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LAS VEGAS Volume 33 - No. 32 • 12 Pages Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY DATELINE USA FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA AUGUST 11-17, 2022 2770 S. Maryland Pkwy., Suite 201 Las Vegas, NV 89109 Tel: (702) 792-6678 • Fax: (702) 792-6879 T HE F ILIPINO A MERICAN C OMMUNITY N EWSPAPER PAGE 3 PAGE 4 PAGE 3 Sen. Cortez Masto announces advisory council of communityAAPIleaders
LAS VEGAS, NV – The Cortez Masto for Senate campaign rolled out a list of 24 Nevada AAPI community leaders who are endorsing Senator Catherine Cortez Masto’s re-election and will serve as an advisory council for her campaign, supporting the senator’s AAPI outreach across the state of Nevada. “I will always be an advocate for AAPI families in Nevada and work to ensure they have the resources they need to succeed,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “These leaders are fighting for their community every day. I am proud to have their support and I look forward to continuing our work together on behalf of our AAPI small business owners, workers and families." Cortez Masto has worked closely with Nevada’s AAPI communities throughout her time in the Senate, leading efforts to support AAPI businesses and collaborating with local leaders to combat the rise of hate crimes targeting Fidel Ramos laid to rest at Libingan ng mga Bayani Pope sends condolences on death of former President Ramos
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.Theremains of the late former Chief Executive first arrived at the LNMB after a private mass at past 10 Joininga.m. 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.APhilippine flag that covered Ramos’ casket was also turned over to the Ramos family, handed byTheMarcos.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 of the former president, relayed through eldest daughter Angel Ramos Jones. Prior to the burial, a funeral mass was held at the Heritage MANILA — The country’s long-time tourism slogan “it’s more fun in the Philippines” will be replaced in the near future. Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco bared this on Wednesday and said that the Department of Tourism is eyeing to replace the decade-old slogan with a new one that is anchored on making the Filipino brand “distinct.”Thiswas revealed weeks after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, in his first State of the Nation Address, mentioned his vision of enhancing the Filipino brand in tourism, saying it would spark our “sense of pride and reaffirm our strong sense of identity. “They say, each brand has a story. As for the Filipino brand, ours is deeply rooted in our rich cultural heritage and the tourism sector plays an invaluable role in the promotion of the Filipino brand,” the president said in his SONA.“Itis time to welcome the rest of the world with an enhanced Filipino brand that is unique, attractive, and creative,” he added. Frasco said the agency is brewing ideas for a brand campaign change that will abide by the current administration’s vision of revitalizing the “Filipino brand.” “We will ensure that we do justice to our cultural identity as a nation and harness our US
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.”InMarch2021, Guillen was stabbed twice in Iloilo and was found with a screwdriver in hisIncheek.receiving his recognition, he said the award will encourage his colleagues ever
by ROSETTE ADEL Philstar.com PH TRAVEL MART RETURNS. Philippine Tour Operators Association Inc. president Fe Abling-Yu. announces the return of the Philippine Travel Mart (PTM) for its 33rd year at the Edsa Shangri-La in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday, August 10. PTM is the longest-running interactive tourism exposition, with new offers for travelers. PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr. ‘more the Philippines’? slogan rebrand
DOT wants new
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.
monkeypoxemergency’declaresgovernment‘stateofamidoutbreak
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.”
Young rights lawyer receives US-based Roger Baldwin Medal of Liberty
for
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The monkeypox outbreak roughly began earlier in the summer in West Africa, but unlike the coronavirus, monkeypox is not as contagious and vaccines for the disease
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.OnFriday, 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. 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.
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Marcos: PH-US ties must ‘evolve’ by CATHERINE VALENTE AND BERNADETTE TAMAYO ManilaTimes.net 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.”Marcosissued the statement during a courtesy call by Secretary of State Antony Blinken to the President in Malacañang where they discussed the 70-yearold Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), amid the “shared challenges.”
fun in
POPE Francis has sent his condolences to Filipinos for the death of former President Fidel Ramos.Ina 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
Former President Fidel V. Ramos is laid to rest at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City on Tuesday, August 9. Ramos was also accorded a State funeral with full military honors. PNA photo by Avito Dalan by NEIL ARWIN MERCADO Inquirer.net
Ex-President
AFTER Los Angeles County and the state of California announced their own declarations of emergency over the monkeypox outbreak, the Biden administration on Thursday, Aug. 4 declared the outbreak a national public health emergency. The declaration allows the United States Health and Human Services (HHS) to set aside emergency funds and federal resources (like specific personnel) to address the outbreak. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a media briefing that the Biden administration is “prepared to take our response to the next level in addressing this virus, and we urge every American to take the process seriously and to take responsibility to help us tackle this.”
“First of all, I would just like to thank all of the efforts that have been put in to developing this tagline for the Philippines. And it's certainly had its merits and successes, but at the same time just as we are so people and in life in general, we must evolve and we must move on taking into consideration everything that we have been through,” Frasco said. “So, the Philippines will continue to be fun. But now also it will have a very substantial approach to its branding campaign,” she added. Frasco did not disclose when the change in branding campaign and slogan of Philippine tourism will occur but she said she already requested a recalibrated budget for 2023 that could cover her plans for the country’s tourism industry.TheTourism Promotions Board, on the other hand, reportedly said the government is in the conceptualization stage to achieve this brand revamp that will involve marketing experts and stakeholders. g
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“The alliance is strong, and I believe can grow even stronger,” heBlinkenadded. said, however, that aside from “working on bilateral relations between us, we’re working together in the region, and increasingly, we’re working globally.”TheU.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 resource-rich 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 UnitedBlinkenStates.”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.”
strengths as a people and the brand with which we will move forward will be anchored on all of these elements that make our Filipino brand distinct all over the world,” she told reporters. The tourism chief said the new branding campaign will take into consideration the change in circumstances, citing that amid the COVID-19 pandemic, people are now in search for substantial and immersive experiences anchored on cultural experience. The branding campaign will include a new slogan. For Frasco, the fun factor when traveling in the Philippines need not be said because it’s true. “But beyond that, we are a beautiful country with beautiful people and a wealth of products and destinations and we want the brand to fully encapsulate all of these nuances of our country beyond having fun,” she said. The tourism chief also said the slogan launched by the DOT and BBDO Guerrero, one of the country’s most awarded advertising firms, in 2012 has its merits and successes but it is time to “evolve” and “move on.” Must evolve, move on “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” replaced “Wow Philippines” which also promoted the country’s tourism.
