080622 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

MANILA — Former President Rodrigo Duterte left office with a P12.79 trillion debt pile, putting his successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in a very delicate fiscal position that could handicap the nascent administration’s spending on its programs and planned reforms. What’s new Data from the Bureau of the Treasury released Friday, August 5 showed the state’s debt stock rose 2.4% month-on-month in June, the final month of the Duterte administration. Since the beginning of the year, debts have accumulated by 9.1% or P1.06 trillion.Recall that the late President Benigno Aquino III left office in June 2016 with a debt stock of P5.9 trillion, P1.4 trillion bigger than the P4.6 trillion pile that he inherited from his predecessor.  That said, the latest Treasury data means Duterte added P6.8 trillion to the government's debt load during his 6-year term. Why this matters It is normal for any emerging economies that are running on budget deficits to borrow money from creditors at home and abroad in order to supercharge

MANILA — United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in the Philippines on Friday night, August 5, his first official visit to the country since assuming office last year. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Chief of Protocol Fred Santos and Office of American Affairs Assistant Secretary JV Chan-Gonzaga welcomed Blinken at the VillamorBlinkenAirbase.isscheduled to meet with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo on Saturday, August 6. The officials are anticipated to discuss the further strengthening of the U.S.-Philippines relations. The DFA earlier said that among the issues that will be tackled by Blinken and Marcos Jr. are cooperation in the economic sphere, addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, and the climate crisis. Before going to the Philippines, Blinken first visited Cambodia. He is expected to proceed to South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda after Manila. n

MANILA – The U.S.-China tensions were not tackled at the Cabinet meeting led by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday, August 5, Malacañang said. Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said the government is being “careful” about matters concerning international relations. “Hindi po siya kasama sa agenda kanina (It was not included in this morning’s agenda),” Cruz-Angeles said in a press briefing when asked if the Cabinet discussed the tension between U.S. and China at the meeting Friday morning.

Bongbong Marcos pays last respects to FVR

“Ukol sa international relations, parati tayong nagi-ingat. Suffice it to say na mini-monitor ng matindi ang sitwasyon. Wala tayong reaksyon o statement ukol dun,” she added. (When it comes to international relations, we are being careful. Suffice it to say. We are monitoring the situation. We do not have a reaction or statement regarding that.Asked) if Marcos has given orders concerning Filipinos in Taiwan should tensions escalate, Cruz-Angeles said: “Sa ngayon, mino-monitor natin ang sitwasyon. Magre-react na lang po tayo Jo Koy presented with Daly City ‘key to the city’

US Secretary

PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr

WAKE VISIT. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visits the wake of former President Fidel V. Ramos on Thursday, August 4 at the Heritage Park in Taguig City. Also in the photo is Ramos’ widow, former first lady Amelita “Ming” Martinez-Ramos.

Duterte leaves Marcos with P12.79-T debt pile  PAGE A2  PAGE A4  PAGE A2

US government declares ‘state of emergency’ amid monkeypox outbreak of State Blinken arrives in PH for o cial visit NESTOR CORRALES Inquirer.net

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AUGUST 6-9, 2022 Volume 32 - No. 62 • 2 Sections – 18 Pages DATELINE USA FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA  PAGE A3 by KLARIZE MEDENILLA AJPressbyRAMON ROYANDOYAN Philstar.com by DANIZA FERNANDEZ Inquirer.net by NEIL ARWIN MERCADO Inquirer.net STATE VISIT. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in the Philippines on Friday, August 5, for an official visit. Photo courtesy of DFA

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday, August 4 visited the wake of his distant uncle, former President Fidel V. Ramos, at the Heritage Park in Taguig.Speaking to reporters after he paid his last respects to the former president, Marcos Jr. said he told former first lady Amelita Ramos that her husband was “a symbol of stability after all the tumultuous events of 1986.”

 PAGE A2 Palace: US-China tensions not tackled at Cabinet meeting; situation being monitored by

Now is not the time to drop our guard on COVID, experts say

Ramos is considered a hero of the 1986 People Power Revolution that toppled the twodecade rule of the President’s father, deposed strongman Ferdinand E. Marcos. The President arrived past 10:30 a.m. and was accompanied by Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez and Special Assistant to the President, Secretary Antonio Lagdameo Jr. Ahead of his visit, Marcos Jr. sent a funeral wreath on Wednesday night, AugustRamos3. died at the MakatiFormer President Rodrigo Duterte and his successor Ferdinand MarcosPhilstar.comJr. file photos

COMEDIAN Jo Koy was presented with a Key to the City of Daly City in the city council chambers in simple ceremonies on Friday morning, July Accompanied22. by an entourage that included his sister Gemma, son Joseph Herbert Jr., Easter Sunday scripwriter Ken Cheng and friends and supporters, Jo Koy, who is Joseph Glenn Herbert Sr. in real life, received the commemorative plaque from Daly City councilmembers Juslyn Manalo and Pamela DiGiovanni. Daly City Mayor Rod Daus-Magbual, Vice Mayor Raymond Buenaventura and Councilmember Glenn Sylvester could not make the ceremony due to previous commitments. Koy also received a special citation from the County of San Mateo, represented by San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa, declaring July 22 as Jo Koy Day in the county. “It is with great honor to present this key to the city on behalf of the Mayor, the city council to you, Jo Koy. And with the significance of the key, it is from your sheer talent to make people laugh and as Joey Guila HEALTH experts say that even as more people are vaccinated and boosted, the corona virus is here to stay. And they warn that future variants will likely keep medical practitioners and researchers on their toes as they work to keep both infections and the severity of infections down.  Their message to the public is, don’t let your guard“COVIDdown. is going to be with us for the foreseeable future,” said Dr. William Schaffner, professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. “We’re struggling to figure out how we can keep this virus down and minimize its damage, and still at the same time enjoy a reasonably normal life.” Schaffner was among a panel of speakers for a July 29 media briefing organized by Ethnic Media Services on the latest Covid variant, and the mounting questions around the pandemic and vaccine efficacy.  COVID 19 cases, deaths, and hospitalizations are once again on the rise in the US. More AFTER Los Angeles County and the state of California announced their own declarations of emergency over the monkeypox outbreak, the Biden administration on Thursday, Aug. 4 declared the outbreak a national public health emergency. The declaration allows the United States Health and Human Services (HHS) to set aside emergency funds and federal resources (like specific personnel) to address the outbreak. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a media briefing that the Biden administration is “prepared to take our response to the next level in addressing this virus, and we urge every American to take the process seriously and to take responsibility to help us tackle this.”

Aside from being a career military official and former commander in chief, Ramos also served as a young officer in the Philippine Expeditionary Force sent to Korea in the 1950s. The President declared a 10-day period of national mourning from July 31 to August 9 following the death of Ramos and ordered, in Proclamation No. 33, that the national flag to be flown at halfstaff in all government offices during the period of mourning. “It is fitting to devote a period of national mourning to pay tribute to an esteemed leader who has dedicated his life to public service and has left a lasting mark on our country,” Marcos Jr. said. 

AUGUST 6-9, 2022 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797A2 FROM THE FRONT PAGE PAGE A1 PAGE A1 PAGE A1 PAGE A1

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory. Pelosi, second in line to the presidency, is the highest-profile elected U.S. official to visit Taiwan in 25 years.Following Pelosi’s arrival in Taiwan, China’s foreign ministry said Pelosi’s visit severely impacted the political foundations of China-U.S. relations.Marcos is set to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday, but Cruz-Angeles said there is no information yet regarding the agenda of the meeting. 

US government declares ‘state...

“Before that, the President will not yet issue a statement. Tingnan natin kung ano ‘yung pangyayari. Nagi-ingat po

condolences to Ramos’ wife, popularly called Ming, who will turn 95 years old in December, and spoke about how Ramos brought “calm” and “stablility” after the 1986 People Power Revolution.“Thankyou very much for coming,” Ming Ramos said. “I realized we have so many friends. He (Ramos) worked hard. We also tried to work hard, and now he deserves the rest that he Ramosneeds.”isscheduled to be inurned on August 9, 10 a.m., at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, where all former presidents of the Philippines are entitled to be buried. Period of national mourning

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Palace: US-China tensions not tackled at... Bongbong Marcos pays last respects...

PNA photos by Oliver Marquez

Medical Center on July 31 at the age of “We94.clearly have suffered a loss for our country. But the memories of him will be good because of all the good work he did for the Philippines,” Marcos Jr. said, referring to the former president, also popularly known by his initials, FVR. Family event Marcos Jr. also described the wake as a “family event,” since Ramos was a cousin thrice removed.Ramos’ grandmother, Crispina Marcos-Valdez, was a sibling of the President’s greatgrandfather, Fabian Marcos. Marcos Jr. said he offered matapos ang masusing pagaaral at tsaka subject to the information that we get from that monitoring.” (Right now, we are monitoring the situation. So we will only react after we study the situation, which is subject to the information we get from that monitoring.)

Monkeypox manifests itself, most noticeably, as a rash that may appear anywhere on the body but most commonly on the face, hands, feet, chest, genitals, mouth, and anus. Other common symptoms include fever, chills, body and head aches, fatigue, congestion, sore throat and swollen lymph nodes. California, which has been among the quickest and strictest Duterte leaves Marcos with P12.79-T... growth and bridge any fiscal gaps. But when the COVID-19 crisis hit home in 2020, the Duterte administration was forced to jack up borrowings to cover growing pandemic expenses, all while state revenues took a hit from hard lockdowns that shuttered businesses and roiled the job market.Bythe end of 2021, state liabilities already accounted for 60.5% of the country’s gross domestic product, the highest ratio since 2005 and breaching the 60% threshold deemed manageable for emerging market economies. Thismeans Marcos would need to find ways to improve revenues to cut debt and bankroll the programs that he promised to Filipinos when he ran for presidency. In his first State states in regards to coronavirus safety protocol and vaccine rollout, said that its utilizing the emergency to amp up treatment and outreach efforts. According to the state’s public health department, California has reported 1,135 cases of monkeypox. According to Sacramento, California has so far received 61,000 monkeypox vaccine doses from the federal government, but it needs at least 600,000 additional doses. "California is working urgently across all levels of government to slow the spread of monkeypox, leveraging our robust testing, contact tracing and community partnerships strengthened during the pandemic to ensure that those most at risk are our focus for vaccines, treatment and outreach," California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement.Newsom added, “Monkeypox can affect anyone; it spreads primarily by skin-to-skin contact, as well as from sharing items like clothing, bedding and towels. We remain steadfast in our support for the LGBTQ community and their families, who have been disproportionately impacted by this outbreak, and continue to reinforce that no single individual or community is to blame for the spread of any virus.”

DISINFECTION. A village personnel sprays the books and textbooks inside one of the classrooms at Delfin Geraldez Elementary School on Salvia Street, Barangay Kaligayahan, Novaliches-Fairview in Quezon City on Friday, August 5. The activity was part of the annual “Brigada Eskwela” to prepare the school ahead of the opening of classes on August 22.

LA County — which declared its own local emergency regarding the monkeypox outbreak on Tuesday, Aug. 2 — has so far accounted for more than half of California’s monkeypox cases. Like state and federal protocol, the local proclamation allows local health officials to more quickly distribute vaccines and organize outreach efforts. LA County Public Health this week launched a West Hollywood pop-up vaccination location and also expanded the pool of those who are eligible for the vaccine.

