090223 - Los Angeles Weekend Edition

Filipinos across the Southland react to triple-digit temperatures

EVEN as the summer winds down, Californians know all too well that the transition from summer to fall rarely equates to decreased temperatures.

After a record-breaking temperature in July, several areas of Southern California have been experiencing triple-digit heat amid a heatwave that meteorologists say will continue beyond Labor Day Weekend.

“These are not your grandmother’s heatwaves—because it’s getting hotter globally and because of the urban heat island effect and the impact of infrastructure holding heat for longer,” said Braden Kay, who manages the Extreme Heat and Community Resilience

Marcos reaffirms ‘territorial rights,’ says PH will respond

PRINCESA – President Ferdinand Marcos

Jr. on Friday, September 1 said the Philippines would not take lightly China's 10-dash line map as he reaffirmed that the country would continue to defend "our territorial sovereignty, our territorial rights" in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the celebration of National Peace Consciousness Month here, the president also said the government would

respond to China's release of its "map" but did not disclose "operational details."

"Now, once again, we have received the news that the nine-dash line has been extended to the 10-dash line. We have to respond to all of these and we will," the president said during a media interview.

"These are operational details that I would prefer not to talk about," he added. His statement came in the wake of China's release of its updated "standard map," which features a 10dash line covering a large part of the South China Sea, including the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea.

The president said the Philippines would not relinquish its territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea, adding that the government would remain consistent in asserting its ownership.

"Now, of course, we'll continue to defend our territorial sovereignty, our territorial rights. We have not changed our approach. It is other countries around us that have changed their approach," he said.

Marcos also said the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) gives the Philippines solid ground in terms of maritime territory claims  PAGE A2

PH rejects China ‘10-dash’ map

THE Philippines has rejected the 2023 version of China's map which features a new 10-dash line that defines China's boundaries in the South China Sea.

The map, issued by China's Ministry of Natural Resources on August 28, has also been opposed by India and Malaysia because it claims parts of their territories.

The map, published by Beijing's state-owned newspaper, Global Times, covers a large part of the South China Sea, including the Philippines' exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea.

It also showed Taiwan as well as India's northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin region as part of China's domain.

"This latest attempt to legitimize China's purported sovereignty and jurisdiction over Philippine features and maritime zones has no basis under international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos)," the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

The 2016 arbitral award "invalidated the nine-dash line," the DFA stressed in a statement on Thursday, August 31.

STRUGGLING to make ends meet as part of the underappreciated workforce with insufficient overtime pay? President Joe Biden’s overtime pay proposal might just save the day.

While we’re all familiar with the modernday superheroes grinding it out nonstop— often working over 40 hours—the minimum salary threshold of $35,568 annually that the Trump administration set in a 2020 rule comes up short, especially with inflation rising again in July 2023.

This is where Biden’s overtime pay proposal comes in by extending overtime protections to those earning less than $1,059 per week, or $55,000 per year. On Aug. 30, 2023, the US Department of Labor announced the proposal for overtime pay protections.

Setting the stage for change

According to the Department of Labor, an estimated 3.6 million workers would qualify

New travel document rules suspended

JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has ordered the suspension of the implementation of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking's (IACAT) revised guidelines for outbound Filipino travelers following concerns raised by senators and to "address the importance of transparency and public consultation."

In a statement issued on Thursday, August 31 the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Remulla "deemed it necessary to thoroughly clarify the issues surrounding the revised guidelines to both the senators and the public."

It said the DOJ "acknowledges the vital role of our esteemed senators as representatives

of the people, entrusted with safeguarding the rights and welfare of our citizens. It is our duty to address their concerns and provide them with the necessary information and clarifications."

It said the revised guidelines were designed to streamline the departure procedures, ensuring a more efficient and secure process for all individuals traveling abroad.

"The revisions were not intended to burden the general public but rather to enhance the overall experience of departing passengers," the DoJ said.

It also reaffirmed its dedication to uphold the rights and welfare of all individuals, including the right to travel freely.

"We assure the public that the revised guidelines aim to strike a balance between

MANILA — Jordan Clarkson and the rest of Gilas Pilipinas absorbed their fourth loss in just as many games in the 2023 FIBA World Cup as they fell flat in the classification phase against South Sudan, 87-68, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Thursday, August 31.

With the Filipinos now also out of contention for the sole

outright Olympic berth for Asia, Clarkson’s morale seemed to take a hit.

“Tough one again,” said Clarkson after the game.

“I feel like I’m coming back and saying the same thing.

Tough game.”

A slow start saw the Nationals trail by as much as 21 points in the wire-to-wire loss, and while good adjustments at the halftime break helped them get within four, 60-56, early in the

MANILA — Manny Pacquiao has a huge trophy room filled with championship belts, medals and an assortment of boxing accolades in a career masterpiece spanning over three decades.

But if you look closely at the considerable stockpile of awards that the Filipino boxing icon had collected, one prominent piece of hardware most fighters dream about remains missing.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol”

Tolentino said on Wednesday,

August 30 that the former senator and eight-division world champion reached out and expressed interest for a shot at an Olympic medal in next year’s Paris Olympics.

“Senator Pacquiao’s camp reached out saying our Filipino ring idol wants to fight in Paris,” said Tolentino.

“But the Senator can no longer vie for qualification in the Asian Games in Hangzhou next month,” he added.

According to Tolentino, the local Olympic body has opened discussions with the Association of Boxing Alliances in the

one again’: Clarkson insists Gilas keeps competing amid fresh loss to South Sudan

Jordan Clarkson Philstar.com photo

PUERTO

Marcos reaffirms ‘territorial...

against "changing" approach by other countries, such as China's 10-dash line.

The Unclos, adopted in 1982, lays down a comprehensive legal framework governing all activities and uses of the world's seas and oceans. It also establishes general obligations for safeguarding the marine environment and protecting the freedom of scientific research on the high seas.

"We have to stay true to the rules-based international law, especially the Unclos.

"That, I think, puts us on a

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9/2/23

CNS-3733979#

ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)

very solid ground in terms of our claims for territorial sovereignty, for maritime territory. And this has been validated and supported by many, many countries around the world," Marcos said.

"And I think we need to strengthen that. That again is a very big help to the Philippines in continuing to defend our maritime borders," he added.

On Thursday, Augsut 31, the Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), rejected the 2023 version of China's Standard Map issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People's Republic of China on Aug. 28, 2023.

The DFA said the "latest attempt to legitimize China's purported sovereignty and jurisdiction over Philippine features and maritime zones has no basis under international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea."

"The 2016 Arbitral Award invalidated the nine-dash line. It categorically stated that "maritime areas of the South China Sea encompassed by the relevant part of the 'nine-dash line' are contrary to the convention and without lawful effect to the extent that they exceed the geographic and substantive limits of China's maritime entitlements under the convention," the DFA said.

In 2016, the Philippines won its petition filed before The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration after the tribunal invalidated Beijing's claim of supposed historic rights over almost the entire South China Sea.

The Philippines, China, and several other littoral states are locked in a territorial dispute over the South China Sea, where Beijing lays claims on around 80 percent of the strategic waters.

Meanwhile, Marcos said the government has not changed its approach to defending the country's territory.

He had been asked about the presidential Decree (PD) 1596 that created the Municipality of Kalayaan. It was his father, thenpresident Ferdinand Marcos Sr., who signed this PD in 1978.

"Well, that occurred in 'the 1970s because we were already looking at our claims, we were already discussing this with the United Nations, and this is — we

were part of a group of I think three countries that established the archipelagic principle of baselines and your EEZ," Marcos said.

"And we just remain consistent with that. Our approach has not changed. Perhaps, the establishment of the municipality of Pag-asa will not change, it was... to be able to make sure, to establish, to show that this is part of the Philippines," he added.

More focus will be given to the country's external defense to preserve the government's significant gains in staving off the efforts of communist rebels to sow chaos, National Security Adviser (NSA) Secretary Eduardo Año said.

"Yes, that is our objective, and we are confident that we are going to attain that objective," he also said during a briefing after the security cluster's meeting with the president in Malacañang on Thursday.

The chief executive is bent on finally ending the Philippines' decades-old problem with local armed communist conflict and hopes to see that come to fruition when he steps down from office, Año added.

This would mean reducing the capability of the rebels and making them irrelevant in terms of number so that the government could focus its attention on rural development and ensuring the delivery of basic services to the people.

"Not only that, but we can also now reorient the focus of the Armed Forces toward external defense. Because, right now, we have so many geopolitical issues and challenges, so we need the Armed Forces to now focus [its] eyes on external defense," Año said.

Marcos earlier said the government should continue with responsive actions to encourage communist insurgents to return to the fold of the law so that rural development could be sustained, among them the Cabinet Officers for Regional Development and Security initiative, which helps oversee peace and development efforts in every region of the country and also provides assistance in articulating the regions' concerns and perceptions to the rest of the Cabinet and other agencies. 

PH rejects China ‘10-dash...

On July 12, 2016, the Philippines won its petition before the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) after the tribunal invalidated Beijing's claim of historic rights over almost the entire South China Sea.

China refuses to accept the tribunal's ruling.

The DFA said the ruling "categorically stated that maritime areas of the South China Sea encompassed by the 'nine-dash line' are contrary to the Convention and without lawful effect to the extent that they exceed the geographic and substantive limits of China's maritime entitlements under the Convention.'"

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the release of the 2023 edition of the map "is a routine practice in China's exercise of sovereignty in accordance with the law."

"We hope relevant sides can stay objective and calm, and refrain from over-interpreting the issue," Wang said in a statement shared by the Chinese embassy in Manila.

The DFA also said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will continue to promote a rulesbased international order in the South China Sea when he meets with fellow leaders in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit next week.

Speaking to reporters, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Asean Affairs Daniel Espiritu said the Asean leaders and several dialogue partners will participate at the 43rd Asean summit in Jakarta on September 5 to 7.

"The president will continue to promote a rules-based international order including the Unclos, especially in the South China Sea," Espiritu said during a pre-departure briefing in Malacañang.

"The Philippines will continue to uphold and exercise freedom of navigation and overflight to the South China Sea in accordance with international law," he added.

The release of the map came at the heels of China's increasingly aggressive actions in the South China Sea.

Espiritu said Marcos is also expected to meet Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and hold bilateral meetings with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão.

"With Vietnam, the focus will be on strengthening the strategic partnership between the countries and, of course, cooperation on rice and food security," Espiritu said.

"We will reassure Timor-Leste of our cooperation with their country in the years to come, especially in their preparation for final membership in Asean," he added.

The DFA official said that Marcos and Korea's Yoon are expected to discuss new areas of cooperation.

"At the same time, we'll also be thanking Korea for its support for the Philippines in terms of the assistance that they gave during Typhoon 'Egay,' around $300,000," Espiritu said.

"Also, they intend to donate, under the Asean Plus 3 Rice Reserve Arrangement, a total of 750 metric tons of rice to the Philippines, 400 of which are already in the pipeline," he said. Asked if there will be significant development on the completion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea during the Jakarta summit, Espiritu said, "It's been happening for a long time, I think it will take a little bit longer para matapos ito (before it is concluded)."

Espiritu said Marcos will be joined by Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, Social Welfare Secretary Rexlon Gatchalian and Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual.

Several senators reacted strongly to the new China map.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III said the Philippines has "no obligation" to recognize the territorial claims of other countries.

"It is important to concentrate on our own position: on the extent of our territorial claims as well as maritime zones," Pimentel said in a text message.

Sen. Lorna Regina "Loren" Legarda said China remains a signatory to the Unclos. "These claims remain to be claims." "We can theoretically claim the rest of South China Sea going back as far as the first hominids whose bones were discovered in this

country," Legarda said in a text message.

"What I want to focus on are actions. We cannot let any actions they take against our fishermen, troops, our supply boats and our people go unquestioned," she said.

Legarda noted that the Philippines has filed "diplomatic protest after diplomatic protest indicating our disagreement." In international law, "we have the support of many nations and will continue to prevail."

Sen. Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito said: "From nine-dash line to 10-dash line? Ano sila, hilo? (Are they out of their mind?) China is really delusional."

Sen. Ana Theresia "Risa" Hontiveros said the new map "is Beijing's desperate attempt to assert its lies and propaganda."

Sen. Francis Joseph "Chiz" Escudero said "China can issue, however, many maps they want to issue. It does not affect us nor does it impinge on the Arbitral Ruling in our favor."

"Any unilateral declaration by a State has no weight nor standing in international law," Escudero said.

"Let us not allow China to dictate the tempo by simply being reactionary. We should do what we think is right and in accordance with our national interest," he said.

Also on Thursday, the Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner said the morale of soldiers stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal remained high.

The beached Navy ship serves as a remote outpost for Philippine troops. The Chinese coast guard and maritime vessels have been trying to stop resupply missions to Ayungin.

Brawner said many soldiers "wanted to volunteer to be assigned in the area purposely to gain experience and contribute to defending our territory." He said soldiers on Ayungin have been receiving "loneliness pay" aside from their monthly salary.

Several countries in the Asean region, the United States and two member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are proposing joint naval exercises with the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea. Brawner said the Philippines will maintain its presence in the West Philippine Sea. 

