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JULY 1-7, 2022 Serving San Diego Since 1987 • 12 Pages

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

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FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

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It’s official: Bongbong Marcos sworn in as PH’s 17th President

by Gabriel

pabico Inquirer.net

lalu

MANILA — Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos is now officially the 17th President of the Republic of the Philippines after he took his oath of office on Thursday noon, June 30, at the National Museum grounds in the nation’s capital.

Marcos took his oath before Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, marking the return

of the Marcos family to power — 36 years since the administration of his late father and namesake, former president Ferdinand Marcos.

Marcos wore a barong tagalog designed by Pepito Albert. The design of the barong tagalog is said to be inspired by the military uniform worn during the Spanish colonial period.

Among the personalities present at the inauguration were members of the Marcos family including First Lady Liza Araneta, their children

Steven Raga wins primary election for New York state assembly

by pia lee-braGo Philstar.com

STEVEN Raga is one step away from the New York State Assembly.

As the New York State primary elections concluded on Tuesday night, June 28, it became apparent that Raga won his campaign for Assembly District 30 and will become the official Democratic candidate.

He is now on the November ballot against his Republican opponent. If elected, Raga would make history and become the first

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Sisolak signs executive order expanding protections for abortion, reproductive Locsin: I smashed New York banks’ health care in Nevada attempts to corner remittances

FIRST FAMILY. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the First Family’s official photo shortly after his inaugural address delivered at the National Museum of the Philippines in Manila on Thursday, June 30.

Malacañang photo by Rey Baniquet

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Despite difficulties under Duterte, Robredo says no regrets

Steven Raga, who won the primary election for the New York State Assembly District 30 seat on Tuesday, June 28, speaks before his supporters and volunteers in Queens.

NEVADA Governor Steve Sisolak on Tuesday, June 28 signed an executive order that strengthens protection for any person seeking access to reproductive health care in the Silver State.

This order comes nearly a week after the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, which overturned the decades-long precedent of Roe v. Wade and ended the constitutional protection for abortion.

“Reproductive health care is a basic human

including representative-elect Sandro Marcos, and the president’s sisters Senator Imee Marcos and Irene Araneta.

The president’s mother — the Marcos family matriarch — former first lady Imelda Marcos, was also present at the inauguration.

Marcos’ running mate Vice President Sara Duterte also attended the event.

Prior to his inauguration, Marcos first went to the

by Daphne

Galvez Inquirer.net

MANILA — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. has thwarted an attempt

by New York banks to corner Filipino remittances on grounds that these could be a source of terrorist financing.

In a speech during the International Day of Family Remittances on Tuesday, June 28, Locsin said smashing the banks’ attempt was the first thing he did as Philippine

MANILA — Despite the difficulties she went through due to her political differences with President Duterte, Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday, June 28 said she has no regrets.

During the final episode of her weekly radio program “BISErbisyong Leni” on dzXL, Robredo said the hardships and not being allies of the President motivated her and her team “to look for ways and become better.”

“All the difficulties given to us, those were actually the things that made us better. We learned to look for ways and accomplish our goals. And to my mind, those made us perform better. Because when it’s hard, you find ways to do your work well,” Robredo said in Filipino.

Robredo was the top target and biggest victim of disinformation even after the May 9 elections, reports said.

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ambassador to the United Nations prior to his appointment as secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

“In fact, it is big banking that is a major source of terrorist financing, second only to drugs, human and arms trafficking. The New York bankers were lying again and I told them so,” Locsin said.

He said it is a repeat of the same scam the banks tried to foist during the administration of the late president

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The Robby Poblete Foundation’s Art of Peace program uses materials from guns collected from the gun buyback program, along with confiscated firearms from throughout the state by law enforcement agencies, to transform weapons of destruction into instruments of hope through art.

Photo courtesy of Pati Navalta

New proposal may grant most Californians Tzeitel Paras-Caracci, Fil-Am-led nonprofit seeks with stipend amid rising gas prices Fil-Am mayor pro to reduce gun violence, Relief checks will start from $350, depending on tem of Duarte, dies turn firearms into art marital status and dependents after cancer battle

by Klarize

MeDenilla AJPress

ANYBODY who has had to commute by car over the last five months knows that the skyrocketing price of gas has been a major hindrance, especially in places like California where driving is essential.

To help alleviate the financial burden of rising gas prices and inflation, Governor Gavin Newsom and state legislators have agreed to grant as much as $1,050 to millions of Californians.

As part of a $300 billion budget deal that was announced on Sunday, June 26, the three-tiered program is estimated to benefit 17.4 million taxpayers in the state with lower- and middle-income households

benefitting the most.

Individuals who make less than $75,000 a year and couples who jointly make less than $150,000 a year would get $350 per taxpayer. An extra $350 would be granted for each dependent.

Individuals who make less than $125,000 a year and couples who jointly make less than $250,000 a year would get $250 each, plus any dependents.

The money will be distributed as soon as the governor and state leaders reach an agreement over the 2022-2023 state budget, which is expected to happen before the start of the new fiscal year on July 1.

“California’s budget addresses the state’s

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by Donnabelle

GatDula AJPress

by AJPress DUARTE Mayor Pro Tem Tzeitel ParasCaracci has died after nearly a three-year battle against lung cancer, the city announced on Monday, June 27.

Paras-Caracci, 49, passed away from stage 4 lung cancer at home on Saturday, June 25, surrounded by family.

She became the first Filipino American elected to the Duarte City Council in 2001.

She served as the city’s mayor four times — in 2006, 2011, 2015 and 2019. In office for over two decades, she was considered the

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WITH hundreds of deaths by guns in America every single day, California-based nonprofit the Robby Poblete Foundation (RPF) is seeing the need to continuously expand its reach to other states, especially where gun-related violence is prevalent.

In 2017, RPF was created by Filipina American Pati Navalta in honor of her son 23-year-old Robby Poblete who was killed by gun violence in Vallejo, California on September 21, 2014.

Robby was learning to weld at

-arevalo

a biotech company at the time of his death.

Navalta, in an interview with the Asian Journal, said for the past years since the inception of the RPF, they have been actively pursuing initiatives based on their three programs: Gun Buyback; The Art of Peace; and Vocational Skills. She said the COVID-19 pandemic had somewhat put their activities on the sideline but they are slowly trying to pick up the pace.

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JULY 1-7, 2022 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

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

From The FronT Page

It’s official: Bongbong Marcos sworn in as PH’s 17th...

PAGE 1 Malacañang Palace to meet former president Rodrigo Duterte, who was given departure honors.

During the inaugural, the Philippine national anthem was sung by Marcos election campaign supporter and actress Toni Gonzaga.

After an interfaith prayer, a civil-military

parade displaying the assets and capabilities of the country’s law enforcement and defense agencies was held.

Marcos will return to the Malacañang Palace for arrival honors. After which, he is expected to lead the mass oath-taking of his Cabinet members.

The inaugural dinner will also be held inside the Malacañang, while a “People’s

Concert” will take place at around 9:00 p.m. at Mendiola in Manila.

Marcos won by a big margin in the 2022 presidential race, getting over 31 million votes while his closest rival, former vice president Leni Robredo got 15 million votes.

Last May 25, both houses of Congress proclaimed Marcos and Duterte as winners of the 2022 polls. n

Locsin: I smashed New York banks’...

Vice President Leni Robredo

Philstar.com photo

Despite difficulties under...

PAGE 1 Admitting her office suffered much since 2016, Robredo refused to say what her team went through. “For us, the difficulties were blessings,” she said.

In December 2016, Duterte instructed Robredo to “desist” from attending Cabinet meetings, pushing her to resign as chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council.

In October 2019, Duterte announced that he would name Robredo as co-chair of the interagency committee on anti-illegal drugs with Cabinet rank.

Robredo, an opposition leader, accepted the post, saying it would allow her to stop “unnecessarily killing.”

However, Duterte backtracked after the vice president met with representatives of the United Nations, the Catholic Church and institutions critical of the anti-drug campaign.

Vice President’s spokesperson lawyer Barry Gutierrez said Robredo’s camp is considering taking legal action against those who spread disinformation on social media after her term of office ends on June 30.

Gutierrez said the initiative would be launched to address the proliferation of fake news and lies on social media, explaining that this kind of trend is detrimental to democracy and public discourse.

He added that groups of lawyers are studying the filing of a lawsuit against those who continue to spread disinformation on social media platforms that host fake news.

He explained that the action to be taken is not only for Robredo, but also for other victims of disinformation on social media.

In February, University of the Philippines journalism professor Yvonne Chua said during a Senate hearing that most instances of disinformation on social media platforms were directed against Robredo. n

PH-JAPAN TIES. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. (left) and Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa (right) pose for a photo during their meeting at the Department of Foreign Affairs building on Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City on Wednesday, June 29. Hayashi was the Special Envoy of the Japanese government for the inauguration of President-elect Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on June 30.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

PAGE 1 Corazon Aquino in Switzerland, but they kicked the scheme.

“If there is going to be any regulation or control, it has to be Filipino and totally transparent,” Locsin said.

“Enhancing the Filipino regulatory framework for the digital transformation of financial services and networks have made them more efficient and reliable, remittances are no longer lost. They have given migrant workers and their families more options to send and receive remittances at very competitive rates,” he added.

The International Day of Family Remittances is a tribute to migrant workers, whose income is vital to the economic lifeline of their families and a major source of foreign currency.

During the outbreak of the pandemic, Locsin said remittances became more essential as these shielded families, communities and countries from the crippling

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. in his office at this photo uploaded by the Department of Foreign Affairs on Facebook on July 2, 2020.

Photo from Interaksyon / Department of Foreign Affairs,Republic of the Philippines via Facebook

economy as a result of health crisis and the economic shocks that followed.

In 2021, the World Bank reported a total of $605 billion in remittances, an increase of 17 percent from the total remittances recorded in the 2020.

Of the amount, the Philippines contributed $34.9 billion, making the country the fourth largest destination for remittances in 2021.

Locsin thanked Israel and Germany for “taking the treatment of migrant workers to a new high.”

In another development, Locsin and Australian Foreign Minister Penelope Wong reaffirmed the ties between two countries.

During a video call, Wong said that Australia’s ties with the Philippines are vital in dealing with problems in the Southeast Asian region, especially in upholding international law.

The DFA said in a statement that Wong expressed appreciation to the contributions and personal commitment of Locsin in strengthening Philippine-Australia relations.

Locsin highlighted the strengths of the bilateral relations between the two countries.

He said the Philippines looks forward to working on the draft joint declaration for elevating relations to a strategic partnership this year.

The Philippines and Australia marked 75 years of diplomatic ties in 2021. (By Pia Lee Brago/ Philstar.com) n

Sisolak signs executive order expanding protections...

