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JULY 7-13, 2022

T HE F ILIPINO A MERICAN C OMMUNITY N EWSPAPER

Volume 33 - No. 27 • 12 Pages

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USA

DATELINE Older adults still at high risk for COVID-19 FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

“YOU might be done with COVID, but COVID is not done with you.”

So said Denny Chan, directing attorney with Justice in Aging, at a press briefing cohosted by the California Department of Aging on June 29 to address the high risks older adults still face from COVID-19 and what steps will protect them.

Joining Chan were Department of Aging Director Susan DeMarois, Dr. Susan Tartof, an infectious disease epidemiologist with Kaiser Permanente Southern California, and Roberto Velasquez, President and CEO of the Southern Caregiver Resource Center.

“From the outset of the pandemic and still to this day,” DeMarois said, “older adults have been hardest hit — 70% of all Covid deaths in California are people 65 and older.”

“So we need your help in communicating the value of vaccines and boosters and testing-to-treatment for this population.”

Tartof shared research relevant to people of all age groups, such as new evidence that the biggest benefit of being vaccinated

Fil-Ams sound off on Marcos’ return to power

by DONNABELLE

GATDULA-AREVALO AJPress

WHILE newly sworn-in Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has full backing from his supporters here in the U.S., some Filipino Americans have expressed doubt in his ability to fulfill his promises of reshaping the country’s future in the next six years.

Upon his inauguration last June 30, Marcos, who is fondly called BBM by his supporters, became the first majority president since the establishment of the Fifth Republic in 1986. He also became the

second president from Ilocos Norte, after his father, Ferdinand Marcos, and the third child of a former president to hold the post after Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Benigno Aquino III. Tancredo Guray Jr., BBM 2.0 (USA) president for California, said the group is excited about what Marcos will do to the Philippines as a whole.

BBM 2.0 was an electoral platform created by businessman Jonathan “Atan” Bocaling to help support and facilitate the election campaign of Marcos all over the world.

“We are very happy at this point in time. Now, I just want tell the entire Filipino people that they

 PAGE 2

Biden invites Bongbong Marcos to Washington

by NESTOR

A. CORRALES Inquirer.net

 PAGE 4

AG Bonta: Anti-Asian hate incidents jumped 177.5% in California AMID the rise in anti-Asian hate and discrimination across the United States, California reported a 177.5% increase in anti-Asian hate incidents from 2020 to 2022, according to Attorney General Rob Bonta.

On Tuesday, June 28, Bonta’s office released the 2021 Hate Crime in California report which found a sharp increase in hate crimes — defined as any crimes against individuals based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and religion — across the Golden State.

The number of reported hate crimes in 2020 was 1,330 while in 2021, that number jumped to 1,763 — a 33% rise — making it the highest surge in reported hate crimes since 9/11, according to Bonta.

Amid the wave of anti-Asian hate since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the number of reported anti-Asian hate incidents jumped from 89 in 2020 to 247 in 2021.

“Today’s report undeniably shows

have made the right choice for electing BBM as the country’s top executive/president,” Guray, a loyal follower of Marcos’ political career, said.

Guray said he believes that the overwhelming support that BBM got from the Filipino voters only indicates how hopeful the Filipinos are for the new administration’s capability.

“As you can see it’s an overwhelming vote (from the people) for BBM. It’s Vox Populi, Vox Dei (the voice of the people is the voice of God), now the people have already spoken,” said Guray, who is a commissioner in Carson, California.

OFFICIAL DUTIES. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. talks with Energy Undersecretaries Donato Marcos and Roberto Uy during a meeting in Malacañang, Thursday, July 7 as Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez sits nearby.

Malacañang photo by Avito Dalas

MANILA — U.S. President Joe Biden has invited President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to Washington, the first foreign head of state to formally extend such a gesture to the country’s newly installed leader.

According to Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez, U.S. Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff handed Marcos a personal invitation letter from the American president.

Emhoff, the husband of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, led a seven-member delegation from Washington that attended the June 30 inauguration of Marcos. The two officials later had a meeting on Thursday afternoon, June 30 in Malacañang.

Quoting Biden’s letter to Marcos, Romualdez said: “I hope you can come to Washington once our teams find an appropriate time.”

“President Marcos responded by saying he hopes to do so as soon as our schedules permit them,” Romualdez told the Inquirer on Saturday, July 2.

Contempt judgment Since Marcos enjoys diplomatic immunity as a

 PAGE 5

Decimated PH Senate minority faces ‘tremendous challenge’ in 19th Congress

by ANGELICA

Y. YANG

Philstar.com

MANILA — Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri — elected to a fresh term and the likely next Senate president — on Wednesday, July 6 released a list of senators and the committees they will likely chair at a Senate dominated by a supermajority.

According to the list, they will face a minority bloc that will be lucky to have four members. As things stand, only Sens. Risa Hontiveros and Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III — a former Senate president and head of the former administration PDP-Laban  PAGE 3 party — have indicated they will be in the

minority.

According to the Senate rules, the minority floor leader is expected to speak for the bloc, constructively criticize the majority's programs and policies, and pay close attention to all proposed laws.

But the numbers of the Senate minority, and the political opposition in general, were greatly reduced during the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who had continuously attacked them, according to University of Santo Tomas Department of Political Science Chair Dennis Coronacion.

 PAGE 2

Adelio Angelito Cruz (right), a career diplomat, takes his oath of office as chief of presidential protocol in Malacañang for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who took office last June 30.

Malacañang photo

Pacquiao to test exhibition Former LA Consul General Adelio Cruz waters vs Korean YouTuber named chief of presidential protocol

by DINO

MARAGAY

Philstar.com

Manny Pacquiao

MANILA — Manny Pacquiao is following in the footsteps of rival Floyd Mayweather Jr., eyeing his first exhibition match since retiring from professional boxing.

The 43-year-old boxing icon will try to cash in on his global appeal with an exhibition fight against Korean martial artist and video blogger DK Yoo. Little is known about Yoo, although he claims to be an expert in martial arts whose YouTube channel currently has over 650,000 subscribers.

He describes himself as a fighting coach Photo from Instagram/@mannypacquiao

focusing on movement and meditation, and is the founder of the "Warfare Combat System."

A video posted by Yoo two weeks ago on his channel shows him and Pacquiao confirming their match, which will be held in December.

"I will fight against one of the best fighters in the world. I'm telling you now who's going to be my next opponent. I'm going to fight against Manny Pacquiao," said Yoo. "DK Yoo, see you in the special event this coming December," responded Pacquiao.

Pacquiao and Yoo will seal the fight with a contract signing on July 20, organizers told the media Thursday, July 7.

 PAGE 4

by AJPRESS

ADELIO Angelito Cruz, a career diplomat whose previous role includes Philippine Consul General in Los Angeles, has a new post as the protocol chief in the Marcos administration.

Cruz, who served as the former Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary after his assignment in LA, was recently sworn in as the chief of presidential protocol. He will be in charge of the visits of foreign dignitaries to Malacañang. He will also assist President Ferdinand

“Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his delegation during official visits overseas.

Cruz’s appointment followed the choice of Enrique Manalo, the country’s permanent representative to the United Nations, to head the Department of Foreign Affairs.

For nearly three decades, Cruz has held various diplomatic and consular posts in the Philippine Foreign Service. Prior to serving as the Assistant Secretary of the Office of Civilian Security at the Department of Foreign Affairs

 PAGE 4

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JULY 7-13, 2022 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

From The FronT Page

Fil-Ams sound off on Marcos’...

PAGE 1 According to Guray, he is looking forward to the unfolding of all the BBM’s programs for the Philippines and all the millions of Filipinos all over the world.

“He promised to the Filipino people that he would be continuing the programs of (former President Rodrigo) Duterte. I am hopeful that he would do the best thing that he can. I know that remains to be seen. I do not want to speculate what will happen to his leadership but I know he would be great in everything he will do,” the avid supporter said.

“I would vouch for the honesty of BBM. I have been a supporter for a long time. For me, the Marcos family is very honest. My expectation for them is to make the Philippines a great nation,” he added.

In an interview with the Asian Journal, BBM’s namesake Ferdinand “Ferdie” Marcos, 46, from New Jersey, said this is the time that he had been waiting for. “This is the moment. This is the time and we are hoping for the best,” he said.

Ferdie’s parents named him after former President Ferdinand Marcos as they reportedly witnessed the strongman’s actions in the Philippines that made the country competitive in the region.

He said during a recent independence parade in New Jersey, there are many Filipinos who have shown their optimism for the new leadership of BBM. Born in Isabela in the Cagayan Valley region, Ferdie said their family has been a testament to what the Marcoses have done to their province. “BBM has carried out a lot of projects that made our province prosperous like the Magat Dam that irrigates all our fields and the solar project in Ilocos which lowers power rates in the province,” he said.

The construction of the Magat Dam started in 1975 and was completed in 1982. It is one of the largest dams in the Philippines.

Ferdie, who works at the USPS and has been living in the United States for 26 years, said he does not expect anything spectacular in the first two years of BBM as this is normally for the country’s recovery period. “Then in his

3rd, 4th, 5th to 6th year, we expect all of the good projects coming into life like the upgrade and modernization of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP),” he said.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order (EO) 64 recommending the revival of the mothballed BNPP. President “Bongbong” Marcos, during his campaign period, had said he was also keen on studying the possibility of pushing for the more than $3 billion rehabilitation and/or modernization of the nuclear plant. The BNPP was the only nuclear power plant in the region during the 1980s as the Philippines was one of the first Southeast Asian countries to embark on a nuclear energy program. The project, however, was mothballed due to corruption allegations and safety concerns.

“This BNPP will not only help lower power rates, it is also considered renewable. “It’s good to see that the Philippines is going green in terms of power generation,” Ferdie said.

According to the avid supporter from East Coast, BBM, with the support of Vice President Sara Duterte, will definitely bring forth more worthwhile program and projects in the future.

“All that BBM has done to Ilocos could be replicated to the entire country. He has a clear vision of what he wants to be done to bring the Philippines to the world’s list of great nations.