No more ‘more fun in the Philippines...
Marcos: PH-US ties must... “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 largeMarcosscope.”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.”
Ex-President Fidel Ramos laid to rest...
Tourism Secretary ChristinaPhilstar.comFrasco photo PASSENGER LINE. Commuters queue for a public transport to arrive in Philcoa along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on Thursday, August 11. The minimum fare in public utility jeepneys has been increased to PP11. PNA photo by Alfred Frias
The U.S. Secretary of State said that his itinerary “reflected the scale and scope” of the Philippine-U.S. relationship and partnership.Manalosaid 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 PhilippineUnited 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.”Blinkenalso 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 Beforeadministration.”thejoint 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 PhnomManaloPenh.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.“Weseek 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“Theysaid.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, Blinken 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.Amongthe 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 III 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 AsTaiwan.chairman of the Senate national defense committee, Estrada said he had scheduled a public hearing on Wednesday on the Taiwan situation. g
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 hisApresidency.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
• Craig Valdez, Chair of the AAPI Community Commission
• Erica Mosca, Executive Director of Leaders in Training
(Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)
• Selim Muhammad, Former President of the Bangladeshi Association of Northern Nevada • Tim Wong, Community leader
• Radhika Kunnel, Founder of the South-Asian Women's Alliance of Nevada • Dr. Rachakonda Prabhu, Physician•Dr.Ikram Khan, Physician • Dr. Aurangzeb “Aury” Nagy, Community leader • Dr. Sayed Qazi, Physician • Dr. Chowdhury Ahsan, Director of Cardiology Fellowship Program at Nevada School of Medicine•Dr.Javaid Anwar, Physician • Muhammed A. Quddus, Economist for the State of Nevada • Rozita Lee, former advisor to President Obama, senior advisor to National Federation of Filipino American Associations
• Hanadi Nadeem, CEO of Shifa Medical•Minddie Lloyd, Chair of Bamboo Bridges
• Duy Nguyen, Clark County Planning Commissioner
• Assemblywoman Rochelle Thuy Nguyen, AD-10 • Gloria Caoile, President of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA)
• Assemblywoman Brittney Miller, AD-05
• Karl Catarata, Nevada Director for the Human Rights Campaign
• Grace Vergara, Executive Director of SEIU Local 1107
TEMPERATURE CHECK. A health worker checks a woman’s body temperature using a thermal scanner inside the Zabarte Town Center activity area on Zabarte Road, Camarin, Caloocan City on Wednesday, August 10. The national government has been continuously pushing for its vaccination drive in the country to give its citizens protection from the COVID-19 infection. PNA photo by Ben Briones
concerns directly to Congress, and helped pass theCOVID-19 Hate Crimes Act to protect us. She has proved that she will deliver for us when we need it most, and I'm proud to support such a strong advocate for AAPI Nevadans."Thefull endorsement and advisory council list can be found below.•Margie Llorente-Gonzales, former Chair of the Clark County AAPI Community Commission
(702) 792-6678 • http://www.asianjournal.com 3LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 11-17, 2022Dateline USa PAGE 1 PAGE 1 Sen. Cortez Masto announces advisory... US government declares ‘state of emergency’...
the AAPI community in Nevada and across the country. “I have known Catherine for a long time, and I’ve seen firsthand the work she’s done for our communities,” said former Chair of the Clark County AAPI Community Commission, Margie Llorente-Gonzales. “She takes our concerns seriously and always considers AAPI Nevadans when she does her work in the Senate. I’m so pleased to endorse my friend Catherine, a fighter for our families and our voice in the Senate.”“Catherine has earned my endorsement by proving over and over again that she supports and fights for our AAPI families in Nevada,” said Tim Wong, community leader. “I’ve worked with her many times, and I admire her dedication to public service and her commitment to our community.”"SenatorCortez Masto is a true ally for our community," said Angelyn Tabalba, Chair of the AAPI Democratic Caucus of Nevada. "When we faced a rise in hate crimes during the pandemic, our Senator met with us, took our have been around for years. According to Healthline, the monkeypox virus was first discovered in primates in 1958 and in humans in the early 1970s.Despite false online discourse, monkeypox is not strictly a sexually transmitted disease or infection, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states. Although most current cases happen to be among men who have sex with other men, monkeypox can spread to anyone through direct skinto-skin contact, prolonged intimate contact, and, less commonly, touching fabrics and other porous surfaces that have been touched by monkeypoxMonkeypoxpatients.manifests itself, most noticeably, as a rash that may appear anywhere on the body but most commonly on the face, hands, feet, chest, genitals, mouth, and anus. Other common symptoms include fever, chills, body and head aches, fatigue, congestion, sore throat and swollen lymph nodes. California, which has been among the quickest and strictest states in regards to coronavirus safety protocol and vaccine rollout, said that its utilizing the emergency to
• Angelyn Tabalba, Chair of the AAPI Democratic Caucus of Nevada•Amy Akao, Chair of the Washoe Democrats AAPI Caucus
• Assemblywoman Cecelia González, AD-15 g amp up treatment and outreach efforts.According to the state’s public health department, California has reported 1,135 cases of monkeypox. According to Sacramento, California has so far received 61,000 monkeypox vaccine doses from the federal government, but it needs at least 600,000 additional doses. “California is working urgently across all levels of government to slow the spread of monkeypox, leveraging our robust testing, contact tracing and community partnerships strengthened during the pandemic to ensure that those most at risk are our focus for vaccines, treatment and outreach,” California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement.Newsom added, “Monkeypox can affect anyone; it spreads primarily by skin-to-skin contact, as well as from sharing items like clothing, bedding and towels. We remain steadfast in our support for the LGBTQ community and their families, who have been disproportionately impacted by this outbreak, and continue to reinforce that no single individual or community is to blame for the spread of any virus.”LACounty — which declared its own local emergency regarding the monkeypox outbreak on Tuesday, Aug. 2 — has so far accounted for more than half of California’s monkeypox cases. Like state and federal protocol, the local proclamation allows local health officials to more quickly distribute vaccines and organize outreach efforts.LACounty Public Health this week launched a West Hollywood pop-up vaccination location and also expanded the pool of those who are eligible for the Currentlyvaccine.in LA County, the monkeypox vaccine is available to gay and bisexual men and transgender who are at least 18 years old who had multiple sex partners in the last 14 days. Additionally, those who are commercialwithinsexprophylaxisyear,ordiagnosedtransgenderonlyprioritization.HIV,withsexual(regardlessimmunocompromisedofsex,genderoractivity),includingthoseadvancedoruncontrolledwillalsoreceivevaccinePreviously,vaccineeligibilityincludedgay,bisexualormenwho:werewithgonorrheaearlysyphilisoverthelastareonHIVpre-exposure(PrEP),orhadwithmultiplepartnersthepast21daysinasetting.
