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JULY 21-27, 2022 Volume 33 - No. 28 • 12 Pages

T HE F ILIPINO A MERICAN C OMMUNITY N EWSPAPER

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US agrees to block aid to PNP USA Boost now or wait? until PH meets basic human rights Many wonder how DATELINE

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

best to ride out COVID’s next wave

GWYNETH Paige didn’t want to get vaccinated against COVID-19 at first.

With her health issues — hypertension, fibromyalgia, asthma — she wanted to see how other people fared after the shots.

Then her mother got colon cancer.

“At that point, I didn’t care if the vaccine killed me,” she said. “To be with my mother throughout her journey, I had to have the vaccination.”

Paige, who is 56 and lives in Detroit, has received three doses. That leaves her one booster short of federal health recommendations.

Like Paige, who said she doesn’t currently plan to get another booster, some Americans seem comfortable with the protection of three shots. But others may wonder what to do: Boost again now with one of the original vaccines, or wait months for promised new formulations tailored to the latest, highly contagious

by XAVE

GREGORIO Philstar.com

equipment and training, to the Philippine National Police until the Philippines is deemed to have met basic human rights standards.

THE House of Representatives of the United The amendment to the National Defense States has agreed on an amendment to a defense Authorization Act for 2023, introduced by Rep. spending measure blocking aid, including

LOS ANGELES — Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph Marcos Manotoc is encouraging Filipino American professionals, especially his fellow Ilocanos, to move back to the Philippines to help in the realization of the province’s goal to become the commercial hub of Northern Philippines and eventually turn it into the gateway to East Asia.

In a recent meet and greet event on July 12, organized by U.S. supporters at Noypitz Bar & Grill in Cerritos, Manotoc said the main reason for his California visit is to “hire” talented Fil-Ams who are willing to work with him to accomplish his future endeavors for the province.

“We are working towards becoming the commercial hub of Northern Philippines and the gateway to East Asia. One of the hopeful purposes, why I am here, to be honest, is to invite you back to Ilocos Norte,” he said.

He said he would definitely need the

 PAGE 2

Sen. Padilla blames opposition for ‘baseless’ US law blocking PNP aid

by DANIZA

FERNANDEZ Inquirer.net

 PAGE 2

Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Manotoc meets with SoCal Fil-Am supporters

Susan Wild (D-Pennsylvania) and adopted by the U.S. House through a voice vote, provides that no funding will be made available to the State Department for assistance to the PNP until the Secretary of State certifies that the Philippines

ROLL CALL. Elementary teacher Cristina Dimasayao (right) checks the attendance of selected Grade 5 students during the remedial and enhancement class at San Miguel Elementary School, Congressional Avenue, City of Dasmarinas, Cavite on Thursday, July 21. Under DepEd guidelines, students who receive a grade lower than 75 in any subject must be given intervention through remediation and must pass the remedial classes to be promoted to the next grade level.

PNA photo by Gil Calinga

MANILA — Senator Robin Padilla on Tuesday blamed the opposition for the “baseless” move by United States lawmakers to block the aid for the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The U.S. House of Representatives has greenlighted amendments to a law that would hinder aid to the PNP unless actions are taken to investigate alleged human rights abuses by the police in the campaign against illegal drugs.

Padilla, an Army Captain in the Reserve Force, said that uniformed personnel had upheld human rights.

Padilla was the Army Captain in the Reserve Force in 2019. In July 2020, he was elected as the Philippine Army Multi-Sectoral Advisory Board Strategic Communication Committee chairperson.

“Witness ako nito sa pagiging makatao ng AFP at ng PNP… Hindi po ako nagsisinungaling sa inyo, mga mahal kong kababayan. Kung meron akong nakikitang mali na ginagawa ng PNP o AFP o

 PAGE 2

Most Filipinos trust results of May elections – Pulse Asia

by PIA LEE-BRAGO Philstar.com

MANILA — Most Filipino adults trust that the results of the May 2022 elections are accurate and credible, according to a Pulse Asia survey released on Monday, July 18.

During a virtual forum, Pulse Asia Research president Ronald Holmes presented the results of the survey on the Filipino voter’s perception of the conduct and legitimacy of the 2022 national elections commissioned

by Stratbase ADR Institute.

Holmes said the nationwide survey was  PAGE 4 conducted from June 24 to 27 using face-

to-face interviews based on a sample of 1,200 representative adults 18 years old and above.

The survey found that 82 percent of respondents had “big trust” in the outcome of the national and local elections.

Trust is most pronounced in Mindanao as 96 percent of the respondents believed in the result and least manifested in Luzon at 73 percent.

Some four percent of Filipino adults expressed distrust on the election results while 14 percent were undecided on the Boracay Island matter.

Inquirer.net file photo

Boracay, Palawan and Cebu Buboy Fernandez thinks Pacquiao hailed as world’s best islands boxing comeback ‘possible’ DOT celebrates back-to-back accolades

Manny Pacquiao

 PAGE 4

MANILA —Buboy Fernandez is not discounting the possibility that Manny Pacquiao comes back from retirement.

Pacquiao is slated for an exhibition fight in December against South Korean YouTuber DK Yoo in a still to be announced venue.

It’s also possible that the “special boxing match” against Yoo could lead to Pacquiao’s ring return as far as Fernandez is concerned.

But Fernandez, Pacquiao’s childhood friend and longtime trainer, said that it’s all up to the former welterweight champion if he does decide to unretire.

“Depende pa rin sa kanya kung talagang babalik siya sa ring,” Fernandez said Wednesday at Shangri-La Fort where Pacquiao and Yoo are scheduled for a contract signing and press conference.

(It still depends on him if he returns to the ring.)

“Hindi natin masabi pero sabi ko nga (we can’t really say but like I said), it’s possible,” Fernandez added.

Pacquiao, 43, hasn’t fought since dropping a unanimous decision loss Inquirer.net file photo to Yordenis Ugas in August of last year. (Mark Giongco Inquirer.net)

for PH destinations

by MOMAR

G. VISAYA

AJPress

THE Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) applauded the naming of the country’s three island destinations among “The 25 Best Islands in the World” of the New York-based travel magazine Travel + Leisure (T+L).

Boracay Island — featuring its postcard perfect sunset — ranked 9th in the T+L World’s Best Island list, followed by the Palawan at

11th with a photo of an idyllic lagoon in El Nido, and Cebu at 16th with Taoist Temple, in Cebu City.

According to T+L, readers were asked to “weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated islands according to their activities and sights, natural attractions and beaches, food,

 PAGE 4

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JULY 21-27, 2022 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

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

From The FronT Page

US agrees to block aid to...

Boost now or wait? Many wonder how...

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omicron subvariants, BA.4 and BA.5?

The rapidly mutating virus has created a conundrum for the public and a communications challenge for health officials.

“What we’re seeing now is a little bit of an information void that is not helping people make the right decision,” said Dr. Carlos del Rio, a professor of infectious diseases at the Emory University School of Medicine.

Del Rio said the public isn’t hearing enough about the vaccines’ value in preventing severe disease, even if they don’t stop all infections. Each new covid variant also forces health officials to tweak their messaging, del Rio said, which can add to public mistrust.

About 70% of Americans age 50 and older who got a first booster shot — and nearly as many of those 65 and older — haven’t received their second covid booster dose, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency currently recommends two booster shots after a primary vaccine series for adults 50 and older and for younger people with compromised immune systems. Last week, multiple news outlets reported that the Biden administration was working on a plan to allow all adults to get second covid boosters.

Officials are worried about the surge of BA.4 and BA.5, which spread easily and can escape immune protection from vaccination or prior infection. A recent study published in Nature found BA.5 was four times as resistant to the currently available mRNA vaccines as earlier omicron subvariants.

Consistent messaging has been complicated by the different views of leading vaccine scientists. Although physicians like del Rio and Dr. Peter Hotez of Baylor College of Medicine see the value in getting a second booster, Dr. Paul Offit, a member of the FDA’s vaccine advisory committee, is skeptical it’s needed by anyone but seniors and people who are immunocompromised.

“When experts have different

has: • Investigated and successfully prosecuted police who violated human rights, ensured that they cooperated with judicial authorities in such cases, and affirmed that such violations have ceased • Established that the Philippine National Police effectively protects the rights of trade unionists, journalists, human rights defenders, government critics, religious leaders and other civil society activists to operate without interference • Taken effective steps to guarantee a judicial system that is capable of investigating, prosecuting and bringing to justice members of the police and military who have committed human rights abuses • Fully complied with domestic and US audits and investigations regarding the improper use of prior security assistance “The time is long overdue to begin putting some basic human rights guardrails in

place in the United StatesPhilippines relationship,” Wild said in her remarks on the House floor.

She said that those who oppose her proposal would raise the U.S.’ national security interests against China, but she countered that there is a need to maintain credibility on human rights issues.

“The need to counter the Chinese regime’s authoritarianism on the international stage is precisely why it’s so important that we maintain our credibility on human rights. It is why it is so vital that we do not undermine our own case for democracy and open ourselves up to charges of hypocrisy by supporting brutal regimes out of short-term expediency,” she said.

Wild’s amendment, however, included a waiver that would give the U.S. president leeway to provide the PNP with assistance for up to 180 days provided that: • The foreign affairs panel of the U.S. House and the foreign relations panel of the

U.S. Senate is informed not later than 15 days before the effectivity of the waiver • The waiver is vital to the national security interests of the United States or its partners and allies The amendment to the defense spending bill borrows language from the proposed Philippine Human Rights Act which Wild also introduced in 2020 and refiled the following year.

According to the U.S. Embassy, the Philippines is the largest recipient of military assistance from the U.S. in the Indo-Pacific region, having received more than P57 billion worth of planes, armored vehicles, small arms and other military equipment.

Defense assistance to the Philippines from the U.S. continues despite adverse findings by the State Department in its latest report on the human rights situation in the country, where it flagged extrajudicial killings, forced disappearance, torture, arbitrary detention and harsh prison conditions. g

Sen. Padilla blames opposition for ‘baseless’...

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anumang sangay sa gobyerno na may kinalaman sa human rights, ako po ang unang unang magsasalita at magsasabi sa inyo,” he said in an interview on Sonshine Media Network International.

