ANOTHER elderly Filipino woman was assaulted by an unidentified woman in New York City last week, the latest in a string of attacks on Filipinos in the United States In an advisory, the Philippine Consulate General in New York said the 74-yearold victim was walking along Madison Avenue near East 52nd Street on Wednesday, August 24 when a woman struck her. The assailant immediately fled the scene. The motive of the attack was
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MANILA — Pope Francis has designated Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as his special envoy to the 50th general conference of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conference (FABC) slated on Oct. to CBCPNews, Tagle over closing mass of the FABC conference held at Assumption Cathedral Bangkok, Thailand. pope’s bishops’
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for the sacrifices they made in our behalf so that we may live in peace, security, and liberty as well as realize our full potential as Filipinos,” Marcos said in his first National Heroes Day message as the chief executive.
Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO Volume 15 - No.43 • 16 Pages We’ve
He urged the public to not forget them as “their legacy of heroism lives on in the hearts of our medical professionals, civil servants, uniformed personnel, and ordinary citizens who toil to keep the Filipino dream alive.” Marcos also said that their heroic deeds do not only remind Filipinos “of the nobility of our race,” but also invite them to take part in
The query comes as another Filipino elderly was attacked in New York City over the weekend in what U.S. authorities branded as a hate crime against Asians.
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The halting of immigration “From the middle of 2019 until the end PHILIPPINE Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez said the Philippines had sent a diplomatic note to the US State Department at the height of the Asian hate crime in 2021. This was Romualdez’s reply to the query of Sen. Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros on what the Philippine government had done to address these cases involving Filipinos living in the U.S.
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unclear as the suspect was unprovoked, the consulate said.Philippine Consul General Elmer Cato, in a post on Twitter, advised Filipinos in New York “to be vigilant at all times when outside their homes” in the wake of the latestMa.attack.Teresita Daza, spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), told reporters on Saturday that Cato had CLOSE to 15% of job openings that employ immigrant or foreign-born workers in the U.S. are still vacant, while the legal immigration system is in dire straits. From meat packing to home building to STEM professionals to nurses, the post-pandemic economy is reeling from a labor force decimated by restrictive immigration policies, which worsened under Donald Trump’s administration.
USA FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS
DATELINE
If elected LA mayor, Caruso would tackle Asian hate crimes
FETCHING SCHOOL KIDS. Parents and guardians flock to wait for their children at the gate of the Salawag Elementary School in Dasmarinas City, Cavite on Wednesday, Aug. 31. They have to endure the heat of the sun while waiting for students to come out of the gate as there are no waiting sheds in the area. PNA photo PAGE 2 PAGE 2 PAGE 4 PH has addressed hate crimes in US, assures envoy up for appointment PAGE 4 Loss of 1.7M immigrants fuels United States labor shortage and in ation Another elderly Pinay assaulted in New York City PAGE 4 Marcos: Be heroes in our own right, inspire future generations of Filipinos MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday, August 29 paid tribute to Filipinos of “extraordinary courage” who fought to establish and protect the Philippines as the country celebrates National Heroes’ Day. “We remember and honor each of them
by EVELYN MACAIRAN Philstar.com by JENNY MANRIQUE Ethnic Media Services
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The ambassador on Wednesday, August 31 virtually attended the Commission on Appointments’ (CA) deliberation on his ad interim appointment as the Philippines’ top envoy to the U.S. “We have sent a diplomatic note to the State Department especially at the height of all this last year,” Romualdez said. “In fairness to the [U.S. President Joe]
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AS an advocate of crime prevention and public safety, Los Angeles mayoral candidate Rick Caruso has vowed to put an end to Asian hate crimes in his jurisdiction. In an interview with the Asian Journal at the sidelines of the recently hosted event by Caruso in celebration of the first major Hollywood studio film about Filipino Americans “Easter Sunday,” he said “(if I win) as a mayor, I will make sure that we stop that.”He took note that the local government should focus on implementing policies and got covered from Hollywood to 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354 (212) 655-5426
FREE ANTIGEN TEST. A health worker gets a mucus sample from two-year-old Gabriel Espihon from Mabuhay Subdivision for an antigen test at the City Health Office 3, Barangay Salawag, City of Dasmarinas, Cavite on Tuesday, Aug. 30.
Shortage of nursing professionals For Julie Collins, perfusionist and Program Director Department of Cardiopulmonary Sciences in the College of Health Sciences at Rush University, one field where the absence of immigrants is acutely felt is medical care.
Lessons of the past In a statement, Vice President Sara Duterte called on Filipinos to “look at the future of our country and its unrelenting longing for the same profound sense of patriotism from us.” She said the blood of national heroes is “now permeating into the minds and hearts of many Filipinos who have committed to the cause of rebuilding the nation from the rubbles caused by disunity, hatred, misunderstanding, and acts of hostilities perpetuated by anti-people, anti-government, and local terror groups that hostaged the progress of the country for a long time.”The vice president, who also heads the Department of Education, said the lessons of the past must be used to awaken the heroes inside the hearts of Filipinos, especially the youth.
COVID floors have been essentially shut down, hospitals are short staffed and one-on-one patient care is over, she said. “Oftentimes nurses are caring for multiple patients, which is increasing their chances of creating errors and causing emotional distress,”Thereare close to 194,000 open positions for nurses, and not enough U.S. nurses to fill them. Since the 80s, when hospitals were understaffed, nurses from other countries have filled these roles. But today, annually, H1B visas are limited to 140,000 and family-sponsored visas are limited to 226,000. “I am seeing how tired and exhausted the nurses are and how frustrated they feel like their voices aren’t being heard,” Collins said.” If hospitals come up with a system so that they could keep bringing in (immigrant) nurses, they wouldn’t have problems filling their open positions,” she concluded. g
Marcos: Be heroes in... of 2021, there has been essentially zero net immigration to the U.S,” said Giovanni Peri, Ph.D. Professor of Economics and Founder and Director of the UC Davis Global Migration Center, citing US Bureau census“Althoughdata. in late 2021 and early 2022 these numbers started growing again, the fact that the inflow of immigrants stopped made the country lose more than 1.7 million (immigrants),” added Peri, noting that 900,000 of them would have been college educated who work in the STEM sector –doctors, computer scientists, biomedical engineers, bio experts — and 800,000 would have been non-college educated concentrated in sectors such as food, hospitality, elderly and child care. “We are talking about the 1.1% of the US labor force,” Peri added.
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The president led the commemoration of the National Heroes’ Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City. His father, a dictator, was buried there with military honors in 2016 despite protests saying he is not hero. Around 70,000 individuals were imprisoned, 34,000 were tortured, and 3,240 were killed during martial law, according to rights group Amnesty International.
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nation-building.“WeareFilipinos—a people destined to greatness. In our veins flow the blood of heroes and in our bodies reside the indomitable spirit required to accomplish incredible feats so long as we manifest our will into action,” Marcos said.
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Peri spoke during a media briefing on 8/26/22 hosted by Ethnic Media Services that sounded the alarm over how the lack of immigrants is hurting the economy. Meanwhile, public discussion focuses on an estimated 2 million border crossings for the fiscal year. The halting of immigration coincides with more and more U.S. citizens opting to work from home in online jobs, and people in their 50s and 60s opting for early retirement. When companies are struggling to hire people, wages go up and the rising cost of labor translates into inflation, Peri explained.According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in July 2022, there were 10 million unfilled jobs in the US. Before COVID, in a similar period, that figure was 6 million. Experts agree that there should be a government effort to make the H1B visa program (sponsored by employers) stronger and more inclusive for all sectors, while addressing the monstrous backlog in green cards and asylum claims. Backlogs and delays in the immigration processes “In the past six or seven years we have seen tremendous delays in the immigration processes across the country, both in the courts and also through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS),” said Gregory Z. Chen, Senior Director of Government Relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
“The concern about the benefits immigration provides to the country and the economy has been subsumed by the idea that it’s related to border national security issues,” said Chen, who doesn’t see a major immigration reform bill happening even in 2023.
Loss of 1.7M immigrants fuels United States...
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President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. leads the commemoration of the National Heroes’ Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City on August 29, 2022.
