081022 - Southern California Midweek Edition

AUGUST 10-12, 2022 Volume 32 - No. 63 • 14 Pages

USA

DATELINE Cognitive rehab may help older adults clear COVID-related brain fog FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

EIGHT months after falling ill with COVID-19, the 73-year-old woman couldn’t remember what her husband had told her a few hours before. She would forget to remove laundry from the dryer at the end of the cycle. She would turn on the tap at a sink and walk away.

Before COVID, the woman had been doing bookkeeping for a local business. Now, she couldn’t add single-digit numbers in her head.

Was it the earliest stage of dementia, unmasked by COVID? No. When a therapist assessed the woman’s cognition, her scores were normal.

What was going on? Like many people who’ve contracted COVID, this woman was having difficulty sustaining attention, organizing activities, and multitasking. She complained of brain fog. She didn’t feel like herself.

But this patient was lucky. Jill Jonas, an occupational therapist associated with the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis who described her to me,  PAGE 3

Lawmakers, advocates call on CA legislature to pass bill expanding ID access Estimated 1.6 million undocumented residents will benefit

CALIFORNIA lawmakers and a coalition of advocates are rallying behind a bill that will expand access to state-issued identification cards to undocumented nondriver residents.

During a press conference on Friday, July 5, Asian Americans Advancing Justice - California, California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC), Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC), and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) came together to call on the state legislature to pass Assembly Bill 1766.

“As one of the co-sponsors of AB 1766, we have seen firsthand what it means for those who cannot access an official identification card,” said Connie Chung Joe, CEO Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California. “It’s not only morally wrong  PAGE 2

Marcos: PH-US ties must ‘evolve’

by CATHERINE

VALENTE

AND BERNADETTE ManilaTimes.net

TAMAYO

PRESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. expressed hope that the Philippines' relationship with the United States would continue to "evolve in the face of all the changes that have been happening worldwide."

Marcos issued the statement during a courtesy call by Secretary of State Antony Blinken to the President in Malacañang where they discussed the 70-year-old Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), amid the

"shared challenges."

The MDT, signed between the two nations in 1951, calls for both to come to each other's defense in case of an armed attack.

"The Mutual Defense Treaty is in constant evolution, I'd like to think of it," Marcos told Blinken.

The Philippines is caught between the rising conflict between the U.S. and China after Speaker Nancy Pelosi of the U.S. House of Representatives reportedly used the country's international airport to transit to Taiwan earlier this week.

Marcos, however, said that Pelosi's visit to Asia, which included Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan, did not raise the intensity of the conflict, but proved how it had always been present in the region.

On Friday, August 5, China announced sanctions against Pelosi for allegedly "interfering in China's internal affairs and seriously undermining China's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

This developed after Pelosi claimed that the U.S. will "not allow" China to isolate Taiwan.  PAGE 2

Pope sends condolences on death of former President Ramos

PRESIDENT’S PRAYER President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visits the tomb of his father, former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on Tuesday, August 9. Before this, Marcos attended the state funeral of former president Fidel V. Ramos.

PNA photo

POPE Francis has sent his condolences to Filipinos for the death of former President Fidel Ramos.

In a telegram addressed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the pope extended to Filipinos his “heartfelt condolences and the assurance of my prayers”.

“Mindful of the late President’s years of service to the nation and his efforts in fostering the values of democracy, peace and rule of law, I commend his soul to the mercy of Almighty God,” he wrote.

“Upon President Ramos’ family and all who mourn his passing, I invoke the divine blessings of consolation and peace,” the pope added.

Ramos, the country’s 12th president, died on July 31 at age 94. He was laid to rest at the National Heroes’ Cemetery in Metro Manila on August 9.

Under his term, the nation was dubbed as the “tiger cub economy in Asia” with his economic reforms.

Prior to his election as president, he served as chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from 1986 to 1988 and Secretary of National Defense from 1988 to 1991. (Philstar.com with reports from CBCP)

Sara Duterte denies hand in Walden Bello cyber libel case MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte denied on Tuesday, August 9 that she is behind the cyber libel charges faced by longtime activist and her former opponent for the vice-presidency, Walden Bello, which was filed by a former Davao City official now working for the Office of the Vice President.

“I have never filed a libel case in my life.

Criticisms do not deserve even a backward glance because the accomplishments of Davao City under my leadership are already set in stone,” Duterte said in a statement.

“Mr. Bello should focus on salvaging what remains of his dignity and self-respect. I am asking him to stop obsessing over me

— and stop blaming me for his fall from grace,” she added.

But Bello, arrested Monday in Quezon City on two counts of cyber libel filed by former Davao information officer Jefry Tupas, maintained that Duterte is the "moving force" behind the charges and accused the vice president's camp of having "weaponized the law."

"The cyberlibel charge against me was a vindictive response to questions I raised about Vice President Duterte's performance as mayor of Davao that she Former President Fidel V. Ramos is laid to rest at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City was expected to answer as a candidate on Tuesday, August 9. Ramos was also accorded a State funeral with full military honors. for higher office," Bello said. "Instead of PNA photo by Avito Dalan engaging in democratic exchange, her  PAGE 2

Ex-President Fidel Ramos laid to De Lima cleared of bribery raps rest at Libingan ng mga Bayani

by KRISTINE JOY

Philstar.com

PATAG

MANILA — The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed bribery complaints against former Sen. Leila De Lima and her former aide Ronnie Dayan for lack of probable cause.

The Special Team of Investigators - Office of the Ombudsman, which filed the complaints, failed to provide "a clear, accurate and consistent narration of facts" that would show that De Lima and Dayan may have committed Direct Bribery or Indirect Bribery, the This photo of former Sen. Leila de Lima was taken on July 29, 2022 after the hearing at Office of the Ombudsman said.

Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 204.

Senate photo The complaint filed by the

Special Team of Investigators of the Office of the Ombudsman on Oct. 8, 2018 was anchored on the testimonies of Kerwin Espinosa, Ram-Jhon Micharl Espinosa and Marcelo Adorco.

Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer III Daniel Von Evan Panelo signed the resolution dated January 5, 2022.

De Lima's lawyers only received a copy of the resolution on Tuesday.

Inconsistencies De Lima was accused of collecting funds in preparation of the 2016 elections, with Espinosa claiming he gave several tranches of millions of  PAGE 3

by NEIL

ARWIN MERCADO Inquirer.net

MANILA — Former President Fidel V. Ramos was laid to rest Tuesday, August 9 at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB).

The tomb assigned to Ramos, the 12th chief executive of the country, was beside that of another former president, Elpidio Quirino.

The remains of the late former Chief Executive first arrived at the LNMB after a private mass at past 10 a.m.

Joining the final rites was President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who can be seen

giving a salute to Ramos’ remains.

Ramos, who also previously served as chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and secretary of the Department of National Defense, was given full military honors with a 21-gun salute.

A Philippine flag that covered Ramos’ casket was also turned over to the Ramos family, handed

by Marcos.

The song Alerta Filipinas, and two Christian songs — How Great Thou Art and Ama Namin (the 1986 version) — were being played during the funeral march as he was being laid to to his final resting place, as per the request  PAGE 2

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From the Front Page

Marcos: US-PH ties must...

CHANGE OF COMMAND. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. hands over a saber to the new Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente O. Bacarro, during the change of command ceremony at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Monday, Aug. 8.

Marcos said he sees a stronger AFP under the leadership of Bacarro, who replaced Gen. Andres Centino.

NIB photo by Rey Baniguet

Sara Duterte denies hand in Walden...

PAGE 1 camp weaponized the law by filing a cyberlibel case against me, declared me persona non grata in Davao, and branded me a narcopolitician."

Bello had called Tupas a "drug dealer" after she was relieved from her post at Davao City when she was found to be atending a party in Davao de Oro in November 2021 where P1.5 million worth of illegal drugs were seized.

Tupas has since returned to Duterte's fold and has been working as the head of OVP's media and public relations division.

Speaking to reporters present during his arrest, Bello said he is “innocent of the charge.”

Bello, a former Akbayan

party-list representative, filed a counter affidavit in April and called the accusations "politically motivated, frivolous, and inconsistent with facts."

But Duterte said Bello should stop “deflecting blame,” “playing the victim” and dragging her into his legal woes and instead should “be reminded of the fact that a civilized and democratic society does not respect hubris.”

“The right to freedom of speech and expression does not protect anyone from defiling the name and reputation of others,” Duterte said.

Bello, however, hit Duterte for having "little respect for freedom of speech and knows only the art of intimidation."

"She should act in a manner that befits a vice president and

cease disgracing herself and her office by her futile defense of an indefensible act," he said.

Press freedom and freedom of expression advocates have long called for the decriminalization of libel, which is often used to harass and silence journalists and dissenters.

Bello is set Tuesday to post bail amounting to P48,000 for each count of cyber libel.

Bello said in messages shared to reporters that every requirement for him to be released on bail has been met, are being notarized and will be submitted to QC executive judge for the issuance of release order. He hopes to be released by 2 p.m. (Xave Gregorio with a report from Marianne Enriquez/ News5)

Ex-President Fidel Ramos laid to rest at...

PAGE 1

of the former president, relayed through eldest daughter Angel Ramos Jones.

Prior to the burial, a funeral mass was held at the Heritage Chapel in Taguig City.

Ramos, who served as president of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998, died last July 31 at the age of 94.

He is remembered for a

number of achievements during his presidency such as resuscitating the economy, allowing the country to rid itself of the reputation as “the sick man of Asia.’’

It was also during the Ramos administration that the government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) signed a peace agreement.

Ramos likewise resolved the energy crisis that hounded the country during the first year of his presidency.

A bemedaled military man, Ramos served as vice chief of staff of the Armed Forces and was Philippine Constabulary commander when he decided to join the Edsa People Power Revolution that ousted the 20year Marcos regime. g

PAGE 1 Pelosi's visit to Taipei — which China sees as its territory — has also prompted Beijing to launch its biggest military exercise at least 20 kilometers off Taiwanese coasts.

"The visit of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, coming here, really just... I do not think, to be perfectly candid, I did not think it raised the intensity, it just demonstrated it — how the intensity of that conflict has been. It actually has been at that level for a good while, but we got used to it and put it aside," Marcos said.

Recalling his talk with U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Loss Carlson, Marcos said the Philippines and the U.S. "can no longer isolate one part of our relationship from the other."

"We are too closely tied because of the special relationship between the United States and the Philippines and the history that we share," he said.

The President also noted that the assistance and help the U.S. has extended to the Philippines over the years "can no longer be categorized as one thing or another because they cover such a large scope."

Marcos said a "volatile" international diplomatic scene, with the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and China-Taiwan tensions, highlight "the importance of the relationship between the United States and the Philippines."

"I hope that we will continue to evolve that relationship in the face of all the changes that we have been seeing and the changes between bilateral relations between us and the United States," he said.

Blinken, for his part, described the two countries' relationship as "quite extraordinary because it is really founded in friendship.

It's forged as well in partnership, and it's strengthened by the fact that it's an alliance as well."

He also said that the people to people ties between Washington and Manila "are almost unique and it's something that we tremendously value in the United States."

'Shared challenges' Blinken assured Marcos of U.S. commitment to the MDT and of working on "shared challenges."

Aside from the treaty, the U.S. official said "we're also working together as partners in so many areas particularly economically."

"The alliance is strong, and I believe can grow even stronger," he added.