New travel document rules...

national security and the facilitation of smooth and efficient travel," the department said. The DOJ, however, made it clear that the suspension does not affect existing laws and regulations governing travel and immigration procedures.

On August 23, the IACAT approved the revised guidelines which aim to "combat the grave menace of human trafficking."

The rules will take effect in early September.

Under the amended travel guidelines, Filipino outbound

travelers will be subjected to immigration inspection and will be expected to produce travel documents such as a valid passport, boarding pass, visa, and confirmed return or roundtrip ticket.

Immigration officers may also interview passengers about their reason for travel and request further supporting documents such as proof of financial capacity, if they suspect that the traveler is a potential victim of human trafficking.

The government's antihuman trafficking body was

set to implement stricter travel guidelines on September 3.

The guidelines were met with criticisms by the public and legislators.

The critics said the list of documentary requirements was too long.

Lawmakers argued that the guidelines violate the constitutional right to travel, which does not require proof of financial capacity.

Senators said the guidelines are unreasonable and put an additional burden on Filipino travelers. 

NATIONAL PEACE CONSCIOUSNESS MONTH. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leads the banging of the Peace Gong in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan on Friday, Sept. 1. The gong symbolizes the start of the National Peace Consciousness

and coincides with the declaration of the island province as insurgency-free.

photo by Rey Baniquet

When temps rise, so do medical risks. Should doctors and

nurses talk more about heat?

by MARTHA BEBINGER KFF Health News

AN important email appeared in the inboxes of a small group of health care workers north of Boston as this summer started. It warned that local temperatures were rising into the 80s.

An 80-plus-degree day is not sizzling by Phoenix standards. Even in Boston, it wasn’t high enough to trigger an official heat warning for the wider public.

But research has shown that those temperatures, coming so early in June, would likely drive up the number of heat-related hospital visits and deaths across the Boston region.

The targeted email alert the doctors and nurses at Cambridge Health Alliance in Somerville, Massachusetts, got that day is part of a pilot project run by the nonprofit Climate Central and Harvard University’s Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment, known as C-CHANGE.

Medical clinicians based at 12 community-based clinics in seven states — California, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin — are receiving these alerts. At each location, the first email alert of the season was triggered when local temperatures reached the 90th percentile for that community. In a suburb of Portland, Oregon, that happened on May 14 during a springtime heat wave. In Houston, that occurred in early June.

A second email alert went out when forecasts indicated the thermometer would reach the 95th percentile. For Cambridge Health Alliance primary care physician Rebecca Rogers, that second alert arrived on July 6, when the high hit 87 degrees. The emails remind Rogers and other clinicians to focus on patients who are particularly vulnerable to heat. That includes outdoor workers, older adults, or patients with heart disease, diabetes, or kidney disease.

Other at-risk groups include youth athletes and people who can’t afford air conditioning, or who don’t have stable housing. Heat has been linked to complications during a pregnancy as well.

“Heat can be dangerous to all of us,” said Caleb Dresser, director of health care solutions at C-CHANGE. “But the impacts are incredibly uneven based on who you are, where you live, and what type of resources you have.”

The pilot program aims to remind clinicians to start talking to patients about how to protect themselves on dangerously hot days, which are happening more frequently because of climate change. Heat is already the leading cause of death in the U.S. from weather-related hazards, Dresser said. Letting clinicians know when temperatures pose a particular threat to their patients could save lives.

“What we’re trying to say is, ‘You really need to go into heat mode now,'” said Andrew

PAGE A4

As Californians brace for the late-summer...

PAGE A1

program with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Office of Planning and Research.

As previously reported in the Asian Journal, California’s broad climate plan includes the state’s response to extreme heat, Heat Ready California, which is an “allof-state-government” approach to protecting Californians.

Heat Ready CA serves as an educational tool for residents on how to beat the heat, but it also lists out statewide plans of action, including creating cooling and shade infrastructure. The plan also mentions a grant program to plant more trees to combat the urban heat island effect, which occurs in urban areas where greenery is sparse and heat-retaining pavement and infrastructure are abundant.

Officials and community leaders encourage all Californians to take serious precautions to avoid the severe effects of extreme heat, which can result in heat exhaustion and heat stroke, whose symptoms include high fever and loss of consciousness.

But in some severe cases, especially in people with preexisting conditions, extreme heat can be deadly.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), California last year averaged 4.2 deaths per million, fatalities in which extreme heat exhaustion played a role.

Though the triple-digit temperatures in the most arid areas — like Death Valley and Imperial Valley — are alarming, Kay noted that heat-related deaths often occur at any temperature above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

The last eight years were the hottest years in the United States, according to NASA metrics recorded since the late 1800s. But Kay reminds residents that heat-related illnesses can occur even when the heat isn’t making headlines.

“There is no question that communities of color are the most impacted in terms of health disparities that are exacerbated by extreme heat as well as heat death,” Kay said, adding that even if you’ve lived in California for years, the crippling effects of extreme heat can still be severe.

Areas of the region that have higher concentrations of communities of color tend to be areas where resources to implement cooling solutions are scant. “Our bodies are not climatized towards it. We have the critical need to support behavior change and mindset for many people who think their bodies can handle the heat,” Kay said.

Genevieve Sandoval, a Filipina bus driver in the Inland Empire, told the Asian Journal that the extreme heat affects her routes in many ways.

“Passengers are often very irritable, especially if they’ve been waiting outside for the bus for a while,” Sandoval said. “I feel for them because there’s not a lot of shade, and even though it’s cooler once you get in [the bus], it’s still very hot, especially in the middle of the day.”

Sandoval shared that on a recent 107-degree day, her bus overheated, delaying her schedule and causing other passengers to wait longer — a common occurrence in very high temperatures.

Sandoval, who immigrated from the Philippines in 2004, added, “I’m usually used to heat — being from the Philippines, which, as we know, is hot and humid for most of the year — but this dry heat we’re having here is

Jollibee slapped with unfair labor practices complaint by US NLRB

THE National Labor Relations Board brought charges against Honeybee Food Corporation, the North American arm of the Philippines-based Jollibee fast food restaurant for violating federal law.

The U.S. federal labor agency found merit to the unfair labor practices complaint made by 9 workers in Jollibee’s Journal Square, Jersey City, New Jersey location.

The Filipino workers claimed they were illegally fired in February after organizing a petition for higher wages and better working conditions.

Jollibee workers and local community members launched the Justice for Jollibee Workers campaign in response to the alleged illegal termination.

in federal law by various means including posting their rights in the workplace, holding meetings with workers to read them their rights, and emailing these rights to all workers. Jollibee has until September 7th to respond to the NLRB.

Last February, Jollibee-owned Smashburger was ordered to pay damages to 241 employees after being found to have violated New York City’s paid and sick leave laws.

“The NLRB filing a complaint affirms the charges that we put forward. We encourage Jollibee workers to voice your concerns. Don’t let big corporations like Jollibee frighten you. We only want a better workplace for everyone,” said Mary Taino, former Jollibee worker.

really brutal.”

Josie Fernandez, a Filipino caregiver in Sylmar, said that the elder care facility he works at didn’t have adequate air conditioning for years, which led to lots of patients becoming very sick during the relentless summer months.

“Really hot days can be really tough here, with patients who are already sick getting more easily sick or more easily exhausted when it’s hot,” Fernandez told the Asian Journal. He said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the facility upgraded the air conditioning, but he still worries about older adults who don’t have the urgency to respond to heatwaves.

Most of Fernandez’s patients are people of color who come from areas of the San Fernando Valley where extreme heat is frequent.

“A lot of these patients didn’t have good air conditioning or ways to keep cool, so it’s scary because it’s only getting hotter every year. There shouldn’t be a building [in Southern California] that doesn’t have A/C or some cooling system,” he said.

Dr. Sharon Okonkwo-Holmes, a doctor of family medicine at Kaiser Permanente, expanded on the effects of extreme heat on older bodies.

“When sweating is not enough, we shunt blood to the skin, to the surface of our bodies. But this is a problem, especially for older folks, because we need that blood in our brains, in our hearts. So if you have hypertension, a history of stroke, diabetes, or kidney problems, it’s really

Simula sa Nobyembre 1, 2023, ang mga bayarin sa pagpoproseso ng Metro ExpressLanes para sa Pay-AsYou-Go Notices of Toll Evasion Violations ay tataas mula $4 bawat paglabag hanggang $8 bawat paglabag, habang ang Past Due Toll Evasion na penalty ay bababa mula $21 hanggang $17 bawat pangyayari. Ang penalty sa Delinquent Toll Evasion ay mananatiling hindi magbabago sa $30 bawat pangyayari. Pakitandaan na ang mga bayarin at multa na ito ay karagdagan sa bawat Notice of Toll Evasion Violation sa escalation stage ng pagpapatupad. Ang mga pagbabago sa bayarin at penalty na ito ay kinakailangan upang mabayaran ang mga gastos ng mga hakbangin na ito na idinisenyo upang mas epektibong pamahalaan ang pagsisikip at upang patuloy na mabigyan ang naglalakbay na publiko nang ligtas, maaasahan, at nakikinitang mga biyahe.

Ang Pay-As-You-Go Notice ng Toll Evasion Violations ay ibinibigay sa mga sasakyan na gumagamit ng Metro ExpressLanes na walang valid na FasTrak® account.

Noong Enero 2020, sinimulan ng Metro ExpressLanes ang pilot program nitong PayAs-You-Go upang gawing mas madaling ma-access ng mga driver ang ExpressLanes sa pamamagitan ng pagbabawas sa mga gastos sa paggamit ng mga lane nang walang FasTrak. Noong Hunyo 2023, pinili ng Metro Board na gawing permanente ang programang Pay-AsYou-Go.

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troublesome,” Okonkwo-Holmes said.

For more information about the state’s response to extreme heat or to find solutions to beat the heat, visit https://heatreadyca. com/. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

The complaint requires Jollibee to comply with the Journal Square workers’ demands, including reinstatement of the nine illegally terminated workers, back pay for wages lost due to termination, and a letter apologizing to the workers for their termination.

Jollibee must also ensure that workers are informed of their rights to organize as enshrined

Jollibee responded to the workers’ complaints by claiming financial difficulties. However, the Journal Square location reportedly hired 13 employees within a month of firing the 9 workers. It also has more than 6,000 locations worldwide and plans to open 500 locations in North America within the next decade. (Inquirer.net)

FilVetRep nishes in-depth teaching tool on WWII Filipino veterans’ heroic role

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Schools and civic organizations now have the means to tell the heroic story of Filipino soldiers who fought in World War II under the U.S. flag.

The Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetRep) has completed the 2023 “Duty to Country – Under One Flag Education Project.”

Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Antonio M. Taguba, chair of FilVetREP, said, “We finally created a lasting memorial in honor of the legacy of thousands of Filipinos and Filipino Americans whose uncommon valor and untold story will be remembered and revered for

LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (LACMTA) INVITATION FOR BID

LACMTA will receive Bids/ Proposals for OP106631Power Sweeping Services at the 9th Floor Receptionist Desk, Vendor/Contract Management Department, One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

A Pre-Bid conference will be held on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, 2:00 p.m., at One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012, Virtual Meeting: Online. All Bids must be submitted to LACMTA,

eternity. We will never leave them behind.”

“Duty to Country – Under One Flag” is complete with multiple education resources that include:

- A comprehensive online exhibition, 10 detailed lesson plans, 14 explainer activities with over 200 educational resources available to middle and high school students.

- 25 hours of oral history interviews with veterans and advocates, 120+ highlight clips and 20 animations crafted from the oral histories.

- a deck of 30 profile cards of key figures and dozens of detailed illustrations.

- a 20-minute film capturing the full history of FilVetREP.

- a 200-page graphic novel, In the Shadows of Giants, will be completed on Oct 31, 2023.

All components of the education program are fully accessible online, and FREE to teachers, students, and public at large.

Teachers at middle and high schools across the country and in Hawaii will have the opportunity to learn, discuss, and discover this piece of American history.

Historical and cultural institutions will be able to share this program with the public. To facilitate this, “Duty to Country” also includes 50 minutes of teacher training videos to orient educators on how to use the “Duty to Country” curriculum in the classroom, a media kit, a variety of overview handouts, and a suite of free content tailored for usage in broadcast media.

"This project is the fulfillment of a promise made to the Filipino Veterans of WWII to tell their

story of loyalty, patriotic duty, and solemn oath to serve under One Flag– that of the United States of America,” FilVetRep said in a statement. “They served and sacrificed despite the betrayal of promise to care and compensate for them and their families after World War II.”

The ambitious project brings to life the story of the U.S –Philippine relations that date to 1892 – of the untold and hidden history of colonial imperialism, path to Philippine Independence, World War II in the Philippines, and the devastating impact on the lives of the veterans and families caused by the Rescission Act of 1946 – a law that still exists after over 75 years.

This state-of-the-art project was approved with a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

It was produced by the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP), a nonprofit, tax exempt, charitable and education organization composed of dedicated teachers, educators, students, historians, community advocates, and families over the course of five years. It was developed by Night Kitchen Interactive, a leading and award-winning online education designer company in the country.

FilVetRep expresses deep gratitude to Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) for her stalwart support of the Duty to Country education project. A special thanks to Eric Schulz, Project Officer, U.S. Dept of Education for his outstanding assistance in producing Duty to Country.