“Let us honor our national heroes with the promise that their sacrifices will serve as our light and inspiration as we vow to protect the integrity of our independence and the interest of our nation against those who wish for us to fail, to fall, and to break as a nation,” she added.
Working on the COVID floor of her hospital for two years, Collins saw firsthand the impact of the critical shortage of nursing professionals.“Iwashelping to cover shifts and I saw how burnt out nurses were becoming taking care of patients in COVID units,” she said. “As COVID began slowing down, nurses sought early retirement, some of them changed professions, and some even died of COVID. This left us with fewer nurses to fill the open positions in ourAlthoughunits.”
Palace to study joint-exploration of West Philippine Sea with China by Helen Flores Philstar.com
Chen noted that when President Barack Obama left office, there were about 500,000 immigration cases in the backlog compared to 1.4 million cases during the Trump administration. “As of today we have about 1.6 million cases that are waiting to be heard, (each one) typically takes four to six years now,” Chen said. “Many businesses can’t wait to be Meanwhile,operational.”theAutomated
“As we celebrate this day dedicated to our nation’s heroes, let us strive to fulfill our own promise so that we may also be heroes in our own right and a source of pride and inspiration for the succeeding generation of Filipinos to emulate,” he added.
Gabriel’s mother said he had been running a fever for three days and had a cold and cough but he was tested negative for COVID-19. PNA
“I hope that the discussions will continue. I hope both sides will demonstrate some kind of flexibility without prejudicing each other’s claims Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-AngelesPhilstar.com photo of their own positions so that the cooperation could happen,” Liu said over the weekend. Liu, currently the minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, made the statement during a dialogue with media organized by the Chinese embassy. Last June, former foreign affairs secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. announced that discussions between the Philippines and China to jointly explore for oil and gas in the West Philippine Sea were terminated.Marcosmet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at Malacañang in July. During their meeting, Wang extended Chinese President Xi Jinping’s invitation to Marcos to visit China. Angeles, at a media briefing last month, said Marcos has accepted Xi’s invitation but there is no date yet for theu
Export System (AES), the agency in charge of processing work permits, has increased its processing times from 180 days to up to sevenThesemonths.backlogs can be fixed through a comprehensive immigration reform. Although almost 70% of Americans are in favor of it, there has been no appetite in a polarized Congress to ease restrictions for even legal immigrants.
There is no law, executive order or proclamation officially proclaiming any Filipino historical figure as a national hero, according to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. But there were laws enacted and proclamations issued honoring Filipino heroes. (Gaea Katreena Cabico/Philstar.com)
MANILA — The Marcos administration will study the proposal to conduct joint oil and gas explorations with China in the West Philippine Sea, Malacañang announced on Tuesday, August 30. “We will study it for now,” Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said in Filipino at a Palace briefing. Asked if the matter was tackled during the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Angeles replied, “When it comes to foreign relations, especially those involving contracts, we need advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs.”Former Chinese ambassador Liu Jianchao has expressed hope that the Marcos administration would continue the joint oil and gas discussions with China in the West Philippine Sea.
Chen highlighted how President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act -recently signed into law- originally included provisions to legalize unauthorized immigrants, a provision that had to be abandoned to gain bipartisan support.
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recently raised the issue with authorities in New York. “[They] gave the assurance that they are taking this matter very seriously and are taking steps to address it,” Daza said. “We assure our fellow Filipinos that our Consulate General in New York will continue monitoring these incidents accordingly and is ready to assist hate crime victims and other distressed Filipinos in the area.” Tally reaches 43 Reported hate crimes against Filipinos have reached 43 mostly in New York City, Manhattan, and Queens, according to Daza. The states under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Consulate in New York are Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The latest attack was also the third incident in just a month. On July 13, an 18-year-old Filipino traveler from Cebu was hit in the face while he was walking with three fellow Filipinos near the Philippine Center in Manhattan.Three days later, a 51-year-old Filipino woman was verbally assaulted and harassed by a homeless woman.Theconsulate earlier said that such cases were haterelated assaults that were “racially motivated.” (Inquirer. net) rules that would address concerns about the rising number of hate crimes in the city. “It’s (really) terrible. Hate crimes are up 180 percent,” he said, noting that if he wins, he would make sure that the perpetrators of these crimes would be punished accordingly.
At that time, he oversaw a 30% reduction in crime, fought for community policing and police accountability and stood up to political pressure when he hired Chief William Bratton, who is remembered as the most transformational figure in the history of policing in the City of Los “ThereAngeles.isnodoubt that our police force can do better, but the attacks on rankand-file officers must stop. The men and women of the LAPD risk their lives on a daily basis. Rhetoric about “defunding the police” makes no sense when you consider that murders are skyrocketing and LA is the most under-policed big city in America,” he said. “We need to invest in more training, both to reduce unnecessary use of force incidents and to eliminate any elements of unconscious bias. But when an emergency strikes, we all want our first responders to arrive quickly and to save lives, and we need to show our support
The 65-year-old cardinal is currently pro-prefect for the Dicastery for Evangelization According to the Vatican bulletin, the Asian bishops’ meeting begins on Oct. 12 and will be held at the Baan Phu Waan Pastoral Center of the Archdiocese of Bangkok.
SEPTEMBER 2-8, 2022 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-54264 Biden administration, they reacted immediately and they were able to pass a bill making federal law regarding hate crimes,” heRomualdezstressed.
The CA’s sub-Committee on Foreign Affairs has recommended the approval of his ad interim appointment to the plenary. (By Bernadette E. Tamayo/ManilaTimes.net)
Another elderly Pinay assaulted in... elected LA mayor, Caruso would tackle
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“(About) 80 percent rifles that are flooding our streets with untraceable and illegal high-powered rifles that are weapons of war,” he noted. Moreso, he said there is a need to expand the LAPD Gun Unit and insist on a more coordinated approach to gun violence with partnerships with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Homeland Security. Caruso likewise emphasize on employing “Precision Policing” strategies to concentrate resources around the worst offenders and highcrime areas to address the ‘demand-side’ of the “It’sproblem. workedelsewhere – for example, in New York, the NYPD’s shift to a surgical form of “precision policing,” in which law enforcement focuses resources on a small number of individuals who are thought to be the primary drivers of violence,” he said. In addition, he said he would also expand laws around safe storage of weapons in homes with real penalties if violated, especially in homes with children. Hesaid he would also get guns out of the hands of domestic abusers. “I will double down on efforts to take guns away from those deemed too much of a risk to own them, such as the Armed and Prohibited Persons System (APPS) program which gives local authorities a way to remove firearms from individuals who’d lost their right to bear them because of violent crimes, serious mental health issues or active restraining orders,” he said.
PNA photo by Joey O. Razon
This year’s conference theme is “FABC 50: Journeying together as peoples of Asia …and they went a different way.” (Matthew 2:12).
The aspiring LA mayor said he would also crack down on gun trafficking and illegal manufacturing of “ghost guns.”
Romualdez said that the Philippines’ relationship with the U.S. is “probably at its best right now.” He said he would like to “give credit to former president [Rodrigo] Duterte because of his brand of foreign policy as far as independent foreign policy is concerned.”
LA mayoral candidate and real estate billionaire Rick Caruso speaks to media during a Filipino American community event in August 2022. AJPress photo by Andy Tecson ADOPT-A-PARK PROJECT. San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora (3rd from left) and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Carlo Antonio Dimayuga III (2nd from left) look at a fountain during the inauguration of El Polvorin Linear Park at the San Juan Elementary School on Tuesday, Aug. 30. The park was left in a state of disarray after several demolition and construction activities until the city government included it in the MMDA’s Adopt-A-Park Project.
F rom the F ront P age PH has addressed...
“We are going to persecute people who are taking advantage of the Asian population. We have to make sure that they know that committing hate crimes is absolutely wrong and will not be tolerated,” he said. He also committed to continue to give a voice to the Filipino community.
“I want to give a voice to the Filipino community. They’ve been in Los Angeles (for the longest time) but we don’t give the recognition to the Filipino community that they deserve,” he said. “Overall, I want to make a more liveable community, safer for the people,” he added.
It would be recalled that Caruso was then president of the Police Commission at the height of the great turmoil at the LAPD with the Department operating under a federal consent decree.