Blinken said, however, that aside from "working on bilateral relations between us, we're working together in the region, and increasingly, we're working globally."

The U.S. official has reaffirmed the Biden administration's commitment to defend the Philippines against any armed attack in the South China Sea and rejected anew China's massive claim on the resourcerich waters.

Travel to the US Blinken also met with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo who, in a joint virtual press conference, announced that the travel to the U.S. in September of the President to attend the United Nations General Assembly and to meet with his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden is being "firmed up."

"We agreed to work together over the next couple of months in firming up opportunities for our presidents for a possible meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New

York next month as well as the possible visit by President Marcos to Washington D.C., their schedules permitting, to an open invitation extended by President [Joe] Biden," Manalo said.

At the same time, Manalo said that he and Blinken "talked extensively about the alliance between our two countries."

"What stood out from our discussion was our resounding commitment to sustaining the positive momentum and trajectory of Philippine-U.S. relations," the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) chief said.

Blinken, who is in the country for the first time, said that he wanted to come to the Philippines "at the start of the Marcos presidency because the Philippines is an irreplaceable friend, partner, [and] ally to the United States."

Blinken said the PhilippineU.S. alliance is the "oldest in the Indo-Pacific region."

"As you heard from the Secretary (Manalo), we share interest, we share values and we're connected by ties of family, friendship that go back literally, generations," he stressed.

Blinken said the U.S. seeks to work closely with the President, Manalo, and other concerned Filipino officials "to make the proud history that we share into a living history for the Filipinos and Americans alike."

The U.S. Secretary of State said that his itinerary "reflected the scale and scope" of the Philippine-U.S. relationship and partnership.

Manalo said he and Blinken also discussed steps "to build on our two-way high level engagements over the past year, including the 9th Bilateral Strategic dialog as a member where we adopted the joint vision for the 20th century Philippine-United States partnership."

He said that in November, the Philippines is looking forward to hosting the 10th Bilateral Strategic Dialog "where we hope to advance our discussions on the political, security and economic cooperation between our two countries."

Blinken also confirmed the visit to the Philippines of two other U.S. congressional delegations over the next two weeks which, Manalo said, was a "very positive sign of, I hope, the growing interest United States legislators [to] start off on the right foot with our new administration."

Before the joint press conference, Manalo and Blinken had a brief virtual meeting where DFA secretary thanked the U.S. official for finding the "opportunity and time" to come to Manila, especially after attending the very hectic Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Ministerial Meeting (AMM) in Phnom Penh.

Manalo missed the AMM after contracting COVID-19.

Manalo's health has improved but still opted to conduct the bilateral meetings and joint press conference with Blinken virtually.

Taiwan strait In the same virtual briefing, Blinken said maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is vital not only for Taiwan but to the Philippines and many countries.

"We seek to deescalate those tensions and we think dialogs are a very important element.

What I'm hearing from countries around the region and countries around the world is that they expect us to maintain our channels of communication,"

Blinken said.

"They expect us to responsibly manage our differences and that is what the United States is determined to do," he added.

Blinken also said, "What happens to the Taiwan Strait affects the entire region. In many ways it affects the entire world because the Strait like the South China Sea is a critical waterway."

He noted that nearly 90 percent of the world's largest ships pass through the Taiwan Strait.

"We always stand by our partners. It is important to underscore that because of what's happening in the Taiwan Strait," Blinken said.

Manalo said that while the Philippines "continues to help calm the waters and keep peace" it can "ill afford any further escalation of tensions in the region, because we are already facing a number of challenges getting our economy back to work, especially because of the COVID-19 pandemic."

"And we all know that no one country will be able to deal with all these issues on their own. And we look at the United States, a very important ally, our dear friend, as we chart our path forward," Manalo said.

Blinken said the U.S. will also work with the Philippines to help secure its maritime domain.

"We also partner with Filipino fishermen and scientific researchers to preserve and protect the Philippines' precious maritime resources which are under threat from illegal fishing and environmental destruction by outside actors," he said.

COVID aid Following his meeting with the President and Manalo, Blinekn oversaw the turnover of COVID medical supplies via the United States Aid for International Development (USAid).

In his speech, Blinken congratulated the Philippine government in its vaccination milestones and untiring efforts to combat the health and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among the assistance given to the Department of Health (DoH) include face masks and latex gloves.

Health Officer in Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the DoH has expressed its gratitude to the U.S. government for their unwavering assistance to the Philippines in responding to the pandemic and protecting Filipinos with vaccines and technical assistance.

The United States has already given a total of $50 million of aid and other assistance to the Philippines as part of its fight against the pandemic 'Delicate situation' Meanwhile, Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel 3rd said China should handle the controversial trip of Pelosi to Taiwan diplomatically by raising the matter to the United Nations.

Pimentel, former Senate foreign relations committee chairman in the 18th Congress, said any attempts to solve the problem outside the UN is "very delicate" as there are many flashpoints in the world.

Sen. Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada said the Philippines has to be friends with everybody.

Estrada pointed out that Taiwan is near the Philippines and that there are many Filipinos in Taiwan.

As chairman of the Senate national defense committee, Estrada said he had scheduled a public hearing on Wednesday on the Taiwan situation. g

Lawmakers, advocates call on CA legislature to...

PAGE 1

to deny these residents what most of us take for granted like opening a bank account and registering our children for school, but nonsensical to withhold the State ID for nondrivers when undocumented residents can obtain a driver’s license.”

Under AB 60, passed in 2013, more than one million undocumented residents in California have been able to obtain a driver’s license.

However, advocates point out that the bill falls short in applying to undocumented residents who don’t have access to a car or the ability to take a driving test.

The proposed bill, AB 1766, would provide state-issued IDs to those left out by AB 60, including women, elders, people with disabilities, and formerly incarcerated individuals.

“More than 1.6 million undocumented CA residents would benefit from expanding state-issued IDs

to non-driver residents,” said Assemblymember Reggie JonesSawyer (D-South Los Angeles) and author of AB 1766. “The passage of AB 1766 will bring equity to those who have been unable to access basic life essentials because they have no legally recognized identification.

We must close the gap and allow all Californians to obtain a state identification card.”

Many Californians without state identification rely on gym memberships or college/ university IDs, if available to them. Others may use a foreign passport to verify their identity, but this can put them at risk by revealing they are foreign nationals living in the U.S. Those most impacted by not having access to a government identification card are the elderly, women, individuals with disabilities, and those who were formerly incarcerated.

Lourdes, an undocumented California resident providing only her first name to

preserve anonymity said, “We are afraid to use our passports to identify ourselves because we are not sure who we are sharing our information and how they will use this information.”

Survivors of domestic violence who lack proper documentation or a government-issued ID are far less likely to leave their abuser.

We know this impacts many Californians as rates of domestic violence are almost three times the national average for immigrant and undocumented women, according to the National Organization for Women Foundation.

“If I had access to a government ID, I wouldn’t have endured years of domestic abuse,” said Ms. Yoon, an elderly client of Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California who does not own a car and is therefore ineligible for an AB 60 ID. “Having an ID is so important because I lost my courage and I was afraid I wouldn’t have a safe place to go.” g

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Young rights lawyer receives US-based Roger Baldwin Medal of Liberty FILIPINO human rights lawyer AK Guillen, who survived an attack in 2021, has been recognized as the winner of the 2022 Roger N. Baldwin Medal of Liberty.

Michael Breen, president and CEO of Human Rights First, said the Baldwin Medal, for over three decades, “has brought recognition and support to extraordinary activists who are advancing the protection of human rights at great personal

risk.”

The Human Rights First, an “independent advocacy and action organization that challenges America to live up to its ideals,” picked Guillen hailing him as a “courageous and effective advocate whose work has made a difference in the lives of his fellow Filipinos and put a spotlight on abuses and calling for accountability.”

In March 2021, Guillen was stabbed twice in Iloilo and was

found with a screwdriver in his cheek.

In receiving his recognition, he said the award will encourage his colleagues ever more “to continue our work defending human rights and civil liberties in the Philippines, even in these difficult times.”

Young rights defender He said that announcement of the award coincides with the International Day of World’s Indigenous Peoples, which is also the National Indigenouse Peoples Day in the Philippines.

Guillen was one of the lawyers representing indigenous Tumandok land defenders and assisting in anti-terrorism law petitions.

“Indigenous peoples, like the Tumandok community, as well as farmers, labor leaders, and activists, have borne the brunt of unjust arrests, extrajudicial killings, and other human rights violations committed by state security forces that, to this day, still take place throughout the country. Their rights must be protected, and we hope that this recognition will help bring This handout photo shows lawyer Angelo Karlo Guillen of the National Union of Peoples' attention to their plight,” he Lawyers.

Contributed photo added. (Philstar.com)

De Lima cleared of bribery...

PAGE 1

pesos each to Dayan, amounting to P8 million.

Espinosa in April recanted his allegations against De Lima and said, in a counter-affidavit in a separate drug rap, that he was "only coerced, pressured, intimated, and seriously threatened by the police" during Senate hearings in November and December 2016.

In dismissing the complaint, the Ombudsman said: "After a painstaking review of records, it appears that there is no probable cause to indict the respondents of the charges against them."

The anti-graft office said the testimonies presented by the Special Team of Investigators have glaring inconsistencies.

The Ombudsman pointed out that during all the occasions Espinosa said he gave money to Dayan, De Lima was never there. In Adorco’s version of events, Espinosa handed the money directly to De Lima.

"The inconsistencies in the

testimonies of the complainant’s witnesses cannot be brushed as trivial or inconsequential. The incongruities pertain to material details that cast doubt on the veracity of the accusation that de Lima, through Dayan, had collected bribe money from Kerwin," the resolution read.

Recantations and call for release Espinosa was just the first of three personalities linked to drug cases against De Lima who have retracted their allegations against the former senator.

Dayan and government star witness Rafael Ragos, former head of the Bureau of Corrections, have also done so.

De Lima has already been acquitted in one drug case but is facing two more—she has moved for the dismissal of one case, bringing to the Muntinlupa court the recantations of the three personalities.

Prior to assuming his post, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said he is willing to

review the cases against De Lima as he flagged the recantations.

But faced with a call from two minority senators to drop the charges and free De Lima, Remulla said on July 26 that the matter is already within the jurisdiction of the Muntinlupa trial court.

"Based on records, Ragos has not been presented by the defense as a witness before the Muntinlupa Court. Hence, the department will rely on the sound discretion of the appreciation of this alleged evidence," the statement from the Office of the Justice Secretary read.

A similar call for De Lima's release was filed at the House earlier Tuesday by Makabayan bloc lawmakers.

De Lima has been detained at the police headquarters in Quezon City since February 2017. She has repeatedly denied accusations against her, calling them politically-motivated, which the Duterte government had denied. 

BACK TO SCHOOL IS COMING. Our kids can be full of icky, sticky little surprises. We can't protect them from everything, but we can protect them from COVID-19. Add vaccines and boosters to your child's back to school list.

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MONDAY RUSH. Motorists plying the southbound lane of Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City experience heavy traffic amid light rains on Monday, Aug. 8. The weather bureau said the southwest monsoon (habagat) will dampen most areas in Luzon. PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Cognitive rehab may help older adults clear...

PAGE 1 has been providing cognitive rehabilitation to the patient, and she is getting better.