Log on to Duty to Country at www.dutytocountry.org and enjoy the program. 

Earning less than $55,000 a year? You could...

for this proposal, including employees earning above the salary threshold, provided they aren’t under managementrelated roles.

“For too long, many lowpaid salaried workers have been denied overtime pay, even though they often work long hours and perform much of the same work as their hourly count,” Principal Deputy Wage and Hour Division Administrator Jessica Looman said in a statement.

Furthermore, the proposal plans to update overtime pay every three years based on earnings data. However, workers that are paid hourly are ineligible.

This overtime pay proposal can be traced back to Biden’s plan when he was still vice president where the threshold was increased from $23,000 to almost $47,500. While this proposal promises a lot, it still needs to be published under the Federal Register within a 60-day period for public comments on

the proposed changes. However, it is still susceptible to legal challenges similar to what happened with the Obama administration’s goal of increasing the threshold after a Texas district court blocked it in 2017 after it found that it was set too high. In a nutshell, Biden’s overtime pay proposal is a narrative giving voice to those who’ve been fighting an uphill battle for fair salary. Will it be a story of triumph? We can only wait. (Mary Villegas/Inquirer.net)

‘Tough one again’: Clarkson insists Gilas...

fourth quarter, they just couldn’t sustain the momentum.

“We’re playing a hard fight. That’s all I could say right now. The team is competing,” said Clarkson. When asked why they fell short of the fightback, Clarkson said the team was unable to shift

after South Sudan’s response.

“They were making shots. We made an adjustment which is the reason why we started coming back in the game,” said the Utah Jazz guard.

“They made another adjustment and finished the game out,” he continued.

Gilas now has the tall task of

finishing strong and avoiding another winless campaign in the World Cup when they face Asian rival China, which earlier won against Angola, on Saturday. Currently, Gilas Pilipinas is on a nine-game losing streak in the tournament dating back from their 0-5 record in the 2019 edition. 

Manny Pacquiao wants to ght...

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9/2/23

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Philippines and the International Olympic Committee on how to deal with Pacquiao’s request.

The IOC will supervise the boxing competitions in Paris following the suspension of the International Boxing Association. The easiest path to the Olympics is through the Asian Games, but the continental meet has an age restriction of 40 years old across all sports, said Tolentino.

Still, the door remains ajar for the 44-year-old boxing legend

with two Olympic qualifying tournaments scheduled early next year. Another course of action is to help Pacquiao secure an Olympic spot under the Universality rule from the IOC. Only nine Universality places—five for women and four for men—are available in Paris.

Tolentino said Pacquiao’s aide approached the POC confirming that Pacquiao is open to the possibility of climbing onto the Olympic ring.

Tolentino added the Abap,

through its chairman Ricky Vargas, can accommodate Pacquiao, who currently weighs 66 kilograms, to the national team and guide him in the qualification process. Pacquiao can pick between 63.50kgs or 71kgs on the Paris boxing program where professional fighters are allowed to see action.

In the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, 43 of the 186 boxers were prizefighters, including Eumir Felix Marcial, who claimed the middleweight bronze medal. 

When temps rise, so do medical risks...

Pershing, vice president for science at Climate Central, with a recognition that “it’s going to be more dangerous for folks in your community who are more stressed.”

“This is not your grandmother’s heat,” said Ashley Ward, who directs the Heat Policy Innovation Hub at Duke University. “The heat regime that we are seeing now is not what we experienced 10 or 20 years ago. So we have to accept that our environment has changed. This might very well be the coolest summer for the rest of our lives.”

The alerts bumped heat to the forefront of Rogers’ conversations with patients. She made time to ask each person whether they can cool off at home and at work.

That’s how she learned that one of her patients, Luciano Gomes, works in construction.

“If you were getting too hot at work and maybe starting to feel sick, do you know some things to look out for?” Rogers asked Gomes.

“No,” said Gomes slowly, shaking his head.

Rogers told Gomes about early signs of heat exhaustion: dizziness, weakness, or profuse sweating. She handed Gomes tip sheets she’d printed out after receiving them along with the email alerts. They included information about how to avoid heat exhaustion and dehydration, as well as specific guidance for patients with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), dementia, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and mental health concerns. Rogers pointed out a color chart that ranges from pale yellow to dark gold. It’s a sort of hydration barometer, based on the color of one’s urine.

“So if your pee is dark like this during the day when you’re at work,” she told Gomes, “it probably means you need to drink more water.” Gomes nodded. “This is more

than you were expecting to talk about when you came to the doctor today, I think,” she said with a laugh.

During this visit, an interpreter translated the visit and information into Portuguese for Gomes, who is from Brazil and quite familiar with heat. But he now had questions for Rogers about the best ways to stay hydrated.

“Because here I’ve been addicted to soda,” Gomes told Rogers through the interpreter. “I’m trying to watch out for that and change to sparkling water. But I don’t have much knowledge on how much I can take of it.”

“As long as it doesn’t have sugar, it’s totally good,” Rogers said.

Now Rogers creates heat mitigation plans with each of her high-risk patients. But she still has medical questions that the research doesn’t yet address. For example: If patients take medications that make them urinate more often, could that lead to dehydration when it’s hot? Should she reduce their doses during the warmest weeks or months?

And, if so, by how much? Research has yielded no firm answers to those questions.

Deidre Alessio, a nurse practitioner at Cambridge Health Alliance, also has received the email alerts. She has patients who sleep on the streets or in tents and search for places to cool off during the day.

“Getting these alerts makes me realize that I need to do more homework on the cities and towns where my patients live,” she said, “and help them find transportation to a cooling center.”

Most clinics and hospitals don’t have heat alerts built into electronic medical records, don’t filter patients based on heat vulnerability, and don’t have systems in place to send heat warnings to some or all of their patients.

“I would love to see health care institutions get the resources to staff the appropriate outreach,” said Gaurab Basu, a Cambridge Health Alliance physician who co-directs the Center for Health Equity Advocacy and Education at Cambridge Health Alliance.

“But hospital systems are still really strained by covid and staffing issues.”

This pilot program is an excellent start and could benefit by including pharmacists, said Kristie Ebi, founding director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment at the University of Washington.

Ebi has studied heat earlywarning systems for 25 years. She says one problem is that too many people don’t take heat warnings seriously. In a survey of Americans who experienced heat waves in four cities, only about half of residents took precautions to avoid harm to their health.

“We need more behavioral health research,” she said, “to really understand how to motivate people who don’t perceive themselves to be at risk, to take action.”

For Ebi and other researchers, the call to action is not just to protect individual health, but to address the root cause of rising temperatures: climate change.

“We’ll be dealing with increased exposure to heat for the rest of our lives,” said Dresser. “To address the factors that put people at risk during heat waves, we have to move away from fossil fuels so that climate change doesn’t get as bad as it could.”

This article is from a partnership that includes WBUR, NPR, and KFF Health News.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces indepth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.

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Dateline PhiliPPines

President Marcos caps rice prices at P45/kilo

by Helen Flores Philstar.com

MANILA — To keep rice affordable for poor Filipinos, President Marcos has issued an order imposing price caps on the staple nationwide.

The mandated price ceiling for regular milled rice is P41 per kilo and P45 a kilo for well-milled rice, based on Executive Order 39 signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Aug. 31.

The president approved the recommendation of the Department of Agriculture (DA), which he concurrently heads, and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to set price ceilings on the staple.

“The mandated price ceilings shall remain in full force and effect unless lifted by the president upon the recommendation of the Price Coordinating Council or the DA and the DTI,” read the order, which took effect following its publication in the Official Gazette on Friday, September 1.

Marcos has directed the DTI and DA to ensure the strict implementation of the mandated price ceilings, monitor and investigate abnormal price movements of rice in the market, and provide assistance to affected retailers with the help of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, according to a statement released by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

“I would encourage anyone who finds that someone or a retailer is selling above the price ceiling to report them to the police, to the DA in your area, to the local government so we can check on this and ensure prices would not go higher than what we have set at (P41 to P45 a kilo),” the president said partly in Filipino on Friday.

The DA and DTI made the recommendation to the president to impose price ceilings amid the current surge in retail prices of rice in the country, “which resulted in considerable economic strain on Filipinos, particularly the underprivileged and marginalized,” the PCO said.

EO 39 stated the DA and the DTI “have reported that the country’s rice supplies have reached a stable level and are sufficient, owing to the arrival of rice imports and expected

surplus on local production.”

Based on monitoring of the DA in Metro Manila markets, the retail price of local regular milled rice is sold as high as P55 per kilo; local well-milled rice, P56 per kilo; local premium rice, P60 per kilo; and local special rice, P65 per kilo.

For its part, the House of Representatives led by Speaker Martin Romualdez yesterday stood firmly behind the president’s decision to impose a price ceiling on rice.

In a statement, the House said the imposition of price limit is a “timely and necessary intervention” to shield our fellow countrymen from the undue economic burden caused by unwarranted surges in rice prices.

“We deeply understand and empathize with the plight of our people, especially the underprivileged and marginalized who are most affected by the surge in rice prices,” the chamber noted.

According to Romualdez, the House is serious in its support of the Marcos’ immediate goal of stabilizing rice prices and his long-term vision of achieving rice self-sufficiency.

The speaker likewise asked colleagues in Congress to show their sincerity in helping the government by unmasking the “bad eggs” or members suspected of involvement in unscrupulous trade practices.

Traders caught off-guard

Rice traders in Bulacan were caught off guard by the rice price cap set by the president.

Rice trader Rose Dalangin said they are on the losing end with the price cap. She cited that the latest price of clean and dry

newly harvested palay is at P32 per kilo, which would translate to around P52 per kilo wholesale.

On the other hand, wholesale rice trader Tony Santos said freshly harvested rice cannot be sold within the price ceiling, as it now costs P32 per kilo. “There should be a subsidy,” he said.

A rice importer and a rice miller, who did not want to be identified, admitted they are at a loss on how can they cope with the price cap.

“Everything is on hold pending verification, also on hold are the imports.”

Meanwhile, Rosendo So, president of Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura, said the rice price cap issued by Marcos would automatically translate to farmgate prices of palay ranging between P23-P25 per kilo.

Simeon Sioson, chairman of 4SM Multipurpose Farmers Cooperative, agreed with So. However, he said the price cap should have been announced earlier to give retailers and rice traders enough time to dispose of their rice products procured at P32 per kilo of palay.

Farmers shy away from selling their palay harvest to the NFA because of its low buying price of P19 per kilo compared to private traders that buy at more than P20 per kilo, Sioson added.

Price monitors

The DTI is set to mobilize its price monitors to ensure the implementation of the recently issued price ceiling on rice.

“We recognize the urgency of addressing the escalating rice prices in the market. In parallel, it is imperative to maintain stringent oversight over rice pricing and supply to preclude any potential u PAGE A7

Rice dealers display rice and their prices at New York Street, Cubao, Quezon City. Philstar.com file photo

The road to hell

THE intention is laudable, but people know what paves the road to hell. Especially in this country where a lot gets lost between the passage of laws and rules and their implementation. This is what opponents think of the additional requirements for self-funded and sponsored international travels of Philippine passport holders.

Starting Sept. 3, departure requirements for Filipino travelers will include a confirmed roundtrip ticket, proof of accommodation, financial capacity, proof of employment and purpose of travel.

Editorial

For sponsored trips, a confirmed roundtrip ticket will be required along with a notarized copy of the sponsor’s letter, an original birth or marriage certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority as well as a valid work permit or visa.

The new rules were crafted by the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking or IACAT amid a recent spate of cases in which Filipinos were duped into working in cryptocurrency and other digital scam operations abroad, particularly in Myanmar and Thailand.

Even before these scams, many prospective overseas Filipino workers had been victimized by human traffickers. The OFWs ended up being forced to work in scam operations or environments that opened them to sexual and other forms of abuse.

Today, digital technology has facilitated illegal recruitment. The recent human trafficking schemes have targeted tech-savvy, educated young workers who were promised high-paying jobs in business process outsourcing companies abroad. Once

lured into the illegal operations, the Filipinos were forced to work under abusive conditions and were beaten if they tried to leave. In response to these recent cases mostly involving cryptocurrency scam operations and illegal offshore gaming, the IACAT came up with the additional outbound travel requirements. As critics have pointed out, however, the new rules will burden millions of travelers and worsen the airport experience.

The Senate is now considering asking the Supreme Court to issue an injunction on the implementation of the new requirements and eventually to strike down the IACAT rules for being unconstitutional. While senators acknowledged the need to boost the campaign against human trafficking, they stressed that the means approved by the IACAT needed fine-tuning, and other measures could be pursued.

Among other things, the campaigns against cybercrime and illegal recruitment need strengthening. The Bureau of Immigration, whose personnel have been implicated in human trafficking operations through the airports, needs a more thorough housecleaning. Better coordination is needed with authorities in other countries for timely assistance for distressed migrant workers.

The lines at airport departure areas in this country are long enough. The IACAT rules will turn the departure process into an obstacle course. And

with many Filipinos eager to find work overseas, there’s no guarantee that the additional burden will stop human trafficking. (Philstar.com)

A new arbitration in the South China Sea?