Currently in LA County, the monkeypox vaccine is available to gay and bisexual men and transgender who are at least 18 years old who had multiple sex partners in the last 14 days. Additionally, those who are immunocompromised (regardless of sex, gender or sexual activity), including those with advanced or uncontrolled HIV, will also receive vaccine prioritization.Previously, vaccine eligibility only included gay, bisexual or transgender men who: were diagnosed with gonorrhea or early syphilis over the last year, are on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), or had sex with multiple partners within the past 21 days in a commercial setting.  of the Nation Address, Marcos expressed his administration’s preference for better tax management and “spending efficiency” rather than imposing several new taxes to fix the government’s pandemic-battered balance sheet, a plan that could translate to a slow recovery in revenues and sluggish easing of public debt. What an analyst says Given the tight fiscal space, Domini Velasquez, chief economist at China Banking Corp., said the Marcos Jr. administration would likely rely heavily on private sector participation to finance its projects and programs.  “We do not expect the administration to resort to spending so much as to increased debt-to-GDP even further as economic managers are seeking to bring down the country’s debt to 61.8% of GDP this year and down to 52.5% by 2028,” Velasquez said in an interview.“Itwill also likely shy away from incurring additional foreign debt, especially in the near-term, given the depreciation of the peso and the high volatility in foreign exchange markets,” she added. Other figures

• Of the outstanding debt as of end-June, 31.5% came from external creditors while 68.5% were domestic borrowings. Domestic borrowings reached P8.77 trillion in June, inching up 1.2% from end-May levels. • External borrowings grew 5.1% to P4.02 trillion, largely due to the effect of a depreciating peso that bloated the value of foreign debts by P186.94 billion.

The monkeypox outbreak roughly began earlier in the summer in West Africa, but unlike the coronavirus, monkeypox is not as contagious and vaccines for the disease have been around for years. According to Healthline, the monkeypox virus was first discovered in primates in 1958 and in humans in the early 1970s. Despite false online discourse, monkeypox is not strictly a sexually transmitted disease or infection, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states.Although most current cases happen to be among men who have sex with other men, monkeypox can spread to anyone through direct skin-toskin contact, prolonged intimate contact, and, less commonly, touching fabrics and other porous surfaces that have been touched by monkeypox patients.

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tayo dito sa ganitong mga klaseng sitwasyon,” CruzAngeles said. (Before that, the President will not yet issue a statement. So let’s see what will happen. We are all just being careful with these kinds of situations.)

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 6-9, 2022 A3DATELINE USA In California, abortion could become a constitutional right LOS ANGELES AUTHORITYTRANSPORTATIONMETROPOLITANCOUNTY(LACMTA)REQUESTFORPROPOSAL LACMTA will receive proposals for OP91712Glass Replacement and Installation Services at the 9th Floor Receptionist Desk, Vendor/Contract Management Department, One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012. This project is a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) SetAside contract. To participate in this RFP, proposers must be SBE certified with LACMTA prior to proposal due date. For information on the Set-Aside Program, visit: net.Margonifurtherbusiness.metro.netVendorSolicitationBidproposerbetheProposalstheaddressSeptemberp.m.receivedhome1/certifications.metro.net/VendorPortal/faces/https://business.Allproposalsmustbeonorbefore2:00PacificTimeonThursday,1,2022atthelistedabove,senttoattentionofMarcMargoni.receivedlaterthanabovedateandtimewillrejectedandreturnedtotheunopened.ForacopyoftheProposal/specificationvisitourPageonourPortalathttps://orforinformationemailMarcatmargonim@metro.8/6/22CNS-3611964#ASIANJOURNAL(L.A.)

California isn’t the only state where voters are considering reproductive rights in their constitutions.OnTuesday, Kansas voters decisively rejected a constitutional amendment that would have allowed state lawmakers to ban or dramatically restrict abortion. It failed by nearly 18 percentage points. Kentucky voters will face a similar decision in November with a proposed constitutional amendment that would declare that the state’s constitutional right to privacy does not cover abortion.Vermont is going in the opposite direction. Voters there will weigh a ballot measure in November that would add a right to “personal reproductive autonomy” to the state constitution, though it does not explicitly mention abortion or contraception. In Michigan, a proposed constitutional amendment that would guarantee a right to both abortion and contraception is expected to qualify for the November ballot. In California, Proposition 1 would prevent the state from denying or interfering with “an individual’s reproductive freedom in their most intimate decisions, which includes their fundamental right to choose to have an abortion and their fundamental right to choose or refuse contraceptives.” The proposed constitutional amendment doesn’t go into detail about what enshrining the right to contraception in the state constitution would mean. California already has some of the strongest contraceptiveaccess laws in the country — and lawmakers are considering more proposals this year. For instance, state-regulated health plans must cover all FDA-approved contraception; pharmacists must dispense emergency contraception to anyone with a prescription, regardless of age; and pharmacists can prescribe birth control pills on the spot. State courts have also interpreted by RACHEL BLUTH Kaiser Health News California’s constitution to include a right to privacy that covers reproductive health decisions.Theamendment, if adopted, could provide a new legal pathway for people to sue when they’re denied contraceptives, said Michele Goodwin, chancellor’s professor of law at the University of IfCalifornia-Irvine.apharmacistrefused to fill a birth control prescription or a cashier declined to ring up condoms, she said, customers could make a case that their rights had been violated. Making the rights to abortion and contraception explicit in the state constitution — instead of relying on a right to privacy — would also protect against shifting political winds, said state Senate leader Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), who was the director of a women’s health clinic in the 1980s. Although California’s lawmakers and executive officers are solid supporters of abortion rights, she said, the composition of the legislature and courts’ interpretation of laws could change.“Iwant to know for sure that that right is protected,” Atkins said at a legislative hearing in June. “We are protecting ourselves from future courts and future politicians.” The amendment would solidify California’s role as a reproductive rights sanctuary as much of the country chips away at birth control availability, Goodwin added.Experts said two forms of birth control that are vulnerable to restrictions in other states are intrauterine devices, or IUDs, and emergency contraception like Plan B. These methods are often incorrectly conflated with abortion pills, which end a pregnancy instead of preventing it. Nine states have laws that restrict emergency contraception — for example, by allowing pharmacies to refuse to dispense it or excluding it from state family planning programs — according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights. In Alabama and Louisiana this year, abortion opponents introduced legislation that would restrict or ban abortion, and would also apply to emergency contraception.“We’reseeing an erosion of abortion access that is playing out in statehouses across the country that have and will continue to target contraceptive care as well,” said Audrey Sandusky, senior director of policy and communications for the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association.

SACRAMENTO — Californians will decide in November whether to lock the right to abortion into the state constitution. If they vote “yes” on Proposition 1, they will also lock in a right that has gotten less attention: the right to birth control.Should the measure succeed, California would become one of the first states — if not the first — to create explicit constitutional rights to both abortion and contraception.Thelawmakers and activists behind the constitutional amendment said they hope to score a one-two punch: protect abortion in California after the U.S. Supreme Court ended the federal constitutional right to abortion under Roe v. Wade, and get ahead of what they see as the next front in the reproductive rights fight: birth control. “The United States Supreme Court said that the privacy and liberty protections in the United States Constitution did not extend to abortion,” said UCLA law professor Cary Franklin, an expert in constitutional law and reproductive rights who has testified before the California legislature in support of the amendment. “If they said ‘no’ on abortion, they’re probably going to say ‘no’ on birth control because that has a similar history.”InJune, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ended the federal right to abortion and left states to regulate the service. In his concurring opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas said the court should revisit other cases that have created protections for Americans based on an implicit right to privacy in the U.S. Constitution, such as the 1965 case Griswold v. Connecticut, which established a federal right to contraception for married people — which was later extended to unmarried people. Some congressional Democrats are now trying to codify the right to contraception in federal law. In July, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Right to Contraception Act, which would give patients the right to access and use contraception and providers the right to furnish it. But the bill has little chance of success in the U.S. Senate, where Republicans have already blocked it once. Protecting access to contraception is popular with voters. A national poll from Morning Consult and Politico conducted in late July found that 75% of registered voters support a federal law that protects a right to birth control access.

Susan Arnall, vice president of California’s Right to Life League, said the proposed amendment is symbolic and merely echoes current laws. Arnall thinks the campaign is mostly about Democratic politicians trying to score political points. “It just allows the pro-abort legislators to trumpet and give them talking points about how they’re doing something about the overturn of Roe v. Wade,” she said. “It is political virtue signaling. I don’t think it does much of anything else.” Goodwin argues that the measure’s symbolism is significant and overdue. She pointed to the Civil War era, when enslaved people in Southern states could look to free states for spiritual hope and material help. “Symbolically, what that meant is a kind of beacon of hope, that those places did exist, where one’s humanity could be regarded,” Goodwin said. But California’s reputation as a haven for contraceptive availability may not be fully warranted, said Dima Qato, an associate professor at the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy. In her 2020 study of contraceptive access in Los Angeles County, which has some of the highest rates of teen and unintended pregnancy in the country, Qato found that only 10% of pharmacies surveyed offered pharmacist-prescribed birth control. Pharmacies in low-income and minority communities were the least likely to offer the service, Qato said, worsening disparities instead of solving them. Qato supports the constitutional amendment but said California should focus on improving and enforcing the

Comedian Jo Koy (in orange cap, holding plaque) poses for a photo with County and city officials after he was given a Key to the City for Daly City on Friday, July 22. Daly City, which is called the "Gateway to the Peninsula," features prominently in Koy's new movie "Easter Sunday." AJPress photo by Joseph Peralta PAGE A1 Jo Koy presented with Daly City ‘key to... said, heal people… laughter is healing… and the key represents opening doors, literally bringing others along with you in a bayanihan spirit and the value of kapwa,” Councilmember Manalo said, after which she read the words inscribed on the plaque. And in true Jo Koy fashion, the comedian had people laughing in stiches during his acceptance speech.“Thank you so much. Man, I’m overwhelmed right now. I am at a loss for words,” Koy said. “I am going to put this on my keychain (elicits laughter)… have this key with my other keys… Oops, this is the key to the city. Sorry, I’m trying to get into my house here.”“And of course this, I’m also going to make a walletsize (gesturing to the County citation),” he continued, while chuckling, “so I can always show people that I have my own day here. So I will be frequently here July 22nd… ‘Jo’s here again’… everyone, go home, this is my day. And then close the gate to Daly City. ‘No one’s allowed in here! It’s my day, have a nice day, bye!’” In referring to the movie “Easter Sunday” which features Daly City, Koy said, “Like I said, it’s a movie about family. It’s the family we know, not just in Daly City but in this world… through laughter we can identify and relate to each other. And that was the biggest thing I wanted  PAGE A4 A4

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Now is not the time to drop our guard on... than two-thirds of Americans have tested positive for COVID, including President Joe Biden, who again tested positive for the second time in a case of Covid rebound. The BA5 subvariant of Omicron is now responsible for more than 78% of infections in the country, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  But public health experts say the figures could represent a severe undercount, with many people failing to report positive results from at-home tests.  Shaffner stressed that updated vaccines will continue to be an essential part of the broader strategy. “We need more durable, long-term protection against a broader array of different variants, the ones we know and the ones we don’t know yet,” he said. “We would like vaccines that abort and prevent the actual infection at the surface of the mucous membranes, not just vaccines that protect against seriousNasaldisease.”vaccines, which can be administered via a spray or dropper, are gaining more attention among clinical researchers and could offer another route to increasing vaccination rates. The NovaVax vaccine, recently authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was licensed for an initial two-dose series, but not yet for a booster. But Dr. Ben Neuman, professor of biology and chief virologist of the Global Health Research Complex at Texas A&M University, has his doubts. “NovaVax vaccine is fine, but it’s about two years too late,” he said, adding the drug does not replicate the virus as effectively as other vaccines. “NovaVax has this very delicate spike protein that is transported and protected very carefully; a little bit survives to go into your body… With the mRNA vaccine, you get perfect pristine spikes exactly the way nature intended.”