Cognitive rehabilitation is therapy for people whose brains have been injured by concussions, traumatic accidents, strokes, or neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. It’s a suite of interventions designed to help people recover from brain injuries, if possible, and adapt to ongoing cognitive impairment.

Services are typically provided by speech and occupational therapists, neuropsychologists, and neurorehabilitation experts.

In a recent development, some medical centers are offering cognitive rehabilitation to patients with long COVID (symptoms that persist several months or longer after an infection that can’t be explained by other medical conditions).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 4 older adults who survive COVID have at least one persistent symptom.

Experts are enthusiastic about cognitive rehabilitation’s potential. “Anecdotally, we’re seeing a good number of people [with long COVID] make significant gains with the right kinds of interventions,” said Monique Tremaine, director of neuropsychology and cognitive rehabilitation at Hackensack

Meridian Health’s JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in New Jersey.

Among the post-COVID cognitive complaints being addressed are problems with attention, language, information processing, memory, and visualspatial orientation. A recent review in JAMA Psychiatry found that up to 47% of patients hospitalized in intensive care with COVID developed problems of this sort. Meanwhile, a new review in Nature Medicine found that brain fog was 37% more likely in nonhospitalized COVID survivors than in comparable peers who had no known COVID infections.

Also, there’s emerging evidence that seniors are more likely to experience cognitive challenges post-COVID than younger people — a vulnerability attributed, in part, to older adults’ propensity to have other medical conditions.

Cognitive challenges arise because of small blood clots, chronic inflammation, abnormal immune responses, brain injuries such as strokes and hemorrhages, viral persistence, and neurodegeneration triggered by COVID. Getting help starts with an assessment by a rehabilitation professional to pinpoint cognitive tasks that need attention and determine the

severity of a person’s difficulties.

One person may need help finding words while speaking, for instance, while another may need help with planning and yet another may not be processing information efficiently. Several deficits may be present at the same time.

Next comes an effort to understand how patients’ cognitive issues affect their daily lives. Among the questions that therapists will ask, according to Jason Smith, a rehabilitation psychologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas: “Is this [deficit] showing up at work? At home?

Somewhere else?

Which activities are being affected?

What’s most important to you and what do you want to work on?”

To try to restore brain circuits that have been damaged, patients may be prescribed a series of repetitive exercises.

If attention is the issue, for instance, a therapist might tap a finger on the table once or twice and ask a patient to do the same, repeating it multiple times. This type of intervention is known as restorative cognitive rehabilitation.

“It isn’t easy because it’s so monotonous and someone can easily lose attentional focus,” said Joe Giacino, a professor PAGE 7

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Contingency plan for Taiwan OFWs pushed

by BeRnadette

taMayo ManilaTimes.net

SEN. Rafael Tulfo on Monday called on the government to draw up a contingency plan for Filipino workers (FWs) in Taiwan should the tension between Beijing and Taipei escalate.

The visit last week of United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan — which China considers as a breakaway province — has infuriated Beijing, which has accused Washington of violating the "One China" policy.

In response, China conducted large-scale military drills in six areas surrounding Taiwan and ordered its warplanes to fly into EARLY START. Children as young as three years old learn ballet at The Box Performance Garage in Kamuning, Quezon City on Saturday, the island's air defense zone.

Aug. 6. Safety protocols against Covid-19 are enforced like physical distancing and wearing of masks during class.

Tulfo, who is being groomed PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler to head the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers, noted that there are about 200,000 Filipinos working in Taiwan.

He said the Overseas Workers

Welfare Administration, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office and the Department of Foreign Affairs should come up with a "coordinated plan to ensure the safety of Filipino workers in Taiwan and other neighboring countries."

"The tension between China and Taiwan is not something to be taken lightly. This is the perfect time for government agencies to show their united force by working together for the safety and security of our workers abroad," he said.

"In my experience of helping OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) in the past two decades, the government agencies, oftentimes, were very reactive instead of proactive," Tulfo said.

"We should be ready to evacuate OFWs in the event that the current situation escalates into a war."

The Taiwanese government reported some Chinese fighter

2 Philippine Navy soldiers promoted while aboard US battleship DOH in talks to procure

by Michael

Punongbayan Philstar.com

MANILA — Two soldiers of the Philippine Navy will soon come back to the country with the distinct honor of being promoted while aboard an American battleship docked at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

Now Petty Officer 1st Class Ronieboy Fajardo and now Seaman 2nd Class Esmael Serafin were donned their next higher ranks in an unprecedented ceremony held aboard the historic “Mighty Mo” or the Iowaclass battleship USS Missouri.

Naval Public Affairs Office (NPAO) chief Commander Benjo Negranza said both enlisted personnel form part of the sailors sent to participate in the recently concluded Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) naval exercises held in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Naval Task Group (NTG) 80.5 Commander and BRP Antonio Luna Commanding Officer Capt. Charles Merric Villanueva administered the donning of ranks to the enlisted personnel.

Fajardo, a native of Zamboanga City, was promoted for graduating number one in Systems Management Course Class 43

while Serafin of Catbalogan City, Samar was promoted by virtue of regular promotion.

Negranza said this was the first time for the Philippine Navy to conduct such a ceremony aboard the World War II-era Iowa-class battleship currently moored at the heart of Pearl Harbor as a museum ship.

He shared that before the start of the ceremony, members of the NTG 80.5 and the ship’s crew volunteered to help in the cleaning of the battleship to reciprocate the hospitality extended by the people of Hawaii.

He said the Philippine Navy contingent to RIMPAC 2022 is now sailing home following successful month-long naval exercises led by the United States.

They were sent off by the Filipino community in Hawaii, along with the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Liaison Officer to Hawaii Capt. Aldrin Doctor, while recognizing the contingent’s achievements and the pride they brought through successful participation in the premier naval exercise alongside the best navies in the world.

Negranza said NTG 80.5 is now on its way to Guam for a brief layover before heading back to

the Philippines later this month.

He added that the Philippine Navy contingent capped off its third and another remarkable participation in the world’s largest naval exercise on Aug. 4 in a closing ceremony at the Ford Island Conference Center.

U.S. 3rd Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Michael Boyle congratulated the contingents from participating nations for the job well done and successful RIMPAC exercise, as all heads of the delegation were also given a chance to share their experiences and challenges during the exercise.

Negranza said select officers and enlisted personnel of NTG 80.5 attended the U.S.-hosted dinner reception for the closing ceremony of the RIMPAC22 aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.

With the theme “Capable, Adaptive Partners,” RIMPAC 2022 was the largest naval exercise participated in by 26 nations, 38 ships, four submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 25,000 personnel that sought to build and strengthen mutual understanding through cooperative activities of multinational maritime forces. g

monkeypox vaccine

by Red

Mendoza ManilaTimes.net

THE government is in talks with development partners to procure vaccines against monkeypox, the Department of Health (DoH) said.

This comes as the country continues to remain vigilant against the highly infectious disease, which so far has been detected in a Filipino who arrived in the country last month.

During a media briefing on Tuesday, DoH Officer in Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the department was talking with the United States government over the procurement of smallpox vaccines that would be used for monkeypox.

Smallpox vaccines are used for monkeypox, as they are closely related to the eradicated disease in terms of presentation.

"We have been talking with them because they have the supplies of monkeypox vaccines. We went through our development partners, the World Health Organization and the USAid (United States Agency for International Development)

para makipag-ugnayan tayo kung pwede tayong bigyan ng solutions (so we can discuss and give us some solutions)," Vergeire said.

She added that the initial answer of the US government is that it is not yet ready to commit delivery of the vaccines, as it needs to stabilize its own stocks.

The DoH is also coordinating with fellow member states in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or Asean to jointly procure monkeypox vaccines.

Vergeire said the DoH and the Food and Drug Administration are also talking to three potential monkeypox vaccine manufacturers for possible procurement.

The DoH earlier said the single case of monkeypox in the country completed his isolation on Saturday and has been discharged from the hospital.

The patient's close contacts continue their isolation but remain asymptomatic.

Vergeire said the country's disease surveillance system continues to work, including sampling those with probable cases of monkeypox. g

jets passed through the median lines in the Taiwan Strait despite firm statements of condemnation by the US, Japan and the European Union.

In preparing for a contingency plan, Tulfo said the concerned government agencies, in coordination with the national government, should consider many factors, including the safety and funding assistance for OFWs. "The situation for OFWs in Taiwan is fraught with too much risk and many Filipino workers are now worried about their future abroad," he said. g

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL RAIL AUTHORITY RFP NO. SP583-23 OUT-OF-HOME DISPLAY ADVERTISING AND MEDIA SERVICES The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) is seeking Proposals for Out-OfHome Display Advertising and Media Services Requests for Proposal (RFP) may be obtained via download at the Authority 's website as follows: http://www. metrolinktrains.com/doing_ business.

Electronic proposals must be submitted online at http://www. planetbids.com/portal/portal. cfm?CompanyID=13821# at or before 2:00 p.m. on August 11, 2022. Electronic proposals will not be received after this date and time.

Questions regarding this procurement should be submitted via the Online Q&A Section of the RFP listing at http://www. planetbids.com/portal/portal. cfm?CompanyID=13821#.

For further information contact: Melissa Cousart, Contract and Compliance Administrator at 213.452.0207 or email cousartm@scrra.net.

8/10/22 CNS-3597374# ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)

6 AUGUST 10-12, 2022 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL

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OPINION

FEATURES

Inflation, shrinkflation

THESE days, people are talking not only about more contagious COVID subvariants but also high inflation and its “variants” such as stagflation. As purchasing power and the sizes or portions of staples such as pan de sal shrink, Filipinos have coined the terms “shrinkflation” and “skimpflation.”

The problems give greater urgency for fiscal prudence and efficient management all around, from national agencies to local government units that now have a greater share of national revenues.

The new government faces enormous challenges, a number of them beyond its control.

These include surging fuel prices due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the aggressive moves of the U.S. Federal Reserve to tame inflation, which have weakened the peso and prompted the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to raise interest rates at the risk of dampening economic growth.

Mobility restrictions have been mostly lifted and growth rates indicate that the economy is recovering from the pandemic. Growth, however, has slowed down due to the surging costs of fuel and basic commodities. The government has limited room for response, with its debt rising to a record high P12.79 trillion as of end-June.

In a survey taken by Social Weather Stations from June 26 to 29, the number of Filipinos rating their families as poor increased to 12.2 million

from 10.9 million in April. That’s about 48 percent of families rating themselves as poor. The number of Filipinos who considered their families “food poor” – those who rated themselves as poor based on the food they eat – also increased from 31 percent to 34, or from 7.9 million to 8.7 million.

And the numbers are expected to grow, as headline inflation rose further in July to 6.4 percent, driven by heavily weighted food and beverages as well as transport. It was the highest since the 6.9 percent recorded in October 2018.

In Metro Manila, public transport drivers and motorcycle delivery riders are complaining about losing several days’ earnings to traffic fines of up to P3,000 imposed for even minor infractions due to confusing road signs and stoplight speed traps.

The Marcos administration has given top priority to agriculture and food security, but other sectors are also calling for relief. Underpinning all the responses is the need for good governance, the judicious use of limited resources and lasting institutional reforms. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

More ‘history’ films after Katips & MiM

Postscript

FEDERICO PASCUAL JR. HOLD on to your seats and the popcorn, folks! More historybased films are coming soon after the divisive duel at the box office between the anti-Marcos “Katips” and the pro-Marcos “Maid in Malacañang” movies.