PAGE 1 right, and Nevada stands firm in its commitment to ensuring there is safe and equitable access for Nevadans and anyone seeking refuge from the restrictive laws in their state,” said Sisolak. “No one should be punished for providing or receiving necessary medical care, including abortions, contraception and other reproductive health care services.”

Reproductive health care services include all medical, surgical, counseling or referral services relating to the human reproductive system. This includes, but isn’t limited to, services relating to pregnancy, contraception and abortion, according to the Governor’s Office.

Under the Executive Order, if services provided are legal in Nevada: • No Information or Assistance to Other States: No executive department agency or employee may provide any information or use time, money or other resources to assist another state that seeks to impose civil or criminal liability upon a person for receiving, assisting or providing reproductive health care services.

• Health Care Professional Protection: Health care and other licensed professionals in Nevada must be protected by State Boards

and Commissions that oversee these professionals and should not be disqualified or disciplined in Nevada based ondiscipline threatened or imposed under the laws of another State for services related to reproductive health care.

• No Extradition: The Office of the Governor will decline any request received from another state to issue a warrant for the arrest or surrender of any person charged with a criminal violation of a law of that other State if the violation alleged involves reproductive health care services.

The right to abortion is codified by Nevada law. Nevada Revised Statute section 442.250 protects the right to abortion until 24 weeks and after 24 weeks if the pregnant person’s health is at risk and that law cannot be repealed without a direct vote by the people. In 2019, Sisolak signed Senate Bill 179, the Trust Nevada Women Act, which decriminalized medicated abortions and removed antiquated informed consent laws and other barriers to accessing reproductive health care. Sisolak also signed Senate Bill 94 into law which allocated $6 million for statewide family planning services grants to fund health care services like contraception, maternal care, cancer screenings and STI prevention. n

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SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 1-7, 2022

5 things to know now that the US Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade ruling

by Victoria

THE Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization dramatically and rapidly alters the landscape of abortion access in the U.S. The court on June 24 ruled 6-3 to uphold a Mississippi law that would ban abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, but also to overturn the nearly half-century precedent set in Roe v. Wade that guaranteed the constitutional right to an abortion. With the Dobbs decision, states have the ability to set their own restrictions, so where people live will determine their level of access to abortion.

The majority opinion, written by Justice Samuel Alito, stated that “the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion; Roe and Casey [Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey, 1992] are overruled; and the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives.”

Almost immediately after the decision was released, protests and celebrations outside the court and across the country began — highlighting the patchwork of laws and restrictions that now will take effect. State officials from conservative states said they would move quickly to restrict abortion, while in other states, some officials pledged to keep the right to access.

Here are five key points that will affect access to abortion.

1. Where is abortion still legal?

The Supreme Court ruling means access to abortion will, very shortly, be highly uneven.

Sixteen states plus the District of Columbia have laws that protect the right to abortion.

In two other states, courts have ruled that the state constitution establishes that right. Those states are concentrated on the East and West coasts.

On the other end of the spectrum, 13 states have “trigger” laws that would quickly ban nearly all abortions, and at least a half-dozen moved Friday to implement them, including Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, and South Dakota. Four more have pre-Roe bans that would again be in effect. Three other states have laws on the books that will ban abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy.

Access to abortion is likely to evolve in other states, too. Kansas and Montana, which are among the states where courts have ruled that the state constitution guarantees the right to abortion, could see rollbacks in those protections through a ballot measure in Kansas and a legal challenge by the Montana attorney general. In at least eight states, the right to abortion isn’t explicitly protected or prohibited by state law.

And in Michigan, a 1931 state law bans nearly all abortions, but its enforcement was temporarily suspended by a May court decision. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, a Democrat, has said she will not

Knight and rachana Pradhan and Julie roVner Kaiser Health News

enforce the law, but questions remain about whether that would also be the case for local prosecutors.

As was the case before the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe decision, people seeking abortion care will also be subject to a variety of restrictions even in states where the procedure is still legal. They include gestational limits outlining the maximum point in pregnancy that someone can obtain an abortion, requirements that patients receive counseling beforehand, waiting periods, and parental notification rules for minors.

2. What can the Biden administration do?

President Joe Biden has said his administration is looking into executive actions to counteract the impact of the ruling.

In remarks after the decision, Biden said that it was a “sad day” and that, without Roe, “the health and life of women in this nation is now at risk.”

But in short, without a new law from Congress, he has limited options.

Supporters of abortion rights and Democratic lawmakers in Congress have pushed the administration to make it easier for women to obtain medication abortion, which is available up to 10 weeks of pregnancy and involves taking two pills, assessing whether services could be provided on federal property even in states that ban the procedure, and bolstering digital privacy to protect patients.

Medication abortion has become an increasingly large share of total abortions provided in the U.S. According to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights, the pills accounted for more than half of all abortions in 2020, the first year medication provided the majority.

Under the Biden administration, the FDA has already lifted one major restriction. Now, patients can receive mifepristone, the first drug used in the series, by mail. Mary Ziegler, a professor at the University of CaliforniaDavis School of Law and an abortion legal historian, said that, even as conservative states move to curtail access to medication abortion, the Biden administration could argue that the FDA’s rules and guidelines on mifepristone preempt any state laws that criminalize that method. Attorney General Merrick Garland took this position in a statement he released shortly after the decision was announced: “The FDA has approved the use of the medication Mifepristone. States may not ban Mifepristone based on disagreement with the FDA’s expert judgment about its safety and efficacy.” Biden reinforced that message in his remarks.

In comments before the justices’ decision was announced, Zeigler said arguing this position is “the biggest thing they could do.”

Still, the FDA approach is uncertain, both legally and because a future Republican administration could easily reverse any

action that Biden officials take. “If it worked it wouldn’t be permanent, and it may not work,” she added. The Biden administration could also expand the number of pharmacies that can dispense the medication.

3. Will people in states where abortion is illegal be able to access medication abortion?

For now, as a result of the Dobbs decision, states that ban abortions are likely to set limitations or bans on abortion pills as well.

But some advocates note that people in those states still may be able to obtain abortion pills and perform a “self-managed” abortion at home, which carries some additional risk if the woman has a complication (though complications are very rare). And abortion pills will still be accessible in states where abortion is allowed.

Before Roe was overturned, many states had already enacted restrictions on obtaining abortion pills, including prohibiting the pills from being sent through the mail and not allowing patients to be prescribed the medication via a telemedicine appointment.

But people found workarounds — a practice that’s likely to continue. These actions — such as traveling to neighboring states to secure the medication or having it sent to a friend’s house or a post office box in another location — could carry the risk of criminal charges, again depending on the specifics of state laws.

There is also concern among abortion rights activists that the states that outlaw abortion could go even further and criminalize traveling to another state to get an abortion, though this is an untested legal frontier and likely would be tied up in courts.

In his remarks, Biden took a hard-line stance on this question, saying that nothing in the court’s decision prevents a woman who lives in a state that bans abortion from traveling to a state that allows it. Women “must remain free to travel safely to another state to seek the care they need,” he said, adding that his administration “will defend that bedrock right.” He also noted that doctors in the states that continue to allow abortions can provide abortions to women from other jurisdictions.

4. How will this affect doctors’ ability to provide care?

In many states that ban abortions, obstetricians, gynecologists, emergency room doctors, and any type of physician that takes care of pregnant people will likely be targeted by law and could face criminal charges if they provide abortion services.

This will have a severe effect on reproductive health care, Dr. Nikki Zite, an OB-GYN in Knoxville, Tennessee, recently told KHN. Tennessee’s trigger law says abortions are permissible only to prevent a death or “to prevent serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily

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Steven Raga wins primary...

PAGE 1 Filipino American to be elected to serve in the state assembly.

There are 150 seats in the New York State Assembly that serve two-year terms without term limits.

“We’re going to the general election this November, we’ve won the primary. This is the first time that we will have AAPI representation in this district, the first time that a Filipino American will represent,” Raga said, speaking before supporters and volunteers as they waited for the election results.

A former chief of staff of Assemblymember Brian Barnwell of District 30 who announced last April that he won’t be running for reelection, Raga was thrust into the position when he was selected by a committee to determine who would replace Barnwell on the ballot.

“I am proud of the campaign that Steven and his team ran in about three short months, and we are witnessing a historic event happening now in New York, in Queens,” said Rep. Grace Meng, who thanked Raga’s campaign volunteers for their “hard work, and hitting the pavement every single day.”

Raga amassed a slew of endorsements from elected officials and community and civic leaders such as Congresswoman Meng, Congressman Gregory Meeks,

State Sen. John Liu and Assemblymembers Ron Kim and Catalina Cruz.

Assembly District 30 has undergone significant change due to redistricting. It currently covers the neighborhoods of Woodside, Maspeth, Elmhurst, along with parts of Jackson Heights. The district is one of the most diverse in the state and is majority AAPI (Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders).

Meng described Raga as the perfect candidate for the position, having served as the chief of staff for four years, has run nonprofit organizations, and worked tirelessly in the district during the pandemic.

Raga was optimistic that his team’s hard work was going to pay off. At a fundraising dinner held at the residence of community leader Loida Nicolas Lewis last week, he said he was looking forward to proudly wearing a Barong Tagalog on the floors of the New York State Assembly if he gets elected.

“I guarantee that with this support, with this level of excitement and enthusiasm and all of the volunteers coming every day, and crowds and events like this,” he said.

“In less than seven days, we will make history.”

On Tuesday night, Raga’s words came true and he made history, garnering more than 70 percent of the vote cast. (By Momar G. Visaya/AJPress) n

FRIENDSHIP. Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan and Vice President Sara Duterte do an elbow bump during a courtesy call at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza on Wednesday, June 29.

The two officials hailed the long-standing friendship and the fruitful result of the multifaceted cooperation between the Philippines and China and vowed to explore opportunities to expand cooperation in fields of mutual interest, including education.

PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.

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JULY 1-7, 2022 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

Duarte Mayor Pro Tem Tzeitel Paras-Caracci (1972-2022)

Tzeitel Paras-Caracci...

PAGE 1 longest serving Filipino American elected official in the U.S. “We have suffered a huge loss in our city and I am profoundly saddened as Tzeitel was an immensely capable member of our Council, as well as a great personal friend to me, as well as many others. Her smile and energy were infectious, and it was an honor to serve on Council with her,” said Mayor Margaret Finlay in a statement. “On behalf of the Council and City Staff, we express our condolences to her family and offer our full support in this time of need.”

Paras-Caracci also served on the National League of Cities Board of Directors and the League of California Cities Board. She was most recently the president of Asian Pacific American Municipal Officials (APAMO). She was also a Director for the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, a Governing Board Member of Foothill Transit, and a board member of the Duarte Community Coordinating Council.