Jo Koy presented with Daly City ‘key to... to get across in this film. I wanted to tell the story about my family, but most importantly I just didn’t want to let people know that only Filipinos can get this.” “When you leave, you’re gonna be like, ‘Oh, that mom is just like my mom’ and ‘that kid is just like my kid’. And funny is just funny. At the end of the movie we can just all look at each other and go, ‘Ohhh, my mom did the same thing to me’… and that’s what it’s all about. We all want to be heard,” he added. Koy went on to relate how the circumstances were different when his mom came to the United States – there was no Google, no Instagram. Koy said she had to find her own community, which he talked about during his set in Seattle where his mom would scan the sea of people after church and try to find people who looked like her, asking them if they were Filipinos, and apologizing if they were of a different ethnicity. “And as funny as that is, but that was her reality,” Koy related. “So we got to teach this generation the struggle that our ancestors went through for us so that we can live this one. And it’s crazy that in 2022, we’re still trying to make sure that she’s heard or he’s heard,” he reflected.Hewent on to cite Steven Spielberg and the studios for opening the doors for performers like him, and the hope that those doors are kept open so that other people can also walk in those doors. “Let’s try not to bring it back, let’s try not to close it on us ourselves. Let’s keep the door open, right?” he appealed. “And I just want to end it with this: if that door does close, I have the key to open it,” he said, eliciting a ton of laughs. “Love laughter and life. I know how cheesy that sounds, but that’s Filipinos to me. That’s all we do – we love, we laugh and we live, that’s it. And you see it right here in Daly City. Look at us, we’re here and we’re all celebrating this moment together.” After the ceremony, Koy spent the time taking pictures with officials present at the morning rites and posing with fans and well-wishers.Koyisone of the few Filipino American comics with a wide following here and across the globe. The 51-year-old has a few Netflix specials to his credit, including one that is scheduled for release (Live at the Los Angeles Forum). Aside from appearances in “The Tonight Show” (both in Jay Leno and Jimmy Fallon’s iterations), “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” and “Last Call with Carson Daly,” Koy was a regular guest in Chelsea Handler’s late night gig, “Chelsea Lately.” Koy has a weekly podcast called “The Koy Pond,” aside from being heard on other podcasts. Just in July of this year, Koy appeared with film producer Dan Lin in the “Rise for Comedy” festival where they were able to raise a $75,000 donation for the nonprofit group Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA).JoKoy’s new movie, “Easter Sunday,” had its theatrical release on Friday, August 5. (Joseph L. Peralta/AJPress)

Neuman noted that to date there have been 15 mutations of the Omicron variant, including the newer BA.5 and BA2.75 subvariants, for which the current vaccines appear less effective. “We are still vaccinating against the 2019 virus and it is now late 2022,” he said. “We have a Nearlyproblem.”athird of Americans remain unvaccinated, while a majority of Covid-related deaths are occurring among people 65 and over, including those who have been Speakersvaccinated. stressedthat masks continue to play a critical role in slowing the spread of the virus, particularly for those who are at high risk because of age or underlyingCurrentlyconditions. nostate mandates mask wearing in public, though several states still require mask wearing in high risk settings, including hospitals and longterm care facilities.  In April, a federal judge struck down the Biden administration’s mask requirement for public transit, airlines and transportation hubs. The Justice Department is expected to appeal the ruling.  Meanwhile, one-third of Americans have managed to avoid being infected by the virus altogether. According to Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, associate dean for Regional Campuses at the University of California, San Francisco, four factors help explain this trend.  Some people may be genetically disposed to having higher resistance to the virus, said Chin-Hong, something doctors saw during the early years of the HIV/AIDS crisis. These individuals  could play a role in future research on therapeutics for Covid, ChinHongBehaviornoted.  could be another factor, “as some people in the same household may be taking more precautions” in terms of wearing a mask or having close contact with other people. The timing of vaccines also plays a role, as the risks of infection have fluctuated over time during the pandemic. Finally,says Chin-Hong, some people may have been infected and just did not realize it, either because they were asymptomatic or because they were never tested.  Chin-Hong believes that wastewater inspections can help to clarify the picture around actual infection rates. Unlike relying on tests and self-reporting, wastewater can help researchers understand the extent to which the virus is spreading within a community. “Forexample in California, the level of wastewater virus is very similar to (reported Covid levels) in January, when more people were getting tested,” explained Chin-Hong. Based on this data, current case rates would be far higher than the 130,000 daily infections now being reported. A summer surge of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), which can cause Covid-like symptoms, could also explain why a lot of people have received negative results on their home testing kits, said“TheShaffner.rapid tests are also less apt to give you a positive result in this BA5 era… that is why the CDC keeps focusing on hospitalizations, because they remind us that there is this important public health problem.”Therapeutics such as PAXLOVID have proven to be effective in preventing more severe diseases, mostly among older adults. And there is a monoclonal antibody that can be given to some people who are resistant to PAXLOVID. But experts insist that vaccines remain the most essential tool to fight the virus. “We now we have too many deaths, like 430 a day,” says ChinHong. “We have to manage (the virus) and we have the tools to do that right now,” he concluded. (Jenny Manrique/Ethnic Media Services)

In California, abortion could become a... laws it already has. “We don’t need more laws when we don’t address the root cause of a lack of effectiveness of these laws in these communities,” Qato said. “Lack of enforcement and accountability disproportionately impacts communities of color.” This story was produced by KHN, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. 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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PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr. by LEANDER C. DOMINGO ManilaTimes.net reports 104 more Omicron subvariant cases

MANILA — The death toll from the magnitude-7 earthquake that struck Abra and felt across parts of Luzon last week rose to 11 while the damage it brought to infrastructure and agriculture, combined, is now estimated at nearly P1.4 billion. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported Friday, August 5 in its latest situation report that another person died in the Cordillera Administrative Region as a result of the strong and shallow quake. This brought the death toll in the region to 10. One person died from the Ilocos Region.Estimated damage to agriculture also increased to P55.93 million from P54.03 million, while damage to infrastructure increased to P1.34

US joins humanitarian, disaster readiness exercises in Palawan Abra quake death toll rises to 11, damage now near P1.4B by GAEA KATREENA CABICO Philstar.com

DOH

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DOJ eyes Mega Drug Rehab as another BuCor detention facility

The earthquake "caused damages to many households and establishments" in Philstar.comAbra. photo MANILA — The Philippines has detected 104 additional cases of fast-spreading Omicron BA.5, BA.4, and BA.2.12.1 subvariants, the Department of Health reported on Friday, August 5. DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said authorities have found 95 new BA.5 cases from Metro Manila, Davao region, Socccsksargen, Northern Mindanao, and Caraga. Of those, 83 individuals have been tagged as recovered, while five are still undergoing isolation. There are currently 3,107 detected BA.5 cases in the country.Seven more people from Socccsksargen and Davao region tested positive for the Omicron BA.4 subvariant, raising the total to The104. exposure, travel histories and health status of the additional cases are still being verified. Health authorities also detected two additional BA.2.12.1 cases. The DOH said it is still checking the exposure, travel histories and health status of the cases, who are both from Davao Region. The detection raised the country’s total BA.2.12.1 cases to Earlier174. this week, the Philippines detected its first two cases of the Omicron BA.2.75 subvariant in Western Visayas. Despite the renewed rise in cases, the entire Philippines remained at low risk for COVID-19 spread. Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the Cordillera Administrative Region were deemed at moderate risk. The Department of Health reported Thursday 4,439 additional COVID-19 infections— the highest single-day tally in almost six months. More than 71.8 million Filipinos have completed vaccination against COVID-19. However, only 16.4 million have received boosters. 

MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) is planning to convert the Mega Drug Abuse Treatment Rehabilitation Center (MDATRC) in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija into another detention facility under the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor). “We want to address the congestion problem in NBP (New Bilibid Prison) in order to provide humane living conditions to the prisoners,” DOJ Spokesperson Atty. Jose Dominic Clavano told reporters on Friday, August 5.

THE United States joined Australia, South Korea, the United Kingdom and other partners to officially launch the Pacific Partnership 2022 (PP22) on Wednesday, August 3, in Puerto Princesa,AccordingPalawan.tothe U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, PP22 is the largest annual multilateral humanitarian assistance and disaster preparedness exercise conducted in the Indo-Pacific. On July 27, 2022, PP22 activities began with the arrival of the USNS Mercy (T-AH 19), a 1,000-bed hospital ship commissioned in 1986 to provide medical services to support US disaster relief and humanitarian operationsWelcomingworldwide.thePP22, Puerto Princesa City Mayor Lucilo Bayron said this is "an amazing program that not only brings assistance and services, but more importantly, strengthens the bond between partner nations." In 1987, the USNS Mercy first docked in Palawan to conduct a training and humanitarian cruise to the Philippines and to the South Pacific, treating over 63,000 patients alongside medical personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines. PP22 Mission Commander Capt. Hank Kim said the impact of disaster emergencies transcends borders and requires comprehensive coordination among nations for an effective response."Iam confident that the planning and hard work that we have invested with our partners will have a long-lasting impact here in the Philippines," Kim said.U.S. Navy Capt. Jeffrey Feinberg said growing their collective capability for disaster response is an important aspect of this mission, which elevates their ability to respond to any hazard that may come their way. The embassy said this year's Pacific Partnership military exercise is taking place in Palawan and includes military and civilian personnel from the Philippines and from six PP22 partner countries. It added that they are leading several activities together to promote interoperability among forces and strengthen the Philippines' capacity for disaster preparedness and response. The embassy said it will also work with local medical professionals to provide treatment for 7,000 patients and conduct more than 200 surgeries. After the Philippines, the PP22 team will conduct missions throughout Oceania and the Western Pacific, it added.  billion from P1.27 billion. Most of the agricultural damage came in the form of damaged infrastructure, machinery and equipment, all of which affected 80 farmers or fisherfolk from the CAR. Meanwhile, bulk of the infrastructure damage or around P724.02 million was recorded in the Ilocos region, which is home to many heritage sites. Damage sustained from this earthquake still pales in comparison with the much more violent magnitude-7.8 tremor that struck Luzon in 1990, which left $369 million (around P8.75 billion at the time) in damage in itsAccordingwake. to the NDRRMC, 448,990 people were affected by the quake, with 2,395 still in evacuation centers and 48,843 taking shelter elsewhere. Assistance amounting to over P100 million has been given by the government to those affected. (Xave Gregorio/Philstar.com)

The NBP is the largest prison facility managed by the BuCor, housing 28,900 inmates, including more than 17,000 in its maximum security compound. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla earlier said the congestion rate at NBP is at 330 percent.“Maganda sa Fort Magsaysay dahil may existing na drug rehabilitation doon (Fort Magsaysay is a good place because there is an existing drug rehabilitation [center] in that area),” Clavano said. Clavano said they are looking at the possibility of transferring the persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) currently detained at the medium and minimum security compounds of NBP to MDATRC. However, Clavano said they still have to coordinate with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of National Defense (DND) because the two agencies currently have a stake at the rehabilitation facility. (Tetch Torres-Tupas/Inquirer.net)

MOBILE ATMS. A Catholic priest douses the 10 new mobile ATM vehicles with Holy water during the 59th anniversary of the Landbank of the Philippines at the Plaza Rajah Sulayman in Malate, Manila on Friday, August 5. The mobile ATMs will be deployed in selected areas to serve communities with disrupted or limited access to banking services.

Just Thinking

Like the Philippines, the Maduro administration disagreed with the OTP’s findings. Unlike the Philippines, rather than crying foul, the Maduro administration agreed to cooperate with the OTP through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to promote cooperation and complementarity.IfMr.Marcos truly believes that the Philippines is “able and willing,” then he would be much better off laying his cards on the table than keeping them close to his chest. By entering into a similar MOU, Mr. Marcos may very well take control of the situation and face the OTP investigation, one way or another, on his terms. (Inquirer. net)

DING CARREON Videographer MOMAR G. VISAYA Executive Editor

* * * 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.