We don’t cover cinema, but we have heard of at least two films coming soon that are based on historical facts – which means we could have another round of rechecking the historical bases of some movies.

Variety has reported that Hollywood actor Danny Trejo will play the role of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in “1521,” an epic on the “discovery” of the Philippines.

Filipino actress Bea Alonzo plays a lead role as a native, with Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan as her sister.

Bea will also star in another history-based film, “Angel Warrior,” where war transforms her into a “she-devil” helping underdog Filipino and American guerrillas fight Japanese

occupation forces on Panay island in World War II. When watching supposedly fact-based films, like many other adults, I momentarily suspend disbelief, intending to snap out of the attempted brainwashing if the delivery becomes too much to take.

But with the subliminal messages streaming through the brain, traces or strands of unwanted or harmful materials may stay after we voluntarily lowered our level of critical thinking.

This problem of being brainwashed is heightened when, without being aware of it, we have been included in a targeted audience of the best mindmanipulation scheme that gold, Tallano or whatever, can buy. * * * Back to the “Katips vs MiM” topic that we started to take up before we were distracted by Bea Alonzo: Based on Vince Tañada’s 2016 stage musical of the same title, “Katips” is about students from the Katipunan area of Quezon City protesting Marcosian martial law in the 1970-80s. “Katips” is slang for “Katipunero,” the group that

rose against tyrannical Spanish rule before the last century ended.

Daryl Yap’s film “Maid in Malacañang,” on the other hand, recalls the last three days of the Marcoses in the Palace before they fled to Hawaii at the height of the 1986 EDSA Revolt.

Yap thanked Sen. Imee Marcos, one of the executive producers of the film, which he said aimed to bring the “missing piece in our history.” He added, “I believe Filipinos want to know the real score.” You bet!

Tañada’s own grandfather, the venerable Sen. Lorenzo Tañada, was among those unjustly imprisoned during the Marcos dictatorship. Vince wants the younger generation to know that Martial Law was not the golden era that trolls are making it out to be on social media.

One MiM scene widely criticized for not only being false and malicious but also in bad taste is one showing Cory Aquino playing mahjong with nuns in the Carmelite convent in Cebu.

Cory’s eldest daughter Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, who had been her private secretary and constant companion, said: “Mom never played mahjong during EDSA or

her presidency.”

The Carmelite monastery said “the attempt to distort history is reprehensible.” The sisters said, “We were then praying, fasting and making other forms of sacrifices for peace in this country and for the people’s choice to prevail.”

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, which is under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., defended “Maid in Malacañang” against criticisms that it attempts to “distort historical facts.”

MTRCB chairperson Diorella Maria Sotto-Antonio said the film “is a dramatization of the last 72 hours of the Marcos family in the Palace in 1986 and does not purport to be a documentary.”

Antonio also defended MTRCB’s decision to give a parental guidance rating for the film, saying parents should guide the viewing habits of their children under 13 years old.

“While the PG rating serves to guide viewers and was assigned by the Board based on its own judgment applying contemporary Filipino cultural values as standard, parents are encouraged to conduct their own

assessment,” she said. * * * On another “historical” movie coming soon, Variety reported that actor Danny Trejo (“Machete,” “Con Air,” “Heat”) has been cast for the role of Portuguese explorer Magellan in “1521,” an epic on the precolonial Philippines highlighting the Battle of Mactan.

Produced by Filipino-American filmmaker Francis B. Lara Ho of Inspire Studios (“Angel Warrior,” “Palawan: Last Man Out”), “1521” follows the journey of Magellan, who led the Spanish expedition. He found the islands (in what is now the Visayan seas) on March 16, 1521.

Also in the cast is Michael Copon (“One Tree Hill,” “Power Rangers,” “Scorpion King 2”) who will play the role of Lapulapu, a local chieftain whose warriors massacred the intruders, including Magellan, who was killed on April 27, 1521.

There is, of course, the obligatory romance spicing up the story, this one between Mactan princess Diwata, played by Bea Alonzo (“Eerie,” “Unbreakable”), and Enrique, a Spanish soldier who was also Magellan’s

interpreter, played by Hector David Jr. (“Power Rangers,” “East Los High”). Another Filipino, Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan, plays Ahmani, a sister of Diwata.

Alonzo is also due to star in the WWII story “Angel Warrior” as a taxi dancer whose near-death experience transforms her into a fighter described as a “she-devil” helping the ill-equipped Filipino and American guerrillas fighting Japanese occupation forces on Panay island.

Variety said “Angel Warrior” is produced by Inspire Studios’ founder and CEO Francis Lara Ho and executive produced by John Shepherd (“The Stoning of Soraya M.”) and Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino boxing champion and former senator. The screenplay is written by Cyrus Nowrasteh (“The Stoning of Soraya M.”).

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

*** NB: All Postscripts are also archived at ManilaMail.com. Author is on Twitter as @ FDPascual. Email: fdp333@yahoo.com

Blinken visit brings US-PH relations to a higher level

Babe’s Eye View BABE ROMUALDEZ I JOINED the meeting on Saturday, August 6 between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and US State Secretary Antony Blinken. Unfortunately, Foreign Affairs Secretary Rick Manalo tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week so he was unable to join the meeting.

The meeting with Secretary Blinken lasted for more than an hour, with a wide range of subjects and issues discussed.

No doubt it was one of the most substantial meetings we have had with the United States since BBM became president.

Climate change was one major subject of discussion, as the recent magnitude 7 earthquake that struck Abra and nearby provinces in Northern Luzon has once again underscored the vulnerability of the Philippines to the destructive impact of climate change.

A key topic was the alliance between the Philippines and the United States and sustaining the positive trajectory of relations as both nations navigate emerging regional and global challenges.

I came across this very interesting online commentary titled “Aim Higher: The US-

Philippine Alliance Can Do More” published at warontherocks.com and written

by Gregory Winger and Julio Amador III that discussed threats and challenges, and the opportunities to further strengthen the alliance.

“To address strategic competition with China and emerging threats like cybersecurity, the alliance needs to develop new capacities for common defense based on integrated alliance efforts. This is not just a question of military capabilities, but the political and institutional maturation of the alliance into a mutual security partnership,” the commentary went, noting that “…there is much to do in order to make the US-Philippine alliance fit for a 21st century purpose.”

This was focused on during the 9th Bilateral Strategic Dialogue in Washington, D.C. last November that we had with Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Ely Ratner, where we signed a “Joint Vision Statement for a 21st Century United StatesPhilippines Partnership” that outlined areas of cooperation to boost military and economic ties and, more importantly, address current realities and challenges

that both nations face.

In their commentary, Winger and Amador maintain that the alliance partners “have increasingly come to recognize China as their primary threat…” and that despite the “friendliness” of former president Duterte, the continuing antagonism displayed by our neighbor within the South China Sea “demonstrated that the Chinese and Philippine positions in the maritime dispute are irreconcilable, with China unwilling to alter its territorial claims to amicably resolve the issue. This realization has been captured within Philippine national security dialogue, which has increasingly stressed the need to develop a credible military deterrent.”

The authors pointed to the “grey zone” tactics of China such as the use of maritime militias and cyber operations that fall below the threshold of an “armed attack” – enabling China to “reshape security conditions in the region in ways that actively skirt the Mutual Defense Treaty and undermine the ability of the alliance to respond.”

The “inability” of the alliance to address these emerging threats was a source of frustration for former Defense Secretary Del Lorenza, who then called for “revisions and

additions in [the] MDT and other relevant defense agreements between the US and the Philippines to ensure we have maximum possible cooperation and interoperability to deal with so-called ‘gray zone’ threats,” the authors disclosed.

As I have been saying in the past, we must ramp up efforts to modernize and enhance the capability of our Armed Forces for the Philippines to become a reliable ally that can significantly contribute to the partnership, with the operative word being “mutual” in relation to the Mutual Defense Treaty.

And for the skeptics and critics of the alliance – the authors hit it right on the nose when they said: “Accepting Philippine alignment with the United States is not an invitation for subservience. It is instead a manifestation of the Philippines’ own national interests in promoting both a free and open Indo-Pacific as well as the rules-based international order. Moreover, it accurately recognizes that the benefits afforded to Manila by the Mutual Defense Treaty also carry responsibilities that cannot be ignored for the sake of convenience.”

There is this failed diplomat who is back to his old job of being a mediocre columnist, resorting to labeling me as pro-American for highlighting the assertion of

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his official visit to Manila on Aug. 6, 2022.

PNA photo by Rico Borja

President Marcos that he will not allow even a square inch of our territory to be trampled upon by any foreign power. This person does not really understand the dynamics of diplomacy and the attendant work that goes with being a diplomat, one of which is to enhance relations with the host country.

A recent survey showed that close to 90 percent of Filipinos consider the U.S. as the most trusted nation, and also believe that President Marcos should “assert our rights over the West Philippine Sea as stipulated in the July 2016 arbitral ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.” So do we brand

all these people as being proAmericans? Of course not – they’re just being pro-Filipino!

Being ambassador to the United States, part of my mission is to make sure that the relationship between the U.S. and the Philippines remains strong and stable. I will continue to do so with the best of my ability, as I always have, for my country. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

*** Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com

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Dateline PhiliPPines

SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 10-12, 2022

7

Padilla proposes cable cars as a traffic solution MANILA — Senator Robin Padilla proposed the establishment of cable cars as means to address traffic congestion, especially in Metro Manila.

Padilla made the remark during Tuesday’s plenary session after Senator JV Ejercito called for the improvement of the railway system.

“Ngayon lang po, gusto ko lamang pong imungkahi sa ating mahal na senador [Ejercito] sa San Juan, meron pong isang nauuso din ngayon na kung

tawagin po nila ngayon ay ropeway. Ito po ‘yung paggamit ng cable,” Padilla said.

(I would like to suggest to our beloved senator from San Juan that there is a trend now which they call ropeway. This is the use of cables.)

“Nais ko rin po sana na imungkahi po sa inyo na ito po ay bagay din sa Pilipinas, lalong-lalo na sa Metro Manila, dahil sa traffic. Ito po ’yung mga cable car,” he added.

(I would like to suggest it as it will be suitable for the

Philippines, especially in Metro Manila, because of traffic. These are cable cars.)

Padilla noted that bad traffic leads to inadequate development of the country.

A sound transportation system can resolve the persisting traffic, and strengthening railways is another way to address this, said Padilla.

The senator further pointed out that the country’s geographical setting demands trains.

(Daniza Fernandez/ Inquirer.net)

PAGE 3 of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School. “But it’s a kind of muscle building for the brain.”

A therapist might then ask the patient to do two things at once: repeat the tapping task while answering questions about their personal background, for instance. “Now the brain has to split attention — a much more demanding task — and you’re building connections where they can be built,” Giacino continued.

To address impairments that interfere with people’s daily lives, a therapist will work on practical strategies with patients.

Examples include making lists, setting alarms or reminders, breaking down tasks into steps, balancing activity with rest, figuring out how to conserve energy, and learning how to slow down and assess what needs to be done before taking action.

A growing body of evidence shows that “older adults can learn to use these strategies and that it does, in fact, enhance their everyday life,” said Alyssa Lanzi, a research assistant professor who studies cognitive rehabilitation at the University of Delaware.

Along the way, patients and therapists discuss what worked well and what didn’t, and practice useful skills, such as using calendars or notebooks as memory aids.

