INVESTMENT BRIEFING. Philippine Economic Zone Authority officer-in-charge Tereso Panga (inset) briefs foreign delegates of the Pacific Business Mission to the Philippines on investments and business-to-business transactions at the PEZA head office in Pasay City on Tuesday, Aug. 16. Panga said this is Australia’s first business mission to the Philippines at the start of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration. PNA photos by Avito Dalan Marcos says to extend state of public health emergency until year-end New bill would grant CA IDs to undocumented individuals
MANILA — The Forbes’ list of the Philippines’ wealthiest featured the same names as the In the latest iteration of its list, the Sy siblings of SM fame topped Forbes’ wealthiest by raking in $12.6 billion but saw their net worth drop by $4 billion. annual ranking saw minimal movement ranking this year despite some declining net worths.Inthe latest iteration of its list, the Sy siblings of SM fame topped Forbes’ wealthiest by raking in $12.6 billion but saw their net worth drop by $4 billion. SM Investments Corp., reported its unaudited net income in the first half of 2022 rose 28.39% yearon-year to P35.4 billion. Property mogul Manuel Villar trailed behind the Sys, garnering a $7.8 billion wealth. Forbes said Villar is this year’s biggest dollar gainer. Landing in third was Enrique Razon Jr. and his logistics empire despite a slightly down net worth of $5.6 billion. Net worth was REAL ID enforcement date now 9 months away
MANILA — Rosalyn (not her real name) is a 34-year-old mother of three who works as a domestic helper in Parañaque City. She has been with her current employer since 2005 and has seen her monthly wage increase from P3,500 to P12,000 a month. Still, Rosalyn complains that her earnings are never enough. Her common-law husband Jerry (not his real name) works as a night watchman in a public school in Pangasinan, but is paid by the local government “only when there are surplus funds from the municipal budget.”Formonths when most of Luzon was on lockdown, Jerry Sys of SM retain wealthiest title in Forbes’ 2022 list by RAMON ROYANDOYAN Philstar.com
US CDC adds PH to ‘high’ travel risk list
THE United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added three countries, including the Philippines, to its “high” risk list for COVID-19. The Philippines, Russia, and Nepal were added to places with Level 3 or “high” risk designation. “Make sure you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before traveling to the Philippines. If you are not up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines, avoid travel to the Philippines,” the CDC said on its website.Level 3 applies to destinations that have had over 100 cases per 100,000 people in the past 28 days.The Department of Health recorded 28,008 additional cases—or 4,001 infections per day— from August 8 to 14. The figure was 3% higher than infections logged from a week before. The Philippines is once again seeing a spike in infections fueled by the presence of fast-spreading variants, increased mobility, and waning vaccine immunity of the population. Despite the increase in cases, the Philippines remained at low risk for COVID-19 spread. The country has confirmed 3.8 million COVID-19 cases, with 61,078 fatalities, since the health crisis began in 2020. (Gaea Katreena Cabico/Philstar.com)
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Californians whose licenses expire this month can upgrade to a REAL ID NEARLY a half million California drivers will need to renew their driver’s licenses this month, and the California Department of Motor Vehicles suggests this is the perfect time to upgrade to a REAL ID. Driver’s licenses expire on a customer’s birthday every five years. “While you don’t have to wait, if your driver’s license is expiring, you can give yourself a birthday present and get your REAL ID,” said DMV Director Steve Gordon. “The REAL ID is good for five years and, starting May 2023, if you want to use your license to board flights within the United States, you’ll need a REAL I’d.”
Customers who want to upgrade to a REAL ID can fill out an application and upload their required documents online before visiting a DMV office to complete their application and take a new photo. Get started at REALID. Get a boost against COVID: What you need to know about boosters COVID vaccines and boosters have reduced the threat of COVID, allowing many people to gather, travel, and celebrate with more peace of mind. Vaccines and boosters provide the best protection against the worst outcomes of COVID, yet people still have many questions around boosters. As of August 10, CDC data showed that while Asian Americans were among the highest boosted group—with nearly 70 percent of those eligible having received their first booster doses—only 14 percent of fully vaccinated Asian Americans 50 years or older have gotten their second booster. First booster rates are still low for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, with less than half of the population age 5 and older receiving their first booster doses. To that end, the We Can Do This COVID-19 Public Education Campaign has engaged
MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Wednesday, August 17 he will be extending the state of public health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic untilAskedyear-end.byareporter whether he will lengthen the state of public health emergency, which is different from the state of national calamity also declared due to COVID-19, Marcos answered in the affirmative. Saying that amending emergency procurement laws could take time, he told reporters at the sidelines of a vaccination event in Manila that “we will likely extend it (state of public health emergency) until the end of the year.”Astate of public health emergency was first declared in March 2020 by then President Rodrigo Duterte in Proclamation No. 922 as the country logged its first 10 cases of COVID-19. The proclamation provides that the state of public health emergency “shall remain in force and effect until lifted or withdrawn by the president.” This has never been lifted or withdrawn. What is expiring on September 12 is the declaration of a state of calamity which allows national and local MORE groups of undocumented individuals may soon be allowed access to the California identification card, according to a new bill introduced in the state Assembly. AB 1766, or the “CA ID For All” bill, would expand state-granted identification cards to everyone, regardless of immigration status and driving ability. Since the California ID isn’t a driver’s license, AB 1766 would only apply to non-drivers, allowing the elderly, disabled, and other groups of people who wouldn’t be able to obtain a driver’s license. At a recent press briefing at the Pasadena Jobs Center, lawmakers and immigrant advocates argued that the bill would benefit many undocumented disabled or elderly immigrants who cannot obtain a driver’s license.“The only state-issued ID someone with undocumented status can obtain is a driver’s license, blocking a vulnerable portion of the population who are lacking access to a car or the ability to drive from any access to any form of identification,” said Assemblymember Pandemic pushes 2.3-M Filipinos into poverty by BEN O. DE VERA, CATHY C. YAMSUAN Inquirer.net
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New bill would grant CA IDs... governments to tap into funds allocated for disasters to respond to the ongoing health crisis. Duterte first declared a state of calamity due to COVID-19 on March 16, 2020, which was extended six months after its effectivity and extended anew for a year after that. The Department of Health had warned that lifting the state of calamity would affect the emergency use authorizations granted to vaccines and medicines for COVID-19 and also the benefits enjoyed by healthcare workers. (Xave Gregorio/Philstar.com)
Marcos says to extend state of public health...
Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), who co-authored the bill.He continued, “Without any identification card in California, you can’t open a bank account, rent an apartment or a home [or] even cash a hard-earned check. We need to make sure people no longer face these barriers. This proposal is separate from the Different Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which provides benefits, including a driver’s license, to eligible undocumented individuals who were brought to the United States as children. The bill would impact the 1.6 million undocumented residents in California who don’t have access to an ID card, according to an estimate from the Migration Policy Institute. AB 1766 would be a more inclusive reworking of an existing California law that was passed in 2013 that enables non-U.S. citizens — who meet specific requirements — to obtain a driver’s license. That law, AB 60, made California the first state in the U.S. to grant undocumented people the right to a driver’s license. However, there were many limitations — it didn’t allow people to vote, receive benefits, or work.
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The legal and civil rights organization Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, which co-sponsored the bill, said that many undocumented Californias without state-issued IDs “rely on gym memberships or college/university IDs, if available to Thethem.”organization also noted that having a state ID would give many undocumented immigrants more courage to apply to social services and other government resources.IfAB1766 were signed into law and take effect, people with CA IDs would be able to open bank accounts and apply for housing, health care, and employment. The bill is currently being deliberated in the state Legislature.
Pandemic pushes 2.3-M Filipinos into... did not get paid as the school he worked in was closed, forcing Rosalyn to advance portions of her future wages to send to her partner who is caring for their three children—now age 10 to 14.Rosalyn said that a few days ago, Jerry called to tell her to borrow P12,000 from her employer as their kids still did not have school uniforms, books and other supplies. An argument ensued, Rosalyn recalled, saying she was already tired of borrowing money and blamed Jerry for being unable to make ends meet with the cash she sends every“Butmonth.deep inside, I know he tells the truth. The price of everything has gone up. And because he has lost his job during the pandemic, Jerry stays at home to take care of the children. I know he feels ashamed. But my borrowings are now at P40,000. And I can never send enough back home,” Rosalyn said, her voice breaking.Rosalyn and her family are among the 2.3 million Filipinos who joined the ranks of the poor because of the lingering COVID-19Preliminarypandemic.results of the family income and expenditure survey for 2021 released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Monday, August 15 showed that the poverty rate had worsened to 18.8 percent from 16.7 percent in 2018. This translates to 19.99 million Filipinos who are living below the poverty line, or those making less than P12,030 a month for a family of five. In 2018, the last time the survey was made, there were 17.67 million Filipinos living below the poverty threshold of P10,481 a month. The poverty rate was worse in 2015 at 23.5 percent, or the equivalent of 23.68 million poor Filipinos. Unemployment The poverty threshold is the minimum income needed to meet the basic food and nonfood needs such as clothing, fuel, light and water, housing, transportation and communication, and health and education expenses. “The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including income and employment losses, caused the poverty incidence to rise. Restrictions on mobility and low earning capacity of poor households due to limited access to regular and productive jobs made the lives of Filipinos difficult,” said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, who heads the state planning agency National Economic and Development Authority (Neda). “We do know that we have a tough road ahead, but we are already prepared to face these challenges head-on. Our poverty reduction efforts will focus on three main areas: full reopening of the economy; more investments in human capital, social development, and social protection, and transformation of the production sectors to generate more and quality jobs and competitive products,” Balisacan said. “Social protection programs and services must effectively reach and empower them,” Sen. Grace Poe added on Monday.Thesenator said improving employment opportunities for Filipinos would be critical, particularly in the agriculture sector, as the pandemic forced many companies to close down. She said the passage of the Public Service Act, which allowed foreign ownership of companies in telecommunication, airlines and railways, would definitely help in generating jobs. She also noted that the government should let drivers of public utility vehicles return to their routes “as they have waited for too long without income.”“The commuters need them, especially the millions of students who will return to schools next week,” she stressed.Despite recent employment gains due to the reopening of more economic sectors, the Philippines’ latest jobless rate in June of 6 percent, equivalent to 2.99 million Filipinos, was still the second-worst in emerging Asia. “The unemployment rate in the Philippines remains one of the highest among major Asian economies, though much lower than that of India,” Neda noted in a report issued on Monday. India’s jobless rate in June was 7.8Thepercent.unemployment rate in Vietnam was 2.5 percent in June; Malaysia, 3.9 percent in May; China, 5.6 percent in March; and Indonesia, 5.8 percent in February, Neda’s report showed. Economic reopening Among families, poverty incidence inched up to 13.2 percent of households in 2021 from 12.1 percent in 2018, although still below the 18 percent in 2015. This meant the number of poor Filipino households increased to 3.5 million last year from 2018’s threeWhilemillion.the PSA has yet to release sectoral poverty statistics, National Statistician Dennis Mapa told a press briefing that farmers and fisherfolk were historically among the poorest of the poor in the Mapacountry.saidit did not help that entrepreneurial activities and cash receipts from abroad— among the top sources of Filipino families’ incomes— were the most badly hit by the hard times caused by the pandemic.Thousands of small local businesses had been shuttered by the most stringent lockdowns at the onset of the pandemic in 2020. The COVID-19 crisis also temporarily stopped the deployment of overseas Filipino workers, while hundreds of thousands of them lost their jobs and returned home due to a global recession. Mapa nonetheless said domestic cash remittances— mostly dole-outs from the government—kept many households afloat last year. He said the government would now monitor poverty statistics every two years, with the next survey slated in 2023, unlike before when it was conducted every three years. For Neda, “the full reopening of the economy needs to be prioritized to steer the economy back to its highgrowth path and reinvigorate job creation.”
