070823 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

Text messages become a gold mine for scammers, FTC officials say

REPRESENTATIVES from the Federal Trade Commission and community leaders spoke during a briefing with ethnic media in Tampa, Florida on the rise in text scams targeting minority communities.

A few days ago, Christian Amador received a text message on his smartphone. It wasn’t from someone he knew. He thought he just received a missent text message.

“It was lovely meeting you. I enjoyed our dinner together, and I’m looking forward to getting to know you,” said the text, pointing him to a web link.

He found the tone endearing, so he clicked on the web link. It immediately asked him to provide more personal information.

“At that point,” Amador said, “it became clear to me that it was a scammer.”

Text scams, known as smishing, have been on the rise across the United States. Scammers send different versions of a deceptive text message that is intended to lure the recipient into providing their personal financial information.

Another version of a text scam involves

US concerned over China’s ‘coercive, risky’ behavior in South China Sea

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MANILA — The United States is concerned over the latest incident that showed Beijing’s “coercive and risky” behavior in the contested South China Sea. This was among the issues U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III had discussed with his Philippine counterpart Gilbert Teodoro Jr. in a call where they talked about ongoing efforts to boost the alliance of

Washington and Manila.

According to a readout of their call shared by the U.S. Department of Defense on Friday, July 7,

“Secretary Austin noted with concern the People’s Republic of China’s recent coercive and risky operational behavior directed against Philippine vessels operating safely and lawfully in the South China Sea, including around Second Thomas (Ayungin) Shoal.”

This comes after the Philippine Coast Guard called out the “dangerous maneuvers” of Chinese

Coast Guard ships on two of its vessels supporting a Philippine Navy resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal on June 30.

“He (Austin) highlighted the United States’ ironclad alliance commitment with the Philippines and reiterated that the Mutual Defense Treaty extends to Philippine public vessels, aircraft, and armed forces – to include those of its Coast Guard – in the Pacific, including anywhere in the South China Sea,” the readout says.

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DOT urged: Turn over ad probe report to Congress

by Delon Porcalla Philstar.com

MANILA — It would be best for Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco to turn over to Congress the results of the Department of Tourism (DOT)’s internal investigation on its campaign slogan that embarrassed the Philippines for using stock video footage of other countries.

This was the unsolicited advice Rep. Joey Salceda gave to Frasco amid calls for her immediate resignation, which he blamed on the advertising firm that lifted the videos and pictures of foreign tourism agencies.

“She should submit to Congress the results of their internal investigation. That’s the way it should be. That’s the necessary, logical and next step forward,” Salceda told journalists at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum on Wednesday, July 5.

DOCTORS are concerned that a Supreme Court ruling issued June 29 will have farreaching effects not only on the diversity of doctors and other care providers in training but ultimately also on patient care.

The decision found it is unconstitutional for colleges and universities to use race as a factor in student admissions, which will affect enrollment decisions at public and private educational institutions, including medical schools.

Like other academic institutions, medical schools have long factored race into admission decisions. The schools operated under the principle — and there is considerable evidence they are correct — that a more diverse workforce of doctors does a better job of treating diverse patients.

The “decision demonstrates a lack of

chief Frasco still has Marcos’ trust despite ‘Love Philippines’ video mess

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Jr. on Friday, July 7 said that he still trusts Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco despite the “Love Philippines” campaign’s shaky start.

Speaking to the media at Fort Bonifacio, Marcos said that there was no question that he still trusted her.

“Yes absolutely. No question. I spoke to her, I have been actually, but in fact since all of these came to the fore,” he said.

Marcos said that he saw how fast she

moved after she terminated the agreement with the advertising company behind the controversial tourism promotion video.

De Lima disappointed over inhibition of another judge in final drug case, chides prosecution

“She has also since then put under review all of the other contracts that were in the pipeline. In my opinion, she has it under control, she knows what to do, what she has done so far inspires confidence that she will fix the problem and that the campaign of ‘Love the Philippines’ will be as successful as we hope for it to be,” said Marcos in English and Filipino. The campaign’s tourism video was found out to have used footage from other countries, sparking controversy. n

Quiboloy’s SMNI News on YouTube shut down

by zacarian Sarao Inquirer.net by

MANILA — YouTube has terminated the Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) channel, owned by alleged sex trafficker Apollo Quiboloy.

It came just two weeks after Quiboloy’s channel was axed over violating YouTube’s community guidelines.

A visit to SMNI’s channel shows a tag saying, “This account has been terminated for a violation of YouTube’s Terms of Service.”

SMNI has yet to issue a statement regarding the termination.

SMNI has, in the past, been

at the center of red-tagging debates on multiple occasions. The Commission on Human Rights recently called out SMNI, specifically its hosts, for red-tagging several reporters affiliated with the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP).

SMNI also caught the attention of Southeast Asian media groups, Gerakan Media Merdeka from Malaysia, Journalist Association Timor Leste, and the Cambodian Center for Independent Media, who also slammed the news outfit for red-tagging other journalists. n

MANILA — Detained former Senator Leila de Lima on Friday, July 7 expressed disappointment over the voluntary inhibition of the second judge who was supposed to preside over her last drug case.

De Lima also chided the prosecutors who asked Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 204 Presiding Judge Abraham Joseph Alcantara to inhibit from her case, simply because he was the same judge who acquitted her in a “near-identical case” on May 14.

“While I respect the decision of Judge Abraham Joseph B. Alcantara recusing himself from my third and last remaining drug case, I am truly disappointed at the Prosecution’s move in seeking for such inhibition,” said De Lima in a letter.

“If they are truly agents of justice, the Panel of Prosecutors should have proceeded to entrust the appreciation of their evidence through the crucible of a judge whose independence, impartiality, and courage to do the right thing have already been proven in the past, i.e., in my second case,” de Lima added.

De Lima pointed out that

Alcantara’s acquittal verdict was “definitely above board, consistent with law, evidence and reason,” while the Department of Justice panel of prosecutors’ ground for inhibition is “nothing even remotely close” to the motion for inhibition raised against Muntinlupa City RTC Branch 256 Presiding Judge Romeo Buenaventura. Buenaventura — the first judge on her case — inhibited himself after separate motions from De Lima’s co-accused Joenel Sanchez, Franklin Bucayu, and Ronnie Dayan pointed out his relationship with the legal counsel of former Oriental Mindoro representative

GUEST OF HONOR. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (right) and Philippine Army commanding general Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. (left)

the

How health care may be affected by the high court’s affirmative action ruling

MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos

US concerned over China’s ‘coercive, risky’...

Austin and Teodoro also “reaffirmed their commitment” to stand by the rules-based order and support the livelihood of Filipino communities and other claimant nations pushing for the lawful conduct of maritime activities in the South China Sea, in adherence with the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated Beijing’s fictitious claims in the contested waterway.

“Secretary Austin highlighted opportunities for the United States and the Philippines to coordinate more closely with other like-minded partners, including Japan and Australia, to ensure the region’s shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific continues to thrive,” the readout states.

The defense chiefs of the two longtime allies have agreed to soon meet in person for an indepth talk about defense and security concerns, it also notes.

‘Unprofessional’ maneuvers

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Calson also criticized Beijing’s actions in the Ayungin Shoal.

unprofessional maneuvers of the China Coast Guard against the Philippines Coast Guard. The PRC’s irresponsible behavior in the South China Sea threatens the security and legal rights of our treaty ally, the Philippines,” she said in a Twitter post on Friday.

China, however, has denied accusations of its coast guard ships’ “dangerous maneuvers.”

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin claimed their maneuvers were “professional and restrained,” countering the statement of the Philippine Coast Guard.

DOT urged: Turn over ad probe report...

“We need this so we will know if there was indeed the signing of checks, and if indeed there was a payment of P49 million because…” Salceda said smiling and in jest, insinuating something could have been fishy in the contract, on which he refused to comment further.

Despite the non-inclusion of the majestic Mayon Volcano in the new “Love the Philippines” slogan, Salceda still vowed to help Frasco.

Wang also insisted that the Ayungin Shoal, which he referred to as Ren’ai Reef, is “part of China’s Nansha Islands.”

“On June 30, the Philippine Coast Guard vessels intruded into the waters off the Ren’ai Reef without Chinese permission. In accordance with the law, the Chinese Coast Guard vessel carried out law enforcement activities to uphold China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime order,” he said.

“I will not join calls for her to resign. Certainly not when a lot of it is premised on speculation,” Salceda said. “I will criticize openly, as needed. That’s my job as a legislator and a representative of my people. But after heated discussions, we must remain focused on solving problems.”

Salceda said that for a tourism slogan to be successful, it has to be realistic.

was done and initiated, and the total cost of the entire study, coming up with the logo and everything, the components of this branding campaign totaled to P49 million,” she said at the time.

Pangan, respectively, as well as private tourism stakeholders and journalists toured Manila’s landmarks and tourist attractions such as Malacañang, Rizal Park, National Museum of Fine Arts, Binondo and Intramuros.

“We are concerned by the Reynaldo Umali, who allegedly coerced Dayan into testifying against de Lima during the 2016 congressional inquiries into the illegal drug trading in New Bilibid Prison.

Ayungin Shoal, a reef some 194 kilometers off Palawan province, is within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines. n

De Lima disappointed

over...

De Lima has been detained since February 24, 2017, months after launching a Senate inquiry into President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs. So far, De Lima has won two of the drug cases filed against her. n

“Once the controversy about this passes, we will still need to fix our airports, our accommodations, our accessibility,” he said. “As a slogan, it is demanding enough on a foreign tourist’s first date with this country. Let’s at least give them reasons to do so.”

“You need to set the agenda before you set the brand. Branding is a fool’s exercise without a good product to sell. A promising slogan without real improvements in the fundamentals is a false pretense,” he said.

‘Not a single peso paid’

Despite saying earlier that it started “procuring” the brand worth P49 million, the DOT maintained that it did not pay the advertising agency that created and produced the “Love the Philippines” campaign and its promotional video.

“I would like to emphasize that not a single peso worth of government funds has been paid under the tourism branding campaign with the said agency,” Frasco told journalists on Thursday, July 6, referring to advertising firm Doyle, Dane and Bernbach Philippines.

In an interview with CNN Philippines on June 29, Frasco said the agency has “procured” the brand crafted by the firm with a budget of P49 million.

“The process of procurement

A few days after, DDB Philippines admitted it used stock footage shot in other countries for the promotional video of “Love the Philippines.”

The video was shown during the launch on June 27 and uploaded on social media. President Marcos attended the launch.

The DOT later declared it ended the contract with the firm, saying no payments have been made.

It remains unclear if the “Love the Philippines” campaign will be retained.

However, the logo and slogan associated with the brand were still visible during the launch of the Philippines Hop-on/Hop-off Bus Tours program in Manila on Thursday.

The campaign’s signs and symbols were printed on three buses as well as tokens like fans.

The bus tours, a first in the country initially launched in Makati City, will “provide tourists, both domestic and foreign, the opportunity to go around cultural treasures of Manila with the convenience of using a mobile app that allows them to curate their own experiences and have various stops to allow them to get to know heart and soul of Manila.”

During the launch, DOT and Manila officials led by Frasco and Mayor Honey Lacuna-

ABISO NG

PAMPUBLIKONG PAGDINIG

However, the bus developed engine trouble and the heat made some of the attendees complain.

Sources told The STAR that the DOT plans to keep the “Love the Philippines” campaign even if the contract with the advertising firm has been voided.

They expressed frustration that a firm such as DDB – said to be the “best of the best among advertising firms in the country” – would publicize a video that contained stock footage from other countries.

The DOT earlier said the firm “repeatedly assured” the agency that all their videos were original.

The firm admitted the use of stock footage, saying it was “standard practice” and that the video was initially made to “excite” tourism stakeholders.

Despite the fiasco the DOT workforce remains behind Frasco, according to Shalene Batin, DOT’s Metro Manila director.

Batin said the DOT would come out stronger from the controversy.

Good in-house team

Meanwhile, former tourism secretary Mina Gabor took pride in having a team within the agency that came up with its own tourism campaign, especially the graphics during

IBIBIGAY DITO ANG PAUNAWA na ang Lupon ng mga Superbisor ng County ng San Diego ay magsasagawa ng pampublikong pagdinig sa isang iminungkahing ordinansa na nagsususog sa mga sumusunod na seksyon ng Zoning Ordinance: 1100, 2000, 2990, 4221, 5015, 6156, 6355, 6350, 6360 , 6375, 6758, 6764, 6911, 6914, 6915, 6916, 8001, 8700, at 8900.