• Harry Singh, President of Indian Chamber of Commerce
This handout photo shows lawyer Angelo Karlo Guillen of the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers. Contributed photo by Francis Earl cuEto ManilaTimes.net
Measures seeking to create the Virology Institute of the Philippines and a disease control center are included in Marcos’ 19 priority bills. Marcos, who has caught COVID-19 twice, said openness of mind and the continuing flow of information among different agencies have become critical, given that the virus is mutating. “All of these things just — have kept coming at us. It has gotten to the point where I always — I’m hesitant to say we are at the tail end of the pandemic. Every time I say that, there’s a new surge,” Marcos said.“The first meeting that Usec. (Rosario) Vergeire and I had, I said, ‘It seems that it is now over. It seems that we are at the tail end of the pandemic.’ And here we come again with a new variant of coronavirus... of Omicron that now we have to deal with, that you have to genome sequence again, that we have to find a booster so that the people are fully immunized,” he added, referring to the Department of Health officer-in-charge who also attended the event in Pampanga. Vulnerable Marcos said the present health crisis has exposed the vulnerability of Filipinos and has prodded authorities to devise efficient responses and mechanisms.“Thatiswhy I believe we continue to remain open to these new ideas and commit to work together. And I suppose it is different when we talk about hard science and primary research, like what you are doing now, because we are still at primary research when it comes to the pandemic. So we must really be very wary of getting fixed and say this is what it is. Because we know, it evolves, it mutates. And after a couple of months, it is not what it is any Accordinglonger.”toMarcos, health researchers have demonstrated intellectual humility and have remained open to gaining new insights and knowledge. g by KAlexis RomeRo Philstar.com
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 attention to their plight,” he added. (Philstar.com) PAGE 1
WASHINGTON, D.C. — To address the growing impact of natural and manmade disasters exacerbated by the effects of climate change, the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) has piloted a program to coordinate Filipino diaspora groups across the United States. The program, FilAm Alerts, is an effort to streamline and efficiently coordinate resources and relief programs for the benefit of the Philippines.TheFilAm Alerts Program was unveiled at the annual Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Week (HNPW) in Geneva, Switzerland, held May 16-20, together with the Framework for Diaspora Engagement in Humanitarian Assistance, launched by NaFFAA’s parent partner, the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The program and Framework received recognition from the international humanitarian community, including humanitarian delegates from Ukraine and other participating countries, and recently received a nomination for IOM’s Global InnovationNaFFAA'sAwards.President and National Chair Brendan Flores and FilAm Alerts Program Director Katrina Hernandez were among the many humanitarian delegates and presenters at this year’s HNPW. As Flores highlighted in the Innovation Awards video, “NaFFAA’s founders sought to represent Filipino-Americans 25 years ago. With the support of IOM, we’ve targeted specific challenges in providing humanitarian relief to the“ThroughPhilippines.”this Framework for Diaspora Engagement in Humanitarian Assistance, we identified succinct solutions and effective tools for coordination,” Flores added. “We were able to set up a sustainable and strategic plan for immediate response and recovery. These include our national SMS engagement system following crises in the Philippines and the development of a humanitarian council to streamline coordination amongst U.S.-based Filipinos. From every Filipino here and abroad, thank you for your support in making the FilAmAlerts Program what it is today and what it will bring to our countrymen for years to come.”Forover two years, NaFFAA has facilitated the formation of the FilAmAlerts Program together with the help of other community leaders representing the Filipino diaspora in the United States. This program calls for national coordination of all humanitarian relief efforts in the Philippines, inviting all organizations to communicate on a single platform. Together, resources and supply information about relief efforts will be available, so relief efforts are most efficient and effective in answering the needs of affected communities. Supported by the IOM both in the United States and the Philippines, as well as the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in the United States, and with funding from USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, FilAm Alerts aims to reach all Filipinos in the United States.NaFFAA is seeking community leaders to be a part of this global initiative to facilitate a more efficient process for humanitarian relief to the Philippines. For more information on the Humanitarian Council or Advocate Circle, please contact NaFFAA Special Projects Program Director Katrina Juco-Hernandez. Since 1997, the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) has been the standard-bearer for promoting the welfare and well-being of the four million Filipinos and Filipino Americans throughout the United States. NaFFAA is the largest nonpartisan, non-profit organization and national affiliation of Filipino American institutions, umbrella organizations, and individuals. Its fourteen-member regions cover the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and the Pacific Islands. To learn more about NaFFAA and its programs, or to become a member, visit www.naffaa.org. g
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
Marcos pushes creation of virology institute, disease control center
NaFFAA leaders receive int’l recognition in Geneva for piloting ‘FilAmAlerts’ programJoint PH-US sea patrols eyed
MANILA — To better con solidate research, knowledge sources and new data related to the pandemic, President Marcos on Thursday, August 11 pushed for the passage of measures creating a virology institute and a disease control center even as he urged health researchers to continue ex changing information due to the evolving nature of COVID-19. “We have been in consultation with the House of Representa tives and the Senate to bring these — to create these agencies so that we can bring them to bear in what we are up to now continuing to have to fight,” the President said during the cel ebration of the 15th Philippine national health research system week in Pampanga. “We will continue to work so that our people are safer, so that our citizens have better access to health care and so that... the quality of our health care will improve,” he added.