PH CONSULATE IN SF HOLDS FINANCIAL LITERACY SEMINAR WITH PATELCO CREDIT UNION. As part of efforts to enhance capacity-building among personnel and promote organizational development, the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco conducted a financial literacy seminar for its personnel at the Consulate’s Sentro Rizal San Francisco on July 29, 2022, in partnership with Patelco Credit Union. Patelco Credit Union’s Membership Development Manager Michele Enriquez, and Retail Branch Manager Alma Tolentino served as resource speakers for the seminar, which centered on American financial and banking institutions, and the basics of credit, saving and budgeting. Established in 1936 to serve the employees of the then-Pacific Telephone Company, Patelco Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative with 37 branches in Northern California and more than 400,000 members Text and photos from San Francisco PCG
(650) 689-5160 • http://www.asianjournal.com NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 19-25, 2022 3DATELINE USA MyTurn.ca.gov | 833-422-4255 Our kids can be full of icky, sticky little surprises. We can't protect them from everything, but we can protect them from COVID-19. Add vaccines and boosters to your child's back to school list. BACK TO SCHOOL IS COMING. PAGE 1 REAL ID enforcement date now 9 months... dmv.ca.gov.Customers renewing a REAL ID may qualify to do so online. Californians who are changing their address or personal description at the time of renewal will need to renew in person. “If you think you are going to need a REAL ID, there is no reason to wait,” reminds Gordon. “Appointments are available, and it only takes a few minutes to finish the process at a DMV office.”
According to DMV records, 476,000 Californians celebrating an August birthday have a license up for renewal this year, making August the most popular driver’s license renewal month. November has the fewest driver’s licenses up for renewal with 381,000. Beginning next May, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will require a valid passport or other federally approved document, a REAL ID driver’s license or identification card, to board flights within the United States and access secure federal facilities and military bases. Most DMV tasks do not require an office visit. The DMV encourages customers to use its online services and other service channels to complete transactions, including vehicle registration renewals. Customers can also use the Service Advisor on the DMV website to learn their options to complete DMV business.
Pistahan parade and festival in two years
SAN FRANCISCO – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco’s Sentro Rizal on August 3, 2022 welcomed 42 young Filipino Americans who were taking part in the 9th Cultural Immersion Summer Camp of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of San Francisco (UPAASF).
The Philippine Consulate General and the Department of Tourism Office in San Francisco were among the exhibitors at the 2022 Pistahan Festival at Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco on August 13-14.
The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco takes part in the largest parade of the Filipino American community in the Bay Area at the 2022 Pistahan Parade in Downtown San Francisco on Saturday, August 13.
Fil-Am kids immerse in Philippine history, food and tourist spots during tour of Sentro Rizal San Francisco
Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Ferrer personally welcomed the summer campers – aged six to 14 years old – to their “second home in
Participants, facilitators and volunteers of the annual Cultural Immersion Summer Camp of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of San Francisco (UPAASF) pose for a photo upon the conclusion of their field trip at the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco’s Sentro Rizal on August 3, 2022. Joining them in the photo are (back row): Vice Consul Adrian Baccay; Tourism Attaché Soleil Tropicales; Trade Assistant Mylene Juan; UPAASF President Liza Gino; UPAASF Summer Camp co-founder Sonia Delen; and UPAASF Summer Camp Directors Candy Bandong and Tanya Cruz Duldulao. Photo courtesy of San Francisco PCG SAN FRANCISCO – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco and its partner government agencies, led by Consul General Neil Ferrer, went in full force to support the return of the in-person celebration of the Pistahan Parade and Festival in downtown San Francisco on August 13-14, 2022. During the pre-parade program at the San Francisco Civic Center on August 13, Consul General Ferrer commended the Filipino American Arts Exposition (FAAE) and the Filipino American community in the San Francisco Bay Area for staging the 29th annual Pistahan following two years of virtual festivities. “I thank the FAAE, led by its dynamic president Al Perez, and its dedicated volunteers for their relentless efforts in mainstreaming Philippine culture and history in the Bay Area and beyond,” said Consul General Ferrer, who served as the Pistahan’s 2021 Community Grand Marshal. The Consulate, the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) Office, the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC), and the Philippine Social Security System (SSS) Office joined the parade along Market Street, San Francisco’s main thoroughfare, which ended at the Pistahan Festival grounds at Yerba Buena Gardens.Thetwo-day outdoor festival featured specially curated pavilions that hosted booths and events on Philippine visual Philippine Consul General Neil Ferrer (5th from left) gives his remarks during the kick-off program of the 29th annual Pistahan Parade and Festival, at the San Francisco Civic Center on Saturday, August 13. Photos courtesy of San Francisco PCG
PH Consulate General in SF joins first in-person
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Sys of SM retain wealthiest title in Forbes’... computed by Forbes’ based on stock prices and exchange rates as of July 22. Forbes noted that the minimum net worth that made their list was $185 million, slightly declining from the $200 million recorded lastRoundingyear. out the top were Lance Gokongwei and his siblings ($3.1 billion), Aboitiz family ($2.9 billion), Isidro Consunji and siblings ($2.65 billion), Tony Tan Caktion ($2.6 billion), Jaime Zobel De Ayala ($2.55 billion), Ramon Ang ($2.45 billion), and Andrew Tan ($2.4 billion). There were notable names that broke bank but did not rank among the top, such as the Uys of broadband provider Converge ICT Solutions, the Po family of Century Pacific Food Inc, and real estate developer Sylvia Wenceslao. Thesecorporations likewise benefitted from aid in the form of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises law passed by the Duterte administration within the pandemic. g at Dynamico Space in Philippine Center SFor older who has completed their initial COVID vaccination series should get a booster. Individuals who are up to date on COVID vaccines not only receive protection for themselves, but they also help reduce the spread of COVID to people who are at high risk due to age or compromised immune systems. Second boosters provide added protection for people at higher risk. Adults age 50 or older and immunocompromised individuals can improve their protection even more with a second booster. CDC recommends second boosters, with either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, for: • People age 50 or older who got their first booster four months or more ago, • People who got a Johnson & Johnson vaccine and their first booster with a Johnson & Johnson dose at least four months ago, • Residents of long-term care settings,•People with certain underlying medical conditions that impact their immune systems, and • Pregnant and recently pregnant people. Boosters are readily available to all vaccinated people ages 5 years or older. Just like the vaccines, booster shots are available at no cost to anyone living in the U.S. People who got Pfizer or Moderna vaccines should get a booster five months after the initial doses. Vaccinated adults 18 or older may choose any available vaccine as a booster, regardless of the type or brand of vaccine received previously. Only the Pfizer vaccine is available as a booster for those ages 5 to 17. For more information and to find a vaccine, visit www. vaccines.gov. (By the We Can Do This COVID-19 Public Education Campaign)
Dynamico CEO JR Calanoc (middle) hosted two hybrid (online and in-person) sessions at Dynamico Space on Sutter St. in downtown San Francisco featuring select Philippine startups from leading Philippine incubators and accelerators Startup Village and UPSCALE. Also in the photo are mentors Danica Jacinto (left) and Radi Calalang. Dynamico resident mentors from Silicon Valley also joined the pitch night via Zoom. Photo courtesy of San Francisco PCG
with technology that can scale to a global level. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to work closely with some of these startups as part of Dynamico's upcoming mentorship program.”According to Calanoc, Dynamico mentors will select startups to become part of the Dynamico mentorship program, which will culminate in a demo night and enable the startups to further collaborate with the Dynamico community and other startups in Silicon Valley. “At Dynamico, we were u
IN partnership with the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Silicon Valley, Dynamico Space held two Startup Pitch Nights on July 27-28, 2022 at the Philippine Center in San Francisco. Dynamico CEO JR Calanoc hosted two hybrid (online and in-person) sessions at Dynamico Space on Sutter St. in downtown San Francisco featuring select Philippine startups from leading Philippine incubators and challengesstartupswaspartsaid:PartnerRaymentors.businessesweresessiontheVillageand UPSCALE.accelerators StartupThepitchsessionswereinformofamentorfeedbackwhereinparticipantsabletopresenttheirto DynamicoOneoftheDynamicomentors,Potter,whoisManagingofOverDriveVentures,“ItrulyenjoyedbeingaofDynamicopitchnight! IimpressedwithhowthesewereaddressinginthePhilippines
Philippine startups participate in pitch week
(650) 689-5160 • http://www.asianjournal.com NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 19-25, 2022 5Dateline USa PAGE 1 Get a boost against COVID: What you need...
