As Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas spokesman Renauld “Sonny” Barrios previously stated, Clarkson is set to play as a naturalized player for the Philippines as the country’s basketball federation has already stopped pleading
AHEAD of the contentious midterm elections, United States President Joe Biden secured a major victory for his administration by signing the Inflation Reduction Act, the long-awaited bill that, among other things, caps prescription drug costs for Medicare recipients.
PH LAWMAKERS
‘Best
Expansion plans include locations in Grand Central, Brooklyn; First Philadelphia store to open next month JOLLIBEE, the Filipino fast food brand aiming to become one of the world’s top-five restaurant chains, is taking America by storm with the opening of its new flagship restaurant in the heart of New York City’s Times Square.
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Fil-Am man sentenced to 45 days in jail for role in Jan. 6 riot
Fil-Am congressmanformerTJ Cox arrested, charged with 28 counts of fraud leads 13-man lawmakers hope Marcos gov’t will uphold rights during visit to from the United States were inspired by the courage of Filipinos who faced repression under the Duterte administration, and expressed hope that the by GAEA KATREENA CABICO Philstar.com KLARIZE MEDENILLA AJPress fried chicken chain’ Jollibee opens agship NYC location in Times Square
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Biden administration says landmark In ation Reduction Act will bene t AAPI families
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“The American people won, and the special interests lost,” Biden said, referencing Big Pharma companies that lobbied hard against efforts to lower prescription drug costs for low-income Americans.Bidenadded, “Every single Republican in Congress sided with the special interests Students of Quezon City High School in Scout Ybardolaza, Quezon City make their way home after classes were suspended on Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 23, 2022). Classes in all levels in public schools in Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, Zambales, and Bataan will remain suspended until Wednesday, August 24, due to inclement weather caused by Severe Tropical Storm Florita. photo by
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Kene Brian Lazo faces 45 days in jail for his participation in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. via Norfolk City Jail, FBI court by Momar G. Visaya MOMAR G. VISAYA AJPress
FILIPINO American Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson leads the 13-man pool headed to Lebanon for the first game of Gilas Pilipinas in the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
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FORMER United States Representative Terence John “T.J.” Cox was charged with a swath of financial crimes tied to his congressional campaign, according to an indictment that was unsealed on Tuesday, Aug. 16 by a grand jury in California. The 28 charges include “15 counts of wire fraud, 11 counts of money laundering, one count of financial institution fraud, and
THE Filipino American man who was famously photographed carrying a walis tambo (broom) during the January 6 attack on the United States Capitol has been sentenced to 45 days in jail. Kene Brian Lazo of Norfolk, Virginia was sentenced by a federal judge on Thursday, August 18 to 45 days in jail after being arrested in May 2021 for his participation in the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the Capitol. He previously entered a not guilty plea to the new government would set a new tone for the importance of human rights and press freedom, an American senator said. A U.S. congressional delegation led by Senator Edward Markey met with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., other government officials, former lawmaker Leila de Lima and journalists this week. According to a release from Markey’s office, the delegation raised concerns about the human rights record of the previous government, and expressed hope that Marcos will turn the page by upholding the
human
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FIBA to allow Clarkson to play as a Thatlocal.ismore likely because the 30-year-old Clarkson, who won the 2021 NBA Sixth Man of the Year award, has not secured a Philippine passport before turning 16 years old. Joining Clarkson in Lebanon are first-time Gilas pool members Roosevelt Adams, Jamie Malonzo, Japeth Aguilar, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, Bobby Ray
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AUGUST 26 - SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-54262 fundamental human rights during their meeting with the new president.
‘Best fried chicken chain’ Jollibee opens... PAGE 1
SAFE CLASS OPENING. Members of the Southern Police District stand guard outside the Jose Rizal Elementary School in Pasay City on Monday, Aug. 22. The National Capital Region Police Office said close to 10,000 police personnel have been deployed to secure the opening of classes in the region. PNA photo
U.S. lawmakers were allowed to visit De Lima at her detention facility in Camp Crame in Quezon City on Friday, August 19. The visit, which lasted for more than an hour, came a day after they were barred by police for lacking a courtMarkeyorder.renewed his call to drop all charges against De Lima and release her from detention. De Lima has been in jail since Feb. 24, 2017 on drug charges. De Lima has two pending cases. She had been acquitted in one Markeycase.also stressed that a “free and independent press is the bedrock of any democracy.” The delegation met with journalists from Rappler. Climate change, security issues According to Markey’s office, the delegation discussed cooperation on renewable energy, ways to address climate change, U.S. support for human rights, press freedom, and LGBTQIA+ rights and regional security issues, such as the South China Sea during meetings with Marcos, foreign affairs secretary Enrique Manalo, and justice chief Jesus CrispinMarkeyRemulla.alsomet with Filipino lawmakers, with House Speaker Martin Romualdez assuring the American legislators that the lower chamber “will remain committed in enacting laws that would help deepen cooperation with the United States.”Senate President Pro-Tempore Loren Legarda said the reception hosted by Romualdez was “an opportune time to discuss pressing issues, such as the pandemic, threats to our planet’s health, the global economy, national security as well as public Membershealth.”ofthe U.S. congressional delegation also include Representatives John Garamendi (Democrat-California), Don Beyer (Democrat-Virginia) and Aumua Amata Radewagen (Republican-American Samoa). g
opened its second location in Queens last month, taking over the ground floor of a century-old, four-story building in Jamaica that was recently renovated. The new Times Square flagship joins Jollibee’s existing Manhattan location, which opened back in 2018 to tremendous fanfare.Theaggressive and rapid expansion means that there are already plans to open the fifth and sixth stores in NYC — one by Grand Central next year and another along Kings Highway in Brooklyn. They are also opening their first store in Philadelphia next month.Dela Cruz recognized Filipinos in America for being an ally in supporting and uplifting the brand. “It’s been a long journey for Jollibee. But you know, we’re very thankful to the Filipino Americans who have always believed in the brand, so we established ourselves first in that primary market,” she said. “We wanted to make sure that we are able to provide the taste of home to the Filipinos who have migrated here already.” Through their journey in North America, they found out that even non-Filipinos enjoy the food. “That means to say that delicious food has no boundaries. And so that has given us the encouragement to continue to expand our footprint going to places where non-Filipinos reside,” she remarked. “We’ve evolved as well, including our menu to make sure that we are also able to attract the non-Filipinos but still keeping the core of what Jollibee is.”
“I am pleased to lead the first U.S. Congressional delegation to meet with President Marcos Jr. and look forward to the promise of a renewed partnership with the newly elected government,” Markey said.
“I expressed to President Marcos my hope that he will turn the page on the human rights abuses of the previous government.Markeywas banned from visiting the Philippines by President Rodrigo Duterte after calling for De Lima’s release and raising alarm over human rights violations under his watch.
In the next five to seven years, the company intends to grow to 500 locations in the region. “We want to really accelerate the growth since we’ve been successful so far in establishing ourselves. And so the intent is to accelerate the growth because North America has been identified as a key pillar of growth for Jollibee. Of course, the bigger vision is to become one of the top five restaurant companies in the world. And the U.S. and Canada have been pegged as a growth market for international expansion,” Dela Cruz explained.
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Visiting De Lima Markey also said the members of the delegation were “inspired by the courage and resilience of Senator De Lima, the press, and every day Filipinos in the face of persecution and repression under the previous government.”
The Filipino pride, which has more than 1,300 restaurants worldwide,
Jollibee mascot entertain customers at the opening of Jollibee Times Square
Maribeth Dela Cruz, President, Jollibee Group North America Asian Journal Press Photos by
Long lines at Jollibee Times Square
Jollibee executives and partners celebrating the opening
Part of the evolution that Dela Cruz mentioned are the new introductions to the menu, available exclusively for now at the Times Square location. “TheChickenjoy is our best-seller, so to enhance the experience, we introduced new side dishes that are familiar to non-Filipinos,” Dela Cruz said. “We have the baked mac and cheese, which is creamy and cheesy, and then we also have put in the biscuits, with butter and honey to be enjoyed with our Chickenjoy.” Jollibeeis rounding-out its menu with several new offerings – starting with a brand-new burger line-up in honor of this enduring icon of American cuisine. It is also introducing a host of new salads and sides, giving its longtime fans something new to discover and giving those who haven’t yet tried Jollibee a lot more reasons to do Centrallyso. and strategically located at 1500 Broadway (between 43rd and 44th Streets) in the center of New York City’s most famous landmark, Jollibee is focused on serving not just its hordes of loyal fans but also those who haven’t tried the brand yet.Just recently, Jollibee’s Chickenjoy bested 14 of its fiercest competitors like Popeye’s and KFC in four rounds of contests and was recently named “the best chain fried chicken in America” by Eater.com, an international food website by Vox“We’reMedia. very excited that more people are beginning to take notice of Jollibee. For us to make our mark here in this very highly competitive food service industry, especially chicken… it is giving us the motivation to push forward,” Dela Cruz said. Dela Cruz has been with Jollibee for close to 30 years, starting as a shift supervisor, then as a shift manager in one of the restaurants back in the Philippines. Through the years, she has grown into various leadership positions in operations. “In 2005, I was tapped to come over here in the U.S. to help turn around our business. And, here we are, almost close to 20 years later, ready to accelerate the growth of Jollibee,” she shared. In2019, Dela Cruz assumed the presidency of North America. Then the pandemic struck in 2020, crippling the global economy and closing a lot of small restaurants. “It entailed a lot of preparation in anticipation of what’s to come. Of course, it was unknown. Nobody knew about it, but I had to prepare the organization for the worstcase scenario,” she recalled. Jollibee North America adjusted and made some pivots, including launching their delivery service. Still in the middle of the pandemic last year, they were able to open three stores in New Jersey — a pair in Jersey City and one in Edison. “So even through the pandemic we continued to grow and we’ve been growing double-digit since, and that’s something because other restaurants are struggling but, we were able to get over that challenge,” Dela Cruz said. g
“Just being in Times Square today is giving me goosebumps. To be here has been a long dream for us at Jollibee. It’s really exciting and I know that our kababayans are also very excited about it,” Maribeth Dela Cruz, president, Jollibee Group North America, Philippine Brands told the Asian Journal during the opening on Thursday, August 18.World-famous for its chicken, burgers, and pies, the fast-growing restaurant brand’s Times Square location is its fourth in New York City, 60th in the United States, and 84th in North America. Opening a flagship “at the crossroads of the world” — a global destination and retail hot spot — marks a critical milestone in Jollibee’s mission to become one of the world’s top-five restaurant chains.