AUGUST 11-17, 2022 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-66784
Dateline PhiliPPines
THE Philippines is ready to conduct joint patrols with the United States in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the Department of National Defense (DND) told The Manila Times on Thursday, August 11. DND spokesman Arsenio Andolong said joint patrols with the U.S. can be "explored," especially if the arrangement will be beneficial to the Andolongcountry.was asked to comment on the statements of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo that joint patrols between the Philippines and the U.S. in the West Philippine Sea can be explored, in the face of continuing aggressive actions by China in theManalowaterway.was quoted as saying that the patrols "can take place under the ambit of the Mutual DefenseSignedTreaty."in1951, the treaty calls for the Philippines and the U.S. to defend each other from aggression.Manalomade the observation after the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week. Manila has filed a series of protests against the repeated incursions of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea. The incidents include Chinese ships blocking Filipino resupply missions and around 200 Chinese militia vessels swarming a reef located in Philippine waters. It is not the first time that the idea of joint patrols in the WPS wasDuringfloated.the time of President Benigno Aquino 3rd, then secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert Del Rosario met twice with Blinken, who was then U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, to discuss the feasibility of joint patrols.Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro reiterated that the military was more than willing to carry out its mandate to protect the country's sovereignty. Bacarro stressed this point during his first command conference Wednesday, August 10.In his State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed not to surrender even one square inch of the nation's territory to any foreign power. "We only do what is required of us to do and what is important is we are able to perform our mandate to protect (the state and) our people," Bacarro was quoted by AFP acting spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar, as saying. Bacarro took over the helm of the AFP from Gen. Andres Centino last August 8. g
Young rights lawyer receives US-based Roger... more “to continue our work defending human rights and civil liberties in the Philippines, even in these difficult times.”
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* * * Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his official visit to Manila on Aug. 6, 2022. PNA photo by Rico Borja
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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 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 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 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 re-checking the historical bases of some Variety hasmovies. 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 Buttake. 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 mind-manipulation scheme that gold, Tallano or whatever, can buy.
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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 U.S. 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 Thereconvenience.”isthisfailed 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 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.
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I JOINED the meeting on Saturday, August 6 between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and U.S. 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 U.S.-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 U.S.-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.”
OFEATURES PINION More ‘history’ lms after
FEDERICO PASCUAL JR Philstar.com photo EyeBabe’sView BABE ROMUALDEZ
* * * Back to the “Katips vs MiM” topic that we started to take up before we were distracted by BeaBasedAlonzo:onVince 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 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.
ASIAN JOURNAL PUBLITIONS, INC. publishes the Los Angeles Asian Journal, published twice a week; Northern California Asian Journal, Las Vegas Asian Journal and the New York / New Jersey Asian Journal which are published once a week and distributed to Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange Counties, Northern California, Las Vegas and New York and New Jersey respectively.
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* * NB: All Postscripts are also archived at ManilaMail.com. Author is on Twitter as @ FDPascual. Email: fdp333@yahoo.com
* * * 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 FilipinoAmerican 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 Lapu-lapu, 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 “shedevil” 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)
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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.”Antonioalso 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.
* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
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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 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.”
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COMMITMENT. Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte (2nd from left), British Embassy Manila Ambassador Laure Beaufils (2nd from right), Regional Director for East, Southeast Asia, and Oceania at C40 Cities Milag San Jose-Ballesteros (right), and Vice Mayor Gian Sotto (left) sign the pledge of commitment during the launch of the Climate Action Implementation program at Novotel Manila, Cubao, Quezon City on Thursday, August 11. The program, which is funded by the UK government, will implement transformational climate change actions and mainstreaming activities based on the city's Enhanced Local Climate Change Action Plan. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler
MANILA — Sen. Robinhood Padilla has filed a bill that seeks to give same-sex couples the same rights enjoyed by married straight couples under the law, saying it is 'high time" for the Philippines to do so. "It is high time that the Philippines provides equal rights and recognition for couples of the same sex with no prejudice as to sexual relationships are protected and recognized and given access to basic social protection and security," Padilla said in Senate Bill No. 449 filed last month but only made publicly available on Thursday, August 11. Under his proposal, a civil union can happen between two people who are 18 years old, not engaged in a relationship considered contrary to public policy under the Articles 37 and 38 of the Family Code, and free from any previous bond of marriage or civil union. Those who enter into civil unions will be granted "all benefits and
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CHR seeks talks with presidential panel for UN review of PH rights pledges
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(702) 792-6678 • http://www.asianjournal.com 7LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 11-17, 2022Dateline PhiliPPines by Rhodina VillanueVa Philstar.com by XaVe GReGoRio Philstar.com Sen. Padilla seeks equal rights for same-sex couples in civil union bill PH has teen vaping epidemic – expert Department of Business License VINCENT V. QUEANO DIRECTOR 500 SOUTH GRAND CENTRAL PKY, 3RD FLOOR BOX 551810 LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 89155-1810 Phone: (702) 455-4252 Toll Free: (800) 328-4813 Fax: (702) http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/businesslicense386-2168 August 11, 2022 NOTIFICATION OF APPLICATION PERIOD FOR SHORT-TERM RENTAL UNIT LICENSES IN UNINCORPORATED CLARK COUNTY To All Interested Parties:
MANILA — The Philippines is in the grip of a “vaping epidemic” that affects children as young as 13 years old, a former president of the Philippine College of Physicians warned on Thursday, August 11. “We are now going into the vaping epidemic, and we know that there is really going to be a vaping epidemic because the 13 to 15 years of age Filipino children, 40 percent of them are already using vapes,” Dr. Maricar Limpin told “The Chiefs” on One News.She lamented that the number of teens using vapes is even higher compared to older ones engaged in vaping, but did not cite“Thefigures.vaping prevalence we are seeing right now starts very early in the life of an individual,” Limpin added. A pulmonulogist and an antitobacco advocate, Limpin said that in the vape bill, restrictions on flavor have been removed, unlike before, when it was limited to two flavors – tobacco and menthol.“Theywere saying that as long as (the flavor) is not enticing to children – but there are so many that are enticing to children so it is very difficult,” Limpin said in a mix of Filipino and English. She also warned that studies have shown that those who vape have “a twofold increased likelihood” they would smoke cigarettes, a fourfold increase that they would drink alcohol and a fivefold increase they would take illegal drugs. Limpin said they would continue the campaign against the vape bill, which lapsed into law on Monday, and challenge it before the Supreme Court. g
The bill also provides a fine of at least P500,000 to P1 million or jail time of 10 years for people who refuse to issue civil union licenses or certificates, deny rights and benefits entitled to couples in civil unions, or discriminate against couples or their children. "Providing equal rights and privileges for same-sex couples will in no way diminish or trample on the rights granted to married couples," Padilla said. A similar measure has been filed in the House of Representatives by Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy in the hopes that it would finally pass Congress after failing to do so in the 17th and 18th Congresses. Currently, same-sex couples are not allowed to marry as the Family Code defines marriage as a "special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman." The constitutionality of the Family Code provision was challenged before the Supreme Court by lawyer Jesus Falcis in 2018, but magistrates junked his petition on procedural grounds. A civil partnership bill was first filed in the House during the speakership of Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez in the 17th Congress by himself and other lawmakers, but this did not pass the committee level. Alvarez and Herrera refiled the bill in the 18th Congress, but it also got stuck at the committee level. To complicate things further, pro-LGBTQIA+ legislation has had a hard time hurdling Congress as conservative lawmakers have successfully employed parliamentary tactics to delay or even completely block the passage of these measures. g
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MANILA— The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has “reached out” to the Presidential Human Rights Committee (PHRC) in a bid to conduct dialogues with them for the impending United Nations (UN) review of the Philippines’ human rights pledges. The UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Philippines’ human rights status is held every five years. It is set to be conducted sometime in October this year; it would be the first under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. CHR Executive Director Jacqueline de Guia revealed during a press briefing about the body’s own report for the UN rights review on Thursday that they have sent a letter to the PHRC, seeking a discussion on the UPR. “Of course, we want to make sure that our recommendations are heard, and that’s the primary purpose of today’s press conference, to popularize the issues and concerns surfaced by civil society and by the CHR. We continue also to open the lines of communications with [the] government and engage with them further,” de Guia, who is acting as CHR’s caretaker in the absence of a chairperson, told reporters. “That is the reason why we at CHR through our Human Rights Policy Office has reached out to the Presidential Human Rights Committee in recent days to make sure that we are also able to provide them our recommendations with regards the upcoming UPR,” she added. De Guia said their letter contains requests for a consultation, that CHR be included in the process of making a report ahead of the UPR.The government of a country being reviewed by the UN is required to submit its report on human rights. But the CHR will also submit its own version that includes inputs from civil society organizations – which observers utilize to countercheck the government’s claims. The acting CHR head said they asked the PHRC if they could comment on the report, and if they could also listen to grassroots organization before crafting the report. “In that letter, we highlighted the need for genuine consultation, we asked that we be made part of the process that if we can also have copies of their reports, and if we can be also asked to comment on those reports to enrich the discussions of course on the human rights issues, if they can also extend a listening ear to civil society and engage them also in meetings,” de Guia explained. “We have the UNJP program right now, and one of the key thrusts of the program is to make sure there is continuous engagement with civil society and they are given opportunity to be heard, and I hope that through the UPR process we’re able to continue the discourse of human rights,” she added. De Guia admitted that they are cautiously optimistic about the current administration, noting that while the review is not about the incumbent government, it would reflect a lot about their stand on human rights. “Of course we remain cautiously optimistic with this new administration, we must take into consideration that the UPR review is a flashback, is a review of the past five years and therefore does not necessarily reflect the current administration,” she said. “However, the challenge remains for the incumbent administration to act upon those issues and concerns, and make sure that they are able to convey an image and more importantly action, concrete action on the ground that will illustrate human rights protection and promotion,” she noted. Since assuming the presidency, Marcos Jr.’s administration has not clearly expressed its human rights policy as it was not even mentioned in his first State of the Nation Address in July. However, stakeholders have been optimistic despite his family’s history, as he assured UN Resident Coordinator in the Philippines Gustavo Gonzalez of his commitment to human rights.Itis also not clear what Marcos Jr.’s plans are for the CHR, which is still without some commissioners and a chairperson.CHR’scommissioners have taken turns doing leadership and caretaker roles since October 2021, after the untimely death of former chair Chito Gascon due to COVID-19. But most of CHR commissioners have already ended their seven-year terms, creating a gap within the constitutional body. De Guia said during the same briefing that they completely have no idea as to who might get appointed to the CHR’s sixth en banc. g
protections" enjoyed by married couples under existing laws. Meanwhile, couples who enter into civil unions "legally owe each other respect, fidelity, support and assistance.""Theyare bound to live together and are jointly responsible in the management of their household; exercise of parental authority, if applicable; the contribution towards expenses; the maintenance of the civil union residence; and other duties which married couples under the Family Code are jointly responsible for," the bill reads.
2022, through
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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 majorityFilipinoDespitecast. 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 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.“Itfeltlike coming home,” Jo Koy (center) stars in Easter Sunday. Photos by Ed Araquel/Universal Pictures
Team
Team Philippines shines at World Championships of Performing Arts 2022
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 thatTheproblem.”lastfew 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.Ifone’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 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 forThistelevision?isthe center of what makes Koy’s comedy in general feel extremely outdated, and what colors much of “Easter Sunday” and the subgenre of “titaThroughouthumor.”