community-based organizations as partners to increase vaccine and booster uptake across the country.Apartnership between Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum (PIEAM) and Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC) has humanized the numbers behind those lost to COVID-19 with a curated community exhibit titled, Toe Fo’i: The Return. Through the power of storytelling from 6 Pasifika artists, Toe Fo’i: The Return evokes a narrative that “reminds visitors the stories of those lost are the stories of those who survived,” says Kiki Rivera, PIEAM Guest Curator and EPIC Storyteller.“COVID-19 devasted our Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders,” says Rivera, “We are as dedicated to drawing awareness to the importance of vaccines and boosters as we are to guiding our communities through the hurdles of misinformation, fear, mistrust, and entitlement that surround theHeretopic.”is what people should know about the COVID boosters: Boosters provide the best protection against severe illness and death. Over time, vaccines may become less effective at preventing COVID, and just because you’ve had COVID doesn’t mean you can’t get it again. Getting boosted extends your protection and keeps you safer from emerging variants. A booster shot is another dose that — as the name suggests — boosts immunity to the virus as time passes. Vaccinated people who have also had a booster are less likely to get sick; but if they do catch the virus, the illness is usually less severe. For adults ages 65 or older, boosters can more than double their protection. Vaccines and boosters protect vulnerable populations against COVID. Everyone 5 1
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An alliance restored: Marcos Jr.’s US policy
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Continuing the war OF course the Philippine National Police will continue going after drug offenders, as promised by the new PNP chief, Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. No country has fully eradicated the drug scourge, and the world has never run out of people seeking the illegal substances.
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EARLIER this month, President Marcos Jr. met America’s most senior diplomat in Malacañang. For U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, widely known as U.S. President Joseph Biden’s alter ego, it was his first official visit to Manila. Make no mistake: This was no routine exchange of pleasantries.Overthepast half-a-century, the relationship between the Marcoses and America has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. Almost four decades ago, the notorious dynasty had to flee the same halls aboard a U.S. Air Force plane in order to avoid the fate of less fortunate fallen tyrannies (think of Romania or Russia).Thetwilight decades of the 20th-century America, at once, represented both a vital ally and a political sanctuary for the Marcoses, who spent their brief yet luxurious exile in Hawaii, as well as a site of numerous court cases based on allegations of widespread human rights violations and corruption during the dark days of martial law. And it goes without saying that the Marcoses weren’t pleased with the Reagan administration’s eventual, albeit initially reluctant, embrace of the democratic opposition. Thus, Mr. Marcos’ meeting with Washington’s most senior Cabinet member represented a major juncture in both Philippine-U.S. relations, as well as the dynasty’s ties with America. Ahead of Blinken, the new Filipino president held a flurry of meetings and exchanges with top Western officials, including a cordial phone conversation with Biden as well as in-person meetings with two of the most capable diplomats in Washington, namely Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and the new U.S. ambassador to Manila MaryKay Carlson. Right off the bat, the new Filipino president made it clear that his term won’t be a poor replica of his Beijing-friendly predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who made anti-Western pronouncements a centerpiece of his stream-of-consciousness foreign policy speeches. Mr. Marcos signaled that the fundamentals of the alliance will remain intact after six years of disruptive populism under Duterte.“We cannot, we 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,” Mr. Marcos told his guest. On his part, Blinken made it clear that Washington treats Manila as an “an irreplaceable friend, partner, and ally” and reassured his hosts that “an armed attack on Philippines’ armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments under that [Mutual Defense] Treaty.” What made the meeting even more interesting, however, is Mr. Marcos’ statement on the ongoing crisis in neighboring Taiwan. Instead of laying blame on the U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s controversial visit to the self-ruling island nation, Mr. Marcos nonchalantly stated, “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.”
DURING my early years as a news reporter assigned to cover Malacañang, one of those whom I had the opportunity to interview was General Fidel V. Ramos, popularly known as FVR. From the way he spoke and the manner by which he conducted himself with his upright posture, FVR struck me as someone who was every inch a soldier and totally disciplined with his comments.Duringthe times he would be waiting to see President Marcos Sr., I would spend time talking with him outside the study room at the Palace. On one occasion, Enrique Zobel, a close personal friend of General Ramos, invited me for lunch at the BPI executive lounge. During that lunch EZ hosted sometime in 1982, FVR revealed that he was really looking to continue in public service even after his retirement. That was perhaps the first indication – at least to me – that the general would be treading a different path, as the turn of events served as the impetus for Fidel Ramos to become the 12th president of the Republic of the Philippines. His tenure generally marked by a perception of political stability, FVR used his great prowess at psywar to confuse and perplex perceived political enemies. He was undoubtedly an excellent drumbeater who was able to lead the country on a steady course of economic growth, positioning the Philippines as the next tiger economy of Asia. I saw this for myself when I joined several of his trips as part of his business delegation, particularly in Los Angeles, in San Francisco and during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in Vancouver, Canada in November 1997, and then on to Seattle.When the 1997 Asian financial crisis hit, the Philippines was not as badly hurt as the other countries in the region because, as FVR explained it, we kept our economy open and enhanced our competitiveness – summed up in his trademark battle cry of “Kaya natin ‘to!” (roughly translated as “We can do this!”). That’s because he was not afraid to take the bull by the horns, so to speak, when he fast-tracked an energy program – even utilizing power barges – to solve the energy crisis that saw the country suffering from 12-hour daily brownouts that began in 1990 and continued until the early part of his presidency. As a result, he was able to add 1700 megawatts of new electric capacity, prompting many to say that he saved the country from ruin because the “dark days” came to an end and investors started coming in. Age had not dimmed his intellect because long after he left the presidency, he would regularly send me copies of his articles printed on paper with the RPDEV (Ramos Peace and Development Foundation, Inc.) letterhead along with a handwritten note as well as comments on the margins, in his trademark red ink. There is no doubt that Fidel Ramos was an extraordinary individual who immensely contributed in making people proud of their country with his positive outlook and trademark thumbs up sign. In fact, this was the very same reason why we honored him with the Max Soliven Lifetime Achievement award during the “2018 People of the Year” awards, in recognition of the indelible mark that he had left in our country’s history. A lot of people, friend or foe alike, appreciated the gesture of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in giving credit for all the things that FVR has done in spite of what happened in the past, making it a point to be present during the late president’s burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. As President of the republic, BBM wanted to show unity and the appreciation of the people for all the contributions that FVR made in helping stabilize the country, describing him as a great leader and a dedicated statesman.Therelationship between the Philippines and ASEAN as well as the United States was one of its best during FVR’s term. In a statement, the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council mourned the loss of “an elder statesman and enduring ally for U.S.-Philippines and U.S.-ASEAN relations,” noting that he “strengthened democratic institutions by ensuring the supremacy of civilian authority over the military,” which ensured the country’s economic prosperity. We should remember that the long journey home of the Balangiga Bells which were taken as war booty by American soldiers in September 1901 first gained traction when FVR personally asked President Bill Clinton for the return of the bells. As President Clinton seemed amenable to the idea, FVR instructed then-Philippine Ambassador to Washington Raul Rabe to start the work of recovering the bells, which were displayed at Warren Air Force Base near Cheyenne in Wyoming.Theefforts to recover the bells met with a lot of resistance compounded by legal obstacles, but the impassioned speech of former president Duterte during his State of the Nation Address in July 2017 revived the clamor for their return. Together with many groups that include U.S. veterans, private American individuals like our honorary consul in Florida Henry Howard and countless friends who worked to overcome the obstacles – it was truly an honor for me that the bells were returned to the Diocese of Borongan in Eastern Samar in December of 2018. I have to thank FVR, too, because when I was first offered the post of ambassador and I initially declined, FVR was one of those who urged me to accept the job – and I must admit, he was right: there is nothing more humbling and gratifying than to be given the opportunity to serve your country, most especially during challenging times. (Philstar.com) * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com
CORA MACABAGDAL-ORIEL President MOMAR G. VISAYA Executive Editor
With offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York/New Jersey, Las Vegas, San Diego. Philippines PINION
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No other Southeast Asian nation has so categorically shut down Beijing’s (self-serving) narrative on what many have come to see as the “Fourth Taiwan Strait Crisis.” The Taiwan issue is particularly sensitive for Manila for two major reasons: First is the “tyranny of geography,” since the Luzon strait separates the two nations by just over 200 miles; and second is alliance entanglements since the Philippines will almost inevitably serve, or be treated, as a major base of operations for U.S. and allied troops in an event of contingency. Early in office, Mr. Marcos rebooted Philippine foreign policy toward major powers. While open to robust commercial ties with China, Mr. Marcos has effectively tossed out his predecessor’s often fawning, if not slavish, predisposition toward the Asian superpower. Shortly after securing the presidency, the new Filipino president underscored his commitment to a more proactive defense of his country’s sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea, as well as a more critical, results-oriented approach to the largely “high rhetoric, low output” strategic relations with China. This has clearly been music to Washington’s ears. It also underscored Mr. Marcos’ determination to fully restore, if not further expand, a centuryold alliance on the verge of collapse only a few years earlier.