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The final 12-man lineup for Gilas’ game against Lebanon on August 26 at 2 a.m (Philippine time) will be announced a day before the match. Barrios, meanwhile, said Aguilar, who initially was taken out from the pool after testing positive for COVID-19, has been reinstated after being cleared by Gilas medical team head Dr. Randy Molo. “Our medical team, headed by Dr. Randy Molo, gave him (Aguilar) clearance to play. He’s been monitored the past week or so. He’s actually fine already but we’re just being cautious,” said Barrios in the Philippine Sportswriters Association online forum on Tuesday, August 23. “There’s nothing bothersome or major (health issue with Japeth). He just played (with Ginebra) in the PBA semifinals. He better be rested because our schedule is hectic.”
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Parks Jr., Dwight Ramos, brothers Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Kai Sotto, Carl Tamayo and Scottie Thompson.
“This, notwithstanding, we note that between 2018 and 2019, there was an increase in the labor force by 1.3 million, yet the unemployment rate was a low of 5.1 percent because of the sustained growth which encouraged more investments” before COVID-19 struck, Edillon said. Edillon said the expected increase in the labor force next year would be mainly due to the economic recovery and the “stabilization of the K-12 stream,” which would lead more Filipinos—including the youth and senior citizens—to look for jobs as more sectors reopen from previously stringent COVID-19 lockdowns that caused the loss of millions of livelihood and shuttered thousands of businesses.However, while the reopening of more productive sectors coupled with a projected economic rebound would generate more job opportunities next year, Neda officials earlier said their quantity and quality might by Ben O. de Vera, nestOr COrrales Inquirer.net
Former Central Valley congressman Terrance John “TJ” Cox that Cox had submitted falsified bank statements to a property lender ino order to receive mortgage loan funds for a property that he, allegedly, rented to someone else.Ifhe is convicted, he could face 20 to 30 years in prison, in addition to millions of dollars in fines. Cox — who represented the Fresno, California area from 2019 to 2021 — is the son of a Chinese father and a Filipino mother, both of whom were immigrants. In 2018, he defeated the incumbent, Republican David Valadao, to represent California’s 21st congressional district, which includes portions of Fresno, Kern, and Tulare counties in the San Joaquin Valley. However, it was later revealed that Cox illicitly used campaign contributions to pay for one of his real estate ventures; he lost the seat to Valadao in 2020.
one count of campaign contribution fraud” in which he made contributions to his own campaigns under a different name, according to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice. During his 2018 congressional run, Cox is alleged to have allocated $25,000 in illegal “straw or conduit donations” in order to pay “family members and associates for donations to hisThecampaign.”DOJreport said that Cox stole more than $1.7 million in client payments and company loans and investments from 2013 to 2018, when Cox was the head of a community development firm. The report also said the ront P age
Clarkson leads 13-man...
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Expect high jobless rate as 1.5M join labor force in 2023
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Barrios revealed that the Gilas pool, which left for Lebanon on Tuesday, August 23, was hard at work in their Monday, August 22 practice.“They did a hard practice yesterday according to the briefing of the coaching staff and team manager Butch Antonio. Coach Chot (Reyes), coach Tim (Cone) and coach Jong (Uichico) want that to be the team’s mindset, nothing was easy. Players have actually hurt each other. I noticed that the energy of the team was very high yesterday morning.” Meanwhile, the players who were part of the initial 24-man Gilas pool but has been cut or have begged off from participating are June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Allein Maliksi, Raymond Almazan, Francis Lopez, Kevin Quiambao, Kevin Alas, Jio Jalalon, Ian Sanggalang, Robert Bolick and Arvin Tolentino. After Gilas’ game against Lebanon, the Filipinos head back home to play Saudi Arabia on Monday, August 29 at 7 p.m. at the Mall of AsiaTheArena.Philippines heads to this fourth window of the qualifiers with a 2-2 slate, fourth in Group E. Lebanon (3-1) and Saudi Arabia (1-3) are at the second and fifth spots, respectively. (Niel Victor C. Masoy/ManilaTimes.net)
AUGUST 26 - SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-54264
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MANILA — An estimated 1.5 million Filipinos are expected to join the labor force next year, or more than double the normal volume of new entrants of 600,000 in previous years.Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) told the Inquirer on Tuesday, August 23 that this was expected to worsen unemployment as it would exceed the number of jobs forecast to be made available by the reopening of the economy.
Fil-Am former congressman TJ Cox...
Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon of NEDA Photo from the NEDA website
Edillon said Neda was already bracing for a possibly higher jobless rate in 2023 as more graduates under the K-12 basic education curriculum were also set to join the pool of Filipinos looking for work. She pointed out that before the pandemic, the labor force increased by an average of 600,000 yearly from 2016 to 2019.
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RAINY DAY WOES. Commuters shield themselves from the rain while waiting to get a ride along Commonwealth Avenue, in Quezon City on Tuesday, Aug. 23. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, Metro Manila will experience light to moderate with at times heavy rains due to the prevailing tropical
THANKS to the timely response of two Muntinlupa judges who allowed a United States congressional delegation to visit former senator Leila de Lima in her detention cell on Friday, a potentially embarrassing row for the Marcos Jr. administration was averted. The day prior, the Philippine National Police prevented the visit, saying that aside from COVID-19 cases at its headquarters in Camp Crame, the U.S. lawmakers did not have the permission of the courts handling De Lima’s alleged drug cases.
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The U.S. delegation was led by Sen. Edward J. Markey, chair of the U.S. Senate foreign relations subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific, who has been consistently calling for De Lima’s release since she was detained in 2017. He was joined by District Representatives Alan Lowenthal and John Garamendi of California, Don Beyer of Virginia, and Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen of American Samoa. Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts, was among the senators banned from entering the Philippines in 2019 by then President Duterte after they sponsored a U.S. travel prohibition against Philippine officials who had a role in De Lima’s case. The potential crisis was somehow diffused when the U.S. lawmakers made a courtesy call on President Marcos Jr. in Malacañang later on Thursday afternoon, August 18. It was not known if the foiled visit to De Lima was discussed, but the U.S. embassy said lawmakers also met with Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla. On Friday, August 19, the U.S. lawmakers were finally able to visit De Lima after Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Judges Abraham Joseph Alcantara of Branch 204 and Romeo Buenaventura of Branch 256 granted the “extremely urgent motion” filed by her lawyers on behalf of the U.S. delegation. But the courts issued a gag order, preventing De Lima from making any comments about the visit. No media coverage was allowed, either.It was later revealed from Judge Alcantara’s order that Markey’s office wrote a letter to PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. as early as Aug. 9, asking permission to visit De Lima, but that “… despite follow-ups, the PNP has not timely responded to the request.” De Lima herself said the visit was requested in advance, through a U.S. embassy note verbale sent to the Department of Foreign Editorial Inquirer.net photo release.This is the U.S. claim of “strategic ambiguity” in its commitment to the defense of Taiwan.Forhalf a century, U.S. policy on Taiwan has clung to this policy whose main idea is to leave China guessing as to what exactly it would, or would not do, in regard to Taiwan’s defense. Even President Biden seems to be guessing. He has said, three times, that the U.S. would actively defend Taiwan — but also walked it back three times. Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan On August 2, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made her pre-announced trip to Taiwan, which President Biden had quietly opposed. Pelosi went anyway, bringing along with her four other House Democrats, including Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), chairman of the House foreign affairs committee. The trip was virulently opposed by the Chinese Communist Party regime in Beijing, which claims authority over Taiwan. Ever since, China has been conducting menacing military “drills” in the Taiwan Strait area — including edgy missile launches in the direction of other Asian countries, including Japan. On August 14, a second U.S. congressional delegation arrived in Taiwan, this one led by Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA). And then, as night follows day, China announced a new round of military “drills” meant to intimidate.Backin July 20, Biden answered a reporter’s question about Pelosi’s pending trip in a desultory manner: “The military thinks it’s not a good idea right now. But I don’t know what the status of it is.”