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, Cal ifornia. Team Philippines was represented by 60 junior and senior delegates from Luzon, Vi sayas 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 overall requirements for WCOPA International. Team Philippines competed in Singing, Dancing, Modeling, Instrumen tals, 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 Semi-Finalist 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!
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 summerAmongblockbuster.thebarrage of screenplay and acting choices, Noblezada — a Tony Awardnominated 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. Likewith“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.
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.
BEST NATIONAL COSTUME PICTURE. Team Philippines at WCOPA wins 2nd Place for Best National Costume. 60 delegates from Team Philippines WCOPA wore the Philippines Heritage National Costumes from the different tribes of Mindanao this 2022 namely Tausug, Yakan, Maranao and Magindanao. All costumes were provided by Randy Carlos Guevara of Sindaw Philippines Performing Arts Guild. AJPress photos by Andy Tecson/courtesy of Team Philippines Philippines 2022 NCR 1 & 2 Carlo Valera Tividad Rafaello Floresta Canedo
GRAND FINALIST OF TEAM PHILIPPINES 2022. Picture of Finalist with Gerry Mercado, National Director for Team Philippines. Junior Models: Elisha Caramel Vilvar and Gianino Sarita; Junior Instrumentalist: Cristiana Agarap. Senior Models: Rozennie Tameta. Senior Intrumentals: John Lorenzo Centinales; Senior Vocal Group: AMC Trinity 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.
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Lydia Gaston and Jo Koy in “Easter Sunday”
Despite a less-than-ideal weekend opening, the actors of Easter Sunday celebrate the largest Filipino-centric summer comedy
AUGUST 11-17, 2022 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-66788 Dateline PhiliPPines VEGAS&STYLEJOURNAL LAS VEGAS ASIAN LIFESTYLEJOURNAL•CONSUMER GUIDE • COMMUNITY • MARKETPLACE August 11, 2022 INSIDE by Klarize Medenilla / AJPress ‘Easter Sunday’: Tita humorand the attempt at Fil-Am representation on the big screen
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.) 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 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.
• Cella Clarize Dela Cruz Bon dame•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 Man langit•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•SophiaMadaya 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
Atomic Range, which is scheduled to open in late 2023, is just behind The Strat. It is just about a 10- to 15-minute walk from Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman’s Turnberry Place residence. Work is ongoing at the Fontainbleau Las Vegas, the blue building behind Realtor Fely QuitevisBateman, which is scheduled to open in 2023.
(702) 792-6678 • http://www.asianjournal.com 9LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 11-17, 2022Features New golf entertainment facility expected to open near The Strat by Fall 2023
LAS Vegas continues to expand the boundaries when it comes to presenting fun for people of all ages and skill levels. No longer just purely a gambling haven, the city that hosts a PGA Tour stop at TPC Summerlin will see an Atomic Range rise on seven acres of adjacent land near The Strat Hotel. The 99,000-squarefoot golf entertainment complex will feature 103 hitting bays, 10 putting bays, plenty of places to eat and drink, and a large “Astrocade” where visitors can view sports and entertainment on large scale screens. Atomic Range is expected to be completed by Fall of 2023. Local officials, including Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman and Councilwoman Olivia Diaz, took part in groundbreaking ceremonies recently for the project that will eventually add 500 jobs to the city’s economy, according to local news reports.According to an official with Flite Golf & Entertainment, which is developing the project, they see this as a way to allow people of all ages to come and learn to play golf in a non-intimidating environment, while having fun in a facility that will be about four stories high. The company, which owns facilities in other parts of the United States as well as in locales like London and Saudi Arabia, estimates that the cost to build the Atomic Range in Las Vegas will be about $70 million. The LV Atomic Range will be the company’s flagship, per a company official. Flite Golf & Entertainment, which will share the revenue with Golden Entertainment, the company that purchased The Strat in 2017, shared with news outlets both companies expect a mutuallybeneficial arrangement with Atomic Range customers who may end up going to the casino, and The Strat bringing in customers to the golf facilty.
Atomic Range is expected to be a premier golf destination in Las Vegas with facility users able to have an immersive experience. The facility will feature the latest in golf and entertainment technology, and will certainly create memorable experiences for facility visitors. The Atomic Range project is just one of the many projects expected to open or take place in the latter part of 2023 in Las Vegas. The Fontainebleau Las Vegas, which is only about a mile away from The Strat, is expected to open towards the end of 2023, just ahead of the 2024 Super Bowl scheduled in the Thecity.many-sided tall blue building with the “fb” etched prominently in the 2000 block of South Las Vegas Boulevard is one of the tallest structures in Las Vegas and will feature a casino, retail mall spaces and lots of meeting spaces. The Fontainebleau, according to reports, will focus on conferences to take advantage of its location adjacent to the Las Vegas Convention Center. Formula 1 Racing will also be on the menu for late 2023 as the Las Vegas Grand Prix event will have the sport’s top drivers competing in a 14-turn track that will run for 3.8 miles, with top speeds expected to hit around 212 miles per hour. Sin City’s iconic landmarks will serve as the backdrop for the race that will feature three straights, a high-speed cornering sequence and a single chicane section, with Grand Prix drivers running over 50 laps and trying to outmaneuver each other to win the event. Not since the 1980s has there been a Grand Prix event in Las Vegas, and racing fans are excited at the prospect of witnessing Formula 1 Racing and seeing their favorite drivers.Meanwhile, in another piece of news for Las Vegas, billionaire Tilman Fertitta is reportedly eyeing a 6-acre property to build an upscale resort, according to recent reports. This will reportedly give the Houston Rockets owner a bigger footprint in Las Vegas. Fertitta also owns the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino in the downtown area, which is part of his Landry’s Inc. portfolio that operates more than 600 restaurants, hotels, casinos and entertainment destinations across theAlthoughU.S. this is just speculation at the moment as there have been no confirmed reports of a finalized deal, the property in question is located near the Planet Hollywood Resort and across from the CityCenter Complex. Sources quoted by news outlets have suggested that Fertitta is buying the property for over $200 million. Per sources quoted by news reports, the casino-resort property being developed in the 6-acre property will not be another Golden Nugget type, but will be more upscale. This project, if it happens, will probably take a few years to complete.Although there is a reported slowing down in the housing market in Las Vegas, it is still one of the most viable land and property markets in the U.S. With a lot of construction projects happening in the city, and unemployment at or near historic lows, Las Vegas will continue to be a great destination for real estate buyers in the years –or decades – to come. Property values in Las Vegas and nearby communities are more affordable than in other parts of the United States. Many property owners who took a gamble before and plunked down their money for Las Vegas properties are reaping the benefits of their investments, by way of increasing real estate prices and the ability to turn their property purchases into income-generating investments in the form of airbnbs or Ifrentals.you are looking to invest in real estate in Nevada, I have decades of experience in helping kababayans find their piece of the American Dream, whether it is in Las Vegas, Pahrump (which is only 62 miles west of Sin City) or other neighboring cities/towns. My team and I would be more than happy to help find your slice of land in one of the most exciting cities in the world. My company, Precious Properties, is a full-service company that has served its clientele since 1992. You can reach me at 775513-8447, 805-559-2476 and 702538-4948 for more information, or send me an email at fely@preciousproperties.com or fely.precious@ gmail.com. We have investors who buy houses in California and Nevada for cash and quick escrow in as short as 7 days. (Advertising Supplement)
Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman helps those who need business financing, including loans for small businesses. For more information, call (702) 538-4948, or send email to fely@preciousproperties.com or fely.precious@gmail.com.