Decorated statesman and military officer former President Fidel V. Ramos Philstar.com file photo
The only question is the way the campaign is carried out. The architect and first implementer of Rodrigo Duterte’s Oplan Tokhang and Double Barrel, now senator Ronald dela Rosa, has openly said his main regret in the bloody campaign is his failure to first carry out a thorough cleansing of the PNP, to prevent police abuses that have bred accusations of extrajudicial killings. Mind-altering and habit-forming drugs have been around for centuries, with governments launching regular crackdowns against banned substances. But with continuing demand, there is constant supply, with colossal profits because of the risks involved in trafficking illegal items. Rodrigo Duterte, who promised during his campaign to eliminate the drug scourge within six months of his presidency, conceded six years later that he underestimated the extent of the problem. He urged his successor to continue his campaign, but Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been silent on the issue.
Human rights advocates have called for a holistic approach to the problem, addressing not only the law enforcement aspect but also the demand, which is a social and health problem. The previous administration tried to adopt this approach, but in line with repeated pronouncements from the president, the focus remained on the law enforcement aspect, characterized by overwhelming police response to suspects who purportedly resisted arrest or “nanlaban.” The brutal campaign drew complaints that prompted the International Criminal Court to launch a preliminary examination of the conduct of the war and the possible indictment of certain Philippine officials for crimes against humanity. Apart from showing the ICC and the world that the country is fully capable of conducting its own probe, the government must show that police abuses are rare exceptions rather than the rule in the continuing campaign against the illegal drug scourge. (Philstar.com) Editorial
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RICHARD HEYDARIAN Horizons
• Cerebro – Cerebro Founder Joald Justine Itugot highlighted Cerebro as an E-learning provider that offers ready-made lessons, curriculum-based quizzes, and digital worksheets.
Consul General Neil Ferrer welcomes the participants of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of San Francisco (UPAASF) Cultural Immersion Summer Camp during their field trip to Sentro Rizal San Francisco. Photos courtesy of San Francisco PCG
Philippine startups participate in pitch week at Dynamico... Fil-Am kids immerse in Philippine history, food... the Bay Area,” and encouraged the participants to reconnect to their Filipino roots by learning more about Philippine culture and way of life. Vice Consul and Cultural Section Head Adrian Baccay, Tourism Attaché Soleil Tropicales of the Department of Tourism (DOT) Office in San Francisco, and Trade Assistant Mylene Juan of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Silicon Valley served as resource speakers and facilitators during the Consulate leg of the summer camp.The Consulate put together a host of activities for the summer campers, including a lecture on Philippine national symbols, government and Filipino citizenship, an introduction to Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, a virtual tour of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, and a familiarization of Philippineespecially excited to partner closely with Upscale and StartUp Village, as well as IdeaSpace in the near future, to showcase how this type of collaboration can expand the exposure for Philippine-based startups. We are excited to partner on similar events in the future,” he said. “The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco is pleased to partner with Dynamico in supporting Philippine startups, especially with the Philippine Government’s efforts to achieve its Fourth Industrial Revolution goals,” Consul General Neil Ferrer said. The following Philippine startups participated in the Pitch Week:
To wrap up their visit to the Sentro Rizal, the Consulate treated the youngsters to lunch consisting of Jollibee Chickenjoy, Filipino-style sweet spaghetti, and banana and langka pie. Since the program’s inception nine years ago, the Consulate has been a partner of the UPAASF in the conduct of the Cultural Immersion Summer Camp, which allows second-generation Americans of Filipino descent to broaden their knowledge and deepen their understanding about their parents’ country of birth. The Consulate’s support to the summer camp is in line with its cultural diplomacy program in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. (PCGSF Release)
(PCGSF
Consul General Neil Ferrer attends a talk on the Filipino American creative industry at the Innovation Pavilion of the 2022 Pistahan Festival at Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco.
• MetroCityAI – MetroCityAi Founder King Del Rosario highlighted his startup’s objective to maximize AI use to automate the recruitment process as against companies’ spending long hours on resume screening and conducting job
(650) 689-5160 • http://www.asianjournal.com NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 19-25, 2022 7Dateline USa PAGE 4 PAGE 4 PAGE 5 PH Consulate General in SF joins first in-person...
• Olivia – Olivia Co-Founder Jocelyn Pantastico presented her app, which transforms receipts and invoices into reports and digital assets in seconds with high accuracy. It is scalable and it facilitates easy, secure data storage and retrieval.•Lyon – Lyon Co-Founder and CEO Jason Deniega highlighted his app’s features, including enabling users to set up their own online learning spaces and create courses in minutes. It integrates onboarding, content creation and management, live sessions, among others.
arts, dances, literature, fashion, sports and martial arts, food, and innovation. Filipino talents based in the Philippines and in the U.S. also took center stage for their live performances at the main entertainment area. In the Arts Pavilion, Philippinebased visual artist Ian “Taipan” Lucero showcased his artworks featuring the Filipino calligraphy system “baybayin.” Lucero is a recipient of a grant from the Philippine National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). As one of the festival exhibitors, the Consulate opened a help desk where the public could inquire about its consular services, as well as travel packages from the DOT and trade information from theAtPTIC.the Innovation Pavilion, Consul General Ferrer attended a talk on Filipino experiences in the American creative industry, while Vice Consul and Community Section Head Adrian Baccay joined a panel of speakers in a forum on government and community service. Held every second weekend of August since 1994, the Pistahan Parade and Festival has become one of the largest gatherings of the Filipino American community in Northern California, and one of the biggest celebrations of Philippine culture and heritage in the United States. Over the years, the Consulate and its partner government agencies have lent its support to the Pistahan as part of its economic and cultural diplomacy initiatives. (PCGSF Release) Vice Consul Adrian Baccay (3rd from right) joins a panel of Filipino American government leaders in California in a forum on government and community service, at the Innovation Pavilion of the 2022 Pistahan Festival at Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco on Sunday, August 14. Photo courtesy of Joanne Boston
• Nanotronics Inc –Nanotronics Co-Founder and CEO Dr. Jerome Palaganas is a startup that produces advanced materials, products and solutions for various industries. It uses biodegradable material that aims to contribute to plastic waste reduction.
• HomeAssist.ph –HomeAssist.ph Founder Christopher Velasquez presented his tech-enabled real estate brokerage that aids prospective buyers in their home-buying through various services from looking for a property to moving in.
The young participants of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of San Francisco (UPAASF) Cultural Immersion Summer Camp participate in an activity during their field trip to Sentro Rizal San Francisco.
• Avodah – Avodah CoFounder Caryl Pizon highlighted her one-stop on-demand service app that informs customers about available house services for daily and emergency needs.
duringPhilippineCelynneCommissionerLlonaWeek. GorospeCaparas,CoordinatorsCarloLead,OfficeandSystemUniversityinandOperationsViceArea,leaderFilipinoCalalang,asExperienceHwang,MentorFounderGoogle;SeniorApple;DivyaEngineeringWaynnCo-FounderincludedwhointoSolutionstartup’sandandenterprise’shighlightedFounderinterviews.•Waste4Good -–Waste4GoodLorilynDaquioaghersocialfocusonagriculturehelpingsolvefoodinsecurityfoodwastagethroughtheCompostActivatorthatturnsfoodwastenon-harmfulplantfertilizer.DynamicoresidentmentorsattendedthesessionsMs.JesssicaTsoong,ofWifiSlam;Mr.Lue,VicePresidentforatWonolo;Ms.Nag,DirectorofHealthatMr.MatthewBrightman,ProductManageratandMr.RayPotter,Co-andCEOofSafelogic.CoordinatorMs.NancyHeadofCustomeratGoogle,aswellguestmentorsMr.RadiatechpreneurandAmericancommunityintheSanFranciscoBayandMs.DanicaJacinto,PresidentofFinanceandatNo.8andCFOSeniorAdvisoratAHGLabthePhilippines.Dr.LuisSison,DirectoroftheofthePhilippinesTechnologyTransferBusinessDevelopmentandUPSCALEProjectStartupVillageDirectorCalimonandUPSCALEMargaritaNikkoGuiam,andRizzialsoattendedthePitchConsulVanessaBago-andPhilippineTradeinSiliconValleyLayugrepresentedtheConsulateGeneralthepitchsessions. Release) made products. To make the visit to the Consulate more interactive, DOT San Francisco conducted a coloring activity featuring the Philippines’ top tourist drawers such as the Ifugao Rice Terraces, the Puerto Princesa Underground River in Palawan, whale shark (butanding) diving in Cebu, and the Philippine eagle of Davao.Making things more immersive, DOT San Francisco and PTIC Silicon Valley brought in items from the Philippines that the summer campers got to see, feel, and taste. These include the vakul head dress of Batanes, pili nuts from Bicol, a sample of Boracay’s world famous white sand, and dried mangoes from Cebu. The immersive experience ignited the participants’ interest in Filipino products that can be bought in the U.S., as well as their desire to visit and explore the Philippines.