(I have witnessed the respect the AFP and PNP show for human rights. I will not lie, my beloved fellow Filipinos. If I see human rights violations by the PNP, AFP, or any branch of government, I will call them out.)

“Pero sa tagal ko po, ako nagtrabaho mahigit isang taon sa AFP, kitang kita ko ang paggalang ng naka-uniporme sa civilian,” he continued.

(I have worked for more than a year in the AFP. I have seen how our men and women in uniform respect human rights.)

Padilla urged the opposition to stop politicking and heed President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s call to unite.

“Hindi ko naintindihan kung

saan nanggaling ito, kung saan humuhugot ang opposition sa banat-banat na puro human rights violations,” he said.

(I do not understand where this is coming from, where the opposition pulls criticisms about human rights violations.)

“Ang hinihiling lang namin sa inyo, hindi ito ang oras na maging masyado tayong mapulitika. Wala nang sinisigaw ang ating bagong Pangulo kundi unity tayo, magkaisa na tayo. Ito dinadamay na naman ninyo ang U.S., dinadamay na naman ninyo ang Europe.

Pambihira,” he went on.

(My appeal to you is that now is not the time for politicking.

Our new president has called for unity. Let us unite. And do not drag the U.S. and Europe into your politicking. Unbelievable.)

Padilla also asked the international community what they wanted to hear, as Filipinos “overwhelmingly” supported former President Rodrigo Duterte, who launched the

war on drugs, and incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., adding that the voice of the people is the voice of God. For Padilla, the Philippines is at the losing end if the world will not unite.

“Ang ating mundo ngayon talagang kung ‘di tayo magkakaisa malulugi po tayong mga Pilipino. Ito ang oras na tayo kahit magkakaiba tayo ng ating mga adhikain pero pagdating sa kapakanan ng bayang Pilipinas at kapwa nating Pilipino parang awa niyo na po, magkaisa na po tayo,” he explained.

(If we don’t unite now, we will end up as the losers. This is the time to unite despite differences in our beliefs, for the sake of our country and our people.)

Based on human rights groups’ data, around 30,000 people in the country suffered extrajudicial killings.

However, government figures show that only over 6,000 were killed in Duterte’s drug war. g

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Photo by CDC on Unsplash

views based on the same science, why are we surprised that getting the message right is confusing?” said Dr. Bruce Gellin, chief of global public health strategy at the Rockefeller Foundation and Offit’s colleague on the FDA panel.

Janet Perrin, 70, of Houston hasn’t gotten her second booster for scheduling and convenience reasons and said she’ll look for information about a variant-targeted dose from sources she trusts on social media. “I haven’t found a consistent guiding voice from the CDC,” she said, and the agency’s statements sound like “a political word salad.”

On July 12, the Biden administration released its plan to manage the BA.5 subvariant, which it warned would have the greatest impact in the parts of the country with lower vaccine coverage. The strategy includes making it easier for people to access testing, vaccines and boosters, and covid antiviral treatments.

During the first White House COVID briefing in nearly three weeks, the message from top federal health officials was clear: Don’t wait for an omicron-tailored shot. “There are many people who are at high risk right now, and waiting until October, November for their boost — when in fact their risk is in the moment — is not a good plan,” said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, head of the CDC. With worries about the BA.5 subvariant growing, the FDA on June 30 recommended that drugmakers Pfizer-

BioNTech and Moderna get to work producing a new, bivalent vaccine that combines the current version with a formulation that targets the new strains.

The companies both say they can make available for the U.S. millions of doses of the reformulated shots in October. Experts think that deadline could slip by a few months given the unexpected hitches that plague vaccine manufacturing.

“I think that we have all been asking that same question,” said Dr. Kathryn Edwards, scientific director of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Research Program. “What’s the benefit of getting another booster now when what will be coming out in the fall is a bivalent vaccine and you will be getting BA.4/5, which is currently circulating?

Although whether it will be circulating in the fall is another question.”

The FDA on July 13 authorized a fourth covid vaccine, made by Novavax, but only for people who haven’t been vaccinated yet. Many scientists thought the Novavax shot could be an effective booster for people previously vaccinated with mRNA shots from PfizerBioNTech and Moderna because its unique design could broaden the immune response to coronaviruses.

Unfortunately, few studies have assessed mix-and-match vaccination approaches, said Gellin, of the Rockefeller Foundation.

Edwards and her husband PAGE 3

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Flash flood season is here in Southern Nevada. Are you prepared? by

Patranya Bhoolsuwan

EVEN though we are known to be a desert oasis, flash floods are actually common in Southern Nevada. “Monsoon” or “Flash Flood” season runs from July through the end of September and it is sometimes characterized by sudden and highly localized rainstorms. This can lead to very dangerous and even deadly situations.

To make sure the safety message gets out to everyone in Las Vegas and surrounding communities, the Regional Flood Control District has launched its annual “Flash Flood Season” Golden State All-Star Klay Thompson does some shots with Joseph Tagaban, a 15-year-old cancer patient.

Photos courtesy of Inquirer.net/ESPN public safety campaign. Last month, local dignitaries and officials with the Regional Flood Control District gathered to remind residents about the dangers of flash floods “I want to remind new residents, long-time residents and visitors to the valley that trails, A Filipino American teenage roads and washes can fill with cancer patient spent a day on July water in minutes during a flash 15 with Golden State Warriors star flood,” said Henderson Mayor & Klay Thompson, who gave him a Regional Flood Control District prized possession as a source of Board Chair, Debra Marsh. inspiration in his fight for life.

Joseph Tagaban, 15, of Petersburg, Alaska was welcomed by his hoops hero with a gift — an autographed photo PAGE 2 of Thompson’s own idol, the late Kobe Bryant. The astonished got covid in January. She Tagaban at first didn’t want to received a second booster last Thompson to part with it, but the month, but only because she latter insisted. thought it might be required Thompson, 32, said he turns for a Canadian business trip. to the memory of Bryant for Otherwise, she said, she felt Golden State Warriors all-star Klay Thompson signs a T-shirt for Joseph Tagaban, a 15-year-old inspiration during tough times, a fourth shot was kind of a from Petersburg, Alaska, who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in December 2020. especially as he rehabilitated Tagaban and Thompson are featured in the ESPN series “My Wish.” waste, though not particularly from back-to-back injuries, and risky. She told her husband — that Joseph should keep the and stay with Tagaban during his basket. a healthy septuagenarian — to memorabilia for the same purpose treatment at Seattle Children’s “ T h a t w a s a w e s o m e ! ” wait for the BA.4/5 version. in the teen’s battle with acute Hospital. His father, Ed, split Thompson exclaimed after People at very high risk for myeloid leukemia. time between Seattle and home Tagaban showed him a clip covid complications might want Tagaban’s day with Thompson to be with another child, Jacob. of the shot on his iPhone. The to go ahead and get a fourth was featured on ESPN’s “My Their oldest, Briana, is in the Air two spent about an hour on dose, Edwards said, with the Wish” series Wednesday morning. Force. Joseph remained resilient the court together. Tagaban hope that it will temporarily Tagaban has been a fan of but itched to play basketball, asked Thompson about shooting prevent severe disease “while Thompson even before the teen Jessilea said. techniques you wait for BA.4/5.” started to play basketball in fifth Thompson then took Tagaban Tagaban went through rounds The omicron vaccines will grade. He became a bigger fan of chemotherapy starting last and his younger brother, Jacob, contain components that when he saw how Thompson dealt year and apparently went into in his custom Lincoln Continental target the original strain of the with his own physical setbacks. remission. However, his doctors convertible for some ice cream. virus because the first vaccine The Tagaban family are from are still keeping a close watch, Thompson sent Joseph off with formulations are known to a small town located between so Joseph has to travel to Seattle a box full of Warriors gear, prevent serious illness and British Columbia and the Gulf of every three months for tests. including several signed jerseys. death even in people infected Alaska. Their world turned upside He actually returned to the “It really was a dream come true,” with omicron. down when the basketball-loving basketball court in January Tagaban said.

Those components will also youth came down with the cancer following a 108-day hospital stay.

The two exchanged contact help keep the earlier strains diagnosis, his mother, Jessielea, In his first game back, he led his information, and Thompson of the virus in check, said said. high school junior varsity team encouraged Tagaban to reach Dr. David Brett-Major, an She had to quit her job to travel to victory with a buzzer-beater out anytime. (Inquirer.net) infectious disease specialist

Fil-Am teen cancer patient spends uplifting day with hero, Warriors’ Klay Thompson

“Keep your eyes on the skies for changing weather. If rain is in the forecast, be alert and prepared for potential flooding, whether on foot or in your vehicle”.

One of the best advice to stay safe during flash flood season, which runs from July through September, is to not drive through flooded streets. The “Turn around, don’t drown” message is often sent out with images and videos of vehicles and people being swept away by fast moving water.

“The more the community is aware of these dangers, the better equipped they are to deal with whatever Mother Nature may at us this flash flood season,” said March. “Especially since just a few inches of water can disable a vehicle. And about half of all flash flood deaths occur in vehicles.

Remember, water always wins as flood water can travel up to 30 miles per hour.”

Another good reminder is for people to steer clear of detention basins, channels, wishes, and storm drains because water can flow through these areas at high speed. And it only takes about 6

inches of rushing water to knock an individual off their feet.

The Regional Flood Control District has laid out plans to increase safety throughout Southern Nevada. According to local officials, about 75% of the district’s master plan has been completed. Now the push is on to get as much of the rest of the nearly 50 ongoing projects completed, including the Blue Diamond wash, the MeadowsCharleston storm drain, and the Gowan-El Capitan on Centennial Parkway.

“To date, 677 miles of channels and storm drains and 104 detention basins, including Vandenberg North Detention Basin, have been constructed to improve the resiliency of Southern Nevada from the impacts of flooding,” said Regional Flood Control District General Manager & Chief Engineer Steve Parrish.

“We are approximately 75% finished building out our flood control master plan. And with each project we complete, we are making our communities safer.”

For more information, go to www.regionalflood.org. g

Boost now or wait? Many wonder how... at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

That’s important, he said, because too much tailoring of vaccines to fight emerging variants could allow older strains of the coronavirus to resurface.

