avoid committing the 20 cardinal sins and deal with the workers and employers properly," Ople said. She added that the simplification of the rules was one of the directives issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his State of the Nation Address last year.

The new rules issued by the DMW are also a product of extensive consultations with all stakeholders under the principle of social dialogue and tripartism, Ople said.

The result is a set of balanced and simplified rules adhering to day-to-day operations and concerns of OFWs, she added.

Licensed recruitment agencies are now required to employ a full-time and trained welfare desk officer who will monitor and assist in the resolution of workers' problems and complaints at their job site.

For the first time, the rules on OFW recruitment also seek to regulate the accommodations of recruitment agencies for its workers, Ople said.

"This is significant because there was no way for the government to know where these accommodations are and how conducive their facilities are for our workers. Under the new rules, they would have to inform us about the location and capacity of these accommodations," she added.

Moreover, the new DMW rules impose a simplified and standardized penalty structure for private recruitment agencies for offenses such as involvement in corrupt activities and any conduct of illegal recruitment and trafficking in persons.

For serious offenses, an agency faces cancellation of its license, while less serious offenses will result in suspension

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL RAIL AUTHORITY IFB No. MTL2305259

Railroad Frogs

The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) is seeking quotes for Railroad Frogs. Bid documents may be obtained at https://metrolinktrains.com/doing-business (free registration). Electronic Bids are due at 2:00 P.M. (PT) on 6/21/2023.

For further information, contact Arisa Hicks, Contract Specialist, at (213) 452-0250 or hicksa@scrra.net

6/10/23

of six months to one year. Agencies with light offenses will face suspensions of one to six months.

The new rules extend the validity period of provisional licenses from two years to three years and regular licenses to six years from the previous four years.

The DMW has also shortened its process-cycle time from 15 days to seven to 10 days on onsite accreditation and verification in its Migrant Workers Offices overseas.

Meanwhile, representatives of various recruitment agencies pledged to comply with the newly launched rules by signing a wall of pledges.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (LACMTA) REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

LACMTA will receive Proposals for PS87481 - Metro Leadership Academy at the 9th Floor Receptionist Desk, Vendor/Contract Management Department, One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

A Pre-Proposal conference will be held on Friday, June 16, 2023, 10:00 a.m., at One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012, Virtual Meeting: Online. All Proposals must be submitted to LACMTA, and be filed at the reception desk, 9th floor, V/CM Department, on or before 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Tuesday, July 11, 2023. Proposals received after the above date and time may be rejected and returned unopened. Each proposal must be sealed and marked Proposal No. PS87481. For a copy of the Proposal/Bid specification visit our Solicitation Page on our Vendor Portal at https://business.metro.netor for further information email Manchi Yi at yim@metro.net.

6/10/23

CNS-3708132#

ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)

schools"—being deceived by cryptocurrency scams abroad that advertise false promises of high salaries.

Trafficking

victim lured by Facebook ad

The immigration bureau said that one 26-year-old Filipino who was illegally recruited to work in Thailand applied for a fake job posting advertised through Facebook.

The male Filipino victim was offered a salary of P40,000 a month and left the country in May “in the guise of being a tourist.”

“Upon repatriation, he admitted that he was recruited to work in Thailand through an ad he saw on Facebook and was contacted on Telegram by a Chinese national,” the bureau said in its statement.

Upon arrival in Thailand, he was transferred to Laos without his consent, which made him seek assistance from the Philippine Embassy, the bureau said.

“This is something we see almost every day. Professionals coming from good backgrounds being victimized by this huge syndicate. We have sounded the alarm on this since last year,” Tansingco said. (Cristina Chi/Philstar.com)

Immigration echoes

declaration of ‘global threat’ of human tra cking

Asian Journal WKND

Atty. Gurfinkel answers immigration questions from Kapamilya in the ‘Big Apple’ on Citizen Pinoy

why their mother is always denied a tourist visa every time she applies at the U.S. Embassy.

Mommy Evangeline used to have a green card, but she gave it up when she decided to return to the Philippines and live in General Santos City. She has been applying for a tourist visa to visit Kenneth in New York, or even to watch Gerald in one of his U.S. shows, but she keeps getting denied.

Ricky, the building superintendent where the Law Offices of Michael Gurfinkel is in New York, asks Atty. Gurfinkel if he has any pointers to share for Ricky’s sister who would like to naturalize.

Florida, Ricky’s wife, has a sister who lives in England. She wants to know what options are available so they

Sandara flattered, happy that Filipinos still remember her

By KrIstofer Purnell Philstar.com

KOREAN singer Sandara Park expressed her gratitude and joy that Filipinos still recognize her after all these years. Sandara was in Clark,

Pampanga a few days ago, shooting for the variety show “Idol Truck” with fellow Korean stars Jinu of Winner, rapper Dindin, and former NU’EST members Aron and JR. The singer posted several photos of her trip to Clark, which

Diego hints he is now a father

Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net

ACTOR Diego Loyzaga on Thursday, June 8 surprised his followers on social media after posting a heartwarming photo of him cradling a newborn baby.

happened to be the first time she ever visited the Pampanga city, on social media where Sandara also admitted how flattered she was to still be remembered by Filipinos. “Sobrang nakakagulat at

While he did not exactly confirm his relationship with the baby, netizens implied that he is indeed the biological father after writing in the caption, “The best birthday gift ever [heart emoji.”