Caution urged over infra talks with China amid West Philippine Sea issue
AUGUST 19-25, 2022 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-51608 Dateline PhiliPPines
Possible bargaining chip
MANILA — The volume of positive COVID-19 tests coming out of Metro Manila has been steadily declining since the first week of August, indicating a downward trend, independent pandemic monitor OCTA Research disclosed Tuesday, August 16. In a tweet advisory that morning, though, OCTA Research fellow Guido David urged sobriety over the still-emerging trends, pointing out that they need to be sustained for a few more weeks until they can conclusively say the peak has arrived. To recall, OCTA Research — among the most accurate pandemic forecasters in the time of COVID-19 — earlier pegged the peak, spurred by the arrival of new subvariants, coming within the week of July 16 to 23 based on the data they had at the time. But the think tank later on admitted that per more recent figures, the projection ultimately fell through after cases suddenly started rising again after weeks of decline."While cases may have already peaked in the National Capital Region, the trends will need to hold, as trends are still reversible. The risk level in the NCR remains moderate. The wave is not yet over," he Accordingsaid. to OCTA Research, the seven-day positivity rate of 17.3 percent on August 7 is now down to 16.1 percent as of Sunday, August 14. Likewise, the one-week growth rate of cases in the capital region decreased to -7 percent. From August 1 to 7, though, the Philippines recorded 27,331 more COVID-19 cases, which meant just a 13% increase from the week prior. "The reproduction number in the NCR decreased to 1.13 as of August 12, from 1.19 on August 5. Meanwhile, healthcare utilization was at 37 percent while ICU occupancy for Covid was 32 percent, both as of August 14," David also said in his advisory. Positivity rate refers to the percentage of all tests that are coming out positive, while the term growth rate measures the speed of the increase in COVID-19 infections in a given area. The World Health Organization recommends the proportion of COVID-19 tests coming back positive should remain below 5% to ensure the spread of the virus is under control. DOH says over 10K cases still possible At the same time, the Department of Health also said earlier this week that there was a possibility of over 10,600 daily COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila byPerOctober. datafrom the DOH, Quezon City logged the most coronavirus cases in Metro Manila with 241 new infections on Monday. Manila, Makati, and Parañaque came after with 148, 117 and 103 new cases in their localities, respectively. No other city in Metro Manila eclipsed the 100 cases mark for that"Thisday. once again gives us hope that the peak of the wave in the NCR may occur by next week [but with] no guarantees, of course...The trends need to be consistent for about a week before we can confidently say there is a downward trend," David said earlier. (Franco Luna/ Philstar.com)
MANILA — The Malacañang Press Corps, which comprises members of the press assigned to cover the president, on Monday, August 15 said it was "concerned" that the Office of the Press Secretary decided against accrediting a longtime Palace reporter over unspecified violations. According to the MPC, the Palace did not accredit Hataw reporter Rose Novenario although it is yet unclear why. "We call on the OPS to clearly state Ms. Novenario's alleged violations as well as the circumstances that led to the denial of her accreditation," the Palace reporters said, adding its members need "clear cut rules on what is deemed as an unacceptable behavior."Atthe Senate public information and mass media panel's hearing later Monday afternoon, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles confirmed that her office denied Novenario's request for accreditation after the reporter "insulted" members of the OPS with "anti-LGBTQ words." Asked by Sen. Raffy Tulfo what the veteran Palace reporter said, Cruz-Angeles replied that Novenario had used a phrase discriminatory to gays. Citing "reports" from her office's media relations unit, Cruz-Angeles said that Novenario used a homophobic slur when complaining about the office's media relations processes, though she did not present Cruz-Angelesproof. said Novenario can still be reinstated as an accredited Palace reporter later on if it's proven that the Office of the Press Secretary is in the wrong. MPC to continue dialogues with OPS The Malacañang Press Corps urged the Office of the Press Secretary to "communicate properly" the grounds for the denial of accreditation of any of its members, adding that it would continue to hold dialogues with the OPS. Journalists accredited with a government agency are typically given access to press conferences, releases, and other avenues for information on the goings-on in that office. Although the MPC is independent of government, the Palace has generally accredited its members and allowed them to cover. "Ms. Novenario will remain a member of MPC despite the ban and we will continue to exhaust measures to address the issue, taking into account the need to balance the role of journalists to report independently and to ensure proper decorum in the performance of such a duty," the press corps said. The MPC has had a generally good relationhip with the Palace. In 2018, the press corps stressed that Rappler reporter Pia Ranada, who had been banned from the Palace and from covering President Rodrigo Duterte's events, would remain a member and said then that it was "[asserting] its prerogative to accept, suspend or revoke membership to the body." It also said then that it "deplores any arbitrary attempt to bar access and harass reporters performing their duty as an independent monitor of power and guardian of public interest." In 2017, the press corps issued a statement in response to then Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar's claim that media had "misreported" Duterte's statement about martial law. "We are disturbed by the propensity of the officials of this administration to blame the media whenever the inflammatory statements of the President stir controversy or draw flak. This trend should stop as it would not contribute to the elevation of the level of public discourse," it said then. (Philstar.com)
Press corps raises concern over denial of Palace reporter’s accreditation
MANILA — More economic and infrastructure project deals with China may “further compromise” the Philippines’ position in the West Philippine Sea, a fisherfolk group said on Tuesday, August 16. An infrastructure think tank meanwhile said that government must make sure China loans are competitive if talks on funding for infrastructure should continue. “We demand that any negotiations with China be suspended until the latter leave the West Philippine Sea and respect the rights of Filipino fishers and vessels in our
MANILA – President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, August 16 enjoined the vice governors nationwide to join his administration to bring change and development to the country.Marcos made the call during the oath-taking of the officers of the League of Vice Governors of the Philippines (LGVP) at Malacañan Palace’s President's Hall.In a statement posted on his official Facebook page, Marcos acknowledged the vice governors’ role as agents of change.“Dalangin ko na ang bawat isa ay makikipagtulungan sa ating administrasyon upang makamit ang pagbabagong hangad natin para sa bansa (I pray that each of you will help our administration in bringing change we desire for the country),” Marcos said. Marcos also thanked the LGVP members for their pledge to be honest public servants. “Lubos ang ating pasasalamat sa mga bise gobernador na kasapi ng League of Vice Governors of the Philippines na nanumpang sila’y magiging tapat na lingkodbayan sa mga mamamayan ng kanilang mga probinsya (We are extremely grateful to the vice governors who are members of LGVP for their vow to become an honest public servant in their respective provinces),” he said. Marcos shared several photos taken during the oath-taking ceremony.TheLGVP is composed of vice governors of the 81 provinces nationwide.OnAugust 11, Marcos met with members of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) and discussed strategies to keep the country’s food supply stable.During his meeting with LPP, Marcos said the local officials’ improved coordination with the national government is important to ensure food security. He also stressed the need to lay out plans for the provinces’ cropping schedules, yield, soil problems, and use of fertilizers. (PNA)
theHaulNationalterminated,projectscountries.projectspossibletransportrestartweekAmbassadorBautistasaidChairpersonwaters,” PAMALAKAYAterritorialNationalFernandoHicapinastatementonTuesday.TransportSecretaryJaimemetwithChineseHuangXilianlastwherethey“agreedtonegotiationsformajorprojects” aswellasmaritimecooperationbetweenthetwoThisincludedmajorrailwaypreviouslyreportedsuchasthePhilippineRailwaySouthLongProjectorthePNRBicol,Subic-ClarkRailwayProject, and the Mindanao Railway. These were left in the back burner as China was reportedly charging the Philippines a 3% interest rate, which is higher than the 0.1% Japan was offering. “It should be competitive to current interest rates for development loans being offered by other development agencies and inflationsuchproceedreconsiderGovernmentpasthaveinterestbePhilstar.comconvernorpartners,” InfrawatchbilateralPHTerryRidontoldinatextmessage.“However,governmentshouldwaryonthecurrentlevelofrates,ascentralbanksbeenraisingratesinthefewmonthstocurbinflation.thereforeshouldwhetherornottowiththeseprojectsuntiltimethatinterestratesandhavestabilized.”