“As patients become more aware of where difficulties occur and why, they can prepare for them and they start seeing improvement,” said Lyana Kardanova Frantz, a speech therapist at Johns Hopkins University. “A lot of my patients say, ‘I had no idea this [kind of therapy] could be so helpful.’”

Johns Hopkins has been conducting neuropsychiatric exams on patients who come to its post-COVID clinic. About 67% have mild to moderate cognitive dysfunction at least three months after being infected, said Dr. Alba Miranda Azola, co-director of Johns Hopkins’ Post-Acute COVID-19 Team.

When cognitive rehabilitation is recommended, patients usually meet with therapists once or twice a week for two to three months.

Before this kind of therapy can be tried, other problems may need to be addressed.

“We want to make sure that people are sleeping enough, maintaining their nutrition and hydration, and getting physical exercise that maintains blood flow and oxygenation to the brain,” Frantz said. “All of those impact our cognitive function and communication.”

Depression and anxiety — common companions for people who are seriously ill or disabled — also need attention.

“A lot of times when people are struggling to manage deficits, they’re focusing on what they were able to do in the past and really mourning that loss of efficiency,” Tremaine said.

“There’s a large psychological component as well that needs to be managed.”

Medicare usually covers cognitive rehabilitation (patients may need to contribute a copayment), but Medicare Advantage plans may differ in the type and length of therapy they’ll approve and how much they’ll reimburse providers — an issue that can affect access to care.

Still, Tremaine noted, “not a lot of people know about cognitive rehabilitation or

understand what it does, and it remains underutilized.” She and other experts don’t recommend digital brain-training programs marketed to consumers as a substitute for practitioner-led cognitive rehabilitation because of the lack of individualized assessment, feedback, and coaching.

Also, experts warn, while cognitive rehabilitation can help people with mild cognitive impairment, it’s not appropriate for people who have advanced dementia.

If you’re noticing cognitive changes of concern, ask for a referral from your primary care physician to an occupational or speech therapist, said Erin Foster, an associate professor of occupational therapy, neurology, and psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Be sure to ask therapists if they have experience addressing memory and thinking issues in daily life, she recommended.

“If there’s a medical center in your area with a rehabilitation department, get in touch with them and ask for a referral to cognitive rehabilitation,” said Smith, of UT Southwestern Medical Center.

“The professional discipline that helps the most with cognitive rehabilitation is going to be rehabilitation medicine.” (Judith Graham/Kaiser Health News) KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation. g

Cognitive rehab may help older adults clear...

‘LAUGHTER IN THE RAIN’. Kids seem to enjoy playing outside and getting wet in the rain during a heavy downpour in Quezon City on Sunday, Aug. 7. The weather bureau said the “combined effects” of the low pressure area and the southwest monsoon (habagat) will continue to bring scattered rain showers and thunderstorms in Metro Manila.

PNA photo by Oliver Marquez

Hard times force even seniors to look for jobs

by Ben

O. de Vera Cathy C. yamsuan Inquirer.net

MANILA — The need for a bigger family income to meet the unabated increase in prices of food and other essential items is forcing even retired senior citizens to look for jobs.

Mariana (not her real name) is a 78-year-old retired professor at a state university. After leaving the school formally in 2008, she still worked part-time teaching English and language courses, until the pandemic struck.

Mariana said she was still able to teach an online class for a semester, but decided to quit altogether. “Online class was just too stressful, especially when the WiFi signal is too weak. My students and I could not understand each other,” she told the Inquirer.

Until recently, Mariana, a widow who supports the brood of her youngest child, still managed to live off her P11,000 monthly pension from the Government Service Insurance System and an additional P5,000 a month from the Social Security System.

But the continued increase in consumer prices forced her to accept writing and editing jobs and she now assists and advises public school teachers who are completing their postgraduate thesis.

“I earn between P35,000 [and] P40,000 per client, depending on the difficulty of the job. My earnings depend on how many ask for my services. And there are those who can only pay by installment,” Mariana said.

The retiree knows what she earns will not be consistent. “But beggars cannot be choosers, especially in my situation,” she said.

High inflation The Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) latest labor force survey (LFS) released on Monday showed that 570,000 Filipinos joined the labor market for the month of June alone.

While the bulk of new joiners in the labor force were in the age bracket 25 to 34, which include new graduates, National Statistician Dennis Mapa told a press briefing that there was an increasing number of labor force entrants from higher age groups, or those above 35 years old.

For instance, Mapa said the labor force participation rate for those age 65 and above—or the number of senior citizens either working or actively looking for a job—increased to 38.2 percent from 34.9 percent last May. Mapa said that in the PSA’s survey, 65 percent of the respondents said they looked for regular jobs because they wanted more earnings to help them cope with rising prices.

Amid these harder times, regardless of age, “you will be looking for a job to augment your income,” Mapa noted.

Inflation, a measure of the average increase in prices of basic goods and services, averaged 4.4 percent during the first half of 2022, or above the 2 to 4 percent that the government considers manageable and conducive to economic growth.

Inflation rose for a fifth straight month to 6.4 percent in July, the highest since the rice crisis of 2018.

Fewer jobs Mapa noted that despite the bigger number of Filipinos looking for work, the available jobs from sectors that were reopened following the easing of quarantine restrictions were taking a hit from high prices.

He cited the wholesale and retail trade as well as repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles industry, which shed 1.22 million jobs month-on-month and 788,000 year-on-year in June.

Mapa said most of these declines in employment were in nonessential retail sectors, reflecting the tighter budgets of households reeling from high inflation, but noted that more expensive flour and, in turn, bread also led to fewer jobs in bakeries last June.

In the retail sector, 425,000 u PAGE 8

8 AUGUST 10-12, 2022 • SoCal ASIAN JOURNAL

Dateline PhiliPPines

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COVID-19 wave taking longer than expected – OCTA DOJ eyeing to build ‘island prisons’

by Pia Lee-Brago Philstar.com

MANILA — The current COVID-19 wave is taking longer than expected and may extend until the “ber” months, with high positivity rates recorded in 20 provinces, the OCTA Research Group said on Monday, August 8.

OCTA Research fellow Guido David said there are no signs of slowing down in COVID-19 infections, as he noted that more than 4,000 new cases were reported for the fourth straight day.

“The COVID-19 wave is already prolonged as it is. We were expecting a two-month wave just like in South Africa. We are past that and we have not reached the peak. It will definitely last into the ‘ber’ months as it is right now,” David told CNN Philippines.

OCTA also reported the increasing positivity rate in Metro Manila that jumped from 15.5 percent to 17.5 percent in one week as of Aug. 6.

The positivity rate refers to the percentage of tested people with positive results.

OCTA said “very high” or an over 20 percent positivity rate was registered in Albay, Benguet, Cagayan, Camarines Sur, Cavite, Isabela, La Union, Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quezon, Rizal, Tarlac, Zambales, Aklan, Bohol, Capiz, Negros Oriental and Palawan.

David aired concern and alarm over Capiz’s positivity rate of 64 percent or almost as high as its peak last January during the Omicron variant surge.

During a recent Laging Handa briefing, David said the COVID-19 wave is “taking longer than what we expected.”

He added that the Omicron BA.4 wave in South Africa only lasted two months.

“It started more or less around June, July to August, so we should have already been through two months,” David said in Filipino and English.

“But we’re not yet in the peak.

It’s taking longer. Right now, it’s looking like it will last up to four to five months, well into the ‘-ber’ months,” he added.

‘BA.5 most dominant’ Meanwhile, around 85 percent of recently tested COVID-19 samples at the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) are composed of the Omicron BA.5

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subvariant.

PGC executive director Cynthia Saloma said results of the genome-sequenced COVID-19 samples showed that currently, BA.5 is the most predominant Omicron subvariant in the country.

“If you look at it very closely, in the past month alone, BA.5 is really the most predominant sample or variant that we were sequencing in the Philippines.

It’s anywhere between 85 percent and above of our sequence samples,” Saloma said at the Laging Handa public briefing on Tuesday, August 9.

“We also detected some BA.4 and a few of BA.12.1 and very, very few of the BA.2.3, which was dominant last January. But all in all, you can probably say that the BA.5 is the current wave in the country,” she added.

As for other variants like BA.2.75, Saloma said the PGC is not seeing any additional cases.

“What we are monitoring now is the BA.5, and if there will be additional mutations,” she added.

The expert likewise noted that the BA.5 even has further subvariants detected in the country.

“In the US and Europe, a majority are BA.5.1. But in the Philippines, majority of BA.5 subvariants are composed of BA.5.2,” she said.

Currently, there are 3,107 BA.5 cases detected in the country.

On the other hand, there are a total of 104 BA.4 cases and 174 BA.2.12.1 cases detected in the Philippines.

4,621 new cases Last Sunday, the Department of Health (DOH) recorded 4,621 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the nationwide tally to 3,803,955.

Latest available data from the DOH showed that this is the fourth straight day with more than 4,000 new infections recorded daily, starting last Thursday with 4,439 cases.

The DOH also noted that active cases increased to 37,805 after an additional 461 cases were added to 37,344 cases logged last Saturday.

Meanwhile, the number of recoveries went up to 3,705,343 while there were 60,807 deaths recorded.

In the last two weeks, the regions with the highest number of cases were the

National Capital Region with 15,580, followed by Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) with 10,125 and Central Luzon with 5,109.

Western Visayas and Central Visayas remained at the fourth and fifth ranking with 2,797 and 2,141 cases, respectively.

30,000 a week Close to 30,000 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in the country for the past week, according to the DOH. The latest COVID-19 bulletin issued by the DOH on Tuesday showed that 27,331 new cases were logged from the Aug. 1 to 7.

It also noted 76 new patients in severe and critical conditions and 80 verified deaths, 32 of which occurred from July 25 to Aug. 7.

Meanwhile, the daily average number of new COVID-19 infections is 3,904 – 13 percent higher than the number recorded from July 25 to 31.

Particularly last Sunday, the DOH recorded 772 severe and critical COVID-19 patients who sought admission in hospitals – 9.3 percent of the total COVID-19 admissions in the country.

Out of the 2,514 intensive care unit beds intended for COVID-19 patients, 624 or 24.8 percent were occupied while 6,648 or 30.9 percent out of 21,548 nonICU COVID-19 beds are being used.

The DOH also reported that as of last Sunday, more than 71 million individuals or 92.06 percent of the target population have been vaccinated against the disease after an additional 198,109 individuals were added from Aug. 1 to 7.

Some 16.6 million individuals have received their booster shots, including 387,631 individuals that received booster shots last week.

The DOH likewise said that 6.7 million senior citizens or 77.90 percent of the target A2 population were able to receive their primary vaccine series.

The agency then reminded the public to continuously observe minimum public health standards under Alert Level 1.

“Remember to always wear a best-fitted face mask and, if possible, stay in well-ventilated areas. Once symptoms are felt, immediately isolate. For additional protection, have yourselves vaccinated and boosted,” it said. g

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by roBertzon

ramirez

Philstar.com

MANILA — Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla is eyeing to build “island prisons” after Senate Bill (SB) 1055 and House of Representatives Bill (HB) 10355 lapsed into law on July 23.

“We will build facilities in Sablayan, Mindoro Island,” Remulla told reporters in a Viber message when asked about the Department of Justice (DOJ)’s plan after the bills seeking to create island prisons became law.

Remulla said the island prison in Sablayan, Mindoro Island would be constructed within the same parcel of land of around 8,000 hectares where the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm (SPPF) is located.