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Strategic ambiguity: A lesson in foreign policy
The optics of Pelosi’s trip became a muddle as Biden jousted with Pelosi via proxy, even as the Beijing regime sent ships and airplanes to encircle the island of Taiwan. For her part, on August 11, Pelosi added some new fuzz to the ball of confusion, when she told reporters of the U.S. military’s stance toward her trip, “I don’t remember them ever telling us not to go.” So, is it possible that the Biden administration didn’t want Pelosi to go and didn’t dare stop it? That even secretaries
The U.S. delegation’s visit underscores how the De Lima case can become a thorn on the side of the Marcos Jr. administration if it does nothing to correct the misuse of the justice system by its predecessor. It is not only the U.S. lawmakers who are pushing for De Lima’s release. Foreign ambassadors always ask him about the cases against De Lima, Remulla recently told a Senate hearing, adding that he did not know what to say “because I don’t know what stages these cases are.” This is puzzling for a justice secretary, who is supposed to be in command of all state prosecutors handling the cases against DeInLima.June, after several witnesses against De
Affairs and forwarded to the PNP. But why was the PNP so reluctant to allow the visit to the former senator? Did the police fear that seeing De Lima’s shameful condition in detention would add fuel to the international condemnation of her continuing ordeal? Back in May, Markey and five other U.S. senators issued a joint statement calling on the Philippine government to drop the charges against De Lima and release her after convicted felons lined up as witnesses by the Duterte administration recanted their allegations against her one after the other.
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A continuing embarrassment
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THERE is a lesson in foreign relations from the U.S. policy on Taiwan that the Philippine government ought to remember with respect to the recent call made by a U.S. congressional delegation on detained former senator Leila de Lima, and repeated calls by U.S. lawmakers for her
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MANILA — A bill that would provide a new franchise for network giant ABS-CBN, which stopped airing free television and radio programs after its legislative franchise expired in May 2020, has been filed in the House of Representatives.HouseBill No. 431 authored by Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel seeks to allow ABS-CBN to operate again, noting that its news and public affairs division plays a crucial role in the dissemination of relevant information.ABS-CBN ceased broadcasting on May 5, 2020, after the CommissionTelecommunicationsNational(NTC)did
PhiliPPines
DepEd may revert to English, Filipino as medium of instruction for primary learners not allow it to operate due to questions about its franchise’s validity. Congress meanwhile thumbed down a new franchise for the network, forcing it to operate online and through blocktime partnerships.“Thenews and public affairs program of ABS-CBN serve as the only avenue for crucial and relevant instruction to English and Filipino. Under the K-12 law, the mother tongue should be used as the medium of instruction from kindergarten until Grade 3. DepEd Undersecretary Epimaco Densing earlier suggested using English and Filipino as the medium of instruction in schools as early asThekindergarten.mothertongue should only be used as an exception, he said. g by Gabriel Pabico lalu Inquirer.net by DaPhne Galvez Inquirer.net This view shows the ABS-CBN network headquarters in Quezon City. The Philippines’ top broadcaster ABS-CBN on May 2020 was ordered off the air over a stalled operating licence renewal, drawing fresh charges that authorities were cracking down on press freedom. Inquirer.net file photo Primary learners such as those in kindergarten may be required to learn English and Filipino as medium of instruction. Inquirer file photo by Niño Jesus Orbeta
MANILA — The Department of Education (DepEd) is planning to revert to English and Filipino as medium of instruction for primary learners.DepEd spokesman Michael Poa said Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte is in favor of returning the medium of instruction to English and Filipino from learner’s mother tongue. However, he said the move is still subject to further discussions with experts. “That has been the center of discussions at the moment. The direction is to go back to English and Filipino. But that has to be subject to further discussion with experts,” he said in an interview over ABS CBN News Channel. “Yes, that’s the direction to be taken. But, again subject to discussion with experts but definitely that’s the direction that we want to go back to English and Filipino as the medium of instruction,” Poa said when asked if Duterte was in favor of reverting the medium of
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Solon files bill seeking new franchise for ABS-CBN
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Dateline
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websites posing as legitimate government offices to ensure their hassle-free arrival.
“They presented their plans regarding repatriation, digitalization, negotiations, bilateral labor agreements, programs for OFW kids, reintegration of OFWs, scholarships, protection, and health,” Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said at a press briefing.
“We shall automate the verification of contracts and issue secure Overseas Employment Certifications (OEC) that you can keep on your smartphone. I call on the (DMW) and the DICT to make this a top priority,” Mr. Marcos said in his Sona.Inhis speech, he also called on the Department of Foreign Affairs to help the DMW in ensuring that OFWs who lost their jobs would find new opportunities. For Dole’s part, the OP said “the core priority will be increasing employment opportunities, ensuring just and humane working conditions, and delivering accessible, prompt and continuous services to the people.” g
The Fil-Am man was inside the building for about 19 minutes, according to the statement of offense filed in federal court. Lazo entered the Capitol around 2:34 p.m., some 14 minutes after the members of the House of Representatives and Senate, including Vice President Mike Pence, were evacuated from the Senate Chamber, the Virginian-Pilot reported. Also with his 45-day jail sentence, U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper ordered Lazo to pay a $500 fine. (AJPress)
Diseases Resolution 135 to prevent and/or minimize the entry of suspected or confirmed individuals with emerging infectious diseases,” Cruz-Angeles added.Such diseases include COVID-19 and monkeypox. The Department of Health earlier detected the fourth case of monkeypox in the country.Thepatient, however, has no documented history of travel to where there is an outbreak of the viral disease.
“The only official website of the Bureau of Quarantine’s One Health Pass for all international travelers arriving in the Philippines is https://
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Given the difficult economic times, National Statistician Dennis Mapa also noted that even retired Filipinos were forced to look for work as the labor force participation rate for those age 65 and above, or the number of senior citizens working or actively looking for a job, increased to 38.2 percent in June from 34.9 percent in May. Documents on the proposed P5.268-trillion 2023 national budget had estimated the unemployment rate inching up to 5.7-6.8 percent next year from 5.1-6.5 percent this year, remaining above prepandemic levels.
Expect high jobless rate as 1.5M join...
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has said there will be no more lockdowns as the local economy can no longer take any more beatings resulting from closing the county’s borders.Instead, the Chief Executive directed ramping up mass vaccinations against COVID-19 and also reminded the public to continue adhering to minimum health standards to prevent the spread of the disease and other illnesses. g
NTC back then said that while other networks were allowed to continue operating despite their respective franchises still being deliberated on, ABS-CBN could not be given the same privilege as there were concerns about the validity of their franchise.Inaninterview with ABS-radio CBN’s station DZMM hours before the network was shut down, NTC Deputy Commissioner Edgardo Cabarios admitted that the questions regarding the franchise’s validity stemmed from the quo warranto petition filed by former solicitor general and current Commission on Audit Chair Jose Calida. Many people in rural areas felt they had missed out on critical news, especially reporting on disasters, when ABSCBN was shut down because its Regional Stations no longer broadcast.Formervice president Leni Robredo said in December 2021 that Typhoon Odette victims shared the same sentiment that the absence of ABS-CBN’s wide coverage during typhoons and other calamities also made it difficult for them to attract help or assistance. g files
Press Secretary Rose Beatrix “Trixie” CruzAngeles also cautioned the public against accessing
The economic managers of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. have said that their eight-point socioeconomic agenda would slash the jobless rate to 4-5 percent by 2028. They said it could be done by increasing the share of wage and salaried workers in the private sector to 53-55 percent of the total by the time Marcos ends his term, from 48 percent in Edillon2021. said the state planning agency had sought a number of interventions so that young Filipinos graduating from the K-12 program next year would have something to do at work or in school, if ever they decide to pursue a college degree.
They added, “The Inflation Reduction Act will allow AA and NHPI families and elders to worry less about the high costs of insurance premiums and medication. For many, this means worrying less about choosing between paying for food or medicine. This law could not have come at a better time.”
The bill was filed as early as June 30, but reporters did not get a copy of the proposal until it was uploaded to the House of Representatives website.
Health pass a requirement for incoming international travelers lag behind the big number of Filipinos joining the labor force. Gov’t intervention
Biden administration... Solon
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In his first State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 25, the President ordered the DMW and the Department of Information and Communications Technology to prioritize the automation of contracts of overseas Filipino workers.
The Philippine Statistics Authority earlier said that 2.99 million Filipinos were unemployed as of June this year.
OFW reforms Also on Tuesday, Mr. Marcos pushed for reforms to improve the working conditions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), including having more bilateral labor agreements between the Philippines and other countries.