Brett-Major said messages about the value of the tailored shots will need to come from trusted, local sources — not just top federal health officials.

“Access happens locally,” he said. “If your local systems are not messaging and promoting and enabling access, it’s really problematic.”

Although some Americans are pondering when, or whether, to get their second boosters, many people tuned out the pandemic long ago, putting them at risk during the current wave, experts said.

Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, said he doesn’t expect to see the public’s level of interest in the vaccine change much even as new boosters are released and eligibility

expands. Parts of the country with high vaccine coverage will remain relatively insulated from new variants that emerge, he said, while regions with low vaccine acceptance could be set for a “rude awakening.”

Even scientists are at a bit of a loss for how to effectively adapt to an ever-changing virus.

“Nothing is simple with covid, is it? It’s just whack-a-mole,” said Edwards. “This morning I read about a new variant in India.

Maybe it’ll be a nothingburger, but — who knows? — maybe something big, and then we’ll wonder, ‘Why did we change the vaccine strain to BA.4/5?’”

(Sam Whitehead and Arthur Allen/Kaiser Health News) KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

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JULY 21-27, 2022 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

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Most Filipinos trust results of May...

PAGE 1

Among the developments that transpired in the period leading up to the survey period was the proclamation by Congress on May 25 of former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and their oath-taking last month

as the two top officials of the land.

Satisfaction with the automated voting system or counting of votes through the vote counting machines (VCMs) is expressed by 89 percent of Filipino adults.

Faster release of electoral

results was the most often cited primary benefit of the automation of elections in the country as expressed by 72 percent of the respondents.

A huge majority of Filipino adults or 89 percent are in favor of using the automated voting system in future elections. g

Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Manotoc...

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NO TO VAPE BILL. Senators Pia Cayetano (4th from left), Alan Cayetano (3rd from left), and health advocates hold pieces of paper with a message, calling on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to veto Senate Bill No. 2239 or the Vaporized Nicotine Products Regulation Act, popularly known as the Vape Bill, during a press conference at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City on Wednesday, July 20. The group said the passage of the bill would put the health of Filipinos at risk.

PNA photo by Avito Dalan

Boracay, Palawan and Cebu hailed as...

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friendliness, and overall value.”

“The Philippines is truly blessed with the unrivaled beauty of our natural resources coupled by the warmth and endless talent of the Filipinos manifested in this citation of Travel + Leisure that included our Cebu, Palawan, and Boracay in their prestigious list,” Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said.

Boracay and Palawan also topped T+L’s 5 Best Islands in Asia alongside Phuket, Thailand, Bali, Indonesia, and The Maldives. “Travel + Leisure readers fondly recalled preCOVID-era visits to the best islands in Asia. Now that the region is reopening, they’re surely eager to return to these five ports of call, including the islands of the Maldives, as well as those found in Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines.”, stated T + L. “We express our heartfelt gratitude and congratulations to all tourism stakeholders from the public and private sector, the national and local government units, the efforts of the previous administration included, and all the hardworking employees and officials of the Department across the country for forging forward amidst the challenges of the pandemic and contributing in their own ways so our country may earn the title as one of the most beautiful in the world. The natural beauty of a country can truly shine through when we are united in

El Nido, Palawan

heralding our best qualities,” Frasco added.

One of 40 most beautiful countries in the world The Philippines concurrently was named among “The 40 Most Beautiful Countries in the World” by lifestyle travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler (CNT).

The country is accompanied in the list by other countries such as Brazil, France, Italy, Japan, and United States of America, among others.

Manila among top cities in the world Meanwhile, TimeOut.com also ranked Manila among the top cities in the world. The ranking comes as a result of a survey among citydwellers worldwide. The choice

Inquirer.net file photo

is a result of several criteria that include aspects like walkability, good public transport, safety, and sustainability other than a thriving nightlife, amazing food and drink, and art and culture. It should be noted, nonetheless, that Manila is usually in reference to Metro Manila or the Philippines’ National Capital Region.

“May this global recognition of the beauty of our natural resources inspire our efforts to raise the Philippines’ standing in the tourism industry by introducing tourism infrastructure development and improvements that would enhance connectivity and convenience in reaching our destinations,” enthused Secretary Frasco. g

assistance of the bright minds of Ilocos in bringing the vision of greater economic progress to the province during his term.

“I know many of you visit (Ilocos Norte) but I do believe that our province poses many opportunities and that I want to discuss tonight of course in terms of agriculture and tourism, our twin powerhouse industries of Ilocos Norte, and also in many other industries such as services, responsible mining, BPOs, many things that we would like to explore and I’m sure in the next six years of the BBM (President “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.) presidency, many of these plans and visions will be realized and I hope to invite you on this journey of development in Ilocos Norte,” Manotoc, the 33-year-old son of Senator Imee Romualdez Marcos and basketball coach Tommy La’O Manotoc, said.

He likewise called on the Filipino communities in the United States to contribute to the Philippine economic growth by actively supporting, not only the projects of Ilocos Norte, but also those of the country as a whole.

“The opportunities for growth in the Philippines and Southeast Asia are very prime and although we face many challenges such as COVID-19, the rising fuel prices due to the conflict in Ukraine, and the (increasing) inflation rate, we do see and we are poised especially because of our young population, to grow in the next few years,” he noted.

“So I hope to work with all of you and I hope to work with the Ilocano communities out here in California and of course the Filipino communities because I know that building these bridges could benefit us in the long run not only for our country and our kababayans in the Philippines but also for the Filipino communities here in the United States,” he added.

He echoed the inauguration speech of Marcos Jr. in calling for Filipinos to unite and adhere to a common goal of uplifting the Philippines, particularly in terms of economic growth.

“One of the regrets that I’ve had is that historically the Marcos’ name has been very divisive, but I think recently with this 2022 elections, we’ve seen the ability of our president (Bongbong Marcos) to unite the Philippines and now we are hoping for six years of true progress, of true assistance to those in need. We look forward to synergizing with all of you and I would like to congratulate all of you for showing that the Filipino is truly world class and all of you, in your own way, embody that,” he said.

When asked about how he could contribute to reclaiming the Marcos name and legacy, Manotoc said, “I think in my small way, I contribute to the socalled Marcos legacy by trying to govern and manage the province as best I can.”

At this point, he said public service should be given an utmost priority and it’s high time to start setting aside indifferences from the past.

“The victory of BBM has also painted a slightly different picture of the Marcos legacy and [the president’s] inaugural speech, we are not here to rewrite history.

We are not here to look back, we are here to move forward and together, and that is his real intention in the next six years,” he said. “We do not want to hold grudges or to get back on certain people. That is not the purpose of public service and that is something that I always admire in my uncle that throughout the campaign, whatever was thrown at him, he never engaged in socalled dirty politics or bickering.

Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Manotoc fields questions from the audience ranging from being from the Marcos lineage to the rising inflation in the Philippines.

Manotoc stops for photos with Fil-Am attendees during a meet and greet event in Cerritos, California.

AJPress photo by Noel Ty

He was above it all and I think that is also something that the 31 million that voted for him truly appreciated.”

Despite the critics of the Marcos family and political dynasties, Manotoc said, “We want to make sure that BBM’s victory is our victory and the victory of the Philippines and we will ensure that.”

Before assuming his gubernatorial post, Manotoc served as a senior provincial board member from the second legislative district of Ilocos Norte from 2016 to 2019.

From this three-year stint, he was also the chairman of the National Movement of Young Legislators – Ilocos Norte Chapter.

In the 2019 gubernatorial elections, Manotoc ran unopposed as governor of Ilocos Norte to replace his mother who ran as a senator.

In the 2022 elections, Manotoc won overwhelmingly against Rodolfo Farinas, giving him another three-year term.

When he first took office, it was reported that one of his priorities was to make health services more accessible and more inclusive by funding and upgrading medical facilities and public health programs.

Later on, he initiated the creation of an inter-agency committee to guarantee the delivery of basic health services to the province’s indigenous people and communities.

By next year, Manotoc, a graduate of Claremont McKenna College in California with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, is planning to offer scholarship assistance for medical students, thus increasing the number of health personnel and doctors practicing in the province.

His flagship program, “NariMAT nga Aglawlaw,” also debuted last October, strengthening the province’s bid for a cleaner, greener, and healthier environment.

During the open forum at the Meet and Greet event, Manotoc said that he would continue to push for harnessing renewable energy sources in the province.

“I know even geothermal, is another potential energy source that they say can truly be a game

changer. In addition to renewable energy, which we’ve already welcomed in Ilocos Norte, wind and solar especially, hydro energy, they say, can also be large-scale and there are many opportunities for hydro power plants in the Philippines which have not been tapped yet. I think, ultimately it needs to be wholistic and eclectic approach to energy in the Philippines, but this is something that becomes more pressing in the last few years with the crisis in Ukraine and the inflationary pressures that we face in the economy,” he said.

Currently, the provincial government of Ilocos Norte is also conducting a series of soil restoration programs in selected municipalities to increase the productivity of the province’s arable lands and ensure a greater yield of its high-value crops.

To further promote the sand dunes of Paoay, one of Ilocos’ famous tourist attractions where the classic Filipino movies “Himala” and “Ang Panday” were filmed, Manotoc said they recently hosted a short film festival and competition to support local artists in the province.

“This is something that our tourism department has actually been pushing and finally they said gumagaling na tayo, the young kids are very talented in Ilocos Norte. Although I am not artistic myself, I am a proponent of the creative industry, we have actually added an art scholarship recently to the provincial government to support many of our local artists. We take our cue from our forever First Lady Imelda Marcos who always says that art is the greatest form of humanity and love,” he said.

With the help of various agencies, Manotoc said he also pushed for the installation of free WiFi services in several public areas, equipping the province with upgraded internet connectivity and accessible communication services.

After his remarks and answering questions, Manotoc posed for photos and met with audience members. He was joined by his girlfriend Jamie Herrell, who was named Miss Earth 2014. (Donnabelle Aravelo/ AJPress)

Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Manotoc on Tuesday, July 12 speaks to a crowd of Filipino Americans during a meet and greet event in Cerritos, California.