Named after the eldest daughter from the Broadway musical “Fiddler on the Roof,” Paras-Caracci was born in Quezon City, Philippines on August 8, 1972.

Her family migrated to Los Angeles in 1975 and settled in Duarte in 1985. She graduated from Duarte High School in 1989 and went on to graduate from Woodbury University in Burbank, before returning home to the city that she loved. In 2003, she and her husband K.C. purchased a home in Duarte, shortly after being married in Duarte’s Royal Oaks Park, according to the obituary on the city’s site.

Paras-Caracci leaves behind a legacy of passion and commitment for the city she loved and led the way for fellow Filipino Americans serving in local public office.

Filipino American local elected officials from Southern California issued a joint statement honoring Paras-Caracci as a “great trailblazer and community leader.”

“She served as an inspiration to her city and the Filipino American community. Her enthusiastic desire to serve others was inspirational to all of us. We will miss her as our fellow kababayan, but her legacy will live on. Our deepest condolences to the Paras-Caracci family and the City of Duarte,” the group said, represented by current FilAm officials Artesia Mayor Melissa Ramoso, Lakewood Vice Mayor Ariel Pe, Bellflower Mayor Pro Tem Sonny Santa Ines, Sierra Madre Councilmember Rachelle Arizmendi, Cerritos Councilmember Frank Aurelio Yokoyama, West Covina Councilmember Letty Lopez-Viado, Carson Councilmember Arleen Bocatija Rojas, South Pasadena Councilmember Evelyn Zneimer and Cerritos Councilmember Lynda Johnson. Retired officials, such as Mark Pulido, Dr. Victor Manalo, Thomas Small and Marissa Castro-Salvati, also signed the statement.

Paras-Caracci is survived by her parents, Lino and Russel Paras, her husband, K.C. Caracci, stepdaughter Dr. Blake Caracci, and their son, Jack Russell, her brothers Bertrand and John Paul George and their wives.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking those that wish to honor Paras-Caracci to donate to the City of Hope at cityofhope.org/giving/ give-honor-or-memory. A memorial service is slated to be announced at a later date. n

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

Fil-Am-led nonprofit seeks to reduce...

PAGE 1 The RPF founder and executive director said they have recently partnered with local government officials of Richmond, Virginia to hold the city’s first-ever gun buyback initiative.

“Just recently, we have received a call from the mayor’s office in Richmond, Virginia which we were surprised because they said they want to hold their very first gun buyback in the city’s history and they really liked the fact that we work with law enforcement agencies and turn the guns into art,” Navalta said.

Aside from Richmond, Virginia, RPF’s programs have been adopted and implemented in Vallejo, Oakland, Solano, Alameda, Contra Costa and San Francisco counties in California, as well as in Augusta, Georgia.

Through these numerous gun buybacks, the foundation has succeeded in getting nearly 2,000 firearms out of circulation — many of which were assault weapons.

“In this gun buyback program, we have been partnering with different law enforcement agencies. We have gun buyback so people who no longer want will have a safe place to surrender their weapon and in exchange, we give them gift cards. What’s different about what we do is that after we get the gun, we have them dismantled, and then we put them in the hands of artists to turn them into sculptures (under the Art of Peace program),” she said, explaining how their programs work.

She said so far, about 30 pieces of art have been made from the firearms that they have accumulated through their gun buyback program and commissioned over 50 artists from different cities.

“Each of those exhibits (for Art of Peace) had been so powerful.

People crying, parents who have lost their children and have died from gun violence coming.

People who are even against what we stand for, coming and protested but were being drawn in by art that was created by it. I think that’s the difference between just talking about gun violence which becomes very political as opposed to creating art, to talk about it because if you just talk about gun violence, it is very political. But if you enter the conversation through art, it becomes very human. People are moved by what they see. People are touched and when you open the heart, then it starts to open the mind a little bit more,” she said.

The goal of the Art of Peace project, Navalta said, is “not only to forever transform these weapons into pieces of art but also to touch people so we could have an open and safe conversation about the impact of

Pati Navalta, a longtime journalist, began The Robby Poblete Foundation in 2017, which pushes for a gun buyback program and turns the metal into art. The foundation was created following the death of her son Robby, who was killed by gun violence in the Bay Area.

Photos courtesy of Pati Navalta

Pati Navalta (middle) with her children Robby and Julie.

gun violence.”

Navalta, a former journalist, said they are eyeing to partner with other cities like Los Angeles and Chicago to implement the RPF programs.

According to Navalta, the RPF is keeping at least one art piece from each city where the exhibit is being held. They also auction off some of the art pieces to make their programs sustainable. In San Francisco, the Warriors Community Foundation of the Golden State Warriors bought one of the art pieces as they have been very vocal in supporting anti-gun violence efforts. It was unveiled with the Warriors this past June.

“At the end of the exhibit, what we do is to auction each of the pieces and whatever money we make from that gun buyback goes to the next gun buyback. So this is a program that is meant to keep going. Whatever we get in terms of art goes straight back to the next gun buyback which produces the material for the next Art of Peace so it keeps going,” she said.

In the next couple of years, Navalta said they are considering holding a national exhibit to showcase all of the art pieces they have collected.

For the vocational program, on the other hand, Navalta said the RPF has given away more

than $40,000 in vocational scholarships to members of the reentry and formerly unhoused populations and has seen a 100% success rate in job placement.

“There is this father and son who entered our vocational program, who are both homeless.

We put them to an apprentice job and they now both have their own apartment and have goodpaying jobs” she recalled, noting that there are about 30 to 40 who have been placed in jobs under RPF’s vocational program.

“My son, at the time he was killed, was learning to weld so what we thought we would do was to create career pathways for people who are most vulnerable, like people who are just getting out of prison or ex-offenders, people who are homeless, people who are recovering drug addict.

We help them find careers in the building trade. We pay for their boots, and their books and their tools and union dues to learn the trade. And we follow them all the way to job placements,” she said.

Recently, RPF also got a Reentry Through the Arts grant from the state-run California Arts Council (CAC) worth $45,000.

The grant will be implemented starting September this year and to be completed within one year. CAC supports local arts infrastructure and programming statewide through grants,

programs and services.

“With that grant, we can work for the reentry population on our Art of Peace project. These are ex-offenders who are coming out. We are going to pair them with artists so they can create pieces of art with the dismantled gun together and if they like the work then we’re gonna put them in our vocational program so they could learn how to work with metal and then place them in jobs,” Navalta said.

With all these efforts being pushed forward, Navalta admitted there are still a lot of things that need to be done, particularly in terms of putting in place permanent long-term solutions to curb gun violence in the country.

“Unfortunately, you can drive to a lot of cities throughout the country and you can see signs for a gun buyback but at the same time, you also see signs for gun shows. So, for every gun we take off the street, there are hundreds put right back. Our work will never end. There’s no magic number that by the time, we take 10,000 guns off the street, the problem will be solved, it won’t be solved. There is a problem in America: guns. We are just a small nonprofit doing what little we can, but it would never be enough until there is true change in legislation,” she said.

Navalta is also urging U.S. lawmakers to come up with concrete solutions that would take all these unwarranted firearms off the streets.

“It is our hope that this time, there would be some kind of resolution here. And I think, we have to be realistic...For me, the biggest thing is banning assault weapons, changing the age limit of people who can buy guns and being more rigorous on background checks. I’m sure there will be some kind of compromises made but we can not continue going on without something,” she said.

Recently, President Joe Biden signed a gun control bill — the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — after it was passed in both the House and Senate.

Navalta also called on the Filipino American community to take an active part in this endeavor calling for more gun reform.

“Just to let the Filipino community know that there are Filipinos within the community who are trying to commit change in terms of gun violence...This is just a very personal story to me and...a lot of times in our community, we don’t want to talk about the tragedy that happened to us but if we could find a way to transform that tragedy into something that could help people, I think we should take that opportunity and that’s what I am doing with this,” she said. n

New proposal...

PAGE 1 most pressing needs, and prioritizes getting dollars back into the pockets of millions of Californians who are grappling with global inflation and rising prices of everything from gas to groceries,” Newsom, California Senate President Pro Temp Toni Atkins, and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon said in a joint statement.

Currently, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in California is $6.44, much higher than the national average of $4.93 per gallon.

Newsom, who is running for re-election in November, previously proposed sending money to registered vehicle owners while lawmakers argued it should be directed to those who file taxes.

Republicans in the state have argued for temporarily suspending the statewide gas tax, but the Democratic-led state legislature argues it would not be a significant enough benefit to drivers. n

NEW PRESIDENT. Employees wave national flags to welcome the arrival of the convoy of newly-sworn in President Ferdinand Romualdez “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. at the Malacañan Palace on Thursday, June 30. Marcos took his oath of office as the country’s 17th President before Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo at the National Museum of the Philippines in Manila.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

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Dateline PhiliPPines

5

SEC decision on Rappler seen to silence media, ‘chip away at democracy’

Generations of activists who fought the Marcos dictatorship and are now mounting a battle against another Marcos march at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City ahead of the inauguration of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as president.

Philstar.com / Xave Gregorio

In the face of another Marcos, youth take up torch from Martial Law activists

by Xave

GreGorio Philstar.com

MANILA — As the country falls to the leadership of another President Marcos, activists from the days of the elder Marcos’ brutal Martial Law passed the torch to the youth, counting on them to continue the battle they have long waged against the abuses and excesses of the 1970s to 1980s.

More than 31 million voters elected President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the highest seat in government in May, signaling an end to the chapter of post-People Power Philippines.

“Our generation who fought the Marcos dictatorship 50 years ago is dwindling. A lot of us are passing on. That’s why there needs to be continuity,” Martial Law survivor Bonifacio Ilagan told reporters in Filipino at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani, a memorial site in Quezon City for victims of Marcos Sr.’s martial rule.

Martial Law victims and survivors and youth representatives took oaths to guard against disinformation and the trampling of people’s rights ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s own oath-taking at Thursday noon. June 30.

Responding to the victims and survivors’ oath, the youth in attendance agreed to continue the campaign to narrate the atrocities that happened under Marcos Sr. from 1972 to 1986, when he had powers as a dictator.

“We deeply understand that what we’ll do is for our own generation and for our fellow Filipinos of future generations. We will never forget the violations of human rights and the plunder of the country’s coffers which was the brand of Marcos’ rule,” youth said in Filipino in their oath.

Disinformation battle Victims and survivors of Martial Law began their oath with a narration of facts that are now being put to under question, largely due to disinformation surrounding the Marcos family on social media.

“What is being called the ‘golden years’ of the administration of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. are actually the darkest years in the recent history of the Philippines,” they said. “Because we fought against the dictatorship, more than 70,000 Filipinos, including us, were jailed, tortured, and some of us even just disappeared and were never found.”