VOCALLY, MOST POLITICIANS ARE AGAINST DYNASTIES. After all, who would not be against a constitutional policy? But, as in all matters—whether on the Constitution or on whatever else—the devil is in the details, forWhoexample:arethe relatives to be banned? Only direct ascendantdescendants (parents, children, and grandchildren)? Or also brothers, sisters, cousins, nephews, and nieces? Only relatives by blood or also by affinity like spouses and inlaws? Only legitimate relations or also illegitimate ones like mistresses and sameortown,NationalElectiveandfull-bloodchildren/grandchildren?out-of-wedlockOnlyoralsohalf-bloodadoptedrelations?Whatofficesareincluded?and/orappointive?orprovincial,city,andbarangaypositions,allofthem?OnlywithintheofficelikeintheSenate, the House, the Cabinet, or all offices?What geographical limits should be included? Only within the same province, city, town, or barangay? What time limitations, if any? Can relatives succeed retiring or term-limited officials? Should the ban be for relations running in the same election, or should it include future elections? Genes and environment play a great part in politics, as it does in the professions and in business. The early exposure of children, grandchildren, and relatives to the political careers of their families somehow educates and influences them for good or for bad. And they inherit names familiar to the electorate.Political dynasties are not unique to our country. The United States has its own share of political clans, like the Clintons (Bill was president, wife Hilary was a U.S. senator and a secretary of state), the Kennedys (Jack was president, brother Bobby was attorney general, and another brother, Edward, a multiterm US senator) and the Bushes (father George Sr. and son George Jr. were presidents while another son Jeb was a Florida governor). Note, however, that the U.S. Constitution does not banThedynasties.above examples show that dynasty is not necessarily evil, depending on how it is defined, regulated, and used. Indeed, many institutions and inventions, like electricity, mining, guns, and political dynasties are not evil per se. They are in themselves neutral. To define and regulate dynasties so they can be used only for good, and not for evil, is the challenge to Congress. (Inquirer.net) * * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. * * * Comments to chiefjusticepanganiban@ hotmail.com

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‘Friend

To the first: Though the Philippines remains a nonmember to the Rome Statute, that is not to say it is no longer obligated to cooperate with the ICC. Indeed, when Duterte unilaterally withdrew from the Rome Statute, he invoked Article 127 thereof, which states that a “withdrawal shall not affect any cooperation with the Court in connection with criminal investigations and proceedings[.]”Soletusbe clear: Failing to rejoin the Rome Statute does not mean Mr. Marcos is now off the hook. The duty to cooperate continues. And as will be shown, indeed he should. To the second: Duterte’s counsels claim that the ICC cannot exercise jurisdiction because the Philippines has functioning courts that are “able and willing.” This is a gross misinterpretation of Article 17(1) of the Rome Statute, which provides for a two-step process. As already clarified by the ICC in Prosecutor v. Katanga, and as meticulously diagrammed by JM Batuhan and Anton Sison in their user-friendly ICC primer published with the Philippine Law Journal, what we find in Article 17 is an interplay of two types of rules: the general rule (i.e. that a case is inadmissible where it is being investigated or prosecuted domestically) and the exception to the rule (i.e. unless the state is unwilling or unable to do so genuinely). Notably, the words “able and willing” never come out in the Statute’s provisions. Yet now, Duterte’s counsels put the cart before the horse; invoking a phantom exception of “able and willing” to evade the ICC’s jurisdiction. And all the while, failing to show that Philippine authorities are, indeed, investigating or prosecuting the EJKs in the drug war in the first place.But perhaps what is even more perplexing about the Duterte camp’s flawed interpretation of Article 17 is how it fails the very test it invokes. Having functioning courts may indeed evidence an ability to prosecute, fine, but a willingness to do so is another thing entirely. As the saying goes: The proof is in the pudding.Thisbrings us back nicely to why Mr. Marcos should, indeed, cooperate with the ICC’s investigations.Mr.Marcos seems to be making the same mistake of his THOUGH laudably simple, traditional, and elegant, the State of the Nation Address of President Marcos Jr. evoked talks of dynastic politics yet again.THE BUZZ WAS, OF COURSE, CENTERED ON THE BenignoMikey,chieffatherMacapagalprecededSen.anotherandgen’sA.FerdinandbigdeputyspeakerG.FAMILY,MARCOS-ROMUALDEZgiventhatMartinRomualdezisaformidableandthenewseniormajorityleaderintheHouse,neophyteRep.Alexander“Sandro”MarcosIII,couldbethenextpresident-in-waiting,thatinthesmallHouseispowerfulclanmember,ImeeMarcos.Tobefair,thedynaststheMarcoses.GloriaArroyo,likeherDiosdado,becameexecutivewhileherson,wasarepresentative.AquinoIIIwastheson of another president, Corazon Aquino, who was the widow of Benigno Aquino Jr. who himself aspired to be president. Riding on the Aquino brand were three senators (Butz, Tessie, and Bam), several representatives, and local officials. Who knows, Vice President Sara Duterte may yet become president like her father AspiringRodrigo.closerelatives who however failed to land the plum post were former senator Gerry Roxas, son of president Manuel, and Serging Osmeña Jr., son of president Sergio Sr. Sen. Gene Magsaysay wanted to succeed his brother, the popular president Ramon. To my recollection, of the postWWII presidents, only Carlos P. Garcia and Fidel V. Ramos did not sire a presidentiable. And to my knowledge, former Senate president Jovito R. Salonga banned his relatives from becoming public servants.

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Dynasties, for good or for evil

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predecessor: He’s treating the ICC investigation as if it were a domestic case, hoping to draw it out and win via golpe de gulat But Duterte’s cold shoulder approach did him no favors, and Mr. Marcos should have already realized that there is a need for a change in Perhaps,strategy.hecould take a page from the Venezuelan playbook. In November 2021, the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) opened an investigation into the situation in Venezuela.

OTHER POLITICAL DYNASTIES MAY NOT HAVE CAPTURED THE PRESIDENCY YET, but they certainly have attained enough clout to capture it. I am thinking of the likes of the Cayetano siblings, Senators Alan and Pia (scions of the late senator Rene) not to mention Taguig Mayor Lani; of half-siblings Jinggoy and JV (sons of president Joseph Estrada); of Senator Nancy and Makati Mayor Abby, children of former vice president Jojo and former mayor Elenita Binay; and of the dynamic Gatchalian brothers, Senator Sherwin, Representative Rex, and Valenzuela Mayor Wes. Indeed, our political firmament is littered with many political stars, luminous and not-so-luminous. Many of them produced some of our brightest leaders, some the darkest. Are dynasties to be absolutely banned?Tobesure, Article II, Section 26 of our Constitution frowns on them in this wise, “The State shall … prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.” Though a state policy, the bare ban is neither absolute nor enforceable by judicial action because the provision requires a definition by law that Congress has failed to pass.

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OF course the Philippine National Police will continue going after drug offenders, as promised by the new PNP chief, Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. No country has fully eradicated the drug scourge, and the world has never run out of people seeking the illegal substances.

OFEATURES PINION Continuing the war

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. delivers his speech on his plans for the country during his first State of the Nation Address at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City. Halfway through his State of the Nation Address, he professed that “the Philippines shall continue to be a friend to all, an enemy to none.”

The only question is the way the campaign is carried out. The architect and first implementer of Rodrigo Duterte’s Oplan Tokhang and Double Barrel, now senator Ronald dela Rosa, has openly said his main regret in the bloody campaign is his failure to first carry out a thorough cleansing of the PNP, to prevent police abuses that have bred accusations of extrajudicialMind-alteringkillings.and habit-forming drugs have been around for centuries, with governments launching regular crackdowns against banned substances. But with continuing demand, there is constant supply, with colossal profits because of the risks involved in trafficking illegal items. Rodrigo Duterte, who promised during his campaign to eliminate the drug scourge within six months of his presidency, conceded six years later that he underestimated the extent of the problem. He urged his successor to continue his campaign, but Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been silent on the issue. Human rights advocates have called for a holistic approach to the problem, addressing not only the law enforcement aspect but also the demand, which is a social and health problem. The previous administration tried to adopt this approach, but in line with repeated pronouncements from the president, the focus remained on the law enforcement aspect, characterized by overwhelming police response to suspects who purportedly resisted arrest or nanlaban.” The brutal campaign drew complaints that prompted the International Criminal Court to launch a preliminary examination of the conduct of the war and the possible indictment of certain Philippine officials for crimes against humanity. Apart from showing the ICC and the world that the country is fully capable of conducting its own probe, the government must show that police abuses are rare exceptions rather than the rule in the continuing campaign against the illegal drug scourge. (Philstar.com) Editorial Philstar.com photo PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. had strong words for the country’s place in the international community. Halfway through his State of the Nation Address, he professed that “the Philippines shall continue to be a friend to all, an enemy to none.” Apparently, that claim comes with a giant asterisk that reads: “*Except to the International Criminal Court (ICC) system.” Last Monday, August 1, Mr. Marcos announced that the Philippines will not be rejoining the Rome Statute. Honestly, this was just about as surprising as the tune of Sinatra’s “My Way” in your local karaoke bar. We all knew it was coming. It was just a matter of time. And though I may disagree with the administration’s decision, we have to face the music: As a matter of sovereign discretion, no state is ever bound to ratify— let alone rejoin—an international treaty.But what does come as a surprise are the misconceptions that have been spewed along the way. On one hand, some have been quick to condemn Mr. Marcos’ decision as a foretelling of future obstructions, as if Philippine cooperation with the ICC is hinged on our returning to state party status. On the other hand, the Duterte camp rejects the chance of cooperation because Philippine authorities are allegedly “able and willing” to investigate or prosecute the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) themselves.Theseviews are dichotomies we ought to avoid drawing.

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MANILA — Following U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, the Philippines expressed concerns over rising tensions on Thursday and said it "adheres to the One-China policy."Like many countries in the world, the Philippines maintains a "One China" policy and officially only has diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. The Manila Economic and Cultural Office represents Taiwan in the Philippines."ThePhilippines urges restraint by all parties concerned. Diplomacy and dialogue must prevail," the Department of Foreign Affairs said. The statement comes just as reports of Chinese forces firing “multiple” ballistic missiles into waters around Taiwan during its military drills have surfaced. Pelosi's visit started tensions between Washington and Beijing, with China warning the U.S. of "consequences" should Pelosi step foot on Taipei. She landed in Taipei late Tuesday evening, August 2 on a U.S. Air Force passenger jet.  China said that Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan would “send a wrong signal” to the so-called separatist forces. It added that it would "seriously violate the One-China principle." Theself-governing island is under the constant threat of being invaded by Meanwhile,China.ina joint statement dated August 3, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations also expressed concern over the volatility that was sparked by tensions over the recent "cross strait development" and reiterated member states' support for their respective one-China policy. ASEAN leaders warned that it "could destabilize the region and eventually could lead to miscalculation, serious confrontation, open conflicts and unpredictable consequences among major powers." "We should act together and ASEAN stands ready to play a constructive role in facilitating peaceful dialogue between all parties including through utilizing ASEAN-led mechanisms to deescalate tension, to safeguard peace, security and development in our region," the joint statement read. (Philstar.com)

As tensions rise in Taiwan Strait, PH calls on parties to practice ‘restraint’ New PNP chief vows to sustain war on drugs

TOKEN OF APPRECIATION. Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) president George Barcelon (3rd from left) hands over the token of appreciation to House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez during the PCCI 3rd General Membership Meeting at the Makati Diamond Residences in Makati City on Thursday, August 4. Romualdez was the guest of honor and speaker at the event.

MANILA — Newly installed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin on Wednesday, August 3 vowed to sustain the war on illegal drugs, which has killed over 6,000 drug suspects in law enforcement operations.Azurin,who formally assumed command of the 227,000-strong police force, said the anti-drug campaign would continue to be relentless.“Iemphasize that our war on drugs shall be relentlessly continued regardless of who gets hurt and who gets caught,” he said in his speech during the assumption of office ceremony at Camp Crame in Quezon City. The war on drugs, started by former president Rodrigo Duterte, has resulted in the deaths of at least 6,252 drug suspects in alleged shootouts with lawmen since July 2016. Azurin ordered an audit of the drug situation in the country, focusing on areas where drug personalities were killed. Under his leadership, the PNP will also partner with other government agencies to ensure that the supply chain of illegal drugs will be reduced if not cut. He said they would also intensify their coordination with barangay officials to ensure that drug users are rehabilitated, which is an effective measure to reduce the demand for prohibited drugs. 