Marcos: Help admin bring change to PH
by Alexis RomeRo Philstar.com
MANILA — President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is open to importing additional sugar in October but the volume may be less than the 300,000 metric tons proposed by the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) last week. Marcos rejected the SRA's proposal and the House on Monday, August 15 started hearings on the authorization to import sugar that the agency issued but that the Palace said the president had thumbed down.Ina vlog posted on YouTube on Sunday, August 14, Marcos said the country has enough sugar so there is no need to import for now. The local supply should be consumed first before importing additional sugar, he added.However, the president said the Philippines' sugar supply might dwindle in October so the government might need to buy the commodity from other countries."Perokakaunti lang, hindi kasing dami ng kanilang sinasabi dati na 300,000 tons. Eh siguro marami — malaki na ‘yung 150,000 (metric) tons para sa buong taon na ito (But it won't be as much as the 300,000 tons they said previously. Maybe 150,000 metric tons is already too much for this entire year)," he said. Marcos was referring to Sugar Order No. 4, which called for the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar and uploaded on the SRA's website last week. Malacañang has described the order as "illegal," saying the president, who is also the chairman of the Sugar Regulatory Board, had not authorized the issuance of the document. The Palace is now investigating to determine if there is negligence or malice behind the release of theLeocadioorder. Sebastian, the agriculture undersecretary who had signed the order for Marcos, has resigned and has admitted to signing the document without the president's permission. "We really do not want to import but if the supply of food is not enough, we would be forced to import because if we do not import and the supply is low, prices would go up," the president said in Filipino. "While we are fixing our production, we still have to import but we will make sure our imports won't be more than what is needed," he added. Fertilizer sources In the same vlog, Marcos said the government would look at non-traditional sources of fertilizers to enhance the production of farmers. "Iyong mga iba’t ibang bansa na hindi naman natin iniimporta noon ay nilalapitan na ngayon natin at baka sakali makabili tayo ng fertilizer na mas mura (We are approaching different countries that are not the usual source of our imports, hoping that we can buy cheaper fertilizer)," the president said. "On the part of the government, we are talking to our friends from different countries because if the trading of fertilizer is done through governmentto-government, it would be cheaper," he added. Marcos recently announced plans to reach out to China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Russia and the United Arab Emirates to buy cheaper fertilizer through bilateral agreements. He said the government is also planning to issue e-vouchers to farmers and is talking to fertilizer traders to control the price of urea, which has been affected by oil price hikes. g FUEL PRICE ROLLBACK. A gasoline station attendant fills up a fire truck fuel tank along Visayas Avenue, Quezon City on Tuesday, August 16. Some oil companies have rolled back prices of diesel at P1.05 per liter and gasoline by P0.10 per liter. PNA photo by Ben Briones
Marcos: Philippines may need to import some sugar as supply dwindles
The Department of Transportation noted that the Chinese government’s funding support for the projects “will serve to strengthen bilateral relations and enhance the partnership between the Philippines and China.” However, Ridon said the government should also consider tapping other multilateral partners for other projects in order to get competitive rates. PAMALAKAYA, on the other hand, warned that the transactions may be used by China against the Philippines when it comes to the WPS. “Not only these deals with China are costly and lopsided, but it could be used by Beijing as a bargaining chip to continuously occupy and militarize the West Philippine Sea with impunity,” Hicap said. Manila has territorial claim over the West Philippine Sea, backed by a 2016 Hague ruling, but China still recognizes parts of the disputed waters as its own. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said in his State of the Nation Address that his administration’s foreign policy is to “not preside over any process that will abandon even a square inch of territory of the Republic of the Philippines to any foreign power.” On the West Philippine Sea, Marcos Jr. previously said that he hopes to expand the scope of the two countries’ bilateral relations beyond the West Philippine Sea to include other sectors such as culture, education, and military. (Philstar.com)
EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
OCTA: Metro Manila positivity rate trending downward, but wave not yet over
ALMITA’S father petitioned her in 2001. However, before her visa was issued, her father died on Christmas Eve of 2014. This resulted in the petition being “revoked.” Her previous lawyer suggested that the family lie about the petitioner’s death, pretending he was alive, and continue pursuing the case. However, Almita’s mother did not want to lie. They discussed Humanitarian Revalidation but were informed by the lawyer that he did not handle such cases.However, the lawyer sent a single-page letter to the National Visa Center (NVC) seeking Humanitarian Revalidation. Due to delays and missing documents from the previous lawyer, the USCIS eventually officially revoked the petition. Mom refused to give up and insisted on getting the “Attorneyof-Last-Hope,” Michael J. Gurfinkel, who was able to submit a new humanitarian revalidation request that was approved. Almita and her five children were able to get their immigrant visas and arrived in the U.S. in November 2021. Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy’ on Sunday, August 21 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET thru select Cable/Satellite providers), right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app. (Advertising Supplement)
(650) 689-5160 • http://www.asianjournal.com NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 19-25, 2022 9 New 5.4-acre open space between Chase Center and San Francisco Bay will add to growing number of new parks in the city Mayor Breed celebrates groundbreaking of Bayfront Park in Mission Bay C J LIFESTYLE • CONSUMER GUIDE • COMMUNITY • MARKETPLACEINSIDE >>> Friday, August 19, 2022 FILIPINO IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIATHEASIANJOURNALMAGAZINE
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Visas issued despite petitioner’s death, this Sunday on Citizen Pinoy THIS FAMILY NOW NEEDS A “BIGGER RICE COOKER” AFTER DAUGHTER AND HER FIVE CHILDREN GOT THEIR IMMIGRANT VISAS, THIS SUNDAY ON CITIZEN PINOY. Almita (left) was petitioned as single by her father in 1997, but because she married her boyfriend, she had to be re-petitioned in 2001. Unfortunately, Almita’s father died before she could get her visa. Her previous lawyer sent a one-page letter seeking Humanitarian Revalidation, but USCIS revoked the petition. It seemed her dreams of immigrating to the U.S. were “dead.” Almita’s sisters, Evelyn (2nd from left), Mimi (3rd from left) and their mother consulted with leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (right) who filed a new humanitarian revalidation request and was able to get it approved. Almita and her five children had their visas issued and immigrated to the U.S. in November 2021. Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, August 21 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. (Advertising Supplement)
SAN FRANCISCO — Mayor London N. Breed on Wednesday, August 3 joined Supervisor Matt Dorsey, the Golden State Warriors and other City and community leaders to celebrate the start of construction for Bayfront Park, a planned 5.4acre open space located between Chase Center and San Francisco Bay. When completed in fall 2023, the new park will add a vibrant waterfront destination to the growing Mission Bay neighborhood.Theparkis expected to be the waterfront centerpiece of Mission Bay and will include open lawns, a section of the Bay Trail, and multiple plazas. The Project will integrate with and improve access to adjacent open spaces: Agua Vista Park and Mariposa Bayfront Park to the south/southwest, and the previously completed portion of Bayfront Park to the north. To help reflect the site’s industrial heritage, the park has been awarded a large quantity of reclaimed steel from the old Bay Bridge to create shade structures and other site furnishings, and to use in other elements of the park. “Mission Bay has made a remarkable transformation from unused railyards into San Francisco’s newest neighborhood and a center for health care and sports excellence. Now this crucial section of Mission Bay waterfront is on the cusp of a much-needed improvement with the construction of Bayfront Park,” said Mayor London Breed. “We are all ready for this strip of dirt to become a beautiful slice of green for everyone who experiences it.” “Our Mission Bay community is eagerly anticipating the completion of Bayfront Park to provide open space and connect us to the beauty of San Francisco Bay,” said District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey, who represents Mission Bay, SOMA and Treasure Island. “With District 6 being the focus of much-needed housing production in our City, we have to make sure that we also create the parks that make San Francisco a livable urban place.”Bayfront Park was contemplated as part of the Mission Bay South Redevelopment Plan, which was approved in 1998. Since then, Mission Bay has added almost 6,000 housing units, with 1,500 of them affordable. Mission Bay also includes 5.5 million square feet of commercial and retail space to date. Most notably, the new University of California San Francisco hospitals and medical centers, and Chase Center, the home of the NBA Champion Golden State Warriors. Almost 25 acres of new parks and open spaces serve Mission Bay residents and visitors. “As we mapped out the vision for Chase Center and Thrive City, this park was a critical piece of the overall project,” said Warriors President & Chief Operating Officer Brandon Schneider. “Bayfront Park will be a beacon to neighbors and visitors alike, offering unparalleled views of the bay in a safe, clean and accessible location. The Warriors are thrilled that our investment in the Mission Bay neighborhood will complement this phenomenal community asset.”The Bayfront Park project is managed by the Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure (OCII) and built by Mission Bay’s master developer, FOCIL-MB LLC. Project construction is budgeted at $19.1 million. “We are pleased to be starting the construction of Bayfront Park in Mission Bay,” said OCII Executive Director Thor Kaslofsky. “The park is at the intersection of important open space, transit, and development projects. Not only is there a future ferry stop here, but Bayfront Park is a key link in this area of the Mission Bay Open Space system as well as the San Francisco Bay Trail that provides bay front access and views.” “Bayfront Park will be another jewel in the Blue Greenway and Bay Trail,” said Port of San Francisco Executive Director Elain Forbes. “The park’s playful design and variety of experiences adds to the Port’s portfolio of parks and open spaces, while addressing sea level rise on an elevated shoreline. The Port appreciates its partnership with the Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure
BEAUTY queen and actress Ruffa Gutierrez has a surefire way to keep her sanity despite the constant barrage of criticism leveled at celebrities: pay no attention to bashers. The former Miss World Second Princess said as much in an article in the Philippine Star recently.“I’vebeen in the industry for 36 years and all the major superstars around the world have their bashers. We shouldn’t pay attention to them (celebrity bashers) and we should not mind those who try to put you down because you’ll never be able to change their minds,” Ruffa was quoted as saying. “Some people love you, some people won’t like you. Some people always change their minds about you. What’s important is you just remain true to yourself,” she added. Ruffa also gave advise to young stars who are just starting out in showbiz. “Be professional. Always be on time. Don’t ever burn bridges because umiikot lang naman tayo dito sa showbiz, e. The industry is small. The people you work with 20 years ago, you will work with them again [in the future],” the 48-year-old former That’s Entertainment teen star said. “As a matter of fact, the production people before are now today’s big bosses. We are all in this together and I think that’s the big secret that the young one should emulate,” she further stated. Ruffa recently signed a contract with Viva Artists Agency headed by Vic del Rosario. She will be co-managed by the agency and her mom, Annabelle Rama.During the signing, Ruffa was evasive and would not confirm whether former Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista is her current beau, per rumors circulating in showbiz. “My God, we aren’t teenagers anymore! It’s just there,” she said. “Ang love life naman, when you’re at this age, you need to pay attention to the things that are important to us, like our family, our career. We should be with a man that understands all that and can take the backseat when he has to, who will support you when you need the support.”“Forme, it’s not a question of whether I prioritize my love life or I prioritize my career. It’s understood that all of these are parts of our life. It wouldn’t be nice if it’s all about career and no one inspires you. The important thing is knowing how to balance everything and live a well-balanced life,” she continued.Ruffaadded: “With regard to one’s love life, it can be done quietly. There’s no need to broadcast it. A love life should just add spice to your life. It should be a major priority.”