The 28-year-old star celebrated his birthday last May 21.

His mother, veteran actress Teresa Loyzaga, commented in the post saying, “Yahooooo!! Glam-Ma Lola in the house!!! Mwah! Love u anak

For Jessica Soho, content still king in age of social media

By AllAn PolicArPio Inquirer.net

IN the age of social media, anyone with a cellphone and access to the internet can create content and build a following.

And with a myriad alternative sources of information and entertainment vying for people’s clicks, how does a mainstream magazine show like “Kapuso Mo

Jessica Soho” (KMJS) reassert its position as a reliable source?

The award-winning journalist

Jessica Soho recognizes that technology has reshaped the media landscape and the way journalism is practiced. But just the same, the basic tenets of journalism—“accuracy, fairness, responsibility”—continue to guide her process.

“There aren’t simply rules; these are values and what journalism is about,” Soho told the Inquirer in an email interview.

“‘KMJS’ is a news magazine program and we’re bound by the values we uphold as journalists.

I have been one for 38 years. While it doesn’t get any easier, I still try to do my best to help produce content that hopefully sustains us as a trusted brand.”

But despite the changes in how or where data are sourced, it all boils down to the content and how it’s laid out, Soho said. She believes that mainstream media still has the necessary tools to better vet and package stories.

“Who said or who told it better? Which one is true and went through the rigorous process of being proofread, fact-checked, edited or revised? Which one is a random annotation of experience? Mainstream media

has the tools and equipment to keep improvising and differentiating itself from social media,” she said.

“I like what some news organizations are now trying to do online—giving context, processing data, using good graphics and improving presentation,” she said. “If I’m not mistaken, this was what one of my journalism professors, Mang Louie Beltran, tried teaching us back in the 1980s: interpretative journalism: Aside from the ‘what, where and when,’ you explain the ‘hows and whys’—but still based on facts.”

Palpable impact

These days, “KMJS,” which airs Sunday nights on GMA 7, produces around six to seven stories. Some are their own ideas or pitches, others are crowdsourced. “The stories come to us,” Soho said.

And of the countless stories the show has featured since 2004, the ones that have made a palpable impact on people’s lives stand out the most for Soho.

There’s the story of an Antiqueño boy named Daxxen, whose eyes bled and who contracted blisters all over his body because of an allergic reaction to an epilepsy medicine; and of Ranelyn, a malnourished girl on the brink of death whose only dream was to wear her favorite dress.

After their stories were aired, medical help and donations poured in. Daxxen and Ranelyn are now on the mend and determined to get their lives back on track. These stories also received recognition from the New York Festivals, a media and

Atty. Gurfinkel answers immigration...

can bring her sister to America.

Atty. Gurfinkel answers these questions in “Your Tanong, My Sagot.” Watch this brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, June 11 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET through select Cable/Satellite providers), right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app. (Advertising Supplement)

Chie on relationship status with Jake

By DAle cAlAnog Inquirer.net

on “Magandang Buhay” which aired on Thursday, June 8.

arts award-giving body in the United States.

Soho is also proud of their stories that reunited estranged family members and victims of baby-switching.

“Stories are powerful… they give hope and change lives,” she said. “As our acting program manager Tolits Tan said, ‘Para sa nangangailangan, ang tanging pinanghahawakan nilang pagasa sa buhay ay ang kanilang kwento,’” she related.

Contract renewal

Soho recently renewed her contract with GMA 7. In her 38 years with the network, the veteran journalist became a driving force behind notable public affairs shows like “I-Witness,” “Emergency” and Brigada Siete.” She has also earned numerous recognitions and helped bag for the network the prestigious Peabody Award for investigative reporting in 1999.

“I promise to continue sharing my ideas and pitching storylines and program concepts as well as mentoring our production staff. My colleagues will bear me out on this—hindi ako madamot,” Soho said.

And while journalism is her core competence, Soho recently branched out to entertainment, conceptualizing the 2022 primetime series “Lolong.” “I discovered that I like conceptualizing stories and storylines for other genres and formats,” said Soho, who keeps her mind active through reading and watching the occasional K-Dramas on Netflix and shows like HBO’s “Succession.” PAGE B4

WHILE she reciprocates the admiration of “The Iron Heart” actor Jake Cuenca, actress Chie Filomeno said their relationship still has no label.

Wala pang label,” the “Love in 40 Days” actress said of her relationship status with Cuenca, but she shared that “we’re talking,” adding that they are taking their time as Cuenca is aware of Filomeno’s priority.

“Nag-uusap kami po, and siguro, taking time din kasi alam din naman niya kung ano ‘yung priority ko in life. And he’s really understanding,” Filomeno explained during an interview

(We’re talking and, I guess, we’re also taking our time because he knows my priority in life. And he’s really understanding.)