There is a strong chance that all of these visions and missions would be achieved since BBM has strong back up from his vice president,” he said. “I am looking forward to the BBM-Duterte tandem. These two great leaders will definitely bring something really great for the Philippines.

I am so excited to see all these good things unfolding each year of their leadership,” Ferdie added.

Uniteam overall coordinator for USA/Canada Chona Verona Lopez Galvez, in a separate interview, echoed Marcos’ accomplishments.

“He (BBM) will be great with everything. The world will be watching him bring the Philippines’ greatness back,” Galvez said.

Luzviminda Marcos, one of

the BBM campaign leaders in California and a close relative, said BBM is truly a “God-sent” leader.

“There is an overflowing love and support for Ferdinand Marcos Jr. because he is a true validation that the Marcos family has been ‘God-sent’ for the Philippines to become great again and show it to the world,” she said.

“With his proven track record, I believe the Philippine economy will rise up again and people will have better lives. Aangat ang buong bansang Pilipinas,” she said.

According to Mrs. Marcos, they expect BBM to lay out plans for Filipinos who work overseas and those who live abroad who would want to retire in the Philippines.

‘False victory’ Malaya Movement USA, on the other hand, has remained firm in its stance in rejecting the legitimacy of Marcos Jr.’s presidency.

In a statement, Malaya Movement national vice chair Tabitha Ponciano said “through decades-long manipulation, meddling, and corruption, Marcos Jr. has taken the highest office in the Philippines: this false victory must be exposed! The urgency to build the resistance against this incoming regime grows stronger each day.”

Ponciano said Marcos Jr.’s inauguration at the National Museum is indicative of what Filipinos can reportedly expect from this incoming regime: unwavering support for the military and police and empty gestures for frontline workers, overseas Filipino workers, labor leaders, farmers, and many more.

“His speeches intentionally offer shallow statements meant to convince people of change yet no concrete steps are outlined.

Marcos Jr. is also hellbent on painting a fairytale picture of his father’s deadly and violent years in office. Malaya Movement USA denounces his address that was riddled with lies, deception, and unending claims of unity without substance,” she said.

She noted that Marcos Jr. said “we do not look back but ahead,” PAGE 4

EARLY CHRISTMAS DECORS. Salvador Catarining, 42, assembles using soldering iron Christmas lanterns made of capiz shells at a shop along Emilio Aguinaldo Highway, Barangay Zone I in Dasmarinas City, Cavite on Thursday, July 7. He has been making different types of lanterns for 14 years.

PNA photo by Gil Calinga

Decimated PH Senate minority faces ‘tremendous...

PAGE 1 Sen. Leila De Lima, a vocal Duterte critic, found herself booted out as chair of the committee on justice and human rights in 2016 and has been in detention for drug cases since 2017. Other members of the minority earned Duterte's ire and his uncensored comments for criticizing government policies.

Coronacion said the minority plays an important role but is not likely to influence legislation in the 19th Congress.

"Given that their numbers have been decimated because of the popularity of former President Duterte, who vilified them continuously during his term, I don't expect them to make any major impact in the 19th Congress," he told Philstar.com.

Despite that, members of the opposition should not be discouraged from doing their jobs since there is a constant need to protect public interest, Coronacion added.

'Fiscalizers' Although it is not found in the English dictionary, the term 'fiscalizer' generally refers to lawmakers who do not just agree with the agenda with congressional or executive leadership and tend to scrutinize things more closely, University of the Philippines political scientist Jean Franco said.

As fiscalizers, the minority must pay more attention to details in proposed laws and validate the information there, according to

Hontiveros. With the prevalence of disinformation, it is all the more important to check each and every argument presented in the crafting of laws, she said.

"People must understand that the minority doesn't just give opposing views for no reason.

Our criticism is meant to produce meaningful and actionable insights that can be used in amending the bills being debated on the floor of Congress," she said.

"We're not here to prevent laws from being passed, we're here to make sure that every measure that gets signed into law brings longterm benefits to the people."

Despite committee assignments seemingly already locked in, political arrangements can still change, Coronacion said.

"Disgruntled members of the Marcos-Duterte alliance might join the opposition and may shape the dynamics in the Senate."

If the minority cannot get more members at the Senate, Franco said, "they really need to be partners with civil society and other social movements because that's the only way to go...because the people outside your chamber can amplify your voice."

'Challenging time' The minority may face a more difficult time in being a check on the supermajority, according to De La Salle University political science professor Julio Teehankee, which could risk the Senate being a rubber stamp for the Palace.

"The incoming minority faces a tremendous challenge of checking the supermajority supporting the first majority president under the Fifth Republic," Teehankee told Philstar.com. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was elected into office by more than 31 million Filipinos and lawmakers have historically sided with winners.

He added that the situation is just like how it was in the postEDSA Senate in 1987 where only Juan Ponce Enrile and Joseph Estrada served in the minority.

Despite the foreseen setbacks, Hontiveros— the lone senatorial bet from the opposition who won a seat — is optimistic that there can still be an effective minority bloc, even if they don't have the numbers.

"It doesn't matter how many of us are in the minority bloc. As long as we stay true to our mandate as fiscalizers and perform our checks and balance function, the minority will thrive," Hontiveros told Philstar.com.

She said that even if she and Pimentel are the only members of the bloc so far, "their convictions are enough to function as a minority bloc."

In previous interviews, she and Pimentel noted that the strength and effectiveness of the minority bloc is also measured by the seriousness of its members in fiscalizing constructively, including improving measures pushed by the majority. g

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Dateline USa

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 7-13, 2022

AG Bonta: Anti-Asian hate incidents jumped...

PAGE 1

Honoring the best of the Filipino diaspora amidst the global pandemic THE prestigious Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas (PAFIOO) were presented recently to 56 recipients in simple ceremonies at the Manila Marriott Hotel.

Presented by the Office of the President of the Philippines through the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), PAFIOO is the highest honor given by the Philippine government for the exemplary deeds and philanthropic initiatives of foreignbased individuals and associations that contribute to nation-building and Philippine development, promote the welfare and wellbeing of Filipinos abroad and bring honor to the country because of their achievements and excellence in their fields or professions.

PAFIOO was instituted in 1991

by Executive Order No. 498 issued by the late President Corazon C. Aquino.

CFO Secretary Francisco P. Acosta presented the awards on behalf of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. He was assisted

by CFO Executive Director and Undersecretary Abdulgani M. Macatoman.

In his keynote speech, Secretary Acosta praised the new additions to the roster of elite members of the Filipino diaspora by saying, “Let this day be a mark of your victories that are, of course, products of sacrifices and efforts, as you labored for decades in constant pursuit of enhancing and developing your skills – and eventually generously giving back to your fellow Filipinos here and abroad without expecting anything in return.”

Highlighting the contributions of the Diaspora, Undersecretary Macatoman praised the awardees

for their steadfast contributions to the development of the country as well as Filipino communities overseas. He also expressed gratitude to the foreign awardees for their continuing service to overseas Filipinos and for ensuring their welfare.

PAFIOO recipients represented a wide range of professions and fields of interest. They included philanthropists, scientists, engineers, medical and healthcare professionals, athletes, artists, and public servants. They were cited for selfless deeds, pro bono services, and exemplary acts of kindness and generosity. For most, their selfless devotion to duty and willingness to go the extra mile for others especially shone through when the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic was devastating almost every country in the world.

The awardees uplifted the lives of many of their kababayans across the world, brought honor to their people and country, and catalyzed progress and development in Filipino communities overseas and in the motherland.

The PAFIOO recipients and award categories are: Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino (LINKAPIL) The term LINKAPIL translates to “service to fellow Filipinos” and celebrates the enduring Bayanihan spirit of Filipinos even if they have settled in other countries. The award is conferred on Filipino individuals or organizations for exceptional or significant contributions to progress and development in the Philippines.

Recipients of the Presidential LINKAPIL Award are Batangas Association United Kingdom (United Kingdom), Roxanne

Racquel A. Cajigas (United States of America), Kayumanggi Chorale, Inc. (USA), Vivian KieferVargas (Switzerland), Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers – Qatar Chapter (Qatar) and The Filipino Association in the Isle of Man (Isle of Man).

Banaag “Banaag” means gleam or glimmer, a ray of light that advances the welfare of overseas Filipinos and/or Filipino migrant communities. The award is conferred on Filipino individuals or organizations whose significant contributions have benefited a sector of the diaspora or advanced the cause and interest of overseas Filipino communities.

Recipients of the Presidential Banaag Award are Mario A. Balboa (Saudi Arabia), Bella Aurora P. Belmonte (USA), Ariel C. Bernardo (South Korea), Roy G. Betinol (Chile), Vanda Marie M. Brady (Ireland), Alex Chiu (+) Posthumous Award (Canada), Aurora B. Dacanay (Canada), Nancy S. de Jesus (France), Rose Cheryl P. Eclarinal-Murdock (UK), Felix Y. Manalo Foundation, Inc. (Canada), Filipino American Service Group, Inc. (USA), Fernandico Q. Gonong, Jr. (USA), Igorot UK Charity (United Kingdom), Kapatiran at Ugnayan ng Natatanging Sining at Talento (Germany), Venecio V. Legaspi (Saudi Arabia), London Filipino Centre CIC (UK), Bennette E. Misalucha (USA), National Alliance to Nurture the Aged and the Youth (USA), Rolando M. Nicolas (Saudi Arabia), Linda Nietes-Little (USA), Philippine Bayanihan Association of Alberta (Canada), Philippine-American Friendship Community, Inc. (USA), Dennis N. Rata (Kuwait), PAGE 5

that the epidemic of hate we saw spurred on during the pandemic remains a clear and present threat,” said Bonta — who is Filipino American — in a statement.

Bonta said that the Office of the Attorney General will create a statewide hate crime coordinator in the Criminal Law Division within California’s Department of Justice, which he said is designed to assist state and local law enforcement to better address hate crime.

“While there is no single solution, it’s up to all of us to heed the call, because when our communities feel empowered, they come forward. Now, more than ever, it is critical that we stand united — there is no place for hate in California.”