During his presidency at the LAPC from 2001 to 2005, Caruso restored public trust in the LAPD, especially among Black, Asian and Latino Angelenos.
also said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has instructed envoys “to increase economic ties” with countries like the U.S. because “he believes that the economy of the world is at stake especially after this pandemic. We all need to recover from it.”
Tagle named pope’s...
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Marcos: PH-US ties must ‘evolve’ “It has reverberated well here in Washington D.C. in the sense that we are not going to be taken for granted by the US. This is very important for us. I think this administration of President Marcos Jr. will be able to enjoy that kind of relationship that we have now with the U.S.,” he added.
Caruso, a lawyer by training, believed that to be able to eliminate crimes, there’s a need to strengthen the law enforcement’s rules and policies.
If
Aside from making the communities safer, Caruso pledged to put an end to street homelessness and clean up corruption. (By Donnabelle GatdulaArevalo/AJPress)
The assembly also marks the belated 50th anniversary celebration of FABC, established in 1970 with the approval of the Holy See. The FABC Secretariat said the 19-day conference will “reflect on the re-emerging and emerging realities and challenges of the Church in Asia.”Prior to being appointed to the Vatican dicastery, Tagle headed the FABC’s Office of Theological Manila.hefor several yearsConcernswhilewasstillarchbishopof g
for them with respect and gratitude, along with a constant and firm demand for excellence, fair treatment, and worldclass professionalism,” he added. Police visibility, he said, would also be a great help in curbing crimes in the city. “The LAPD is the smallest big city police force per capita in the US and that must change,” he said. He committed to deploy and add some 1,500 officers to the LA force before the end of his first term. Caruso will likewise make sure that the LAPD returns to community-based policing with more senior lead officers working hand-in-hand with community groups and neighborhood leaders to build trust and ensure the communities who need it the most have police officers who reflect their values and demographics. Accordingto Caruso, he also plans to address increasing incidences of gun violence which is prevalent and getting out of control in Los Angeles. In 2021, the city recorded 397 murders, the highest total in almost 15 years — and a 53% increase from 2019 levels.Inone year, homicides, car theft, and robberies at gunpoint are all up by double digits. More than half or 54% of the city’s shootings were related to gang violence, and homicides of the homeless increased“Robberies22%. with a firearm increased 21 percent citywide last year, with LAPD’s central bureau logging the largest increase of 37%.”
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Under House Bill (HB) 1400, or the proposed “Philippine Ports Corp. Act” filed by Bagong Henerasyon party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy, the regulatory functions of the PPA would be “decoupled” from the agency and transferred to the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina).
Articles published in this paper do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Letters to the Editor are welcome. Letters must contain complete name and return address. The materials, however, are subject to editing and revisions.
HB 1400 received a strong endorsement last week from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport), and Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines (SCMAP). In a joint statement, the business groups welcomed the proposed changes, saying that the “problematic mandate” of the current PPA has led to a steady rise in cargo-handling rates and harmed the country’s competitiveness.
dictator’s son because of his lack of leadership qualities, management experience and a college degree. Yet as Marcos completes his first two months in office, within the 100-day “honeymoon” allowed a new president, many world leaders – including U.S. President Joe Biden and Pope Francis – have already welcomed his presidency and expressed support.Regardless of the acceptance by his peers, however, questions linger about his stance on human rights, the view possibly dimmed by the shadow cast by the grim records of past Philippine leaders, including his father Marcos Sr. and former president Rodrigo Duterte.His Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla is not helping any, not after rejecting calls to act on the case of former senator Leila de Lima, who has been detained on unfounded charges since 2017. Neither is Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr., who barred opposition leaders, lawmakers, justices, lawyers, academics and bureaucrats from personally greeting De Lima on her 63rd birthday on Saturday at Camp Crame. But we see a glimmer of hope in Marcos’ display of open-mindedness. To our amazement, he attended the burial of former president Fidel V. Ramos, who played a key role in the 1986 People Power Revolt that overthrew his father’s regime. His list of holidays for 2023 includes Feb. 25, recognizing the EDSA event. If Marcos will continue to BEFORE the inauguration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., we received a prognosis by an investment banker expressing doubts that the world would accept the late PAGE 7 PAGE 10 Asian Journal Publications, Inc. (“AJPI”) reserves the right to refuse to publish, in its sole and absolute discretion, any advertising and advertorial material submitted for publication by client. (“Client’s Material”) Submission of an advertisement or advertorial to an AJPI sales representative does not constitute a commitment by AJPI to publish a Client’s Material. AJPI has the option to correctly classify any Client’s Material and to delete objectionable words or phrases.
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PPA revamp a strong step forward Marcos doing well in his rst 60 days
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A BILL recently introduced in the House of Representatives and backed by several key business groups would correct the problematic status of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) as both a port regulator and operator. The measure is, to use a popular phrase, a “no brainer,” and should be passed as quickly as prudence allows by both houses of Congress.
Higher port charges are reflected in higher cargo handling costs passed on to customers in the form of higher shipping rates. Over the past six months, shipping rates into or from Philippine ports have increased by about 25 percent. This is not entirely due to PPA fees, of course, but they are an aggravating factor, particularly since the PPA is permitted to collect 10 to 20 percent of cargo handling charges. The business groups also called for the revocation of the Letter of Instruction
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The statement, signed by PCCI President George Barcelon, Philexport President Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. and SCMAP President Pierre Carlo Curay, stressed that “the Philippines is said to have the highest cargo handling cost in Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), which undermines its global competitiveness.” The business groups also pointed out that divorcing the regulatory and operating functions of the PPA was part of the 20172022 Philippine Development Plan. “This policy reform will address not only the conflict of interest, but more importantly, the competitive neutrality issue hounding the port authority. Competitive neutrality recognizes that significant government business activities in competition with the private sector should not have a competitive advantage or disadvantage simply by virtue of government ownership and control,” the Editorial ManilaTimes.net photo
The PPA would thus be converted into the Philippine Ports Corp. (Philports), a government-owned and -controlled corporation under the Department of Transportation.ThenewPhilports would own, develop, manage and operate public ports within the old PPA system, as well as collect port fees and dues approved by Marina, which already has responsibility for regulating shipping enterprises.
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group’s statement said. “In PPA’s case, the competitive neutrality issue centers on its power to regulate against competition to protect its commercial interest, sometimes at the expense of public interest,” it added.
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In his first State of the Nation Address on July 25, Marcos emphasized that he is keen on making the Philippines an investment destination. The economic team must be working onThethis.day after his SONA, the economic managers, including NEDA Chairman Arsenio Balisacan, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Gov. Felipe Medalla, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual and the rest of the Cabinet, addressed the business community and diplomatic corps at their own event at the PICC called the Philippine Economic Briefing.
Many drivers, especially of public utility vehicles, say the fines are “too high.” Critics also question the sharing of the funds collected – which usually is 70 percent going to the private supplier and maintainer of the equipment, and 30 percent to theAsgovernment.tothefinesthat many drivers said were too high, we found out that they were merely based on the existing rates of the Land Transportation Office.
PAGE 5 by Pia Lee-Brago Philstar.com
One good thing going for Marcos is his having assembled a solid economic team led by Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, recognized as Global Central Banker of the Year by The Banker, an international monthly banking and finance magazine affiliated with the Financial Times.
The USCG’s Cutter Midgett, with an estimated 200 officers and crew, arrived at the Eva Macapagal Terminal in Manila’s South Harbor on Tuesday, August 30.Around 100 PCG personnel aboard BRP Gabriela and BRP Malabrigo will participate in the drill.
QC Mayor Joy Belmonte expressed her faith in NCAP, as did Valenzuela Mayor Wes Gatchalian, among five Metro mayors who have adopted NCAP as part of their traffic violation detectionGatchaliansystem.reported a lower incidence of road rage in his city, while Belmonte said road safety considerations convinced her and the city council to adopt NCAP technology. She said NCAP has increased citations by 99 percent. On the reported 70-30 percent (sometimes 60-40 percent) sharing in the fines, the mayors explained that the camera systems are used under a public-private partnership agreement. An average NCAP system can cost P60-100 million, depending on its coverage. (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.
The President must remember, though, that economic progress must be achieved alongside peace. If this administration could prove that peace is also on its agenda, including the end of extrajudicial killings and the respect for freedom, then he would become a president that even his harshest critics would respect.