The bill also funds greater efforts to combat climate change, making it more affordable to buy energy efficient appliances, lower utility bills and make it easier and more affordable for lower-income families to replace home appliances. “This bill is the biggest step forward on climate,” Biden said, adding that his administration will “boldly take additional steps toward meeting my climate goals.” (By Klarize Medenilla/ AJPress) information for a great number of our countrymen. It is the source of information in the most far-flung areas of our country, keeping its far-reaches up-to-date with the relevant happenings,” Pimentel said in the bill’s explanatory note.
by Kristina Maralit ManilaTimes.net THE Office of the Press Secretary on Tuesday, August 23 reminded all inbound international passengers to first register online for the One Health Pass (OHP) before embarking on their trip as this is one of the requirements needed for their entry into the country.
of]Forcewithtravelersallsaidonehealthpass.com.ph,”www.sheinastatement.“TheOHPisrequiredforarrivinginternationalinaccordancetheInter-AgencyTask[fortheManagementEmergingInfectious
charges in connection with theLazoincident. worea black helmet, googles, and an American flag cape while carrying a ‘Captain America’-style shield and the Filipino broom. His shield carried messages like “FALSE MEDIA = COUP” and “PANDEMIC HOAX = COUP.” HisMay 28, 2021 arrest came following a tip from someone who recognized the Rodbustars, LLC logo on Lazo’s helmet in a post by Facebook user “Fam Council.” Reports indicate that Lazo and his wife are listed in public documents as owners of Rodbustars, and the FBI used location data for a phone number associated with the company to determine that it was being used inside the Capitol, according to the warrant for Lazo’s arrest. He was among the thousands of supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump identified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to be part of the group that illegally entered the government building.His charges include knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds or in a Capitol building; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.
Fil-Am man sentenced to 45 days in jail for... in this vote. That’s the choice we face: we can protect the already-powerful, or show the courage to build the future where everybody has an even shot.” Lower health care costs are among the more significant parts of the sweeping $430 billion spending package. For seniors, out-of-pocket prescription drug costs will be capped at $2,000 and monthly insulin costs be capped at $35 — these changes will take effect in 2025.The law also provides more free vaccines for Medicare recipients and states that drug manufacturers will have to pay a rebate when their prices raise quicker thanAccordinginflation.to the White House Executive Office of the President, nearly 1.5 million AAPIs were uninsured in 2019 and more than 1.3 million people of color weren’t able to access Medicaid due to their states’ refusal to expand the program. (Currently, the uninsured rate is at 8%, according to the Biden administration.)Withthe Inflation Reduction Act’s lower monthly premiums that continue advancements from the Trump administration’s American Rescue Plan, the Biden administration predicts that 120,000 more AAPIs will have health coverage by nextTheyear.Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum praised the Biden administration for signing the bill, saying in a press release, “Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander families face significant barriers to health care that were only exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“For next year, we have suggested an increase in scholarships for masters of arts or science degrees, and other reskilling and microcredential programs. We will also push for more internship programs,” Edillon said.
In a Facebook post, the Office of the President (OP) said Mr. Marcos and his officials discussed during the fifth Cabinet meeting the priority programs of the newly created Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole). Among the priority projects of the DMW, led by Secretary Susan Ople, are the One Repatriation Command Center, OFW Mobile Application, and the National Reintegration Program.
AUGUST 26 - SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-54268
By REALTOR FELY QUITEVIS-BATEMAN BY now, many newspapers have covered the recent decline in home sales in Nevada, particularly home sales in cities like Las Vegas and Pahrump. Spurred in part by the Federal Reserve raising interest rates in order to cool inflation and to slow down the dramatic rise in home prices, home sales have slightly dipped in both with Pahrump homes up by $70,456 (23.5%) over July 2021 numbers, and Las Vegas up by $75,195 (23%) over July 2021 prices. The average sale time for homes have a big difference though in these two areas – Las Vegas has remained steady at 16 days from the period of July 2021 to July 2022, while Pahrump’s AST has gone up from 18 days to 37 days in the same period. While Las Vegas continues to be in a seller’s market, Pahrump has moved to neutral territory.These numbers were presented in reports by the Pahrump Valley Times and Las Vegas Review Journal in recent stories, gleaned from numbers presented by Rocket Homes, which, in turn, got its data via the internet data exchange program of the Las Vegas Realtors® MLS. According to the same news reports, the number of homes for sale in Pahrump (328) went up by 10.4% in July 2022, from an inventory of 297 in June 2022. In Las Vegas, the jump in number of homes for PAGE 10 sale was at 11.2% in the same period (3,627 in June 2022 versus 4,034 in July 2022). This meant more homes available for buyers looking to purchase in both areas.
While Las Vegas experienced an increase of nearly 10% or more in availability for homes in the 2-bedroom to 5+ bedroom range, homes in the 1-bedroom category declined by a little bit more than 4%. In Pahrump, the availability of 1-bedroom and 5+ bedroom homes declined,
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Pahrump used to be a farming community so anything grows in the town. Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman’s (3rd from left) friend’s garden in Pahrump attracted her investors, Chris and Vicky, who bought several land parcels. Meet my future neighbors in Pahrump, Rose and Jessica Pacheco of North Las Vegas. We are working together towards the construction of their new home. Rose has a God-healing gift, does feng shui and numerology. Rose can be contacted at 702-249-6959. Photo above shows (from left) Rose Pacheco, Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman and Jessica Pacheco. Mr. & Mrs. Hung Yeh, with Realtor Rely Quitevis-Bateman (extreme right), bought an acre-plus on Highway 160. They will be bringing a national chain to be one of their tenants in their planned development. areas – Pahrump down by 18.6% from June 2022 to July 2022, and Las Vegas down by 24.7% in the same period. In Pahrump, the median home price is pegged at $369,715 (or $197/sqft) in July 2022, while in Las Vegas, median home price is at $402,717 (or $240/sqft), also for July 2022. These prices still represent a big difference over prices from a year ago,
De Lima are all about: a retaliation for her investigations of the Davao Death Squads and the Duterte drug war. When the U.S. delegation returns home, they can be expected to come up with a report on De Lima’s situation and apply pressure on U.S. decision-makers. Any adverse report could have repercussions on Mr. Marcos’ U.S, visit next month to address the United Nations General Assembly in New York, and on his future visits to Washington.
Pahrump, Las Vegas home sales... PAGE 9
Strategic ambiguity: A lesson... PAGE 5
A continuing embarrassment... PAGE 5
With many development and housing projects slated for cities and towns like Las Vegas and Pahrump, and an expected 1 million people added to the population of Clark County where Las Vegas belongs to (plus a couple of thousand for Nye County where Pahrump belongs to), housing will always be indemand in these areas. As tourism bounces back in Sin City, and visitors embrace the Las Vegas experience, more and more people will be looking at opportunities in Nevada, whether it will be in the form of employment, housing or investments. I have been a Realtor for decades and have helped many of my clients pursue their American dream of home/ land ownership, whether it is in Las Vegas or Pahrump. In fact, many of my clients have reaped the rewards of entering the real estate market sooner, with some renting out their properties for Airbnb, or selling their investments at a good price, or growing their real estate portfolio many-fold over the years. Now that the market is moving towards a buyer’s market, it is time to put your resources to work for you. My team and I will help you find the best opportunities in the market – be it for a first home, a second/vacation home, a land/property investment, or simply an addition to your real estate holdings. My company, Precious Properties, is a full-service company that has served its clientele since 1992. You can reach me at 775-513-8447, 805-559-2476 and 702-5384948 for more information, or send me an email at fely@ precious-properties.com or fely.precious@gmail.com. We have investors who buy houses in California and Nevada for cash and quick escrow in as short as 7 days. (Advertising Supplement)
US lawmakers visit de Lima
Not only is De Lima’s detention on trumpedup charges a miscarriage of justice; it is now a continuing embarrassment for the Marcos Jr. administration that merely inherited this case of political persecution from the Duterte administration. Unless this injustice is corrected and De Lima freed, her image as a political prisoner will hound the current administration as it tries to shore up the confidence and trust of other nations, including its closest allies in the Western world. (Inquirer.net)
Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman helps those who need business financing, including loans for small businesses. For more information, call (702) 5384948, or send email to fely@precious-properties.com or fely.precious@ and generals and admirals were unwilling to confront the speaker, even indirectly? All of which led The Economist magazine to call out this “incoherence.” The London-based publication said: “The trip is a symptom of America’s incoherent approach to China — the country’s single most important opponent in the long run. If so, a trip designed to convey strength risks instead showing up the Biden administration’s confusion and lack of purpose. What is strategic ambiguity?