Cuenca has been vocal about his admiration for the former “Pinoy Big Brother” housemate in his interviews, including in the same talk show which aired last month. Filomeno was shown snippets of Cuenca’s interview, and said she was happy that the award-winning actor has been open about his feelings for her.

“Actually, flattering din ‘yung sinabi niya kasi hindi lahat ng lalaki vocal sa feelings nila.

And I’m happy na he’s vocal sa feelings niya sa’kin,” the “Love Thy Woman” cast member said, adding that “I do admire him also…and I look up to him.”

(Actually, what he said is also flattering because not all men are vocal about their feelings. And I’m happy that he’s vocal about his feelings for me.)

Despite saying that her relationship with Cuenca still “has no label,” which could mean she has not formally entered into a relationship with him, Filomeno disagreed with the idea of getting into a relationship without a label, when asked about it. “[F]or me, ang label talaga importante din [sa relationship] kasi para may common ground kayo. Like, walang misunderstanding. Alam niyo you’re on the same page. ‘Yun ‘yung relationship for me,” she shared.

(For me, having a label [for the relationship] is also truly important for you to have a common ground. Like, there’s no misunderstanding. You both know you’re on the same page. That’s what a relationship is for me.)

Rumors of an alleged budding romance between the two started to surface when netizens noticed Cuenca’s frequent trips to and reactions on the actress’ Instagram posts.g

Sandara flattered, happy that...

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nakakaflatter na hanggang ngayon, kilalang kilala pa ako ng mga Pinoy. Maraming salamat sa love & support nyo sakin!!! Mahal ko kayo!!! Forever!!!” Sandara said on Instagram with a photo dump.

Meanwhile on Twitter she said, “Pano niyo ba ako naalala hanggang ngayon kahit matagal nako wala sa Phil[ippine] TB show. Sa halos lahat ng generation, naalala pa nila ako. Kahit sa mall, sa market, sa restaurant, sa lahat ng places kakagulat hehe I’m so happy!!!”

Sandara rose to fame in the Philippines back in 2004 when she finished second behind Hero Angeles in the reality talent competition “Star Circle Quest.” She went on to appear on

several films, some with Hero, and released an album under Star Magic before returning to South Korea with her family in 2007.

Two years later, she debuted as a Korean soloist and a member of 2NE1, and has maintained her popularity in both countries ever since. g

Award-winning Philippine book debuts at Long Beach Masskara Festival

A PIONEERING coffee table book titled “Sugar & Smiles: The Negrense Legacy Beyond 2020” will have its West Coast launch on June 11, 2023 at the MassKara Festival in Long Beach, California. The book recently won the 2023 Gold Quill Award bestowed by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) based in Chicago.

During the festival, copies of the award-winning book will be made available at the Long Beach Recreation Park –specifically the booth of multiawarded Fil-Am cultural icon Linda Nietes-Little, founder and CEO of the Philippine Expressions Bookshop in San Pedro, California.

In collaboration with Impress Quality Printing Philippines Inc. and Media Wise Communications Inc., the book was produced by the all-Negrense project team of Conrado Gen Tomas, Jose Kilayko Montalvo III, Benjamin de Leon Torre, Ma. Teresa Quebrar Manalili, and J. Albert Araneta Gamboa.

This 320-page heirloom collectible is the first coffee table book about the province of Negros Occidental, known as the “Sugar Bowl of the Philippines.” Its main chapters were written by historians Modesto Sa-onoy and Roque Hofileña; lawyers Rayboy Pandan and Eli Gatanela; culturati Cecilia Locsin-Nava and Lloyd Tronco; chefs Richard Ynayan and Mia Lizares-Gonzaga; veteran journalists Carla Gomez and Cedelf Tupas; tourism official Cristine Mansinares and advertising executive Nikki

Golez.

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson supported the book project along with local government units and congressional districts as well as major corporations and private enterprises in the Philippines. The cover was designed by graphic artist Nikki Solinap and the inside pages contain original artworks from watercolor painter Edbon Sevilleno. The project’s main beneficiary is the Kalipay Negrense Foundation headed by Anna Claparols Balcells.

IABC is the foremost global community of communications professionals representing diverse industries and disciplines. For more than 40 years, IABC’s Gold Quill Awards program has recognized excellence in strategic communication worldwide and is acknowledged as one of the most prestigious awards

programs in the industry. The Gold Quill awarding ceremony is the highlight of the 2023 World Conference of IABC being held from June 4 to 7 at the Sheraton Centre in Toronto, Canada. Bacolod City, the progressive capital of Negros Occidental, hosts the annual MassKara Festival every October. The Long Beach-Bacolod Association (LBBA) brought the festival to Southern California in July 2018 and August 2019. Due to the pandemic, there was no MassKara at Long Beach from 2020 to 2022. According to LBBA President Peter Ramirez, the festival is being revived this year with the world-famous MassKara dancers as featured performers. “We bring the fun of the Philippines to Long Beach,” he said, adding that this will coincide with the 125th Philippine Independence Day celebration. g

Jessica Soho (third from left) with GMA 7 executives (from left) Nessa Valdellon, Gilberto R. Duavit Jr. and Felipe S. Yalong GMA photo

Sandara Park

Photo from Instagram/@daraxxi

Chie Filomeno and Jake Cuenca Photos from Instagram/@chiefilomeno and @juancarloscuenca

Ricky (left) shares a light moment with Atty. Gurfinkel (right) at the latter’s law office in downtown New York City.