MANILA — The United States government has donated reading materials worth P27 million to the Department of Education (DepEd) office in Bicol. The U.S. Agency for International Development handed over the 540,000 early grade reading materials, representing the first batch of materials that USAID is providing to DepEd this schoolyear as part of its Advancing Basic Education in the Philippines (ABC+)USAID-Philippinesproject. acting deputy mission director Jennifer Crow and education director Thomas LeBlanc led
PCG spokesman Commodore Armando Balilo said they are leaning toward holding the SAREX on LubangThroughIsland.this exercise, Balilo said the PCG and USCG would be able to check their interoperability and quick response capability. The U.S. has been providing training to PCG personnel and donated equipment to the Philippines. This is the third time the PCG and USCG would be holding SAREX. The first two drills took place in 2019 and 2020.U.S. Ambassador MaryKay Loss Carlson welcomed the USCG’s vessel in Manila, saying, “There is no stronger reflection of our bilateral alliance than the visit and exchanges between our uniformed services.”
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“The U.S. Coast Guard is a vital and growing part of these interactions and we plan to expand the USCG engagement in the Philippines over the months and years to come,” she added.USCG Cutter Midgett’s skipper Willie Carmichael said they are looking forward to the joint exercise with the PCG.The officers USCG will also take part in the Brigada Eskwela at the Jose Rizal Elementary School in Tayuman, Tondo tomorrow. Sea dispute The European Union (EU) has expressed its full support toward promoting and ensuring peace and order in the disputed waters of the South China Sea. EU Ambassador Luc Véron met with Department of National Defense (DND) officer-in-charge Senior Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr. last week at CampDNDAguinaldo.spokesman Arsenio Andolong said Veron and Faustino both agreed to the preservation of freedom of navigation in the South ChinaVéronSea.and Faustino said the peaceful settlement of disputes must be pursued, with the EU official ensuring that “these principles remain in line with the EU’s IndoPacificAndolongstrategy.”said Faustino welcomed the increasing engagements of the EU in the region and looks forward to working with the EU in the future.Both officials also welcomed the positive developments in the bilateral relations between the EU and the Philippines, as well as the EU’s interest in defense and security cooperation with partner countries in the ASEANAndolongregion.said Véron also shared the EU’s political commitment to working with ASEAN and looks forward to receiving the Philippine delegation for the commemoration of the 45th ASEAN-EU anniversary at Brussels, Belgium in December.Faustino expressed appreciation for the EU’s assistance to the Philippines’ disaster relief operations. g prove that he is above the red-versus-yellow quarrels and that he will not only tolerate but even champion democracy and respect human rights, he will continue to earn the respect not only of Filipinos but also of world leaders.
The fines in a Joint Administrative Order issued on June 2, 2014 by the LTO titled “Revised Schedule of Fines and Penalties for Violation of Laws, Rules and Regulations Governing Land Transportation” are similar to those imposed under NCAP by Metro Manila city governments.
An example: Reckless driving draws under LTO rules a fine of P2,000 for the first offense, P3,000 for the second and a P10,000 fine for each subsequent violation – plus the confiscation of the offenders’ license. The same penalties are imposed under NCAP.Some LTO officials said a study in Iran has shown that bigger fines have contributed to decreasing traffic fatality, injury and offenses. They also cited a World Health Organization study in Spain that attributed a 14-percent reduction of accidents, injuries by 15.7 percent and deaths by 14.5 percent to heavier trafficDexterfines.Cardenas, chief of the Quezon City Traffic Management bureau, reported a 93 percent drop in the number of traffic violators in the city.
One good deterrent to the violation of a law is the certainty of being caught and punished. The NCAP system certainly does that, with such cold-blooded objectivity that many drivers who are used to loose enforcement protest.
Thanks to Diokno, while the economy contracted by an alarming 9.5 percent in 2020, it emerged from the pandemicinduced recession with a gross domestic product growth of 5.7 percent in 2021, an expansion sustained with an impressive 8.3 percent in the first quarter of 2022.
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Palace to study...
The next Philippine Economic Briefings will be in Singapore this September and in New York in October, as parallel briefings to the state visits of Marcos aimed at investors. These meetings, as well as round table discussions with global business leaders, could help boost investor confidence and increase foreign direct investments in the Philippines.
* * * NB: Author is on Twitter as @FDPascual. Email: fdp333@yahoo. com. All Postscripts are also archived at ManilaMail.com
the handover of the reading materials at the Sto. Domingo Central School and Salvacion Elementary School in Albay on Aug. 22. “We are working with DepEd so that children who are returning to school have access to age- and contextappropriate learning resources,” LeBlanc said. “Our presence here today affirms USAID’s support and commitment to our shared vision of improving education outcomes for Filipino children.” More than 1.2 million early grade reading materials will be distributed to around 7,000 public schools in Bicol, Western Visayas and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao under the ABC+ project, bringing the total amount of aid to P63 million.Thereading materials, which include picture books, storybooks and leveled readers, are written in mother tongue languages, English and Filipino to address gaps in reading practices of young learners and help students from kindergarten to Grade 3 develop foundational reading skills. The materials were developed in collaboration with DepEd to ensure quality and relevance to Filipino early gradeMorelearners.than 11 million copies of reading materials have been distributed to kindergarten to grade 3 students in the three regions under the ABC+ project in the past two years. g
US donates P27 million reading materials to Bicol schools visit.Marcos’ predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, cultivated warm ties with Beijing but his administration continued to protest Chinese encroachments and harassment of fishermen in the West Philippine Sea. China continues to ignore the July 12, 2016 ruling of The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration, which affirmed the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea and nullified Beijing’s claims over almost the entire South China Sea. Joint search, rescue drill Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and United States Coast Guard (USCG) will hold a joint search and rescue exercise (SAREX) in the West Philippine Sea on Saturday.
NCAP fines same as LTO rates We still hear grumbling against the nationwide No-Contact Apprehension Program that uses computerized cameras to take videos of traffic violations and send the record to a central base that starts a process for collecting fines from erring drivers.
PCG fleet commander Rear Admiral Charlie Rances said two possible venues are being considered as the site for the exercises: Lubang Island in Occidental Mindoro and the portion of the West Philippine Sea in Zambales.
Marcos doing well in his first 60...
SEPTEMBER 2-8, 2022 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-54268
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SEPTEMBER 2-8, 2022 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-542610 Fontainebleau property to feature high-end shopping complex
Renderings by Fontainebleau Development of what the 90,000-square-foot shopping district will look like, integrating the space fully into the resort ecosystem. Images captured Property/real estate investors of Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman (above, middle) were at her ranch house in Pahrump recently. With Realtor Quitevis-Bateman in photo are Luila Ecat from Spokane, WA and Jean Gatos from London. Russ Bateman walks along the Strip whenever the weather is good. Behind Russ (to the right) is the façade of the Fontainbleau, which is scheduled to open in late 2023, which will include 90,000 square feet of shopping/retail Realtor Fely Quitevis-Bateman helps those who need business financing, including loans for small businesses. For more information, call (702) 538-4948, or send email to fely@precious-properties.com or fely. precious@gmail.com. several restaurants, will have about a two-level shopping district spanning about 90,000 square feet and feature about 35 high-end stores. While there is no report yet on what high-end stores may be joining the Fontainebleau’s shopping district when the property opens in late 2023, many are excited at the prospect of seeing another destination rise in a town that hasn’t seen a high-end luxury hotel built in the city in decades.Located close to the expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Fontainebleau will also feature pool experiences, spa and wellness offerings, and nightlife options – you simply just don’t come to Sin City to do one or two things… it’s more of a whole plethora of
to be the latest property to explore the trend as it recently announced that its Las Vegas location, which will include about 3,700plus rooms, a casino, a giant convention space and experiences that you want to indulge in and be a part of. Already, it is a prominent building at the north end of the Strip, it’s huge blue façade with the “fb” letters readily seen by casino visitors as they either traverse Las Vegas Blvd. or visit any of the resort-casino properties within its Accordingvicinity.to the most recent releases about the Fontainebleau, it “aims to allow for the retail space to be fully integrated into the resort ecosystem, with all stores neighboring the prominent casino and food and beverage venues so that guests can play a round of blackjack then do some shopping without having to leave the center of activity.”Butthe Fontainebleau is not the only property planning updates to its mega-venues in LasCaesar’sVegas. Entertainment, which is competing with MGM and Wynn for dominance in the Las Vegas Strip, is renovating its Bally’s hotel-casino property, which will now be rebranded to the Horseshoe name. Renovation on the property is expected to be finished by the end of 2022. Workers recently removed the Bally’s lettering from its façade so that the Horseshoe name can go up. The Horseshoe brand, according to Caesar’s, has always been a valued and iconic place. It has long been associated with the casino operations of Benny Binion, a former Texas resident who launched the World Series of Poker at his Glitter Gulch casino in 1970. It was known as the center for high-stakes, risk-takers and gamblers looking for sports betting action. Binion had a motto for his Horseshoe brand: “good food cheap, good whiskey cheap, and a good gamble.”