Since the beginning of the pandemic, thousands of victims of anti-Asian hate incidents have come forward with reports of abuse, ranging from verbal to physical attacks.

Despite lawmakers, law enforcement agencies, and advocates bolstering efforts

to combatting the disturbing trend, assault reports continue to flood in.

Last year saw a long string of assaults against elderly Asian individuals in California, primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area — which weeks ago reported a whopping 567% rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in 2021 — and Los Angeles County. According to these incident reports and witness accounts, many of the assailants referenced the COVID-19 pandemic during the attack.

Bonta’s report follows the 40th anniversary of the murder of Vincent Chin, a Chinese American man who was targetted by white autoworkers in Detroit who blamed the Japanese community for taking their jobs.

And Bonta acknowledged that these statistics, while sobering, do not paint the true picture of hate in California, and often, crimes go unreported.

And, as previously reported in the Asian Journal, prosecutors have admitted that crimes based on demographic bias is

3

more difficult to charge and prosecute than other crimes.

“These, of course, are statistics but they are more than just numbers. Each of these incidents represents an attack on a person, a neighbor, a family member, a fellow Californian, and worse, we know our statistics likely are not exhaustive. Still today, too many are too afraid to come forward,” Bonta said.

However, the report also found a 30% increase in the number of hate crime cases filed for prosecution by district and city attorneys.

The report also shed alarming rises in hate against other communities.

Hate crimes which were motivated by sexual orientation bias jumped 48%, going from 205 reports in 2020 to 303 in 2021.

The most prevalent form of hate crimes reported, according to the report, were crimes against the Black community, which experienced 513 reported incidents. AntiLatino or anti-Hispanic bias increased from 115 in 2020 to 152 in 2021. g

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JULY 7-13, 2022 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

Dateline USa

http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

Pacquiao to test exhibition waters...

PAGE 1

The eight-division world champion has thus succumbed to the financial lure of exhibition matches, which has been popularized by no less than Mayweather himself.

Mayweather, who defeated Pacquiao when they fought in

2015 in boxing's richest fight ever, had been lining his pockets with lucrative exhibitions in Japan and the United Arab Emirates.

Pacquiao, for his part, retired just last year after losing to Cuban Yordenis Ugas. He shortly embarked on an unsuccessful bid to become Philippine president.

There are speculations that Pacquiao will return to the ring after losing in the elections, in a bid to have a better ending to his storied boxing career.

But as it turns out this time, it would be a showcase fight instead of another regular pro bout. vocational skills, not history. g

Older adults still at high risk for...

FLYOVER REHAB. Workers from the Department of Public Works and Highways (in the background) continue the rehabilitation works on the southbound lane of the Edsa-Kamuning flyover in Quezon City on Thursday, 7. A portion of the southbound flyover was closed to vehicular traffic for immediate repairs after a recent inspection showed large cracks and potholes.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

Fil-Ams sound off on Marcos’...

PAGE 2

urging kababayans to forget the country’s past.

But the U.S.-based militant group leader said this should not be the case and urged FilipinoAmericans to remain vigilant.

She said there is also a need for the Fil-Am community to strongly bind together for a common good and keep an eagle eye on Marcos’ leadership.

“Instead, we call on the Filipino people to look to our history of resistance and learn from it. Join us as we build the antidictatorship movement, inspired by the one that blossomed under Marcos Sr. during the era of Martial Law among overseas Filipinos,” she said.

Malaya Movement USA members and other progressive forces across the country, she said, protested and carried the resounding call to continue the fight for democracy and freedom in our homeland.

“People power is not a thing of the past but a growing resistance from the Philippines to the United States and beyond!

Reject Marcos! Reject Duterte!,” she said.

During the May 9 presidential election, Marcos had a landslide victory with over 31.6 million votes or 58.77% of all votes.

Following the election, several Filipino groups in the U.S. and Canada banded together to release a manifesto rejecting Marcos’ win and expressing “extreme disappointment” after U.S. President Joe Biden congratulated the incoming Filipino president.

“No matter the result of the independent investigation, as Filipinos and peace-loving global citizens, we still hold the Marcos family including Marcos Jr. accountable for the $10 billion plunder, the Php 203 billion cumulative unpaid estate taxes, unpaid income taxes, and massive torture, disappearances and political imprisonment during Martial Law,” the letter read.

Inaugural speech In his 25-minute inaugural speech on June 30, Marcos presented his plans for the

economy, environment, infrastructure development, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

He called on the Filipino people to reject the “politics of division” and urged the public to unite and cooperate to achieve his visions for the country.

Marcos vowed to implement a comprehensive, all-inclusive plan for the economy that would also address issues of food security.

He also committed to carry on and complete the ongoing infrastructure projects of the past administration and create a more comprehensive infrastructure plan that will be implemented within his six-year term.

Moreso, Marcos pledged to remedy some of the shortcomings in responding to COVID-19-related problems, as he recalled being among the first to be infected by the virus.

He also promised to look into climate change issues, and educational curriculum reforms, which pertain to sciences and vocational skills, not history. g

Former LA Consul General Adelio Cruz named...

PAGE 1

during the final year of the Duterte administration, the veteran diplomat was Consul General in Los Angeles from 2016 to 2021.

His assignments include Charge d’Affaires in Tripoli, Libya (from 2014-2016); Consul General in Xiamen, China (20112013); first Secretary and Consul

at the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi (2007-2011) and Vice Consul then Consul at the Philippine Consulate General in Chicago. g

PAGE 1 is not preventing infection but preventing severe outcomes from infections.

Vaccines wane in effectiveness – need boosters Booster shots, she said, are proving more effective than the original vaccination doses.

But even the heightened level of immunity provided by a booster wanes over time, she said, and researchers now recommend additional boosters.

“Really, six months after a vaccination, you’re down to like, the protection you’d have from one or maybe none. That’s what drives the booster recommendation — They’re not providing the same protection that they did when you first got them.”

This waning is more acute in “immunocompromised” people, Tartof explained, which includes people, often seniors, facing an array of challenges such as leukemia, lymphoma, HIV, AIDS, stem cell or organ transplantation.

“It’s really important to protect yourself by staying up to date and to try to keep track of what current recommendations are.”

“It’s confusing,” she admitted.

But, she said, “another thing I do is study long Covid. Those very debilitating symptoms are actually pretty much impossible to treat,” she warned.

“Every time I feel hesitant, I just think that I’m more willing to take risks with the vaccine, which are actually very minimal compared to the risks of longterm.”

Of those California seniors lost to Covid, 45% were Latino, more than twice their 22% of the population aged 65 to 79. African Americans, 5.5% of that age group, experienced an 8% death rate, Chan said.

Statewide, more than 80% of older adults have been

vaccinated, 70% have had one booster, almost 30% have had two. But these statewide figures do not reflect regional differences, Chan cautioned.

“We can’t have a one-sizefits-all approach to getting people vaccinated. This is longterm work for the safety of all the older adults in our state.”

The rate of positive tests for Covid in California stands at 13.2%, probably an undercount, Chan said, but still 1.5 percentage points higher than the week before. And with 3,100 people currently hospitalized, he said, we’re back to the level we were in March, when Omicron spiked.

There’s plenty of vaccines But there’s good news too. Unlike the early days of vaccine availability, he said, “We have plenty of vaccine,” so the days of rationing are over.

“We also know that vaccines work,” he said, and cited state data from May showing that people without vaccines are five times more likely to get Covid, seven times more likely to be hospitalized for it and 10 times more likely to die than those vaccinated and boosted.

Vaccines are being approved for more age groups, and there’s a potential for more specific vaccines targeting variants as they emerge, Chan noted.

Also, he said, “access is easier than ever before,” with systems in place to vaccinate people at home, if necessary, that can be obtained with or without internet or cell phone access.

Free transportation or inhome delivery of vaccinations and boosters can be arranged in multiple languages by calling 1-833-422-4255. On the web, go to https://myturn.ca.gov/, DeMarois said. The site covid19. ca.gov also has information and scheduling help available in dozens of languages.

Caregiver support The state has 11 caregiver resource centers (CRCs) (www.caregivercalifornia.org) (1-800-510-2020, multiple languages) offering an array of free services to support those caring for people 60 and older or for adults with cognitive impairment issues.

Velasquez’s Southern Caregiver Resource Center is focused on San Diego and Imperial counties, where people 60 or older were 86% of the 5,000 Covid deaths recorded.

Of Velasquez’s care-provider clients, he said, more than 70% were spending more than 40 hours per week providing care and got no paid help. They self-reported fair to poor and worsening health, moderate to severe depression and loneliness.

“Caregivers usually don’t want help for themselves,” he said, but when Covid hit, the challenges of social distancing eventually led to increased calls for help in the form of the “respite services” CRCs can provide.

For his CRC’s 516 family caregivers, it came to a combined 192,600 hours in one year, Velasquez said.

“You have to get them to think that they’re helping their loved one, even though they’re helping themselves.”

Beware complacency “For me, the most worrisome thing is how everybody’s become a little bit more complacent. Masks are not being worn on a regular basis.

People are just tired. They just want to say, ‘Covid is over, let’s just do what we do.’”

“We really want to encourage individuals and families to consider safely re-entering settings where they can share meals, participate in activities and have multidisciplinary healthcare teams supporting them.” (Mark Hedin/Ethnic Media Services)

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 7-13, 2022

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Honoring the best of the Filipino diaspora...

PAGE 3

Jannelle So-Perkins (USA), Cristy M. Vicentina (Singapore), and Elija Paul G. Villanueva (UK).

Pamana ng Pilipino “Pamana,” which means legacy and heritage, showcases the honor and recognition that Filipinos bring to the homeland through outstanding performance, expertise, skills, and world-class talents. The award is conferred on overseas Filipino individuals who, exemplifying the talent and industry of the Filipino, have brought honor and recognition to the country through excellence and distinction in the pursuit of their work or profession.