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 21-27, 2022

5

Marcos invites Filipinos to listen to first SONA

by Alexis

RomeRo Philstar.com

MANILA — President Marcos has invited Filipinos to listen to his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 25, where he will discuss his key policies and priorities as the country’s 17th Chief Executive.

“Nalalapit na ang ating pinakaunang State of the Nation Address (Our first SONA is approaching),” Marcos said in a Facebook post published last Sunday, July 17.

“Samahan niyo po ako at pakinggan ang estado ng ating bansa at ang mga plano at mithiin natin bilang isang sambayanan para sa mga susunod na taon (Join me and listen as I talk about the state of our country and our plans and aspirations as a nation in the succeeding years),” he added.

Marcos’ first SONA will be held more than three weeks after he assumed office and on the same day that the 19th Congress will formally open session.

He is expected to enumerate his priority bills and to ask Congress to pass measures that will help his administration carry out its programs.

The President will also present the details of the government’s medium-term fiscal framework, which is aimed at cutting the budget deficit, promoting fiscal sustainability and enabling robust economic growth.

Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno previously said the framework would be implemented in two stages over the entire term of the President.

Among the goals set under the strategy is for the economy to grow by 6.5 to 7.5 percent this year and by 6.5 to 8 percent from 2023 to 2028.

The government also aims to reduce poverty incidence to nine percent by the end of Marcos’ term.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration managed to bring poverty incidence down from 23.5 percent in 2015 to 16.7 percent before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country, according to Diokno.

He said between the first semester of 2018 and the first semester of 2021, poverty incidence rose to 23.7 percent.

Economic managers also seek to elevate the country to upper

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

middle-income status, where per capita income for Filipinos is at $4,046 by the end of Marcos’ term.

The administration also wants to reduce the debt-to-gross domestic product ratio from 63.5 percent as of the first quarter of 2022 to 60 percent by 2025.

Marcos has also vowed to make agriculture his “highest priority,” saying a strong economy cannot be built without a robust agricultural sector.

The President, who temporarily heads the agriculture department, has directed the agency to increase food production and to craft a multi-year plan to construct the Philippines’ value chain to address a food crisis that he said may affect the Philippines in the next two quarters.

He cited the need to increase the production of rice, corn and livestock while ensuring that their prices remain affordable.

Clear roadmap Senators are anticipating the first SONA of Marcos, who they hope will present a clear roadmap on how his administration will address the daunting challenges the country is facing.

Sen. JV Ejercito expressed hope that Marcos will detail his plans for the country’s economic recovery and pandemic response in his SONA on Monday, July 25.

“I hope to hear some specifics on the direction he wants to take for the country. His inauguration speech was inspiring, but his SONA needs to flesh out the details of his plan to address the challenges we face,” Ejercito said in a statement.

“He needs to come up with

Philstar.com file photo

a plan that balances the need to protect our people from the current and future pandemic and the urgency of reviving our economy in the face of mounting debt, external pressures and inflation,” he added.

The senator said he expects Marcos to discuss a comprehensive economic plan that will go beyond proposals to raise existing taxes and levy new ones.

“There have been talks about raising taxes. This cannot be a stand-alone plan; rather, it should be part of a comprehensive economic blueprint that I hope will be discussed in the SONA,” Ejercito said.

He also emphasized the need to anchor the country’s pandemic response on the Universal Health Care law, which he principally sponsored during his first term at the Senate.

Ejercito recently filed an amendment to the measure, seeking to adjust current PhilHealth contribution schemes.

As principal author of the AntiAgricultural Smuggling Act and an advocate for local farmers, Ejercito called on Marcos to elaborate on his plan for food security amid the threat of an impending food crisis.

Sen. Nancy Binay said Marcos should also mention how he intends to cushion the effects of rising fuel prices and his economic roadmap for the next six years.

Sen. Robin Padilla said he is excited to listen to the SONA, especially now as a senator.

Padilla added that he used to u PAGE 7

FEEDING TIME. Erlinda Dela Cruz, 69, feeds nearly 25 stray cats at the Tayuman corner Kataman Streets in Manila on Thursday, July 21. She said she has been coming to the place to feed the cats since the start of the pandemic two years ago.

PNA photo by Ben Briones

PH keeps Tier 1 status, but efforts to address trafficking lacking - US report MANILA — The Philippines continued to fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but failed to report vigorously probing labor trafficking crimes and holding accountable officials complicit to the crimes, the United States said in its annual report.

The Philippines kept its Tier 1 ranking in the 2022 Trafficking in Persons Report released by the U.S. State Department. Tier 1 ranking — the highest ranking — indicates that a government has made efforts to address the problem that meet the standards of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. The Philippines has maintained its Tier 1 ranking since 2016.

“The government continued to demonstrate serious and sustained efforts during the reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its anti-trafficking capacity,” the report read.

Such efforts included identifying more trafficking victims than in 2020, drafting standard operating procedures on the identification and monitoring of trafficking-related

corruption cases, and sentencing nearly all traffickers to significant prison terms.

It also lauded the Philippines for creating the Department of Migrant Workers, supporting more victims in participating in the criminal process, and increasing funding to the interagency anti-trafficking council.

DMW is mandated to oversee law enforcement action against illegal recruitment agencies, create a database to track recruiters involved in trafficking crimes, and raise awareness of trafficking indicators among migrant workers Still not doing enough But while the Philippines met the minimum standards, “it did not report vigorously investigating labor trafficking crimes that occurred within the Philippines or take adequate steps to investigate and arrest individuals suspected of purchasing commercial sex from trafficking victims, nor did it provide training for labor inspectors on indicators of human trafficking,” the U.S. State Department said.

“The government prosecuted

and convicted fewer traffickers, and it did not report holding accountable officials allegedly complicit in human trafficking crimes,” it added.

The U.S. State Department observed that the government slightly decreased anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts.

Authorities reported 168 law enforcement-led anti-trafficking investigations, compared with 248 anti-trafficking operations and 233 investigations of illegal recruitment in the previous reporting period.

The Philippines initiated prosecution of 298 alleged traffickers, fewer than the 377 prosecutions in 2020. It also convicted 56 traffickers compared with 73 convictions in the previous reporting period.

The U.S. State Department also said that while the country increased victim protection efforts, it lacked a reliable mechanism to consolidate statistics on the total number of victims identified and assisted.

Recommendations The U.S. State Department made the following recommendations to the u PAGE 7

6

JULY 21-27, 2022 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

OPINION

Child health red alert

FEATURES

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The Philippines merited special mention in a new report released last week by the World Health Organization and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund. Unfortunately, it was not a flattering commentary by the WHO and Unicef on the state of Philippine public health.

Unicef’s executive director warned of a global “red alert for child health” amid “the largest sustained drop in childhood immunization in a generation,” with the worst situations recorded in five countries: Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria and the Philippines.

WHO and Unicef officials attributed the alarming drop to the disruptions caused by the COVID pandemic in the delivery of public health services alongside misinformation about vaccines.

In the Philippines, hysteria over the antidengue vaccine Dengvaxia led to a slide in the general childhood immunization program even before the arrival of COVID. The Dengvaxia scare was blamed for the return of polio in 2019, about 19 years after the Philippines was declared free of the crippling disease. There was also a resurgence of measles, with 47,871 cases and 632 deaths recorded nationwide in 2019.

Pandemic lockdowns beginning in 2020 further derailed the national immunization program. Unicef and the WHO, in their report last week, said about 25 million children worldwide failed to get inoculated in 2021 against common

vaccine-preventable diseases led by diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.

The “historic backsliding” in childhood immunization is happening at the same time that severe malnutrition is on the rise, weakening the immune systems of children, Unicef and the WHO warned.

“The convergence of a hunger crisis with a growing immunization gap threatens to create the conditions for a child survival crisis,” the UN said. Health experts lament that this is eroding the enormous progress achieved in global child vaccination in the two decades before the COVID pandemic struck.

Mobility restrictions are now being eased, and governments must move aggressively to make up for the years lost in the childhood vaccination program. In the Philippines, this is critical especially with face-to-face classes resuming this year. School children must be in the best of health for optimum learning. It is not yet too late to turn back the tide and save children from lifelong debilitation and even death. (Philstar. com)

Editorial

Babe’s Eye View BABE ROMUALDEZ LAST Tuesday, July 19, I was asked to deliver the keynote address at an international forum titled, “Redefining Maritime Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific in an Age of Uncertainty,” organized by the Stratbase ADR Institute to commemorate the anniversary of the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration Tribunal Ruling.

Conducted via hybrid format, the forum gathered local and regional security experts who discussed the complex issues surrounding the Indo-Pacific and how the Philippines can harness its maritime potential and position itself as a key player in the maritime domain.

The powerhouse roster of panelists included director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) Lisa Curtis; BowerGroupAsia director of research and Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) senior associate Murray Hiebert; Ambassador Jana Sediva of the Czech

Philstar.com photo

Filipinos are fully behind the PCA arbitral ruling Republic; the British Embassy in the Philippines’ deputy head of mission Alistair White; National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies associate professor Yusuke Takagi; Australia National University professor of International Security and Intelligence Studies John Blaxland; De La Salle University professor and Stratbase ADRI program convenor Dr. Renato de Castro; and retired Philippine Navy Rear Admiral Rommel Jude Ong, currently the executive director of the Security Reform Initiative and Professor of Praxis at the Ateneo School of Government.

The three-and-a-half-hour conference examined the evolving security architecture in the Indo-Pacific and the need for the Philippines to engage in strategic alliances with like-minded states to promote peace and stability in the region through a rules-based international order.

No one will argue that the 2016 PCA arbitral ruling continues to be the single most important document during these volatile times. And as I have always said, it was not only

a victory for the Philippines but for the international community as well for the primary reason that the decision is underpinned by the rule of law.

As noted by ADRI president Professor Dindo Manhit, the 2016 arbitral ruling has “defined what is ours as it legitimized and validated our claims in the disputed waters. Under a rulesbased international system, the Permanent Court of Arbitration has legally transformed our maritime claims into territorial rights.”