Ilagan said young people can lead the charge against disinformation online as they are experts in social media and communication.

“The youth have the ability and expertise here.

That’s why I think our movement is strong in this regard for our fight to continue. On the part of the old people, we want to offer them our insight, our experience and the lessons we learned in our lengthy battle,” he said.

Activists arrested But the passing of the torch to younger activists is off to a bad start, with three youth leaders reportedly getting arrested after they attempted to hang a banner on a footbridge near the Commission on Human Rights along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

Nagkaisa Labor Coalition reported shortly after the program at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani closed that Akbayan Youth’s RJ Naguit and Sentro Youth’s Benjamin Alvero and Jane Labongray were nabbed by police who supposedly “charged” at them and “violently arrested and dragged” the three to police vehicles.

“Throughout the incident the officers refused to explain why the arrest was being made and were very rough with the detained,” Nagkaisa said.

“This is unacceptable in a democratic society.

We condemn this reprehensible act. It seems this new government is afraid of its own shadow on the eve of its first day of governance.”

Akbayan said in an update later in the day that the three youth leaders have been released without any charges after a dialogue with police. n

MANILA — The Securities and Exchange Commission’s decision to implement a 2018 decision to cancel news site Rappler’s incorporation papers shows how the law has been “weaponized” in the Philippines, journalists’ organizations and members of the political opposition said on Wednesday, June 29.

The SEC and an administration senator meanwhile maintained that revoking Rappler’s business registration was a regulatory matter and does not touch on press freedom.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, one of the few members of the opposition left in Congress said “[s]ilencing important media voices like Rappler, and ABSCBN before it, not only affects the flow of information for the day” but also “chip away at our democracy.”

Lawyer Barry Gutierrez, spokesperson of Vice President Leni Robredo, said the SEC decision “comes as no surprise”, citing the Duterte administration’s “spotty track record in upholding freedom of the press and its clear hostility toward Rappler in particular.”

Robredo, against whom President Rodrigo Duterte has also shown hostility, steps down from office on June 30.

Duterte has called out Rappler in his speeches and addresses,

accusing the website of being owned by foreigners and of being funded by the US Central Intelligence Agency. The issue of alleged foreign ownership led to Rappler’s troubles at the SEC. Journalists warn of chilling effect Alternative media network Altermidya said the move showed how the government has used “laws, rules, and regulations to strike down the media and the administration’s perceived critics.”

Alternative news site Bulatlat, whose website the government has blocked under the AntiTerrorism Act, said the Rappler shutdown is among the incidents that “create a chilling effect and are part of the eliberate efforts to discredit and stifle the press.”

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said media shutdowns — of broadcaster ABS-CBN and of Rappler — form part of Duterte’s legacy and noted that the SEC decision comes shortly after National Telecommunications Commission orders to block websites over alleged links to communist rebels and to regulate broadcast blocktime agreements on radio and TV. NUJP’s ABS-CBN chapter said in a message of solidarity that the move is “part of a policy of the outgoing administration to attack, muzzle and de-platform

voices that question the official narrative.”

It added that NTC’s move to require approval for blocktime arrangements has no legal basis and “[contradicts] NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba’s own statement before the House of Representatives that it has no power to regulate content and blocktime arrangements.”

Human Rights Watch meanwhile said that the government is retaliating against Rappler for its reporting on alleged rights abuses in the “war on drugs” and on other issues, “This is an effort to shut up Nobel laureate Maria Ressa, and shut down Rappler, by hook or by crook. So it’s entirely predictable that the SEC would bend over backwards to interpret rules in a way that would enable them to take Rappler down while spuriously claiming that this is a normal regulatory action,” HRW Deputy Asia Director Phil Robertson said in a statement Wednesday, June 29.

‘Respect SEC order’ Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., chair of the Senate public information and mass media committee and chair of the resurgent Lakas-CMD party, said that the government decision on Rappler is unrelated to press

u PAGE 8

Foreigners in PH warned against joining protest rallies THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has cautioned foreigners in the country against taking part in rallies and political demonstrations as President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. formally assumes office.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente issued the warning on Thursday. June 30, as groups critical of the new administration held rallies in Plaza Miranda, while Marcos supporters were at Liwasang

Bonifacio.

“Foreigners should steer clear from political engagements so as to avoid being charged with violating immigration laws here in the country,” said Morente.

Morente cited the cases of Sister Patricia Fox, an Australian missionary, and Dutch lay missionary Otto Rudolf De Vries, who were both deported for their alleged involvement in political rallies during their stay in the Philippines.

The BI did not only cancel the visas of Fox and De Vries but also blacklisted them.

“Foreigners who were caught joining political demonstrations in the past have shown disrespect to our country’s authorities,” added Morente.

“Foreigners are prohibited from engaging in partisan political activities. Those who will be caught will be deported and blacklisted,” he warned.

(ManilaTimes.net) n

6

JULY 1-7, 2022 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

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OpiniOn

Stressed out

Features

JOB-related stress is common worldwide, and many countries have reported elevated stress levels among workers during the COVID pandemic. There is additional cause for worry in the Philippines, however, as an international survey showed that in Southeast Asia, Filipinos are the most stressed at work.

The 2022 State of the Global Workplace Report prepared by analytics firm Gallup showed stress among workers worldwide hitting another record high last year compared to the start of the pandemic in 2021. While worry, sadness and anger among workers declined last year from their all-time high in 2020, the global levels remained higher than before the pandemic.

Stress among Filipino workers is down by three points, but the 50 percent in the 2022 survey is higher than the global average, and the highest within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Thailand followed the Philippines with 41 percent of workers reporting stress. The figure was 38 percent in Cambodia, 37 percent in Myanmar, 35 in Vietnam, 34 in Singapore, 32 in Laos, 27 in Malaysia and 20 percent in Indonesia.

The Gallup Work Poll was conducted from 2021 to early 2022. Reacting to the report, organized labor said low wages and contractual work were the top causes of stress among Filipino workers. The Federation of Free Workers said the stress builds up as the sixmonth deadline for automatic regularization approaches.

While pandemic restrictions have been relaxed in the Philippines, workers still face the risk of catching COVID and infecting other members of the household. Workers must also contend anew with pre-pandemic causes of stress, such as long hours stuck in traffic. The continuing fuel price surge, which is keeping many public utility vehicles off the streets, has also made commuting a nightmare.

Worldwide, healthcare workers have been among the most stressed in the past two years.

Decades before the pandemic, the World Health Organization was already urging governments, educators and other professionals as well as civic groups to implement measures to prevent mental, neurological and psychosocial disorders among HCWs. The Philippines has passed Republic Act 11036, the Mental Health Act, with the implementing rules and regulations released in January 2019. The 2022 Global Workplace Report highlights the importance of fully implementing the law. Reducing stress in the workplace enhances productivity and is critical in post-pandemic economic recovery. (Philstar. com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Facts and fantasies on Marcos’ estate tax

With Due Respect Artemio V. PAngAnibAn INCOMING Commissioner Lilia Guillermo of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) was put on the spot by TV journalists with hard questions on what she intended to do with the much-ballyhooed tax liability of the estate of former president Ferdinand E. Marcos that has allegedly ballooned to over P203 billion from the P23 billion originally assessed by the BIR. AT THE START, THE LADY ANSWERED PRUDENTLY that she needed to see the “correct data” first before giving a definitive commitment. When pressed further on what she would tell Presidentelect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos II (BBM), given that the Supreme Court decision on the matter had become final and executory, she replied she would respectfully ask him, “P’wede ba maging role

model kayo?” (Can you be a role model?) This reply was bandied by the broadsheets on June 23 and went viral on social media.

Since then, a lot of facts and fantasies have been written and aired about the matter.

But what are the “correct data” that are known, or publicly knowable, by accessing the e-library of the Supreme Court and reading the relevant Court of Appeals (CA) decision? Here are some undisputed facts therefrom: On Sept. 29, 1989, former president Marcos died in Honolulu, Hawaii, US. On June 27, 1990, the BIR created a “Special Tax Audit Team … to conduct investigations … of the tax liabilities … of the late president, as well as that of his family, associates and ‘cronies.’”

The investigation disclosed that the Marcoses failed to file a written notice of his death, an estate tax return (ETR), and income tax returns (ITRs) for 1982-1986 “all in violation of

Commonsense

mArichu VillAnueVA TAKING the bull by the horn idiomatically speaking could best describe how to address the labyrinthine problems besetting Philippine agriculture. Cattle raising, by the way, is a subsector of the livestock industry in our country’s agriculture. Levity aside, incoming Presidentelect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (PBBM) has obviously already braced self when he assumes in concurrent capacity as the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) effective this June 30.

It is on the same day that President Rodrigo Duterte steps down from office to give way to his duly elected successor at Malacañang Palace. In his press conference last week, PBBM announced he would fill in the Agriculture portfolio initially from day one of his administration.

PBBM, however, did not fix a timetable for how long he will stay on as President-cumAgriculture Secretary.

Before his administration could even begin, however,

the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC).” Thus, the BIR “caused the preparation and filing” of the ETR, the ITR “of the spouses Marcos for the years 1985 to 1986,” and the ITR of BBM for 1982-1985.

On July 26, 1991, the BIR issued a deficiency estate tax assessment of over P23 billion; deficiency income tax assessments against the spouses Marcos of P149,000 and P184,000 for the years 1985 and 1986 respectively; and deficiency income tax assessment against BBM of P258.70, P9,386.40, P4,388.30, and P6,376.60 for 1982-1985.

Copies of these assessments were sent to their “last known addresses” in San Juan City in 1991; thereafter in 1992, at the office of BBM at the House of Representatives; and finally, a copy to the then lawyer of the estate, the late Dean Antonio Coronel, “inviting Mrs. [Imelda] Marcos to a conference … but to no avail.”

The deficiency tax assessments were not administratively protested

within 30 days from their service as provided by the NIRC. On various dates in 1993, the BIR issued several notices of levy on the real estate properties of the Marcoses to satisfy the estate and income tax assessments. Copies of these notices were furnished Mrs. Marcos, BBM, and their “counsel of record … De Borja, Medialdea, Ata, Bello, Guevarra, and Serapio Law Office.”

A public auction of some levied properties “took place on July 5, 1993. There being no bidder, the lots were declared forfeited in favor of the government.”

Petitioner BBM filed suit in the CA on June 25, 1993, contesting the above BIR actions. Failing to obtain relief in the CA, BBM, as administrator of his father’s estate, and Mrs. Marcos elevated the suit to the Supreme Court.