Recipients of the Presidential Pamana ng Pilipino Award are Russ Patrick P. Alcedo (Canada), Glenda Lynna Anne T. Bonifacio (Canada), Josefino C. Comiso (USA), Sheila Maria A. Conejos (Singapore), Danilo M. Favor (UK), Glenn F. Fernandez (China), Laura D. Garcia (USA), Pamela D. Gotangco (Switzerland), Aurtenciano R. Miranda, Jr. (Italy), Ronaldo B. Nilo (Qatar), Caroline B. Ong (China), Glenn D. Pascual (USA), Lord Leomer B. Pomperada (USA), Karen Graciles L. Remo (United Arab Emirates), Albert Remus R. Rosana (Canada), Leorey N. Saligan (USA), and Walter S. Villagonzalo (Australia).

Kaanib ng Bayan A “Kaanib” is an ally or partner.

For Filipinos, a person who merits the title is like a member of the family. The title shows the country’s appreciation for and honoring foreign citizens or groups that assist the Philippines and its people. The award is conferred on foreign individuals and organizations for their exceptional or significant contribution to Philippine progress and development, or for advancing the cause or promoting the

interests of overseas Filipino communities.

Recipients of the Presidential Kaanib ng Bayan Award are Issa Mohammad Ahmad (Jordan), Yasonna H. Laoly (Indonesia), Montero Medical Missions (USA), Philippine Bayanihan Society – Singapore (Singapore), and Temasek Foundation, Ltd. (Singapore).

A Special Presidential Citation was given to the Coalition of Filipino American Chambers of Commerce (USA).

Most of the recipients personally accepted their awards. A few sent representatives to receive their awards.

Each presidential awardee shared their inspirational stories and expressed their gratitude for the honor during the testimonial dinner. They said they were thankful to be part of the elite roster of PAFIOO recipients, the crème de la crème of the Filipino diaspora, and the Filipino community overseas.

All recipients said the honor would inspire and motivate them to do more for overseas Filipinos and the Philippines. One of the awardees said, “I salute the values and the spirit that this award embodies, but it also brings great responsibility to continue to be a beacon of Filipino excellence in every corner of the world.”

CFO Head Executive Assistant Atty. Wendell Dimaculangan formally closed the event by proposing a toast to and congratulating all the awardees.

He also gave recognition to the excellent public service of Secretary Acosta, whose last day in office under the Duterte administration coincided with the PAFIOO Awarding Ceremony.

The event was live-streamed via the official Facebook Page of the PAFIO and CFO, and hosted

by Dr. Finesse Evangelista and Carlo Suzara.

Since it was instituted more than three decades ago, the PAFIOO has been presented to 541 individuals and entities based abroad. This year is particularly exceptional for having the most number of honorees who successfully passed the rigorous four-level multisectoral screening process.

The selection process started with the Awards Committee at the Philippine Embassies/ Consulates, Awards Technical Committee, and Awards Executive Committee chaired by the CFO and, finally the Office of the President. Also, members of the screening committees include the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Science and Technology, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Department of Health, De La Salle University, Center for Migrant Advocacy, Dynamic Outsource Solutions 1, GMA Network, Inc., and Episcopal Commission for Pastoral Care for Migrants and Itinerant People.

The PAFIOO serves as a continuing symbol of the government’s recognition of the selfless and immense contributions of Filipinos and private organizations overseas as dependable partners in national development efforts, exponents of Filipino talent and skills, and promoters of the interests of the Filipino diaspora. The PAFIOO is managed by the Policy, Planning, and Research Division of the CFO. For more information on the awardees, visit the PAFIOO Facebook page Gawad ng Pangulo https://www.facebook. com/gawadpangulo or visit the PAFIOO official website www. presidentialawards.cfo.gov.ph.

(CFO Release)

Biden invites Bongbong Marcos to...

PAGE 1

head of state, Romualdez said, he could visit Washington without being arrested despite a standing contempt order that for years had prevented him from entering the United States.

In 2012, a U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit handed down a contempt judgment against the estate of the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., his mother Imelda, and their son Ferdinand Jr. for violating an injunction that

barred them from dissipating assets of the estate.

The contempt order came after the Marcoses entered into a settlement with the Ramos administration in 1992 and agreed to share their wealth with the government. It was considered a violation of the 1991 decision of the U.S. District Court of Hawaii prohibiting the Marcos family from touching their U.S. assets because these were the source of potential payment of damages to the

human rights victims of martial law.

Immunity In May, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman told reporters in Manila that Mr. Marcos would be “welcome” to the United States, again citing his diplomatic immunity.

Weeks before his inauguration, Marcos’ media staff said he was considering going to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly in September. g

5

6

JULY 7-13, 2022 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

OPINION

Changing strategy

FEATURES

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THE International Criminal Court wants to resume its probe into the war on drugs that was a priority of Rodrigo Duterte during his six years as president. At the end of his term, Duterte acknowledged that he had underestimated the extent of the problem, which has persisted despite the deaths of over 6,000 suspects in police anti-narcotics operations.

Within days after he stepped down, police apprehended several drug trafficking suspects across the country. The latest and biggest drug bust so far was staged last Sunday morning, July 3 by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency backed by the police in Quezon City, which led to the arrest of a Chinese national and the confiscation of at least 40 kilos of shabu valued at P272 million.

While his brutal methods and apparent failure to hold law enforcers to account for abuses in the conduct of the campaign have been cited by the ICC, Duterte was not way off the mark in pointing out the extent of the problem in the country.

Long before he assumed power, the Philippines was already notorious as an international transshipment point for prohibited drugs.

Duterte, a former mayor and congressman, said even police generals and local government executives, from barangay officials to provincial governors, were involved in illegal drug deals. He defended the high number of suspected small-

scale pushers who were targeted, saying they were threats to public safety in their neighborhoods.

Continuing the campaign against illegal drugs was Duterte’s specific appeal to his successor. On Monday, July 4,, the new secretary of the interior and local government, whose department has supervision over the Philippine National Police, vowed to continue the campaign, but within the bounds of the Constitution. What this means exactly remains to be seen. PNP officials have previously pointed out that armed and bloody encounters cannot always be avoided in battling drug traffickers.

The illegal drug scourge has been around for decades, and confronting the problem is a continuing mission of law enforcement. The previous administration went for shock and awe in dealing with the problem, but the high human toll failed to eradicate the menace. A new dispensation must try a different strategy.

(Philstar.com)

Editorial

Commentary

CATHERINE FRANCISCO RIGHT now, Nevada has the second-highest gas prices in the nation. Our prices at the pump are second only to California's. For a number of reasons, including reliance on other states for refining, state and local taxes, and the costs of transporting fuel, Nevadans always pay some of the highest fuel prices in the nation, but the recent increases are having a real impact on families and small businesses.

As President of the Nevada AAPI Chamber of Commerce, I hear from my member businesses, colleagues, neighbors, and friends about the struggle high fuel prices put on both their business and family budgets. Every extra dollar

Philstar.com photo

Right now, Nevada needs a full suite of energy solutions used to fill gas tanks is a dollar that has to come from somewhere else.

Workers, and business owners, alike across Nevada know that in inflationary times like these, our nation's leaders should not be choosing to limit our supply of energy options. That's why they are counting on President Biden to do everything he can to lower fuel costs.

The Biden Administration has a big choice coming up, one that will have a lasting impact on America's energy supply for years to come.

The current five-year offshore leasing program expires at the end of June. Normally, a proposed plan would already be in place to give the oil and gas industry some idea of projected lease sales over the next five years, but the agency responsible for preparing the plan is already months behind schedule.

Although the law requires a plan to

be in place before July 1, the delay will result in no new lease sales for sixteen months or more, and it's going to have an impact on energy consumers.

According to a recently released study, the Gulf of Mexico is projected to produce an average of 2.6 million barrels per day of oil and natural gas from 2022 to 2040.

But if the administration chooses to stop selling leases for future exploration, in less than 15 years we'll see a 33% reduction in those numbers, meaning 885,000 fewer barrels per day. That is going to increase costs on Nevadans even further and increase our dependence on foreign sources of energy. That's an energy future our leaders should be working to avoid.

The adoption of a new five-year offshore leasing program that allows for new lease sales in the

Gulf of Mexico is critical to both America's economic recovery and our ongoing transition to renewable energy. Failure to finalize a schedule of offshore leasing opportunities as soon as possible puts jobs at risk and will likely result in a higher cost of living for families due to increased energy prices up and down the supply chain.

I applaud the President's commitment to fighting climate change and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. It is an important step towards a clean energy future. But energy transition is years away, and Nevadans do not want the President to take energy options off the table that would strengthen our national security, provide energy independence, and lower prices for consumers. Instead, we need a responsible solution that

supports both the development of renewable energy and promotes stability for America's energy consumers in the interim.

Our country is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between legacy and clean energy production while also creating jobs and lowering costs for hard-working Americans.

However, without a plan for the future of offshore oil and gas production, our energy sector will face uncertainty that hinders growth and investment, ultimately hurting current production levels. Our leaders are being called upon to protect America's energy independence, lower fuel costs, and support job growth by adopting an all-of-the-above energy policy that develops clean technologies as well as new opportunities for oil and natural gas production offshore.

In a time when Americans are in desperate need of economic relief, adopting a five-year program that includes lease sales this year gives the Biden administration a meaningful opportunity to take action on rising gas prices. We must use all of our resources to lower energy costs and support the American economy. Adopting a common-sense energy policy that includes a full suite of domestic energy products is our best chance to lower costs for Americans. *** 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.

*** Catherine Francisco is currently the President of Nevada AAPI Chamber of Commerce.

History being written, not rewritten Duterte legacy: A bonfire of institutions?

Babe’s Eye View BABE ROMUALDEZ THE presidency has always been a matter of destiny. I believe it, many people believe it, and so do many others who wanted the job but never made it.

After 36 years, witnessing destiny unfold with Ferdinand Marcos Jr. taking his oath of office as the 17th President of the Republic of the Philippines was simply overwhelming, to say the least. And for those who were around long enough to see the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos Sr., it was rather emotional, witnessing the inauguration of his son, all teary eyed as they listened to the new President deliver his inaugural address.