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon by EMMANUEL TUPAS Philstar.com

More than a hundred bills lapsed into law

MANILA — The Senate should look into the short, medium and long-term impact of the RussiaUkraine war on Philippine energy security and affordability of gasoline as pump prices soar, according to Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.InfilingSenate Resolution 78, he noted the need for Congress to look into the impact of the ongoing war to the Philippines. “There is a need for Congress to be apprised of the short, medium and long-term effects and implications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the Philippine economy; in particular, the country’s oil supply and the effects of the continuous elevated global oil and coal prices on domestic oil and petroleum products,” Gatchalian said. He added that the Filipino people are already burdened with the increases in prices of petroleum products and basic commodities.“Filipinos can no longer afford the continuous increases in the price of petroleum products, which has also caused an increase in the prices of basic commodities,” he pointed out.

Nonito Donaire, Jr. Inquirer.net file photo

"'Yung pag-veto ng Presidente ( The President vetoing some bills) is a matter of good housekeeping... It is not a spree. Tinotono lang naman ng ating Pangulo du'n sa mga sistema 'yung mga batas natin ( Our President just wants our laws to be attuned to the sýstem)," CruzAngeles said. 

Probe Russia-Ukraine war impact on power security – senator one more bantam title-unifying chaseJOE

by JAVIER

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Western Mindanao Command this week honored a U.S. military unit in the Philippines. Lt. Gen. Alfredo Rosario Jr., Westmincom chief, led the donning of the rank on newly-promoted U.S. Marine commander working with Filipino troops in the southern Philippines.Rosarioput the rank on U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Paul Bailey, commander of the U.S. Special Operations Task Force 511.2 (SOTF 511.2), in a private military ceremony at Camp Don Basilio Navarro in Zamboanga City.Westmincom released information about the ceremony Wednesday, August 3 night. The U.S. has made its presence felt in Zamboanga City recently, with U.S. Secretary to the Navy Carlos Del Toro visiting the Westmincom headquarters, followed by a U.S. House Armed Services Committee (HASC) soonDuringafter. the program on Tuesday, August 2, Rosario also presented awards to Lt. Col. Bailey and all the members of SOTF 511.2 for their deployment as Westmincom foreign liaison in the past eight months. Task force members were given Military Civic Action medals as they ended their tour of duty in the Philippines. (Philstar.com)

Gatchalian said the drastic increase in global oil and coal prices has reverberated across the domestic market with local pump prices experiencing consecutive weekly increases. He took note of the 22 percent increase in gasoline prices to P77.71 per liter in May from P63.58 per liter in January as well as that of diesel pump prices, which soared by 49 percent to P75.92 per liter in May from P50.95 per liter in January.During the same period, Gatchalian said many PUV drivers opted not to ply their usual routes while provincial buses and taxis were operating only at 20 to 30 percent capacity, which led to a severe lack of available public transportation. As chairman of the Senate committee on energy during the previous Congress, Gatchalian conducted a hearing to seek specific solutions and programs from the Department of Energy and relevant government agencies to mitigate the impact of the Russia-Ukraine crisis on the country’s oil supply and prices.

ISMAEL AND KRISTINA MARALI ManilaTimes.net

AUGUST 6-9, 2022 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797A8 DATELINE PHILIPPINES by LANCE AGCAOILI Inquirer.net by CECILLE SUERTE FELIPE Philstar.com

SENATE President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Tuesday, August 2 said that 110 local and national bills submitted to former president Rodrigo Duterte for signature during the 18th Congress have lapsed into law. "Much attention was given to five vetoed bills when there are at least 110 bills that will now have the full effect and force of the law," Zubiri said during plenary session.Among the bills that lapsed into law were Republic Act 11683 (requisites for the conversion of a municipality into a component city); RA 11697 or "Electric Vehicles and Charging Stations Act"; RA 11698 or "Vintage Vehicle Regulation Ac"t; RA 11700 (designating Catanduanes as abaca capital of the Philippines); RA 11707 or "Egg Basket Act"; RA 11840 or "Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation Charter"; RA 11861 or "Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act"; RA 11897 or "National Baptist Day Act"; RA 11898 or "Extended Producer Responsibility Act"; RA 11899 or "Second Congressional Commission on Education Act"; and RA 11901 or "Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development Financing Enhancement Act." Zubiri earlier called on President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to convene the sevenspeakerthepresidentarebranch's(Ledac)DevelopmentLegislative-ExecutiveAdvisoryCounciltodiscusstheexecutivelegislationconcerns.ThemembersoftheLedacthevicepresident;Senateandthreesenators;HouseofRepresentativesandthreecongressmen;Cabinetmemberswhom the President will choose; and representatives of local governments, the youth and the private sector. The President is the chairman of the council. The Ledac provides the deliberation process wherein lawmakers discuss what bills the executive branch wants the Congress to pass. Senate Majority Leader Emmanuel Joel Villanueva said awaiting review were 19 bills that President Marcos mentioned in his State of the Nation Address. "As Senate majority leader, [I] will pay close attention [to] and prioritize these proposed laws. It is clear that these proposals are rooted in the experience and lessons from the crises of the pandemic, in the economy, energy and education. These give the proposals a sense of urgency," Villanueva said. Also on Tuesday, Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs Chairman Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa told his fellow senators that his bill to strengthen the private security industry was among the more than 100 measures that lapsed into"Mr.law.President, you just said a while ago that basahin na lang ng ating majority leader (Villanueva) 'yung mga nag-lapse into law (the majority leader should just read the list of bills that lapsed into law), but I cannot help to inform you that another happy bill that lapsed into law was RA 11917 or the 'Private Security Services Industry Act,'" dela Rosa said. "Pinaghirapan namin ito ni (former) Senator Franklin Drilon (Former senator Franklin Drilon and I fought hard for this)," he added.RA11917 mandated the stricter regulation of security agencies. Dela Rosa said that the new law ensures that private security agencies shall be 100 percent-owned and controlled by Filipinos, provided that they shall not employ more than 2,000 private security professionals. Meanwhile, Malacañang on Wednesday, August 3 denied that Marcos was on a "veto spree," saying that out of the 41 bills that recently lapsed into law, only five were vetoed by the President. "Gusto ko lang linawin, hindi po nagkaroon ng veto spree ang ating Pangulo (I just want to clarify, the President did not go on a veto spree). Forty-one bills lapsed into law, and only five were vetoed. So, it's not a spree," said Press Secretary Rose Beatrix "Trixie" Cruz-Angeles in a news conference.ThePalace was reacting to a statement by Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero, saying that Marcos Jr. was on a "bill vetoing spree" after the Chief Executive thumbed down tax exemption of the honoraria for teachers rendering service during elections. The five measures vetoed by the President were the creation of the Bulacan Airport City Special Economic Zone; Office of the Government Corporate Counsel Charter; Davao Light and Power Company Inc. Franchise; Philippine Transportation Safety Board Act; and Exempting From Income Taxation the Honoraria, Allowances, and Other Financial Benefits of Persons Rendering Service During Elections.

Donaire eyes super y bouts before

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Westmincom honors US military liaison unit

NONITO Donaire Jr. is planning to drop down to super flyweight division, eyeing matches against Kazuto Ioka and Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez. After losing his bantamweight title to Naoya Inoue last June, the 39-year-old Filipino told Probellum.com that he is not done yet and intends to change his weight division before going back to 118 pounds in pursuit of becoming the undisputed champion.Theformer four-weight world champion said interest would be high for a bout against WBO champion Ioka or Chocolatito. “It’s a really good fight with Chocolatito and people are saying it would be ‘legend versus legend,’” Donaire told Probellum.“It’sabig fight. But I do like the Ioka fight as well because I want to get that title and become a five-division champion and then move back up to 118 and go for the undisputed crown once everything else is open and I get another opportunity forTheit.” Filipino Flash revealed he had considered dropping down to super flyweight before he faced Inoue last month and sees no problems shaving off the excess weight–normally a bane for older “Beforefighters.thefight with Inoue, Richard Schaefer and I talked about going down to 115. Making the weight was very simple for me and I made it quickly. I even made 117 before stepping on the scales,” Donaire said.“Richard and I were talking and saying that regardless of what happens here, maybe I can go down to 115 and fight the guys in that division.” Donaire, who holds a 42-7 record with 28 knockouts, said his camp is already in talks with both boxers’ representatives to set a match. “Richard is talking with Ioka’s people, with Mr. Honda and he is talking to Chocolatito as well. It’s exciting, there are a lot of things to look forward to,” he said. Ioka, 29-2 (15 KOs), won his last six matches, including a unanimous victory over Filipino Donnie Nietes last July. Gonzales owns a 51-3 record with 41 KOs, he last fought in March and beat Julio Cesar Martinez by unanimous decision. 

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 6-9, 2022 A9Features Pahrump seeing increased interest from commercial developers

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (extreme left) with (from left) Nye County Chief Planner Brett Waggoner and newly-elected Commissioner Ronald Boskovich.

The gas stations in the pipeline include a Circle K on Homestead and Gamebird Roads, and a new Coyote Corner on Manse Road near the Mountain Falls Subdivision. The latter project, according to Waggoner, will have space for restaurants as well.

The Coyote Corner gas station near the entrance to Mountain Falls Subdivision, where the late President Fidel V. Ramos played golf at during his stay with Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman in The2007.Source,

a newly-opened cannabis dispensary in Pahrump. Construction is ongoing at the second Circle K gas station outlet in the town.

PAHRUMP, a town located 62 miles west of Las Vegas, is seeing increased interest from commercialAccordingdevelopers.toanarticle in the Pahrump Valley Times, Nye County Planning Director Brett Waggoner told the county’s commissioners in early July that the planning department has received a lot of applications that are in the review or site development process for commercial development. Some, he said, are getting to the approval stage, and are actually starting to breakAmongground.theprojects

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (right) with CEO Mark Maiyoka who just bought a $2.6M medical building in Pahrump.

by RealtoR Fely Quitevis-Bateman

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

Waggoner mentioned that are in the pipeline for the town included a medical facility, a car wash, restaurants, gas stations and overnight accommodations.Twomuch-anticipated chains coming to Pahrump, the Arby’s and Dutch Bros. Coffee locations, as well as the car wash, will be located on Highway 160, near the area of Nye County Veterinary Clinic and Tire Works, the article mentioned.Anew medical facility, the Pahrump Community Health Center, had a recent groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the start of construction. The facility will, when it opens, provide surgical services and specialist care in the area which is not yet available.

The proposed hotel, meanwhile, is located on Highway 160 just behind the Maverick gas station and directly across The Source, which is a marijuana dispensary that just opened recently. The chief planner of Nye County also talked about the developments going on at Spring Mountain Motor Resort, where the track portion of its expansion onto the property purchased from the Bureau of Land Management has been completed. He said added that the resort is now in the process of building accessory buildings to accommodate the track.Waggoner disclosed in the article that his department maintains a close-lipped policy when it comes to potential projects in the valley, opting only to discuss potential projects when development officially begins. His office is always in discussions with prospective developers. Certainly, the town of Pahrump has undergone major changes since it was established and slowly inhabited by settlers in the late 19thNowadays,century. there are a lot more things to do and explore around the town, including trips to local casinos, recreational activities, do some shopping at local stores and even visit the Pahrump Valley Museum to check out the town’s fascinating history. If nature-tripping is your favorite activity, bird-watching is an option at Discovery Park, which is an abandoned golf course converted by locals and the Red Rock Audobon into a park. Over 176 bird species are said to graze in the park. Hiking in the area’s famous trails, whether on foot or via ATV, mountain bikes or offroad vehicles is another option for those seeking to commune and/or experience nature. It won’t be Nevada unless you visit the town’s gambling dens, which includes Lakeside Casino & RV Park, Gold Town Casino (formerly Terrible’s Town Casino), Pahrump Nugget and Saddle West Hotel. Each of these places have their own amenities and charms, and provides accommodations and entertainment for the weary traveler or excited tourist. You can also ride a horse at the Happy Hoof Beats Equestrian, play golf at Mountain Falls Golf Club, drive a race car at Spring Mountain Motor Resort and Country Club, ride a hot air balloon over the valley, or enjoy a bottle of fine wine at Pahrump Valley Winery. By the way, at Spring Mountain Motor Resort and Country Club, crossing off race car driving in your to-do list is not the only thing it offers. The place also is where one can indulge in a variety of watersports (swimming, wakeboarding, kayaking, paddle boarding, water jetpack), practical shooting and racquetball, in addition to its top-notch food and clubhouse keepswhichorthanpropertyofexponentially.fororLasactivitiesandtheclubs,groupsasgroupsThesethegroupsorganizedResidentsfacilities/amenities.themselveshaveevensportsandrecreationaltobondtogetherandenjoytown’svastnaturalbeauty.includewalking/hikingandbikingclubs,aswellbowlingclubs/leagues,billiardsandindoorswimmingtonameafew.ThereisalotmorethanmeetseyeinPahrump.Bothvisitorsresidentshavealotoftoindulgein.AndwithVegasonlyaboutanhourlessaway,thepossibilitiesfunandexcitementincreaseAsofnow,Pahrumpisonethosetownswherelandandaremoreaffordableotherpartsofthecountry,evenNevada.NyeCounty,Pahrumpissituatedin,experiencinganincrease in population, which indicates that many people are looking into the area as major cities get overpopulated and real estate prices get too high. I have been a Realtor for many decades now and have seen the growth of Pahrump. I consider it one of the best towns to live in. With many residential and commercial developments coming into the area, and many planned projects that will add to the diversity of the town’s entertainment offerings, it truly is a good place to look for a home, an investment property or a piece of land that you may want to construct your dream home in or sell for a profit later. My company, Precious Properties, is a full-service company that has served its clientele since 1992. You can reach me at 775-513-8447, 805559-2476 and 702-538-4948 for more information, or send me an email at fely@precious-properties. com or fely.precious@gmail. com. We have investors who buy houses in California and Nevada for cash and quick escrow in as short as 7 days. (Advertising Supplement)