Also on the north end of the Strip, Circus Circus is getting its own renovation – a modest one, but which is intended to highlight the original feel of the property – of Las Vegas being a family destination for fun.Among the work being done on the property is repainting, a renovation of the “big top,” a revamping of the pool to double its capacity and give it a new resort-feel look, and the plan to add new rides to the Adventuredome theme park area. With current visitor levels to Las Vegas rising and the airport reporting a record number of passengers passing through recently, Sin City is coming back from its dark days when the Strip was empty and there were no visitors during the height of thePerhapspandemic.that is why some casino-resort property groups are positioning their pieces better on the Strip in order to get a bigger slice of the consumer market coming back to Las Vegas. After all, the city remains to be one of the most attractive options for tourists and visitors from around the world, what with its restaurants, top shows/acts/ singers on display, shopping, spa/resort experiences, sports events, off-Strip activities, and, of course, gambling. Recently, there have been news of the housing market slowing down in Las Vegas. This has given way to buyers having more of negotiating power at the table, as opposed to a time when sellers had all the chips fall their way due to the shortage of home units available.With construction still at a good pace and many projects still in development or planned for the Las Vegas area and surrounding communities, housing will still 1005-A that permits this, as it is not explicitly included in HB 1400. Irrational and counterproductive We fully agree with the position of the business groups. No matter what sector is involved, it is irrational and counterproductive for a government agency to serve as both a regulator and service provider, as it puts the agency in the position of regulating itself, often to the detriment of legitimate private sector competition, and ultimately harming consumers. Another example of such an arrangement is the Philippine Amusement
IT seems a precursor for resort-casino properties that are being built in Las Vegas nowadays – retail space that will help draw in more customers.Youcan see it with properties like the Wynn/ Encore, or the Venetian/ Palazzo, or the Bellagio, or Ceasar’s, or Aria (with the nearby Crystals shopping center) where both tourists and locals have multiple avenues to walk to and explore the many shops (and restaurants) that are located inside its Fontainebleaumega-venues.seems
The changes proposed by HB 1400 are not just matters of good administrative housekeeping, they are important for the country’s economic recovery and growth, particularly with the prospects of increased trade as a result of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). We urge Congress to treat the measure with some urgency, and move quickly to pass it. (ManilaTimes.net) be in demand for the area. A study by UNLV researchers expect the population of Clark County, where Las Vegas is situated in, to grow by 1 million people by 2060 – and that growth will mean more people looking for housing opportunities. If you are looking to purchase your first home, a second/vacation home, an investment property or land in Nevada, let us look together at what’s available in the market. We can find one that will suit your needs and your budget.
(Advertising Supplement)
By REALTOR FELY QUITEVIS-BATEMAN
PPA revamp a strong step forward...
PAGE 5 and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), which both regulates casinos and operates them. Similar to the call of HB 1400 to separate regulatory and operational functions of the PPA, we have recently urged the same be done with Pagcor; only in the latter’s case, we believe the government should remove itself from operating casinos entirely. Ports, being important public infrastructure, are of course a different matter.
I have had decades of experience in real estate and I am confident my team and I can help you find that piece of land or property that will help you accomplish that American Dream of homeownership. Many of my clients who have brought their own properties before have now turned them into investments, such as by turning their places into Airbnbs or retals. My company, Precious Properties, is a full-service company that has served its clientele since 1992. You can reach me at days.escrowNevadahousesWefely.precious@gmail.com.precious-properties.comor4948805-559-2476775-513-8447,and702-538-formoreinformation,sendmeanemailatfely@orhaveinvestorswhobuyinCaliforniaandforcashandquickinasshortas7
• Thelma, from Chesapeake, wants to know – what PAGE 12
LEADING U.S. Immigration Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel visited San Diego, where he answered questions of Kapamilya based locally, and even from some coming from out-of-town. In Part 2 of “Your Tanong, My Sagot,” viewers will hear answers to the following immigration concerns:
• Salvie, of National City, wants to know if there is a way to speed up the petition process so that his only son’s family can join them in the U.S.
• Fulvio, of Paradise Valley, is asking if his brother-inlaw, who was petitioned by his wife in 2011, can have his interview in the U.S. since he is currently in San Diego for•vacation.John,of Van Nuys, would like to know how he can correct his documents that all contain a fake date of birth.
Atty. Gurfinkel answers immigration questions from Kapamilya during part 2 of the San Diego leg of Citizen Pinoy’s ‘Your Tanong, My Sagot’ ‘YOUR TANONG, MY SAGOT’ IN SAN DIEGO PART 2. Leading U.S. Immigration Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel answers immigration questions from Kapamilya in San Diego, in Part 2 of Citizen Pinoy’s “Your Tanong, My Sagot.” Some of the questions Atty. Gurfinkel answers are – From Thelma of Chesapeake: I petitioned my daughter who will soon be coming to the U.S. with her husband. My grandson was supposed to be included in the petition, but he aged out. How can my 35-year-old grandson join his parents in the U.S.?; From John of Van Nuys: My mother used a fake birth certificate for me because she was worried that I might age out. While I did not age out, the fake birth certificate was used in all my documents. I now want to petition my wife and baby but would like to naturalize first. How can I correct my documents for my naturalization?; From Salvie of National City: I petitioned my only son in 2011. Is there a way to speed up the petition process so that his family can join me here in the U.S.?; From Fulvio of Paradise Valley: My wife petitioned her brother in 2001, but until now, we have not heard from the U.S. Embassy in Manila. Is it possible to have his interview in the U.S. since he is now in San Diego on vacation? Watch Part 2 of “Your Tanong, My Sagot” in San Diego on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, September 4 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. (Advertising Supplement)
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John (left) and Thelma (right) get answers to their Immigration questions from Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel. Salvie (left) and Fulvio (right) ask their questions during the Citizen Pinoy “Your Tanong, My Sagot” in San Diego. options are available for her 35-year-old grandson to join his parents in the U.S.? Atty. Gurfinkel answers these questions in the second installment of “Your Tanong, My Sagot,” with Kapamilya from San Diego and adjacent areas. Watch this brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, September 4 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) PAGE 11
the male judge whose name she had picked from the bowl started heaping praises on her!Early on, Herlene had aspired for the Miss Grand International title, but her place got her a crown all the same.Aspiritual person, Herlene attributes her victory to the “lucky charms” she’d usually lug around with her wherever she goes — a crucifix, a rosary and an image of Sto. Nino, all blessed. She also keeps a torn picture of her deceased grandmother, “Nanay Bireng,” in a small red pouch. Herlene said she kept quietly praying, “Nanay, ‘yung korona, ‘yung korona...” her ardent pageant wish. With her wish granted,
Post COVID risks New studies revealed that even after two years people who had COVID-19 were at a high risk for several neurological and psychiatric late complications like cognitive deficits, dementia, and seizures. Others (about 20 percent of patients) develop Long COVID four or more weeks following the infection. These are the reasons why “refusing the vaccines, wanting to acquire natural immunity by getting infected with COVID-19” is unwise and dangerous. There were people who died from COVID-19 and never achieved their goal. The vaccines and other mitigating measures (masking, distancing, hygiene, avoiding crowds) are still the best strategies to minimize or even prevent COVID-19 infection and reinfections. The newly
FaCS, FPCS Health@Heart Health news
There were about 16,000 cases per day of Monkeypox in the United States the past several weeks, but the past two weeks the increase was only about 3 percent, a welcome sign. California and New York have the lowest number now. Monkeypox is transmitted through maleto-male sexual contact or from touching the infected bodily fluid. In spite of the seeming plateau, the CDC is not abandoning its guard.