It took President Bongbong Marcos several days to get his speech together, and he delivered it so well that even those who did not support or vote for him were pleasantly surprised by the ring of sincerity that resonated with them, as the new President urged Filipinos to look to the future and take the road that would bring our county to a place that is “better than the one we lost in the pandemic,” and recover the gains that had been made but lost, including the opportunities that have been missed.

Reiterating the unity that was at the core of his message during the campaign, the President said, “In this fresh chapter of our history, I extend my hand to all

Filipinos. Come, let us put our shoulders to the wheel and give that wheel a faster turn to repair and to rebuild and to address challenges in new ways to provide what all Filipinos need to be all that we can. We are here to repair a house divided, to make it whole and to stand strong again,” he exhorted, reminding everyone that “we are Filipinos: one nation, one republic, indivisible.”

He has always believed that the people must be united in order for us to overcome the many problems that our country faces, and he sees the same thing happening not only in the Philippines but in many other countries all over the world.

When we are united as a people, we will be able to surmount any problem that may come our way.

The President also spoke of a “comprehensive, allinclusive plan for economic transformation” and building back better, learning from the experiences we have had – both good and bad, with “no looking back in anger or nostalgia.”

Many were especially pleased to hear him say that the task of building will continue, and that he will complete on schedule the projects that have been started.

“I am not interested in taking credit. I want to build on the success that is already happening,” he emphasized.

It is evident that Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is looking towards the future, with no intention whatsoever to rewrite history because as I have always maintained, he will be writing his story as he takes his place in history. Certainly, he is

cognizant of the weight of the responsibility that has been placed upon his shoulders by the 31 million who voted him into office – “the biggest electoral mandate in the history of Philippine democracy,” as he described it.

“I fully understand the gravity of the responsibility that you have put on my shoulders. I do not take it lightly, but I am ready for the task,” President BBM declared, acknowledging that with every difficult decision he must make, he will keep foremost in his heart and mind “the debt of gratitude” he owes the Filipino people for “the honor and responsibility” that has been conferred on him.

There is absolutely no doubt President Bongbong Marcos is highly motivated, giving me confidence in his ability to do well. And regardless of whether they are critics or supporters, deep in everyone’s heart as true Filipinos, they want this, our country, to go forward.

The special envoys present, among them Second Gentleman of the United States Doug Emhoff, were extremely impressed by the way President Bongbong Marcos expressed the vision and aspirations he has for the country and the Filipino people. When SGOTUS Emhoff made a private call on the President after the vin d’honneur, he delivered a personal letter from President Biden inviting President Marcos to visit the White House at an opportune time.

As I shared during my interview with CNN’s Ria Tanjuatco Trillo last Friday, July 1, that was very significant  PAGE 7

Horizons

RICHARD HEYDARIAN THE return of the Marcoses to Malacañang has, quite understandably, dominated the political headlines. Not only at home, but all across the world, many are wondering how the scions of a former strongman managed to claw their way back to the pinnacle of power in Asia’s oldest democracy. Dear reader, you can just imagine the headlines in major dailies and on global news platforms.

History—as in meta-narratives based on verified data and peerreviewed studies—is clearly not our national forte; otherwise, how did we arrive at the current situation, whereby some even dare to dismiss history as nothing but “gossip” (tsismis)!? Imagine what the victims of the darkest years in modern Philippine history are feeling now amid the denialist-revisionist spiral, which is steadily colonizing our public discourse?

My fervent wish, however, is that we don’t forget the recent past, at least. And this brings me to the legacy of former president Rodrigo Duterte, who skipped the inauguration of his successor altogether in order to swiftly return to his hometown. He may have gradually faded from our uber-short-attention-span news cycles, but we will be living with his legacy for years, if not decades, to come.

The 2016 elections represent one of the most seismic events

in Philippine history. It produced a presidency unlike anything before, both at home and, arguably, even internationally.

Despite winning just under 40 percent of the votes on the heels of a bizarrely polarizing campaign, Duterte swiftly became the most popular Filipino president since the introduction of authoritative surveys.

His trust rating climbed to as high as 90 percent early in his presidency, a mind-boggling rating that resurfaced in recent years. At one point, he even had the highest trust rating of any democratically elected leader in the world. He was unique in every sense of the word. Though hailing from an established political family in the country’s “Deep South,” he was the ultimate outsider as far as the “Imperial Manila” establishment is concerned.

And to be fair, Duterte deployed his unprecedented political capital for a number of consequential and even commendable initiatives. Think of his courageous advocacy for Bangsamoro autonomy, as well as the doubling of infrastructure spending (above 5 percent of gross domestic product) under his watch.

And to be honest, I also initially supported, as any patriot should, his call for greater independence from our traditional partners in favor of a more “independent” foreign policy. What I have always opposed, however, is exchanging an established strategic patron for predatory alternatives.

I have already extensively written, including in these august pages, on the human rights catastrophe and illiberal

practices under the previous president. So I won’t repeat them here. On a more macro level, however, let me emphasize that the greatest shortcoming of Duterte was his inexplicable inability to translate massive political capital into effective state-building.

In many ways, Duterte’s reign can be summarized as a bonfire of institutions (I’m indebted to fellow columnist Randy David for coining the term, and to sociologist Nicole Curato for pointing this out). Let me briefly discuss three key elements, which have undermined state institutions under the former president.

First of all, Duterte’s ascent to power reinforced the myth of what historian Julia Lovell has described as “political volunteerism,” namely the fantastical idea that a decisive, authoritarian leader can singlehandedly address complex social problems in the 21st century. This largely explains, for instance, why Duterte’s drug war was based less on modern public policy and evidence-based science than penal populist antics.

Second, his reign and unprecedented popularity were more driven by performativity rather than actual performance.

Impression-management and headline-grabbing pronouncements often trumped careful policy deliberation.

The great scholar of populism Ernesto Laclau described this phenomenon as the “empty signifier”: think of the “dolomite beach” in Manila Bay, which offended the sensibilities of every sound expert.  PAGE 7

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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7

Pres. Marcos’ 1st EO: Abolish Presidential AntiCorruption Commission, Office of Cabinet Secretary

by Gaea

Katreena Philstar.com

CabiCo

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has issued his first directive as the country’s chief executive, ordering the abolition of the Duterte-era Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission and the Office of the Cabinet Secretary.

Under EO 1, the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission is abolished, and its jurisdiction, powers and functions will be transferred to the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs.

“The Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs shall promulgate rules of procedure in administrative cases under its jurisdiction; provided that the existing rules of procedure in administrative cases promulgated by the Presidential AntiCorruption Commission shall remain in force, unless otherwise repealed or amended,” the order read.

The executive secretary will wind up the operations and disposition of the functions, positions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the PACC. In 2017, former President Rodrigo Duterte signed an executive order creating the PACC to investigate graft and corruption against presidential appointees in the executive branch. Duterte created the commission amid his allegations of corruption and “selective justice” against former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-

Morales.

The Office of the Ombudsman already has the mandate to "act promptly on complaints filed in any form or manner against officers or employees of the Government, or of any subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, including government-owned or controlled corporations, and enforce their administrative, civil and criminal liability in every case where the evidence warrants in order to promote efficient service by the Government to the people."

Towards the end of the Duterte government, they also formed the National Anti-Corruption Council, which launched "Project Kasangga: Aksyon Laban sa Korapsyon," that includes creating Anti-Corruption Coordinating Councils in government agencies.

The former president also ordered an ambitious directive to the Department of Justice to lead the investigation of corruption in the "entuire government."

Cabinet secretary, too Marcos also abolished the Office of the Cabinet Secretary.

The existing Cabinet Secretariat will be placed under the direct control and supervision of the Presidential Management Staff.

In 2012, late President Benigno Aquino III renamed the Office of the Cabinet Secretariat to Office of Cabinet Secretary.

Aquino also reinstated the Office of the Cabinet Secretary as independent of the PMS. The Cabinet Secretary was also given a Cabinet rank and staffing support.

Mandates of Office of Cabinet

History being written, not...

PAGE 6

because there is a concerted effort on the part of the United States to reach out to the new administration of President Marcos and move forward to make the relationship even stronger.

President Biden was the first head of state to congratulate President Marcos.

SGOTUS Emhoff is also a close personal friend of President Biden; representing him at the inaugural was a personal gesture coming from the US president.

Regarding our relationship with the United States, President

Marcos said he would like to see more trade between the two nations. We have mounted quite a number of economic forums in the past and we will be doing more of that. In my conversation with Finance Secretary Ben Diokno, we agreed to continue, if not double our efforts, in promoting the Philippines and getting more investments from the United States.

We have actually been getting a lot of inquiries on how we could move forward with regard to economic trade between the Philippines and the US under

Secretary include assisting in providing timely and organized information to the Cabinet on issues and problems submitted for decision and action, providing conference and administrative support services to the Cabinet, and conduct technical research and special studies on specific policy issues.

“In order to achieve simplicity, economy and efficiency in the bureaucracy without effecting disruptions in internal management and general governance, the administration shall streamline official processes and procedures by reorganizing the Office of the President proper and the various attached agencies and offices, and by abolishing duplicated and overlapping official functions,” the Marcos' EO 1 read.

Adviser on military, police affairs While EO 1 abolished two offices, it also created the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Military and Police Affairs, which will be under the administration of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President.

The directive also ordered that the Office of the Special Assistant to the President, the presidential advisers and assistants, and the PMS shall coordinate with the executive secretary in providing staff support to the chief executive.

Three-time Davao del Norte congressman Anton Lagdameo, also a long-time friend and ally of Marcos, serves as the Special Assistant to the President. g

STRENGTHENING TIES. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (right) pays a courtesy call on Vice President Sara Z. Duterte at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City on Wednesday, July 6. Joining them were Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Ambassador Huang Xilian.

PNA photo by Avito Dalan

Duterte hopes China partnership may enhance PH academic performance

MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte has said she is eyeing partnering with China in the field of education to enhance Filipino students’ academic performance, her office said on Thursday, July 7.