AUGUST 6-9, 2022 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797A10

(818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 • http://www.asianjournal.com LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 6-9, 2022 B1

Cherie Gil dies, Sid Lucero confirms

THIS Sunday’s episode features Nanay Emi who wanted to legalize her status after she arrived in the U.S. on a tourist visa and overstayed in 2010. After consulting with leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel, she was advised to wait for her son to first legalize his status and become a U.S. citizen. Only then could the son be able to petition his mother. They had to wait patiently though, since Nanay Emi’s son, Jerome, was a crewman who jumped ship in 2004. Even though he was married to a U.S. citizen, he was unable to file for adjustment of status in the U.S. It was Nanay Emi who saw the news of a new regulation in 2013 that could benefit her son: provisional waiver. Jerome was able to safely return to the Philippines in 2015 to get his immigrant visa from the U.S. Embassy in Manila. After three years, Jerome became a U.S. citizen, and he was finally able to petition his mother. Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, August 7 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET thru select Cable/Satellite providers), right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download free app. (Advertising Supplement) B2 B2

JUMPSHIP SON HELPS LEGALIZE HIS MOTHER, THIS SUNDAY ON CITIZEN PINOY. Did you know that family members can “spread the love” by helping each other legalize their status? Mommy Emi (left) came to the U.S. on a visitor’s visa and overstayed. Upon consulting leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (right), she was advised to wait for her son to legalize his status in the U.S. first. But Emi’s son, Jerome, was a crewman who jumped ship and was not eligible to adjust status in the U.S. When the provisional regulations came out in 2013, Atty. Gurfinkel filed a provisional waiver so Jerome could get his green card in Manila, and eventually become a U.S. citizen, so he could petition his mother. Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, August 7 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo.

ACTRESS Cherie Gil passed away at 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 4 talent manager and Cherie’s friend Anabelle Rama posted on Instagram. Cherie was 59. “CHERIE GIL JUST PASSED AWAY AT 5PM TODAY PLEASE PRAY FOR HER,” Anabelle simply said. “RIP CHERIE GIL,” she said in another Instagram story. Her nephew, actor Sid Lucero, confirmed the sad news to GMA. Sid also posted tributes for Cherie on his Instagram. No cause of death or other details are available as of the moment. Last February, Gil debuted her shaved head on a magazine cover to mark her “rebirth.” In her interview with Mega, Cherie said she had to make sure that her mental, emotional and spiritual well-being are getting the priority.  “I was getting tired of myself. And I was just so

By Deni Rose M. AfiniDAD-BeRnARDo Philstar.com By DAnA CRuz Inquirer.net

Copon, in the movie’s press conference as shown on producer Francis Lara Ho’s Facebook page on Friday, Aug. 5. “History made today! #1521movie presscon [at] Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines! With the iconic award-winning Hollywood Latino star Danny Trejo and Philippines movie box office queen Bea Alonzo together with director-actor Michael Copon, Hector David Jr., Maricel Laxa, and Costas Mandylor,” Lara Ho stated.Copon and David both starred as Power Rangers in the superhero TV and movie franchise “Power Rangers,” with Copon having played Blue Ranger in the past, while David played Green“1521:Ranger.The Battle of Mactan” will be filmed in Palawan. The Asian WKNDJournal

AUGUSTSaturday,6,2022 CONSUMERLIFESTYLEGUIDECOMMUNITYMARKETPLACE

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Bea joins cast of international movie ‘1521: The Battle of Mactan’

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BEA Alonzo has joined the cast of the international movie “1521: The Battle of Mactan,” where she will star alongside American actor Hector David Jr. The actress appeared with her co-stars David, Danny Trejo, Costas Mandylor and Maricel Laxa, as well as the film’s director, “One Tree Hill” actor MichaelCherie Gil Photo from Instagram/@macherieamour

How a son who jumped ship was able to petition his out-of-status mother, this Sunday on Citizen Pinoy

IF the divorcing parties are both reasonable in their expectations in resolving their family law case and if they don’t think involving lawyers in their divorce case early on would be an efficient and cost effective way of going about their divorce process, then perhaps mediation is the way to go.  It can be a more cost effective option to resolve your family law issues.  There may be situations where involving the wrong type of lawyers in either side of the case can turn your family law case into a circus and end up costing the parties unnecessary legal fees x2 (legal fees for each party).    Remember, legal fees from both parties can rapidly escalate in litigation and those fees will be coming out of the same pie.   If both you and your spouse are open to a fair and amicable settlement in your family law case and both of you are not interested in playing games or weaponizing the judicial process against the other spouse, then both of you can benefit from trying mediation first before pursuing litigation.  This can result to a less stressful process and preserve the size of the pie that both of you are trying to divide in your divorce case. By hiring an experienced mediator in your case, the mediator will serve as a “neutral” in your case.  A mediator with many years of family law trial experience to draw upon to advise you on a

Pechanga Resort Casino nominated as one of best resort-casinos in the country

“I got rid of all the clothes I had that symbolized a past life… I’m completely finding myself and coming to terms with who I really am. It’s just great to have this opportunity and to be alive to start over. It’s like a rebirth of sorts,” she added. She also revealed that she had therapy and counselling.  “Years and years of doing that, I learned that it just boils down to doing the hard work on and with yourself by whatever means. What’s hair di ba? It grows back. It’s symbolic to my personal growth. When a woman is in distress, she cuts her hair,” she said.

movie is produced by Inspire Studios and slated for release on June 12, 2023, based on Palawan-based radio station DYPR Palawan’s Twitter post on Thursday, Aug. 4. Alonzo and David will be playing the characters Diwata and Enrique, though further plot and character details are yet to be revealed as of writing. David appeared to be pleased after meeting Alonzo as he showed himself with the actress on his Instagram page, also today. “Pinch me, I think I dreaming. [Bea Alonzo], such a beautiful soul,” he Meanwhile,said. Alonzo is also set to star in the Philippine adaptation of the hit Korean drama “Start-Up,” which began filming last April. She will be starring in the series alongside Alden Richards, Jeric Gonzales and Yasmien Kurdi. g angry and unhappy, so I sold everything and packed up,” she said.

AUGUST 6-9, 2022 • LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797B2 Community

Cherie Gil dies, Sid Lucero... myriad of possible solutions to your family law issues that is fair to both parties under the California Family Code and case law can increase the chances of settling your case substantially and in cost effective manner with less stress.  Further, both parties can share in the cost of the mediation services instead of each party paying for their own attorney to fight it out in court.   If you have young children, taking a scorch earth position in litigation might not be a good idea.  Remember, you will continue to co-parent your children even after the divorce case is over.  Through mediation, you might be able to avoid burning bridges with your ex spouse.  As part of the mediation services, mediators can also assist both parties in drafting the pleadings necessary to successfully complete the case.  This may include filing the divorce petition, preparing the required financial disclosures, and drafting the settlement agreement and stipulated judgment should the parties successfully settle the case.   Of course, there is no guarantee that you will be able to come to an agreement but chances are higher is done through an experienced mediator.  The good thing about family law is that each issue in a family law case is “divisible.”  This means it is not an all or nothing predicament like in civil cases.  You do not have to settle all the issues.  You can settle some of the issues that you are able to agree upon and litigation the other issues you have an impasse on in court at a later time.  For those issues you cannot settle in mediation, you will still have a chance to litigate them in court at a later time and hire lawyers to represent you. Both parties can also utilize experts as part of the mediation process. For example if you own a business and need the business to be appraised, the parties may jointly retain an expert for purposes of appraising the business during the mediation process in order to arrive at a fair and equitable division of community property.  If you own a property prior to marriage but there was a mortgage on the property which was paid using community income during the marriage, you may have to involve an forensic accounting expert to calculate and apportion the community interest in the property during the mediation process.Inaddition, most statements during mediation are privileged and confidential. The only statement or writing made in connection with mediation which can be disclosed without the express consent of both parties is the settlement agreement reached during the mediation. Except for limited exceptions created by the courts, nothing else said or written during or in the course of the mediation, or for the purpose of the mediation, can be received in evidence, compelled in discovery, or compelled as testimony in any proceeding. California Evidence Code Section 1119, 1121, and 1123. Of course, both you and your spouse need to agree to give mediation a chance and will be jointly retainer the services of a neutral. Mediation should be a process to think about as an option in your divorce prior to litigation. It can save you a lot of agony and resources.***

Atty. Kenneth UrsUA reyes

CornerBarrister’s Divorce mediation as an option prior to pursuing litigation

The theme for NHCW 2022 is Community Health Centers: The Chemistry for Strong Communities. “The annual celebration supports CCHC’s mission to serve and provide low-income, uninsured and underserved individuals with access to primary care, health screenings, and education and social-welfare referrals. What is significant about this event is that it is a partnership that utilizes the power of an entire health community and would greatly advance our goal of providing health access in our communities,” says CCHC Chief Executive Officer David Lontok. The timing of NHCW-Children’s Appreciation Day also lends itself well to engaging the youngest members of our communities as they prepare to return to school. At the event, CCHC will be distributing 1,000 back-to-school backpacks to patients and underserved children from our school partners across Glendale Unified School District and Los Angeles Unified School District. “This is the kind of work that makes a difference in the lives of so many people,” says Pedro Ramirez, CCHC Director of Outreach and Community Engagement.