Asked if they are also eyeing to create more island prisons in other areas in the country, Remulla said they have land areas available in Leyte and Zamboanga “which are possible future sites” as well.

Under the law, the government is mandated to set up “secure, clean and adequately equipped and sanitary” penitentiaries in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao for prisoners convicted of

heinous crimes and sentenced to life.

Heinous crimes in the Philippines include treason, parricide, murder, rape, kidnapping and serious illegal detention, robbery with violence, destructive arson and plunder.

The law also mandates the DOJ to determine the location of the facilities that can be constructed “within a military establishment or in an island.”

Before it lapsed into law, the Senate had approved on third and final reading SB 1055, with 21 affirmative votes and zero negative votes.

The bill, filed by former senate president Vicente Sotto III, aimed to establish three maximum penal institutions for prisoners convicted of heinous crimes in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

A similar measure, HB 10355, was also approved by the lower house with 222 affirmative votes in one of the sessions in December last year.

The bill was introduced in October last year in a bid to decongest and segregate high-level prisoners from other convicts, and to prevent them from smuggling

counterfeit items into their facilities.

It also mandated the facility to monitor prisoners for 24 hours using the latest detention and surveillance technology.

Despite being isolated, prisoners will still be allowed to speak with their relatives and lawyers if they get detained in the Alcatraz-like facility.

“Alcatraz” was derived from the Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay, off the coast of California. It is a former maximum security prison where high-profile convicts such as Al Capone were detained.

The DOJ has existing prison facilities such as the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro, Leyte Regional Prison in Abuyog, Leyte and San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City.

Other prison facilities in the country include the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City, the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan and the Davao Prison and Penal Farm in Braulio E. Dujali, Davao del Norte. g

they expected unemployment to further go down.

Low underemployment For the state planning agency National Economic and Development Authority (Neda), “the country needs a safe and full reopening of the economy to return to a high-growth path and reinvigorate job creation.”

“The reopening of the economy, including the resumption of face-to-face schooling, will boost domestic activities and insulate the economy against external headwinds,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and Neda chief Arsenio Balisacan said.

A bit of good news in the PSA survey was that the underemployment rate “significantly” fell to a low of 12.6 percent in June—only the 12.3 percent posted in May 2021 was the better number in the PSA’s records—as economic reopening allowed more workers to work for at least 40 hours a week. The underemployed

are those with jobs but wanted higher pay or more working hours.

In the PSA’s survey, 33 percent said they went to work for 40 hours or more a week as required by their employers, unlike in the past when workers’ work hours were slashed, which Mapa said meant quality jobs were returning amid the economic recovery.

Mapa said more betterpaying jobs were added to the retail, construction, fishing and forestry, manufacturing, as well as transportation sectors in June.

“In terms of hours of work, fulltime employment, or those who worked for more than 40 hours a week, increased substantially by 11 percent, or an additional three million individuals, while part-time workers declined by 8 percent or 1.4 million fewer individuals compared to June 2021. “Correspondingly, the mean hours of work improved from 39 in June 2021 to 40.3 in June 2022,” Neda said. g

Hard times force even seniors to look...

PAGE 7

contractual jobs on top of 780,000 permanent positions were wiped out in June, Mapa said.

The PSA labor force survey for June showed that the unemployment rate remained at 6 percent, similar to that posted in May, but the number of jobless Filipinos rose to 2.99 million from 2.93 million a month ago, bigger by 62,000. This was due to the increase in the labor force—or the number of Filipinos age 15 and above, employed or unemployed—to 49.58 million in June from May’s 49.01 million.

Mapa said the June jobless rate was better than the 10.4 percent (4.5 million unemployed) in 2020 at the height of the most stringent COVID-19 lockdowns that shed millions of jobs and shuttered thousands of businesses, as well as the 7.8 percent (3.7 million jobless) last year amid the prolonged health crisis.

But with the economy reopening in full swing, Mapa said

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‘Easter Sunday’: Tita humor and the attempt at Fil-Am representation on the big screen Despite a less-than-ideal weekend opening, the actors of Easter Sunday celebrate the largest Filipino-centric summer comedy

by Klarize

LAST weekend, the highly anticipated comedy “Easter Sunday” premiered in theaters across the world and, on its surface, it was a groundbreaking moment.

The film stars Filipino American comic Jo Koy, and for months, has been drumming up high expectations as reportedly the first major summer blockbuster starring a majorityFilipino cast.

Despite the groundbreaking moment of showing one of the largest Asian American groups on screen, the film’s opening weekend gross was $5.3 million, earning eighth place on domestic box office charts.

The film follows Joe Valencia (Koy), a hapless stand-up comic and divorced father who goes back home to Daly City to spend Easter with his family. Joe is largely based on Koy himself, and as the film opens, he’s in the process of locking a role on a TV pilot.

And he’s basically got the job — but the studio wants him to adopt a Filipino accent, similar to the one that Joe (and the real-life Koy) adopts in his stand-up sets when he emulates his mother.

The film takes twists and turns centered around Joe’s haphazard life: he’s got a teenage son (Brandon Wardell) who chafes at his father’s

Medenilla / AJPress

Lydia Gaston and Jo Koy in “Easter Sunday”

constant phone calls and appointments with his agent. A somewhat strained relationship with his mother, Susan (Lydia Gaston), who is fueding with her sister Theresa (Tia Carrere), provides the emotional nucleus of the film.

Other Filipinos in the cast include Lou Diamond Phillips, Eva Noblezada, Eugene Cordero, Elena Juatco, and Rodney To. As a Filipino seeing in the film in the theater, at first, the onslaught of Filipinos on the screen can feel like a huge win for the community.

But for the actors themselves, being around a bunch of other Filipino actors on set of a major film felt like a long-overdue achievement.

“It felt like coming home,” Carrere told the Asian Journal at a press junket for “Easter Sunday.”

Carrere, who has been a working actor since the 1990s, added, “It felt so comfortable and we just had that camaraderie right off the bat, and we’re joking back and forth. Usually with a cast, it takes a while to find your rhythm, but I don’t think we had that problem.”

The last few years in show business have shown, among other breakthroughs, that Asian Americans are storming toward the forefront of mainstream cinema.

Hollywood, in particular, is experiencing a seismic

shift of increased diversity wherein audiences are calling epresentation of traditionally ignored communities has become a major priority among actors, filmmakers, and of course, studio executives, who are seeking to capitalize on the demand.

If one’s metric for how good a film is is purely based on how many Filipinos appear on screen, “Easter Sunday” deserves roses.

It is a win for the Filipino who merely wants to see themselves portrayed on the big screen. But unprecedented Filipino representation aside, the film leaves more wanting in being a substantial film that celebrates the intricacies of Filipino identity.

“Easter Sunday” — a product of Universal and Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment — is directed by Jay Chandrasekar (of “Super Troopers” fame), written by Ken Cheng and Kate Angelo, produced by Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich.

None of these individuals, despite their merits, are of Filipino descent, making it all the more difficult to celebrate superficial representation in a film that rehashes tired stereotypical jokes and stale schtick at the expense of Filipinos everywhere, but

Jo Koy (center) stars in Easter Sunday.

especially immigrants.

The irony of “Easter Sunday” lies in the sub-plot of Joe refusing to do a Filipino accent for the audition he’s trying to nail. He argues that when he mimics a tita accent during his stand-up, he’s doing his mom. But that argument feels thin: so he’s willing to get on stage to do an exaggerated accent in a comedy club but he won’t do it for television?

This is the center of what makes Koy’s comedy in general feel extremely outdated, and what colors much of “Easter Sunday” and the subgenre of “tita humor.”

Throughout his career, Koy’s signature was caricatures of his real-life Filipina mother, using as a punchline, her vocabulary, her hyper-resourcefulness, and, of course, her accent.

Neither Carrere nor Gaston, who play the titas in this film, have naturally Filipino accents.

(Gaston was born in New York City and boasts an extensive musical theatre background and Carrere was born in Hawaii.)

Photos by Ed Araquel/Universal Pictures

Both told the Asian Journal that their accents for the film were inspired by Filipinas and titas in their personal lives, and the result was two performances that perfectly encapsulate tita humor.

“Tita humor” is primarily a caricature of a theatrically neurotic Filipina mom or auntie with a comically thick accent who is, above all else, loud and often petty. Throughout the years, “tita humor” has made its way on social media with content creators like Jeppy Paraiso and even Oscar-winning musician H.E.R. impersonating a stereotypical tita.

Generally, there isn’t anything inherently wrong with playfully impersonating your auntie. But when tita humor becomes a major plot device for a global audience, and when that film is being heavily marketed as a “Filipina American film,” that’s when it gets problematic.

And it shouldn’t be the extent of Filipino American Continued on Page 10

Team Philippines shines at World Championships of Performing Arts 2022

THE World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) also known as the only World Talent Olympics celebrated its 25th year anniversary last July 22 to 30, 2022 in Anaheim, California.

Team Philippines was represented by 60 junior and senior delegates from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. They were chosen through auditions at SM Supermalls all over the country. To further qualify, they needed to undergo several briefings, work shops and bootcamps and complete

Long haired male model Teijawn Gabriel Mercado wowed judges with his exotic Filipino look when he strutted the catwalk at the 25th WCOPA. Teijawn is 16 yr.old and 6 ft. tall. He won Bronze for Formal and Swimwear, Silver for Casual and Gold for Photo Modelling. Teijawn wore designs by Raphael Gonzales, a celebrated designer in the Philippines and trained by Model Director Larry Asistin and Rodin Gilbert Flores of KF Camp.

overall requirements for WCOPA International.

Team Philippines competed in Singing, Dancing, Modeling, Instrumentals, Acting and Variety Arts.

WCOPA Team Philippines 2022 is still the team to beat with a total of 266 Awards and Medals! 38 Gold, 59 Silver, 85 Bronze, 44 SemiFinalist Medals, 8 Finalist Medals, 1 Scholarship, 29 Division Winner Plaques, the 1st Place Award for Extraordinary National Director, and 2nd Place Best in National Costume!

Gerry Mercado, the Philippines’ National Director was awarded 1st Place for the National Directors, the Extraordinary National Director Award beating over 65 countries. #2 goes to Thailand and #3 to South Africa. Mercado has topped the national director’s award for over 5 consecutive years now and in 2019 was awarded the Diamond status, the only country or national director who has been conferred the Diamond status since WCOPA’s inception in 1997.