PRESIDENT Marcos should consider filing a new arbitration case, under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos), against China. This time, it is over China’s recent dangerous actions against our coast guard and private contract vessels, during the resupply of our troops at the BRP Sierra Madre, in the Ayungin Shoal.

The new case should be narrowly drawn, as was our first arbitration filed against China in 2013, which resulted in the landmark Arbitral Award in our favor in 2016.

For purposes of ascertaining whether we have causes of action for a new case, we review what the Tribunal held.

First, the tribunal award held generally that China’s “ninedash line” is contrary to Unclos.

Second, with reference to Ayungin Shoal, it declared that: (1) the same is within the

exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, (2) it is but a low tide elevation, and (3) in May 2013 fishermen from Chinese flagged vessels engaged in fishing within Ayungin Shoal, and China, through its marine surveillance vessels, failed to exercise due diligence to prevent such fishing, in violation of the Philippines sovereign rights with respect to fishing within its exclusive economic zone. Thus, China breached its obligations under Article 58(3) of Unclos.

Third, which is of particular interest to us now, is the finding of the Tribunal regarding incidents that happened in two days in May 2012, “with respect to the operation of Chinese law enforcement vessels” in the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal. True, these findings are about activities in 2012 that occurred at Scarborough Shoal, not in Ayungin Shoal. But these findings of fact and law are important in that they may constitute building blocks for the new case. Tribunal held: “a.

that China’s operation of its law enforcement vessels on 28 April 2012 and 26 May 2012 created serious risk of collision and danger to Philippine ships and personnel; and b. that China’s operation of its law enforcement vessels on 28 April 2012 and 26 May 2012 violated Rules 2, 6, 7, 8, 15, and 16 of the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (Colregs), 1972, … [and] declared [that] China has breached its obligations under Article 94 of the Convention …”

The treaty cited is Colregs, which entered into force in 1977, with 156 parties, including the Philippines and China. Colregs is concerned with regulations relating to the prevention of collisions at sea. Section 94 of the Unclos, on the other hand, deals with the Duties of the Flag States. Section 3 of Article 94 states that “every State shall take such measures for ships flying its flag as are necessary to ensure safety at sea with regard to … the prevention of collisions.”

While the 2016 tribunal award did not rule on the events that only recently occurred on Feb. 6, Aug. 5, and Aug. 22, 2023, in Ayungin Shoal, it held that the dangerous maneuvers of Chinese law enforcement vessels on our Philippine Coast Guard vessels, in 2012 near Scarborough Shoal, violated Unclos, Colregs, and international law. The recent incidents involved the use of military-grade lasers (Feb. 5) and water cannons (Aug. 5) against our coast guard.

Mr. Marcos should give the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) the mandate and the resources to document the facts surrounding these 2023 Ayungin Shoal incidents. The OSG should determine whether China’s actions violate Unclos, Colregs, and the 2016 Arbitral Award, and further whether to include a claim for monetary damages.

The OSG must be ready with a draft arbitration claim, which can be filed at a moment’s notice, upon the President’s command. An arbitration case

should be among the options in the President’s toolkit, as he fulfills his duty as chief architect of Philippine foreign policy.

Finally, I recommend that the OSG prepare and file the claim by itself, without hiring international counsel. (Inquirer. net)

* * *

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints

include productivity costs.

expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

* * * Francis H. Jardeleza served as agent for the Republic of the Philippines in its successful arbitral proceeding against the People’s Republic of China over the latter’s nine-dash line claim in the South China Sea.

EVERY year, around 9,000 Filipinas die from breast cancer. Many of these deaths are preventable, especially if it is a non-aggressive type of breast cancer and detected at an early stage. Aside from the sad loss of lives, our country has been losing as much as P110 billion worth of economic productivity yearly due to cancer-related deaths, according to doctors and health economists.

The recent passing away of the late Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary

Susan “Toots” Ople at a young age of 62 years is the latest evidence of such heavy loss to our country. The “untimely” demise of a very hardworking and dedicated public servant like her was cut short. Toots, as she was fondly called, has thus become the face of these breast cancer victims who have unfortunately succumbed to this deadly illness.

While there may be available access to early detection and medical interventions to ensure

survival of cancer-stricken persons, apparently these are not enough. It brought out to light the gaps in our country’s primary health care system that, among other advantages, ensure early detection of cancer growths through “screening” procedures.

According to local and foreign studies, the incidence of breast cancer cases is nearing epidemic level on a global scale. Oncologist Dr. Edgar Christian Cuaresma and health economics doctorate Val Ulep revealed these dire projections based on these studies from the World Health Organization (WHO) as well as those done by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).

Cuaresma and Ulep were our resource persons at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum on Wednesday, August 30. Cuaresma is the head of Oncology and Transfusion at the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center Inc. in Manila and in a hospital in Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija. The 39-yearold oncologist also works as assistant professor at UERMM College of Medicine.

Ulep, on the other hand, is a

Senior Research Fellow of the PIDS where he directs various health economics research projects for this agency attached to the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA). He holds a Ph. Degree in Health Economics and a Masters Degree in Epidemiology.

The two specialists, one on the medical field and the other on public health economics both agreed that the COVID-19 pandemic could be accounted as a major reason on the sudden rise of the mortality rate of breast cancer victims in the past two to three years. And the same mortality rates rose in other nonCOVID but “chronic” illnesses also, Cuaresma and Ulep noted.

The PIDS study showed an increase in the economic costs of cancer if nothing will be done now to address this health menace.

“We had projections on the economic cost of cancer in the next 20 years and it will double if we don’t address this. This is really a burden to the government but more to the household (of the patient),” Ulep warned.

On a global scale in 20202021, Cuaresma noted with concern there were 23 million

people who have breast cancer and 685,000 of them died already due to it. On the plus side, he cited, 7.8 million of them have survived it the last five years. But what was shocking to learn is the fact that around 0.5 to 1 percent of these breast cancer patients were male or menfolk. The WHO record in 2021, Cuaresma further noted, the breast cancer cases have surpassed already the number of lung cancer cases.

In the same published study of the PIDS, Ulep cited that the economic cost of cancer could reach around P110 billion annually. This is equivalent to almost one percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), Ulep noted. Out of this total, Ulep estimated around P40 billion refers to the medical costs such as hospital expenses, and the bulk of P70 billion comprise the “indirect” costs.

The household bears greatly the costs such as the out-ofthe-pocket expenses for the patient which Ulep conceded “can really be catastrophic” to the family’s financial situation.

“There is a great chance for them to become impoverished,” Ulep quipped.? These “indirect” costs also

“Cancer is chronic. You won’t be able to work for a long time because there is a need to show up for treatment on a regular basis,” Ulep explained. “Our data showed that several family members or relatives resign from their jobs, and that contribute to economic costs,” he further pointed out.

“So these are the things being experienced by cancer patients in the Philippines. So it’s really tragic,” Ulep rued.

Cuaresma and Ulep welcomed though as good news that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (PBBM) has signed into law Republic Act (RA) 11959, or the “Regional Specialty Centers Act.” RA 11959 signed on Aug. 24 mandates the national government to ensure accessible and affordable healthcare services for all Filipinos through the establishment of specialty centers in Department of Health (DOH)-run hospitals and in the government-owned or -controlled corporation (GOCC) hospitals all over the country.

Under the law, the DOH is designated to establish specialty centers in its hospitals in every region and in GOCC specialty

hospitals, prioritizing cancer care, cardiovascular care, lung care, renal care and kidney transplant, brain and spine care, trauma care and burn care.

RA 11959 aims to address the wide gap in the country’s healthcare system in a bid to build more Philippine Heart Centers, Lung Centers of the Philippines, National Kidney and Transplant Institutes, and Philippine Children’s Medical Center. At present, all these four specialty hospitals are all located in Metro Manila. Under this law, these specialty hospitals will be replicated in all 17 regions around the country from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao over the next few years.

But more than building the hospitals, medical equipment and personnel, putting up more primary health care centers would lessen the high cost of cancer. This will give Filipinos more “fighting chance” if given more access to early screening and detection of this dreaded illness. (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.

BLOCKED AND BOMBED. A China Coast Guard vessel trains a water canon on a Philippine resupply ship in this photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard. PNA photo

Peace negotiator among Ramon Magsaysay awardees

by DAPHNE GALVEZ Philstar.com

MANILA — Filipina peace negotiator and professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer is among the four recipients of this year’s Ramon Magsaysay Awards, which were announced on Thursday, August 31.

According to Ramon Magsaysay Awards Foundation (RMAF) chairperson Aurelio Montinola III, Coronel-Ferrer is a woman “who champions peace in Asia and the world.”

“She emphasizes the important role that women play in inclusive peace-building,” he said during the announcement ceremony.

DOT promotes cruise tourism in Mindanao

by GHIO ONG Philstar.com

MANILA — Mindanao is a potential destination for cruise tourism, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT).

This year, the DOT said five cruise ships would dock in Bucas Grande, Daku Island and Sohoton in Surigao del Norte as well as North Sibayan in Davao.

It said Zamboanga has been identified as a cruise stop in 2024 while new shore excursion packages are being developed for Zamboanga City and TawiTawi.

The DOT said Mindanao could

offer tourist experiences like culture and heritage, interfaith, island tours and expedition ship journeys.

DOT Undersecretary Myra

Paz Abubakar and Zamboanga peninsula director Dara May Cataluña recently met with port agents, shore excursion handlers, tour operators, Tawi-Tawi and Zamboanga City local government officials, Philippine Coast Guard officials and DOT partners to conduct ocular inspection of potential tourist spots that could attract cruise travelers.

“The site evaluation not only delved into the cultural and scenic treasures of Mindanao

but also evaluated its potential as a future hub for domestic and international cruise travel,” the DOT said.

The department said it aims to promote Mindanao as a “peaceful and viable destination” for domestic and international travelers with the help of the Department of the Interior and Local Government and Department of National Defense.

The DOT had earlier said it is expecting 139 ports of call or docking of cruise ships in 46 destinations in the country this year. The figure is higher than the 102 port calls in 2019. 

Philippines air tra c soars in H1

by ELIJAH FELICE ROSALES Philstar.com

MANILA — The domestic and international travel market in the Philippines sustained their recovery trend in the first semester, unbothered by flight interruptions caused by the shortage in aircraft parts.

The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) said domestic passenger traffic grew by more than half to 14.56 million from January to June from 9.69 million a year ago.When compared, this translates to 65 percent of the total volume in 2022, signaling the return of domestic travel after pandemic restrictions were lifted nationwide.

Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific and its regional unit Cebgo flew over half of the passenger total in the first semester at 7.65 million.

Cebu Pacific operates the widest network of 35 domestic routes

by CHARIE ABARCA Philstar.com

MANILA — Can you feel the cheer and magic of Christmas in the air?

Filipinos are renowned worldwide for celebrating the longest Christmas. In the Philippines, the merry countdown to Christmas begins on the first day of September.

In a tribute to the Filipino tradition, United States Ambassador to the Philippines Mary Kay Carlson tweeted a photo of her together with Jose Mari Chan, considered

among all Philippine operators.

On the other hand, flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) and its budget arm PAL Express served 28 percent or 4.09 million of the domestic travelers during the period. AirAsia Philippines came next with 2.54 million.

Several local passengers also chose to fly with boutique carriers, namely, AirSwift Transport Inc. (202,154); Royal Air Charter Services Inc. (58,448); Sunlight Air (23,820); and Island Aviation Corp. (4,887).

CAB also reported that the international passenger traffic almost tripled to 8.93 million between January and June from 3.49 million during the same period in 2022.

Global carriers made up 54 percent of the foreign footprint at 4.8 million, while domestic airlines accounted for the remainder at 4.13 million.

PAL remains the local operator

to beat for international flights, flying 2.7 million of the total. Its closest competitor Cebu Pacific served 906,090, while AirAsia Philippines flew 477,616.

In the first semester, particularly in the second quarter, airlines struggled to complete a number of their flights due to supply chain disruptions. PAL and Cebu Pacific, for instance, grounded some of their aircraft pending the delivery of jet engines produced by Pratt & Whitney.

As a result, they were forced to cancel flights that were scheduled to be serviced by these parked units, angering thousands of passengers in the process.

In spite of this, airlines remain confident that their industry will overcome this hurdle, especially as additional aircraft are expected to come in in the latter half of the year. 

Coronel-Ferrer is a former senior mediation adviser at the United Nations and a professor of political science at the University of the Philippines.

In 2020, Coronel-Ferrer cofounded the Southeast Asian Women Peace Mediators, a pioneering group of women engaged in convening safe spaces for dialogues and supporting mediation initiatives in countries like Myanmar and Afghanistan.

Coronel-Ferrer also initiated the drafting of the Philippines’ first National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, which was adopted by the government in 2010 as part of the country’s commitment to the UN Security Council Resolution 1325.

During the administration of former president Benigno Aquino III, Coronel-Ferrer headed the government peace panel in negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that led to the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro in 2014.

According to RMAF, CoronelFerrer is recognized for her “deep, unwavering belief in the transformative power of non-violent strategies in peacebuilding, her cool intelligence, and courage in surmounting difficulties to convey the truth.”