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) said this was among the things discussed during the courtesy call of China’s top diplomat Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on Wednesday, July 6.

Duterte, who concurrently sits as the Education Secretary, also cited the possible cooperation with China for education professionals who can teach English to Chinese students.

“She looks forward to partnering with China in the field of education to enhance the academic the new administration. For my performance of Filipino students,” part, I am highly motivated to the OVP said in a statement.

“She also cited possible double the work we have been doing not only on the aspect of the economy but in other areas of mutual interest to bring the relationship to a higher level.

(Philstar.com) PAGE 6 *** And lastly, a major problem The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints under the previous president expressed by the author do not necessarily was the rare combination of reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of arbitrariness and absenteeism, the Asian Journal, its management, editorial which amused too many at board and staff. the expense of our emaciated *** institutions. To build a strong state, which is essential to longEmail: babeseyeview@gmail.com

cooperation with China in terms of its need for education professionals who can teach English to Chinese students,” it added.

Duterte also told Wang about the concerns of numerous Filipino students eager to return to China to continue their studies.

As for other matters, the Vice President likewise expressed gratitude for China’s support to the Philippines, especially regarding the “Build, Build, Build” program of her father’s, former President Rodrigo Duterte, administration.

“She acknowledged the significant role of China in terms of the construction of the Samal Island-Davao Connector bridge, which she hopes would be completed as soon as possible, as this would bring much economic progress to the people of Davao,” the OVP said.

The OVP said that Wang vowed that China is ready to step up education cooperation with the Philippines.

“He promised that China stands ready to step-up education cooperation and will certainly assist in the facilitation of the return of Filipino students to China aside from increasing the number of scholarships for Filipinos in Chinese education institutions,” it said.

Wang also cited the important role of Vice President Duterte as Education Secretary in uplifting the lives of the Filipinos.

The OVP said he also discussed China’s priority areas of cooperation with the Philippines under the new administration: agriculture, infrastructure, energy, and people-to-people exchanges. (Inquirer.net)

Duterte legacy: A bonfire of... term national development, a leader must invest in the rule of law, value long-term planning, and, above all, rely on evidence-based policymaking.

Consummate populists, however, often rely on optics and myths.

Duterte raised many good questions. Can’t say the same

about his 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.

*** rheydarian@inquirer.com.ph

JULY 7-13, 2022 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL 8 LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

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AFTER ‘ARSENIC AND ADOBO’ AND ‘HOMICIDE AND HALO-HALO’

Mia Manansala set to release her third ‘cozy’ mystery ‘Blackmail and Bibingka’ MOMAR G. VISAYA / AJPRESS

series steeped in rich Filipino heritage and spiced with a BOOK coach and author Mia debut Arsenic and Adobo, which generous helping of delicious Manansala burst into the literary would turn out to be the first Filipino food.

She made it a quick onescene last year with her smash installment of a quirky and fun BY

Mia Manansala

Photo by Jamilla Yip Photography

two punch in the cozy mystery subgenre with her followup to her successful debut called Homicide and Halo-Halo.

This fall, fans who have fallen in love with her characters led by Lila Macapagal and her friends and relatives are in for a surprise: the release of the third book in what is now also called as “Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery” series.

Blackmail and Bibingka takes off where Homicide and HaloHalo ended.

Like Arsenic and Adobo, Homicide and HaloHalo ended in a cliffhanger and like what she did in the first two books, the author teased the readers by releasing the saga's next installment’s new chapter.

Manansala has brought a brand-new generation of cozy readers to the table, making inroads with millennial readers because she is in touch with the voice and texture of their communities. A subgenre of crime fiction, 'cozies' highlight quirky amateur sleuths and their crime-solving powers in smalltown settings.

Manansala's books embrace conventions of the culinary cozy subgenre while also pushing past them, creating diverse mysteries that everyone enjoys.

Like its predecessors, Blackmail and Bibingka is a thrilling mystery that features these alltoo-relatable characters (hello, Titas!), relatable family dynamics, and delicious food (recipes for delicious Filipino dishes included in the back of the novel).

The stories happen in the small town of Shady Palms, Illinois. In a nutshell, local baker Lila Macapagal and her relatives run Tita Rosie's Kitchen, serve delicious Flipino dishes, and solve crimes on the side as amateur sleuths.

The latest installment of Lila’s food- (and murder-) filled adventures still carries Manansala’s trademark mouthwatering descriptions, laugh-outloud one-liners, and charmingly relatable heroine.

Manansala’s style makes the series such page-turners that fans have been known to devour the books in one sitting, like a delicious bowl of halo-halo and a plate of bibingka, In an interview with the Asian Journal, Manansala revealed that her first book wasn’t originally sold as Arsenic and Adobo. The original title was Love, Loss, and Lumpia, which her editors liked but they told her it wasn’t “mystery enough.”

“So I brainstormed a list of titles that fit the usual cozy mystery parameters but also included Filipino food and sent them the list,” she shared. “They chose Arsenic and Adobo from the list (which I love so much and made me wonder why it took me so long to come up with it) and from that point on, I followed the convention of an alliterative crime word plus Filipino food.

It’s so much fun!”

Manansala’s books aka Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series are centered around Filipino food, family, and murder. Her protagonist, Lila Macapagal is

thrust into the middle of a murder (like the first book) or solving a murder at a small-town beauty pageant that she’s judging in the second installment of the series.

“Filipinos tend to love beauty pageants, so I thought it’d be interesting to set a crime at one,” she said of Homicide and HaloHalo.

“Homicide and Halo-Halo was the first book I’ve had to write under contract, so before I could even begin I had to turn in a full synopsis (the entire story of the book including the ending) to my editors,” Manansala recalled.

This is something she has to do for all her contracted books, so she always does an outline, builds her synopsis from that, and then uses those documents to guide her while she drafts the story. When she gets stuck, she turns to the synopsis and outline saying that she does not have the time to wait for inspiration to strike.

She also talked about the “Second Book Syndrome” where authors and writers feel that writing their second book is so much more difficult than their first because, with the first book, they could take as much time as they wanted to make it “right.”

“The second book is often part of your contract and on a deadline, so you not only have to write on a much tighter timeline than you may be used to, but you also have to do it while editing and promoting your first book and dealing with increased pressure to do well. It can be overwhelming in the best times, and having to deal with it after getting laid off and during a global pandemic…I’m so proud of myself for pushing through it all and producing a solid book,” she said.

As an author, Manansala believes it is extremely important to have Filipino characters like Lila Macapagal in her books.

“I follow the Toni Morrison adage of writing the books I want to read, that I wish I could find on the shelf but can’t. There are some wonderful Filipino and

Filipino diaspora writers out there, but there could always be more,” she said.

Manansala was an English language instructor at a cultural immersion language school, which closed down at the beginning of the pandemic.

She works part-time at her local library where she spends the first half of the week writing and working with her book coaching clients, the second half doing her library job. Her weekends tend to be dedicated to writing-related activities as well.

“I work best late morning to early afternoon – after 4 or 5 p.m., my brain is mush, so I try to get all my productive work out of the way as early as possible in the day,” she shared.

Born and raised in Chicago, Manansala grew up in a multigenerational household that included her maternal grandparents, her parents Nilo and Marion, her two younger brothers, and a couple of cousins.

“It always felt rather hectic and nobody had any privacy. My father was a wonderful cook and would always make delicious feasts every Sunday, which is why all my stories focus heavily on the importance of family and food,” she said.

Manansala was quite young when she realized she wanted to write.

“I’m not sure the exact age, but I was definitely in elementary school when I discovered how much I loved reading and writing stories,” she recalled. “When I was a kid, my biggest dreams were to become an astronaut, a teacher, and a writer, so I’ve achieved two out of three!”

She is thankful and appreciative that her parents always had her back.

“They taught me the importance of family, and that it’s OK to dream big as long as you have a backup plan. They’d always been supportive of me and my creative ambitions, but they also taught me to be practical and keep my options open,” she said.

Markus breaks silence over rumored split with Janella

by JAN

MILO SEVERO Philstar.com

ACTOR Markus Paterson revealed the real score in his relationship with Janella Salvador.

In his recent interview with Cinemanews, Markus said he will let Janella do the talking about their relationship.

“Our relationship status is definitely something that people are asking about. But as of now, I’m gonna let her do the talking on this status… but we’re both very good," Markus said.

“We have a very good relationship with each other.

So let’s just leave it like that for now,” he added.

Though he didn’t deny or confirmed their breakup, Markus said he’s happy now.

“Ang puso ko ngayon? Ang masasabi ko lang, masaya. Magaan in a lot of ways," he said.

“I’ve come to terms with a lot of things this year so far. I just can’t wait to grow more and learn more about everything in life, my craft, relationship, fatherhood. I’m so young and I can’t wait to just become the best version of me,” he added.

Their breakup rumors came after social media users noticed that they are not posting about each

Celebrity couple Markus Paterson and Janella Salvador with their son Photo from Instagram/@markus

other anymore on Instagram.

Markus, however, greeted Janella on Mother's Day last May. 

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 7-13, 2022

9

Tentative map approved for ‘Beckham Heights’ subdivision in Pahrump

by RealtoR

Fely Quitevis-Bateman

A PROJECT inked years ago by a company with the Nye County Commission continues to show signs of development in Pahrump, Nevada.

Recently, a tentative map was approved for a small subdivision that is dubbed “Beckham Heights” which will see a build of 246 homes on approximately 51 acres, according to the Pahrump Valley Times. The proposed map was approved by the commission on a vote of 4-1, per the article.

Adaven Management, the company behind the project, had inked the development agreement known as Mountain Falls South with the commission about 15 years ago that will ultimately build out a total of 5,160 single family dwelling units. Beckham Heights is a tiny portion in that agreement.

Beckham Heights’ location will be off Hafen Ranch Road, just

north of Thousandaire Boulevard.

According to the article, the subdivision density will be about 4.8 homes per acre. Lots in the subdivision will have an average lot size of 5,639 square feet, or about 0.12 acres.