Team Philippines 2022 NCR 1 & 2 • Renz Carlo Valera Tividad • Rafaello Floresta Canedo • Cella Clarize Dela Cruz Bondame • Andrei Babe Quinto Ong • Maria Lara Esperanza Lopez Lara • Mikaela Pauleen Austria Logdat • Chamiel Bevy Angela Noli Logdat • Anahbea Balingit Detosil • Reiziel Vanessa Epino Abdon • Bryan Alipio Martin • Anne Dominique Teves Manlangit • Jhon Clyd Gonzaga Talili • Pepito Jr Bagood Comanda • Rafael Antonio Calaguian Canillas • Ezekiel De Guzman Sevilla • Christelle Villaflor Tiquis • Marlou Maribao Flores • Yeoj Santos • Michael John Alvarez • Teijawn Gabriel Dugenia Mercado • Gianino Sarita • Alyssa Mae Ramos • Blaire Agatha Liwanag Cebu • Leoniso Simbajon • Patricia Kaye Lumahang North Luzon • Edgardo Jr. Sefil Castañeda • Heather Lindsay Chu • Zachia Xanthe De Guzman • Raniella Kei Bato Guevara • France Nikko Nucum Nasal • Nichole Alexandra Pantig Panganiban

• Sophia Madaya Samonte • Lovely Ann Dimla Vallejo • Jefferson Coronado South Luzon • Miguel Gabriel Adalia • Christiana Rose Agarap • Alfredo Camelon • John Lorenzo Ramiro • Anjo Sarnate Region 9, 10, 12 • Mary Ashley Entrina • Eunice Cez Encarnada • Glenn Balite • Adonis Asid • Clarise Rabino Bulacan • Jay-Ar Nicolas • Larry Santiago • Kayla Melyn Arellano • Lara Dianne Lee Iloilo-Bacolod • Angeli Camille Herbolario Guadalupe (AMC Trinity) • Ma. Emma Luisa Amarante Hubag (AMC Trinity) • Addie Faye Gallenero Pajar (AMC Trinity) • Coleen Mae Cadorna Dumol • Dan Edrian Huervana Sarmiento • Rozennie Zane Bautista Tameta • Maybelle Silverio Villan • Eirene Nathalie Dalida Dela Cruz • Rapunzel Angelie Abrahan Malalis • Sheena Mae Patricio Olimba • Elisha Caramel Sorongon Vilvar • Cheree Elizabeth Gumalo

BEST NATIONAL COSTUME PICTURE. Team Philippines at WCOPA wins 2nd Place for Best National Costume. 60 delegates from GRAND FINALIST OF TEAM PHILIPPINES 2022. Picture of Finalist with Gerry Mercado, National Director for Team Philippines. Team Philippines WCOPA wore the Philippines Heritage National Costumes from the different tribes of Mindanao this 2022 namely Junior Models: Elisha Caramel Vilvar and Gianino Sarita; Junior Instrumentalist: Cristiana Agarap. Senior Models: Rozennie Tausug, Yakan, Maranao and Magindanao. All costumes were provided by Randy Carlos Guevara of Sindaw Philippines Performing Tameta. Senior Intrumentals: John Lorenzo Centinales; Senior Vocal Group: AMC Trinity Arts Guild.

AJPress photos by Andy Tecson/courtesy of Team Philippines

Let the music move you community “ … And those who were seen dancing Cherie fought bravely with grace and strength were thought to be insane by those

10

The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - August 10, 2022

By Charmie Joy

Pagulong Philstar.com

VETERAN actress Cherie Gil passed away on Friday night after a brave battle with cancer. She was 59.

In the official statement shared on Sunday, August 7 on the social media accounts of her children Jay, Raphael and Bianca, the family of the movie icon “extended our sincerest gratitude to all those who expressed concern for Cherie during this difficult time.”

They are deeply saddened by her passing but are “incredibly moved by the outpouring of love and support for her and our family.”

They said the actress died peacefully in her sleep on Aug. 5, 4:48 a.m. Eastern time (4:48 p.m. in Manila), surrounded by family and loved ones, after battling cancer. After deciding to relocate to New York City to be closer to her children, she was diagnosed with a rare form of endometrial cancer in October 2021 and then underwent treatment at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in the city, her family added.

“It was her request that her diagnosis be kept private, and as a family, we supported her in this decision. Cherie fought bravely against her illness, with grace and strength. Despite her struggles, she always managed to exude courage and never lost her trademark sass, wit and infectious humor or her larger-than-life personality,” the statement further said.

The sad news about her death first broke out on Friday night, shocking the showbiz industry.

Cherie was dubbed as La Primera Contravida for her iconic villain roles on

Cherie Gil, real name Evangeline Rose Gil Eigenmann, has passed away after battling cancer. She was 59.

Philstar.com photo

television and in movies, including Bituing Walang Ningning (1985) opposite Sharon Cuneta.

Sharon re-shared a video clip on Instagram showing the famous scene, where Cherie’s character Lavinia uttered the iconic line to the Megastar’s character Dorina: “You’re nothing but a second-rate, trying hard copycat!”

Cherie last graced the screen via GMA’s teleserye Legal Wives in 2021. it has ever produced. I have lost a part of myself no one can ever replace,” said a grieving Sharon. “That line will never be the same again, rest in power.” Other showbiz personalities who paid tribute to Cherie included direk Joey Reyes, Liza Soberano, Sunshine Cruz, Dennis Trillo, Zsa Zsa Padilla and Pops Fernandez.

Real name Evangeline Rose Gil Eigenmann, Cherie came from a prominent showbiz clan. She is the beloved daughter of Eddie Mesa and Rosemarie Gil and is the sister of Michael de Mesa and the late Mark Gil. Cherie’s nieces and nephews who are also in showbiz honored their Tita Cherie.

Sid Lucero uploaded a photo of her on social media captioned, “I love you. Big hug.”

Andi Eigenmann posted their photos together and called her aunt as “the one who inspires me to always stay true to my authentic self.”

“We may have lost you physically, but we gained an angel instead. Love you so much. Say hi to Tito Ralph (Mark Gil) for us,” said Ryan Eigenmann.

Max Eigenmman described her aunt as someone who “will always be the most empathetic, kind and loving person in my eyes… with the most badass swag, class and elegance to match.”

“To me, she is my aunt. My Tita Cherie.

The one I’d usually call when her brother (my father) (Mark Gil) pissed me off (zany face emoji) or anything that made me feel bad, for that matter, I called tita. ‘Coz she always knew what to do to make me feel better. It was usually a yoga practice or a glass of wine.”

“She was the hug I needed when I thought so ill of myself,” she furthered.

Gabby Eigenmann also shared photos of his late father Mark Gil and his Tita Cherie.

The actor wrote: “Posting these pics is so hard. You guys are together again. I love you with all my heart. Thank you Lord for sharing them with us.. I love you TITA.”

who could not hear the music.”

— Ascribed to Friedrich Nietzsche

joy of our souls during our time here on earth. Get off your backside and listen to music that resonates with your body as you cook, clean your car, clean out the garage or do other mind numbing chores.

If all else fails, start humming Monette as you work. My cousin, who AdevA MAglAyA has been a dentist for decades, always hummed as she worked on her patients’ mouths. She CARE to dance? enjoyed her work and it showed Most people have rhythm in the quality of what she did. embedded in their DNA. Music Music just poured out of her. moves them emotionally and When her husband was alive, physically. Music is a powerful they would hit the dance floor gravity-defying force that can at parties whenever they could. speak to the soul.

Music makes things easier Watch when people listen as the arduous tasks get done. to an upbeat Michael Jackson If you do mental work like tune or even a Strauss waltz writing or analysis that needs piece and before long, they intense focus and you tend to will transform any empty space get easily distracted, listen to into a dance floor, dancing by soft, unobtrusive instrumental themselves, or even trip the music so the words don’t get in light fantastic if they are lucky the way. enough to be with someone On hot summer nights who shares their love for music when sleep is elusive and the and dancing. air conditioning is busted, listen Test yourself if you have and fall asleep to the sounds of rhythm in you. See if a few gentle rain on your smartphone. strains of any kind of music It’s hypnotic. This beats having move you emotionally and to drink those dangerous sleep get you busting a few moves aids with horrid side effects. yourself.

Not all music soothes the Want to see real honest to soul though. Choose wisely. goodness dancing? Check out There is a smorgasbord of the video on youtube titled music to choose from and “Old movie stars dance to like anything else, our choices Uptown Funk” sang by Bruno determine the outcome. It is Mars. It is this wonderfully no wonder that the younger edited and seamlessly spliced YouTube video of the Hollywood generations who grew up listening to that so-called stars of a past golden era, exhibiting real talent in dancing. music genre of troubling, raspy, jagged sounds that focus on the I just love watching the mixing seedy side of life such as blood, of dance talent and current sex, violence, gang culture and modern beat. The video editor, others have strayed so far away whoever he or she may be, from what is good. deserves praise. Kudos!

It was said that there were Fred Astaire, in my opinion, celestial strains of music by a is beyond compare. There will host of angels floating above never be another Astaire on earth who can take to the dance the stable in Bethlehem at the time Christ was born more floor and make it look so easy. than two thousand years ago.

Sigh … The music he danced My wild guess is it may have to seemed welded into his been musical strains of Handel’s bones. But such perfection in movement didn’t come without “Messiah.”

Was there music in the a price. He must have practiced Garden of Eden? Perhaps yes until his bones and muscles before sin came to be and Eden at the end of each rehearsal went dank and dark. And if day cried out for mercy. He you are living and trying to get must have burned out so much to heaven, you may wonder if energy that accounted for his there is going to be music and lean physique and lightness of dancing there as well. feet.

If lightness of being and But we don’t’ have to be freedom from the stranglehold that great of a dancer to enjoy the music and move to its beat. of gravity and earthly concerns characterize life beyond death, Dancing is exhilarating. If you the answer is probably a big want real justification to ‘bust resounding YES. a move’ as they say, dancing is So while alive and your body real good exercise and is fun! and limbs are functional, dance Exercise, as you probably with sheer abandon as you let know, is one of only 2 ways good music move you. It is (laughter being the other one) that the body naturally produces purely speculative but I have a gut feeling there is going to be endorphin — that feel-good, a lot of dancing on an immense healthy hormone that is still by celestial dance floor as you far, the best medicine for both body and spirit. We all have it in bust your heavenly moves on a conga line. us and is absolutely free.

Stand aside, Fred. You’ve So go ahead, even if you got some serious competition have two left feet, and tend to step on your partner’s feet when up there. *** dancing. Shed your inhibitions The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints and DANCE! Let the music expressed by the author do not necessarily move you. With dedicated reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints repetition and practice, you might even surprise yourself one of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. day with a dance routine. *** Cut back the time spent Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya writes online. We fritter away much of our time browsing and imbibing for Asian Journal. To send comments, e-mail toxic things from the internet monette.maglaya@asianjournalinc.com that wear away and erode the

Immigrant Living: 101 and Be-

‘Easter Sunday’: Tita...

From Page 9 comic relief, and for years, it’s almost the only thing that Koy and so many other comics have ever offered. Meaningful representation should be rooted, first and foremost, specificity in character and narrative.

“Easter Sunday” went in guns blazing with as many Filipino and Filipino American tropes, caricatures, and references as it could fit within a 96-minute window that lacked any kind of imagination.

Aside from the socially problematic implications therein, it is wildly and astoundingly unfunny.

The characters that Gaston and Carrere played felt like twodimensional imaginations of the stereotypical tita wearing a duster, pointing with her lips, and yelling at her kids. Sure, it may be amusing for a tight five at The Laugh Factory, but not as a primary comedic vehicle in a summer blockbuster.

Among the barrage of screenplay and acting choices, Noblezada — a Tony Award-nominated actor who previously turned out a stellar cinematic performance in the film “Yellow Rose” — shines as a manic pixie dream girl character who helps Joe and his family thwart the threats of a local gangster (yes, that is really a sub-plot in this film). Comedy stalwarts Tiffany Haddish and Jimmy O. Yang made cameos that were among the few enjoyable parts of the film.

Representation should not just be about be filling a quota, whether it’s measuring how many Filipinos are on the cast list, how many Asian-led films are being released, or any other half-baked attempt to attract crowds seeking diverse entertainment.