Kris sends love to son Bimby as he returns to PH

by anne PaSaJol Inquirer.net

KRIS Aquino, who is currently in the United States for her medical treatments, was emotional as her youngest son Bimby flew home to the Philippines to reunite with his older brother Josh and their family.

Kris sent Bimby off last Wednesday, June 7, as seen on the Queen of All Media’s Instagram page on Friday, June 9.

“He left to fly home on Wednesday—I only have until the end of June until I need to lessen my activities in high density places because by then my immunity will be too weak to fight any infection,” she said, showing photos of her hugging Bimby at the airport.

“Bimb [and I] discussed it, nakikita ko yung stress [and] anxiety my bunso was feeling. He’s had to grow up so fast because he needed

to learn to be responsible in helping taking care of me,” she continued, adding how her son had to witness the many new physical manifestations of her

autoimmune conditions. “As his mama, I felt for a few months he deserves to enjoy being 16.”

Kris then spoke about how Bimby had longed to be with their family in the Philippines, expressing happiness that her sons are finally together again.

“I love you [with] my whole heart, kuya [and] Bimb. Mama promised she’ll go through all treatments so I’ll be around, God willing, while you both still need me,” she concluded.

Kris’ boyfriend, Batangas Vice Governor Mark Leviste, was also among those who sent Bimby off, as seen on the politician’s Instagram Stories.

Kris earlier disclosed that Bimby, who had been homeschooled for months in the U.S., would be flying home to the Philippines to continue his studies. g

Nadine Lustre’s boyfriend reflects on surviving cancer

By Marinel Cruz Inquirer.net

FILIPINO-French entreprenuer

Christophe Bariou, boyfriend of actresssinger Nadine Lustre, has opened up about his previous bout with cancer.

In a lengthy post on his Instagram account, Christophe detailed his past cancer diagnosis, admitting his hesitance to share because he might be viewed as a pitiful victim while others with the sickness were dying.

Christophe said he was diagnosed with cancer three years ago at age 27 and was told he only had a few weeks left to live.

“I experienced the darkest sensation of fear, which is something I thought I had already known because it wasn’t the first time I was in a life threatening situation,” he continued. “But this was different. The enemy was invisible and deep inside my own body – a body that I never doubted before.”

He admitted he was scared, angry, and frustrated at the thought of not being able to start a family or carry on handling his luxury resort in Siargao, adding there was confusing devastation to being told his time was running out.

The diagnosis prompted Christophe to stay in Siargao to “live the best I could out of my last days and not even bother trying to cure myself.” A few days later, however, some doctors told him of an opportunity that led him to immediately go to a specialized hospital in France.

“They discovered I had a very rare type

of lymphoma and even mentioned it was so rare they had no statistics of survival but that they were still hopeful and my 6 month treatment started,” Christophe shared.

He took the time to note his treatment was free of charge because of the rights people in France fought for, lamenting that other countries were not as lucky.

Continuing his story in the comments section due to character limitations, Christophe said he was in full remission

Wedding bells not ringing soon for Zanjoe, Ria

by Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

KAPAMILYA actor Zanjoe

Marudo said that wedding bells will not ring anytime soon for him and girlfriend Ria Atayde.

In an interview with the media during Ginebra’s celebration of World Gin Day on Thursday, June 8 Zanjoe said he’s happy with his life right now especially that he’s now in a relationship with Ria.

“Settling down agad?” he said, laughing.

“Pero masaya ang estado ko ngayon, sa career, personal life, love life. Kumbaga sobrang relax lang ng buhay ko, kalmado,” he added.

When asked what’s something special about Ria, Zanjoe said, “Everything.” Zanjoe confirmed last January that he’s in a relationship with Ria in his interview with ANC’s “Headstart.”

“Yes, parang it’s out in the open naman na, so yes,” Zanjoe said. g

Diego hints he is...

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@diegoloyzaga ! Love you my “Pochol.a”

Several celebrity friends such as Billy Crawford, Sunshine Cruz, Dominic Roque, Gil Cuerva, Ruffa Gutierrez, Emanuelle Vera and Meg Imperial, among many others wrote their congratulatory messages for Loyzaga in the comments section.

“Congratulations, Daddy Diego!!!” Gutierrez said.

“Love you dawgs! Daddy D,” Crawford wrote.

“Papa diegs. Congrats cuz!!! I guess I’m now a grand-tito??” Cuerva posted.

“So much love for you guys!” Coleen Garcia mentioned.

after just two months of intense chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

“Something I learned from this, going through all the terrible side effects of the chemo, is that despite everything, my life goals did not change at all,” Christophe continued. “I wanted to get back on my feet as fast as possible and continue everything I started, but with more intention and even more motivation.”