No less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself has recognized this, saying, “We have a very important ruling in our favor. We will use it to continue to assert our territorial rights. It’s not a claim, it is already our territorial right,” asserting that “we will not allow a single square millimeter” of our maritime coastal rights to be trampled upon.

It was interesting to learn that in a recent Pulse Asia survey commissioned by Stratbase, 89 percent of Filipinos believe that the President should assert our rights in the West Philippine Sea, and 90 percent agree that the new administration under

President Marcos must invest in the capability of the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard to protect the country’s territory and marine resources within its exclusive economic zone. Moreover, 84 percent also agree that the new government should form alliances with other countries to defend Philippine territorial rights in the West Philippine Sea. In his presentation, retired Navy Rear Admiral Rommel Jude Ong asserted that “our defense posture needs a serious reset” to mitigate China’s maritime posture and restore a rules-based order within our exclusive economic zone. A reset would also enable us to “contribute to regional stability under the framework of a free and open Indo-Pacific as well as the ASEAN Outlook in the IndoPacific (AOIP).”

As I explained in my keynote remarks, we need to continue with AFP modernization efforts to build a more reliable and credible Philippine armed forces in order to strengthen our territorial or external defense capabilities.

One positive development that has happened is the acquisition

of the abandoned Hanjin shipyard in Subic by U.S.-based equity firm Cerberus Capital Management. The shipyard, now known as Agila Subic, will help strengthen and transform the Philippine Navy – which is an anchor tenant occupying 250 acres of the facility – into a multi-capable naval force with the activation of the Naval Operations Base that will play a major role in our military modernization efforts.

I agree with the assessment of RADM Ong that for modernization to be sustainable, we must bring the local defense industry into the picture, as “some of the items we are procuring can actually be done by a local company,” he said. At the same time, there is a need to review the legal structure as current laws tend to be biased against local industries instead of supporting them, he added.

I for one know that we have a pioneering Filipino company that produces worldclass firearms, ammunition and other defense products – Armscor – which has always been supportive of the SelfReliant Defense Posture (SRDP) program that both

former defense secretary Del Lorenzana and Department of National Defense OIC General Jose Faustino Jr. have been wanting to revive for the Philippines to attain defense self-sufficiency.

And while I believe that diplomacy is still the best way to find a peaceful resolution to the contentious issues surrounding the Indo-Pacific, it is equally important for us to be able to defend ourselves if a situation such as an intrusion in our exclusive economic zone occurs.

Filipinos are known for having a deep threshold for patience and are prepared to sacrifice for the sake of peace. In Tagalog, “mahaba ang pasensiya ng Filipino.”

But make no mistake about it – when push comes to shove, we Filipinos will stand up and fight for what is rightfully ours.

(Philstar.com) *** Email: babeseyeview@gmail.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.

Resilience and tourism

Zilch

MA. LOURDES TIQUIA THE economic drivers, pre-pandemic, were OFW remittances and the BPO industry. We remained buoyant during the crucial pandemic years, again because of OFW remittances which registered a record high through banking channels of $31.4 billion in 2021. Cash remittances rose by 5.1 percent from $29.9 billion in 2020, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. If we add personal transfers in cash and the value of non-cash items brought, or sent, by Filipinos abroad, the overall amount of total personal remittances reached $34.9 billion, a record high and up by 5.1 percent from the $33.2 billion in 2020.

Personal remittances from OFWs accounted for 9.8 percent of the country's 2021 GDP. The increase happened in spite of almost a million OFWs who were repatriated (all for free) due to the pandemic. The BPO industry, on the other hand, contributes over 11 percent to the GDP. It is the single largest

sector and employs over 1.2 million people across 1,000 outsourcing companies. This sector contributes $30 billion to the economy each year. It is estimated that the Philippines holds 10 to 15 percent of the global BPO market and could potentially grow between 8 to 10 percent every year with the changing work set-up because of the pandemic. This has led to the growth of the "gig economy," opening up to more workers doing WFH. The country's tourism industry can be the main driver of our reboot only if we are to look at it in terms of sustainability, balancing carrying capacity viz income and resiliency. The Philippine travel and tourism sector made a significant jump in 2021 when it registered a $41-billion contribution to our economy based on the World Travel and Tourism Council's (WTTC) latest Economic Impact Report, or EIR. This sector has been contributing an average of 22.5 percent of the total economy, or roughly $29.6 billion. The lockdowns led to the drop in income by almost 81 percent, thus in 2020, the country only earned

P17.8 billion. As restrictions were gradually eased in 2021, the figure rose to $41 billion, representing 10.4 percent share in our total economy.

And this is where tourism can be linked with employment because of its multiplier effect in both national and local, leading to a recovery of 1.3 million more jobs, which can even reach 7.8 million jobs, according to WTTC. If the trend is sustained, tourism's contribution to GDP could be worth in excess of $155 billion in 2032, accounting for 21.5 percent of all jobs in the Philippines. But we cannot just be part of the herd. The country has to lead in terms of number of visitors because we have 7,641 reasons to be so.

Of the 7,641 islands, only 2,000 are inhabited. More than 5,000 islands of the archipelago are yet to be given names. The 50 largest islands have a combined area of 300,000 square kilometers and a combined population of 108.9 million, meaning these 50 largest islands contain 99 percent of our population. The passage of the long-delayed Land Use bill is urgently needed so we can define the limits of

land for ecotourism. Imagine if each of the 81 provinces has a designated area, the best area for ecotourism.

In 2020, because of the pandemic, the Philippines had only 1,482,535 visitor arrivals while Thailand had 6,702,396.

Malaysia had 4,332,722 while Indonesia had 4,052,923 and Vietnam 3,686,779.

In 2019, Philippines had 8,260,913 visitors while Thailand had 38,178,194; Malaysia at 26,100,874; Vietnam at 18,008,591 and Indonesia at 16,106,954. Why are we not a chosen destination among Asean countries?

The Philippines has the 7th highest number of islands in the world after Sweden, Finland, Norway, Canada, Indonesia and Australia. Luzon and Mindanao are contiguous, but Visayas is composed of several separate islands and islets. Peace and order is vital as well as transportation to connect the various islands by air, water and land. There are 30 island provinces that can be destination magnets.

Imagine having a tourism ranking like the Michelin star which can signal our country

is ready, not just the luxurious destinations but ecotourism that brings to the fore the culture of each province. And we should learn from Siargao, a global destination because of surfing.

Siargao taught us to pursue sustainable (carrying capacity), inclusive and resilient tourism.

Boracay showed us why carrying capacity needs to be built in the process of development as well as tourism. Boracay gave us a second chance of stewardship and that is why the roadblocks need to be attended to. Farmto-table is sustainable tourism, but it is not sexy to those lens that see only the upper-end destinations.

Tourism is not just marketing, publicity and all that glamor. It is solving the roadblocks that matter. These roadblocks have been identified quite often: "1) development and management of tourism destinations is seen in piecemeal rather than holistic approach; 2) infrastructure remain inadequate to support tourism development and sustainability; 3) tourist destinations are affected and need to recover from different disasters and pandemic; and 4) responsibility to manage

growth and promote sustainable tourism between national and local government is unclear."

Imagine developing the biodiversity quad of a destination in Oslob, Dumaguete, Siquijor and Bohol? Or the DuSiBo Triangle?

In between those islands are rich biodiversity hubs, which have to be protected and nurtured. Carrying capacity has to be the single most important index. We close once we breach the capacity; hence, other destinations can be considered.

Imagine having a calendar of destinations that take into planning the factor of resiliency.

Imagine if each province can do that and we have 81 destinations calendared according to the activities unique in each area.

But what unites all these?

Culture (food and clothing) and heritage (spiritual). Tourism is the biggest industry in the world, and we are sitting on a heap of gold by not tapping our potentials. (ManilaTimes.net) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

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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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 21-27, 2022

7

83% of Pinoys hopeful worst of COVID-19 over – SWS

SENIOR CITIZEN ID CARD. An elderly woman (left) from Barangay Kaligayahan claims her Senior Citizen ID card from a local government personnel after availing the on-site application at the Zabarte Rotary Court in Novaliches-Fairview in Quezon City on Thursday, July 21. The Social Services Caravan in the village was organized by the city government.

PNA photo by Oliver Marquez

As promised, Robin Padilla begins push for federalism, other charter changes

by Franco Luna Philstar.com

MANILA — Sen. Robinhood Padilla, an ardent supporter of the previous Duterte administration, made good on one of his consistent campaign promises and revived the push for federalism in Congress with a resolution on Thursday, July 21.

In filing Senate Resolution No. 6, Padilla made his case by pointing to what he said was the centralization of both political and economic capital in and around the National Capital Region.

The measure urges the Senate committee on constitutional amendments, which Padilla chairs, to study and revise codes that should be changed in the 1987 Constitution. The committee did a similar study on charter change during the 18th Congress.

"It is unfortunate that after 35 years from [the Constitution's] effectivity, we have yet to attain a 'just and humane society,'" Padilla wrote. "Sovereign Filipino people promulgated the Constitution in order to build [just that.]"

In particular, Padilla — the first-placer in the senatorial polls in May — said that restrictions on foreign equity in natural resources, public utilities, build-operate-transfer projects, and equity in mass media would need reassessment, calling these "stumbling blocks to equitable economic growth."

He also pointed to "provisions particular to the form, structure, and power of government, economy and patrimony."

The neophyte senator claimed that the regions would be "more familiar with the needs and priorities of their respective localities," pointing out that the country's economic growth "has been largely centralized" in the Greater Luzon area, which account for 57% of its gross domestic product.

"Except for the insignificant powers devolved to the local government units, our unitary system

of government is concentrated to the central government authority distributed to the three branches of the government instead of decentralized powers delegated to the regions," he said.

The Local Government Code has devolved many of the powers of the national government to local ones and opponents of charter change have argued that better implementation of the LGC could address these issues.

Alternative to 'mob rule' Padilla, who has urged the public to get to know the narrative of the Marcos family as well when they were forced to flee the country post-dictatorship, went on to frame the EDSA events of 1986 and 2001 as "political instabilities [that] threatened the basic foundation of our democracy."