By Ronnie CaRRasCo ManilaTimes.net
Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is the inability of a man to have a good and sustained erection to perform sexual intercourse. Foods good for those with ED, young or old, are fish, oatmeal, spinach, blackberries, pistachio, watermelon, pomegranate juice, chili pepper, and most green leafy vegetables. Three items that worsen ED are alcohol, sugary drinks and some food items, like soy-based products and licorice. Blood pressure medication also aggravates ED. A healthy lifestyle, including abstinence from tobacco, minimal alcohol intake or abstinence, exercise, multivitamins, counseling, and the ED pills, like Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, etc., are helpful. A good foreplay is always a must to initiate an exciting romantic adventure.
All hail Queen Herlene MONTEMARIA
THANKFULLY for Herlene Budol, her painstaking efforts in her pageant journey paid off. Not only did the Angono bet overwhelmingly come home with the most number of special awards, but she also finished first runner-up in the 58th edition of Binibining Pilipinas.Proudly, this year’s batch of 40 candidates across the country generally had a good command of the English language. But Herlene, a.k.a. Hipon Girl, showed no sign of being intimidated, let alone threatened, despite her lingualAndinadequacy.expectedly, she nailed it so hard that even
WINE PRESENTED. MAPI President Arturo V. Magtibay (extreme left), with MAPI Chairman of the Board Hermilando I. Mandanas (2nd from left) meet with Mr. Roger Oriel (3rd from left), Chairman of the Board of Napa Valley Distribution, Inc. for the presentation of Montemaria Wine. The wine was produced to celebrate the launch of the Montemaria Mother of All Asia Tower of Peace during the sesquicentennial celebration of Catholicism in the Philippines. Joining them is MAPI Corporate Secretary Vicente Rafael L. Rosales. Herlene though has resigned from competing again in the same pageant or other national beauty contests, “Tingnan ko kung saan ako dadalhin ng Nasa Itaas.” Herlene’s main postpageant focus now is returning to showbiz. She last appeared in GMA’s “False Positive” as an enchanted matchmaking Eve. It will be no surprise if Herlene is bombarded with a deluge of TV and film assignments following her pageant win. But if I may say, her moniker Hipon Girl may no longer hold water. What used to be a woman with just a curvy body to boot is now a beautiful woman, no doubt. Talk about transformation. g
There are some “ozone totes or boxes” for cleaning CPAP masks and tubing sold in stores. Ozone is very harmful to the lungs. The safer way to sanitize the masks and tubing, after washing them well with soap and water (no detergents), is the use of “UVC light CoV2andwhichsanitizedwillcombs,watches,jewelries,atpatientoperatingsinceinUVC(steriletote@hotmail.com).totes”lights,discovered1877,havebeenused1908,forsterilizingrooms,ICUs,rooms,fooditemswarehousesorathome,cellphones,toothbrushes,etc.AnythingthatfitinthetoteissafelybytheUVClight,alsodestroysbacteriaviruses,liketheSARS-virusofCOVID-19.
Atty. Gurfinkel answers immigration...
Jobs and COVID
SEPTEMBER 2-8, 2022 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-542612
Erectile Dysfunction
“tailored” vaccines and booster for Omicron are even better. Tomato Flu Cases of what is termed “Tomato Flu” (a misnomer) were first reported in Kerala, India, in early May, mostly involving children under 5. As of July 26, there were 100 cases diagnosed. It is a very contagious disease, but said to be non-fatal, presenting with rashes (like tiny flat tomatoes) in the mouth, hand, foot. It is not a new virus. It is suspected to be the well-known illness, “hand, foot, and mouth disease,” caused by coxsackie virus A16. They tested negative for monkeypox.
Cervical Cancer
PhiliP S. Chua, MD,
PAGE 15
Monkeypox
About 80 million people have been infected with the human papilloma virus (HPV), the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States, and around 150,000 in the Philippines. Annually, there are about 13,000 cases of cervical (mouth of the womb) cancer and it kills about 4,000 women each year in the U.S. and about 342,000 a year in the world. The 5-year survival rate of those treated is about 66 percent. While Hispanic women are more prone to get it, Black women have higher mortality rates compared to Fortunately,others.there are now vaccines (Gardasil 2,4,9) which could prevent 9899 percent of HPV (Human
CPAP and Ozone CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) is the clinically proven stateof-the-art effective treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a condition where the person, during sleep, holds the breath for a prolonged period of time, even 100 times during the night, causing low blood oxygen level, impaired sleep, tiredness during the day, lack of concentration, and sleepiness while driving or at work. OSA also increases the risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and even cancer.
STEM cell embryo Neuroscience news revealed that researchers headed by Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz, Professor of Mammalian Development and Stem Cell Biology from the University of Cambridge, “have created model embryos from mouse stem cells that form a brain, a beating heart, and the foundations of all other organs of the body – a new avenue for creating the first stages of life.” This was accomplished asexually, without semen or ova (eggs). A potential Nobel Prize winner, and deservedly so. This sacred discovery is not only mind-boggling but marvelous for the future of human organ (heart, lungs, liver, kidney, etc.) transplantation, which today has minimal donors, or none at all. Many patients die while waiting for donors. If this “new technology” is fully developed and successfully tried with human stem cells in producing human organs, countless lives could be saved or made healthier, comfortable, and productive. Obviously, this will take years or decades to come to fruition, but this “first step” proves this technology works. This would certainly be a boom to our universal goal of conquering diseases. The ethical, moral, religious, legal, and other ramifications will surely follow suit later.
Just like in the Philippines and other countries, the COVID pandemic negatively impacted businesses. The U.S, has about 10.7 million unfilled jobs, about 4 million accounting for the labor shortage because of the pandemic. COVID cases in the United States still average about 90,000 new cases and about 400 deaths a day for the past several months. The correct figures are not known because countless people who had tested positive with their home test kits never reported themselves to the health authorities, in view of milder symptoms.
THE Marcoses were restored to Malacañang in an overwhelming manner during the last elections. With such a mandate, it cannot be denied that it has once again become hip or cool to like President Bongbong “BBM” Marcos and other things remembered from the Marcos era of 36 years or more ago. And that includes Dahil Sa’yo
Why not, he had help in an excellent advertising jingle titled Dahil Sa’yo It was, however, another Velarde composition that would usher Dahil Sa’yo into the rock era of the ‘70s. With the Marcoses in power putting emphasis on all things Filipino, local music labels dove into our treasure trove of old music for recording materials. That meant songs by Velarde (Lahat ng Araw), Constancio de Guzman (Ang Tangi Kong Pag-ibig), Levi Celerio (Ang Pipit with Rey Alinsod, Tony Maiquez (Sapagka’t Kami ay Tao Lamang) and others.
Villar Recording gave the showband The New Minstrels Velarde’s Buhat to record and struck a gold mine. The group’s album of local oldies became a huge success. Vicor Music followed suit with a version of Dahil Sa’yo by Pilita “IT’S Showtime” host and singer Karylle is mighty proud of her grandfather Carlos Padilla Jr.’s latest feat, that of being included in the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame.“In today’s episode intoPadillaCongrats,#WalaKayoSaLOLOko…ofLoloCarlosforbeinginductedtheNevadaBoxing
The return of the 85-year-old ‘Dahil Sa’yo’
Karylle proud as grandpa Carlos Padilla Jr. is inducted to Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame featuring handwoven fabrics made by the indigenous people of Central Mindanao. Socksargen USA has promoted homegrown artisans, one of them being Ador Feliciano, the talented designer of Jinkee Pacquiao, Manny Pacquiao’s lovely wife.FAFI has a very unique festival and this is why. “We made it a practice that our festival will be inclusive to everyone. We are open to anybody who can share with us talents that Filipinos can learn and open to mainstream”, said Jessica Herb, president of FAFI. Last year’s Pinoy Broadway Ballyhoo was hosted by Scott Siegel. He is the creator/writer/director and host of the critically acclaimed Broadway by the Year Series at Town Hall. Another talent who has performed at FAFI is the Broadway pianist and musical director, Eugene Gwozdz. He is married to a Filipina. He played the piano for the Broadway artists who have performed on its stage. “We focused on cultural shows. Many Filipino groups as many as 30 performers in one performance deserved to be recognized. Many Vicor Music produced a version of Dahil Sa’yo by Pilita Corrales (seen during a recent Newport World Resorts performance) in the incredibly big-selling Philippine Love Songs album. Philstar.com photo
Every Filipino of a certain age is familiar with Dahil Sa’yo. This is a song composed by Mike Velarde Jr., with words written by Dominador Santiago in 1937. It was commissioned by Sampaguita Pictures for use in its first movie production titled Bituing Marikit, where it was sung by then matinee idol Rogelio de la Rosa to the singing sweetheart of the Philippines Elsa Oria.