IMPORMASYON SA PAGDINIG:

Petsa: Huly 19, 2023

Oras: 9:00 a.m.

Lokasyon: County Administration Center, 1600 Pacific Highway, Room 310, San Diego, California 92101

PAGLALARAWAN NG ORDINANSA (Administrative Code): Iminumungkahi ng Update (Update) ng Ordinansa ng Pagsosona ng Pabahay ng 2023 na baguhin ang Ordinasa ng Pagsosona para sumunod sa mga bayarin sa pabahay na pinagtibay ng estado mula noong 2017. Magpapatupad ang Update ng mga bagong batas upang mapadali ang pagkabuo ng pabahay sa walang tirahan, pagsulong ng abot-kayang pabahay, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), at pangkalahatang produksyon ng pabahay. May bisa at ipinapatupad ang lahat ng mga bayarin na kabilang sa Update ng kawani ng County sa pamamagitan ng aplikasyon ng mga materyales, mga form, at mga proseso. Bilang karagdagan, magpapatupad ang Update ng apat na mga programa ng Element ng Pabahay ng County, kabilang ang: 3.1.1.I Kinakailangang Pagpapalit; 3.1.4.Mga Pagbabago sa Ordinansa ng Pagsosona para sa Accessory Dwelling Units; 3.2.1.Update sa Ordinan sa Bonus ng Density; 3.3.1.B Pagbabago sa Ordinansa ng Pagsosona para Mapadali ang Pagbubuo ng Tirahan. LOKASYON: Ang isang kopya ng buong teksto ng Ordinansa ay naka-post sa opisina ng Clerk ng Lupon ng mga Superbisor, Room 402 ng nasabing Administration Center. Ang data na nagsasaad ng gastos na kinakailangan para ibigay ang produkto o serbisyo kung saan ipinapataw ang bayad, at ang mga pinagmumulan ng kita na inaasahang magbibigay ng produkto o serbisyo ay magiging available para sa pampublikong pagsusuri sampung araw bago ang pampublikong pagdinig sa opisina ng Planning & Development Services.

ESTADO NG KAPALIGIRAN: Pinapahitulutan ng CEQA Section 15164 na ihanda ang isang addendum sa isang dati nang sertipikado o pinagtibay na dokumentong pangkapaligiran kapag iminungkahi sa proyekto ang mga maliliit lang na teknikal na pagbabago o mga pagbabago na hindi magreresulta sa bagong malubhang mga epekto. Mga Addendum sa Ulat sa Epekto sa Kapaligiran ng Programa (GPU EIR) para sa Update ng Pangkalahatang Plano ng County ng San Diego (Numero ng Pagrepaso ng Pangkapaligiran 02-ZA-001; Sch. 2002111067) ay inihanda para sa Update sa Ordinansa ng Pagsosona ng Pabahay ng 2023 (PDS2022-POD-22-004).

PAG-CONTACT NG KAWANI: Para sa karagdagang impormasyon tungkol sa proyekto, mangyaring makipag-ugnayan kay Ben Larson sa (619) 323-7905, o sa ben.larson@ sdcounty.ca.gov

PAKIKILAHOK NG PUBLIKO: Ang mga miyembro ng publiko ay maaaring lumahok sa pulong nang personal o sa pamamagitan ng teleconference alinsunod sa mga regulasyong ipinatupad sa oras ng pulong. Ang mga nagnanais na lumahok sa pulong at/o komento ay dapat bumisita sa website ng Board of Supervisor sa: https://www. sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/cob/bosa.html#watch. Kung mayroon kang anumang mga katanungan, mangyaring makipag-ugnayan sa Clerk of the Board sa (619) 531-5434 o sa publiccomment@sdcounty.ca.gov.

TULONG PARA SA MGA TAONG MAY KAPANSANAN: Makipag-ugnayan sa sekretarya ng pagdinig sa (619) 517-4193 para sa mga tanong o para humiling ng akomodasyon na may kaugnayan sa kapansanan. Ang mga indibidwal na nangangailangan ng mga interpreter ng sign language ay dapat makipag-ugnayan sa Countywide ADA Title II Coordinator sa (619) 531-4908. Ang mga kahilingan para sa akomodasyon o tulong ay dapat isumite nang hindi bababa sa 72 oras

7/8/23 CNS-3717204# ASIAN JOURNAL

bago ang pulong upang magawa ang mga pagsasaayos.

(L.A.)

One of the three sandbars near Pag-asa (Thitu) Island in the West Philippine Sea.

Photo from Inquirer / Frances Mangosing

This composite photo shows the press conference room of the Department of Tourism in Makati City and a photo of Liloan Mayor Christina Frasco. Philstar.com / Erwin Cagadas / File; Christina Garcia Frasco / Facebook

NEW CHIEF. Philippine National Police chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. (center) hands over the reins of the National Capital Region Police Office to Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. at Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig City on Friday (July 7, 2023), replacing Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo (left) who will head the Directorate for Police Community Relations. Nartatez called on police officers in Metro Manila to enhance ties with the community as they are the first contact persons when government services are not readily available. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

understanding of the critical benefits of racial and ethnic diversity in educational settings and a failure to recognize the urgent need to address health inequities,” read a statement from David Skorton, president and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges, and Frank Trinity, its chief legal officer.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion. It held that the admissions programs of defendants Harvard College and the University of North Carolina violate the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits racial discrimination. The decision overturned decades of legal precedent that had allowed colleges and universities to evaluate prospective students by their race, in addition to factors such as academic records and test scores.

In a dissent, Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote on behalf of the court’s three liberal justices that the ruling “cements a superficial rule of colorblindness as a constitutional principle in an endemically segregated society where race has always mattered and continues to matter.”

What does the ruling mean for med schools?

The decision may have serious repercussions, medical educators say.

The AAMC, which represents more than 500 medical schools and teaching hospitals, filed an amicus brief with the court arguing that diversity in medical education “literally saves lives” by ensuring that doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals can competently care for an increasingly diverse population.

“Diversity in health care providers contributes to increased student, trainee, and physician confidence in working with patient populations who are different from their own identities,” said Norma Poll-Hunter, senior director of workforce diversity at the AAMC.

Although it’s impossible to predict the full impact of the court’s ruling, looking to some of the nine states that already have bans on race-conscious college admissions may provide clues. An analysis of bans in six states found that medical

school enrollment of students of color who were members of underrepresented groups fell roughly 17% after the bans were instituted.

What about patients? At this point it’s hard to say.

Despite the United States having one of the world’s most advanced systems of medical research and clinical care, Black people and some other minorities often fare worse than white people across a range of health measures. Their life expectancies are shorter: 65.2 years for American Indian and Alaska Native people and 70.8 for Blacks in 2021, versus 76.4 for whites, according to KFF. Black and AIAN infants were roughly twice as likely to die as white infants, and women in those minority groups had the highest rates of mortality related to pregnancy in 2021. Research shows people of all races tend to prefer to see physicians who are similar to them in race or ethnicity, according to Poll-Hunter. When patients are of the same race as their provider, they report higher levels of satisfaction and trust and better communication.

When patients are of the same race or gender as their provider, they may also have better health outcomes, research shows.

For example, in a study of 1.8 million infants born in Florida hospitals between 1992 and 2015, Black newborns were half as likely to die when cared for by Black physicians as when their doctors were white. Research has historically focused on white newborns with white doctors, said the study’s lead author, Brad Greenwood, a professor of information systems and operations management at George Mason University.

“To the extent that physicians of a social outgroup are more likely to be aware of the challenges and issues that arise when treating their group, it stands to reason that these physicians may be more equipped to treat patients with complex needs,” according to the study.

However, the solution is not to try to ensure all Black patients are seen by Black physicians, Greenwood said.

“Jim Crow-ing medicine is not going to solve this,” he said, referring to laws enacted in the 19th and 20th centuries that

enforced racial segregation. Ensuring a diverse physician base can improve care for all patients, including those from marginalized groups.

“As you increase diversity, the diversity of opinion increases the scope of how people think about things and express best practices,” he said.

Do No Harm, a group of medical and policy professionals who oppose race-conscious medical school admissions and other policies that incorporate identity-based considerations into health care decision-making, says raceconscious admission is about discrimination, not diversity.

“Our view is that whoever gets into health care should be the most qualified,” said Stanley Goldfarb, who chairs the board of Do No Harm. “It doesn’t matter the gender or the race. The only thing that matters is that they’re good, ethical people and good at what they do.”

Goldfarb cited studies that showed “no relationship” between race or ethnicity concordance and the quality of communication, and “inconclusive” evidence for patient outcomes.

The first med school class that will be affected will be the class of 2028. Some experts have suggested that colleges and medical schools may adopt policies that take income or family wealth into account when determining whom to admit. After California banned race-conscious admissions in 1996, the medical school at the University of CaliforniaDavis upended its process to put less emphasis on MCAT scores and grades and more on socioeconomic measures, according to Stat. Poll-Hunter, with the AAMC, isn’t convinced. “There’s no substitute or proxy for race,” she said. “The reality is that in the United States we have a history of exclusion, displacement, and colonization such that we can’t ignore the reality of race.”

Fil-Am Miss Texas pushing back against state’s right-wing officials

FIL-AM Miss Texas, Averie Bishop, a lawyer and the first Asian American to win the crown, is bravely taking on the state’s conservative Republican public officials by using her platform to advocate for liberal causes, according to a Washington Post feature story by Molly Hennessy-Fiske.

Using her pageant win as platform on social media, Bishop, 26, has pushed back against book banning and the removal of diversity studies in state schools by Gov. Ron De Santis (R) and other right-wing officials’.

Bishop has openly supported gun control, racial equality, voting rights, sex education in public schools, the right to abortion, affordable health care access, student debt forgiveness and other liberal advocacies.

Born to a conservative white father, a bus driver, and a Filipina domestic worker who answered his newspaper ad for a wife, Bishop

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Text messages become a gold mine for...

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a USPS package delivery that has an unfamiliar web link, requiring the recipient to immediately respond.

“Text message scams, in 2022, cost people more than $330 million,” Monica Vaca, deputy director of FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said at a recent briefing with ethnic media and community leaders in Tampa, Florida.

Text message scams have escalated rapidly.

Back in 2019, the financial losses from text scams were about $66 million, Vaca added. They jumped to roughly $165 million in 2021.

Since many people don’t report when they get scammed, FTC officials said the losses could be much higher.

“It’s a trick. They might pretend to be a package delivery company. We saw this explode with the pandemic when we were all ordering packages from Amazon,” said Vaca. “They’re after your credit card number. They want financial account information so that they can start charging your credit card.”

Getting scammed can be both financially and emotionally devastating. Victims are often too embarrassed or ashamed to reach out for help.

Psychologists say that while victims of other kinds of crime may have similar reactions, fraud adds a few layers of negative thoughts about themselves. Are they not smart? Is there something wrong with their ability to judge and weigh in on what’s right or wrong?

Rice adds that scams affect every age group and demographic, though differently.

“I am a former prosecutor. I am very used to dealing with fraud issues. I’m very sophisticated. I knew what to do about it. And I got scammed,” said Chih Pin Lu, president of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Tampa Bay. He recalled that before he and his family left Tampa for vacation, he tried to confirm their plane tickets, making sure that everything with their booking was fine.

“This was essentially within the 48 hour window before the flight, so I was definitely feeling the pressure to make sure that everything would go fine with our summer vacation plans,” Lou said.

“Unfortunately, when my family reached out to the airline, we actually got a fraudulent number, and through that fraudulent number gave our reservation information.”

Then the person on the other line told them that because there were some delays with their flight, they would owe an additional $800.

“Being entirely new to this particular airline, we’re like, ‘Well, that’s never happened to us before, but we’re leaving in two days. We need to make sure we get our reservations completed. So here’s your $800,’” he said.

Lou, however, went back to the credit card company later on and mentioned that he had never heard of being charged extra for a flight. That was the time he learned that he had been scammed.

Michelle Andrews/KFF Health News)

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF. (By

n

Many people think scams mostly affect older adults or those who have lesser technological knowledge and skills, but reports to the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel tell a different story: anyone can be scammed.

Natalaya Rice, an attorney at FTC’s southeast region, said that whether you have a PhD, or you’re a lawyer or a doctor, you could be scammed— and there’s nothing to be embarrassed about reaching out to family members and reporting it to authorities.

Vaca of the FTC said that community leaders and partners play a vital role to combat these scams because they could affect anyone.