The Ramon Magsaysay Award, named after the Philippines’ seventh president, is considered Asia’s premier prize and highest honor. The foundation also

recognized three other personalities: Korvi Rakshand from Bangladesh (educationfor-all champion), Eugenio Lemos from Timor-Leste (food sovereignty visionary) and Ravi Kannan from India (hero for holistic health care).

According to RMAF president Susan Afan, this year’s awardees showed “boundless creativity in devising remedies for their society’s challenges, with their profound empathy with the common man, and with their

greatness of spirit.”

Last year, Filipino pediatrician Bernadette Madrid was among those named as Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for providing medical, legal and psychosocial care to children and women who are victims of abuse.

In 2021, Filipino fisherman Robert Ballon was accorded the award for his work in conserving the environment and improving livelihood programs in communities. 

the symbol of Philippines Christmas, on Friday, September 1.

“An image you can hear.

Whenever I see Jose Mari Chan, it means the ber months — and the wonderful holiday season in the Philippines — has begun,” Carlson quipped.

Singer-music composer Chan is well-known for his hit songs Christmas in Our Hearts and A Perfect Christmas.

On the other hand, European Union Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Veron embraced the Christmas ambiance by partaking in bibingka and puto

bumbong — two of the country’s iconic and quintessential Filipino delicacies commonly savored throughout the Christmas season.

“[There’s no] better way to start Christmas this September 1st in the Philippines than [by] buying Nicole some Bibingka Puto Bumbong, and listening to some Ben and Ben music,” Veron tweeted.

The EU ambassador is referring to Ben and Ben’s song titled Bibingka. The song tells the joy of spending a Filipinothemed Christmas with a loved one. 

President Marcos caps rice prices...

hoarding and price manipulation by traders and retailers,” Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said in a statement yesterday.

“To fortify our monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, the DTI will mobilize its price monitors and engage with local government units to activate their local price coordinating councils,” Pascual said.

“As provided in the EO, we will perform our monitoring and enforcement functions in collaboration with the DA and other concerned agencies,” he added.

Pascual noted that the DTI would collaborate with the Philippine Competition Commission to undertake measures against cartels and other entities that manipulate prices, to ensure the welfare and protection of consumers.

‘Situation to worsen’

Farmers’ group Federation of Free Farmers national manager Raul Montemayor on Friday said the imposition of price caps on rice will only worsen the current situation on the supply and prices of the grains.

“If that is the situation and there is an issue in supply, the price ceiling will not work,

it will make matters worse,” Montemayor said.

“We hope we are wrong on this but … if the retailers will suffer losses if they sell at P41 and P45, the availability of rice in the markets will be affected. Nobody will sell if they will not earn.”

He noted the price ceiling will also result in slump in the farmgate prices of palay, especially with the upcoming harvest season starting in the second week of September.

Cartels In the Senate, lawmakers have urged the government to find solutions to stop the rising prices of rice and prevent a similar scenario in the future.

“The government should put its money where its mouth is to address the problem of high prices of rice as President Marcos ordered to impose a price ceiling on rice,” Sen. Francis Escudero said.

“Are prices high because of lack of supply or higher cost of inputs? If there is, why hasn’t the government arrested and/or sued anyone for such acts which are illegal?” he asked.

The senator suggested that government must admit that there is widespread hoarding/profiteering and price

manipulation of rice, arrest and file cases against the perpetrators and allocate a bigger budget for agriculture.

“I think it’s a move to crack down on cartels who hoard rice and then try to extract excessive profits and manipulate markets during times of scarce supply. Let’s hope the ceiling imposed will incentivize people enough to still import to maintain supply in the market and also to stabilize the price,” Sen. Sonny Angara said.

“It is an appropriate response to control inflation as well as to ensure the affordability of rice and to safeguard food security. But in the long run, we should look at efforts to improve local rice production. I agree with the decision  of the President as it will help stabilize the market in the short term to benefit consumers,” Sen. Francis Tolentino said.

“What needs to be done is to address smuggling, profiteering, cartels and hoarding for the local agricultural industry to flourish and for the price of rice and other agri products to stabilize,” Sen. JV Ejercito said. (With reports from Bella Cariaso, Sheila Crisostomo, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Catherine Talavera)

‘Ber’ months na! Foreign envoys join PH merry countdown to Christmas

Miriam Coronel-Ferrer Philstar.com photo

Success story: A life was saved on Citizen Pinoy, this Sunday

A FILIPINA frontliner from Florida, Janice, was diagnosed with myelofibrosis – bone marrow cancer. She had already been receiving several treatments, including blood transfusions and medications, but none of these had worked. She was in urgent need of a bone marrow transplant.

Her sister, Jerrimee, who lives in the Philippines, is a perfect match. Being a blood relative donor also meant that the chances for

success would be greater.

Unfortunately, the U.S. Embassy denied Jerrimee’s application for a medical visa. Time was of the essence, and desperate to find help, Janice’s family posted their appeal on social media.

Their story was brought to the attention of Citizen Pinoy head writer, Mouse Munoz, who PAGE B2

Lovi Poe turns emotional remembering FPJ at UK wedding; to return to ‘Batang Quiapo’

By Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com

MANILA — Kapamilya

actress Lovi Poe will be back to ABS-CBN hit teleserye “FPJ’s Ang Batang Quiapo” after her marriage with film producer Monty Blencowe.

In a report by Gory Rula on Pilipino Star Ngayon, Lovi’s manager Leo Dominguez said that Lovi will return to the Philippines on September 1 for the “Batang Quiapo” taping.

Lovi will also join Coco Martin to Milan, Italy for the “ASAP Natin ‘To” show.

Meanwhile, Lovi turned emotional in her wedding reception when Sen. Grace Poe delivered her speech.

Sabi ni Senator Grace; ‘If FPJ were alive today, he could have been so proud of you, Lovi’,” Leo said.

“’I wish he were here today so that he would be walking with you down the aisle on your wedding day,’

Lovi Poe and Monty Blencowe

“Very emotional ang speech ni Sen. Grace sa reception na hindi mapigilan ang mga luha ni Lovi na kailangan niyang puntahan at yakapin si Senador Grace.”

Lovi married British movie producer Monty Blencowe last Saturday, August 26 (UK

@mymetrophoto via Instagram

time).

While her TV character in Batang Quiapo” is a reluctant bride, Lovi was a radiant bride while walking down the aisle.  Lovi announced her engagement with Monty last August 8. g

Janice, a frontliner from Florida who dedicated her life to saving others, now needed a life-saving bone marrow transplant for herself.

More immigration questions answered....

PAGE B1

in turn referred the situation to leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel.

Atty. Gurfinkel filed for Humanitarian Parole and requested for expedited processing since the situation is a matter of life and death. After persistent and numerous followups, Jerrimee’s humanitarian parole visa was approved, and she was able to enter the U.S., underwent tests, and donated her bone marrow to her sister.

Janice’s cancer is now in remission, and her doctors expect her blood levels to be back to normal within the year. A life has been saved.

Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, September 3 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app. (Advertising Supplement)

Judy Ann: A superstar as early as 5AM

by tessa mauricio-arriola ManilaTimes.net

THERE are superstars and all-around superstars. And just a few days ago, The Times determined — without a doubt — that premier Philippine actress Judy Ann Santos is of the latter and most dazzling kind.

For, while other superstars are superstars within their specific realm — actors, athletes, and the most expert professionals of various other fields — in the case of Juday, wherever she goes or whatever she does, she just shines.

But wait. Scratch that. “Just” may be the wrong word to use as to how this 45-year-old household name of over three decades achieves success in practically all of her endeavors.

“Just” waters down her lifelong principle of hard work and dedication, which led her to become Philippine TV’s iconic Ula, Mara and Esperanza, as well as the silver screen’s tragic heroine Sabel and stirringly enigmatic Ploning.

Outside showbiz, Juday, as she is famously known, is equally popular as a celebrity wife and mother, given her picture-perfect family with hubby Ryan Agoncillo and children Yohan, Lucho and Luna. Not only is she thriving and reveling in this real-life and lifelong role, but she is slaying it. How so? Not with a complete household entourage doing everything for her as one may think of a showbiz superstar. She does so as a mom who really does the work.

While many of us struggle to rise with the sun, Juday is already up and about at 5 in the morning, preparing her children’s “baon” (food for recess and lunch) for school.

It’s a task that many moms might find daunting (guilty as charged over here), but for this multi-award-winning actress, it makes her happy.

So even if she only had a couple of hours shuteye coming from a shoot or will have a full

work day ahead, Juday’s body clock eagerly rouses her from bed and into the kitchen the whole school year-round. This fun fact, which absolutely catapults Juday to “superstar mom” status in my books, was duly uncovered thanks to the launch of Alaska Milk Corporation’s newest SustanyaYum” campaign.

Needless to say, the iconic Filipino brand named this amazing momma as their ambassador.

“My kids’ happiness is my inspiration. I just want to make sure they have delicious and nutritious meals even in school,” Juday explained at the Q&A, and mind you, with nary a hint of “I’m-a-better-mom-thanyou” air.

Self-effacing despite her stature (and major mom points), it was clear she had no intention of laying the guilt on any of the starstruck Alaska Nanay Club members present that day or any mom for that matter. Because for the rest of the interview, Juday didn’t go on about bringing her professional culinary training to motherhood, nor her bestselling and award-winning “Judy Ann in the Kitchen” recipe book and chef-restaurateur experience with Angrydobo. Instead, she reminded everyone about episodes of her pandemic-born and highly-followed YouTube cooking channel, where her boo-boos in the kitchen are never edited out.

“From the start [of vlogging], I told the director I wanted a cooking program that showed my mistakes as well, because that’s how it really is in the kitchen, especially when you want to serve your family the best dish you can,” Juday related.

After all, her goal for sharing her recipes and cooking styles was never to impress or entertain her followers. She has an endless filmography for that. Her intention for the vlog and embracing this new ambassadorship for Alaska is

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Jay R lists ‘very fruitful’ partnership with Kyla as career highlight

By Nathalie tomada Philstar.com

JAY R names his partnership with Kyla as one of the top highlights of his 20-year music career. Together, they got dubbed as the Filipino R&B Royalty, with their tandem scoring sold-out concerts, endorsement deals and hit songs such as Let The Love Begin, Undeniable, Say That You Love Me and Back In Time.

“The partnership of Jay-R and Kyla, I would say, was a very fruitful one,” the currently U.S.based Jay R told The STAR in a one-on-one interview.

What made it special is because they learned a lot from each other.

“We were elevating because we were learning from each other. Yung flavor ko na galing dito sa L.A., parang she picked it up, tapos yung mga technique niya, yung mga range niya, I picked it up naman,” he said.

“Tapos yung mga performances ko, she’s learning from that. Ako naman, yung mga harmonies and vocal exercises and being laging nag-rerehearse, I got that from Kyla.

“So we were always learning from each other. That is a big part of my career — meeting Kyla for sure and collaborating

with her.”

Jay R and Kyla are bringing back their successful tandem through a reunion concert mounted by GNN Pop, a subsidiary of multimedia outfit GNN Entertainment Productions. Titled Back In Time: Kyla and Jay R The Reunion Concert, it will take place on Saturday, Sept. 2, at the New Frontier Theatre in Cubao, Quezon City.

According to GNN, the show is set to bring the “Y2K vibes back to life” with collab and solo vocal performances that

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Due to fans’ requests, Jay R also offering merchandise he’s been selling in tours in the U.S. and Canada.

“So, merch, singing, dancing and a lot of storytelling — that’s what you can expect in Back in Time.”

With the reunion show, a “reunion” song shouldn’t be far behind.

celebrate the tandem’s 20th year of creative partnership. The concert is co-presented by Cornerstone Entertainment with tickets available via Ticketnet Online and all Ticketnet outlets nationwide.

Jay R further teased in our interview: “For the concert, you can expect kulutan to the max and belting to the max for sure.”

“I don’t know if you can expect Kyla to dance, but ako, sasayaw for sure,” he added.

He also plans to perform new songs from his upcoming album. “You know, it’s gonna

“I have tracks and songs that I plan to present to Kyla because she always wants new music also, and I’m like that. And hopefully, we will come out with new music because of that,” said Jay R, who is joined by wife, Mica Javier, on his latest homecoming after they relocated to the U.S. over the pandemic.

Earlier, in a statement, Kyla said that after doing many shows together, she’s most excited about Back in Time because of “so much growth and maturity in terms of our musicality.”

“This show will surely give us an opportunity to reflect on where we’re at in our respective careers and personal lives, while allowing us to be more involved in terms of song selection and artistic direction,” she added. g

Andrea on acting as daughter of Angel

By KathleeN a llemit Philstar.com

ANDREA Brillantes revealed that she finds it weird to act as the daughter to her “crush” Angel Aquino.

The model-turned-actress, meanwhile, shared that she is intimidated by Andrea who leads their recently premiered teen thriller show “Senior High.”

“Sobrang saya ko po na nakatrabaho ko si Ms. A (Angel). Sobrang bait po ni Ms. A at saka medyo weird kasi, actually, crush ko po si Ms. A e,” confessed Andrea, drawing an audible reaction from her co-stars and the crowd at last Sunday’s (August 27) screening and press conference in Trinoma Mall.