IN MARCOS II V. COURT OF APPEALS (June 5, 1997), the highest court dismissed the appeal holding thus: “Apart

from failing to file the required [ETR] within the time required … petitioner and the other heirs never questioned the assessments served upon them, allowing the same to lapse into finality, and prompting the BIR to collect the said taxes by levying upon the properties left by President Marcos … [A] ssessments [of the BIR] are presumed correct and made in good faith. The taxpayer has the duty of proving otherwise … The course of action taken by petitioner reflects his disregard or even repugnance of the established institutions for governance in the scheme of a well-ordered society.”

This decision, rendered 25 years ago by the Court’s Second Division, was penned

by Justice Justo P. Torres Jr. and concurred in unanimously

by Justices Florenz D. Regalado (Division chair), Flerida Ruth P. Romero, Reynato S. Puno, and Vicente V. Mendoza.

Significantly, the petitioner was named “Ferdinand R. Marcos II”—not Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.—in the title of the

decision and, consistently, in its textual content.

FROM THESE FACTS, THESE QUESTIONS MAY BE ASKED: How much has the BIR collected from the levy and auction sale of the Marcos properties? How much remains to be collected? How was the P23 billion computed? How did it balloon to P203 billion?

Apart from those already levied and sold at public auction, what other properties does the Marcos estate have to satisfy the original assessment and balloon? What actions, if any, will the BIR undertake to collect these? Is it open to a compromise on the balloon and on the original assessment?

Let’s await BIR’s answers.

(Inquirer.net) *** 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.

*** Comments to chiefjusticepanganiban@ hotmail.com

President-cum-Agri chief executive

rabid critics already questioned via social media PBBM’s motives in taking over the DA post. In particular, fears were foisted on how the P75billion coco levy fund would be handled by the incoming President-cum-Agriculture Secretary. They based their suspicions to the fact that the Agriculture Secretary sits as ex officio chairman of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), an agency attached to the DA. Had they read first Republic Act (RA) 115421, or the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund (CFITF) Act signed into law by President Duterte in February 2019, they would find their suspicions were unfounded. For sure, PBBM would know by now from his eldest sister—Senator Imee Marcos, one of the coauthors of RA 115421. This law mandated an inter-agency body to oversee the coco levy trust funds generated from taxes collected from coconut farmers decades ago.

Section 10 of this law created the Trust Fund Management Committee composed of the Department of Finance (DOF); the Department of Budget and Management (DBM); and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

It was tasked in setting the investment strategy of the CFITF. Section 11 of the same law designated the DOF as the trust fund manager. Both the DA and the PCA were not even included.

This law mandated that the use of the trust fund will be based on a coconut industry development plan (CFIDP) prepared by the PCA in consultation with coconut farmers and their organizations, industry associations, civil society groups and government agencies. It was only last June 9 when President Duterte issued Executive Order (EO) 172 to implement the CFIDP. Thus, these previously sequestered coco levy funds would follow the RA 11542 timetable mandating the release of these trust funds in tranches from the Treasury Bureau: P10 billion in the first year; P10 billion in the second year; P15 billion in the third year; P15 billion in the fourth year; and P25 billion in the fifth year. The trust fund will be maintained for 50 years.

Incidentally, the PCA was previously among the attached agencies that were carved out of the DA by the late president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino

III, or PNoy for short. The PCA, along with National Food Authority (NFA); the National Irrigation Authority (NIA); the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) were all transferred to the new office created for PNoy’s political ally—Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan—in May 2014. Pangilinan, who was then at the end of his second term at the Senate, was appointed as Presidential Adviser on Food Security and Agriculture Modernization (PAFSAM).

When President Duterte took over the helm of government in June 2016, all these agencies, except FTI, were restored one after the other back to the DA. Outgoing DA Secretary William Dar disclosed during our Kapihan sa Manila Bay virtual news forum last Wednesday that the NIA was transferred back to the DA just two months ago.

President Duterte appointed Dar to his Cabinet in August 2019. Taking over the helm of the DA in the second half of the Duterte administration, Dar groused about a lot of “political accommodations” during the last three years he had to deal within the DA bureaucracy he inherited. Dar further grumbled the DA has

become the punching bag over the controversial Rice Tariffication Law (RTL).

Offhand, Dar admitted some sums of the annual P10 billion of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) were diverted as “ayuda” pay out to farmers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The RTL mandated that the annual tariff revenues from rice imports in excess of P10 billion shall be distributed as cash assistance to small rice farmers tilling two hectares of land and below until 2024.

Dar reminded lawmakers that RA 11598, or the RTL, was signed into law on Feb.14, 2019 replacing the rice import quantitative restrictions with tariffs in a six-year period. The same law provided for a congressional review of the RTL by the middle of its implementing period.

The timing of this review, he noted, falls in the laps of the incoming 19th Congress.

Meanwhile, Dar called out the attention of local government units (LGUs), which by operations of the Local Government Code among other things devolved as many as 17,000 DA personnel as agricultural extension officers down to the

LGUs. Moreover, Dar pointed out, it also authorized LGUs to procure their own rice buffer stock.

Starting this year, he noted, the LGUs will have so much funds in their hands with the implementation of the 2018 “Mandanas ruling” of the Supreme Court (SC) on the internal revenue allotments (IRA). The IRAs of the LGUs will increase by as much as P959 billion this year and much more when fully implemented by 2024.

“It’s common sense for LGUs lacking rice to do their own buffer stocking and invest some of their IRAs for 60-day buffer stock,” Dar pointed out.

Having served for three terms as Ilocos Norte Governor and once as Senator, common sense is the least of worries for PBBM. The Presidentcum-Agriculture Secretary chief executive could whip the LGUs to the directions he wants to lead the country within the next six years of his administration. (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.

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

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Young Fil-Am lawyer makes history, wins Miss Texas title

by Gus

Mercado Contributor

ALL Filipino Americans in the State of Texas, especially in the DFW Metroplex, brimmed with pride when its very own Averie Danielle Bishop won the Miss Texas crown on Saturday, June 25. From North Texas to the Miss America stage in December this year, Averie will make history as the first AsianAmerican woman ever to win the Miss Texas title and represent the state in the national pageant.

Averie put herself through college, earning double degrees from the prestigious Southern Methodist University (Bachelor ‘sdegree with double major in Political Science and Human Rights), and a JD law degree with a 3.9 GPA. She is a first-generation Filipino-American, born to a Filipino immigrant mother, Marevi Sabalilang, and a fourth generation Texan, Danny Bishop. Her younger brother Teddy is in the U.S. Army.

Beneath all the successes and encomiums that have come her way, she has humanitarian blood running in her veins. She and her mom built Tulong Foundation – providing education, livelihood and scholarships to poor children in their native village in Banga, South Cotabato, Philippines. Their foundation has supported 45 poor students, including 7 full scholars, in different colleges in their province. With funding from SMU and some friends, she worked to build potable water systems for the community and their elementary schools.

Her impressive credentials also include serving as legal intern for the president and vice president of SMU, addressing higher education policy in Third World countries, as a Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation Fellow, and as a Texas Women’s Museum Woman of the Year awardee.

Averie was appointed by the Mayor of Dallas as council member of their new

Averie and mom Marevi have worked to improve conditions in their native village of Banga, South Cotabato, Philippines through their Tulong Foundation. Photo above shows Averie at a water pump in their small village.

Averie Danielle Bishop made history as she won the Miss Texas crown on June 25, becoming the first Asian American woman to win the title and represent the state in the Miss America pageant in Connecticut in December.

Photos courtesy of Mel Krater

Anti-Hate and Discrimination Advisory Council. In an impromptu interview, she said serving the community is her way of paying back, “growing up in very challenging circumstances with parents who sacrificed so much for me to become the force of nature that I am today.”

The Texas beauty spent a sometimes painful childhood in Prosper where she was confronted by bullies and hateful language.

“From the way I spoke, the shape of my eyes, my flat nose, my upbringing, the financial situation that I grew up in, sometimes the way my Mom spoke,” she recalled. “Some people say rude things because they just don’t understand what they don’t know. My mission as Miss Texas and as a person is to try to teach everyone in our state that a Texan

An excellent singer and dancer, Averie’s stirring rendition of a song from Les Miserables resulted in her winning the Most Talented award in the prelims.

Averie Bishop was appointed by the Mayor of Dallas to the city’s new Anti-Hate and Discrimination Advisory Council.

can look like me and feel equal and welcome.”

When she was Miss Dallas, before she became Miss Carrollton and went on to win as Miss Texas, many in the community saw greatness in this articulate but unassuming and down-to-earth young Filipina. At the last PACC Texas Awards Night, Consul Ethel Mercado and this author honored her with the Founders’ Award as “Most Outstanding Young Leader in Texas.”

In addition to her amazing intellect and stunning beauty, she is also an excellent singer and dancer. Her stirring song from “Les Miserables” won her the Most Talented award in the preliminary round. Explaining her wardrobe, she said, “I know wearing this costume is not typical wardrobe at a pageant. But my choice was a reflection of how far I’ve come in life. I am proud to have worn hand-me-downs, thrifted clothing, and torn up shoes as a child. To me, this costume was not a costume. It is a celebration of the rags I have shed, thanks to the village and the people who have embraced me.”

Averie is looking forward to her very hectic duties as Miss Texas while preparing for the Miss America pageant in Connecticut in December. Watch out, Miss America crown.

Averie is on her way to claim you!

Watch this short clip of her powerful answer to one of the judges’ questions, “Five or ten years from now, what legacy would you hope people will remember you by?, at https://www.facebook.com/allaboutmel/ videos/587018376135304. *** Gus Mercado is a well-known civic and business leader from Dallas, Texas. He founded the Filipino Leaders Coalition of North Texas which organizes and sponsors the annual joint celebration of Philippine Independence Day in the region. He is a recipient of the Presidential BANAAG award for outstanding business leadership and exemplary stewardship of Filipinos in the U.S. He is married to Philippine Consul in Dallas, Hon. Ethel R. Mercado.

SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 1-7, 2022

7

5 things to know now...

PAGE 5 function of the pregnant woman.”

“But exactly how much risk there needs to be is not clear,” Zite said. “Different physicians practicing at different institutions will have different interpretations of that law.”

There are also gray areas the law doesn’t address. In some very early pregnancies, the fertilized egg lodges outside the uterus — most commonly in a fallopian tube — a potentially life-threatening situation called an ectopic pregnancy. If that type of pregnancy proceeds, the woman can bleed to death.

Patients who have a miscarriage also sometimes need to take abortion medication or have dilation and curettage surgery — known as a D&C — to remove tissue that lingers inside the uterus.

“The challenge is that the treatment for an abortion and the treatment for a miscarriage are exactly the same,” Dr. Sarah Prager recently told KHN. Prager is a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Washington in Seattle and an expert on early pregnancy loss.