“We need to go out into communities and try to spread the word, share what it is we know. Do not trust those text messages. Do not click on that link,” she said. “Instead, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. And remember, whenever you’re feeling in a little bit of a panic that something is wrong, take a moment, take a breath and talk to somebody about it.”

(By Anthony Advincula/Ethnic Media Services) n

Averie Bishop with her mother, Marevi. Photo from Tulong Foundation

CDC to reduce funding for states’ child vaccination programs

by Andy Miller KFF Health News

THE Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reducing funding to states for child vaccination programs, according to an agency email obtained by KFF Health News.

The funding cut “is a significant change to your budget,” said the email to immunization managers, dated June 27 and signed by two CDC officials.

The immunization managers who received the message are public health officials who direct state, territorial, and local programs to promote vaccinations against a variety of infectious diseases, such as measles and chickenpox.

The reduction comes from a federal immunization grant — totaling about $680 million in the latest year — that supports vaccination programs for children, according to the Association of Immunization Managers.

“There will be no easy solution for this,” said the CDC email. “We know that this change will require some tough decisions.”

When asked about the change, CDC spokesperson Kristen Nordlund said Monday, “The budgetary impact is still

being worked out.”

Agency officials linked the reduction to the debt ceiling deal recently struck by the Biden administration and Congress. The cut may result in less complete reporting on vaccinations, the CDC said. The debt deal rescinded about $27 billion in unspent federal money that had been allocated to fight covid. It also led the CDC to remove $400 million in funding to states for workers who fight the spread of sexually transmitted infections, according to an email obtained by CQ Roll Call.

Claire Hannan, executive director of the Association of Immunization Managers, said Wednesday that jurisdictions are reporting that the cut amounts to 10% or more of their previous year’s award.

The targeted cut will affect programs that identify communities vulnerable to disease outbreaks, said Hannan. This information is used to prevent and manage outbreaks, Hannan added. States and territories, along with a few cities, are expected to learn their federal funding amounts for child immunization this week, Hannan said.

A spokesperson for the Georgia Department of

Public Health, Nancy Nydam, acknowledged that a funding cut for child immunizations was coming but said the agency hadn’t received additional details as of Monday afternoon.

The budget cut comes as the number of children getting vaccinated dropped amid the covid pandemic. During the 2021-22 school year, approximately 93% of kindergartners nationwide received each of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella), DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis), polio, and varicella vaccines. That was down from 94% during the 2020-21 school year and 95% coverage during 2019-20.

Children who are not vaccinated are more likely to get diseases like measles and whooping cough, the CDC points out on its website. Outbreaks of these diseases have occurred recently, especially in communities with low vaccination rates.

“Now is not the time to reduce federal support for routine childhood vaccine administration,” said Mark Del Monte, CEO of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “We need to make sure every child remains fully up to date on their vaccinations as we approach

back-to-school season, and that requires sustained investments in the vaccine delivery system.”

Shifting money from one area to another isn’t easy because of rigidity in the CDC’s budget, said Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association.

Local public health agencies depend on federal funding to support their immunization programs, Benjamin said. He worries low-income families are especially vulnerable if local departments face budget cuts.

“This is what happens when you don’t pay attention to public health,” Benjamin said.

This article was produced by KFF Health News, formerly known as Kaiser Health News (KHN), a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.

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

As low-nicotine cigarettes hit the market, anti-smoking groups press for wider standard

by don ThoMpson KFF Health News

THE idea seems simple enough.

Preserve all the rituals of smoking: Light up a cigarette, inhale the smoke, including the nasty stuff that can kill you, and exhale. But remove most of the nicotine, the chemical that makes tobacco so darn hard to quit, to help smokers smoke less.

The Food and Drug Administration has been contemplating that strategy for at least six years as one way to make it easier for smokers to cut back, if not quit entirely. Less than two years ago, it authorized 22nd Century Group, a publicly traded plant biotech company based in Buffalo, New York, to advertise its proprietary low-nicotine cigarettes as modified-risk tobacco products. Now, the first authorized cigarettes with 95% less nicotine than traditional smokes

are coming to California, Florida, and Texas in early July, after a year of test-marketing in Illinois and Colorado. It’s part of an aggressive rollout by 22nd Century that, by year’s end, could bring its products to 18 states — markets that together account for more than half of U.S. cigarette sales.

But anti-smoking groups oppose greenlighting 22nd Century’s products. Instead, they urge federal regulators to expand on their original plan of setting a low-nicotine standard for all combustible cigarettes to make them minimally or nonaddictive. They expect the FDA to take the next step in that industrywide regulatory process as early as this fall.

“Unless and until there is a categorywide requirement that nicotine goes down to low, nonaddictive levels, this is not going to make a difference,” said Erika Sward, a spokesperson for the American Lung

Association.

Major tobacco companies Altria, R.J. Reynolds, and ITG Brands did not respond to requests for comment.

Cigarette smoking is estimated to cause more than 480,000 deaths a year in the U.S., including from secondhand smoke, and contributes to tobacco use being the leading preventable cause of death nationally. In 2018, then-FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb wrote that setting a maximum nicotine level “could result in more than 8 million fewer tobacco-caused deaths through the end of the century – an undeniable public health benefit.”

The FDA reasoned that people would collectively smoke fewer cigarettes and have less exposure to the deadly toxins that are still present in low-nicotine cigarettes.

22nd Century says it used a patent-

ESSENTIAL NEED. A worker arranges liquefied petroleum gas tanks at a reseller store in Kamias Road in Quezon City on Friday (July 7, 2023). The Department of Energy deadline for businesses to obtain a license to operate and certificate of registration under the LPG Regulation Act has expired and there will be no more extension after a six-month leeway to comply with the law.

Fil-Am Miss Texas...

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attended public schools and put herself through law school at Dallas’ conservative Southern Methodist University.

She joined pageants for the scholarship prize money and has won “nearly $90,000, putting a dent in her student debt,” the Washington Post reported.

She has amassed more than 800,000 followers on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube and earned praises from civic leaders from Planned Parenthood and the chamber of commerce.

In the next few years, Bishop hopes to run for a seat in the state legislature to mix it up with the state’s lawmakers.

“We are literally pushed to our wits’ end,” she said of young Texans. “We are equipped and ready and just waiting for the time for these individuals to be challenged,” she told the Washington Post n

DOT urged: Turn over ad...

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her time.

In an interview with One New’s “The Chiefs” aired over Cignal TV/TV5 on Tuesday, Gabor – who served during the administration of the late president Fidel Ramos from 1996 to 1998 – said her “Islands Philippines” campaign was done “in-house.”

“I had it done because I had a good team.”

Under the campaign, Gabor said the agency produced mostly graphics and did not make lots of videos because “our main concern was to do an image of identifying what the Philippines is all about.”

Gabor said she had golf superstar Tiger Woods “brought in” to play with Ramos as part of promoting the Philippines as a golf destination, “to get the impact right away of the media.”

‘Unite Pinoys’

As this developed, senators urged the public and government agencies to support efforts promoting the Philippines as the best tourist destination.

With the DOT rolling out a new tourism campaign, also with a brand-new slogan, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Filipinos should come together in support of the country and its tourist destinations.

“The DOT was criticized for the misleading inclusion of stock footage in the ‘Love the Philippines’ campaign video, but let us also allow the department to correct this misstep, reflect on what happened, and improve its campaign going forward,” Zubiri added.

Sen. Lito Lapid said Filipinos must join hands and pursue a better tourism campaign to attract more foreign and local tourists.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian also commended the DOT’s move to end the deal with the advertising firm following the fiasco. Zubiri said the firm has owned up to its negligence and the DOT immediately took responsibility for the controversy and terminated the contract. –Ghio Ong, Cecille Suerte Felipe n

NO. 2022040512

The Los Angeles County (“County”) Regional Planning Commission (“Commission”) will conduct a public hearing to consider the Final EIR (“FEIR”) and project described below. A presentation and overview of the project will be given, and any interested person or authorized agent may appear and comment on the project at the hearing. Should you attend, you will have an opportunity to testify, or you can submit written comments to the planner below or at the public hearing. If the final decision on this proposal is challenged in court, testimony may be limited to issues raised before or at the public hearing.

HEARING DATE AND TIME: August 9, 2023 at 9:00a.m.

HEARING LOCATION: 320 West Temple St., Hall of Records, Rm. 150, Los Angeles, CA 90012, and online. Visit https://planning.lacounty.gov/rpc and select hearing date for more information.

PROJECT LOCATION: Unincorporated communities of Avocado Heights, Charter Oak, Covina Islands, East Azusa, East Irwindale, East San Dimas, Glendora Islands, Hacienda Heights, North Claremont, North Pomona, North Whittier, Northeast La Verne, Northeast San Dimas, Pellissier Village, Rowland Heights, South Diamond Bar, South El Monte, South San Jose Hills, South Walnut, Valinda, Walnut Islands, West Claremont, West Puente Valley, West San Dimas.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

The proposed East San Gabriel Valley Area Plan (Area Plan or Project) is an extension of the General Plan focused on the unique needs and characteristics of 24 unincorporated communities within the East San Gabriel Valley Planning Area. The purpose of the Area Plan is to enhance, guide, and support the longterm growth, development, and maintenance of these communities. The Area Plan consists of areawide goals and policies on land use, economic development, community character and design, conservation and natural resources, mobility, and parks and recreation. The Area Plan also includes community specific goals and policies for each community or grouping of communities. Zoning and land use policy map changes are also proposed as part of the Project to bring zoning and land use policy into conformance, conserve natural resources, accommodate growth near major transit stops and along major corridors, and implement the Housing Element Rezoning Program. In addition, zoning map changes are proposed for designated properties to clarify the applicability of the adopted Green Zones Ordinance. The Project also includes ordinance amendments to implement the goals and policies of the Area Plan and consists of new areawide regulations and updates to existing standards.

ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTATION: As the lead agency, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), the County Regional Planning Commission will consider the certification of the Environmental Impact Report (“EIR”), which includes the Final EIR (“FEIR”) and Draft EIR (“DEIR”). The Commission will also consider the adoption of the County Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (“MMRP”), the CEQA Findings of Fact, and a Statement of Overriding Considerations. The FEIR will be available for review at least 10 days prior to the public hearing date (Cal. Code of Reg. Title 14 Chap. 3 ss 15089(b)).

For more information regarding this project, contact Mi Kim via email at commplan@planning.lacounty.gov, by telephone at (213) 974-6425, or by mail at Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning (DRP), 320 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.

Project materials, including the Final EIR will be available online at https://planning.lacounty.gov/longrange-planning/east-san-gabriel-valley-area-plan/documents/ or https://planning.lacounty.gov/ceqa/notices

Printed copies of the project materials, including the Final EIR, will be available at several public libraries in East San Gabriel Valley and at DRP’s San Gabriel Valley and La Puente Field Offices. Please visit https:// planning.lacounty.gov/long-range-planning/east-san-gabriel-valley-area-plan/documents/ for a list of the libraries and the Field Office locations and hours. All correspondence received by DRP shall be considered a public record.

If you need reasonable accommodation or auxiliary aids, contact the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator at (213) 974-6488 (Voice) or (213) 617-2292 (TDD) with at least 3 business days’ advance notice.

Si necesita más información por favor llame al (213) 974-6427 o visite https://planning.lacounty.gov/ long-range-planning/east-san-gabriel-valley-area-plan/documents/ 如果您有任何疑問請致電 (213) 974-6427 或請參閱項目官网 或造訪 https://planning.lacounty.gov/longrange-planning/east-san-gabriel-valley-area-plan/documents/

Much ado about tourism slogan

WE’VE said it before and we’ll say it again: A tourism slogan is only as good in drawing tourists to Philippine shores as the beauty of our attractions, and how easy and convenient we make it for travelers to enjoy them.

A tourism slogan—regardless of how much the government spends on it, or how much it’s debated over on social media—is only good as the supporting infrastructure that makes it easy for foreigners to enter our country, stay in comfortable and safe accommodations, move around conveniently, and when their vacation is over, depart with a pleasant experience that makes them want to return in the future.

Editorial

money’s worth. If the hype is insufficient, it will be a waste of the genuinely beautiful attractions that our country has to offer. That being the case, there is something to be said about the way the Philippines punishes itself with predictable regularity in coming up with new marketing campaigns every time a new presidential administration comes into power.

One could have the best catchphrase for marketing the Philippines’ beaches abroad, but if tourists continually have a difficult time getting through our airports, using our antiquated and inconvenient transportation systems, and fearing for their safety while moving about the country, it won’t be long before word will get around that the product we’re offering them does not match the hype.