"Under the parliamentary system, there will be an institutionalized and peaceful approach to removing a head of government in lieu of the unconstitutional and highly divisive coup d'etat or mob rule that our country had experienced," he wrote.

The former actor from Camarines Norte has long railed against "imperial Manila," which was among the same narratives employed by the Duterte administration in pushing for federalism. The campaign for federalism faltered for lack of public support.

Shifting to federal governance and decentralizing power to local governments was among the many campaign promises of former President Rodrigo Duterte until he ultimately gave up on the idea himself, admitting that it is “not accepted” by the majority of Filipinos.

This time around, though, the Senate is dominated by a supermajority that is largely sympathetic to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s announced priorities.

Marcos has agreed that a federal form of government rather than a unitary one would "fit" the country, though he has admitted that

Marcos invites Filipinos to listen...

PAGE 5

attend Duterte’s SONA, but as a “third person.”

“I’m excited to what President Marcos will say. Because when we were campaigning, he always said he would continue the good programs of Duterte,” Padilla told reporters in Filipino.

He added that he was keen on what Marcos will say about the war on drugs, Build Build Build and agriculture.

‘Proportionately represented’ Allies or partners of the administration party under the supermajority coalition will be “proportionately represented” when the 19th Congress convenes on July 25, presumptive speaker Martin Romualdez said on Monday, July 18.

“We will also go by seniority, merit, experience and, of course, the initiative to make the sacrifice and hard work needed for each of the positions,” Romualdez told reporters in a chance interview.

Romualdez, Marcos’ first cousin, is expected to be elected as the speaker on July 25, when the new Chief Executive delivers his first SONA. The reelected first district congressman of Leyte province said that while many members of the 19th Congress are qualified for leadership and committee posts, the House will be guided by “our time-honored traditions of having the respective parties properly represented.”

Romualdez served as majority leader in the 18th Congress (July 2019-June 2022).

Asked who would be his successor as majority leader, he replied: “We’ll let you know next week. We’ll try to get those who are willing to make the sacrifice of hard work and get a consensus to help us on (legislative) measures.”

Also on Monday, the House leader does not see any problem regarding the submission of the

proposed national budget for 2023, which he promised to pass before the year ends, just like they as lawmakers always do.

“The most important is the 2023 national budget, which we will pass definitely within the third quarter for the President to sign before the year ends.

The executive department can submit the proposed budget within 30 days of SONA delivery,” Romualdez said.

He also delivered an inspirational message to the third batch of neophyte congressmen who finished the executive course on legislation for members of the 19th Congress at the Belmonte Hall inside the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City.

1,365 guests Meanwhile, more than 1,300 individuals are invited to attend Marcos’ first SONA before the joint session of Congress at the Batasan complex in Quezon City.

House of Representatives Secretary General Mark Llandro Mendoza said they have started sending out invitations to 1,365 guests over the weekend while the rest of the invitations will be delivered this week.

“So far, we are OK with the coordination with different agencies and with Malacañang,” Mendoza told GMA 7’s “BalitangHali” on Monday.

Among the invitees are Vice President Sara Duterte, former presidents, former vice presidents, former speakers, former Senate presidents, members of Marcos’ Cabinet and members of the diplomatic corps.

This will be the first face-to-face SONA of a Philippine president since the COVID-19 pandemic started.

Duterte’s last two SONAs in 2020 and 2021 were held in a hybrid or mixed live and virtual setup as a precautionary measure against the virus. g

changing the Constitution would be "difficult."

Former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia has urged the Marcos government to focus on economic growth first in its early years instead of federalism, pointing to the numerous crises facing the country in recent months.

A March 2018 survey by the Social Weather Stations suggested that only one in four Filipino adults knew about the federal system, while the remaining 75 percent said they only learned of it during the course of the survey. g

MANILA — Around eight in every 10 Filipinos are hopeful that the worst of COVID is over, a survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.

The survey, conducted from April 19 to 27 with the results released on Wednesday, July 20 showed that a record-high 83 percent of the respondents believed that “the worst is behind us with the COVID crisis.”

This is three points higher than the 80 percent obtained in a similar survey in December 2021 and almost twice the 44 percent when SWS first asked the question in May 2020.

The survey was conducted a few months after the Omicrondriven surge that saw record-high new COVID cases in the country.

Cases once again spiked in

June, although the numbers have not reached levels similar to previous surges.

According to the survey, those who fear that “the worst is yet to come” dropped from 19 percent in December 2021 to 16 percent last April.

Across geographic areas, the number of people who believed that the worst is already over was highest in Mindanao at 86 percent, followed by those in Metro Manila and rest of Luzon at 82 percent and the Visayas at 81 percent.

Meanwhile, the percentage of those fearing “the worst is yet to come” is higher among those in the Visayas and balance Luzon at 18 percent and Metro Manila at 17 percent than in Mindanao at 12 percent.

The same survey also found that those who worry about catching COVID remained at 88 percent.

The remaining 12 percent said they are little or not worried at all.

Worry about catching COVID is highest among those in the Visayas at 94 percent, followed by those in Mindanao at 93 percent, balance Luzon at 85 percent and Metro Manila at 83 percent.

SWS noted that Filipinos are more worried than Americans about catching COVID, citing the April 25 to May 1 Gallup survey showing that only 31 percent of adult Americans were worried about contracting the viral illness.

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

PH keeps Tier 1 status, but efforts to...

PAGE 6 Philippine government: • Increase efforts to investigate, prosecute, and convict complicit officials and labor traffickers • Strengthen the capacity of local government units to provide reintegration services for trafficking survivors, including trauma-informed care, job training, and in-country employment • Increase support to government and NGO programs that provide specialized care for trafficking victims, including child victims of online sexual exploitation • Establish and implement a process to ensure systematic

and ongoing input from a diverse community of survivors on the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of anti-trafficking policies and programs • Increase efforts to ensure victims receive court-ordered restitution and compensation ordered through civil judgments • Increase resources for anti-trafficking task forces to conduct timely investigations, coordinated operations, and prosecutions while providing robust victim and witness assistance services • Increase efforts to identify and assist labor trafficking victims, including by providing

training to law enforcement, social service providers, and labor inspectors on indicators of trafficking • Increase resources for law enforcement units designated to investigate all forms of trafficking • Consistently implement the coordinated interagency response to providing services to returning Filipinos exploited in sex and labor trafficking overseas • Create a central database for information on illegal recruiters and human trafficking cases to facilitate interagency coordination in detecting, investigating, and prosecuting traffickers (Gaea Katreena Cabico/Philstar.com)

JULY 21-27, 2022 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL 8 LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

Dateline PhiliPPines

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July 21, 2022

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INSIDE

Filipino American breakout actor Brandon Perea makes feature film debut in ‘Nope’ by

Klarize Medenilla / AJPress

THE most anticipated film of the summer is, undoubtedly, “Nope,” the latest offering from Academy Award-winning writer and director Jordan Peele that promises a new take on the classic extraterrestrial blockbuster.

And just like his previous feature endeavors, “Nope” promises suspense and horror with a signature Peele smattering of thought-provoking commentary on the zeitgeist that will keep audiences discussing and theorizing.

Among the most anticipated parts of the film includes the prolific, diverse-in-every-way cast.

Academy Award winner Daniel Kaluuya (“Get Out,” “Judas and

the Black Messiah”), vivacious character actor Keke Palmer (“Hustlers”), and Academy Award nominee Steven Yeun (“Minari,” “The Walking Dead”) come together to investigate a mysterious phenomenon that has been abducting residents and animals of the Santa Clarita community.

The film also features an exciting actor to watch in Brandon Perea, the 27-year-old Filipino American actor who, in his feature film debut, delivered a breakout performance.

Perea (Netflix’s “The OA”) — plays Angel Torres, a tech expert who works at the now-closed Fry’s Electronics in Burbank and helps a sibling team of horse train-

“Nope,” Brandon Perea’s debut film, will be released on Friday, July 22.

ers — OJ Haywood (Kaluuya) and his sister, Emerald (Palmer) — in capturing footage of a sighted UFO that has been causing their horses to behave violently.

As a character, Angel serves as somewhat of a stand-in for the audience and Perea’s lived-in performance as the comically dry Angel makes you go, “Yeah, I know a guy just like this.” But there’s still a necessary sweetness to Angel that Perea naturally brought to his performance that meshed perfectly with the rest of the principal cast.

When recounting his experience with working on “Nope” with the Asian Journal, Perea beamed, sharing, “I feel like for anyone, that would be an incredible experience and it was truly something I’ve never imagined. I keep calling it a miracle job because that’s the only way to describe it.

Perea shared that he was “an emotional wreck” when he got the role.

“It was funny because I got Jordan to cry as well,” Perea said, recounting a “speech” he gave Peele after getting the part where he said “You know this industry can be so hard and it has its ups and downs and rollercoasters around and I felt that maybe he could relate as well. It was very touching.”

Peele is somewhat of a modern rendering of the great Alfred Hitchcock — a brave visionary who isn’t afraid to push the boundaries of mainstream horror in an attempt to capture a not-too-cynical but not-too-cloying representation of humanity.

His heroes feel less like types, individuals who are fallible and with their own quirks. Perea shared that his audition piece for Angel was a more quirky, nerdy retail worker, but knowing that Peele opts for the more “grounded performances,” Perea peppered in his own knowledge and takes of who this character could be — and Peele ended up rewriting the character for Perea.

“Usually what we see when we go into retail stores are people who don’t really wanna be there, so I feel like that’s the energy I usually get [from those employees], and Jordan thought that was really funny, and that’s what he ran with: a more hard-nosed character who’s just mad at everything,” Perea shared.

Initially, Angel comes off as this dry, know-it-all tech- savvy person

who can’t be bothered with the ignorance of the customers he serves, a deadpan version of “the kind of person who thinks he’s the smartest person in the room” type, Perea explained.

But once he finds out that OJ and Emerald are different from his usual clientele, he softens and becomes an invaluable companion on the mission to figure out what the hell is going on in the sky.

At the start of the film, “Angel’s dealing with heartbreak, and I feel like when you deal with heartbreak, you end up in this lonely spot and looking for purpose. I felt like this mission that they go on can fulfill that emptiness and purpose and the group becomes a family that Angel’s never really had. He’s trying to be a part of something,” Perea said.