By BABy A. Gil Philstar.com
FAFI has hosted a Signature Fashion Show
It is especially important that the next generation Filipinos are very much part of this ongoing relationship”.
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g Hall of Fame,” she said via her Instagram page on Sunday, Aug. 28, where she shared a short video of her grandfather and him wearing his “Happeningring.right now in Las Vegas is the 10th Annual Induction Gala Weekend. They are inducting the Class of 2020, 2021, and 2022 Inductees,” she added. She also stated the names of the 2020 Induction Class which
Karylle shows her grandfather Carlos Padilla Jr. wearing his hall of fame ring. Photos from Instagram/@anakaryll YES, we made it to our 10th year! In celebration of this milestone, the Annual Filipino American Festival will be held on Sunday, September 4, 2022 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the New Overpeck Bergen County Park located at 199 Challenger Road, Ridgefield Park in N.J’ Bergen County. With 10 years of uninterrupted service to the community, this nonprofit organization takes pride in celebrating Filipino cultural heritage year after.
“It’s been an enormous job, “said Ludi Hughes, Chairwoman of FAFI. But it’s also a commitment to help that keeps her going. She said FAFI has helped those affected by the pandemic, especially the seniors and the elderly, through COVID-19 Food Drives. It has also extended support to people in disastrous calamity situations through its Typhoon Disaster Funds. It has spearheaded a Stop Asian Hate March together with 30 Asian American organizations and gathered about 2,000 marchers. A FAFI festival brings together business leaders, philanthropic leaders and young generation toward one common goal. Said Hughes, “Our mission is to create greater community participation by bringing awareness on advocacy, education, preserving our culture, valuing the importance of culture and heritage and making the community aware that we are part of mainstream America.
By Alex BrosAs Inquirer.net
Dahil Sa’yo became immensely popular in the years that followed. The song’s easy flowing melody and simple promise of all-encompassing love made it a favorite of everybody’s. Singers, whether in the clubs, stage shows, in the then still common haranas or even in casual gettogethers, learned to sing the song. With local musicians becoming in great demand abroad, it was no surprise that Dahil Sa’yo’s fame would also spread overseas. Visiting Filipinos of note in other countries were invariably greeted by the strains of Dahil Sa’yo that is was often referred to as the “Philippine National Anthem.” Later, even foreign singers got into the Dahil Sa’yo bandwagon.
FAFI celebrates 10th Anniversary
The song is back. Check out the new R&B laced version by The Voice of the Philippines discovery Daryl Ong from the soundtrack of the box-office hit Maid in Malacañang.
Among those were Nat King Cole, Jerry Vale, the Lettermen and later Julio Iglesias. So did politicians. Imelda Marcos performed Dahil Sa’yo during campaign rallies in the ‘60s. With Filipinos excited over the prospect of having the brilliant senator Ferdinand Marcos as president and a beautiful first lady who could sing, it was a no-brainer that Dahil Sa’yo would grow even bigger in popularity. Marcos handily won that election.
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Performers like the Filipino nurses, our frontliners also performed. It was a different setting for them as they struggled throughout the pandemic. We have a festival that everyone is longing for,” added Rowena Aquino, former president of FAFI and chair of FAFI’s Cultural Show.FAFI is proud of the many dignitaries and elected officials who have graced its event: a US senator, the First Lady of New jersey, Assembly members, county executive, commissioners, among many. “There is so much respect for our organization and to the Filipino community” said Hughes.FAFI cannot continue without the support of its major sponsor like AT&T and Silver Sponsors, such as Hackensack Meridian Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ, URW Westfield Garden State Plaza Mall, 1st 2nd Mortgage Company, and the County of Bergen. Food and NonFood vendors have been participating year after year. FAFI also recognizes the hard work of its Board Members: Rowena Aquino, Jessica Herb, Cristy Gania, Mert Lezaron, Madeline Bansil, Jose Planillo, Abe Aquino, Patrick Hughes, and the Committee Members for their selfless dedication volunteers. In FAFI, we are all volunteers.Socialmedia is the heart of FAFI’s visibility. You can visit the website: allevents-theTwitter:@fafi810.Americanandcom.filipinoamericanfestival.www.ItisalsoonFacebookInstagramas“FilipinoFestival,onItisalsoatNewJerseyState’slistofvisitnj.com.SeeyouonSeptember4.
Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Jaime Ramon T. Ascalon, Jr. (left) presents a Certificate of Appreciation to NCCA grantee Mr. George Ian “Taipan” Lucero (right)
Lucero was an independent creative industry professional, providing design and marketing services to a long list of clients, including Fortune 500 companies. Working as the only Filipino designer in a company in Kobe, Japan, he experienced firsthand the immense love and respect the Japanese show their culture through practicing Japanese
A calligraphist and visual artist, George Ian “Taipan” Lucero wants the world to know about the beauty of Filipino calligraphy as an art form.
AJPress Photo by Momar G. Visaya PAGE 15
SEPTEMBER 2-8, 2022 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-542614 14NEW YORK / NEW JERSEY SEPTEMBER 2, 2022 people events arts culture entertainment
Mr. George Ian “Taipan” Lucero and his collection of artworks titled “Tapang, Lakas, Talino, Pilipino” under his CalligraFilipino VI project Participants practice writing in ‘Baybayin’ on writing sheets during the workshop led by Taipan. Photos courtesy of the Philippine Embassy In his presentation, Lucero explained why it has become his advocacy to promote Baybayin and Lucero with Deputy Consul General Arman Talbo after his talk and workshop at the Philippine Consulate General in New York to promote CalligraFilipino.
T aipan Lucero is a man on a mission.
Taipan Lucero and his quest to introduce CalligraFilipino to the world
His art and advocacy celebrate the art of pre-colonial writing and Filipino culture and his work focuses on the artistic interpretation of baybayin combined with elements from traditional art and jewelry across the archipelago, such as the colorful curvilinear motif of the Maranao called Okir, the Sarimanok, the radial design pattern of Kulintangs, and the Lingling-o fertility charm of the Cordilleras, among others.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to be able to communicate to our to our fellow Filipinos about this type of culture and I think marami ang may gusto to know about it and to witness it firsthand,” Lucero told the Asian Journal after he delivered a talk and a brief workshop at the Philippine Consulate General in New York to promote his upcoming CalligraFilipino VI exhibit in San Francisco.Whether it is a trend or not, more and more Filipinos are talking about baybayin in recent years. From tattoos to T-shirt and tote bag designs, the baybayin characters are getting more ubiquitous in public. Lucero’s artworks perfectly blend art and calligraphy with the preservation of the Philippine ancient indigenous script called Baybayin. His presentation emphasized the importance of preserving Filipino culture and the traditional writing system, especially during the digital age. “This is my first exhibit and talk out of the country. Hopefully, I want to have talks and exhibits in Europe, specifically in Spain, so we can exhibit how beautiful our culture is,” Lucero shared. “So we can tell Spain, this is our culture before they came, this is what we had. I want to show this is where our culture could have gone without interruption.” He briefly talked about how ancient Filipino ancestral writing did not bloom into an art form like its Asian neighbors due to colonization and how he hopes to change that in his own little way. “I don’t know if I’ll be tooting my own horn here if I say this but I think I am the first one to do it like fine art type of calligraphy. I’m trying to elevate it to be a main form of art for our country, for our culture,” he added.