Keeping everyone in the dark
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Lima recanted, then DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra ordered a review of the pending cases. But the panel of prosecutors, he said, advised him that “there is a good reason to continue the active prosecution” of the staunch Duterte critic. Does that order still stand? In the face of the recantation and the Ombudsman’s ruling in January dismissing the bribery charges against De Lima and her former aide Ronnie Dayan, shouldn’t Remulla order an independent review of the two pending drug cases and direct the prosecutors on how to proceed? Failing that, the decent thing is for the DOJ to resist being used as a tool for political persecution, which is what the cases against but 2- to 4-bedroom homes experienced an increase. In both markets, it was indicated in the numbers that buyers may be able to get a good deal when looking to purchase homes – 39% of homes were sold below the asking price in Las Vegas, while in Pahrump 45.8% of homes sold in the town were sold below asking price. The advice given to buyers: homes are selling fast in both markets so quickly fast if you are planning to purchase a home. This means a good deal for buyers looking to purchase a home, or even real estate in Nevada.More inventory, fewer sales and price cuts mean more negotiating power for buyers. According to a local LVR official interviewed by the Pahrump Valley Times, while rising interest rates and today’s prices may present challenges to poten tial buyers, the availability of more homes, particularly in the Las Vegas area, presents a boon to would-be home buyers as more choices abound. Perhaps, more importantly, buyers are negotiating more with sellers based on the fact that there are more choices, unlike a year ago when buyers had to concede a lot to sellers, oftentimes going over the asking price or many buyers being put on a waiting list in order to be able to just see home they were interested in purchasing.Thisisjust normal in the ebb and flow of real estate –there are periods of lull and periods of frenzy. Still, what is important is that real estate and home prices continue to be above the levels of what they were from a year, a decade, or even two decades ago.Nevada, including the areas of Las Vegas, Pahrump, Boulder City and Henderson, continues to be an affordable market for the home buyer or investment seeker, especially when you compare to other areas in the United States.
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.
On June 12, 2006, the South China Morning Post of Hong Kong published an article by Ted Galen Carpenter where he wrote of the US decades-long policy of “strategic ambiguity” about what Washington would do if conflict broke out in the Taiwan“FormerStrait.assistant secretary of defense Joseph Nye was only a little more blunt than other U.S. officials when he told his Chinese hosts in 1995: ‘We don’t know, and you don’t know.’ But now another U.S. official, Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick, may have inadvertently eliminated any ambiguity in an emotional, off-hand remark to a congressional committee,” Carpenter“[Zoellick]wrote.made the comment while responding to withering criticism by some members of the House international relations committee about the Bush administration’s refusal to allow Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian to make a transit stop in the continental U.S.. Mr. Zoellick warned that Washington should not become too supportive of Taiwan because that would encourage pro-independence forces on the island. ‘Let me be very clear,’ he said. ‘Independence means war. And that means American soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines.’“Although his comment was clearly designed to dampen enthusiasm in Congress for the Taiwanese cause, it is more likely to be seen as a green light by the pro-independence faction in Taiwan. For strategic ambiguity to work, both Taipei and Beijing must be uncertain of the U.S. response to a crisis. That uncertainty supposedly will lead to caution in both capitals.“What Mr. Zoellick said, however, is that U.S. forces would intervene even if Taiwan created a crisis by asserting its independence. Strategic ambiguity has been revealed as a fraud. Mr. Zoellick’s remark confirmed that Washington would prevent the mainland from conquering Taiwan regardless of how a conflict began. “Mr. Chen and the hardline elements of the Democratic Progressive Party could scarcely imagine a clearer green light for their goal of an independent Taiwan.... “This development underscores the perilous nature of U.S. policy. Washington is at the mercy of decisions in both Beijing and Taipei over which it has little or no “Strategiccontrol. ambiguity was a dubious policy which assumed that both Taipei and Beijing would assess the likely U.S. response in exactly the way Washington wanted. But at least it gave the U.S. the option of avoiding a war at the last minute by abandoning Taiwan. Mr. Zoellick’s inadvertent candor has eliminated that option.”
On August 18, the Markey delegation proceeded from Taipei to Manila, ostensibly to visit detained former senator Leila de Lima. The request of Senator Markey and the other U.S. lawmakers to visit detained former senator de Lima was green lighted by a trial court on August According19.to the decision, the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 204 granted the extremely urgent motion ex abundanti ad cautelam, and the U.S. lawmakers were finally permitted to pay de Lima a visit granting that they would observe the safety and health protocols imposed by the Philippine National Police, and no media or any form of social platform coverage would be allowed during the visit.Markey, who is also the chairman of the Senate foreign relations subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific, is among the bipartisan group of U.S. senators who have been calling for de Lima’s release since 2017. After failing to make the visit, the U.S. delegation met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who told the group: “We look forward to continuing our partnership with the U.S. in the areas of renewable energy use, agricultural development, economic reform, and mitigation of drug problem.”
AUGUST 26 - SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-542610
All this time, Filipinos and their government have believed that U.S. commitment to the defense of the Philippines against attack is ironclad. That faith has been sustained by the commitment of successive U.S.Theadministrations.questionthat arises now is what would happen, if the U.S., under a new administration, suddenly invokes strategic ambiguity with respect to the defense of the Philippines from attack. It is well-known in the country that there is a segment of the American polity, notably that led by conservative leaders like Patrick Buchanan, who believe that U.S. commitment to the defense of countries like the Philippines is a bridge too far and not in America’s interest.Youcould claim of course that Philippine ties with America are more deeply rooted than those that attend its relations with Taiwan. The logic of strategic ambiguity, however, is to keep everyone in the dark. (ManilaTimes.net)
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Atty. Gurfinkel answers immigration questions from Kapamilya in San Diego on part 1 of Citizen Pinoy’s ‘Your Tanong, My Sagot’ ‘YOUR TANONG, MY SAGOT’ ANSWERS QUESTIONS FROM SAN DIEGANS. Leading U.S. Immigration Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel answers immigration questions from Kapamilya in San Diego, in Part 1 of Citizen Pinoy’s “Your Tanong, My Sagot”. Some of the questions Atty. Gurfinkel answers are: From Jefferson and Virginia – Virginia petitioned his son, Jefferson, as single but he got married. Is there a way to revive Mommy Virginia’s petition?; From Kathy of Mira Mesa –Can a person visit the U.S. as a tourist if they are under petition?; From Edith of National City – I am waiting for my green card through another daughter’s petition. My 15-year-old daughter is in the U.S. on a tourist visa extension. Is there a way my 15-year-old can stay in the U.S. with me?; The Cruz Family: Grandpa Lando, Dad Allan, and grandson Chean drop by to visit Atty. Gurfinkel who worked on their case and successfully reunited the family. Watch Part 1 of “Your Tanong, My Sagot” in San Diego on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, August 28 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/ Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo.(Advertising Supplement)
• Raquel of San Diego is asking if she can petition her cousin in the Philippines as her caregiver.
• Jefferson was petitioned as single by his mother, 12
• Edith is waiting for her green card through her U.S. citizen daughter. Her other daughter who is 15 years old, is in the U.S. on a tourist visa extension. Edith wants to know how her 15-year-old daughter can stay in the U.S. with her.
• Kathy, of Mira Mesa, wants to know if a person can visit the U.S. even if they are under petition.
LEADING U.S. Immigration Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel visited San Diego, where he answered questions of Kapamilya from “America’s Finest City” and neighboring areas. In Part 1 of “Your Tanong, My Sagot,” viewers will hear answers to the following immigration concerns:
PAGE
The Cruz family is one of the success stories featured on Citizen Pinoy. Photo above shows (from left) grandson Chean, dad Allan, and petitioner grandpa Orlando, with leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel. Photos provided by Law Offices of Michael Gurfinkel (From left) Edith, Jefferson and his mother, Virginia, and Kathy. Their questions will be answered on this episode of Citizen Virginia. However, he got married. Jefferson now asks if there is a way to revive his mother’s petition. Atty. Gurfinkel also gets a surprise visit from the Cruz family. It was nearly 10 years ago when Atty. Gurfinkel helped the grandfather, Lando Cruz, after the U.S. Embassy in Manila denied his son Allan’s visa because of a misunderstanding. The Law Offices of Michael Gurfinkel were able to help bring Allan and his son, Chean, to the U.S. It was a memorable success story featured on Citizen Pinoy. Atty. Gurfinkel answers these questions in Part 1 of “Your Tanong, My Sagot, ” with Kapamilya from San PAGE 11
Joshua Garcia and Vice Ganda Philstar.com photos
Diego and adjacent areas. Watch this brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, August 28 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)
The SARS-CoV2 virus of COVID-19 is 0.1-0.5 microns. One micron is 1000th of a millimeter. The virus is about is about 600 times to 3,000 times SMALLER than the a grain of table salt (60 microns). A red blood cell is 7-8 microns and white blood cells, 25 microns. A dust particle is about 10 microns. In order to be inhaled into the respiratory tract, it has to be 10 microns or less in size. The largest SARSCoV2 virus is about ½ (0.5) micron, the reason why it could easily be inhaled by those without a mask.