Within 30 seconds of meeting Angel, it’s clear that this is the kind of person who moderates Reddit and 4chan boards and consumes “Ancient Aliens” every night while stoned. It’s a depiction of people who very much exist in the real world, which makes the film’s world feel all the more real — and disturbingly so.

With “Nope,” Peele sought to create “not only a flying saucer horror film, but really, the quintessential one.” In production notes, Peele acknowledges that it was an ambitious undertaking, narratively and technologically, and Peele, once again, takes advantage of the eerieness of liminality and the uncanny valley.

While the level of horror is significantly lower than that of Peele’s previous two films — “Get Out” (which earned Peele the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay) and “Us” — the character development in “Nope” is far more dynamic.

One of Peele’s strengths is his commitment to not just racially and ethnically diverse representation, but grounded representation.

Each of the main characters — two Black leads in Kaluuya and Palmer and two Asian supporting characters in Perea and Yeun — have their own neuroses and personalities; they’re fascinating characters who also happen to be people of color.

“That’s what Jordan did so well with ‘Nope’ — he sprinkled in real things about race in these characters but it isn’t what defines them completely,” Perea said, “They’re normal humans going through

27-year-old Brandon Perea’s makes his feature film debut in “Nope,” from Academy Awardwinning writer and director Jordan Peele.

Photo from Instagram/@brandonperea

something crazy. And I think Jordan really knocked it out of the park with bringing the story to a real place.”

The realism within the characters adds to the unsettling nature and the mounting suspense of the film, which, although its central concern is a possible UFO, also begins to unpack the equally as unsettling human obsession with spectacle.

And when it comes to the essential question over whether he believes aliens exist, Perea re-

mains open-minded.

“You know what? It is a big universe and it is ever growing as we’re talking right now,” he said.

“There has to be something, and I hope it’s not human form.

I hope they look like little green, weird things—” he paused, looking up addressing the extraterrestrial community that may or may not exist, “Sorry, not weird! Y’all are stunning! Please don’t eat me.”

“Nope” comes out in theaters on Friday, July 22.

H.E.R. to star in ‘Beauty and the Pinoy group SB19 included in Teen Vogue’s most favorite boy bands of all time Beast’ 30th anniversary special

by Kristofer

Purnell Philstar.com

FILIPINA American R&B singer H.E.R. has been tapped to play Belle in the upcoming animated and live-action hybrid 30th anniversary special of the Disney classic "Beauty and the Beast."

This will make the mutiawarded artist the first Afro Filipina to portray a Disney princess; legendary actress Lea Salonga was only the singing voices for Jasmine and Mulan for their respective films.

“I can’t believe I get to be a part of the ‘Beauty and the Beast’ legacy,” H.E.R. said about her casting. “The world will see a Black and Filipino Belle! I have always wanted to be a Disney princess."

The special will feature never-before-seen musical performances, brand new costumes and set designs all inspired from the original French fairytale.

H.E.R. and other co-stars will be performing songs from the 1991 animated film in front of a live audience at Disney Studios.

An ongoing unofficial poll by Billboard are asking Internet users who should star opposite H.E.R., with suggestions such as current frontrunner Harry Styles, as well as Shawn Mendes, Nick Jonas, Zayn Malik, The Weeknd, Anderson .Paak, and RM from BTS. Jon M. Chu, director of "Crazy Rich Asians" and "In The Heights," serves as one of the special's executive producers alongside director Hamish

P-pop (Pinoy pop) group SB19 was named by young fashion magazine Teen Vogue as one of their all-time most favorite boy bands alongside the likes of BTS, The Beatles, and One Direction.

Teen Vogue's list of 33 boy bands was in no particular order, and SB19 was the 18th group listed in between Puerto Rico's Menudo and R&B group All-4-One. The magazine included the music video of SB19's hit song "What?" and acknowledged the group's meteoric rise following the release of another hit single, "Bazinga."

Filipina American R&B singer H.E.R.

Hamilton and H.E.R. “With her obvious extraordinary talent and stage presence, H.E.R. is the perfect

BTS and The Beatles were among the first boy bands mentioned by Teen Vogue, arguably as the most popular groups then and now, with R&B group Boyz II Men sandwiched in between them.

One Direction was accompanied by fellow staple boy bands like the Backstreet Boys, Westlife, *NSYNC, New Kids on the Block, The Jonas Brothers, Big Time Rush, Five Seconds of Summer, The Wanted, and The Jackson 5.

Korean groups that made Teen Vogue's list apart from BTS were EXO, SEVENTEEN, Big Bang, SHINee, Monsta X, and Seo Taiji

and the Boys.

Second-generation K-pop group Super Junior and popular Taiwanese group F4 — and all their succeeding variations — were notably snubbed.

SB19, consisting of Josh, Pablo, Stell, Ken, and Justin, were formed in 2016 by Korea's ShowBT Group subsidiary in the Philippines and debuted two years later.

Other singles by the group include "Tilaluha," "Go Up," "Alab," and "Mapa," as well as their collaboration with fellow Filipino act Ben&Ben "Kapangyarihan."

(Philstar.com)

Photo from Instagram/@hermusicofficial

embodiment of our Belle, and we are thrilled for our audiences to see her in this celebration of SB19, consisting of Josh, Pablo, Stell, Ken, and Justin, were formed in 2016 by Korea's ShowBT Group subsidiary in the Philippines and debuted two years later.

Photo from Instagram/@officialsb19 creativity,” Chu said. g

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Features

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 21-27, 2022

9

A solar field in western Pahrump?

by RealtoR

Fely Quitevis-Bateman

THERE is no doubt that the way the world is consuming its natural resources, we are in for catastrophic results down the road. Whether it’s in a couple of decades, half a century or a century from now, the world’s burgeoning population needs to manage the Earth’s resources more efficiently, or look for ways to harness what nature gives us.

In terms of energy usage, that can include harnessing the sun’s power, which is exactly what a company wants to do in the western side of Pahrump.

Consolidated Edison Development Inc. recently went before the Nye County Commission to talk about its proposal for its Basin Solar project – a 20-megawatt photovoltaic solar field that will be set on 100 acres in western Pahrump, according to a news report from the Pahrump Valley Times. The project is set to be located on land bounded by Basin Avenue to the

south, Bannavitch to the west, and Betty Avenue to the north.

It is one of the many multiple solar farms that have been proposed in the State of Nevada and areas like Pahrump, Amargosa and Beatty. The difference with this project is that Basin Solar is being put on private land, unlike majority of proposals which are being planned on public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management.

According to officials attached with ConEdison, once complete and fully operational, Basin Solar can produce energy to power an estimated 6,000 homes. The company is the second-largest solar developer in the country and operates about 30% of the solar capacity in the state.

During the presentation, officials debunked the myth that a photovoltaic solar field will raise the ambient temperature around the site. The technology, according

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to officials, is designed to absorb the heat.

As for noise, there will be the typical noise generated during the construction, but once operational, the field will not produce noise.

Traffic in and out of the facility will be kept to a minimum as there will only be one truck visiting the site on a weekly basis, per officials, adding that “the site largely operated itself from remote communications.”

On the question of water usage in the project, ConEdison does not intend to drill any wells to service the site, but instead will have the necessary water trucked in after being purchased from a local municipal water provider.

During the construction phase, about 20 acre-feet of water would be used primarily for dust control, and would go down to about two acre-feet or less per year when the field is operational.

ConEdison revealed that if everything goes according to plan, construction should be able to begin early 2023, with the site commercially operational by the end of the year.

As for how the project will benefit the town, aside from aiding in the quest for renewable energy and helping alleviate the drain on the electric grid, positives will come from the taxes and purchase of regional goods and services, as well as up to 150 construction jobs associated with the project.

Once the project is finished, two full-time jobs within the community will be the end-result.

A total investment of about $40 million is expected to be made for the Basin Solar project, with roughly 37% to 50% of the amount invested directly in Nevada.

In examining the plans and the private land that will be used for the project, Nye County Commissioner Debra Strickland posed an observation, asking what the highest and best use for a 100-acre parcel of land would be.

She opined that the benefits of the project being situated in private land versus public land managed by the BLM would be significantly higher. The advantages would include not having to take away the people’s land, using an area that is located in a flood zone which creates a different set of challenges for other kinds of development, and potential homeowners not having to deal with expensive flood insurance should the land be developed into homes.

This project will be a great

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman drove around in Pahrump recently with her good friend and Philippine Realtor Nida Santos.

Realtors Fely Quitevis-Bateman and Nida Santos drove by near the proposed solar project in Pahrump, which will provide cheap electricity to the town’s residents.

addition to Pahrump, and just one of the many well thought out endeavors being planned in the town, which is only 62 miles west of Las Vegas.

It is a perfect project for the town as it located in what is known as the sun belt; in fact, much of Nevada is in such an area.

With a lot of developments being proposed in Pahrump, including a huge gaming/entertainment hub that will house the first perimutuel horse racetrack in Nevada, servicing the energy needs of the community will of utmost importance. Having an additional source of renewable energy will keep the town in good stead and

Realtor Nida Santos, a friend of Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman for over 40 years, has been amazed at the big progress in Pahrump during her second visit to the town.

allow it to thrive.

Areas like Pahrump are generating huge interest, not just for businesses but for many wouldbe homeowners and investors.

The affordability of land and property prices, when compared to other areas in the United States, is a huge plus, as well as its proximity to a big city like Las Vegas. One can, indeed, have the best of both worlds – live within the peaceful, unencumbered, beautiful surroundings of the town for the most part, and head for the lights, extravaganza, glitz and glamour of the big city when it beckons.

My decades of experience in real estate will help you, my

kababayans, in your quest for your piece of the American Dream – whether it’s your first or second home, a rental property, or an investment.

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10

JULY 21-27, 2022 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

Miracle of life

Health @Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS A FEW years ago, while waiting at O’Hare Airport in Chicago for our flight to Lake Charles, Louisiana to attend the graduation of our granddaughter Sydney, my wife Farida and I saw a cute, cheerful, very active toddler, who reminded us fondly of our five children and ten grandchildren at that age.