What the Philippines needs to draw in more tourists is for our form (the tourism campaign) and our substance (the tourist attractions we offer visitors) to go hand in hand at more or less equal levels. If the hype outstrips the product by too much, foreigners will feel they’re not getting their

And there is also something to be said about the latest iteration of this process which has yielded the now controversial “Love the Philippines” tourism campaign that has gotten off to a rocky start, landing in international news for the shameful use of stock videos of places in other countries.

First, our tourism officials must make sure that, going forward, all key stakeholders are consulted in the crafting of the campaign that will market the country overseas. This means consulting not only officials within the government’s echo chamber but also private sector experts and representatives of the tourism sector, all of whom would be able to provide valuable inputs for the creative process.

Second, given the sensitivity of the public to

these efforts—and the manner by which public opinion can scuttle even the most well-intentioned efforts—great care must be taken in ensuring that all aspects of the campaign are thought through.

That means even the smallest detail that could be subjected to criticism be addressed to cover all bases, so to speak.

One year after Duterte presidency

LAST Saturday, July 1, another Philippine loan package coming from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) was unveiled. It will finance the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project (DPTMP). President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (PBBM) led the Cabinet officials and several other government officials as witnesses to the signing ceremonies for the ADB loan agreements. It was signed on the same day the Davao City Coastal Bypass Road Segment A was opened to the public.

Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, the youngest of the children of former President Rodrigo Duterte witnessed and spoke in behalf of his constituents who will all benefit from this project. Also in attendance was the Mayor’s sister, Vice President Sara Z. Duterte. Ex-President Duterte and Davao City Rep.Paolo Duterte were conspicuously no

where in sight at the signing rites held at the Acacia Hotel in Davao City. The Duterte patriarch who served longest as Mayor of Davao City perhaps opted not to attend because it was held early in the morning. Mr. Duterte is publicly known as a night person, or someone who stays up late in the evenings — often into the next morning. Surely, however, the former president is elated that the chartered city of Davao and entire Davao region are getting more development projects funded with the help of the national government.

The ADB loan capped PBBM’s trip in Davao City that coincided with his joining the 56th Araw ng Davao del Sur in Digos City. The ADB loan signing was also witnessed by PBBM’s eldest sister, Senator Imee R. Marcos; Special Assistant to the president Antonio Ernesto F. Lagdameo, Jr.; Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista; Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman; and ADB president Masatsugu Asakawa.

The loan agreement was

companies engaged in various industries, with $2 billion in investments already in place and confirmed by our Department of Trade and Industry.

signed in behalf of the Philippine government by Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Benjamin Diokno and ADB Country Director for the Philippines Pavit Ramachandran. The three loan agreements involve the delivery of a modern, high priority public transport system that will provide an attractive, efficient, and affordable mode of road travel in Davao City.

Secretary Diokno underscored the modernization of the transportation system will help enhance the ease of doing business in Davao city and unlock the region’s economic potentials in the inclusive economic growth of the country.

The DPTMP will be supported by loans amounting to $1.074 billion from the ADB and ADBadministered funds, namely, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the ASEAN Infrastructure Fund (AIF). The GCF component of the loan package, equivalent to $50 million will help finance the procurement of electric buses under the DPTMP. According to Pangandaman, the loan amounts increased because of the 1,000 units of buses, 40

growing unease over “security controls” and perceptions that the regulatory environment will not really improve in the next five years.

percent of which are electric vehicles that were incorporated in the project.

Just last June 26, Diokno signed four new loan agreements also in behalf of the Philippine government from the World Bank (WB).

Totaling $1.14 billion, Diokno cited these loans will finance initiatives of the Marcos administration to finance the country’s climate resilience, agricultural productivity, and quality of education projects in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Soccsksargen, and, at the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Now that these loan agreements were signed, Pangandaman disclosed, these projects are “all good now, ready to go.”

Also last June 30, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco flew to Davao City as guest of honor at the Philippine Experience Program: Culture, Heritage and Arts Caravan. Frasco’s trip came three days after she and PBBM formally launched the new country brand “Love the Philippines” that got marred

we are one of the fastest growing economies in the world today, with our GDP accelerating to 7.6 percent last year – one of the strongest in the region.

by “stock footage” video clips featuring tourism attractions in other countries. Thus, the DOT terminated the services of the erring advertising agency, DDB Philippines. Fortunately for Frasco, she was able to bring the DOT program before the controversial country brand erupted into a full-blown fiasco. The Philippine Experience Program seeks to promote nontraditional tourist destination places all over the Philippines. The choice of Davao City, of course, was not unexpected. After all, Frasco was once the official spokesperson while VP Sara was then Davao City Mayor running for the VP elections in May last year.

These national programs and projects are now taking place in Davao City, the bailiwick and stranglehold of the Dutertes. It will be recalled then president Duterte revealed his daughter then Mayor Sara was picking bone with him in public spats for neglecting their home city while he was president.

As concurrent Education Secretary, VP Sara’s home city is obviously getting now much

more support from the national government on the first year of the PBBM administration. Moving forward, these projects will certainly give peace to ex-president Duterte in his relationship with his equally feisty daughter. Since he retired from public office, Mr. Duterte has reportedly kept the same sleeping habit and routine he did during his six years watch at Malacañang Palace. Now 78 years old, the former president remains active in the local and national scenes. He also flies to and from Davao City to Metro Manila to attend special occasions and political affairs and activities as chairman emeritus of his PDP-Laban. Mr. Duterte is regularly seen and heard at his weekly radio/TV program Gikan sa Masa aired by the Sonshine Media Network International, a religious broadcasting arm of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) led by Filipino televangelist and church leader, Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. Mr. Duterte joins Quiboloy, his “spiritual adviser” who acts as

A year into the term of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as president, more and more foreign investors, particularly those coming from the West, are now seeing the Philippines as an attractive investment destination. About P3.48 trillion in investment pledges were generated from the state and working visits of the President abroad, as well as his participation in regional and global summits that include the APEC leaders’ meeting in Thailand, the ASEAN-EU commemorative summit and the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The president’s visit to New York and Washington, DC has particularly sparked the interest of American companies who are encouraged by recent developments in the relationship between the United States and the Philippines as they see our country as the smart and safe investment choice. More than $5 billion in investment plans have been secured from American

European businessmen are also looking at the Philippines for investments in several sectors that include health, renewable energy, transportation and agriculture. EU business groups are ready to share their expertise in agribusiness management, sustainable farming techniques and market access to help the Philippines realize its potential in the area of agriculture.

EU businessmen are in fact keen to expand in the Asia Pacific region, and have earlier expressed interest in enhancing trade relations with the Philippines – citing our impressive economic and recovery path plus the strategic location of the Philippines, with about 40 percent of the global supply chain passing through the country’s territorial waters.

An article by the Associated Press mentioned a recent report by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China that indicates an increasing number of foreign companies planning to move out, with business confidence on the decline due to

In addition to a slowdown in China’s economic growth (which dropped to 3 percent last year) as well as rising costs, anxiety is also fueled by the raids conducted by Chinese police authorities on three foreign companies without any explanation or indication about the possible violations these companies may have committed.

In a survey conducted by the European Chamber, two thirds of the 570 companies that responded said that doing business in China has become more difficult, with three out of five saying the business environment has become more political. The same survey also revealed that it’s not only foreign companies that are moving out but local ones as well, with two out of five Chinese customers or suppliers shifting investments out of China. This development certainly presents good opportunities to highlight the Philippines as a very viable alternative, given our strong macroeconomic fundamentals and the fact that

We are all aware the Philippines still faces a number of challenges with strong competition also coming from our ASEAN neighbors like Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia, but I know our economic managers are focused on taking advantage of the opportunities that are starting to come our way. Hopefully, we will be able to get a large “piece of the pie,” so to speak, from foreign companies that are looking for alternative investment destinations, especially with our initiated infrastructure projects, more economic reforms and forward-looking policies that are attuned to the fast-changing global economic landscape. As President Marcos noted, “the international situation has changed in terms of trade, in terms of geopolitics” so we are adjusting to such changes, knowing that the “most successful economies are those that are agile and resilient,” with the government putting the “basic elements” in place for us to do that.

We have been focused here in Washington on economic diplomacy, as we prepared for activities that we have lined up for 2023, starting with the investment forum conducted by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) that we hosted in January to highlight various opportunities for business in the more than 400 economic zones all over the Philippines. We are planning another one in November after the APEC meeting.

During the PEZA forum, we emphasized the readiness of the Philippines to engage the U.S. business community in exploring mutually beneficial investment opportunities and boost economic ties as we deal with the lingering aftermath of the pandemic and the geopolitical realities not only in the Asia Pacific region but all over the world. So far, economic reforms and legislative measures that have been instituted are encouraging more participation from foreign investors on a wide range of industries.

A week ago, we co-organized with the Philippine-American Chamber of Commerce an investment seminar to

encourage Filipino Americans in the Metro Washington, D.C. area to explore investment opportunities in the Philippines. Dubbed as “Invest Smart, Tax Smart,” the seminar had “tax whiz” Mon Abrea as resource person, who talked about Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), stocks, bonds and other investment possibilities. Mon also explained the incentives and tax exemptions available for Filipinos residing abroad who wish to invest or establish micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Philippines.

Clearly, the Philippines offers compelling propositions for investments, trade and other economic partnerships for both the American private sector and Filipinos in the U.S. There is a very strong upbeat feeling about the Philippines among many potential investors here in the United States – hopefully we can take advantage of this. (Philstar. com)

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

* * * Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com

Bongbong Marcos sets new tack vs money laundering

by Nestor Corrales Inquirer.net

CITING the need for the Philippines to be removed from the money laundering grey list, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered government agencies to implement a fiveyear strategy to contain money laundering, terrorism financing and proliferation financing.

Under Executive Order (EO) No. 33 signed on July 4, the president directed government departments to adopt the National Anti-Money Laundering, Counter-Terrorism Financing and Counter Proliferation Financing Strategy (NACS) 2023-2027.

The new strategy was

necessary, Mr. Marcos said, to get the country out of the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global watchdog on money laundering and terrorist financing.

Mr. Marcos said all departments, agencies, bureaus and offices of the national government, including government-owned or controlled corporations, must “formulate and implement relevant strategy plans and programs” to execute the NACS.

“This is part of the government’s efforts to move the Philippines out of the grey list of the FATF’s ‘Jurisdictions Under Increased Monitoring’ of countries that failed to show tangible and positive

progress in addressing all key recommended actions in the third mutual evaluation report,” the EO said.

In its website, the FATF said it sets “international standards to ensure national authorities can effectively go after illicit funds linked to drugs trafficking, the illicit arms trade, cyber fraud and other serious crimes.”

In his latest EO, the President highlighted the addition of “proliferation financing” as among the government’s concerns.

FATF said proliferation financing is providing funds or financial services for the development or trade of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. n

New bill bats for creation of OFW pension system

by rosette adel Philstar.com

MANILA — A party-list lawmaker has proposed specific social security benefits and retirement protection for overseas Filipino workers.

Rep. Ron Salo, (Kabayan Party-list), chair of the House committee on overseas workers affairs emphasized this in House Bill No. 8574 or the Kabayayan OFW Pension Act, which he filed on Wednesday, July 7.

OFWs and acknowledges their vulnerabilities abroad.

The solon cited that while the current Social Security System allows OFWs to become voluntary members through specific schemes, the approach does not fully resonate with migrant workers.

“In our consultations with OFWs in different parts of the world, it has become apparent that the establishment of a unique pension system for OFWs is one of their most enduring and urgent aspirations,” Salo said.

Much ado about tourism...

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sending their hard-earned money to their loved ones in the Philippines, they find themselves without adequate social protection in the twilight of their years,” he added.

Under House Bill No. 8574, the government will draw guidelines for a system covering OFW’s retirement benefits, monthly pension, death benefits, permanent disability benefits, and funeral benefits.

Finally, once the tourism campaign gets underway, and once evidence emerges that it is starting to gain traction with its intended audience, officials must resist the temptation to tinker with it or, as what tends to happen every six years, change it completely. These campaigns need time to take root and be linked to the nation’s public identity as far as the foreign market is concerned. Changing the campaign every six years will do nothing for us except ensure that we spend substantial sums of public funds on efforts that won’t have the chance to mature into full effectiveness.

the country’s tourism numbers remain in the doldrums relative to that of our neighbors.