Mr. George Ian “Taipan” Lucero (front) sharing the background and purpose of his CalligraFilipino project and the value of Baybayin in today’s Filipino society.
by MOMAR G. VISAYA / AJPress
Taipan Lucero with one of his Photomasterpieces.from@taipanlucero
He is the man behind CalligraFilipino, a portmanteau of Calligraphy and Filipino for which he received a grant from the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
Lucero, a cum laude graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts, explained the two aspects of his CalligraFilipino project which are sinulat (written) and ginuhit (drawn). He also shared his views on the visual etymology of Baybayin characters and how it relates to the Filipino language. “It’s a growing process and I think more now, I am leaning toward this handwritten style because the first times were more drawing. That was me as a designer then but now I’m pushing towards real handwriting,” he said, explaining how his calligraphy art has evolved through the years.
* * * 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. PAGE 12 Health news...
Taipan Lucero...
The Division of Community Development is home to many resources. Any families who may not qualify for this specific assistance program will be offered financial coaching. In addition, DCD will host a mortgage fair with local and national banks to provide additional support/ information on their own inhouse first-time homebuyer programs, which can be used in combination with our grant. The event will be held on October 5, 2022, 3 p.m. –8 p.m. at 4 Jackson Square, inside the Holloway Board Room.To ensure success and further stability, qualified lottery winners will also need to complete pre-and postmortgage counseling by a HUD-certified provider. For more information about the application process, please contact the Division of Community Development by phone at 201-547-6910 or at GNHP@ jcnj.org.All media inquiries should be directed to Kimberly Scalcione at kscalcione@jcnj.org. g
Mayor Fulop for Jersey city’s first time homebuyer program to assist low- and moderate-income families the property prior to the end of the required affordability period, or defaults on the mortgage. The homebuyer is required to repay a portion of the grant based upon a recapture schedule
Karylle proud as... PAGE 14 PAGE 13 PAGE 13
Liza reveals Hollywood movie role, bonds with Hollywood co-star go live online beginning September 1. “We are excited to bring additional support to make homeownership a reality for Jersey City residents. We want to keep communities intact while creating opportunities for generational wealth building,” said Deja Anderson, Director of the Division of Community Development.Foralistof qualifications and full details, please visit Jersey City’s Community Development website. The GNHP subsidy is considered a grant, not a loan. There are no interest charges or payments for the life of the grant. It becomes a loan if the buyer moves, sells JERSEY CITY – Mayor Steven M. Fulop joins the Division of Community Development to announce the return of the First Time Homebuyer Program (Golden process.intoscreeningafterCityNovemberfromapplicationgoals.”helphome.tomayhomeownershiphelpingaffordableissaidhomeownershipandcommunityopportunity$150,000.anddownhomeresidentslow-acceptedhomeownerapplications1st,Thursday,withHomeownershipNeighborhoodProgram)majorimpact.BeginningSeptember2022,at10a.m.,pre-forthefirst-timeprogramwillbeonline.Theprogramassiststomoderate-incomelookingtobuyawithinJerseyCitywithpaymentassistanceclosingcostupto“ThisisagreattogettheengagededucatedaboutinourCity,”MayorFulop.“OurgoaltocreateandpreservehousingwhilealsoresidentsachievewheretheynototherwisebeableaffordtheirownfamilyThisprogramcanthemachievethoseThepreliminaryperiodisopenSeptember1stthrough1st.ThoseJerseyresidentswhoqualifytheirpreliminarywillbeenteredalotteryselectionApplicationswill
The return of the...
proud of our living treasures such as Taipan. We hope Taipan will continue to raise the profile of the Filipino people globally through his CalligraFilipino.” Theworkshops in Washington, DC and New York were attended by scholars, museum fellows, and members of the Filipino community. (Taipan Lucero’s CalligraFilipino VI exhibit will take place from September 16 to October 14 at the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco. On October 2 at 1:00 PM, Lucero will have a presentation at the San Francisco Art Museum. More information on his works may be found on his Instagram account @taipanlucero) g
In Kathryn’s Instagram account, the Hollywood actress posted a photo of her with Liza. “Lisa not Liza aka Kathryn and it’s Liza not Lisa aka Taffy,” Kathryn wrote. Liza posted the same photo in her Instagram story. “Lisa & Taffy’s Day off,” she wrote. Liza and Kathryn will star in the movie “Lisa Frankenstein” together with Cole Sprouse, Carla Gugino, Joe Chrest and HenryLizaEikenberry.willportray Taffy, the step-sister of lead star Lisa, to be played by Newton. According to Liza, she auditioned for the movie through a video recording she made while on a trip to South Korea together with her Careless Music family. (By Jan Milo Severo/Philstar.com)
Applications to be accepted September 1 – November 1 Papilloma Virus) infection types 16 and 18, which cause cervical cancer. Children (boys and girls ages 9-12 and 1326, respectively) are recommended to get Gardasil vaccines to prevent developing cancer later in life. The sad reality, though, is some parents, either ignorant, misinformed, or simply against vaccines, refuse Gardasil for their children, who are then helpless sitting ducks for HPV infection and cancer. Today, this cancer is totally preventable, with the vaccines. It is indeed most unfortunate. A devastating reminder of the millions of people who died from COVID-19 because they refused the vaccines. Great lessons to remember.
(212) 655-5426 • http://www.asianjournal.com NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 2-8, 2022 15 calligraphy called shodo. Inspired by this, he quit his job and went back home to start wetreasuresareAscalon,d’AffairesinMuseum. sawgoldthehisandthederivingisand“toLuceroCalligraFilipino.calledonFilipinosbeproudofwhatisours”thatisexactlywhathedoing.HetakesprideininspirationfromrichFilipinocultureexplainedthatoneofearlyinspirationswasintricatepre-colonialandjewelrydesignsheondisplayattheAyalaAtthePhilippineEmbassyWashington,DC,ChargéJaimeRamonT.Jr.said“whileweproudofourculturalsuchasBaybayin,shouldalsobeequally
KAPAMILYA actress Liza Soberano is living her Hollywood dreams as she bonds with co-star Kathryn Newton.
Corrales in the incredibly big-selling Philippine Love Songs album. I believe that these recordings helped pave the way for the Manila Sound and in the process brought about the golden age of Filipino pop music. If I am not mistaken, the last pop version of Dahil Sa’yo was recorded by Rico J. Puno in 1976. Manila Sound had become the dominant type of local music by then and the new artists were no longer interested in our standards. With the unrest fueled by the opposition in the ensuing years, the Marcoses fell out of favor. That meant also anything associated with them and one of those was Dahil Sa’yo The tide has now turned and Daryl’s Dahil Sa’yo is the stand-out cut in the soundtrack of Maid in Malacañang. His is an excellent, heartfelt rendition. I am thankful that he was given the chance to record the song. I am also thankful that the 85-year-old Dahil Sa’yo has been taken out of the proverbial baul of oldies and is proudly displayed on digital platforms for everybody to enjoy. Thanks to this development, maybe we will soon be hearing new recordings of Ikaw, Buhat, Maalaala Mo Kaya, Ang Tangi Kong Pag-ibig, Lahat ng Araw, Saan Ka Man Naroroon and many more. g includes: Clarence Adams, Fernando Vargas, Andre Ward, Azumah Nelson, Danny Lopez, James Toney, Jose Luis Castillo, Julian Jackson, Mark Johnson, Miguel Cotto, Carlos Padilla, Jose Sulaiman, Lorenzo Fertitta, and Sammy Macias. Karylle then stated the 2021 Induction Class which includes world champion boxers Floyd Mayweather and Roy Jones Jr.. “The 2022 Induction Class includes: Kennedy McKinney, Vince Phillips, Iran Barkley, Ray Mercer, Michael Nunn, Israel Vazquez, Mia St. John, Gary Shaw, Jerry Izenberg, Hector Camacho, and Bob Foster,” she Aadded.retired actor and boxing referee, Padilla is known far and wide as the referee in the “Thrilla in Manila” fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in 1975. As an actor, he appeared in “Captain Barbell Kontra Captain Bakal” (1965), “Nunal sa Tubig” (1976) and “Sige, Subukan Mo” (1998). He is also known as the father of veteran singer Zsa Zsa Padilla. g
announces open applications
* * * 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.
SEPTEMBER 2-8, 2022 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-542616