Doctors may hesitate to perform D&Cs to treat miscarriages for fear someone will accuse them of performing a covert abortion.

“Physicians shouldn’t be fearful for being criminalized for taking care of patients,” said Zite. “I think there’s going to be a myriad of unintended consequences. I think that people will lose their lives. I also think there will be people in horrible situations, like those that strongly desire to be pregnant but have a complication of the pregnancy, that will not be able to make decisions on how that pregnancy ends, and that will be a different kind of devastation.”

5. Could this ruling affect more than just abortion?

Absolutely, according to reproductive health experts. Depending on what is determined to be an “abortion,” states could end up criminalizing — on purpose or by accident — in vitro fertilization and certain forms of birth control, and limiting the training and availability of doctors and other health care providers.

At stake is what is determined to be an abortion. Medically, abortion is the early termination of a pregnancy, by natural means — spontaneous abortion, or miscarriage — or by human intervention with medication or an invasive procedure. But when does a pregnancy begin? Doctors say pregnancy begins when a fertilized egg implants in a woman’s uterus. But many anti-abortion activists say it begins when a sperm and egg unite to form a zygote, which can happen several days earlier. That earlier time frame would mean that anything that interferes with the implantation of that fertilized egg, such as an IUD (intrauterine device), a common form of birth control, could be defined as an abortion. Similarly, in vitro fertilization, which involves removing a woman’s eggs, fertilizing them, and then implanting them back into the woman, could also be construed to involve abortion unless every fertilized egg was implanted.

An opinion by Justice Clarence Thomas that concurred with the decision to overturn Roe raised other questions. He suggested that the court could use the same arguments in the Dobbs case to overturn other key rulings, including those that established the rights to birth control and same-sex marriage. It was not clear that the other justices agreed, and Justice Alito, who wrote the main opinion, said he did not believe the abortion decision affected other issues.

The American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians & Gynecologists applauded the decision, terming it “momentous.” But others worry that the ruling could have a negative impact on women’s access to care in places that have or enact strict abortion laws. Specifically, doctors and other health professionals may not want to train or practice in areas where they could be prosecuted for delivering medical care.

And this is not just theoretical. In Texas, where abortion after six weeks’ gestation has been effectively banned since September, according to a report in The New England Journal of Medicine, the law “has taken a toll on clinicians’ mental health; some physicians report feeling like ‘worse doctors,’ and some are leaving the state. As a result, clinicians worry that pregnant Texans are being left without options for care and without doctors capable of providing it.” n KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

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JULY 1-7, 2022 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

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SEC decision on Rappler... Most Filipinos expect Marcos to perform well PAGE 5 freedom.

“We should respect the order of the SEC...It is within the statutory mandate of SEC to impose sanctions for violation of laws such as PD 1018 (Limiting the Ownership and Management of Mass Media to Citizens of the Philippines), Anti-Dummy Act, and the Foreign Investments Act,” he said in a statement on his official Facebook page.

“The merits of the Decision are based on the violation of Rappler, Inc. and Rappler Holdings Corporation as corporate entities, and not in any way based on its nature as part of the press,” he added.

In a statement, SEC said the latest order against the company “merely puts in effect its earlier decision and those of the Court

of Appeals.”

“The contentions raised

by Rappler and RHC have been squarely and adequately addressed by the SEC and the [Court of Appeals] in their respective decisions, resolutions and orders, including the latest issuance from the Commission,” it said.

In a statement, Rappler said that they will appeal the decision of the SEC, noting that the proceedings it held were “highly irregular.”

Ressa of Rappler told reporters that it will be “business as usual” for the news organization, and said they “can only hope for the best” under the administration of Duterte’s successor Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who will take his oath of office on June 30. (A.Y. Yang/Philstar.com) n

LEGAL SERVICES FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9011090

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9013887

Good Samaritan Home Health Care, Inc. located at 3404 E. Plaza Blvd., Unit K, National City, CA 91950.

Registrant: Good Samaritan Home Health Care, Inc., 3404 E. Plaza Blvd., Unit K, National City, CA 91950.

This business is conducted

by Corporation.

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

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 06/7/2022.

AJ 972 06/24, 07/01, 07/08, and 07/15/2022. AJSD 972

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9012639

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9013641

DMG Packings located at 12665 Camino Mira del Mar #212, San Diego, CA 92130.

THE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME REFERRED TO ABOVE WAS FILED IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY ON: 10/25/2021, and assigned File no. 2021-9024040 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IS BEING ABANDONED BY: Marcos Lencioni, 12665 Camino Mira del Mar #212, San Diego, CA 92130.

Signature: Marcos Lencioni.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 06/02/2022.

AJ 969 06/10, 06/17, 06/24, and 07/01/2022.

AJSD#969

Youadmedia located at 707 10th Ave., Apt 435, San DIego, CA 92101.

Registrant: a. Anastasiia Santos, 707 10th Ave., Apt 435, San DIego, CA 92101. b. Ryan Santos, 707 10th Ave., Apt 435, San DIego, CA 92101 This business is conducted

by Married Couple.

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

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 06/14/2022.

AJ 973 06/24, 07/01, 07/08, and 07/15/2022.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9011921

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9012417

AJSD#970

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9012934

San Diego Toastmasters 7 located at 4649 Hawley Blvd., San Diego, CA 92116.

Registrant: Toastmasters International, 9127 S. Jamaica Street, Suite 400, Englewood, CO 80112.

This business is conducted

by Corporation.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 08/18/2016.

Signature: Lynette Benitez.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 06/06/2022.

AJ 971 06/10, 06/17, 06/24, and 07/01/2022. AJSD#971

Cruz ManilaTimes.net

A MAJORITY of Filipinos expect President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to perform well or very well in his first 100 days in office, the Pahayag Second Quarter survey of PUBLiCUS showed.

It said that 44 percent expect him to perform “very well,” and 24 percent said that they expect him to perform “well.”

“Our survey suggests that roughly two out of three Filipinos expect President Bongbong Marcos to perform well during the first 100 days of his presidency. President Marcos Jr. will have to hit the ground running from Day 1 to live up to these high expectations,” PUBLiCUS

Executive Director Aureli Sinsuat said.

Meanwhile, 9 percent of the respondents expect Marcos to perform “very poorly,” 5 percent expect him to perform “poorly,” 11 percent said they expect him to perform “neither poorly nor well,” and 7 percent said they were unsure.

In the survey held from June 16 to 22, 2022 among 1,500 registered Filipino voters randomly sampled by U.S.-based panel marketplace PureSpectrum, respondents were also asked to select the three most important issues they believe the incoming administration should focus on. These are the economy (73

LEGAL SERVICES

a. NLE, LMFT located at 1855 First Avenue, Suite 103, San Diego, CA 92101. b. N. LE, LMFT located at 1855 First Avenue, Suite 103, San Diego, CA 92101.

Registrant: Nancy Le, 46914 Kramer Street.

This business is conducted

by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 01/03/2022.

Signature: Nancy Le, LMFT. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 05/12/2022.

AJ 968 06/10, 06/17, 06/24, and 07/01/22.

AJSD#968

DMG Packings located at 12665 Camino Mira del Mar #212, San Diego, CA 92130.

Registrant: DMG Packings LLC, 12665 Camino Mira del Mar #212, San Diego, CA 92130.

This business is conducted

by Limited Liability Company.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 10/25/2021.

Signature: Marcos Lencioni.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 05/24/2022.

AJ 970 06/10, 06/17, 06/24, and 07/01/2022.

by Kaithreen

AJSD#973

a. Rant Clothing Company located at 6477 Hayward Way, San Diego, CA 92189. b. Rant w/ Daph& Haze located at 6477 Hayward Way, San Diego, CA 92189.

Registrant: Hazelyn D. Bugay, 6477 Hayward Way, San Diego, CA 92189.

This business is conducted

by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 05/01/2022.

Signature: Hazelyn D. Bugay.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 05/31/2022.

AJ 974 06/24, 07/01, 07/08, and 07/15/2022. AJSD#974

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9014094 CL Cleaning Professional located at 4762 Solola Ave #105, San Diego, CA 92115.

Registrant: Carmen Lopez, 4762 Solola Ave #105, San Diego, CA 92115.

This business is conducted by Individual.

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

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 06/21/2022.

AJ 975 06/24, 07/01, 07/08, and 07/15/2022.

AJSD 975

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9013286

Energy Electrical Services located at 416 Plaza Toluca, Chula Vista, CA 91914.

Registrant: Jesse Hernandez, 416 Plaza Toluca, Chula Vista, CA 91914.

This business is conducted

by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 03/01/2007.

Signature: Jesse Hernandez.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 06/10/2022.

AJ 977 06/24, 07/01, 07/08, and 07/15/2022. AJSD#977

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9014091

Rangel Thetahealing located at 557 Oxford St., Unit #5, Chula Vista, CA 91911.

Registrant: Victoria Rangel, 557 Oxford St., Unit #5, Chula Vista, CA 91911.

This business is conducted

by Individual.

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

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 06/21/2022.

AJ 978 06/24, 07/01, 07/08, and 07/15/2022. AJSD#978

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9013886

Histology Market located at 2336 Ridgeview Dr., San Diego, CA 92105.

Registrant: Kenye Noda, 2336 Ridgeview Dr., San Diego, CA 92105.

This business is conducted by Individual.

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

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 06/17/2022.

AJ 979 07/01, 07/08, 07/15, and 07/22/2022.

AJSD#979

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9014205 OG Flooring located at 442 D St., Chula Vista, CA 91910.

Registrant: Omar R Gutierrez Garcia, 442 D St., Chula Vista, CA 91910.

This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 05/06/2022.

Signature: Omar R Gutierrez Garcia.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 06/22/2022.

AJ 980 07/01, 07/08, 07/15, and 07/22/2022.

AJSD 980

CASE NUMBER: 37-2022-00023894-CU-PT-CTL

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner David Bravo filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. David Bravo to Bryan David Bravo.

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

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 08/04/2022 Time: 8:30 AM Dept. 61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. 61 San Diego, CA 92101 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county.

Asian Journal: JUN. 21, 2022 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Michael T. Smyth Judge of the Superior Court AJ 976 06/24, 07/01, 07/08, and 07/15/2022 ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120) NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

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

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

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

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

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

AJSD#976

percent), job generation (53 percent) and education reform (32 percent).

Sinsuat said that although these could not be completely addressed over the course of 100 days, the public expects these issues to be prioritized by the incoming president and his team during their first few months in office.

He also noted that the continuation of landmark programs of the outgoing administration of President Rodrigo Duterte earned the majority support from respondents.