Atomic Range will be an immersive kind of golf experience for Nevada residents and tourists. Photo above shows where the Atomic Range will be constructed relative to The Strat; inset photo shows rendering of the golf facility by Flite Golf & Entertainment.Filephotos/www.flitegolf.com
Realtor Nida Santos (right), an investor from Manila of Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (left), was amazed at the massive changes that have taken place in Las Vegas and Pahrump since her last visit 13 years ago.
by RealtoR Fely Quitevis-Bateman
Jil Lasaca has dedicated her life to nurturing and guiding the development of others.
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empower both women and men. With Dallas Fortworth in Texas as her bailiwick and homebase, Jil enjoys living in America because it allows her to pursue her goals and realize her purpose; it's more than simply a second home to her. There is no other country in the world where someone who comes from humble circumstances may be given equal opportunities to live, thrive, pursue their passions, and be successful. Jil enjoys traveling to all of the world's major cities whenever she can, and is a voracious reader when she is not working. She is now writing her debut book on coaching and self-empowerment. A community leader with a heart Jil is the youngest chairperson of the Philippine American Chamber of CommerceDallas Fort Worth Regio. She considers it an enormous honor to represent a group of corporate executives who are the most ardent supporters of FilipinoAmerican entrepreneurs from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. Her organization hosts networking events, educational programs, workshops, and other activities to connect business owners, professionals, and artists. This year, Jil served as the chair of the Santacruzan Charity Ball, which highlighted the beauty of 25 strong, successful women from various backgrounds while presenting Philippine culture and tradition and supporting the "Bantay Bata" charity project for 2022.Jilalso collaborated with the Tulong Foundation and Miss Texas America 2022 Averie Bishop to build libraries and distribute books to remote villages in the Philippines' South Cotabato. Jil has given 1,000 books to kids in her hometown of Cagayan de Oro City during the past five years. She regards education as a powerful tool, and reading as a crucial life skill.
THE U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “has no plans to ease up on COVID-19 restrictions anytime soon,” since there are more than 120,000 daily new cases of COVID-19 (much underreported), almost 500 COVID-related deaths every day on average, and more than 453,000 hospitalized on average daily.In the Philippines there are more than 2,700 of COVID-19 cases in a day, with almost 38,000 active cases. Public education is fundamental to protect the health of the Vaccinations,people. masking, and social distancing are still vital, more than ever before. While BA.5 is usually milder, deaths are not rare, even among nonseniors. The new BA.2.75 subvariant is in the sideline, being monitored. In view of the still significant daily COVID-19 statistics, it is obvious that those who are not vaccinated are the major victims of the virus because they are not protected. It is sad that in the United States there are only 67 percent fully vaccinated (with second booster) and less than 65 percent in the Philippines. Lowering our guards too soon, which we have done since May 2022 or earlier, has resulted in nearly 500 COVID deaths a day, about 15,000 a month. Much too high. Every single life is precious. In spite of the fake news in social media, the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and masking and distancing are effective in protecting against COVID-19.Forthose who had tested positive for COVID-19, isolation should be done to protect family members and others for at least five days, followed by masking at home and social distancing in indoor public places through the 10th day. There are rare cases where the recovered individual was still infectious after 10 days. Reinfections are not rare. U.S. President Biden and Tesla-famed billionaire Elon Musk both got reinfected twice. So, even those who had their second booster should be vigilant and careful because natural immunity (conferred by previous infection) and immunity from the vaccines wane after 4-6 months. Parents refuse vax A study conducted a month after the FDA granted emergency use authorization for the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for children 6 months to 4 years of age showed that 43 percent of parents stated in July that “they will not be getting their children in that age range vaccinated.” As a parent myself, I truly understand the concern of parents for the safety of their children. However, in this day and age of information and advances in medicine, it is best to have all the data reviewed in order to have all pertinent information before making a decision. The quintessential query should always be: Considering all medical data available, which is more dangerous or the greater threat to the life for our children, the vaccines or COVID-19? If the studies showed the morbidity and mortality of those vaccinated were higher than those unvaccinated who eventually got infected, the decision is obvious: refuse the vaccines. Since the data have so far shown the vaccines are effective and safer compared to the COVID-19 infection and its long-term complications, it behooves society to listen and follow science over medicallyunsupported personal biases of layMedicalpeople. decisions must always be based on an objective, scientific, and factual information, not on baseless, subjective or misinformed personal sentiment, which could endanger the lives of our precious children, our priceless gems.Let us take advantage of the great advances of our available state-of-the-art medical science and technology (which, unfortunately, many other countries do not have) to help assure the good health of all of us, especially our children, who are helpless and totally dependent on our wisdom. Serious post-COVID Some misinformed people would rather get infected to develop natural immunity from COVID-19 rather than get immunity from the vaccines. Firstly, the immunity from infection is not as effective, stable, and dependable compared to the immunity conferred by vaccines. Both protections wane, and then there is the matter of new variants or sub-strains for which the vaccines may not work. This is why a universal vaccine against all COVID-19 strains and subvariants is being developed. Secondly, and more scary, is the fact that COVID-19 infections could have