As a pediatrician, Farida guessed the baby girl’s age correctly, as we overheard the father telling a lady “16 months old.” Personally, I find them most enjoyable and adorable between ages one to three, and especially challenging at age two: Terrible Two, when they start to develop their personality and love to say “No!,” asserting their independence.

The stage I truly marvel at, even today, is the initiation of life when the sperm meets the ovum which starts fertilization from one cell, geometrically and progressively dividing, eventually growing into an embryo, then fetus. How a new human being comes to life and how DNA maps and guides the entire process are amazing and mind-boggling, to say the least. To me, it is nothing short of a miracle. The progress of fetal development compounds the excitement and interest. And the curiosity and the queries abound.

Fetal development The cells in the embryo begin to organize themselves into the fetus’s brain, face, eyes, ears, and nose between the 4th and 5th week of pregnancy. The heart starts to beat at about 22 days after conception, but on the ultrasound, the beating heart of the fetus is seen in about 5 weeks from the last menstrual period of the mother. At 18 weeks, the baby begins to hear, more sensitive at week 24 when the ears are developing better.

Between weeks 25th and 26th, it responds to voices and noise in the womb. The baby at this stage is able to hear music, the mother’s breathing, motion, stomach growls, and heartbeat.

The outside sounds are muted by half in the uterus, muffled by the amniotic fluid (like shock absorber) where the baby floats.

Constant exposure to loud noises could cause hearing defect in the fetus. The mother’s voice is the most significant, familiar and soothing sound the baby hears, which the baby in the womb can recognize by the third trimester (by 28th weeks). Its heartbeat increases when the mother is speaking, showing their awareness and alertness.

At 25 weeks (5 months and one week) of gestation, the fetus is about 13.1 inches (33.6 cm) tall and 1.7 pounds (785 grams) in weight. They already look like

human beings, a very tiny version of a full-term baby. Normal fullterm delivery is 40 weeks (10 months). Those born at 25 weeks are tiny and fragile, but with modern neonatology care, most make it, although some simply do not survive. Indeed, the fetuses in the womb, when allowed to grow fully, are our future fellow human beings.

Brain health: B6 A new study shows that Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine), one of the B vitamins, could reduce anxiety and depression after taking it at a high dose for a month. In the research, Vitamin B12 did not have much impact on these conditions, but pyridoxine had a good positive impact.

The effective dose of B6 in this study to prevent or treat mood disorders was found to be about 50 times the minimum daily requirement of 1.3 mg for 50 and younger, and 1.5 to 1.7 mg for those older than 50.

Published in the journal Human Psychopharmacology, the investigators stated, “Vitamin B6 helps the body produce a specific chemical messenger that inhibits impulses in the brain, and our study links this calming effect with reduced anxiety among the participants; pyridoxine is known to increase the body’s production of GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid), a chemical that blocks impulses between nerve cells in the brain.”

Foods that contain B6 include, among others, chickpeas, fruits and vegetables, and tuna, but it needs B6 supplements to be high enough a concentration in the body to have a positive effect on mood.

When the final studies pan out to be safe and effective, this therapy would be a boon in the management of mood disorders and positively impacts millions of lives worldwide.

Consult your physician before embarking on this, or other therapies, which, in this particular case still needs a larger-scale clinical trial before being approved for general use.

Erection problem Erectile dysfunction (ED), the inability to have a firm erection for successful intercourse, affects more than 30 million Americans, and roughly about 10 million Filipinos. Around 52 percent of males, ages 40-70, have this malady. Even the younger men are not exempt from ED. But there is hope today, with our modern therapeutics.

The common causes include vascular (the most common), smoking, diabetes, alcohol use, stress, depression, anxiety, medications, the deficit in nerve signaling, and endocrine or hormone issues. Medical consultation is important to rule out organic medical problems that would require more comprehensive laboratory tests.

An association between dietary

Features

cholesterol, unsaturated fat intake, and erectile dysfunction was discovered by the Massachusetts Male Aging Study.

Consuming a Mediterranean diet, consisting mostly of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats like olive oil, and avocados, may prevent ED. The following food items help in preventing and management of ED, besides providing other nutritional benefits to the body: fish, oatmeal, blackberries, avocados, pistachios watermelon, spinach, kale, persimmons pomegranate juice, bananas, apricots, chili peppers, nuts, and green leafy, and other color vegetables.

Regular physical exercise helps a lot in solving ED problems.

The foods to avoid: alcohol and any soft drinks; soy-based items and licorice, all of which decrease testosterone levels. Smoking is a major cause. Obesity is another factor. A high intake of red meat and processed meats also increases the risk for ED, besides cancer.

Anti-ED pills like Viagra, sildenafil, and Levitra could be tried, together with the antiED foods recommended above.

Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid), B3 (niacin), and C (ascorbic acid) are also suggested by some studies.

If all those above do not help, counseling is recommended.

Warning: There are dozens of herbals and over-the-counter drugs, some sold on the streets which have not been officially approved and could have potentially serious side effects.

A healthy lifestyle, including diet, weight control, exercise, no smoking, disciplined alcohol intake, a positive attitude, and responsible behavior could help provide confidence and a happy performance in the bedroom.

Sex is vital and has dozens of benefits to our health. Making our partners happy is the key to a blessed and comfortable home.

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

DESIGNER IN FOCUS:

Toshimi Pacumbala to showcase his opulent and whimsical creations at Asia Pacific Fashion Week 2022

TOSHIMI Pacumbala has always had a passion for fashion.

She had initially worked as a makeup artist and salon owner, but she had always had a special passion for and joy in creating gowns. She struggled to turn her daydreams become reality, one delicate sketch at a time, using just her minimal grasp of fashion and drawing.

When she was given the chance to create a gown for a student a few years back, she made her first venture into the world of fashion design. Over the years, both domestically and internationally, her designs have steadily but thoroughly taken over runways and pageants.

Today, she is a full-fledged member of the Philippines’ biggest and most dominant guild for fashion designers, the Designers Circle Philippines.

A self-taught designer Toshimi is a self-taught designer. But she hopes to someday pursue formal studies in fashion design. Since she primarily creates couture gowns, her favorite aspect of being a designer is that she really enjoys creating the beadwork, as well as sketching and, essentially, hand-sewing everything.

When wearing her creations, Toshimi wants her customers to feel proud and confident. Additionally, she wants people to feel unique among the crowd.

Toshimi’s love for all things opulent Although Toshimi’s clothing displays her love of all things opulent and whimsical, what truly distinguishes her is the complexity he adds to her conception of grandeur and femininity.

Based in both Cebu and Manila, Toshimi’s realization that fashion typically has an interna*** tional market while salons remain The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints local is what inspired her to take expressed by the author do not necessarily fashion seriously enough to crereflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life.

Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States.

Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday. com, and philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com.

Toshimi wants her customers to feel proud and confident when wearing her creations.

Photo by Dia Mathess-Srinorakoot

Toshimi Pacumbala has always had a passion for fashion.

ate a career out of it. So it came to be that her salon clients would notice the clothing she had designed and inquire about it. She came to the conclusion that if her customers were interested in her designs, then others might be as well, and as a result, she made the decision to take fashion seriously.

How did her international clientele learn about her designs?

Toshimi used to compete in pageant competitions. She would also be the contestant’s outfit and gown designer in addition to doing their makeup. She began sharing her designs on Facebook before Miss Europe Philippines invited her to serve as its official designer. She flew to Europe in 2019 and created both the formal wear and the traditional garb of

Toshimi’s clothing displays her love of all things opulent and whimsical.

Photo by Allen Berame

Photo by Mark Nieto Diaz

the candidates.

Toshimi unveils his latest collections at APFW Toshimi decided to participate in Asia Pacific Fashion Week – an annual international exhibition of fashion collections from fast-rising designers in the Asia Pacific region – because she wanted to show off her talent and since it is a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity.

Additionally, she believes it’s a fantastic chance to network with other designers and potential customers while also expanding the market for her creations internationally.

Asia Pacific Fashion Week will be held in the following dates and cities: LOS ANGELES 06 AUGUST 2022 | SATURDAY, 5:00 PM HOLLYWOOD ROOSEVELT (Blossom Ballroom) 7000 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles California 90028 LAS VEGAS 13 AUGUST 2022 | SATURDAY, 4:00 PM DECADES EVENT CENTER Vegas Pointe Plaza, Unit 168, 9175 S Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, Nevada 89123 NEW JERSEY 20 AUGUST 2022 | SATURDAY, 2:00 & 4:00 PM (during “Fiesta in America”) AMERICAN DREAM Activity Center 1 American Dream Way East Rutherford, New Jersey 07073 (Advertising Supplement)

Arci spreads wings as future pilot

by Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

Singer-actress Arci Muñoz

ACTRESS Arci Muñoz is pursuing her dream to become a pilot.

In her Instagram account, Arci posted a video of the first day of her training.

"Everyone has oceans to fly, if they have the heart to do it. Is it reckless? Maybe. But what do dreams know of boundaries?" Arci wrote, quoting American aviator Amelia Earhart.

Arci added that she feels enthusiastic in her pilot journey.

“Be a woman who rise above the ground breaking norms reach for yer dreams! And be whoever you wanna be cos sky is ze limit!!” she said.

“Feeling enthusiastic about my #pilot journey! Thank you for spreading my wings!” Based in both Cebu and Manila, Toshimi’s career shift began when she realized that fashion, not a local salon, typically has an international.

Photo from Instagram/@ramonathornes she added. g Photo by Lito Caleon/Eventologie

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 21-27, 2022

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JULY 21-27, 2022 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

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Bigyan ng boost of confidence ang iyong summer.

Kung ikaw ay 50 years old or older, lalo kang nanganganib sa pinakamasamang mga epekto ng COVID. Pero relax lang, maaari pa ring maging enjoyable ang iyong summer.

Ang mga booster ng COVID ay nag-aalok ng extra protection mula sa malalang sakit, pagpapa-ospital at pagkamatay mula sa COVID. Kaya’t magpa-booster at mag-enjoy with confidence ngayong summer.

Maghanap ng mga booster na malapit sa iyo sa vaccines.gov

Paid for by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.