AUGUST 26 - SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-542612 PAGE 13
PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS Health@Heart
UVC lamp UVC light has been used around the world to sterilize meats, fruits, and vegetable and other items since it was discovered by Nobel Prize winner Ryberg Finsen in 1896. Hospitals use it to
Lessons from COVID
Virus not alive Contrary to what people think, the COVID-19 virus (SARS-CoV2) is not a living organism like bacteria. Viruses are protein molecules. So, we cannot “kill” the viruses; we could damage them to render them avirulent, unable to cause infection. That’s the goal of all the measures and strategies we have in combatting COVID-19 at this pandemic. Masks do help Similar to the analogy above, wearing masks, have been proven to work, albeit if not 100 percent. Masks reduce the amount (dose) of infecting agents flying in the air being inhaled. Lowering the dose minimizes the chance of getting infected. If 10 individuals (5 wearing a mask and the other 5 not) were sprayed with face powder or flour, which of the two groups would have more powder on their face and nostrils upon mask removal? Masking is also a sign of compassion; it protects the wearer but even more so other people around. Evident even during flu seasons. In spite of what ignorant or dis-informed people (including politicians and civil rights protestors) are claiming, science has proven masks to be safe and effective in minimizing infections. Do you think those who claim masks are useless would allow (or prefer) nurses and surgeons operating on them or their loved ones NOT to wear masks during the operation? It’s plain common sense. Size of the virus
vaccines is akin to that of bullet-proof vests, not 100 percent but proven to be lifesavers nonetheless since they were invented in 1893 by Casimir Zeglen, a Roman Catholic priest in Chicago. Distancing Avoiding crowds and social distancing are mitigating measures, like vaccination and wearing masks, proven to lower the dose of infecting agents, like COVID-19 viruses, and thus prevent infections. This is the same reason why outdoors is safer than indoors, where the airflow (wind) disperses the viruses and greatly minimizes the viral dose one inhales, if any at all. Any and all measures to lower the dose of any infecting agents, like washing hands and face often, showering, etc., are effective strategies to avoid infection.
By Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com KAPAMILYA stars Joshua Garcia and Vice Ganda have been named Celebrities of the Year at the TikTok Awards Philippines 2022 recently held at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City.The “Darna” star and the “It’s Showtime” host bested other nominees such as Ivana Alawi, Kim Chiu, Althea Ablan, Kyline Alcantara, Cassy Legaspi, Dasuri Choi and Yukii Takahashi. In an interview with the media during his launch as the new endorser of Koomi, Joshua said TikTok helped him show his hidden talent. “Makakatulong talaga sa akin. I’m thankful. It’s another platform for me to show my hidden talents,” JoshuaThesaid. actor shared that
“Pero actually kinder pa lang ako, gusto ko nang magsayaw sa graduation. Ang istorya nu’n, ‘di ako sinasali kasi makulit akong bata. So ang panakot, ‘di ako isasali. Ang ginawa ko, umakyat ako ng bakod. S’yempre takot na takot ang maestra ko, (sabi niya) ‘Hoy, bumaba ka diyan,’” he recalled. Joshua went viral on TikTok after he posted his dance cover of Chalie Boy’s “Thick Fine Woman.” The video had 20 million views and 4 million likes a day after it was uploaded. g
Atty. Gurfinkel answers immigration...
he has always liked dancing since his younger days. “I started dancing nu’ng high school ako,” he said.
However, studies by civil and environmental engineers at Virginia Tech for one, like Linsey Marr, a professor and researcher at VT, an expert who specializes in airborne transmission of viruses, revealed that “the COVID-19 particle is indeed around 0.1 microns in size, but it is always bonded to something larger…There is never a naked virus floating in the air or released by people.” The virus is usually coated by saliva or mucus or moisture, which makes the particles larger. Also, the Brownian movement of the viral particle that zooms and zigzags around, causes it to get trapped by the electrostatic “absorption” magnetizing the particles, causing them to be snarled by the filter and not able to go through. NIOSHapproved N95 masks filter out 95 percent of the COVID-19 viruses.
N95 mask works N95 mask, especially the NIOSH-approved, is the face cover recommended by the CDC. Masks made of cloth are too porous and thus allow the viruses to go through them. Even hospital masks are not as good as the NIOSHapproved N95. While the N95 mask filters 0.3 microns or larger, and the coronary virus could be as small as 0.1 microns, it seems this mask would allow the virus to go through, the reason uninformed or misinformed people are saying the mask is ineffective in filtering the virus, and therefore useless.
Celebrities of the Year at TikTok Awards
FAKE news Fake news, downright lies, mis- and disinformation, in various media, especially social media, have conceivably caused hundreds of million COVID-19 infections and deaths around the world. The falsehood that the vaccines are more dangerous (and killed more) than COVID-19, that it contains fetal tissues, changes our DNA, leads to sterility and serious illnesses, has a chip in them, have confused and misguided countless people who ended up devastated by COVID-19 or death. Unfortunately, there is no vaccine for malice or stupidity. Vaccines are safe Vaccines for COVID-19, for seasonal flu, those mandated as a requirement for children school enrolment, and other available vaccines are all safe and effective in preventing infectious diseases, in spite of misinformed naysayers and fake news on social and other media. Illnesses pose at least 20 times greater risk than the side-effects of the vaccines, especially the COVID-19 vaccines, which are truly a lifesaver. There are about 5 billion people fully vaccinated for COVID-19 worldwide (about 13 billion doses) proving how safe and effective these vaccines are. The vaccines have protected that many people globally. Lowering viral load Our body, TheagentwhichsystemboostsadvanceVaccinationandminimizingcrowdsdistancing,handsclinicallymechanismtheenoughorganismsofsmall.theandableimmunocompromised,unlessistofightoffbacteriaviruses,etc.,aslongasbacterialorviralloadisItiswhenthenumberinvadinginfectiousbecomehightooverwhelmbody’sself-defensethatwegetinfected.Washingoften,usingmasks,andavoidingareallaimedatviralexposureviralloadinourbody.isawonderfulinsciencethatourbody’simmunetoarobustdegreedefeatstheinfectiousandpreventsinfection.protectivepowerofthe
Joshua Garcia, Vice Ganda named
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.
ACTRESS Coleen Garcia, whose son is turning 2 years old in September, is now praying for a baby girl. “We always thought we wanted four to six children, but if we only have Amari, I Gerald plays Thuy in ‘Miss Saigon’ anew
By Ricky caldeRon ManilaTimes.net
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sterilize operating rooms, ICUs, infectious disease wards and patient rooms as a routine. I got a couple UVC tote bags and lamps from Amazon and used them during the pandemic sterilizing masks, caps, grocery items, mail, clothing, shoes, cellphones, jewelries, toothbrushes, combs, bedrooms, kitchen, and toilets, always being careful not to expose my eyes and skin to the UVC light. Columbia University has developed the safer Far UVC light, which does not hurt the eyes and skin, for use at home, hotels, shopping malls, restaurants, other public places, to sterilize the environment.
Photo from Instagram/@ Gerald Santos as Thuy Photo from Instagram/@thegeraldsantos
Hands-on mom Coleen wants a sister for baby Amari he’s actually quite detailed in the way he even holds the bottle, the way he selects the bottle, the color palette — he just wore an outfit like this to the Bullet Train premiere with this color (she holds up a bottle of Enroot’s Strawberry LavenderRosemary Tulsi Relax flavor that has the Bullet Train logo on the back, and ladybug artwork on the front), which is more like a salmon color. And this we did for his movie, Bullet Train. You remember his character, Ladybug, and how his character wants to find peace? So the Relax is to help calm and promote finding peace. This is actually for the movie collaboration with him, which is amazing. Everybody I know loves the way it presents. Everything inside (Enroot) is the chefs’; everything outside is Brad.”Patwa grew up in Buhangin, Davao, until she was eight years old. “Davao then was a lot of dirt roads, a lot of farms. There’s pictures of me with a carabao, and I was afraid of the geese,” she laughs. “I didn’t know there was a whole world outside of our farms, my grandmother and the community — you knew everybody and everybody knew you — it felt like a real family. “We moved to the U.S. when I was eight, and I would spend a lot of time with my grandmother because both parents had to work. You know, it’s immigrants, we’re in Queens, we need to survive. And so I spent a lot of time with my grandma, and we would come back to the Philippines every other year
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GERALD Santos is reprising his role as Thuy in the “Miss Saigon” edition of Denmark for 2023. He first played the role of Thuy in the “Miss Saigon” UK International Tour from 2017 to 2019. In fact, he has logged 553 performances as Thuy, the most by any actor who played the role in Miss Saigon based on the recent productions of the famed musical. Being chosen to play Thuy boosted Gerald’s career as a singer and being tapped to do the role again is a
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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. * *
Cristina Patwa, Filipina cofounder and CEO of Enroot: “I wanted to pay tribute to what my grandmother gifted me with.”