WHAT options does a small business have when it has too much debt but wants to continue operating? Itdepends on the legal structure of the business, and the amount of unsecured debt that it has. If the business structure is a sole proprietorship and the unsecured debt does not exceed $465,275 while the secured debt does not exceed $1,395,875 as of April 1, 2022, the debtor normally chooses Chapter 13 to reorganize the business by trimming down unsecured debt with a three to five-year plan. Chapter 13 For example, the debtor operates a small import export business with $350,000 of unsecured debt consisting of credit lines from banks, credit cards and supplier credit, all of which are unsecured by any collateral, and business has been negatively impacted by the pandemic such that debtor can no longer pay the $350,000 on time, or just can’t pay it anymore, the Chapter 13 would

Pechanga nominated in 2 national Best of awards

THE polls are now open, and Pechanga Resort Casino is in the running again for two prestigious national titles. The Temecula, California area casino/resort was nominated by a panel of experts in USA Today’s 10Best.com readers’ polls in the categories of Best Casino Hotel and Best Casino Outside of Las Vegas. Panelists selected Pechanga, along with 19 other contenders in each category. There are more than 1,000 casinos spread across the U.S., according to CasinoUSA.com. To vote for Pechanga Resort Casino in both categories, visitors can go to InPechanga.com/vote.2021,readers voted Pechanga Resort Casino the second-Best Casino Outside of Las Vegas. Pechanga ranked fourth in the Best Casino Hotel category (throughout the U.S.). Voting is currently open to the public to choose their favorite destinations. Readers may vote for their favorites in each category once per day. The voting period ends Monday, August 29, at 8:59 a.m. Pacific Time. A results list of 10 winners is released after thatThedate.USA Today 10Best Travel Guide readers’ polls ask guests to rate their favorite casinos and have appeared in various forms since 2015. Pechanga took the number one spot of Best Casino in America that year. Following that, the publication split the poll into Best in Las Vegas and Best Outside of Las Vegas and added other related categories such as Best Casino Restaurant and Best Casino Hotel. For more information on Pechanga Resort Casino, visit www.pechanga.com.PechangaResort Casino offers one of the largest and most expansive resort/casino experiences anywhere in the United States. Voted the number one casino in the country by USA Today and rated a Four Diamond property by AAA since 2002, Pechanga Resort Casino provides an unparalleled getaway, whether for the day or for an extended luxury stay. Offering 5,400 of hottest slots, 152 table games, a 1,100 room and suite hotel, dining, luxury spa, and golf at Journey at Pechanga, Pechanga Resort Casino features a destination that meets and exceeds the needs of its guests and the community. Pechanga Resort Casino is owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians. For more information, call toll free (877) 711-2946 or visit www.Pechanga.com. Follow Pechanga Resort Casino on Facebook and on Twitter @ PechangaCasino.

In her career that spanned nearly 50 years, she has won many awards, including Best Actress for “Mana” in Madrid International Film Festival in 2015, and Movie Supporting Actress of the Year for “Citizen Jake” at the 2019 PMPC Star Awards. In September 2014, Cherie’s brother, also an acclaimed actor, Mark Gil, succumbed to cirrhosis of the liver, stemming from cancer of the liver, aged 52. g

(Advertising Supplement)

Born Evangeline Rose Gil Eigenmann, Cherie was considered as among the best actresses in the history of Philippine cinema. Although she started in show business at an early age as she belongs to the famous Eigenmann family of actors, she had her biggest breaks when she starred in the 1980 Ishmael Bernal classic “Manila By Night” then the 1982 Peque Gallaga masterpiece “Oro, Plata, Mata.” She was best known as Lavinia Arguelles, where she said one of Philippine cinema’s most iconic lines, “You’re nothing but a second-rate, trying hard copycat!” in “Bituing Walang Ningning,” co-starring Sharon Cuneta as Dorina.

CCHC National Health Center Week Multicultural Health Fair and Children’s Appreciation Day, Aug. 13th

CCHC is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and a California Non-Profit Public Benefit Corporation that operates and administers five community health centers in Glendale, Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Sunland, and North Hollywood. The center provides medical, dental, and behavioral health services to diverse and underserved communities. Established in 1990, CCHC has grown to become one of the largest FQHCs in Los Angeles County.

“May mga nagsasabi kasi marami akong pera but in fact, they don’t know anything. I’m just a human being. We go through the same ropes of the downs, the highs and the lows. I am not going to be surprised if I die a pauper, but I have lived a life,” she added.

Chapter 13 or Subchapter V of Chapter 11  allow him to pay a portion of the $350,000 over a period of three to five years.  The plan would require that all of the debtor’s disposable income be paid into the plan for that duration of time. The business will be allowed to continue operating without any lawsuits or collection pressure from the unsecured creditors. If the debtor completes all payments of the plan on a timely basis, then the unpaid portion of the unsecured debt is wiped out or discharged by the court.  If the disposable income of the debtor is $1,000 a month, a five-year plan will pay about $50,000 of the $350,000. If all plan payments are timely paid, then the court will discharge $300,000 at the end of the plan period.

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The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APC.  This article is not a solicitation. * * * Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com.(Advertising Supplement)

Atty. LAwrence yAng ReliefDebt

Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed.

Subchapter V of Chapter 11 What happens if the business structure is a corporation, or an LLC, or if the business in the above example owes $3 million of unsecured debt? Then the business can file small business reorganization under subchapter V of Chapter 11 of the bankruptcy code. Because of the pandemic, under the CARES Act, starting sometime in June of 2022 when President Biden signed it into law, for the next two years hence, small businesses with unsecured debt not exceeding $7.5M can reorganize under subchapter V of Chapter 11. This is a streamlined version of the normal Chapter 11 with a lot less hurdles to a successful reorganization.Underthis reorganization plan, small businesses do not have to deal with a creditors’ committee and can have a “fair and equitable” plan of reorganization confirmed without creditor consent much like a Chapter 13, and unlike a normal Chapter 11 where creditors’ consent to the plan must be obtained. What is a “fair and equitable plan” under subchapter 5? It is a plan that pays all of the disposable income of the business into a three- to fiveyearDisposableplan. income is the amount of money left monthly after all of the business expenses for the month are paid. So, if the small business disposable income is $1,000 a month, the fair and equitable plan proposed will pay about $60,000 in five years. After completion of all plan payments required under the plan, the court will discharge or wipe out $2,950,000 of unsecured debt of the small business in this example.Ofcourse, many business people are tired of operating their businesses at a loss for the last three years because of the pandemic and are inclined now to throw in the towel. If this is the case, then Chapter 7 would be the right choice to liquidate theAllbusiness. creditors will be required to file their claims against the business, including all lawsuits, in the Chapter 7 case. A trustee will be assigned to liquidate the assets and distribute whatever assets are available to the creditors.Small business cases may start out first as Chapter 13 or subchapter V of Chapter 11, then may subsequently get converted to Chapter 7 if reorganization fails.  * * * Disclaimer: None of the foregoing is considered legal advice for anyone. There is absolutely no attorneyclient relationship established by reading this article.***

Lawrence Bautista Yang specializes in Bankruptcy, Business, Real Estate and Civil Litigation and has successfully represented more than five thousand clients in California.  Please call Angie, Barbara or Jess at (626) 284-1142 for an appointment at 20274 Carrey Road, Walnut, CA 91789 or 1000 S. Fremont Ave., Mailstop 58, Building A-10 South Suite 10042, Alhambra, CA 91803. (Advertising Supplement)

Bea joins cast of...

Small business reorganization:

COMPREHENSIVE Community Health Centers (CCHC) in partnership with LA Care, Health Net, Valley Presbyterian Hospital and Blue Shield of California invites members of the multicultural community to CCHC National Health Center Week (NHCW) –Multicultural Health Fair and Children’s Appreciation Day celebration to be held on Saturday, August 13, 2022, 9:30 a.m. at the Clinic Parking Lot - 801 S. Chevy Chase Drive, Glendale, CA 91205.

CCHC Leadership Team: (L-R) Dr. Ara Airapetian, Medical Director, Flora Poladian, Chief Operating Officer, Pedro Ramirez, Director of Outreach and Community Engagement, David Lontok, Chief Executive Officer, and Raymond Retirado, VP of Quality and Clinical Programs.

Bea Alonzo Photo from Instagram/@beaalonzo

During the event, CCHC will present the NHCW-Stakeholders Appreciation Award to our guests of honor and speakers: Assemblymember Laura Friedman, Glendale Mayor Ardi Kassakhian, GUSD Superintendent Vivian Ekchian, and LA Care Senior Director of Safety Net Initiatives Cynthia Carmona. Other awardees are Dr. Ilin Magran, GUSD Director of Student Wellness and Services; Mr. Titus Campos, LAUSD Administrator of Operations; and program partners from Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County, Health Net, Valley Presbyterian Hospital, and Blue Shield of California. Also invited are the Consulate General of Republic of Armenia and Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles.  This event will adhere to COVID safety protocols and guidelines. For more information, contact CCHC via phone at 818.630.2297 or email outreach@cchccenters.org (Advertising Supplement)

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Retaliation exists where an employee engaged in a “protected activity” and was then “punished” by a firing, a demotion, a reprimand, etc. for engaging in that activity. A “protected activity” includes an employee’s “reasonable” and “good faith” act of opposing a practice which is forbidden by law (e.g. discrimination). music and that the School District retaliated against him for complaining about a school board applicant’s failure to hire due to racial discrimination. The employer argued that Flores was terminated for non-discriminatory business reasons related to his job performance, that the school board had lost trust in him, and that his termination had nothing to do with him speaking Spanish to his students.

Can employees suffer retaliation without discrimination?

By Ronnie CaRRasCo iii ManilaTimes.net

The case went to trial. The jury did not find that Flores experienced discrimination but found that he was retaliated against for complaining about discrimination. Flores was awarded $3,625,752 in damages.Whydid the employee win on retaliation but not on discrimination?Discrimination exists if an employee is fired, demoted or disciplined based on the employee’s protected characteristic (in this case, Flores’ race/ethnicity). However, the jury was not convinced that enough evidence was shown to indicate that the employer targeted Flores because of his race/ethnicity. In other words, the jury may have believed that Flores was terminated because the school board had indeed lost trust in him, which is a legitimate business reason. However, the jury concluded that Flores suffered retaliation. Retaliation exists where an employee engaged in a “protected activity” and was then “punished” by a firing, a demotion, a reprimand, etc. for engaging in that activity. A “protected activity” includes an employee’s “reasonable” and “good faith” act of opposing a practice which is forbidden by law (e.g. discrimination).Inthecase of Flores, his “protected activity” was his complaint that the school board engaged in discrimination in its failure to hire an applicant. The jury believed that by terminating him after the complaint (even though he had no prior performance issues and was, in fact, performing well), the employer engaged in retaliatory conduct against him.

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* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. * * * The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential and at no-cost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www.joesayaslaw.com. [For more than 25 years, C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal, consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is a past Presidential Awardee for Outstanding Filipino Overseas.] (Advertising Supplement)

LAST Tuesday, August 2, five female cousins of my late father and some of their family members visited me. They drove all the way from Wildomar, California, in Riverside County, where they decided to live together in their retirement — a good two-hour drive to Los Angeles.  As distant relatives, I would call each  tita (aunt), a very endearing word in Tagalog.

“There was FPJ productions… and I hope C’est Lovi Productions can continue that legacy, and bring Filipino stories – especially those independent, lesser known but equally good ones PAGE B6

NotesPastor’s

Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr Rights&EmployeeProtectingConsumer

The first thing they do in the morning, as soon as they wake up and freshen up, is to gather in the living room, prepare an altar, and attend Mass on EWTN.   It was delightful and inspiring to hear my titas’ life stories, living together happily in their later years despite health challenges and old age. It filled my heart with joy and hope.  These are women of strong faith in God—not just a show of piety but love and care for others and our church. They are still active in the Focolare Movement. This international organization promotes the ideals of unity and universal brotherhood and sisterhood. They also support their relatives in the Philippines by sending them goods and tuition fees money for younger relatives’ education. And they show their love for us, priests, through their visits, prayers, and support. Ithink of them when I reflect on the Scripture Readings this Sunday (August 7). The Second Reading from the Letter of Paul to the Hebrews talks about the faith of ancestral figures of the Old Testament like Abraham: their unwavering confidence in the Lord’s promises; their tenacity and hope; and their alertness, courage, and prayer.  The Reading describes well the faith these ancestors had: “a realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. “ It’s faith that generates life and never dies, and when put to the test, keeps on becoming more steadfast. Roland J. Finley, in  Footprints on the Mountain, describes these ancestors’ faith as “yearning for an eternal homeland, even though it was perceived as a far distant reality. The proof of this is the fact that they lived a nomadic existence, never taking up ‘permanent residence.’” I believe that my  titas have this kind of faith. Like them and our ancestors in faith, I, too, am determined to show it in my older years.

* * * 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.

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What struck me about their visit was their tenacity, faith, and joy in living in their senior years. Three of them are now in their 80s and are still determined to live a zestful life. The middle sister takes pride in still being able to drive her siblings on the busy freeways of Southern California. I asked them what they usually do during their retirement. Besides taking care of three puppies, plants, and fruit trees, they said they watch programs on ETWN—a Catholic television network.

individuals with the desire to “make films that would help the world recognize Filipino talent either behind or in front of the camera.” She then paid tribute to her late father, “Da King” Fernando Poe Jr, also known as FPJ.