Per the proposed plan, the subdivision will have four unique four plans, with each model offering three unique elevations. Homes will range in size from 2,078 square feet to 3,030 square feet. Three of the models are two-story, while one is a single-story.

The approval of the tentative map is one more step in the process for Beckham Heights to become a reality. However, before any construction can happen in the area, a final subdivision map must be approved and recorded, which will go before the commission at some time in the future.

There is also the question of

A cannabis dispensary, The Source+, is one of the new businesses opening in town along Homestead Road.

Another new business that will open along Homestead Road in Pahrump is a Circle K, which is currently under construction.

which utility will service the water needs in the Adaven Management project. This must be verified with the Nevada Division of Water Services and the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection before a final map can be approved.

It is interesting to note that the commissioners have had to work with the conditions in the agreement, which was approved by a different set of commissioners years ago. This agreement expires in 2029. Although the current commissioners have had apprehensions over the proposed lot sizes and have had to answer to criticism from the public about regarding the continued development of tiny subdivision lots in Pahrump Valley, they are moving forward with proposed developments as covered within the agreement.

It can be recalled that a couple of months ago, Adaven went before the commission to get approval for the construction of a roundabout that on Highway 160 at Manse Road that will change the eastern entrance into the town. That planned roundabout will provide access to the Mountain Falls South project of Adaven.

Over the years, some activities have taken place within the agreement which include donation of a 12-acre site for Floyd Elementary School, donation of

water rights and necessary sewer connection, and coordination with the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints to help establish a church on Manse Road.

Additionally, there has been paving and curb and gutter work done on Manse Road, and installation of a fiber-optic line, which is in line with stipulations in the development agreement that called for certain improvements to be made to Manse Road from the highway to Hafen Ranch Road.

At that time, the estimate for the investments done by Adaven on infrastructure was pegged at $17 million. The roundabout is expected to add another $1.5 million to that figure.

This piece of news continues to enhance the image of Pahrump, which was originally inhabited by the Southern Paiute and mostly dotted with ranch-style holdings over 400 hectares in size. The town has grown into an area that major retailers and real estate developers are taking a look at due to its proximity to Las Vegas.

Broader acceleration for areas like Pahrump is seen by industry analysts in order to address the needs of homebuyers as real estate and property developers eye new regions where they can set up potential projects. That means more housing in the future, and perhaps an exodus of people looking for the right opportunities in newer

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@preciousproperties.com or fely.precious@gmail.com.

markets.

Although land prices in Pahrump may not be as low as it was decades ago, it is still an affordable alternative to the rising real estate prices in Las Vegas. A recent slowdown in real estate sales may offer additional benefits to buyers who are looking for the right conditions to buy a piece of property.

Real estate in Pahrump has appreciated about 155% over the last ten years alone, according to latest data available, which puts the unincorporated town in the top 10% nationally for areas whose real estate values have appreciated exponentially. Due to this, many observers see Pahrump as being one of the best long-term investments that people can make in the United States over the past decade and into the future.

Millions of dollars in projects are being infused in infrastructure which will benefit the town in the long run, and many big projects are being developed for the town, including the first horse racing track in the state of Nevada.

While prices are still affordable, Celebrating the close of escrow in Pahrump are Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (left) and her now is the time to look for client, Dr. Philip Paleracio, who plans to build a medical building in the town. opportunities in Pahrump and

neighboring communities. Whether you are looking to settle in a new place, finding your own piece of retirement heaven, or just looking to own land or another property as an investment, Pahrump is a great find and I will help look for the best opportunities available in the market. I have been a Realtor since the 1980s and I will use that experience and know-how to help you the right piece of real estate for your budget and needs.

Many of my clients have reaped the benefits of their investments in land and property – you could be one of the many individuals and families who can grow their real estate portfolio and net worth by looking at what’s on the market.

My company, Precious Properties, is a full-service company serving its clientele since 1992 and you can reach me at 775-513-8447, 805-559-2476 and 702-538-4948 for more information, or by sending me an email at fely@preciousproperties.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.

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JULY 7-13, 2022 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

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Abortion: A right? Filipino American pens new nostalgic memoir

Health @Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS THE Supreme Court of the United States ruled on Friday, June 24, 2022, to overturn Roe v. Wade, aborting the “conceived constitutional right to abortion” mothered by a progressive Supreme Court on January 22, 1973. This historic upset terminated almost half a century of what was dubbed and generally thought of as a guaranteed right under the U.S. Constitution.

After 49 years, the Supreme Court revisited the abortion issue, and it is now clear that there is nothing in the Constitution of the United States that provides the right to abortion. There is no provision in this sacred document that states, much less guarantees, the right or the freedom of choice to terminate the life of a fetus in the mother’s womb.

Even the word abortion, in its current context, is not in the Constitution or Bill of Rights.

Justice Antonin Scalia, a brilliant scholar and one of the most respected members of the Supreme Court, was precisely on target when he declared more than a decade before he died on February 13, 2016, that abortion was unconstitutional because “the Constitution contains no right to abortion.”

We, The People, have been misled by the progressive left, aided by the mainstream media, to believe that abortion was a constitutional right. The Roe v Wade landmark agenda was successfully “created out of thin air” as a right under the Fourth Amendment (the right to privacy), like marital privacy, privacy between a physician and patient, the priest and the penitent, the lawyer and client privilege. It was a bit of a stretch, but somehow “abortion rights” became law of the land in 1973, resulting in the death of more than 63 million unborn, much more than the total casualties of all wars known to man from 549 BC (Cyrus the Great) Pre-Modern War to the most recent around the world, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, combined.

The other issue being raised by a large sector of the United States is why taxes paid by those against abortion are being used to subsidize those seeking an abortion, that the subsidy should only be borne by those in favor of abortion, the pro-abortion segment of society calling itself pro-choice.

Designer vaccines New vaccines, tailored to be more effective against the new subvariants of Omicron, like BA.4 and BA.5, which are the predominant sub-strains today, are soon to be available by Fall or sooner, in preparation for the predicted more than a million

new COVID-19 infections during winter.

Since the spike proteins on the surface of the round SARSCoV2 viruses are the penetrating “needles” that allow the virus to enter the person’s cells to cause infection, and since the spikes differ in each variant or subvariant, the vaccines are designed to mimic each type of spike proteins to promote immunity against more variety of the virus.

This concept has led to studies that showed a mix and match vaccination is more effective and protective against different strains and substrains of the coronaviruses.

An example of this is getting Moderna as the second booster after an initial Pfizer-BioNT booster, or Novavax (found to be more than 90 percent effective for mild, moderate or even severe COVID-019 infection). The newer vaccines have been reformulated to also protect against the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5.

As of July 4, 2022, the 7-day average daily case was 105,754, with 389 deaths, and a fully vaccinated rate of 67 percent for the United States, In the Philippines, there were 914 cases last week and a positivity rate of 13.2 percent, nearly 90 percent of the country showing a rise in COVID-19 cases, and 57 percent of the nation with an increasing positivity rate, according to the Philippine Department of Health. Almost 71 million people (62.7 percent) in the Philippines have been fully vaccinated out of the 113.2+ million total population.

The pandemic is far from over, with Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 today and potential newer strains in the future, so we have to continue to be careful and vigilant. Protection from the vaccines and from natural immunity following COVID-19 infection both wane after about 6 months or less, the reason boosters #1 and #2 are recommended, and perhaps another one for this coming Fall.

Masking and social distancing protect everyone and are nothing to be embarrassed about. Arrogance and bravado towards the virus can be deadly. Life is precious. And, unfortunately, it does not come with a spare.

Cervical Cancer Cancer of the cervix (mouth of the womb) is typically caused by the human papillomatous virus (HPV), a sexually transmitted malignancy, but it is possible for a woman to develop it even if she never had sexual intercourse.

Normally spread by skin-toskin or skin-to-mucosal contact during sex, HPV could also be transmitted by genital touching, oral sex, vaginal fluids on hands and fingers, and by sharing sex toys. HPV could also infect 11 percent of babies during

vaginal delivery.

Cigarette smokers are twice likely to develop cervical cancer compared to those who do not smoke because there is an ingredient in tobacco that damages the DNA of the cervix. A weakened immune system and the long-term use of contraceptives also increase the risk. Cervical cancer also runs in the family.

Cervical cancer screening is recommended by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology for those aged 21 and over, including those who are not sexually active.

HPV Myths debunked HPV is rare. Wrong. HPV is very common. Sexually active individuals will contract the virus at some point. Most will not have obvious signs.

Multiple sexual partners is how one gets HPV. False.

One infected sexual partner is enough to get HPV. Use of condoms prevents HPV. Fake news. The use of condoms or other barriers may reduce, but not totally prevent HPV infection. The virus could be on the skin around the vagina and in the hands and fingers.

If one gets HPV, she will develop cancer. Not true. There are more than 200 types of HPV and only a few increase the risk for cervical cancer.

After getting the HPV vaccine, the woman does not need PAP smear tests anymore.

False. To fully protect a woman, PAP tests are still needed Vaginal penetration by the penis is needed to acquire HPV infection. Not true. Touching the genital or oral sex is enough to cause HPV. Gardisil-9 vaccine against nine varieties of HPV is only for adults. Wrong. This highly (more than 98 percent) effective vaccine against cervical cancer is recommended for girls and boys aged 9 and adults up to age 45.

A NEW book written by a Filipino American has just been released and is now available online.

“The Road to Cabalitian,” penned by Rodolfo I. Necesito of Stockton, California, is a nostalgic memoir that captures the events that framed the life of a young boy growing up in a bucolic village in post-World War II Philippines. Cabalitian is one of the 15 barangays or barrios, of Asingan, Pangasinan.

Part biographical and part historical, the 178-page book describes how life was under the 3-year oppressive rule of the Japanese occupiers from 19421945, and how the barrio folks

contrived a way to evade the Kempetai soldiers who did not hesitate to intimidate, harass, and torture civilians under slim pretexts.

The author also details efforts by his parents to meet the challenges they faced as they were confronted with a growing family, as well as describe how it was to live in a rural setting like Cabalitian. Fascinating and interesting stories about the family and its interactions with their neighbors were included in this compendium of events that highlighted the author’s early life.