long-term serious side-effects. Long Covid, as it is called, may pose significant health hazard for years. All these facts are the reasons why vaccination is the wisest, most prudent, and safer option when it comes to fighting COVID-19. We must compare the options scientifically to make an informedStudiesdecision.have shown the following: “The mild and rare side effects from COVID-19 vaccines are nowhere near as serious as the potential damage the disease itself can cause. COVID-19 can also cause longlasting damage to the tiny air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs. Even in young people, COVID-19 can cause strokes, seizures, and Guillain-Barré syndrome – a condition that causes temporary paralysis. COVID-19 may also increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, blood clots, heart attacks, strokes, posttraumatic stress, depression, and anxiety.”Sofar, 12 billion COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in 218 countries around the world, proving the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines. Deaths from the vaccines have been rare (less than a fraction of 1 percent) and not definitely related to the vaccines themselves either, while deaths from COVID-19 have totaled to 6,439,291 worldwide (1,059,210 in the U.S., and 60,864 in the Philippines). Case wise, as of Tuesday, August 9, 2022, the total numbers are: Global –590,509,013; U.S. – 94,024,925; and the Philippines – 3,810,772 cases. And obviously, there is undercounting because not all infected people at home report themselves.Atthisjuncture of the pandemic, aggravated and prolonged by the more than 110 million people in the U.S., more than 50 million in the Philippines, and countless around the world who refuse the COVID-19 vaccines, and those who reject masking and social distancing, experts anticipate more than a million new cases this coming winter, and for the pandemic to linger. If you think about it, we are all in this global disaster together. Science could help but is being rejected and held hostage by some segments of our society. The eventual solution is in our hands, and We, The People, must decide as to how more deaths we need to witness before we do the right thing. Scientifically, the government has not done its job properly and adequately, which has led to more than a million dead in this nation alone. When shall we learn?
LAS VEGAS - The Asian Community Development Council (ACDC) officially opened its Health Asians & Pacific Islanders (HAPI) Medical Center on Monday, August 8 with a grand opening ceremony at 6.30pm at 8863 W. Flamingo Rd Suite 101, Las Vegas, NV 89147. The grand opening is invite-only and is not open to the public. Governor Steve Sisolak and First Lady Kathy Sisolak led the distinguished guests in attendance. The medical center aims to meet the healthcare needs of the Asian & Pacific Islander community by removing language barriers with a 100% bilingual staff. HAPI Medical Center will offer a variety of services, including but not limited to primary, female and pediatric care, preventative services and general screenings. HAPI Medical Center providers are able to speak Korean, Vietnamese, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese Chinese, and Tagalog with more languages to be added soon. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8am to More5pm.information can be found at hapimedical.org. For more information on ACDC, go to acdcnv.org
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Jil is the youngest chairperson of the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce - Dallas Fort Worth Regio.
* 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.
Inspiring entrepreneur Jil's ability to use her accomplishments to benefit her family and others has been made possible by moving to America. Her business has given her relatives precious work, enabled her to support her family well, and has given her the freedom to travel and enjoy life. Jil has been fortunate to have this once-in-a-lifetime chance to succeed in America. For all her hard work and personal and professional success, Jil is being bequeathed her latest accolade, the “AsianAmerican Inspiring Entrepreneur of the Year” award by the office U.S. Representative Susie Lee representing Nevada's 3rd congressional district.Hon.GerriSchroder (former Councilwoman of Henderson, NV) will personally hand in the the award to Jil during a glittery gala within the Asia Pacific Fashion Week, slated 13 August 2022 at the Decades Event Center in Las Vegas.
Jil Lasaca: Filipino American ‘Asian-American inspiring entrepreneur of the year’ awardee
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AUGUST 11-17, 2022 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-667810 Features Restrictions are back!
@HeartHealth
PHILIP S. CHUA, MD, FACS, FPCS
JIL Lasaca, born in the beautiful Philippine city of Cagayan De Oro in 1974, is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, a multi-awarded occupational therapist, life coach, author, educator, community leader, and a fashion doyenne who has dedicated her life to nurturing and guiding the development of others.Philanthropist Jil is a fervent supporter of education: she has always desired to increase her knowledge, rediscover the ideas that will help her excel in her field, and unlearn the attitudes that will prevent her from developing and improving.Inherearly years in America, Jil won the "Outstanding Occupational Therapist of the Year" award twice, first from Career Staff Unlimited in Orlando and subsequently from the National Therapy Services in Michigan. Both accolades honored Jil for her superior patient care, productivity, and leadership abilities as an occupational therapist.Theproudest moments for Jil are when she founded Excellence Therapy to serve home health patients, when she established a real estate business in the Philippines to offer rental homes and businesses, and when she co-founded Jil & Jug Couture with fashion designer Jugger Onate to promote Filipino talent, creativity, and culture internationally. Jil & Jug Couture uses fashion to
Gov. Sisolak leads AAPI Medical Center opening
SHRINE OF THE MOST HOLY REDEEMER ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
* The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health.
* * * Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday. com, and philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com.
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(702) 792-6678 • http://www.asianjournal.com 11LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 11-17, 2022
AUGUST 11-17, 2022 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-667812