Faith of 5 aunties

LOVI Poe has started her own production company, C’est Lovi Productions, which aims to bring Filipino artists and stories to international audiences. The actress expressed excitement for her new production company on her Instagram page on Friday, August 5. She noted that despite venturing into behind-thescenes work, she will continue to take on onscreen roles. “This is it! I’m excited to share the news of finally launching C’est Lovi Productions. It’s been a passion of mine to be in the business of making films in front of the camera for a number of years already, and as I continue to do that I’d like to be behind the camera too and develop projects from the beginning,” she said. The Kapamilya star added that she hoped to work with Lovi sets up own production company C’est Lovi Productions

ERNIE Flores worked for about two years as a school principal for the Palo Verde Union School District in Tulare County, California. The students within the school district are predominantly Hispanic and Spanish was their first language. During Flores’ tenure as principal, student enrollment at the school increased. No one on the school board expressed any problem with his job performance.Inearly2018, Flores complained to the school board that it was discriminating against a job applicant on the basis of the applicant’s race. He was terminated in February 2018. The reason for his termination was that there were “anonymous” complaints that he spoke Spanish to students and played Latin music throughout the school during breaks. One complaint read, “Also, someone please remind him we are in America and that if he’s going to play music that we would like it to be in English and not in Spanish.” Another complaint stated, “Morning announcements by Flores continue with ‘mijo/mija’ and it needs to stop already.” Flores sued the Palo Verde Union School District, alleging discrimination and whistleblower retaliation. He sought recovery for past and future loss of earnings and past and future emotional pain and suffering. Flores claimed that he suffered from emotional distress and had to switch careers as a result.Flores contended that he was discriminated against for speaking Spanish to the students and playing Latin

* * Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California. BAlAGtAS

Lovi Poe Photo from Instagram/@lovipoe

DEAR Attorney Tan, I was driving home and was at a complete stop when another driver rear ended my car. I was not feeling well after the accident, as my back seemed very tight and stiff. I took some days off from work. After a week, I contacted the other driver’s insurance to report the claim. The insurance adjuster for the other driver said they would fix my car, and offered me $500.00 for my injuries. Is that enough? I do not know where to go from here. –K.K. Dear K.K., The first step is to make sure that any injuries that you have suffered in the accident are examined and treated. You can recover treatment costs since they are considered “economic damages” that you suffered due to the accident. You can also recover for time away from work as “economic damages,” even if you used paid time off or sick leave. The term “economic damages” means “objectively verifiable monetary losses including medical expenses, loss of earnings, burial costs, loss of use of property, costs of repair or replacement, costs of obtaining substitute domestic services, loss of employment and loss of business or settle their accident cases on their own, or with the assistance of inexperienced counsel. Loss of earnings are often a significant part of an injured person’s claim for economic damages. Damages are recoverable for both past and future lost earnings. To recover for past lost earnings, a person must prove the amount of income or earnings that he/she has lost to date. To recover damages for future earnings, a person must prove the amount of income or earnings that he/she will be reasonably certain to lose in the future as a result of the injury. CACI No. 3903C. How are past lost earnings proven? Medical records, which show the doctor authorizing a release from work or giving instructions to restrict work activities, can support the time taken off from work due to the injury. For those selfemployed, medical providers typically do not provide a release from work; however, medical records should record work restrictions placed by the medical provider. After showing that the time off was justified, the next step is to value the lost earnings. A letter from a person’s employer that outlines the amount of time that one has lost as a result of his/her injury, the loss of benefits, and the rate of pay during the time of loss is evidence of the value of one’s loss of earnings claim. Other supporting documents include pay stubs, time cards, and tax returns. The monetary value of sick leave and vacation time that are used due to the injury are also recoverable. For those selfemployed, earnings history as reflected by tax returns and profit and loss statements can help prove the value of lost earnings. Similar supporting documentation must be presented for future lost earnings. Apart from economic damages, you can recover “general damages,” which are damages for the pain, suffering, and inconvenience due to the accident. If you were suffered injury in an auto accident or someone’s premises, please contact our office to discuss your case. To maximize monetary recovery, it is important to have the assistance of an experienced attorney in presenting your personal injury claim.

* * * Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles (CAALA) and American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). He is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Philippine American Bar Association (PABA). LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN, 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Tel: 323-639-0277. Email: info@ dtanlaw.com

pursuedoverlookedexpensesaparteconomicperson’s1431.2(b)(1).Civilopportunities.”employmentCodeSectionAclaimfordamagesfrommedicalareoftenandnotbypersonswho

* * * 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.

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n Lovi sets up... PAGE B5 EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT FOR SERVICESRENTFOR RENT FOR SALE

– internationally. Advanced Happy Birthday, Papa,” she stated. FPJ’s family is set to celebrate what would be the action star’s 83rd birthday later this month. Lovi’s boyfriend, British producer Monty Blencowe, will serve as the actress’ partner as an executive in C’est Lovi Productions, as per an exclusive report by Deadline on Thursday, August 4. The company already has several projects in the works. This includes the psychological thriller “Alyssa” by Filipino filmmaker Jerold Tarrog, and “Lady Luck” in which Lovi is set to star. “Lady Luck” is written by Los Angeles-based Geordie Kieffer and Mitch Toler, while it will be helmed by British director Niall Johnson. Lovi currently appears in the Philippine adaptation of the South Korean thriller “Flower of Evil.” The actress will soon be seen in the queer series “Sleep with Me,” which recently won the audience award for Best Episodic in the Outfest LGBTQ Film Festival in Los Angeles. She also stars in the upcoming Idris Elba-produced film “The Chelsea Cowboy,” in which she portrays British blues singer Dana Gillespie.

Maximizing recovery in personal injury cases

THE Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO) presents CELEBRATION! featuring the music of Filipino singer and composer Jose Mari Chan and internationally recognized Filipino and classical suites. This concert is the orchestra’s return to in-person events since their last production in 2019, which makes this evening an extra special one not to be Undermissed.thedirection of Maestro Robert Shroder, FASO will take you on a celebratory journey through multiple musical eras starting from traditional marches for bands to modernday anthems about finding your heart’s true love. Jose Mari Chan will be in attendance to be honored with a special award for his decades-long career and accomplishments as an internationally awarded singer/ songwriter.JoseMari Chan, in his 55 years of being a singersongwriter-recording artist in the Philippines, holds the distinction of being the biggest selling artist in the country, having recorded 14 albums and the holder of several Platinum awards in sales. Notably he is the only Philippine recording artist with 3 Diamond Record Awards in sales where a Diamond Record is equivalent to 10 Platinum Awards in sales. His first recording “Afterglow” was ON July 30, 2022, at the legendary Bella Vista Polo Ranch in Santa Barbara, “Celebrating Life” (www.celebratinglife.la) had its extravagant debut with a flamboyant event, international guests andThemedia.innovative company creates global events and exclusive experiences, creating a kaleidoscopic way to unite business, entertainment, fashion, finance, music and sports. Award winning producer, Valentina Castellani, of Quinn Studios Entertainment (https://quinnstudiosentertainment.com/), Lan Trshirky of https://www.lantocapital.com/company.html and Gilles David of Pierre Cardin (https://pierrecardin.com/en/) have come together to rethink business and created a template of how to celebrate life, give back and create connection between worlds that by tradition have been always been separated. Movies and entertainment are nowadays the most impactful platform to convey an idea, to change prospective, to address people; Hollywood has acquired a very important space also in finance and business nowadays. When you bring together these inventive minds, the stage is set to think outside the box with no limits, and execute a grand vision. The new Company will set its base in Los Angeles and also in Davos Switzerland, where together with Lan Trshirky, they will create an innovative program at LAN Space, in occasion of the World Economic Forum in January 2023. “Celebrating Life” with LAN Space will bring for the first time at W.E.F. not only business and finance, but also film, entertainment, fashion and sport. The event in Santa Barbara saw celebrities from the sports world such as Terrell Owens, Byron Chamberlain and Angel McCoughtry, together with executives of Sony and Netflix, producers and Hollywood actors. During the press conference, Castellani, together with David announced a design collaboration with Terrell Owens for a new exciting sports collection. The re-Launching of the iconic French designer Pierre Cardin in the U.S. was one of the highlights of the conference. The new collection is still in production, but exquisite samples were given in the luxurious gift bags as a teaser. The Polo Game led by Francesco Mitrano, president of the Monte Carlo Polo Federation, set the pace for the “Great Gatsby” enchanted atmosphere, followed by the Kiki Wang fashion show.

The Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO) returns in person with featuring the music of Jose Mari Chan fashion, polo, finance come together in launch of Life’

Europe.The director, Ramon “Bojo” Molina Lijauco, Jr. is an international vocal and choral consultant. He is based both in the Philippines and Thailand, conducting another internationally awarded choir, The Suanplu Chorus. He has lectured and gave speeches around the world. He has degrees in Nursing, Music Education, and a Masters of Music in Choral Conducting (Summa Cum Laude). He is now finishing his Doctor of Music in Choral Conducting. He is the recipient of the 2020 Jayne Davis Prize (Most Outstanding Conductor) in Wales, United Kingdom, and the 2020 Ani Ng Dangal for Music given at the Malacañang Palace. In all their activities, the Philippine Meistersingers aim to give ALL THE GLORY TO GOD. Also featured are FASO Youth String Ensemble, FASO Youth Orchestra, Soloist Irene Castillo, FASO Kids: Ardyanna Ducusin, Stazy Reoma, Iesha Ringor, Vocalists: Felson Palad and Deb Victa.FASO’s mission is to sustain artistic excellence in the community and to be an avenue of cultural growth for our youth, by developing love for and pride in one’s music as well as in one’s identity.Fortickets, head faso-presents-celebration/.tickets-free-events/lease-events/https://www.musiccenter.org/to: g

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CELEBRATION!

Film,

Jose Mari Chan Photos by Tommy Red P. The Philippine Meister singers

DJLO provided music throughout the evening, and Skate-board legend and artist Steve Olson presented his new paintings. “Celebrating Life” began its presence in the U.S. with a sponsorship of the 2022 ESPY Awards at the Microsoft theater in LosTheAngeles.company has already set its sights for the next event at the Pierre Cardin Villa at the iconic Palais Bulle since acquiring the rights of the estate located in Cannes. g released in 1967 followed by a series of top hits which include such classics as “Deep in My Heart”, “Refrain”, “ Tell Me Your Name”, “ Beautiful Girl”, “Constant Change”, “Please Be Careful with My Heart”, “Hahanapin Ko” “A Love to Last A Lifetime”, “Love at 30,000 Feet” and many others. His biggest perennial sellers are his “Christmas In Our Hearts” and “A Perfect Christmas” which continue to define the Yuletide Season in the Philippines all these 32 years.Jose Mari also wrote several music scores for Philippine movies and Jose Mari Chan’s songs have been recorded by artists in Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and in the United States. In 1974, he was named one of the 10 Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines in the field of arts. As a concert performer, Jose Mari performed at the Carnegie Hall in New York, the Bellagio in Las Vegas and other prestigious halls in Tokyo, London, Vienna, Zurich, Paris, Toronto, and in other metro areas around the world.The Philippine Meistersingers (formerly the AUP Ambassadors), is one of the most active and respected choirs in the world. They garnered the coveted title, “Choir of the World 2011” in the 2011 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, receiving the Luciano Pavarotti Trophy. With this award, in 2012 they received a Philippine Congressional Proclamation recognizing their contribution to Philippine music and culture. Along with many other international awards, they are also a national recipient of the 2012 Ani ng Dangal Awards for Music given at the Malacanang Palace.ThePhilippine Meistersingers are very active in the music ministry, giving concerts and lectures on singing and choral music around the world. They have ministered throughout the Philippines, Asia, Canada, USA, UAE, United Kingdom, and

‘Celebrating

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