Like with “Easter Sunday,” it’s difficult celebrate its profundity of a majority-Filipino cast when it’s severely and frustratingly undermined by a thin premise and shoddy storytelling.

At the end of the day, the film feels less like an honest story that honors Filipino-centric character and narrative with intention and more of a shallow attempt to placate calls for diversity.

But the very fact that this movie exists is a sign that the industry is willing to give Filipino stories a chance and to make way for better, more thoughtful storytelling from the Filipino community.

Pahrump seeing increased interest from commercial developers

By RealtoR Fely Quitevis-Bateman PAHRUMP, a town located 62 miles west of Las Vegas, is seeing increased interest from commercial developers.

According to an article 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 break ground.

Among the projects Waggoner mentioned that are in the pipeline for the town included a medical facility, a car wash, restaurants, gas stations and overnight accommodations.

Two much-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.

A new 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 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 proposed hotel, meanwhile, is located on

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

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 19th century.

Nowadays, 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, birdwatching 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 off-road 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 facilities/amenities.

Residents themselves have even organized sports and recreational groups to bond together and enjoy the town’s vast natural beauty. These include walking/hiking groups and biking clubs, as well as bowling clubs/leagues, billiards groups and indoor swimming clubs, to name a few.

There is a lot more than meets the eye in Pahrump. Both visitors and residents have a lot of activities to indulge in. And with Las Vegas only about an hour or less away, the possibilities for fun and excitement increase exponentially.

As of now, Pahrump is one of those towns

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Construction is ongoing at the second Circle K gas station outlet in the town.

The Coyote Corner gas station near the entrance to Mountain Falls Subdivision, where the late President Fidel V. Ramos The Source, a newly-opened cannabis dispensary in Pahrump. played golf at during his stay with Realtor Fely QuitevisBateman in 2007.

Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (extreme left) with (from left) Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (right) with CEO Mark Maiyoka Nye County Chief Planner Brett Waggoner and newly-elected Commissioner Ronald Boskovich. who just bought a $2.6M medical building in Pahrump.

where land and property are more affordable than other parts of the country, or even Nevada.

Nye County, which Pahrump is situated in, keeps experiencing an increase 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 fullservice company that has served its clientele since 1992. You can reach me at 775-513-8447, 805-5592476 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.

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - August 10, 2022

Divorce mediation as an option prior to pursuing litigation 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 Atty. Kenneth the divorce case is over. Through UrsUA reyes mediation, you might be able to avoid burning bridges with IF the divorcing parties your ex spouse. As part of the are both reasonable in their mediation services, mediators expectations in resolving their can also assist both parties in family law case and if they don’t drafting the pleadings necessary think involving lawyers in their to successfully complete the case. divorce case early on would be This may include filing the divorce an efficient and cost effective petition, preparing the required way of going about their divorce financial disclosures, and drafting process, then perhaps mediation the settlement agreement and is the way to go. It can be a more stipulated judgment should the cost effective option to resolve parties successfully settle the your family law issues. There may case. be situations where involving Of course, there is no the wrong type of lawyers in guarantee that you will be able either side of the case can turn to come to an agreement but your family law case into a circus chances are higher is done and end up costing the parties through an experienced mediator. unnecessary legal fees x2 (legal The good thing about family law fees for each party). is that each issue in a family law Remember, legal fees from case is “divisible.” This means it is both parties can rapidly escalate not an all or nothing predicament in litigation and those fees will like in civil cases. You do not have be coming out of the same to settle all the issues. You can pie. If both you and your spouse settle some of the issues that are open to a fair and amicable you are able to agree upon and settlement in your family law litigation the other issues you case and both of you are not have an impasse on in court at a interested in playing games or later time. For those issues you weaponizing the judicial process cannot settle in mediation, you against the other spouse, then will still have a chance to litigate both of you can benefit from them in court at a later time and trying mediation first before hire lawyers to represent you. pursuing litigation. This can result Both parties can also utilize to a less stressful process and experts as part of the mediation preserve the size of the pie that process. For example if you own both of you are trying to divide in a business and need the business your divorce case. to be appraised, the parties By hiring an experienced may jointly retain an expert mediator in your case, the for purposes of appraising the mediator will serve as a “neutral” business during the mediation in your case. A mediator with process in order to arrive at a many years of family law trial fair and equitable division of experience to draw upon to community property. If you own advise you on a myriad of a property prior to marriage possible solutions to your family but there was a mortgage on law issues that is fair to both the property which was paid parties under the California Family using community income during Code and case law can increase the marriage, you may have to the chances of settling your case involve an forensic accounting substantially and in cost effective expert to calculate and apportion manner with less stress. Further, the community interest in the both parties can share in the cost property during the mediation of the mediation services instead process.

Barrister’s Corner

In addition, 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. *** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you.This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APLC. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a 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, APLC. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010.

Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com.

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Jeepney photo at FPAC 2016 by Florante Ibanez

FPAC 2022 headliner Ruby Ibarra

Festival Of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) returns in person after 5 years with a strong lineup

SoCal’s longest-running Filipino American tradition takes place September 3 at Levitt Pavilion, MacArthur Park LA

LOS ANGELES, CA – FilAm ARTS (The Association for the Advancement of Filipino American Arts and Culture) is thrilled to announce the return of The Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC), the longest-running Filipino cultural celebration in Southern California now in its 28th year, live and in person, September 3rd, from 4 - 10 PM at the Levitt Pavilion in MacArthur Park.

The event is FREE and open to the public.

The last in-person festival was held at Echo Park in 2017. In 2020, FilAm Arts successfully produced a three-day virtual festival, drawing thousands of viewers from around the world.

“Since its inception, FPAC has given countless artists various opportunities to amplify the voices of Filipino-Americans and Filipinos in the diaspora. We all look forward to having FPAC return in person. Kaya natin ito ( We can do this),” says Giovanni Ortega, Festival Director.

The Festival (FPAC2022) will feature Filipino food booths curated by Usapan and merchandise booths curated by SoCal Filipinos, a ticketed VIP rum/craft beer garden, a community pavilion led by Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, The freshly-named Tony Ringor Senior Pavilion, Children’s Pavilion featuring Filipino storytelling with children’s books for sale from Philippine Expressions Bookshop, a vaccine clinic provided by LA County, a DWP Mobile Water trailer providing free drinking water to reduce plastic waste on site, Sari-Sari art installation by artist Francis Gum and a fleet of Toyota’s new vehicles.

This year’s headlining artist is Ruby Ibarra, rapper, music producer and spoken word artist. The list of mainstage performers include cultural performances, Rondalla Club of Los Angeles , Kayamanan Ng Lahi Philippine Folk Arts, Malaya Filipino American Dance Arts, Pakaraguian Kulintang Ensemble, new Filipina band, Pinay Voltron, Acapella group Filosophy, Headband Andy, Ella Jay Basco, Kajo, Kiana V, Q-York, Mica Javier, JayR, Ylona Garcia, Ez Mil, DJ Joel Quizon, Les The Dj and DJ CherishTheLuv. An acoustic stage in the Rum Garden/VIP Tent will feature Melody of LA indie rock band The Mellowdees and more. The Balagtasan/ Poetry stage will be curated by Arianna “Lady B” Basco of Palms Up Academy. FilAm Visual Artists also create a living memorial to honor our community members who we’ve lost to COVID this last few years in partnership with AF3IRM, Los Angeles.

“Levitt Los Angeles shares the beliefs that by celebrating the cultural diversity of our city we can create more connected communities and strengthen the social fabric of Los Angeles,” says Allison Keating, Executive Director of Levitt LA. “That is why we are excited and honored to host the FILAM Arts Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) and can’t wait to see everyone at the historic MacArthur Park.”

“We’re excited to have FPAC back in person. In true festival tradition, we continue to spotlight a strong lineup of Filipino and Filipino American multidisciplinary artists and vendors,” said Giselle Tongi-Walters, FilAm ARTS Executive Director.

The 28th Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) is presented in partnership with the Levitt Pavilion, California Arts

Minding Your Finances Atty. rAymond BUlAon AS a business owner, you understand that cash is the life blood of your business. It is a precious commodity that cannot be ignored and must be used effectively. Shortage of cash could be your first sign that your business is in trouble.

You could be profitable, but without cash, you’re not going to have a business for much longer.

You may have enough cash in the business bank account right now to be able to make payroll and pay other necessary expenses in the next few months. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that you are in a good cash position. Look at your cash needs. If cash is an urgent issue, you need to “stop the bleeding”, so to speak, by taking a more pro-active approach in improving cash management. You may need to monitor cash that comes in and out of your business on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.

As a debt relief attorney who helps individuals and small businesses, one major cash

Apl de Ap of the Blackeyed Peas Photos by Florante Ibanez

FPAC 2016 stage Echo Park

Council, Department of Cultural Affairs of Los Angeles, Toyota, Department of Health and Human Services, Kumu, National Asian American Coalition, Island Pacific Seafood Market, Warner Brothers Discovery Access and Magnolia. Community partners for FPAC2022:Abante are Usapan, SoCal Filipinos, Hotel Indigo, and Search to Involve Pilipino Americans.

Follow @filamartsla on Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates. Official Hashtag #FPAC2022 The Annual Festival of Philippine Arts & Culture (FPAC) was first conceptualized in 1990 as part of the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department’s Festivals Program, an arts program designed to address the multicultural constituency of the city. .

Organized by about 100 artists and community leaders, the first FPAC took place at Los Angeles City College on Mother’s Day, May 14, 1992, where 3,000 participants braved the aftermath of the L.A. riots that occurred the week before. Since then, FPAC has only grown stronger and bigger, moving to Cabrillo Beach in 1994, then to Pt. Fermin Park in 2001 and to Echo Park in 2017.

FilAm Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles that advocates for FilAm and Pilipino culture by connecting people through facilitating arts and culture programming so that our cultural identity may be properly represented, embraced, preserved for future generations.

Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles makes live music accessible to all, creating stronger and more connected communities while celebrating the diversity of our city and beyond.

Is your small business running out of cash?

expenditure I see all the time is paying the business debts.

When you see a struggling business that needs to allocate a huge chunk of its revenues to service monthly debt obligations, cash flow problems are likely to sink the business, it’s just a matter of time. The business finds it difficult to make progress when it is unable to put the money it earns back into the business to build it. Unfortunately, a lot of small businesses do not have the same access to funding sources that larger businesses do. It is difficult enough to succeed when you have adequate capital; without it, it is impossible.

Does your business need more time to pay creditors?

Can payments be deferred for 30,60 or 90 days? How will this help your cash flow? Obviously, this requires short and longterm planning if the business is to survive. Effective cash management should always be top priority irrespective of business condition. Your creditors may not be happy to hear this but what is at stake here is your business survival,

and so you must do what it takes. Managing the debts of your business can be the one thing under your control that you can implement in a matter of days. Do what you can to stabilize cash now before it’s too late.

I can do a thorough analysis of your business debt situation and give you my best recommendations. Since 1997, I have helped more than 5,000 individuals and business owners in finding the best solution to their financial problems.

For a free consultation, call Toll-Free 1-866-477-7772. Let me evaluate your situation and recommend possible options. *** NOTE: Due to the pandemic, consultations via phone or video are available. Questions? Email me at gethelp@rjb-lawoffices. com. *** None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped over 5,000 clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call RJB Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-866-477-7772.

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The Asian Jour nal MDWK MAGAZINE - August 10, 2022