IT’S a long way from Buhangin, Davao City, to Hollywood; from dirt roads and riding carabaos to running a business for Brad Pitt, but Cristina Patwa has made that journey in less than her 42 years on earth. I actually mistook Patwa for a teenager when I came in to interview her. When I remarked on her youthful looks, this mother of an eight-year-old girl laughed and said, “It must be the teas.”“The teas” in question belong to Enroot, a sparkling tea beverage brand Patwa cofounded along with Pitt and John Fogelman, a Hollywood agentturned-entrepreneur who’s a dear friend of both.“My business partner of 15 years, John and I have built different businesses together,” Patwa says. “John was one of the largest shareholders of a talent agency called William Morris, and he has known Brad for 25 years. They’ve been friends for 25 projects. “We have another business with Brad,” she continues. “We helped him with something in (Chateau) Miraval (the French winery he co-owned with ex-wife Angelina Jolie), and then over dinner together, Brad came up with the idea of this wellness, alcohol-free experience.” The idea was Enroot, a line of sparkling, cold-brew tea beverages that would fill a niche in the nonalcoholic beverage market for a bubbly drink like champagne. Patwa, Pitt and Fogelman called in a group of 12 James Beard Award-winning chefs to develop and blend flavors that could be paired with elevated cuisine. At a brewery in Santa Cruz, California, they cold-brew organic fruit and floral purees in small batches with the best teas from around the world for three days, resulting in a low-calorie drink (only 25 calories a bottle) that is refreshing, low-sugar (no sugar or stevia is added), and a healthy alternative to not only champagne but also sodas. “Brad was the one who came up with the idea,” notes Patwa. “He is insanely creative. I think that’s what it takes to be a movie star for that long. He’s artistic, he’s genuine, he’s authentic, and so even the design of (the bottle) — every part of it was really his direction and his vision for what this could look and feel like. My job is to listen to him, because
Gold toilet paper I have been using toilet paper all my life and did not realize how valuable it was until the COVID-19 pandemic led to people hoarding this “gem” of a tissue. I found myself getting my share at Costco. Shelves at other stores were empty. Toilet paper was “gold.”.
Lessons from...
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By MaRinel cRuz Inquirer.net
By TheRese JaMoRa-GaRceau Philstar.com
Cristina Patwa’s tea-rrific journey from Davao to Hollywood and working with Brad Pitt growing up. “The most joyful parts of my childhood were with my grandmother or here in the Philippines, because in the U.S., Christmas is not celebrated the same way — the feeding each other and making sure you’re okay. Filipinos naturally think of the other person first before ourselves. And I wish that the U.S. had more of that, where we can break bread and take care of somebody across from you. That connection is actually a foundation of building a community, and I want Enroot to be a community, first andPatwa’sforemost.”lola passed away last January, at the age of 96. “I wanted to pay tribute to what she gifted me with. She was planting seeds along the way, the overall model of the kind of woman I am and want to be. I’m glad she got to see at least the launch of Enroot and she knew what I was building it for.”Patwa is a staunch tea drinker herself. “When I became a mom, I couldn’t have as much caffeine and alcohol,” she says. “I just love teas. I drink a lot of tea.” Part of her trip here is to find farms from which Enroot can source ingredients. “Because we source organic, it means by default that the big farms are the conventional ones that are not organic, and most organic farms are smaller. So we have coconut in this (flavor), and I would love to find jasmine — I loved the sampaguitas growing up — and the hibiscus, the gumamelas It would be amazing because we’re trying to source them where they’re indigenously grown already. And then we have another flavor that will come out that has mango and ginger, and that’s like my hometown flavors. I would love that.”Enroot is a sustainable, socially responsible brand that also supports women’s programs, and Patwa says that Pitt is a partner who believes and understands the importance of those values. “Once he heard everything he came up with (their trademark) ‘Food, Family, Farms.’ He loves the simplicity of things. He and John were the ones who pushed me and said, ‘You need to run this. This is you.’ And I said, ‘I’m an accountant. What do I know?’ But they’re so wonderful as partners and so supportive. I couldn’t ask for better partners in something that’s so meaningful in a lot of different ways. I feel very blessed.” g testament to his talent. “I am very happy to be given another chance to portray the role but I am kind of afraid and nervous because we are doing it on Danish language. But that will challenge me because out of my comfort zone,” said Gerald via Facebook Messenger.“MissSaigon” will be produced by Det Ny Teater, a privately-owned theater that have been producing Broadway and West End titles since Congratulations1994. Gerald and may you continue to bring pride to the Philippines. g would be more than happy with that. But I hope we get one more, a girl this time,” said the wife of TV host Billy Crawford.“Ireally hope the next one would be a girl because, now, I don’t want to have more than two kids. I also want to space it out. I’m still okay with having just Amari until he reaches 5. It really depends on our situation in the coming year, because as you know, Billy is not getting any younger and I need help in taking care of Amari,” said Coleen, 29, of her husband who is 40. ‘Very hands-on with him’ “Timing is important also because I want Amari to be old enough to understand why a new baby is around. We’re very hands-on with him. I don’t want to take away time from Amari, especially since I’m going to be so tired taking care of the new baby,” she pointed out.
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Star Magic’s 30th anniversary concert
The tour kicked off in New York City, where the young stars performed for its discerning audiences. The next stop was San Francisco for a legacy-laced show at the historical home of the Filipino American diaspora. And the tour’s finale was in the hub of global entertainment Los Angeles. The young stars dazzled thousands across the U.S.—claiming their place as some of the top performers in theWithworld. an energized house on its feet, the show started with an electrifying tableau of Filipino dance hits with Philippines’ sweetheart Maymay Entrata, Edward Barber, Maris Racal, Charlie Dizon and Alexa Ilacad. The opening number continued with a celebration of Filipino Pop Rock with seasoned performer Kim Chiu, dance vixen AC Bonifacio and “Gold Squad” heartthrobs Kyle Echarri and AndreaMusicBrillantes.loversswooned over the ‘Sessionistas’ segment of the concert—where topcaliber singers performed beloved OPM (Original Pilipino Music) hits. Angela Ken, Lian Kyla, Sab, KD Estrada and Carlo Aquino serenaded the audience with their smooth acoustic sounds, highlighting their musicality and instrumental talents.Teleserye fans’ hearts melted when Star Magic’s top vocalists sang their favorite shows’ theme songs. The powerhouse vocals of Gigi de Lana, Janine Berdin, Angela Ken, Lian Kyla and Sab brought the emotions of each of the drama series’ themes to their embracing fans.And with what felt like a lightning bolt striking the theater, the fans suddenly levitated when ‘love teams’ took the stage. KD Estrada and Alexa Ilacad, known as their “shipped-name” KDLEX, delighted their fans by singing a duet that explored the mysteries of young love. The screams intensified when the hottest love team in the Philippines took the spotlight. Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano, more popularly known as “DonBelle” sang, danced, and interacted with their adoring fans, reinforcing the undeniable chemistry they have that their global fans crave.Multi-award-winning actor Zanjoe Marudo brought the romance only a top matinee idol can bring to the show, making his fans swoon with his triple-threat performance and boy-next-door charm.
The show ended with the whole cast on stage singing the song “Sama Sama” which sends messages of love, unity, and togetherness.
S TAR Magic’s 30th Anniversary Concert “Beyond the Stars” culminated their three-city concert tour at the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills on Monday, August 14, marking the return of Star Magicon the live concert stages in the U.S. after two years.
The members of the Star Magic tour perform their final show at the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills. The hype opening number from (Top L-R) Andrea Brillantes, AC Bonifacio, Alexa Ilacad, and Charlie Dizon; (Bottom L-R) Edward Barber, Maymay Entrata, Kim Chiu, Maris Racal, and Kyle Echarri. Photos courtesy of Belle Mariano and Donny Pangilinan had the audience swooning during this sweet number. Photos courtesy of
“Our core has always been to serve our audience regardless of circumstances,” said Arnie Garcia, ABS-CBN Global Head of Events. “Star Magic’s Beyond the Stars is ABS-CBN Global Events’ way to start reaching out to our audience amidst these challenging times and prove to them that we would continue to bring joy and inspiration to everyone,” GarciaHollywoodadds. afterparty The night after the main concert, all the Star Magic stars, ABS-CBN team and invited guests enjoyed a celebration dinner under the stars at the world-famous
The love team of KD Estrada and Alexa Ilacad delivers the flutters in their romantic duet.
The breakout star of the night is funny man Eric Nicolas. His quick wit, funny antics and comical interactions with the crowd had the whole theater howling in laughter.
AUGUST 26 - SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-542614 14NEW YORK / NEW JERSEY AUGUST 26, 2022 people events arts culture entertainment
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‘Beyond the Stars’ completes a coast-to-coast US tour with a SoCal extravaganza
With 20 of Star Magic’s brightest talents from the Philippines, “Beyond the Stars” showcased what Filipino and international audiences always expect from ABS-CBN shows: excellence.“Ourworld is a landscape of change, and just like our company, Star Magic is evolving,” said Star Magic Head Lauren Dyogi. “ Audiences now, in the digital age, are clamoring for diversity and Filipino talent can be appreciated anywhere and everywhere—and we have proven that.”