His extended family also sent their love for Loyzaga, including younger half sister to father Cesar Montano, Sam Cruz who said, “So happy for you kuya.

Sunshine Cruz, meanwhile, simply commented three hearts emojis.

Loyzaga is yet to further reveal the name of the baby and who the mother is.

It was back in June 2022 when he admitted to dating model and “Pinoy Big Brother” housemate Franki Russell. Previously, he was in a relationship with actresses Barbie Imperial and Sofia Andres. g

Ria Atayde and Zanjoe Marudo Photo from Instagram/@ria

Filipino-French businessman Christophe Bariou battling cancer, and with partner Nadine Lustre Photos

Kris Aquino and her son Bimby Photos from Instagram/@krisaquino

I

Demystifying IV drip bars

drip over oral supplements?

Beauty Talk with Imee

WE have seen “IV drip” added on service-menu boards of numerous wellness centers and spas  everywhere. In recent years it has caught on in the media like wildfire. For sure, you, or someone you  know may have actually tried it once or twice, but what makes these “drip bars” popular is actually  something worth delving into. So let’s get to it, shall we?

IV stands for intravenous, which means inside the veins. The IV Drip that we know today goes back  to the 1960s when the famous Myers Cocktail was invented. You can get an IV Therapy in doctors’  offices, wellness centers, and spas across the world. It is the fastest way to replenish your body’s vital  nutrients and delivers fluids directly into the bloodstream. For instance, a bag of IV releases a steady  drip of saline solution and nutrients into a tube inserted into your arm with a needle or catheter.

As a  result, your body receives and absorbs essential nutrients faster. But of course, the IV solution  nutrients are chosen based on what your body needs or the benefits you desire.

What are the benefits of an IV drip?

Intravenous therapy has been used to successfully address many conditions, including cold and flu  symptoms, hangover and headache relief, brain fog, chronic fatigue, immune system strengthening, as  well as skin rejuvenation and anti-aging.

The contents of the IV drip depends on the needs of the client and the benefits desired.

At ISkin and  MiSkin, we have a menu of standard IV drip cocktails that are based on specific benefits, but we can  also customize an IV Drip specifically for your needs.

The most popular one we have is the  Hollywood Cocktail and the Immune Booster.

The Hollywood Cocktail is a combination of Glutathione, Vitamin C, Magnesium, Calcium, and  essential vitamins such as B5, B6, B12, B-complex and Zinc. This special concoction helps brighten  skin, boosts energy and immune system, relieves muscle spasm and supports bone health. With all the  given benefits, it is no wonder that our Hollywood Cocktail is a favorite among our clients. Another  combination that our “IV drip bar” is famous for is the Immune Booster. Benefits of The Immune  Booster include: boosts energy and immune system, promotes glowing skin, and strengthens bones. It  contains Glutathione, Vitamin C, Magnesium Chloride, Calcium and Zinc.  Why are people choosing IV

Oral supplements go through a complex and inefficient process before they get into the bloodstream.  For example, they have to go through a layer of cells that isn’t easy for them to get through. Some of  the vitamins never make it to the bloodstream.

An IV drip delivers 100 percent of each vitamin directly into your bloodstream, totally bypassing the  digestive system. The absorption rate is much better, and you get a higher concentration of vitamins than  you can get by “taking your vitamins.” In fact, many people notice that they get an immediate boost right  after the session from increased hydration and the effects of the nutrients kick in shortly after.

IV drip takes around 30 to 45 minutes total. It is relatively safe, but you want to choose wisely about where  you have it performed. In other words, do your due diligence and make sure that the facility and providers  are certified medical professionals.

How often should you get IV drip?

It depends on what you are using it for. Each individual has their own needs, so we recommend that you  talk with your provider about what the best timing is for you. We also offer free consultation so you would  know which combination or “IV cocktail” is best for you. And with our

customized treatment plans and  protocols, each dosage is carefully controlled and tailored to meet your specific needs. You may call us to  schedule your appointment.

If you are in the LA area, you are more than welcome to our iSkin location. And if you happen to be in the  Inland Empire and Orange County, we have MiSkin Spa for you self-love and self-pampering needs.

For more information you may visit iskinbeverlyhills. com.

Visit iSkin Med Spa and MiSkin MedSpa for a free consultation. iSkin is located at 8665 Wilshire Blvd. penthouse, Beverly Hills, CA 90211.

MiSkin MedSpa is located at 9227 Haven Ave. Suite 120 in Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91370 or call 909-9898464. You may also follow us on social media: @iskinmedspa and @ miskinmedspa.