These were the Build, Build, Build (79 percent), war on illegal drugs (73 percent), independent foreign policy (68 percent), BARMM transition (64 percent), and the National

Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) (56 percent).

Sinsuat said that Duterte’s popularity could have made a significant effect on respondents’ support for the continuation of his administration’s programs.

“While the level of policy continuity between the outgoing and incoming administrations remains to be seen, it is reasonable to believe that public opinion on the Marcos Jr. administration will be influenced, at least in part, by its ability to continue and improve upon at least some of the Duterte administration’s more popular flagship programs,” Sinsuat said.

Results of the survey have a ±3 percent margin of error. n

LEGAL SERVICES FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9014687

Clear Edge Pools located at 934 Dale Court, San Maros, CA 92069.

Registrant: a. Nicholas Escalona, 934 Dale Court, San Maros, CA 92069. b.

Kymberlee Escalona, 934 Dale Court, San Maros, CA 92069.

This business is conducted

by Married Couple.

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

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 06/28/2022.

AJ 981 07/01, 07/08, and 07/15, and 07/22/2022. AJSD 981

EMPLOYMENT

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9014354 Didi’s 1040 & More located at 10717 Camino Ruiz, Suite 101, San Diego, CA 92126.

Registrant: Madonna E. Arceo, 11476 Belshire Lane, San Diego, CA 92126.

This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 06/23/2022.

Signature: Madonna E. Arceo.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 06/23/2022.

AJ 982 07/01, 07/08, 07/15, and 07/22/2022.

AJSD 982

SAN DIEGO

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SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 1-7, 2022

JOURNAL

9

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J U LY 1 , 2 0 22

T H E ‘ N E X T B I G T H I N G’ I S H E R E

PogiBoy’s Tocino Burger lands on the cover of Food & Wine

by MoMar

G. Visaya / AJPress

A

LL hail the Tocino Burger!

Tom Cunanan and Paolo Dungca, the two chefs of PogiBoy who are behind this innovation of a classic burger are still on a high as their burger landed on the cover of Food & Wine Magazine’s July 2022 issue.

Launched in last week’s annual Food and Wine Classic in Aspen, the Innovators Issue shines the spotlight on industry leaders “who are doing the most good to change the way we eat and highlighting people and companies who are making hospitality and packaged goods smarter, more sustainable, more inclusive, and more delicious for all.”

The chefs have just returned from Colorado and spent last weekend celebrating with friends and family in their DC headquarters at The Block.

“It feels like an out-of-body experience to be part of the Food and Wine family now.

It’s an honor to be part of this big team of chefs that are the movers and shakers of our community and then being us Filipinos, our cuisine being part of that community,” Cunanan told the Asian Journal.

“We’re not just a moment right now, we’re a movement,” he added, a nod to the song ‘My Shot’ from the musical Hamilton.

Cunanan is happy to see Filipino food rise and to see other people be proud of their continued success is just a bonus.

“I’m really proud that this is all happening so quickly for us, you know, we’ve only been open for a year and a half and already we’re getting a lot of love from the community,” he said, recalling their young, scrappy, and hungry days.

For Chef Paolo Dungca, it was a dream come true.

“Aspen was a blast, to be honest, that was such a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity for us to be named on the cover,” he said. “We’ve never really seen Filipino food in a prestigious magazine like that.”

Food & Wine is an American magazine founded in 1978 and is known for introducing its readers to new dishes and ingredients. One of the nation’s premier culinary events, the annual Food and Wine Classic in Aspen gathers celebrity chefs, professional winemakers, and culinary experts.

Innovators The Tocino Burger is a mix of tocino and longganisa, combining the sweet elements of the tocino and the garlic, umami, and texture from the longganisa.

“It’s Filipino breakfast nostalgia,” quipped Dungca.

“We wanted to bring nostalgia every time we want to pick up Filipino food because now it’s very foreign for all of us here in DC and we just wanted to bring that comfort every time we present something to the table.”

For the chefs, it was always about pushing the boundaries.

“Every time we talk about creating, we always want to think outside the box,” he said.

Last May, Chef Harold Villarosa visited PogiBoy and the chefs wanted to do something fun and catchy.

“I just wanted to come out strong with something new and

show on ABS-CBN called Hiraya Manawari, which Dungca used to watch as a kid.

“I used to watch that show and I always felt inspired by it. Watching that show made me believe that everything is possible,” he shared. “I just think it resonated with my passion to be able to open up a place where I can cook my style of Filipino food.”

In a sense, Hiraya is the symbolic fruit of Dungca’s dreams and aspirations and he Chefs Paolo Dungca and Tom Cunanan with The Block partner Arturo Mei and Dr. Randy Lizardo is not stopping anytime soon enjoy the sights and sounds of Aspen at the 2022 Food & Wine Classic. as he is hoping that Hiraya gets Photos courtesy of Paolo Dungca noticed as well.

“I’d be lying to you if I didn’t want any accolades, we want the accolades,” he said.

For now, Cunanan and Dungca are relishing their Aspen experience as they prepare to work harder to continue what they’ve both started.

“I think this is us breaking into mainstream America.

Hopefully, we can keep pushing in and inspire others to cook the food that we love to cook,” Cunanan said.

They are excited to see the possibilities that would open up for the Filipino foodie community brought about by one of their signature dishes landing the Food & Wine Limited edition merch with the Food & Wine cover. ‘We’ll have more soon,’ quipped Chef magazine’s cover. n Tom.

Hiraya’s Chef’s Tasting Menu, which includes Chef Paolo Dungca’s inventive and inspired takes on sisig, kaldereta, bulanglang, siomai, and maja blanca.

AJPress Photos by Momar G. Visaya

we came with the ube bun and we thought it was fitting and we thought it would be something that nobody has done before,” he added.

To complete the showstopping burger, the cover star also has caramelized pineapple, crisp green papaya achara, and a creamy secret sauce made from a combination of mayonnaise, cornichons, banana ketchup, vinegar, black pepper, and Korean chili flakes.

What’s Next?

Both chefs are working on some side projects. Cunanan opened Soy Pinoy in Houston and Dungca started Hiraya, also at The Block in DC. Soy Pinoy is Cunanan’s joint venture with fellow James Beard Award winner Paul Qui. The two chefs had an initial collaboration at Qui’s Miami restaurant PAO

by Paul Qui for the South Beach Wine & Food Festival in 2021.

Qui won Top Chef Season 9.

“We want to basically take on different markets and just introduce different kinds of styles or Filipino food,” Dungca said.

Asked about their dream for PogiBoy, the chefs gave a uniform response.

“We don’t know yet hopefully expansion, you know, we want to take over the world,” said Dungca.

“We don’t want to change

our menu too much. We want the whole road to taste our dishes,” Cunanan echoed. “We just want to keep it as simple, streamlined as possible.”

Hiraya is Dungca’s passion project that he began a few months ago. It is open as a pop-up for dinner service at The Block every Friday and Saturday, transforming the food hall’s mezzanine area into a fine dining mecca.

“It’s pretty much a story of my interpretations of Filipino food,” he shared.

The dishes at Hiraya are not traditional Filipino food per se, since Dungca has gathered recipes from family and friends and put his take on them. He is looking forward to creating his version of classic Filipino chefs’ dishes.

Hiraya offers a chef’s tasting menu at $95 per person. At a recent dinner, we enjoyed Dungca’s inspired take on sisig (an inventive use of the kohlrabi as the vessel for the crispy pig ear), ensaymada (reinvented as an appetizer with aged smoked cheddar and black truffle cream), and kaldereta (using smoked duck, hakurei turnip, and castelvetrano olives).

The word “hiraya” is an old Filipino word that means the fruit of one’s hopes, dreams, or aspirations. It was also used as the title of an educational TV

A Food & Wine blurb describing chefs Paolo and Tom’s innovations of the classic burger using Filipino flavors and the bright purple ube buns.

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JULY 1-7, 2022 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

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

Tri Counties Bank, NAAC launch down payment assistance program

CHICO – Tri Counties Bank announced on Wednesday, June 22 a partnership with the National Asian American Coalition (NAAC), to provide a Down Payment Assistance (DPA) Program that will launch on July 7, 2022. The DPA Program aims to assist qualifying low- to moderateincome home buyers, especially in underserved communities, to fund down payments on home purchases.

The new program will be coordinated through the NAAC, while Tri Counties Bank will offer mortgage loan financing to borrowers. Tri Counties Bank is also providing financial support to NAAC. Qualifying home buyers can receive a forgivable loan of up to 3% of the price of the home (with $10,000 maximum) for down payment assistance. First-time home buyers may also be able to obtain additional down payment assistance from Tri Counties Bank through the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco’s WISH program that provides up to $22,000 for a down payment.

“Tri Counties Bank is pleased to partner with the NAAC and bring this program to fruition,” said Rick Smith, President and CEO of Tri Counties Bank. “Our goal is to strengthen and grow our communities, including those that have been underserved, by providing potential low- to moderate-income buyers with the means to achieve the dream of purchasing their first home.”

The program is available

Pechanga Resort Casino racks up four more AAA awards for 2022

Awards include two Four Diamond distinctions and two Best of nods

through NAAC to home buyers in Tri Counties Bank’s Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) assessment areas. Participants must also meet income requirements and qualify for a first mortgage through Tri Counties Bank.

The down payment assistance loan can be forgiven if the home is not sold, given away or otherwise conveyed or refinanced within five years of the mortgage closing date. Otherwise, the loan will be recovered pro rata by the NAAC at 20% per year and used for future DPA Program loans.

“One of the biggest barriers of first-time homebuyers owning a home is the lack of down payment assistance,” said Faith Bautista, President and CEO of National Asian American Coalition. “The Tri Counties Bank DPA Program will help increase homeownership in low-to-moderate income communities, as well as bridge the gap of wealth and income inequality.”

Interested home buyers can contact the NAAC regarding the DPA Program at 650-952-0522 or www.NAAC.org.

(NAAC Release) n

THE hit parade keeps rolling for Pechanga Resort Casino as it adds two new AAA Four Diamond Awards for 2022. This is the 21st consecutive year the 1,100-room luxury resort/casino has been awarded this honor, and the 11th year for the resort’s signature restaurant, the Great Oak Steakhouse. Hotels and restaurants must meet stringent standards of cleanliness, comfort, and hospitality to be qualify to the AAA Diamond Program, with higher levels of excellence awarded with levels three, four, and five diamond distinctions.

The resort has earned Four Diamond status every year since its opening in 2002. Only 14 other resorts in Riverside County hold a AAA Four Diamond decoration.

The

Great Oak Steakhouse is the only restaurant in Temecula to receive a Four Diamond rating, sharing this distinction with only one other restaurant in the Inland Empire, five others in all of Riverside County.