The young actress continued to explain why she found it difficult to act with the beautiful morena model-actress. They share many scenes together as Angel plays her mother, Tanya, while Andrea portrays the dual role of twins, Sky and Luna.

Apart from the difficulty, Andrea heaped praises for Angel for the latter’s beauty and acting abilities.

“Crush ko siya, e, tapos nanay ko siya dito. Tapos kelangan ko mainis sa kanya. Medyo mahirap lang po ‘yon on my end pero napakagaling mo ni Ms. A at saka sobrang totoo siyang tao. Masarap po siyang kakwentuhan and very supportive po si Ms. A. Sobra po.

“Kalog din siya. Nasasakyan niya po ‘yung kabaliwan ko sa taping kaya thank you so much po, Ms. A. At ang ganda-ganda niya. Hala. Eto na naman ako. Of course, it’s an honor po talaga na maka-eksena ang isang Miss Angel Aquino,” Andrea said.

Angel intimidated While her co-star is starstruck with her, Angel said she is actually intimidated by Andrea.

Ako ‘yung intimidated sa kanya. Sobra. I guess... Kasi napanood ko na mga materials niya noon pa. Bata pa lang siya, napapanood ko na siya... I’ve seen her works and I know how good she is,” Angel admitted.

Just like Kathryn Bernardo and Julia Montes, Andrea also started in the gag show “Goin’ Bulilit” back in 2010. From then on, she starred in other shows as a young child and eventually was the titular lead of the family drama “Annaliza” in 2013. She played Marga, the spoiled rich high school girl in the afternoon drama “Kadenang Ginto,” which was aired from 2018 to 2020. Natatakot lang ako kasi

hindi ko alam kung swak kami ng proseso. So I was kind of excited and also scared working with her kasi I was hoping sana umpisa pa lang, sana mag-gel kami agad. And thankfully, I’m so relieved kasi ang sarap niya ka-eksena,” Angel said. She recalled one scene where she was having a hard time getting into her role. Andrea supported her and Angel was able to play her character.

Meron akong eksena. Unang araw pa lang namin, ang hirap ng mga eksena. Merong isa na sobrang intense. I was crying. She was crying. I was having a hard time getting there and she just held my hand and looked at me. And ‘yun, she connected with me and after that, everything just flowed between us,” Angel revealed.

Andrea again commended Angel’s patience and professionalism as the latter plays a tattoo artist with her limbs inked in almost a full sleeve.

Sobrang layo talaga physically ni Tanya kay Ms. A pero grabe sobrang patient ni Ms. A sa mga tattoo niya. Sobrang galing niya to the point na sobrang natri-trigger ako sa ibang eksena namin. Kuhangkuha niya ‘yung mga mommies na ganyan po. Minsan nadadala na ako. Ganyan po ka-totoo,” Andrea shared.

The show also stars Sylvia Sanchez, Mon Confiado, Desiree del Valle, Xyriel Manabat, Zaijian Jaranilla, Elijah Canlas, Daniela Stranner, Kyle Echarri, JK Labajo, Inka Magnaye and Baron Geisler. g

Kyla and Jay R

Philstar.comphoto

Andrea Brillantes

Photo from Instagram/@blythe Angel Aquino

Photo from Instagram/@imangelaquino

Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel (left) was able to acquire a Humanitarian Parole visa for Jerrimee (3rd from left) so she can donate her bone marrow to her sister, Janice.

The Queen of Philippine Soap Opera and premiere actress Judy Ann Santos is also a superstar in the kitchen.

Photo from Instagram/@

Jazz artist Ner De Leon debuts tribute to ‘Bossa Nova’ music

IT will be a heartfelt homecoming when jazz saxophonist Ner de Leon debuts brand new music at his one-night only CD launch on Sunday, September 10 at the world-famous Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood, CA. The ex-L.A. native, who now calls Dallas, Texas home, will play selections from his new CD, “Nostalgia”, a tribute to bossa nova music. “I’m so excited to come back to L.A. to play for fans,” said the saxman. “It’s been a while since I’ve played in L.A. and to have the chance to see family and friends and have them be part of this special night is tremendous!”

Contemporary saxophonist, recording artist, record producer and master musician, de Leon has set the bar high in his 30 yearsplus as a performer. He hails from a long line of musicians and has been playing the saxophone since he was eight years old. He attended Berklee College of Music in Boston where he developed a new passion, respect and love for his craft, setting the stage for a prolific career that would include performing in big and small venues as a solo artist. De Leon performed in “Jazzmopolitan” productions held at the Aratani Theater and the John Anson Ford Amphitheater.

De Leon has developed a timber that distinguishes his unique style and sound and which sets him apart from other saxophone players. He has released eight albums as an independent recording artist. As a performer, he has traveled to many countries and has plunged himself in different avenues of music, from performing as a studio session player, to a jazz artist in Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

When asked “why bossa nova”?, de Leon replied, “I’ve always been captivated by the enchanting rhythms and soothing melodies of bossa nova music. The genre’s unique blend of samba and jazz elements creates a laid-back and relaxed atmosphere that resonates with my soul. Bossa nova’s harmonious fusion of traditional Brazilian music with modern jazz appeals to my taste for both cultural richness and musical innovation.”

As a showman, de Leon shines when performing in any type of crowds – from big venue concerts to private and corporate events and from church functions to jazz festivals. His style spans a wide genre of music from classical to jazz, pop, gospel R&B, Motown, ballads, dance, cover tunes and so much more. “Nostalgia: Boss Nova,” the CD launch at Catalina Jazz Club, is being produced by Rex Sampaga from RAS Music Group and executive produced by Ted Benito from LXV Enterprises, LLC.

LXV Enterprises, LLC presents

Ner de Leon “Nostalgia: Bossa Nova” the CD Launch

Sunday, September 10, 2023

Catalina Jazz Club

6725 Sunset Boulevard Los Angeles, California 90028

(323) 466-2210

Tickets: $40 (available at CatalinaJazzClub.com or EventBrite. com)

Doors Open: 6:00pm/Performance: 7:00pm

Catalina Jazz Club reserves the right to refuse service to anyone. One entrée or two-item minimum order applies to all patrons. A music royalty of $.49 is charged to all patrons. Tables of six or more include 20% service gratuity. For more information, please visit www.CatalinaJazzClub.com. g

UPAAGLA partners with BMM to bring Project Hulmahan to Los Angeles

THE University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles (UPAAGLA), a non-profit organization, partnered with Bayanihang Marikenyo at Marikenya (BMM) of the Philippines to bring Project Hulmahan to Los Angeles. This was made possible through the Memorandum of Understanding signed by UPAAGLA President Eric Panuncialman and BMM President and Executive Director Zena Bernardo.

Project Hulmahan is an art-driven, mutual aid fundraising initiative in support of community-based food sovereignty, livelihood, and art programs. It was a response to the pandemic when most of the Philippines was under lockdown. Old shoe lasts were used as firewood for communities which used to thrive in the shoe industry. BMM came up with the idea of giving these old shoe lasts to artists who transformed these into art pieces. The art pieces were sold, and proceeds went to the project’s beneficiaries.

International artist Dolly de Leon of Triangle of Sadness fame, the first Filipino actor to be nominated for BAFTAs and Golden Globe Awards, was part of the original convenors of Project Hulmahan. Some of the noted artists who lent their

Arjo says marrying Maine still feels ‘surreal’

by HannaH Mallorca Inquirer.net

ARJO Atayde is still in a state of bliss after getting married with Maine Mendoza over a month ago, saying the feeling is “very surreal.”

In an interview on “Magandang

Buhay” which was posted on ABS-CBN’s YouTube channel, the incumbent Quezon City congressman said that he’s “trying to find the right words” to express how happy he is to be right by Mendoza’s side.

“It’s very fun and very happy. I don’t know how to explain it.

But [a] few adjustments here and there. I don’t know how to explain it. I am just happy. I am just really happy. I am very, very happy to see her to actually wake up every morning [with] the person you love the most,” he said.

“It’s very much surreal at some point, of course we are new. They say, mag-iiba ‘yan (it will be different). I mean that’s the comment of older people. They will always say ‘it would be different’ but to me it doesn’t [seem] like it could… I don’t know, I’m just happy. I really

talents to the project include multi-media artist Toym Imao, sculptor Ram Mallari, mixed media artist Salvador “Buds” Convocar, animator and pop culture favorite Kevin Raymundo aka Tarantadong Kalbo, legendary film director Kidlat Tahimik and maestro Ryan Cayabyab.

The Los Angeles leg of Project Hulmahan is dubbed “Hope LAsts. Project Hulmahan in Los Angeles.” Local artists will be invited to participate with the same mechanics.

Artists will be given shoe lasts to transform into artworks in exchange for artists’ fees. The artworks will be sold

during the project’s launch on November 11 at the FACLA Hall in Los Angeles. Unsold artworks will continue to be available for purchase in an online catalog up to December 31, 2024. All proceeds will go to the beneficiaries of BMM and the UPAAGLA endowment fund.  g

Maine Mendoza and Arjo Atayde Photo from Instagram/@mainedcm

An evening of Jazzmopolitan electrifies Disney Concert Hall

‘Dynamic

Rhizomes

Prosy AbArquezDelAcruz,

J.D.

“I HATE a song that makes you think that you are not any good. I hate a song that makes you think that you are just born to lose. Bound to lose. No good to nobody. No good for nothing. Because you are too old or too young or too fat or too slim. Too ugly or too this or too that. Songs that run you down or poke fun at you on account of your bad luck or hard traveling. I am out to fight those songs to my very last breath of air and my last drop of blood. I am out to sing songs that will prove to you that this is your world and that if it has hit you pretty hard and knocked you for a dozen loops, no matter what color, what size you are, how you are built, I am out to sing the songs that make you take pride in yourself and in your work.”

-Woody Guthrie, New Year’s 1942-1943. From a 72-page composition book with a letter to his love, Marjorie. “Bound for Glory”.

“One is born with talent, an accident of birth. One makes oneself an artist. I believe in art. I believe art has the power to heal the broken spirit. To sucker the frightened soul. To redeem not just the listener but the artist as well. To make sense of the chaos.

To hold a mirror to the world when the world forgets what it looks like – to issue both a warning and an exaltation.“ -Janis Ian, a Grammy award-winning Songwriter of Songwriters (2010).

The front-row folks, mostly African Americans, were irrepressible and expressive about their appreciation on August 19, 2023. This was a very touching week for most, raw emotions from watching Lahaina communities wiped out by the wildfires, and compounded this weekend with boarded up storefronts, as we got warned about Hurricane Hilary.

Precious moments of

incandescent jazz time

But, not this irrepressible audience. This audience got the artists’ back, for which Tia Carrere openly shared her appreciation. They came to watch with every fiber of their being. Some of these fans went to school at Oakwood University in Alabama and are friends with Mark Kibble, a classmate of one of them, a founder of Take 6, the best acapella group that garnered 10+ Grammy awards.

When they closed the evening’s summit of jazz performances, they took us to the heights of their passion, singing without musical charts, and in synchrony with each other, taking turns to express their melodies, and ever respectfully taking turns to give space to the other.

Their repertoire was seamlessly sung, to give predominant messages: “Change the World”, “Got to Get You Into

My Life”, “Back in Love”, “I’ve Got Life/Spread”, “Stand by Me” and “Roof Garden.” Amazing mastery of sounds, vocal chords, and musical lyrics that no one was prepared for. They were not just masters of their craft; they were also mentoring one of the youngest artists, Chris Chatman, who stood out for his fashionable style.

“Bumpin,” “One Passion,” and “My Heart and Soul” were the opening numbers of Michael Paulo. He dedicated the last piece to Rene Paulo, his dad, whom he credited with teaching him everything about music and ultimately, leading him to his life’s passion: music.

I watched both father and son captivate Filipino Americans in Hawaii, decades ago, at a Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) conference with “The Heart and Soul” piece. It was a special moment in time

Arjo Atayde is still in a...

can’t explain, I am trying to find the right words to say but I’m very happy,” he further said.

During the interview, Atayde’s mother, seasoned actress Sylvia Sanchez, admitted that she couldn’t help but feel wistful, now that the actor doesn’t live with them anymore.

that got us all sobbing.

When Michael played “Heart and Soul,” a tribute to his old man, his dear father, Rene Paulo, who recently passed away, his earnest sounds on the saxophone made us cry. He also cried as he played his saxophone, even as he laments his father’s passing, and with his best efforts and young boundless energies, he conveyed his love for him.

Michael was tonight’s music director and his wonderfully-insynchrony-band mates: Tateng Katindig (lead for Melissa Morgan and Chris Chatman), Kimo Cornwell (lead for Peter White and Tia and Daniel), Dave Inamine, Fred Schreuders and Land Richards, who all mirrored his dynamism.

I marveled at the prowess and sustained agility of Michael Paulo onstage, holding his breath for minutes, playing his saxophone, gyrating movements, light on his feet and with flexibility that would bend his torso backwards, simulating the curves of his saxophone, forming a curved circle.

It was quite beautiful to watch a man in control of his playing instrument, and the saxophone behaving in synchrony with this artist.