Philippine tourist arrivals each year stand at about half of the levels being experienced by Indonesia and Vietnam (whose slogan isn’t even top-of-mind without Google’s help), about a third of Malaysia’s, and a pitiful fifth compared to Thailand’s. Even with the Philippines’ most successful tourism efforts of the past, there is only so much a slogan can do.

No marketing slogan will be able to fix the dismal state of

our airports, our unsafe sea transport system, our rickety mass transit modes on land, or our taxi drivers who always feel compelled to jack up their rates for foreign passengers.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: The Philippines’ policymakers in the public and private sectors need to focus on substance rather than form. A catchy tourism slogan would be nice. But a complete package for tourists that will be exciting, convenient, and safe would be much better.

n

Ultimately, however, we have to ensure that the product we offer—the Philippines as a travel destination—is up to the standards that big-spending international travelers require.

“After years of toiling in foreign lands and diligently

Salo said the separate social security and pension system would create a retirement fund that would secure OFWs financially in their old age and would serve as the safety net for them and their families in the event of job loss, disability or death.

He also proposed that the system provide other benefits to the migrant workers “as long as financially viable.”

“Providing retirement benefits and pension to our OFWs is one of the most tangible means of showing our genuine gratitude for their sacrifices working [on ] foreign shores,” he said.

Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in December 2022 showed that OFWs posted an all-time high of total inflows of USD 36.14 billion.

In the same period, total cash remittances amounted to USD3.16 billion, which is 5.8% higher than the previous year’s USD2.99 billion. n

One year after Duterte...

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the moderator of the TV/radio talk show program.

Through his Gikan sa Masa, the tough-talking Mr. Duterte comments about on any local and national issues

and concerns in question-andanswer exchange with Quiboloy. The firebrand ex-president still uses cuss words in lashing at his worst critics and at his pet peeve issues. So what else is new one year after the Duterte

presidency? (Philstar.com)

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

As low-nicotine cigarettes hit the...

PAGE A5

The new House bill filed aims for a “unique” pension and social security system designed specifically for protected process to control nicotine biosynthesis in the tobacco plant, enabling it to create a pack of cigarettes with about as much nicotine as one Marlboro. It says generally that it uses “modern plant breeding technologies, including genetic engineering, gene-editing, and molecular breeding.”

Keeping 5% of the nicotine is enough to prevent smokers from seeking more to satisfy their craving, said John Miller, president of 22nd Century’s smoking division.

“There’s just enough in there that your brain thinks it’s getting it, but it’s not,” Miller said. “That was really one of the reasons we got to these levels of nicotine, is because you don’t have that additional smoking.”

Miller said the low-nicotine cigarettes can help some smokers cut back or quit, perhaps in conjunction with a nicotine patch or gum, when they’ve tried and failed with other stop-smoking programs.

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids President Matthew L. Myers supports the development of an industrywide low-nicotine standard, saying the concept would work only if consumers no longer had the alternative of a higher-nicotine cigarette.

“The concern with a product that’s still addictive, but delivers low levels of nicotine, in fact is that consumers will smoke more, because the evidence shows that somebody who’s addicted will smoke enough to satisfy their craving,” Myers said.

Both the FDA and anti-smoking groups cited studies that found lower levels of nicotine don’t prompt smokers to smoke more to reach the same nicotine levels. But those studies assumed smokers wouldn’t have a high-nicotine alternative, antismoking groups and researchers said.

Allowing low-nicotine cigarettes while conventional cigarettes remain available may be a public health detriment if they discourage smokers from quitting entirely or encourage others to start smoking because they think there’s a safe way to experiment with cigarettes, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and several health associations wrote in a letter urging the FDA to reverse its 22nd Century decision.

22nd Century’s cigarettes are still dangerous, and consumers must substantially cut back or quit smoking to get health advantages. But anti-smoking groups fear many smokers won’t understand that.

“If people are looking at this as a magic bullet

and are still continuing their tobacco use, they are not doing anything to change their risk,” said Sward, of the lung association.

Anti-smoking groups particularly object to allowing 22nd Century to market menthol cigarettes even as the FDA is considering outlawing such cigarettes nationwide.

FDA spokesperson Abby Capobianco confirmed that 22nd Century has the only FDA-authorized low-nicotine cigarette but did not respond to requests for comment on the FDA’s plans for regulating nicotine in cigarettes.

California already outlaws menthol flavoring, and Miller said the company won’t challenge that state’s ban and won’t sell its menthol cigarettes in California.

But Miller hopes the company will eventually win an exemption from any federal ban, in part, he said, because more than half of menthol smokers are likely to switch to conventional cigarettes.

“That’s not what the FDA wants to happen,” Miller said. “They need an offramp for these menthol smokers and ours is obviously the natural.”

The company is expanding into California, Florida, and Texas because of the nation-leading size of their smoking populations. It previously announced plans to also begin selling its very lownicotine, or VLN, cigarettes this year in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, and it may move into 10 more states.

The company is prioritizing seven states that offer tax incentives for products the FDA has said reduce tobacco risk, believing its cigarettes will have a price advantage over others in Colorado, Connecticut, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, New Mexico, and Utah. Miller said the company may lobby California lawmakers to add similar incentives as part of the state’s extensive efforts to discourage smoking, which still addicts 10% of its residents.

Miller declined to disclose the company’s market share from the two test states but said sales were above expectations.

“If we can get this to the level of, like, a nonalcoholic beer — you know, 3% to 5% of the category — it’s a game changer,” Miller said. “We know that there’s a latent demand in the market for this product.”

which

was

by KFF

There is a reason why the Philippines’ tourist arrival numbers are the lowest among the so-called “Big Five” economies of Southeast Asia despite us reputedly having some of the best beaches and other tourist attractions in the world.

Indeed, the beauty of our white sands counts for nothing if there’s no way for tourists to get in and out in no more than half a day’s travel.

Despite campaigns like “Wow Philippines” or “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” having met with the approval of pundits on traditional and social media,

WKND

Atty. Gurfinkel answers immigration questions from Kapamilya in Manila on Citizen Pinoy

homeland.

Aileen has a son with a disability, and he is now 16 years old. She wants to know if there is any chance of expediting her petition which her mother filed in 2015.

Jinky’s sister petitioned her in 2005. She received a letter from the National Visa Center (NVC) in 2009. Since then, Jinky has not received any updates. What can she do to find out what is going on?

Donna got her green card in 1993 but immediately returned to the Philippines. The last time she was in the U.S. was in

Dolly de Leon on becoming an Academy member, working with Kathryn Bernardo, Nicole Kidman

By Kristofer Purnell Philstar.com

last June, making her an eligible voter at the Oscars beginning the 2024 ceremony.

At the press conference for the 2023 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival (Cinemalaya), Dolly was asked about the significance of a Filipino actor as a member of the Academy.

“It feels like finally we have

“Triangle of Sadness” star Dolly de Leon at the 95th Academy Awards. Instagram Photo/@dollydeleon

LIFESTYLE CONSUMER GUIDE COMMUNITY MARKETPLACE

Girl group Dione stakes claim to bigger slice of the P-pop pie

By rito P. Asilo Inquirer.net

self-penned song “Break You

Down” were

collectively called Tali — should gear up for more exciting times ahead. Not only can the Talis expect

Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel answers questions of Kapamilya from Manila – Aileen Huertas (left) and Jinky Arandia (right).

Sarah Geronimo to perform 2 shows at Pechanga Summit in September

SARAH Geronimo is a very famous Filipina singer and actress, with numerous albums, TV shows and movies accredited to her name. She has been in the entertainment industry since she was four years old, having a very prosperous and long career. She has held 2 concerts at Pechanga before, and will be coming back to Pechanga this year.

Sarah Geronimo will be performing 2 live concerts at Pechanga Summit in September on Friday, September 8 at 9 p.m., and Sunday, September 10, at 6 p.m.

Geronimo rose to fame after winning the television singing contest Star for a Night, where she procured a recording contract with Viva Records at just 14 years old. During her career, Sarah has won 15 Awit Awards, 28 Myx Music Awards, 8 Aliw Awards, 4 FAMAS Awards, the FAMAS Golden Artist Award and a World Music Award. She has also been named one of the most powerful influencers by Forbes Asia. In 2013, she was inducted into the Anak TV Hall of Fame.

Geronimo is also a Goodwill Ambassador for Music of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, as well as a recipient of their “Harvest of Honors” state recognition for multi-disciplinary arts.

In 2004, she starred in Sarah the Teen Princess, her first television show, as well as hosting regularly and performing on the variety show ASAP. She has appeared in 18 films, 25 television shows, and has released 13 albums throughout her career.

Geronimo has made a name for herself from her beautiful, soulful voice to her many appearances on film and TV. In 2014, YES! Magazine ranked her as the “Most Beautiful Star,” taking the number 1 spot out of 100 celebrities. Since 2014, she has been the most streamed solo Filipino artist in Spotify Philippines, where millions of people can stream her music.

Pechanga Summit features

a 40,000-square foot area for entertainers, concerts, live sporting events, trade shows, weddings, or any large groups to book. In total, Pechanga now offers 274,500 square feet of indoor/outdoor contemporary meeting and event space, which significantly enhanced the amenities, space and visibility of Pechanga’s event offerings. To get tickets to Sarah Geronimo’s concerts at the Pechanga Summit, call the Pechanga Box Office at (888) 810-8871, or go to www. pechanga.com.

Pechanga Resort Casino offers one of the largest and most expansive resort/casino experiences anywhere in the United States. Voted the number one casino in the country by USA Today and rated a Four

Atty. Gurfinkel answers immigration...

1995. She wants to know what will happen to her green card. Katherine’s petition by her fiancé is now being processed. She asks if she will be able to bring her son with her to the U.S.

Atty. Gurfinkel answers these questions in Part 1 of “Your Tanong, My Sagot” in Manila. Watch this brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, July 9 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET through select Cable/Satellite providers), right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app.

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Dolly de Leon on becoming an Academy...

PAGE B1

a voice, kasi ‘yun ang mundo na matagal na nating tina-try i-penetrate. I feel like maririnig na tayo ngayon,” Dolly told select members of the press including Philstar.com. “Iilang artista lang nakapasok doon so mahalaga talaga.

The actress also gave updates about two of her upcoming projects, namely, “A Very Good Girl” with Kathryn Bernardo and “Nine Perfect Strangers” with Nicole Kidman.

Dolly said the shoot for “A Very Good Girl” was 70% done and had only two weeks left. She praised Kathryn whose talent she even compared to that of National Artist Nora Aunor.

She is supposed to fly out on August 29 to begin the shoot for “Nine Perfect Strangers,” but its production may be affected because of the ongoing writers’ strike in the United States.

“We are in solidarity with the writers there. Hindi kami titigil until they get what they need and want,” Dolly stressed.

In the second season of “Nine Perfect

Strangers,” Dolly portrays an ex-nun who goes to a retreat house to find God again after turning her back on the Lord.

Nangyayari ba ang sampalan sa Amerika? Parang hindi ata... We have a lot of scenes together kasi of interactions with her patients,”

Dolly said of her possible screentime with Nicole, who plays a psychiatrist. “Pero wala naman atang sampalan.”

Dolly appears in two competing full-length films at this year’s Cinemalaya. These are Carl Joseph Papa’s “Iti Mapupukaw (The Missing),” the festival’s first animated feature entry, with Carlo Aquino; and Dustin Celestino’s “Ang Duyan ng Magiting” with Paolo O’Hara and Agot Isidro.

Cinemalaya 2023 will take place at its new home, the Philippine International Convention Center, and three participating malls from August 4 to 13. It will be staged in a new venue while its former home, the Cultural Center of Philippines’ main building, undergoes renovations. n

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Girl group Dione stakes claim to...

to see more of Joyden, Clara, Ella and DK’s terpsichorean skills in the coming days, they can also hone their sing-along proficiency and performing chops when the fab-and-fearless foursome releases its upcoming ballad “Pangako,” which will be released by Warner Music Philippines on July 13.

Indeed, the girls of Dione are gearing up to stake their claim to P-pop stardom, although they said they’re not out to compete with others.

Diverse skills

“We’d rather compete with ourselves and cheer on the other P-pop groups out there — that will be healthier for all of us,” they told Inquirer Entertainment in a recent chat.

According to Joyden and Clara, while the girls may have come from other singing groups (like Luna) and were exposed to different artistic pursuits, they all managed to consolidate their individual gains and finally debuted in April last year — and that’s when their rigorous training as a single unit truly took shape.

The pandemic may have slowed down their management’s initial plans for the group, but that didn’t stop the lovely ladies from honing their skills in singing, rapping, dancing and even acting — all on full and proud display in the “Break You Down” music video.