* * * Imee Ong-Maghanoy is an established aesthetician, a business owner and CEO of iSkin Beverly Hills, iSkin MedSpa and MiSkin MedSpa. Imee has been in the aesthetics  industry for more than 20 years. She has a degree in Biology and Doctor of Dental Medicine. iSkin MedSpa and MiSkin MedSpa are fast emerging as a top Spa destination in LA. iSkin is located at 8665 Wilshire Blvd penthouse Beverly Hills. MiSkin MedSpa is located at 9227 Haven Ave. Suite 120 in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. (Advertising Supplement)

‘Rosalinda’ actor

Fernando Carrillo admits ‘dating’ Korina Sanchez

in the past

By HannaH Mallorca Inquirer.net

REMEMBER Fernando

Carillo, the Venezuelan actor who played the role of Fernando Jose in the Mexican telenovela “Rosalinda”? The swoon-worthy actor of the late 90’s just let out his charm when he visited the country recently, but dropped a little bombshell when he admitted to “dating” broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez in the past.

During a June 8 episode of afternoon talk show “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda,” Carrillo was asked if he has ever fallen in love with a Filipina before, who which the Latino actor answered in the negative, though he admitted to always having been captivated by Filipina beauties.

“I don’t think I (have fallen) in love [with a Filipina], but I’ve always been attracted to the beauty of the Filipino women,” he said. “And I’ve met some very beautiful women, and I keep meeting beautiful women.”

When host Boy Abunda asked him if he ever dated a Filipino woman in the past, Carrillo admitted that he went out with Sanchez with some friends.

Sanchez is now married to former Senator and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, with whom she shared twins.

“It depends on what ‘date’ means, but I went to dinner with a very smart Filipino. Can I say who it was? Or are we going

For

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to get in trouble,” he said. “I have huge respect for Korina Sanchez. She’s a good friend, and I respect her very much.”

While the Venezuelan actor didn’t disclose further details about their dinner, he shared that it happened during his past visit in the country.

“We did an amazing interview once upon a time in Miami, and then I came to the Philippines once. And we went to have dinner with some friends. [Maybe that], we can call it a date. But she’s a dear friend whom I respect and I admire very much,” said Carillo, who is now married to a woman from Colombia.

Carrillo also revealed in the same interview that he’s currently in the Philippines for endorsements and to launch a reality show that aims to create a co-ed singing group.

The actor gained widespread popularity after starring with Mexican superstar Thalia in the 1999 telenovela “Rosalinda,” where the former’s character is a man of social status.

The hit Mexican drama was then remade in the Philippines in 2009, with Carla Abellana and Geoff Eigenmann taking on the roles of Rosalinda and Fernando Jose, respectively. Carrillo signed a contract with Viva Entertainment in 2012 to expand his career in the country. g

Jessica Soho...

“I try to keep up with what’s happening because that has always been my advice to our reporters and producers: It’s our business to know,” she added.

As part of Soho’s contract renewal, a digital archive of her

award-winning stories will soon be put up. And she hopes to continue telling more “KMJS.” “For as long as I can … I would like to keep telling stories about who we are: stories that inspire, help, bring people together and give hope and change lives,” she said. g

Fernando Carillo

GMA photo

A blessed & happy feast of Corpus Christi to all!

Pastor’s Notes

ReveRend Rodel G. BalaGtas

YES, it’s how many of us raised in the Catholic Church refer to the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christi: Corpus Christi.

We celebrate and profess the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist; every time we approach the altar to receive Communion and the priest or the extraordinary minister of the Eucharist says, The Body of Christ, we respond loudly, Amen!

Indeed, I hope our response manifests our firm   conviction that the bread we receive is not ordinary bread anymore but the Body and Blood of Jesus.

from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live    forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.

. . . For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink” (Jn 6:51-55). The whole Christ is  truly present, body, blood, soul, and divinity, under the appearances of bread and wine—the glorified Christ who rose from the dead after dying for our sins. This is what the Church means when she speaks of the “Real Presence” of Christ in the Eucharist.

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights

My Filipino accent cost me a promotion

wine? How does this happen?

atty. C. Joe sayas, JR

Recently, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops released a document, The Mystery of the   Eucharist in the Life of the Church, to promote our   belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist in light of the latest Pew research that only one-third of Catholics nowadays believe in this doctrine of our faith. Here is an excerpt from the beginning of the document: Recalling these words of Jesus, the Catholic Church     professes that, in the celebration of the Eucharist, bread, and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit and the instrumentality of the priest. Jesus said: “I am the living bread that came down

This presence of Christ in the Eucharist is called “real,” not to exclude other types of his presence as if they could not be understood as real   (cf. Catechism, no. 1374). The risen Christ is present in his Church in many ways, but most especially through the sacrament of his Body and Blood.

What does it mean that Jesus Christ is present in the   Eucharist under the appearance of bread and

The presence of the risen Christ in the Eucharist is an inexhaustible mystery that the Church can never fully explain in words. We must remember that the triune God is the creator of all that exists and has the power to do more than we can possibly imagine. As St. Ambrose said: “If the word of the Lord Jesus is so powerful as to bring into existence things which were not, then a fortiori those things which already exist can be changed into something else” (De Sacramentis, IV, 5-16). God created the world in order to share his life with persons who are not God. This great plan of salvation reveals a wisdom that surpasses our understanding. But we are not left in ignorance: for out of his love for us, God reveals his truth to us in ways that we can understand through the gift of faith and the grace of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. We are thus enabled to understand at least in some measure what would otherwise remain   unknown to us, though we can never completely comprehend the mystery of God.