Michael got us sobbing, and Alvin Reyes shared that he cried, when he saw Michael shed tears, who played one of his three gold plated saxophones onstage to be grabbed at any moment in time.

These three opening numbers captured the hearts of many, compelling the audience to rise up and to give Michael an early standing ovation. I, too, sobbed at that “Heart and Soul” piece.

Some of these fans fashionably came in their Sunday’s finest, ready to sway, and they did uncontrollably moved, even while seated. One even said, “I did not know Filipinos play jazz.” That must have been a compliment in disguise.

Self-made artists belong to an aristocracy of merit

Janis Ian, the songwriter of songwriters, got the First Liberal Arts Tribute award from Berklee College of Music in 2010,

“Actually, nagse-sentimyento ako until now pero pinipilit kong labanan kasi alam ko na nasa magandang kalagayan ang anak ko. Married siya at saka nadagdagan ako ng isang anak. Pero hindi pa rin maiiwasan ‘yung ‘wala na ‘yung anak ko,” she said.

(Actually, I can’t help but feel sentimental but I’m trying to get over it because I know that my son is in a good place. He’s married, and I’ve gained another child. But I can’t help but feel sad because my son is not there anymore.)

Sanchez then shared that her husband, Spanish-Filipino businessman Art Atayde, reminded her that there’s nothing wrong in “letting their children” go.

“Tapos nakatulong sa akin ‘yung sinabi sa akin ng asawa ko na kailangan mong mag-let go kasi ang mga bata, darating ‘yung time na mawawala sila sa atin but it doesn’t mean na mawawala sila talaga, iiwanan tayo,” she said.

(It helped what my husband said to learn to let go, because there will come a time when our children will leave our home, but that doesn’t mean that they will truly be gone from us forever.)

Atayde and Mendoza tied the knot in a lavish but strictly private wedding in Baguio City last July 28, a date that holds a special meaning as it marked several milestones in their relationship, including the “EAT” host’s manifestation tweet in 2013, first meeting in 2018, and engagement in 2022. g

Judy Ann: A superstar

PAGE B2

to help and encourage fellow moms to thrive in the kitchen, too.

“I’ve always loved cooking,” Juday affirmed. “But it was when I became a wife and mother that my passion for it really flourished because I know that cooking brings people together. It’s my way of expressing love.”

Juday guarantees that for any mom to see her family enjoy and bond over a meal she prepared is incredibly fulfilling — every single time. Juday therefore spent the rest of the event demonstrating how Alaska milk has long been helping her liven up homecooked meals with hardly much time and effort.

For one, she showed how to make the 5-minute, 5-ingredient SustansyaYUM Gravy that instantly takes the monotony of fried chicken with ketchup out of weekday dinners. The star ingredient, here, is the Alaska Classic Evaporated Filled Milk.

There is also the Creamy SustansyaYum Pumpkin Soup and Carbonara Ala Crema using Alaska Crema All Purpose Cream and Classic Braised Pork and Creamy Beef with Mushrooms, whose complete ingredients list and procedure are ready for the guiding via

as...

www.alaskananayclub.com.

“Like many Filipinos, I grew up with Alaska Milk because it’s what you’d easily find at the neighborhood sari-sari (store) right? So even now, for my family, I use Alaska because it has that taste I’ve come to love and the quality and nutrition I trust.”

The kitchen superstar further said, “Their products are all crafted from real milk. So when you use it or give it to your kids, the best way I can describe it is it has no filter. I love that I can give my children something that’s both tasty and good for them.”

Without a doubt, Alaska chose the best actress for the role of brand ambassador simply because Juday is sure to give the campaign her hundred percent as she does with every character she portrays. Technically, she doesn’t really need to prepare or internalize anything to fulfill the part. And because family is closest to her heart. Because she is a real deal kitchen superstar for her family, every day, even before sunrise. So no more guilt fellow moms. Let Juday be our guide in becoming the superstar of the people we love most. Go claim that kitchen! g

Dynamite’ Michael Paulo plays heartfelt jazz along with Take 6, Peter White, Tia Carrere, Daniel Ho, Melissa Morgan, and Chris Chatman

The writer (left) with Michael Paulo and Enrique de la Cruz

Take 6, a Grammy Award-winning a cappella sextet  Photos courtesy of Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz PAGE B7

Face slimming is in: Botox or Dysport injection for masseter muscles will do exactly that, and then some

grinding, excessive chewing or chewing on only one side of the mouth.

Employer theft of employees’ wages:

Are

they more serious than mob merchandise thefts?

DID you know that there is a faster way to slim down your face in a matter of weeks?

And if you think I am referring to those small and thin V-shaped faces that most Korean female celebrities are famous –– and are widely envied for –– you are absolutely right. You would also be  thrilled to know that aside for the cosmetic benefits I’ve mentioned, it also provides relief from symptoms of severe Bruxism, which is a condition that causes involuntary teeth clenching, jaw pain, headaches, and tooth damage.

The procedure involves injecting the Masseter muscles with Botox or Dysport. Botox and Dysport  are the two leading brands available in USA. They are types of injectables that help smooth out  fine lines and wrinkles. Dysport is made from botulinum toxin type A, which is similar to Botox. Both Botox and Dysport work by temporarily preventing muscle contraction, which leads to a slimmer and more angular facial structure and also reduces any associated tension and discomfort.

At this point, I am sure that achieving a V-shape face and getting relief from pain are enough to  get your attention.

But first, let’s understand what Masseter muscle is.

What is masseter muscle?

The masseter muscle is located on each side of your jaw and is one of the main muscles involved with chewing. When someone chews or grinds their teeth too often, the masseter muscles can  increase in size and cause issues with the shape of your face. The most common reasons for  increased size of the masseter muscles are: genetics, ethnicity, clenching (bruxism) particularly at  night, teeth

Botox or Dysport injections in the masseter muscle will relax this facial muscle, and in turn,  shrink the jaw line, otherwise known as “Jawline Slimming.” This results to a reduction of the  square appearance of your jawline.

Ergo, injecting Botulinum toxin into the masseter muscle causes  a “square face” to morph into a more V-shaped appearance.

On the other hand, the noncosmetic benefit of injecting Botulinum toxin into the

injections to the jawline require no downtime. After your treatment, you can resume your usual activities. It is recommended, however to avoid rubbing or placing pressure on the injection sites for the first 24 hours following treatment.  Whether it is for aesthetic purposes or for relief from Bruxism symptoms, I highly recommend  that you find a reputable practice who can evaluate your face better and are equipped to help you achieve you the “V-shape face of your dreams.” iSkin and MiSkin Medspa are two of your best  options. Operating for over 20 years, both MedSpas are qualified and equipped to perform Masseter Botox or Dysport. You are welcome to visit us and get a free consultation.  Give us a call. We’d love to help you. If you are in the LA area, feel free to swing by at our iSkin  Beverly Hills. And if you happen to be in the Inland Empire and Orange County, we have MiSkin Spa for you self-love and self-pampering needs.

Protecting Employee & Consumer Rights

Atty. C. Joe SAyAS, Jr

masseter, weakens the masseter and relaxes the jaw. This stops the jaw and teeth from involuntarily clenching.

While teeth grinding or bruxism is typically treated with mouth guards and some lifestyle changes, Botox or Dysport may be a more effective solution if you have severe bruxism. Nonetheless, the whole procedure is safe and noninvasive.

Typically, there is no special preparation required before the procedure. It is relatively short, taking about 30-60 minutes to complete. The short procedure is a plus for patients who don’t have much time to spare.

Masseter Botox or Dysport

For more information you may visit iskinbeverlyhills. com.  Visit iSkin Med Spa and MiSkin MedSpa for a free consultation. iSkin is located at 8665 Wilshire  Blvd. Penthouse Beverly Hills ,90211 or call 424-382-1002  MiSkin MedSpa is located at 9227 Haven Ave. Suite 120 in Rancho Cucamonga, 91370 or call  909-9898464.  You may also follow us on social media: @iskinmedspa and @miskinmedspa. * * * Imee Ong-Maghanoy is an established aesthetician, a business owner and CEO of iSkin  Beverly Hills, iSkin MedSpa and MiSkin MedSpa. Imee has been in the aesthetics  industry for more than 20 years. She has a degree in Biology and Doctor of Dental  Medicine. iSkin MedSpa and MiSkin MedSpa are fast emerging as a top Spa  destination in LA. iSkin is located at 8665 Wilshire Blvd penthouse Beverly Hills, CA  90211. MiSkin MedSpa is located at 9227 Haven Ave. Suite 120 in Rancho Cucamonga,  CA, 91370. (Advertising Supplement)

IF you’ve watched the news lately, you’ve probably seen the shocking videos of  smash-andgrab mobs stealing merchandise from some high-end stores. The news media  have been playing these eye-catching videos along with interviews of corporate retail executives decrying a supposed loss of law and order highlighted by these high-profile  thefts in retail workplaces.  These organized mob thefts are certainly a problem that should be addressed by  the authorities. But as an employment attorney, I can’t help but feel bothered that, while  these handful of instances of high-profile thefts of luxury goods gets so much airtime,  hardly any attention is paid to the numerous instances of wage theft that victimizes the  working people of this country.  In a recent Los Angeles Times column, Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Michael  Hiltzik described having the same observation while watching an interview of former  Home Depot Chief Executive Bob Nardelli, in which Mr. Nardelli warned that the recent  spate of organized retail crime were indicative of an increasingly “lawless society.”  Mr. Hiltzik observed that although Home Depot would seem to care quite a bit  about crime in the workplace when it involved theft of the goods they sold, they would  appear less concerned about theft of wages rightfully earned but denied to Home Depot’s  own employees. In June 2023, Home Depot settled a class-action

lawsuit with workers  alleging widespread wage theft, for $72.5 million. Home Depot didn’t admit to the  allegation, but instead claim that settled for that amount of money to make the lawsuit go  away. Hiltzik noted the “discordance in how we define ‘crime’ in the workplace. On the  one hand, sporadic robberies inflated by retail lobbyists and media via eye-catching  reports; on the other, the pervasive shortchanging of hourly workers by their employers.”

The Economic Policy

d.) Denying meal and rest breaks, and the premium wages earned each time a break  is denied;

e.) Diverting workers’ tips; compelling workers to cover operating expenses out of  pocket without reimbursements required by law;

f.) Requiring workers to work off-the-clock to prepare for their shifts or complete  their work after their shifts have officially ended.

All of these practices of wage theft are illegal under California law. Employees  whose hardearned wages have been stolen from them and their families might lament  employers’ pervasive flouting of worker-protection laws. This is clear when approximately  $50 billion a year in wage theft reflects an increasingly “lawless society.”  Criminal prosecution is our legal system’s answer to smash-andgrab mobs.  Meanwhile, to combat employer wage thefts, employees and counsel should be ready to  prosecute civil actions.   * * * 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.

Institute estimates that the aggregate instances of wage theft  in the United States amounts to approximately $50 billion a year. There are many ways  employers unlawfully appropriate a portion of employees’ wages. Consider the following:

a.) Paying less than the legal minimum hourly wage;

b.) Refusing to pay overtime by paying fixed salaries to individuals in jobs properly  classified as non-exempt;

c.) Misclassifying workers as independent contractors despite controlling them;

* * * The Law Offices of C. Joe Sayas, Jr. welcomes inquiries about this topic. All inquiries are confidential  and at no cost. You can contact the office at (818) 291-0088 or visit www.joesayaslaw. com. [For more than  25 years, C. Joe Sayas, Jr., Esq. successfully recovered wages and other monetary damages for thousands of employees and  consumers. He was named Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California by the Daily Journal,  consistently selected as Super Lawyer by the Los Angeles Magazine, and is a past Presidential Awardee for  Outstanding Fitlipino Overseas.]

(Advertising Supplement)

Employees whose hard-earned wages have been stolen from them and their families might lament employers’ pervasive flouting of worker-protection laws. This is clear when approximately $50 billion a year in wage theft reflects an increasingly “lawless society.”

The masseter muscle is located on each side of your jaw and is one of the main muscles involved with chewing. When someone chews or grinds their teeth too often, the masseter muscles can increase in size and cause issues with the shape of your face.

How to obtain custody and visitation rights of your children from your baby mama

Barrister’s Corner

ESTABLISHING parentage rights for Moms is a lot easier than establishing one for unmarried Dads. Moms can establish this by simply showing proof of her having given birth to the child. Family Code §7610

Establishing parentage rights, including custody and visitation rights, becomes more problematic with unmarried Dads because proving yourself as the biological father does not automatically make you the natural father of the child.

Under the family code, there are competing presumptions of paternity which allows the non biological father to be deemed the natural father of the child.

A typical situation is when boyfriend gets girlfriend pregnant. Girlfriend for some reason decides to exclude boyfriend from baby’s life so she breaks up with boyfriend, does not give the boyfriend any information about her delivery, and does not state the boyfriend as the father in the birth certificate or decides to name someone else as the father. Girlfriend does this because her parents disapprove of the ex boyfriend.