“The AAA Four Diamond awards tell us that guests appreciate commitment to quality and excellence we exhibit at Pechanga,” said Tjeerd Brink, General Manager of Pechanga Resort Casino.

“Accolades like these promise our guests a positive experience every time they visit – including our dining experiences, topclass rooms and suites, and our impeccable service.”

Pechanga Resort Casino was also awarded AAA’s Inspector’s Best Of award for housekeeping and for the massive, 4.5-acre pool complex, The Cove. The resort is ranked in the top 25-percent of all hotels based on cleanliness and conditions.

“This is my favorite pool area in town. It’s equipped with five spas, three pools (including a zero-edge with swim-up bar), waterslides and cabanas,” stated an anonymous AAA inspector regarding the new four-andone-half acre pool complex.

For more than 80 years, AAA professional inspectors survey more than 59,000 hotels and restaurants throughout North America each year to determine the ratings of each. The scale is a three through five diamond rating system. AAA officials say only 4.8-percent of the 30,000 approved lodgings make the Four Diamond list. The number is smaller yet, 2.9-percent, for the 29,000 AAA approved restaurants.

Establishments are graded in person by professional inspectors and arrive unannounced, presenting themselves as any other guest.

In order to achieve AAA Four Diamonds, the lodging establishment must be “refined,

stylish with upscale physical attributes, extensive amenities and a high degree of hospitality, service and attention to detail,” according to the agency’s 39page rating guidelines book.

For restaurants must have a “distinctive fine dining, well-serviced amid upscale ambience,” according to the agency’s two-page fact sheet.

Pechanga Resort Casino is one of the largest resort and casino properties in the United States. Guests can enjoy one of 1,100 rooms and suites, a new pool complex, 15 restaurants and bars, 275,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, expansive casino, and live entertainment every week. Also included is Journey at Pechanga, a premier championship golf course and Spa Pechanga, one of the largest two-story luxury spas in Southern California.

Pechanga Resort Casino offers one of the largest and most expansive resort/casino experiences anywhere in the United States. Voted the number one casino in the country by USA Today and rated a Four Diamond property by AAA since 2002, Pechanga Resort Casino provides an unparalleled getaway, whether for the day or for an extended luxury stay.

Offering more than 5,400 of the hottest slots, table games, world-class entertainment, 1,100 hotel rooms, dining, spa and golf at Journey at Pechanga, Pechanga Resort Casino features a destination that meets and exceeds the needs of its guests and the community.

Pechanga Resort Casino is owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians. For more information, call toll free (877) 711-2946 or visit www.Pechanga.com.

Follow Pechanga Resort Casino on Facebook and on Twitter @ PechangaCasino.

(Advertising Supplement)

Take care to secure, calm your pets during fireworks EVERY year, dozens of dogs end up at shelters after Fourth of July fireworks shows.

If you’re lucky, your dog doesn’t react to the explosions and shrill whistles of fireworks set off to celebrate the holiday. But for some dogs and other pets, the sounds can be terrifying due to their sensitive ears.

Dogs kept outdoors or that are unleashed often escape yards in a panic, digging under, breaking through, or jumping over fences. In extreme cases, they can even break through window screens, gates or screen doors from inside to run. They are then at risk for running into traffic, getting lost, or even being attacked by other animals.

At this point, their best bet is to be picked up by a neighbor or an animal control officer for safekeeping until the owner can reclaim their pet.

“We suggest if your dog has a problem with loud noises or if you are not sure how your dog will react, it should be kept inside your home in the most noise-insulating room available to keep it secure and as calm as possible,” said County Animal Services Director Kelly Campbell. “As a backup plan, in case it still manages to run away, we recommend microchipping your pet.”

Pets that are microchipped and licensed are reunited with their owners much quicker than those that are not. If your dog is not microchipped, residents in the unincorporated areas can get their dogs microchipped for a $20 fee at the County’s two shelters in Carlsbad and Bonita by calling (619) 767-2675 for an appointment.

Some additional tips on how to protect your pet this Fourth of July: • Stay home with your dogs or have someone they like stay with them.

• Do not take your pet to fireworks displays. Keep your pets indoors in a sheltered, quiet area.

• Some dogs become destructive when frightened so remove dangerous objects your pet may chew.

• If you can’t stay with them, leave a television or radio playing at normal volume to keep your pet company while you’re away.

• Never leave pets outside unattended, even in a fenced yard. In their fear, pets that normally wouldn’t leave the yard may escape and get lost.

• If you know your pet is seriously distressed by loud noises like thunder, consult your veterinarian to see if anxiety-relieving medication is appropriate.

• Do not leave your pet in the car. With only hot air to breathe inside a car, your pet can suffer serious health effects, even death, within minutes.

• If you are walking your dog near fireworks displays, be sure your pet is secured on a leash in case it tries to bolt.

If you find a lost pet in the unincorporated area of the County after the fireworks, call County Animal Services’ 24-hour emergency dispatch number at (619) 236-2341 so the animal can be cared for at the shelter. If you lose your pet, check the department’s lost and found page online.

If you see your dog is at County Animal Services, you can pick up your pet starting at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 5.

(Yvette Urrea Moe/County of San Diego Communications Office)n

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

SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 1-7, 2022

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Multi-billion project gains steam as heavy hitters plot new arena, entertainment mecca

By RealtoR

Fely Quitevis-Bateman

IT was not that long ago that Las Vegas was still awash in brush, dirt, rocks and empty land.

Slowly and steady, bigger resort-casinos have dotted the Las Vegas landscape, gradually extending its reach further and further south of the Strip. And so with residential properties and developments – many have been developed as a response to the demand from people who have continually flocked to the city.

The Oak View Group is going to be behind one of the biggest planned developments in Las Vegas – a privately financed $3 billion sports and entertainment district which would sit near the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Blue Diamond Road.

It recently bought 66 acres

of land in that area for just under $100 million, according to the Las Vegas Sun, which is about 3 miles north of South Point.

The Southern California-based investment firm also had two additional hires who have had success with other projects and will be part of the group that will see its own project through, namely Marc Badain, former president of the Las Vegas Raiders (and who was connected to the building of Allegiant Stadium), and Randy Morton, a longtime executive at the Bellagio. Both started out recently on their new roles.

The Oak View Group’s plan is to build what would include a hotel-casino and amphitheater, plus a world-class arena that could eventually be home to a Las Vegas basketball franchise. The arena

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman helps those who need business financing, including loans for small businesses. For more information, call (702) 538-4948, or send email to fely@precious-properties.com or fely.precious@gmail.com.

would be NBA-ready, and will also be a possible home to major events, concerts and meetings.

Although there have been no specifics or rendering released on what the arena would like, the group has said it would be about 850,000 square feet. An additional entertainment district is planned to sit on 25 acres.

Although nothing is assured, the group is motoring on with its plans for the arena. Recently, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver had announced that the league is not discussing any future expansion as of yet in response to persistent rumors of Seattle and Las Vegas as cities which are on its radar for expanding the league.

The most important thing for the Oak View Group is having had the opportunity to buy the land where they want to put their development in. This would help tremendously in concretizing any plans for the hotel-casino, amphitheater, arena and entertainment district.

While it has said that it will look for a partner for its hotelcasino, it will be taking care of the operations of the arena. The Oak View Group is not new to the development, management and providing event programming services to arenas as it has a client list in different locations around the U.S., including Washington, New York and Kentucky. It also owns arenas in New York and Seattle.

Along with Allegiant Stadium, this new $3 billion project, which will not be built with public funds, will certainly add to the branding conceived and marketed by the

The glove factory planned for Pahrump is moving forward fast. A recent meeting between Alka Products CEO/President Andrew Hoang (middle) and Nye County Chief Planner Brett Waggoner (extreme right) was very informative; details were also discussed for the site approval. With Hoang and Waggoner in photo is Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman.

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (extreme right) with her great real estate team: son Primo (middle) and nephew John (extreme left) who are both ready to assist their company’s broad clientele, be it for residential, commercial or vacant land both in Pahrump (Nye County) or Clark County.

The purchase price of this land, along with the other recent high-value land transactions that have taken place, shows just how much real estate has appreciated in this corridor. In a couple of years, those tracts of land would not just be rocks and dirt – they would showcase brighter, shinier additions to the landscape of Las Vegas and add more glamour to the city, which is already a gaming and entertainment capital in the world.

Badain, in the Las Vegas Sun article, pretty much summed up how their project is the next step in Las Vegas’ evolution, by saying, “This project represents the next step in that exciting evolution.

This city always bounces back, and it’s time for the newest and best arena to be in Las Vegas. If you’re an entertainment brand, you better have a foot in the door in Las Vegas because it’s an incredible city, and an incredible place to do business.”

I have been a Realtor since 1988, and have personally experienced the tremendous growth of Las Vegas and other areas in Nevada, including Pahrump, which is just 62 miles west of Las Vegas. While the area suffered in the 2008 housing debacle, along with the rest of the U.S., and was affected by the recent pandemic, it has shown signs of coming back.

Construction of many projects has helped provide steady Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (standing, middle) is shown with her young investors, employment for many, while Wilmer and Gerlie Comahig, who bought parcels of land in Las Vegas and Pahrump, the plans of major companies like the one of the Oak View Group, are latter of which has been approved for a 100-bed senior resort living.

Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority of Las Vegas as “Sports Capital of the World” and as “The Greatest Arena on Earth.” After all, it already has football, soccer, women’s basketball, Triple A baseball and other sports teams based in the city. Las Vegas will also host the 2024 Super Bowl, and this month it will be the location of the NBA’s Summer League.

According to industry analysts, the piece of land chosen by the Oak View Group is a prime location – what with its access to freeways, proximity to the airport and existing transportation infrastructure, and its location along Las Vegas Boulevard.

keeping many people interested in what the city will next have to offer to tourists, visitors and residents.

Although indicators have shown lately of a slight slowdown in home purchases, that isn’t expected to last long in a market like Las Vegas. After all, home prices in the city – and for the State of Nevada, for that matter – are still more affordable than some parts of the country. Clark County, which is where Las Vegas is located, is expected to add more than a million people by 2060, according to a forecast from the UNLV’s Center for Business and Economic Research.

If you are looking to invest your money in real estate and/ or property, or you are in the market for a new home or vacation/second home, I can help. Together, we can look at the properties available in the market and find that suitable piece of land or property that you can call your own.

My company, Precious Properties, is a full-service company that has successfully helped its clientele find the best deals since 1988. You can reach me at 775-513-8447, 805-5592476 and 702-538-4948 for more information, or send me an email at fely@precious-properties.com or fely.precious@gmail.com. We have investors who buy houses in California and Nevada for cash and quick escrow in as short as 7 days.

(Advertising Supplement)

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JULY 1-7, 2022 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

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