The author also focuses on the various activities of the

Author Rodolfo Necesito of Stockton, CA

“The Road to Cabalitian” is a nostalgic memoir which captures the events that framed the young life of its author in post-World War II Philippines.

*** 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 main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United NetworkUSA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.

Vilma on Nora Aunor’s National Artist conferment

by Dolly

Anne CArvAjAl Inquirer.net

Vilma Santos

Inquirer.net photo

EMPLOYMENT

WHEN my mom (Inday Badiday) was still around, Ate Guy and she were super close. They rose to fame together. The Superstar saw me grow up, so every time we bump into each other at show biz parties, we would reminisce about the good old days.

At the height of the popularity of the Guy-Pip (Tirso Cruz III) love team, Nora would pop up in our house at odd hours to seek Mom’s advice about heart matters. Ma was even a “ninang” (godmother) to Guy & Pip’s “doll daughter,” Maria Leonora Teresa. That’s how fandom was back in the day.

Ma took Ate Guy’s deepest secrets to her grave. One of my fave La Aunor stories that Ma shared with me happened during their shoot of “Blue Hawaii.” During a break time, Ma asked Nora to accompany her to watch the shoot of “Hawaii 5-0” (H50) the hit TV show back then.

Both of them were in total fangirl mode, so they lost track of time.

When they got back to the set of their movie, Kuya Germs (German PAGE 11

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simple folks of Cabalitian amid their challenges to improve their lives. He highlighted the raft of customs, traditions, and superstitious beliefs the locals observed during such holidays as Christmas and New Year’s Day. The residents of Cabalitians who are mostly Ilocanos trace their origin to their forebears coming from the Ilocos Region in northern Luzon.

Necesito immigrated to the United States in 1976 with his wife Estrella, following a 10year stint as director of public relations and publications of the Philippine National Red Cross in Manila. In the United States, he worked for the City Attorney’s Office in the City and County of San Francisco for almost 30 years before retiring in 2006.

He is enjoying his retirement in Stockton, California.

“The Road to Cabalitian” is available in both Kindle and paperback editions on amazon. com.

EntErtainmEnt

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11

Piolo today on love, life and ideal partnerships

by Tessa

MauriCio-arriola ManilaTimes.net

Judy Ann Santos

Photo screengrabed from YouTube/Judy Ann’s Kitchen

Judy Ann takes break from shooting cooking videos due to price increases

by Dana

Cruz Inquirer.net

JUDY Ann Santos explained that she opted to pause from making cooking videos amid the rising prices of goods, saying it seems “unfair” to those who could not afford ingredients.

The actress addressed the lack of new videos from her cooking vlog “Judy Anne’s Kitchen” during the episode of “Magandang Buhay” last Monday, July 4, as seen on ABS-CBN’s YouTube channel. Santos was asked by her co-host Melai Cantiveros whether her busy schedule was the reason why she had not been making new videos, with the latest one released last January.

“Hindi naman sobrang busy.

Ang hirap kasing mag-isip ng mga episodes especially kung ang pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin ay napakalala. Ayokong hindi makarelate ‘yung viewers sa kung anumang lutuin ang gagawin

Francine Diaz

ko kasi parang napaka-unfair naman,” she told Cantiveros.

(It is not because I am so busy. It is just difficult to think of episodes especially if price increases are so severe. I do not want the viewers to not be able to relate to whatever I cook because it seems very unfair.)

Santos stressed that she will eventually return to making cooking videos, but is still looking for the right timing to do so.

“Ayoko lang na parang masabihan ako na, ‘luto ka nang luto, ‘di naman namin magagawa ‘yan.’… [After] lang din ako roon sa [reality],” she said. (I do not want to be told, “You keep on cooking, we cannot even do that.” I am just considering the realities.)

Santos added that she considers “Judy Ann’s Kitchen” her “outlet” so she only does episodes for it when she feels inspired.

“Ayoko siyang tratuhing trabaho. Kapag trinato ko siyang

trabaho, mawawala na ‘yung authenticity,” she stated. (I do not want to treat it like a job. If I treat it like a job, the authenticity will be gone.)

Santos is currently serving as a guest host for “Magandang Buhay,” alongside Cantiveros and Jolina Magdangal. She started her stint on the morning show last June 21, replacing Regine Velasquez who left mid-June to judge “Idol Philippines.”

Meanwhile, inflation rate in the country hit 6.1% in June, the highest since October 2018, amid rising prices of food and fuel in the country. This marks a three-year high since November 2018’s 6.1% and October 2018’s 6.9%.

"WHO is your ideal partner?" is a question that has been part of every interview of top actor Piolo Pascual since starting his showbiz career in 1992. Because until his adoring public sees him happily settled down, they will always keep a close eye on Pascual's personal life, only wishing him the best in love and happiness.

Over the weekend, however, the award-winning actor and philanthropist assured friends and fans that even if he remains single at 45, he is content and living a meaningful existence.

Pascual related, "[Over] the pandemic, I realized, [happiness] is not about having a partner per se, but about having the independence to live your life one day at a time."

He added, of the last two years, "Time taught me a lot about discipline and [especially] to appreciate life for whatever it gives you by the day."

Pressed as he always is about going into a relationship, he replied without a hint of impatience, "Hindi kasi ako naghahanap eh.

'Yun ang mahirap dun eh. But there will come a time for me to settle down.

"Again, I don't have any criteria or requirements [for an ideal partner] because at the end of the day, it's about heart, it's about your feelings. Hindi naman hinahanap 'yun, dumarating na lang," he rightly declared.

Despite a lull in the love department, Pascual made sure to reveal he is still far from jaded despite failed relationships.

The award-winning actor and philanthropist assures everyone that even if he remains single at 45, he is content and living a meaningful existence.

Photo from Instagram/@piolo_pascual

Still a fan of true love, he stated, "I believe in something that happens out of fate, something that happens with divine intervention or divine appointments. I believe in magic. I believe in something electrifying. And when that time comes, that person will be the ideal partner."

Showing the way to his meaningful existence, Pascual first expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming success of his

Photo from Instagram/@francinediaz

Francine admits ‘professional jealousy’ towards fellow actresses by anne

Pasajol Inquirer.net

FRANCINE Diaz got real about being in the showbiz industry and disclosed that there is “professional jealousy” among fellow actresses in her generation.

Diaz spoke about this as she took on the lie detector test challenge with fellow actress Bea Alonzo, as seen in a vlog on the latter’s YouTube channel on Saturday, July 2. The said challenge was done with a real polygraph machine and a professional examiner.

The topic was brought up after Diaz was asked about a recent magazine cover she had with fellow actresses Andrea Brillantes, Belle Mariano, Charlie Dizon, Alexa Ilacad and Jayda Avanzado.

“Kayo ang itinuturing na bagong henerasyon ng mga stars — mayroon bang pressure o professional jealousy sa pagitan niyo?”

Alonzo asked.

(You alongside these actresses are dubbed as the new generation of stars — is there pressure or professional jealousy among all of you?)

Diaz answered “yes” to which the examiner gestured a thumbs up, affirming that the actress was telling the truth.

“Pero ‘yung pressure ko kasi, hindi naman ‘yung pressure na, ‘Kailangan mas maganda ako sa kanya. Dapat mas maganda ‘yung damit ko sa kanya’ — siguro competition na professional and healthy,” Diaz explained. “Parati kong pinapasok sa isip ko na lahat naman tayo ay darating ‘yung para sa atin sa tamang oras.”

(But the pressure on my part is not like, “I should be prettier than her.

My clothes should be better than hers” — maybe it is a professional and healthy competition. I always bear in my mind that everyone’s turn will come at the right time.)

Diaz also talked about her work ethic when Alonzo asked if she ever had been “plastic” towards a fellow actor.

“Kahit ayaw ko sa kanya, nire-respeto ko na lang siya bilang katrabaho ko and as a person kasi ‘pag pinlastic ko siya e ‘di plastic akong tao. Ang pangit,” Diaz stated.

(Even if I do not like the person, I respect that person as a fellow actor and as a person, because if I act “plastic,” that makes me plastic too.

It is not proper.)

Diaz also admitted that the showbiz industry is toxic but stressed that it still has its good side as there are genuine people in it.

Meanwhile, Diaz is set to team up for the first time with actor Seth Fedelin in the upcoming TV series “Dirty Linen.” Joining the pair in the cast are Janine Gutierrez, Zanjoe Marudo, Jennica Garcia and JC Santos, among others.

Vilma on Nora Aunor’s National...

PAGE 10 Moreno, who was their director) was furious. He reprimanded them like they were kids who played hooky. But Ma and Ate Guy were too giddy after watching the shoot of H5O, so they just ignored Kuya Germs’ “sermon.”

Ate Guy’s career would not have been as colorful without her rivalry with Vilma Santos. So I interviewed Ate Vi about La Aunor’s new “honor.” Now that Ate Guy is a certified National Artist, Ate Vi is definitely next in line.

Here’s my chat with Ate Vi: What’s your message to Ate Guy on her being named National Artist?

Isang pagpupugay ang dapat nating ibigay sa ating bagong set of National Artists. Bawat isa sa kanila ay may angking galing at talino na lubos na kahanga-hanga.

I sincerely congratulate all of them.

Lahat sila magaling.

Congratulations, Mareng Guy! Keep up the good work.

If you and Ate Guy would do a movie, what roles do you want both of you to portray?

Long lost friends who are reunited. I want it to be about women empowerment.

What’s your fave movie of Ate Guy? Our movies, of course. “T-bird at Ako” and “Ikaw ay Akin.”

MONTE MARIA 1/2KP

ongoing "Flower of Evil" series with Lovi Poe. Streamed on Viu, it is currently the No. 1 weekly series on the Southeast Asia-wide entertainment platform.

Secondly, he said he feels very fortunate that his partnership with Sunlife Philippines has only strengthened over time, given such worthwhile and life-changing campaigns they continue to corroborate on for the public.

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JULY 7-13, 2022 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

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