“We try to learn everything through training and workshops, although each of us began with special skills,” stated Clara. “I’m the main dancer, while Joyden is great at rapping. On the other hand, singing is DK’s turf, while Joyden and Ella also dabble in acting. These diverse skills go hand in hand and allow us to communicate and express the meaning of our songs.”

But what do they like about being part of a group, instead of pursuing a solo career?

“I love seeing how our performances make the fans happy — that’s where my drive to do well is coming from,” Ella admitted. “I’m one of BTS’ Army and, like other young fans, their music and advocacies resonate well with me. BTS inspires its followers to love themselves, and that has also helped me a lot. Now I also want our group to be able to do that.”

“It’s a great feeling at sobrang sarap when you can boost other people’s self-esteem and morale,” DK chimed in. “Although it’s also satisfying when you see people rallying behind you. Being in a group gives us the platform to do something for others, entertain people and temporarily forget their troubles.”

For Joyden, being a member of any singing group was never part of her plans in life. She mused, “But this must be God’s plan for me. It didn’t take long for me to realize how much it makes me happy every time we perform onstage.

“As a group, we’ve also been through difficulties, but the minute we hit the stage, all my worries fly away. There’s something about performing that boosts people’s confidence, and more so when you know you have your family backing you up with your dreams. It just gives me the extra push!”

Dione members (clockwise, from top left): DK, Ella, Clara and Joyden.

Doing something good

For her part, Clara says that the group enables her to experiment with different types of music.

“I’m not partial to any genre,” she pointed out. “I’ve always had an artistic mind … And music allows me to put my feelings and emotions into a song — it’s a great form of release.

“Of course I also want a solo career in due time, but Dione is my priority for now. The satisfaction is unlike anything when you see people come together for a common goal.

Kapag pinagsama-sama namin ang iba’t ibang nagagawa ng individual members, everything just blends beautifully. It’s an experiment like no other!”

“It’s a great feeling at sobrang sarap when you can boost other people’s self-esteem, not just your own,” DK chimed in. “But it’s also satisfying when you see people supporting you. Being in a group gives us just that — a platform to do something good for others, to entertain people who need cheering up.”

When we asked Dione which music acts they look up to, they came up with a list that reflects not just diversity, but also the sources of their versatile musical tastes. “It’s Sarah Geronimo for me,” shared Joyden. “But she’s just one of so many because the whole world knows that when you talk about great singing, you’ll find a lot of them in the Philippines. For foreign acts, I like the Japanese band One Ok Rock.”

For Ella, it’s KZ Tandingan because she said that the songstress from Davao del Sur is “palaban.” “Among foreign acts, I’m partial to BTS and Niki,” she added.

DK also adores KZ, along with singer-rapper Flow G and The Carpenters. “They may no longer be around as a group, but I always listened to The Carpenters as a kid,” she reasoned.

As for Clara, she said she’ll always have fond memories of Regine Velasquez. She explained, “Hers was the very first concert I watched … and she even pointed to me during the show (laughs)!”

When we asked one of their mentors, VJ Caber — the

member of RCS (Ryan Cayabyab Singers) who arranged this interview on behalf of the girls and their management team (Firstone Entertainment) — what their other plans are, he said, “Dione has a wish list. Every goal has its share of struggles in a highly competitive industry such as ours. But we’ll get there eventually. Meanwhile, we’re preparing a surprise video that the fans will hopefully embrace.”

We then asked the girls what “Break You Down” is about.

“It tackles different themes, but more than anything, it’s about breaking down stereotypes,” DK asserted. “We can’t be limited by people’s perception of us. That’s why if you notice our backup dancers, the Junior New System, they may be an all-male crew, but you see them dancing in heels! We want to send a message that you can be whoever you want to be and still succeed, despite people expecting you not to.”

Heartbreak, hope

As for “Pangako,” Dione tapped into the K-drama craze to explore themes surrounding heartbreak and hope.

“Initially, we weren’t sure about the topic to focus on,” said Clara. “Eventually, we decided to reference K-drama series and Korean movies, particularly in situations where the second male lead starts to get the cold shoulder from the woman after she falls in love with the male lead (laughs).

“We said, ‘Let’s put our feet in their shoes and see how it feels to get your hopeful heart broken.’ ‘Pangako’ is a promise between me and the moon. You’re willing to wait for the person to get his or her heart broken so you can shower him or her with all your love.”

Cutting in, Joyden further explained, “In short, this is for all the martyrs out there (laughs)!” Can they all relate to what the song is saying?

“Hindi nga po, eh (laughs). So sometimes, I run out of words … because that has yet to happen to me.”

What do they do every time they hit that sort of snag?

Ella quipped, “We just keep watching K-drama for inspiration (laughs)!” n

Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel is shown here with Donna Carreon (left photo) and with Katherine Ann David (right photo).

Free entertainment, admission & fun for the whole family at LA County’s largest Philippine American Friendship Day

LOS Angeles County’s largest PhilippineAmerican Friendship Day, presented by The National Federation of Filipino American Associations Greater Los Angeles Region (NaFFAA Greater LA) – is definitely on!

With this year’s theme of “Building Bridges Across Communities,” NaFFAA Greater L.A. aims to ignite a spark within our community, encouraging the celebration of our diversity through shared accomplishments, values, and dreams in a multicultural world.

On July 15th 2023, the Don Knabe Community Regional Park in Cerritos will come to life in a festive atmosphere filled with cultural experiences, culinary delights, and exhilarating entertainment, from 8am6pm.

Your day will be filled with world-class entertainment from our exceptionally talented artists and performers. Catch Nievera, the eldest son of Philippine concert king Martin Nievera and concert queen Pops Fernandez render his original music and covers of famous hits. Witness internationally-acclaimed all-male hiphop dance group Junior New System show off Pinoy pride with heart-stopping performances in 6-pinch heels! Party and enjoy the heart-pumping beats from DJ Rocky Rock, Filipino-American scratch artist known for Black Eyed Peas song Bebot!

Don’t miss the fun parade starting at 8:30 a.m. that will be attended by different Filipino organizations. Winners will be chosen according to categories - “Largest contingent”, “Liveliest Contingent”, “Most Colorful Contingent” - and will receive cash prizes. As an added feature, a mounted

sheriff patrol and a helicopter flyover will surely enliven the parade around the lake.

Inside the air-conditioned gymnasium, will be a one-day basketball tournament where attendees will have a chance to score LA Clippers merchandise, among many other prizes and surprises!

The workshop area will feature a FREE immigration clinic, conducted by Atty. John Perry of the Law Office of Perry & Alznauer at 11:00 AM. For small business owners, the William and Stephanie Foundation will hold a workshop on applying for grants and funding, including State of California services for entrepreneurs. Megaworld, a leading real estate developer in the Philippines, will give a talk on investing in the Philippines.

Young participants and attendees will enjoy the Kids Zone filled with face painting; mini-golf; books; arts and crafts; and many more attractions.

The fun never stops as McDonald’s, the world’s largest fast-food restaurant chain, will be providing free smoothies to event attendees. Get to explore the newest Toyota models such as the All-Electric SUV bZ4X and Sequoia.

To top it all, a pair of Philippine Airlines economy tickets will be raffled off at the event! This event is estimated to draw attendees of about 6K+ this year and is co-presented by Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn. Over-all event chair is Jannelle SoPerkins of So Jannelle TV - The FilipinoAmerican lifestyle/talk/magazine show SoJTV, which airs US-wide on cable channels The Filipino Channel (TFC) and

ANC; as well as on local Southern CA digital channel KNET 25.1; and is also available on social media platforms.

Special shoutout to our generous sponsors - Southern CA Toyota, McDonald’s Southern Ca, Pechanga Resort Casino, Law Office of Perry & Alznauer, Megaworld, Philippine Airlines, Vistaland, Jollibee, AMP Staffing Network.

Special thanks to our media sponsors; The Filipino Channel (TFC), Asian Journal, Balita Media, Philippine Post & Philippine News. Social Media Partner: Adobers; and Community Partner: SoCal Filipinos.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of this greatly anticipated celebration of friendship and history between the Philippines and US! We cordially invite you to join us at L.A. County’s Largest Philippine-American Friendship Day, FREE admission. For further inquiries, interested parties may call: Dan E. Nino @ 562-508-8099 or MaryAnn Omega @747-777-9811.

L.A. County’s Largest PhilippineAmerican Friendship Day Saturday, July 15, 2023, 8 am to 6 pm

Don Knabe Community Regional Park

19700 S. Bloomfield Ave., Cerritos, CA

The National Federation of Filipino American Associations Greater Los Angeles Region (NaFFAA Greater LA) is a dynamic organization committed to promoting the welfare, interests, and empowerment of the Filipino American community. With a steadfast dedication to unity, diversity, and progress, NaFFAA Greater LA strives to build bridges, forge connections, and create lasting impact in the lives of individuals in the Filipino-American community. n

Awkwardness and excitement in new Aga Muhlach-Julia Barretto tandem

By Dolly anne CarvaJal Inquirer.net

AGA Muhlach and Julia Barretto were like giddy teenagers at the story conference of their upcoming Viva movie, “Forgetting Canseco” (FC). The romance drama set in Baguio will be megged by Denise O’ Hara.

Julia could hardly contain her excitement and nervousness for their first teamup. Aga turned bashful when he was introduced as the “Romance Drama King” and “Eternal Heartthrob.” In the film, Julia plays a chorale singer, while Aga portrays a conductor.

FC is sort of a love letter to the legendary songwriter, George Canseco. His compositions comprise the soundtrack of every Pinoy’s love story. Let the movie

Cesar Montano earns Master’s degree on public safety

By Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

MANILA — Actor Cesar Montano finished his Master’s degree in Public Safety Administration from the Philippine Public Safety College. He also received the Best in Policy Paper Award during the graduation. In a report by Philippine Entertainment Portal, Cesar

said he began his studies when the lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

“Lockdown pa that time when we started our classes,” Cesar said.

“I was a scholar, too. I want to inspire people by showing them there’s no substitute for education,” he added.

Cesar finished Mass Communication in college at the Lyceum of the Philippines last April 2009. n

show you how music can reach where words cannot.

Here are quotes from Aga (A), Julia (J) and Denise (D):

A: After being paired with Julia’s titas, Claudine and Gretchen, akalain n’yo umabot pa ako kay Julia (laughs)? The slight awkwardness we feel now will work to our advantage when we start shooting. Natural na lalabas sa eksena how we will eventually get comfy with each other.

J: I am no singer, so my role is something alien to me. But I’m up for the challenge. But ’di ko yata kayang karirin ang singing the way Anne Curtis did… she even had a concert at Araneta Coliseum.

D: Although our film is about a May-

Cesar Montano Toffee Buenaventura via Facebook

Julia Barretto (left) and Aga Muhlach

Xenophobia against Asians since the pandemic by Yuri Kim

Rhizomes

ProSy AbArquezDelACruz, J.D.

(ONCE a year, an essay competition is held at CSUN, amongst Asian American Studies and Education majors, as part of an endowment set up by Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz for her deceased mother, Asuncion Castro Abarquez and her deceased sister, Rosalinda Abarquez Alcantara to provide a scholarship grant to deserving students. The essays are vetted by a committee headed by Dr. Tomo Hattori, and with active participation of Dr. Philip Hutchinson and Dr. Kimberly Teaman Carroll with oversight from Dept. Chair. 2023’s winning essay is from Yuri Kim.)

The year 2020 was an emotional rollercoaster for everyone all over the world.

In particular, the Coronavirus pandemic targeted people of Asian descent in the United States for racial discrimination and attacked them for the way they look. First off, racism isn’t brand new to Asian people. In fact it started in the 1800s with the Chinese Exclusion Act (Matsumoto). America banned all Chinese immigrants from coming to the states because native born Americans blamed Chinese workers for their unemployment and declining wages (Leon). Sound familiar to anyone? Americans blaming minorities for taking their jobs seems to be a lingering practice.

Another terrible event that occurred in US history targeting Asian people is when the Japanese internment camps took place. They were mandatory concentration camps that many Japanese would have to live during World War II because the country was fearful that the Japanese Americans who were loyal to Japan and would attack the country (Nagata).

The Japanese could barely bring any personal belongings with them, and they had to sell all their possessions before

they went to the camps. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1942, increased anti-Japanese feelings. Americans were worried that citizens of Japanese ancestry would act as spies for the Japanese government. The Japanese people in America themselves didn’t do the attack, but the American people didn’t see a difference. They made assumptions because of their race, a practice that is still around today.

Americans blaming Asian people for something they didn’t do isn’t new. No matter where we Asian-Americans go, we are always seen as different. My identity as a Korean American is a journey I am still learning about. Whenever I go to the motherland, (South Korea) I’m seen differently even there. You would think that because I look like them that I would fit in immediately, right?” Wrong. I’m seen differently there too since I’m also American and Korean and American cultures are very different. Here in America, I’m still seen as different since I’m Korean. Where I live in the San Fernando Valley, there aren’t that many Asian Americans compared to downtown Los Angeles or the 626 area code in Orange County, so in my high school, I was the only Asian student in most of my classes. People automatically assumed I was good at math since that is the most infamous stereotype out there. I’m not. Math is not my

California’s employee protections apply to all workers, regardless of immigration status

Courts protect identity of undocumented employee

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights

Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr

forte. But my peers automatically assumed that of me because I am Asian. Stereotypes give people automatic first impressions.

The same thing occurs with the racial attacks against Asians since the pandemic. People are attacking Asian people for the “Chinese virus,” term that President Trump crafted, which I believe has encouraged racist people to attack Asians (Kandil).

If the president says it, it should be okay right? Just because someone is of Asian descent does not automatically mean that they have the Coronavirus (Kandil).

Unfortunately, there are people out there who aren’t as bright and they act like uneducated folks making assumptions because of someone’s appearance. I’ve seen videos where people are getting attacked physically just for being an Asian person (Strochlic).

Being told “go back to your country” or “it’s all your fault” is incredibly offensive and hurtful to say to anyone (Kambhampaty).

It affects the older generation as well as the younger generation.

Asian Americans are seen as the model minority since they are very successful in education and in the medical fields (Leon).

Asians are seen as timid, shy people which is why people are continuing to ostracize them since they know that they will have little to no consequences.

Even Asian American doctors who are risking their lives fighting the Coronavirus on the front lines like in a war are being

A RECENT decision from the California Supreme Court reminds us that employee protections found in California law apply to ALL employees, without regard for immigration status. In the case of People ex rel. Garcia-Brower v. Kolla’s Inc., a nightclub employee had complained to the owner that she was not being paid all her earned wages. In response, the nightclub owner fired her, and then threatened to report her to immigration authorities if she persisted with her claims. The California court confirmed that both the firing and the threat to call immigration authorities was unlawful retaliation under California’s whistleblower law. Court records are generally open to the public. However, to protect against the “immigration-related threats” the Courts, all refrained from using the employee’s name in their decisions, and instead referred to the employee only by her initials. This sensitivity displayed by the courts is consistent with California

statutes that ensure that even employees without lawful immigration status are protected by California’s employment laws.

Under California law, “[a] ll protections, rights and remedies available under state law, except any reinstatement remedy prohibited by federal law, are available to all individuals regardless of immigration status.” California law thus prohibits anyone from asking an employee about their immigration status in any legal action. In this way, California’s wage-and-hour protections and anti-discrimination laws apply to ALL employees. (In fact, California’s Fair Employment and Housing Council makes clear that discrimination based on immigration status is a subset of unlawful discrimination on account of national origin.)

Ensuring that the state’s employment laws apply to everyone certainly helps those workers lacking lawful immigration status. But the big picture is that making sure that every employer has to abide by California’s employment laws helps all workers in the state. Without such protections, unscrupulous employers may seek to game the system by taking advantage of workers without lawful immigration status. Left unchecked,

these employers can provide substandard work conditions and employment terms that could erode protections for everyone else.

Extending worker protections to ALL employees levels the playing field. There is no question that employers who hire those without lawful immigration status are still required to comply with all California employment laws, and will be subject to enforcement actions for violations.

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

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

(Advertising Supplement)

GMA 7 comedians on collabs with

Kapamilya acts: We’re under one roof now

by Anne PAsAjol Inquirer.net

THE goal of every comedian should be to entertain his audience, “regardless if he would oftentimes look foolish,” according to Paolo Contis and Michael V, hosts of the 27-yearold gag show “Bubble Gang.”

“Ever since I started getting really involved in the shows I’m part of as host, my goal has been to make sure that people

are happy. I don’t mind looking silly or stupid, as long as the people around me are having a good time,” Paolo told reporters during a media gathering to announce that “Bubble Gang” will take over the Sunday (6 p.m.) timeslot starting July 9.

“I admit to feeling pressured, though, because as everyone’s kuya (big brother), I feel that it’s my responsibility to make my coworkers feel as relaxed and comfortable as possible. I believe

that this will translate to a good show every time. This doesn’t just apply to the set of ‘Bubble Gang,’ but also in ‘Bulaga.’ Although the pressure is a little less when I’m in ‘Bubble’ since Bitoy (Michael V’s nickname) is there, and he is our main leader. It’s just that Bitoy can’t tend to everyone all the time, so as the person next in line, I make sure to do it,” said Paolo, who is also the main host of the revamped

(L-R) Dr. Tomo Hattori, Committee Chair Yuri Kim - Essay Winner, and Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz - Donor to CSUN

Beauty Talk with Imee

Imee Ong-mAghAnOy

IT may come as a surprise to some but skincare is for men too.

I have been in this industry long enough to witness the beautiful reality that skincare is also for men. In fact, a lot of our male clients (my husband included) have been fans of these skin treatments that we have at the spa. And that is my cue to talk about these specials.

Let’s break the stereotype and get into “pamper me(n)” mode.

When your man needs ‘a lift,’ we recommend our PDO Thread lift

In my previous columns, we have already established the fact that we all age and as we do, our facial support structure weakens and we begin to lose a lot of facial volume. And of course, there’s gravity paired with aging, that pulls the facial structures down, thus resulting to the development of jowling, periorbital hollowness, laugh lines as well as marionette lines.

Commonly known as PDO threads or a thread facelift, this non-surgical and non-invasive thread lift is an effective way to lift loose skin without having the need for surgery. It is a procedure in which threads are inserted just below the surface of the skin in order to lift and strategically reposition the skin. PDO stands for Polydioxanone, which is a common chemical compound that has been used in surgical settings for years.

At Iskin Beverly Hills and MiSkin MedSpa, we use PDO threads because they are dissolvable and they are naturally absorbed by your body a few months following your PDO Thread lift. PDO threads can address most areas of the face such as the, jowls, cheeks, neck, jaw line, eyebrows, areas under the eyes and around the nose, crow’s feet, and marionette lines. They can also be used to lift the tip of the nose as well as to give the nose an overall smoother and straighter appearance with the thread lift nose job.

I highly recommend this treatment. It is a hit among our clients, especially the men. Even my husband loved it when he

Breaking stereotypes: Skincare is for men too

had it done at the spa a couple of months ago.

When your man wants to ‘keep it tight,’ there is Skin

Tightening RF

I know from experience that there will come a time when men would want (need) some skin tightening in all the right areas. And if that sounds like your guy, he is going to LOVE our Skin Tightening RF. You’re welcome!

Radiofrequency (RF) treatment is an aesthetic technique that uses RF energy to heat tissue and stimulate collagen production in order to reduce the appearance of fine lines and loose skin. It tightens sagging skin along the jawline and reduces double chin and fat over the lower cheeks and jaw line. This gives definition to the lower face and produces an oval shape.

Basically, Skin Tightening RF is all about stimulating our own collagen. Collagen, which gives our skin its strength and elasticity, diminishes because of aging and exposure to factors such as smoking and UV light. What makes RF a great option is that it helps boost oxygen levels in the skin. This results to a more contoured face, delays aging signs, and in effect, prevents one from getting surgery prematurely. In a nutshell, the longer you delay aging signs, the better your skin looks and the less your need is for “a nip and a tuck.”

Furthermore, radiofrequency helps in the removal of the fat and tightening the skin. Heating the deep layers of the face through the use of radio waves makes the skin firmer and smoother, and ultimately helps in eliminating jowls and tighten the jaw line. As a result, a sculpted V-shape face is achieved. This procedure is very famous among celebrities who prefer non-surgical and non-invasive treatments. Most of them would even have the treatment done before going to events.

A signature facial with deep exfoliation and European massage. Need I say more? I got you at European massage, didn’t I? Well, that and a great number of satisfied

Division of a business in a California divorce

clients might just convince you that no other gift would say “Best.Dad.Ever.,” than our Signature Men’s Facial.

Our facials have always been a favorite among our clients and celebrity dads Dingdong Avanzado, Nonito Donaire and many others. It does so much for the skin such as hydrating the skin, firming, brightening, plumping and giving you clear complexion. It also reduces signs of aging like fine lines, wrinkles and enlarged pores. It is so invigorating that your dad or your husband may actually do them as often (or more) than you do. AND of course, we welcome that. The more, the merrier!

The time has come to break the stereotype that only women –– need–– skincare. And it may actually be a great time to try something different and pamper your man in ways we know more about. ISkin and MiSkin would love to be a part of this journey. Give us a call. If you are in the LA area, you are more than welcome to our iSkin location. And if you happen to be in the Inland Empire and Orange County, we have MiSkin Spa for you selflove and self-pampering needs.

For more information you may visit iskinbeverlyhills.com.

Visit iSkin Med Spa and MiSkin MedSpa for a free consultation. iSkin is located at 8665 Wilshire Blvd. Penthouse Beverly Hills, 90211 or call 424382-1002. MiSkin MedSpa is located at 9227 Haven Ave. Suite 120 in Rancho Cucamonga, 91370 or call 909-9898464. You may also follow us on social media: @iskinmedspa and @miskinmedspa.

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Imee Ong-Maghanoy is an established aesthetician, a business owner and CEO of iSkin Beverly Hills, iSkin MedSpa and MiSkin MedSpa. Imee has been in the aesthetics industry for more than 20 years. She has a degree in Biology and Doctor of Dental Medicine. iSkin MedSpa and MiSkin MedSpa are fast emerging as a top Spa destination in LA. iSkin is located at 8665 Wilshire Blvd penthouse Beverly Hills, CA 90211. MiSkin MedSpa is located at 9227 Haven Ave. Suite 120 in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, 91370. (Advertising Supplement)

Barrister’s Corner

WHEN a married couple decides to divorce in California, one of the most significant issues they will face is dividing their assets and debts. If the couple owns a business together, this can be particularly complicated whether it is operated by only one spouse or both spouses jointly. In this article, we will discuss how property division works in a California divorce when a business is involved. California is a community property state, which means that property acquired during the marriage is generally considered community property and must be divided equally between the spouses upon divorce. This includes businesses and business assets. However, the division of a business in a divorce can be complex, especially if the business was started before the marriage or if only one spouse was involved in its creation or operation.

One option for dividing a business in a divorce is for one spouse to buy out the other’s share of the business. This can be done through negotiation or mediation, or it may require a court order through trial. If the spouses cannot agree on a buyout price, the court may order a valuation of the business to determine its worth. Typically, this is done by having a forensic CPA perform a business valuation. If the parties are in agreement on who they want to use as an expert, the parties can stipulate that a certain forensic CPA be appointed as the court’s expert to value the business pursuant to evidence code section 730. If the parties are not in agreement in the appointment of a 730 expert or if one of the parties are not in agreement with the valuation of the 730 expert, each party can retain their own forensic CPA to value the business. Typically, the court will order that each party’s forensic CPA meet and confer and do a side by side evaluation of their calculation to isolate where they differ. This is typically done in preparation for trial.

Another option is for the spouses to continue to co-own the business after the divorce. This is rare, but it can work if the spouses are willing to continue working together and can establish a clear plan for managing the business.

However, this option is usually not recommended, as it can lead to ongoing conflict and legal disputes. If the business was started before the marriage or if only one spouse was involved in its creation or operation, the court may consider these factors when determining how to divide the business. For example, if one spouse started the business before the marriage and the other spouse made no significant contributions to the business, the court may consider the business to be the separate property of the spouse who started it. However, if the other spouse contributed significantly to the business during the marriage or if the business has grown significantly during the marriage due to the hard work of the owner spouse during the marriage, the court may still award them a portion of the business or its profits. In order to determine what percentage of a business is community property versus separate property, there are two methods used based on two cases, Van Camp v. Van Camp, (1921) 53 Cal.App. 17 and Pereira v. Pereira, (1909) 156 Cal. 1, 103. These formulas are used to determine the value attributed to the community and separate property interests.

The Pereira case involves a married couple who ran a profitable business. Although the husband claimed that he had started the business before the marriage with separate capital, the Court found that a share of the earnings was community property. The Court, however, emphasized that the success of the business was largely due to the husband, who ran the company. The Pereira method of analysis is typically applied when business profits are mainly attributed to the efforts of the “community.” The concept of a Pereira analysis is to allocate a fair return to the separate property investment in the business and principally apportion the remainder of the value to the community property.

As a result, the Pereira analysis is usually applied to small businesses where the efforts of the owner are significant in the success of the business, and it is assumed that the business would not have had such success without the business owner’s efforts.

The Van Camp case resulted from a successful family business. The son of the business owners ran a successful packaging company in California. When the son married, the son’s wife ultimately relied on the holding of the Pereira case and argued that the community interest

in the business was due to its successful management. The Court, however, found that the success of the business was also due to the investment of capital into the corporation. As a result, the business increased in value due to the initial investment and various assets rather than the son’s efforts during the marriage. The Van Camp method is used when the increase in the value of a business is primarily the result of the unique nature of the particular asset, and not necessarily the efforts of the community. The goal of a Van Camp analysis is to obtain the reasonable value of the community’s services and then to allocate that amount to the community property and the remainder to the separate property. In some cases, the court may order the sale of the business and the division of the proceeds between the spouses. This is usually only done if the spouses cannot agree on any other division method or if the business is not profitable.

In conclusion, dividing a business in a California divorce can be complex and requires careful consideration of all factors involved. It is essential to work with an experienced divorce attorney who can help you navigate the legal process and protect your interests. By working together with your spouse and your attorney, you can find a fair and equitable solution for dividing your business and other assets in your divorce.

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

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

(Advertising Supplement)

Xenophobia against Asians since...

told to “go back to their countries”. Change needs to happen.

A video on Time online really impacted me in an emotional way. It basically showed a day of an Asian American doctor named Dr. Chen Fu who is fighting Covid-19 on the front lines. He explains in the video that as both an Asian American and a doctor, he has been both “celebrated and villainized at the same time” (Tsai). Even though he has the credentials and the licenses as a doctor, people still racially profile against him since he is of Asian descent, which is absolutely unacceptable, especially since he is on the front lines of a pandemic war while everyone else is at home. I was so moved by this video that I decided to send him a direct message on Instagram to just thank him for his service and to give him encouragement. This is what I wrote to him: “Hello! I saw your video from Time, and I just want to say as a fellow Asian American, I want to say thank you for your service and all that you do for people in the hospital. Your hard work goes unnoticed, and I wish as a 19-year-old in college there was more I could do. Even though I am currently in college, the hard work that you do is so inspiring despite being racially profiled, you still find the strength to keep going. I am so so incredibly sorry you had to go through that terrible experience even though you are out there helping this pandemic on the front lines like in a war. Thank you so much for your service, and I hope you stay well and keep your chin up!!!!” (little play on words since his username is ‘keep_your_chen_up). I didn’t expect to get a response from him, but I did. He replied saying: “Hey there! Thank you so, so much for your kind words. I really appreciate them :). Hope you’re staying safe wherever you are and that the listlessness of online classes isn’t getting to you too much! And as a college student I think you’re doing a lot. You’re growing and developing into a person with the potential to make the world better by walking in it. It’s like the humble earthworm: they don’t consciously try to till the soil as they move through it, they just do. You’re making yourself into an earthworm, becoming one that can make the world a better place just by moving through it. Hope you keep it up and keep your chin up too :)”.

I was so glad that he saw my message and that he was encouraged by my words. Kindness goes such a long way and even the smallest things can make someone’s entire day.

As a Korean American myself, I personally do get anxious to go out in public since all I’ve seen on the news nowadays is people of my kin getting attacked and racially profiled just for being an person of Asian descent. There was one incident where I went to the doctor’s office back in March 2020 when this whole pandemic started, and I

remember sitting in the waiting room just waiting for my name to be called. I noticed something that never happened to me before. As soon as I sat down in a chair, everyone scooted away from and purposely chose different seats away from mine. I was so taken aback and shocked at what I had just witnessed. I am grateful that it didn’t escalate into anything violent compared to the videos I have seen on social media, but I was still very uncomfortable in the situation. I didn’t do anything wrong, I only sat down quietly waiting for my name to be called by one of the nurses, but the other people in the waiting room didn’t care. They assumed that I had the Coronavirus because of my appearance. Ever since then I have been apprehensive of going outside and interacting with other people. I always feel like I need to have pepper spray on me or have my phone ready at all times to record any unfortunate events that might occur. I really hope that when this pandemic is over, people will be able to realize that being Asian does not equal to having the Coronavirus. Racism is a social issue that is very relevant to today. It is something that unfortunately has been around since the beginning of time and this horrible lingering American practice will unfortunately continue to be passed on to generations to come since evil is always there. But like evil, good is there to fight as well. As much as I hate looking at the news, it gives me hope when I see or hear people helping to fight against the xenophobia against Asians. Many Asian American actors and influencers have done many things on social media to bring awareness and change to this issue. They have given Asian Americans a voice in the media, and I am so incredibly grateful for that. Racism will always be around, but that doesn’t mean people are going down without a fight.

* * * Yuri Kim is a second-generation Korean American who is passionate about Asian American issues such as the xenophobia and racism towards Asians during the pandemic. They hope that with their degree in Asian American studies from CSUN that they will be able to make a difference in a world where racism and exclusion is very much prominent to this day.

* * * Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. writes a weekly column for Asian Journal, called “Rhizomes.” She has been writing for AJ Press for 12 years. She also contributes to Balikbayan Magazine. Her training and experiences are in science, food technology, law and community volunteerism for 4 decades. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of the Philippines, a law degree from Whittier College School of Law in California and a certificate on 21st Century Leadership from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. She has been a participant in NVM Writing Workshops taught by Prof. Peter Bacho for 4 years and Prof. Russell Leong. She has travelled to France, Holland, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Japan, Costa Rica, Mexico and over 22 national parks in the U.S., in her pursuit of love for nature and the arts.

GMA 7 comedians on collabs with Kapamilya acts...

noontime variety show “Eat

Bulaga” on GMA 7.

Michael agreed by saying:

“From the core of my heart, I’m a performer. I feel this need to entertain people, to make them smile or laugh, and feel happy. I don’t know any other profession that will allow me to do this than being an actor, or particularly, a comedian.

Pauleen Luna ‘proud’ of daughter Tali for completing pre-kindergarten, remains mum on pregnancy rumors

By Dale Calanog Inquirer.net

TV host-actress Pauleen Luna celebrated her daughter Tali’s newest milestone, as the 5-yearold finished pre-kindergarten.

Unlike last year when Tali— whose full name is Talitha Maria Luna Sotto—attended an online ceremony for her nursery graduation, the youngest child of Vic Sotto got to celebrate her latest accomplishment with her friends.

In her Instagram post on Thursday, July 6, Luna uploaded photos from her daughter’s moving-up ceremony. The “Blue Moon” actress also shared videos from the kids’ special presentation, during which Tali charmed with her facial expressions and, at one point, even drew out a giggle seemingly from her mother.

“Happy moving up day my love! I’m so proud of what you’ve learned and achieved this school year! I love you and we’ll always be here to support you! [heart emoji],” Luna told Tali in her post’s caption.

Several people including Sebastian Arumpac, or Baeby Baste—a former host of the original “Eat Bulaga”—sent Tali their love. In the comments section, the 10-year-old wrote,

“Congrats our inday tali [heart emojis].”

While most of the comments were for Tali and about her new achievement, some remarks alluded to Luna’s rumored pregnancy. One @ iamjuststephapipay_panyang commented, “Confirmed [baby] number 2 [emojis],” while another, who goes by @ beejoyceful, referred to Luna as an “expectant mom” and claimed that “[a]nother blessing” is heading the couple’s way.

Speculations that the couple is expecting their second child together appear in the comments section of some of the more recent posts of Luna on Instagram, such as an Instagram post on June 17 that centered on “umbilical cord stem cell banking.”

Moreover, a remark from “EAT” mainstay Joey de Leon during the Kapatid variety show’s pilot episode, in which he referred to Luna as “buntis” (pregnant), further sparked the rumors. The former Kapamilya actress, however, has remained silent on the issue.

Earlier this year, the husband and wife marked their seventh year as a married couple since tying the knot in January 2016. Almost two years after their wedding, Luna gave birth to Tali in November 2017. n

Awkwardness and...

PAGE B4

December love affair, we don’t want to label it as such because love knows no age. We want to normalize all kinds of love.

A: I have nothing against acting workshops, but I would rather attack my role the way I know how. I forget I’m Aga and assume the persona of my character 100 percent. That’s why after every movie, I isolate myself for a week to shake off the character I have

become attached to.

J: I fell in love with the story at first read. I even fall asleep with the script beside me.

D: We used the word “forgetting” instead of “remembering” in our film’s title, even if the latter sounds more positive. When we are heartbroken, we want to forget the pain, but it’s hard because you can’t unhear the love songs of George Canseco. n

“I’m proud of the work that I do in ‘Bubble Gang,’ but at the same time, I always remind people that one or two don’t make up the entire show; that there is a whole bunch of people from the production, creative and marketing teams, as well as from the network, who are working on the show,” said Michael, who, until recently, had been the show’s creative director since 1995.

Tough job

Michael said not all of what they do for “Bubble Gang” eventually gets aired on television. “It’s a tough job. I remember one time when we shot two whole scripts only to discover that neither got aired. There’s another instance when I wrote a script about a particular character and shot scenes that were worth three episodes. To me, it was really funny—for the sake of comedy— but some people involved in the show thought it would offend some groups. So to be on the safe side, we chose not to air this, too,” he explained.

“I hope we could still release this online, as a form of digital content. I hope they would give it

a chance; and that when people see it, they will realize that it’s not offensive at all,” he pointed out. For Paolo, it’s important to choose one’s battles. He explained: “I’ve gotten comments like, ‘Why is this guy still in ‘Bubble Gang? He should have been removed a long time ago.’ What matters to me is that my bosses in GMA 7 are aware of how dedicated I am to my work. I guess for them, having a good work ethic is more important.”

Apart from the program’s change in time slot another major change is in the cast members. Aside from Paolo and Michael, Chariz Solomon, Betong Sumaya, Kokoy de Santos and Analyn Barro were retained. Their new recruits are Buboy Villar, EA Guzman and Cheska Fausto.

“Those who have ‘graduated’ from ‘Bubble Gang’ are always welcome to return. Even my good

friend Ogie (Alcasid), before becoming an exclusive talent of TV5 [in 2013], still appeared as a guest in one of our anniversary presentations. He did the same thing before he transferred to ABS-CBN [in 2016],” Michael pointed out.

Network decision

Michael, who is among the show’s original members, also denied having any hand in choosing who gets to stay or go whenever a reformat is necessary. “This is always a network decision. I tell people, ‘Put your trust in the network. Our bosses do their studies when it comes to who graduates.’ I’ve been with GMA 7 for a long time, and I don’t always agree with our bosses’ decisions, but in the end, I know my place.”

However, Michael said there was one time when he “appealed” to them and eventually prevailed. This was for the sitcom “Pepito Manaloto,” which he created in

2010. “I really fought for that show. I’d like to believe that my bosses listen to me. I’ve learned to listen to them, too, because they would patiently explain to me what I can and can’t do [as an artist and a creative team member], and I always abide by their guidelines,” he explained.

Now that GMA 7 has signed a deal with ABS-CBN, Michael said he is open to collaborating with some of the latter’s top talents, particularly with comedian Vice Ganda. “We were both guest performers at a concert of Ogie and Regine (Velasquez) before. In one of our rehearsals, he told me, ‘Get me as a guest in ‘Bubble Gang.’ I said that if I could, I’d do it in a heartbeat,” Michael recalled.

Even Paolo said he is excited of the possibility of asking cast members of the noontime variety program “It’s Showtime,” which is now airing on GTV, to appear on “Eat Bulaga.” Years ago, no one would imagine that a reshuffle in the noontime slot would happen, he said.

“I’m thinking that maybe we could link Dasuri Choi with Ryan Bang. We’re all under one roof now. It’s good to think that we’re neighbors now, and are no longer rivals,” Paolo observed. Dasuri and Ryan are both Korean and are popular TV personalities in the Philippines.

“Bubble Gang” will feature popular vloggers Mika Salamanca and Jelai Andres in its July 9 episode. The sketch comedy show is codirected by Franco Mortiz and Mark David.

Pauleen Luna and daughter Tali Sotto. Photo from Instagram/@pauleenlunasotto

Old and new cast members of “Bubble Gang” are presented to the media. Inquirer.net photo