“Back when Mission Bay was nothing but post-it notes, San Franciscans took in the Bay amidst the city’s industrial past.” said Sarah Davis, a member of the Mission Bay Citizens Advisory Commission and a Mission Creek Harbor houseboat resident. “Soon this park will be our big public gathering space, and our community is looking forward to the views, the picnic tables, the ferry, and the new normal for our neighborhood.” Bayfront Park is the latest in a series of new waterfront parks in various stages of development all along the San Francisco Waterfront. To the north, Tunnel Tops and Battery Bluffs have both recently opened in the Presidio, along with Francisco Park which opened a few months ago near Ghirardelli Square. South of Bayfront Park, Crane Cove Park recently opened, and new parks and open space are being developed, including India Basin Shoreline Park, a future 10-acre open space on the Southeastern Waterfront. (SF Mayor’s Office Release)
AUGUST 19-25, 2022 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-516010 by MoMar G. Visaya / AJPress Features
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* * * People are very fascinated at what they recently saw as Pops Fernandez’s “blended family” when pictures of her and former husband Martin Nievera and their children Robin and Ram, along with Martin’s former ex and their kid and his current girlfriend were in the news recently.Inanarticle in PEP.ph, Pops said it is better to be okay with everybody in the long run and not to carry any animosity inside oneself.“The times have changed, right? It’s like that. And it’s okay because I want my boys to also be very close to Santino, their brother,” Pops was quoted as saying.“We were like that too, weren’t we? I have a halfsister, half-brother and we grew up together. I think the most important thing is what we do about the situation to help. Kumbaga, to help better everybody’s relationship,” she added.While Pops looks like she is okay with Martin’s ex Katrina Ojeda, with whom Martin shares Santino, she admits that she did not foresee this happening. “I don’t think I was capable of this because of what happened in the past. Before, it would be like ‘Huuuh?!?!’,” the Concert Queen said. “It was far from my mind [then]. But it is doable. And then when you see your children, you see Santino… they were not involved in our stories in the past,” she explained. “It’s okay. A lot has happened, as in we’ve gone through a lot separately and“So,individually.”wejusthave to learn from our past, right? And hopefully, we better ourselves. It’s also for one’s self as well,” she further stated.When asked about her forgiving nature, Pops readily said, “Ay! I think it’s how we adjust to it. I think that’s the very… for me, that’s the best thing that could take place. You don’t want to be carrying the anger or resentment around. That happened a long time ago. A lot has happened since then. Things are okay now.” Did the pandemic have something to do with this situation?“Maybe,” she answered. “You know, you’ll never now. But this happened even before COVID.” “It’s really… you just don’t know and I think we just have to be grateful that we are okay. I always post this because I believe that we should always be grateful for all our blessings every day. That’s very true,” she continued.“So,we should just be happy [and contented],” Pops emphasized.
how to cook. “My mom taught me how to sing and pray in Tagalog. She also loves to teach me how to cook Filipino dishes and they’re so yummy; my favorite is toci no,” she added. The best advice they’ve given her?“My parents taught me that practice doesn’t make perfect, but permanent,” she shared proudly.
13: The Musical McNellis said working on 13: The Musical was an amazing ex perience and she is thankful for the opportunity to work with a wonderful cast. “The cast of 13: The Musical is so insanely talented and I have never met kids that work harder. They are my best friends and we are all so incredibly close now,” sheSherevealed.saidshe was pretty fa miliar with the musical when she first auditioned because she used to watch YouTube videos of Ariana Grande and Liz Gil lies on Broadway back in 2008, which is why it excited her no end when she found out she got the role of popular cheerleader Lucy.The film was shot during the pandemic from March 2021 to August 2021. They got tested multiple times a week and re hearsed with masks and shields. They also had sanitary carts for eachHerperson.IMDB bio describes Mc Nellis as “an actress, singer, and dancer prodigy” so we asked if she prefers to focus on all three or if she has a preference, and she was quick to respond. “I could never choose one over the other. I have a love and passion for all three and I couldn’t live without them,” she explained.Asifthat’s not enough, she also enjoys writing songs and making music, her priorities whenever she gets free time. For now, it is all about nur turing her dream and working extra hard to achieve her aspi rations.“My dream is to be a suc cessful pop star and to inspire others to follow their dreams and do what they love,” she said.
Getting to know Fil-Am triple threat Frankie McNellis MEET Frankie McNellis, a 16-year-old Filipino American triple threat - she’s an actress, singer, and dancer prodigy. The young star plays the role of Lucy in the new Netflix fea ture adaptation of Broadway’s “13: The Musical,” streaming on Netflix starting this Friday, August 12. “I am so honored and bless ed to be playing Lucy Hallman in the film,” McNellis told the Asian Journal. “Liz Gillies orig inated the role on Broadway back in 2008, so it is so cool getting to play the role for the nextThegeneration.”musicalfollows 12-yearold Evan Goldman (played by Eli Golden) who, following a move from NYC to a small town in Indiana, plans to have the ulti mate Bar Mitzvah, while grap pling with his parents’ (Debra Messing and Peter Hermann) divorce and the complicated social circles of a new school. The film also features new mu sic from three-time Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown, who served as the composer and lyricist for the Broadway production.McNellis remembers she was on the set of another projectHoney Girls - working in her very first dance rehearsal for the film when she learned about bagging the Netflix project.
Mayor Breed celebrates groundbreaking of...
PCGSF invites Fil-Ams to submit entries to storytelling contest
THE Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco invites members of the Filipino American communities in the U.S. Pacific Northwest to “Mga Kuwentong Pagkain: Filipino Food Stories Around the World,” the tenth annual storytelling contest of the Mama Sita Foundation. The contest aims to preserve Philippine culinary heritage through storytelling, and to promote Filipino food culture to a global audience.
celebrityworldByFerdieVillar
Ruffa Gutierrez doesn’t let celebrity bashers affect her.Photo from Instagram/@iloveruffag
Ruffa Gutierrez doesn’t pay attention to bashers
Pops Fernandez says we should be grateful for all the blessings we receive every day. Photo from Instagram/@popsfernandezofficial and the stakeholders who provided input on the design.” “After many years of collaboration with our community partners, we are thrilled to be transforming this former industrial site into a truly spectacular new waterfront open space — a place for the entire Bay Area to come together and celebrate,” said Luke Stewart, Director of Design and Planning for Mission Bay Development Group, FOCIL’s development manager.
The Mama Sita Foundation’s “Mga Kwentong Pagkain” encourages Filipinos and foreigners alike to share their Filipino food stories. These stories and recipes may feature local ingredients that have been integrated into cooking Filipino food, culinary traditions, or dishes that have been inspired by Filipino ingredients and cooking techniques. According to the contest mechanics, the “purchase, use or mention of any Mama Sita’s products is not necessary to enter the contest,” and “it will not increase a contestant’s chances of winning.”MamaSita Foundation intends to preserve these food stories and recipes by printing select entries in a book format and publishing all the entries online, creating an heirloom food story bank which the public can access. The “Mga Kwentong Pagkain” contest will accept entries for its Essay and Visual Narrative Categories until October 31, 2022, 8:59 a.m. (Pacific time). For more information regarding the contest rules and mechanics, you may visit the following MKP2022Form.Googleentriesfurtherwhocom/MKP2022Rules.link: http://tinyurl.ThoseareinterestedtojoinarerequestedtosubmittheirthoughthefollowingForm: http://tinyurl.com/ (PCGSF Release)
“I was asked to join a call where the Netflix team told me and the rest of the cast we booked the job. The audition process was long but so worth it in the end,” she recalled. She played a lead role in Sony Pictures’ “Honey Girls,” a Build-A-Bear Entertainment’s live-action feature film based on the top-selling product line from Build-A-Bear Workshop. She appeared opposite Ashan ti, Tessa Brooks, Aliyah Mastin, and Ava Grace in this film which was released in the fall of 2021 and is also streaming on Netflix. Her Story Francesca Angelika Santos McNellis was born in Gilbert, Arizona on March 28, 2006. Her dad John McNellis is from Butte, Montana while her mom Agnes traces her roots to San Fernando, Pampanga in the Philippines.Hergreat grandfather’s mid dle name was Frances and the closest female name was Fran cesca. Her nickname Frankie came from her Auntie Amy who said it once and it just stuck. She hopes she can go back and visit the Philippines again soon.“Iused to go to the Philip pines almost every summer when I was younger,” she re called. “I remember always drinking mango smoothies.” She is thankful and grateful that her parents helped her de velop her passion for perform ing as she admits she has been singing ever since she could talk. Dancing, piano, and vocal lessons followed suit to further hone her talent. “I feel like I’ve always known wanted to be a performer and I am so grateful for my parents because they are my biggest supporters. They put me in pri vate lessons when I turned 5,” sheMoresaid.than that, she is thank ful to her mom Agnes for incul cating her traditional Filipino values, and for teaching her Frankie McNellis stars in the Netflix film “13: TheHairMusical”.colorby @mrkimvo Hair styled by @mikahairstylist Make up and photograph by @juliannekaye Styled by @adeel_k Managed by @mattiemanagement
Frankie McNellis Photo by @juliannekaye
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. 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
(650) 689-5160 • http://www.asianjournal.com NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 19-25, 2022 11Features New golf entertainment facility expected to open near The Strat by Fall 2023
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
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)
SF receives $23-M federal grant for safer streets
SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor London N. Breed and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) on Wednesday, August 10 announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation has allocated $23 million for safety upgrades along San Francisco’s Howard Street through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) initiative. “Making the Howard Street corridor safer will save lives and prevent injuries will also encouraging more people to safely use our bike network in the South of Market area,” said Mayor London Breed. “We have moved quickly to open protected bike lanes with temporary dividers on Howard Streets, and this will allow us to build on that success and make these changes with more permanent infrastructure. I am thankful for Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s support of making our streets safer and her advocacy to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg this spring to fund the Howard Streetscape“Yesterday’sProject.”announcement
* * * 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.
retrospective of a Fil-Am artist in US
ConGen Ferrer tours first major museum
* * * 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.