“Doon pinaka-naging close ‘yung relationship ko with the Lord. Super pray talaga ako kasi syempre parang may iba na nagagalit kasi hindi ako nagbibigay ng details,” Torres said. “[Pero] hindi ko naman ikaliligaya na ma-bash ‘yung tao.” (That was when I became closest to the Lord. I was really praying because there were people who got angry when I was not giving details [about the breakup]. But it would not make me happy if [Ramsay] gets bashed [for it].) “For me lang, walang maidudulot na mabuti ‘pag nagbigay pa ako ng details kung bakit kami nag-break, kasi obviously hindi naging maganda ‘yung paghihiwalay namin. So, parang OK na sa akin na nakausap ko ‘yung mga taong involved,” she added. (For me, it would do no good if I give details on why we broke up because obviously, we did not have a good breakup. So for me, I am already OK that I got to talk with the people involved.)
ANDREA Torres admitted that she and ex-boyfriend, actor Derek Ramsay, had a bad breakup, but she is firm on not making public the cause of their split to prevent him from getting bashed. The actress recounted her breakup with Ramsay after she was asked by TV host Toni Gonzaga what she learned from her heartbreak, as seen in a vlog on the latter’s YouTube channel on Sunday, Aug. 21.
“When it comes to my career path, hindi ko alam kung ano ang mangyayari sa akin in the future,” said he. “Hindi ko rin nga alam na from (being) an extra, nandito na ako ngayon, nabigyan na (ako) ng leadReading(role).”between the lines of his answers, Yasser welcomes every acting opportunity that will come his way and tries to deliver what’s expected from him.
By Jerry Donato Philstar.com
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Torres spoke about how she went through depression at the time, as well as how she overcame it and learned to love herself more. Torres then disclosed that she already has thoughts about having her own family considering her age.
Coleen Garcia with husband Billy Crawford and son Amari Inquirer.net photo this, plus other interesting details, will be unveiled when What We Could Be premieres on Aug. 29. For this project, Yasser, Ysabel and Miguel were given a strong acting support from veteran actors Art Acuña, Celeste Legaspi, Soliman Cruz, Joyce Anne Burton, Aleck Bovick, Bimbo Bautista and Joel Saracho. That’s why Yasser had nothing but praise for the entire cast and added that “Walang na left behind na isa sa amin (No one was left behind).” So, actors and their roles were afforded proper treatment that they deserved, as one may put it.
Amari can be assured of being the apple of his parents’ eyes. “He is such a crazy little boy,” Amari’s mom beamed. “He is so active. He loves to run around. When we were shooting ‘Kaluskos,’ he was already happy just to be able to run across the garden. He has been talking a lot now, too, although not so straight yet.”Coleen said that this early, Amari’s personality is starting to show. “What’s amazing is that he is starting to show traits that are unique to him. He would have mannerisms that we didn’t teach him at all. We would always hear parents say, ‘You got that from Mommy, or from Daddy!’ But now, we are starting to see the real him.”
“Speaking from experience, yung patience, especially in this pandemic, is an important thing we need to learn,” said he. “Besides it, we (also) need to adapt to survive.”
Gonzaga then asked asked the actress, “So nando’n ka na rin sa point ng buhay mo ngayon na (So you are at this point in your life where) you are ready to settle down?”, to which Torres answered, “Oo (Yes), with the right person.” Torres confirmed her split with Ramsay in November 2020 after dating for over a year. Although both of them opted not to disclose the reason for their breakup, Ramsay stated that the split was “sudden” but they have “no hate towards one another.” Meanwhile, Ramsay got married to actress Ellen Adarna in November last year. (By Anne Pasajol/Inquirer.net)
Direk Jeffrey was glad to see how the GMA talents kept up with the experienced cast members of the series. “Ysabel, Miguel and Yasser may be very young, but they are very mature and they are sensitive, intelligent actors,” said he and added that the stars made his work easier.Prior to What We Could Be, Yasser starred in Bilangin Ang Bituin Sa Langit, directed by Laurice Guillen, and Stories From The Heart: Love On Air. During the height of creating content while working from home due to the pandemic, he hosted the online tambayan, Cool Hub, on GMA Artist Center’s YouTube channel. Yasser and fellow Kapuso talents had the platform to express and share their interests. He is also seen in the sitcom Daddy’s Gurl. Few months back, Yasser dropped, Yasser Marta GMA photo
AFTER playing a string of supporting roles, Yasser Marta has scored a leading man role via the upcoming Kapuso drama romance series titled What We Could Be. His character Lucas will complete the love triangle that involves Cynthia and Franco, played by Ysabel Ortega and Miguel Tanfelix, respectively. For Yasser, this is a turning point in his showbiz career.“For me, this is a big project. Isang achievement ito sa buhay ko, sa takbo ng karera ko (it’s an achievement in my life and in the way my career is going),” said Yasser in a recent virtual group interview. “I started from scratch, from zero and now, I’ve been given this big opportunity, by the people behind this project… It’s a big turning point in my career.” The people he was referring to were TV executive Joey Abacan and COO lawyer Joji Alonso, who represent GMA and Quantum Films as companies behind the show. Its director is Jeffrey Jeturian. “Ako naman, ginagawa ko lang ang trabaho ko, kung anuman ang ibigay sa akin, maliit o malaki, alam mo yun, lagi kong binibigay yung best ko (I just do my work, whether the role is small or big, and I always give my best),” added he, who also acknowledged the pressure that comes with acting.
Yasser makes strides in his career
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Do more Prior to appearing in Roman Perez Jr’s psychological thriller “Kaluskos,” Coleen was also part of Jon Red’s revengethemed action-drama “Adarna Gang.”“I’m just waiting for good projects, for whatever falls on my lap that I can throw myself into. I don’t want to do anything half-assed anymore. I want to commit to whatever projects given to me because I’m in a state where I’m so hungry and I want to be able to work, work, work!” Coleen pointed out. “Comparing my job to Billy’s—who hosts a daily show— mine is seasonal. I go through so many months without work and just be with Amari, then I shoot a movie for six days. I want to be able to do more of that in the coming months,” she declared.
Yamashiro restaurant in the HollywoodPunctuatedHills. by performances from Star Magic’s top singers, attendees had the opportunity to mingle with the young stars to explore future opportunities and possibilities of partnerships. “Moving forward means we have to do collaborations with other players in the industry, both in the Philippines and internationally,” said Aldrin Cerrado, Chief Operating Officer of ABS-CBN Global. “ We do our best to manage our resources very well to deliver the best product, the best content, for our audiences.”Bringing Filipino worldclass talent to the global center stage is the underlying theme of the evening, especially to the Latin American market under TFC’s North and Latin America“Musicdivision.isthe key to helping us penetrate the Latin American market,” said Jun Del Rosario, Managing Director of ABS-CBN Global. “We have shown the world how amazing our singers and performers are, and I feel our music will bridge our culture withAndtheirs.”tofurther fortify their skills and talents, some of the Star Magic members said they enrolled in performance workshops in Los Angeles; lauded and supported by the network’s leaders and the community. g There is also the fact that she has just started getting back into rhythm in terms of her work as an actress. “I’m just getting back to doing what I love, to the things that make me ‘me,’ but at the same time having Amari with me on this journey. So when things start to slow down and when I really am in that rhythm, then maybe, Billy and I can work on having another child,” she declared.Until such time comes, mom Coleen wants a sister for baby...
“Syempre nasa age ka na rin na iisipin mo, ‘May time pa ba ako magkaroon ng maraming anak?’ ‘Yung mga gano’n, so hopefully at least makadalawa man lang, [sana] kayanin pa,” she stated. ([I am] at that age where I am having thoughts like, “Do I still have time to have many kids?” [I have] thoughts like that, so hopefully [I can still be able to have] at least two kids. I hope I can still do that.)
“When it comes to my career path, kung anuman yung binigay na role, yun yung pinaghahandaan ko,” said he, who, after reading the script of What We Could Be and learning about Lucas, emotional and physical-wise, decided to hit the gym, and study the character, as one may add. With his latest manna from showbiz heaven, Yasser could attest to the “patience-is-a-virtue” saying. It’s something that the pandemic has also reminded him about.
Andrea keeps mum on cause of split with Derek
Star Magic’s 30th... Hands-on
For the months and years when work was few and far between, Yasser recalled that “Kailangan mong isipin kung ano yung kailangan mong bago na ma-i-o-offer sa mga tao (You had to think of something new that you can offer to audiences), kailangan mong mag-aral, mag-reinvent ng sarili mo (You had to study and reinvent yourself). During the pandemic, nabigla tayong lahat, yun lang kailangan nating mag-adapt, kailangan din nating maghintay sa tamang biyaya naibibigay sa atin.” Again, being part of What We Could Be is among the blessings Yasser has received. The time for him to play a lead role has also just come. g
The What We Could Be narrative will see Yasser play Lucas, the cousin of Franco. “Magkakaroon ng problema ang mga pamilya namin (Our respective families will face a problem),” said he. “Through it, I will meet Cynthia, who will have a special relationship with my character. It’s something you can look forward to.” As a quick information about Cynthia and Franco, Ysabel and Miguel offered the following: Her character is a nurse with a big dream for her family, while his is a conman and a mysterious person. All as what an article describes as, thirst trap photos on his Facebook page. With that, some entertain the idea of him following in the footsteps of hunk Kapuso actors like Derrick Monasterio and David Licauco.
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