One way a presumption of Paternity is created is by executing a voluntary declaration of paternity. A Voluntary declarations executed before 1997 give rise to a conclusive presumption of paternity and can be overcome only by blood or genetic tests ordered on noticed motion by the mother or presumed father must be made within three years of the date of execution of the voluntary declaration Family Code. § 7576; Kevin Q. v. Lauren W. (2009) 175 CA4th 1119, 1133, 95 CR3d 477, 485. If the voluntary declaration of paternity is executed after 1996, it is not characterized

as a conclusive presumption. Instead, it “shall establish the paternity of a child and shall have the same force and effect as a judgment for paternity issued by a court of competent jurisdiction” and trumps §7611 presumptions discussed below. A post 1996 voluntary declaration of paternity “shall be recognized as a basis for the establishment of an order for child custody, visitation, or child support.” Family Code §§ 7573, 7644; Kevin Q. v. Lauren W., supra, 175 CA4th at 1132, 95 CR3d at 485; In re J.L. (2008) 159 CA4th 1010, 1019, 72 CR3d 27, 33.

Another way of establishing presumed father status is if you fall under any of the categories listed (a) to (f) under family code §7611:

(a) He and the child’s natural mother are or have been married to each other and the child is born during the marriage, or within 300 days after the marriage is terminated by death, annulment, declaration of invalidity, or divorce, or after a judgment of separation is entered by a court.

(b) Before the child’s birth, he and the child’s natural mother have attempted to marry each other by a marriage solemnized in apparent compliance with law, although the attempted marriage is or could be declared invalid, and either of the following is true:

(1) If the attempted marriage could be declared invalid only by a court, the child is born during the attempted marriage, or within 300 days after its termination by death, annulment, declaration of invalidity, or divorce.

(2) If the attempted marriage is invalid without a court order, the child is born within 300 days after the termination of cohabitation.

(c) After the child’s birth, he and the child’s natural mother have married, or attempted to marry, each other by a marriage solemnized in apparent compliance with law, although the attempted marriage is or could be declared invalid, and either of the following is true:

Consul General to Los Angeles Edgar Badajos and high school batchmates provide relief assistance to Abra flood victims

(1) With his consent, he is named as the child’s father on the child’s birth certificate.

(2) He is obligated to support the child under a written voluntary promise or by court order.

(d) He receives the child into his home and openly holds out the child as his natural child.

(e) If the child was born and resides in a nation with which the United States engages in an Orderly Departure Program or successor program, he acknowledges that he is the child’s father in a declaration under penalty of perjury, as specified in Section 2015.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure. This subdivision shall remain in effect only until January 1, 1997, and on that date shall become inoperative.

(f) The child is in utero after the death of the decedent and the conditions set forth in Section 249.5 of the Probate Code are satisfied.

An alleged biological father who does not meet any of the § 7611 conditions for presumed father status has no constitutionally-protected “liberty interest” in establishing a parentage relationship with a child as against the rights of a presumptive father who has an extant parentage relationship with the child. Dawn D. v. Super.Ct. (Jerry K.) (1998) 17 C4th 932, 940–942, 72 CR2d 871, 876–877.

The facts get even more complicated if the girlfriend, whom boyfriend gets pregnant is married to another man because the law provides a conclusive presumption of paternity to the husband of the girlfriend. Under Family Code §7540, the child of a wife cohabiting at time of conception with her husband, who is not impotent or sterile, is “conclusively” presumed to be a child of the marriage. This conclusive presumption may be challenged by showing that the husband was sterile. It may also be challenged by filing a motion for blood or genetic testing under Family Code §7541 but this has to be done

From My Point of View

LOS ANGELES – The donation drive dubbed as “Ahon Abra,” a joint project of the Divine Word College of Bangued (DWCB) High School Batch 82 and the United Specialist Healthcare Foundation (USHF), ended on a successful note.

Begun just a few days after super-typhoon “Egay” caused severe flooding in the province of Abra in late July, the donation drive has raised more than P700,000, which members of the DWCB HS Batch 82 distributed to a hundred families and 946 learners from 6 primary schools and 2 special education schools in barangays that suffered the brunt of the calamity.

The beneficiaries received cash assistance ranging from P3,000 to P7,000 pesos per family, and pre-packed basic school supplies for the learners from the beneficiary schools.

The DWCB HS Batch 82 and USHF expressed their gratitude to all the donors, volunteers, and partners who made the donation drive possible. Dr. Joselito Babaran, president of USHF, and his wife, Lucy, said that they were inspired by the resilience

and spirit of the Abrenians who faced the calamity with courage and hope.

As a member of DWCB HS Batch 82, Philippine Consul General to Los Angeles Edgar Badajos sent a personal thankyou note to USHF and its network of friends and supporters who responded positively to the Foundation’s call for help.

“The donation drive was a testament to the power of collaboration and compassion. It showed how a small initiative can grow into a big movement that can make a difference in the lives of many people. It also demonstrated how Abrenians can rise above any challenge and help each other in times of need,” Badajos said.

Here’s Badajos’ thank you letter to all those who donated and supported the project:

“Dear kababayans and friends, “We are profoundly grateful for your generous donation to help the flood victims in Abra. You are one of the faithful donors who joined the “ Ahon Abra” joint donation drive of the Divine Word College Bangued (DWCB) High School Batch 82 and the United Specialist Healthcare Foundation (USHF) headed by Dr. Lito Babaran.

“Your donation is a blessing to the victims who are trying to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of the tragedy caused by super typhoon Egay. You have given them hope and comfort in this time of trial and shown them that human kindness as a virtue is not lost but remains alive through compassionate souls like you.

“May the Lord Almighty always bless you with a good life and more good fortune so that you can continue helping others with your generous heart. You are a God-sent to the people of Abra and we are thankful to have you in the “Ahon Abra” joint donation drive. For the DWCB Batch 82 and Edgar Badajos Consul General, Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles.”

* * * 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.

* * * denino1951@gmail.com

Volunteers and flood relief recipients are shown in another barangay in Abra.

Flood relief recipients mostly schoolchildren are shown in the aftermath of the devastating flood in the province of Abra.

An evening of Jazzmopolitan electrifies...

wherein she asserted, “artists belong to an aristocracy of merit. One makes oneself an artist.”

She spoke about how an artist’s heart makes the art that is then reflected back to the audience.

Such is Ted as the other artists he asked to perform.

“Who is this Ted Benito?” the front row audience folks asked me. “Remember his name as he produces shows that respect the artists, the audience, and the venue, “ I emphasized, visualizing Ted’s passionate sharing of his production events.

In my prior interview, Ted shared: “I formulated how ‘The Romance of Magno Rubio’ [a play he produced to honor the farmworkers] appears to be a fusion of my parents’ story: promoting the arts and artistry, rooting for Filipino talent, and giving back to the less fortunate.”

Ted is a well-respected impresario, an artist connoisseur of musical events who was nurtured by his mom, steeped in the arts, since he was 5 years old.

It was in 1987 when my husband and I were introduced to his cache of talents: scriptwriter, actor, and historian. He did all three substantial roles at UCLA’s Pilipino Cultural Night.

To this day, three decades later, the scenes of tribute for the farmworkers are etched in my memory. Identity, history and representation are strong features of his productions.

Fast forward to Jazzmopolitan in 2010 at the John Anson Ford Amphitheater. He described it as American jazz meets Filipino flavor: “Jazzmopolitan: Filipino Gentlemen of Jazz,” an evening of finger-snapping, toe-tapping evening that showcased Ner de Leon, Raffy Lopez, Tateng Katindig, Mon David and headlined by Michael Paulo whose distinct “saxpertise” to a virtual who’s who of artists:

Al Jarreau, James Ingram, Rick Braun, Peter White, Kenny Loggins, Patti Austin, David Benoit, Johnny Mathis and more.

This evening’s summit of jazz in 2023 happened when Ted was offered by Disney Hall’s programming team a slot, 85% of whom were self-made artists from Hawaii. Some are childhood friends, who went to school with Michael Paulo; some he met while on a shuttle airport stop, others while performing with Al Jarreau, like Take 6.

If Janis Ian would have seen Take 6, Michael Paulo, Peter White, Tia Carrere and Daniel Ho, she would easily say these artists’ unforgettable performances belong to that exclusive ‘aristocracy with merit’ that she described in her keynote speech. These are artists who stayed true to their craft and even gave birth to new projects during the pandemic. The pandemic did not freeze nor cage their talents.

Michael Paulo did it again as he accompanied Melissa Morgan and their interaction consisted of a dialogue with Melissa singing a note, pausing, with Michael responding with the musical

tunes. Was it F or was it G? I truly did not know — only that their interaction created a beautiful exchange of their humanity being together.

When Peter White came onstage, one Japanese woman next to me described him as the wild partner of Michael Paulo.

I was not prepared for Peter White’s own composition, “San Diego/Bueno Funk” with the 007 James Bond theme song and “Get Up Stand Up” by Bob Marley, eliciting joy, as the crowd roared with catcalls and applause.

The photos I took seemed like dance numbers of both artists, Michael and Peter, as they played music on the guitar and the saxophone, but in a synchrony of body movements, almost like a dance scene.

It was unforgettable to hear the harmonica and bird tweets, all done by Peter White. When

I congratulated him for a memorable performance and told him that I bought his CD, he took out his highlighter and said, “Did you want me to sign your CD?”

Oh my, how wonderful was that?

So many unforgettable performances now from Peter White, Melissa Morgan and Michael Paulo! The crowd is focused and nobody was feeling restless but simply immersed in the beauty of these jazz sounds.

When Daniel Ho and Tia Carrere performed their Hawaiian favorite songs: “He Aloha Mele,” “Aloha Oe” and Tia’s original composition “I’m still here” her soothing voice had the audience‘s heartstrings pulled in many directions to connect to Lahaina, where wildfires wiped out communities and homes, just a week ago.

Tia’s heartfelt, unforgettable, and haunting performance moved folks, that after, they were queuing to get her to sign the CDs. I told her that when I babysit my 8-month-old grandson, her CD elicits the serenity of the trade winds, the ocean waves, and the blue skies’ imaginary ambiance. Tia, we love you!

Equally endearing is how she is so warm and accessible to her fans, and patiently takes selfies with them.

Did I share earlier that Janis Ian’s description of artists is that they belong to an aristocracy of

merit and that their hearts are so absorbent of pain and triumphs that they are the first to respond with their gentle humanity?

Aloha is more than a hello, it is an extension of love, kindness, and compassion.

Michael Paulo informed us that the yearly September Temecula show he organized has now become a full-blown fundraiser, raising $14,000 in ticket sales, with so many artists volunteering to perform.  Nothing prepared us for the

10+ Grammy award winners, “Take 6’,” who were introduced as Michael’s friends that he met 30 years ago while performing for Al Jarreau. He introduced them as the best acapella group.  Indeed, hands down, Take 6 is the best acapella group I have

ever heard! But what was even more endearing is how humble ‘Take 6’ was: accessible, so down to earth and certainly did not require us, the fans, to be on the “list” to take photos with them, as in that recent Broadway controversy. Thanks to the producer who encouraged us to meet with the artists to say hello.

Ted Benito and Rex Sampaga, you outdid yourselves with this magnificent lineup of artists, and may I dare describe them as selfmade artists who belong to an aristocracy of merit?

I salute you both that despite Hurricane Hilary, the Writers Guild Strikes, this first Jazzmopolitan at Disney Hall was unforgettably outstanding! Disney Hall absolutely is one of the acoustically balanced venues and the most desired amongst artists, like their heavenly summit of stages to perform at.

* * * Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. writes a weekly column for Asian Journal, called “Rhizomes.” She has been writing for AJ Press for 12 years. She also contributes to Balikbayan Magazine. Her training and experiences are in science, food technology, law and community volunteerism for 4 decades. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of the Philippines, a law degree from Whittier College School of Law in California and a certificate on 21st Century Leadership from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. She has been a participant in NVM Writing Workshops taught by Prof. Peter Bacho for 4 years and Prof. Russell Leong. She has travelled to France, Holland, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Japan, Costa Rica, Mexico and over 22 national parks in the U.S., in her pursuit of love for nature and the arts.

How to obtain custody and visitation rights of your...

within 2 years of the childs birth. In addition, only persons with standing can bring this motion which is limited to the husband, child, mother and a presumed father as listed in Family Code §7611 and 7612 Even absent a recognized rebuttal, the court has discretion as a matter of due process not to apply § 7540 conclusive presumption of paternity when it would not further the statute’s underlying policies of preserving the integrity and stability of an extant marital family, protecting children from the stigma of “illegitimacy,” and promoting individual rather than State responsibility for child support ... as where the ostensible § 7540 presumptive father never developed a parental relationship with the child and the only established parent-child relationship is with a third person. Brian C. v. Ginger K. (2000) 77 CA4th 1198, 1200–1201, 92 CR2d 294, 296; In re Kiana A. (2001) 93 CA4th 1109, 1115, 113 CR2d 669, 675.

Procedurally, the ex boyfriend should file a Petition for Parentage as soon as the child is born. While the case is pending, the ex boyfriend may seek temporary visitation order although this may be on a limited or even monitored basis. If successful in proving

parentage, the ex boyfriend may be granted custody and visitation rights. However, the ex boyfriend would also have the obligation of paying child support based on California guidelines.

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

* * * Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APLC. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@ kenryeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com. (Advertising Supplement)

Daniel Ho and Tia Carrere Peter White and Michael Paulo  Photos courtesy of Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz