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JULY 15-21, 2022 Serving San Diego Since 1987 • 12 Pages

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

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US backs PH on West Philippine Sea, warns DATELINE USA that it will support Manila on armed attacks New York faces FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

another COVID surge Governor Hochul, Mayor Adams announce launch of new COVID-19 treatment hotline

THE sixth wave of COVID-19 has started, with the highly contagious omicron variant – the BA.5 variant – now the most transmissible and dominant strain of COVID-19 in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In New York City, COVID-19 cases are rising and the current positivity rate has reached an average of 15%. Because of this, the New York City Health Department issued new guidance asking that people wear a high-quality mask, such as an N95, KN95, or KF94 in all public indoor settings and around crowds outside.

The BA.5 variant is an intensely contagious COVID variant that some health experts have called it the “worst version” of omicron yet as

by Kaycee

valmonTe Philstar.com

MANILA — On the 6th anniversary of the 2016 Hague ruling, the United States reaffirmed its commitment to the Philippines and warns that it will back Manila should there be armed attacks.

“We also reaffirm that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke the U.S.

mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a press statement dated July 11.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration, a United Nations-backed tribunal, ruled in 2016 that China’s claims over the South China Sea is invalid as the claims already exceeds Beijing’s maritime entitlements.

It also ruled that some of the areas are already

by AJPress

FIGHTING RABIES. Dog owners wait in line for free anti-rabies vaccination for their pets at a covered court in Barangay Kamuning, Quezon City on Thursday morning, July 14. The Department of Health logged a total of 157 rabies cases for the first six months of this year, lower than the 167 cases recorded during the same period last year.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

Fil-Am second-grader gets global notice for Note may show location of missing ‘D’ Shoes invention Fil-Am woman’s body, but search fails

A Filipino American second-grader at Bradley Elementary School in Watsonville, California will present his “D” Shoes people-locator invention at the virtual Global Invention Convention in August.

Kristopher Bayog, 8, is one of just five students from California, and 84 students in all, who were picked for the convention hosted by The Henry Ford organization, according to the Pajaro Valley Unified School District.

Bayog’s “D” Shoes invention also received

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Suspect pleads not guilty after alleged hate attack against Fil-Am family

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Bayog’s “D” Shoes stands for doorbell shoes featuring a builtin alarm that allows family members to find others who might be lost in a crowd.

Screengrab from YouTube

within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.

Six years since the ruling, the Philippines has filed over 200 diplomatic protests as China refuses to recognize the ruling.

This was also backed by a recent U.S. study on coastal state maritime claims, as noted by Blinken, that China’s claims over the disputed waters remain “plainly inconsistent with international law.”

POLICE in Oakley, California on July 7 gave the parents of missing 27-year-old Filipino American woman, Alexis Gabe, copies of notes handwritten by her exboyfriend that could indicate the location of her body, according to ABC7 News.

Gabe’s ex-boyfriend, Marshall Curtis Jones, wrote directions on where to dispose of her body in Pioneer, California, an area 60 miles east of Sacramento.

Investigators and hundreds of volunteers reportedly searched acres of land in Pioneer for any sign of Alexis’s body,

including draining more than eight million gallons of water in a nearby pond. They didn’t find anything.

Gabe’s parents, however, say they believe she’s still alive and hidden somewhere.

Jones was killed last month when police tried to arrest him near Seattle, Washington.

He allegedly charged at officers with a knife.

After Jones’ death, a friend of his gave police a note from two weeks before Gabe disappeared. The note says Jones told the friend he was “thinking about killing Alexis

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THE suspect accused of physically assaulting and throwing racist slurs toward a Filipino American family has pleaded not guilty on Monday, July 11 to two battery charges.

Nicholas Weber, a 31-year-old Sylmar, California resident, is charged with one felony count of battery with serious bodily injury and a misdemeanor count of battery. The charges carry hate crime allegations.

This comes after a May 13 incident wherein Patricia Roque, 19, and her mom Nerissa, 47, were getting late-night snacks at the McDonald’s drive-thru on Victory Boulevard in North Hollywood when a dark blue jeep, driven by Weber, hit their car from behind.

The younger Roque got out of the car and started taking cellphone videos of the damagers. That’s when the suspect went to the side of their car and started throwing racial slurs with a mock Asian accent. The suspect threatened them by saying, “I’ll kill you,” Patricia recounted.

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Nobel Laureate and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa

Inquirer.net file photo

How the PH Court of Hontiveros, Padilla unlikely allies ‘Not our bill’: Palace Appeals ruled on Maria in reviving discussion on divorce says premature to Ressa’s cyber libel case

by Xave

GreGorio Philstar.com

MANILA — Sens. Risa Hontiveros and Robin Padilla are finding themselves on the same side of the fence as they have both identified the legalization of divorce in the Philippines among their priority measures for the 19th Congress.

Hontiveros and Padilla filed different versions of the measure that is deemed rather controversial in the Philippines, where majority identify as Catholic and which is the only state aside from the Vatican that has not yet legalized divorce for the entire population.

Divorce is only legal in the Philippines for Muslim couples who were married under Muslim rites.

Hontiveros has been identified by former Vice President Leni Robredo as the new leader of the opposition as she is now the highest-

comment on bid to rename NAIA

ranking elected official from their ranks, while Padilla has been a vocal supporter of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

But Hontiveros said she is willing to work with any senator on common issues they are pushing for.

“We are ready to cooperate with any senator with the same advocacies for women and the Filipino family,” Hontiveros said Monday, July 11, in Filipino in a reply to media queries. “As in the past six years, I am always able to cross party lines and unite with other senators to push important laws.”

Different, but not irreconcilable Hontiveros said she is hopeful that there is a better chance for the divorce bill to hurdle Congress this time around as the Senate panel on women, children, family relations and gender equality already tackled the proposal in the 18th Congress. The committee

MANILA — Malacañang was mum on the bill seeking to rename the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) after President Marcos’ father, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, saying the measure is still in its early stages.

“Malacañang has no comment yet on this one. It’s just been filed, after all. It has not been subjected to first reading so any reaction would be premature, if any is even warranted at this time,” Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said at a press briefing last Wednesday, July 6.

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by aleXis

romero Philstar.com

by TeTch

Torres-Tupas Inquirer.net

MANILA — The Court of Appeals (CA) has resolved that 15 years after a story is posted online, a cyberlibel lawsuit can still be filed in court.

In a decision affirming the cyberlibel conviction of Nobel Laureate and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and former researcherwriter Reynaldo Santos Jr., the CA said that a one-year prescription for libel cannot apply to cyberlibel cases.

The CA explained that the penalty imposed for cyberlibel – imprisonment for up to eight years – is classified as afflictive

which under Article 90 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), the prescription should be 15 years.

Libel, under Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code, is punishable only by imprisonment of six months up to four years and two months and belongs to a different classification of penalties.

Santos wrote the article in May 2012 claiming that businessman Wilfredo Keng lent his sports utility vehicle to then Chief Justice Renato Corona.

The story also cited an intelligence report that said Keng

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JULY 15-21, 2022 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

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From The FronT Page

Suspect pleads not guilty after alleged hate attack...

PAGE 1 While waiting for the police to respond to their 911 call, Patricia called her dad, Gabriel, who arrived in time to stop Weber who was trying to enter the car to get to Patricia.

In the process of stopping the suspect from hurting his daughter who was seated in the passenger’s seat of the car, the 62-yearold father was pushed down to the pavement by the suspect. Gabriel suffered injuries, including a broken rib and bruises on his arms.

“My family and I were victims of anti-Asian hate. What initially started off as a minor traffic collision quickly escalated to verbal and physical assaults. We were taunted, ridiculed, and belittled because of our appearance as Asian Americans. Specifically,

the suspect called us ‘ching chong’ and made squinting eye motions as he verbally threatened us,” Patricia Roque told the Asian Journal in a previous interview.

After attacking her father, Weber reportedly turned to her mother and strangled her.

“My mom tried to intervene to stop the attack on my dad. At that point, the suspect turned his anger and hate towards my mom and started strangling her with his bare hands. We all screamed for help. We all pleaded for the suspect to stop,” Patricia said.

She said a bystander helped stop Weber from further attacking her family.

When the police finally arrived, Weber was taken by an ambulance to the hospital and later on, was released with a citation to

appear in court last June 8 but he never did.

The court issued a bench warrant for Weber after he failed to appear for arraignment on June 8. He was arrested for an unrelated matter in Orange County and held on the warrant.

The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department, North Hollywood Division.

Weber is due back in court Aug. 19, when a date for a hearing will be scheduled to determine if the case will go to trial.

Filipino American community members are continuing to call on the District Attorney’s Office to fully prosecute the case.

The Filipino Migrant Center has created a fundraiser on its website for the Roque family’s physical and emotional recovery. n

How the PH Court of Appeals ruled on...

PAGE 1 had been under surveillance by the National Security Council for alleged involvement in human trafficking and drug smuggling.

The article was re-posted in February 2014.

Ressa’s camp argued that they could not be prosecuted for cyberlibel because the law, at that time, was subject to a restraining order by the Supreme Court.

However, the CA said the Cybercrime Law was signed into law in September 2012 and became effective on October 9 that year. Although there was a restraining order, the CA said only the implementation was enjoined but the effectivity remains in place.

“The TRO issued by the Supreme Court only enjoined the implementation of the Cybercrime Law, but not its effectivity. As the law remained effective, the lifting of the TRO consequently meant that the acts committed during the effectivity of restraining order

was in effect can be subsequently charged and prosecuted,” it said.

Elements of libel Is the article subject of the cyber libel case defamatory?

“Without a doubt, upon reading the subject article, one would understand in its plain and ordinary meaning that the author thereof painted Keng as someone involved in several illegal activities…thereby besmirching his reputation and casting him dishonor, discredit and public ridicule,” the CA said.

When it comes to malice, the CA said the Cybercrime Law imposes a stricter standard to convict someone if the offended party is a public figure. But if the offended party is a private person, “the prosecution need not prove the presence of malice as the law explicitly presumes its existence.”

In this case, since Keng is a private person, “the law is clear that malice is presumed from the defamatory and libelous character of the statements rendered in the

It said the case against Ressa involves a novel implementation of the Cybercrime Law which seeks to curb, if not totally prevent, “the reckless and unlawful use of the computer systems to commit traditional criminal offenses.”

But the CA clarified that the strict implementation and imposition of penalties of cyberlibel do not aim at curtailing freedom of expression but serve “as a major deterrent to the damaging and defaming of a person’s reputation that could be easily and successfully carried out at one’s fingertips.”

The decision affirming the U.S. Embassy in Manila cyberlibel conviction of Ressa and Santos was penned by Associate Justice Roberto Quiroz and concurred by Associate Justices Ramon Bato Jr. and Germano Francisco Legaspi.

The case is not yet final.

by Beatrice Pinlac However, Ressa’s counsel said Inquirer.net they would exhaust all legal remedies, including elevating the MANILA — The United case to the Supreme Court. n States has committed to “stand united” with the Philippines in a mutual pursuit of development, especially under the administration of President State COVID-19 ExpressCare Therapeutics Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Access website, which includes a telemedicine Jr. Chargé d’Affaires Heather visit. New Yorkers outside of New York City Variava, during the U.S. should call 888-TREAT-NY (888-873-2869). in Manila’s The hotline is available 24 hours per Embassy day, seven days a week, and is operated by commemoration of the 246th experienced Health + Hospitals professionals anniversary of the declaration who have the clinical training to prescribe of U.S. Independence on Friday, treatment and referrals if needed. The July 8 stressed the U.S.’ promise ExpressCare platform is a service that allows to continue strengthening ties New Yorkers to receive virtual care from an with the Philippines by “working closely” with the Marcos NYC Health + Hospitals provider.

The telemedicine visit will include a clinical administration in ensuring “a assessment by medical providers who will prosperous, healthy, and safe identify the appropriate COVID-19 treatment future for the peoples of both plan, which may include a prescription our nations.”

This sentiment echoed the for Paxlovid or Molnupiravir. These oral antiviral medications have both been proven earlier statement of U.S. Second to decrease hospitalization for those that are Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, at risk for severe disease. When given soon husband of U.S. Vice President after a positive COVID-19 diagnosis these Kamala Harris, who said that antivirals also help fight infection and shorten the U.S. is looking forward to recovery time. (By Momar G. Visaya/AJPress) working with the Philippines’ new leadership on a variety of issues.

“We firmly stand united with the Philippines moving to greater heights. And together, we look forward to moving on to greater heights,” Variava said.

“Together, we look forward

subject article.”

The CA also noted an unpublished story written by another Rappler reporter about Keng’s side. It wasn’t published because other news was more urgent.

The appeals court deemed such a reason as “flimsy.”

Regarding publication, the original article was posted in May 2012. The February 2014 update to the previous article corrected the spelling of the word “evasion.”

But the appeals court said, “a single defamatory statement if published several times, gives rise to as many offenses as there are publications.”

A novel implementation of Cybercrime Law The CA said public officers and private individuals who are wronged in the inordinate exercise of freedom of speech and the press “have every right to avail themselves of the legal remedies for libel.”

New York faces another COVID surge...

PAGE 1 it is highly infectious and largely resistant to the current vaccines. Those who have come down with the virus already are also more susceptible to reinfection.

According to experts, this variant which fuels higher infection rates is also the dominant strain in the CDC’s New York region.

Early this week, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the launch of a new free hotline in New York for those who test positive for COVID-19 but don’t have a health care provider, as part of ongoing efforts to keep New Yorkers protected throughout the pandemic.

The hotline, 888-TREAT-NY, was launched by the New York State Department of Health after reaching an agreement to utilize the Virtual ExpressCare platform operated by NYC Health + Hospitals.

“Every New Yorker deserves access to quality, accessible health care, regardless

of their insurance status,” said Mayor Adams. “NYC Health + Hospitals’ Virtual ExpressCare has helped connect thousands of New Yorkers to COVID-19 resources and I’m proud that, through this partnership with Governor Hochul and Commissioner Bassett, New Yorkers across the state, regardless of whether they have a health care provider, will now have access to critical and lifesaving treatments.”

“We’ve made real progress in our fight against COVID-19, but as new variants continue to spread it’s important to continue to adapt and expand our efforts to protect New Yorkers,” said Governor Hochul. “Our new COVID-19 treatment hotline will provide New Yorkers with better access to early treatments that help prevent severe illness.”

New York City residents, regardless of income or health insurance coverage who test COVID-19 positive, are eligible to be evaluated for treatment by calling 212-COVID-19 or completing an evaluation on the New York

FLOOD CONTROL. Construction workers install a gabion on a dike as part of the flood control project along Imus River in Barangay Burol Main, Dasmariñas City, Cavite on Thursday, July 14. The activity is among the city government’s infrastructure projects being supervised by the Department of Public Works and Highways.

PNA photo by Gil Calinga

Inquirer file photo

US vows to ‘stand united’ with PH on multiple fronts

to developing new trade and investment opportunities that create jobs and spur economic growth.

Together, we look forward to partnering on clean energy solutions, protecting marine and terrestrial resources, and tackling the climate crisis.

Together, we look forward to supporting peace and security throughout the Indo-Pacific region. And together, we look forward to creating educational and leadership opportunities for youth, to offer them, and their communities, a brighter future,” she added.

Variava also recalled the bolstered relationship of the U.S. with the Philippines especially during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The U.S. and the Philippines have come so far in confronting the pandemic and related challenges over the past two years. Americans and Filipinos around the world have worked hand-in-hand and stood united as we tackled these challenges,” she underscored.

The Philippines has been on the receiving end of millions worth of COVID-19 vaccine donations from the U.S. government.

The U.S. likewise extended assistance when Typhoon Odette battered parts of the Philippines in 2021. n

US backs PH on West...

PAGE 1 “We call again on the PRC to abide by its obligations under international law and cease its provocative behavior. We will continue to work with allies and partners, as well as regional institutions like ASEAN, to protect and preserve the rules-based order,” Blinken said.

PH commemorates historic ruling In a separate statement, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo asserted that “these findings are no longer within the reach of denial and rebuttal, and are conclusive as they are indisputable.”

“We firmly reject attempts to undermine it; nay, even erase it from law, history and our collective memories.”

Manalo also said that the Philippines welcomes the support of more countries backing Manila in asserting its rights over the waters. n

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Young Filipino student receives US President’s award for academic excellence

Senators Robin Padilla and Risa Hontiveros

Philstar.com file photos

Hontiveros, Padilla unlikely...

PAGE 1 report from those hearings can be a basis for new discussions on the measure, she said.

While both Hontiveros’ and Padilla’s bills seek to legalize divorce in the country, the two proposals are markedly different from each other.

For one, Hontiveros’ divorce bill provides an extensive section on “guiding principles,” which recognize that the family should be provided protection and assistance and provide what a divorce decree should have, among others.

Padilla’s version, meanwhile, has an “interpretation” clause which states that the measure should be “applied and interpreted in favor of the protection and strengthening of the family.”

Proposed grounds for divorce Hontiveros’ bill provides that couples can get a divorce after five continuous years of separation even without a judicial decree of separation, but couples who are legally separated for at least two years can already get divorced.

Padilla’s bill, meanwhile, has a blanket provision stating that couples who have been separated in fact for at least two consecutive years can get divorced.

Both measures reference grounds provided under the Family Code for legal separation as grounds for divorce, but Hontiveros’ version provides that physical violence or grossly abusive conduct does not have to be repeated and that homosexuality in itself is not a ground unless either or both spouses commit marital infidelity.

Both proposals also provide that couples can divorce when they have divorced overseas or when they have irreconcilable differences.

Unique to Padilla’s version is a provision which states that having a child with another person other

than one’s spouse during a marriage is a ground for divorce, unless both spouses agree to this, or a child is born to them in vitro, or when the wife becomes pregnant after getting raped.

Also unique to the Padilla bill is the mandatory six-month “cooling off” period which will be observed between the filing of the divorce petition and the start of court proceedings, except in the following cases: • Summary judicial proceedings • Sexual infidelity • Attempt by the respondent on the life of a common child or a child of the petitioner or the petitioner themself • Or acts involving violence against women and their children Will it finally hurdle Congress?

The farthest that a divorce bill has gotten in Congress was in 2018, when it was passed by the House of Representatives in a 134-57 vote under the speakership of pro-divorce lawmaker Pantaleon Alvarez (Davao del Norte).

The measure, however, got stuck in the Senate where it did not progress beyond the committee level.

It remains to be seen whether incoming congressional leaders — often elected with the imprimatur of the president — would shepherd divorce, which is seen by advocates as a prowomen legislation.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said when he was still campaigning for the top elective post that he is open to “take the next step” and legalize divorce, but urged that the process should not be made easy. A common argument against divorce is that it would devalue marriage by making it “too easy” to end one. n

Note may show location of...

PAGE 1 and wanted to know where the best place to hide a body would be.”

Investigators said that Marshall and the friend decided “the best place to dispose of a body would

be by placing it in a septic tank or burying the body in a forest area.”

For any information that could help investigators, call the Alexis Gabe tip line at 925-625-7009.

(Inquirer.net) n

FERNANDO Tarriela Valderrama was given the Gold President’s Honor Roll Award in May 2022 for Outstanding Academic Excellence.

Conferred by the President’s Education Awards Program in the United States, this award is the highest recognition given to graduating elementary, middle, and high school students for their outstanding efforts to meet challenging standards of excellence.

Valderrama, an incoming ninth grader at Harvest Christian Academy in Guam, is part of the school’s National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) that encourages high academics along with strong character and leadership. His extra-curricular activities also include taking Orchestral classes and being part of the Running Club/Cross Country. Outside of school, Valderrama is a grey and white

Fernando Tarriela Valderrama

belter in Jiu-Jitsu and goes to CrossFit. His parents are Tom and Tricia Valderrama. His maternal grandmother is

Philippine National Bank’s first Chairwoman Flor Gozon Tarriela, sister of GMA Network Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon. n

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JULY 15-21, 2022 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

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

FEED YOUR MIND. A woman looks at fiction novels being sold at a bookstore in a mall in Quezon City on Thursday, July 14. Republic Act 8047 created the National Book Development Board (NBDB) which is tasked primarily to formulate and implement a national book policy with a corresponding development plan aimed at promoting the development of the book publishing industry.

PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

‘Not our bill’: Palace says premature...

PAGE 1 “This is not a bill filed by Malacañang so it’s not our place to indicate whether it is timely or not. It was the congressman who filed it so no comment for right now, particularly, you know, its (in its) very early stages really, it’s just been filed,” she added.

Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves, Jr. filed House Bill No. 610 renaming NAIA to Ferdinand E. Marcos International Airport less than a week into Marcos Jr.’s presidency.

In his explanatory note, Teves said the Manila International Airport was renamed after Ninoy in 1987 during the presidency of his widow, Corazon Aquino.

Ninoy, a senator who was critical of the policies of the elder Marcos, was assassinated on the tarmac of the airport in 1983, three years before the historic

People Power revolt that ousted the former president.

Teves claimed that the airport project was done during the time of the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos, Sr., who became the Philippines’ chief executive in 1965.

“It is more appropriate to rename it (NAIA) to the person who has contributed to the idea and execution of the said noble project,” the lawmaker said.

But according to the website of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), which operates NAIA, the country’s premiere airport was originally a U.S. Air Force base until 1948, when it was turned over to the Philippine government.

The fledgling civil aviation airport’s facilities were nothing more than the current domestic runway and a small building

as its only passenger terminal, the website said. MIAA said the first 13 years of the airport were marked by the building of infrastructure dedicated to international flights.

“The international runway and associated taxiway were built in 1953, and 1961 saw the completion of a control tower and a terminal building for the exclusive use of international passengers at the southwest intersection of the runways.

This system came to be officially known as the Manila International Airport,” the website said.

During the previous congress, Rep. Ducielle Cardema (Duterte Youth party-list) filed a measure that sought to rename NAIA back to its original name Manila International Airport. Cardema claimed that the name of the airport had been “politicized.” n

Fil-Am second-grader gets...

PAGE 1 special recognition in the Consumer Goods and Fashion division at the National Invention Convention from May 31 to June 3, where there was an estimated 500 presenters.

Bayog’s “D” Shoes stands for doorbell shoes, which feature a built-in alarm that allows family members to find others, perhaps elderly or young children, who might be lost in a crowd.

Bayog said he got the idea for the invention on a day his grandmother, who suffers from dementia, was lost briefly during a graduation celebration.

“Later that day, my father used his car alarm to find our car because he could not remember where he parked it, and that is how this idea came to me,” Bayog said.

The “D” Shoes has a receiver in the shoe and a keychain-like transmitter that sends signals to the shoe. If the transmitter is within 1,000 feet of the shoe, it can be activated and the alarm in the shoe will sound, helping others to locate the person wearing the shoes.

Michelle Rodriguez, PVUSD superintendent of schools, said it was inspiring to learn that

Bayog was one of just a handful of students from the state selected to present at the global convention. “(Bayog’s) potentially lifesaving creation is thoughtful.

It is important to share it with the world,” Rodriguez said. “I am proud of our staff who daily support a safe and engaging learning environment where students like Kristopher can innovate and have supportive opportunities to be curious and explore their interests.”

The Global Invention Convention will be a virtual event in August. (Inquirer.net) n

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Dateline PhiliPPines

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7,145 MILF, MNLF members Belmonte PH lone delegate pass exam to enter PNP to US leadership program

by Neil JAysON

servAllOs Philstar.com

MANILA — Up to 7,145 members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) passed the qualifying examination to enter the police force, the Office of the Presidential Peace Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity reported on Thursday, July 14.

Presidential peace adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. said 11,033 MILF and MNLF members took the National Police Commission’s Special Qualifying Eligibility Examination (NSQEE) on May 29.

Under Napolcom Resolution 2022-008, passing the NSQEE is among the steps in the application process for MILF and MNLF

members to join the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“The entry of qualified MILF and MNLF members into the PNP will help realize the meaningful transformation process for these former combatants, and is a testament of our collective aspiration to bring just and lasting peace to the region and to the whole country,” Galvez said in a statement.

The Napolcom had earlier signed a memorandum of agreement with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in which successful examinees will be granted eligibility to get schooling and training in the police academy.

Passing the NSQEE does not guarantee recruitment to the PNP, the Napolcom stressed.

Passers need to undergo schooling and subsequently earn a baccalaureate degree within 15 years upon entry to the PNP, it said.

Passers are also expected to undergo training and be subjected to the PNP’s recruitment process, which includes physical, neurological and other medical exams as well as drug tests, background checks and final board interviews.

“To our dear MILF and MILF aspirants, may Allah grant you the wisdom, strength and fortitude to successfully complete and pass the selection process so that you will have the opportunity to serve and protect your people and become instruments of peace, reconciliation and unity across the country,” Galvez said. n

ARMS SHOW. Philippine National Police (PNP) Officer in Charge (OIC), Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao, looks at the firearms on display at the Association of Firearms and Ammunitions Dealers of the Philippines Inc (AFAD) Defense and Sporting Arms Show at a mall in Mandaluyong City on Thursday, July 14. Some 48 members and exhibitors participate in the gun show that will run until July 18 which showcases locallymade and imported firearms and ammunition.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

by Arlie

O. CAlAlO ManilaTimes.net

QUEZON City Mayor Maria Josefina “Joy” Belmonte is the country’s lone delegate in an international leadership program sponsored by the US State Department that will last until July 21 in Washington, D.C. Engelbert Apostol, chief of the city’s Public Affairs and Information Service Department (PAISD), said Belmonte will be joined by seven other top local government unit (LGU) officials from Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Kosovo, Mozambique, Poland and Slovakia to the US Department of State’s premier professional exchange program.

Belmonte told The Manila Times in a Viber message that she is fortunate to be one of those participants of the International Visitor Leadership Program.

“It is an honor to be selected as one of the delegates to this prestigious exchange program. I consider this as recognition of the outstanding work that the city government has done to advance the welfare of our city and our QCitizens,” Belmonte said.

She has vowed to apply the learning and experiences she will get during the exchange program to better serve her constituents.

“The learning that we will gain from this event would certainly be put to good use. We will fully utilize them for the betterment of our city and of our constituents,” the Quezon City chief executive said.

The program will engage delegates on the principal pillars of the Summit’s 2022 Year of Action, including strengthening democracy, advancing respect for human rights around the world and fighting global corruption.

Delegates will have a chance to share ideas with peers, organizations and technical specialists in U.S. cities and raise the public profile of democratic innovation at home and abroad, PAISD said.

Belmonte has committed to continue her good governance initiatives in her second term after

Quezon City Mayor Maria Josefina “Joy” Belmonte

receiving various accolades from the Commission on Audit (CoA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The city government just received a second straight unqualified opinion from CoA for its annual audit report for the year 2021.

The local government also obtained an “unqualified opinion” for its 2020 annual audit report following the auditor’s conclusion that all financial statements were prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework.

Likewise, the DTI recently handed the local government five awards, including 1st Place in the Most Competitive LGU in a HighlyUrbanized City category, at the 2021 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index Summit.

Aside from its first place finish, it also obtained 2nd Place Most Competitive in Economic Dynamism, Government Efficiency and Infrastructure, and 3rd Place in Resiliency, the PAISD chief said.

In the past, former Davao City mayor and now Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio and former Manila mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso Moreno were the first to be invited in the annual premier exchange program. n

DOTr vows to promote green transport projects

by XANder

dAve CebAllOs Inquirer.net

MANILA — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Thursday, July 14, said it would continue to promote green transport and electric vehicles throughout the country as calls for climate justice continue to persist.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said that the department would ensure its transport policies and projects are focused on preserving the environment and compliant with international environmental standards to alleviate the impact of the carbon footprint from the transport sector.

Bautista emphasized former

President Rodrigo Duterte’s transport programs like the heavily criticized Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.

“The Department of Transportation launched programs geared at improving transportation efficiency and reducing emissions and pollutants from the public

COVID-19 boosters are now available for

children ages 5+

Boosters can help protect the whole family against serious illness and hospitalization.

Visit MyTurn.ca.gov to find a vaccine near you.

transportation sector,” he said during Megaworld Lifestyle Malls’ launching of the first mall-based free charging stations for electric vehicles.

The establishment of the national development plan for the electric vehicle industry will be a big push for promoting electric vehicles in the country, Bautista said.

The secretary also said that the agency would support and assist in advancing the Republic Act 11697 or the Development of Electric Vehicle Industry in the Philippines to provide sustainable transport alternatives to Filipinos.

Meanwhile, the Megaworld Lifestyle Malls’ free charging stations, located at Uptown

Bonifacio in BGC, Taguig City, will service electric bikes, scooters, vehicles, and public utility vehicles, according to DOTr. The free charging for electric automobiles is in partnership with DOTr, Department of Energy, and Department of Environment and Natural Resources. n

6

JULY 15-21, 2022 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

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OpiniOn

Weak deterrence

Features

Penalties are imposed to serve as a deterrent against crime. The deterrence is inevitably weakened when it takes an eternity for justice to take its course.

Snail-paced justice is among the biggest hindrances to the development of a society where the rule of law prevails. This glacial pace is again being seen in the corruption case filed against retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, who was indicted for illegally amassing P303 million when he was military comptroller from 1993 to 2004.

Garcia was originally charged with plunder and money laundering in 2005 and 2009, respectively.

Under a deal he struck with then ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, Garcia pleaded guilty to the lesser offenses of direct bribery and facilitating money laundering before the Sandiganbayan in December 2010.

The Office of the Solicitor General challenged the validity of the plea deal before the Supreme Court, which issued a temporary restraining order that halted the Sandiganbayan proceedings. The TRO was lifted only in 2020, when the SC upheld the plea bargain.

Last week the Sandiganbayan finally convicted Garcia and sentenced him to eight to 14 years for direct bribery and facilitating money laundering.

He has been serving his sentence for two corruption cases at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa since 2011.

The anti-graft court also ordered Garcia to

pay a total fine of P407.8 million, with corresponding imprisonment if he cannot pay. Perhaps his codefendants who are at large – his wife Clarita and their sons Carl, Juan Paulo and Timothy Mark – can come up with the enormous amount. Upon his retirement from the military, Garcia also reportedly received a “pabaon” or send-off money amounting to a whopping P165 million.

After nearly two decades of litigation, this case could still go to the SC for a final ruling. It’s the same with other high-profile cases involving billions in public funds, among them the 2004 fertilizer scam and the pork barrel scam, which involve multiple defendants.

It shouldn’t be impossible to speed up the administration of justice. Other countries can rule quickly with finality on court cases, even if prominent or notorious personalities are involved.

Apart from speeding up adjudication, the judicial system can use a merit-based system of appointment and promotion, insulated from politics and influence peddling. Owing favors to politicians and expecting help in career advancement from parties in court cases have seriously undermined the administration of justice in this country. The damage should not prove to be irreversible. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

CTalk

Cito BeltRan “MARITESS” in Malacañang is currently sharing information that several factions are beginning to form among supporters of BBM and the division of sorts is happening as a result of nominations and endorsements for positions inside the PBBM administration.

“Maritess” suggests that there are now rings around PBBM much like the rings on a bullseye and PBBM in the center. The outer rings are politicians and friends, the inner rings are kamag-anaks and serious supporters during the campaign and the closest tightest ring to get through would be the president’s working team in Malacañang.

Things have apparently gotten touchy because of the nominations and announcement of certain individuals that were challenged in media and business circles last week while other and better nominees were “dropped.” While some

Babe’s Eye View BaBe Romualdez THE news about President Bongbong Marcos testing positive for COVID-19 after an antigen test serves as a grim reminder that the virus is still very much around us and the battle against this virus continues.

Although the President has only manifested a slight fever, there is no denying that we still need to be very vigilant, especially in the wake of reports about a new subvariant that is highly transmissible and can possibly evade our acquired immunity.

In fact, a report by The Washington Post with the headline “The worst virus variant has just arrived” detailed how the latest Omicron subvariant identified as BA.5 and a closely related variant called BA.4 have swept across the United States late last year, accounting for about 70 percent of all infections, according to estimates by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Malacañang officials blamed it on poor screening or too much work, Maritess claims that some of those individuals were no strangers to the working team.

This sort of thing is nothing new and has existed in other administrations and previous tenants of Malacañang.

Perhaps PBBM should keep a score card on nominators and people who regularly make recommendations and impose a one-strike policy where a bad or poor nomination results in endorsers and team members losing future opportunities to recommend or screen people.

PBBM might find it beneficial to learn from Albert Speer who wrote the book “Inside The Third Reich,” particularly about what he observed in the inner circle of Adolf Hitler. In the book, Speer referred to the formation or evolution of a “Court” composed of people who intentionally stroked the ego of Hitler while creating a tight grip on power and access to Hitler. Speer pointed out that Hitler knew about it and made the mistake of condoning or tolerating the court as it eventually led to his isolation and delusion. In current history, the same thing

The Washington Post quoted Scripps Research professor of molecular medicine, Dr. Eric Topol, who said that the BA.5 is “the worst version of the virus that we’ve seen” as it has extensive immune escape capability (meaning it can evade the body’s immune system), as well as enhanced transmissibility. The variants, the report further noted, are also “driving a case surge in Europe.”

“The greatest need is for next generation vaccines that are more broadly protective (with longer lasting immunity) and that can dampen transmission,” The Washington Post said, concluding that while there is a major research effort underway to achieve this, “the finish line is not yet in sight.”

With my resumption as Philippine Ambassador to the United States, we are ready to start discussions once again with our friends from Moderna and Pfizer. I have already alerted our team at the Philippine embassy in Washington, D.C. to set the wheels in motion for fresh talks regarding these new highly effective boosters being developed by the leading U.S.

Philstar.com photo

‘Maritess’ in Malacañang

is being said about Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is surrounded by a similar court composed of oligarchs and generals.

In his first week as President, PBBM gained cautious approval for selecting the highest caliber of people for his economic team. Into his second week, people noted lapses, gave mixed reviews and ultimately raised questions. This early in the game, President Bongbong Marcos needs to widen the circle around him and prevent those he trusts from creating a “court” or, worst of all, a Cordon Sanitaire that will strangle his leadership.

Whether it’s in the kitchen with mothers or with friends facing complicated situations, some people who’ve tried to give unsolicited advice or help have ended up being told: “You’re not helping” or “You’re just making things worse.”

The same could be said for people who are giving unsolicited praise or building unwelcomed monuments for the Marcoses just because BBM has become the 17th President of the Philippines. A classic example of such suck-up-ism would be

the proposal to rename the Ninoy Aquino International Airport into the Ferdinand Marcos International Airport.

The suggestion or attempt to rename NAIA is a clear example worthy of the phrase “You’re not helping” or “Just making matters worse.” While PBBM is clearly trying to prove himself through wise and prudent first moves in governance, particularly in the selection of his Cabinet members, the unsolicited act to rename NAIA stirs up controversy and places the Marcoses once again under the spotlight of criticism for something they did not initiate. Instead of “helping” to smoothen things out for PBBM’s reentry into Malacañang, the unsolicited suggestion has placed him in a bad light and made the Marcoses targets for a slew of memes and insults on social media. The legislator or legislators who came up with the bad idea obviously did not think of consequences before making the suggestion because if they did, they might have considered the aftermath.

Some of the points raised are: 1. Renaming NAIA would be “Double Murder” because

after being murdered on the tarmac at NAIA 1, removing Ninoy Aquino’s name would be tantamount to murdering his memory and sacrifice for the nation. 2. If NAIA is renamed to FMIA, nothing can stop people from referring to it as FMIA “where Ninoy Aquino was murdered.” Last weekend, someone came out with a dark and derogatory jumble of letters where he named the airport as the “Marcos Family International Airport” or MAFIA. Funny for some but certainly insulting or injurious to the family concerned, and all because of some people’s unsolicited attempt to curry favor or trying to do the Marcoses a favor they did not ask for.

On the other hand, it might be a good idea for officials in Malacañang to look into the matter in terms of ulterior motives. There is a possibility that the suggestion to rename NAIA goes beyond suck-up-ism and may be a veiled attempt to ensure that current suggestions or future possibilities of selling the NAIA complex never happens. At the moment, there is a growing move to partition and sell

COVID caution still essential drug companies.

Clinical trial data from Moderna regarding its “bivalent booster vaccine” have shown to be highly effective against the BA.4 and BA.5 variants which, according to Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel, “represent an emergent threat to global health.”

Pfizer is also developing a booster that is capable of neutralizing the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants. The U.S. FDA has also given authorization for Pfizer’s antiviral pill Paxlovid to be prescribed by licensed pharmacists. Paxlovid has shown to be highly effective for patients who are at high risk of severe illness, reducing the risk of hospitalization and death by about 89 percent.

President Marcos himself said he wants to enhance vaccination efforts, noting that people who have received booster shots have better immunity against the Omicron subvariants that are highly transmissible and could drive a spike in infections.

Everyone knows the vaccines developed by American companies have proven to be the most effective, with the U.S. having donated millions

of Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines to the Philippines, pledging to donate over 1.1 billion doses to countries all over the world.

During an interview with media friends, I told them that we are highly recommending for the President to speak at the 77th UN General Assembly in September. Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo has also formally recommended the President’s attendance.

We will also work with our UN permanent representative Ambassador Tonette Lagdameo in arranging side meetings with other world leaders as recommended by DFA Secretary Manalo.

Even before the elections, I recommended to President BBM that perhaps one of his first major trips abroad would be to speak at the UN. We are confident it will also be a good working trip as this would be his first worldwide exposure as president, with the opportunity to meet a number of heads of state in one venue.

We are also working towards arranging a separate bilateral meeting within the year in Washington, D.C. between President Marcos

and President Biden, who invited the President to come to Washington “as soon as our teams find a suitable date.”

While in New York, we hope to organize meetings with American investors and business organization leaders eager to meet the President and explore economic and investment prospects in the Philippines. I plan to meet Finance Secretary Ben Diokno this coming week to plot out the economic forums we plan to mount. During the pandemic, we conducted a number of virtual economic forums, later going on the hybrid format as the COVID-19 situation eased up.

In the coming year, we plan to hold more in-person types of engagements in collaboration with the new economic managers that include Trade Secretary Fred Pascual and the team from the Board of Investments, and of course the team of Finance Secretary Diokno and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Felipe Medalla.

Last March in Washington, the Philippines and the U.S. signed a Memorandum of Understanding to further

NAIA to property developers and create new townships and commercial centers.

The presumption is that it will never happen during the term of PBBM if NAIA is renamed into FMIA. It is public knowledge that certain business groups and aviationrelated operators want to preserve the status quo and power bloc in Philippine aviation by preserving their hold on large properties inside the huge area of the Manila International Airport.

The current tenants on government land inside MIAA are paying some of the cheapest rent per square meter in all of Metro Manila and the overlords of Imperial Manila love the fact that MIAA/NAIA is just a few minutes away from their offices and residential palaces. If MIAA/NAIA is chopped up into blocks and sold, they would all have to move to different airports and hangars outside Metro Manila. (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.

deepen their cooperation in developing the nuclear energy program of the Philippines and ensure a resilient, inclusive and green economic growth for the country by intensifying the work in securing reliable and sustainable energy sources, including nuclear energy.

We know that foremost in the mind of President Marcos is the economic aspect of our relationship with the United States, which we hope to intensify even further as we begin our fresh mandate following my reappointment.

Everyone agrees, no single country can recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is why it is important to maintain good trade and economic ties with other countries, most especially allies like the United States – a country that has always been with us at a time when we needed them most.

(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

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

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SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 15-21, 2022

Marcos studying Rice Tariffication Law Duterte satisfaction rating

by Catherine

S. Valente ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is looking at his economic team’s recommendation to retain the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) amid calls for the repeal or suspension of the measure.

Marcos, who is also the concurrent Agriculture secretary, discussed the review of the law during his virtual meeting with the key officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Malacañang on Tuesday, July 12.

“The topics of discussion include the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), current state on rice and livestock production, and increase in the production of high-value commercial crops (HVCC), among others,” the Palace said in a statement posted on its social media.

This came days after Marcos led his first executive meeting as Agriculture secretary where he asked his DA subordinates to reassess the RTL under Republic Act (RA) 11203, which took effect in 2019.

“Give me a short memo on whether we should or we should not ratify [the law], the pros and cons,” the President said.

Over three years into the RTL’s implementation, many farmers are still calling for the reassessment, suspension and eventual repeal of the law.

No less than then presidential candidate Marcos backed the proposal to review the law.

During the campaign period, Marcos said the law, which was enacted in 2019 with the aim of lowering the price of rice in the country by removing quantitative limits on rice trading, has been disastrous to farmers.

“We should minimize our importation. I know

it’s easy to say, but it’s not very easy to do. It will take a long while. These are all very long-term plans but in the short-term, there’s still much that we have to do,” Marcos said in a forum hosted by the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. last year.

“I wouldn’t mind if we suspend the Rice Tariffication Law first, because it’s really destroying the...NFA is now buying at P18, P19.

People don’t plant anymore...,” he added.

Marcos had also pointed out that while the law has good intentions, it had “unintended consequences.”

“If you read the law, it looks OK. But it had unintended consequences and there is an ongoing pandemic, so our local farmers are really hurting. They don’t know how to make money anymore,” he said.

The economic team of the previous administration, which now Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno was also a part of, has been vocal about its stand against calls to amend the law.

The country’s economic managers said the law gave way to the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, which has an annual appropriation of P10 billion to fund programs for farm mechanization, seed development, propagation and promotion, credit assistance, and extension services.

Any excess in tariff revenues is allocated for financial assistance to rice farmers, titling of agricultural rice lands, expanded crop insurance program, and crop diversification program.

Last year, the government raised P18.9 billion from rice tariff collections.

Data showed the government had already collected P8.35 billion as of May this year. n

PH drops slightly in global gender gap index MANILA — The Philippines saw its ranking slide by two notches in the Global Gender Gap Report of the World Economic Forum (WEF), but it remains among the leading countries in terms of gender equality in the East Asia and Pacific region.

This year’s edition of the report showed the Philippines placed 19th out of 146 countries, with a score of 0.783 out of a parity score of one, down from 17th place and a 0.784 score in the previous year.

The Philippines’ latest score means it has closed 78.3 percent of the overall gender gap.

Within East Asia and the Pacific, the report showed the Philippines was among countries with the highest level of gender parity, placing second to New Zealand.

While the Philippines has improved upon its first gender parity score by 4.2 percentage points since 2013, WEF said its

progress has hovered between 0.783 and 0.799.

It also said the country’s gender gap of 21.7 percent this year is similar to that of last year’s.

The Global Gender Gap report measures the progress being made in achieving gender parity in terms of economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival and political empowerment.

WEF said no significant changes, whether positive or negative, were seen in terms of gender equality in health and survival or political empowerment in the country.

In terms of health and survival, the Philippines closed 97.9 percent of the gap, while a gap closure of 36 percent was achieved in political empowerment.

When it comes to educational attainment, WEF said gender parity in the country decreased at the level of enrollment in

primary education, with boys having a larger share than girls.

The report showed the country closed 99.7 percent of the gap in educational attainment.

In terms of economic opportunity and participation, the Philippines ranked among the highest in the East Asia and Pacific region, having closed 79.4 percent of the gap.

WEF said the share of women participation in the country’s workforce, however, was still 24.5 percentage points, lower than the share of men.

“Gender parity for legislative, senior officers and managers, as well as for professional and technical workers, remains constant,” WEF said.

Iceland topped this year’s report once again, having closed more than 90 percent of its overall gender gap.

Other countries in the top five are Finland, Norway, New Zealand and Sweden. (Philstar. com) n

7

high until term’s end – SWS

MANILA — Former president Rodrigo Duterte maintained high satisfaction ratings until the end of his term, a survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) before the May 9 elections showed.

Results of the April 19 to 27 survey released on Wednesday night, July 13 showed that 78 percent of adult Filipinos were satisfied with the performance of the then-president, up from 75 percent obtained in a similar survey conducted in December 2021.

Those who were dissatisfied fell from 15 percent to 13 percent, while those who were undecided remained at nine percent.

This gave Duterte a net satisfaction rating of “very good” +65, up from the also “very good” +60 in the previous survey.

The net satisfaction rating is the rounded off difference between those who said that they are satisfied and dissatisfied with the performance of a particular government official.

SWS classifies net satisfaction ratings of at least +70 as “excellent”; +50 to +69 as “very good”; +30 to +49 as “good”; +10 to +29 as “moderate”; +9 to -9 as “neutral”; -10 to -29 as “poor”; -30 to -49 as “bad”; -50 to -69 as “very bad”; and -70 and below as “execrable.”

Duterte obtained a net satisfaction rating of “very good” +64 in September 2016, the first survey on public satisfaction of government officials that was conducted by SWS during his term.

It dropped to its lowest of “good” +45 in June 2018 before rebounding and reaching its highest – “excellent” +79 – in November 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

SWS has yet to release the average satisfaction rating obtained by Duterte throughout his term, but it is expected to be higher than his predecessors.

Former president Benigno Aquino III had an average “good” +45 throughout his term, Gloria

Arroyo with “neutral” -7, Joseph Estrada with “good” +33, Fidel Ramos with “good” +38 and Corazon Aquino with “good” +35.

Increase in all areas According to SWS, the increase in Duterte’s overall net satisfaction rating from December 2021 to April 2022 was due to increases in all areas.

It was highest among respondents in Mindanao at +83 (up from +80), followed by those in Metro Manila at +63 (up from +61), rest of Luzon at +60 (up from +56) and the Visayas at +55 (up from +45).

It stayed at +64 among respondents in urban areas, while it increased from +56 to +65 among those in rural areas.

Net satisfaction also rose among both men and women, as well as most age and educational groups.

The survey had 1,440 adult respondents and an error margin of plus or minus 2.6 percent for national percentages. (By Janvic Mateo/Philstar.com) n

8

JULY 15-21, 2022 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

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LEGAL SERVICES CASE NUMBER: 37-2022-00026062-CU-PT-CTL

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioners Erika Pantoja and Jhovany Pantoja on behalf of a minor filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a. Christian Manuel Pantoja to Franco Manuel Pantoja.

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

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 08/17/2022 Time: 8:30 AM Dept. C-61 Superior Court of California, County of San Diego 330 WEST BROADWAY DEPT. 61 San Diego, CA 92101 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county.

Asian Journal: JUL. 05, 2022 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT Michael T. Smyth Judge of the Superior Court AJ 987 07/15, 07/22, 07/29, and 08/05/2022 ATTACHMENT TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME (JC Form #NC-120) NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The Court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

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

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

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

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

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

AJSD#987

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9013887

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

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

This business is conducted

by Corporation.

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

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

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

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9013641

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

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

by Married Couple.

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

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

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

AJSD#973

LEGAL SERVICES

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF EILEEN MARIA MOSS. CASE NO: 37-2022-00014128-PR-LA-CTL

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

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: EILEEN MARIA MOSS A Petition for Probate has been filed by MELISSA CARDENO in the Superior Court of California, County of SAN DIEGO. The Petition for Probate requests that MELISSA CARDENO be appointed as personal representative to administer with will annexed the estate of the decedent.

The petition requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.

The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.)

The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: Date: 08/10/22 Time: 2:30 P.M. Dept.: 502 Address of court: 1100 Union Street, San Diego, CA 92101 Branch Name: Central, Probate If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing.

Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor.

You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

ATTORNEY: EARTh ShAh FIRM NAME: ShAh ATTORNEY GROUP ADDRESS: 16521 REDwOOD DRIvE, CERRITOS CA 90703 TELEPhONE: 562 659 4526 ATTORNEY FOR PETITIONER: MELISSA CARDENO 07/15, 07/22, AND 07/29/2022 AJ 990 AJSD 990

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AJSD#976

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9012417

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9013286

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

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

This business is conducted

by Individual.

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

Signature: Hazelyn D. Bugay.

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

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

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

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

This business is conducted by Individual.

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

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

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

AJSD 975

LEGAL SERVICES

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9013886

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

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

This business is conducted by Individual.

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

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

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

AJSD#979

a. Jungle Hippie located at 5108 Brighton Ave., Ocean Beach, CA 92107. b. Jungle Hippie Boutique located at 5108 Brighton Ave., Ocean Beach, CA 92107. c. The Jungle Hippie located at 5108 Brighton Ave., Ocean Beach, CA 92107. d. The Jungle Hippie Boutique located at 5108 Brighton Ave., Ocean Beach, CA 92107.

Registrant: Jaclyn Andrea Meltzer, 5108 Brighton Ave., Ocean Beach, CA 92107.

This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 02/15/2015.

Signature: Jaclyn Andrea Meltzer.

Statement filed with Recorder/ County Clerk of San Diego County on 07/11/2022.

AJ 988 07/15, 07/22, 07/29, and 08/05/2022.

AJSD#988

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9015248

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9015585

AJSD 984

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

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

This business is conducted by Individual.

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

Signature: Omar R Gutierrez Garcia.

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

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

Advanced Car Stereo located at 252 Calle Florecita, Escondido, CA 92029.

Registrant: REM Cyber Compliance Solutions Inc, 252 Calle Florecita, Escondido, CA 92029.

This business is conducted by Corporation.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 06/20/2022.

Signature: Ramin Asef.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 07/06/2022.

AJ 985 07/15, 07/22, and 07/29, and 08/05/2022.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9014687

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9014310

AJSD 980

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

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

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

This business is conducted

by Married Couple.

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

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

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

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

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

This business is conducted

by Individual.

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

Signature: Jesse Hernandez.

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

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

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

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

This business is conducted by Individual.

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

Signature: Madonna E. Arceo.

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

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

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9014091

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9014909

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

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

This business is conducted

by Individual.

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

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

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

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9014496 Versa Solar Services located at 2025 L St., San Diego, CA 92102.

Registrant: Moisés Vergara, 2025 L St., San Diego, CA 92102.

This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 01/01/2017.

Signature: Moisés Vergara.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 06/24/2022.

AJ 984 07/08, 07/15, 07/22, and 07/29/2022.

AJSD 982

a. My Doctor Weight Loss Clinic located at 1941 Highland Avenue, National City, CA 91950. b. House of Botox located at 1941 Highland Avenue, National City, CA 91950.

Registrant: My Doctor Weight Loss Clinic, Inc, 1941 Highland Avenue, National City, CA 91950.

This business is conducted by Corporation.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 06/01/2022.

Signature: Caroline Han. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 06/30/2022.

AJ 983 07/08, 07/15, 07/22, and 07/29/2022. AJSD 983

AJSD#985

Montenegro Maintenance located at 650 Morrison St., San Diego, CA 92102.

Registrant: Elfego Armando Montenegro, 650 Morrison St., San Diego, CA 92102.

This business is conducted

by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 04/15/2002.

Signature: Elfego Armando Montenegro.

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

AJ 986 07/08, 07/15, 07/22, 07/29/2022.

AJSD#986

EMPLOYMENT

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9015544

American Motorhead located at 31926 Via Ararat Dr., Bonsall, CA 92003.

Registrant: Rick Thomas Ortiz, 31926 Via Ararat Dr., Bonsall, CA 92003.

This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 02/22/2018.

Signature: Rick Ortiz.

Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 07/11/2022.

AJ 989 07/15, 07/22, 07/29, and 08/05/2022.

AJSD#989

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2022-9014691

JE Permits located at 404 W. Lincoln Ave., #1, Escondido, CA 92026.

Registrant: James Elizaga, 404 W. Lincoln Ave., #1, Escondido, CA 92026.

This business is conducted by Individual.

REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 06/28/2022.

Signature: James Elizaga.

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

AJ 991 07/15, 07/22, 07/29, and 08/05/2022.

AJSD#991

SAN DIEGO

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SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 15-21, 2022

JOURNAL

9

9

J U LY 1 5, 2 0 22

FROM TONY AND GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING PRODUCER JHETT TOLENTINO

‘Asian Persuasion’: An Ode to Culture and A Love Letter to NYC

by MoMar

G. Visaya / AJPress

HERE’S one film to watch out for when it is shown next year.

Asian Persuasion, Tony & Grammy Award-winning producer, Jhett Tolentino’s directorial debut wrapped up production in May and immediately went to postproduction last month. The team also launched a crowdfunding campaign to help recover funds lost during a 12-day pause due to COVID. Written by first-time screenwriter Mike Ang, Asian Persuasion tackles the subject of divorce and relationships in the Asian-American community seen from the lens of the modern Asian American experience.

Set in New York City, the film is Tolentino’s homage to the Big Apple, celebrating not just the iconic landmarks but also the lesser-known, less frequented neighborhood and cultural enclaves which includes Asian-American-owned hangout places.

“Yes, it is my love letter for New York City and its minority Asian Persuasion stars Fil-Am celebrities Dante Basco and Paulo Montalban, KC Concepcion, communities, including where Yam Concepcion, and Bling Empire’s Kevin Kreider, among others. they live whether it’s in Queens, Brooklyn, or the Lower East Side. We are also showcasing Asian American and Filipino American businesses to show their contributions to the city,” he told the Asian Journal.

Tolentino wants the project to be a true Asian American collaboration and he has succeeded in that aspect. From direction to design to decisionmaking, it’s all Asian. The cast and production feature collaborators from Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Nepal, Tibet, Singapore, and Japan.

Asian Persuasion tells the Producer and director Jhett Tolentino is proud to have created a diverse Asian American cast and production staff. The Tony and Gray Award-winning producer’s directorial debut will be story of a down-on-his-luck chef, shown in 2023.

Photos courtesy of Asian Persuasion Mickey de Los Santos (played

Dante Basco

KC Concepcion

Paolo Montalban

Scarlett Sher, Geneva Carr, Yam Concepcion, and Tony Labrusca, with notable cameos and appearances by Apl.de.Ap, Fe de los Reyes, Rex Navarrete, Rachel Alejandro, and Broadway stalwarts Marc dela Cruz, Devin Law, and Cyn Casasola.

Basco is best known for his groundbreaking role as Rufio, the leader of the Lost Boys in Steven Spielberg’s Hook, and for his many voice acting roles, most notably as Prince Zuko from Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Director Jhett Tolentino preparing a scene with Dante Basco and KC Concepcion.

Last Airbender, Jake Long from AJPress photos by Momar G. Visaya Disney Channel’s American

by Dante Basco), who cooks profile in an attempt to find her Dragon: Jake Long, and Spin up a crazy scheme to marry off a suitor to re-marry to avoid his Kick from Carmen Sandiego. his ex-wife, Avery Chua (KC substantial alimony obligations.

The actor met Tolentino a Concepcion), by setting her Rounding up the cast are few years ago at a film festival u PAGE 10 up with a fake internet dating Paolo Montalban, Kevin Kreider,

10

JULY 15-21, 2022 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

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

Is your child prepared to have a fun & safe summer?

By We

2nd Annual Filipino American Friendship Festival in San Diego WHO: San Diego Filipino Community and the Asian Pacific Islander Initiative WHAT: 2nd Annual Filipino American Friendship Festival WHEN: Saturday, July 30, 2022, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

WHERE: NTC Park at Liberty Station, 2455 Cushing Road, San Diego, 92106 WHY: Filipino American Friendship Day is an actual holiday that commemorates the day the Philippines became independent of United States rule on July 4th, 1946 and to keep a positive and strong relationship between the two countries, Filipino American Friendship Day was created.

We will also be celebrating the Secretary of the Navy’s announcement to name the Arleigh Burke Destroyer DDG-139 as the U.S.S. Telesforo Trinidad. Trinidad is the only U.S. Navy sailor to receive the highest military award the Medal of Honor.

Mira Mesa High School students will perform a modern day tinikling set. That performance is expected to go viral like the Generation Z video that started on the east coast.

Mike Torres, Porky’s Lechon has a buffet of authentic Filipino food that will be served during the VIP luncheon and at their food vendor booth.

A Filipino History Exhibit will include Telesforo Trinidad’s story.

Porky’s Lechon will serve a buffet of authentic Filipino food at the VIP luncheon and at its food vendor booth.

Photo courtesy of API Initiative

A procession of community organizations will kick-off the formal program that starts at 12 noon.

(API Initiative Release) n

Can Do This CoViD-19 PubliC eDuCaTion CamPaign

WHETHER it’s participating in a summer learning program, going to camp, or joining a new sports team, summer is an exciting time for children to learn, play, and grow through new experiences. However, if your child has not yet received their COVID-19 vaccine, they may not have the chance to enjoy this special time of year.

COVID-19 remains a public health concern and the long-term effects on children remain unknown. But, there is good news. Parents and caregivers can now get their children 6 months through 5 years of age vaccinated with the PfizerBioNTech or Moderna vaccines to better protect them from COVID-19. All children, including children who have already had COVID-19, should get vaccinated.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to get your child summer ready. COVID-19 vaccines are safe.

They have undergone — and will continue to undergo — the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history. Distribution of pediatric vaccinations for these younger children has started across the country, and will be available at thousands of pediatric practices, pharmacies, Federally Qualified Health Centers, local health departments, clinics, and other locations this week.

Here are some simple steps parents can take to ensure that their children are safe this summer, especially as they participate in programs with other kids: Get your child vaccinated. Vaccination is the best defense against severe illness. Children 5 years or younger can be vaccinated with whichever vaccine is available (either Moderna or PfizerBioNTech). Everyone 5 years or older should also get a COVID booster when eligible. Parents can reach out to their doctor, nurse, local pharmacy, or health department, or visit vaccines.gov to see where vaccines for children are available.

Practice general safety measures. Make sure your child knows about good handwashing techniques and maintain a supply of hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. As many young children have yet to receive a vaccine, they should continue to wear the most protective, best-fitting mask available for them.

Reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. Keep your child home if they are exposed to COVID or show symptoms of illness. Before participating in any group activity, or if you suspect your child might be ill, get your child tested. In case of a positive test, follow the CDC’s quarantine and isolation guidance and notify the group, team, or program being attended by your child.

Keep your child home if they are exposed to COVID or show symptoms consistent with COVID. If your child has been in close contact with someone who has COVID, keep them home from their summer program for five days, get them tested, and take precautions (such as wearing a mask around others) until day 10. If your child has any of the following symptoms, you should keep them home, get them tested, and notify camp staff: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea.

Take extra precautions if your child is at high risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

Children with certain health issues — such as asthma, diabetes, obesity, and sickle cell disease — have a greater chance of getting very sick from COVID. Talk with your child’s health care provider to learn your options to help protect your child.

For more information on how COVID vaccines can make this the best summer yet for your family, visit vaccines.gov.

(Advertising Supplement)

‘Asian Persuasion’: An Ode...

PAGE 9 in San Francisco. They kept in touch, and Tolentino mentioned the project and sent him Ang’s script.

“When I read the script written by Mike Ang it spoke to me because I got to play a grownup. Mike is from our generation, he wrote a voice that I connected with as far as just a Filipino dude that grew up same time,” Basco said.

Having been in the film industry since he was a kid, Basco respects the whole filmmaking process and believes that every film is a minor miracle to make.

He has also been producing films for the last 10 years and last year, he directed his first film, The Fabulous Filipino Brothers.

“This feels great. I feel very happy and very relieved we got through it because there were so many hurdles to jump over,” he said. “But I’m excited to get this one done and excited for everyone to see what we did.”

Basco also excitedly shared that The Fabulous Filipino Brothers is also streaming through Hulu and that he is looking forward to sharing stories like this to a wider audience stateside. He mentioned Jo Koy’s Easter Sunday opening this year and other films such as Yellow Rose.

“So we’re in a definitely golden era for Asian Americans.

And pop culture and us as being Filipinos being a part of this whole rising tide of Asian stories is very important to me and close to my heart and I love that,” he said.

Montalban, best known for his groundbreaking performance in the 1997 Disney television film, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella as Prince Christopher, opposite Brandy as Cinderella, takes on the role of Lee Prince, the unwitting suitor thrust into the lives of the divorced couple.

“Well, it’s a huge honor to be a part of this talented group. I mean, getting to work with Dante Basco, the guy’s a legend. We knew each other back in LA years ago, and we never thought that we’d ever get the chance to work with each other,” Montalban shared.

“I hope it highlights AAPI joy and laughter, and love and friendship. I think that’s the way to people’s hearts is through entertainment and once they that our stories are just kind of similar to their own lives, maybe we can have a deeper understanding of each other’s cultures,” he added.

KC’s Experience “I’ve been doing other things for around four years or maybe

Dante Basco and KC Concepcion in a scene shot at the courtyard of the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens.

AJPress photos by Momar G. Visaya

five years now so to be back doing movies is a big thing tapos may support and blessing pa ni mama which is a really, really big deal for me,” Concepcion said.

A big fan of rom-coms and films shot in New York, Concepcion said she had the time of her life doing the film and she looks forward to letting the world watch this Filipino American story.

“To see different Asian businesses that are succeeding and have something to offer is something, it is similar to what I did before in my travel vlogs on YouTube. It’s my way of sharing all the hotspots and nice places to go, dito sa New York for example,” she shared.

Everything was going well in the shoot and she was having the time of her life with co-stars Dante Basco, Paolo Montalban, and the rest of the cast. Then they faced a hurdle when she was exposed and she got COVID. Fully vaccinated and boostered, she recalled downing about 30 antiviral pills in five days as recommended by Dr. Albert Recio and she believes that saved her life.

“Nawalan ng puwersa yung mga kamay ko for some reason, maybe because what hit me had an updated strain. Never akong nagka-fever or sore throat although may ubo and then may headache and colds,” Concepcion shared. “It was very scary that time, thank God, may COVID treatments na tayo ngayon.”

The shooting was paused and they resumed immediately when producers got the green light.

Montalban, acknowledging the production team’s hard work and the great vibe they had while shooting, praised Tolentino for leading the way.

“Jhett Tolentino is not just a heck of a director, as a producer, he’s tops,” he shared. “You can always tell the merit of a producer or director not just

during happy times, but really when they’re under stress, or like when the chips are down and the fact that he has been able to steer our ship through stormy waters with calmness is amazing.”

“It has been such a roller coaster ride,” Tolentino said, adding that since he wears two hats in the film, as a director and a producer, he trod the fine line between the two. He admitted he devoted more time to the producing part.

While this is his feature film directorial debut, Tolentino is not necessarily a novice. He previously wrote, produced, and directed the autobiographical short documentary “Life Is What You Make It” which was released in 2017. He also served as a producer on Isabel Sandoval’s critically-acclaimed “Lingua Franca” which premiered at the 76th Venice Film Festival and was nominated for the Independent Film John Cassavetes Award.

He hopes to hold the film’s world premiere in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2023 before moving to Europe and Asia, leading to the Philippine rollout at the Metro Manila Film Festival.

The film is currently in postproduction with an expected completion date of September 2022.

Like Basco and Concepcion, Montalban is looking forward to showing this film to viewers around the world.

“When people see the movie, they won’t just see like Filipino Americans on the screen. They will see themselves there and I think that’s how we can build connections between each other.

Maybe then we can start getting some Asian love,” he said.

If you want to donate to the film’s crowdfunding campaign, visit https://seedandspark.com/ fund/asian-persuasion#story.

All donations to the are 100% tax deductible as the producers have partnered with their fiscal sponsor, Asian CineVision. n

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SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 15-21, 2022

11

Vegas Loop’s Resorts World station opens

By RealtoR

Fely Quitevis-Bateman

IT is an ambitious project that when completed will comprise of 55 stations within a 29-mile underground tunnel network.

Called the Vegas Loop, the project is being undertaken

by Elon Musk’s The Boring Company. The tunnel network is planned to stretch from Allegiant Stadium across the strip to other points north, and even over to the airport. The ultimate hope for the company is to be able to tunnel all the way to Los Angeles.

Recently, the Resorts World station for this project was opened, with Las Vegas Convention Center attendees and the general public able to ride the Teslas going within the loop. Convention center attendees can currently get out

of the station, while others will circle back to the RW station.

The ride from the RW station to the LVCC West Hall parking lot takes over just a minute, with the Tesla hitting about 30 mph.

News reports say that the “joyride” in a Tesla Model X or Model & costs $1.50, or a day pass can be bought for $2.50.

The Vegas Loop has actually been operating within the Las Vegas Convention Center grounds already, providing rides for attendees who want to go to points across the LVCC campus. The loop actually saves attendees valuable time as a trip from the West Hall to the North/Central Hall can take up to 25 minutes. Riding the loop will take approximately only 2 minutes.

The newly-opened Resorts World Station of the Vegas Loop allows convention attendees to go back and forth between Resorts World and the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Image capture from www.lvcva.com

A 10-minute walk from Turnberry Place Tower 2 is the Resorts World Hotel (dark building in the background) where the Resorts World station of the Vegas Loop just opened in photo taken by Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman.

Within the LVCC, the system can transport more than 4,400 convention attendees per hour across the campus, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority website.

Passengers load into vehicles capable of holding three people, with future vehicles capable of holding up to 12 people, it said.

The loop within LVCC has been operating for more than a year prior to the opening of the RW station.

Officials like Resorts World CEO/President Scott Sibella and LVCVA CEO/President Steve Hill who were present at the RW station opening said in news reports that the project is safe and there are procedures in place in cases of flood or fire.

“It’s extremely safe. As you know, these electric cars… there’s no emission, there’s no gas, there’s exiting in case a car does break down. It’s easy to get a car out,” Sibella was quoted as saying.

“You can use stations for emergency exits, but there are also exits in the system where you can just open a door and walk out, so there’ll be stairwells,” Hill answered, when asked about flood or fire situations.

The benefits to riding within the loop are obvious, especially when it is fully complete. Aside from savings on time and the use of cleaner technology, it avoids potential weather delays, surface-level infrastructure and

Dining with Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (extreme right) in Pahrump are her investors: (from left) Ace Realty’s Nida Santos (Realtor Quitevis-Bateman’s friend for almost 40 years, who is a broker from Marikina City, Philippines), Vivian Pahati and Erma de Guzman.

horrendous traffic.

According to LVCVA’s Hill, applications for the next three to four phases of the project are being turned out, although he would not reveal which station might open next.

In the loop’s future destinations are stops are resorts along the Strip, connections to downtown, a loop that goes to W. Flamingo Road and south to Russell Road, and a stop at UNLV. The route to Reid International Airport is a goal for the company, but there are no agreements in place as of yet.

What’s great and unique about the loop is that passengers don’t have to stop at every station on the way to a destination, said Hill.

The LVCVA CEO and president said that Las Vegas is one of the few places in the world where billion-dollar projects such as this is going on all the time.

He believes that the loop is a transformative transportation project for Las Vegas and that “seeing real, substantial progress is pretty gratifying.”

This project represents a huge victory not only for its supporters but for Las Vegas as it probably represents the future in transportation, or some form of it. What’s not to love about the use of cleaner technology?

The Vegas Loop is just one of the many projects being planned and constructed in the city, which has undergone a tremendous transformation since it became a popular destination. Las Vegas has become known as one of the gambling and entertainment capitals in the world, and the current push is for it to become a sports capital in the world.

Big tracts of land have recently sold along or near the Strip where either major projects are being planned by huge companies or analysts are speculating on the kind of projects being put in those areas. The Oak View Group has its planned $3 billion sports and entertainment hub near the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Blue Diamond Road; The Siegel Group, which purchased about 10 acres near the north part of the Strip, has yet to comment on what it plans for the land, although there are speculations that it may include a casino-hotel, a condominium tower, retail outlets and multifamily apartments; Formula

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

One’s parent company, which completed a $240 million purchase of nearly 40 acres just east of the Strip, and who will run a high-speed race in 2023 in the city; and a 2.2-acre property along Las Vegas Boulevard and Russell Road that was bought for a reported $12.8 million and whose buyer still is a mystery to many (no word on what project is being planned for this tract of land).

There are many other deals going about in Las Vegas, including Hard Rock International’s plans to buy The Mirage’s operations for more than $1 billion along with a goal to build a guitar-shaped hotel tower on the Strip, and casino landlord Vici Properties buyout of MGM Resorts International’s real estate spinoff for $17.2 million. The Fountainbleau Las Vegas, which is currently undergoing construction, is scheduled to open in late 2023.

Even with the recent slowdown in real estate activity, there are still distinct advantages in looking at purchasing real

estate in Nevada, whether it is in Las Vegas or communities like Pahrump, which is about less than an hour’s drive from Las Vegas. Property prices are still more affordable in the state than in other major cities/towns in the United States.

I bring a few decades worth of experience in real estate that will help you, my kababayans, in your search for real estate – whether it is for a new home, a second/vacation home, an investment property, or a piece of land where you want to construct your dream home.

My company, Precious Properties, is a full-service company that has served its clientele since 1992. You can reach me at 775-513-8447, 805-559-2476 and 702-5384948 for more information, or send me an email at fely@ precious-properties.com or fely. precious@gmail.com. We have investors who buy houses in California and Nevada for cash and quick escrow in as short as 7 days.

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JULY 15-21, 2022 • SAN DIEGO ASIAN JOURNAL

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