Let’s pray that we stay firm in holding to this belief in the real presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist!

* * *

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.

* * * Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.

Q: I AM a college graduate in business management from the Philippines who migrated to the United States. I got work as a caregiver at a nursing facility. After a few years, I was promoted to a supervisor position: still providing direct care but also overseeing other caregivers. The patients and my co workers like me, so I enjoy the work.

Recently, I learned that the facility was hiring for a manager position. The job wouldn’t involve providing direct care to patients, but would instead be on the business side. My college degree in business  management, and the fact that the job description shows that knowledge of our organization’s caregiving  operations would be an important part of the job, appears to make me qualified for the position. I showed  the job opening to one of the managers at the facility, and she agreed that I seemed qualified for the job  opening, so I applied.

When I went for the job interview, the person who interviewed me was from corporate. I had never  seen him before in the facility. He was friendly, but it seemed weird when he said he was surprised to see  that I was Filipino because I use my husband’s English last name. We talked about the job and I did  my best to show him that I was qualified.

He told me that he was impressed by my interview, but that he had concerns about my accent. He said that the manager position involves a lot of interactions with patients’ families, and that because the  facility is in a predominantly white community, the clients might not be able to understand my accent. He said that, from past experience, the

Is that legal?

clients in this community like

Filipino caregivers but not Filipino managers. He said he has nothing against me and other Filipinos, but that the company has to respect the  clients’ feelings.

I didn’t get the job. The company hired a white woman for the manager position. She seems nice, but she doesn’t even know what we do here. And when I spoke to her, I found out that she is much less  qualified than me.

I feel like my accent cost me the job. Isn’t that illegal?

A: What you experienced likely violated the California Fair Employment and  Housing Act (“FEHA”) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which make it an  unlawful employment practice to refuse to hire, employ or promote someone because of  that person’s race, national origin or ancestry, among other classifications.

The courts have made clear that basing hiring or promotion decisions on a person’s  accent may support a finding of employment discrimination on account of race, national origin or ancestry. That would appear to be what happened in your situation, where your interviewer specifically noted your accent in the interview as a reason not to hire you, and  then the company hired a less-qualified person of a different race, national origin and  ancestry.   It’s curious that the interviewer specifically noted that he personally does not  harbor ill feelings towards Filipinos, and that it is the customers who are instead  prejudiced against Filipinos. But this does not excuse the discriminatory conduct. While  the discrimination laws make

EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT FOR RENT

exceptions for seemingly discriminatory decisions otherwise based on what’s called a bona fide occupational qualification, simply catering to customers’ biases and prejudices do not fall under that exception.

Instead, the antidiscrimination laws and the cases brought under them make clear that employers may not segregate employees of a particular national origin from  customers. By choosing not to hire you for the manager position due to their customers’ preference that Filipino employees be limited to caregiver positions, and excluded from  managerial positions, it seems your company violated protections against discrimination  based on race, national origin and ancestry.

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

* * * The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential  and at no cost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www.joesayaslaw. com. [For more than  25 years, C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and  consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, selected  as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine for 11 years, and is a past Presidential Awardee for  Outstanding Filipino Overseas.]  (Advertising Supplement)

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world. . . . For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink”

(Jn 6:51-55)

Navigating the challenges of divorcing a narcissist

Barrister’s Corner

NARCISSISTIC behavior can be a major factor in the breakdown of a marriage, leading to divorce. Many divorcing spouses would point to the other spouse’s personality as the reason they decided to file for divorce.

When describing their spouse’s personality, it often fits many of the characteristics of Narcissism. Narcissism is a personality disorder characterized by a grandiose sense of selfimportance, a lack of empathy for others, and a need for admiration. Narcissists often have an exaggerated sense of entitlement and may exploit others for their own gain.

Narcissistic behavior can manifest in a variety of ways, including:

1. Lack of Empathy: Narcissists often lack the ability to empathize with their partners, making it difficult for them to understand their partner’s feelings and needs.

2. Manipulation: Narcissists are often skilled at manipulating others to get what they want. They may use emotional blackmail, guilt-tripping, or other tactics to control their partner.

3. Gaslighting: Narcissists often use gaslighting, a tactic where they deny or distort reality to make their partner doubt their own memories or experiences.

4. Blame-Shifting: Narcissists may frequently shift blame onto their partner, making it difficult for them to take responsibility for their actions.

5. Lack of Commitment: Narcissists often struggle with commitment, preferring to keep their options open and maintain their independence.

All of these behaviors can take a toll on a marriage, leading to feelings of frustration, anger, and resentment. Eventually, these negative emotions can become too much to bear, leading to the breakdown of the relationship and ultimately, divorce.

Furthermore, narcissists often struggle with intimate relationships and may struggle to form deep, meaningful connections with their partners. They may see their partner as an extension of themselves rather than as a separate individual with their

Maximizing recovery in personal injury cases

the other spouse rather than focusing in resolving he divorce case. This may be in the form of over litigating a case for purposes of racking up legal fees for the other spouse.