PH CONSUL GENERAL IN SF VISITS SUPERMICRO. Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Frank Ferrer and other Consulate officials visited the San Jose campus of Supermicro, a global technology leader that specializes in high-performance, high-efficiency server, storage solutions and green computing. Consul General Ferrer also met with Supermico Founder and CEO, Mr. Charles Liang, to discuss opportunities as the Philippine government advances digitalization and 4th Industrial Revolution goals. Top photo shows (from left) Vice Consul Adrian Audrey Baccay; Mr. S. Jay Lawrence, Supermicro General Manager of Technology Enablement; Consul General Neil Frank R. Ferrer; Consul Vanessa Bago-Llona; Philippine Trade and Investment Commissioner Celynne Layug. Bottom photo shows Ally Fukumoto, Manager of Technology Enablement at Supermicro, showing some of the latest technologies at Supermicro to Consul General Neil Ferrer. (Text and photos courtesy of San Francisco PCG)
@HeartHealth
is a vital step toward ensuring all San Franciscans can safely share our streets – including on foot or on a bicycle,” Speaker Pelosi said. “This $23 million federal investment will help build the safer, greener Howard Street that our city deserves: saving lives, easing commutes, and brining communities closer together. As San Francisco’s proud representative in the Congress, it was my privilege to help secure this transformative funding, and I will continue fighting alongside Mayor London Breed to achieve our Vision Zero – ending traffic fatalities in San Francisco by 2024.”Located in the South of Market neighborhood (SoMa), between 11th and 4th streets, the Howard Streetscape Project will improve safety on a high-injury corridor, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support the city’s transformative vision for SoMa as a regional hub, and improve mobility for visitors and residents, including low-income populations who depend most upon riding transit, walking, and bicycling. The transformation of this corridor received strong community engagement and support from safety advocates in San“AllFrancisco.through COVID we’ve been experimenting with street safety improvements using plastic and paint,” said Jeffrey Tumlin, SFMTA Director of Transportation. “We’re grateful for Speaker Pelosi’s support to upgrade our successful pilots with concrete and trees.” The funding will transform a three-lane westbound, dangerous, and heavily travelled arterial to a proposed two-lane street with bike infrastructure improvements including a protected two-way bikeway, protected intersections and separate bicycle and vehicle phases, pedestrian infrastructure improvements such as raised crosswalks at alleyways, curb ramps and pedestrian-level lighting, and civic amenity zones that include decorative crosswalks and historic plaques and green infrastructure indicative of a safe street design built to protect the most vulnerable road users. Between 2014 and 2019, three fatalities occurred on the corridor, along with 152 traffic crashes on the Folsom-Howard couplet, with more than half of these involving people walking or Morebiking.information about the project is available at sfmta.com/ FolsomHoward. (SF Mayor’s Office Release)
Support from Speaker Nancy Pelosi helps fund major improvements for the Howard Streetscape Project in NYC PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS
Polio
SAN FRANCISCO – Consul General Neil Ferrer led the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco in touring the exhibits of the late Filipino American artist Carlos Villa at the Asian Art Museum, and the San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) Main Gallery inside the War Memorial Building on August 15, 2022. Exhibit curators Trisha Lagaso Goldberg and Mark Johnson, who were Villa’s close collaborators, led the guided tour of the two exhibitions. Asian Art Museum Deputy Director for Arts and Programs Robert Mintz, SFAC Director for Cultural Affairs Ralph Remington, and SFAC Deputy Director for Finance and Administration Rally Catapang also joined the tour. “It is an honor to see for myself and learn more about Carlos Villa’s impressive body of work as a groundbreaking artist in the San Francisco and the Filipino American art scenes. I encourage everyone to visit the exhibitions at the Asian Art Museum and the War Memorial Building,” said Consul General Ferrer, who was accompanied by Consul Vanessa Bago-Llona, Vice Consul Adrian Baccay, and Cultural Officer KristineDubbedQuiboloy.asthe first major museum retrospective in the United States dedicated to the work of a Filipino American artist, the Asian Art Museum’s “Carlos Villa: Worlds in Collision” Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Ferrer (center) joins a group photo at the main entrance of San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum, which prominently displays its ongoing “Carlos Villa: Worlds in Collision” exhibition. With ConGen Ferrer in photo above are (from left) San Francisco Arts Commission Deputy Director Rally Catapang; exhibit curators Mark Johnson, and Trisha Lagaso Goldberg; Consul Vanessa Bago-Llona; Vice Consul Adrian Baccay; and Cultural Officer Kristine Quiboloy. Photos courtesy of San Francisco PCG and construct Filipino American art history. The exhibition is on view through October 24, 2022. Meanwhile, the SFAC Main Gallery’s “Carlos Villa: Roots and Reinvention” exhibition features Villa’s later work that delves into the history of Filipinos in the U.S., what it means to be a part of a Filipino diaspora, and his own family archives. The exhibition is open to the public until September 3, Born2022. and raised in San Francisco, Villa has been called the most important Filipino American artist of the 20th century. San Francisco’s late 1960s Third World Liberation consciousness, which espoused solidarity building between cultures, influenced Villa’s approach to art making. He was a longtime professor at the San Francisco Art Institute, where he served until his passing in 2013. (PCGSF Release) exhibition showcases Villa’s visually magical worlds of feathers and photographs, capes and masks, and bones and tattoos, as he attempts to recreate Filipino art Philippine Consul General Neil Ferrer tours the “Carlos Villa: Worlds in Collision” exhibition at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco on Monday, August 15.
AUGUST 19-25, 2022 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-516012 Features
Philippine Consul General Neil Ferrer visits the “Carlos Villa: Roots and Reinvention” exhibition at the San Francisco Arts Commission Main Gallery inside the War Memorial Building in San Francisco on Monday, August 15.
distancing to prevent infection, even if others don’t. Scary racing heart This is a response to an email query about a “scary rapid heart rate.” The incident, as described by the reader, could be SVT (Supraventricular tachycardia), where the heart suddenly beats much faster from usual (60100), pulse becomes weak, a sense of “palpitation” and mild chest fullness, sometimes light headedness, and then the beat slows down to normal. Alcohol, smoking, drugs, stress, low oxygen, tiredness, could cause it among some individuals. SVT is not life-threatening, but could be scary. Valsalva (taking a deep breath, holding it, straining, for 10 seconds and repeating it, side of the neck (carotid) massage, cold water on the face, are maneuvers one could try, while waiting to see you physician, for confirmation of the diagnosis (to rule out other conditions) and treatment. GERD-COPD COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is a lung disease usually caused by smoking, which, over time, burns the lung tissues, rendering the air sacs to thin out and inefficient in oxygen transfer from the lungs to the blood. This leads to chronic hypoxia (low blood oxygen level) and shortness of breath, which could be so severe as to require continuous nasal oxygen treatment. But a significant number of COPD is seen among non-smokers who have gastroesophageal regurgitation (reflux), where the sphincter between the esophagus (food pipe) and the stomach becomes loose, allowing acid fumes (normally in the stomach) to rise up and get inhaled into the lungs. Over time, this burns the lung tissues, and leads to COPD, some shortness of breath. This condition is milder than smoking-related COPD. Treatment is primarily aimed at the gastric reflux. Vitamin D Anti-inflammatory foods, like various vegetables (except night shades), fruits, nuts, and certain supplements are known to reduce the risk for development of diseases. Night shades, which are bad for arthritis, include white potato, tomato, eggplant, pepper,“Therepaprika.ismounting evidence that improvement in vitamin D status reduces risk for autoimmune diseases including type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and other inflammatory disorders such as type 2 diabetes and MedicalSchoolmedicineMichaeldisease,” accordingcardiovasculartoDr.F.Holick,professorofatBostonUniversityofMedicineasstatedinNewsToday.Adultswhotook2000IUsof vitamin D3 daily for up to five years the reduced risk for all autoimmune diseases by 22 percent compared to those who did not. Do not start taking any drugs without consulting your physician. Microbiome There are approximately 40 trillion different organisms living in our gut and in our mouth and skin. This world of microbes plays a critical role in our health. It is important for us to have a healthy balance between the good and the bad microbes in us to prevent or minimize various diseases. Besides inflammation as the inducing cause of diseases, unhealthy microbiome is now recognized as a vital initiating factor in the causation of most illnesses, and not only gut ailments. That shows how important a balanced microbiome is for health maintenance. The human gut microbiome is essential for body development, immunity, and nutrition. The bacteria in our gut help us digest food, control our immune system, and produce vitamins our body needs. What we eat or drink affects our microbiome. Each person has a unique gut microbiome.Symptoms of an unhealthy microbiome include constipation, bloating, diarrhea, gassy stomach, and inflammation, all due to an unbalanced microbiome.Avoiding or minimizing red meat to once to twice a week; eating a lot of fish, vegetables of various colors, fruits, nuts, and pre- and probiotic supplements; daily physical exercises; no smoking; disciplined alcohol intake or abstinence; stress management are ways to help maintain a health microbiome in our body.
THE Polio virus was detected in the sewage system in New York City, a discovery that signals this dangerous virus has been spreading locally. Poliomyelitis (Polio) is a contagious, disabling, and lifethreatening disease caused by the poliovirus which infects the spinal cord and results in paralysis. It can lead to meningitis and death. The polio virus enters the mouth, through feces-contaminated hands. A most popular polio victim infected in 1921 at age 39 was U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In the early 1950s, before the polio vaccines were available, it was a most feared disease, with outbreaks of 15,000 cases of paralysis among children and adults per year. Like the vaccines for COVID-19, the vaccines for Polio are safe and very effective as the historical statistics below show. With the introduction of the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) in 1955 and the oral polio vaccines (OPV) in 1963, the polio cases dropped precipitously to less than 100 in the 1960s and less than 10 in the 1970s. Last month, a man in his 20s in New York was found to be infected with polio and is now paralyzed.People who have not been vaccinated for polio are at a great risk and are advised to get vaccinated. Consult your physician about this matter. COVID new rules Last Tuesday, August 9 in the United States, there were almost 130,000 cases and 555 deaths from COVID-19, with 40,406 hospitalizations. In spite of these statistics, the CDC revised its mitigating guidelines to the following: (1) “Instead of quarantining if you're exposed to COVID-19, wear a high-quality mask for 10 days and get tested on or after day 5, irrespective of vaccination status;” and (2) “quarantine is no longer recommended for persons exposed to COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status.” This departure from pure science, particularly from the principles in epidemiology in dealing with serious infectious diseases, like COVID-19, might cause a rebound. Let’s continue to be vigilant and see what happens with this lowering of ourForguard.those who are concerned and want to be careful, especially seniors and those with weak immune system, there is no law against wearing a mask, avoiding crowds, and doing social
* * * 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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AUGUST 19-25, 2022 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-516014