Fabricating false allegations against the other spouse in the context of custody or domestic violence. Refusal to engage in good faith settlement negotiations. They will take unreasonable positions without any willingness to compromise. This will leave you with no option but to either roll over to their unreasonable positions or take the case to trial and get a ruling from the court.

Narcissistic behavior can be a major factor in the breakdown of a marriage, leading to divorce. Recognizing the signs of narcissism and seeking professional help can help you navigate the challenges of divorcing a narcissist and move forward with your life.

* * *

DEAR Attorney Tan, I was driving home and was at a complete stop when another driver rear-ended my car. I was not feeling well after the accident, as my back seemed very tight and stiff. I took some days off from work. After a week, I contacted the other driver’s insurance to report the claim. The insurance adjuster for the other driver said they would fix my car, and offered me $500 for my injuries. Is that enough? I do not know where to go from here. –K.K.

Dear K.K.,

claim for economic damages apart from medical expenses are often overlooked and not pursued by persons who settle their accident cases on their own, or with the assistance of inexperienced counsel.

Loss of earnings are often a significant part of an injured person’s claim for economic damages. Damages are recoverable for both past and future lost earnings. To recover for past lost earnings, a person must prove the amount of income or earnings that he/ she has lost to date. To recover damages for future earnings, a person must prove the amount of income or earnings that he/ she will be reasonably certain to lose in the future as a result of the injury. CACI No. 3903C

value of sick leave and vacation time that are used due to the injury are also recoverable. For those self-employed, earnings history as reflected by tax returns and profit and loss statements can help prove the value of lost earnings. Similar supporting documentation must be presented for future lost earnings.

Apart from economic damages, you can recover “general damages,” which are damages for the pain, suffering, and inconvenience due to the accident.

own needs and desires. This can make it difficult for the relationship to thrive and grow over time.

If you are in a relationship with a narcissist and are considering divorce, it is important to seek professional help and support. Divorcing a narcissist can be challenging, and it is important to have a support system in place to help you navigate the process. A therapist or counselor can help you work through your emotions and develop strategies to cope with the challenges of divorcing a narcissist. This may also apply to the minor children in the family who become victims of the narcissistic spouse.

Narcissistic spouses also have a tendency of weaponizing the judicial process against

Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice.  The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information.  This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed.  The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you.  This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APC.  This article is not a solicitation.

* * *

Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APC is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com. Visit us at kenreyeslaw.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

The first step is to make sure that any injuries that you have suffered in the accident are examined and treated. You can recover treatment costs since they are considered “economic damages” that you suffered due to the accident. You can also recover for time away from work as “economic damages,” even if you used paid time off or sick leave.

The term “economic damages” means “objectively verifiable monetary losses including medical expenses, loss of earnings, burial costs, loss of use of property, costs of repair or replacement, costs of obtaining substitute domestic services, loss of employment and loss of business or employment opportunities.” Civil Code Section 1431.2(b)(1). A person’s

How are past lost earnings proven? Medical records, which show the doctor authorizing a release from work or giving instructions to restrict work activities, can support the time taken off from work due to the injury. For those selfemployed, medical providers typically do not provide a release from work; however, medical records should record work restrictions placed by the medical provider.

After showing that the time off was justified, the next step is to value the lost earnings. A letter from a person’s employer that outlines the amount of time that one has lost as a result of his/her injury, the loss of benefits, and the rate of pay during the time of loss is evidence of the value of one’s loss of earnings claim. Other supporting documents include pay stubs, time cards, and tax returns. The monetary

If you were suffered injury in an auto accident or someone’s premises, please contact our office to discuss your case. To maximize monetary recovery, it is important to have the assistance of an experienced attorney in presenting your personal injury claim.

* * * 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.

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* * Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles (CAALA) and American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). He is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Philippine American Bar Association (PABA). LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN, 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Tel: 323639-0277. Email: info@dtanlaw.com (Advertising Supplement)

Nadine Lustre’s boyfriend...

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“When it comes to advocacies, it was a brutal reminder that life is fleeting. We do not have the luxury to wander and be mindless. I want to be mindful and conscious in every action. The best I can do is to lessen the suffering and cruelty around me, and promote kindness and compassion towards all forms of life – human and non-human,” he reflected further. “Our lives are way too precious to be wasted. In the same breath, other lives are too sacred to be robbed from them, too.”

Christophe admitted having no pretension to

be revolutionary or change the world but simply hope that others would not wait to realize how fleeting life can be and regrets can make up a big part of it.

“Live and let live,” Christophe ended, expressing gratitude for his partner at the time before Nadine, his family, and his friends.

Numerous people praised and showed support for Christophe including Billy Crawford, BJ Pascual, and Katarina Rodriguez.

Nadine met Christophe in Siargao back in July 2021, and confirmed they were in a relationship at the turn of the following year. g

Narcissistic spouses also have a tendency of weaponizing the judicial process against the other spouse rather than focusing in resolving he divorce case. This may be in the form of over litigating a case for purposes of racking up legal fees for the other spouse.